LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 3 discussion

[krystalKING]

Thats really interesting, could you give us a picture of that?

Probably .

[Lego_Hero]

Are we absolutely sure the squidman head is going to be used and it is not a stand-in until they finish the real head? Maybe I'm still in denial, but I'm really holding out for a different head. You can make an almost identical minifig using existing parts. I realize that's true for a few of them, but I thought this alien would be a great opportunity for some TLG designer to show off his stuff.

[Aanchir]

Are we absolutely sure the squidman head is going to be used and it is not a stand-in until they finish the real head? Maybe I'm still in denial, but I'm really holding out for a different head. You can make an almost identical minifig using existing parts. I realize that's true for a few of them, but I thought this alien would be a great opportunity for some TLG designer to show off his stuff.

You can't make a minifig remotely identical to the alien using existing parts, unless your definition of "identical" considers the Series 2 Witch identical to this one from the Castle Advent Calendar, or Willa/"Hubble Bubble" (I swear that's the actual name she had in the UK) from the Fright Knights theme. Willa is a bonus, since she's an official fig who uses identical parts and the same accessories to the witch in Series 2! Nothing of the sort exists for the Series 3 alien.

To build an alien like the Series 3 one, you'd need to use a Squidman head (entirely different skin color and eye color), some minifig torso with breathing tubes (the only one that comes to mind is the Atlantis torso, which still has a very different torso and totally different color), and a ray gun (neither the gun itself nor the beam comes in a similar color). And even then the resulting fig would hardly bear a resemblance to the actual Series 3 alien. Furthermore, if a fig with already-available parts isn't innovative, then how come nobody complained about the Disco Dude being a complete duplicate of the clown but with a non-unique accessory (a 2x2 tile)? Having different, unique prints and parts in new colors can count for a lot.

The fact is, being able to reuse old molds in a brand-new way is a great talent and can take just as much creativity as making a new mold for every piece. Nobody ever complains about all "human" minifigures having the same head design, or even about non-"human" figs like the skeleton or various aliens and robots sharing that same "generic" head mold, so I don't see how having an existing mold for the new alien's head detracts from his originality.

[vexorian]

Are we absolutely sure the squidman head is going to be used and it is not a stand-in until they finish the real head?

The answer is : absolutely not.

Yeah, it could be a placeholder. Not like I would dislike the green squidman head anyway.

[Aanchir]

The answer is : absolutely not.

Yeah, it could be a placeholder. Not like I would dislike the green squidman head anyway.

I've got doubts it would be a placeholder since they've got it with what looks like a finalized custom print (not just a paint job). That would imply it being machine-made, which isn't too compatible with a placeholder that they're not planning to make any more of. The placeholder parts LEGO tends to use for aliens are much like the ones they use for BIONICLE prototypes-- various pieces either glued or fused together to give an impression of the new part's shape. For instance, the prototype Squidman head used (among other things) a silver Throwbot foot piece to simulate the shape of his head.

I can't really fathom why they'd use an existing piece in a brand new color with a brand new print if it were just meant as a placeholder. Of course, it's possible that this is just a 3-D render, in which case it wouldn't take nearly as much effort to produce a part that resembled a finalized printed part in a new color. But with a 3-D render there's even less justification for using a replacement part that doesn't resemble the finalized part.

[Lego_Hero]

LOL! By 'identical' I mean 'look the same'. If you take an exsisting squidman head and Series One space gun, and an old Blacktron torso you can make a minifig that looks like the one shown. Exactly like the one shown? No, of course not. I guess it comes down to your definition of 'remotely'. No one in my household has said TLG is not innovative. I was silly to ask a question that would require actual knowledge and expect something other than an answer that was really just a guess as good as anyone else's.

The fact is, I do not have a favorable opinion of the squidman head. Its great to have one (I have two), but I don't really have a use for extras, regardless of color. This being a forum made up almost entirely of opinion's, I get to say I'm disappointed that they are using that particular head. I would prefer any of the other alien heads as I don't buy the more expensive sets. That new one that looks kind of like a pirannah would be really cool.

I do agree that it's not likely a placeholder. Aanchir hits the nail right on the head about the 3-D rendering. Why bother with a placehold in 3-D when you could make the real thing in 3-D just as easily? I'll just have to resign myself to picking it up for the torso and ray gun. Oh the agony!

[Aanchir]

LOL! By 'identical' I mean 'look the same'. If you take an exsisting squidman head and Series One space gun, and an old Blacktron torso you can make a minifig that looks like the one shown. Exactly like the one shown? No, of course not. I guess it comes down to your definition of 'remotely'. No one in my household has said TLG is not innovative. I was silly to ask a question that would require actual knowledge and expect something other than an answer that was really just a guess as good as anyone else's.

The fact is, I do not have a favorable opinion of the squidman head. Its great to have one (I have two), but I don't really have a use for extras, regardless of color. This being a forum made up almost entirely of opinion's, I get to say I'm disappointed that they are using that particular head. I would prefer any of the other alien heads as I don't buy the more expensive sets. That new one that looks kind of like a pirannah would be really cool.

