No, this has nothing to do with the Makuta's evolution into Antidermis or even the Makuta species. It is to do with the two primary releases of Teridax as a set: Makuta 2003 and Maxilos.

Has anyone noticed that Maxilos is in essence a direct evolution of the 2003 set? I've modded my Maxilos to wear the MEK with an old-style head (looks AWESOME) and it just looks like a bigger version of Makuta 2003 in every way. I think I need some illustrations for this. Let me see...*hunts around Brickshelf*

Now, let me explain just how similar they are:

0: Straight off, the colour scheme. Identical. Fairly obvious one, that.

1. They both have large, domed shoulders. On a related note, both sets use two recoloured versions of an important mask as armour of some kind (hand and shoulder)

2. Very minor, but this little thing really did stand out as something they have in common. That little light-grey piece. Ok Maxilos uses a larger version, but it's in the same place

3. The type of tube and connection method is completely different, but they both have a silver tube where there would otherwise be a gap

4. Their chests are built the same way. Large, iron-grey piece at the front with two smaller iron-grey pieces over the shoulders

5. They both have dark grey arms and a smattering of red. This is a fairly tenuous link, but it's there in my opinion

6. They both have hands with three claws, a red hand piece and, on at least one hand, a blue friction pin

7. Makuta 2003 uses that silver piece as a connection method for the legs. Maxilos mimics this appearance almost unecessarily with two silver pieces

8. Iron-grey piece placed over a red piece for the legs

9. Ah, the feet. These really are interesting. The shape is very similar, with both the front and back of Makuta 2003's at an angle and the back of Maxilos's angled in a very cool fashion

10. Both set's feet put silver bohrok eyes on either side

11. Both sets have a double-bladed staff in their left hand.

12. On the back, both have a large silver piece covering their upper back. Makuta 2003 has a Pohatu Nuva claw, Maxilos uses Hordika armour. Both of these pieces are curved, and curve into and not out of the set.

That's basically the crux of what I noticed. There are probably other minor similarities too. On their own I expect each of the points I made could be disregarded as trivial. But together? I am certain the designers at the very least took inspiration from Makuta 2003 when building Maxilos. I even suspect it was their attempt to 'bring Makuta up to date' with the full range of poseability.

Has anyone else noticed just how similar the two sets are, or is it just me?