Now I'm strictly action figure lite, but even I know that Star Trek The Motion Picture (TMP) aliens are as rare as hen’s teeth, and Arcturian is probably number three (of six aliens) on that list, behind Megarite and the holy grail of TMP aliens, Betelgeusian.
And he’s a great figure too, which makes locating and parting with the hard-earned, all the more worthwhile (I’ve always cringed at the thought of feeling compelled to spend big $$ on that elusive figure, merely to complete a collection, it just seems so bittersweet). Arcturian is a bright and colourful creature with a head only a mother-alien could love, something akin to the well-aged look of Dustin Hoffman's 100 year-old character in "Little Big Man". He also reminds me of the mutants sans their 'disguises' from "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (both 1970). But I digress.
The construction of these Mego TMP figures is simple but effective – why they didn’t employ a similar methodology with some of their other lines (Buck Rogers and his rubber-band, CHiPs etc) is lamentable. Perhaps the only confusing aspect of a simpleton like Arcturian is that I don’t actually recall him featuring in Star Trek TMP (1979). That said, there is a live-action still of him/it on the TMP action figure backing cards. Perhaps he was one of those rare characters that made it into plastic production, despite his scenes ending up on the cutting room floor. With all the incidental characters from Star Wars (1977) that were immortalised by action figure status, I guess it's not that remarkable.
Overall, while he’s got a head like a robber’s dog or something that’s been microwaved, Arcturian is a sturdy collectible figure that’s easily the most robust of the TMP aliens, sturdy, sure-footed on display and likely to cop a kid-bashing without exhibiting too much wear, save for some fading of the yellow suit if exposed to the elements. Mind you, at $50-$75 a throw loose on the secondary market (and maybe double that price, carded), he’s probably worth keeping indoors, and due to his ghastly appearance, away from windows.
Arcturian | 1980 | Mego | Star Trek The Motion Picture
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