Focus Features launched a Piece By Piece LEGO Minifigure Generator to celebrate the upcoming Pharrell William animated biopic Piece by Piece. The film is about the renowned producer’s life, as shown through LEGO bricks. Academy Award-winning director Morgan Neville is set to direct the movie. The Minifigure Generator is available on both mobile and desktop platforms.

The Minifigure Generator allows fans to be able to create their own Minifigure character with seven skincare options and over 60 hairstyles to choose from. Additionally, 90 clothing options are available to choose from, including exclusive pieces from Pharrell’s fashion brand, Billionaire Boys Club. Facial expressions from scenes of the film inspired the expressions available in the Minifigure Generator. After designing your Minifigure, users can download a picture of their creation with Pharrell’s Minifigure or its own.

The Minifigure Generator comes after LEGO released Over the Moon, a collaborative set with Pharrell. Over the Moon was co-designed by the LEGO Group and Pharrell. The set features a space shuttle with a rainbow jet stream inspired by Pharrell’s love of space. The set featured the widest range of Minifigure skin tones ever included in a LEGO product at seven.

Matching the name of the upcoming film, Pharrell released a new original song titled “Piece By Piece.” Pharrell is a producer, songwriter, recording artist, and the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton. He is also a two-time Academy Award nominee for his song “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 and for producing the film Hidden Figures. The film, produced by 13-time Grammy winner’s company i am OTHER in partnership with LEGO, centers on his life and upbringing. Piece by Piece releases in theatres Oct. 11.

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The entirety of Pelican Town in LEGO bricks?! This wild idea is a reality thanks to Steve Jenson, a fan of the 2D farming simulation game, Stardew Valley. The 75,000-piece LEGO recreation debut at BrickCon 2024 in Bellevue, Washington. The sole developer and creator of Stardew Valley, Eric Barone, known professionally as “ConcernedApe,” also took notice of the large model. Barone praised Jenson in person, as seen in an Instagram photo posted by Jenson.

Jenson’s LEGO build of Stardew Valley included iconic locations from the game, including JojaMart and the Wizard’s Tower. Jenson built a sign that mimicked the game’s title card to tie the entire map together. The build took over two years, and Jenson had to take some creative liberties with it to accomplish the model to the scale he did. To make the game into LEGO, Jenson imagined what the sides and backs of buildings only shown from the front looked like. Additionally, Jenson converged separate pieces of Pelican Town’s map to create a cohesive build. The video below offers a closer look at all the impressive details in the model.

When asked about his favorite part Jenson told PC Gamer, “the Hat Shop, because I was able to make [it] almost entirely hollow, so you can look through the cracks and broken parts, and see through to more such openings on the other side. Just as a rundown, abandoned structure would be.”

The Nintendo Switch version of Stardew Valley largely influences the color and style of the LEGO Model’s design. Jenson combined different game progress levels and seasons to show elements within their respective stages. All of Jenson’s efforts paid off at BrickCon, where his LEGO build won the People’s Choice award.

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This year marks the 85th anniversary of Batman and the entire world of characters he introduced to DC Comics. A big part of his world is his incredible Gotham City rogues’ gallery. Up near the top of that iconic grouping of villains are Poison Ivy and her lovely girlfriend Harley Quinn. Now, these two deadly ladies (who are occasionally good guys) are getting their own collector’s edition Batman Barbie dolls. Each doll costs $55.00 and you can order both of them from the Mattel Shop. Check out the first images of the Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy Gotham City Siren Barbie dolls, and read their official descriptions, down below:

Poison Ivy Batman Barbie Doll

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Meet the Queen of Green from Gotham City, Poison Ivy. Part woman, part plant, her hybrid DNA shows in every detail of our doll, from her vibrant chlorophyll-colored skin to her verdant eyes. But don’t be fooled by her natural beauty—with a wrist-mounted crossbow and ferocious Venus flytrap, she’s ready to defend the environment at all times. Poison Ivy’s organically inspired touches contrast with her flowing red hair and ruby lips. Toxic venom is not included. A leaf-like crown and earrings complete the plant-themed look, while her crossbow hand stays poised and ready. We need this Batman Barbie, stat!

Harley Quinn Batman Barbie Doll

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Knock knock! It’s the Clown Princess of Crime, Harley Quinn, in Batman Barbie form. The punchline is, she’s got her mallet with her and she’s ready to bust in wherever she pleases. With bouncy pigtails, a black-and-red outfit, and a mischievous grin, this Harley Quinn doll brings together the modern and classic looks of the beloved baddie. Could you ask for anything more, puddin’? Mismatched black and red elbow and knee pads give Harley a rough-and-tumble look that matches her superhuman acrobatic abilities. A choker, earrings, and studded belt bring a bit of flair, because it’s nice to look good while you’re doing bad.

Will we get more Batman Barbies soon? We’re hoping for Batgirl, Huntress, and Catwoman in the near future. Gotham has no shortage of badass ladies who would make for truly amazing Barbie dolls.

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Fans of LEGO Star Wars have been waiting a long time for this one. LEGO has announced that a Jabba the Hutt Sail Barge display set is on its way, complete with all the details from Return of the Jedi fans could hope for. With 3,942 pieces in total, this deluxe set has an authentically detailed interior, including the barge’s cockpit, prison cell, armory, kitchen, and entertainment room equipped with Jabba’s bed. The Sail Barge also has features that allow you to fold down the sides and lift off the sails and top deck. You can check out images of the LEGO Star Wars Jabba’s Sail Barge right here:

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This LEGO Star Wars Jabba’s Sail Barge Display Set also includes 11 collectible Star Wars characters as minifigures. There’s Jabba the Hutt himself (naturally), as well as Princess Leia in her infamous prisoner outfit. Also included is Jabba’s right-hand man Bib Fortuna, his (temporary) protocol droid C-3PO, and musician Max Rebo. Kithaba, Vizam, Wooof, a Gamorrean Guard, and Jabba’s obnoxious pet Kowakian monkey-lizard Salacious Crumb round out the figures. Oh, and R2-D2 with a bar table accessory, so he can serve drinks like an astromech cocktail waiter. A Sarlacc Pit is not included.

You can show off this set with a display stand, which has space for the Jabba the Hutt LEGO minifigure, an information plaque, and a LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary brick. Jabba’s Sail Barge measures 25cm wide, 77cm in length, and 25cm in height. This deluxe set has a price of $499.99, becoming available for LEGO Insiders from October 3 at www.LEGO.com/StarWars. It arrives at LEGO Stores on October 6. As an added bonus, between October 3-6, all purchases will receive a LEGO Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber Set as a free gift. This is one deluxe display set Return of the Jedi fans won’t want to miss out on.

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Wednesday season two is currently in production and we cannot wait to see what wild monsters and scathing one-liners are coming our way. In the meantime, there’s plenty of love for the Netflix series in the ether, from Wednesday Addams dolls to a Wednesday Clue board game. But these Wednesday LEGO sets featuring her bubbly bestie Enid are undoubtedly the cutest of them all. All three of them are family-friendly builds that will spark joy as you rewatch the series. 

The Wednesday & Enid’s Dorm Room LEGO Set

The largest set is Wednesday & Enid’s Dorm Room, which is 750 pieces and includes the details we all love, especially their split stained glass window. There are two sets of Wednesday and Enid minifigures that come with this set. It is available for pre-order and will start to ship on October 1, just in time for a Halloween project. 

 Here’s more details about this one: 

This detailed set includes a buildable dorm room with the iconic spiderweb window, a balcony with gargoyles, and a base with buttons to open hidden drawers. It features 4 mini-doll figures (two versions each of Wednesday and Enid), Thing, a cello, typewriter, mystery board, and more. The hidden drawers can store mini-doll figures and accessories like a cat-ear headpiece and Enid’s phone. 

The Wednesday Addams Figure LEGO Set

The next Wednesday LEGO set focuses on Jenna Ortega’s beloved character. The way this 702 piece captures her hair and those dark Nevermore Academy vibes is perfection. This one is currently available for pre-order and will being shipping on October 1. 

Check out this description for it: 

It features two faces and outfits, allowing fans to recreate Wednesday with her deadpan gaze in her Nevermore Academy uniform or her kooky side-eye look and black dress from the Rave’N Dance scene. The set includes hidden compartments, the eerie Nevermore Academy gate, her typewriter, pet scorpion Nero’s grave, black dahlia flowers and crystal ball. Also included in the set is a brand new, adapted LEGO element for a hand, printed with all the iconic scars, to impersonate Thing.  

Wednesday & Enid LEGO BrickHeadz™ Set

Finally, there’s a chance to create brick versions of Wednesday and Enid, our forever favorite BFFs, with a 239 piece LEGO set. It is not currently available for pre-order but it will release on October 1. 

Here’s a little more about this one: 

This set includes instantly recognizable figures of Wednesday Addams in her iconic black dress and Enid Sinclair with her blonde hair and colourful sweater. The figures come with a baseplate for display, allowing fans to recreate their favourite scenes from the MGM Television produced Netflix series Wednesday and keep the magic alive long after the TV is switched off. 

Is there truly a better way to kick off the best time of the year than with Wednesday LEGO sets? No, there isn’t a better way so grab yours today.

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My summer does not officially begin until I watch Chief Brody and Hooper start paddling back to shore. It’s my one and only summer tradition. And this year it never happened. I never saw Jaws. Not a single scene! Don’t feel too badly for me, because I found an amazing way to appreciate one of my favorite films ever. LEGO sent us its new set based on Steven Spielberg’s seminal 1975 blockbuster, and piecing together the Orca and big ole Bruce more than made up for not seeing them on screen. But just like Alex Kintner never should have been allowed in the water that fateful day, this advanced LEGO Jaws collectible is definitely not for kids.

The new Jaws LEGO set is the latest fantastic design to come out of the company’s LEGO Ideas. Jonny Campbell of Belfast submitted this concept back in March of 2022. His original layout is still very much present in this spectacular set, which adds lots of detail and kinetic energy to his submission.

The official set consists of two main pieces, the Orca and the enormous shark that took it down. You can display each on their own, with “Bruce” getting his own little stand and movie nameplate. Or you can attach them both to an intricate base that recreates movement of waves and whitewash. (Along with some yellow barrels that giant shark is somehow dragging along.) But getting to those finished products takes some work. This is very much an 18+ set.

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The Orca features a ton of great details and touches. There are fishing rods, spears, a shark cage, and more. It also includes a very full interior cabin that feels cramped as you are building it, but it looks fantastic when it’s done. While some portions of the boat are straight forward to and not especially difficult to make, I found the front especially hard to piece together. It’s very delicate. It was hard to know if I was doing something wrong or it was just made that way to give the boat a sense of vulnerability. I lean towards the former because I had some issues later that I obviously created and needed to very carefully correct. That’s on me, but just be aware that bag 4 (of 13) poses some trouble if you aren’t extra cautious.

Some of the details that make this ship feel like it might really sail away are also extra tricky. You have to tie the rope segments onto the tiniest possible pieces. That was not exactly a day at the beach for my sausage fingers. Also the ropes ultimately run through the very tall, very flexible mast. The mast’s lack of sturdiness adds authenticity, which this set has in abundance. But determining the exact amount of slack to use on the ropes is frustrating and time consuming. Ultimately it’s worth it, but only when you’re done.

The shark speaks for itself. It’s moderately difficult to snap together, as some portions are easy while others are not. It looks great on its own, but also easily separates so you can put most of its body on the base where it chases down the Orca. The best thing about the set’s shark is its size relative to the Orca. They’re almost equal in length, which wonderfully recaptures the moment in the movie when it swims right by and Quint assesses its size at 25-feet and “three tons of him.”

On that iconic ship, you’ll also find three of the best LEGO minifigs ever. Those legendary characters also contain an amazing little joke. Brody and Hooper’s heads give you two options, a happy side and a serious side. Quint, fittingly, only has a serious side. It’s perfection.

But describing what’s in this set and how challenging it is to build is like describing Jaws as a movie about the ocean. It doesn’t capture what’s really important. I’m not kidding about watching Jaws every summer. It’s a perfect movie and I never get sick of it. Actually constructing the Orca and seeing it come to life in my hands was genuinely thrilling. I was geeking out the more it came together. And ever time I added a new portion of detail, I was thinking about specific scenes from the film. I could hear the dialogue. It was a tactile experience that conjured up vivid memories of a thing I love.

At around 8-9 hours of build time, this 1,497-piece collectible isn’t a huge undertaking. The set’s time commitment doesn’t reflect its $149.99 price tag, though. If you also love Jaws, when you’re done you’ll have something that is definitely worth the price. Especially if you plan on making sure you have it right by your side when you watch Jaws every summer. And I promise I will not be missing out on rewatching it when the weather turns warm next year. That is, unless LEGO makes a second Jaws set.

I hope there is another one… just so long as LEGO doesn’t base it on Jaws 2. Not watching the sequels is another summer tradition of mine.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on  Twitter and  Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Barbie might have been the “It Girl” of summer 2023, thanks to a billion dollar blockbuster movie. But her power is not limited to just one pop culture moment. Barbie has been slaying the house down since 1959, and she’s not stopping anytime soon, nor are her many branded products. And while you may never own Barbie’s hot pink car, or her stylish Dream House, you now can own a real-life flip phone in authentic Barbie pink. Via The Verge, we’ve learned that the HMD Barbie phone will officially go on sale for $129 this October. You can check out the first images below:

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The Barbie phone is as old school as it gets. It has no apps, just a tiny, 2.8-inch inner screen. It only has enough connectivity for calls and texts. So not only can you pretend to be Barbie, you can pretend to be Barbie in 2002. (Or maybe Elle Woods from Legally Blonde?) HMD says that with this Barbie flip phone, users can “take a vacation from your smartphone.” Now, I’m not sure that’s something people are eager to do, but if they are, might as well do it Mattel style. The phone has a 5-megapixel camera with a built-in flash, so you can make your pics look like your summer vacation from the early 2000s.

