Comic Con exclusive minifigures

At this weekened's Comic Con Lego will be offering two exclusive Super Heroes minifgures, plus a Bionicle mask. The minifigures offer one character each from DC and Marvel Comics: Marvel's Secret Wars gives us All New Captain America, aka Sam Wilson, and DC's Arrow provides Arsenal, aka Roy Harper. (Via Wall Street Journal and USA Today)

Both minifigures will be available via daily prize draws. Continue after the jump to check out the packaging, and exclusive Bionicle mask also on offer.

Marvel Avengers video game previews

The first trailer for the forthcoming Lego Marvel Avengers video game has been released, giving us a look at the Legoised interpretations of scenes from the Avengers movies:



The Facebook page for the game has also released artwork of the Avengers team, continue after the jump to check out that, and the pre-order exclusive minifigure:

The Big Bang Theory set revealed

Lego have revealed the next Lego Ideas set, 21302 The Big Bang Theory, which is due in August. The set brings to life the communal area in Sheldon and Leonard's apartment, and features all the main characters from the series, and a host of geeky props; including action figures, model planets, a DNA helix, white boards and more. The final design has tweaked, but remained remarkably true to the originally submitted Lego Ideas project.

The Lego Ideas Facebook page also posted close-up images of most of the minifigures, continue after the jump to check them out:

Lego Jurassic World video game

There's just a couple of weeks left until the release of Jurassic World, and the accompanying Lego Jurassic World video game. The game will include Legoised versions of all four Jurassic Park movies, and along-side the familiar Lego video game features, will introduce the ability to play as the dinosaurs themselves, and to create new dinosaurs, by collecting and experimenting with DNA samples.

There have been several trailers released already, this latest one features a velociraptor riding a motorbike. Need I say more?



Continue after the jump for a look at some of the brilliant artwork released to promote the game, the previous trailers, and pre-order bonus Lego sets.

Lego Jurassic World and Avengers video games

Lego, Warner Brothers, and TT Games have confirmed there will be a new Lego Jurassic World video game accompanying the release of the Lego Jurassic World product line, alongside the new movie this summer. And it won't just feature Jurassic World, the game will transform all four Jurassic Park films into Lego form - Hopefully previewing sets from wider franchise in future physical Lego sets!

Reporting on the game, Entertianment Weekly also revealed some of the unique features: Apparently players will be able to play as dinosaurs, and collect amber, containing dino DNA, to create custom species.

Oh, and there's also this gloriously silly teaser trailer:



Continue after the jump for more on this, and other forthcoming Lego video games:

Justice League vs Bizarro League

News of another Lego DC Comics Super Heroes animation has surfaced. Coming early next year is Justice League vs Bizarro League. A post on the Blu-ray.com forums has revealed the bluray packaging, and the Batzarro minifigure that will be included.

If the trailer is anything to go by, the title might be misleading, as the Justice League and Bizarro League appear to be working side by side against the malicious forces of Darkseid.

UPDATE: ToonBarn have revealed further contents from this release. In addition to the main animation the disc will also included another recent animation, Batman Be-Leaguered (see previous report for a trailer). There will also be a blooper reel, and a featurette exploring Bizarro.


UPDATE 2: Amazon have now put up a listing for this, including another image, showing the full bluray cover (without the minifigure packaging), and the Batzarro minifigure loose. Check it out after the jump:

New seasonal sets

Lego have several new seasonal sets on the way, and some out now, ready for the forthcoming autumn and winter festivities. Here's a look at the various holiday sets:

First up there's a new brick-built reindeer, with two Christmas presents, in set 40092. This set continues a range of seasonal sets this year which feature brick-built animals paired with some sort of accessory, following the Valentines bear (40085) and Easter bunny (40086) earlier this year, and other sets you'll see down page.

And even longer running seasonal range is Lego's series of Christmas tree baubles. Each one contains miniature Lego build, held within a bespoke Lego ball. At least two new designs are coming this year, a cat and log cabin:

Continue after the jump for more Christmas sets, plus Halloween and Thanksgiving builds:

Theme Guide: Lego Minifigures, Series 12

Offiicial images of Series 12 of the Collectable Minifigures are out (via Lego's Facebook page), giving us a good look at all the new characters.

