Sharp-O’s Top 5 Ben 10 Aliens
I love the idea of aliens and science fiction has always been on hand to dish out alien concepts like it’s candy. Some good, some bad and some downright baffling. A recent survey commissioned by Bandai UK has revealed that 65 per cent of children believe there is ‘something out there’, whilst over half (57 per cent) of adults believe the same.
The problem with most science fiction on TV and movies is that most aliens are humans with head ridges (I’m looking at you, Star Trek) but the realm of animation has provided and abundance of interesting alien concepts and no one show has done more than the Ben 10 franchise. Brainchild of the Man of Action team; Ben 10, in all it’s various incarnations, has created dozens of colourful and bizarre aliens to inhabit it’s universe and I’m going to give you a run down of some of my favourite designs. I’ll say now that I’m pretty unfamiliar with the details of episodes and characters but I do know a lot of the aliens and will be basing my opinions solely on their own merits and not function within the show.
5 – Water Hazard
Series: Ultimate Alien
While I may be a hydrophobic, aquatic creatures have always fascinated me and this crustacean crusader is a far better design than some of the other aquatic aliens they’ve come up with on the show. This bipedal crab-man looks tough as nails and has the ability to manipulate water (much like Aqualad in Young Justice). I really like the way his armoured carapace looks and that why he’s No. 5 on my list!
4 – Cannonbolt
Series: Ben 10
Cannonbolt has been a mainstay of the series for a long time and it’s good to see they haven’t abused his design throughout the show. He’s a pillbug alien whose primary offensive capability is the ability to roll, bounce and has a durable shell. He’s a rotund little fella, but he has a lot of girth.
3 – Big Chill
Series: Alien Force
Big Chill is only here because he looks like the Jaime Reyes incarnation of the Blue Beetle. Yes, I am that shallow. Shut up.
2 – Clockwork
Series: Ultimate Alien
I honestly don’t know a lot about this guy but he looks cool. One part Aztec, one part clock, one part massive robot. I’m sold. What little research I did indicates his powers are time-based, if his name didn’t give it away.
And the number one alien design is….. *drum roll*
1 – Way Big
Series: Ben 10
He’s Ultraman and I love him. I remember seeing this guy in one of the movies and was enamoured right there and then. His design obviously takes cues from Japanese Tokusatsu like Ultraman. I think this is one of the few aliens in this series that has actually improved from having a redesign from series to series, becoming sleeker and gaining a simpler design as the show went on. He’s a great design and worth the top spot in my eyes.
So that’s it! My favourite alien designs in Ben 10 and here’s hoping that the latest incarnation, Omniverse (created by the wonderful Derrick J. Wyatt) will bring us more in the future. Ben 10 Omniverse can be seen on Cartoon Network and the action figures are available from all good retailers.