phanstasm

Thanks for the review, Masked Builder. Great photos! I voted average for two reasons: #1. It's a great courtyard, but doesn't capture the claustrophobic and labyrinth-like feel of Dol Guldur from the movies. - I'd suggest anyone who can should buy Vampyre Castle (9468) to help create more of Dol Guldur. #2. Azog's headpiece and hand are not at all in the Lego style. With the hand, it's too long and can't hold anything. The head really sets him apart from other minifigures, though not in a good way. - First, there's a nose. - Second, he has no shoulders. Look at Masked Builder's great villain photo. The gundabad orc has massive shoulder armor. Azog's headpiece doesn't cover the shoulders, and makes him look out of proportion. - Third, there's no stud on top of his head like other bald orcs. Not only does it break continuity with other bald orcs, but it also limits customization. Half the fun of Lego is making modifications. By taking away the stud, you're limiting the user's ability to customize the minifgure. Imo, it's going against the spirit of Lego. If you watch this designer video, Gitte Thorsen explains how she sculpted the dwarf beards and wargs. She clearly has a great grasp of the Lego style. I wish she had designed Azog. Link: youtube.com/watch?v=cr-ehwGvcAw *Also, does anyone have minifigure concept art for Azog? I’d love to see what Lego's other design options were.*

Barnes & Noble has the sets available, and they're not makred up. Only odd thing: they named "Dol Guldur Ambush" as "Lego Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Hobbit 1 79011." The description is right, though. Also, they have a sale for buy "Buy 1 Educational Toy Get 1 50% Off." It starts Thanksgiving day (Nov 28) on the website. There don't seem to be any restrictions, and I do know that they classify Lego as an Educational Toy. Not sure why they'd give such a steep discount on these already, but I'll take it.

As a whole, I like the Dol Guldur sets as they are, but there is a very minor thing that bothers me: the colors in the sticker sheet don't match the colors used for certain elements. You can see it in the image below. In the set there are light brown spikes (iron work) above each gate. However, in the sticker sheet the iron work is brown (like the stuff next to the Necromancer). Also on the sticker sheet the vines are either very, very dark brown or black (look next to the spider). Yet the vine elements, like the one next to the statue, are brown. Not a big deal. Just a little modding work to be done.

Thanks for the small pictures! But... you can see wonderful large pictures right here: http://shop.brixit.s...tt-hobbit-2014/ Can't wait to pick these up! Also, hats off to Lego, because these new sets actually are getting me to buy more Hobbit sets. Since Azog comes in Dol Guldur, which I'm certainly buying, now I need his white warg from the AUJ set.

Thanks to those that posted links to pictures and/or pictures. Seeing that we're getting a Joker henchman, even though the torso print is clever and fun, is disappointing. That's a minifigure slot that could have been used for a new fan-demanded character. Or, since Lego already had the prints made and people want them, why not save some development time and use a 2012 or 2013 SDCC exclusive character? I think a Green Arrow minifigure would have worked better as a selling point than a Joker henchman. I love henchman, but they are really easy to make. Lego can do more cross marketing by leaving the henchman out. People can buy Police sets, or mix and match other torsos, to make their own henchman. Please, Lego, don't bother with the henchman - especially when we're only getting one, like in the Batwing set (#6863). Unless we can army build (ex: Footsolider from Turtles line), use that minifigure slot for a fan-demanded, popular character that will help to sell your set(s).

Kmart has pictures for three sets (click the link to be taken to Kmart's respective product pages, and more images): LEGO Friends Mia's Lemonade Stand http://www.kmart.com...=3&blockType=G3 LEGO Friends Stephanie's New Born Lamb http://www.kmart.com...=1&blockType=G1 LEGO Friends Emma's Lifeguard Post http://www.kmart.com...=2&blockType=G2

Thanks to those that posted the pictures of the new Batgirl and Joker minifigures a few pages back! Those look great!! A Fun Keeper I threw together and thought I'd share: a Joker (purple suit) comparison photo. Yes, I know there's the nice Arkham Asylum Joker, but my photo is focused on comparing the different versions of the purple suits, and how Lego has modified the Joker's purple suit over the years. Also, does anyone have a guess as to where Lego got their inspiration for the 2014 version's green bowtie? Based on a Google search, my guess is the 'Arkham Asylum' and 'Arkham City' video games.

