Never one to let a good thing go away, McFarlane Toys top license of 2004, AVP has finally received the collectible action figure treatment that many felt it properly deserved - that is if you considered AVP good at all. Me personally, I couldn't’t stand watching this film. I love both of these wildly imaginative and iconic intergalactic beasties, the figures produced by McF are some of the most sought out collectibles today but damn; the AVP film was a trip down a dark, cold alley on a street called "WTF Blvd.". Well, regardless of whatever poor direction this film went, McFarlane Toys aims to take it into another direction, and it’s one that surprised many.

AVP Series 2 is no longer a line of highly detailed, 7-inch tall, finely articulated action figures - now they’re 4-inch tall, barely articulated, miniature replicas of the previous figures, and now they include full displays! Curious? You should be.

AVP2 includes a return of several familiar faces divided into four separate sets and one deluxe box set, each of which depict a certain portion of the action seen on the big screen. Here’s what we can tell you about this interesting new collection of Aliens and Predators in this incredibly late review.

Packaging: McFarlane Toys loves clamshell packaging, and the last few years have been proof of that. They’re tough, durable, easy to keep clean and store well. That’s all fine and dandy if you’re a MIB collector but that’s no fun. Each set is sealed in the normal clamshell style with the black & blue AVP designed insert cards. The right side panel details wonderful photography of these little guys in the mood for some huntin’. Inside lies an open call to several already available figure lines that you most likely own already. Way too many wire ties secure these figures tightly in place and a few straps of tape to keep things nice and sticky.

Alien Attacks Predator: This first set is a great place to start because it brings to life the first battle where the Alien and Predator meet face to face - only it’s not on the Pred’s terms. This two-part set includes a highly detailed replica of the Grid Alien (minus the grid-scars) perched like a Jaguar atop a stone-carved pillar with his long, twisting tail piercing the back of its Predator victim. The Alien features five points of articulation (hips, shoulders and neck) and plugs into place by two individual foot pegs.

The Predator, whom this Alien is kind enough to give a lift, is a replica of the Scar Predator figure, only minus most every joint. The figure is completely stiff with exception to the shoulders and upper torso ball joint and the sharply tipped tail protruding through the chest cavity with a soaking of green blood for decoration. Rightfully, the tail doesn’t have the strength to support the weight of the Predator on its own so designers have included a bent metal rod, about an inch in length to keep him in place.

The display base is composed of two separate parts that snap together. Both the pillar and floor base are decorated in the same ancient Aztec/Predator clan hieroglyphics. This particular piece is probably my second favorite set of the bunch; my only problem is the extreme length of the Aliens tail on the Alien. In scale, the tail would be about 6-feet too long - but hey, who am I to say they’re wrong? BuzzFactor: 8.0

Celtic Predator Throws Alien: Here, things are reversed quite a bit and it’s far more brutal than just a simple impalement. This set is exactly as the title reads - the Celtic Predator throwing an Alien. At this point in the movie, the Alien was moving at high speeds, thrown against (or through, I should say) one of the surrounding pillars in the tomb. It was a pretty messy beat down even though most the Pred’s still got whacked so early on.

Although this is in a sense this is a 2-figure set, the figures are bonded together as one. The Celtic Predator figure includes all the same great details including enhanced armor and helmet design, body netting and collection of trophies slung around his chest, all shrunken down to a 4-inch scale. The arms are repositioned slightly as they grasp his victim’s leg, but a number of articulated points (four in all - neck, shoulders and waist) allow for better repositioning. The Alien is a miniaturized reproduction of the Battle Alien from the first AVP line. This figure is just as greatly detailed but the articulation is slight - only the shoulders and waist are poseable, so there’s not much here in terms of options.

This set includes a circular base littered with dusted and broken shards of rock and stone, and two foot pegs to help keep the Predator from falling on his ass with all the extra weight. Not a bad set. It looks good but it’s honestly missing the impact pillar that the Alien is tossed through. Adding this could really complete the scene, make it a bit more interactive, but instead it’s a bit forgettable. BuzzFactor: 7.0

Queen Alien with Base: Now this is where things get really interesting. Big mama is back in town and she’s looking none to happy. Held in captivity as a breeding machine for the Predator’s warped sense of fair game play, the Queen Alien once again become the main adversary of the film and reigns terror everywhere she goes. McFarlane Toys certainly surprised everyone with the announcement of the Alien Queen to be added to the second AVP line, however some seem pretty disappointed once they found out the scale at which this line would launch at. But even for her much smaller size, the Queen Alien is a damn impressive figure.

Big mama here is a stand-alone figure, and to many a surprise, is not a resculpt of the Alien Queen from the Movie Maniacs 6 boxed set. It wouldn’t make sense for it to be anyways because the Queen because her design in AVP was more sleek and slender. This figure nicely reflects McFarlane’s sense of dedication. In fact, the entire figure is a vast improvement over the original figure. Standing roughly 7.75" tall, Queenie here is as vicious as ever. The head and crown are thinner in respect with the redesigned crown with cranial damage and acid blood spotting. The face portion is slimmer and now features a wide-open and powerful jaw lined in sharp teeth and an exposed inner jaw. The thick neck leads into the main body and is intensely sculpted with its rigid body and tubular shaped characteristics. The two main arms are articulated at the shoulders and are a massive improvement over the pair we saw with the first figure with a second pair of set smaller arms. The vertebrae are lined in a set of large spikes and a long curled wire framed tail. The legs are set in place and include a metal rod protruding through each foot to help keep her standing.

