You are probably not going to like this... but what makes them "alien"? They have standard human body proportions for the most part, including that stupid broken-back wasp-waist look so favored by Victorians who liked their women helpless, flat-shoulder blades, 2 breasts and belly-buttons like most primates, and nothing that earth characters don't have. Whomping big feet? The G.I.R.L. Three fingers? A host of toons, and Natrixa, and Elfquest morphs dating back to P4 days. One eye? Polyhemus and the rest of his cyclopian kin. Big head? Star Trek rubber-mask-of-the-week on a human body. So... how about quills, fins, bumps, webbing, extra limbs, limbs which bend backwards or have zig-zag or rotational joints, compound eyes, scales, round furry bellies... IOW something different and, er, alien. I'm attaching a shot of a replica nosecone. We sent men into space and back in that tiny cramped compartment! Think about what sort of creatures might like to joyride in that small jalopy. Wouldn't prehensile toes be handy so all four limbs could be operating the controls? Eyes all around? Probiscus with feeding tube? A fringe of lashes over gills? *Something* And it should still be possible to be "cute" while being different.... If it is pink and round, how deadly can it be? Pink, round, and furry, and we humans might as well turn over the deed to Earth. The market is flooded with stuff we already have. If merchants would be more adventuresome and inventive, we'd all benefit. Carolly the Opinionated