-Space Police 1 (1989)-
1989 saw a major change in the LEGO Space universe, Conflict! The previously neutral Blacktron was recast as the villains, with the civilians of Futuron as their targets. As a mediator between these warring factions, and to protect the peaceful members of Futuron from the evils of the Blacktron scourge, the Space Police were introduced. The first generation of Space Police in 1989 saw a military-like law enforcement faction. They wore standardized black-and-white uniforms identical to the more brightly colored Futuron faction. Even with their monochrome uniforms, however, they still looked like bright stars compared to the then ominous black of the Blacktron flight suits.
Another innovation brought to the LEGO Space-verse by the introduction of the Space Police faction was an interchangeable modular design to their ships. Colored black and blue with translucent-red elements, most of the ships in the Space Police line came with universally-designed and fully interchangeable jail cell pods. These pods could easily be deposited or retrieved by any Space Police vehicle for quick and easy prisoner transfers. And speaking of prisoners, a captured Blacktron astronaut was often included to occupy said jail pod.
Though it only lasted for a year, the “Space Police I” subtheme changed the face of the LEGO Space theme forever. It officially introduced the concept of a “Good” space faction in opposition to a “Bad” space faction with a civilian faction caught in between. And the modular ship design was replicated in following space themes to varying levels of success. And to this day, after the original “Classic Space” theme, Space Police I has some of the highest reselling LEGO Space sets on the resale market.
The “Space Police” theme was revisited in 1992 as “Space Police II” and again in 2009 as “Space Police III”, but none with the same success as the original theme. The theme was echoed as well in the 2021 Series 21 Collectible Minifigure Series figure; “Space Police Guy.”
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