Lego Superheroes 2013 Rumours & Discussion

[Super Goblin]

I know this isn't the topic we are talking about right now, but I sent an email to Lego asking about the exclusive figures at SDCC and they said:

Unfortunately the figures given away at the SDCC event were special only to that event and will not be appearing in any later sets. It's definitely possible that you may see a different variation sometime in the future, but we do not get any inside information on upcoming sets so I can't say for sure! I really hope that some variation of your favorite superheroes are included in a future set though!

So there might be hope for variations of the figures but not exact copies.

If this is true it shows how out of touch LEGO is with it's customers. I mean these are the iconic looks of the characters that they decided to make exclusive, with the exception of Spider-Man. I mean what other look could they use for Shazam that is iconic? I guess they could get rid of the "Bizarro #1" sign from Bizarro and it would be ok. But Shazam and Jean Grey are best known for those looks.

[halomaster96]

Not right. Remember two things: the wave is being split Marvel/DC this time around, and when Marvel did have its own full wave this year, there were 11 new figures, or 13 if you count both Iron Mans and the Hulk maxifig (plus three more later in the Spider-Man set). Considering that, 7 minifigures for just half a wave seems excellent to me.

I also think that there will be at least 3 Marvel sets. It seems like too many figures for only 2, but I could be wrong.

Really I thought that was just rumored because of the figs shown and the movies next year? If this is true I'm incredibly disappointed that the only other DC hero they chose to make is Aquaman.

[Ceroknight]

Really I thought that was just rumored because of the figs shown and the movies next year? If this is true I'm incredibly disappointed that the only other DC hero they chose to make is Aquaman.

The second wave will have sets from Superman: Man of Steel and Ironman 3 so there will be more DC heroes next year

[sok117]

Doesn't it seem obvious from the figures? They can't release 10 superhero sets (what two waves would be) at one time. There is just the right amount of figures to indicate a few sets on each side.

Not really. Last year there were marvel and DC figures shown at the same time, yet they were still released at different times. I think it would make more sense to stagger the releases of DC from Marvel, but you may be right just as well.

[halomaster96]

The second wave will have sets from Superman: Man of Steel and Ironman 3 so there will be more DC heroes next year

As excited as I am to see the man of steel sets, I already have Superman, I was hoping for some new (good) heroes like Flash or Green Lantern. As for Iron Man 3, I'm hoping to at least get War Machine!

[Lothos]

Really I thought that was just rumored because of the figs shown and the movies next year? If this is true I'm incredibly disappointed that the only other DC hero they chose to make is Aquaman.

Hey, man, Aquaman has a trident. that's..yeah he talks to fish.

Maybe we'll get a first class-ish set of x men like blue and gold comic book style.

[halomaster96]

Hey, man, Aquaman has a trident. that's..yeah he talks to fish.

Maybe we'll get a first class-ish set of x men like blue and gold comic book style.

I have nothing against Aquaman, he just isn't the most useful JLA member they could have made. Since they bothered to make him TLG better make Black Manta or I'm going to be pretty ticked off.

[Lothos]

I have nothing against Aquaman, he just isn't the most useful JLA member they could have made. Since they bothered to make him TLG better make Black Manta or I'm going to be pretty ticked off.

Surely sir his ability to talk..yeah I got nothing. I hope the make a Black Mantra figure. I mean that's like his Joker.

[Piranha]

Not really. Last year there were marvel and DC figures shown at the same time, yet they were still released at different times. I think it would make more sense to stagger the releases of DC from Marvel, but you may be right just as well.

I agree, I don't believe that the wave is split or that those are all the figures for the wave until TLG confirms it themselves, or at least until the set list is known.

Sure it sounds possible, I wouldn't be disappointed or surprised if it turns out correct, I just want that DKR set to be amazing.

[Krulis]

I think that they are all figs of first wave because Lego wouldn't show old figures (spidey, ivy and guard) if some more figs were coming.

[Vindice]

Secondary, too many different execution styles in one line (it looks like the decoration is made by 3-4 designers):

- different stroke thickness from character to character.

- different anatomy from character to character.

- different level of detail from character to character.

- perspective on some and non on others (in particular the belts).

Sorry there is no alignment

Could it be that TLG is not entirely sure in which direction to push the Figures? On the one hand you have the realism of the movies and then on the other you have the cartoon appeal of the Ultimate Spiderman. Seems to me like they are caught between two ideas much like the SW license with the Films and the Clone wars cartoon.

I think TLG is over-thinking things. The movie versions of all the Avengers and Batman are so detailed but do they really need to be?

At what point do minifigures start to become like action figures? Keep them simple, consistent and like the characters they are portraying. There is no need to make them look like a collectible toy, what's next fully articulated joints?!

They are in danger of losing their charm which lies in simplicity.

[AngryChair]

Could it be that TLG is not entirely sure in which direction to push the Figures? On the one hand you have the realism of the movies and then on the other you have the cartoon appeal of the Ultimate Spiderman. Seems to me like they are caught between two ideas much like the SW license with the Films and the Clone wars cartoon.

