Without a doubt, the release of the Downtown Diner(10260) as the latest modular has brought about a few interesting discussion points, from the reintroduction of teal, the change of the faces from the Classic Smiley, to the change in the architectural style not being in keeping with the other modular buildings.
I personally like the change, and particularly adopting a look from 60 years ago, in line with the 60th anniversary of the LEGO® Brick, which we celebrate this weekend.
I am looking forward to taking on this set in real life, however the queue for building is long, and time is poor. So I did what anyone would do when confronted with this conundrum.
I went to check my social media.
I have just heard news that the next edition of Hispabrick Magazine is out…:
It’s time for a new edition of the magazine for AFOLs. In this edition of HispaBrick Magazine® we continue our collaboration with Kockice, which brings us articles on LEGO® Architecture, MINDSTORMS and an interesting Minidolls vs. Minifigures.
From our visit to the LEGO® Fan Media Days in Billund we bring you our interview of LEGO® Friends designers Fenella Charity and Ricardo Silva and our visit to the pre-opening of the LEGO® House.
We have tutorials on taking pictures of LEGO® and programming LEGO® Boost, as well as building instructions from collaborating AFOLs.
Our TopMoc section is all about what can be done with digital building, we keep expanding on the MILS system and we have reviews of a number of new sets, including the 10260 – Downtown Diner.
We will also show you what our HispaBrick Magazine® Event 2017 from last December was like and there are many more articles.
We have also improved the PDF file itself. Starting with this issue you can easily get to each article clicking on the link in the index and we have included bookmarks and thumbnail pages to enhance your reading experience..
In addition… we are nearing our anniversary! In 2018, HispaBrick Magazine® celebrates its 10th anniversary. In the month of May we will publish issue 030 with special contents and some surprises. Stay tuned and check out our social media on facebook.com/hispabrickmagazine and twitter.com/H_B_Magazine
You can download HispaBrick Magazine® free of charge in English, Spanish and Croatian, so get your copy now.
I had the privilege to spend the weekend hanging out with some extremely talented LEGO artists, renew some old friendships and forge new ones. I also managed to catch up with a couple of the VIP guests, Mariann Asanuma and Bailey Fullerton.
My Mystery Project X even made its debut. Nexo Classic Space. Essentially revisiting 1978-79 LEGO Space sets, using the NEXO Knights parts palette. I’ll post more about that in due course.
It will take a while to process my images, and to gather my thoughts. I have a few other posts waiting on some final tweaks before publication. In the meantime, I recommend visiting Jay’s Brick Blog for an excellent, timely writeup and set of photos of highlights of the event.
Thanks must go to my fellow exhibitors and convention attendees, and the volunteer organising committee for making the event such an amazing experience.
A quick random selection of MOCs seen at Brickvention: Tamara Dadswell’s Lumiere; one of Jeff Carroll’s Nexo Knight Inspired Mechs and Darren Reid’s ‘Finding Captain Nemo’. These are just a few of the incredible displays that I saw. I am, once again, overwhelmed by the talent that exists in our community. I will feature some other MOCs on the Rambling Brick Instagram Channel over the next few weeks… [ @ramblingbrick ]
Did you go to Brickvention? What did you enjoy? Why not leave your comments below. I’ll take a couple of deep breaths, have a bit of a lie down, and be back soon.
Until then, play well!
If you have been following the blog over the last few months, you might have noticed a certain bias towards Space themed building. Those who attend Brickvention this weekend (Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne, 20-21 January 2018) will gain some insight as to why.
It goes without saying that it excites me to discover the LEGO Moments In Space competition running over on the LEGO Ideas website until February 9th, 2018.
