TalonCard

That new logo is amazing--it has just the right amount of swashbuckle. Time to start saving my change again... TC

<p> Indeed! Thank you so much for posting the link. I always enjoy reading early drafts of my favorite movies because you can see the writers working towards the best, most meaningful version of the story. Some thoughts: TC

That's still more pieces than I would have expected...I only have 10040; what are the extra bricks used for? TC

PCVando, I am very interested in the board game that came with the set! Every time I think I know all there is to know about Classic Pirates, something new turns up. I'm so glad I decided to check out your review, even though I already have this set.. Can you please, please, please post a better picture of the board game and especially the instructions? I would really like to be able to read them (and that mustachioed soldier minifigure seems to be one-of-a-kind) and I'd love to be able to make the game board my desktop wallpaper. Amazing find! TC

The movie has also been in development for a good long while--possibly longer than Friends, even? TC

Really, the obvious sequel idea to broaden the story's scope would be... TC

A side note about the relation of the LEGO Movie characters to the other LEGO worlds, Friends and Ninjago and what have you: TC

You're right, that was definitely an issue even as before I posted the list. I did address it in brief a couple of pages back, but you make a really good point and it's worth addressing in detail. The main problem here is one of space: DC and Marvel's continuities have been around for decades, and there are simply too many planets in too many universes to document here. Star Wars has the same issue. And Galidor had how many planets now? Even some of the minor, minor tie-in franchises have multiple planets to keep track of; I'm pretty sure the Back to the Future cartoon had aliens, I know The Simpsons does, and Avatar: The Last Airbender showed us many planets in the same system as whatever fantasy world that show takes place on. Heck, what about the fictional-universe-within-the-universe that is Buzz Lightyear's home franchise? Would we end up counting those too? That said, it's been pretty clear since they started making Star Wars cartoon specials and LEGO Superheroes comic books that there is a sort of separate, wackier continuity that each of these LEGO versions of all of these movies/comic books/cartoons inhabit. (In fact, I would be surprised if Marvel's LEGO universe didn't get an official Marvel multiverse numbered designation at some point.) So perhaps it would be feasible to go through all of the LEGO exclusive video games, comics, and magazine features to pull out which of the outside franchise worlds have been directly referenced in LEGO material. Again, though, that's still a lot of work. In addition, the Marvel Superheros video game pulls in characters and locations from all over the Marvel universe; not just the ones from the sets that have been released. (It has the added bonus of being about the only place you'll sort of see the screen versions of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men interact.) So it doesn't make any sense to assume that any of the planets not mentioned in LEGO sources don't exist in their LEGO universe counterparts. So here's what I propose: let's leave out the multiverses of the tie-in sets and focus on what is unique to LEGO. All of the tie-ins have extensive Wikis covering just about anything you'd want to know about their planets anyway. LEGO stories and universes don't have the same treatment, which is why I think this list is important. However, let's keep our eyes on those LEGO Superhero comics and what not. If, say, a LEGO Star Wars cartoon special were to mention the planet Appalacooine, which is unique to that cartoon and has not been mentioned in a regular Star Wars source, let's make a note of it. Same goes for any other universe. TC

Indeed--thank you for bringing him up, Waysof, I hadn't made that connection. I'm glad you said "almost". We certainly don't want to be like Lord Business; trying to dictate order over imagination. But, the official stories are poorly documented, needlessly obscure, and under appreciated. Many talented people have worked to create entertaining LEGO-based stories, so trying to sort them all out is absolutely a worthwhile endeavor. I want that set so much!!! True story: when Phantom Menace came out, I built something similar so all of my Star Wars minifigures could come watch the movie with me. There is also, of course, , which would seem to support your theory. Wyldstyle's comment about LEGO figurines is funnier than anything in the movie, and that's saying something. Thank you! I'm curious, what twist were you expecting? TC

Alright you guys, spoilers ahead for the LEGO Movie, so if you have not seen it, stop reading now and go see it. Seriously. I thought it would be okay to be spoiled for this movie. I was wrong. Thankfully I managed to miss some of the bigger plot points. Oky, I saw this post and had to laugh a little: The LEGO Movie is about as meta a movie as it gets. I take back everything I said about President Business--the whole megacorporation angle, while important, is not the main point of the character. It's a damn clever bit of misdirection. The makers of the movie aren't making a hamfisted attempt at satire; they're trying to say something about a certain branch of AFOLs that probably includes those of us who make detailed lists about the "official" LEGO universe. The enemy isn't some tired old cliche; the enemy is us. Well played. I'd like to make a more detailed analysis once I've seen the movie a couple of times, but it's clear that the filmmakers were less interested in exploring LEGO's universe(s) and more interested in the stories we choose to tell with LEGOs and what that says about us. That, I think, is the real question of "canon" at the heart of the LEGO Movie. So, why are the stories you tell with LEGO important to you? TC

Added a certain planet from The LEGO Movie--but don't check the list if you haven't seen it; it is a spoiler. TC

The recent LEGO Play Book builds a bit more on the background for the Alien Conquest homeworld(s). It picks up the Pluuvian Brain Beast bit and runs with it, listing the origin of at least one of the aliens as the Plutonic Nebula, and names a planet Pluton IV. This calls the planet Pluuvia's existence into question--I'm pretty sure it was only conjecture on my part, will have to double check. TC

That coin is a fascinating find...I'd love to get my hands on those one of these days! TC

Added some fascinating information about Holox/Armeron from the World Club Magazine... TC

Great review! I can't quite make out the name on the Wanted poster...can you tell me what it is? TC

Interesting find, Oky! I had wondered what the big deal was about the special Palace sticker. :) Of course, it does bring up the question of how aware the LEGO characters are of LEGO toys that they would make a whole movie about them. Then again, we've had multiple LEGO truck sets, even one with mini LEGO sets, so anything is possible. ;) I'm interested in those other poster stickers too...not only do we get more in-universe LEGO titles, we also see the names of LEGO actors...we should start a whole other thread for LEGO lore tidbits from stickers and other elements; I'm sure there are more... TC

