Yes indeed the alien pets carry connotations that resemble the brain slugs, but then again, that is a very generic alien design, and can't be pin-pointed to a specific case or show.

This whole theme oozes generic retro-Alien invasion and that's the main reason I already love it. Gimme retro-alien-cliché-overload!

This whole theme oozes generic retro-Alien invasion and that's the main reason I already love it. Gimme retro-alien-cliché-overload!

Agreed! Somehow no matter how cliche something is, as soon as it's built in Lego it either looks neat, brilliant or adorable and so you can't lose!

This new theme seems really interesting, and has certainly put a smile on my face when viewing the set designs. I am not really a Space person, but I am sure to buy a few of these sets purely for the novelty factor (7051 Tripod Invader and 7052 Abduction are must have sets, who could not need those?!). I like the way that if you had collected SP3 then these would blend in nicely. My only reservation is the Light Blue colour scheme for the Human Defenders, I just personally dislike that colour for a human defence force. But I will just swap human defenders with SP3 or Dino Attack torsos. All in all, this looks like a fun packed action space theme that adults can enjoy aswell.

I'm curious about what's being used for the outer ring of the mothership. The inside of it is lined with trans blue tiles and the outside has trans neon lime/yellow grille ones, but they appear to attach to the underneath of the ring via plates. The ring itself seems like a continuous black rubber track of some sort. Is it a technic part? I'm not familiar with technic parts. there is indeed empty space beteen the ring, cross struts and cockpit. the photoshopped light glare around the ship makes it seem like it's clear panels but it's definitely empty space.

There's potential for modification to a more solid saucer hull. The old UFO quarter saucer panels some slopes and wing plates. I can see interesting MOCs forming in my head. And someone with more money and parts than I'll ever have is bound to supersize this at some point.

I like the way that if you had collected SP3 then these would blend in nicely. My only reservation is the Light Blue colour scheme for the Human Defenders, I just personally dislike that colour for a human defence force. But I will just swap human defenders with SP3 or Dino Attack torsos. All in all, this looks like a fun packed action space theme that adults can enjoy aswell.

I agree. I am surprised more people are not seeing this as a perfect followup to SP3. Though the supposed dates are a bit off (AC = 1950s; SP3 = 2250s?), the themes are going to go nicely together. I can easily see Squidman buying a Tripod Invader at the used Tripod Invader lot. What would a used Tripod Invader salesman look like? Snake?

The blue used on the Earth Defense Force minifigs looks similar to the blue used on the recently re-released Maersk Container Ship. I wonder if the batches of blue that didn't meet Maersk's specifications ended up being tinted and recycled into these minifigs.

What would a used Tripod Invader salesman look like?

OMG you just inspired my first moc when this line comes out!

I agree. I am surprised more people are not seeing this as a perfect followup to SP3. Though the supposed dates are a bit off (AC = 1950s; SP3 = 2250s?), the themes are going to go nicely together. I can easily see Squidman buying a Tripod Invader at the used Tripod Invader lot. What would a used Tripod Invader salesman look like? Snake?

What a fun idea! To be honest, although this started out looking like a continuation of the SP3 line, the more and more I look at these sets, the more I realize just how dissimilar they are to the police sets.

This is different era, but also different genre; SP3 is sci-fi with alien/human mixed societies where both posses advanced technology and aliens are more of a nuisance than a threat. AC is a War of the worlds, Area 51, Independence Day mash-up of Earth based humans fighting for their lives with aged technology and aliens who are clearly there to pillage and burn.

In a way this is a first for Lego; no other alien invader has been this deadly, powerful and driven to eradicating humanity. There is no attempt to make the aliens look like admirable bad guys; they are a pest, slimy looking and invasive (cue brain slug attack) Even the UFO theme let you play with hilarious-looking robots and complex spacecraft while AC has little of that. (They are cute in a cartoony kind of way but still creepy as hell)

I don't think the theme is set in the 1950's, whilst the aliens are the classic villains of the B-Movies of that era (with the flying saucers and tripods), the human defenders seem to me to have reasonably advanced technology. Say set within the next 50 years or so, I think this looking at the Jet Copter or Earth Defence HQ. The box art does not portray a particularly futuristic city like SP3, but neither does it seem retro enough to be 50 years ago.

