Most spaceships I have seen are just machines, a tin can hurtling through the cosmos propelled by some rockets or thrusters. X-wings, Star Destroyers, the Enterprise, Discovery One, and so on, all fit this paradigm. Most LEGO space creations fit the same pattern, be they Classic Space, Galaxy Squad, or Star Wars. But do they have to be? Galaxy Squad offered a glimpse into what semi-organic spacecraft could be with the Buggoids, and Insectoids back in the day did too. Thankfully, to show us a true hybrid of machine and alien, Rubblemaker has brought us the BR4-1N, a fusion of Neo-Classic Space and some deep-space dwelling creature.

The colors are a bit jarring for those of us with an affinity for Classic Space. Still, the contrast works here, emphasizing that these are indeed two different things joined together unnaturally. Trans-yellow and trans-neon green together looks like my four-year-old put them there, and yet it looks good because of the skill in the arrangement. The space beastie has a giant brain, after all, full of ice cream scoops enclosed in a neon shell. It’s like a giant, super-intelligent space shrimp. By the way, I love oxymorons, like giant shrimp; words are fun! Actually, due to the colors, it looks like the creature form of a submarine from the Atlantis theme. What a delightful spaceship of hybrids and crossovers!