The Star Wars 2012 first wave sets are finally in stock at Amazon.fr and can be delivered within 24 hours. Shipping costs are free from 15 € of order. If you don't want to wait for any upcoming promotions, don't delay, prices fluctuate very quickly, sometimes downwards, but also upwards. 

9488 - ARC Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack 17.97 € 
9489 - Endor Rebel Trooper & Imperial Trooper 17.97 € 
9490 - Droid Escape  27.99 €
9491 - Geonosian Cannon  27.99 € 
9492 - Tie Fighter  59.99 €
9493 - X-wing Starfighter 74.99 € 
3866 - Battle of Hoth 36.60 €

Still no information on the availability of Planet Series sets.

The Americans (again) discovered this flyer inserted in their LEGO Magazine (scan provided by Clone gunner on EB). On the menu, a presentation in order of the super heroes of the DC Universe 2012 range with biography, geographical location, main enemy and some anecdotes on the character concerned.

Nothing very extravagant, even if this type of mini catalog is always nice when you are a collector (I accumulate LEGO Star Wars posters, that's how I can't help it ...).

What appeals to some forumers from across the Atlantic is the presence of Mr Freeze on the cover of this flyer.

Batman and Cawoman are present in the 2012 range with the set 6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase, Robin and Bane are delivered in the set 6860 The Batcave. The Joker is present in the set 6863 Batwing Battle Over Gotham City, Two-Face is delivered in the set 6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase and Harley Quinn is delivered in the set 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape.

But no Mr Freeze in the current DC Universe line. The minifig shown on this flyer is indeed the one from 2006 delivered in the set 7783 The Batcave: The Penguin and Mr. Freeze's Invasion and supplied again in the set 7884 Batman's Buggy: The Escape of Mr. Freeze released in 2008.

So should we draw a hasty conclusion from the presence of Mr Freeze on this flyer, or simply say that LEGO chose this visual completely by chance.

But after all, why not have used for example The Riddler, also delivered in the set 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape this year, or Poison Ivy delivered in the set 6860 The Batcave?

While waiting to learn more, click on the image above to view the full content of this comic in pdf format (attention the file is 1.90 MB).

This is called a dumpling: the manufacturer of toys and collectors' products NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) which will produce figurines inspired by the movie The Avengers scheduled for late April 2012 has communicated a list of heroes who will be reproduced.

And there, in the middle of the list we find Captain America's nemesis: Red Skull. Will this character be in the film? There is a good chance, and the production had undoubtedly wanted to keep the secret until the end to preserve the effect of surprise with the fans. Admit that Red Skull allied to Loki, that would have the mouth ... (see the article on Télé Loisirs (!))

Following this logic, will LEGO produce a Red Skull minifig, also kept secret at the request of the production? Indeed the list of minifigs in the Marvel range is known, it was announced in the official press release : Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Loki and Black Widow.

I could see Red Skull in the set 6865 Captain America's ™ Avenging Cycle planned for May / June 2012...

In the meantime, I put you a picture of my custom Red Skull designed by Christo and bought after a hard fight on eBay ...

Bruce Wayne, the wealthy industrialist philanthropist who became Batman following the assassination of his parents, was the subject of two minifigs: The 2006 one, rather generic and without excessive customization, which does not really resemble the Bruce Wayne from the animated series Batman The Animated Series and even less to the character seen in many comics, and that of 2012 which in my opinion cultivates a certain resemblance to Christian Bale, interpreter of the character in the trilogy The Dark Knight.

The minifigure from 2006, delivered in the set 7783 The Batcave: The Penguin and Mr. Freeze's Invasion, no longer has anything original. The head has been used many times for various characters including a guard in the set 7785 Arkham Asylum also released in 2006, a Hoth Rebel Trooper in the set 8129 AT-AT Walker in 2010 or an Alamut guard in the set 7573 Battle of Alamut released in 2010 ...

This same head is also used, as a nod to the 2006 Batman range, for a guard (sh023) in the set 6864 The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase...

The chest Dark Blue Suit was also used for Harry Osborn's minifigure in the set 4856 Doc Ock's Hideout released in 2004.

Strangely, this minifigure is sold for only around € 8 on Bricklink and many sellers currently offer it.

The minifig from 2012 delivered in the set 6860 The Batcave looks a lot more eye-catching with her faux air of serious Christian Bale with slicked back hair and a crisp and exclusive 3-piece suit. she is already selling around 10 € on Bricklink, a price that should drop with the gradual arrival of sets from the new Super Heroes range around the world. Be careful, however, it should not be marketed again in another set and if the torso remains exclusive, its price should quickly skyrocket ...

If you are a licensed collector, treat yourself to the 2006 minifigure or buy the parts separately on Bricklink, because even if it is rather generic, the fact remains that Bruce Wayne is the key character in the Batman universe. As for that of 2012, obviously, it must be obtained without delay either in the retail or in the set 6860.

Another set which is referenced at Brickset (9476 The Orc Forge) but about which nothing has filtered yet.

If this set ever sees the light of day, it will no doubt be a LEGO Shop or Toys R Us exclusive. On the content side, we should have orcs, orcs and more orcs ... and some walls to replicate them. Isengard ironworks. And maybe even some new weapons ...

In short, we don't know anything, and we will have to wait a few more weeks to find out more about this set.