Back in Space, part 2
Posted by Mr_Cross,
In the first part of this article I covered the Classic Spacemen that populated my childhood space fantasies. The minifigures featured from here on, have all been released since my return to the hobby as an adult.
Space is a different place now, with lots more colourful options open to us. Retro, figbarf, Neo Classic… it’s a wild cornucopia of fantastic possibilities.
The regular Collectible Minifigures Series’ have provided us with a fair few additions to the team. Here we have:
- 8827-13 aka Intergalactic Girl COL093 from series 6, displays a really fine level of detailed printing. I think despite there being female crew in shuttles and other spacecraft prior to this, ‘Intergalactic Girl’ is our first proper Classic Space female astronaut.
- 8831-8 aka Galaxy Patrol COL104 from series 7, again, this has some excellent detailing with fine silver piping on his suit. The all important logo is printed on both shoulders of the armour piece.
- 71007-6 aka Space Miner COL184 from series 12, has printing on one shoulder only, but I can forgive that in light of the really nice helmet that’s included. Here too, I’m astounded by the quality of the printing involved.
The quality of these three figures, the crispness of the fine lines, the colour matching and quantity of separate printing steps is simply astounding.
A very welcome appearance of the logo in its clean original form came with 71018-13 aka Rocket Boy COL298 from series 17. It is imperative that we create a LBG Astronaut from this figure, but you will need - light bluish grey hands, legs and helmet! Air tanks are only available in original light grey, but the difference in colour is only slight because the use of a different type of plastic (HDPE, I think). I wonder if anyone below the age of forty will catch my reference here!?
I don’t own it, but 71025-1 Video Game Champ COL341 from series 19 has a shirt emblazoned with classic space logos (it includes Blacktron and M-tron too)!
The LEGO Movie (and to a lesser extent its sequel) has undeniably had a massively positive impact for LEGO brand awareness. It would feel unfair not to highlight therefore, the role that Benny has played in that. The endless enthusiasm for building spaceships (like many of us here I suspect) plays a role also. I think though, it’s his simple unadulterated joy that is just so infectious that makes him popular and appealing, especially in the current global crisis.
One of the flagship sets of TLM theme, 70816 SPACESHIP, SPACESHIP, SPACESHIP! contained much to be excited about too. Not least TLM057 Benny, TLM064 Space Wyldstyle, and TLM074 Space Unikitty.
Of the seven Bennys in circulation, two I believe offer something more to add to a classic space collection. Firstly, 71023-3 Apocalypse Benny TLM150 - comes with a Toolbox that no Classic Space collection should be without. Secondly “Bowie’s in Space” with Stardust Benny TLM205, this is another one I don’t own, but I was lucky to be able to borrow one from my son for a superstar photoshoot…
Throughout this mild investigation, it seems there is always something more to find where LEGO Space is concerned, because the logo doesn’t just appear on astronauts.
14 minifigures have appeared with the red and blue jacket since its first appearance as TWN026 in 4513 Grand Central Station from 2003… I have just one of these torsos that I found loose in a bulk lot I bought a few years ago, so I have done a (lite) “figbarf” to include it here. I would definitely like more of these torsos for off duty astronauts and veterans, ground crew and technicians.
The floating spaceman design has appeared sixteen times (always with green arms) since its first appearance in 2009 as TWN079, looking at this again now, I realise that I have obviously borrowed this dude’s face for something, sorry for the error. Nevertheless, it’s a fun homage to the Classic Spaceman, as, for that matter is the CTY0662 figure with a blue spaceman’s head being orbited by the red ship on his torso (first seen in 60134 from 2016). Apologies again, as from the looks of things, I’ve borrowed (most of the) parts from this figure for something else too.
The very recent Spacefan COL363 aka 71027-6 from series 20 honours the wonderful 918. I would wear that as a T-Shirt!
There have been a couple of reworked or re-imagined logos over the years that are reminiscent of the classic logo too, and deserve at least some recognition. Even in a report as casual as mine.
Does the Mars Mission emblem/logo count? It bears a very close resemblance, easily calling to mind the original. Certainly bricklink classifies it as a “Modified Classic Space Logo”. The figures, MM002, MM003, MM004, MM007, MM008, MM009, MM011, MM012, MM013, MM014 & MM015 are the same basic figure but for heads and an occasional backpack.
The logo for the recent city space theme from 2019 had much of the flavour, with its negative space swoosh, but was not quite close enough to the source in my opinion for this comparison piece.
Three things define this for me, I think:
- A planet or moon - preferably gold
- A spaceship exiting orbit - preferably red
- A swoosh / vapour trail / contrail - preferably in an upswing
So that probably qualifies TWN303 from 2015 and all the minifigures that share the torso… but, I feel, only when they are floating through space on their side!
Bricklink records this as “Space Shuttle Logo”, so I think I’m probably still on terra firma by eliminating these guys from any greater inclusion here.