The new Barbie Phone comes with extremely two extra Barbie-esque battery covers, and an external display with a mirror. It also comes with a beaded lanyard with cute attachable charms, stickers, and stick-on gems for customization. The old-school Snake game even gets Barbie-ized. It also comes in a hot-pink jewelry box. The HMD Barbie Phone works on all three major US wireless networks, and becomes available for preorder on September 23. It will ship on October 1st. Just don’t tell Ken, he’ll find some way to make it all about him. You know how he is.

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We always love to talk about how many Batmobiles the Batman has had over the years. But he’s had just as many costume changes as he’s changed rides. And the most evident costume difference is always in the cowl. Sometimes it’s blue, sometimes it’s black. Sometimes the ears are long, other times they’re small. Heck, sometimes, they even have painted on eyebrows! Now, via Comicbook, we’ve learned that McFarlane Toys and DC Direct are releasing a trio of 1:1 scale replica Batman cowls ranging from the comics, movies, and TV. You can check out images of the three 7-inch Batman collectible cowls right here:

The first cowl is a replica of the one Adam West wore in the iconic Batman ’66 television series and the original Batman movie. This blue cowl is the one that helped turn Batman into a household name. The second is the black one Michael Keaton wore in Tim Burton’s classic 1989 Batman film. He wore it again in Batman Returns in 1992. Finally, we’ve got a comic book-accurate version of the cowl from the DC Comics story “Knightfall.” That saga saw the villain Bane break Batman’s back, leading to new hero Azrael taking over the role. That storyline was a big influence on Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.

McFarlane Toys/DC Direct is releasing more scale Batman cowls in this series sometime in the near future. We’d sure love to see the one from Batman: The Animated Series and the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy. If we’re talking comics, let’s see DC Comics artist Kelley Jones’ version of the cowl with the long sinister ears.

These new Batman mini-cowls follow up the full-scale Michael Keaton 1989 cowl replica, which measures 24.5-inches tall, which arrived this summer. Each cowl costs $14.99, and they are available to pre-order now, and ship in November.

The post These Batman Replica Cowls Celebrate the Dark Knight’s Costume History appeared first on Nerdist.

It may still seem like summer outside, but a chill in the air is imminent. Fall will be here soon, and with the start of the spooky season, it means it’s time for a return to Halloween Town. And this year, you get to build the Pumpkin King Jack Skellington’s home territory for yourself. All thanks to the new LEGO Ideas The Nightmare Before Christmas set. It features connectible models for three separate locations from the classic stop motion film. There’s Spiral Hill, Jack Skellington’s house, and the Halloween Town Hall. You can check out images of the new LEGO The Nightmare Before Christmas set right here in our gallery:

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This The Nightmare Before Christmas LEGO set has several details that diehard fans of Tim Burton’s iconic characters will appreciate. There’s the walking bathtub, and the chalkboard in Jack’s house with his formula for Christmastime. There’s also the lectern at the Town Hall, where Jack gave his speech to convince the Halloween Town citizens that taking over Christmas was a good idea. (Turns out, not so much). The LEGO set includes eight characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas as minifigures — Jack Skellington, Sally, Santa (Sandy?) Clause, Lock, Shock, and Barrel minifigures. Not to mention Zero, Jack’s loyal ghost dog, and a brick-built Mayor figure with both of his faces.

Intended for the age 18+ adult collector, the LEGO model of Jack Skellington’s house in this 2,193-piece model kit measures over 10.5 in. (32 cm) high, 20 in. (51 cm) wide, and 10.5 in. (27 cm) deep. This is the perfect holiday decoration to display in your home for both the Halloween and Christmas seasons. The new LEGO The Nightmare Before Christmas set will set you back $199.99, and will be available for the general public to purchase starting September 6.

However, if you already have (or sign up for) a free LEGO Insiders account, you can go ahead and grab your set on September 3!

For more information, be sure to head on over to the official LEGO site.

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Chalk this one up to one of the biggest toy no-brainers ever. Wednesday Addams is joining the girls of Monster High in a new line of dolls from the folks at Mattel. Joining her is that trusty loyal living hand, Thing, and her werewolf roommate, Enid, from the Wednesday Netflix series. She’ll also get her own Wednesday-themed Fisher-Price Little People Collection as well. You can check out images and details of these wonderful new spooky-ooky toys down below:

Monster High Wednesday Addams Doll

The minds behind Monster High and Wednesday have collaborated to create a chillingly beautiful line of dolls inspired by the hit television series. Dressed to distress in all black from head to toe, this Wednesday Addams collectible doll drips dark charm in her Nevermore Academy uniform. With Thing crouched at her shoulder and killer shoes at her feet, she’s more than ready to uncover any morbid mysteries that lie in wait.  This doll will set you back $40.00.

Monster High Enid Doll

This Enid Sinclair Monster High collectible doll looks iclawnic in an all-pink look featuring a beret and backpack accessories. As endearing in doll form as she is on the show, Enid is ready for anything — whether it’s getting the tea on school gossip or fighting off a homicidal monster. Like the Wednesday Addams doll, this Enid collectible is priced at $40.00.

Monster High Rave’N Wednesday Doll

Just looking at this deluxe doll, we can hear Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary.” Inspired by the show’s viral dance scene, this collectible doll is drop-dead gore-geous in a gothic gown. With her groovy ruffled skirt, she’s ready to hit the dance floor like a ghoul possessed. The price for this deluxe doll is $65.00.

Monster High Wednesday Addams Paint It Black Fashion Pack

For $25, collectors can also get the Paint It Black Fashion Pack. It offers a complete, curated look for any Monster High Wednesday doll looking to change up her #OOTD. That’s “Outfit of the Day” and not, as Wednesday insists, “Oddly Obscure Torture Devices.” These items channel the funereal fashion sense of the one and only Wednesday Addams. Accept no substitutes.

Fisher-Price Wednesday Little People Collector’s Set

This special edition Little People Collector figure set from Fisher-Price features Wednesday Addams with Thing, Enid Sinclair, Marilyn Thornhill, and The Hyde monster. Each of these characters is reimagined as Little People figurines. This set arrives in a window box package styled with dark and foreboding scenes from Nevermore Academy. This collectible set can be yours for $24.99.

All products are available now at Shop Mattel.

The post Wednesday Addams Enrolls at Monster High for New Collectible Dolls appeared first on Nerdist.

The LEGO Group made quite a splash at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Bringing to life an entire space station at their booth, the toymaker introduced a spirit of discovery and creation to the convention. But, of course, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy experiencing new worlds and going on incredible adventures with The LEGO group if it weren’t for the people behind the bricks. At SDCC, we were excited to catch up with Jamie Berard, a Senior Design Manager and Creative Lead at the LEGO Group, who is also a judge on the hit series LEGO Masters. Berard shared some of his favorite aspects of being a judge on LEGO Masters and also took us deep into the heart of what it means to be a LEGO designer. From his favorite challenges to the sets he’s most proud of to why everyone why everyone should give building with LEGO® bricks a shot—check out our full interview below.

Nerdist: We love LEGO Masters and your participation in it. Can you talk a little bit about what you felt the most exciting part of it has been for you?

Jamie Berard: For me, it is such a treat to be able to leave Denmark, which is a lovely place, leave my day job, and then get to hang out with these amazingly creative people who are willing to take a chance and go on national television and take that risk to be able to show their creativity and love of LEGO building. And so just to be surrounded by those people is inspiring, and then to be able to work with them and actually give guidance and pointers—and then for them to feed off of other people in the room; it’s just really special. And I think to be able to be a part of that is really the answer your question.

I actually recently built my first LEGO set about a year ago, and I really found it to be a beautiful experience. I felt like it was a wonderful act of creation, and it was just a very calming, chill experience. Do you think people see that show as Bake Off kind of experience where they can just watch people create and zen out?

Berard: Exactly. I think it’s just so aspirational to see that with such a small amount of time, without knowing at all what’s going to happen and without any planning, what people can come up with. I think it’s almost magical. But I think it also gives you hope that at home, if you want to try some of these things, sometimes it doesn’t have to be the biggest, most impressive, beautiful sculpture. It can be something as silly as making something that’s really tall or something that you can shape and not have it fall apart. We actually see a lot of families that are trying some of these challenges as well and kind of making them their own. So I think it’s the level of different things that you get to see that hopefully you find something where you’re like, oh, I never thought of that. Maybe I could try that.

So, what is the most exciting LEGO Masters challenge, in your opinion, or your favorite?

Berard: There have been some that I’ve been completely blown away by. So I would say something like any of the fashion challenges—wearing anything made out of paper bricks is extremely difficult. So that that’s incredible. That’s from a few seasons back. It was just a gorgeous challenge. And it wasn’t just nicely built LEGO models. They were actually very stylish, very artistic. I mean, the handbags from the last season, also. You’re like, these are genuinely runway-worthy handbags. So, I think those have been nice to see. And it’s nice to see how people can actually have an artistic side that has that design style. But I also love things like the rollercoaster challenge. We had Brent here (Brent Benedetti), who was our challenge coordinator and challenge producer. He would tell you that I was trying to talk about it because I’m like, this is one you could end up with a lot of people pulling their hair out if they are too ambitious and they run out of time.

But you get to see like, Christopher and Robert come up with something that I was like, I’m not sure you’re going to be able to finish this. That lift elevator, that kind of spirals around, for example. It was just so fun to see the imagination and just the audacity to be brave and go all in. And then, in the end, to see it all work out and see everybody celebrate their engineering side and their creative side, for me, that is just like high fives awesome. And I’ve learned to be a little more optimistic and not so unsure of what people are capable of. Sometimes, they just need that little bit of motivation.

I feel that really comes into LEGO Group’s San Diego Comic-Con theme of exploration and discovery. When you’re given the opportunity to take a step beyond, then you rise to meet it.

Berard: Exactly. When else would you have a chance to do what they’re doing on LEGO Masters? They get 10 million LEGO bricks, they get all of these creative people around them, and then they get eight hours, 10 hours, 12 hours to just do something awesome. And it’s like one take. They don’t get to do a practice run and try again. They’re so present. I think if you ever want to feel like you’re alive, you feel these people all in the room have lived 10 lives at that moment because it’s just so much adrenaline.

I can’t imagine. I love a creative challenge. Listening to you, I really think you all need to collaborate with Project Runway and have a crossover LEGO Fashion Challenge.

Project Runway, get our number!

Is there any LEGO Masters challenge that you wish you could have participated in?

Berard: Amy (Corbett) and I were talking about that. Of course, I love the rollercoaster challenges because I’m a big theme parks fan. That’s what got me into the LEGO Group. I got hired because I make amusement park rides, so that’s kind of an easy one. But then, for me, it would feel a little bit too fun. I might enjoy a little too much. But I love the crazy one where the kids came in a few seasons back, the Taker-Waker with the Book Chicken, when it’s just making up ridiculous things that no one’s ever seen. I love that because it’s not like an expectation or a script; it’s your chance to really do something fun, silly, and imaginative. And how can you go wrong with that?

You’ve had four amazing seasons of LEGO Masters, and season five is happening. Is there anything you can tease about the upcoming advent of season five?

Berard: Good question. I don’t know how much we can tease because we have the Lego Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular coming up, and it’s just one of my favorite times of year. It’s the gift that keeps on giving as a show. We have four more wonderful celebrities coming on.

And what I like about it is just how you get to see a whole different side of the builders you already know and love, but then you get to see Will (Arnett) with his best friends just having a blast. It’s pure holiday games.

So now, let’s get more into you and your LEGO journey. Do you have a favorite LEGO set that you’ve designed that fans could look out for?

Berard: That’s a tough one, but I think the rollercoaster, obviously. I keep going back to it. But the rollercoaster LEGO set is one that I’m so thrilled about because it brought together the whole team. And that’s why I was nervous about the LEGO Masters version of the challenge. It took my aerospace engineer, and my architect, and brilliant people all coming together to bring it to life. And then I also got to actually physically build on that. So that’s one that I’m really proud of.

Is there a LEGO set that you wish you could have helped create?

Berard: Yes, very specifically, the Disney Castle. I started it, the project started in my area, and then over time, it evolved in conversations, and they ended up moving into the Disney team. So I have a first sketch of that. I was so jealous of Marcos (Bessa) but so happy with the way it turned out. Of course, he did an amazing job. But it’s just one of those sets that was just out of reach. So I am actually considering finishing my version, just to see how it would’ve turned out; not to take anything away the final one, but it’s such an icon that I was just so excited to work on it.

There can never be enough amazing LEGO sets out there for us to enjoy! Do you have a dream LEGO set that you’d like to create?

Berard: I actually stopped answering that question a long time ago because when we dream stuff that we think we can’t do, sometimes things change, and we can do it. So I would say crazy things like a Titanic, like four-and-a-half-foot-tall Eiffel Tower. I used to talk about ridiculously large, complex sets like roller coasters. I said rollercoasters from day one. We didn’t have the tracks, we didn’t have anything, and then we made rollercoasters. So I’m an optimist, and I would just say if you can dream it, tell us because we can probably make it.

Exactly, that’s exactly what I mean. Not a set you think you can’t do, but one you dream of getting to do!

Berard: Yes, I do have some. But I’m going to save them because I’m actually planting seeds on some of our models. They can actually take two or three years of prepping and planning. For example, the rollercoaster track, for which we had to build a whole new system and get everybody on board. So, I do have some great ideas. But I think you’ve already heard some of my areas of interest…

What do you think is one thing fans might not realize about what goes into the creation of a LEGO set?

