A quick reminder for those interested: the new edition of the LEGO Harry Potter Character Encyclopedia with the exclusive Rita Skeeter minifigure is now available.

The supplied minifig will allow you to populate the aisles of your set a little more 75978 Diagon Alley, a diorama that incorporates the entrance door to the premises of the Daily Prophet and which already allows to obtain the photographer of the newspaper.

This 200-page book which includes more than 200 minifigs from the LEGO Harry Potter range is currently in stock at Amazon, the French version will only hit the shelves on September 8:

LEGO Harry Potter Character Encyclopedia New Editi

20.94 €

BUY

Lego Harry Potter, the Character Encyclopedia

24.95 €

BUY

Today we go very quickly around the contents of the LEGO set 40649 Up-Scaled LEGO Minifigure, a box of 654 pieces which will be available on the official online store and in LEGO Stores from June 1, 2023 at the retail price of €49.99.

You already know it if you follow, this figurine to build takes the format of those of the LEGO Harry Potter sets 76393 Harry Potter & Hermione Granger et 40504 A Minifigure Tribute. LEGO would be wrong not to decline until more thirsty this format which allows you to display at home an oversized minifig which retains a certain mobility and which allows you to display your passion for LEGO products without doing too much and with a little effort. 'originality.

The construction process for this minifigure, which is actually a reproduction of the one installed at the entrance to the LEGO premises in Billund, is identical to that of the two students from the Harry Potter range and anyone who already has the relevant set in their collection will therefore be on familiar ground.

This 27 cm high figurine, however, reserves a little surprise under the character's cap with a small staging that features a minifig at the controls as if it were a robot here that would be piloted by its owner.

It's nicely integrated with a hinged cupola that opens to let your friends enjoy this hidden detail, but don't expect any mechanism that would act on the whole construction, the gears present are purely decorative.

The main defect of this figurine is also that of its congeners: I find that the lower part of the character's face is missed with a retracting chin which really struggles to convince, even if on this one the generic graphics of the face attenuates this feeling a little face with incorrect proportions.

The figurine offered here also has a defect directly linked to its appearance: under certain lighting, we notice some differences in color between the different red and blue parts, LEGO obviously not always managing to perfectly homogenize its production.

For the rest, the construction phase is interesting with some pretty techniques to discover and a result that will appeal to all those who do not necessarily want to display large gray ships or an overly bulky castle in their office or living room but who want everything even show their love of brick by the presence of an emblematic construction.

The public price of the thing seems almost reasonable to me for this product which will make a nice gift to offer to a fan too busy to complete his collection of licensed sets and who will perhaps miss this figurine or who will not make one not a top priority in this very busy launch period.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 7th June 2023 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. 

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

The official visual of the new edition of the LEGO Harry Potter Character Encyclopedia expected for July 6, 2023 has been updated at Amazon and it allows us to get a better look at the exclusive Rita Skeeter minifig that will be inserted in the cover of the book.

Here you will find enough to populate the aisles of your set a little more. 75978 Diagon Alley, a diorama that incorporates the entrance door to the premises of the Daily Prophet and which already allows to obtain the photographer of the newspaper.

This 200-page book, which includes more than 200 minifigs from the LEGO Harry Potter range, is currently on pre-order at Amazon:

LEGO Harry Potter Character Encyclopedia New Edition: With Exclusive LEGO Harry Potter Minifigure

20.94 €

BUY

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO Ideas set 21336 The Office, a box of 1164 pieces which will be available at the public price of €119.99 from October 1, 2022. The announcement of this new box inspired by the idea posted on the LEGO Ideas platform by Jaijai Lewis, had logically divided the fans of LEGO, with on the one hand the unconditional fans of the series who will offer themselves this derivative product to take advantage of the numerous references and minifigs provided and on the other those who will remain indifferent to an open space not very inspired and has a large handful of figurines with banal outfits.

This product is therefore aimed at an audience who will have watched and enjoyed the nine seasons of the American version of the series, and I think that LEGO does not disappoint overall with a major playset and an almost perfect cast despite some architectural shortcuts and some miniatures that would have deserved the extra effort.