The ship in its regular orientation appears to be flying into the ground and that just looks odd to me. Probably for that reason alone I have not sought these figures out for inclusion in my own space collection (this one was borrowed from my son’s).
I don’t own the five colours of microfigures from 3842 Lunar Command & 3850 Meteor Strike games either. I would like to have include them here in the interests of completeness.
Having pulled all these great figures together (and more besides) it would seem that I am not actually as near to complete with this as I thought. Space is infinite, spacemen not so much, but certainly they are legion, and my legion is (and probably will remain) incomplete.
Having at least casually considered each one that I own, I think that almost all of these minifigures offer something extra to our play experience. Perhaps the quality waivers from time to time and perhaps nostalgia plays a heavy role in my enthusiasm for the theme. However, I think LEGO has done a pretty consistent job in bringing us great characters to populate our fantasies with.
Having also thought about the classic LEGO moon logo and having discovered an excellent article on its design at speculative identities, which I can highly recommend as ‘further reading’. I find I’m still impressed with that original simple design (with or without craters).
Finally, I have tried to recreate the new logo, I don’t think it’s 100% right because the largest version I have to copy from is on the figure. But comparing it to both Mars Mission and the original, I feel that the overall update is just a little confused, or confusing. The split crescent moon, I think might look better as a full moon, or in a different colour to the keyline… it’s tricky judging it in isolation. As an ex-designer myself I know that often the designer hasn’t had full control. I’m just not sure this update (as much as I do like it) compares as favourably as it could. The logo is more compact and balances better as a result of not having the spaceship so far out from the moon. Is this moot? Will we see the logo as proudly displayed on Sam’s chest again anyway?
Part of my current obsession with Space LEGO is that it is a cheerful distraction, it’s nice to get away to a place where the worries of a troubling world are more remote. I’m glad that LEGO have taken us back to Classic Space with Sam and by extension his Space Rover. All I can say is I hope we’re "back in space" again soon!
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28 comments on this article
A fantastic article - thanks for all the research.
A quick edit...
your link to minifig TWN079, actually goes to TWN097
{Sorted -- Huw}
Sooo... there are more variations on the CLS-Logo: Ice Planet 2002 and Town/City Launch Command/Space port/City Space use it too - so, can we expect an article covering them? What about the other Space LEGO themes? They don't use the CLS logo, but not mentioning them at all just because of this would be discrimination =( (I love and collect all eras of space LEGO, you know...)
@TomKazutara said:
"You clearly can see how popular and wanted the Lego Space theme is ,
so why aren't there new Lego own Space Sets ?"
I mean, honestly they had a bunch of space sets in City not too long ago. I think it mostly has to do with LEGO trying to keep things streamlined.
The stuff that would take place in a semi-real everyday world usually goes to City. In this case, Space like you think of it in terms of what groups like NASA and Space X are doing go there. More fantastical things like dragons and aliens go into Creator, such as with the new rover set. For more specific fantasy genres I usually just assume they’ll find a way to adapt them into Ninjago, but space isn’t really something they do there. Then more specialized themes like Hidden Side and Monkey Kid are made into their own things for flexibility,
So, I think it’s maybe less LEGO not wanting to make space sets and more them trying to not have too many themes going so they can give each a decent amount of attention. That and what would be considered “classic space”? I’m a TFOL and I usually wonder what specifically people mean by that. Do they want the factions kinda system brought back? Do they want more space stuff in general? Maybe the aesthetic? That might just be something I wonder though.
I'm loving the attention you're bringing to classic Space, @Mr_Cross, another great article!
I've really enjoyed reading this pair of articles; thanks, @Mr_Cross .
@TomKazutara said:
"You clearly can see how popular and wanted the Lego Space theme is ,
so why aren't there new Lego own Space Sets ?"
Yep, we're 7 years since the last true Space theme (not counting the City Space subtheme which is more "down to earth" rather than classic fantasy space with factions).
@Arnoldos said:
"Yep, we're 7 years since the last true Space theme (not counting the City Space subtheme which is more "down to earth" rather than classic fantasy space with factions)."
I agree it's been years since a full "traditional" space line, but there have been in-house Space sets since then, with the 2014 and 2019 LEGO Movie 1+2 sets.
Especially LEGO Movie 2, had quite a few spaceships, of course the Benny sets, but also the Rescue Rocket, 2 Systar/Mayhem ships, Party Bus, and Rexplorer/Rexcelsior.
@TomKazutara said:
"You clearly can see how popular and wanted the Lego Space theme is ,
so why aren't there new Lego own Space Sets ?"
Simple answer: because of the Star Wars license...
@merman said:
" @TomKazutara said:
"You clearly can see how popular and wanted the Lego Space theme is ,
so why aren't there new Lego own Space Sets ?"
Simple answer: because of the Star Wars license...
