Blondie-Wan

Perhaps, but a) we already know the combined estimated retail value of this set plus a t-shirt and a copy of the videogame is supposed to be about $50, and b) the rumored set list gives this set the lowest set number of the wave, which tends to be associated with the smallest set in a wave (not always, granted, as the first wave of Toy Story sets shows with Army Men on Patrol, but it's usually the case). While it's true the Batcave could make for a large, "flagship"-type set (and indeed, already has), one could also easily associate large sets with names like "Mos Eisley Cantina" or "Echo Base" (to use a couple examples from another licensed theme), but look at the sets that actually got those names. There's no reason a "Batcave" set has to be the whole Batcave; it could easily be a few consoles, or a vehicle and some equipment, as has been suggested. But I certainly could be wrong. I guess we'll know soon enough...

Why would (or should) TLG care about the secondary market?

I'm curious as to why people still think the Batcave will be a large set.

The official information we've already been given does specifically note the (initial) Marvel sets will be derived from the Avengers movie (which may include material from the various movies that have led into it) and the X-Men and Spider-Man comics.

But... but... I've spent money on Duplo sets! Not many, to be sure, but I try to have at least one or two representations of every theme and whatnot in my collection. As it happens, I actually have the Pizza Planet truck myself - it's the only Toy Story Duplo set I have, but I do have it - so I've got Duplo Buzz, in addition to numerous sets with regular Buzz minifigures, plus Construct-A-Buzz, so I could take a picture of three of the four together, myself... but I don't have the clock, alas. (Sadly, I don't have any sets with Duplo Woody, and of course there isn't a large Construct-a-Woody, set, though there darn well should be, if you ask me. I've been thinking of rectifying that with a MOC, actually...)

Oh, there is one more thing I'd have liked to have seen in the review: If only you had included the Duplo versions of the characters in those pix as well!

Nice to see a review for the clocks - thanks, Oky! I like these quite a bit, though I don't know that I'll get any; if I got any of the LEGO minifigure clocks, they'd probably be either these and/or Star Wars ones. I do wish they'd found a way to marry the clock functionality with the functionality and creative sensibility behind the original character for the Woody clock like they did for Buzz (using his "real" buttons for the clock controls and so on). As I've noted before, I think it would be terrific if the Woody minifigure clock were an analog clock, especially if you could wind him up by pulling a string from his back. I do realize that probably wouldn't be a realistic option in this day and age, since most of the kids who make up the target audience for these probably have no idea how to read an analog clock (as well as a clockwork mechanism being more vulnerable to breaking down), but I think it would be a nice idea, anyway.

Oops, I meant two gladiators, not dwarves - but I do intend to eventually get at least two of each anyway. I do indeed now have the ones I indicated above (save for having two gladiators and one dwarf), and will get more when circumstances permit.

While I do agree Alien Conquest kind of stretches the concept behind the core LEGO theme "Space," I think it's an absolutely delightful theme, and I fully intend to try to get all the sets, with multiples of several (circumstances permitting). As long as LEGO's themes outside the basic City theme are all focused on conflict between factions anyway, Alien Conquest seems to be the ideal realization of that basic play idea in a LEGO sci-fi context. I am looking forward to the next "true" Space theme (one that, you know, goes back into space ), but AC is wonderful in the meantime.

They've reached the TRU here in Tallahassee, Florida! I picked up eleven of them yesterday and another eleven today, feeling the packets to get the ones I wanted. I haven't yet opened today's, but I'm pretty sure I've completed a set (I should now have three graduates, two apiece of the zookeeper, dwarf, mobster and palace guard, and one each of everything else).

To that note, I'll add that I've never seen any fabric elements of any kind (minifigure capes, ship sails, tents, whatever) in either the Build-A-Minifigure kiosks or Pick-A-Brick walls of any LEGO Store I've ever visited. I should note I've been to only a few of them and don't get to go to any of them very often, but that sort of part in general just doesn't seem like the sort of thing they'd carry in those areas (but if anyone reading this knows otherwise, I'd love to find out I'm wrong...).

