LEGO Ideas: bulldoozer’s “Gremlins” Gets 10-K Support

Amblin Entertainment brought us some memorable film characters brought to life by puppetry. Aside from E.T. himself, they also gave us Gizmo the Mogwai and his antagonistic accidental offspring, “Gremlins.” The original 1984 film was a dream-team collaboration featuring pre-“Harry Potter” Chris Columbus, Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg himself. The 1990 sequel even featured a Gremlin made out of LEGOs. Since then, LEGO and “Gremlins” have occasionally teamed up. Look no further than “The LEGO Batman Movie” and the now-defunct “LEGO Dimensions.” But a new more-lasting tie-in could be in store. First, this 10-K submission from a 10-K member must pass muster in LEGO Ideas.

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Celebrated Ideas member Ivan “bulldoozer” Guerrero needs no extensive introduction. His master building skills gave us LEGO Ideas #32, 123 Sesame Street (21324). His creations tend to get 10-K support or win in Ideas contests. Now, his latest fully-supported product idea brings the world of “Gremlins” to brick-built life. This set depicts the home of the Peltzer Family, whose son Billy becomes Gizmo’s one-time owner.

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The house features four rooms: living room, kitchen, Billy’s bedroom and the workshop of his dad Randall. Snow and Holiday decorations abound, a reminder that “Gremlins” is a Christmas movie.

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In terms of minifigures, bulldoozer gives us six. Billy Peltzer is joined by girlfriend Kate, Gizmo’s keeper Mr. Wing, Gizmo himself, and three gremlins born from him.

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These three are led by Stripe, so-called for his white tuft of hair. Billy’s other friend Pete also joins in, as a microfigure dressed in a Christmas tree costume. A wide variety of included props make references to not just the 1984 original, but its 1990 sequel. This is yet another license-IP contender for the LEGO Ideas Third 2021 Review Stage, which carries over to this early 2022.

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Rumored LEGO Creator Vespa Seen in Creator High-Speed Train (40518) Rare Promo Image?

You’ve got to love sometimes how retailers sometimes reveal LEGO’s hand before any official product announcements. Towards the end of last month, last year, we got European retailers listing possible LEGO sets in advance. They might be “expected” sets like an alleged upcoming LEGO Marvel buildable character model. Or they might be all-new products from a licensed IP that LEGO hasn’t done before, like “Horizon Zero Dawn.” In any case, these super-early “reveals” are great even if we must consider them rumors prior to official LEGO updates. Speaking of which, we have another one, updating from earlier rumors from late 2021.

Brickset reports that a possible image for a long-rumored LEGO Creator Vespa set appeared in promo images of another set. Said images came from the Creator High-Speed Train (40518), seen first in Hungarian online retailer Kocka. Note that a Creator Vespa set rumored to become a GWP was numbered 40517, one digit off. The image showed a red brick-built Vespa alongside the High-Speed Train and past Creator sets. The Creator London Bus (40220) is there alongside Creator Yellow Taxi (40468) and Tuk Tuk (40469). It looks like a LEGO Creator public transport set showcase. Said image also doesn’t appear in 40518’s official LEGO.com listing.

But if Creator High-Speed Train (40518) is already listed, what about this red Vespa, potentially GWP set 40517? Did LEGO postpone or cancel it similar to their latest Marvel Mech Armors? We could certainly use some clarifications, especially considering there’s another rumored Vespa set. Regarding the larger, potentially Creator Expert Vespa (10298), we heard no further speculation. At least for the moment, the January 1 LEGO product launch blitz isn’t making collectors miss much.

LEGO Seasonal Set Valentine Lovebirds (40522) Now Available

We wish a belated Happy New Year to our readers here in The Brick Show. And with that out of the way, let’s get right into what’s new with LEGO this 2022. In this early part of the New Year we have special occasions that warrant seasonal LEGO set releases. One traditional event to look forward to is Valentine’s Day next month. As expected, LEGO already has its relevant seasonal set ready in advance. In fact the item’s available now on LEGO.com online. The set box also gives us a nice advance hint on what more to expect later on.