"
Honestly feels that way sometimes - the only sci-fi space ships available from Lego are pretty much Star Wars. This really doesn't have to be a Zero Sum game but half the time it feels like that's what it ends up being.
It definitely isn't fair to lump the city-space sets and NASA sets in with the general umbrella of "space" - there's a huge tonal difference between that and what lego space fans generally want, which is imaginative, colorful and exciting adventures in space (preferably something that isn't the prototypical humans vs aliens that really sucks all the fun out of it, ie everything past Life On Mars).
It really isn't hard to see the appeal of the old space sets, so it kind of comes as a shock that the niche has been largely left untouched for so long.
I mean I'd kill for a UCS-scale/upscaled version of one of the classics, or at least something evocative of the same theme. But all we get is NASA/NASA-like stuff and mountains upon mountains of Star Wars.
"Er in gray" ~ Earl Gray........idk if that is the reference ;-)
Great job, but I Think you forget SP103.
It would have been nice to see the space miner emblem next to the other three in your comparison........otherwise, great article
@Josh_the_aquaraider Er-in Gray is in the 25th Century!
@Silversurfer0586 I did cover that one in the last article, I don't own it but I should have mentioned it again in this part.
@Josh_the_aquaraider Argh! You're right, that logo is different, I forgot it was a subtle variant of the original.
Thanks again for all the positive comments everyone.
@Josh_the_aquaraider:
Oh, Deering me. You _found_ the reference, but seem to have misidentified it.
I love Classic Space and wouldn't say no to new updated sets. But new sets of the factions would be great too, Blacktron, M-Tron, Spyrius and Space Police. Close to the original design but yet slightly different to tell them apart. Maybe a new updated Blacktron 2 jetpack. Maybe a line that had all these factions together. With more smaller sets for different factions.
I would love to see Benny get his own line of space sets. Each set could be themed around Benny and his squad exploring different celestial bodies in quirky vehicles and include educational facts. Sets like the Comet Crusher, Pulsar Pursuer, Neutrino Neutralizer, Quasar Quasher, Meteor Masher.
@Xandez1 said:
"I would love to see Benny get his own line of space sets. Each set could be themed around Benny and his squad exploring different celestial bodies in quirky vehicles and include educational facts. Sets like the Comet Crusher, Pulsar Pursuer, Neutrino Neutralizer, Quasar Quasher, Meteor Masher. "
Why can I not like this post more than once?!?!?!
Alpha-1 Rocket Base is where I got my light grey air tanks from. But I'm not under 40, so oh well...
It doesn't fit into your overall criteria, but in my head-cannon, the ship at the center of the winged Galaxy Squad logo is the Classic logo ship, but bisected.
Hehe! “Er’in Grey”
Did you consider the stone statue in the space police 3 set? https://brickset.com/minifigs/sp103/space-police-3-classic-space-statue
@bogdanst said:
"Did you consider the stone statue in the space police 3 set? https://brickset.com/minifigs/sp103/space-police-3-classic-space-statue"
I did, I covered it briefly in part one. Sadly I don't own it, and didn't want to use stock photos. I really should have mentioned SP103 again here in part two.
@TomKazutara
If I remember correctly, the last “true” space theme (Galaxy Squad) did not sell very well for LEGO. At least, I remember finding it at some pretty deep discounts at the brand stores by the end of it’s run. Seems ever since then LEGO has been hesitant to market a traditional space theme, instead folding those designs into other themes (City, TLM, Nexo Knights, Creator, etc).
@PixelTheDragon I would dearly love to see one of the last themes of Ninjago to be Ninjago in Space, it would be a perfect ending to the theme because then we could get SPACE NINJAS!
And maybe bring back the classic Blacktron to be the villains. So much potential for some fun off the wall set ideas there. It may not be Classic Space, but it would be highly inventive.
Some folks might consider it to be Jumping the Shark sadly.
Hope you are aware of a few limited FLL and Nasa astronauts as well as a few other promotional or series astobots.
Look through this blogging https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5c0125aa85358600aa9e8739/lego-rare-astronaut-minifigures-privychnye-geroi-v-neprivychnom-vide-5c91f60f420abd00b3506b7c
Hopefully you find something new and curious to you.
And thanks for the 2nd part of your article. It's way better than your first one. Great!
@legoman_russia:
None of those appear to incorporate the Classic Space logo (closest is the FLL minifig, which just includes a different rocket in a similar "swoosh" around the "O" in "Orbit"). There are _TONS_ of astronaut minifigs that aren't covered in these two articles because they belong to different themes, like Blacktron, Spyrius, Ice Planet 2002, etc., but they don't feature the Classic Space logo either.
I actually had the first set to included that floating spaceman with green arms torso. Didn't realize it was its first appearance till now!
AAAAARGH!
I have failed to include the microfigure from 5005358
https://brickset.com/sets/5005358-1
That's another one I don't own!