21/11/2011 - 23:46 Unclassified

9491 Geonosian Cannon

Here a set which seems a priori without real interest, but whose minifigs are already essential. The two Geonosiens and Barriss Offee, revisited, are very good.

But it is especially Commander Gree that is eagerly awaited by all those who despaired of seeing this minifigure one day arrive. Gree is an important figure in my eyes: He was not only the commander of the 41st Elite Corps under the orders of Barriss Offee, but he was mainly involved in the treason operation Order 66 while attempting to assassinate Yoda on Kashyyyk. Yoda was stronger ...

After all, LEGO has already pulled us out of the hat of characters or devices vaguely seen in the movies or the animated series, and Commander Gree himself, deserved to be entitled to a quality minifigure.

 

21/11/2011 - 23:32 Unclassified

9492 Tie Fighter

A new image for a set which rightly impressed many people when it was presented to the San Diego Comic Con in July 2011.

LEGO loves the Tie Fighter and it was time to revisit this must-have starship from the Star Wars universe since the last set released in 2005 7263 Tie Fighter. It is therefore done with a well balanced set, and which with a correct price should generate multiple purchases in order to constitute a small fleet of Tie Fighters.

I definitely like this machine, the design of the wings exudes solidity and the finish makes them more visually believable than what has been done so far. The cockpit is represented by the usual screen printed screen, hard to beat. 

The minifigs are well chosen, with a very marked Original Trilogy side. A good set for the most fundamentalists among us. Hoping that the whole is more solid than the catastrophic Vader tie from set 8017...

 

21/11/2011 - 23:16 Unclassified

9489 Endor Rebel Trooper & Imperial Trooper Battle Pack

Finally, we are entitled to Battle Packs mixing two enemy factions. I know many of you are disappointed with this change in content from LEGO in these affordable sets that allow you to build up a few armies without leaving a kidney there.

But I think the manufacturer's decision is the right one. Say goodbye to the frustration for children of having only one side and having to wait for the other, explaining to parents that both sets are needed to be able to have a little fun.

The playability is limited, but immediate and it is priceless to bring back to the LEGO world the AFOLs lost on other passions, or to allow the youngest to discover the world of minifigs in the best conditions.

With these new images, I tell myself that the 9489 Endor Rebel Trooper & Imperial Trooper Battle Pack is Really Cool: Endor Rebels in a Battle Pack? A brilliant idea which should make this set one of the bestsellers of 2012. Small downside, one day LEGO will have to finally produce real trees like on Endor and stop selling us this shapeless stuff. 

Concerning 9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack, the fundamentalists of the Original Trilogy will not necessarily be convinced by these minifigs with Clone Wars sauce. Children who follow the animated series will already be more. For my part I appreciate that these minifigs are new and very detailed. Once again, the blasters deserve to be refreshed.

9488 Elite Clone Trooper & Commando Droid Battle Pack

21/11/2011 - 23:00 Unclassified

9490 Droid Escape

Here is an image of the minifigs and the Escape Pod that we will be entitled to in the set 9490 Droid Escape which finally comes to refresh the set 7106 Droid Escape released in 2001.

As I wrote previously, this set is in my opinion the most successful of this first wave of sets in 2012. First of all because it revisits a scene that has become legendary that LEGO will have taken 10 years to bring out in the form of a set, but also because the two Sandtroopers, well equipped otherwise, are for the first time as if they were covered in Tatooine sand. One more step for LEGO towards an even more detailed screen printing, a trend confirmed by other minifigs planned for 2012.

I just regret that LEGO does not decide to update the design of the blasters. Many manufacturers of custom accessories have already done so.

C-3PO is also new with its serigraphy, unusual for this character to whom we have become accustomed in his previous less detailed versions, but whom I am already delighted to add to my collection. For this time, C-3PO is presented in a dress which really sticks to the scene concerned by this set.

Finally, the Escape Pod is successful, it can contain the minifigs, and even with a few stickers, I find the content of this set very honest and balanced.

21/11/2011 - 11:02 In my opinion...

range dc2012

We were finally treated to some high-resolution images of what should be the definitive version of the LEGO Superheroes First Wave sets for 2012.

And this range is a good surprise. The gameplay will be there for the youngest and collectors will find their account between the new unpublished minifigs and the covers of characters already released in the Batman range from 2006 to 2008. It remains to obtain the prices, important data that will decide in part for the future success of this licensed range.

La Batcave set 6860, although more rudimentary than that of the set 7783 The Batcave: The Penguin and Mr. Freeze's Invasion released in 2006 remains a nice playset for children with many features and the 5 minifigs provided will delight collectors. This set will be the most expensive in the range, but it constitutes the starting point of any self-respecting playset around which the other sets will be articulated.

I'm a little more skeptical about the set 6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase, which will have barely the merit of allowing us to get Catwoman in a set which should be reasonably priced. The bike is barely passable with its metapiece fairing. But this set is obviously a lead product.

The and 6862 Superman vs Power Armor Lex is my favorite of this new range. It already makes me regret having invested a few tickets in the Superman minifig offered at New York Comic Con 2011 which is identical in all points to the one in this set, but I am delighted to get Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor, two minifigs unpublished. The Down is interesting, well designed, and looks like he can hold a minifigure in his hands. It will allow you to make pretty thumbnails and beautiful photos, it will change us from Stormtroopers on flickr. Hopefully subsequent waves of sets will include more scenes with Superman, and as the box design suggests, the man in blue tights looks like he is entitled to his own line of custom sets.

The and 6863 Batwing Battle over Gotham City will appeal to children once again, the gameplay being guaranteed: Two flying machines, a bad guy, a nice one and before the frenzied chases. I'm a little disappointed with the Batwing which I would have hoped was a bit more elaborate. Looks like an old-time Blacktron machine. I will be able to add a "Henchman" to my collection, these henchmen with their beanies amuse me .... Note the tommy gun delivered with the Joker.

The and 6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase also brings immediate playability with two vehicles and 5 minifigs. Unlike many AFOLs, I'm happy to see Two Face in a different color than the set 7781 The Batmobile: Two-Face's Escape released in 2006 and its assorted henchmen will once again make me happy .... the Batmobile is nice, even if I'm not particularly a fan of these Batmobiles in comic version. I prefer the versions seen in the movies. This set will allow you to obtain beautiful pieces in often very popular colors, such as tan, orange or purple. We also find purple as a common point to all the bad guys in the range.

The announced addition of paper comics in four of these sets is a significant added value. Hope they are well done.

In conclusion, I am obviously fans of this new license which seems to be on the right track. I can't wait to be able to add all of these new minifigs to my collection, and I remain confident for the future. The DC Universe as seen by LEGO is interesting but not new, and I can't wait to see what LEGO will do with the Marvel Universe even more.