Berard: I think fans might not see the team effort. More often than not, I’m very privileged to get to represent the company. They see me, and they think, oh, Jamie did everything. Or they’ll see some of the designers in videos or photos. But it really is incredible. We have so many talented people with such diverse skill sets. We have some people that just know four-year-olds perfectly or five-year-olds and six-year-olds. And they become masters of them. So that way, when we make a model, they can actually talk with the designer to make sure it will work. They say, oh, actually, that’s going to be hard for a child to put together or even just take apart or to play with. And these people think about it from the perspective of these children.

We also have people that intentionally build very badly because they want to try to figure out, for instance, if somebody’s at home in poor lighting or they have that arthritis in their hand or something, what will happen? They will intentionally build like a kid or build like somebody that’s distracted. And then we can say, oh, oops, I made a mistake, maybe we could actually change this and make it better. That way, we don’t have those pauses or those moments when people feel self-conscious, like, oh no, I did something wrong. We really try to think ahead of that, and when we do it well, we get ahead of that, and hopefully, everybody just gets to the end and whatever model it is, at their level, they love it.

Do you have a LEGO fun fact that you love?

Berard: A little fun fact that people might not realize is we have this robotics set called LEGO Mindstorms, and just on a whim, before LEGO Masters and everything, they just asked me, because I did YouTube videos, “Would you mind being the voice of the LEGO Mindstorms robot?” And then I came in to record it, and then they recorded, and they said, oh, actually, that works pretty well. Let’s do it one more time. And then I had to cancel the next two times because I had a cold, and they said, well, we don’t have any more time, just come in. I recorded it with a cold, and they said that was the voice they wanted. And then that became the voice of Mindstorms robot.

What would be one thing you’d say to somebody who’s never built a LEGO set to encourage them to join the LEGO world?

Berard: I think we have enough things that people should be able to find something interesting, even if it’s just a little Minifigure. There’s something very satisfying about just putting some legs together with the torso and a hat, and then that character is somebody they care about. It might inspire an accessory. They can build a little car; they can make a little scene for it. And I think that’s something that’s so simple, there’s no expectation of that. I think if you just start small, then you might be surprised that, oh, actually, I have a little bit of confidence that this isn’t so scary. And then you can find another set that maybe you build off of.

Just to finish off, how do you feel the LEGO brand has evolved since you started working with it, and what do you think is next on the horizon?

Berard: I am just so impressed that things that we never thought possible 18 years ago have slowly become the norm. That’s where I was genuinely saying that I am such an optimist right now. I’m just like, we are literally talking about the human constraints of “can they carry it out?” or we can actually dream of crazy, wonderful stuff. And we keep seeing things we never imagined would sell, they just go crazy. So we have such a broader base of fans or people that are interested in the zen moment, and disconnecting, and having that “everything works in the world” moment, it’s a nice little escape. And I think there are just so many things that I’m just inspired, that it’s like I said, anything’s possible, and that just makes me get excited every day to go into work.

The post The LEGO Group’s Jamie Berard Talks LEGO Masters Creations and How the LEGO Brand Love Just Keeps Growing appeared first on Nerdist.

Gamescom is a wonderful time of year for fans of video gaming. Trailers galore! But even more than that, video game-related stuff, from TV shows like Secret Level, to toys! We love toys. Nintendo, never one to let us down in the merch department, has unveiled new LEGO sets based on their popular games. Six new sets will highlight Mario Kart titles and three sets for Animal Crossing. Gallery below!

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The new sets include Baby Mario and Luigi, Baby Peach & Grand Prix, Toad’s Garage, and a Standard Kart set. The one I’m most excited about? Jumbo Donkey Kong. The weirdest one? Blue Yoshi riding a Green Yoshi bike. Why would you ride a bike that looks like you? That is perverse.

In addition to these Mario Kart sets, we’ll also get three sets in the Animal Crossing universe. Those are: LEGO® Animal Crossing™ Stargazing with Celeste (77053), LEGO® Animal Crossing™ Leif’s Caravan & Garden Shop (77054) and LEGO® Animal Crossing™ Able Sisters Clothing Shop (77055).

All of these LEGO Nintendo sets will hit retailers January 1, 2025. So get your New Year’s affairs in order and get to building, then get to racing.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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The Olympics captivated the world in July with incredible feats from talented athletes. Team USA had an impressive showing, including the US Women’s Rugby Team winning a bronze medal in rugby sevens—the first-ever medal for the US in rugby sevens. After the victory, the Instagram algorithm brought me several joyful videos from the new Olympic medalists. Those videos included one of Sammy Sullivan passionately talking about LEGO in an interview. I don’t know if I have ever related to an Olympian on this level. Or at all. I talked to Sammy about what got her hooked on building LEGO sets, how LEGO helps her unwind, and more.

Nerdist: Congratulations on the medal! I feel weird being like, you won an Olympic medal, let’s talk about LEGO!

Sammy Sullivan: Thank you! And no, this is great.

Tell me about what first got you into LEGO and what your first LEGO set was.

Sullivan: My very first set, OG was elementary, middle school time. It was the big SpongeBob where you open it, and it’s Plankton or whoever controlling him. That was my first set that I can remember. But my twin brother, Jackson and my dad were always super into Star Wars LEGO, and being boy and girl twins, I feel like he would always get the LEGO sets for birthdays and Christmas and I would get whatever else. So growing up, unless I bought it for myself with spending money, I didn’t get LEGO.

But my first adult experience with LEGO was early 2023, my second year with the rugby team. I was not in the best place mentally, just struggling with sophomore year blues. A lot of the times when people have really successful rookie seasons, their second season can feel like a lot. And my second season being the Olympic year, I was really struggling with coming home, worrying about practices, worrying about rosters, and everything.

My happy place growing up was walking around Barnes and Noble. So, I went to Barnes and Noble one day after practice to smell the books, read the backs of books, the whole vibe, and there’s a whole section of adult LEGO sets. And so I’m looking at these sets, and I was like, you know what? Maybe instead of spiraling when I get home, maybe it would be good to do something with my hands. Something tangible with a gorgeous end product. So, my first adult set was the Hocus Pocus house.

Really, from there, it was an instant obsession with the building process and collecting.

Building sets can be such a mindful activity. Has it continued to be a go-to for unwinding and calming your mind?

Sullivan: Yeah. It is so soothing. It almost takes you back to a childlike mind because ultimately LEGOs are toys in a sense—obviously some are meant for adults—but it takes you back to a simpler time where you come home from school and have something fun to do outside of homework. I put on a good podcast or a good YouTube video game playthrough in the background and have that disconnection from adult life. It’s definitely a bit of escapism from the every day. I mean, at certain times it definitely becomes maybe a little unhealthy when I’m not looking at the clock and I look up and it’s two in the morning and I’m on bag 13 of whatever…

That is very relatable. Do you collect certain types of LEGO sets or is just vibes?

Sullivan: It’s mostly vibes, but I typically go for structure sets: the treehouses, houses, huts. I’ve really been liking the medieval sets recently. I just got done with the Lion Knight’s Castle. I built the blacksmith set with the beautiful blue roof and the Viking village. I’m looking to get my next one, the medieval village that complements the Lion Knight’s set. Oh, and the big treehouse that’s safari-like with the two tree houses connected with the drawbridge—that one is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorites.

But I think my next venture into LEGO will definitely be the Technic sets. It looks really complicated, but in a fun, challenging way. So yeah, definitely looking to get my hands on some Technic sets moving forward, but structures for sure are my favorite.

What LEGO set will you be building next?

Sullivan: The Dayton Brick Shop in Ohio was kind enough to send me the Eiffel Tower set after they saw my plea to LEGO after the Olympics. It’s currently sitting with my neighbors, but as soon as I get home—, I already told Josh, my husband, don’t talk to me for at least four days because that’s all I’m going to be doing. This is my plan. I’m going to decompress.

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In Tim Burton’s original Beetlejuice, they said you had to say his name three times to summon the ghost with the most. Luckily, in the real world, we’re only having to say the name twice for Michael Keaton to return as the infamous “bio-exorcist” for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which hits theaters this fall. And of course, along with the actual movie itself, there’s a whole new assortment of Funko Pop! vinyls to go with it. We have our first look at the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Funko figures right here in our gallery, including some very familiar faces, including Lydia Deetz herself.

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Not only do we have an adult Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, once again in her red wedding dress, but also her daughter Astrid. Jenna Ortega plays her in the film and she’s no stranger to working with Tim Burton thanks to Wednesday on Netflix. She’s holding a copy of The Handbook for the Recently Deceased. We are pretty sure nothing good is going to come from her reading that one.

A familar-looking (yet still very small) also face pops up in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. We see that a character called Bob the Shrinker has a Funko toy all his own. He’s a new shrinking head ghost from the Netherworld, wearing a snazzy yellow suit. We don’t know anything really about the character of Delores, Beetlejuice’s ex-wife. Aside from the fact that Monica Belluci plays her, of course. She certainly has Corpse Bride vibes though, doesn’t she?

Hopefully, a second wave of Funko Pop! vinyl toys come along soon. Because I think we all want Catherine O’Hara’s Delia Deetz to get a figure of her own. That one’s long overdue if you ask us. And if we get one of her character from the first movie, with that wild hairdo, even better. Between the Funko figures, the popcorn buckets, and more, expect this fall to be a Beetlejuice fan’s dream come true. These new Funko Pop toys are already available for pre-order at Amazon.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hits theaters on September 6.

The post BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Funko Pops Have Arrived from the Neitherworld appeared first on Nerdist.

The Deadpool & Wolverine movie has now arrived in theaters and we can’t wait to see what these two best bubs are gonna do. In the meantime, the main way to celebrate their awesomeness is collecting all the cool paraphernalia that comes with a big MCU release. We still can’t get over that very-inappropriate popcorn bucket, tbh. Funko is getting into the mix with new Deadpool, Wolverine, and Dogpool Pop! figures that deserve a spot on your shelf. The company has also released a ton of new Deadpool variant Funko figures that you won’t want to miss.

These figures are currently available to order. But they aren’t the only ones. In addition to the above, in celebration of Deadpool & Wolverine you can also order Funko Pop! figures of Artist Deadpool, Beauty Pageant Deadpool, Bowling Deadpool, Deadpool with Swords, Heavy Metal Deadpool, Ladypool, Leaderhosen Deadpool, Park Ranger Deadpool, Sleepover Deadpool, and Tourist Deadpool. That is a lot of Deadpool. We’re sure Wolverine is thrilled. You can check them all out in our gallery below.

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We must admit, Dogpool is both strange and adorable, though. What a fun way to celebrate this highly-anticipated film!

Originally published on June 28, 2024.

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LEGO’s SDCC 2024 booth (#2829) takes the shape of Space Station 8R1CK5 this year. Space Station 8R1CK5 has many unique facets, including immersive space windows, over fifty LEGO sets displayed, some of which have never been seen in person, life-size brick-built figures, and one truly unique “Build Your Own LEGO Rocket” SDCC experience.

In LEGO’s SDCC “Build Your Own LEGO Rocket” experience, guests can design a spacecraft and then build their own creation using LEGO bricks. If making your own LEGO rocket come to life wasn’t cool enough, though, those who stop by for this LEGO booth experience will also be able to actually set their craft in orbit. LEGO’s SDCC booth has a special LED backdrop that will take your rocket out of this world. Honestly, words don’t do justice to just how extraordinary it is to see your LEGO rocket blast off into deep space.

LED backdrops are some of the coolest ways to create truly immersive experiences. And right there, in the heart of SDCC 2024, you and your rocket will travel light-years away. Your heart will skip a beat when an unexpected comet flashes through the cosmos. And you’ll delight in seeing an errant spaceship float by. No other SDCC booth will sweep you off on a more beautiful journey.

In addition to its LED offering, LEGO is going old-school and also providing a version of its beautiful space vision made out of LEGO bricks. Honestly, it’s hard to know which version of the backdrop is better, so we’ll just have to settle for saying both of them are supernova-level spectacular. Seeing how LEGO’s gloriously colored bricks come together to create the night sky before us is truly amazing, though.

As a special surprise, those who complete this LEGO space mission will also receive an exclusive SDCC 2024 embroidered patch from LEGO. Mission success! As they say. If you’re at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, make sure to stop by LEGO’s booth to take part in this experience. You won’t want to miss going on a space adventure of your own. We at Nerdist personally got to witness astronauts, big and small, embarking on a true mission of imagination. Everyone was so incredibly enthused about making their spacecraft and then equally excited about seeing it set off to space. It was honestly a heartwarming experience. If the intent was to encourage imagination and creative thinking, LEGO knocked it right out of the park (and into the outer atmosphere) with this one.

If you’re not at SDCC 2024, though, fear not; you can have your own cosmic LEGO experience by checking out all of LEGO’s latest space sets.

The post Build Your Own LEGO Rocket Ship and Set It Into Orbit as Part of LEGO’s SDCC Booth Experience appeared first on Nerdist.

The coolest part of any official LEGO display is often its giant brick-built models. And while LEGO’s SDCC 2024 booth has many extraordinary facets, we definitely still love seeing its life-size LEGO builds up close and personally. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, LEGO has a space-themed booth, Space Station 8R1CK5. Additionally, 2024 also marks the 25th anniversary of the LEGO Star Wars collaboration between the LEGO Group and Lucasfilm. And so it’s only fitting that two of SDCC 2024’s major LEGO life-size models celebrate Star Wars. At LEGO’s 2024 SDCC booth, we got to meet a life-size, brick-built models of Star Wars‘ lovable droid, R2-D2, and of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy’s Jedi Vader.

LEGO Brings Life-Size R2-D2 to SDCC 2024

To celebrate 25 years of LEGO Star Wars, LEGO created an incredible life-size R2-D2 recreation. This 1:1 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​LEGO brick build ​inspired by ​R2-D2 is ​made from ​27,797 LEGO elements. Even C-3PO would have to be impressed by that. The R2​-D2 life-size​ build began its life in Germany and has traveled across Europe and the United States. We’re honored he made his way to SDCC 2024 to wow and delight us. But with LEGO’s space-themed booth, how could he resist?

