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Aru's Authentics, Hagonoy (2026)

20/08/2025

🔎Welcome back to Auth Check of the Month 3: NEOMORPH🔎

If you missed Month #1 (Protomorph), I highly recommend checking it out as well. I’ll attach the link at the end so you can save it for future reference.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B5jxSgnnU/

Now, why Neomorph? Simple. Alongside the Protomorph, this bad boy is one of the most bootlegged figures on the market. Everywhere I scroll, I see questionable Neomorphs being passed off as “authentic,” and I figured it’s time we put a stop to the confusion once and for all.

First, quick disclaimer..☝️We don’t shame bootleg collectors here. Nope, never. In fact, I started out with bootlegs myself, and it eventually led me into collecting the real deal. These Auth Check posts aren’t about gatekeeping. They’re guides for collectors who want to know if their figure is authentic, and for sellers who should really be doing their homework before listing. Seriously, I just saw someone claiming all their figures were authentic in an auction when almost all of them weren’t. 😬

Alright, let’s dive in! How to Spot a Bootleg Neomorph: The 4 Key Signs 🕵️‍♂️

The Mouth (the ultimate giveaway 👄)
-This is the biggest, easiest tell. If the Neomorph’s mouth isn’t pink, it’s a bootleg. End of conversation. ✅ That’s your number one takeaway.

But wait, this figure comes with different heads. So let’s move to the next points.

That wet look shiny slime...💦
-The authentic Neomorph has that slimy, glossy finish especially on the arms, tail, and legs. If your figure looks matte, flat, or plasticky… yep, that’s a bootleg.
⚠️ Small note: sometimes authentic figures lose that gloss over time, depending on where they’ve been displayed.

The Hip Logo 🩳
-Check the hip. The legit Neomorph will always have a NECA logo stamped on it. No logo = instant red flag.

The Accessories 🍼
This part’s always fun to check. The Imp Neomorph (baby Neo) should have a bloodied head with gore covering almost half its face. Note, though, that the newer bootlegs have copied this detail almost perfectly, so it’s not the most reliable way to tell anymore. Still, I like to include it since every little clue helps!

And if your Neomorph is MISB (mint in sealed box), peek at the wirings. They should be more silvery, and the second head accessory should be wired properly.

I’ve posted all the reference images you’ll need, so make sure to compare side by side!

Final Thoughts 💭

I know, I know. The authentic NECA Neomorph has been discontinued for a while now, and sometimes the resale prices are just not justifiable. If you’re new to collecting and you just want the figure in your display, grabbing a BL and doing a little DIY like repainting the mouth or making your own bloodied version isn’t the worst idea.

But for those who want to make sure they’re buying the real deal, you now know the four key things to check: mouth, shine, hip logo, and accessories 📝

Hope this helps, and happy hunting!

17/07/2025

Auth check of the month 2! NECA Alien Cage LV-426 Egg Pack!

Disclaimer before we hatch this egg-cellent topic:
This post is NOT a hate parade against bootlegs! I’ve bought bootleg figs myself back when I was just starting out. They’re often budget-friendly, and hey, we all start somewhere. This is purely for educational (and maybe a little entertaining) purposes to help new collectors tell the difference between the real deal and the knockoffs. Collectors deserve the right to choose. If you want the authentic version, you should be able to spot it.

💰 PRICE TAG
Let’s talk numbers first:

Original NECA LV-426 Egg Pack: ₱2,500 to ₱3,000

Bootleg Version (BL): ₱1,500 to ₱1,600

That’s a big gap, right? I know it sounds like I’m about to roast the official one, but give me a sec.

Here’s the kicker. At first glance, there’s not much difference. I was honestly surprised myself. Both versions look crazy good in terms of sculpt and overall aesthetic, especially the closed egg. If you’re not nitpicking, they could fool just about anyone.

🔍 DETAILS, TEXTURES, SLIMES & SHINES

Let’s crack open the egg facts 🍳

🥚 The Closed Egg

You'd think it's a spot-the-difference puzzle.

Bootleg vs Original: nearly identical in color and detail.

Touch Test:
Original = soft, has that weirdly satisfying squish like an alien’s gonna burst out.

Bootleg = harder, more plasticky, less slimy to the touch.

Yep, the slime is your clue. OG NECA has that iconic slimy sheen. Bootleg? It’s dry. Like it forgot its moisturizer.

