If you are attending San Diego Comic Con next week, chances are you’re their not just for the panel interviews and events, but also for the LEGO SDCC exclusive items that will be out for grabs. These items are treated as gold in these fan conventions, with aftermarket prices (shame to those scalpers) that can soar to ridiculous heights especially at eBay. To address the situation and to ensure fairness in the distribution of these limited, ultra rare LEGO items , SDCC organizers have set up an online, electronic lottery system to determine qualifying attendees.
Though the SDCC Exclusives Portal has already been closed at 12PM (PDT) today following the deadline for submission of interest, for those who are fortunate enough to make it on time, the SDCC website announced that the Exclusives Portal random selection process will take place on or around July 13, 2018.
For a quick recap, here are the LEGO SDCC exclusive minifigures that will be given away during specific days at this year’s San Diego Comic Con.
Keep your fingers crossed and let us know in the comments below if you’re attending this year’s SDCC and if you made the cut in having these LEGO SDCC exclusive minifigures.
It seems that we have our final LEGO SDCC 2018 minifigure reveal. After the official announcement of the this year’s LEGO SDCC Sheriff Deadpool and Black Lightning, LEGO once more took to Twitter to unveil its next (and most probably last) exclusive LEGO SDCC 2018 minifig – from LEGO Movie 2’s Apocalypseburg Unikitty.
As you can see from the above image, this version of the herald of positivity is now far different from what she used to be from the first LEGO Movie. Personally, I’m not really a fan of the Unikitty series, but I have to say that like Sheriff Deadpool, this Apocalypseburg Unikitty minifig is beautifully detailed. It has two interchangeable expressions: Rage Kitty and Angry Kitty. It even features a unique unicorn tail piece with pointed scales – which makes this kitty quite intimidating actually. It also has a side-mounted rocket launcher in reference to how Unikitty looks like in the LEGO Movie 2 trailer.
I have to admit that though this Unikitty SDCC 2018 exclusive is excellently crafted, I couldn’t help but to be a bit disappointed on LEGO’s choice of candidate. We already have a handful of Unikitty figures since the launch of her theme, so having another one somehow dampens the excitement. Love it or hate it, this Apocalypseburg Unikitty will surely be a hit to a particular section of LEGO fandom.
This LEGO Movie 2 minifigure exclusive Apocalypseburg Unikitty will be available to attendees via a lottery system on July 22 at the LEGO Booth from 10AM to 12NN.
I’ve been featuring numerous LEGO-themed books here in the blogsite for quite some time already – ranging from simple activity books intended for younger LEGO fans, to inventories and LEGO MOC building tips and design for older, fully engaged fans of the brick. Most of these books simply cater to the common interest that most of us have: a new LEGO set or subtheme that is set to be the most recent craze, new milestones about the LEGO Group, or simply for the sake of that exclusive minifigure or special LEGO parts that come along with the book. However, this recent book entitled The Ideal Order by seasoned writer and LEGO fan Dr. Christoph Bartneck is kind of difficult to categorize because it is a class on its own. So if you think you have seen and known what all those LEGO books out there has to offer, then you may want to read on for the next few minutes and see what The Ideal Order has in store.
The Ideal Order is not entirely much about the LEGO brick itself, but our relationship towards it as a fan and devotee of this ubiquitous toy. It deals with issues that almost all AFOLs like us can relate to – dealing with the ups and downs of life and making sense out of it through the help of our common interest towards LEGO. Often times when I work with a certain LEGO set, or just simply trying to put order in that chaotic pile of LEGO pieces, is in itself already therapeutic. I liken it to a form of positive escape from the crazy humdrum of day-to-day activities. In a way, The Ideal Order perfectly captures that feeling of working with LEGO pieces while at the same time, learning to deal with some of life’s most difficult issues. The story of Dr. Park’s life and the struggles that he faced, echoes what most of us have silently faced for some time already. If you consider yourself to be a true fan of the LEGO brick then reading this book is a must.
Here’s a brief summary of Dr. Bartneck’s The Ideal Order.