The challenge: design a space oriented model, with a view to it being developed as a gift with purchase over the next year or two. It should fit on a 16×16 plate, and can be real or speculative. Continue reading
Just as we thought the LEGO® Batman Movie had been merchandised within an inch of its life, we bear witness to another wave of sets and a second series of collectible mini figures. On the whole, I was a little sceptical of the viability of a third wave, but seeing such sets as the Justice League Anniversary Party (70919) and Egghead’s Mech Food Fight(70920) my spirits have been lifted. I have also been tempted to extend past my original vow to purchase only the sets that resonated with my youth. But now the gloves have come off. The Justice League 57th Annual Reunion Party brings back so many recollections of Super Friends (the prevailing non-Batman DC superhero cartoon series in my childhood), and the sheer lunacy of the Condiment King (introduced in the Batman Animated Episode ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ in 1994, and appearing in the comics continuity as recently as 2017). While I applaud the inclusion of Wonder Dog (Superfriends S1, 1973), I miss his human teen friends, Wendy and Marvin, and likewise, while they were retired for the second season ( The All-New Superfriends Hour, 1977 – I guess they had gone to college), we haven’t yet seen LEGO Glick, the space monkey companion of the Wonder Twins.
As I looked at the second series of CMFs I became sceptical as to how many of these characters actually existed prior to this series being announced. I think I have tracked down original appearances for most of them, with only a few having a fraction of a second time on screen in the closing credits. And not the one I was expecting!
For the record, all figures (20 in the set) have a 4×3 plate, this time printed with a Bat Logo…
So, I would like to present the Series 2 LEGO Batman Movie CMFs’ in order of their original appearance across various media… You are welcome to disagree with some of my more…creative choices.
Detective Comics #36, February 1940
Appearing early in Batman’s Career, this brilliant scientist/psychiatrist was later to appear in Batman #1.
Vacation AlfredDetective Comics #83, January 1944.
Alfred’s initial appearances in comics depicted him as a bumbling, overweight, clean shaven man (April 1943). However, he was portrayed as as a trim, moustachioed gentleman in a movie serial at the same time. In an attempt to bring the comics in line with this figure, he was sent of to vacation at a health resort. Since then, he has barely been seen vacationing at all!
Jor-ElMore Fun Comics #101, January 1945.
Superman’s father appeared relatively early on in Superman’s Story. The design depicted in the CMF is most closely based on that portrayed by Marlon Brando in the 1978 Richard Donner movie.
Batman #53, June 1949
I did not think this one could have possibly existed in ‘real life’ but in the story ‘Batman Under the Sea’ Batman appears to be transformed, albeit temporarily into a Mermaid.
Killer MothBatman#63, February 1951
In his origin story, Killer Moth aims to adopt many of the facets of Batman’s life fighting crime, but swearing to help criminals rather than stop them. He fails!
The Clock KingWorld’s Finest #111, August 1960.
Initially a villain plaguing Green Arrow and Speedy, in time Clock King came to torment Batman with his time piece related crimes.
General ZodAdventure Comics#283, April 1961
Superman’s nemesis was imprisoned in the Phantom Zone in the 1960’s and has spent the last 57 years trying to escape!
Holiday RobinSurf’s Up, Joker’s Under. Batman TV Series, Season 3, November 16, 1967. When Batman takes on Joker in a surfing contest, in one of the more bizarre episodes of the classic TV series, Dick Grayson is there. Perhaps his shirt is more green, and his trunks more orange, and no Robin Specific livery is worn, but he is there is spirit as Robin. The same cannot really be said for Batgirl. While Barbara Gordon is seen at the beach, with a surfboard, she does not take part in the confrontation with the Joker on the waves, in costume.
Doctor PhosphorousDetective Comics #469, May 1977.
Around the time that a little film called Star Wars was first released, Doctor Phosphorous also first appeared in the pages of Detective Comics. This is possibly the most brilliant use of the colour ‘Spring Yellowish Green’. Ever!
Jayna
Zan
Black Vulcan
Apache Chief
Black Canary – Dinah LanceJustice League of America #220,November 1983.
Dinah Lance is the daughter of Dinah Laurel who was the original Black Canary, part of the Justice Society of America. She Debuted in Fresh Comics #86 (August 1947).
Tropical JokerThe Killing Joke, 1988
I’m sure this was not the intended reference for this figure, but the similarities between the Joker, as portrayed here, and in the opening pages of Alan Moore’s 1988 Graphic Novel, The Killing Joke, are uncanny. Especially once you lose the inflatable ring and the icy pole/ice lolly/popcicle.