I do agree that it's not likely a placeholder. Aanchir hits the nail right on the head about the 3-D rendering. Why bother with a placehold in 3-D when you could make the real thing in 3-D just as easily? I'll just have to resign myself to picking it up for the torso and ray gun. Oh the agony!

I also ought to make mention that despite using a Squidman head, it'd be hard to make the alien work in SPIII. This is because even in the first year of SPIII, it was mentioned that Squidman was fairly unique and nobody had ever seen an alien quite like him. But of course stylistically he should work fine with a Space or even a Town layout (imagine having this fellow, or for more ambitious collectors an army of them, descending from flying saucers).

[The Green Brick Giant]

I like the fact that even through Space Police is most likely ending that it can continue on a little bit longer through these minifigures. I think that is a very smart move on LEGO's part.

[muscleman]

Despite the fact that the Collectable Minifigures series do not belong to any specific existing theme, they contain subthemes of their own.

The subthemes I've deduced so far are (the unconfirmed third series figs are put in quotations marks):

Beach (Diver, Lifeguard, Surfer, "Hawaiian Girl")

Circus (Clown, Magician, Ringmaster,"Gorilla")

Fantasy ("Elf")

Fighting (Super Wrestler, Karate Master, "Sumo Wrestler")

History (Caveman, Forestman, Explorer, Pharaoh, Spartan)

Horror (Zombie, Vampire, Witch, "Mummy")

Hospital (Nurse, "Surgeon")

Japan (Ninja, "Samurai")

Music (Disco Dude, Pop Star, "Dancer", "Male Singer")

Space (Spaceman, Robot, "Alien")

Sports (Cheerleader, Weightlifter, Skier, "Ferrari Driver", "Snowboarder", "Baseball Player")

Town (Skater, Mime, "Fisher")

Traffic (Demolition Dummy, Traffic Cop)

Western (Tribal Hunter, Cowboy, Mariachi, "Native American Chief")

Feel free to disagree with me on these, or make up your own subthemes.

Great point!!

[LegoDad42]

Despite the fact that the Collectable Minifigures series do not belong to any specific existing theme, they contain subthemes of their own.

The subthemes I've deduced so far are (the unconfirmed third series figs are put in quotations marks):

Beach (Diver, Lifeguard, Surfer, "Hawaiian Girl")

Circus (Clown, Magician, Ringmaster,"Gorilla")

Fantasy ("Elf")

Fighting (Super Wrestler, Karate Master, "Sumo Wrestler")

History (Caveman, Forestman, Explorer, Pharaoh, Spartan)

Horror (Zombie, Vampire, Witch, "Mummy")

Hospital (Nurse, "Surgeon")

Japan (Ninja, "Samurai")

Music (Disco Dude, Pop Star, "Dancer", "Male Singer")

Space (Spaceman, Robot, "Alien")

Sports (Cheerleader, Weightlifter, Skier, "Ferrari Driver", "Snowboarder", "Baseball Player")

Town (Skater, Mime, "Fisher")

Traffic (Demolition Dummy, Traffic Cop)

Western (Tribal Hunter, Cowboy, Mariachi, "Native American Chief")

Feel free to disagree with me on these, or make up your own subthemes.

Good list. You could put the female Tennis Player into the 'Sports' theme and the Karate Master (which could also be in Japan as well). And probably the Cyborg could be in a Space/Sci-Fi theme.

[Aanchir]

Huw from Brickset shares the first non-preliminary image of Series 3. It has what would seem to be the official names of the minifigures: the one who had alternately been referred to as a cyborg or space pirate is merely referred to as "space villain". The gorilla is also clearly labeled as a "Gorilla Suit Guy".

Overall, the images are smaller than the preliminary ones and thus not much clearer, although it's nice to look at them and know we're looking at the real thing.

[Fugazi]

Great find Aanchir! What strikes me is that these new pictures are in all points identical to the so-called preliminary images. I can see no change having been made to any of the minifigs. Not that I'm complaining, I'm quite happy with what's on offer. But it's just a reminder that sometimes preliminary just means "too early to release".

What's that about a SIDE-A and SIDE-B though?

[autobrick]

I think the big problem that everyone has with the Space Alien is that the piece used for the head is so closely associated with Space Police/Squidman. While this isn't a bad thing, I'm sure most of us were expecting a specially created alien that would fit into many MOCs without screaming SPACE POLICE!!!. (I have a feeling a majority of the people who like the Space Alien are fans of Space Police).

What I don't understand is why nobody is upset with the Sumo Wrestler. The Sumo Wrestler has, from good to bad:

1. Potentially good hair. It is difficult to judge from the images.
2. Already existing accessory, in a different color. If we get the statues in silver, this could be a positive point (Gold->Silver->Bronze)
3. Hardly noteworthy head
4. Uninspired torso (yellow, with two lines), with simple, all yellow arms
5. Extremely easy to recreate legs

Surely the Sumo Wrestler is the weakest? At least the Space Alien looks somewhat new!

