Category: LEGO News

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“Cancelled” LEGO Marvel Mech Armor 2022 Sets Coming Again, on April 1

Just because LEGO cranks out set after set, at monthly intervals every year, doesn’t mean they’re perfect manufacturers. Even with all their experience the designers can still make mistakes. Sometimes, that leads to anticipated sets being held back, or worse, cancelled. Late last year we received word of three LEGO Marvel sets for the Mech Armor product line. Unfortunately, LEGO scrapped their planned January 1, 2022 release date and delisted them from their online shop. The company even released a statement explaining how the items “failed quality standards,” with news sources citing bad structural choices. For a time, collectors thought these LEGO Marvel Mech Armors will never come at all.

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Not so, according to a report by The Brick Fan. Not only are the missing upcoming Mech Armors back online, they have a new launch date. Marvel fans can get the Wolverine (76202), Iron Man (76203) and Black Panther (76204) Mech Armors months from now. They’re expected to become available at the same $9.99 SRP this April 1st. But wait, you ask. The date’s sus, you say. But in our opinion, LEGO’s not going to use these sets for April Fools. Let’s wait for April 1 to know for sure.

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LEGO news site analysis of the quality issues which delayed the LEGO Marvel sets points at flimsy brick assembly. Most likely, the 1×1 plates serving as the Mech Armor’s hip joints would quickly wear down from play-articulation. Thus far, the box images haven’t been altered to confirm if that was the issue which needed fixing. Again, the definitive proof might have to wait until April Fools’ Day, which we’re sure doesn’t involve these LEGO sets.

LEGO Ideas First 2022 Review Stage Begins with “Forestmen Secret Inn” 10-K Support

As we’ve reported prior, the LEGO Ideas Third 2021 Review Stage closed earlier this week. By the end of it, 36 product ideas gained 10-K support for inclusion in the group review. That much was detailed in a LEGO Ideas Blog post this past Monday. We’ve had the pleasure of covering each submission. The concepts vary in idea, theme and licensing, although most were building sets in some form. But before we get to that, we also noticed that a new product idea with the support milestone has appeared. It’s now the inaugural entry to the First 2022 Review Stage.

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Facebrickup tips the hat to LEGO’s building and medieval-theme fandoms with “The Forestmen Secret Inn.” It features expies of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in their secret lair, an inn hidden within the forest. The building features some mechanical gimmicks like fold-out awnings and opening from the back to reveal the interior.

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Our not-Robin is accompanied by two other Forestmen and a Forestmaid managing the inn. He even gets a partner stag to sell the Forest atmosphere. As for the inn, the details are great. We get three stories plus loads of furnishings and props for a lived-in feel.

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In summation, this is a great start for the newest LEGO Ideas Review Stage, the first this year. Meanwhile, the 36 product ideas of Third 2021 Review Stage should indeed be being reviewed now. Their earlier brethren from Second 2021 might soon be getting their final verdicts for official LEGO set-dom soon. You can check the remaining under-review submissions from year 2021 here. With that done, here’s a summary of the Third 2021 10-K sets:

Third 2021 Review Stage Submissions:

Chinese New Year LEGO Sets, GWPs Now Available in US/Canada

As January 2022 goes on, LEGO is moving on from the Holiday seasonal and New Year product launch blitz. Next on the special occasion agenda: the now LEGO-elevated Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. And back in 2021 we saw what we could expect from LEGO to mark the event. Like Brickset, we’re now getting this straight from LEGO.com itself, in lieu of the now-discontinued monthly Store Calendars. It’s a slight change in routine but that’s all. And now, with the 2022 Chinese New Year seasonal sets available, so too is the accompanying GWP since Monday.

The Animal Zodiac LEGO GWP Year of the Tiger (40491) went live this past January 10. Its launch coincides with the availability of the official 2022 Chinese New Year LEGO sets in US and Canada. For those needing a refresher, they’re the Lunar New Year Traditions (80108) and Lunar New Year Ice Festival (80109). Either of these will suffice to clear the $85 LEGO purchase threshold for the Year of the Tiger GWP. Alternatively, buying over $40 worth in LEGO Monkie Kid or Ninjago sets will net a second GWP (polybag). Monkie Kid’s Underwater Journey (30562) could be yours if you favor the above themes.

