Alien At 40: Merchandise Oddities

Apr 26, 201901325

IN SPACE NO-ONE CAN HEAR YOUR NOVELTY XENOMORPH ALARM CLOCK

Aside from being a truly frightening sci-fi horror, ALIEN captured the imagination of audiences with its tremendously imaginative set designs and attention to detail – from the eggs inside the awe-inspiring alien spacecraft, the eerie interiors of the Nostromo, to the distinctive design of the Xenopmorph alien itself, created by legendary Swiss artist H.R. Giger. A virtual cottage industry has sprung up around the film, inspired by this wealth of iconic imagery, with everything from collectable figures to pens, patches, posters and prints to buy 40 years after the film was released.

Things for around the house

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You can add some Alien-style excitement to mealtimes with these unique salt and pepper shakers, styled after the open and closed egg that seals John Hurt’s fate in the film.

No sci-fi fan’s bedside table is complete without this alarm clock (available from Bradford Exchange), complete with an intricately sculpted alien to greet when you awake from hypersleep.

Meanwhile, a Xenomorph bust, that makes a shrieking noise and shoots out an inner jaw when you depress a lever at the back, is a surefire conversation piece for the mantelpiece.

Suitable for kids?

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Even though the film had an X-certificate when it came out, it didn’t stop toy manufacturers getting in on the action with this merchandise aimed at kids. The Aliens Micro Machines Transforming Action Set, from Galoob Toys, says it is not suitable for children under the age of 3 – the warning displayed on the box just above a gruesome illustration of the infamous chest-bursting moment!

This Alien Egg Chamber Playset lets young-uns experience all the fun and laughs of the film – or should that be utter terror and horror – as the astronauts plunge into the unknown.

All manner of specially made Alien figurines can be bought from super7.com – proving that Alien never gets old, only its original fans do, and we have no intention of growing up anytime soon!

Stuff to wear

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If you fancy getting kitted out to look like one of the crew members of the Nostromo, you can get a T-shirt and baseball cap replete with the logo of the futuristic mining company.

Now all you need to do is get someone to dress up in a full-size Xenomorph mask and chase you round the house with the lights off.

Things to read

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If you were too young to see the film when it came out, there were a couple of alternatives. You could either experience the sci-fi classic with a scene-by-scene photobook, or the beautifully realised graphic novel by Marvel artists Walt Simonson and Archie Goodwin, that was recently republished by Titan Books, and little wonder – it’s a comic book classic. Titan have also released an illustrated book featuring Alien’s feline star, Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostromo, a cat’s eye view of life on the Nostromo.

To celebrate the release of Alien 40th Anniversary, we have a copy of Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostromo from Titan Books up for grabs!

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question.

What was the name of John Hurt’s character in Alien?

A) Ash

B) Kane

C) Dallas

Please include ALIEN in the subject field. For your chance to win limited edition T-Shirts, box-sets, DVD bundles and Blu-ray, check out our ever growing competitions page.

The closing date for entries is MAY 10TH and the lucky winner will be notified by email shortly after. Good luck. If you think you know the answer to the question above, then just send your entry to us via the handy little form below.