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​LEGO life-size R2-D2 is a beat-for-beat replica of the original. In fact, when another R2-D2 rolled up to say hello, we couldn’t even tell the difference. And yes, LEGO R2-D2 lights up and chirps. He’s honestly precious, and we want him to roll his LEGO-self home with us.

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Life-Size LEGO Jedi Vader Arrives to San Diego Comic-Con

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy is an exciting LEGO Star Wars special coming to Disney+ in September. It features the Star Wars world gone a little topsy turvy. At SDCC 2024, LEGO’s booth showcases one of the especially cool characters from the show, Jedi Vader. Now just what would Vader be like if he was armored in pristine white metal and carried the shining blue lightsaber of the light side? Well, LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy invites us to find out.

But first, we can check out this life-size LEGO brick-built model of good old Jedi Vader. And yup, confirmed. It’s pretty awesome. We suggest you watch out for that lightsaber though. Vader might claim to be a Jedi now, but, phew, his saber is huge. We can’t even begin to imagine just how many LEGO pieces went into making this incredible Star Wars creation. But we’re grateful we got to personally meet him. You can take a closer look at the giant LEGO Jedi Vader, below.

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In addition to the life-size Jedi Vader model, LEGO also has three of its LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy sets on display at SDCC 2024. It’s a good time to be a LEGO Star Wars fan.

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LEGO doesn’t have any set exclusives at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything special con-goers can pick up from the brand. LEGO’s exclusive SDCC offerings really hit on the unique spirit it’s bringing to SDCC this year—that of discovery, adventure, and exploration. At LEGO’s booth, you can pick up an exclusive embroidered patch and also an exclusive premium swag pack, but only if you complete your space missions first.

Here are all the galactic exclusives guests can pick up from LEGO at SDCC 2024.

LEGO’s Exclusive Embroidered SDCC 2024 Space Mission Patches

LEGO’s SDCC booth (#2829) will transform into a space station, Space Station 8R1CK5, to be exact. At Space Station 8R1CK5, guests, or should we say, interstellar travelers, will get a chance to design and build their own rocket ship creations using LEGO bricks. Guests will then be able to set their LEGO rockets into orbit with a special LED screen backdrop as well as a brick-built version of space. Nerdist got to see this activation in action, and we have to say it was absolutely heart-warming. Space adventurers, young and old, delightedly crafted their creations and gleefully sent them into the LEGOsphere. If LEGO was aiming to encourage pushing the boundaries of imagination and creating an environment rife with exploration, they absolutely succeeded.

But visitors to the LEGO booth aren’t simply creating rocket ships; they’re completing a space mission. And a LEGO space mission successfully completed deserves an exclusive prize. LEGO will be offering exclusive SDCC 2024 embroidered patches to commemorate these wonderful space-inspired creations. Every astronaut who builds a spacecraft at Space Station 8R1CK5 will receive this exclusive LEGO San Diego Comic-Con mission patch. And we must say, they look pretty cool. We know we’ll be sewing them onto our favorite space suits immediately after the con.

Participate in a Mobile Scavenger Hunt and Win an Exclusive LEGO SDCC 2024 Swag Pack (And Maybe Something More)

A mission patch isn’t the only SDCC 2024 exclusive LEGO has on offer, though. In addition, LEGO lovers can go on a different kind of mission at San Diego Comic-Con, a mobile scavenger hunt, to win an exclusive SDCC LEGO swag pack.

LEGO is calling this fun SDCC 2024 scavenger hunt the LEGO Space Explorer’s Challenge. Those visiting SDCC will be challenged with completing some secret missions across the convention. These will be photo-based and accessible via a mobile website. Those who complete the Mission may very well get special LEGO prizes to take home.

In fact, the first 20 guests who complete their scavenger hunt mission each day will win an “exclusive premium swag pack” from LEGO. The exact contents of this exclusive swag pack remain mysterious, but doesn’t that just add to the excitement around this LEGO SDCC offering? Sounds spacetacular to us!

But how do you access the LEGO Space Explorer’s Challenge, you might ask? Well, you just have to visit LEGO’s booth and they’ll have QR code to start you on this journey of great discovery! Please also note that you need to complete your Mission on the day you start it. Every day of the con will bring a different set of Mission Tasks. You can complete the Mission once each day and earn multiple entries over the course of the event. (But there’s a max of one entry per email per day!)

Additionally, everyone who completes the Mission overall will be entered for the chance to win an exclusive grand prize. Incredibly, this adventure extends to fans not at San Diego Comic-Con, too. Fans not attending the show can join in the fun and possibly snag something exclusive by entering to win at LEGO.com/San-Diego-Comic-Con.

We hope you get your hands on all the LEGO exclusives your hearts desire!

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We can honestly say there’s no one that does it like LEGO. Just when we think we’ve seen the best LEGO has to offer in terms of innovation, nostalgia, and sheer delight, the company outdoes itself yet again. LEGO’s latest marvel? A brand new entry into its LEGO Super Mario range for adults, its fifth addition to the collection, to be exact. This time, LEGO brings fan-favorite Yoshi into the fold with an homage to his earliest appearance in Nintendo’s classic video game Super Mario World. And yes, we’ll see LEGO Yoshi carry Mario into glorious adventures. The LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set brings together nostalgic visuals, truly innovative animation effects, and a gorgeous aesthetic we can’t get enough of.

Join us as we exclusively reveal this build, and let’s take a deep dive into the new Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi LEGO set.

Exclusive First-Look Images of LEGO’s New Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi Set

Speechless? So are we. Honestly, this first-look image of LEGO’s new Super Mario World-inspired Mario & Yoshi set has us swooning. But a picture is not worth a thousand words in this case. To understand just how cool this LEGO build requires a deeper understanding of all its excellent design elements. We’ll get into that in our next section. First, though, we have a few more first-look images of this fifth set from LEGO’s Super Mario range for adults.

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We even got to be among the first to see Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi in person at SDCC 2024. But more on that below.

LEGO’s Super Mario Mario & Yoshi Set Homages Super Mario World with Pixelated Art and Actual Animation Effects

The universal truth of LEGO sets is that no matter how beautiful they are, there’s always more excitement hidden between their bricks. LEGO’s Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi 2D build is absolutely no different. Although its first-look images alone have us craving the set, the coolest parts of it lie in its clever design.

First, Super Mario fans will recognize how this Mario & Yoshi LEGO set’s pixelated aesthetic nostalgically mirrors visuals from Super Mario‘s earliest games. Super Mario World first released in 1990. Gaming graphics looked a little different back then. We’re obsessed with the way LEGO has manipulated its bricks in order to harken back to the game’s original style. Of course, Super Mario World was also a 2D game. And so LEGO has taken it upon itself to make this 3D build look 2D for the occasion. Mamma mia! We love it.

Second, this Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi LEGO set comes with a set of practical animations. Yes, once you build Mario and Yoshi out of LEGO bricks, you’ll be able to see Yoshi run with Caped Mario riding on his back. Additionally, Yoshi’s tongue can pop in and out, just like it does in Super Mario World. LEGO shares that this Mario & Yoshi set is built in multiple layers, allowing for its practical animations to function.

Carl Merriam, a Senior Designer on LEGO Super Mario, explains: “In this model, we wanted to capture the original sprite animation from Super Mario World. This meant re-creating the pixel art in LEGO bricks and then adding a mechanism to make Yoshi run with Caped Mario riding on his back. AND if that wasn’t enough fun, we also added a dial to make Yoshi’s tongue pop in and out – just like in the game!”

When Will the Mario & Yoshi LEGO Set Release? How Much Will the New Super Mario World LEGO Set Cost?

But when will this new LEGO® Super Mario™ Super Mario World™: Mario & Yoshi set release? This Super Mario World LEGO set will be available from October 1st, 2024. It will be sold via LEGO stores, LEGO.com and from select leading retailers around the world. If you simply must add it to your collection, you can pre-order the set today on LEGO.com.

The LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set will cost $129.99. For more information, you can check out www.LEGO.com/supermario as well as www.LEGO.com/mario_yoshi.

Pieces Count, Dimensions, and Other Product Information

The more technically-minded among us may enjoy these more specific details about the LEGO Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set:

• This build contains 1,215 pieces.
• It is product number 71438.
• The dimensions of LEGO® Super Mario™ Super Mario World™: Mario & Yoshi are: Over 15.5 in. (40 cm) high, 10 in. (26 cm) wide and 4 in. (11 cm) deep

Of additional note, this is the first time fans will see Mario’s trusted companion, Yoshi, in 2D LEGO brick form. Furthermore, this Super Mario World-inspired LEGO set is a part of LEGO’s ‘Adults Welcome’ series. This range is designed to bring fond memories to all LEGO fans who remember Super Mario as an essential part of their childhood. The Mighty Bowser and Piranha Plant from the LEGO Super Mario line are also part of this series.

See the New Super Mario LEGO Set at SDCC

LEGO’s announcement of this new Mario & Yoshi LEGO set coincides with the first day of San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Fans attending the convention will become some of the first to see this new Super Mario build if they visit LEGO’s booth (#2829). LEGO will display Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi starting on Thursday, July 25.

LEGO will have a truly inspired space-themed presence at the convention. But the message of LEGO’s SDCC booth extends beyond literal space travel. Instead, LEGO brings with it an overall spirit of discovery and exploration. Anyone who visits LEGO’s booth (#2829) will be able to journey into orbit, but can also visit many other faraway worlds, including that of Super Mario. And if pictures of this new Mario & Yoshi set are anything to judge by, seeing this build in person will be a true treat.

Let’s-a go! (to see Mario & Yoshi.)

The post New SUPER MARIO WORLD: Mario & Yoshi LEGO Set Is a Nostalgic 2D Build—Nerdist Exclusive Reveal appeared first on Nerdist.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, LEGO is showcasing a brilliant display of over 50 LEGO sets, including some that have never been seen before in person. LEGO’s 2024 booth transforms from ordinary Comic-Con installation into Space Station 8R1CK5, highlighting the company’s overall SDCC theme of marrying the wonder of space with the joy of building with LEGO bricks. So it’s no surprise that an assortment of space-themed sets from LEGO City, LEGO Technic, and LEGO Icons themes can be found at the convention booth. But swirling in the idea of space are broader notions of exploration, the discovery of new worlds, and unlocking novel experiences. And so LEGO’s 2024 SDCC booth also highlights products from LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Minecraft, LEGO Super Mario, and LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog. Step inside LEGO’s SDCC booth with us and check out all the cool builds, first-look sets, and out-of-this-world creations.

A Galaxy Far, Far Away Is Calling… These LEGO Star Wars Sets Feature at SDCC

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy is a four-part animated special coming to Disney+ on September 16. If you haven’t yet (and really, what are you waiting for?), you can check out its trailer here. But this fun LEGO Star Wars series basically functions a little bit like a What If…? adventure for the Star Wars universe. Suddenly, all the good guys have gone bad, and all the bad guys have gone good. Among other fabulous figures, the series brings to life the fan-manifested Darth Jar Jar, Jedi Bob, and Jedi Vader. At SDCC 2024, LEGO will display three sets tied to LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy.

LEGO Star Wars Jedi Bob’s Starfighter Set Debuts at SDCC

First up, it’s LEGO Star Wars Jedi Bob’s Starfighter. A mystery Jedi Knight Minifigure appeared in a 2022 LEGO Star Wars set, and fans came together to give him a name, Jedi Bob. Jedi Bob will become a fully realized Star Wars character in the upcoming Disney+ special, but he’ll also finally get official LEGO set acknowledgment. Good for you, Jedi Bob! If you’re at the con, you can play a LEGO scavenger hunt to try to win a LEGO Jedi Bob set signed by Jedi Bob’s voice actor Bobby Moynihan.

LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon and TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-up Sets

Additionally, the LEGO booth at SDCC 2024 will feature the LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon and TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-up sets. The Dark Falcon puts the spotlight on Darth Jar Jar as he receives his own Star Wars Minifigure. It also gives us a pretty cool vision of what the Millennium Falcon might be like if it went to the dark side. Jedi Vader, Beach Luke, and Darth Rey also rank high among our favorite Minifigures ever. Jedi Vader even makes a stunning appearance as a life-size brick-built model at LEGO’s SDCC 2024 booth.

Finally, the LEGO Star Wars and TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash-up marries two of the most iconic Star Wars spacecrafts ever to create the ‘TIE-wing’ and ‘X-fighter.’ We are honestly obsessed with this mashup of dark and light side symbols. (But you can also create the original versions of each using the set.) That’s the magic of LEGO for you.

LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog Debuts a Shadow Set at SDCC 2024

Admit it, Shadow the Hedgehog is your favorite part of the Sonic the Hedgehog world—antiheroes often are the best. He’s so cool that Keanu Reeves is voicing him in the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. And now, he’s graduating to the coolest honor of all, having a Shadow the Hedgehog LEGO set created in his honor.

This Shadow the Hedgehog LEGO set debuts at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. The LEGO Group and SEGA will showcase their new LEGO Sonic the Hedgehog creation at the LEGO booth. This new set promises many recognizable details and hidden Easter eggs that will celebrate Shadow’s undeniable style and fan-favorite status.

New Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Minifigures Arrive at SDCC

At Nerdist, it was our great pleasure to build and review the Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale set. And let us tell you, beyond looking extremely cool (and having a full articulated LEGO dragon you can build out of bricks), the set truly captured the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons. But the key to a truly good D&D narrative is to make sure the story and world can keep growing. (And also, sometimes, you need to embrace new party, no matter how in love you are with your latest character.)

