Captain Nemo

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the monsters had alternative faces that are actual human faces peaking out of a mask. It would make the most sense. At least with the Vampire they could do that--or they could include extra heads (Which they did for Batman in the Sinestro set) but I don't think that's a likely. I feel like there should be something to show they're human--since the whole thing about Scooby Doo is finding out that the monsters are not actually monsters (well except for the few times they are actually monsters).

And replaced with a tantalizing wall of animal portraits...I'm not sure which I would have liked to see more!

No. Yellow is still a typically rare color for capes. I think the only long version (with the old fabric) was used for the original Robin(s). And we have the short yellow capes from the recent Robins, also in the old fabric. Vision will be the first figure with a long yellow cape and in the new thicker fabric. So far there are no yellow collars in either fabrics.

Boromir & The Ring Back again! For round three of the Middle Earth Lego Olympics over on Mocpages, we were again asked to build a creation based on a character assigned to us; and this time I was given Boromir. I've chosen to construct a creation based on the scene where Boromir is driven mad by the power of the Ring, and attempts to steal it from Frodo--who escapes from him by wearing it. The build is made from the perspective of Frodo while wearing the One Ring. Build Time: 10-12 Hours Enjoy! ~Nemo

That's why it cost so much to get them! And it only took a year! I mean in this instance, with all the other great themes and sets coming out this year--it's going to start boiling down for me to decide if these DC sets are a priority--as yes, I'm most often after the figures for my own creations--but having to buy expensive sets to get them, that also happen to be ugly, is starting to make that decision easier and easier.

I'm not a fan of that Rhino; but he did seem to get rave reviews from those at the Toyfairs. He may look better in person like the Sentinel does--but for me it's really just the slope used for the horn that looks strange--I've never seen that used on a brick-built Rhino before--most people use actually horn pieces. Rhino aside, the sets look great. I'm interested in Sandman--he seems to have one of those newish Chima ice traps under him; maybe it'll be colored tan for a sand affect. The Carnage set looks spectacular--easily an instant buy.

Uggh. Those DC sets...I mean I know they're prelims but... The Jokerland set really doesn't look like it justifies the price tag. I also seriously hope we get new variants of Harley, Ivy, and Penguin--even though unlike the other prelims that show stand-ins for new character designs, these do not--because having more than half of the figures in the set be rehashes would be a downer. I'm also surprised at the color scheme--like really surprised; I did not expect so much purple and yellow. The major problem with the color scheme? It won't blend one bit with the old funhouse. The Deathstroke set is really just another Batboat--that set for me is really just going to depend on Deathstroke himself. Hopefully he also ends up with a helmet too; but I wouldn't bet on it if it is not shown in the prelim. --- For the past few years--in regards to the superhero sets--I've had the philosophy of "don't miss out", which was ingrained in me after missing out on all but one of the old Batman sets (and I've paid for that ever since!); but this wave, from what I've seen...I don't think that philosophy will be needed.

It is normally best to take everything with a grain of salt, but I think it's likely that we'll get another Vampire in S14. Vampires are often related to Halloween now, and it seems like Lego is making more and more of them. Plus that would be the fifth (male) Lego Vampire; because as we all know, nothing beats the dangerous king Vampire of ye old Studios line. On another note, does anyone else think that the female Vampire shown here might work better in the Simpsons line?

Ok, that's it! I want this whole theme now! I've not watched Scooby Doo in years, but this theme is just gorgeous! That Mansion is just amazing, the colors are vibrant but dark, and it has such a sucessful spooky vibe. It does surprise me to see the pumpkin mask included--since that would seem like it should be exclusive for the Headless Horseman set--but it's nonetheless great. Velma and Daphne I think could be some of the best minifigures we get all year! And despite the fears that Daphne's glasses don't come off, I'm sure her alternative face does not include them for the affect--it would be a safe bet.

Oh, that is amazing! The Mystery Machine is just spectacular--and those colors are just beautiful! There are many stickers, but they look very nice. I love the giant tree too--although of course it has grey Mixels joints--Lego seriously needs to make those in other colors at some point; the grey makes any organic build look fake. I love the figures too--Fred looks perfect, and Shaggy is not too bad either--I don't care for his face too much. Scooby looks nice too; the angled head is unique but I think it works well. The swamp monster is nice too. I am surprised by the Scooby-Snack though; I was expecting like a printed piece of like a food box, not a brick built sandwich or something.

