Rather than responding individually to all those who sent me these two images of the Iron Patriot minifigure, often without bothering to read the accompanying text on flickr, I confirm here that they are two superb creations of AFOLs rather gifted with Photoshop.

These two minifigs are NOT official LEGO versions.

The one on the left was created by HighonBricks, who made it a brief hoax by implying that it was an official version. His flickr gallery.

The one on the right was created by Fig-nation (ShadowAssassin) - His flickr gallery.

The fact remains that if LEGO comes out with something like that, I'll buy it.

Let's take advantage of the eBay sellers' announcements that offer minifigs that are not yet marketed for sale to find out more about the Superman Man of Steel minifigure. I will come back later to LEGO's reaction to my questions on the sale of these minifigs.

Exit the swimming pool blue suit and the red briefs from another era, here is the new Superman, embodied on the screen by Henry Cavill and whose outfit has been updated for the film Man of Steel which comes out at the end of June 2013 .

It's more organic, more "extra-terrestrial" and LEGO has also forced the line a little on the representation of the lines that cover the costume at the waist and thighs.

Overall, the minifig is still true to the costume from the movie and it will take some getting used to anyway as it is provided in the next three DC Universe Man of Steel sets: 76002 Superman Metropolis Showdown, 76003 Superman Battle of Smallville et 76009 Superman Black Zero Escape.

 Personally, Superman is still the superhero in the most ridiculous outfit. I hope Man of Steel will make me change my mind about the ultra-kitsch side of the character ...

2013 will be the year of exclusive minifigs sold with a movie or video game, and here's another one in this Limited Edition Blu-ray / DVD Pack of The Hobbit Trilogy First Episode Sold Only By the US Target brand. ($ 24.99, release date: March 19, 2013)

This is Bilbo in a new outfit, at least so far. Nothing says that this version will not be marketed in one of the next sets of the range or in an upcoming polybag.

Without getting too wet, I think this pack will also be available in Europe at Amazon soon ...

Here is the first official image (unveiled by GRogall) of the 10 series (LEGO reference 71001) of collectible minifigures which is expected in stores in mid-2013.

We find there the 16 minifigs announced a few months ago by The Daily Brick, with the added bonus of the already famous golden minifigure (top row, second from the right) printed in 5000 copies and which will be inserted randomly in the boxes of this new series. 

Each exclusive minifig will have a unique code that can be used on the LEGO site and allows you to know how many minifigs have already been found.

Another confirmation in pictures that the Iron Man minifigure in the "Heartbreaker" version of the set 76008 Iron Man vs. The Mandarin Ultimate Showdown is successful with this artwork of the film published this morning on different sites. We find of course on the minifigure all the characteristic attributes of this reinforced armor that we will see, I hope, in action in the film. If we refer to the name and content of set 76008, we can indeed hope to see Tony Stark face the Mandarin in this armor ...

In the end, LEGO is doing pretty well when it comes to the various Iron Man armors. You can feel the care taken in the design of these minifigs and each version is clearly identifiable.