To keep the journey going, LEGO has revealed 12 new LEGO fantasy minifigures: Tiefling Sorcerer, Elf Bard, Halfling Druid, Dwarf Barbarian, Dragonborn Paladin, Aarakocra Ranger, Gith Warlock, Mind Flayer, The Lady of Pain, Strahd von Zarovich, Tasha the Witch Queen and Szass Tam. We could definitely use a Gith to expand on our current party, and who doesn’t love a Mind Flayer after watching Stranger Things? Each Minifigure will also carry an authentic accessory and come with a collector’s information leaflet.  

LEGO Reveals Minecraft Baby Pig’s Birthday Celebration Set at SDCC

SDCC is a huge celebration, so it’s the perfect time to reveal a LEGO set with a party of its own. LEGO Minecraft Baby Pig’s Birthday Celebration invites you to build a Minecraft cake. This special set lets you build your own Minecraft mobs complete with moveable parts. The new LEGO Minecraft build includes a baby zombie, baby fox, baby cat, baby llama and baby pig. How is that for something worth celebrating?

A LEGO Masters-inspired Travel Moments Set Heads to San Diego

Watching people create LEGO masterpieces is so satisfying. And that’s why the LEGO Master TV show has been so popular. And now, LEGO is giving the people what they want: the chance to build their own LEGO Masters creation straight from the show. LEGO Travel Moments comes right from off our screens and into our living rooms. It allows builders to recreate their most iconic travel moments with the World Wonderliner jet and the world map. The LEGO Travel Moments set even leaves space for you to show off travel souveniers and pictures using photo holders. And you can add micro-build vehicles and decorative tiles to customize your map. Every time you go somewhere new, you can update you build! Pretty nifty!

The LEGO Travel Moments set will be on display at LEGO’s SDCC 2024 booth.

Bring LEGO SDCC 2024 Home!

From Marvel to classic Star Wars to The Legend of Zelda and everything in between, there are a ton of other sets at LEGO’s SDCC 2024 booth. Of course, none of these featured SDCC 2024 sets aren’t con exclusives! You can bring them home and see for yourself just what they look like.

All the sets on display at SDCC can be found at LEGO.com/San-Diego-Comic-Con. So you have to look no further if you’re looking for a group of LEGO sets perfectly curated to inspire imagination, curiosity, and exploration.

The post Which Sets Is LEGO Showcasing at SDCC 2024? Take a Closer Look with Us appeared first on Nerdist.

Space. For those of us on Earth, it’s a place of wonder. Scientists estimate we’ve only explored 4% of the universe so far. And only 646 people out of the billions on Earth have seen space in person—a staggering number. But that doesn’t mean humans aren’t eager to discover new wonders in the cosmos. To unlock the 96% of the universe we haven’t discovered yet, LEGO has committed to highlighting space’s splendor in its new 2024 releases and sets. From letting creators build the Milky Way to bringing children’s spacecraft visions to life (which you can see at the LEGO booth), LEGO has paired the ingenuity and exploratory nature inherent in its offerings with a mission to encourage a love of space in children and beyond. Blasting this partnership to new heights is LEGO’s space-themed booth at SDCC 2024. Please join us for an exclusive walkthrough (or is that “floatthrough”) of LEGO’s cosmically cool creation, Space Station 8R1CK5.

We Invite You Into Orbit: Tour LEGO’s SDCC 2024 Booth, Space Station 8R1CK5, with Our Exclusive Walkthrough

The final frontier. The galaxy far, far away… To infinity and beyond! Space has been the backdrop of many nerdy adventures, and now, thanks to LEGO, it’s on its way to San Diego Comic-Con, the ultimate fannish destination. At LEGO’s San Diego Comic-Con 2024 booth (booth #2829), fans will be welcomed to Space Station 8R1CK5. LEGO has had many incredible booths at SDCC before, filled with awe-inspiring LEGO-built figures, creative activations, and more. But LEGO’s 2024 SDCC booth is one of the most immersive and the most meaningful to date. Stepping into LEGO’s Space Station 8R1CK5 booth will allow visitors to imagine they’re blasting off into space, all with the very special cosmic touch of LEGO magic.

At Nerdist, it’s our particular delight to help reveal LEGO’s San Diego Comic-Con 2024 booth with a very special booth tour and walkthrough of the space installation. And we invite all the LEGO fans out there in the universe to join us. We say “LEGO fans in the universe” because LEGO fans are on Earth, in space via our terrestrial astronauts, but also (we bet) in parts of the cosmos still unknown. That’s right, we’re saying aliens love LEGOs.

So, whether you’re soon heading to SDCC yourself, watching from the Milky Way, or just want to live the adventure from your home-ship, C0UCH, we want you to come along on this journey into space. You can check out our booth tour walkthrough video above or shift your telescope down for even more details about LEGO’s SDCC 2024 installation, Space Station 8R1CK5.

LEGO Is Bringing Space to Its 2024 SDCC Booth (#2829)

At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, the LEGO Group’s Space Station 8R1CK5 will create an interstellar booth experience, which will also feature first-look product reveals from beloved properties and a plethora of interactive elements. In LEGO’s SDCC booth, booth #2829, the wonder of space exploration will meet the pure joy of building with LEGO bricks. (Another wonderful kind of exploration.) As fans float through the booth, they can expect cosmic experiences, out-of-this-world photo opportunities, exclusive surprises, and more. Space Station 8R1CK5 will land at SDCC from Thursday, July 25, through Sunday, July 29. 

Beth McKenna, Head of U.S. Marketing at the LEGO Group, shares, “After over 20 years of showcasing at San Diego Comic-Con, we wanted to wowfans yet again and worked hard to create a brand-new experience that offers something for everyone. Space is an endless playground for imagination and storytelling; we are hoping to capture that playground spirit right here at Space Station 8R1CK5.”

Don’t Miss Out on LEGO’s SDCC 2024 Booth Experiences, Immersions, and Panel Signings

LEGO’s San Diego Comic-Con 2024 booth, Space Station 8R1CK5, will truly allow you to explore an expansive universe. With its clean, geometric aesthetic, deep blue and white coloring, and gloriously cosmic “windows” into space, Space Station 8R1CK5 makes its visitors feel like they’ve actually stepped into orbit. Additionally, full of brick-built details and delightfully giant LEGO figures, this booth offers all kinds of galactic activities and immersive adventures.

Some of the activities you’ll find in the solar system of LEGO’s 2024 SDCC booth include: 

• An immersive space station experience that features beloved properties, interactive fun, and virtual elements.
• Among other adventures, you can travel to a galaxy far, far away at the LEGO Star Wars™ display, have a close encounter with specimens from different universes with LEGO IP products, or even just watch the time float by from one of the space windows and content screens!
• Space Station 8R1CK5 will feature a build-your-own LEGO rocket experience. In this experience, guests can design and build their own space creation using LEGO bricks. Once complete, guests can set their craft in orbit by placing it in front of a special LED screen backdrop. Your rockets will literally take flight before your eyes.

Of course, space exploration is its own reward. But to add a little bit of extra incentive to head to space, LEGO will be offering exclusive embroidered patches to commemorate the builds of every astronaut-in-training. LEGO shares that “Every astronaut who travels to Space Station 8R1CK5 and completes the rocket build experience will receive a San Diego Comic-Con mission patch.” And who among us does not want an exclusive patch for our collection?

LEGO Panels and Signings

In addition to the tremendous adventures of LEGO’s booth itself, LEGO will have a pair of exciting panels and signings that will surely please die-hard fans. LEGO’s San Diego Comic-Con panels include a LEGO NINJAGO: Dragons Rising Continues panel and a LEGO Masters: Back Behind the Brick Panel. These panels will both take place in room 6BCF on Thursday, July 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PDT and  Friday, July 26, from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm PDT, respectively.

Signings for these panels will take place in LEGO’s SDCC booth. The LEGO NINJAGO Dragons Rising Continues! signing will take place after its panel, at 3 PM on July 25. Meanwhile, the LEGO Masters: Back Behind the Brick signing will take place prior to the panel in the booth from 2 PM-3 PM.

Where Is LEGO’s Booth (#2829) Located?

So, where can you find LEGO’s SDCC 2024 booth, #2829? LEGO’s booth is just across from the Star Wars and Marvel booths at SDCC, right around the very middle of the Exhibitor area.

A Journey of Discovery: The Beautiful Connection Between LEGO and Space

A study by the LEGO Group finds that 86% of children are interested in finding new planets, stars, and galaxies, and 77% want to visit space. Additionally, a majority of children believe there are aliens in space, and 64% want to meet one. It’s this excitement and energy that will allow us to continue exploring space and its wonderful mysteries, and it’s this eagerness that LEGO wants to help bolster with its commitment to making space accessible. Today, children will step into LEGO’s immersive SDCC space-themed booth, and hopefully, tomorrow, they will blast off to explore our next new frontier.

While not everyone will be able to go to space, every single one of us can open a box of LEGOs and feel a sense of adventure and discovery beneath our fingers. LEGO is all about creating and discovering, taking the smallest of component parts and turning them into something much greater. Snapping those bricks together is one small step for our LEGO build and one giant step for our imaginations. Through its space sets, LEGO lets us take off on new galactic adventures every day.

So far in 2024, LEGO has helped children, adults, and more connect with their love of space. This has happened in small ways, like the release of new space-themed sets, and big ways, like helping to inspire the way astronauts are building shelters on the moon. We can’t wait to see what (inter)stellar surprises LEGO will dream of next!

The post LEGO’s SDCC 2024 Booth Invites You to Blast Off Into Space—Our Exclusive Booth Walkthrough appeared first on Nerdist.

The full details of what fans can expect from their favorite nerdy brands at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con are still trickling out. But if you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to see what surprises LEGO has in store, as we are at Nerdist, some tantalizing hints are already available to start building your excitement. From two exciting panels to a LEGO Marvel experience, here are the first tastes of LEGO’s presence at SDCC. Make sure to snap them into your schedule if you’re heading to the con or prepare to tune in on social media at home!

LEGO NINJAGO: Dragons Rising Continues Panel on Thursday at SDCC

LEGO plus dragons plus ninjas is a surefire recipe for success, in our opinion. Who could resist loving this LEGO animated series, which breathes new life (and fire) into a long-running franchise? The LEGO Ninjago: Dragons Rising Continues SDCC panel will take place on Thursday, July 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. PDT in room 6BCF.

The official panel description reads:

The Ninjago: Dragons Rising team will discuss the current run of Dragon’s Rising, the upcoming 15th anniversary of Ninjago, and the future of Ninjago. They’ll take a deep dive into the evolution of the show from a writing and production perspective as well as offer insights about the characters from the voice actors themselves. Featuring Pamela Keller (LEGO/exec producer), Chris “Doc” Wyatt and Kevin Burke (head writers), Ryan Burns (LEGO/exec producer), Deven Mack (voice of Arin), and Sabrina Pitre (voice of Sora).

Don’t miss out on all the LEGO fun!

LEGO Masters: Back Behind the Brick Panel on Friday at SDCC

Admit it, you’re obsessed with watching master builders transform LEGOs into works of art on LEGO Masters! Cooking shows are good, but there’s nothing quite as riveting and delightfully inspiring as watching majorly talented people turn LEGOs into awe-inspiring creations. It makes us want to break out our own LEGOs and see what we might be able to manifest. To help us along on our LEGO journeys, LEGO is having a LEGO Masters panel at SDCC. This panel will take place on Friday, July 26, from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm PDT in room 6BCF. And yes, it will share tips, tricks, and secrets to becoming a LEGO genius.

You can check out the official description below.

Go behind the scenes and get a sneak peek at the exciting developments from around the world in TV’s greatest building competition, LEGO Masters! Brickmaster Jamie and former LEGO Masters winners are here to share all the tips, tricks, and secrets to becoming a LEGO master. You’ll get an update on LEGO Masters season 5, the upcoming LEGO Masters Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular! Featuring Jamie Berard (LEGO design lead/brickmaster), Brent Benedetti (LEGO/exec producer), Robert May (LEGO/exec producer), Michael Heyerman (SVP Unscripted Endemol Shine), and others. Get ready to get your brick on!

LEGO’s SDCC Booth Is #2829 

LEGO hasn’t officially revealed information about its booth yet, but we know it will be worth checking out. Mark booth #2829 on your con maps and stop by for a visit when the convention is in full swing.

LEGO Marvel SDCC Experience at Booth #2519

Because it is just that awesome, you can also find LEGO in other places at SDCC. One exciting LEGO experience will occur at Booth #2519 as LEGO teams up with Marvel for the LEGO Marvel experience. A release from Marvel notes that fans can enjoy “special X-Men ’97 and Spider-Man photo ops” as “Marvel and LEGO team up to bring scenes straight out of the Marvel Universe built by LEGO artists along with a look at Marvel x LEGO kits.”

Consider us already in line for this LEGO SDCC adventure!

The post LEGO Heads to SDCC with Two Panels and a Marvel Experience appeared first on Nerdist.

Funko’s new premium collectible line, aptly named Project Fred after the company’s mascot Freddy, is bringing fans pop culture icons in figure form. The latest edition shows Freddy Funko as two very famous stone age buddies to honor Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles. That’s right, Freddy is all dressed up as Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble to give you all that Saturday morning cartoons and cereal nostalgia. And, there’s a chance for fans to score one in a raffle! (More on that in a bit.) 

Here’s a detailed description of the Funko cereal figures: 

This edition of Project Fred features Freddy Funko personifying Fred Flintstone with Fruity Pebbles™.
This 11-inch-tall collectible is a substantial and sophisticated addition to a premium collector’s display.
There’s a 1 in 10 chance you’ll find the chase version of Barney Rubble with Cocoa Pebbles™. Only 750
of this hard vinyl collectible were made and verified with a certificate of authenticity, which makes its
addition to your set a cherished specialty. Now it’s your chance to bring together your collection with the Fruity Pebbles edition of Project Fred figure.