I can see them doing the Baxter Building (it helps that the building has a distinctive appearance, which would enhance its potential as a LEGO model - and indeed, I've actually seen a MOC of it once, and have long wanted to do one of my own), but of course it would have to be once they start doing Fantastic Four sets in general. From what we've read in the press releases, the initial Marvel wave will focus on three areas - the Avengers, X-Men and Spider-Man, leaving the FF for later years, most likely. I think it'll happen, but not in 2012, and therefore not for another two years or so (at least).

Well, TLG has already specifically stated it would include both Spider-Man and Robin in sets, and I'm sure the Penguin will return sometime as well.

Oh, no worries; you were quite clear. I was simply posting to confirm that the piece does indeed exist in trans-clear, and indeed is also found in that color in a few other sets. I decided to mention the others simply because I thought the availability of the frog in those other colors was interesting (and not evident from the Peeron link), and as long as I was posting about the frog's availability in one unusual color anyway, I'd go ahead and mention the others.

Er - well, sure, I wouldn't mind having some LEGO Resident Evil sets; the more themes the merrier, after all (even though I'm not well-acquainted with the franchise, I can always use the parts...). But I also want twenty million dollars and a flying car, and it's likelier I'll get both of those than it is that TLG will do sets based on Resident Evil.

Indeed. Note the apparent complete absence of any Spider-Man sets in the Marvel list, despite the fact the Marvel press release specifically notes "the LEGO Spider-Man sets offer minifigure comic versions of Spider-Man, and Doctor Octopus" in a context that suggests they'll be part of the initial lineup to be launched in May. I therefore am inclined to think the All About Bricks list is accurate, but incomplete as well as vague. Of course, we should know more in a matter of months.

I have no problem acknowledging my enthusiasm to other people. I don't actually go up to random strangers in the street and accost them just to say, "Hey! I love LEGO!!!" and run off, but I don't certainly don't avoid mentioning it or skirt around it if it should come up in conversation, whether with close friends (of course, most of my friends have geeky passions of their own anyway), family, coworkers, or people I've just met.

I think that'll be the case. Remember, it took years of LEGO having a Star Wars theme before certain locales, characters and vehicles from the movies (particularly the original trilogy) got represented, even if these days they're now nearly out of things they haven't done at least once. Indiana Jones didn't have a single set from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom until the theme's second year and third wave, and many people speculated TLG was intentionally avoiding doing any from that one because of its perceived darkness, but they eventually did a couple, one of which was the flagship set of not just the final wave but the entire second year, and the most expensive of the entire theme. While I could see TLG dropping Cars once there are no more current/recent movies or forthcoming ones, I also could see them keeping it around just as other toy companies have for the past five years, and if they do I certainly expect them to do (more) sets from the first movie eventually (and/or the Mater shorts, and/or Planes).

What a lovely, incredible set. Kudos to that designer! Nor am I, but honestly, I think it would be a bit much to expect unique printed elements for this set on top of everything else we're getting for the price. This is a real winner, I think.

Maybe we'll get Green Lantern in a promotional polybag.

I haven't seen them anywhere in my little corner of the US yet, and the US Shop at Home doesn't have them yet. I imagine that will change any day now, though.

And where'd you get that set number (6865)? According to All About Bricks, The Batcave is set 6860 (and set 6865 is supposedly a Marvel set, with Captain America).

What makes you think the Batcave is the largest set in the wave?

Sure, we all could, but this fits with my earlier observation about the values of the prizes in the Superheroes contest - third prize is the Batcave set, plus a Batman t-shirt and a videogame, and all of that combined is supposed to have an estimated total retail value of just $50. Unless there's a mistake there, it does indicate the Batcave is a small set, and this rumored set list offers some corroboration, though of course it's not official.

Unless CallMePieOrDie was referring to the apparent continued absence of Indiana Jones from the post-2009 lineup, I have to second Oky's question.