We go into this a bit in the Planet index thread, but I don't think that Clutch Powers limits the interpretation of themes to each only existing on their own planet. They visit a Castle world, sure, but that doesn't mean that the main Castle theme couldn't have existed sometime in the past. At the end of the movie there's an info screen that says the next planet they will visit is 1970s themed; which would imply that the LEGO world went through a similar historical period. Star Trek had lots of planets whose histories ran parallel to Earth for various reasons; so it's not a convention that just applies to LEGO lore. I'll admit, though, one of the reasons I put off watching the movie for so long was that it just seemed to throw all the themes together. Also, I didn't think it would be any good--turns out I was wrong on both counts! It's well worth watching, though like every LEGO story it has lots of interesting plot elements that will never be followed up on. Well put--it's just artistic interpretation, and probably due to cost issues as well. It probably takes a long time to render realistic looking LEGO bricks! I wouldn't quite go that far--one could make the same argument about the comic stories created by writers for LEGO Publishing in the 80s, or the stuff Merlin comes up with for their LEGOLAND attractions. I think as long as LEGO is involved in some official capacity, it's fair game. We've had similar discussions in the Star Wars Expanded Universe forum I frequent. The Expanded Universe usually incorporates material and vehicles developed for toys into its continuity, but LEGO is a special case. At this point, there are even a number of LEGO Star Wars books outlining the continuity put forth in the LEGO Star Wars stories--The Padawan Menace and the Yoda Chronicles and what have you. I wish LEGO were as good about putting out guides to their own universe. I like to think it's in the Fabulox system from Hero Factory. This is exactly why investigating these stories is worthwhile. Thank you! One of the best things about this past year or so is finding out that there are other people interested in these things--and that they're willing to do some pretty heavy lifting to bring the older material to light. And there's a reason LEGO does this: kids eat stories and characters up. LEGO has done a lot of research to back this up. This is why you see a lot of character-heavy themes like Ninjago and Chima. But they're careful to leave a lot of open-ended stuff too. Personally, I'd much rather know about the history behind the Dragon/Lion Knight conflict in the new Castle sets than the umpty-bazillion animal tribes in Chima, but that's the way it goes... Ah, but Ms. Gleeson wasn't the mayor two years before LEGO City, before Chase was exiled. So it's possible she's moved on to another position if there is a different mayor. (Ms. Gleeson for governor?! ;) ) Nice! Whatever take this movie has on the nature of the LEGO universe, it looks like it's just going to be jam-packed with little references like these. I didn't realize that--it would be really annoying. When did the Castle sets become available? TC

Oky, you made my day by starting this topic. Just so everyone knows, I'm about to devote more words to the topic of the LEGO universe (multiverse?) than would be reasonable for any sane person. In saying this I freely acknowledge that I'm putting more thought into this subject than most have, including anyone at LEGO. If you're uncomfortable with that, look away, look away! ;) I would argue that by definition the initial trinity of themes were always intended to represent a kind of past, present, and future in what was then known as LEGOLAND. When Pirates came along it introduced an additional historical period, and it was even given a specific time and place in LEGO history. (Well, okay, a couple of different times, but that's a different discussion.) The concept of themes evokes a very specific time and place, and where there are storylines for various themes, they tend to support this assumption. Now, in practice, kids are going to have a lot of sets from a lot of themes, and they're going to want to play with them all together. So this has produced a sort of fundamental split in LEGO storytelling, where some stories show a sort of logical if fantastic universe with discernible but interconnected historical periods, while others throw every theme together higgledy piggledy. And it's not enough to merely separate every LEGO story into these two categories, as there is a considerable spectrum of tone and use of uniquely LEGO elements within LEGO lore. The early LEGO Pirate books, comic, and audio dramas deal with death, betrayal, and slavery, and portray the LEGO figures and sets as representations of human beings. More recent offerings such as LEGO City Undercover, and the Atlantis tie-ins feature gags that are only physically possible if the characters have the same features as LEGO minifigures. Nevertheless, their storylines are well developed and maintain a consistent sense of time and place. Even a few stories that would appear to meld all themes together go to the trouble of providing an explanation of why the themes are able to intermingle: Clutch Powers and LEGO Universe fall into this category. And sometimes the stories that just toss every theme together have a history of their own: LEGO Island has a pretty extensive backstory involving the Infomaniac as the creator of that particular locale. The Collectable Minifigure biographies allude freely to actual history, LEGO's own established continuity, and a sort of free-for-all world that the Collectable minifigures inhabit together without even acknowledging any contradictions in such an approach. And we haven't even gotten into the world(s) the LEGO Maniac seems to inhabit. I'm straying slightly from the topic at hand, but it's important to note that, appropriately, there is no recognized LEGO canon. There are enough elements to create one or more, however: these are the characters and themes created by LEGO and its various licensees over the years: the books, movies, theme park shows, and particularly the club magazines. This is sort of akin to playing with the sets and minifigures you buy. It's fun, it's entertaining, I think it's worthwhile, but it's only a fraction of the fun of LEGO. I've seen the term headcanon used in this thread, and it's appropriate. I think something like MOCanon might be more fun to adopt, though. :) Given that, it's less a question of how the LEGO Movie fits into canon than how much of it will fit into any particular perception of the LEGO universe. It's unclear at this point whether all of these disparate characters exist on the same world and time or if they use time or some kind of interdimensional travel to interact with one another. It is pretty clear that they will travel to different realms or planes of existence, so it might be best to consider the movie world as part of a greater multiverse. If they exist all on the same world, perhaps it is compatible with LEGO Island. These characters do seem to have an unprecedented awareness that they are LEGO figures from different themes. We've seen two hilarious in-jokes obviously targeted at AFOLs so far, and I expect there will be more. (My favorite is the inclusion of the 2002 NBA All-Stars amongst the esteemed Master Builders.) So that sets this interpretation of the LEGO world apart from most others. And I think the characterization of Batman in particular is less egotistical jerk and more how a five or seven year old might choose, in all seriousness, to play Batman. But perhaps more to the point, the LEGO Movie itself seems to be against a static interpretation of the LEGO universe; the plot seems to revolve around an evil figure gluing the pieces of the universe together for his own purposes. Given the choice of following directions or doing one's own thing, this movie appears to fall thematically and literally on the latter option. (This raises the question of why one would even produce sets with directions in the first place. But this is perhaps too complex a question for this movie.) Regarding Octan specifically; Oky is right, its use as an evil mega corporation is unique to this movie. It has been ubiquitous in earlier sets, but exclusively as an oil company. (For many years I assumed it was an actual company; there's nothing about the name or logo that gives it away as a LEGO creation. LEGO's occasional partnerships with Shell only muddied the waters.) LEGO has even shown it moving away from the negative 21st century associations with big oil companies: the recent Wind Turbine Transport set shows Octan diversifying into alternative forms of energy. Lord Business and Octan are the least satisfactory aspect of the movie storyline for me. LEGO's most memorable baddies are alien warlords, pirate captains, corrupt monarchs, and sorcerers--all colorful figures that kids can readily identify. An evil executive would appeal mainly to adults, but surely adults would recognize that the irony of condemning the omnipresense of megacorporations within a film produced by two megacorporations tends to blunt the satire. And it's just overdone at this point; the Lorax had an evil executive overlord similarly shoved into the storyline, and Dispicable Me's villains were beholden to an evil bank (!) of all things. Jokes about Emmet's zeal for explicitly overpriced coffee in particular feel like they've been imported from the 90's. (And as my sister pointed out, they missed a prime opportunity to tie-in a LEGO joke: everything in the LEGO world should cost exactly $100.) (As a side note, I would attribute Octan's evil status to a result of a hostile takeover and aggressive expansion, possibly by the more overtly sinister Pollutex and Blackwell Industries. But again, MOCanon.) Still, I dig the conflict between imaginative building and by-the-book permanence, which is one of the things that makes this movie uniquely LEGO. I adore the humor and the main protagonists. What really elevates this movie from being a run-of-the-mill tie-in is the brick-built look. It's not my favorite interpretation of the LEGO world (my heart will always belong to the gorgeous catalog dioramas of the 90's) but it's something we've never seen on this scale. I anticipate buying many tickets. (Lord Business would be proud.) IIRC (and it's open for interpretation), the Idea Book actually portrayed the Town theme as the "reality" for Bill and Mary--their travels to Castle and Space appeared to be fantasies fueled by a medieval themed fair and a sci-fi movie, respectively. On the other hand, I think a case can be made that Bill and Mary are the same characters as Captain Indigo and Polka-Dot from the Captain Indigo comics in Bricks 'n Pieces, who do travel through time and space. TC