The Pebbles cereal brand was the first to be created around an already existing media character, Pebbles from The Flintstones. Whether you’re a collector of classic Ad Icon designs or a curator of more modern materials, Project Fred is the perfect piece to pair with your set. It’s a great piece for a breakfast-themed set or as a statement piece to stand alongside retro boxes and advertising materials. Collect a piece of true Americana with the Fruity Pebbles edition of Project Fred hard vinyl figure.

These Funko Fruity Pebbles figures, which retail for $295, will only be available through this launch and will not get a re-release in the future. So, if you want ’em, make sure you get into the raffle. It will open on July 11 at 9:30AM PT and end on July 14 at 11:59PM PT at this handy link. Make these modern stone-age figures yours soon!

The post Funko’s Project Fred Brings Fruity Pebbles Fun to Collectible Figure Form appeared first on Nerdist.

DC Comics characters are going to have a big presence at Comic-Con once again, with tons of exclusive items featuring the World’s Finest heroes (that’s Batman and Superman, by the way). Among the items is an exclusive “Fusion” Superman/Batman Funko Pop! vinyl, straight from the pages of World’s Finest, a vinyl soundtrack commemorating 35 years of Tim Burton’s Batman, and a pair of posters showcasing Bruce and Clark from superstar artist Jim Lee. There’s even a Batman Returns poster for those of you who still worship Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. You can check out images and details for each SDCC exclusive down below:

Funko Batman/Superman Fusion Pop! Vinyl Figure

The combined willpower of Batman and Superman has brought the ring of Green Lantern to them, which fused the two heroes into one: Pop! Batman/Superman Fusion! Complete your Batman/Superman: World’s Finest collection by welcoming this exclusive hero to your DC lineup. The vinyl figure is 4.55 inches tall. Customers may purchase up to one piece per household. This composite hero is $14.99.

Batman – Original Motion Picture Score LP + Graphic Novel Box Set – SDCC Exclusive Batstripe Vinyl

Click To View Gallery

Mondo’s Batman – Original Motion Picture Score returns as a collector’s box set, featuring new vinyl variants bundled with DC’s Batman ‘89 comic book, a brilliant continuation of the story by screenwriter Sam Hamm, Joe Quinones, and Leonardo Ito. The box set comes in a newly designed clamshell with artwork by series artist Quinones and Paolo Rivera.

Of course, the soundtrack boasts Danny Elfman’s iconic score conducted by Shirley Walker, liner notes by John Takis, and original art by Killian Eng. The colors on the vinyl give total Prince “Batdance” vibes. This exclusive vinyl soundtrack is limited to 1,000 copies, split between in-person (booth at SDCC) and online. There will be 600 in-person copies, and 400 online copies. You can snatch this one for $55.00.

Batman Returns Poster

Celebrate the ultimate power couple, Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, in a poster honoring Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. Penguin (Danny DeVito) and Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) also appear. This Booth exclusive features art of Batman (Michael Keaton) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) by Dan Hipp, measures 24″ x 18″, and is an edition of 215. MSRP is $60.00.

All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder #1 Poster

This poster features the cover art from 2005’s All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder by iconic artist Jim Lee. This series was a collaboration he did with The Dark Knight Returns‘ Frank Miller. The poster measures 24″ x 36″ and is printed on silver foil paper. It arrives in an edition of 265, and will set you back $80.00.

Superman #205 Poster

The Man of Steel never looked more ready to take on the bad guys than on the cover for Superman #205. This 24″ x 36″ poster features the art of DC publisher Jim Lee. It arrives printed on gold foil paper, in an Edition of 265. Like Lee’s All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder poster, this one is also $80.00.

The post DC Comics SDCC 2024 Exclusives from Funko, Mondo Celebrate Batman and Superman appeared first on Nerdist.

Call him Qimir. Call him “The Stranger.” But Manny Jacinto’s dark side warrior from The Acolyte has captured everyone’s attention. And not just for being the sexiest (and most naked) bad guy in Star Wars history. Although that helps. We may not know if he’s a Sith, or a Knight of Ren, or what. But we do know that the sinister-looking lightsaber-proof helmet he wears is already iconic. And now, fans can have one of their own with Hasbro Pulse’s Star Wars: Black Series The Stranger Electronic Helmet. You can check out several images in our gallery below:

Click To View Gallery

This officially licensed roleplay item is based on The Stranger’s helmet featured in Star Wars: The Acolyte, and the design features Welcome Light FX. Fans and collectors can soon go full dark side and wear this highly detailed sculpt themselves. The Stranger helmet includes padding for an adjustable fit for most head sizes. Of course, you can just choose to display it, right alongside your Darth Vader, stormtrooper, or Mandalorian helmets. One thing we’ve learned, the Star Wars galaxy has no shortage of is badass-looking headgear. The Stranger replica helmet sets you back $99.99, with a limit of just three per customer.

In The Acolyte, we learn that The Stranger’s helmet is made of a substance called cortosis, which is resistant to lightsaber blows. That’s a deep-cut reference, as the metal first appeared in a Star Wars novel many years ago. It’s similar to beskar steel on The Mandalorian, which is also lightsaber-resistant. While it’s safe to assume that this replica helmet is not made from any alien exotic metals, and instead just common Earth plastics, it doesn’t make it any less cool looking. So join the dark side, and head on over to the Hasbro Pulse site and pre-order this incredible replica helmet.

The post Feel the Dark Side with Replica ‘The Stranger’ Helmet from THE ACOLYTE appeared first on Nerdist.

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat…”

Well, not really. Thankfully you aren’t one of the unfortunate people in the pathway of a human-devouring shark in the Jaws universe. That classic line from the 1975 thriller film sparked an entire franchise with several movies and even a theme park ride. Now, you can recreate the terror of a lurking shark with the LEGO Jaws set, available on August 9. 

Here’s a product description for this LEGO Ideas Jaws build come to life: 

Relive dramatic moments from a beloved movie with the LEGO® Ideas Jaws diorama kit for adults (21350). A fun shark gift for Jaws fans, classic film lovers or movie memorabilia collectors, the set features the Orca LEGO boat model, which has a detailed cabin with a removable roof, an adjustable boom and rigging, plus lots of iconic accessories. It can be placed on a brick-built seawater base with the Jaws LEGO shark model attacking the boat. Attach a printed tile with Chief Brody’s famous line (“You’re gonna need a bigger boat”) to the base to complete a nostalgic and playful centerpiece.

This collectible Jaws LEGO diorama set also includes 3 iconic characters – Chief Martin Brody, Matt Hooper and Sam Quint – plus an alternative display stand where the fully built Jaws shark figure can be displayed with the minifigures.

Check out a few more of the set’s images here:

Click To View Gallery

The 1,497-piece set is over 14 in. tall, 23 in. long and 7.5 in. wide, so you probably won’t need a bigger table to make this happen.

The post This LEGO Jaws Set Honors the Film’s Most Iconic Line appeared first on Nerdist.

The LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ special brought Darth Jar Jar to life. Fans could not have expected to see this most cherished theory about Jar Jar being a secret dark side agent evolve in such a way. But now Darth Jar Jar is taking on a whole new part of the galaxy, LEGO. Yes, Darth Jar Jar will arrive in LEGO Minifigure form, alongside some of his very favorite friends, Beach Luke, Jedi Vader, and more, in the latest Star Wars LEGO set, The Dark Falcon.

Here’s what we know about the LEGO Star Wars‘ Dark Falcon set.

LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon Set Brings an Evil Millennium Falcon to Life

Fans love to ask, what if? And courtesy of LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, we get to see what if the Millenium Falcon went dark side. A release from LEGO shares more about the Star Wars set, revealing:

Turn the LEGO® Star Wars™ universe upside down with The Dark Falcon buildable toy vehicle set for kids (75389), which features a dark version of the Millennium Falcon, as seen in the LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Disney+ special. A thrilling birthday gift for boys, girls and any fans aged 10 and up, this LEGO Star Wars brick-built starship toy has flip-up panels for easy access to the detailed interior, including Darth Jar Jar’s throne, the command center, hyperdrive, entertainment area and jail cell. Spring-loaded shooters, rotating cannons and a removable gunner post add to the action-play possibilities.

Darth Jar Jar’s LEGO throne, you say? Sold. Not to mention—spring-loaded shooters for maximum action. Good thing we’re aged 10 and up. This Star Wars LEGO The Dark Falcon set seems like one of those sets that is the perfect blend of complex, but cool, and not too difficult to put together. Sold!

How Many Pieces Does the LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon? And What Are Its Measurements

Just how big is LEGO’s The Dark Falcon set? Well, this Star Wars set contains 1,579 pieces. It measures over 5 in. (12 cm) high, 17 in. (43 cm) long and 12.5 in. (32 cm) wide. That means you won’t have too move too many things around to find a good place for it.

LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon Features 6 Minifigures

The Star Wars Minifigures for this LEGO set are pretty exciting ones. They feature fun reimaginings of your favorite characters. The Dark Falcon LEGO set comes with six Minifigures. These are Darth Jar Jar, Bounty Hunter C-3PO, Darth Dev, Darth Rey, Beach Luke, and Jedi Vader. These Minifigures will let you have fun, but confusing, space adventures not only with The Dark Falcon LEGO set, but with many other Star Wars LEGO sets as well.

When Does LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon Set Release and How Much Does it Cost?

The LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon set is now available for pre-order. It will ship on August 1, 2024. The LEGO Star Wars The Dark Falcon set costs $179.99.

The post Dark Falcon LEGO STAR WARS Set Reveals Darth Jar Jar and Beach Luke Minifigures appeared first on Nerdist.

Like any good long-running fictional universe worth its name, the MCU has a metric ton of iconic objects throughout its 16 years of films and TV series. Of course, there are obvious things everyone knows, like Cap’s shield, or the Tesseract. But the MCU has many other objects we all want on our shelves too. Even if they are smaller versions. Thanks to the folks at Fanhome and their new subscription service, we can now turn your home into something of a Marvel Cinematic Universe Museum.

Fanhome specializes in subscription-based collections and models, and is bringing a collection of iconic replica items from the MCU to fans and collectors with the launch of the Marvel Movie Replicas collection. Among these items are Doctor Stange’s Eye of Agamotto, plus helmets for Loki, Iron Man, Cap, Black Panther, Ant-Man, Star-Lord, and Spider-Man. There’s an Infinity Nano Gauntlet, and even Thor’s mystic hammer Mjölnir. You can check out images of the first Marvel Movie Replicas in the collection in our gallery below:

Click To View Gallery

Produced from the Marvel Studios Movie archives, the’ve recreated the replicas in this collection with incredible detail. Each one is based on original production materials and constructed from metal and ABS plastic components. Throughout the subscription, collectors and MCU fans will deepen their knowledge about all these artifacts with an informative magazine that comes with each month’s shipment. You’ll be able to go behind the scenes with Marvel creators like Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca, and Brian Michael Bendis.

At various stages throughout the subscription, collectors also will receive exclusive gifts from Fanhome. Among these are three full-color frame-worthy posters from Marvel (60x80cm / 23×31 inches), a ceramic mug with the Marvel logo, a light-up miniature of Tony Stark’s ARC Reactor, and a miniature metal replica of Thor’s hammer (15cm / 6 inches). Fans that upgrade to the Marvel Movie Museum Premium Subscription will receive several exclusive Iron Man helmets as well. And we all know that Tony had a lot of variant Iron Man helmets. For more information and sign-up details, click here.

The post Marvel Movie Replicas Allow Fans to Collect Screen-Accurate MCU Stuff appeared first on Nerdist.

2024 marks 85 years of Batman, and the folks at Mattel have something quite special planned for the Caped Crusader’s milestone birthday, available at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego. The Fisher-Price Little People I Am Batman Set celebrates decades of the Dark Knight. It commemorates legendary on-screen portrayals by Michael Keaton (Batman 1989), Val Kilmer (Batman Forever 1995), George Clooney (Batman and Robin 1997), Christian Bale (The Dark Knight 2008), Ben Affleck (Batman vs. Superman 2016), and Robert Pattinson (The Batman 2022). Justice has never looked so adorable. The price for this one sets you back a mere $40.00. You can check out images of the I Am Batman collection below:

Fisher-Price Little People Collector Batman 85th Anniversary

The packaging for the I Am Batman collection includes fun movie poster art in Little People style. It also has a shiny bat belt, all together in the Batcave surrounded by rock walls and computer screens. Sadly, there is no Adam West version of Batman in this set. He was the first cinematic Batman after all, way back in 1966. No, not just on TV, there was a Batman ’66 movie as well. We suppose we’ll just have to wait for the 90th-anniversary set to honor the “Bright Knight.” In the meantime, this is a pretty great collection any Bat-fan would love to own.

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Often, the parts of superhero movies the studios are terrified of spoiling in trailers are revealed months in advance via toys. And the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine is no different. This collector’s 1/6 scale figure from Hot Toys/Sideshow Collectibles replicates the look of Hugh Jackman’s Logan from the film, complete with the iconic mask from the comic books at last. Although we’ve seen the mask before in certain promotional images, this figure is the best idea we have outside the film itself as what Jackman will look like in his full comics-accurate Wolverine regalia. You can check out several images, as well as read the official description, below:

Click To View Gallery

The screen-accurate collectible action figure is crafted based on the appearance of Wolverine portrayed by Hugh Jackman from the upcoming theatrical release, features a newly developed masked head sculpt with interchangeable lower faces showcasing different expressions, a highly poseable muscular body, arms made in silicone material with seamless elbows design, carefully tailored costume that replicates his battle outfit, multiple interchangeable hands with attachable bladed claws for additional posing options.

