With the release of the new sets of the LEGO Super Heroes DC Universe 2012 range comes the procession of new minifigs of characters already seen at LEGO and that the oldest of us know well. Most of them are reissues of minifigs released in 2006 in the Batman range.

These minifigs released in 2006, 2007 and 2008 are now sold on the second-hand market at often very high prices, and many of you are wondering if it is worth spending a few hundred euros to acquire these versions. while LEGO offers re-editions of these characters.

eric_maniac, photographer of minifigs in his spare time (see his flickr gallery), will help you to make up your own mind with these pictures featuring each new minifigure and its version of 2006. If for some the new version embodies an era or a different vision of the character, for others we go quickly take into account that this is above all a refreshment, often welcome.

Once again, the prices on Bricklink for the 2006 minifigs are high, especially if one is looking to acquire a new version. It is often necessary to add substantial shipping costs in the case of a purchase abroad and the final cost can be discouraging.

Click on the photos to view a large version.

So for Batman, we find the 2012 version (Gray Suit) alongside the bat001 version from 2006 (Gray Suit) supplied at the time in the sets 7779, 7780 et 7782 and sold around 20 € on Bricklink (New). To get the 2012 version, you will need to acquire the set 6860 The Batcave or the set 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape because the minifig of the set 6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase comes without a cape. If you want to acquire a gray and blue version, the bat022 version (Light Bluish Gray Suit with Dark Blue Mask) from 2007 delivered in sets 7786 et 7787 is currently sold more than 50 € on Bricklink.

Regarding the versions Black Suit, that of 2012 ( 6863 Batwing Battle Over Gotham City et 6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase) advantageously replaces the 2006 minifigure (bat002) seen in sets 7781, 7783 et 7785. The yellow belt is more intrusive on the 2012 minifig, but the torso design is thinner with a smaller logo. If, however, you prefer the 2006 version, it is available on Bricklink for a little over 13 €.

Robin is provided in two different versions here: The 2012 Red Robin available in the set 6860 The Batcave cannot be compared with that of 2006 (bat009) delivered in the set 7783 and sold around 20 € on Bricklink.

On the side of the villains, the new versions bring their share of changes that update these characters well and make them more attractive. Poison Ivy, The Joker or The Riddler are delivered in more colorful versions, and significantly more detailed. However, some will remain fans of the 2006 versions, also seen in the LEGO Batman video game released in 2008.

To get these three minifigs on Bricklink, you have to count about 16 € for Poison Ivy (bat018 seen in the set 7785), around 30 € for the Joker (bat005 seen in sets 7782 et 7888) and a little over 10 € for the Riddler (bat017 seen in sets 7785 et 7787 ).

In 2012 version, these 3 minifigs are available in the set 6860 The Batcave for Poison Ivy, in sets 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape et 6863 Batwing Battle Over Gotham City for the Joker and the set 6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape for the Riddler.

The case of Catwoman in 2006 version (bat003 seen in the set 7779) is particular: its price on Bricklink exceeds 30 € (new minifig) and the differences between the two versions are not such as to justify the purchase of the old version.
For less than 15 € with the set  6858 Catwoman Catcycle City Chase, you get Catwoman and Batman. The screen printing on the chest of the 2012 version, however, adds a perspective effect around the waist that I do not find particularly successful. Either LEGO does without this type of trompe l'oeil serigraphy, or it will be necessary to produce and market torsos adapted to female minifigs as we already find on certain customs.

Regarding Two-Face, nothing to compare here, the costume presented is different and the two minifigs correspond to two distinct eras of the character. The 2006 version (bat004 seen in the set 7781) whose face I prefer to that of 2012, is sold more than 18 € on Bricklink.

The Two-Face henchmen are matched to each version concerned, with the same cap. The 2012 versions benefit from a nice serigraphy than the 2006 version (bat006 seen in the set 7781) did not have.

Should You Buy Previous Versions Of These Minifigs: The answer is yes if you can afford it and are a die-hard and compulsive collector. Otherwise, settle for the sets from the new range, the minifigs offered are more detailed and more attractive.