I hope so too! Space Police just goes to show that you can never count a subtheme out no matter how long it's been gone. On the other hand, one would have thought Blacktron Third Generation would have been a logical follow-up to Space Police III, so we'll see... Thanks jamesster! I know you're more active with the Rock Raiders theme than I am...how well does a mid 21st century placement for the story hold up, given everything we do know "for sure" about the "future" from other sources? TC

Added Egibe from the Dutch LEGO Newsletter De LEGO Kraant. TC

I'll have to check out that webcomic--can you post a link? It sounds like fun. :) Spyrius and Blacktron have indeed cast a long shadow--there have been references to them as recently as this year. This supports the notion that Space factions don't really go away after the sets are phased out. I would imagine that there are some interesting jurisdictional issues between the Space Police/Robo Force/Unitron/Galaxy Squad factions. ;) Here's an updated version of the Space-related and future timeline events of the LEGO universe: EDIT: Updated to include more info on UFO, Rock Raiders, Ultra Agents, Galaxy Squad, Collectable Minifigures, and more. Plus more linky-goodness. Thanks to everyone who made these scans. EDIT 1/3/15 - Updated to include date from LEGO Awesome Ideas book and the recently-unearthed Timebuster Klick magazine comics. Eons Ago The squid-like Alien Troopers halt their effort to remake the cosmos in their own image, and settle into cryogenic stasis in the Toflacrev Abyss. When they awaken, their crafty plans will begin once again. They love crafty plans. Alien Trooper bio. c. 2494-2345 BC In Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, the Pharaoh Amset-Ra forms an alliance with the alien leader Hypaxxus-8, whose saucers are used in the construction of the Scorpion Pyramid. November-December 2011 LEGO Club Magazine. The Fifth Dynasty is conjecture based on the fact that Pharaohs of that period identified themselves as descendants of Ra. c. 1081 BC Atlantis falls. During this time, the alien Hypaxxus-8 again makes an attempt to invade Earth by supplying the Manta Warriors with ray guns. November-December 2011 LEGO Club Magazine. “The Secret Journal of Artimus Rhodes”. Dr. Rhodes claims that Atlantis sunk 3000 years before 1919; the mythological Atlantis is said to have sunk much earlier, before the third century BC. c. AD 1199 Willa the Witch uses her dark magic in an attempt to gain the power of the Star People from the planet Zotax. Fortunately her plans for world domination are halted by her occasional ally Basil the Batlord and Tim the Time Cruiser. LEGO World Magazine #1. Date based on “Time Cruisers #1: Testflight TC 13”, which featured the Royal Knights, the established enemy of the Fright Knights. For Zotax discussion, see UFO entry below. c. AD 1910 At the behest of adventurer Dr. Kilroy, the mummy of Pharaoh Hotep opens a portal to the planet Holox. LEGO World Club Magazine #8. Adventurers theme date is from the audio drama “The Hunt for the Pharaoh’s Treasure”. AD 1924 September – Much to the surprise of another group of adventurers, their undead foe Amset-Ra is whisked to the future by his alien partner Hypaxxus-8. He must have really wanted his mummy. November-December 2011 LEGO Club Magazine. The date for Pharaoh’s Quest is from “The Adventure Journal of Professor Archibald Hale”. AD 1938 October 30 – The Martians mount an invasion of Earth, and are driven back by the use of germ warfare. News broadcasts of this event are dismissed as a radio drama. Historical accounts and “Life on Mars Radio Logs: The Test”. Could this be the origins of the Alien Defense Force from Alien Conquest? The Pilot has many adventures during this time, including discovering mountaintop civilizations, battling gremlins, and flying a rocket to Mars to stop an invasion of water-stealing Moon Men. The Pilot’s bio. Although none of the events are dated, they all resemble typical film serial adventures from this period. This is the first expedition to Mars, although it probably never made the history books. Perhaps the Pilot was an early member of the Alien Defense Force? c. AD 1950 Dr. Rodney Rathbone's defeat of Lord Vampyre in the Monster Realm has the unexpected result of attracting the attention of a swarm of insectoid aliens... November-December 2012 LEGO Club Magazine. Monster Fighters has yet to be dated, but the appearance of the vehicles and the Frank Rock character make this a reasonable conjecture. AD 1990 NASA (1990) At this point in time the US space agency NASA is responsible for launching space shuttles. Launches are made from Cape Clutch-Power. The 1682 Space Shuttle is the last LEGO system set to use the NASA logo—future shuttle launches will be handled by fictional LEGO space agencies. Cape Clutch-Power is from the Fall 1990 Brick Kicks Brick Buildmore comic. NASA continues to exist in the future, as the May-June 1996 Mania Magazine states that Dr. Cyber worked for them. AD 1995 Launch Command (1995) Launch Command appears to have taken over from NASA as the lead space agency. Shuttles are still being used, but there are also missions to the moon. One of Launch Command’s greatest astronauts is Becky Blastinoff. Blastinoff’s name is from the November-December 1995 Mania Magazine. AD 1999 Space Port (1999) Launch Command in turn is replaced by Space Port. Shuttles are still being used. Rogue meteors containing energy crystals threaten Earth. AD 2000 Arctic (2000) An Arctic expedition uncovers more meteors, containing the first known example of alien life. A young man named BB wins the Space Lottery, giving him the chance to train as a Space Port astronaut for an upcoming mission to Mars. “Rocket Rescue”, “Life on Mars Radio Logs: Blast Off!” AD 2001 Life on Mars (2001) The National Science Board sends a team of four astronauts to Mars to establish a science base. After a crash landing, they make the first contact with intelligent alien life (in modern history) with the native Martians. The astronauts become involved in a conflict with Martian rebels. One Martian, Cassiopia, decides to return to Earth with the astronauts. "Life on Mars Radio Logs" AD 2002 The LEGO Book indicates that the Ice Planet 2002 theme takes place in this year; though the theme's own story material stated that "Ice Planet 2002" was simply one name for the Ice Planet and it is usually depicted as being contemporary with LEGO’s other space sets. The identification of the world as Krysto-2002 in the Space Miner bio would seem to settle the matter. AD 2009 Power Miners (2009) Extreme earthquakes threaten to wipe out every structure on Earth, and a task force of skilled miners is dispatched to uncover the problem. Deep below the surface of the Earth, they find more energy crystals…and tribes of Rock Monsters! A youthful Chief first encounters rock monsters…according to rumors, anyway. Rock Raiders PC Manual. Complete conjecture, but given that no one had ever seen the Rock Monsters of Planet U, tying the encounter to Power Miners seems logical. AD 2010 Dino Attack/Dino 2010 (2005) Mutant dinosaurs escape from a lab and attack in urban settings. An oddly common occurrence. (See below.) AD 2011 City Space (2011) First variation on the Classic Space logo appears—the beginning of that famous space exploration program. Shuttles are still in use, though more advanced craft have reached Mars. These spacecraft launch from Apollo