REVIEW: Bandai’s Ben 10 Alien Collection - BENMUMMY & BENVICKTOR

Ben 10 goes out with a bang with two monstrous aliens...

It’s a melancholy time for Ben 10 fans. On the one hand, Ben 10 is over and done with. However, its next incarnation, Ben 10: Alien Force, has just begun. While dozens of prototypes of upcoming Alien Force figures have already hit the net, on store shelves right now are the last batch of Ben 10 toys. Among these are a couple of the last new alien forms acquired by Ben Tennyson’s Omnitrix: the classic monster movie-inspired Benmummy and Benvicktor!

The packaging for the Alien Collection figures has not dramatically changed since its inception. It’s a basic bubble on card package, featuring a lot of rounded shapes and bubbles.

The color scheme is primarily green and yellow, reflecting the energy of the Omnitrix device. There isn’t much personalized information on the package for each figure, except the name plate at the bottom of the front. The back of the cards are generic, showing all of the other figures in the line.

First seen in the episode “Under Wraps,” the mummy alien was a frightening monster that menaced the Tennyson family. Its prehensile tentacular wrappings could extend to great distances and were extremely strong. When it accidentally came into contact with the Omnitrix the alien the device absorbed the DNA, allowing Ben to become the mighty Benmummy (okay, he’s not the most creative).

Ben’s version of the mummy alien looks very similar to the original. It is a tall creature, almost skeletally thin. It doesn’t appear to have any corporeal body but is instead composed of “bandages.” The Benmummy wears an interesting outfit, composed of a skirt (kilt?), greaves, forearm bands, and a head covering/helmet/wrap. Though humanoid it is clearly inhuman, with extremely long arms, short legs, and four digits on each appendage.

The Benmummy figure is a pretty good approximation of the cartoon character. While very thin, it stands as one of the tallest figures in the line. Benmummy seems to be all upper body, with short legs and arms that stretch to the ground. Into holes on his back plug two long bandages that dangle behind him.

Detail on Benmummy is relatively simple, variations on a theme. The main body is “wrapped” in bandages, while those that comprise the arms are smooth (stretched). The ends of both arms and legs terminate in similar bandage-flat extremities, four fingers and four toes. The short legs are also thin, with oddly knobby knees. Benmummy’s head is reminiscent of Egyptian mummy headdresses with a small “helmet” over a large banded cowl. On the left shoulder is the Omnitrix.

Benmummy’s colors are predominantly green. The main body is an olive green, while between the wrappings peeks a bright neon green coming from the energy inside the alien. The deeply-slanted eyes are the same bright hue. The arm and leg bands are both mainly black with neon green highlights. Finally, Benmummy’s headdress is banded alternately in brownish-green and black.

While Benmummy is a nice-looking figure, he definitely suffers in one area: articulation. He technically has six joints: shoulders, hips, waist, and neck. However, both the neck and the hips are restricted by the sculpt, respectively the cowl and skirt. Sadly, this level of articulation is not unexpected at this point, especially after the recent disappointing Vilgax.

Benmummy technically has no accessories. There are two included wrappings that attach to the holes in the figure’s back. They reach to the floor and trail off to either side. Other than these two pieces Benmummy comes with the standard “Battle Version” base and bio/background card. The bio reveals Benmummy’s species as Thep Khufan from the planet Anur Khufos. Interestingly, this reveals places it in the same system (Anur) as the planet where the villainous Ghostfreak originated. It must be pretty creepy place. The opposite side of the card is an Anur Khufos background, depicting a desert landscape pierced by rocky towers. The base looks like the corner of a broken wall encroached upon by the desert.

Despite the lack of articulation, Benmummy is a cool figure. It’s a nice sci-fi twist on the traditional Egyptian mummy. For the Ben 10 fan the figure is definitely recommended, and for other collectors it’s worth a second glance.

Note: there is a noticeable discrepancy in the name of this figure between the packaging and the included bio card. On the front of the bubble it is “Benmummy” while on the card it is “Ben Mummy.”

In the episodes “The Return” and “Be Afraid of the Dark” Ben comes into conflict with the brilliant and evil Dr. Vicktor, who at first seems to be an ordinary NASA employee. As it turns out he’s a powerful alien working to free Ghostfreak, a onetime alien of Ben’s and later escaped villain. In their penultimate battle Dr. Vicktor touches the Omnitrix, which absorbs his DNA, adding it as a template for Ben to use. Indeed the boy makes quick use of it, becoming Benvicktor to defeat the Dr. Vicktor monster.

The last of the classic movie monster-style aliens, Benvicktor is a Frankenstein-like monstrous figure, complete with stitched together flesh and biomechanical parts. Stocky and powerfully-muscled, the Transylian has two electrical spines protruding from its back, and multiple canister-like growths. Top it all off with heavy black boots (my Dad calls ‘em “clod hoppers”) and thick hair that’s a combination of Elvis and a survivor of Planet of the Apes and you’ve got Benvicktor.

The Benvicktor figure is really cool, and very accurate to it onscreen counterpart. The alien is about average in height, but the electrical spines are as high as the tallest Ben 10 alien. His upper body is huge, with a powerful barrel chest and enormous arms, especially the forearms and hands. Though not exactly miniscule, Benvicktor’s waist and legs are comparatively small. The alien is shirtless, but wears black pants that blend seamlessly with his boots, and heavy forearm guards.

Sculpting is very nice on this figure, because of its many varied surfaces and textures. There are lots of muscle and tendon details on the upper body, and the Frankenstein aspects come in with stitch lines across his biceps. The energy canisters coming out of Benvicktor’s chest, shoulders, and back break up the smooth flesh, while the electrical spines are cool tech with lines and vents. His simian face has a large jaw and his hair flows long down his back and into thick sideburns. The figure’s pants are smooth, with sculpted horizontal “stripes.” On the front of Benvicktor’s belt is the Omnitrix.

Colors on this figure are good, also varying with the different parts of his body. Benvicktor’s flesh is pale gray, while the arms below the stitches are more greenish. His hair is jet black, and the tiny beady eyes are bright green. Both the forearm guards and electrical spines are brown, while the energy canisters are black with green energy effects. Finally, the pants and boots are black, with more green details at the very bottom. As with all of the Ben 10 figures, the colors are bright and clean.

Benvicktor’s articulation is good, especially for the recent Ben 10 Alien Collection figures. He has the following joints: shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. There is a slight “V” angle to the crotch, so that the legs angle out and forward. Some of the “standard” points are missing due to sculpt issues, like neck and waist. Benvicktor can be posed in all sorts of menacing ways, and looks great on display.

Benvicktor has no accessories, but does come with the standard “Battle Version” base and bio/background card. The card describes the nightmarish world of Anur Transyl, another in the dark Anur galaxy, home to the other monster aliens. On the reverse is a skyline, dominated by high-tech buildings and aircraft. On Benvicktor’s base is a textured landscape, cracked and broken by the alien’s heavy feat.

Benvicktor is another great Ben 10 figure. He looks awesome, is sturdy and articulated well, and is a great match to the cartoon character. Not just a badass alien, he’s cool as a very alt-Frankenstein, or some sort of experiment. Benvicktor is highly recommended.

Note: there is a noticeable discrepancy in the name of this figure between the packaging and the included bio card. On the front of the bubble it is “Benvicktor” while on the card it is “Ben Vicktor.”

Review and Photos by Scott Rubin

Ben 10 Benmummy & Benvicktor Photo Gallery