I think TLG is over-thinking things. The movie versions of all the Avengers and Batman are so detailed but do they really need to be?

At what point do minifigures start to become like action figures? Keep them simple, consistent and like the characters they are portraying. There is no need to make them look like a collectible toy, what's next fully articulated joints?!

They are in danger of losing their charm which lies in simplicity.

I see your point but will TGL look at the detailing as a mark of their progress from the basic yellow faces of yesteryear. I doubt multijointed figures will come into play as then things start getting a bit like MegaBloks and we don't really want that!

Perhaps they are using this as a marketing tool to see what camps buyers prefer, detailed or cartoon. The problem is that if the movie version of figures were too cartoony would we be complaining about them not being realistic enough.?

It's a tough call for them

[purpleparadox]

Too detailed? I think not. TLG is doing everything exactly right. Personally I prefer more detailed minifigs. LOTR, TDKR, The Avengers, and most of the new Star Wars minifigs have put me in heaven. For those who prefer yellow figs, every non-licensed theme has those guys (not counting Friends). If you like even more old-school, the minifigs with the Modulars grant your wish. And if you like mini-dolls, just buy Friends.

TLG has it all figured out. They've got something for everyone. You don't have to buy what you don't like! So let's not ruin this for others by complaining about the sets/figs that don't interest us. Lego is at one of it's primes right now, so let's be grateful!

[Im a brickmaster.]

I have to agree with purple paradox, the sets we've been getting are ones that have been

demanded for years, Lord of the rings, Marvel sets,a Rancor pit, not to mention Dark Night Batman sets!

So all and all I'm going to sit back and enjoy all the new stuff that's coming out.

[lightningtiger]

I totally agree with 'purpleparadox' about having highly detailed minifigs for the licensed themes....kids want Batman to look like Batman and Joker to look like The Joker. But also it's one's own personal choice what they like as well.

Though I getting the feeling that we are drifting off topic right now.

[J.V.D.]

I do think too that by introducing more and more details and realism, some minifigs do lose some of their charm lately (SW suffers from the same problem imo).

So I do prefer a little more cartoony/ stylised look. Which of course isnt the same as just figures based on cartoon versions. Some figures based on cartoon characters lately tend to be to detailed too.

I never was realy familiar with all those comic superheroes characters, except of bat- super and spiderman, and never understood or liked those extravagent super villains. So I guess I will not be tempted to much to buy the sets in order to have these figs when they come out.

I might buy the Dark Knight Rises set if it comes, as some seem to expect, with a (camo) tumbler. The Gordon and Bane figs that are supposed to be included are about the ones I like most in this whole new minifig line-up. The Dark Knight Batman is cool too... and if they could additionaly come up with a surprise DKR Catwoman.. (wouldnt mind a Halle Berry style catwoman neither )

The only other one from this series I might try to bricklink seperately is the Harleen Quinzel fig. Not that the character means that much to me... I just think its a nice looking figure.. very nice faceprint with the glasses too.

[Tobias_Jay]

I just realized that Commisioner Gordon's face could be used for a Gordon Freeman minifig.

[Vindice]

TLG has it all figured out. They've got something for everyone. You don't have to buy what you don't like! So let's not ruin this for others by complaining about the sets/figs that don't interest us. Lego is at one of it's primes right now, so let's be grateful!

I am not complaining PP, I love all the new sets and owned the entire wave almost as soon as I saw it. The point i'm making is in relation to your first comment

"TLG has it all figured out". Do you think so? It seems to me that they are caught between two distinct styles that dont mesh very well together cartoon style figs and film replica figs. Would your new Spiderman or Iron Fist really fit in with Thor or Black Widow?

I don't think TLG knows which direction it wants to go in more.

[MstrOfPppts]

I just realized that Commisioner Gordon's face could be used for a Gordon Freeman minifig.

Freeman doesn't have moustache and doesn't look that old ...

[Clone OPatra]

I'll just follow up one last time (or maybe more, we'll see) about why I think the wave will be split.

It's primarily because of both movie-property lines that we have confirmed for later in 2013. Were there not confirmations for both Man of Steel and Iron Man 3 sets, I would say sure, the January wave will be DC or Marvel and the other one will come later. Since there have to be those two more releases (unless there's a split wave between Man of Steel and Iron Man 3), it just seems to make sense to me that the January wave will have a bit of both from non-movie properties, besides one DKR set.

Additionally, the fact that figures from both comic companies were shown last year is unconvincing as an argument. The Marvel figures weren't finished at all, whereas all of the figures this year are. We knew that the Marvel figures wouldn't be coming in sets until the Spring because they had to coincide with the Avengers film, whereas these could come out any time.

I'm sure it won't be long until we get confirmation, either in the form of a set list or some leaked pictures. Until that time, I'm still thinking that this is all the figures for January, and there will be both Marvel and DC sets at that time. After all, why not cater to Superhero fans of all types at Christmas time?

