Monster Fighters 2012

[Aanchir]

God I love this theme.

I wish frankenstein's lab had included a pink alien conquest brain on one of his shelves or something, but oh wells.

Glow in the Dark looks a lot less obvious than it used to, huh? Especially if the viking horns on the ghost train are GitD like the dude at the Nuremberg fair was saying.

and Summon Aanchir! Do I have anything in the orc/werewolf tree leaves green, or is that color a summer debut? I'm gonna feel like a moron if it's been around for years

The ghost shrouds do appear to be a new Glow-in-the-Dark color, since the one that has been on the current palette since 2006 (Phosphorescent Green) is far more transparent-- in most cases, it's equivalent to Bricklink's Glow-In-Dark Trans, although in some cases it does appear more opaque due to having a rougher surface finish or a different type of plastic.

As for the green leaves in the werewolf set's tree, they are Olive Green, a color new this year which has so far appeared primarily as dinosaur and minifigure parts in the Dino theme. The Orc Forge set in Lord of the Rings has cheese slopes in this color, suggesting that TLG won't shy away from using it for standard building elements.

[CMP]

I think a good way to make the new ghosts better would've been the Ninjago naga tail or the new genie tail in white. Ah well. This is a really nice theme, but there aren't many medium-small sets.

[kumabot]

Here's a real good pic of the printed moon piece on the castle. I'm still absolutely in love with the vibe of this set. Just looking at it wants me to go play Symphony of the Night (+1 if you know what that is). There's a nice clear shot of the man-bat here, and the set appears to include two of them. As a bonus, it includes my personal favorite of the Fighters vehicles. It looks the most solidly build of all the designs, which I have to admit a little lackluster.

I too love the vampire castle set, although $100 seems a little pricey for what you get compared to previous sets like the Scorpion Pyramid or even Battle of Alamut. For $100 it would have been nice if they had included printed wall panels (instead of the garish stickers) or a ghost minifig (but then less people would buy the train set). Oh well, it should be pretty easy to pick it up for $70 eventually, which is a good price point.

I've got all of the monsters from the CMF series, so the only MUST BUYS for me are the castle and the swamp creature / werewolf sets since they aren't too pricey and the figs are new. I'll have to pick up a ghost on ebay or bricklink. This seems to be a one-wave line as I can't imagine them adding more obscure monsters, unless they add the rumored zombie graveyard at some point...

[BrickBucket]

I too love the vampire castle set, although $100 seems a little pricey for what you get compared to previous sets like the Scorpion Pyramid or even Battle of Alamut. For $100 it would have been nice if they had included printed wall panels (instead of the garish stickers) or a ghost minifig (but then less people would buy the train set). Oh well, it should be pretty easy to pick it up for $70 eventually, which is a good price point.

I've got all of the monsters from the CMF series, so the only MUST BUYS for me are the castle and the swamp creature / werewolf sets since they aren't too pricey and the figs are new. I'll have to pick up a ghost on ebay or bricklink. This seems to be a one-wave line as I can't imagine them adding more obscure monsters, unless they add the rumored zombie graveyard at some point...

I agree hard for them to come up with new characters that aren't obscure. If they do sell really well, they could possibly release new sets with the same characters or variation of in different settings. Bride of frankenstein, monster fighters base, werewolf in the city, mummy catacomb, haunted mansion with ghosts/dracula.

Only thing I want is the castle for the castle pieces and that car. Crossing my fingers that zombies will be good.

[surrideo]

Surprised they never used the pumpkin head pieces in any of the sets

[Mr. Elijah Timms]

Just thought of something-- How on earth could they maintain this theme? For so many themes that have come and gone recently, Monster Fighters might be the most finite in terms of concept and brand extension. I'd be shocked if it goes beyond one wave.

[SoupOrFishOil]

Ugh...I'm already working on my Christmas list That lab'll be on it. It's pricier than I thought, but it looks like a good way to expand the castle. And even though that car is ugly, it has good parts.

[K-Nut]

After looking upon the castle in greater detail, I say it's probably my favorite set of 2012. The figs are beautiful, it has a lot of playabilty, and it's a castle! I think I want this theme more than LotR now.

[CM4Sci]

Got a better pic of Ann:

-Sci

[sok117]

Got a better pic of Ann:

(snip)

-Sci

I really wish they went through with modeling a new crossbow with a clip to hold those "arrows"

[Jargo]

Have I missed something? Ann Lee, Jack McHammer and Dr. Rodney? Has Lego released the backstory and character biogs?

[TeufelHund]

I hate to say it but there's very little in this theme that excites me. The castle looks decent but overall it is a big disappointment compared to the beautiful sets that came out in PQ.

The mummy set in particular is hideous and the train is awful too to my eyes. The monster fighters themselves would have been better if they stuck to the classic horror theme instead of having cyborg limbs and other out of place elements.

I hope the rumoured zombie set is good because at the moment I can only see myself picking up the castle unless my son fancies some of the smaller sets.

[tafkatb]

As for the green leaves in the werewolf set's tree, they are Olive Green, a color new this year which has so far appeared primarily as dinosaur and minifigure parts in the Dino theme. The Orc Forge set in Lord of the Rings has cheese slopes in this color, suggesting that TLG won't shy away from using it for standard building elements.

Just out of curiosity, do you know if that's the official TLG name for the color? I haven't been able to find any information on their 2012 palette.

This seems to be a one-wave line as I can't imagine them adding more obscure monsters, unless they add the rumored zombie graveyard at some point...

I was thinking that too - they seem to have used up almost all the "standard" monsters in this wave. The only ones I can think of would be witches, aliens (extremely unlikely coming right on the heels of Alien Conquest), or devils/demons (probably even more unlikely). Only way I could see it continuing is with a second wave focused on cryptids like a sasquatch or chupacabra.

