Lego Superhero License Announcement

[Athos]

via Toys 'n Bricks:

http://toysnbricks.com/lego-super-heroes-coming-january-2012/

and fbtb:

http://www.fbtb.net/2011/07/19/lego-gets-full-dc-comics-license/

Steve

[Bruce N H]

Hey,

I was just going to post this as well. Mariann Asanuma linked to an article in Variety on her blog and I just posted it to ComicBricks.

For those two impatient to click the links, here are the highlights:
-expanded DC license
-January 2012 launch of the line
-First 13 characters will include Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Joker, Bane, Harley Quinn and Lex Luthor
-Exclusive promo Batman and Green Lantern figs will be available in limited supply at ComicCon in San Diego this weekend
-A release of new Batman sets will come out in summer 2012 in connection with the movie The Dark Knight Rises (in theaters exactly one year from now)

I'm guessing the announcement was timed to the start of Comic Con this weekend and that we'll see more pics from the LEGO display there.

Bruce <- excited about a licensed theme!

[Forestboy]

OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh!!!

Best announcement all year. My brother and I are so excited.

One question though is...don't you think that The Dark Knight Rises might be...I don't know...not kid appropriate at all? I saw the teaser trailer when going to HP:DHpt.2 (which I was surprised they made harry potter sets for that too!) and it looks a Gotham City Apocalypse. Trust me, the first two movies are some of my favorite movies of all time, but will they sell well with kids? In the comics, I believe Bane snaps Batman's back in half, so I'm thinking the third movie might be even more graphic...

~FB~

[Bruce N H]

I'm not sure I thought the Dark Knight was kid-appropriate. I just checked, and I was kind of surprised it was PG13.

Bruce

[Forestboy]

I'm not sure I thought the Dark Knight was kid-appropriate. I just checked, and I was kind of surprised it was PG13.

Bruce

I think that's why they some-what dropped the license, wasn't it? Or at least, they had to make it a bit deluded as far as the actions and concepts go for the Dark Knight. The Dark Knight had a bit more swearing, you had Harvy Dent's burnt-up half of a face, having a certain main character getting blown up by a bomb, pushing people off buildings, and crazy freaky concepts with the Joker.

I mean, their was some pretty freaky stuff going on in The Dark Knight, so who knows what will happen in the 3rd. I'd say the first one Batman Begins, was walking the line (a lot) as far as the Lego's 8-11 year old perfect age range went.

The batman trilogy for me though, has always been that the positive messages have always been portrayed greatly, and they tend to outshine the bad. Nolan is a genius, and I'd assume he'll do the third movie justice. Who knows if it will be good for kids or not (more likely not). Nolan, if you're reading by the way, I'm still mad you didn't film in Chicago.

Now give me my Batman sets! I only have Killer Croc...which makes me wonder why they have the Joker in an upcoming set if he's not supposed to me in the third movie...but that's neither here nor there. Better make sure this doesn't turn into a movie discussion.

~FB~

[Bruce N H]

... Better make sure this doesn't turn into a movie discussion.
~FB~

Alright, back to the theme announcement ...
--official LEGO Super Heroes site (I'm guessing it went live in the past 24 hours)
--There's a contest - basically build a DC hero MOC or stop-motion animation
--three of the figs:

[Forestboy]

... Better make sure this doesn't turn into a movie discussion.
~FB~

Alright, back to the theme announcement ...
--official LEGO Super Heroes site (I'm guessing it went live in the past 24 hours)
--There's a contest - basically build a DC hero MOC or stop-motion animation
--three of the figs:
(Insert Image here)

After being inspired by several different stopmotion animators and Brickworld, I've already decided I've wanted to try Brickfilming (and I have), so if (or when) I get a new webcam, I'll definitely have to try and enter. Sounds like fun!

