Doctor Sinister

I don't see it ending any time soon - they've got a 10 anniversary set on the schedule for next year which indicates what a linchpin the SW sets are to the LEGO range as a whole. There are also plenty more UCS sets to be made, and the new Death star playset suggests that this is an area they could explore some more. Don't forget - it's not just kids and AFOLs who are buying the SW sets, there are the SW fans as well - I mean the ones who don't really care about LEGO but who are just buying stuff and never opening it in the vain hope that it will somehow become valuable in the future so they can retire (incidentally, IMO, anyone who buys toys as an "investment" and doesn't open them should be shot. There, I've said it. I collect stuff, I buy Doctor Who toys and books but I have no qualms about ripping opening the packaging and actually USING the things, I just don't get people who will buy stuff to have it sat around in the boxes, but I digress...). The new colour scheme for Darth's TIE X1 might present the possibility of new TIEs in similar colours - yes I know this means essentially re-issued or revamped sets but new children coming to LEGO won't be able to get the older sets so it would be negligent of TLC to ignore these new collectors by not keeping them stocked with the essentials - look at how often they pump out Police Stations for an example of needing to keep up with a market that is forever refreshing itself. Remember, although the AFOL market is important to TLC, it's NOT their prime market and they won't necessarily care that AFOLs keep having to buy new versions of old sets just to keep up with their collections, they'll mainly be interested in young children being able to play with TIE Fighters and X-Wings. Besides which...if we keep buying the reissued sets anyway which, let's face it, is highly likely, then LEGO know it's a guaranteed sale anyway! So where's the risk to them? Dr. S.

Back as far as 1999, my first LEGO comic strip was born - at the time it didn't have a name but it eventually became known as Strange Things in Tabletown. Unlike Grunts, and despite the name, the strip isn't restricted as it encompasses all LEGO themes. The strip ended in 2002, but with the success of Grunts I decided to revive it - especially as I had a cracking idea for a new strip. So here we go... Dr. S.

Good work. I regard town stuff as the very soul of LEGO, given that the whole system theme sprung up from having a wholly integrated toy system of houses and what have you - so this is cool. I'll add a linky from Tabletown. Dr. S.

This contains much gorgeousness - great work. Dr. S.

It's perfect. To all those who think the cockpit is too small - it's just right - this is a war machine, not a sedan! It's pretty accurate to the kind of interior space available as demonstrated in ROTJ. Have you ever been inside a Tank? They aren't exactly equipped with luxuries - such as extra space. Dr. S.

Good looking site. Are you going to have a Links page? If you do, I'd be happy to swap links with you. Dr. S.

Fifty episodes! Thanks for sticking with me everyone... Dr. S.

Burial detail for a dead soldier on the battlefield. My first attempt at building a tree! Dr. S.

Mine arrived yesterday, I have number 167. Let's see what other numbers we have! Dr. S.

Unless of course they simply didn't want to get into a fight... Dr. S.

This episode was written to counter accusations that the Blue Grunts weren't camouflaged enough. As you'll see, as far as our boys in stupid are concerned, their uniforms might as well be invisible. Also, it's been a long time since we saw the Blue Grunts in a strip, so they have a welcome return here. This one was filmed on the (sloping!) roof of my shed, a favourite location of mine as it allows for real sky backdrops, even though the weather is crappy today, it means natural light and you can see some variation in the clouds there. Episodes have been filmed outside before, but only at night - this is the first daytime exterior shoot for Grunts. Dr. S.

Following the first Tabletown Open Day, Mark Palmer, a fellow member of the Brickish Association, kindly left me his Professor Ominous supervillain shed complex and guards to make a new comic strip, so here it is! Thanks Mark! Linkies: Grunts episode 48 webpage. Dr. S.

I plot, scheme and devise plans to rule the universe. I also bribe politicians and threaten the UN on a regular basis with my arsenal of nuclear weapons. Occasionally I appear in newspapers or on wanted posters. Dr. S.

Yes, of all the LEGO recreations of the character I've seen, this is definitely my favourite. Dr. S.

Charred. Although I also like the idea that he's just an unlucky black sheep. Dr. S.

I'm so relieved to hear you say that! Thanks. Dr. S.

It makes me giggle too. I know this is wrong... I believe it was an actual practice - albeit one probably dating from WWI as opposed to WWII (which is kind of why I gave the soldier a wooden rifle as opposed to the MP40 he's usually armed with). It may date from earlier -or it may be apocryphal. Dr. S.

No, I was being deadly serious! (Or was I...? ) No...I was. I think it's a cool name. Dr. S.

Yeah, I'm kind of in an odd mood - this is the second creation, a vignette this time, in what I've decided to call my "Animals At War" series - a pathetic attempt to give credibility to a sick subject. So here we see some sheep being herded across a minefield. Complaints, comments, hate mail to the usual address please. Dr. S.

Sort of, there is a commercial-type city centre at the far end which I regard more as the focal point, but yes, the stadium is large enough to draw the eye. Dr. S. Lampposts are good too. Dr. S.

Proof that this isn't just me - this from TallTim on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41347876@N00/2728945478/ Dr. S.

He's stoplisted everyone in my LUG it seems. Upwards of 100 members, probably the biggest LEGO spenders in the UK. It's his choice, and his loss - this seems very shortsighted to me. Dr. S.

Really? I'm glad you like them. One was featured on the BBC news website this week! Dr. S.

I can see how that would be annoying. Dr. S.

None that I can think of. I've never had a single point of negative feedback on BL and I pay super-promptly for all my orders. I'm very annoyed! Dr. S. Hmmm...the plot thickens. I am beginning to strongly suspect that I am an innocent victim of some petty bickering behind the scenes. If this is the case, then the word "pathetic" springs to mind. Dr. S.