Which 'Space' theme should LEGO revive?

[projectINO]

So many good points on this thread, its exciting to see most certainly.

I actually contacted Lego a few years back about reviving Aquazone and the response I got was a little sad, but since that time they've started to hint more at old themes than they ever had. The blacktron emblem in the collectible minifigures and Space Police was a good example above, and the upcoming movie is going to revive a lot of classic themes as well.

That being said, I think if they do revisit any classic themes it'll be much like the upgrades through the various generations of Blacktron and Space Police. It'll be a new aesthetic following some basic elements, bringing the theme to a new generation.

And now to my votes... I had to vote for a couple, no doubt.

My top pick is Unitron. I felt Unitron were the spiritual successors of M-Tron. Both seemed to be an engineering corps, making it possible for the other themes to go about their business. Sadly, Unitron was such a limited theme with so few sets. Sure, they had one of the largest monorail sets, but they didn't get their chance to shine. Their uniforms are so darn iconic!

That being said, I wouldn't ever be surprised if M-Tron or Exploriens were revived before them. M-Tron had such a great catalog presence and I have little doubt that they could be modernized to great success. The red and black color scheme hasn't been used a lot recently, especially with transparent neon green elements. I know they could do a wide variety of sets and really go wild.

I'd like to see Exploriens done again, but they had one of the widest varieties of sets already and they might not want to rehash it all.

And now the bad guys... From what I've read on this board, Blacktron has more support than I ever knew and it has more of a foothold for a revival than any of the other sets (as we've established with the minifigures), but I reall want to see Spyrius back. They are so insidious, so conniving. I really wonder how they would look with a less angular design, or if that would under-cut their design.

[DPrime]

An, good thread before my time!

Well, I say Classic Space all the way. I freely admit I'm biased - its what I grew up with, after all. But really, why not? Retro is in, baby!

[Tom Jurassic]

I wouldn't mind seeing more Alien Conquest sets, since I think an ADU Base with a Helipad for the Jet-Copter, an Armoury, a Staff Rec-Room and other stuff would be awesome, since the design on it could be really sleek, modern and beautiful looking. :D Other ADU Sets could include maybe a Tank, or other things. Would be sweet. :D

[Hrw-Amen]

They could do with a space theme to link ADU with the Galaxy Squad, after all they are essentially the same uniform just different colours and the blue squad not even that different. Maybe something showing that Galaxy Squad are a natural progression when the ADU take the fight out to the alien homeworlds.

For my own models and stuff, I have now the original aliens from the ADU sets have made peace with Earth and the ADU and I have a couple of those aliens actually in the ADU uniforms to act as liasons. The new threat from the bug aliens threatened to over run both Earth and the ADU aliens home planet with their squishy mucky bug paws and the only way for them to be defeated was to quickly end the war and team up to fight side by side against the encroaching bugs. That way we see aliens (From the CMF series.) equipped in heavy armour alongside humans going into battle against the new bug threat.

[Tom Jurassic]

Nice! :-D

[Blacktron]

When I see all this support for Blacktron and Classic Space here, I really think TLG should try a remake of those classic themes. I'm not sure if there are enough nostalgic classic space fans out there who would support a line like this. But on the other hand it seems Space sets aren't very successfull at all these days. Alien conquest did'nt do so well and it seems Galaxy Squad isn't that successfull either. So maybe it would'nt hurt TLG to give it a try. They could do only one wave with some updated classic space colored ships and vehicles and a few blacktron vehicles in this same wave as oponents. I would love to see that. Rench and the CMF space vallain showed how cool an updated blacktron line could be.

[Tom Jurassic]

What did the Classic Space and Blacktron lines include? :-) Only got into Lego in 2011. :-P

[Galaxy Explorer]

What did the Classic Space and Blacktron lines include? :-) Only got into Lego in 2011. :-P

Classic Space pretty much covers all the Space sets released from 1978-1987. Most of these sets were spacecraft, land vehicles, and bases centered around peaceful exploration, although most of the spaceships had unmistakable weaponry. There were no named factions other than all the minfigures were five different colors. The first Blacktron sets showed up in 1987, alongside the Futuron theme. Blacktron appeared to be the first true adversary in LEGO Space, even requiring a police force to contain them. The Blacktron theme was "retired" after two waves, then relaunched in 1991 as Blacktron: Future Generation.

Hope that helps out a bit!

[Tom Jurassic]

Thank you! :-D Sounds awesome, want to see them back!!!! :-D

[DPrime]

When I see all this support for Blacktron and Classic Space here, I really think TLG should try a remake of those classic themes. I'm not sure if there are enough nostalgic classic space fans out there who would support a line like this. But on the other hand it seems Space sets aren't very successfull at all these days. Alien conquest did'nt do so well and it seems Galaxy Squad isn't that successfull either. So maybe it would'nt hurt TLG to give it a try. They could do only one wave with some updated classic space colored ships and vehicles and a few blacktron vehicles in this same wave as oponents. I would love to see that. Rench and the CMF space vallain showed how cool an updated blacktron line could be.