Darn. Thanks, 8BrickMario. BTW, @mifody, nice pictures. :)

For anyone that has Tonto: is any part of the pin thick enough so that a minifigure could hold the crow? It's tough to tell from the Bricklink image. Thanks in advance.

I know other Eurobricks members have mentioned them before, but I think both kids and AFOLs would really get a kick out of adding a few pets to the fun world of Lego Super Heroes. I'd really like to see characters like Krypto (Superman's dog), Ace (Batman's dog), Streaky (Supergirl's cat), Isis (Catwoman's cat), Bud and Lou (the Joker's hyenas), and more! I wouldn't mind if Lego made some original pets, too. For example, if Scarecrow is in another set he could have two or three crows as accessories. It would be great to see Marvel pets too, like Redwing (the Falcon's falcon), Lockheed (X-Men's resident little purple dragon), and others. If they put the Lizard in a Spider-Man set, give him some fun reptile pet accessories. (click the picture for larger images of the poster on Ebay)

darth_tater, thanks so much for that great summary of the winter wave!!! The models for the villains sound very fun, and I'm excited even more by your enthusiasm for the sets. Hearing that the Penguin one is "[...] one of the best $13 LEGO sets ever" is a lot of praise, so that's great! Since we have three unkown characters in the Steam Roller, I'll reserve my minifigure comments for now. So, it looks like what most of us were thinking is true, and Lego has gone back to the 2012 model for Super Heroes. DC gets the winter wave and Marvel gets the summer wave. Assuming TLG is following last year's trend of zero Super Hero retailer exclusives, and giving us 1 Lego Direct exclusive, it looks like Lego is continuing to lower the number of Super Hero sets per year (not counting polybags, or exclusive videogame or book minifigures): 2012 *DC: 5 *Marvel: 5 *Retail Exclusive Winter: 1 DC *Retail Exclusive Summer: 1 Marvel *Lego Direct: 0 - Total: 12 sets 2013 *DC: 5 *Marvel: 5 *Retail Exclusive Winter: 0 *Retail Exclusive Summer: 0 *Lego Direct: 1 (DC) - Total: 11 sets 2014 *DC: 4 *Marvel: 4? *Retail Exclusive Winter: 0? *Retail Exclusive Summer: 0? *Lego Direct: 1? (Marvel?) - Total: 9 sets?

Thanks, CM4S, for the larger image. And thanks, Cammo, for the Thurs and Fri schedules. Only showing one DC set? That’s very odd since they try to balance Marvel/DC everything. You’d think if they were only showing one DC they’d at least also show one Marvel. Unless... maybe the winter 2014 wave will only be DC, and the summer 2014 wave will only be Marvel, like they did in 2012.

Thanks for the new poster image, GRogall! How about TLG only offers convention “preview” minifigures rather than convention “exclusive” ones. What I mean is that the convention preview MF will be included in an upcoming set either that year or the following year. TLG has done this in the past for at least two IP’s: *DC Super Heroes: Superman MF -Convention MF Image: http://www.brickset....Set=COMCON017-1 *The Hobbit: Bilbo MF -Convention MF Image: http://www.brickset....il/?Set=Bilbo-1 This would be great for both minifigure fans and TLG. If you’re a fan (young or old), and you get one of these at a convention, that’s a great free preview, and it has some nice convention-exclusive packaging! If you miss out because it’s a raffle system, or can’t make the travel arrangements work, at least you’ll be able to get the MF in a future set. For Lego, this saves them design time and money. They’re not spending extra resources to design a one-off promotional item, but instead using MF prints and parts that they’re already using for a sellable product. If I was TLG, however, I’d be sure to make the preview minifigure part of a set that comes with other desirable MF’s (like how the above Superman came with Lex and Wonder Woman). Otherwise there will be some consumers that pass on the set because they already have the minifigure. I picked up the ‘Man of Steel’ Battle of Smallville set, and had a great time building the models and minifigures! If you’re a fan of the ‘Lego Batman’ movie or 'Lego Batman 2' video game, the drop ship works well for a Lex Luthor vehicle – in the movie and game, Lex had two black/dark grey vehicles, both of which feature green/trans-green highlights (like the BOS drop ship).

