LEGO Defenders

With the launch of The Defenders on Netflix, here's a summary of the Defenders you can get in LEGO. A super-summary would be, you can get two of them. Anyway, here's some pictures and words.

First up, Danny Rand. The Iron Fist was the most recent and, it's generally agreed, worst of the series' to introduce us to the Defender line-up. However, Iron Fist has the distinct advantage of being in LEGO form:


http://amzn.to/2ibfXWq
Danny comes to us via Spider-Man's Doc Ock Ambush set, where for some reason he's going to be stuck in a machine, for science. Since this is presumable Doctor Octopus's own machine, located in his own base, I'm not sure how this is also an ambush.


http://amzn.to/2idaOxh
As Powerman - a name that, thankfully, isn't used that often anymore - Luke Cage appears in Spider-man's Spider-Helicopter Rescue set, alongside Mary Jane, a pumped-up Green Goblin and Spider-man's superfluous helicopter.

http://amzn.to/2wX5dy7
No official LEGO Jessica Jones, nor even an unofficial model. You can, however, get an unofficial minifigure of Jones in her Jewel costume.


http://amzn.to/2wnE8GC
While Jessica Jones is a character better suited to more mature fans, perhaps explaining why there's no LEGO minifigures of her, the lack of an official LEGO Daredevil is surprising to say the least. Similarly to how Batman sets have snuck numerous DC characters into LEGO form, Spider-man has been a springboard for LEGOfying several Marvel characters - including, of course, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Hell, even Deadpool has been in a Spider-Man set. The exclusion of the Devil of Hell's Kitchen is a strange one - perhaps, we can hope, he'll appear at some point. Nevertheless, there're some good unofficial minifigures available - including the one pictured above.


Besides the Defenders themselves, no members of their respective series' supporting cast have officially made it to LEGO form. However, The Punisher is available as a custom minifigure.

As The Defenders and the other Netflicks' series are aimed at an older audience than the Marvel film series, it's perhaps unlikely that we'll see the Defenders together in LEGO form. Nevertheless, both Marvel and DC LEGO sets have included heroes from more mature films for collectors - DC released a number of Batman sets featuring Suicide Squad members last year, without making an official movie tie-in set. So we'll leave you with hope, and this mock-up from Instagram user The Miniguy:

 

LEGO Batman - Under the Cowl

Batman first appeared in LEGO form in 2006. Since then, he's become one of LEGO's most iconic characters, starring in dozens of sets as well as three LEGO games (as well as LEGO Dimensions, where he is both a leading character and the focus of a level pack), several straight-to-DVD movies, and two blockbusters: The LEGO Movie, where he was a leading character, and of course the LEGO Batman Movie.
 While he's just over a decade old (in LEGO), Batman is one of LEGO's most prolific characters. Here are all (I think) his LEGO costumes, with links to the original sets where possible:














































LEGO Red Dwarf

LEGO have teased the possible release of a Red Dwarf-themed set for the LEGO Dimensions. For those who don't know, Red Dwarf is a popular BBC comedy that has recently aired its 11th season. The series follows the adventures of Dave Lister, the lowest-ranking member of the mining ship Red Dwarf, and its only survivor (and the last member of humanity), after he emerges from 3 million years in stasis. Lister is joined by Arnold Rimmer, the hologram of his former superior and bunkmate, the Cat, a humanoid whose species evolved from Lister's pet cat, and Kryten, a service mechanoid.



Today, the LEGO Dimensions Facebook page posted a picture of a LEGO version of Lister and Rimmer's sleeping/living quarters from Red Dwarf''s tenth season. The picture was captioned "it's cold outside", the lyrics to the first line of the Red Dwarf's themesong. The picture was promptly shared by the official Red Dwarf page. Asked what the picture meant on Twitter, the runners of the Red Dwarf feed simply replied "all will be revealed".


Obviously, it's unclear what this means for the possibilities of LEGO Dimensions getting Red Dwarf content. The next wave of LEGO Dimensions packs are due for release in a few days, and some pessimistic fans are predicting the Red Dwarf scene might only be an easter egg contained in one of the new level packs. However, while LEGO Dimensions have announced their lineup for the next year, they're not above adding new content: A LEGO Batman Movie pack was announced after the initial lineup was revealed. Moreover, LEGO Dimensions Wave 8 is due for release in March 2017, but only one pack (based on the Goonies) has been confirmed.

There's more (potential) good news for LEGO Red Dwarf fans, as a LEGO Ideas set based on the series has hit 10,000 supporters. With LEGO Ideas, fans promote sets they've designed and want to see released, and LEGO considers creating official versions of sets that attract enough support. While this doesn't guarantee a Red Dwarf set is going to be made, it's worth considering that another popular BBC series was brought into LEGO through such a venture: the LEGO Doctor Who Assembly Kit. The Doctor also found his way into LEGO Dimensions. As such, Red Dwarf fans have every reason to be hopeful.

