Kit Figsto

Has anyone found the Disney CMF at any major retailers (Target, Walmart, Kohls, etc)? Thinking about venturing out to look for them, but I can't find online retail listings yet so I wasn't sure.

Yeah, these typically are before tax. In-store I’ve had them give me the promo if I’m a cent short (like, I remember a few years ago there was a promo for $40+ and I think I bought two $19.99 sets, the guy still gave me the promo even though technically I was at $39.98), but obviously online it’s not going to do that.

A potentially unpopular opinion I also hold is that I actually preferred the plastic kamas when it came to clones. I think the cloth ones look fine, but the plastic ones were a lot easier to take on and off for sitting and stuff, and I didn’t have to worry about them tearing or getting worn. The cloth ones give a bit more pose-ability, but either option is still unable to sit down, so I’d honestly rather just go back to the plastic ones, that way we can still get the effect of a separate piece but not worry about durability during play.

I think it’s possible that we get some Rebels sets if Ahsoka is successful, but probably more things that are Ahsoka-adjacent, if that makes sense? Like, when Mando S2 was out, we got the Mandalorian fighter, which was a Clone Wars set, but had some tie-ins to Mando (even before the Gauntlet was prominently featured, since it was technically in S2, but only just barely). I could see something like that if the Ahsoka show ends up being popular, where they put out some sort of Rebels vehicle or something.

I feel like there’s two levels to this, though. One is not giving the designers enough for the sets they are producing (which is probably why the Spider Tank doesn’t come with the Bionicle due, or why the minifigures for the TIE vs. Fang Fighter are a little odd), but with regards to your point about villains, I think that part sort of falls into another category of “things that SW wants to wait on to avoid spoiling for anyone.” Like, last year they definitely waited deliberately for any Luke merch, since that was a huge spoiler. Admittedly I don’t think this season’s “version” of that was as spoiler-y (basically just I guess), but I can see why they wanted to keep that secret and give people time to watch the show before any merch comes out. Like, if they had done the normal reveal on the Luke set and someone was a few weeks behind on the show, that would’ve been a massive spoiler, which is one more place that someone could have the reveal ruined for them.

I'm assuming that the parts to build each ship will be totally separate from the other ships, so you could always buy the set and just not open the bags that have Fang Fighter pieces, then resell those. You could probably make back $40-50 of the price just doing that, then you have a TIE Interceptor for $50.

Is a B1 even rumored, or are people just assuming because the calendars usually come with a battle droid? Because I think the only ones we've seen solid evidence for are the Christmas Ewok (pretty much confirmed), and then a 212th and Omega, which have some credibility due to being sold by a guy that sells Advent Calendar figures.

I actually wonder about this, do we know for sure if it was in development before the show? It actually sort of seemed to me like they may have started development on it super late once they realized the show was going to be a hit. I know that would be very atypical, but if I remember correctly, we got pictures of it in...February 2020, and had the option to pre-order the set that wasn't coming until like September? Like, do we know if it was a situation where they were planning on it anyway and just revealed it early to build hype and make sure people knew "Hey, we're still making Mandalorian sets, we just need time to produce them!", or did they literally start designing it in the fall of 2019, finish in about 4 months, and then showed preliminary images in the winter of 2020? I though it was the second one, but I might be wrong. This has really nothing to do with your overall point, it just prompted the question in my head.

This is pretty much the point I was trying to make. I feel like something I hear a lot is people talking about how all of LEGO’s original themes now are huge flops, when the reality is, most of them lasted longer than a lot of these so-called “golden age” themes. If you consider Nexo Knights or Hidden Side a flop, by that same criteria, Aqua Raiders II or Western were flops because they only lasted 1-2 years. If that’s how you consider a theme to be failed, then every single unlicensed theme ever except Town/City (I lump train in with these), Pirates, Castle, Space, Bionicle, Ninjago, Adventurers and Friends was a failure because nothing else has lasted beyond like 3 years.

