It's official, the news just broke during Celebration VI: The Next Edition of Star Wars Celebration Europe II will be held from July 26 to 28, 2013 in Essen (Messe Essen), not far from Düsseldorf in Germany.

This is actually the second edition of this European version of the largest Star Wars gathering, the first was held in London in 2007.

If you are an absolute Star Wars fan and dream of attending this event, start saving and book your weekend. Note that the San Diego Comic Con will take place from July 18 to 21, 2013.
While it may be a bit early, if any of you are planning to head to Star Wars Celebration Europe II, let us know in the comments.

You have been several (parents) to write to me recently to ask me to add the set 3316 LEGO Friends Advent Calendar at Pricevortex. It's done, and this set is available for pre-order at a price of 19.99 € on amazon Italy (availability date indicated on September 1, 2012) and amazon Germany (availability date indicated on September 29, 2012).

A rumor relayed by toysnbricks reports a problem related to production which could have consequences in terms of availability in the coming weeks. It is to be taken with very big tweezers, no official confirmation having taken place from the manufacturer, but it seems that a quality problem on certain parts contained in this set has been detected in a factory of the brand "working for the American market and not located in Western Europe" (Mexico?).

As a result, production would be slowed down pending a solution to this problem and transferred to other manufacturing units.

In short, if you want this set, which should quickly become a bestseller among girls fans of LEGO, under the tree, do not wait to place your pre-order, because if the information turns out to be correct, even a temporary shortage could take place.

If you are not a fan of the animated series, which I can understand and I do not judge anyone, you will still have to take into account what season 5 will offer us again to better understand the influence of this television product. derived from the saga on our upcoming LEGO Star Wars sets.

That being said, the panel devoted to the series held during Celebration VI in the presence of director Dave Filoni and visual effects supervisor Joel Aron sheds some light on what season 5 will contain and by extension the future range. LEGO Star Wars. Georges Lucas also made an appearance at the end of the panel.

The planet Onderon was presented in the form of concept art. Aron brought Onderon closer to a Roman city, surrounded by thick jungle. The first clip of season 5 presented during this panel featured a group of rebels leading an attack on the separatist occupying forces present on Onderon. The rebel helmets resembled ancient helmets of Roman centurions, and the bestiary present consisted of flying pterodactyls as well as reptilian-looking mounts. Present in this scene, Ahsoka Tano and Lux ​​Bonteri (born on Onderon) were assisting the troops in their fight and a woman named Stila led a team of rebels.

Filoni also presented the concept art from Anakin's quarters within the Jedi Temple with a scene in which Obi-Wan comes to talk to Anakin about what Yoda thinks about young Skywalker's feelings about Senator Rush Clovis. Filoni noted that Ahsoka was self-confident and exhibiting more independence and critical thinking than at the start of her relationship with Anakin. Dave Filoni added that the audience of the series is made up of 34% of a female audience.

The droids will play an important role in this upcoming season and the arc dedicated to them will feature a team of astromech droids, including R2-D2, tasked with recovering an encryption module by infiltrating the Separatist fleet. Ahsoka for the female audience, droids in spades for the younger ones ... The graphic textures used for R2-D2 in the series have also been improved to make them closer to those in the film. A scene, largely inspired by that of the STar Tours for those who know this attraction, takes place in a field of asteroids in the middle of which the vessel carrying the droids weaves its way.

A mysterious new General will appear, but Dave Filoni was careful not to say more. A new model of Republic Commando with yellow markings was presented, as well as several other concept arts with in particular the Black Sun fortress, a lieutenant of reptilian race resulting from Falleen as well as a new race involved in the traffic on Kessel. No Xizor, leader of the Black Sun organization, in the series however.

Pre Vizsla, Darth Maul, Bo Katan and Savage Opress will be very present with in particular a passage on Mustafar in the company of the commandos of Death Watch. Darth Maul has new legs, different from those seen in season 4, or at least he hides them under pants.

The last featured clip features Obi-Wan wearing Death Watch armor (red) held by prisoner and released by Bo-Katan accompanied by soldiers wearing the blue version of Death Watch armor.

I offer you here the photos taken by Rebelscum during this panel, photos that allow us to glimpse what LEGO could possibly interpret in its next sets inspired by the series.

The first episode of season 5 will be broadcast in the USA on Saturday, September 29, 2012.

New images of the two thematic packs of "recycled" minifigs are available from GRogall. We discover a little better the content of these two sets.

The and 850486 Rock Band which contains the rapper from series 3 of collectible minifigs with here a cap and microphone, the Punk Rocker from series 4 with green hair and the Rock Girl from series 7 with black hair and black and white costume is on sale on Bricklink for less than 25 €.

The and 850487 Monster Fighters Halloween Set which contains the witch on her broom from series 2, the zombie from series 1 with a brown suit, his suitcase and his walkie talkie, as well as the fluorescent ghost with his chain is also on sale on Bricklink for around € 23.

Superb realization of The Penguin (see his Brickshelf gallery) with this custom Bane based on the Hulk figurine from the set 6868 Hulk's Helicarrier Breakout.

The idea is excellent and the result is really convincing. Bane is thus a little more impressive than the two minifigs that we already know, the one dating from 2007 in the set. 7787 The Bat-Tank: The Riddler and Bane's Hideout and that of 2012 in the set 6860 The Batcave.

Even so, I remain a staunch supporter of the classic minifigure, and although for some characters the realism requires a figure of a larger size than that of the standard minifig, the Hulk is a great example, I would prefer that LEGO is confined to animals with this type of figurine (Wampa, Rancor, etc ...) and keeps the minifig format for the characters, too bad for realism ... 

(Thanks to Poyou for his email)