LEGO Dimensions Wave 7 will be released on November 18th. Packs are based around the following franchises:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,
Sonic the Hedgehog,
Gremlins,
E.T.
Adventure Time
 Wave 7 also includes a 7.5 release including Knight Rider and LEGO Batman Movie content to be release in February next year.

Packs can be pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.




While they might not be out until November, they're available for pre-order. LEGO Dimensions' Year 2 range includes several franchises new to LEGO and is sure to be popular with Dimensions and non-Dimensions fans alike. The sets are:

ET Fun Pack
Featuring ET and Phone Home (it's a phone)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Tina Funpack
Featuring Tina Goldstein and Swooping Evil

Fantastic Beasts Story Pack - LEGO Dimensions
This set allows you to play the complete movie, and includes the MACUSA gateway build for your LEGO Toy Pad, Newt Scamander and Niffler.

Apparently, the Blue Blur is ready for an adventure! Spin into action with Sonic the Hedgehog as he speeds through some of his most iconic locations including Green Hill, Emerald Coast, Labyrinth and many more. This pack includes Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Speedster and The Tornado.


This pack includes Gizmo, Stripe, R.C. Racer car and Flash 'n' Finish camera

LEGO Mighty Micros, 2017 range

LEGO's Mighty Micro range, which includes DC and Marvel superheroes and villains facing off against each other in tiny vehicles, will be expanding in 2017. The original series featured many favourite Comic-Book heroes and their enemies, including Batman, Captain America, Spider-Man and the Hulk. The upcoming range features a few new models and some twists on existing LEGO heroes.
DC Comics
The DC Range features Batman v. Killer Moth, Wonder Woman v. Doomsday and Batman v. Bizarro.




Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics range of Mighty Micros offers Wolverine v. Magneto, Spider-man v. Scorpion and Iron Man v. Thanos.




Both ranges are pretty cute, and while not all fans will like the set-up (and the tiny legs), a quick leg-swap means most of these figures will fit into a more serious LEGO line-up. (I'm not sure how serious LEGO can get really).
 More significantly, several of these sets feature characters who are new to LEGO, hard-to-get, or cool variants. This is Doomsday's first LEGO appearance. Bizarro is also new to LEGO. Despite being an equally iconic villain, Thanos has only appeared in one set, the  Avenjet Space Mission (US link, UK). Magneto has appeared in two sets, Wolverine's Chopper Showdown and X-men Vs. the Sentinel (US link, UK). Both of those sets also feature Wolverine. While Iron Man has obviously appeared in numerous LEGO sets, this is the first appearance of his classical, clunkier armour.

This range of LEGO Mighty Micros is due to launch in January 2017. Until then, why not check out the existing range of Micros, which feature superfluous little car things, short legs and crazed facial expressions?

They're on the LEGO store, here for Americans and here for the UK, as well as Amazon.com here and Amazon.co.uk here.

(info via Brickset and Hollywood Reporter)


LEGO Dimension, year two

LEGO Dimensions has been out for nearly a year now, at its initial staggered release cycle is over. Nevertheless, LEGO Dimensions fans don't need to worry that they'll run out of new content (or be able to start saving money) any time soon, as a new range of LEGO Dimensions packs have been announced.

One problem with the launch of LEGO Dimensions was the price, and the cost of the base game, plus expansions could be off-putting. If you haven't already checked out LEGO Dimensions, it's undergone a price drop and is well worth your time - get it here, US shoppers, or here if you're in the UK. While the game's expansions came with LEGO miniatures, the value of these additional toys could be undercut by the fact that many Dimensions models were based on existing ranges. LEGO's new range features numerous models completely new to LEGO, and several new versions of old ranges. These include the A-Team, Mission Impossible and Adventure Time - new to LEGO - Harry Potter - new models for a no-longer-available series - and a set based on the new Ghostbusters reboot.

These sets  -The Ghostbusters Story Pack, Adventure Time and Mission: Impossible Level Packs, Harry Potter and Adventure Time Team Packs, and The A-Team Fun Pack - will be available from September 27, 2016, and are pictured below.

However, that's not all - additional packs based on the upcoming Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, are coming, as are sets based on The LEGO Batman Movie, The Goonies, Sonic the Hedgehog, Teen Titans Go!, LEGO City Undercover, Knight Rider, The Powerpuff Girls, Gremlins, Beetlejuice and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. These sets will follow the pattern of the first wave of LEGO Dimensions releases, and will be released in waves until Summer of next year.

New game-modes are also on the way. According to IGN:
 The new expansion will also introduce Battle Arenas, which offer competitive split-screen local gameplay for up to four players. Minifigs included in wave 6-9 expansion packs will be bundled with 'golden Toy Tags' which unlock a Battle Arena in the Adventure World of the corresponding entertainment property. Each has four different modes and comes with its own special powers and environments.
The packs are pictured below - if you're interested in prices and such details, they're also available for pre-order on Amazon.com