Island near LEGO City, a location where captured aliens are also kept in secret. Another alien detention facility is located in Area 51. LEGO City Undercover, LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins, and the Classic Alien bio. Alien Conquest (2011) The alien forces of Hypaxxus 8 from the planet X2½ attempt their third full scale invasion of Earth to drain the brainpower of Earthlings. The Alien Defense Unit becomes publicly known as it initiates a massive recruitment program to combat the invasion. LEGO Club Magazine AD 2012 Dino (2012) Hypaxxus-8 plots revenge after his defeat at the hands of the Earthlings. Dinosaurs emerge from ancient portals and head towards the city to attack. November/December 2011 LEGO Club Magazine, “Dino Outbreak” game. AD 2013 An investigation by police officer Chase McCain into the LEGO City underworld reveals a plot by disgraced billionaire developer Forrest Blackwell to launch a rocket disguised as a skyscraper to a secret colony on the Moon. McCain pursues Blackwell with a shuttle and defeats the villain, but Blackwell escapes into space. “LEGO City Undercover”. As Blackwell’s space forces are represented by a stylized letter “B”, it’s hard not to see this as a Blacktron origin story… AD 2014 City Arctic (2014) Another expedition to the arctic finds energy crystals in the swarm of ice meteors that continue to pelt Earth’s poles. A later expedition will determine that their source is the far-off ice planet of Krysto-2002. The Space Miner bio tied this theme to the earlier Arctic and Ice Planet 2002 themes. The expedition logo also resembles the City Space, Classic Space, and Ice Planet 2002 logos. AD 2015 Drome Racers (2002) The mysterious Dromulus stages extreme car races inside the Drome, one of the largest man-made structures on the planet. “LEGO Drome Racers” game, comic, etc. AD 2016 The United States of Europe is formed, and the use of credits as a form of currency is adopted. In the early 21st century, LEGO Robotics handpicks a team of robotics experts from America, Asia, and the United States of Europe. Their mission: develop a new level of artificial intelligence, allowing for the creation of Roboids—advanced robots to support human industry and activity. The project is codenamed Mindstorms. The Hunter/Saver roboid is used by the Fire Corps and other organizations to rescue humans from dangerous environments, such as a fire at a Pollutex Corporation facility. Yup, even Mindstorms has a backstory… AD 2023 Roboid farming colonies cultivate the Earth’s deserts and wastelands, reducing famine and hunger. Nanotechnology reaches a new peak with the introduction of Doctroids, tiny robots that can repair damaged tissue and cells from within the body. Mars Mission (2007) An Earth mining expedition crash lands on Mars and must battle alien invaders on Mars. Well, the alien invaders that are not them, that is. This theme has never been dated, but it would seem to be a sequel of sorts to the earlier Life on Mars theme. LEGO Battles suggests that it takes place much later, during the era of Space Police III, though that could be a later expedition. This marks the first full appearance of the Classic Space logo. LEGO Factory: Star Justice vs. Space Skulls (2008) By this time, space expeditions are overseen by Fleet Command, which was developed from the earlier World Space Exploration program. Fleet Command has established Relay Space Stations to enable deep space exploration. Spacegoing vessels have been plagued for nearly five decades by the Space Skull pirates. The law enforcement group Star Justice seeks to bring the brigands to justice. “My LEGO Network”. The exact date for these events is unknown. This interview states that Star Justice was based on a fan theme designed to bridge the Mars-era sets with the Classic Space theme. Star Justice is presumably a precursor to the later Space Police theme. (See below.) AD 2043 The LEGO Robotics exhibit opens in Cyberspace Quadrant 3. It is the world’s first historical exhibit of Roboid technology. On the first day, an auction of memorabilia raises over four billion credits for the LEGO Robotics Development Foundation. An original RCX computer from 1998 is sold for over 2.3 billion credits. The LEGO Spaceship Transuniverse dispatches proboids to search for minerals on asteroids in superquadrant 23. An artificial intelligence sends out a transmission into the past to future members of the Mindstorms team. Rock Raiders (1999) The mining ship LMS Explorer is returning from the outer rim of the galaxy after a long mission when an asteroid hits their the ship, sending it through a wormhole. The vessel is deposited in an alien galaxy in another universe. The ship's crew must mine LEGO ore from a nearby planet to repair their spaceship, and power crystals to fuel their journey home. Unfortunately, the planet is inhabited by all manner of Rock Monsters... Rock Raiders game and DK Puzzle book. The sets themselves have no obvious connection to the Space theme. The similarity between the LMS Explorer and the Transuniverse mission profiles, as well as the rumor in the game manual that the Chief encountered rock monsters in his youth (which would seem to imply that he was involved in the events of Power Miners in 2009) lead me to place it here. This conjecture is hardly conclusive, however. Galaxy Squad (2013) Space colonization and tourism is brought to a halt as a swarm of insectoid aliens, attracted by a signal from the Monster Realm, finally swarm into the Selva Galaxy. They begin trapping buildings and people in cocoons for transport back to their hive planet. The Galaxy Squad is deployed to combat the alien invaders. November-December 2012 LEGO Club Magazine, Galaxy Squad is divided into specialized units denoted by color, somewhat like the later Classic Space astronauts. AD 2050 Earth has established a mining colony on the planet Rasm by this year. The Space Police are also active. LEGO AS #2, 1989. This is the earliest official date for the Space theme. Whole lotta mining going on here. Ultra Agents (2014) Following the insect alien invasion, Solomon Blaze retires from Galaxy Squad to lead the Ultra Agents. This elite group defends Astor City from a sudden outbreak of fearsome supervillains caused by the mysterious AntiMatter. The comic “Training Day” in the September-October 2014 issue of the LEGO Club Magazine confirms that Ultra Agents is a sequel of sorts to Galaxy Squad. Early Classic Space Era AD 2079 Classic Space (1978-1988) The first of the Classic Space expeditions begin as joint missions to the moon between white Astronauts and red Cosmonauts. They are soon joined by scientists wearing yellow spacesuits. With yellow now designated for scientists, red becomes used for pilots and white for explorers. The date comes from two monitor pieces in the Classic Space sets 926 Command Centre, 493 Space Command Center, and 6970 Beta-1 Command Base. It appears to be the first year of Classic Space. In Brickjournal #2, Jim Spaceborn writer Frank Madsen describes the classic space mission as “happy astronauts with smiley faces in difference colored suits, buzzing around on the Moon’s surface and bringing samples back to Earth.” This reddit post by LEGO designer Mark Stafford reveals creator of the minifigure and Classic Space Jens Nygaard Knudsen’s intentions for the Classic Space color divisions. Red for pilots is consistent with both Jim Spaceborn and Peter Reid’s unofficial