🌱 The Open Egg

This is where things start to give away the imposter:

Interior Details:

The original has intricate white veiny detail, and has white colored slime-like substance.

Bootleg? Kinda just said “nah.” It skips the vein-details and the color of the slime is very yellow. Check the pics I’ve attached for a better comparison. It really shows.

🔎 BONUS TELL: THE BOTTOM BIT

Now here's the big dead giveaway.
Flip the egg. Check the bottom.

Bootleg’s base: messy AF. You’ll notice weird plastic finishing, extra sprue marks, and just general low-quality molding.

Original: clean, smooth, and factory-polished. Not something you'll see on display, sure, but for authenticity hunters, it's the ultimate easter egg (pun 100% intended).

💬 Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Buy?

If you're just starting out, or you’re on a budget:
The bootleg version is honestly a great display piece. Looks good, does the job, and won't break the bank.

If you're a purist or long-term collector:
I’d wait for a reissue. NECA is notorious (in a good way) for surprising collectors with unexpected re-releases. Just look at what they did with, Arkham Batman 1/4 scale, Penguin, Michael Keaton’s Batman, Even the Alien Queen and 1/4 bigchap 40th.. there's a pre orders now as we speak. 👀 So be patient. It might hatch again soon.

Let me know in the comments which version you have or which one you're eyeing next!

16/07/2025

Figure of the week 19!

NECA’s LV-426 Cage-Free Eggs!!!

The Ovomorph, known colloquially as the Egg, is an egg-like capsule containing a Facehugger, generally considered to be the first stage in the life cycle of the species Xenomorph XX121.
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Okay, let me just say this. NECA really outdid themselves this time. I don’t usually rave about packaging, but come on. They packaged this thing like real store-bought eggs! I was already grinning just from holding the box. It’s the kind of clever, tongue-in-cheek detail that makes collectors so happy. Totally unexpected, totally genius.

Now onto the eggs themselves. Oh boy. These things are delightfully disgusting (in the best way possible). They’ve got that classic NECA slime finish, and it works perfectly here. The texture is so organic and gnarly. It really looks like they just got plucked out of some creepy Alien hive.

The color? Chef’s kiss. The deep, slimy green is beautifully gross, and the dark brown accents give it that weird, realistic, "definitely don't touch that" look. And when they’re open? So veiny. So yucky 🤮. I love it.

Oh, and the facehuggers! These little nightmares are wired, which means you can pose them however you want. Crawling, jumping, hugging faces... You know, the usual cuddly stuff 👀.

Overall, this set is such a bizarre, brilliant gem. If you’re a Xeno fan or just someone who appreciates when companies go all-in on weird details, this is a must-have!!!

8/10

15/07/2025

The hunt begins in Hall H. Join director Dan Trachtenberg and stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Koloamatangi for the Predator: Badlands panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

26/05/2025

In two weeks Predator: Killer of Killers, an all-new movie, starts streaming only on Hulu and with .

18/05/2025

Figure of the week 18! BANPRESTO 's Abiliator Crocodile!

"What good are your happy ideals if you can't do anything to make them a reality?"
-Crocodile
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Let’s talk about this beast of a figure. I got mine loose for a good price, and wow, it delivers. Crocodile is in full action mode, sand swirling around him like he’s seconds from launching an attack. The dynamic pose is already cool, but the best part? You can display him in two different poses👌. That’s rare for Banpresto and such a fun bonus.

The paint job is top-notch. His face looks sharp, the golden hook shines just right, and yes, the cigar is there. Mine has a tiny chip on the hair, but with all the color and movement going on, it’s barely noticeable. The sand blending into his black suit is smooth and adds a ton of motion.

And let me just say, I’m so hyped to see Crocodile in the Netflix live-action One Piece. If they get him right, it’s going to be epic.

Got this figure too? Share your pics in the comments. Let’s celebrate this sandy king.

7.5/10

11/05/2025

Figure of the week 17! Back to back, NECA 's Red Rhino Xenomorph v1 (Kenner tribute)

The Rhino Alien is a large Xenomorph variant, created when a Facehugger impregnates a rhinoceros or similar creature (such as a rhynth).