With the release of The Hobbit in the US this week, I thought now would be an appropriate time to share one of my better MOC's, The Balrog from The Fellowship of the Ring film. Backstory Way back in June, Barnes & Noble held Lego events at select Lego stores. At my store, we received two sets for children to choose from (while supplies lasted) build (with our help as necessary, using the instructions or building their own MOC), then write or illustrate a story about their creation, and finally take home all the parts from their set. The sets offered were the Harry Potter Lab and the Friends Ice Cream Stand - as shown in the Brickset link, except our Ice Cream Stand kit came with a wonderful bonus, the orange cat/Mrs. Norris from Hogwarts. The Poster and MOCs (Backstory Continued) To make our store's event more special for the attendees, I wanted to make a poster to show kids (and kids at heart) how to take their free set and integrate it into their own assortment of Lego elements. Fortunately, I had the parts needed for the The Lab and Ice Cream Stand. Starting with those, I used my own time to build a poster and two MOCs. The first used the Ice Cream Stand to build a Friends jungle adventure. The second used the Harry Potter lab to make The Balrog, Khazad-dûm battle, and Tolkien's study. The final poster looked like this - click the image for a higher resolution version - yes, for Lego historians, "Just Imagine" is a nod to the old "Just Imagine..." that Lego used to include on the back of some products: The Balrog, Khazad-dûm, and Tolkien's Study With the recent release of Lego's The Lord of the Rings sets, I decided to base the The Lab MOC after the set I wanted Lego to make the most: the Balrog. The final composition image, featured below, is made of three parts. From the top down, first we have close ups of the two main characters: the Balrog and Gandalf. Next is a wide angled shot of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, and the confrontation between the Balrog and Gandalf. The rest of the Fellowship watches on in dismay. Finally, at the bottom of the image, you can see Professor Tolien at work on The Fellowship of the Ring. I'll admit that some elements in this last area, like the Harry Potter minifigure head - are not the best. However, I wanted to include as many elements from The Lab as possible - remember, even though it's a LOTR MOC, the goal of this piece was to illustrate how to use The Lab with other Lego elements. As with the poster above, you can click the image below to view the same image at a higher resolution: Afterward This was already a long post, and I haven't taken any more photos, so I didn't attach any more images. However, if anyone want to see more, just let me know and I'll be happy to take some non-Photoshopped Balrog images. For example, things like more views of the Balrog, the trapdoor in the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, or the Balrog's hinged jaw are easy to photgraph.

Thanks, CM4S, for the images! Such a nice surprise to see some more LOC set images today, and what looks like the Eagle's leader! Really cool box art too. The raven vehicle is fantastic! If there weren't so many great things coming out this year, I'd love to get one of these large Raven vehicles, and flank it with two of the smaller Raven gliders (http://brickset.com/detail/?Set=70000-1). I can understand a lot of people thought The Eagle's Castle would have had more substance when they heard "castle," myself included, but I do like it as a Speedorz set. The eagle statue nicely parallels the lion statue in "Ultimate Tournament" (http://brickset.com/detail/?Set=70115-1). For me, it's a good starting point to build a fortress for the eagles. Even if you don't like the design, it looks like an interesting parts pack: gold LOC crystal, a white tattered cape on the wolf, and more.

Thanks, Krulis, for the higher resolution images! Think about it like this: Lego wants to move old stock because they want to make room for the new stock. To do that, they want you to buy the old sets first. So, it doesn't make sense for them to release the sets by Black Friday - though I'm sure some areas in the world may have them by then. If they had the new sets by Black Friday, you wouldn't buy the old sets. You would buy the new sets. By not having new sets out on Black Friday, there are a lot of fans that will buy old sets just to get their "fix," and also gift-givers who will buy sets just to get their holiday shopping done all in one day. Now, these people are still locked in for 2013 sets, plus they've bought old sets they otherwise wouldn't have purchased. In short, by not releasing the new sets for Black Friday, these people have bought more than they would have. That's a good business model.