[Azaghal]

As someone who's been kicking himself for passing up the first LEGO Batman line, this is pretty welcome news. I note that that Green Lantern minifig, at least, appears to have a double-sided head, with a "tight grin" and a "gritted teeth" expression. I believe that's a new Batman torso, too (no surprise there).

As for the Dark Knight Rises issue, the most likely explanation is that, like before, LEGO will go with a "broad strokes" approach, appropriating the bits from each incarnation of Batman (and the rest of the DCVerse, to be sure) that the think will sell the best. After all, last time around, the line had a Tumbler as well as a Burton Batmobile right? Maybe this time they'll go with the '66 version!

Anyway, the proximity of the new film probably means there'll be a Catwoman sooner rather than later, which is nice. And they never did do an official Commissioner Gordon, did they?

[Username]

Very interesting (and exciting). I say interesting because of the Disney licensing going on, and I *think* Disney owns Marvel now. Sounds like there could be competing licenses within the same brand.

[Azaghal]

Sounds like there could be competing licenses within the same brand.

You say competition, I say opportunity:

COMING SUMMER 2014:


. . . OK, maybe not. Still, a guy can dream.

Also, I was re-reading the official page, and noticed that the third-place contest prizes include "The LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe Batcave set", which tells us, well, that there's going to be a LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe Batcave set. And that the official names of the sets will be somewhat clunky.

(Although . . . might that clunkiness imply upcoming LEGO Super Heroes: Marvel Universe" sets? . . . Nah, couldn't be . . . right?)

EDIT: 2:15 PM: No flippin' way.

Also, this press release names a bunch of other minifigs, all Batman-themed as far as I can tell. I wonder if the new Riddler will utilize the new bowler hat mold?

Apparently, I am much more excited about this than I previously thought.

[Thoriun]

Hi

It would be nice to add some marvel heroes, I would love to get the following minifigs:

DC
Heroes: Batman, Superman, Green Arrow
Villans: Joker (so far, lol)

Marvel
Heroes: Captain America, Thor, Moon Knight
Villans: Loki, Iron Man(because Civil war series) and Red Skull

Thoriun

[Quickblade22]

One area where a licensed theme might be better than an official theme is Super Heroes. I'm super excited about this news. The list of characters will be appreciated by those like me that were unable to get previous versions and also drive down prices for some of the figures perhaps because of availability. Also with both Marvel and DC, we get the best of both worlds.

[Forestboy]

Now we have DC and Marvel!?!?! Let's throw in Dark Horse for good measure!

Hahaha, just kidding, but this is even bigger news! DC and Marvel? I would think that there would be some serious brand wars going on, but this might turn out even better than expected. Those comic-con figs are going to go fast!

I think we'll see a very long license about to happen. I haven't seen any photos of the Marvel minifigs yet, so I'll believe it when I see it. No more super expensive minifigs though! Sorry bricklink...

EDIT: Yep, Marvel is hopefully for sure now. Just found another article (though it seems just like a copy and paste press release so there might be a more direct source I missed). ClickyClicky

[Bruce N H]

I'd urge a little caution on the Marvel license. That press release is not up at Lego.com, and the official LEGO Super Heroes website is all DC focused. We'll know for sure soon enough, as that press release about Marvel sets says there will be stuff at the LEGO booth at ComicCon this weekend.

Who at CC is going to ComicCon?

-
Edit - I called the phone numbers listed on that press release for a reported Marvel license. The one number led to an answering machine, but the second was legitimately for a PR firm that handles Marvel Comics. However, the person I spoke with did not know anything about a LEGO license. She said she would look into it and get back to me, but I continue to be quite skeptical on that.

Bruce

[Azaghal]

Pictures, anybody?

Direct from Comic-Con, courtesy of Flickr user jpoglesby.

A lot of the new molds and prints are obviously preliminary, but there's a lot of good stuff to see - our first glimpse of Wonder Woman, for example, and yes, Marvel figures too. I'm not sure that's the best route for the Hulk, but the rest looks promising.