If you're just looking at themes being launched, okay, but I meant unlicensed themes that existed at some point during that era. If we're not counting Friends since it's not minifigures, you still have Ninjago and City, plus Dreamzzz coming this year. If we're talking strictly themes being launched, I count 4 in the past 5 years (Vidiyo, Monkie Kid, Hidden Side, and upcoming Dreamzzz), so not quite 1 per year. I picked a few random years out of curiosity to see how many new themes have been launched (I literally just clicked random ones on Brickapedia, I didn't choose these for any specific years). I'm only counting minifigure based unlicensed themes. I don't think subthemes can really count, because if you counted them as separate themes, then every time Ninjago or City has a new subtheme, that would also count as a different theme (ie City Jungle, City Arctic, etc). 1991 - No truly new themes, there were some Town and Space subthemes being introduced for the first time, but nothing truly new. 1995 - Again, no "new" themes per say, there were some new subthemes of Castle and Aquazone. 2003 - Sports, World City (which was just a theme that replaced Town until City came along) and Orient Expedition (subtheme of Adventurers). Discovery also came out, but I don't really know how to classify those, they were realistic space sets that weren't minifigure based, and apparently lasted like four years. So essentially one new theme if you just count Sports. 2007 - Aqua Raiders, Castle (2007 reboot) and Mars Mission. So you had one year with 3 new themes, one year with 1, and two years without and brand new themes. The only real difference between them launching new themes now and back then is just that there are fewer major, evergreen unlicensed themes. The actual duration and size of unlicensed themes now is probably bigger than most that are remembered so fondly.

I think this is a hugely key point here. There's a big element of nostalgia that I think makes people over-remember how popular/big/expansive some of these themes actually were. I'm pretty sure Wolfpack Knights got a total of like three sets, but if you asked an AFOL to guess how many sets the theme had, I would bet a lot of people would think that number is much higher just because of how long the legacy of that subtheme has lasted. I'm not saying this nostalgia is bad or wrong (believe me, I absolutely hold a lot of themes in that same place), but I think it leads us to automatically place the older themes in a much higher regard than newer original themes. I mean, there are people already writing off Dreamzzz as a failure when nothing has been revealed other than some of the minifigure designs. People love a theme like Time Cruisers (I do too!), but the reality is that most of the builds are far inferior to stuff coming out today. Who's to say that Dreamzzz can't be an interesting new theme? I still maintain that Hidden Side could've been a successful theme if the box art wasn't so confusing (seriously, I would glance at those in store shelves and just have no idea what I was even supposed to be looking at). So, no, I don't think you can say that classic/unlicensed original themes are dead when there are still several out there. Just off the top of my head, the last decade-ish, we've had a pirates/castle reboot, Galaxy Squad, Monster Fighters, Chima, Ninjago, Monkie Kid, Friends, Nexo Knights, Pharoah's Quest, Hidden Side, and now Dreamzzz. I know someone will make the point that a lot of these themes only lasted a year or two, but the fact is, most of the "classic" themes people bring up from the 90s/early 2000s also only lasted a couple of years. Original Aquazone went form 95-98, Time Cruisers got 9 sets across 96 and 97 (one was the same set released under two names, so that's really 8 sets, which is fewer than some of the themes I listed above that only lasted for a year or two), Alpha Team was 2001-02 and then returned in 2004, Rock Raiders only got actual sets in 1999, but had some minifigure packs in 2000, Western was 96-97, plus a couple of Legends re-releases in 2002, Dino Attack was one year, et cetera. The only classic themes that really held up perpetually over a long period of time were Pirates, Castle, Space, and Town/City. I'm actually inclined to put Ninjago and Friends into that category at this point, since I believe both are coming up on 15 years now, and that's a longer run than Pirates has had (only counting full themes released as Pirates, 1989, 91-97 and then reboots in 2009 and 2015). Point being, a lot of these themes that are remembered fondly didn't last that long either, so I'm not entirely sure why people write off recent one-off themes as massive failures, when a lot of the super well-regarded nostalgic themes, in some cases, actually had fewer sets released.