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Okay, so let’s talk about the absolute eye candy that is the red Rhino Xenomorph from NECA’s Kenner Tribute line. This one’s the OG, the first version, and wow, it’s a beauty. Instead of the black base like the blue version, this one has a translucent orange lava-like body that practically glows. It seriously pops on a shelf. I mean, sure, the black base on the blue helps highlight the biomechanical sculpt, but this orange is loud, proud, and I’m totally here for it. 😀

Now let’s talk joints. 🙄Yep, still soft plastic, still fragile. Same story as the blue one. So no wild posing unless you want to roll the dice on a snap. I usually move mine by the knee spike, which feels a bit safer and kind of makes me feel like a toy mechanic.

Now the color. Remember how I gushed about the chrome shine on the blue version? This one cranks it up with a wild gasoline-like shimmer. It shifts into magenta when the light hits just right. It’s flashy in the best way and kind of feels like it’s showing off in your display case. Honestly, I like this one a little more than the blue. It’s rarer, yeah, and the price reflects that, but it’s got that extra oomph that makes it feel special.

NECA, if you’re out there listening, please reissue this glorious mess or give us another weird, wonderful Kenner-inspired figure. We need more of that janky charm in our lives. 🙏

If you’ve got this fiery red Rhino, feel free to share your photos in the comments. Let’s see that shine.

8.3/10

05/05/2025

Figure of the week 16! NECA Blue Rhino Xenomorph (Kenner tribute)

The Rhino Alien is a large Xenomorph variant, created when a Facehugger impregnates a rhinoceros or similar creature (such as a rhynth).

__________

Alright, let’s talk about the blue Rhino Xenomorph from NECA’s Kenner Tribute line. This figure looks absolutely stunning. The light blue really stands out against the black base, and when the light hits it just right, you get this subtle chrome shine, especially around the chest. The sculpting is beautiful and really captures that classic biomechanical vibe that we were missing from the original Kenner designs. The head sculpt is a bonus too. You can remove the soft plastic dome to reveal all the intricate details underneath, and it looks awesome. 🤯

Now you’re probably wondering why I didn’t pose this one in dynamic action shots like I usually do. 🤷The reason is simple. The joints are made of soft plastic and feel pretty fragile. You can still move them, but it takes a careful hand. I usually adjust mine by using the knee spike to avoid putting stress on the actual joints. It can pull off some cool poses, but if you mess with it too much, you might risk breaking something.

Despite that, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives. The details, the color, the sculpting, everything looks amazing. And maybe it’s just me, but the inner mouth on this figure looks longer than any other Xeno I’ve seen 👀. I know the red version is almost identical aside from the color, but I’ll cover that one in next week’s figure of the week.

If you’ve got the blue Rhino Xeno, drop your pics in the comments. I’d love to see how others are displaying this killer piece.

8/10

28/04/2025

So whos excited?

28/04/2025

Might be too late for this but, Happy Alien Day everyone!

27/04/2025

Figure of the week 15! Furyu Predalien

The Gunnison Predalien, also known as the Earth Predalien, was a Predalien that was born from Scar after he was impregnated by a Facehugger during his hunt in a pyramid beneath Bouvet Island. The creature was responsible for terrorizing the town of Gunnison, Colorado on Earth in 2004 by impregnating hosts and producing Xenomorphs.
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No hate to NECA Predalien fans (promise!😈) but the Furyu Predalien deserves a little love. For the price of one NECA you can snag two Furyus. That’s a pretty wild stat if you’re collecting on a budget.

Sure, NECA's got the upper hand in detail and articulation but let’s be real, it’s starting to feel a bit vintage. The Furyu sculpt may not be NECA-tier but it holds up. The caramel repaint adds nice depth and while it’s a static figure it looks chef’s kiss on a shelf, well about that...I’ve had four Furyu Xenos and one Predalien. Two had minor standing drama, 1 xeno and this one. Not a huge deal tbh, just a little wall-lean therapy and they’re fine.

I’ve already let mine go (sold it) but for around ₱1700 plus shipping? Worth it. Especially if you’re just diving into the alien-infested waters of figure collecting.

Again, much respect to NECA’s Predalien. It’s still queen. But at this point, that price tag’s looking a little scary. Or maybe I’m just bitter there’s still no Wolf and Predalien reissue.. 🤷

7.5/10

Aru's Authentics

20/08/2025

17/07/2025

16/07/2025

15/07/2025

26/05/2025

18/05/2025

11/05/2025

05/05/2025

28/04/2025

28/04/2025

27/04/2025

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