Despite the fact that the Collectable Minifigures series do not belong to any specific existing theme, they contain subthemes of their own.

...

Feel free to disagree with me on these, or make up your own subthemes.

I had formed my own themes, and they are quite similar to yours, but not as in depth. Here they are:

Circus

Circus Clown, Gorilla Suit Guy, Magician, Mime, Ringmaster,

Japanorama (Figures closely associated with Japan)

Karate Master, Ninja, Samurai Warrior, Sumo Wrestler,

Movie Monsters (Because they are quite cartoonish-looking, rather than scary looking, bringing to mind monsters from old movies)

Mummy, Robot (just take off his bucket helmet), Vampire, Witch, Zombie

Space (This category didn't exist until Series 3)

Space Alien, Space Man, Space Villain

Sports

Baseball Player, Cheerleader, Downhill Skier, Race Car Driver, Snowboarder, Tennis Player

Town (ie. Characters that inhabit 'the real world')

Disco Stu, Diver, Fisherman, Lifeguard, Motorcycle Cop, Nurse, Pop Star, Rapper, Skater, Surfer

Wild West

Cowboy, Mr. Maracas, Super Wrestler (Think Nacho Libre), Tribal Chief, Tribal Hunter,

Misc.

Everyone else.

Edited November 2, 2010 by autobrick

[Etzel]

I think the Sumo Wrestler is quite good. Really nice hair, good head and useful torso. The weakest to me is the space alien because I'm not interested in space aliens, as simple as that. But another weak minifig is the Racer Car Driver with just a new head and new colour hair. But over all I'm quite happy with this serie, not as good as serie 2 maybe but still great!

[Zeya]

I wonder if the gorilla suit guy's head is a full head brick or if there's a regular style head and then a hat/mask accessory that goes over the head. I suspect it's the latter. Judging from the eyes, I think maybe the head is a darker gray or brown so it looks dark when you put the gorilla mask on.

Edited November 2, 2010 by Zeya

[escortmad79]

I think the big problem that everyone has with the Space Alien is that the piece used for the head is so closely associated with Space Police/Squidman.

The big problem that everyone has with the Space Villain is that it looks like a parts bin special! Thrown together with whatever's left in the spares pile!

It's one of the worst figures TLG have EVER produced!

[buddy]

It's one of the worst figures TLG have EVER produced!

I completely agree with you escortmad79, it does look like a parts bin special.

I will only get the figure when it comes out because without it I won't have a complete set of Series 3.

~buddy~

[prateek]

Cool! My favourite is definitely the snowboarder.

[Aanchir]

I completely agree with you escortmad79, it does look like a parts bin special.

I will only get the figure when it comes out because without it I won't have a complete set of Series 3.

~buddy~

And I disagree fervently. The space villain is made from parts that have never been used together, but which work wonderfully in combination with one another. With both a metal peg-leg and a robotic arm, along with a half-robot printed face, he truly feels half-robot.

I don't quite understand why a fig using a lot of creative parts in creative ways is a bad thing. Are figs now required to use only one specialized body part maximum? Or perhaps you feel LEGO should completely stop using parts for purposes other than their originally-intended purpose? Seems rather odd to think that LEGO needs a new, specialized part for everything, no exceptions.

Meanwhile, is there any particular reason it's worthwhile to get a fig you hate just to complete the series? What do you gain from that except valueless bragging rights and a slight potential for a higher resale value? It's not as though LEGO is forcing you to buy figs you don't like, after all.

Apologies if I sound demeaning, but honestly the backwards-seeming reasoning in your post is very hard for me to take seriously.

Blacktron builders, in the very least, are certain to love this fig (for obvious reasons).

Edited November 2, 2010 by Aanchir

[AmperZand]

What's that about a SIDE-A and SIDE-B though?

Almost certainly it's scanned from a two-sided leaflet. I'm guessing TLG Japan didn't want people to see one side and miss the other, hence the indication of a side A and side B to the leaflet.

Simples!

Amps

[GRogall]

Not sure if this has been posted but here a none confidential japanese pic!?

[lightningtiger]

If you look and think carefully, an old school pilot and mummy...hmm, Pharaohs Quest ?

Fisherman.....hmm, the rumoured city harbour sub-theme ?

We have already had a Ninja, next a Samurai Warrior....hmm, NinjaGo ?

Do you think that these figures could be teasers for future themes or sets ?

Keep on....collecting !

[Mrlegoninja]

Not sure if this has been posted but here a none confidential japanese pic!?

Preety good figs, loving the sports ones.

[Baylego]

Do I spy Toy Story arms and legs on the gorilla If they are, that one will be a must buy! I am also really liking the Samurai, elf, and alien minifigs. Those will be the ones I want plenty multiples of!

[prateek]

Do I spy Toy Story arms and legs on the gorilla If they are, that one will be a must buy! I am also really liking the Samurai, elf, and alien minifigs. Those will be the ones I want plenty multiples of!

Hmmmm

Maybe! Good find