I'd say it's more present day. or very near future. the earth force vehicles aren't that far off vehicles in current use by various military organisations. The blue colour scheme throws it off. If they'd been dark green or dark tan they wouldn't look so futuristic.

I'm wondering now what planet the aliens are from. They fit the little green men from mars image but equally the old little green men from venus. Oh wait, men are from mars and women are from venus..... No that's something else entirely.

Anyhoo, yes, retro aliens, modern earth defense.

I'd say it's more present day. or very near future. the earth force vehicles aren't that far off vehicles in current use by various military organisations. The blue colour scheme throws it off. If they'd been dark green or dark tan they wouldn't look so futuristic.

I'm wondering now what planet the aliens are from. They fit the little green men from mars image but equally the old little green men from venus. Oh wait, men are from mars and women are from venus..... No that's something else entirely.

Anyhoo, yes, retro aliens, modern earth defense.

I agree. The look of AC is definately present day or "in the near future." I think I was trying to compare sci-fi genres according to their primary historical placement: saucer-bubble-craft-with-legs saw its zenith from Verne up until 50s and 60s; while SP3 seems to draw on all the gritty, always raining, post-Mars colony, post-apocalypse you see emerge from the 80s and 90s where society is still being held together somewhere in the next fifty to a hundred years or so. Wow--trying to discuss AC or SP3 in terms of traditional sci-fi makes my head hurt.

One quick question: I have tried to examine the HD pictures from the retail catalog, but I can't seem to see the head slugs and a few other details. I must be getting old. Could someone post "looking directions" or images with the most important features circled? Or would that be against forum rules?

If there are little green head slugs in these sets, then my wallet will suffer.

One quick question: I have tried to examine the HD pictures from the retail catalog, but I can't seem to see the head slugs and a few other details. I must be getting old. Could someone post "looking directions" or images with the most important features circled? Or would that be against forum rules?

If there are little green head slugs in these sets, then my wallet will suffer.

The "head slugs" we are referring to are the "alien pets" in the theme. They are clearly visible in the pics which makes me think you are actually looking for little brain slugs.

The "head slugs" we are referring to are the "alien pets" in the theme. They are clearly visible in the pics which makes me think you are actually looking for little brain slugs.

Ha! Maybe--looking at the pictures again, it looks like in the Earth Defense HQ one of the blue ADF fellows has some bright green headgear and his helmet is on the ground. Is this one of the "pets" we are talking about?

Ha! Maybe--looking at the pictures again, it looks like in the Earth Defense HQ one of the blue ADF fellows has some bright green headgear and his helmet is on the ground. Is this one of the "pets" we are talking about?

Yes they are in a few sets: Look at the tripod invader (the business man is being attacked by it), and the alien mother-ship (the reporter is being attacked there)

Had to dig way back to find the photos again: http://www.mediafire.com/?es662za8qdaa0ad

7051 Tripod invader shows a man getting attacked to the head by a one-eyed green "helmet".

I think 7065 Alien Mothership has one as well, fig on roof has something green on the head and the box art seem to have one in the top right corner. Also love the alien with exposed brain!

7066 Earth Defense HQ has the one-eyed green "helmet" attached to a non-Alien fig. It's also clearly visible on the box art (top right corner).

7050 Alien Defender looks like the worst set in the bunch. Also not that fond of the 7067 Jet-Copter Encounter but the alien ships look really swooshable! If the prices are OK I will probably get 'em all anyway.

And I agree on the analysis, near future here on earth. Perhaps not very near since the 7066 Earth Defense HQ has a earth-forces ship on the roof of the truck (could of course be confiscated Alien tech with Wikus Van De Merwe behind the controls).

Area 51 has had a long time to work out how alien tech works.

Thanks for the help--they are clearly in many sets.

I think this subgenre of space is really going to inspire a lot of vignettes, a lot of MOCs. Hats off to the thinkers at lego. I collected most of SP3 and thought that would be it for a while. I thought wrong.

I'm not sure I will shell out for the large ADF sets. But my desk has room for two or five Tripod Invaders.

Or I'd like to make a SP3 "Squidtron's Used Space Parts" store with a broken down Tripod Invader (7051), a stripped Alienator (6876), a wheeless rocket launcher up on blocks (462), and hidden behind a bunch of empty hyper-fuel tanks, a gutted Raid VPR (5981). You need to pay extra space credits (100?) to get access to the VPR. Hey Squidtron's risking a lot to provide used Space Police technology...

