As shown in this image from the 2012 catalog in the USA, Star Wars sets from the first wave 2012 can be pre-ordered from January 1, 2012 on shop.LEGO.com/preorder with a shipment scheduled for January 30, 2012.

For each pre-order, LEGO is giving away an exclusive 61 x 81 cm poster (bottom right of the image).

Price wise: The Planets sets are $ 9.99, the Tie Fighter at $ 54.99, The Jedi Interceptor at $ 39.99, the X-Wing at $ 59.99, and the Y-Wing at $ 49.99. This will undoubtedly result in us by prices in € higher than the prices in $ as with the Super Heroes range.

LEGO's pricing policy is no surprise. The manufacturer has, on numerous occasions, publicly justified the discrepancies observed between the different distribution zones by transport costs or even distribution costs.

Moreover, LEGO does not hide, like many other manufacturers, to adapt its pricing policy according to the country concerned, on the basis of parameters such as its desire to set up there or to fight against competition ( Hasbro in the USA for example, which is doing very well with its new Kre-O Transformers range).

 For comparison, here are the prices announced by Amazon in France when the products were put online, prices which were then withdrawn:

All Products Planet Series 1 

9674 - Naboo Starfighter and Naboo 11.90€ (Or $ 15.53)
9675 - Sebulba's Podracer and Tatooine 11.90€ (Or $ 15.53)
9676 - TIE Interceptor and Death Star 11.90€ (Or $ 15.53)

All Products System

9488 - ARC Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack 14.40€ (Or $ 18.79)
9489 - Endor Rebel Trooper & Imperial Trooper 14.40€ (Or $ 18.79)
9490 - Droid Escape  26.20€ (Or $ 34.19)
9491 - Geonosian Cannon  26.20€ (Or $ 34.19)
9492 - Tie Fighter  57.10€ (Or $ 74.52)
9493 - X-wing Starfighter 69.70€ (Or $ 90.96)

This is unexpected, but the sets of the Super Heroes DC Universe 2012 range are referenced on the Lego shop French and advertised as available.

The prices are the public prices and if you want to pay less for your sets, you will have to wait for availability at Amazon or at other merchants:

6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape 52.99€
6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase 14.99€
6860 The Batcave  89.99€
6862 Superman vs. Power Armor Lex 27.99€ 
6863 Batwing Battle Over Gotham City 39.99€
6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase 59.99€

I wonder sometimes.

Since the launch of this range at LEGO, I got caught up in the game: 16 characters, varied, equipped, colored, in their opaque bags, it's tempting.

I had overlooked the first two series, with a little contempt I must admit for these characters, neither heroes, nor known, nor licensed. And then with the arrival of series 3 (8803), I changed my mind.
I don't know why anymore, maybe because of the elf or the color of the bag. Series 4 (8804) did not disappoint me with its hazmat guy. series 5 (8805) neither with his Gladiator and his Evil Dwarf.

So I caught up my delay by getting the first two series released in 2010 (8683 & 8684) and since I am addicted. Addicted to these bags each containing a character with his accessories, his story, his possibilities. My only concern, to be honest, is to keep up with the pace. We are already in the 6th series and we already know that there will be at least 2 more. And I know that I will continue to buy these characters ...

I have just pre-ordered my box of 60 sachets of the 6 series (8827). And I'm already looking forward to receiving her especially for Lady Liberty and  Roman Soldier, and buy the series 7 (8831), and the 8 series ... Often I tell myself that the space and the budget that I allocate to this range would be worth being allocated to something else. But no, the collectible is a disease that pushes you to complete series, ranges, families ... so I surrender and I continue.

If you haven't bought at least one of these minifigs, you can't figure it out ...

Visit: http://minifigures.lego.com/

Who has never railed against the LEGO instructions on which it is often difficult to distinguish the Black du Dark Grey ? On the small sets, we can still get by with a little sorting and deduction, but on the bigger ones, how many of us have reversed two parts only to realize it much later and have to take everything apart? to restore it ...

After a long test phase with the little ones, LEGO has finally responded to the many complaints of its customers on this subject by finding a solution that seems satisfactory: the black parts will now be darker and surrounded by a pale gray border on the instruction booklets.

This new signage was offered for the first time with the set 2506 Ninjago Skull Truck before being officially set up with the set 4184 Black Pearl (above). It will be present across the entire LEGO range from January 1, 2012.

A good initiative that will save us a few precious minutes in the assembly of our sets and which solves a problem that has become really annoying on the most complex sets. Below is a page of the set instruction booklet 7915 Imperial V-Wing Starfighter with the old signage.

We continue with Omar ovalle who offers a mini-series of impulse sets with a minifigure, his weapon, and a piece of land to stage it.

We thus find a Snowtrooper, a Stormtrooper and a Scouttrooper, each in their environment and all equipped with a rocket launcher.  

Joli the packaging and an interesting format to build armies of minifigs, Omar Ovalle finally offers something here that could very well be marketed with real marketing logic ...

I say that 6.90 €, it can even sell ...

To see more click on the image or go to Omar Ovalle's flickr gallery.