This Deadpool & Wolverine figure includes one newly developed masked head sculpt with three interchangeable lower faces, a screen-accurate facial expression, and detailed beard and skin textures. Wolverine stands at approximately 31 cm tall, and a body with over 30 points of articulation. They made the arms from silicone material with seamless elbow joints. There are 6 pieces of interchangeable hands including one pair of fists, one pair of relaxed hands, and one pair of open hands. The Deluxe Edition comes with a Hugh Jackman maskless face sculpt, as well as sleeves.

The costume is a yellow, navy, and black color Wolverine suit with weathering effects. It comes with one set of body armor, including chest guard, shoulder guards, and gauntlets. Logan also has one pair of navy and black colored boots. Of course, Logan has a pair of bladed claws (attachable to the back of the hands). A specially designed figure stand with the movie logo and character nameplate is also part of the package. The price for this bad boy is $280.00, and $340.00 for the Deluxe Edition, with shipping expected April to September 2025. You can click here to pre-order the Hot Toys Deadpool & Wolverine figures.

The post New DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE Deluxe Figure Gives Us Our Best Look at Masked Logan appeared first on Nerdist.

Millennial kids (myself included) remember the joys of our toys. Who can forget how we used to forget to feed our Tamagotchis? And everyone wanted a Skip-It. One toy that many of us had was a Furby, an owl-like robotic toy that started speaking “Furbish” until it “learned English.” Like the Cabbage Patch dolls, it became a hot Christmas item that made our parents nearly fight in stores. But have you ever imagined what a Furby would be like if it came out in the not-so-distant future versus 1998. Well, the creators at Evan and Katelyn Extra have thought about that and their futuristic Furby from 2030 is a frightening robot with the body of a dog. I am afraid of it, tbh. 

The creativity and work that went into building a robot Furby is astounding. But I certainly wouldn’t want to creep up on that thing in the dark. If you want to learn more about how they made it, the below video breaks it all down.

He’s probably going to murder us all…

The post This Robotic Furby Is Absolute Nightmare Fuel appeared first on Nerdist.

Minecraft is one the best-selling video game ever, but the franchise isn’t content with resting on its sanbox laurels. It’s getting both a live-action movie and an animated Netflix series. Now it’s also moving from the screen into the real world. LEGO’s newest set is a recreation of Minecraft‘s Crafting Table.

The LEGO Minecraft The Crafting Table celebrates ($89.99) the series’ 15th anniversary. This 1,195-piece collectible features detachable biomes, popular mobs, and Easter eggs for fans to find. Designed for adults, it’s many features include “Taiga with a dripstone cave, Plains with a village, Ice Spikes with an igloo, Cherry Grove with an abandoned mineshaft, and the Deep Dark with a lush cave.” It also comes with eight microfigures: Steve, Alex, a skeleton, witch, Creeper, villager, cow, and pig. It also has stickers of iconic in-game phrases. The only thing you can’t craft with it is a faster timeline to get your copy. The LEGO Minecraft set starts shipping August 1, 2024.

The post LEGO’s New MINECRAFT Set Will Let You Build a Crafting Table appeared first on Nerdist.

Cat owners know the last place you want to see your feline friend is on a shelf. That’s the best place for them to mindlessly knock stuff over! But soon you won’t have to worry about one special kitty being up there, because that’s where they’ll belong. LEGO’s new Tuxedo Cat is a stationary pet who won’t do any damage to your other collectibles.

The newest LEGO Ideas set is the 1,710-piece Tuxedo Cat ($99.99). Designed for ages 18 and up, this poseable black and white kitten comes with two sets of eyes, yellow and blue. You can also change its expression. But what this set doesn’t include might be the most attractive. As the toy company points out, unlike a real cat this LEGO one means “no shedding, no knocking things down, no litter box.”

To celebrate its new build, LEGO even turned its Twitter account over to the cat itself, much to the delight of the internet.

You will have to wait roughly 60 days before yours ships, though, which is only fitting. Cats love to take their time getting anywhere you actually want them to be.

The post This LEGO Ideas Tuxedo Cat Will Silently Sass You appeared first on Nerdist.

LEGO Ideas has some of the coolest projects around. Sometimes they become a real LEGO set that brick fans can buy and build. We certainly hope that’s the case for this Apple Store LEGO project by builder legotruman (in collaboration with 2A2A). 

Honestly, Apple stores are gorgeous and often pristine with people milling about, which is exactly what we see in these LEGO concept photos. I especially love the trees and the little squirrel chilling outside.

Click To View Gallery

Here’s some points about its design: 

• This model is not based on any one specific Apple store location. Instead, it is uniquely designed after observing the features and style shared by many iconic store locations.
• The building features tall glass walls around the front and two sides.
• The huge apple logo shines in white, placed front and center. These are features seen in most apple stores, contributing to the consistent aesthetics of these locations.
• Black border “door frames” indicates the entrances.
• Inside, clean space with friendly staff members in blue t-shirts.
• The long wooden tables showcasing the latest iPhone, iMac and MacBook.
• On the shelves, white product packages and headphones (arranged in a floral pattern, seen in many store locations).
• On the right, indoor Ficus trees in white pot with nougat brim (seen in many real-life store locations).
• On the left, stairs crossing the boundary of indoor/ outdoor spaces.
• Upstairs, a display table for colorful Apple Watch, more staff helpers, and a beautiful color gradient screen as backdrop. Many store locations feature similar large display on white wall backgrounds.

This model will have a detachable roof and a front wall glass that can be removed with ease. The dimensions would be 41 cm x 25.6 cm x 15.8 cm with 1539 parts.

You can support this project and play a part in making it a reality.

The post This LEGO Ideas Apple Store Design Is Pristine appeared first on Nerdist.

Baby versions of everything somehow always work. Like the Muppets? You’ll love Muppet Babies. Enjoy Tom and Jerry? Then you’re probably going to love Tom and Jerry Kids even more. The biggest example of “Make it a baby and people will go nuts” is Grogu on The Mandalorian, who some folks still call “Baby Yoda.” Well, for those of you who want a teeny-tinier version of a baby Yoda all to yourself, one in his birthday suit no less, a highly realistic silicone art doll “Tiny Elf Yoda” is available. It comes from the folks at Creatures In My Bag, and you can see several images of the lil’ guy down below:

Click To View Gallery

According to the official Creatures in My Bag site, Tiny Elf Yoda’s whole body was created of platinum silicone, with a very realistic, soft, and smooth touch. The site reiterates that this is not a toy, but a highly detailed collectible piece. They are all hand-detailed, so slight variations may occur compared to the photos. Particularly in regard to skin coloring, as everything is handmade. They’ve closed the Pre-orders for Tiny Elf Yoda for now, but worry not, they’re opening up again in September, for the price of $189.00.

Creatures in My Bag also has other silicone infant versions of characters from pop culture. There’s a baby version of the Grinch, as well as tiny versions of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Also for Star Wars fans, there’s a tiny baby Greedo, of all characters. Although maybe it’s not Greedo, the listing just says “Rodian.” Appropriately enough, the Gelflings from The Dark Crystal also have adorable art doll versions of themselves. We must confess though, our favorite is Baby Cthulhu. Who doesn’t want an adorable tiny version of an ancient Elder God? To check them all out, be sure to head over to the Creatures in My Bag online shop.

The post ‘Tiny Elf Yoda’ Is the Jedi House Elf You Didn’t Know You Needed appeared first on Nerdist.

Ah, the ’80s. The decade that will seemingly never die. Why is it so indestructible? Chiefly for the metric ton of memorable pop culture that ten-year span dumped on the world. As a way of further celebrating this decade of media excess, we’ve learned (via Boing Boing) that the folks at LEGO are having another If We Could Turn Back Time Challenge, (hey, shout out to Cher!) asking fans to vote on specific ’80s-inspired potential builds, which may become future LEGO Ideas sets.

Among the ’80s-inspired LEGO sets submitted this year are ones for E.T., Gremlins, Beetlejuice, Big, and our personal fave, Golden Girls. Others have submitted the latter for a LEGO Ideas set once or twice before. Maybe this time Dorothy, Rose, Blache, and Sophia will finally make it into production? The vote is open from May 20 to May 27, at 2 pm CEST. Each member will have one vote for their favorite entry. Down below you can see images of each submission:

Gizmo from Gremlins by Terauma

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial by Jimmi-DK

Golden Girls by Martin_Studio

Beetlejuice: Sandworm House by Jupe71345

Big by JulientheClownoftheBrick

In the past few years, several LEGO fans have suggested sets based on pop culture properties, and actually got them made. A fan suggested a Seinfeld set, and they produced that one a few years back. Fans have submitted all kinds of ideas over the years, from The Muppet Show to The Flintstones to Dungeons & Dragons. While we’re really rooting for the Golden Girls (it’s their time), it would not be a shock if Beetlejuice won the contest. If only because he’s got a sequel hitting theaters this year. To cast your vote, be sure to head on over to the LEGO Ideas official blog, and let your voice be heard.

The post LEGO Ideas ’80s-Inspired Contest Features GREMLINS, BEETLEJUICE, and More appeared first on Nerdist.

The Super Powers line of action figures is a huge source of nostalgia for any DC Comics fan who grew up in the ’80s. The toy and merchandise line, which was introduced in 1984 and ran until 1986, defined the look and feel of DC Comics characters for the era. Most were based on the DC Style Guide art of José Luis García-López. Now, DC Comics is honoring the iconic toy brand on its 40th anniversary with a series of variant covers, imagining the classic action figure packaging with characters the original line never got around to.

In August, eight new DC Super Powers variant covers will imagine what an unreleased wave of action figures would have looked like if the Kenner line of Super Powers toys had continued. Variant covers appear on Batman #151, Gotham City Sirens #1, Green Lantern: War Journal #12, Nightwing #117, Power Girl #12, Superman #17, The Flash #12, and Titans #14. The covers feature brand-new art by original 1980s Super Powers product artist Alex Saviuk. One of the leading historians of the original Kenner Super Powers line and the cofounder of Action Figure Insider, Jason Geyer, designed and sculpted the variant covers. You can check out each one down below:

Superman #17 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Superman Gold art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/21/24)

Batman #151 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Batman art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/7/24)

Nightwing #117 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Nightwing art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/21/24)

Titans #14 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Wonder Girl (Donna Troy) art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/21/24)

Green Lantern: War Journal #12 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Green Lantern John Stewart art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/21/24)

The Flash #12 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Kid Flash (Wally West) art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/28/24)

Gotham City Sirens #1 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Poison Ivy art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/7/24)

Power Girl #12 DC Super Powers Variant Cover

Power Girl art by Jason Geyer and Alex Saviuk (On sale 8/28/24)

Currently, McFarlane Toys has a series of Super Powers-style retro action figures in stores, producing figures that the original line never got to do, like Tim Drake Robin, or Deathstroke. Many of the figures for these covers are fan’s “Super Powers Most Wanted,” so maybe if we’re lucky, we’ll see them as more than just art on comic book covers one day. In the meantime, these DC Comics Super Powers tribute covers all hit comic shops this coming August.

The post DC Comics Honors SUPER POWERS Toys With 40th Anniversary Variant Covers appeared first on Nerdist.

There are few things in the galaxy far, far away as rewarding for a Rebel as seeing an Imperial Star Destroyer ruined. Now LEGO wants to let Star Wars fans experience the complete opposite with all the same joy. The company’s new buildable toy starship playset will let fans young and old recreate one of the franchise’s most iconic and intimidating vessels. And this new LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer set will come complete with a Minifigure of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor‘s Cal Kestis.

LEGO’s upcoming 1,555-piece brick-built set will let both the Emperor’s loyal subjects and Rebel scum alike craft their own Imperial Star Destroyer. Designed for ages 10 and up, this toy features fun bonuses for recreating your own galactic battles. It includes a hidden foldout carry handle so you can help it fly. It also boasts two spring-loaded shooters. And this LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer has a lift-off top panel and foldout side panels so you can easily get to the interior. That’s where you’ll find the ship’s bridge, command room, break room, armory, control panels, and a cargo box. That box holds both thermal detonator parts and a Kyber crystal.

The LEGO Imperial Star Destroyer also comes with seven minifigures. You can hit lightspeed with Darth Vader, Commander Praji, an Imperial Gunner, an Imperial Navy Trooper, a Stormtrooper, and a special LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary, Cal Kestis. We know Star Wars fans will be very excited to see Cal Kestis in LEGO form.

When finished the collectible toy measures over 6-inches high, 18-inches long, and 11-inches deep. And with the LEGO Builder app you and your youngsters can “zoom, rotate and visualize a digital version of this construction toy” as you build it, all while tracking your progress.

The Imperial Star Destroyer LEGO set is available for pre-order at LEGO’s official website now. You can transport one home for $159.99. It will start shipping this summer on August 1, 2024. There is one downside to this set, though. After you finish building yours, there will be an Imperial Star Destroyer you’ll never want to see ruined.

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For almost 15 years, the Despicable Me series has been one of the most successful animated franchises of all time, with three main blockbuster films, two Minions spinoffs, and a new sequel on the way this summer, Despicable Me 4. To celebrate the release of the new film, the LEGO group partnered with Illumination and Universal Products & Experiences to release a series of sets based on the upcoming film. Below are images and details of the four Despicable Me 4 LEGO sets.

LEGO Despicable Me 4 Minions and Gru’s Family Mansion

This Despicable Me 4 set comes with the mansion’s iconic architecture and beloved movie items, such as the red couch, fireplace, and rocket-style bedroom—not to mention a brightly colored tree house.