Am I the only one who likes the human defense force sets?

Am I the only one who likes the human defense force sets?

I really like the human vehicles in this theme, probably more than I like the alien ships. I think people aren't that impressed with the human vehicles because they are not very futuristic. They really don't have that "Lego Space" feel to them. To me, they seem to fit better in the Lego City Theme as just advanced military units.

When SP3 was first leaked, I was not a fan of the alien ships. I didn't think they were futuristic enough or high-tech enough to fit into what were my perceptions of what "Lego Space" was all about. However, the alien ships from SP3 really grew on me. I actually like them even more than the police sets from the theme.

Anyone notice on the boxes of the Mothership and UFO invader, the oval-shaped yellow tag in the lower right corner? It looks like they have some kind of light brick or sound box in them. Or maybe it's just to heighten excitement, but I kind of doubt that.

Anyone notice on the boxes of the Mothership and UFO invader, the oval-shaped yellow tag in the lower right corner? It looks like they have some kind of light brick or sound box in them. Or maybe it's just to heighten excitement, but I kind of doubt that.

The box of the UFO abduction has a tag in the lower corner that says "Abduction Function and Light Effect"

The mother ship has a similar tag that reads "Sound Effect". These are clearly readable, are you still looking at the blurry pictures by any chance?

Edited January 5, 201114 yr by Sirens-Of-Titan

Had to dig way back to find the photos again: http://www.mediafire.com/?es662za8qdaa0ad

Awesome Folder, Thanks :D

The New Space theme Looks pretty wicked, I really like the little monster who is jumping on the lego figures head in set 7051.

Also I am very curious why they used the old pitchfork in set 7052, I wonder if they are also going to use the trident of atlantis or will use the old design.

Also In set 7052 I see the new color space suit wich is pretty sweet, I think we can build a hole color army now of space man :P.

futher, I also spot some new awesome weapons in set 7052, and I spot the Minifigure collection gun in set 7066.

I am not a space fan but I think I might get them all :D because they are so awesome.

Beter then I ever expected another space theme that would be released

Awesome Folder, Thanks :D

The New Space theme Looks pretty wicked, I really like the little monster who is jumping on the lego figures head in set 7051.

Also I am very curious why they used the old pitchfork in set 7052, I wonder if they are also going to use the trident of atlantis or will use the old design.

Also In set 7052 I see the new color space suit wich is pretty sweet, I think we can build a hole color army now of space man :P.

futher, I also spot some new awesome weapons in set 7052, and I spot the Minifigure collection gun in set 7066.

I am not a space fan but I think I might get them all :D because they are so awesome.

Beter then I ever expected another space theme that would be released

I like your excitement but please read the thread a few pages back before you post; 90% of what you just said has been discussed to great lengths for a month now and it's getting very repetitive. The trident is not a new design its just a a preliminary substitute.

I like your excitement but please read the thread a few pages back before you post; 90% of what you just said has been discussed to great lengths for a month now and it's getting very repetitive. The trident is not a new design its just a a preliminary substitute.

Mini-Mod... I really don't think many people mind.

I have suddenely been clouded with doubt over this theme. It looks good, but I don't know whether I actually want it. It's strange, I thought I would love the look of this theme but I just have started thinking its not me. Anyway, that might change with time.

Edited January 5, 201114 yr by The crazy one

I like your excitement but please read the thread a few pages back before you post; 90% of what you just said has been discussed to great lengths for a month now and it's getting very repetitive. The trident is not a new design its just a a preliminary substitute.

Yeah seriously! We don't discuss the 2011 Space Theme in the 2011 Space Theme topic. It's not like people use internet boards to express their opinions. You better make sure you've read through the entire 20-page topic before you post just to make sure you don't bore the lurkers with a common opinion. For shame.

...on a more relevant note, is anyone else bothered by the overly cartoony look to the aliens? I know I mentioned this before but I just feel like the play value is seriously hindered by the somewhat childish vibe to them. The humans look more serious than the aliens. As epic as that Tripod is I have trouble seeing an army of those things on the march when they're being piloted by a big green square with eyes and a purple skin suit.

This is a pretty minor hindrance though. I'm still going to be buying MANY of these. The Tripod and Abduction set being obvious must-haves.

Edited January 6, 201114 yr by Algernon