There are the usual mix of historical, contemporary, and fantastical persons, with a mix of completely new characters, and variations of previous ideas.

Continue below for a close look at each one the new characters, which will be entering the real world in October.

Battle Goddess

• While Lego stubbornly persist in not delivering a full on Greek mythology theme, they have supplied a nice assortment of ancient history characters over the course of the Minifigures range. This might be my new favourite ancient female minifigure - I'll be getting multiplies for that lovely shield alone, but the whole ensemble is pretty cool.
  
  I'm not generally a fan of the fabric skirts, but I like the interesting geometric design here, and could imagine that being useful for a more contemporary (and indeed other periods) minifigure outfit too. The white plume, previously seen on the Roman Commander in red, also gives some nice new options. In fact every detail of this is just really nice; the printed sandal-toes, the new torso print, new helmet piece, and face with golden lipstick. Lots of potential, both as presented and for parts.
  
  I could imagine this lady teaming up with the previous Warrior Woman, or maybe being part of the same opera company that the Viking Woman works for.

Genie Girl

• A new genie to join her male counterpart from all the way back in Series 6. While our new female genie has an overall blue colour-scheme, like her predecessor, her flesh is yellow, making her a little more versatile; that torso is a belly-dancer waiting to happen.
  
  The previous lamp part also returns, while the wispy tail gets a bit of sparkle printing to add some extra magic. Note her arms are also the new half coloured variety.

Lego Batman 3

The release date for the latest Lego video game, the third based on Batman (and the wider DC Comics universe) was announced today. Coming in November is Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, which takes the Batman adventure into outer space. The snazzy space-cape cover-art was also released today.

Several trailers have already been released for the game, which demonstrate typical Lego video game humour, and a healthy dose of sci-fi in this super-hero game.



Continue after the jump for more trailers and details of the game:

Guardians of the Galaxy designer videos

Lego have released a couple of designer videos for their Guardians of the Galaxy theme. In this first one we take a look at the biggest set in the range, Peter Quill and the Guardians' ship, the Milano:



The second video focuses on the minifigures, focusing mainly on the design of Quill's new helmet element:

Next Collectable Minifigures series revealed

The full line-up of the next Collectable Minifigure series has been revealed. Argos added a listing, complete with an image of all sixteen new characters, which are (as named by Grove Bricks): Video Game Guy, Prospector, Rock Star, Swashbuckler, Jester, Fairytale Princess, Spooky Girl, Pizza Delivery Man, Hun Warrior, Genie Girl, Lifeguard, Wizard, Dino Tracker, Space Miner, Battle Goddess, and Piggy Guy.

Another pretty cool selection, with lots to appeal, whatever your preferences. Personally I'm most drawn to historical characters this time around, especially the Battle Goddess and Hun Warrior. A shame though that Lego are persisting in presenting women as a minority group... (five out of sixteen here).

Argos are listing this as Series fourteen, which would mean The Lego Movie and The Simpsons series are being counted as twelve and thirteen (rather than being separate from the series count). An earlier promo image posted on a Japanese Lego blog, which gives us another look at a few of the new characters, seems to describe them as Series 12. I guess we'll have to wait to see the packaging to find out what number Lego have decided.

Lego's Comic Con exclusive sets

Lego have announced several different sets which are available exclusively at the San Diego Comic Con this week. There will also be a number of minifigures that will on offer in a raffles throughout the event, or for those not attending, via a twitter raffle (follow @LEGO_Group for that).

There will be three sets on offer, all are limited to just a thousand copies each. The most eye-catching (even for someone who isn't especially excited by Batman or cars), is the classic TV batmobile, which comes with Batman and Robin. It must be agonising for Batman fans that this fun little car will be such a rarity. (Images via FBTB)

To celebrate the launch of Star Wars Rebels there will be a mini-version of the hero-ship, the Ghost. Like previous exclusives, and the Micro-fighter range, the ship will house an out-of scale minifigure too, in this case the new short astromech droid, Chopper. (Image via StarWars.com)

Finally, as I've previously reported separately, there will be a Guardians of the Galaxy set. Rocket Raccoon’s Warbird. (Image via Wall Street Journal)

On top of the sets, four minifigures, to be available via raffle, have also been announced. They are:

• The Collect, from Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Batman of Zur-En-Arrh.
• Bard the Bowman, from The Hobbit.
• Unikitty from The Lego Movie, with “Cuteskitty” to “Cheerkitty” faces.