These days, we have to take "success" in the context that Star Wars is really Lego's main "space" line and will be for the foreseeable future.

As for me, I got burned out on that a few years back - so much so that it started a second "dark age"! Seems to happen with anything SW though... Only SW stuff I can handle collecting are the vintage Kenner figs, since I know there's an end...

But I digress. Maybe Galaxy Squad wasn't the hit that SW is, but as long as space is profitable I guess it's a success, right?

As much as I'd love to see a revival of Classic Space, I'd honestly be thrilled just to see a CS Spaceman in a different colour in the CMF series. That'd be enough. :)

[Blacktron]

As for me, I got burned out on that a few years back - so much so that it started a second "dark age"! Seems to happen with anything SW though... Only SW stuff I can handle collecting are the vintage Kenner figs, since I know there's an end...

It's the same with me. I was collecting Star Wars since my childhood and have a very large collection of vintage and new line Star Wars figures from Hasbro and Kenner. But I stopped collecting during the prequel trilogy. I just didn't like the new movies as much as I love the old ones. I've never collected Lego Star Wars. I simply think the sets are much to expensive.

As much as I'd love to see a revival of Classic Space, I'd honestly be thrilled just to see a CS Spaceman in a different colour in the CMF series. That'd be enough. :)

Agreed - I would love to see that too. I think it's time to see a new CMF astronaut. So far we had only 2. I count the other guys as blacktron/robots/aliens. How do you imagine those revival astronauts? 1:1 the old design or updated ones? For me it would be like the CMF series 1 astronaut, but with the classic space logo on the chest and no other printings on legs, arms and torso.

[Commander Cold]

I love Ice Planet 2002, so that was my top pick.

I also liked many of the Space themes of that Era, Next one down is Spyrius and Unitron.

I personally liked BT1 Better than BT2, Just like I liked SP1 better than SP2.

[Commander Cold]

I still think that Space Villans are Better HUMAN!

Aliens just don't do it for me.

[Captain Blockbeard]

^I agree that Lego Space should have its share of human villains again. In a sense, the Space theme has been a bit racist with all aliens categorized as "evil."

My top picks are:

Blacktron, M-Tron, Ice Planet, and Spyrius.

[Galaxy Explorer]

I voted Classic Space, not just out of nostalgia, but for it's longevity- the theme lasted a decade while other space themes ran 2-3 years at best. I would want a new Classic Space styled theme to run for years. I just don't know if LEGO would commit that much time to such a peaceful science fiction theme. But yes, the thought of all new official sets featuring blue and grey spaceships with trans-yellow windscreens makes me giggle.

[DPrime]

Agreed - I would love to see that too. I think it's time to see a new CMF astronaut. So far we had only 2. I count the other guys as blacktron/robots/aliens. How do you imagine those revival astronauts? 1:1 the old design or updated ones? For me it would be like the CMF series 1 astronaut, but with the classic space logo on the chest and no other printings on legs, arms and torso.

Nah... that CMF figure wasn't REALLY a Classic Space Astronaut, though I would have no problem integrating him into my CS collection. I was talking classic design.

What with all the alien talk, though... I really wouldn't mind an alien CS minifig, either... It would probably change the way I look at the whole CS "universe" from one that was pre-alien contact to something more akin to Star Trek, but that's cool. :)

[Hey Joe]

Hey, what about Alien Conquest? It's a great Space theme that fits right into Town.

Joe

[M'Kyuun]

I'd be thrilled to see TLG figure a way to reintroduce those old blue and grey wedge shaped ships of yore. Those sets were, and remain, quite visually striking, which is why they've become iconic. It's lamentable that conflict in a box is now requisite, because a return to exploration would be a nice change, as well as presenting opportunities to the designers to make some non-combat related space vehicles. Beyond that, there's nothing that says they'd have to stay tied to any particular color scheme. One need only Google "LEGO starships" and marvel at the variety of space MOCs out there...most notably NNENN's incredible Flickr photostream. Anyway, along with Classic Space, I also voted for Blacktron, Futuron, and UFO. There was much to love about both waves of Blacktron, and Futuron popped with those white vehicle/trans blue cockpits. Futuron had a nice clean look to them that really appealed to me, not to mention I liked the vehicle designs themselves. Lastly, I've never had the sense that the UFO theme was that popular; however, it definitely struck a chord with me. To this day, the alien figs are some of my all-time favorites due to the unique and complex printing, as well as those awesome helmets. The theme had a variety of ship designs while maintaining the overall lenticular look. The Alien Avenger set was packed with features and exemplified the theme. It's still one of my favorite sets. Before pics of the Alien Conquest Mothership were revealed, I had hoped that it would be heavily influenced by the Alien Avenger. I was a little disappointed. Anyway, those are my picks for a Space revival, although I'd be happy to see any of the old Space themes homaged in a modern set.