Vacation BatGirlBatman and Robin, (Movie)1997?
While technically, this incarnation of Batgirl did not wear purple, go on vacation or surfing, it is the first version of Batgirl wearing a rubber suit that I could locate ( if you wish to be pedantic, perhaps she, along with the other vacation characters appear in the closing credits for approximately 0.75 seconds.
Harley Quinn: Friends Are FamilyDebut: Batman (Animated Series) ‘Joker’s Favor’ September 11, 1992)
In this costume: Closing Credits The LEGO Batman Movie, 2017.
There is not much to say about the psychiatrist who became infatuated with the Joker, and ultimately adopted a costumed identity. Created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm, Harley Quinn is one of the great characters to come out of the Animated series of the early 1990’s
Swimming Pool BatmanThe LEGO Batman Movie, 2017
Dolphins in the swimming pool below Wayne Manor? if nothing else, this figure (along with mermaid batman) provide another two facial expressions. (and a man’s torso!) The 9th ‘ab’ is not obviously visible however!
Soccer Mom Barbara GordonThe LEGO Batman Movie 1997
A transient costume, viewed with derision by Barbara. Barely worth a mention. But there are figures whose costumes have less screen time!
Closing Credits, The LEGO Batman Movie 2017
What can we say? Looking dashing in his mirrored sunglasses, and gold waistcoat, Alfred can really play guitar. This is probably not canon…
I quite enjoyed this collection of figures, especially the more obscure members of the super friends, and cartoonish villains, which the movie dealt with well. Who would have thought Mermaid Batman was a thing almost 70 years before the movie?
Who is your favourite? who would you put in series three? Apart from ‘Everyone’ in friends are family costumes? Why not share your thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time,
Play well!
Don’t bottle up those emotions: After a few teases through the LEGO® Twitter feed, the official release details of set 21313 LEGO Ideas: Ship in a Bottle (The Flagship Leviathan) arrived on the desk today. Having reached 10000 supporters in around two months, this was one of the most rapidly supported models on the Ideas platform.
The set will be released through LEGO Retail Channels on February 1st, 2018, with NO early access for VIPs. The final model has 962 elements. It will retail for AUD$119.99 NZD $149.99 -US $69.99 – CA $89.99 – DE 69.99€ – UK £69.99 – DK 599.00 DKK
Some of the images used in the social media campaign have been produced by members of the Toy Photography Community. This one was taken at Point Roadknight, just off the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia by Brett Wilson.
More images, and the press release follow, after the break. Continue reading
I had a great range of entries to win a double pass to the public exhibition for an Adult and Child for Brickvention 2018. As a reminder, Brickvention is on at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne on January 20 and 21, 2018. You can still order tickets online here.
I put the names of entrants into a hat and drew out Kat Toscario. Congratulations Kat, I will organise for your tickets to be forwarded to you: check your email inbox.
Thank you for all your entries. People look forward to Brickvention for lots of reasons. Here are comments from some of your entries: Continue reading
I am working on a display for Brickvention, our local LEGO Fan Convention- It is now less 2 weeks away, and I feel as though I am more on track than I have been any time in the last 10 years. Admittedly, I have previously done a lot of landscaping with trees flowers and rivers. These last few months I have found myself drawn towards Classic Space. It seems odd to me that it has taken so long. Minifigures were first released in Town and Castle in 1978, and Space reached Australia in 1979- I was about nine or ten years old at the time. I remember the ’78 catalog showing some images of space (coming soon), but perhaps my childhood memory and facts are in slight disagreement. Star Wars (back in those days there was only one) was very much inspiring my imagination at this time
Our family collection of space was limited to the Space Scooter 885, Space Buggy 886, Radar Truck 889 and the 1981 Moonbuggy 6801 – although I seem to remember that last one as all gray.
So, since picking up a used 918 Space Transporter from eBay, a few things have come together. I was given a bulk lot by a friend: A mixture of Classic Town and Space. I have identified parts for all of sets I once had in this collection.
I gave all the parts a wash in warm soapy water in the summer sun, and set about reconstructing what I found, knew and once had. Continue reading
The Rambling Brick 
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