While the LEGO Monkie Kid polybag has a GWP period end (January 27), Year of the Tiger (40491) doesn’t. In any case, this month is the golden time for getting your choice seasonal sets to claim the gift. Chinese New Year 2022 falls on February 1, for reference. That in mind: Go get ‘em, Tiger.

“Garden and Greenhouse,” “It’s A Wonderful LEGO Life” Last 10-K Entries for Ideas Third 2021 Review Stage

It was only a matter of time before LEGO Ideas closed their Third 2021 Review Stage. After all, the period actually overlapped into the start of 2022. In any case this review stage indeed came to an end over the weekend. Of course, some last few product ideas managed to gain the necessary 10,000 supporters to join the batch. As expected, we have more building/structural submissions trying to run the Review gauntlet to official set-hood. One is a sprawling set to complement the LEGO Botanical line. Another is a product idea we recommended for support last year, and got it.

The Garden and Greenhouse

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First, let’s look at The Garden and Greenhouse by 10K Club member kris_kelvin. The product name itself is a giveaway of what to expect. But even those expectations would be shattered at what the creator came up with. We get a sprawling complex, to scale with minifigures, half covered with gardens and the other dominated by said greenhouse.

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LEGO plant pieces dot the set providing plastic flowers and vegetables. Creator kris_kelvin sees The Garden and Greenhouse as a complementary structure to LEGO City neighborhoods. Nothing says a LEGO community supports “local food” like a garden/greenhouse providing fresh veggies within reach.

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It’s a Wonderful LEGO Life

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Another 10-K product idea that got into the Third 2021 Review Stage is, as we said, one we featured. Last November, “It’s a Wonderful LEGO Life” by Jason and Jane Middaughs saw some press attention. Now, it’s got full support. This brick-built set depicts iconic Holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart. The Middaughs (twrt0es on LEGO Ideas) created the submission to celebrate the movie’s 75th anniversary back in 2021. Even if it passes review later on, the set’s a bit delayed. But it’s better late than never.

In Closing

Keep following us here on The Brick Show for a wrap-up of LEGO Ideas’ Third 2021 Review Stage. Or perhaps we’ll feature the first 10-K submission for the First 2022 Stage, whichever comes first.

LEGO Presents Timeline Poster for LEGO Friends 10th Anniversary in 2022

If one needs any indicator that LEGO is for girls too, look no further than the “Friends” themed line. Introducing a slice-of-life theme featuring a circle of diverse female friends was a marketing masterstroke for the global toy giant. Collectors fell in love with the whimsical sets featuring more detailed and expressive “minidoll” figures representing actual characters. And like its male-oriented fellow theme “Ninjago,” LEGO Friends got a companion animated series of its own. Despite some controversy, the line has done LEGO well since debuting in 2012. That also means that this 2022, LEGO Friends is celebrating its first decade.

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Brick Fanatics reports that as part of the 10th Anniversary celebration of LEGO Friends, LEGO gives fans a promotional timeline. “10 Years of Friendship” chronicles the journey of the Friends theme, covering every year since 2012. It can be downloaded in PDF form from the “About” section of the LEGO.com Friends theme page. For dedicated collectors however, they might observe some timeline details that don’t quite match up. The information claims that 2012 was about developing/introducing the theme, with the first LEGO Friends sets arriving 2013. In actuality the line did release its first wave in 2012. Still, “10 Years of Friendship” makes for a nice digest of events in LEGO Friends history, noting the subthemes and prominent set launches.

Quite the number of new LEGO Friends products joined the New Year’s launch storm. Here’s a quick rundown of these:

Pet Clinic (41695) – $19.99

Turtle Protection Vehicle (41697) – $9.99

Beach Glamping (41700) – $39.99

Street Food Market (41701) –$49.99

Canal Houseboat (41702) – $79.99

Friendship Tree House (41703) – Anniversary set; $79.99

Main Street Building (41704) – $149.99

Tree-Planting Vehicle (41707) – $29.99

LEGO Ideas Sonic (21331) Fan Designer Presents Alt-Build Tips for Eggman Figure

January 1, 2022 saw the release of LEGO Idea set #39, Sonic the Hedgehog Green Hill Zone (21331). This highly-anticipated item was based on the brainchild of Ideas contributor Viv Grannell, aka toastergrl. As with some previous Ideas sets, this final product features significant changes from its original version. It now depicts the original first level of “Sonic the Hedgehog” (1991) on the Sega Genesis. Grannell’s submission had been based on the updated Green Hill Zone from 2017’s “Sonic Mania” nostalgia title. This change, toastergrl doesn’t mind. In fact, she even has her own suggested alterations of the released product.