[Bob De Quatre]

Hey, what about Alien Conquest? It's a great Space theme that fits right into Town.

Joe

I agree Alien Conquest need some love

Maybe a redesign, but as you said it fits both space and city themes

[Dr Leg O Brick]

Hi,

Personally, Classic Space, Blacktron, and Space Police, although I would like some M-Tron Miners for Blacktron to Terrorize. I love Blacktron (And even Blacktron 2, if give them big guns and other cool, dangerous equipment), and they would be the perfect villains. After CMF Series 11's Evil Mech with BT1 Logo, Series 3's Cyborg with the BT2 logo and the green guy from SP3, I am thoroughly convinced Lego could do a good job on Blacktron. And its possible we will get another in CM Series 12 Lego Movie Series.

SP, well, you need good guys to fight the bad guys and to keep the peace, and Classic Space, who wouldn’t want the Spaceman from CMF Series 1 in red, Black, normal blue and yellow? I'd prefer that they'd do it like Star Trek, i.e. lets talk and resolve are differences (with phasers and photon Torpedoes on standby) than Lets kill all the aliens!

And as someone else has done this, this is how my Space universe works, and of course, no copyright infringement intended to the many I P’s that I've got in there. Classic Space and Futuron are "Starfleet", on a mission to seek out new life and new civilisations, with Ice Planet a group of Scientists on a barren Class L world. Blacktron, the villains, keep a low profile in the shadows. Space police are the SHEILD of my space universe, going after the villains and locking them up, protecting colonists and civilians, and pulling people out of time like Johnny Thunder and Agent Chase to work for them. M-Tron are a haulage/Mining company in a dangerous rivalry with the Power Miners who are in turn rivals of the Rock Raiders. The ADU are long gone, protecting Legoland from alien threats hundreds of years ago. Galaxy Squad are SPECTRUM, a special Marine Like group protecting research bases for Starfleet. The aliens from Alien Conquest are The Dominion, from a distant part of the galaxy who are extremely dangerous and powerful. Spyrus, well, spy, and the Aliens from Galaxy Squad are the Xindi, mysterious aliens who everyone except Blacktron has had no contact with. Anybody I left out I use as Civilians or small groups of aliens (like UFO) or I haven’t got any of them (Like Roboforce or Exploriens). And that, I think, is the most of topic post I've ever wrote.

[naf]

When I see all this support for Blacktron and Classic Space here, I really think TLG should try a remake of those classic themes. I'm not sure if there are enough nostalgic classic space fans out there who would support a line like this. But on the other hand it seems Space sets aren't very successfull at all these days. Alien conquest did'nt do so well and it seems Galaxy Squad isn't that successfull either. So maybe it would'nt hurt TLG to give it a try. They could do only one wave with some updated classic space colored ships and vehicles and a few blacktron vehicles in this same wave as oponents. I would love to see that. Rench and the CMF space vallain showed how cool an updated blacktron line could be.

Like the comment above said, retro is in. I think there are a lot of 30-somethings right now who are having children, and because of this are getting nostolgic for their old Lego sets. I know I'm definitely in this category. If Lego did a remake of classic space, or futuron (my vote, it was always my absolute favority space theme), I think it would do well. The key would be to keep the spirit of these classic sets to get the AFOLs to buy in, while keeping it fresh and new for the next generation of space fans.

[Commander Cold]

If you guys like IP2002 and Spyrius, they battle in this great video!

[DPrime]

Hey, what about Alien Conquest? It's a great Space theme that fits right into Town.

Joe

This was a theme I found REALLY interesting... I was in my "second dark age" so I didn't buy any of the sets, but I was tempted!

I think it's a bit too recent for a revival, though...

Like the comment above said, retro is in. I think there are a lot of 30-somethings right now who are having children, and because of this are getting nostolgic for their old Lego sets. I know I'm definitely in this category. If Lego did a remake of classic space, or futuron (my vote, it was always my absolute favority space theme), I think it would do well. The key would be to keep the spirit of these classic sets to get the AFOLs to buy in, while keeping it fresh and new for the next generation of space fans.

I have a feeling "1980-something Space Guy" is going to strike a chord with us... I could see an influx of new collectors coming in soon, if the movie's a hit (and I think it will be).

[Rook]

Lego has really been a bad guys vs good guys type toy market so I'd have to go with Blacktron & Futuron.

[Tom Jurassic]

Just want a cool Space Base!!! :-D