HawkLord

Brickstarrunner, I really like your Fallout 3 pic. As for sets versus pieces, I guess it depends on the purpose. If you're building a large MOC and need specific pieces or many of the same piece making buying duplicate sets expensive, then I can see going the individual piece route. If you're just buying the minifigures from a set because you want them, then I'd recommend just buying the set (assuming it's still a retail set), because usually the sets would just be alittle more, since popular minifigures get marked up. Personally, I buy sets because as a collector I want everything complete.

Well, TRU has a BOGO 40% off and I can always army-build the LOTR Uruk-Hai set at $35 each. Meaning, even if I got two (ot on sale) for $70, I'd only really be paying $10 for the minifigure set. Not a bad way to go, but with all the other Hobbit stuff that's coming out this month, I might be tapped out.

I'm not sure it's been covered, so my apologies if it has, but is this TMNT line going to be based on the new cartoon, classic cartoon, or the upcoming Michael Bay movie? I'm hoping classic, but I have a feeling it'll be new or Bay, unfortunately. I don't know anything about the TMNT license from a behind-the-scenes standpoint, but I wonder if there's any reason TLG couldn't do all three.

For being some of the most simplistic designs and printing compared to recent figures, it's a shame these aren't alittle cheaper. Though I guess I can attribute that to the TRU mark-up. It would be nice if the sets were more themed. There are a few Spaceman that could just be consolidated into one box set, there's probably other things they could to make a Foresters/Castle pack, and there's more than enough City material for their own box. Plus, it would make army building easier. As it stands, I don't think there's enough incentive here for me to go after these.

And I can attest that the action figure recall hasn't start for those two yet, because I just found more of them yesterday at TRU. It could be that WB will just let Bridge Direct slide on those, since the product has already been made, is probably already in alot of store warehouses, or is right now on a ship from China. Meanwhile, if TLG isn't releasing their Hobbit stuff till December, than I'm sure there would be time to adjust what they decide issue. TLG could still take the product that was made and re-box it in The Desolation of Smaug packaging rather than the An Unexpected Journey packaging. Either way, for a movie that promises to be epic, it's kind of getting off on the wrong foot.

The most telling sign for me will be if WB really enforces the recall of the Bridge Direct action figures of Legolas and Tauriel. If these two characters do get recalled, as rumor indicates, then that will be the definitive answer as to where the first movie ends - just before Mirkwood. There's not alot of other product out there that could give better signs - there's Lego, Weta, Gentle Giant, and some other smaller stuff, but most of those have just focused on the very primary characters and will probably not have to worry about taking Elves off the shelves.

Well, it's unfortunate for the Bridge Direct action figures, as there are 6-inch and 4-inch figures of both Legolas and Tauriel in their first wave. If stores are going to have to recall those, it really takes out a portion of their first wave - it also ends up being misleading since the cardbacks show those figures/sets, so if they're missing, it's going to confuse some people not in the know. TLG has the advantage where they still have some lead time to make changes to their Hobbit wave. It could be that we see a LOTR set come in to replace a recalled Hobbit set.

Given that the Hobbit action figures are already being found at some TRUs and are due to hit mass retail Oct 1st, it makes me think we should be seeing some Hobbit Lego sets soon enough. No use in keeping the Legos secret when all of the Hobbit action figure pics are floating around already.

I'll be going for my first time, having just found out about it this year. Is there going to be any kind of EB meet-up there?

Great build. These set ideas really take me back.

TRU has B2G1 free on most Lego sets - excluding Ninjago, Techinics, and Friends.

I'd go with any Castle sets in this instance. Seeing as LOTR will be dominating the medieval side of things for the next couple of years, those Castle sets are going to disappear without being replaced by anything new in the Castle line. If The Hobbit goes for three movies, it might be somewhere along three years before we see a true Castle set. Meanwhile, the Fire Dept concept seems to be a big piece of the City line and I expect you'll find more sets that could work in the same three year span.

Like everyone else, I'm sure there are "sock accounts" or fake accounts used to drive up numbers. However, I will add that the Lego community seems to be one of the friendliest communities that I have posted on. Most people are very helpful, courteous, and positive about Lego - which is more than I can say for other collectible community forums and sites. With that said, I'd be surprised if there were alot of fake accounts because the Lego community (including beyond this site) seems better than that.

The first pic is a custom action figure on an old ML Wolverine display base. The second pic is of the Batman AC video game. The game itself does not have characters in those white costumes, Rocksteady Games just used the white stylized pics for promotional stuff. I still think the Anti-Freeze works better as a White Lantern Batman, as seen here: http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2010/08/dc-comics-unveils-white-lantern-batman/

I'm partial to Star Wars, so I have to side with the Death Star.

Echo Base comes out to $66.49, which is an amazing price. I was also able to have the local TRUs use their in-store online coupon, so I didn't have to print it out myself. They either have the coupon to scan or can use the coupon's code and both work for the 30% off.

Pretty cool take on the Shwarma scene. The green aliens almost make passable Skrulls.

Versatility. Sets that allow for alternate display options or sets that work with other sets to expand on. Generally with Star Wars, sets like ships are more boring to me. I still buy them, but I'd have much more interest in something like Jabba's Palace over the SSD. Admittedly, figure count is also a factor.

If Lego had those Clones in a Battle Pack or something, I would buy them up like there's no tomorrow. I feel like it's been awhile since Lego made some ROTS Clones in a Battle Pack.

Pretty much the best review one could hope for - very concise and great pics. Still alittle disappointed with Series 8. Since I've bought my initial batch of figures, I'm done. There's not alot I feel I really need extras of or even army-builder types. I guess, I'm all ready for Series 9; which I hope will be as good as Series 7.

That looks pretty cool. I've been meaning to play the Slender Man video game.

Lego S@H has the LOTR keychains - Moria Orc, Gandalf, Gimli. They also have a magnet set of Frodo, Sam, and Ringwraith. http://shop.lego.com/en-US/The-Lord-of-the-Rings-ByTheme

Yes, I meant Hulk 3, since it will be the third modern live-action Hulk movie. Sure, the other movies are not connected by name, but they are supposed to be a continuation of each other, hence the references in each movie to their former movie.

I think in general most sets stay on the shelves for at least six months, while a majority of them can stay for a year. I don't think there's really a way to tell which sets will go and which won't - there's not a rule or policy. I think it's probably just based on sales, with weak sets being moved out first. With that said, as long as you keep an eye on what's going on, you can start to see which sets you should move on. With LOTR, I've worked on getting those sets completed (before even my Star Wars sets), because I'm sure The Hobbit will start getting more of the attention in the coming months and I want to be prepared if any of the LOTR sets go out when the Winter wave hits.

Have you considered the Star Wars Luke Landspeeder set? Great looking vehicle that displays well and comes with major characters - Luke, Obi-Wan, C-3PO, R2, and a Sandtrooper. It's the perfect "gateway" set into Lego Star Wars, though it's alittle more expensive at $24.99. Otherwise, I would go with the Wolverine Chopped Showdown.