You can check out the minifigures after the jump:

More The Lego Movie sets revealed

Hot on the heels of the new The Lego Movie trailer, Lego are starting to reveal more of sets tied into the film. Including series 12 of the Collectable Minifigures, which are all characters from the film:

There look like a great set of characters; I'm glad to see being tied to The Lego Movie hasn't reduced the range of figures on offer this series. Brick Fanatics released the image, and as well as details of who all these are:

• Calamity Drone
• Gail the Construction Worker
• Larry the Barista
• Abraham Lincoln
• Panda Guy
• Velma Staplebot 
• William Shakespeare
• Taco Tuesday Guy

• “Where are my Pants?” Guy
• Wiley Fusebot
• President Business
• Wild West Wyldstyle
• Hard Hat Emmet
• Scribbe-Face Bad Cop
• Mrs. Scratchen-Post
• Marsha Queen of the Mermaids

Of course all these characters also give us some new insights into the film. We've got several western characters here (I love Wyldstyle's dress!), and several robots (two indeed fit into both groups), as well as plenty of city people and some more fanciful and historical characters.

Talking of fanciful, Yahoo Movies have revealed another of the sets based on the film: The gloriously colourful and pretty absurd 70803 Cloud Cuckoo Palace, which includes the brick-built Uni-Kitty (who it appears has a new tail element). There's also another robot in there, alongside Emmet, Wyldstyle, a snail, and a flower catapult!

UPDATE: Hollywood Reporter have revealed another set, 70809 Lord Business' Evil Lair, which comes with the extra tall Lord Business (with his extra long cape). Also included are Emmet and Vitruvius, and some new characters; Ma Cop, Pa Cop, wrestler/master builder El Macho Wrestler, and Biznis Kitty, a different (corrupted?) version of Unikitty. The set appears to include a TV set for Where-Are-My-Pants Guy, a corporate boardroom, and a massive tube of glue (powered by a massive nine-volt battery), surely used by Lord Business in his nefarious plans. Note Ma Cop and Pa Cop seem to have been glued, with an excellent use of the Toy Story army men bases in clear as a blob of glue!

There are seventeen sets planned based on the film, continue after the jump for a reminder of the other sets so far rumoured in the range:

Lego shop guy minifigure

Brick Owl have discovered a new promotional minifigure, the Lego store guy. They don't know when or how he'll be released to masses (or the not many, depending on that delivery method). Check him out:

I wonder if they'll do a Lego store girl too?

Pirates return!

...a little bit at least: A new minifigure pack has been released, so far available at Legoland in California. It uses the same style packaging as the Collectable Minifigure combi-packs, but draws more from the Pirates line than the Minifigures (which have only featured one pirate so far). Unlike those previous three-figure sets, the new pirates pack comes with four minifigures, and as a result has less other stuff to build; just a chest of treasure and a bit of greenery. Flickr user Miro78 posted this photo, along with many more showing off every element in the pack.

Hopefully Pirates will return in full force soon, it's been five years since the last wave of Pirates sets, although the the Pirates of the Caribbean sets have been and gone since, so it's not been forever since we've had a good dose of high sea adventure in the Lego world.

Theme Guide: Lego Minifigures, Series 11

The eleventh series of the Collectible Minifigures is set for release next month. Lego have now released official images of all the new characters, giving us a closer look at yet another irresistible collection of new minifigures, with some cool new parts, and subjects never before rendered in Lego form.

As we saw when scans of the leaflet for this series were posted online a couple of weeks ago, this series comes in green packaging.

Continue reading for thoughts and analysis of each figure in the new series.

Yeti

• My absolute favourite of this series is the oh-so-cute little yeti. The cool blue details on this guy make him look suitably icy, including the blue lollypop - The first time that food part has been offered in a blue I believe.
  