[Ardelon]

After seeing the toy fair pics, I must say this theme is a bit of a letdown for me, except for the figs and some accessories. I was hoping the new pics would show something which would redeem the sets, but it doesn't look like it.

The only must-buy for me is the swamp monster. The other sets seem half-baked to me. The castle is decent, but what bugs me is that it's not an enclosed castle, just a facade.

[Phyre]

Just out of curiosity, do you know if that's the official TLG name for the color? I haven't been able to find any information on their 2012 palette.

I was thinking that too - they seem to have used up almost all the "standard" monsters in this wave. The only ones I can think of would be witches, aliens (extremely unlikely coming right on the heels of Alien Conquest), or devils/demons (probably even more unlikely). Only way I could see it continuing is with a second wave focused on cryptids like a sasquatch or chupacabra.

As someone who puts on a haunted hayride in his back yard every year and as a lifelong fan of Halloween and monsters, I can think of plenty of ideas they could use to keep this theme going for at least one more wave. One monster that has never been done as an official minifigure is a pumpkinhead. There's also the headless horseman, which could utilize the concept of a pumpkinhead but doesn't have to. There could be a larger mad scientist lab that includes an Igor figure. There could be goblins. There could be trolls (small, bearded ones rather than the tall warriors that we got in Fantasy Era Castle). There could be banshees. There could of course be witches, as you mentioned. So right there are ideas for as many as seven additional sets without even considering the unlikely possibilities of aliens (which don't really fit in with classic monsters anyway) or demons.

So if it sells well, I could easily foresee them doing a second wave in summer 2013.

[Aanchir]

I'd like to say that I'm VERY happy to see those Aquazone harpoons in the Monster Fighters theme. Those haven't been seen in sets for years!

[Algernon]

After seeing the toy fair pics, I must say this theme is a bit of a letdown for me, except for the figs and some accessories. I was hoping the new pics would show something which would redeem the sets, but it doesn't look like it.

The only must-buy for me is the swamp monster. The other sets seem half-baked to me. The castle is decent, but what bugs me is that it's not an enclosed castle, just a facade.

I'm actually gonna have to agree, but only to a point. I think there is a tiny bit of missed potential here. A lot of the small-to-mid-ranged sets are pretty lackluster, and with the entire universe of Universal monsters, a lot more could have been done. But I think there's a lot to love here, too. I'm still going to pick up a handful of these.

[Amset-Rah]

Well, taking a closer look at the sets from the Toyfair videos the Brick Show guys took (If anyone involved with the show is reading this, thanks a bunch!), I've weeded out which ones I want and which ones I'll pick up on clearance:

Swamp monster-It's the cheapest, of course I'll buy it.

Mummy carriage-Nope, the only things I like in it are the glow in the dark skeleton horse and hero.

Wolfman-Reminds me of a bigger version of the Ninja Ambush set from Ninjago, but at a larger scale. Maybe on clearance.

Hearse-You bet. I love the new coffin lid piece and the minifigs rock.

Frankenstein-Clearance. the vehicle leaves a lot to be desired, but I feel this'd work better as part of the Vampire Castle.

Ghost Train-Must have. I love the plane design with the Ghostbusters-inspired plane and the new ghosts.

Vampire Castle-This was my must have with the prelims, it still is a must now, facade or not.

[SpiderSpaceman]

I'd like to say that I'm VERY happy to see those Aquazone harpoons in the Monster Fighters theme. Those haven't been seen in sets for years!

I was about to rejoice at the same thing

glad to see them in a non plated finish, too. never like to see the finish chip away.

[surrideo]

I was about to rejoice at the same thing

glad to see them in a non plated finish, too. never like to see the finish chip away.

Thankfully the ones I have have survived from the nineties unchipped. Didn't realise they have been gone since then though.

[Amset-Rah]

Yeah I forgot to mention the harpoons making a welcome return. I guess it makes the female character a bit more of a quirky character.

[Walter]

Can't wait to see the zombie set. Something's telling me it will be one of the best sets out of this line.

[Jargo]

MF could go on for a while if sales were good and Lego were prepared to go on. There's loads of monsters from various places they could tap into:

Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, The invisible man, Fu Manchu, Chupacabra, The Jersey devil, Bigfoot, Mothman, The Yeti, The Fly, The Phantom of the Opera, She wolf, Troglodyte brute, Medusa, Giant squid, Gremlins (twilight zone type not the movie 'gremlins'), Hobgoblin, bridge Troll, Mole people, Golems, Quasimodo, giant insects, cyclops, cobra woman, changeling.

Sadly I think one wave is all we'll get.

[surrideo]

MF could go on for a while if sales were good and Lego were prepared to go on. There's loads of monsters from various places they could tap into:

Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, The invisible man, Fu Manchu, Chupacabra, The Jersey devil, Bigfoot, Mothman, The Yeti, The Fly, The Phantom of the Opera, She wolf, Troglodyte brute, Medusa, Giant squid, Gremlins (twilight zone type not the movie 'gremlins'), Hobgoblin, bridge Troll, Mole people, Golems, Quasimodo, giant insects, cyclops, cobra woman, changeling.

Sadly I think one wave is all we'll get.

I've been googling some of what you have suggested. Been a learning experience

The one that standsout though would be a Kraken attacking a steampunk-esque boat. Not sure if it fits with the monsters already made. Definitely think the monster fighters need a mystery machine/hot rod van though

[Amset-Rah]

I really hope this gets at least another wave. I doubt it, but stranger things have happened. Look at Atlantis, they had sort of the same thing with collecting treasure keys (Or in this case, moon stones) and they had a second wave. Here, like another poster mentioned, we have several other classic monsters (I'd personally love an Invisible Man or Hyde/Jekyll)