Out of context, the subject treated does not a priori have what it takes to offer a high-end assembly "experience", unless you like to build rather crude office furniture on an assembly line and mount a few sections of wall. The premises of the Dunder Mifflin company are nevertheless rather well reproduced here, even if the fans know that a large part of the open space is missing, including the accounting offices, that the conference room has been reduced by half and that the kitchen goes down the drain.

It's hard to blame LEGO, the playset is already very large with a surface of 30 cm long and 25 cm wide and the compromise seems acceptable to me. Unlike other sets inspired by sitcoms, LEGO has chosen not to convert these offices into a film set via the possible addition of a few projectors and that's good. I'm buying Dunder Mifflin corporate offices, not a television studio.

We will especially remember the few good ideas that will eventually allow those who are looking for how to furnish workspaces in their Modulars with for example a very convincing photocopier, rows of books that are easy to reproduce and cluttered desks but of a very simple design and therefore easy to duplicate to possibly complete the playset by adding the missing part of the open space. The slightly corny side of the locals is there, it's in the spirit of the series.

The office floor is exposed studs and some might have preferred a smooth surface. The relative lack of finish is almost justified here by the need to be able to stage the fifteen characters in the different spaces available. I'm not a big fan of this gray stud-based texture, but I can understand the desire to allow fans the freedom to organize their staging without being limited by the number of studs available. I will spare you the list of the various details hidden in or behind some of the office furniture, there is no point in spoiling the best references to the series integrated into the product.

It's almost unfortunate to have to admit it, the interest of the set lies mainly in the sixty stickers to stick during assembly. Many references are suggested there and it is during the installation of these stickers that we think back to the different scenes evoked or to the emblematic details that all those who have watched the nine seasons have necessarily retained. As usual, I have scanned the sticker sheets delivered in this box, simply hover over the images if you don't want to spoil the pleasure of discovering the many references that are there.

I note in passing that LEGO does not even go to the effort of stamping the telephone keypads or the blinds on the windows of the office, these elements could however be easily used in the future in other boxes. Some of the stickers serve as alternatives to others, such as those that replace the TV in the conference room. the parts necessary for their installation in replacement of other stickers are provided.

In the end, it's during the construction of the playset that you really have to take pleasure in remembering the best moments of the series, the object will then be quickly put away or probably forgotten in a corner. In any case, this is the fate of many products which only have a very limited exposure potential.

LEGO has thought of everything by offering a separate module for Michael Scott's office. Those who are short on space or who only want to display a compact nod to the series will be able to do so without bothering with the rest of the construction.

Regarding the technical details of the product, I note that LEGO still cannot perfectly coordinate the color in Sand green depending on the elements. It is not the only color affected by these variations depending on the parts concerned and I wonder again and again how a manufacturer who has been in this business for 90 years is not able to solve the problem. There must be a lack of will, I see no other explanation.

I'm also a little disappointed by the choice to use a trash can to embody the pot of Chili that Kevin Malone spills on the office carpet. The format is good but the evocation of the scene deserved in my opinion a new dedicated accessory.

The endowment of minifigs in this box to the glory of a series with a substantial main cast leaves me a little unsatisfied for two reasons: some outstanding characters are missing and some of these figurines struggle a little to embody the actors concerned. It must be admitted that the various actors involved do not all have a sufficiently particular physique to justify a riot of graphic details but the figurines of Michael Scott, Pam Beesly and Ryan Howard seem to me a little too neutral.

I don't see how it was possible to do better than what is proposed, but the graphic designer was able to perfectly capture the facial expressions of Creed Bratton or Meredith Palmer and there was no doubt something to do the same for Michael Scott with for example his signature grin. We will also remember that there are no small savings for LEGO: Ryan wears the same shirt as Jim and Creed wears the same outfit as Michael...

The rest of the cast is fortunately very successful, thanks in particular to a few perfectly reproduced facial expressions, well-chosen hairstyles and outfits that easily refer to one or more episodes. Special mention for the figurine of Dwight Schrute which seems to me quite simply perfect, even if an alternative expression with the face cut out on the dummy for initiation to first aid techniques would have been really welcome...

United legs for everyone except Pam, nothing shocking about these office outfits, it's fitting with the universe concerned. More annoying, the pad-printed white areas on the dark-tinted parts become bland, a far cry from the promise made on the heavily retouched official visuals.