  This is at least Lego's second Yeti, having previously released a big-figure version in the Orient Expedition set 7412 Yeti's Hideout. This new version obviously somewhat less imposing than the previous larger design, but has so much more character!
  
  The only place I think they missed a trick here is that the face appears to be printed on the new molded headpiece. It might have been nice for the blue part to have been an opening, with a standard minifigure head inside; allowing Lego to include an interesting alternative head print hidden behind the hair.

Island Warrior

• Here we have Lego's latest minifigure inspired by the world's cultures; in this case a Polynesian islander with an impressive tiki-style mask.
  
  Perhaps a perfect companion for the hula dancer from way back in series 3, but I'm sure this guy is reminding most Lego fans of the classic Pirates: Islanders series; a new native person for the pesky pirates to deal with.

Scientist

• A rare, and very welcome, non-stereotypical female minifigure! They still managed to sneak in a purple top beneath the lab-coat, and a purple pen in her pocket, but that's pretty mild compared to the garish pink that adorns so many of the females in the Minifigures range!
  
  Trumping Series 4's male "Crazy Scientist", this professional looking researching comes with two flasks, ready to equip her Lego lab.
  
  Hopefully we'll see more figures like this both in future Collectible Minifigures series, and if the female minifigures project passes the Cuusoo review.

Lego Minifgure book preview

Due out in September is Dorling Kindersley's latest Lego reference book, Lego Minifigure: Year by Year, A Visual History. This looks to be a real treat for any minifigure fans, presenting a pretty comprehensive guide to minifigures, broken down by both years and themes. It also comes with three minifigures (the ones in silver circles on the cover)! Here's the cover and blurb:

Take a trip down memory lane and explore the origins and growth of the amazing LEGO Minifigure with LEGO Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual History.

Year by year, every range of LEGO Minifigures is included chronologically and by theme, running from the first minifigures introduced in 1978 to the brand-new Legends of Chima, Star Wars, Batman and Ninjago minifigures popular today. Perfect for any LEGO fan, this visual chronicle is filled with more than 2,000 of the most significant, popular and rarest Minifigures complete with stunning photos and additional information on key favourites. Plus, with 3 classic Minifigures embedded in the cover, it's the ultimate guide to the world of LEGO minifigures.

Dorling Kindersley have released a few sample pages, here's a taste of what you can expect to find inside:

This looks much more like what I was hoping the Lego Minifigures: Character Encyclopedia would be, when the title first appeared - That book turned out to be about the collectible minifigure series characters only. Should be good.

First look at 2013 The Hobbit Lego

At the the San Diego Comic Con Lego revealed the first set in their 2013 range of The Hobbit sets, due to come out along side The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, in December. Here's the first look at 79013 Lake Town Chase (image via Lord of the Brick):

Doesn't seem to most exciting of sets to me, although I do like using the little row-boats like that to make one big boat, and some of the new minifigures are pretty elaborate!

Speaking of new minifigures, Lego also gave away a few Azog minifigures at the Comic Con. He has a non-standard head, and a nifty artificial hand-piece (picture again via Lord of the Brick):

This minifigure is a Comic Con exclusive, but he will apparently be released in a different colour in one of the future sets.

Collectible Minifigures Series 11 revealed

The forthcoming eleventh series of Collectible Minifigures has been revealed! Brickset posted scans of the usual leaflet from one of the packets, from a user who found them in Poland already. Check out another brilliant collection of characters:

I'm impressed Lego continue to make series after series of such appealing characters. My personal highlights here are that amazing yeti, the very impressive Tikki warrior (what a brilliant mask), and hurrah for a female scientist!

Here's the other side of the leaflet, which as usual highlights some of the accessories included. 

Comic Con exclusive Super Hero minifigures

USA Today has revealed a quartet of Lego Super Heroes minifigures which will be available at this year's San Diego Comic Con. This is the third year in a row that Lego have offered exclusive figures at the convention, and like last year they are taking the opportunity to offer some of the comic book characters that they haven't got into regular sets (super-cool if you get one, super-frustrating if you don't and really want that character!). This years characters are the Superman in a black costume, Spider-Woman, Green Arrow, and Spiderman in a new variant of his costume: