Aliens Variants: Pt.1 - Panther

  Cards, Figures, Etc.

Good day. Sorry it's been a while. How are you?

In this series of write ups, I'm going to explore and document individual Aliens figure variations. These will include card art, figure colors, packaging errors, and anything else of note. 

I will not be diving into the card back changes that correspond to series or wave changes, though I might refer to them. Nor will I be discussing any repaints/re-releases (like KB toys) or the Euro carded versions. Those are simply a separate series in their own right. 

Part 1: Panther Alien

The Panther Alien was introduced in mid to late 1993, part of series 2 (more on the series & wave breakdowns here).

There are 2 wave changes with this card back ( .00 & .02, respectfully). Don't ask me why there's no ".01", I don't know. Some of the numbering is sequential, some of it is...not. 

*UPDATE 3/15/26: There is a ".01" version. It's card back is the same as the ".02" version. 

".01" version card back 

A not so obvious variant is a recent one I discovered: placement of the " with flying attack parasite!"

There are 2 variations (see below).

You can see that one has the "with flying..." lined up with the "A", which puts a portion of the phrase under the figure bubble (lower photo). In the 2nd version, they moved it up, in line between the "A" & "L", clear of the bubble. The "corrected" version is the ".02" card (top photo).

I think it's safe to say the change was made so the phrase wasn't obstructed by the figure bubble. But why not do it right the first time? Also, neither has any warning for "small parts" on the card. 

Only other differences are the back of the card in it's cross-sell: 

".00" card back 

".02" card back 

Version ".00" features last three Marines, while ".02" lacks them , with three deluxe Aliens in their spot (Queen, Flying Queen, and ATAX).

(**Update 1/31/2026 - there is a ".01" version. It's the same front as ".00", but the back is the same as ".02"**)

I've been working the past year on trying to accurately organize the series for this toy line. With help from some wonderful collectors, it became apparent how crazy and rushed the production of these toys was.

Think about it; launched in late 1992, and ultimately fizzled by late 1994. That's a solid 2 years of conceptualizing, designing, pitching, sculpting, finalizing, packaging, manufacturing , and shipping. Each figure takes at least 4 months. And Kenner at the time was right in the middle of Jurassic Park, multiple lines for Batman (Dark Knight, Animated, Legends), and prepping for their Star Wars relaunch. Add to that Kenner's random licenses (WaterWorld, Congo) They were busy guys & gals! So some things are going to get overlooked I guess.

Despite all that they managed to put out a pretty cool toy line in the end.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Alien Day 2023

 Kenner's first figure (1979)

Let's take a moment to acknowledge the figure that started it all. The 1979 Alien figure. I could try to tell you the whole story, but that's better told over at Hideous Plastic by Philip Wlodarczyk, an expert on this figure.

Laying the groundwork for future action figures based on horrific creatures.

Happy Alien Day to all!

Aliens Toy Commercials (Dioramas Pt.3)

 They're Unstoppable!

So continuing on the topic of dioramas and backdrops for the Aliens line, today we're examining the television commercials.

The backgrounds/sets were awesome to say the least. It's one thing to see the background featured on the back of the packaging. But now we're seeing it live! Moving! In action!

Again, these were wonderful sets, kudos to these creatives. You know they had fun building & lighting these ads (I'm sure there was one person on the team who couldn't care less, it was a job like any other). Man, I would've loved that job. I was born 15 years too late.

An interesting fact is that Kenner originally planned to do the ads with animation. The character sheets & studies that exist on the internet are from this abandoned concept. These animations were NOT from a cancelled animated cartoon. Never happened. Fox shot the idea down from the very beginning.

As Kenner explored integrating live action footage of the figures with animated segments, they ultimately decided to go 100% live action. 

There were these initial 5 ads. The later 2 did not feature cool space colony backgrounds but rather nature/jungle settings, fitting for the newly introduced Predator figures at that time.

The commercial featuring series 2 figures is the craziest; a live-action Apone confronts a "full size" flying queen! Who made that puppet? Where is it now? That would be an awesome piece to own.

It's a great special effect too. Very high production value for a toy ad. 

My favorite ad when I was younger was the one that featured the Queen Hive playset. I remember the day, where I was. I remember seeing it and just being floored. At 10, at that very moment, I knew that my purpose on this Earth was to obtain that toy. I had to have it (and I did that following February!) That figure was spot-on in movie likeness. My absolute favorite figure of all time.

Thank you for reading. Here's the link to all the videos, check them out!

All Kenner Aliens commercials

"Yo Hicks!"

Aliens Dioramas Pt.2

 Euro Style!

Following up on my last post about the awesome cross sell diorama on the back of Kenner Aliens figures, here's some more juicy deep-space scenery. Take a look below!

For whatever reason, it's only in the European sales catalogs that there are additional photos of figures in space scenery.

It could be related to the fact that it's also only the European release of the line that each figure came with a trading card. In each of those photos, the figures are set against some dark wires, grating and pipes, & with dynamic lighting. A bit less atmospheric, a little more staged, a bit more "studio lighting" style. Still, they look great.

It must only be the Kenner European office that set up these photo shoots, as these specific images don't appear in any US/English promotional material. The cross sells on the back are the normal layout, however. None of the Euro version card backs feature the same diorama as the ones from my earlier post.

I would have loved to have worked at that photo studio or advertising agency. Dang.

Thank you for reading about action figure photography & packaging design.

Youpi les extraterrestres de Kenner ! De nouveau!