The paint application is pretty straightforward. The base color is a soft black tone with heavy medium gray tones applied and a wash to better level out the finer details. Again, the detail for this thing is phenomenal, and probably one of the better Queen figures available on the market. I may not agree with the restyling of the Queen’s design but this figure does the movies CG Queen great justice. It’s only too bad they wouldn’t re-release this figure in the 7-inch scale with working jaws and more articulation. BuzzFactor: 9.5

Oh yeah…the Alien Queen comes with a damaged floor diorama lined in un-hatched eggs and leathery tendrils to support her massive girth, and best yet connects too…

Predator with Base: Okay, so maybe the most interesting part of this set isn’t actually all that interesting but having two display bases connect is pretty cool - especially when it forces a confrontation between an Alien Queen and a Predator Warrior.

Scar Predator makes his return to the AVP series and he’s identical in shape and form to his original mold. The only difference is the lack of articulation. Scar Pred comes with jointed shoulders and waist and that’s about all. The figure includes fully extended wrist blades and he stands hunched back ready for his big title fight. The legs are pre-posed and he plugs into his display like any other figure but all the interest lies in the display base.

The base is a large 2-piece set containing a soiled floor covered in green slime, dust and bones, while the back section features one of the Alien’s recently captured human preys. The detail for this figure isn't on par to the rest of the set, and the paint job is actually quite poor but he’s background filler so it’s not a big deal to me. This figure is covered in a cocoon webbing as all victims of the Aliens are before impregnation, and all around him are wall etched human-based skulls stacked one on top of another and in between, real skulls with the vertebrae attached. The floor is lined in the same contents as the Queens, including a hatched Facehuggers egg with expired 'Hugger on the floor and of course when brought together forms a very "in your face" confrontation that many of us have hoped to see one day on the big screen.

In terms of scale, the Queen actually looks a little small but again, who am I to say if this right or not. My only real problem with this figure is the pose he’s set in. It gives off that "Whoa!" type response kinda’ like the Queen somehow just managed to sneak up on the Predator and tapped him on the shoulder. The Alien Queen is a pretty cool piece, I might say. But I can’t say as much for this piece, however by putting these two together, it only makes the Queen shine even more. BuzzFactor: 7.5

Birth of the Hybrid Boxed Set: This is a strange one, I must admit. Like any continuing series, the boxed set is to be the grand spectacle that showcases McFarlane Toy’s ability to sell. Thing is, I certainly don’t see this one selling… at all.

Birth of the Hybrid (BotH) rebuilds the movies final moment when the hybrid Alien burst out from the surviving Predator’s chest, starting off sorts of speculation and of course, an upcoming sequel (dear god, please let someone else direct this movie). The set includes a large display port with an interior design that replicates the Predator’s space ship main hall. The ribcage like ceiling and floor base are host to a flat alter base etched in their species text and painted in red.

Included in the set are two separate figures - the Elder Clan Predator and the recent hero Predator with the hybrid poking out of his chest. EC Pred looks exactly as he did in his large 7-inch figure form: closed mouth and blue dreadlocks, red cape and basic Predator body sculpt complete with armor and a helmet resting on his left shoulder. He holds a spear in his right hand and comes with removable wrist blades that are quite cumbersome and have trouble staying in place. A long metal shaft pokes out of the bottom of his right foot so he can stand in complete ignorance to the freakin’ Chestburster that’s saying hello. There’s no articulation and the paint application is a little sloppy. Not sure why because all the other Predator figures look really god in this department.

The second figure simply lies flat on the alter with his feet turned outwards, and like the Elder Predator, there’s no articulation in sight (then again why should there be). The paint and level of detail is much better on this figure but his only problem is that he doesn’t lie flat on the alter. He’s kind of being balanced on his butt so his head and rear are always touching but his feet are elevated a 2-3 millimeters off the base.

I think the real problem with this set is the overall presentation. Even though the background set looks pretty nice, there’s really no reason for interactivity. Once everything is in place, there’s nothing else that can be done with it. Part of the fun of this industry (this said only for those who are not MIB collectors) is at least having the option of posing the figures to your liking. I know that McF toys are some of the stiffest figures available today but this is just too boring. This set will definitely appeal to the hardcore fans of the film but that’s really about it. BuzzFactor: 5.0

Availability: All the normal participants are in place to provide you these cool little sets, like major retail stores like Toys ‘R’ Us, Kay Bee Toys, Game Stop, Tower Records, Spencer’s Gifts, Suncoast, Sam Goody and Media Play outlets. On-line, Diamond Comic Distributors and Spider’s Web should have plenty in stock. I’ve already heard a few stories where these sets are being found on clearance so don’t be surprised if you can’t actually find them if you haven’t already - or, don’t be too surprised if you find yourself tripping over the overflowing stock.

Final Thoughts: The problem with AVP Series 2 isn’t the scale; it’s their intended target audience. AVP was a PG13 film yet it’s almost like McFarlane Toys is treating the line like it was meant for 8-year olds. Their core audience is the young adults, ages 16-35. And by producing a line of hardly articulated miniatures that are categorized as play sets further disassociates the collectors from their hopeful purchase. Had McF produced this line in normal scale, they would certainly get their share of whiners who are given a bunch of repackaged figures. But they would still sell better than these sets seem to not be doing. I can walk into any nearby Kay Bee, GameStop, TRU or Spencer’s and see these lying in abundances.

Whenever McF seems to go the route of producing small miniature figures, they seem to not do too well. I loved the Soul Calibur 2 series but again, these figures could have done so much better had they been in normal scale. AVP2 isn’t a bad line per se’ but even normal collectors seem to be having a hard time putting these up on their shelves.