history “LEGO Space: Building the Future”. AD 2109 A statue of the first Classic Space astronaut is built to commemorate the first thirty years of the program. The First Spaceman statue is erected in what will be known as Futuron Park in Galaxy City. This statue appears in the 5974 Galactic Enforcer set, where it is stolen by the Black Hole Gang. Name and location from the Space Police Logs. The Classic Space forces are bolstered by the addition of blue suited security forces and the elusive black-clad spies. Jens Nygaard Knudsen via Mark Stafford again. Blue for security/soldiers is consistent with the dark blue Galaxy Patrol elite forces collectable minifigure, though less so for comic Captains Indigo and Seeker (see below.) Perhaps as in Star Trek, the color originally intended for security came to represent command as well? The First Expedition from Earth is sent to a neighboring galaxy to seek out and contact new forms of intelligent life, and probe the mysteries of the universe. En route, the main column of the expedition passes through an uncharted meteor shower, which causes extensive damage to many of the ships. The mission’s commander sends a team of 300 engineers ahead to establish a base station to repair and overhaul the damaged starships. Falling interstellar debris demolishes the first set of buildings before the protective forcefields could be established. The engineers will have to work fast, for the first starships are due to arrive in a matter of months… Lego World Show 1984 Souvenir Guide. The gargantuan Mother Ship departs to discover a new galaxy. Bricks ‘n Pieces Summer 1985 Late Classic Space Era The spaceship Spearhead, under the command of Captain Bart Seeker, sets out from the planet Zonia on a long voyage to explore new planets. Among the crew of 300 are Duncan, the engineer, Viva, the Chief Pilot, and Mello, her co-pilot. During their mission, the Spearhead comes across an abandoned vessel floating in space. Aboard is a small child, which they rescue. Duncan makes friends with the boy, whom the crew takes to calling “Jim Spaceborn”, as he was born in space. His origins are a mystery. Years before “Jim Spaceborn: The Unknown Galaxy”. Captain Bill Indigo and his assistant Lieutenant Mary Polka-Dot rescue the Zarconian Jewel for the Zark Star Fleet, defeat the mad scientist Tobor Rekam and the human Martian Garth Raider. Various "Captain Indigo" comics from Bricks 'n Pieces Magazine. The names “Bill” and “Mary” come from the 1980 Idea Book. The Spearhead is pulled into a black hole before it can return to Zonia. The crew is stranded in an unknown galaxy, where they free the planet Robus from the space bandit Kazak and face kidnappers from Swamp Planet. Jim Spaceborn #1-2 Neo-Classic Space Era By this point in time an interplanetary Federation has been established, with a Space Academy for training astronauts. Green is introduced as a new division color by this time. This is a conjectural intermediary period between Classic Space and Futron, based largely on the number of Classic Space figures with new-style headgear found in various re-release minifigure sets and, more importantly, the 21109 Exo Suit set, in which the green Space minifigures first appeared. What division green represents is up for debate. According to set designer Mark Stafford, he and Exo Suit set creator Peter Reid decided that green would be used for Exo Suit pilots. But the backstory included in the set’s booklet states that the two included astronauts were a salvage team. Interestingly enough, the first M:Tron prototypes wore green Classic Space uniforms, much as the salvage team does here. As salvage falls within M:Tron’s mission parameters, is it possible that this team is a predecessor? Alternatively, as the astronauts are also said to be recently graduated cadets, green could simply be used for new personnel who haven’t been assigned a division. (Making the newbies literally green!) AD 2531 An expedition colonizes the planet Volga. "Lego Awesome Ideas" book. This story shows the green space figures working alongside figures with the Collectable Minifigure space uniforms, perhaps indicating that both are from the same era. AD 2564 July 4th- The Federation’s classified Exo Suit MK 3 program undergoes a classified review. Teaser image for LEGO Ideas #007 Exo Suit. This was also the day that the set was revealed in 2014. This assumes that the classified review was made around the time of the Suit’s creation. It’s also possible the review was made after the rediscovery of the Arcadia, below. The container ship Arcadia, carrying a vast consignment of the new Exo Suit Mk 3s, crash lands on a remote planet. The 21109 Exo Suit “The Exo Suit Adventure” story booklet and LEGO Ideas #007 reveal video. AD 2593 The Federation detects activity on the remote planet that is (unbeknownst to them) the resting place of the Arcadia for the last time in over a decade. Exo Suit “The Exo Suit Adventure” story booklet. AD 2604 Pete and Yve graduate from the space academy. Not long after, the robot turtle, a brand new surveillance and survival drone, arrives at the academy. The graduation occurs one month before they investigate the crash of the Arcadia, according to “The Exo Suit Adventure”. Federation probes arrive around a remote planet, and intercept the weak distress call from the freighter Arcadia. 48 hours later, salvage team Alpha-09 responds to a distress call from the freighter Arcadia. They find the remains of the freighter, but are trapped by pirates lurking nearby. After making a report, one astronaut, Pete, finds that his colleague, Yve, has gone missing. Investigating, he finds that Yve has discovered the ship’s cargo of Exo Suits… Reveal video for LEGO Ideas #007 and the 21109 Exo Suit “The Exo Suit Adventure” story booklet. The story stated that the ship had been lost for forty years. Futuron Era Futuron (1987) An update of the Classic Space faction. A mention of “FuturonCorp” in the Space Villain bio suggests that this might be a private corporation. Alternatively, FuturonCorp could be an outside contractor supplying the Futuron faction. A 1988 US catalog identifies FUTURON as the Valor Squadron that opposes Blacktron and energizes the galaxy. Blacktron (1987) Striking out from the planet Blacktron in the center of the galaxies, Blacktron appears to be a criminal organization/space empire. Bricks 'n Pieces Spring 1988. Space Police (1989) The Space Police appear to be part of the Futuron faction, as they wear the same uniform here. AD 3147 The Exploriens are visited by the Time Crusiers. 