I appreciate the heads up. But to anyone buying the minifigures in advance from people like this: All of these minifigures originate at Lego. They are designed by people who work for the company. If you really like the minifigures, so much so that you have to have them, support the actual designers and buy the set. If you really like what Lego is offering, help Lego continue to offer more by buying from them, and not some guy/gal that stole minifigures from production lines to make money on Ebay. If you can't afford the set, then at least wait until bricklink.com or another website gets them in a few months, and buy them there. At least then there's a better chance that the minifigures aren't stolen from the production line.

I really like the new banner that highlights Super Heroes Month - especially the buildings in the background. Nice job!

Yeah, I bet you're right. Selfishly, I was hoping we'd see GL or Young Justice cartoon characters included in a Batman or Superman focused set for 2013, because I wanted to save the shows. A strong marketing push like that might be what the shows need for Cartoon Network to actually keep them on the air - in the US, they pulled both from their lineup for the next 3 months without any warning. If Time Warner and Lego wait until 2014 to include YJ or GL characters in a Batman or Superman focused set, it will probably be too late to help those shows. All well.

For comparison purposes, since Disney acquired Marvel: Movies: the Avengers came out. And I really liked it. +1 Comics: the AvsX maxiseries came out. And I really liked it. +1 Animation: Ultimate Spider-Man came out. And I don't care for the character development or humor. But I like the character selection, and really like the Legos! So, +0.5 because they recognize that cartoons as well as movies can be used for Legos. I don't know if any of that has to do with Dinsey buying them, or that they've kept their hands off. But, 2.5 out of 3 is a win for Disney/Marvel in my book. So, as long the people who have final say over Lucasfilm things at Disney follow that same pattern, I'll be okay.

I agree that Dark Knight Rises (a movie) promotes Batman, and Ultimate Spider-Man (a cartoon) promotes Spider-Man. But then by the same idea, the Young Justice cartoon is the free promotion. Don't the Young Justice cartoon, comic book, home video releases, and upcoming video game, Young Justice: Legacy, count for the free promotion you speak of? That's got to be on par if not more free promotion than Deadpool and Magneto got when they were released with Wolverine in the X-Men Lego set. It's certainly more free promotion than Aquaman is currently getting, though he's in a 2013 set. I don't think it's unrealistic, especially if Batman is included in the set. He's been in almost all of the Young Justice cartoon episodes, and popular enough to be the focus of all the winter 2013 DC Lego sets. Put Batman, Nightwing, and Black Manta together, and you've got a set based on the Young Justice episode "Alienated." To go back to your free promotion stand point, grouping those three characters in a set would be directly related to an actual episode of Young Justice, and therefore receiving free promotion. The Deadpool/Magneto/Wolverine and upcoming Aquaman/Mr. Freeze/Batman sets are not getting free promotion like that. And I absolutely agree with you, Sam892, and I very, very much appreciate everything we're getting. It really is a dream come true. I just see an opportunity for Time Warner to promote its shows, and Lego to ride on the Green Lantern and Young Justice cartoons, comics, video games, and home video releases, therefore using free promotion, as TenorPenny showed they like to do, by making a 2013 set based off either the GL or YJ cartoons.

