As we already knew for a few weeks, the set 9509 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2012 will include two exclusive minifigs: a Santa Maul and an R2-D2 in snowman mode.

We had heard of carrots on the astromech droid dome, and I think LEGO presented a version ultra-temporary-which-serves-to-furnish at the New York Toy Fair. The dome is decked out in a snow effect, but the droid's body is completely white. This minifigure should in my opinion probably still evolve between now and the final version which will be marketed in September 2012.

It's the disappointment of this wave of Marvel sets as far as I'm concerned, Iron Man and his helmet a little too big. FBTB has uploaded a video that reveals the opening mechanism of the helmet and I tell myself that I would have done without this feature to have a better proportioned minifig.

To see all this in pictures, it's on the FBTB flickr gallery. 

A past master in the art of selling us minifigs in a box with a few parts, LEGO has understood the interest of its customers for the most anticipated characters from the Star Wars universe in 2012. The two flagship minifigs of this new wave of sets are undoubtedly the two important characters of the saga, Queen Amidala and the Bounty Hunter Boba Fett, which will be delivered in their most iconic outfits: Amidala finally available in a ceremonial outfit perfectly interpreted in LEGO sauce and Boba Fett with his look inevitably reminiscent of the version of the set 10123 Cloud City released in 2003 and became famous as much for its rarity as for its screen-printed legs. I even wonder if LEGO isn't giving us a voluntary wink on this ...

2012 is the year of minifigs, with beautiful, never-before-seen versions of much-desired characters and interesting updates to great classics well known to collectors. The appearance of characters from the Star Wars The Old Republic game universe is also a plus, which revives the interest of the most jaded among us for minifigs and awakens the spirit of collection even among those who seemed invaded by weariness over the waves of sets. 

The two sets containing these Queen Amidala and Boba Fett minifigs will not be unaffordable big sets or any exclusives, and there is no need to worry about their future availability. However, we can bet that these two versions will not be distributed in several sets over the months and they should still become relatively rare over the years. We should not hesitate to get them as soon as they come out to avoid paying a high price for them as soon as these sets are removed from the shelves of our favorite stores.

If you follow Hoth Bricks, it has not escaped you that Darth Maul is the center of attention this year: He is present on all Star Wars merchandise, he is currently showing with the 3D release of the 'Episode I The Phantom Menace  and especially he returns in the animated series The Clone Wars.

It didn't take more for LEGO to bring out an exclusive bag with this character in its version I come back from the dead, which we will have to try to get on Bricklink within a few days against a few tickets from American sellers anxious to share with the whole world their chance to have been entitled to this very successful minifig.

Despite everything, I think there is no urgency, this minifigure will undoubtedly be available on other occasions, various promotions or exhibitions to come.

They hide things from us ... why the box of the set 6869 Quinjet Aerial Battle is it in white version with a big logo Confidential ??? No doubt because it contains one or two minifigs which Marvel does not wish to reveal, otherwise they will reveal all of the protagonists of one of the film's most important scenes.

I give you the description of the set which confirms this theory:

Loki is up to no good and is planning to destroy the earth! As he flies into battle on board his chariot, help the Avenger's defeat their nemesis using the supersonic Quinjet! Fire the missiles, release the mini-jet and imprison Loki in the prison pod! With the high-tech Quinjet, the Avengers can't fail! Includes Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Loki and more minifigures.