The absence of Andy Bernard and Erin Hannon also leaves me a little on my hunger, these two characters marked the series and two additional minifigs would not have affected the margin of the manufacturer. Andy's absence is all the more incomprehensible since LEGO has integrated the hole that the character makes in the partition separating Michael's office and the conference room... LEGO will probably never release an extension to this product. and therefore there is no chance of ever enjoying these two characters. The manufacturer may also be missing the opportunity here to offer a reference to the original version of the series with a minifig of Ricky Gervais as David Brent, knowing that the character makes a brief appearance in the American version.

As with all the other sets inspired by popular series, this box will therefore only appeal to an audience of fans ready to pay 120 € to afford a decorative playset that is a little bulky and it is not intended to be unanimous. .

Fans of the Friends series were entitled to their derivative products (21319 Central Perk & 10292 F⋅R⋅I⋅E⋅N⋅D⋅S Apartments), those of The Big Bang Theory series (21302 The Big Bang Theory) or Seinfeld (21328 Seinfeld) also, to each his favorite series and derivative products. This tribute to a series that I really appreciate convinced me, I had a lot of fun assembling the floor occupied by the Dunder Mifflin company and even if I don't really know what I will do from the construction to the arrival, I will spend the €120 requested from October 1st. Personally, I wouldn't be against another set inspired by the Park & ​​Recreations series...

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at September 25, 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

Today we take a quick tour of the LEGO Marvel set content 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum, a box of 2708 pieces that will be available from August 1, 2022 at the public price of 249.99 €.

This crossover between the LEGO Marvel range and the universe of Modulars LEGO was expected, so it takes place with this reproduction of the New York premises of Greenwich Village occupied by Doctor Strange.

Exit the minimalist playset of the set 76108 Sanctum Sanctorum Showdown (1004 pieces - 109.99 €) marketed in 2018, make way for a more detailed version of the places which therefore takes up the usual recipe for Modulars with its qualities and its defects. We are not going to complain too much to see this product arrive on the shelves, the Marvel universe at LEGO is often content with ships and other vehicles and the manufacturer only rarely offers emblematic places.

This was the case last year with the visually somewhat sad reproduction of the set 76178 Daily Bugle, and the choice of Sanctum Sanctorum with its architecture very close to those of existing constructions in the range of Modulars was an opportunity to make it a nice module to place at the end of the street without spoiling the aesthetics of LEGOville.

If you have already assembled a Structure, you necessarily know the tricks of the concept: a 32 x 32 base plate on which we install a piece of sidewalk and some exterior elements, an assembly process that is intelligently distributed between the construction of the walls, openings in the facade and interior furnishings and on arrival a detailed construction whose different levels can be removed to access the internal spaces and enjoy the amenities therein, often at your fingertips.

The furniture installed in the various rooms of this building is largely of the level of what is generally obtained with Modulars and it is logically adapted to the theme and context concerned. The ground floor features the grand staircase which takes up most of the available space, but the designer still managed to slip a small secret room behind the steps with a few accessories including the Orb of Agamotto, the Stone Time and a medium to secure the Book of the Vishanti.

The first floor obviously leaves room for the upper landing of the staircase and there is a library that hides the passage to different destinations embodied by large stickers. It is enough to move the sliding panels using the external air conditioning units placed in the back of the construction to change the visual present behind the door, it is ingenious and well integrated. We only regret that the positioning of the panels does not allow the stickers to be perfectly centered in the door frame.

The second floor houses a few relics and other mystical artefacts that are more or less irrelevant or anecdotal, but access to it is complicated: no stairs are provided despite the opening on the floor. This is where the iconic round canopy of this New York building is installed, with a nicely pad-printed and rather well-integrated element, being held by two droid arms and plated behind the opening. The flat roof is then reduced to a few plates flanked by very successful chimneys which give a little height to the whole construction and a few accessories, that's enough.

No tiling on the floors and it's a bit of a shame, the Holy of Holies probably deserved a little more attention at floor level to give it the necessary cachet, knowing that the first floor is content with two strips of a few hold on the sides and only a handful of Tiles additional would probably not weigh on the manufacturer's margin.

This product is a Structure but it is also and above all a set in the Marvel universe, so it was logical that LEGO offers us some features relating to the subject treated. There are therefore three openings in the walls of the building which can be blocked by interchangeable and reversible modules in order to make the construction more or less marked with the Marvel imprint.