If you are only looking for minifigs from this new range, you will already find them for sale for a few € on eBay or Bricklink. As usual, their price will vary in the future depending on the number of sets in which they will be present over the life of the range. In general, the more a minifig is present in different sets in the range, the cheaper it is sold on the second-hand market. It is also necessary that it is the same minifigure, without variant of color or serigraphy.

Special thanks eric_maniac for permission to use his photos.

Artifex offers us other reviews in pictures of the new LEGO Super Heroes, while waiting for them to be available from us and it's starting to be long ...

The undeniable advantage of these reviews lies in the fact that in less than 3 minutes, you have toured the set, its minifigs, its assembly and its features. For the rest, you are free to form an opinion on the quality of the whole in full knowledge of the facts.

As I said previously, I'm a little jaded by Anglo-Saxon reviews, where everything is decidedly  awesome, gorgeous, brilliant and so on ... I also want to discover the set in pictures and the minifigs in detail without being entitled to the checkered tablecloth in the kitchen or the carpet in the living room of the guy doing the review ...

6857 The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape by Artifex:

6862 Superman vs. Power Armor Lex by Artifex:

6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase by Artifex:

FBTB seems to have regained a taste for its original vocation, to offer us real news and real reviews with a little less advertising. Here is a new review, that of the set 6863 Batwing Battle Over Gotham City.
And it confirms what we could fear from this set: The Batwing is very basic, without any real relief, or landing gear for that matter ... The Joker's helicopter saves the set with a pretty, very cartoon design.

On the minifig side, it's the minimum union: Another Batman, a Joker and a superbly silkscreened henchman or henchman which almost becomes the centerpiece for those who already have several versions of the other two minifigs ....

I still note once again the effort made by LEGO to ensure playability for the whole: a hero, a super villain, two flying machines and a few hours of aerial battle in perspective for the youngest. Without forgetting the usual, legendary and yet superfluous flick fire missiles...

Quickly make your own idea on this set with the review of this set at FBTB or with the image gallery on flickr.

Another review well provided in pictures at FBTB with the set 6864 Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase.

Nothing very exciting to say about this set, almost everything has already been said. If Two-Face alias Double-Face at home sports this magnificent orange and purple costume, it is not a fad of LEGO, it is in reference to a very old comic version of the character. Two-Face is accompanied by two assorted acolytes. 

On the vehicle side, the Batmobile is ultimately very classic and in the comic spirit of the set. Once again we find the inevitable flick fire missiles for the playability alibi. The cockpit can accommodate Batman's minifigure and Two-face's truck, matching the villain's costume, also has flick fire missiles, after all why not...

The bank, the safe, the banknotes and the two vehicles give this set many possibilities that the youngest will appreciate: chases, bank attack, etc ...

Finally, this set contains the new orange brick separator recently released.

In short, nothing to hesitate, it will be necessary to obtain this set to obtain the new Two-Face, another Batman minifigure, some additional characters always useful, a Batmobile and a good batch of nice parts in unusual colors. 

To see more go to the review at FBTB or the dedicated flickr gallery. 

If you follow this blog, it has not escaped your notice that LEGO offers a printed comic with most of the sets in the Super Heroes range (6857, 6860, 6862, 6863 and 6864). Only the 6858 set is delivered without this paper comic.

Hinckley posts on Eurobricks a review of the set 6862 Superman vs Power Armor Lex in which he posts some pictures of this long awaited mini comic. In the end, nothing to whip a cat. The comic is not localized according to the language of the country of marketing, and for good reason: the only texts present are onomatopoeias typical of the world of superheroes (POW, BOOM, BAM, etc.) and therefore do not require linguistic adaptation.

The drawings seem to be of a good level but we are closer to cartoon than Stan Lee comic. As for the format, we get a mini-brochure, without a hard cover. 

I'm a little disappointed, I expected something a little more elaborate. But let's not sulk, it's included, it's included in the price and we'll do with it. 

(Thanks to Sub533 for the info in the comment of the previous article.)