Minifigures are one of my favourite things about Lego – and series 12 is on the way (possibly even out in your country by the time you read this). So to celebrate this upcoming release, every day this week, we’ll be looking at a different minifigure from the series that have come before. This is by no means a comprehensive overview – nor even necessarily a look at my favourites – but it’s an example of some of the unusual figures the line has produced since it debuted back in 2010. Today, we look at a figure from series 6 -- the Classic Alien. “The truth is around here somewhere!”
The pyramids? These guys built them. The microwave? They invented it. Elvis? Got him right up there on the mothership. All of those totally out-there conspiracy theories about little gray men from outer space are absolutely 100% true – or at least, that’s what the Classic Alien believes.
You see, he’s been out of communication with the home planet for a while (thanks to that whole Area 51 thing), and all of his recent news has come from what he’s read in supermarket tabloids and seen on the internet. Those reporters and bloggers really seem to know their stuff, so he figures they must have the real scoop. After all, if it’s not all true, then what’s he even doing here?
-- Lego.com biography
The Grey (or "the Gray", for my American readers. Possibly the most ubiquitous image of a possible extra-terrestrial doing the rounds today, thanks in no small part to Whitley Strieber’s Communion.
Fortunately, this particular alien is a little less disturbing, and
more on the cutesy end of the spectrum. Considering my youthful (and partially
ongoing) obsession with UFOs and the possibility of extra-terrestrial life, it
was a given that I’d pick this guy up. Indeed, I would like to pick up several,
and build a miniature invading force of them. Also, I need a Lego Pyramid and
Lego Stonehenge built, so they’d be helpful for that too. But nowadays they’re
a wee bit more expensive than when they were first released (though not much more!), so I’d best
restrain myself. The figure itself is pretty basic. He's cast in grey, and seems to be wearing a slightly darker grey loincloth -- which is the same grey his hands are cast in, too. He's also got some grey detailing printed on his chest to him that emaciated look that seems to be common in their depction. Presumably he doesn't need to wear clothes, or they just haven't given him any at Area 51. That's not being a good host at all!
The Classic Alien comes with one accessory, which can be split into two – a ray gun with a glowing green “shot”. He’ll overbalance when the shot is inserted into the gun unless he’s on his stand, but I tend to display him without weapons. As with all other minifigures, he also comes with a basic black stand.
Minifigures with non-standard heads are a bit of a mixed bag. Most of The Simpsons series look fine, but the simplicity of the Lego look is something that’s a big draw for me – how much can you do with such a simple aesthetic? A whole buttload, it turns out. I guess Lego fans were all collecting designer toys well before the concept had even been developed. But I digress. In this particular instance, a modified head was the right way to go. One of my co-workers described it as looking “a little bit bootleg”, but I don’t think that diminishes its charm at all.
The Classic Alien is a great addition to the range, and a
strong personal favourite. Hopefully we see more UFOlogy-related figures in future series!
Thanks for the memory [possibly repressed] of the lego grey in Ancient Ægypt -- would be good to see them moving pyramid blocks with the green ray gun -- Seymour Knutts.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't use their ray guns for that, they had telekinesis. The ray guns were keeping the locals in line.
DeleteI don't remember the ray guns in Cecil B, De Mille's "The 10 Commandments", but telekinesis is probably good for moving huge blocks of stone. -- Seymour Knutts
ReplyDelete