Gargantos makes an appearance here, he can either come out of the wall or invade the library on the first floor. The poster announcing the exhibition on Captain America must be rotated 90° depending on the location chosen, all of this is frankly successful and adds an interesting dynamic to the product. LEGO also provides two transparent rods to plug into the different open tenons available on the facades, you can stage your minifigs there to give a little more volume and dynamism to the whole.

The building occupies only part of the base plate, we are used to it and it is here for the good cause with easy access to the various planned functionalities even when the construction will be leaned against another Structure at the end of the street. There will remain a dark alley between the two buildings, with its bins and waste, and it will be possible to slip your fingers there to add or remove something and manipulate the two air conditioning units.

This product being a full member of the universe Structure of which it takes all the codes, it is inevitably a little empty on the two sides which are in principle intended to face other constructions of the same type. Those who hoped for a truly independent product are therefore at their expense, this is not the choice made by LEGO.

If you find that this Sanctum Sanctorum lacks a bit of volume, nothing prevents you from buying two copies and tinkering with the ultimate building. I'm not sure that the game is really worth the candle, the result obtained with a single box seems sufficiently convincing to me and the building is in the state easily presentable alone on a shelf by positioning it correctly.

The winks and other more or less obvious references to the Marvel universe are numerous here, they are for many of them embodied by the slew of stickers to stick during assembly. Two sheets are provided, they include 45 stickers, some of which have a transparent background so as not to risk the inevitable difference in color with the rooms that host them. It's a shame, you can still see the glue and it's almost worse on arrival on some parts.

The endowment in minifigs is correct here without being breathtaking. There are nine characters and it's never enough when it comes to collecting figurines from the Marvel universe.

We get a new version of Ebony Maw with a more successful head than the set 76108 Sanctum Sanctorum Showdown but a pair of neutral legs, I prefer this more sober version to the previous one, too bad for the legs. We are also adding to our collections a new version of Wong with a new torso, the head available since 2021 and a pair of neutral legs which necessarily breaks the dynamics of the character's outfit a little.

Iron Man is delivered here in MK50 version with his new helmet, Spider-Man is supplied with a head already seen but a new torso and pair of legs. We salute the effort on the pad printing of the arms but there is still work to be done so that the red color is perfectly matched with that of the torso, head and legs. In the state it is a little missed.

Scarlet Witch is equipped with a head of hair with a molded tiara but here we have a really more accomplished pad printing than on the figurine from the series of collectible characters (71031 Collectible Minifigure Series) who was already using this accessory. Neutral legs on a superb new torso surmounted by a very appropriate angry face, you can't have everything.

Karl Mordo returns to LEGO after a first version based on the film Doctor Strange delivered in 2016 in the set 76060 Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum and this new minifig from the movie Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is rather successful even the piece of fabric pales in comparison to Strange's plastic cape. The hair is well textured, the torso is very worked and there are only the neutral legs which once again spoil the figurine a little.

Sinister Strange's complexion is a little too yellow for my taste, but the minifig is generally very correct with an outfit consistent with that of the film. The legs are identical to those of the Doctor Strange minifigure delivered in this box and already seen in the set 76205 Gargantos Showdown available since the beginning of the year.

Finally, LEGO will undoubtedly have wanted to avoid the scars and the emaciated face of the Zombie Strange seen in the cinema by composing a less gory minifigure and by drawing on the visual identity of the fifth episode of the animated series What If ...? Why not, it also works like that and the degraded version of the outfit matches that of the other two figurines.

Finally, I think this product is overall very convincing with a construction that will provide a good dose of pleasure to fans of the Marvel universe thanks to the many references and winks scattered throughout the floors and which will allow all those who like me are not fans of Modulars to have a taste of exercise for once.

This set achieves its goal, it finally allows to assemble a Sanctum Sanctorum credible and up to what we could hope to obtain one day at LEGO beyond the usual minimalist playsets and it is also an opportunity to add some minifigs to our collections, whether variants or new characters at LEGO. The public price set at 249.99 € unfortunately does not put this box within reach of all budgets and it will probably be necessary to be patient to find it elsewhere than at LEGO at a more reasonable price.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at July 25, 2022 next at 23:59 p.m. Just post a comment under the article to participate.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.