[Lyichir]

If this is true it shows how out of touch LEGO is with it's customers. I mean these are the iconic looks of the characters that they decided to make exclusive, with the exception of Spider-Man. I mean what other look could they use for Shazam that is iconic? I guess they could get rid of the "Bizarro #1" sign from Bizarro and it would be ok. But Shazam and Jean Grey are best known for those looks.

Actually, I think they're quite in-touch with their main customers: kids. Bizarro would have limited appeal even if he showed up in a set as an antagonist for Superman. He's just a trippy character, and kids would rather have awesome than trippy any day of the week. If Bizarro hadn't been made for Comic-Con, he might not have ever been made at all.

Shazam, on the other hand, is an extremely obscure hero. He hasn't had his own TV show since the '70s. He's not a member of any significant superhero team. He's even more obscure than Bizarro!

The fact that Jean Grey has had other appearances is enough to show that she has more potential as a fig. And a similar-yet-different fig could easily be produced, with a slightly different costume design as well as a different face and different hair. But frankly, she's not the most well-known of the X-Men, and there seem to be no X-Men sets in the pipeline for next year anyway.

So many people continue complaining about these exclusive figs, as if they were originally intended to be in sets but were then made into exclusives. That's not the case. Lego chose four characters who would be more popular at Comic-Con than on store shelves, and produced them explicitly for this event. And if they ever design a set that will need a version of one of these characters, I doubt that the fact that they created figs of these characters for a one-off event will make them hesitate to design new versions for mass retail.

[Spider-Man]

I am not complaining PP, I love all the new sets and owned the entire wave almost as soon as I saw it. The point i'm making is in relation to your first comment

"TLG has it all figured out". Do you think so? It seems to me that they are caught between two distinct styles that dont mesh very well together cartoon style figs and film replica figs. Would your new Spiderman or Iron Fist really fit in with Thor or Black Widow?

I don't think TLG knows which direction it wants to go in more.

I think that the figs fit in perfectly together? I really don't see how Spidey and Iron Fist look different from the others, and I have them sitting right here in front of me. The Fury that is coming out can easily fit in with the Avengers as well every other fig in the line. Just because they come from a cartoon doesn't mean that they look all that different in minifig form, heck minifig Iron Man's big head looks like it came out of a cartoon. And even more to the point big Hulk looks more like a cartoon then he does to his on screen Ruffalo counterpart.

All in all I think TLG has 3 different styles as purpleparadox said. Fleshies, Yellow system which you find in city and other non-licensed themes, and then the classic which you get in the modulars.

[just2good]

So the only marvel sets for the first wave are 2 spiderman sets? I'm finding it a little hard to believe. There's gotta be at least one xmen set.

I think they'll have an X-Men (special edition) set at around this time next year to coincide with The Wolverine movie, like how they have put out the Ultimate Spider-Man set out this year.

[Super Goblin]

Actually, I think they're quite in-touch with their main customers: kids. Bizarro would have limited appeal even if he showed up in a set as an antagonist for Superman. He's just a trippy character, and kids would rather have awesome than trippy any day of the week. If Bizarro hadn't been made for Comic-Con, he might not have ever been made at all.

Shazam, on the other hand, is an extremely obscure hero. He hasn't had his own TV show since the '70s. He's not a member of any significant superhero team. He's even more obscure than Bizarro!

The fact that Jean Grey has had other appearances is enough to show that she has more potential as a fig. And a similar-yet-different fig could easily be produced, with a slightly different costume design as well as a different face and different hair. But frankly, she's not the most well-known of the X-Men, and there seem to be no X-Men sets in the pipeline for next year anyway.

So many people continue complaining about these exclusive figs, as if they were originally intended to be in sets but were then made into exclusives. That's not the case. Lego chose four characters who would be more popular at Comic-Con than on store shelves, and produced them explicitly for this event. And if they ever design a set that will need a version of one of these characters, I doubt that the fact that they created figs of these characters for a one-off event will make them hesitate to design new versions for mass retail.

What is trippy about Bizarro? Kids love Bizarro, he is a zombie-esque version of Superman. Kids love Superman and kids love zombies. How do I know know this? Because I have two sons ages 5 and 6. When I showed them the Bizarro minifig they went nuts and wanted him right away. To call Bizarro anything less than awesome means you probably aren't much of a Superman fan.

Shazam at one time was more popular than Batman and Superman. Those days are long gone but he still has exposure and popularity amongst kids. He was recently in the direct to DVD Superman vs. Shazam movie. he has been on JLU and most recently on Batman brave and the Bold and Young Justice cartoons.

My complaint is that these figures are only available to 1000 people so the masses and the majority of the fans can't enjoy them. I just don't want LEGO to limit great characters in their iconic looks to SDCC and not include them in sets.

[The_Chosen_1]

My complaint is that these figures are only available to 1000 people so the masses and the majority of the fans can't enjoy them. I just don't want LEGO to limit great characters in their iconic looks to SDCC and not include them in sets.

This basically sums up my thoughts as well.

The thing that bothers me the most about the Comic-Con minifigs isn't the fact that they're exclusive, but the fact that there were four exclusives - making it almost impossible for someone to get all of them, even if they attended the convention.