As The Brick Fan tells it, Viv “toastergrl” Grannell has provided alternate building instructions for LEGO Ideas 21331. These alternative steps can be downloaded on LEGO MOC platform Rebrickable. They involve designs for the brick-built Dr. Eggman/Robotnik figure. Grannell’s original ideas for the Eggman figure featured articulation, lost in the Ideas Sonic set for stability purposes. Thus, these MOC instructions add/change pieces to 21331’s Eggman figure to give him moveable arms and a bushier mustache. And indeed, the resulting alternative build looks more action figure-like, if somewhat less stable.

Grannell adds on her Rebrickable account that she has more alternative ideas for Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) coming up. So stay tuned there for possible Green Hill Zone layout rebuilds, and Badnik designs beyond the featured Moto-Bug and Crabmeat. The basic set was already customizable by connecting multiple copies end to end. Therefore, all these comes as a natural progression. And if you haven’t gotten LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) yet, then go fast! Why wait any more?

“LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” to Feature Prequel Actor as Boba Fett

It’s now the year 2022, and for LEGO videogame aficionados, that means only one thing right now. Before the midpoint of this year the long-anticipated but repeatedly-delayed “LEGO Stars Wars: The Skywalker Saga” might finally be released. WB Interactive and Traveller’s Tales have promised LEGO videogame adventures through all three “Star Wars” trilogies, on multiple platforms. LEGO gamers might well just riot if it still won’t come out soon. Thankfully, the longtime developers do seem to be making the overall experience as epic as can be. They’re even getting cast members from the film to reprise voices, even if it’s not the ones you expect.

For example, Brick Fanatics tells us that a “Star Wars” prequel actor may have joined the voice cast. It started with a promo clip of “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” on their official Twitter page. The segment featured iconic galactic bounty hunter Boba Fett. His voice however, despite sounding like current portrayer Temuera Morrison, was pegged by commenters to be somebody else. They guessed that it was actor Daniel Logan. He played young Boba Fett in prequel Episode II “Attack of the Clones.” Morrison at the time was cast as Boba’s father, Jango Fett.

Speculation got to the point that “LSW” fans reached out to Logan on Twitter for confirmation. His one-word positive reply seemingly confirms that Daniel Logan will voice Fett in “The Skywalker Saga.” It’s a good choice, given that Logan carried on voicing young Boba even in the “Clone Wars” animated series. Archival footage also made it to Disney+’ “The Book of Boba Fett” via flashback. One wonders if other “Star Wars” alumni have joined in the voice cast. Hopefully we won’t have longer to wait for “LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga,” coming this 2022.

LEGO Jan-May 2022 Catalog Now Available Online in Multiple Language Editions

As the previous year drew to a close, LEGO fired up collectors with a glimpse of what’s more to come. They did so in the form of their periodic product catalogs, the latest issue covering January to May 2022. LEGO news sources worldwide that managed to score print copies of their respective regional catalogs posed page-scans online. They became our top resources on what LEGO sets to expect this New Year. Some of those sets we already featured here in The Brick Show. Of course, LEGO also provides digital copies of the same product catalogs. And now they’re available online.

Thanks to German LEGO news site Promobricks, we’re aware that the Jan-May 2022 LEGO catalogs are now in LEGO.com servers. Indeed, we said catalogs (plural), due to the various regional/language editions available for browsing and download. The different versions go beyond mere translating product details into other languages. Their volume of content varies too. We pointed this out last December, with set details from the Hungary catalog not included in the German version. Promobricks did a database of the editions, showing Spain/Portugal and France both with just 76 pages. Italy by contrast has 144 pages.

Interestingly, the US LEGO.com is yet to upload their copy of the catalog in their page. Then again, the contents may well be similar to the UK version viewable here. We encourage you to have a peek in as many versions of the Jan-May 2022 catalogs as you can. It could help you greatly with your collecting efforts. The print catalogs available in retailers and LEGO Stores are still there as well. We do hope that they don’t follow the monthly store calendars into phase-out.

