agoodfella77

With all due respect, you are confusing a number of different things here. First there are the "rights" to produce films -- which are indeed held by separate entities -- FOX holds X-Men and FF, Sony holds Spidey, Universal holds Namor and Marvel Studios (now part of Disney) has pretty much everything else. There is a nice infographic here on the topic: http://cdn.screenran...o-Ownership.jpg However, just because one owns the film production rights doesn't mean that MARVEL / LEGO cannot produce products. Sometimes they do tie-in and this benefits both the film producers / distributors and the manufacturers -- hence you have tie-ins like GoTG, X-Men DoFP. But they can be mutually exclusive. The Ultimate Spider-Man sets are a perfect example (these sets are based off of Disney XD's universe: Nova, Power Man, Iron Fist) and have absolutely nothing to do with Sony and Sony gets zero revenue from these sets. Heck, the MARVEL LEGO Super Heroes Videogame is another perfect example -- nearly every single MARVEL character ever produced of note appears in this game. In other words, MARVEL LEGO typically do movie tie-ins because it makes commercial sense, there is momentum and awareness being marketed alongside the film. But MARVEL LEGO doesn't NEED for a film to happen first before they make a set -- they don't require permission to make products -- the film rights are simply that -- the rights to make films, they don't "own" the underlying content or characters, they have simply "rented" the right to make films, and even then it's not forever. The content / characters is ultimately owned my MARVEL and they can make as many products based off of their figures as they wish.

Vehicle Sets UCS S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier UCS Blackbird (X-Men) UCS Quinjet (Avengers) UCS Fantasticar UCS Apocalypse "Ship" UCS Kang's Time-Ship Buildings Sets UCS X-Mansion UCS Stark Tower UCS Sanctum Sanctorum (Doctor Strange) UCS Oscorp Tower UCS Baxter Building UCS Daily Bugle UCS Odin's Throne Room UCS Doctor Doom's Castle Others Punisher Battle Van Hawkeye's Sky Bike Moon Knight's Helicopter

I'd really be interested in seeing the updated / upcoming sets. Thanks!

I'm not even a DC fan, but that Tumbler looks pretty sweet (as do the minifigs). My one question is, why didn't the simply go for the "all black" look on the Tumbler? Those gold pieces don't really work IMO.

If there is another SDCC Spider-Man variant, this would at least be consistent. They've rewarded the lucky few with 2 different Spidey variants in as many years (Symbiote and ASM2). Meanwhile, 99.99% of loyal LEGO Marvel fans get to enjoy 8 straight sets with the same ultimate Spider-Man minifigure -- absolutely no variants. Huh? This is the problem I have with the SDCC exclusives -- it's almost like a weird FU to virtually their entire customer base, I just don't get it. I mean don't get me wrong, I understand the need to create buzz, promotion, the initial exclusivity. But this problem could easily be solved by rotating the SDCC figures into future sets -- even if it is a year or two later.

Agreed!

I apologize if you were offended.

There are so many fundamental issues with this statement, it's hard to know where to begin. First of all, from a very basic level -- beyond the things that people need as life necessities: food, water, clothing, housing, healthcare -- most things that people buy can be viewed as a "luxury" or non-essential. No ones "needs" to buy an iPhone or a Chanel handbag. But people do find value in certain brands that offer premium products, service and quality. IMO (and I'm sure I am in good company) LEGO is absolutely a premium brand with the highest specifications, highest quality and service within its peer group of construction toys (or hobby items in general). Not to mention that fact that it maintains an extremely active and loyal community of AFOLers from around the globe. I take issue with suggestions that dismiss LEGOs as merely a "toy". Not to mention that LEGO can be viewed as serious art / artform (exhibitions such as "The Art of the Brick" come immediately to mind). Next, there are many people (including myself) who have taken up LEGO collecting as a serious hobby. In fact, this is my only hobby and I do take it seriously. I spend most of my free time (after work and time with my family -- and this is the beauty of LEGO I can spend it with my family as well) on LEGO. Lastly, I have serious issue with the exclusives because it is these 2 points I have mentioned above (the loyalty of LEGO fans and AFOLers) that the scalpers are exploiting. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the promotion, initial exclusivity, etc. I get that -- but LEGO can easily solve this situation by releasing these minifigures for sale later to the general public -- even if it is a year or even two years later. To me this is a very simply solution. By releasing every SDCC exclusive to the public a year (or two years later) you can get the full promotional value out of the SDCC figures at the time of the release. But you also get to solve the issue of finite supply (and hence astronomical demand through re-sellers like eBay). If people knew that it was just a matter of being patient for a year or two, the SDCC prices on secondary markets would plummet (not to mention the fact that you can drastically reduce the presence of greedy scalpers). Besides, TLG has to ask itself this simple question: "who is benefiting the most from the SDCC exclusives"? It's certainly not the majority of their customers and fans. That doesn't seem to be a very smart or equitable strategy. And frankly, I think people are really fed up. Myself included. Good thing you weren't leading the American Revolution or the Civil Rights movement -- or any just cause for that matter.

