KISS 'N' SELL

by Kristen Baldwin

They don't eradicate aliens, but Kiss have nonetheless been elevated to action-figure status. Yet before they could invade toyland last month, designer Todd McFarlane had to do a little fine-tuning on the heavy metal dolls:

GENE SIMMONS --Choice accessory: Winged snake staff.

--Cosmetic quibble: Simmons wanted his hair to be "poufier" and his bass to have more blood splatter.

PAUL STANLEY

--Choice accessory: A guitar that shoots star-shaped missiles.

--Cosmetic quibble: Stanley thought his doll lips weren't puckered enough.

ACE FREHLEY

--Choice accessory: A guitar that turns into a "space sled."

--Cosmetic quibble: Frehley worried that his rocket-launcher boots and shoulder pack made "his head [look] small," says McFarlane.

PETER CRISS

--Choice accessory: Drum that launches missiles.

--Cosmetic quibble: The feline-esque Criss had one complaint. "He said, 'How come I don't got a tail?'" recalls McFarlane, adding that Criss specified "a tail with blades." --KB