Dr. Rob Park’s life is out of order. His estranged wife is leaving him, the relationship to his daughters is strained and his academic career is at a dead end. He escapes into the cult of LEGO and the study of classification systems. By sorting his collection of LEGO bricks he reconnects to his daughters and he maintains his sobriety while maneuvering in the bizarre world of academia. Prof. Dr. Smith and his newly found Adult Fans Of LEGO help him to find a new structure for himself, his brick collection and his family.
Dr. Bartneck’s goal in writing this book is to ultimately help AFOLs go through that rough patch in their lives by trying to connect our passion for the LEGO brick to a renewed sense of our selves, and appreciation to those who really matter to us. He is even kind enough to offer a FREE copy of The Ideal Order to anyone interested by simply visiting his site and downloading a copy of his book either in PDF or ePub formats.
As part of his efforts to reach more AFOLs, Dr. Bartneck also offers a radio play version of his book which will be available across multiple media platforms such as Apple iTunes, Google Music, Stitcher, and TuneIn. He also plans to offer this radio play version as a podcast feed, with 12, 30-minute episodes all in all, with each episode to be released every Friday starting tomorrow. Here’s a teaser on what to expect in the podcast.
If you wish to support Dr. Bartneck’s work and his other publications, please do him a favor by visiting his website, and check out the other books that he has written.
Here’s another LEGO DK book to add to any LEGO fan’s library. Following the announcement of an updated LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary, DK has announced another LEGO-themed book that offers a fresh, new perspective on everything that we love about the LEGO brick. The LEGO Book New Edition explores the story of the LEGO Group and its iconic products, just in time with the patented LEGO brick’s 60th anniversary, and the 40th year of the LEGO minifigure. As an added bonus, LEGO and DK publishing is including an exclusive, printed LEGO brick that goes with the book.
Celebrate and explore the incredible story of the LEGO Group and its much-loved bricks, sets, minifigures, movies, games, and more with this updated and expanded edition.
Take a dazzling visual tour through all the groundbreaking moments in LEGO® history, from the company’s humble beginnings in a carpenter’s workshop to the invention of the iconic LEGO brick and LEGO minifigure, through to the stunning toys, video games and movies of today, including LEGO® Star Wars™, THE LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE™, and LEGO® Dimensions. This special edition of The LEGO® Book has been fully updated and expanded with the latest LEGO sets and fascinating facts to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the LEGO brick and the 40th anniversary of the minifigure. Go behind the scenes to learn how LEGO bricks are made; find out how amazing fan creations become real-life LEGO sets, and marvel at how LEGO bricks made it to the computer screen and the big screen. Created in full collaboration with the LEGO Group, The LEGO® Book is a treasure trove for LEGO fans of all ages.
Though the image posted in Amazon seems to be a prelim and does not show how this exclusive LEGO brick looks like, I hope it is something different from the 2×4 60th year commemorative plate that LEGO has released with the Build Bigger Thinking sets. I reckon that this exclusive brick may somehow be similar to the commemorative 3M beam that was released together with 2017’s LEGO Technic sets.
The LEGO Book New Edition is now available for pre-order via Amazon, retailing for $25. It is scheduled for release on October 2, 2018.
It looks like the most suave galactic gambler in this side of the galaxy will have more LEGO minifigs under his belt. Thanks to a confirmed report from The Hollywood Reporter, it was reported earlier this week that veteran actor Billy Dee Williams will be reprising his role as Lando Calrissian for the yet to be titled, Star Wars: Episode IX.
According to THR, Billy Dee Williams is reported to return to his most famous role that etched the name of Lando in the hearts of any true-blue Star Wars fan. Williams’ return to the big screen is a sort of a refresher, considering how the first two films from the modern trilogy, The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, practically ended the Skywalker’s saga with the death of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker respectively. Coupled with the untimely death of Carrie Fisher who played the role of Princess Leia, Lando’s return to this post-Skywalker Star Wars era is like a breath of fresh, nostalgic air.
