A reader sends this along:
I need help! I just purchased this figure. It’s not any known color variant. I’m not sure if it’s a custom (it doesn’t appear to be) or a prototype. I haven’t received it yet so I’m not sure if it has any tm/manufacturing stamps. do you know any experts? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Kitchen-viper
Hey guys,
I received the purple gorilla alien today and I think he’s probably the wave 4 repaint. The picture has really overblown lighting. The figure is a darker purple in person. He does have strange brown shoulders and his “grasping” mechanism is brown also. as I said before, I now have a purple alien in my collection and he was under $10! Thanks for all the help!
M@ (kitchen-viper)
Ridureyu
That looks like a prototype. Prototypes from this line surface from time to time.
strongest mustache
lol, or maybe left out in the sun for a couple years
Barbecue17
This is really interesting. I'd be interested to know what material the head is made out of and to know if the figure has the "grabbing" action feature intact. A test shot probably would, but I imagine a prototype wouldn't. The figure looks to be exactly the same as the other Gorilla aliens without any variations which makes me lean more towards bootleg or test shot versus prototype, as they usually have some minor differences from the production pieces, although that's some speculation on my part.
Kitchen-viper
Thanks guys!
It sounds like it’s a prototype or at the very least a pre-production piece. I’m happy that it’s probably not a bootleg. Best case senario, I’ve got a piece of kenner history, worst case I have a purple gorilla alien. I paid under $10 so I’m happy either way. I’ll update on wed when it arrives!
Poe Ghostal
DoctorKent on Twitter intimated that it might be a KB Toys exclusive version…?
DarthMooby
The KB one is super dark purple (almost black) with silver highlights. I'm pretty sure there weren't any other KB versions but that one.
http://www.toyarchive.com/Aliens/Toys/GorrilaRepa…
DarthMooby
I wonder if it's plausible that the highlight effect was caused by molding in purple/silver and covering with a thin layer of black paint that has subsequently come off somehow…?
DreamTripper
I was thinking something along the same lines, but that maybe the black never made it to this one… But wasn't the Gorilla Alien Blue?
Kitchen-viper
Thanks for the post, poe!
Thanks to all who reply!
DarthMooby
I'm leaning toward prototype, but I know there's a purple knock-off that some bootlegger shoved into a superhero line out there. I'm pretty sure that one is top to bottom purple, though.
dayraven
looks like an unpainted proto to me. can't be sure till you have the bugger in hand though.