I agree that the primary feature of all of Lego's Super Heroes sets is a "popular" character, illustrated by the minifigure in the upper right corner of each box. For DC, that's only Batman and Superman - so far. However, even given those limitations, they can still design 2013 sets based on Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice. Idea #1: Using Batman as the focus, but based on Green Lantern: The Animated Series Bricks Build: * Green Lantern's Interceptor starship Minifigures: * Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) * Sinestro (who is appearing in Season 2 of the show) * Batman (in Green-Lantern-powered space armor, as featured in Batman: The Brave and the Bold: http://www.worldsfin...sdespero/14.jpg) - as we've already seen from the 2013 arctic Batman minifigure, Lego and Time Warner aren't adverse to changing Batman's costume for special situations. Price: $40 (like the exclusive Orc Forge and Joker's Fun House) Plot: While retrieving a rare mineral from outer space, Batman and his ally, Green Lantern, are attack by the villainous Sinestro! Will our heroes be able to keep their prize from Sinestro's clutches? Idea #2: Using Superman as the focus, but based on Young Justice Bricks Build: * Hall of Justice * Small Manta flyer (something like the Sith Tropper flyer from this year's Star Wars battle pack: http://brickset.com/...il/?Set=75001-1) * Manta Trooper missile platform (something slightly larger than the alien missile platform from the Captain America set: http://brickset.com/detail/?Set=6865-1) - the Manta Troopers use missile platforms, as seen in the Young Justice episode "Depths": http://www.worldsfin...views/33depths/ Minifigures: * Aqualad * Superboy * Superman * Black Manta * Manta Trooper (x2) Price: $70 Plot: Hearing that the Justice League went into outer space, Black Manta and his Manta Troopers have planned to loot the Hall of Justice of its artifacts and technology. Just as the heroes Aqualad and Superboy are about to be overrun, Superman arrives to aid his friends! Will the Man of Steel be enough to halt Black Manta's advance? I think those would both sell well as 2013 sets or exclusives, and complement existing sets in a number of ways. For example: * Green Lantern adds another member to Lego's Justice League, * Black Manta and Aqualad complement the Aquaman figure released this winter, * The Hall of Justice is a great headquarters for your Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman minifigures.

I just wanted to give Disney/Marvel a huge thumbs up for providing Lego the rights to continue making sets based off their Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon. The show itself is not something I care for, but I like that the winter 2013 lineup of Super Hero sets provides more Ultimate Spider-Man sets. I feel they deserve thanks based on two reasons. #1: regardless of quality, you can’t deny the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon features a lot of Marvel characters. Creating the 2013 Ultimate Spider-Man inspired SHIELD car and Daily Bugle, both based on the show, gives us a lot of great minifigures (Dr. Doom!!!). #2: Both Disney/Marvel recognize that cartoons as well as movies can be successfully used as a basis for Legos. Now, Time Warner/DC Comics, what’s the deal? We’ve got 2012 and 2013 Lego sets solidified based off of Ultimate Spider-Man. Why aren’t you partnering with Lego, and granting them the rights, to promote your Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice cartoons? Again, regardless of the quality (though I’m a huge Young Justice fan), I could see two or three sets based on each show giving us great builds and minifigures. The US-based toy company, Mattel, failed at making a successful Young Justice toy line. I think my favorite toy company, Lego, could do much better. Though it’s impossible – but sticking to the topic of this thread – can’t we see an exclusive 2013 set based on either the GL or YJ cartoons? Time Warner/DC Comics, please grant Lego the rights to your Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice cartoons. I can think of a plethora of sets and minifigures off the top of my head, and I’m not even in the business. So... what’s stopping you?

Didn't see this posted already - sorry if I missed it: Chima teaser site is up! Hang around for a 3 image slideshow - starts automatically. http://chima.lego.com/en-us/teaser/

I think it also has to do with Lego trying to create minifigures that appeal to both demographics of minifigure fans. I've seen a number of complaints about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles heads. People are saying that they are "not Lego like." By making the three dimensional masks very similar to the printed heads, Lego can make both types of minifigure fans happy. Now you can create basically the same figure without having to purchase additional parts. I'm very, very happy with everything I'm seeing for Legends of Chima! It looks like a line that will be very fun to collect, fun to build, fun to play with, and fun to customize. No matter what you want out of Lego play themes (cool minifigures, a deep backstory, a new set to build, or parts for your own MOC), this theme seems to universally meet all those needs in one set or another. Way to go, Lego!!! I can't wait to pick up set #70115 ("Ultimate Tournament"), and maybe #70104 ("Jungle Gates"). They seem like they would work very well together in a display. Also, I love that #70104 comes with 4 lion sculptures (http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=30274).