Undoubtedly, LEGO already has worked out several upcoming LEGO Star Wars Episode IX sets that are due for release in time of the film’s debut on December 20, 2019. And it’s no speculation to consider that a Star Wars character as famous as Lando Calrissian will once more have the LEGO minifigure treatment. If you recall, LEGO opted to include two LEGO Star Wars sets that include Han Solo during his twilight years in The Force Awakens. Specifically, the Millennium Falcon (75105) and Rathtar Escape (75180) sets both included an aged Han Solo as we see him before his death in TFA. It is not a longshot to consider that somewhere along the LEGO pipeline, LEGO also has something in the works that will include 1 or 2 sets highlighting the seasoned Lando.
As of to date, the latest LEGO Star Wars set to include Lando as a minifigure is the Han Solo set Kessel Run Millennium Falcon (75212) released earlier this year. There is also a rumored re-release of the LEGO Star Wars Cloud City set which might also include another Lando Calrissian minifigure, though LEGO is still yet to confirm this.
The LEGO Star Wars Cloud City (10123) set from 2003.
We still have no idea what Star Wars Episode IX has in store, and we have to leave it to our imaginations to consider what LEGO has in the works for any tie-in sets. For now, since more and more news of the film’s cast is being revealed and Billy Dee Williams is sure to return as Lando, the LEGO Star Wars landscape is sure to be better. Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled to be released on December 20, 2019. For the latest LEGO Star Wars sets out there, be sure to check shop.LEGO.com.
After the reveal of this year’s first LEGO SDCC exclusive minifigure in the character of Sheriff Deadpool, we now have our second one coming from DC Comics, or more specifically from CW’s rendition of him. Revealed via Twitter, the LEGO DC Black Lightning minifigure features the television version of the retired superhero Jefferson Pierce who has the ability to harness and manipulate electricity at will. This is the first time ever that Black Lightning is in LEGO minifigure form, though he is not the first CW character to be given the honor of having the said LEGO SDCC tribute. Starting 2015, we have the characters of Arsenal, Atom in 2016, and Vixen from last year given the SDCC exclusive LEGO treatment.
True to form, Black Lightning’s minifigure comes with finely detailed printing against a black background. The level of detail on the head piece is also spot on, with emphasis on his blue goggles that goes very well with the blue and yellow streaks of lightning on his torso.
This SDCC exclusive, LEGO DC Black Lightning minifigure will be available for convention attendees via a lottery system, on July 20 from 10AM to 12NN, while Sheriff Deadpool will be on Saturday, July 21 also during the same time. This leaves us with the last minifigure reveal coming from the LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. This minifig is slated to be available on the last day of the comic-con, July 22, and will be revealed anytime soon tomorrow or on Saturday.
As expected, this latest promotional comes in limited quantities so expect them to be available only during the said dates or while supplies last. This latest iteration of our costumed Banana Guy comes in a more distinct tropical garb, with an added boom box accessory. You may want to check our first impressions of this minifigure to know more about what to expect from this little guy.
To see the latest LEGO sets offered at LEGO Store’s online portal, simply click here.
Just like clockwork, LEGO has released another teaser on their upcoming LEGO Creator Expert (10262) Aston Martin DB5 set. The said teaser was released via LEGO’s official social media channels both in Facebook and Twitter. As we count the days before July 18 during the set’s big reveal at the LEGO Store in Leicester Square in London, LEGO has now given us a glimpse on the two of the four wheels of the Aston Martin DB5.
The wheels were creatively used in replacing the iconic zeros on the call sign of the world’s most famous secret agent. There is not so much to see with these parts since the wheels are quite common, accentuated by a shuriken piece. It may not be that much since personally, I would rather see the entire set rather than its bits and pieces. And in case you don’t know yet, the image of the LEGO Creator Expert (10262) Aston Martin DB5 is now making its rounds over social media. If you are really raring to see this ahead of its July 18 release date (and wouldn’t mind the spoilers), the right search phrase and just a few clicks is all that you need. I’ll talk more about it in my next post.