I love the Ultron Drones, but Ultron himself is not as impressive as I would like. I think the Ultimate Ultron is the best version for sure--he's the most like the comic Ultron and his helmet looks the best out of all of them. Granted...a chromed version would be amazing--hopefully one of the great chrome customizers out there will get on that! Actually, seeing better pictures now, I think the helmet on Ultimate Ultron is just a combination and recolor of the neck bracket on Ultron Prime and the Drone helmet. That would explain the shape of both and the strange nature of the neck bracket--what with the giant chin. As a plus, that means we could take the helmet from the Drone captain and put it on Ultron Prime--to make a dark metalic grey version of Ultimate Ultron!

I think these look ok. They are a lot more colorful overall than I expected, and I'm not a super fan of the monster versions of past CMFs. The Zombies look good, well the male one does--I think the female cheerleader one seems a bit too exagerated to fit in like a post-apoc setting. I'm iffy on the zombie Captain--since the regular CMF Captain he is based on was a poor figure to begin with; but I think if he has a beard he might be great. The witch is very bright colored, and I hope (and most likely she will) come with a skirt piece. The frowny cat is a plus though! I think my favorite ones are the Cheetah girl and the Little Shop of Horrors plant costume. The former because she would pass well as a great DC Cheetah, and the plant because well it's cool. Interestingly, I feel the hair piece for the Cheetah girl would work perfectly for a 60's themed Catwoman.

The cost can be a lot more than people think. I've sold two creations through Creations for Charity last year, both that had like 100-150 pieces (I didn't even count) and each sold for $125 dollars--incidentally to the same person (The first one was submitted by myself, and the second was actually a commission). Granted the "selling price" may have benefited from the fact that the money did not go to me but to the charity; however it still goes to show what people will pay and what people should pay. I think looking at the builds as works of art is what helps value them--because really that's what they are; I don't think commissioned builds are really for anything but display--heck if you start playing around with them they could fall apart! It is Lego after all! For me it really depends on a few factors--I don't consider my physical building time to be that "valuable" in most instances; because as some may know, I build at a very quick pace (Both of those builds were made in an hour or so-- if I worked hourly, I'd make like 8 bucks); but I do consider my skill and status as a well-known Superhero themed builder to be valuable. Likewise the parts could increase the cost, but I don't consider that as much when I have say, excess amounts of the pieces that I'm using; so it's not a big deal to me "giving" them away without an intent to buy replacements later. I do add in the cost of figures--as being a Superhero vignette-builder, the figures are really important to the look of the build. Incidentally, if you (or anyone else) is ever approached (seriously) about a commission piece, you should try to build/accept one if possible. It's a very unique experience compared to a regular build--or a build that someone wants to buy after the fact. It can be a lot of discussion about what the benefactor wants and what the artist can deliver. It's a very renaissance-like experience. And it's incredibly fun.

Oooo! Classic Goblin! How is that something you forget to post?! Either way, I'm super excited we are finally getting one, he is so overdue; and I think that he is included in a Juniors set is even better--I loved the Batcave Juniors set; and I'm sure there will be a great classic comic style to this new Goblin Juniors set.

Well today I picked up an armor-less Samurai and a King with no crown or beard... Apparently, someone carefully cut a slit hidden at the bottom back of the bag, extracted the pieces, and then used tape to carefully cover it up. I've seen CMF's ripped open before (Although not at a Toys R Us, which is where I got these two--incidentally, I did not feel the bags for parts, since they were the only two I could find at the store, and I don't have many S13 others, so I knew they would be "new" figures to me). Really upset about that--and frankly I'm even a little uncomfortable having these two minifigures around me. I'm for sure going to be checking every package of CMF I buy hereafter--and I won't be going back to that Toys R Us to get them either. Has this happened to anyone else?

Joker is not allowed in the Legion of Doom--he's too crazy! -- Thanks everyone!

Brickset's report of the JW sets is really getting me excited about them! For sure I know I'm going to get the D-Rex set; since I absolutely love the design of the main Dino from the leaks we've seen (and I want to see who would win in a Lego fight, the D-Rex or Lego Smaug!) That and the Gyros just pushes it over the edge. The sets are rather expensive however. I'm also a bit surprised that there's really no cheap sets--and that Chris Pratt's character apparently is only in one set--which seems highly uncharacteristic of Lego. The Raptor sets seem a bit redundant too; I think we may have only needed one of those.