1996 catalog. See below for discussion of Explorien theme placement. AD 3200 The Exploriens study the Bio-beetles of Ika. They are forced to battle the ravanous bugs when they attempt an invasion of Earth. "Exploriens to the Rescue!", March 1996 Bricks 'n Pieces Magazine. The German Time Cruiser audio dramas would describe the Exploriens as being active many years after 3777 AD. I chose to interpret this as the Exploriens having been established centuries prior to their Time Cruisers appearance, but it’s also possible the Exploriens themselves have travelled in time. (The audio dramas hint at the possibility.) AD 3776 Time Cruisers (1996) In the far future, country borders no longer exist…but the NASA space program is still around. One of its rocket scientists, Dr. Cyber, discovers an ancient map revealing the secrets of time travel. He rushes out of town to build a Time Lab in Mystic Mountain, a volcanic island. Here Cyber experiments with a Hypno Disk, a mysterious red-and-white shaped device—and during one of his experiments, he is blasted into the past! No one believes that Dr. Cyber has developed time travel, however, so he uses a Hypno Disk portal to send four individuals into different time zones to collect artifacts as proof. Following this success, he constructs the world's first time machine along with his young relative/assistant Max. After an encounter with Merlin's wand, this vehicle is transformed into the Flying Time Vessel, and Max changes his name to Tim. The Minister of Past and Future bans Cyber from using his time machines, however. Compilation of backstories from the March/April 1995-March/April 1996 Klick magazine comics, the July-August 1996 Mania Magazine, the August 1996 Bricks ‘n Pieces Magazine, the 1997 RoseArt Time Cruisers board game, the 1996 UK catalog, and the German Time Cruiser audio dramas. Whew. The idea that the Mystic Mountain Time Lab is located in a volcanic island is from . The initial concept for the Time Cruiser theme came from a comic developed for Klick magazine out of a LEGO fan's time machine MOC. In 1996, the time machine was transformed into the 6493 Flying Time Vessel and the young assistant Max Timebuster changed his name to Tim within the pages of the comic in order to tie into the new Time Cruiser theme, one of the only times a character name descrepency has been resolved so directly. Dr. Cyber’s NASA background given in Mania Magazine would seem to be at odds with the AD 3777 setting from the German audio dramas, but there is a shuttle launch in the second episode…. AD 3777 The Minister of Past and Future allows Dr. Cyber and his assistant Tim to use their newly constructed time machines in search of an extinct plant. They have many subsequent adventures in time and space. “Lego Time Cruisers #1: Test Flight TC 13” Aquazone (1995) Deep beneath the ocean, the brave Aquanauts search for rare Hydrolater crystals, which provide life-giving hydrogen and oxygen and allow for extended underwater breathing. Miner and part-time restaurateur Jock Clouseau is the leader of the Aquanauts, while Ollie the Octopus is a friend and ally. After years of hard work harvesting crystals, a group of Aquanauts decide they’ve had enough. Lead by a hook-handed Aquanaut nicknamed Thresher, they steal submarines and hide in underwater caves. Calling themselves the Aquasharks, they redesign their vehicles to resemble fearsome sea creatures and emerge to launch attacks on the Aquanauts to steal the crystals. January-February 1995 LEGO Mania Magazine and Issue 1 1995 of Bricks and Pieces Magazine. Jock Clouseau first appeared in the November-December 1995 LEGO Mania Magazine, while Thresher appeared in the second “wave” of Aquazone sets and was named in the May-June 1996 Mania Magazine. The only source to date Aquazone is Time Cruisers #1: Testflight TC 13, which suggests that it is several decades after the AD 3777 setting of Time Crusiers. Aquazone was conceived as Seatron, a Space theme contemporary with Futuron, and was set on an alien world. The final theme was more ambiguous about its setting—it has Earth sharks, stingrays and octopi, but the blue rock formations featured throughout the setting didn’t resemble anything on Earth. The March 1996 issue of Bricks ‘n Piece Magazine says “The evil Aquasharks have invaded our world…Aquasharks are from Aquazone—the exciting underwater world created for you by the LEGO team.” This seems to confirm the notion that Aquazone takes place on an alien planet. Aquaraiders (1997) The Aquaraiders operate out of a network of hidden caverns within Aquazone, drilling deep into the watery world in search of Hydrolator crystals with their well-equipped mining machines. But the Aquaraiders are no ordinary miners—they’re a ruthless band of raiders who emerge from the slimy ocean depths to steal crystals and equipment from Aquanauts and Aquasharks alike. Among their ranks are Rocky the Reef Wrecker, whose answer to everything is more drilling, the red-armored Barracuda, and the athletic Scavenger Sam. July-August 1997 Mania Magazine. Barracuda was seen only in the May-June 1997 issue of Mania Magazine. Hydronauts/Stingrays (1998) Deep in the Aquazone is an unexplored area where few dare to go. This is the domain of the Hydronauts and the Stingrays. January/February 1998 Mania Magazine AD 4036 Red and blue is a popular color scheme in this year . LEGO Ideas Book Era of the United Galaxies By this time, the United Galaxies have been formed. Laws are made by a Galactic Council, according to the 1992 US catalog. There is also a Space Council, according to the Summer 1994 Bricks n’ Pieces magazine. M:Tron (1990) A group of miners, salvagers, rescue workers, and computer scientists uses advanced magnets in all of their projects. Blacktron Future Generation (1991) Based on the planet B-II, the next generation of Blacktron forces are known in some quarters as galactic defenders who know how to keep the peace. On the other hand, the Evil Mech who paved the way for Commander Beltar and other diabolical agents of Blacktron proves that the dark side of Blacktron is alive and well. "Future Generation" indicates that at least a generation has passed between this era and the original Futuron/Blacktron conflict. B-II is from this 1991 catalog, while this 1993 catalog touts Blacktron’s heroic side. The Evil Mech bio indicates that it was responsible for this new incarnation. Beltar is from the Feb. 1993 Disney Adventures comic: “Encounter at Ice Station Odyssey”. Space Police II (1992) Now led by Captain Magenta, a new incarnation of the Space Police is born. They enforce the laws established by the Galactic Council, but are not immune to corruption. The Space Police’s allegiance is mentioned in this 1992 US catalog. Ice Planet 2002 (1993) In a remote part of the universe, scientists gather on the Ice Planet of Krysto-2002. Deep underground, in the ice caverns of the capital city of Krysto, the scientists conduct top secret rocket and satellite research. The Blacktron renegades are after their secrets, as are certain members of the Space Police…no one can be trusted! Backstory from Ice Planet set boxes (provided in this Eurobricks theme review) and trading cards from the March 1993 issue of Disney Adventures Magazine. In most contemporary material, 2002 is not treated as the date in which this theme takes place. “Ice Planet 2002” instead seems to be the name of the planet, though the name “Krysto” is used interchangeably as the capital of the planet and the name of the planet. The Space Miner bio finally established the planet’s name as Krysto-2002. Spyrius (1994) The Spyrians colonize the planet Spyrius, one of the outer planets of the galaxies. They begin to infiltrate the other space factions, including Ice Planet. They are led by Major Kartofski, and house stolen equipment from other planets in Station Xenolith 6. Their weapons of choice are miniaturization rays. They possess an army of robots, and their agents are masters of disguise. At least one of their spies could render himself invisible…except for his eyes. Bricks ‘n Pieces Magazine, Summer 1994. Foreign catalogs would sometimes describe the Spyrians as mutants, perhaps explaining the invisibility powers described here. Unitron (1994) The planet Unitron is at the crossroads of the universe, and is a port of call for aliens from every