Courtesy of The Brick Fan, we present LEGO’s Valentine’s Day 2022 seasonal set, Valentine Lovebirds (40522). Just about 298 pieces are all you need to make some cute brick-built lovebird parrots in a valentine motif. We get colorful simplicity in the same mold as many other seasonal LEGO sets at just $12.99 a box. LEGO’s giving lovey-dovey collectors a great head-start for their Valentine’s Day shopping, making 40522 available now. So why not shop early for February 14 by getting this set now? In addition, you’ll even get a sneak peek at the next notable seasonal LEGO set for 2022.

Remember the BrickHeadz Buzz Lightyear set (40552) spotted on LEGO.com Malaysia last mid-December? At the back of the box LEGO showed off its follow-up: a two- BrickHeadz bundle of Woody and Bo Peep (40553). LEGO’s Valentine Lovebirds (40522) does much the same thing. Expect the 2022 Easter seasonal, Easter Bunnies (40523) sometime in February/March, depending on when 40-day Lent starts.

Valentine Lovebirds (40522)

298 pieces | $12.99

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Delight your loved ones with this romantic LEGO® Valentine Lovebirds 40522 building kit. The adorable lovebirds sit on a branch decorated with pink hearts and flowers, while the big red heart symbolizes their love. This sweet set is the perfect way to express love for your Valentine and makes a great anytime gift for a special person.

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Watch: LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) Gets a Nostalgia-Filled Video

So yeah, we can expect LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) to sell like hotcakes when it launches January 1. That much is certain considering that the set is primarily targeted at adults. And why shouldn’t it be? Many collectors gunning for this 39th LEGO Ideas set would have grown up with Sega’s mascot videogame character. Aside from the usual LEGO news outlets, even gaming sites like IGN have covered this wonderful item. Many of these features even went with videos of 21331, as photogenic as it is. Needless to say, LEGO won’t be falling behind in promoting its own.

Brick Fanatics tells us that LEGO has released a promo trailer for the Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog set (21331). It’s no designer vid, but one that really calls to the franchise fan in every LEGO collector. We see a first-person POV of a fan playing “Sonic” videogames across the decades. He starts with the original 1991 game on his Genesis and a CRT TV. Then he moves to a Sega Game Gear title. Next, he’s playing Sonic on the last Sega console the Dreamcast. The guy even ignores a call from one “Amy” on his period-appropriate Nokia. Several fast game-gen transitions later, the POV dude puts a “Sonic” minifig on a familiar-looking LEGO Ideas set.

If you grew up in the 1990s playing Sega Genesis and claim this didn’t touch you, we name you liar. It’s easily the most nostalgia-powered commercial for any retro-aesthetic product yet devised. Not only is LEGO Ideas Sonic (21331) assured of selling, there’s also the possibility of collectors getting multiples. Making the pieces comprising Green Hill Zone connectible end-to-end is a stroke of genius. Come January 1, 2022, LEGO collectors have “Gotta Go Fast!”

NASA SR-71 Blackbird by Brickerbeard Gains 10-K Support on LEGO Ideas

At this point in time, the LEGO Ideas Third 2021 Review Stage now boasts 32 10-K-supported product ideas. The latest addition to this batch for product review comes from a build first submitted only in February this year. Indeed, we have another product idea that garnered the necessary 10,000 supporters in less than a year. This new entry to the latest review stage also increases the number of notable vehicle builds in the selection. While not a fantastical design, the real-world aesthetic and proper minifigure scaling gives it some strong points. Now take a look at this NASA SR-71 Blackbird.

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This new 10-K Ideas submission is the brainchild of Brickerbeard. As made obvious, this is a LEGO model of the famed Lockheed SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft. The so-called Blackbird saw action in high-altitude recon during the Cold War decades. When it was initially retired in 1988, NASA took two SR-71s for suborbital supersonic flight tests until 1998. Brickerbeard used around 1,650 LEGO pieces to recreate the aircraft in just the right scale to seat two minifigures. He also went for additional accurate details. The NASA livery is spot on. The same goes for the pilot-navigator team, based on NASA SR-71 operators Edward Schneider and Marta Bohn-Meyer.

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This NASA SR-71 product idea may seem barebones with just the plane and two minifigs. But in Brickerbeard’s case, the simple approach is best. We’ll have to wait and see if this 10-K submission makes it through the Third 2021 Review Stage. Said review period will end sometime early 2022.

LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) Listed Online at Last

To better pace our daily LEGO news, we at The Brick Show put this off as much as we could. But now we’re spreading the word. A Mexican retailer put it up online the day before. But now, LEGO finally has its official product listing. We’re talking of course about the 39th LEGO Ideas set: Sonic the Hedgehog (21331). Brickset gives us this happy news of a long-awaited set. While some details were revealed in the box image from the Mexican retailer, now we have a clearer picture. Let’s have a look at the final evolution of Viv “toastergrl” Grannell’s original product idea years ago.

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For starters, the name “Sonic the Hedgehog” says plenty from the original “Sonic Mania – Green Hill Zone.” Both original and finished product depicts the iconic Green Hill Zone game area. But Grannell referenced the remade version from 2017’s “Sonic Mania.” The official LEGO Ideas set instead looks back to the original 1991 “Sonic the Hedgehog” on the Sega Genesis. Dr. Egmman/Robotnik is back on his Egg Wrecker instead of the Death Egg Robot. Apparently the layout was also designed so it could be expanded by multiple Ideas Sonic (21331) sets. The Sonic minifigure also sees a slight overhaul from its original outing on “LEGO Dimensions.”

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From Sonic, to Robotnik, to the Badniks and terrain, LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) is a love letter. For LEGO builders who felt the need to “Gotta Go Fast” since the 1990s, January 1 couldn’t get here fast enough. And with that, we go to the product details themselves.

LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone (21331)

1,125 pieces | 1 minifigure | $69.99 | coming January 1, 2022

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Celebrate a pop culture icon and showcase the gameplay of a true classic with this LEGO® Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog™ – Green Hill Zone model (21331). Enjoy quality time with no distractions, recreating authentic details of the Green Hill Zone, including a palm tree, bridge loop, rings, TV screens, Dr. Eggman’s Eggmobile and a spring for Super Sonic Jumps.

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  • Recreate the Green Hill Zone in LEGO® bricks – Recapture the magic of Sonic the Hedgehog™ with this LEGO Ideas model of an all-time classic platform game level (21331)
  • Iconic characters – A Sonic the Hedgehog™ LEGO® minifigure, plus brick-built figures of Dr. Eggman with his buildable Eggmobile, Moto Bug with 2 face options, and Crabmeat
  • Authentic obstacles and details – Build a palm tree, bridge loop and lever-activated spring for Super Sonic Jumps, plus 7 rings and 2 buildable TVs with 5 screen elements and 5 sticker options
  • Collect Chaos Emeralds, just like in the game – Earn an emerald for every build you complete and display all 7 on the stand with Sonic

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Rumored LEGO Marvel Ant-Man Set (76219?) April 2022

The day before we made mention of future LEGO sets being listed first in independent retailers before LEGO.com does. We’re sure you already have a clue on what has been made official now, but we’ll get to it later. Anyway, we already have word on several LEGO Marvel sets due to launch next year. Delays/cancellations met some of them; but there are still more sets coming as early as January 1. How about Marvel sets for a bit later on in 2022? If this online retailer listing speaks true, we have one for an unlikely MCU movie source.

According to Brick Fanatics, the Italian retail platform Dbline.it just listed a LEGO Marvel set for April next year. Quite unusually, the subject is the MCU Ant-Man, alleged set number 76219. For those managing to follow the MCU’s production timetable, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” isn’t premiering until 2023. Why push a LEGO Ant-Man set in 2022 when the character’s last appearances were in 2018 and 2019? We’ve no idea. What Instagram LEGO blogger brick_clicker believes is that the set is a buildable figure. Recall the January-launching LEGO Marvel (buildable) Iron Man Figure (76206). The “762” number prefix hints that Ant-Man might be a thematically-similar set.

But don’t take our word for it right now. Despite being listed by an actual retailer, we must consider LEGO Marvel Ant-Man (76219) a rumor until LEGO confirms it. We already have enough LEGO Marvel set choices to welcome the New Year with in January.

