From: gmclain@lonestar.utsa.edu (Glenn A. Mclain)
Subject: FIGURES: Action Figure News Update
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:58:22 GMT

   Just curious, I haven't seen much posted by the action figure collectors.
Hope you are still around.

First, Kenner has announced, and supposedly shipped new ALIEN figures.  I have
yet to see any promo pictures or ads.  I have heard that television spots are
running in some of the northern states, though.  This should be a very popular
line with collectors, since there is such a large fan base out there.  I
wonder if this is an attempt to challenge Playmates ST:TNG line?

Kenner has released 3 more additions to the Terminator 2 line.  One figure is
original Terminator in a sort of battle-dress uniform. I give it a grade of
C+.  It is not that original.  The 2nd figure is a white hot T-1000 figure.
A little different than the slit-design of the first series, over-all very
nice looking.  I'll give it an A-.  My favorite of the new line is the glow-
in-the-dark original terminator skeleton.  Much similar to the first skeleton
pose, this one has a rough, used, (and my favorite phrase) battle-damaged
look to it.  Sorry, I don't have any specifics on the accessories.  I realize
that I excluded the John Conner figure, w/motercycle.  This was released prior
to the above shipment, with only 2 per case.  Later shipments appear to have
a considerable amount more.

Kenner Starting Lineup Basketball (Series II) are now hitting the stores.  In
this series there are 11 more figures added.  Of course, no case has all the
different players in it.  Cases are packed with 24 figures, and from all that
I have gathered, all cases are packed the same way.  Based on what I have seen
here is the case disbursement.

          SERIES I                           SERIES II
1 Robinson I    3 Pippen               1 Robinson I     1 Paxon
1 Robinson II   3 Jordon I             1 Robinson II    1 D. Coleman
1 Bol           3 Jordon II            1 M. Johnson     1 Price
1 K. Johnson    1 Mullen               1 Mutumbo        1 Ewing
1 M. Johnson    1 Drexler              1 Dumars         1 Barkley
1 Mutumbo       1 Owlijawan(?)         1 I. Thomas      1 Bird
1 L. Johnson    1 Divac                1 Dan Marjlie    3 Pippen
1 I. Thomas     1 D. Brown             1 Stockton       3 Jordon I
1 R. Miller     1 K. Malone            1 Hardaway       3 Jordon II

I may be wrong on the 2nd Series case.  I did not see a Larry Johnson figure
in pile, and I only remember counting 2 Pippens, so if you find a L. Johnson
figure in a second series case, the there are only 2 Pippens.

Kenner has also obtained the licensing rights to Jussaric Park(?).  So you
can expect to see a line of products based on the movie pretty soon.


After many hold-ups, it appears that The Next Generation Star Trek figures
from Playmates are now arriving at stores a little more regularly.  Based
on my talks with other collectors from all over as well as trade magazines,
here is what I've been able to determine.

     - The more recent shipments of figures have an added sticker on the back
       of the card.  Instead of "A product of Maico(?), which was CROSSED-OUT,
       by hand with a marker, it is covered by a sticker that say "made in
       China...".  So I gather that the collectablility will be determined
       by not only the serial number on the foot, but if it came from a case
       that slipped past customs.
     - No Troi figure has been spotted yet.  The back of the card has a list
       of ten figures, however the one depicting Troi has yet to "materialize".
       Probably part of Playmates marketing scheme to keep people looking for
       their product, although that may not be to wise.  Remember Kenner and
       the Robin Hood Line?  Kenner waited so long to release the Friar Tuck
       figure that people had lost interest in the whole line.  In fact, most
       of the Tucks ended up on the discount rack at Kay Bee toy stores.
     - A recent ad in a trade magazine stated that TEN different figures are
       to be made.  This must mean there is a Troi out there somewhere.  The
       ad went on to say that a shuttle craft, an Enterprise, a full-size
       communicator and a life-size phaser were due out soon.

Well, that's all I can think of off the top of my head.  I hope you found this
information useful.  If I get enough positive response, I'll try to do a
regular update on action figures, with more specifics and other's input.
That's all for now.


Glenn.................



-- 
Glenn McLain, Vice President Data Information Systems Klub(DISK)
University of Texas at San Antonio
College of Business Student Microcomputer Lab
HB 3.01.04  (512)691-4586