planet. This world is also home to the Unitron forces, an intergalactic intelligence and defense organization operating out of Space Station Zenon. May-June 1995 LEGO Mania Magazine. Exploriens (1996) The Exploriens, now led by Nova Hunter, continue to chart the unknown universe, decode alien clues, and make contact with new civilizations with the help of Doctor Science. Hunter programs a pair of brother-and-sister androids, Ann and Andy Droid, to be assigned to the Android Base. Both become targets of abduction attempts: Ann by the robots of Spyrius, and Andy by mysterious aliens. Nova Hunter and Ann Droid appeared in the January/February 1996 LEGO Mania Magazine. Doctor Science is from Time Cruisers #2: Operation Cybercom. Nova Hunter was originally one of the non-bearded Exploriens minifigures, but later issues of the Mania Magazine and the LEGO Racers game portray him as the bearded minifigure called Captain King in the UK. RoboForce (1997) The rowdy Roboforce rides into action on their saurian-like robot mounts, protecting the galaxies from hostile aliens like the UFO spacefleet and rendering assistance to new space colonies. Their secret power is the Robodisks, and their hidden training camp is located on the planet Roboton. Their top “robo runner”—a term for a certified robot operator—is Chip Nebula. March-April 1997 and September-October Mania Magazine. UFO (1997) Known to many only by their mysterious appearances in the skies over thousands of years, the Star People come from outside the known universe entirely. Their world of Zotax is grim and barren—perhaps why some call it “Humorless”—but it is also home to a massive symbiotic organism. Integrated into this environment, the Star People thrive. In space it is difficult to tell where their own biology stops and their technology begins. Their spaceships travel to our universe via a black hole not far from Zotax. The aliens rely on crews of super intelligent androids, either conscripted or recruited from other worlds. On one occasion the evil Black Droid Empire invaded the homeworlds of innocent droids, attempting to bring the universe under its rule. Two droids, Techdroid 1 and Techdroid 2, waged a lonely battle to free their planet from the Empire. Into this war steps Commander X, an officer and prince of Xizos, an ancient planet. He rescued the two droids and recruited them to join his own crusade against the Black Droid Empire. But he is not the only alien leader. Overlord Alpha Draconis, nicknamed “the Dragon”, desires conquest of other planets. The Star People journeyed to Earth system to study life on the planet; but Draconis organized an invasion. He too recruits droids to his cause, but not through persuasion—his forces captured the Explorien’s Andy Droid and reprogrammed him to assist Draconis in his plans for galactic domination. Draconis fears nothing, save his own visage. A third leader of the Star People is Chamon, a fearless being whose brainwave-amplifying helmet gives him telekinetic powers. To the Exploriens, the RoboForce, and the Black Droid Empire, the Star People are dangerous opponents. But to the inhabitants of more primitive worlds, their fleetingly-glimpsed craft remain unidentified flying objects. The UFO line had several different backstories, but as of them each named different figures, they can be easily reconciled as above. Alpha Draconis, Andy Droid, and Humorless are from the September-October 1997 Mania Magazine, Commander X, the Techdroids, and the Black Droid Empire are all from Bricks ‘n Pieces Magazine, Chamon, Zotax, and the black hole are from a German promotional comic (discussed here), while the Star People receive their name in LEGO World Club Magazine #1. Insectoids (1998) The Star People are not the only race on Zotax. Another group of cybernetic aliens have fled a cruel leader on Zotax after a bitter fight. They become resourceful and determined during their search for a new home. Eventually, the Zotaxians add Explorien, UFO, and Ice Planet vehicles and vessels to their ragtag fleet. The Zotaxians crash land on the planet Holox, where they establish a base. Unfortunately, they soon find that the planet’s rocky surface lacks the essential life force that the Zotaxian plants need to grow. In a last-ditch effort to save their colony, the Zotaxians begin drilling into the planet’s surface in search of new energy sources. They discover an Inner World with its own sun, inhabited by giant insects known as Bilgin Bugs. The sun provides energy for the eggs laid by the Bilgin Bugs, and the Zotaxians decide to use this energy to support their own colony. They manufacture voltstones, batteries that resemble the eggs of the Bugs. In order to infiltrate the Inner World, the Zotaxians disguise six space cruisers as Bugs. These vessels are known as Insectoids, and are used to plant the voltstones and recover them once they have been fully charged. They also begin destroying the Bug eggs, causing the Bugs to declare war on the Zotaxians. The Zotaxians eventually leave Holox. By this time they appear to have adopted the insectoid disguises as part of their cultural identity. At least some of their vehicles are self-aware robobugs, their hivefleets are known as the Space Swarm and they identify themselves as the Insectoid nation. Gypsy Moth is the Queen of the Insectoid nation, and leads her people on a mission of intergalactic mayhem and mischief. "Insectoid Invasion" puzzlebook, the 1998 UK Catalog, and the September-October 1998 issue of LEGO Mania Magazine. Though none of the three interpretations of the Insectoid storyline are exactly the same, they are not mutually exclusive and can be seen as an evolution of space refugees who adopt an insect-based culture. Current Space Era Space Police III (2009) The latest incarnation of the Space Police fights alien criminals from the Black Hole Gang in Galaxy City and Mars, and maintain a prison on planet X4. " ", "LEGO Battles", and "“LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers”. Definitely set after the two previous Space Police sets, as old Space Police uniforms are also seen on display in the Logs.As an agent of the LEGO Group, Clutch Powers helps the Space Police and has adventures on Earth, Ashlar, and Ninjago. “LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers” and "Ninjago: The Royal Blacksmiths". Earth seen here is little changed from 21st century Earth, with Power Miners and Agents still active, but this is not inconsistent with the Captain Indigo comics and the Time Cruisers audio dramas. The Future (?) LEGO Universe (2010-2012) A team of explorers locates an Imagination Nexus on the planet Crux, but one of their members causes a maelstrom that shatters the planet. People from all over time and space gather on the fragments of Crux for a number of adventures. "LEGO Universe" Ninjago (2011-2014) On the planet of Ninjago, a master of Spinjitzu teaches a number of young ninjas, who must fight his evil brother, the snake people from the planet's interior, evil robots, and a master of the elements. "Ninjago" comics, TV series, books, etc. LEGO Universe appears to be contemporary with Ninjago, which is set on (you guessed it) the planet Ninjago. The Ninjago episode "The Royal Blacksmiths" mentions Clutch Powers as having participated in historical events far in Ninjago’s past, so barring time travel (which is possible) it seems LEGO Universe and Ninjago take place long after most of the Space themes. TC

