40 by Zero

Puzzle explanation

In order to fit answers into the grid, a number of cells had to accommodate two letters, in keeping with the theme of SPACE INVADERS at 40ac. The affected cells had to be highlighted to show the form of a Space Invader from the original arcade game, invented 30 years ago.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
1 PITHECANTHROPUS THE RANCH * in (PIT + OPUS)
10 TALL THRALL – HR
12 BAUSOND (US + O(rchestra)) in BAND
13 NEMESES (Ae)NE(as) + SEEMS *
14 ON A PLATE ONE about A PLAT
15 ÉTUDE E + DUET *
17 CZAR CZ + AR
18 EXCERPT R in EXCEPT
20 STATEROOM TATE in MOORS <
23 CLINAMEN CL + IN + MEN about (te)A
24 VEERED D after (VEE + RE)
25 GALOCHES (GAE + S) about LOCH
27 LAP DANCERS (AP + D) in LANCERS
29 INSOLATE N in ISOLATE
31 EVIL Hidden
33 STREET STET about RE
34 PINK Three definitions
36 CHELATE Suggested telegram: CHE (Guevara) LATE
38 PAVILION P + A VIOLIN *
39 ENTIA RODENTIA – ROD
Down
1 PENCILS SLIP < about EN <
2 INEZ (maga)ZINE *
3 TAMARIND TAMARIN + D
4 HETES THESE *
5 CALESCENCE COALESCENCE – O
6 NEAP P(rotozoan) after (N + EA)
7 HAUTE U in HATE
8 ROSETTE ROSE + (lo)TTE(ry)
9 UNDOES UN + DOVES – V
11 LONER L + ONER
12 BLASTED B + LASTED
16 EMBLEMS ME < + PROBLEMS – PRO
18 EXAM AXE < + M
19 PTERIN Composite anagram: PTERIN + A → PAINTER
21 AGALACTIA AG()LA()IA about A and C(a)T
22 ROCHELLE HELL in CORE *; adjective relating to La Rochelle
23 CLAPTRAP PAL < in CT + RAP
24 VERSION AVERSION – A
26 LOTE LO + TE
28 ANETIC E in ANTIC
30 SOKEN SN about OKE
32 VIATOR AVIATOR – A
34 PLIÉ PIE about L
35 NUN Two definitions, one a Hebrew letter
37 HEAD A in (H(igher) + ED)
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