Blocks takes to the stars in an wacky spaceship to seek out the best LEGO alien minifigure characters from over the years.
The LEGO Group is no stranger to space and neither is the minifigure. Some of the very first minifigures in 1978 were astronauts, ready to explore the cosmos with their futuristic spaceships and tech. It took the brave minifigure astronauts a long time to find any signs of alien life, but once the first LEGO alien appeared, the floodgates were opened and plenty have now made themselves known to minifigure-kind.
The most common place to find alien minifigures is in the space-centred themes, such as Alien Conquest and Space Police III. But aliens have made their way into plenty of other areas of the LEGO world, with many featuring in the Collectible Minifigures line. With the LEGO Group taking a particular interest in space in 2024, Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, is hopping in the nearest spaceship and blasting off to find some of the best LEGO alien minifigures to date.
Classic Alien
When you think of aliens, one of the first things to come to mind may be the classic grey creature with giant void-like eyes. And that style of alien is exactly what 8827 Series 6’s Classic Alien is based on. This minifigure is by far the simplest of the figures on this list, but sometimes it’s nice to lean into the clichés and just have some fun. This minifigure does feature a unique head piece to capture the alien’s distinct look — the rounded shape, large eyes and stern mouth all make for an imposing figure. And the included laser gun only further establishes the Classic Alien as someone you wouldn’t want to meet out in space.
Zotaxian Alien – Blue Officer
LEGO Space dabbled in the world of alien civilizations and spacecraft in the 1990s. The Zotaxian Alien Officer landed in 1997, appearing in two sets that year, including 6975 Alien Avenger. Considering the time period in which this figure released, the detail is nothing short of impressive. The figure has intricate detailing on both the torso and legs, as well as a terrifying face print on a trans-neon green head. The alien’s identity is shielded by a no-less-terrifying helmet and shoulder guard, sure to make any passing astronauts think twice about landing on this alien’s planet.
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Space Creature
While the Zotaxian Alien may be geared up for battle, 71032 Series 22’s Space Creature is just here to have a good time. A creative use of the usual minifigure head piece lets the Space Creature have a wide smile, and a special attachment adds two eye stalks to let the Space Creature stand out among other LEGO alien minifigures. The rest of the figure is a tasteful mix of simple and intricate; the main torso print is just the Classic Space logo — a fun nod to LEGO Space’s history — while the arms and legs receive some interesting details to add some flair to an otherwise plain spacesuit. A container with some sort of chemical is attached to the Space Creature’s back, and seems to be connected to the blaster in his hand, showing that maybe the Space Creature is having fun with something he isn’t supposed to…
Alien Commander
LEGO Alien Conquest landed on shelves in 2011 with the intent to, well, conquer. And the invading aliens served their mighty Alien Commander, who led the army from the giant 7065 Alien Mothership. The Alien Commander takes the awesome designs of the other aliens from the theme and makes them even better. The torso print shows the commander to be a highly decorated leader, as does his shoulder accessory. While the standard aliens have usual legs, the Commander has green tentacles. And his head is a mix of regular lime green and trans-neon green, creating an even more striking figure. The Alien Defence Force is sure to have its hands full fighting against this frightening creature.
Squidman
Some aliens are out to conquer other worlds, while others are more worried about making a quick buck. Squidman falls into the latter category, and much to his detriment, isn’t particularly good at what he does, finding himself in frequent run-ins with the Space Police, like in 5969 Squidman Escape. This minifigure is nothing short of hilarious, with a ridiculous head piece that has his eyes looking directly up and a tongue permanently stuck out. Squidman’s torso is fairly simple, but the luxurious cape more than makes up for it. But it does raise the question of whether or not he acquired it with legitimate funds. Moral quandaries aside, Squidman is still one of the best LEGO alien minifigures.
Agree with the list? Or is another intergalactic minifigure your favourite? Let Blocks know on any of our social media channels.
Selected images courtesy of Brickset.com