Alien Queen vs. Predator - Action Figure Reviews

Series: Alien vs. Predator, 2

Craftsmanship: 9.1 / 10

- Sweet, sweet pairing of two of sci-fi’s greatest creatures

- Great display piece, separately and together

- Very good detail and paint job

- Decent articulation

Playability: 5.0 / 10

- Predator doesn’t hold up well

- Queen Alien’s bendy tail is great

Related Reviews:

Alien 12" (from McFarlane Toys)

Alien Queen (Movie Maniacs)

Predator I & II (Movie Maniacs)

Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction (XB)

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Alien Queen vs. Predator (AVP) from McFarlane Toys

I love doing research for these kinds of action figures. In this case, the research includes watching Aliens then Predator then Alien vs. Predator. Regardless of the fact that I’ve seen them all already, to be really complete I had to watch them all in sequence just to refresh my memory. On the whole, McFarlane has done a great

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job with these “playsets.”

Although packaged separately, the Alien Queen and Predator (with base) just beg to be purchased together, which is why I’m reviewing them as a set. Individually, they’re both highly detailed and accurate-to-the-source-material display pieces but together… well, it’s pretty damn cool. Attaching the bases is

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no problem – just line them up and snap “I” pieces into the underside of the bases. Once secured the bases stay connected, as does the backdrop included with the Predator. The detail on the bases is great; with more attention paid to the Predator base which features a wall of carved human skulls and a “slimed” human victim.

Each figure pegs into their respective base with industrial metal pegs that are permanently affixed to their feet. Once they’re installed, poses can be changed to a moderate extent, with the articulation advantage clearly going to the Queen.

The articulation at the hips means she can be stood straight up or hunched forward, ready to crush the Predator. And she also has a bendy tail, which comes in very handy during play or when trying to change-up the display. There is also some articulation at the (main) shoulders and neck. The Predator has a torso ball-joint which doesn’t have a wide range of motion, and he also has seam joints at the shoulders and neck. The small amount of articulation afforded to both actually don’t decrease the display properties – as a display piece, this is awesome! And because it’s definitely cornered on one side it’s easy to stick in the corner of shelf.

Paint application is dead-on with the source – lots of dark colors and green slime, with metallic highlights. It begs to be lit properly while on display though. In a dark corner, the details are lost.

Playability is relatively low in comparison to the larger Predator and Alien figures. While the size is to scale with the ‘80s GI Joes figures and therefore providing an opportunity for some really cool dioramas neither figure is very durable. The Predator especially – those long blades are pretty easy to break.

Fans of two of sci-fi’s best should splurge and get both of these figures, just don’t expect to play with them.

- Omni
(August 7, 2005)