I'm almost positive we'll get more next year. They waited until 2022 to put out the set with Luke in it so as to avoid major spoilers, and they've given Mando so much love over the past 4 years that they'll definitely give us at least one or two sets based on S3 next year before S4 comes out. Like, especially since right now the new Bo-Katan only comes in the one set, given that she's basically a main character now, she seems like a no-brainer to put into another set or two next year. Heck, I could see them doing another Mandalorian starfighter even though the old one just retired a few months ago, if nothing else because of how much focus there's been on it this season (in S2 it was pretty much just in the background of a couple of episodes, whereas they've probably spent more time in Bo-Katan's fighter than any other vehicle so far this season).

It also sort of seems like it depends on the caliber of the character. Like, if they ever do release any of the characters from the MBS Cantina, it'll probably be Ponda Baba or Garindan, but realistically, no one is clamoring that much for a Kabe or Hrcheck Kal Fas figure to where leaving it exclusive to the set is going to prohibit people who want the figure from owning it (same with some of the Death Star protocol droids, or the Ugnaught/Bespin Guards that are exclusive to Cloud City). I feel like Mythrol could end up being the same way, and I think with Rex, it's almost certain we get him, but I could see them leaving Yularen exclusive, since he's somewhat popular, but before this, I don't think there were that many people who were wanting a Clone Wars Yularen that badly. With respect to the anniversaries discussion, I feel like this conversation happens...basically every time there's an anniversary for a movie (which, at this point is any year ending in 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. If you want to count Rogue One then we have an anniversary literally every year). LEGO has never really celebrated anniversaries of SW movies or shows that strongly. It seems like if the branding exists (if other SW merch is using it, basically), they'll slap it onto whatever they're making, and maybe make a few sets tie-in, but it really, really doesn't seem like they're going out of their way to celebrate an anniversary (all of ROTJ anniversary sets with the exception of the Executor were sets that I 1000.% would've expected us to get at some point anyway. Heck, even in 2007, which was the first real major SW anniversary I can remember, I remember them putting the 30th anniversary logo on the box art, but I don't even think we got any ANH sets that year other than the Imperial Landing Craft, and the gold C-3PO promotion. The only anniversaries that it seems they most definitely will celebrate are 10 year increments of LEGO SW existing. We had that fan vote for a flagship set in 2009 and then the remade sets and minifigures in 2019, and I would guess in 6 years we'll get something like that again. On an entirely different topic, the Omega Advent Calendar rumor sounds great! I got the BB Shuttle recently, so I'm just missing Omega, and this will be a great way to get her for cheap.

The general "rule" seems to be that MBS sets are fair game for exclusive characters, but with UCS, they seem to focus more on variants than anything (such as C-3PO in the Landspeeder, Han/Leia with gas masks in the Falcon, or Veers in the AT-AT. You can still get those minifigures elsewhere, but the extra printing and stuff is exclusive to the UCS set). The only real recent exceptions I can think of are Mythrol and Kuiil, though it wouldn't shock me if we did eventually get them in regular sets one day. I'm betting that'll be the case with Rex, my guess is that the arm printing + bandage prints will be exclusive to the UCS Venator, but a version of him without those will come in a later, more affordable set.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated!

I agree, it's very unusual. I don't know if there will be a second wave of these sets, but the rumors really seem to suggest that it was pulled due to a structural or manufacturing issue, not because of controversy. If that is the case...there's no reason to think there isn't at least some hope of it coming, especially since the first three seem to be a hit so far. Like, I'm not banking on it, but I feel like if it were a complete open and shut case of it not coming, we would've gotten a more concrete statement and the pictures never would've come out beyond just the leaks. With regards to the Target thing, that also makes me believe that my theory of the prices being switched between the Lost Tomb and Temple of Doom is correct, because there's no reason that set should've been $80, considering LEGO didn't even increase their prices from the MSRPs that we got during the summer of 2022 with the original leaks.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/80676489@N04/35056003783/in/photostream/ Anyone know where the blue and green torsos are from?