Clearer Images of LEGO Seasonal Year of the Tiger (40491) Coming 2022

We at The Brick Show are always appreciative of our various sources for LEGO news and info. And when new resources on all things LEGO appear, all better for variety. For example, earlier this month we found images of 2022 LEGO polybags from brickdex.io, a recently-launched German price comparison site. Earlier still, as November 2021 ended we got official word from LEGO for their next Chinese Zodiac seasonal set. However, being a toy-safety declaration, that document sported only a grainy image of Year of the Tiger (40491). Thanks to brickdex, we have clearer official images.

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So here we have it, the LEGO seasonal Chinese Zodiac set for Year of the Tiger (40491) in 2022. Also revealed is the number of pieces absent from the box: 193. Beyond that tidbit and the pictures, we still know little about the set especially in terms of the GWP price threshold. Much like its predecessors, this LEGO zodiac tiger may well be a gift with purchase. Previous sets had an average $80/85 and above minimum total LEGO purchase to acquire. A popular theory from The Brick Fan proposes that for Year of the Tiger, the GWP threshold would be $88. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is lucky; double the 8, double the luck.

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That is just some speculation, but everything else about LEGO Year of the Tiger (40491) mentioned above is real. We can expect this set to be slotted into the upcoming January 2022 LEGO Store Calendar. Just keep watching this space.

LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) Listed on Mexican Online Retailer

Among LEGO sets, those of the LEGO Ideas line aren’t what one might term as “regular releases.” New Ideas sets depend on product ideas that gained fan support and impressed reviewers. And even then some time might pass between set announcement and actual launch date. But we digress. We may recall how back in February, LEGO Ideas chose “Sonic Mania: Green Hill Zone” to become a set. Back in September we caught scattered info on its product details: set number 21331 and an early 2022 release. Now, courtesy of German LEGO news source Promobricks, we have box art images too.

Said images were discovered by Promobricks on Mexican online market platform Mercado Libre. Behold LEGO Ideas #39, Sonic the Hedgehog (21331). Despite being dropped from the name, this is still clearly Sonic’s Green Hill Zone, originated by Viv “toastergrl” Granell. The set depicts an iconic stretch of the original “Sonic the Hedgehog” videogame’s first area. We have a grassy course spanning a short bridge, stage checkpoint and one loop. Sonic must navigate this course while collecting his power rings and TV-monitor power-ups. Standing in his way are crab- and beetle-type Badniks, with their master Doctor “Eggman” Robotnik. It looks like a LEGO Super Mario set but given a “Sonic” makeover.

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The Mercado Libre retail listing prices LEGO Ideas Sonic the Hedgehog (21331) at about 2,699 Mexican pesos. That’s a bit pricier than the rumored European pricing months ago, of around €69.99 (the above converts to €115). The release window apparently remains the same, early 2022. If this set goes the way of Ideas #03 Minecraft, LEGO could create a new line to complement LEGO Super Mario. Gamer collectors can dream.

LEGO Lunar New Year 2022 Sets Now Available in UK/Europe and Asia-Pacific

The end of a year and the beginning of the next is a period home to three major holidays. First is Christmas, followed by two New Year’s celebrations, the Western one and the Lunar, or Chinese one. But in terms of gift-giving connotations, Christmas and Chinese New Year bear greater prominence in the West and East respectively. It’s no surprise therefore that LEGO has been releasing seasonal sets to commemorate these occasions. We’ve seen their latest Christmas and CNY sets already. The former have had their heyday, while the latter are coming soon. However for the UK/Europe and Asia-Pacific, LEGO Chinese New Year has arrived.

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Indeed, as reported by Brickset, both East and West – or part of it, can now purchase LEGO’s CNY 2022 sets. Lunar New Year Traditions (80108) and Lunar New Year Ice Festival (80109) launched this past Sunday, December 26. Such early availability is a testament to Chinese New Year tie-ins having become a major LEGO selling point worldwide. Both sets also make great sources of new unique minifigures: 12 from 80108 and 13 from 80109. Their home market and Europe can enjoy these sets if desired. North American collectors however have to wait until January 10.

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In UK/Europe, LEGO Lunar New Year Traditions (80108) is priced £59.99/€69.99, while Lunar New Year Ice Festival (80109) is £89.99/€99.99.