“Brickcraft”: Cool Resource Pack Gives “Minecraft” Blocks a LEGO-Brick Makeover

Back in 2012, LEGO Ideas (Cuusoo back then) released their third set, based on surprise videogame hit “Minecraft.” This would lead to a full-on LEGO licensed-IP theme line that still gets new sets to this year. That much was expected considering the source franchise. Since its official release in 2011 (classic version 2009), “Minecraft” has built a solid player base. The fact that it went multiple platforms helped a lot too. And the simple yet robust construction mechanics made it a perfect fit with the LEGO system when translated to sets. But what do you think of the LEGO aesthetics getting translated into the games?

Brickcraft | Turn your world into Bricks in Minecraft! from lego

Now this is an unofficial thing, being a game mod and all. But as Game Rant tells it, a “Minecraft” player is working on a resource pack called “Brickcraft.” This mod transforms the blocks that all materials in the “Minecraft” world look like, into 4×4 LEGO bricks. For all intents and purposes, it makes the game world akin to a brick-built environment. The user AlexTestria has been working on this mod for five months already. He uploaded a sample video of the newest revisions in action on TikTok then shared the preview on LEGO subreddit.

From what we can see in the sample footage, “Brickcraft” appears like Mojang and WB-Interactive’s TT Games have teamed up. Seeing the “Minecraft” blocks as LEGO bricks (above and below) is mind-blowing, and a testament to AlexTestria’s team’s efforts. Interested players may download the “Brickcraft” resource pack on the creator’s Patreon page. The mod’s latest version 1.3 (low-quality) is available for free. But for a $2.56/€2 Patreon donation, he’ll provide the higher-quality editions. Apparently this pack is for PC version.

New Duplo “Bath Time Fun” Sets Now Available

Giving very young children a bath can be one of the most challenging family tasks. Reasons may range from a youngster’s dislike of bathing, period, to their being unable to sit still while being washed. A long-effective means to make young-age bathing enjoyable has been the use of toys. Floating rubber duckies have been longtime all-ages bathtub companions for that reason. Not all toys can be used like so. LEGO bricks certainly won’t work; smaller pieces could easily disappear underwater. What about LEGO’s big little brother, Duplo? Judging from these newly-available sets, they could work.

According to Brick Fanatics, three bathing-themed Duplo sets are now available via LEGO.com online. All of them center on cute Duplo-brick animals that combine with flotation devices shaped like swim rings. These early-age builds are so buoyant that, as seen in the box art, they’ll keep afloat even when poured on. We’ve got an adorable variety of Duplo critters that kiddie builders can choose from. Each set comes with a tiny plastic bucket for them to load water to splash on their floating buddies. The price ranges are pretty chill too, depending on how many floating Duplo-animals you want for your child. Let’s see them:

LEGO Duplo: Bath Time Fun
Floating Red Panda (10964)

5 pieces | $9.99

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  • Developmental bath time fun – LEGO® DUPLO® My First Bath Time Fun: Floating Red Panda (10964) provides playful learning opportunities, bath after bath
  • Easy-to-clean bath toy – The playset includes a red panda, bucket and a floating ring that opens up for easy cleaning
  • Build skills in the bathtub – Toddlers put 2 bricks together to make the panda, then place it in the floating ring for endless play opportunities

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Floating Animal Train (10965)

14 pieces | $19.99

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  • Buildable animals – The playset includes a hippo, duck and polar bear, a bucket, rain cloud and 3 floating rings that open up for quick and easy cleaning
  • Developmental fun – Toddlers put 2 bricks together to build each animal, then place them in the floating rings. The toddler-friendly rings connect, disconnect and bubble as they move through the water

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Floating Animal Island (10966)

20 pieces | $39.99

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  • Multipurpose bath toy – LEGO® DUPLO® My First Bath Time Fun: Floating Animal Island (10966) is a versatile, easy-to-clean playset featuring an island that doubles as a storage container
  • Build, play and learn – The playset includes a fish, octopus, lion and flamingo. A floating island splits into 2 separate floating sections, with the bottom half also allowing play outside the bath
  • Imaginative play – Toddlers put together the easy-build animals then have developmental fun on and around the floating island paradise

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