For now, try to enjoy this pair of wheels as much as you can.
Here’s another great reason to attend the San Diego Comic Con this year. According to the event’s official programming schedule, TT Games, the game developer behind the anticipated LEGO DC Super-Villains video game, will be hosting a meet-the-talent panel where TT Games main man (aka Head of Design) Arthur Parsons will be on the spotlight to share to comic-con attendees an inside look on how the game was developed. Since its grand debut during last month’s E3 where we get to see a glimpse of its live gameplay at that time, the upcoming LEGO DC Super-Villains: Meet the Talent Behind the Video Game panel will focus on LEGO’s first “villain-centric” video game adventure.
Arthur Parsons will be joined by fan-favorite Batman voice actor, Kevin Conroy. SDCC is a bit tight-lipped on the rest of game’s voice cast especially the one who will give life to the Joker once the game is made available on October 16. So we’ll just have to wait what surprises LEGO and TT Games have in store by then. Other than the Joker, SDCC is a great venue for other game character reveals, such as their approach in promoting the LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 last year.
Though there was no mention of any LEGO freebies for attendees of the panel, it is very likely that LEGO has a surprise gift or prize tucked somewhere. The LEGO DC Super-Villains video game is now available for pre-order, with its Deluxe Edition featuring an exclusive Lex Luthor minifigure. Here’s a complete description of what to expect from the SDCC 2018 panel, followed by a video gameplay footage from Brandon Jones during last June’s E3.
The team behind the LEGO DC Super-Villains videogame, including Arthur Parsons (head of design, TT Games) and fan-favorite Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, give an inside look at the first LEGO game to put players at the center of a villain-centric adventure packed with favorite locations and characters from across the DC Universe. This celebration of villainy will provide fans with exciting character reveals and details about the story. Players have the ability to create and play as a super-villain throughout LEGO DC Super-Villains, unleashing mischievous antics and wreaking havoc in an action-packed, hilarious story written in collaboration with DC Comics. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and The LEGO Group will release the game on October 16.
LEGO Ninjago has always made its presence known at San Diego Comic Cons and this year is no less different. Almost like an annual tradition, the LEGO Ninjago panel is expected to be a part of SDCC 2018’s programming in which LEGO fans can likewise enjoy.
Slated on the last day of the comic book convention on July 22, the LEGO Ninjago panel will include the show’s co-creator and veteran producer Tommy Andreasen, LEGO Senior Design Manager Michael Svane Knap, Lead Writer Bragi Schut, and voice talents Brent Miller (the person behind the Zane’s voice), Kelly Metzger (voice of Nya), and Vincent Tong (voice of Kai). The panel will be moderated/hosted by Brian Bowler from the LEGO Group.
Traditionally, the LEGO Ninjago panel shares and discuss the details of where the franchise is heading for the following year. However, the panel’s official description is not really clear about this, and instead states that they will “talk about their favorite memories and other reflections on creating LEGO’s longest running and most successful show.” Is this a sign of things to come? Are we about to see the end of yet another LEGO TV show? Though these are just speculations, it is kind of hard not to consider this possibility since there has been no indication or rumor of any future LEGO Ninjago sets except for an anonymous source that claims across some LEGO fan forums that LEGO is planning to have a re-release of some sort of its previous LEGO Ninjago sets.
The Fire Temple (2507) from 2011.The Earth Dragon Defense (2509) from 2011.
If I will correlate that with what we can expect from LEGO Ninjago panel in this year’s SDCC, could it really be possible that in keeping up with their “favorite memories” of the long-standing TV show, they will also make mention of the LEGO Ninjago sets that are most memorable to them and hence, an announcement of a “re-release” of these sets? Is not really far-fetched if you consider the circumstances. But bear in mind that these are just speculations, and whatever is the case we just have to wait until July 22 to see what LEGO has in store. The San Diego Comic Con 2018 will be from July 19 to 22 and is attended by thousands of pop culture fans, and home for exclusive merchandise such as LEGO sets and minifigures that you can never find anywhere else.