Going to be honest, I don't follow Spider-Man much since the end of the Spectacular Spider-Man show and of course...the "Amazing" Spider-Man movies; so I was disappointed to discover just now that the Iron Spider-Man everyone is talking about is not the Spider-Man Armor that I thought it was. Oh well; I am interested in Sandman and Carnage. I hope we--actually we better at this point--get a new variant for our regular Spider-Man. I also wonder how large the brick-built Rhino will be--I hope he's not massive like the Hulkbuster. I cannot see him going toe-to-toe with that or my other mechs like the Lex Mech-Suit from the DC line.

I'm happy that they are classic designs, and minifigures. I think I'm most excited about the monsters though, since I love the current monster selection we have from the CMF's and Monster Fighters--so I'd love to add to those. Although, I'm not happy that it seems like you have to buy the Mystery Machine sets ($30) and the most expensive set the Mystery Mansion just to get the full gang. Really?! I wonder which character of the gang is only in one set then. That's disappointing to those of us who really just want the gang themeselves.

The sets sound just ok to me. I wasn't very interested in another funland set, but of course it includes one or two must have figures. I think it's a waste that we get another Poison Ivy and Penguin rather than a new character (cough--Killer Moth!--cough); but I hope we get new variants for Ivy and Penguin at the least. Harley hopefully will be in her New 52 apperance--which unlike the comics actually looks nice in Lego. I think the Keaton Batmobile will be nice; and I wonder how it'll compare to the 2006(?) version. I have to say the Boat-boat set just sounds like it sucks, to be honest. We all know we only want it for Deathstroke (at this point I could care less about more Robin suit variants!), but I also think it's safe to say that most of us also know that Killer Croc should have been in this set. I'm starting to think that Killer Croc is going to be our new Green Lantern--a character that Lego knows we all want, and strings him around in front of our faces for three years before we ever get him.

Spider-Man & Daredevil vs. Kingpin & Hobgoblin "We find our web-headed hero, Spider-Man, teaming up with the man with no fear—Daredevil—to take down the dangerous crime lord known only as the Kingpin! But look out Spidey! Someone wicked this way comes—the villainous Hobgoblin! Could this be the end of our heroic duo?!" Daredevil is a custom minifigure by Muddy River Figs. This is the second brick Kingpin I've built; V1 was much larger, but not nearly as cool! Build Time: 10-15 Hours Enjoy! ~Nemo

I was upset to see this but not surprised really. The Oscars rarely, if ever, actually reward the movies that the most people see and enjoy.

"I'm Going on an Adventure!" This creation was built for the second round of Mocpages' Middle Earth Lego Olympics contest. I succeeded in passing through the first round with my previous creation "No Loyal Friend", which has me currently ranked first in the contest. Anywho, the category for round two was Characters, with mine being selected as Bilbo Baggins. So I decided to build a creation that depicts the moment at which Bilbo drops his everyday life and runs towards his adventurous journey. Build Time: 3 Hours Enjoy! ~Nemo

Those nicely detailed pants are a surprise; they really lend more to the character as Avengers based. I myself am a bit iffy on the new Hulk design as a whole though. It's such a drastic change from the previous, clearly more comic based, versions most of all in color. Perhaps I'll like it more when it's in hand, but I still think it looks rather nice.

I once was dooped into buying a fake original Bane minifigure; and I know a few others who have as well (so if you too bought it from Amazon for around $30...then...). I'm assuming the "difference" in light you are seeing could be a result of digital printing; which is a lower grade type of printing used often for cheaper quality custom Minifigures (as opposed to Pad printed figures, in which the quality is almost equal to official Lego). Digital printing leaves behind a grainy quality on top of the pieces. If I could see a picture I could tell for sure right away (granted when I was dooped there was a stock picture provided--which fyi is another thing that should give people red flags!); but the second best thing--at least for you, is to just touch the figure, which sounds and is simple. Take a minifigure you know is official Lego and lightly stroke your thumb across the torso; notice the smooth texture. Then do the same for the potential fake. A digital printed custom figure will have a "raised" grainy printed design that you will be able to notice the difference in texture. This can also be visibly seen under certain angles of light as you have described. That's for a digital fake--which for the Bane character I have heard of and seen before many times. It of course could be something else though, if not official, but I would need pictures to further determine that.