I really don’t think it was cancelled due to the content of the set/movie. The rumor from one of the Reddit sources (iirc it was Reddit, I believe one of the people that leaked some of the fall SW sets) was that it was cancelled due to a part issue. The biggest evidence towards that being the case and not an issue of controversy is that LEGO let the LAN members show the leaked image. I repeat, they let them show a leaked image. The same LAN that has had members removed for showing leaks of sets that are actually confirmed to be coming. If they did pull the set for content reasons, they had absolutely no incentive to let LAN members show an un-finalized image that 95% of the LEGO buying public had no idea even existed.

I'm guessing that's it as far as Celebration set reveals. It seems unlikely that they'd go too far into the summer with any reveals, and since we already saw the X-Wing and dioramas, that'll probably be it. If they were going to do any Ahsoka stuff, I'd guess it would've been shown today. I know that the dioramas weren't the most exciting reveal for us, but they weren't officially unveiled yet anyway, so for a lot of people, this was the first time seeing them. I guess that's the price of paying attention to leaks . We're probably going to have to wait on the Fang Fighter until after either episode 7 or 8 of Mando, and then I'd guess once that's revealed, it'll just be a matter of waiting until sometime in May/June when we get pictures of the summer sets.

The fact that Dodonna isn't on there but Madine is really leads me to think that's an error. If it listed both, then I could maybe see it, but it would be way, way too weird to have Madine and not Dodonna.

What the heck? And the Fighter Plane Chase is $40. Literally every other retailer has them at $35 and $40, so I truly don’t understand that at all. I’m expecting that to go on deep discount soon. That also sucks because I expect it might turn some people off of the set who don’t realize it’s not actually an $80 set but is $40 elsewhere? Speaking of, I just built mine today. Didn’t get an extra hat, if anyone was wondering. In general, I think it’s a fantastic set. The minifigures are great (I think the Indy figure looks really good in person, I was iffy on it based on pictures but like it a lot), and I think the mummy is being overlooked as a really strong figure in general. The Anubis statues look outstanding. I was just straight up impressed as I built them, the way the faces are constructed looks stellar and the shaping of the legs and arms are perfect. The wall play feature is fun, and I like that they gave the statues some studs on the side so that you can pose Indy on them. The only real wish I have is that the set were just a bit more enclosed on the sides, but for 600 pieces at $40, I’m okay with what we got.

I feel like it’s a possibility that it’s correct and someone mixed up the names between Dodonna and Madine. I remember someone saying it included “the same general as the X-Wing” (which I think is to be expected) but since Dodonna wasn’t listed there, I feel like it’s probably just a case of someone confusing the two names.

Wait, what is this? There's been so much news the past few days that I haven't seen anything on this. Is it from one of the LEGO Holiday Specials, or the OG Holiday Special?

I would guess a $150-200 USD threshold. Last year's Forestman's Hideout was $150, the Blacktron Cruiser was apparently $190 this year, so maybe somewhere in between? GWP thresholds have been sort of all over the place, because you also have the current house build being a $250 purchase but had fewer pieces than the Blacktron Cruiser, so who knows?

That's a little odd, because the Disney 100th Anniversary Brickheadz are being sold normally, and is also $40, plus there's been two Harry Potter four packs and a Donald Duck + Huey, Dewey and Louie four pack. One of the HP packs is just four professors, and I feel like the Endor characters would be just as popular (if not more) than them. Is it possible that it's just an early release at Celebration and will be generally available otherwise? I just ask because there was no other indication of it being an exclusive, but at the same time, it's not listed with the other Brickheadz on LEGO.com (it doesn't even have a "coming soon" thing, it just has a "buy" button that I didn't try and click). The numbering also follows normal Brickheadz, have previous convention exclusives gotten special numbering?