The LEGO Blacktron II theme was a popular, discontinued sub-theme of the LEGO Space line that ran from 1991 to 1992. It was the immediate successor to the original Blacktron I theme and featured a new, more advanced criminal organization in space.
Theme Overview and Storyline
The storyline depicted the Blacktron II faction as a highly organized and technologically advanced criminal empire dedicated to stealing and smuggling illegal goods and technology across the galaxy. They were the primary antagonists to the "good guy" Space Police II faction.
Key features of the sets included:
Color Scheme: The vehicles featured a striking black, white, and transparent green color scheme, which has remained one of the most iconic LEGO Space palettes.
Modular Design: A core play feature was the use of a consistent "cockpit pod" system. The black cockpits were removable and designed to fit into multiple different vehicles, encouraging mix-and-match building and creating larger, more versatile ships.
Minifigures: The minifigures featured visors, sleek black uniforms with green accents, and specific blacktron logos, giving them a distinct, villainous appearance.
Notable Discontinued Sets
These sets are now highly sought-after collector's items and are only available on the secondary market from re-sellers.
Blacktron II Blacktron Flagship (6981): The flagship set and main mobile base of operations, this large ship could separate into several smaller vessels and housed multiple cockpit pods.
Blacktron II Spectral Starguider (6979): A large space cruiser with a unique design and the modular cockpit system.
Raptor Rover (6887): A ground-based rover with a large radar dish and a magnetic crane system for picking up cargo.
Aerial Intruder (6851): A smaller, basic flying vehicle with a cockpit pod.
Legacy and Related Themes
Blacktron I (1987-1988): The original black-and-yellow space villain faction.
Space Police II (1992-1993): The primary antagonist faction in this storyline.
Modern Homage: In 2022, as part of the LEGO Group's 90th-anniversary celebrations, the Galaxy Explorer (10497) set included minifigure torsos with the classic Blacktron II logo as a direct homage to the fan-favorite theme.
LEGO Universe MMORPG: The online game "LEGO Universe" featured Blacktron as a playable faction and built upon its story and designs.