"Nobody" that is except for those lucky folks that: A) Happen to live or be visiting San Diego during SDCC B) Happen to be able to go to SDCC and are lucky enough to get the exclusives (e.g. lottery in the past) C) Happen to have a few hundred spare dollars burning holes in their pockets for purchase by scalpers on eBay Fixed that for you.

I've been saying that about the SDCC Spider-Man... and Spider-Woman... and Symbiote Spidey... and Phoenix... :(

Hey nice job on the FF Thing. Any build details? How did you "smooth" it out, did you add materials and then sand it down? Details, please! :) Great job!

Anyone know when this year's SDCC exclusive figures will be announced / released?

Absolutely! I "stole" it as well, so please feel free. Pay it forward!

Thanks for your comments. They are not glued on and they do stay in place - if not in motion. But it will slide down, for instance, if you turned them upside down. As you can imagine, since by virtue of the fact that you have eliminated the top portion of the hairpiece which connects to a minifigs head, it will slide down. But it's not like its going to slide off by itself. If you are simply displaying it, it will stay firmly secure on the shoulders. But moving it around or any kind of rough play and the Sabretooth one will definitely start lifting off (but won't come off entirely as it will hit the bottom of the existing top hairpiece). The Kraven piece is even more secure since I cut it with just enough clearance for the front and the back. In other words, the back of this modded piece is cut lower to acccomodate for the combed front to back black hair piece. Hope that answers your question. Please let me know if you have any further q's.

Nice customs! Love the DoFP Wolverine -- may have to use that Hair mod idea, brilliant stuff!

Sounds good. Curious to see the Yellowjacket.

Thanks for the comments, please do post your pics! btw, Yellowjacket? *scratches head*? Thanks!

Yeah, I think it does the trick. I've got to give full credit for the idea to a Flickr friend of mine:

Thought I would share some of my recent MARVEL MOCs. For the record, I have 3 category of "MOCs" although the initial list will mostly begin with the 1st category "Pure" MOCs (but may include some others as well) 1) "Pure" MOCs -- builds that bring together (mostly) LEGO parts and designs that are re-bricked from other minifigs / parts (including some customization such as modding or painting of pieces). 2) "Custom" MOCs -- builds from other Customs and have incorporated elements of my own design or are re-bricked from other minifigs / parts 3) "LEGO" MOCs -- builds from official LEGO minifigs and have elements of my incorporated my own design or are re-bricked from other minifigs / parts Please do leave comments, as I am curious to get some feedback! Thanks! Also, you can view the rest of my pics on Flickr as well: [MOC] Iron Man - Mark I [MOC] Silver Samurai (credit to Rezourceman for the main idea for this build) [MOC] General "Thunderbolt" Ross v.1 (Army Fatigues) [MOC] General "Thunderbolt" Ross v.2 (Army Service Uniform)

Thanks for the reply. Great job on your customs! Yeah, echoing others comments, I am very disappointed that DeCool decided to shelve plans for their earlier Series 10 (I was looking forward to some of the figs: Bullseye, Punisher, etc.)

Nice! May I ask where the Professor X is from? Also the Thor's helmet? and Nick Fury? Thanks!

Thank you so much! I will post pics when I'm done!

Hello all, For this piece: http://www.bricklink...tem.asp?P=53451 I was hoping to get the exact dimension for the pin size, or more specifically, the "hole" size required to fit this horn exactly. The reason is I am modding a helmet and want to fit this horn piece in custom spot and need to drill a hole but need to know the exact circumference size. Any help? Thank you all in advance.

Thanks for the reply. I was curious because I have both the SY and DeCools. I never really noticed the "sharp shoulders" until this comment. IMO it's not really that noticeable, but for "perfectionists" I guess there are plenty of things to nitpick! At these prices, you really do get what you pay for (and much, much more IMO).

Would you mind elaborating the issue with the shoulders? Thanks!