I've finally been able to read/listen to these last two audio dramas, and I can't thank you enough for translating them, Runamuck. :) I was actually glad to see that the King apparently rules a land outside of Tarenta, as the British storyline states that he comes from a land called Saxondale. I suppose it's possible that the dragon from the Time Cruisers story is Dragomil, and she was tamed by her visit to Zero Time--as seemed to be implied in the story. This would place the Time Cruiser's arrival prior to the other Castle stories. I particularly liked the opening scene of the second audio drama, with the elderly knight. It's a shame that more LEGO stories don't have such high drama and adventure. Thank you again for putting all this together, Runamuck! I hope to one day see a similar thread for the Wild West tapes... ;) TC

Added the planet Rasm from the French LEGO Magazine LEGO AS. (Scans can be found here, thanks to Runamuck for pointing those out to me...) TC

Ah, for the good old days of classic pirates, when that never happ--oh, wait. TC

They seem to be including the POTC gold pieces, actually. And I'm not a Castle collector, so I appreciate the odd sword. The lack of weapons doesn't bother me personally--my pirates are so well armed that anyone without weapons is welcome to help man the canons/cranes/sails/helm...but it does tend to reduce the play value quite a bit. I'd noticed that the 2009 and POTC sets consistently had extra swords, sometimes even double the number that were supposed to be included. It's possible this single odd sword is a cost saving measure... TC