Age: 8+/Price: €99.99 / $99.99 / £89.99/Pieces: 868/Dimensions: 10.5 in. (27 cm) high, 8.5 in. (21 cm) wide and 4.5 in. (11 cm) deep/Available: May 1, 2024

LEGO Despicable Me 4 Brick-Built Gru and Minions

The second Despicable Me 4 LEGO set is a Brick-Built Gru with dancing Minions. It comes with a ukulele-playing Mel and Kevin, armed with his fart gun. (You have to have a good fart gun).

Age: 9+/Price: €54,99 / $54.99 / £49.99/Pieces: 839/Dimensions: 11 in. (28 cm) high, 9 in. (23 cm) wide and 6 in. (16 cm) deep. Available: May 1, 2024

Minions’ Music Party Bus

The minions are ready to party, so it’s a good thing you can build them a party bus. This bus has a dance floor, DJ station, hot tub and more. It comes complete with lots of party accessories too, including party hats, of course. This Despicable Me LEGO set also comes with four different minion figures: Phil, Mel, Dave, and Mega Minion Gus. We just hope things don’t get too crazy.

This Despicable Me LEGO set costs $39.99.

Minions and Banana Car

Finally, if your Minions don’t like their party bus, get them a banana car. This adorable set lets you get a small taste of life as a Minion. It features a removable engine and driver’s seat, and accessories that will help your Minons go about their life. They can partake in weight lifting, painting, diaper changing, and, of course, spying. This Despicable Me LEGO set includes four minons: Mel, AVL Tim, Mega Minion Dave and Pit Crew Ron.

It costs $24.99.

When Will the LEGO Despicable Me 4 Sets Release?

Sadly, the giant LEGO Minion LEGO revealed on April 1 was just an April Fool’s Day joke. It’s too bad, because we kind of want that one. We’ve included an image of it because it’s way too perfect not to show.

These new LEGO Despicable Me 4 products released on May 1, 2024. For more information, be sure to check out the LEGO official site.

Originally published on April 4, 2024.

The post Gru and the Minions Are Back in DESPICABLE ME 4 LEGO Sets appeared first on Nerdist.

In the Marvel comics, Wolverine is a very short guy. Yet thanks to the fact that Hugh Jackman stands at 6’3″, a lot of people today forget Logan’s comic book height. He was so short, that his fellow X-Man Colossus (whose height lived up to his codename) could pick Logan up and literally throw him at an opponent. (He can do this while in his metallic form.) Iconic Uncanny X-Men writer Chris Claremont called this maneuver “the fastball special.” It’s a battle move Wolverine and Colossus use this against their enemies to this day. Now, Sideshow Collectibles is immortalizing the iconic X-Men movement with a Wolverine and Colossus statue and a larger premium format figure.

These are perfect for any hardcore X-Men fan. Also, they capture a moment we hope to see happen in Deadpool & Wolverine. Or maybe even in X-Men ’97, should Colossus ever show up there. You can read the official description for both right here, as well as see several images in our gallery:

Click To View Gallery

The Fastball Special Premium Format Figure measures 24″ tall, 15.15″ wide, and 25.5″ deep as Colossus launches Wolverine headfirst into the fray. The metallic mutant plants his feet firmly into the ground while he winds up the pitch. Wolverine has one foot in his friend’s hand and the rest of his body outstretched in anticipation. With his protracted Adamantium claws, he’s going to be the deadliest projectile his enemies have ever known. The Fastball Special: Colossus and Wolverine Statue measures 18” tall, 14.93” wide, and 19.12” deep as a colorful team-up bursts off the comic page and onto your shelf amid a fiery explosion.

Both Logan and Piotr Rasputin are wearing their classic comic costumes from the All-New, All-Different X-Men comic book era. This is the era that catapulted X-Men from a canceled series to one of Marvel’s most influential comics. Wolverine and Colossus stand on a base of molten Sentinel pieces that tell the story of a battle we haven’t seen yet, but we know was brutal. The statue will set you back $755.00 and the premium format figure costs $1,050.00. You can pre-order both by clicking here. The Wolverine and Colossus fastball special figure and statue are expected to arrive in Q4 2024.

The post Wolverine and Colossus’ X-MEN ‘Fastball Special’ Move Gets Deluxe Collectible appeared first on Nerdist.

The Addams family’s creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky vibes have entertained audiences for decades. The comic series turned popular ‘60s TV became a full-fledged franchise, sparking animated series, stage plays, movies, and more. Today, there’s a whole new generation of fans thanks to Netflix’s Wednesday series that focuses on the family’s pigtailed who is full of woe. It’s nearly impossible not to love Wednesday Addams’ deadpan humor or Morticia’s dark elegance and grace. They are the perfect blend of goth and unique glamor, indeed. That’s why the newest Monster High Skullector doll set, The Addams Family 2 Pack, is a perfect way to honor the animated versions of Wednesday and Morticia. (To be fair, they are the creepiest of them all.) 

The Addams ladies are in great company alongside other Skullector sets like The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and more. If you have a mother figure in your life who loves all things macabre, this could be the perfect set for her. Or, you can grab the Wednesday and Morticia Monster High dolls for yourself if you’re a huge Addams family fan.

Check out this quick product description of The Addams Family 2 Pack Monster High Skullector set: 

Morticia is dolled up in a black spiderweb lace dress with sheer waterfall sleeves and a jagged hem. Her accessories include pruning shears on a chain, rose heels, and a long-stemmed rose with a detachable bud that’s perfect for snipping – how romantic! Wednesday wears a skull-print puff sleeve dress, a purse inspired by her octopus Socrates. Complete with glossy boots and heels inspired by Thing and Cousin It.

Click To View Gallery

The rose is such great detail considering how she loves to make arrangements with thorny stems. Monster High will make its Skullector Addams family set available on May 10 at 9AM PT. You can sign up for email updates and grab one here.

The post Wednesday and Morticia Addams Add Gore-geous Glamour to Monster High Skullector Series appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s hard to believe, but The Phantom Menace arrived in theaters 25 years ago. It premiered on May 19, 1999. As the first news Star Wars movie in nearly 20 years, the film had a lot to live up to, especially since it explored the origins of Darth Vader. The movie marks the in-universe beginning of the Skywalker saga. The Phantom Menace will be returning to theaters soon to celebrate the milestone anniversary on May 3. That’s right before May the 4th, a.k.a. Star Wars Day. Hasbro has several new items for that special day, including an absolutely perfect retro collection multipack of action figures for The Phantom Menace.

This multipack comes with action figures for Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Queen Amidala, Darth Maul, Jar Jar Binks, and a battle droid. In other words, it’s the ideal The Phantom Menace action figure sampler pack. It’s made all the cooler by the retro sculpt style. The lightsabers look like they’re from the ’70s and just look at Qui-Gon’s fabric cape! Take a closer gander at the figures in the gallery below.

Click To View Gallery

Inspired by the design of 1970s Kenner Star Wars action figures, these 3.75 inch scale The Phantom Menace figures each have five points of articulation. Each figure is individually packaged on a cardboard back within the box. The packaging has classic Kenner branding and a weathered look. As usual with these figures, the cardboard backing also has a large “Retro collection” label that takes away some of the coolness. However, if you’re like me, you open your action figures so the packaging doesn’t matter anyway.

Other items in the Hasbro May the 4th release include an Epic Hero series stormtrooper, Epic Hero series Paz Vizsla, a Vintage Collection Jango Fett, a Black Series Droideka, a Black Series Darth Vader, and a Vintage Collection Mandalorian.

This multipack of The Phantom Menace action figures retails for $59.99 and is available in stores now.

The post Hasbro’s THE PHANTOM MENACE Retro Action Figures Could Not Be More Perfect appeared first on Nerdist.

As a millennial, it’s not very often that I am jealous of Gen Z. But, when it comes to dolls, I totally hate that I was already an adult (and a mom) when Monster High dolls hit the shelves in 2010. I thought they were delightful alternatives to Barbies that celebrated sci-fi, fantasy, and goth culture. Sure, I was able to play with them thanks to my daughter, but it would have been cool to have them around during my childhood. Barbie is still holding strong and gaining a whole new generation of fans thanks to a certain movie. However, Monster High dolls still rule among the youths. The Monster High Skullector series already boasts Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas as well as the Universal Monsters. Now, Monster High is adding a Creature from the Black Lagoon doll into the Skullector mix. 

For those who aren’t familiar, Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster horror film. It follows a group of scientist who encounter a humanoid amphibious creature in the waters of the Amazon. It’s a rather strange film (in a good way) that influenced many monster flicks to come. It’s hard to believe but that strange creature is turning 70 in 2024. So that’s why Monster High is bringing a Creature from the Black Lagoon doll into its popular lineup.

The doll captures the creature’s odd mix of human and fish, transforming the frightening Gill-man into a stylish Gill-lady. We bet Kay Lawrence wouldn’t run away from this version of the monster. Well done, Mattel Creations!

The Monster High Creature from the Black Lagoon Skullector doll will be available on Friday, April 26 at 9am PT via Mattel Creation’s website. I don’t know about you, but I will be adding it to my collection for sure.

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The Pokémon Center is at it again. Another life-size Pokémon plush can be yours to cuddle—and this time, life-size means truly gigantic. The latest Pokémon to get the jumbo plush treatment is Slowpoke. Slowpoke is known for his sprawl, but now he’ll be known for his tail length as well. From nose to tip, this Pokémon plush is 59 inches long… That’s just shy of five feet. He’ll definitely need a special place on your couch. And you know that Slowpokes are not fond of moving very much. So where he sits, he stays. Of course, no jumbo Pokémon plush ever did come cheap and Slowpoke costs nearly $100 per foot. Let’s take a look at this giant stuffed creature.

The official Pokémon Center description shares of this Slowpoke Pokémon plush, “We may never know what Slowpoke is thinking—or if it’s even thinking at all—but its willingness to happily laze the day away is worthy of admiration. With this jumbo Slowpoke plush by your side at home, school, or work, you’ll always have a reminder of the importance of taking it a little slow from time to time.”

What a sweet sentiment. Slowpokes definitely know how to relax. And we bet in plush form, they’re even more zen creatures. Adding this Pokémon plush to your collection will make a nice change of pace from snuggling your Psyduck, who is absolutely more on the anxious end of things than Slowpoke.

But, of course, every -mon has its price. This Slowpoke plush costs $450. That’s quite the cost for a stuffed animal… But just look a those eyes. Who could resist this enormous cutie? (We guess our bank accounts, but we’ll just have to see who will prevail.) The Slowpoke jumbo Pokémon plush is available for pre-order now. He’ll arrive to take over your house in late November 2024.

The post This $450 Slowpoke POKÉMON Plush Is 5 Feet Long appeared first on Nerdist.

These days, it feels like Funko has a Pop! vinyl figure for every movie, TV show, musician, and athlete on the planet. So isn’t it about time they got around to making one of you? Well, that’s exactly what they’re about to do. Announced at the licensing expo summit in Las Vegas, via The Hollywood Reporter, we’ve learned that Funko is introducing the Pop! Yourself initiative, which allows fans to make custom Pop! toys using their own likeness. Until now, this only existed in the two Funko stores in Everett, Washington, and in Hollywood. But now, it’s officially available online, allowing everyone to have a Pop! figure of themselves at last.

Here’s How You Can Pop! Yourself Via Funko’s Online Website

The announcement was made in part as a way of celebrating Funko’s 25th anniversary. According to Dave Bere, Funko’s VP of marketing, “It’s the number one item at our retail stores the past two years, and makes up 20 percent of our in-store sales to date. It’s clear that our fans love the POP! Yourself offering, which is why we are thrilled to bring this to the mass market.” Part of the fun for this newer version of Pop! Yourself is that the company will be teaming up with certain licensors, so theoretically, you’ll be able to make yourself into a superhero, an animated character, or another beloved pop culture figure.

Even more fun, this custom Pop! Vinyl will be able to have interchangeable parts based on different IP that the brand has licensed. So let’s say one of them is Marvel, and another one is Star Wars (in theory, we don’t know which IP Funko will license for this). But you’d be able to have Captain America’s shield in one hand and Darth Vader’s lightsaber in the other. Maybe while wearing a t-shirt with your favorite musical act on it. How cool would that be? Right now, it seems like only Star Wars accessories are available, but this initiative only just launched online. You can however add a cute little cat or dog buddy.

New 2-Packs Are Here for Funko’s Pop! Yourself Custom Figure Line

Now you can Pop! Yourself and a friend all at once. Funko is adding a 2-Pack Option to its Pop! Yourself line to double the customization fun. It’s the perfect gift for you and a sibling, you and a partner, you and an arch-rival, and any other important duo in your life.

How Much Does It Cost to Pop! Yourself?

So, if you want to turn yourself into a Funko, head to Funko.com. The program will also continue in person at Funko Hollywood and Funko Everett. The customized Funko you get when you Pop! Yourself will retail for $30. Meanwhile, a 2-Pack will cost $60.

Originally published June 22, 2023.

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Star Wars and LEGO continue to celebrate 25 years of collaboration together with a new Sith-tastic building set, the return of the Imperial TIE Interceptor. This iconic symbol of the Empire’s war fleet was part of the first launch of the Ultimate Collector Series way back in 2000. Now it’s back in a new and updated modern version. LEGO fans can showcase one of the coolest ships from Return of the Jedi, recreating the distinctive wings, detailed cockpit, and laser cannons that blasted Rebel Alliance ships in the battle of Endor. You can check out images of the new LEGO TIE Interceptor in our gallery below:

Star Wars LEGO 25th Anniversary TIE Interceptor Building Set

Click To View Gallery

This incredible 1,931-piece set measures 40 centimeters/16 inches long, and comes complete with an exclusive TIE Pilot minifigure and mouse droid minifigure. The Imperial mouse droid minifigure only comes limited to this set. The TIE Interceptor is mounted on a stand with a printed plaque, and includes a printed brick. The brick is 3.2 centimeters/1.3 inches wide, 0.8 centimeters/0.3 inches long, and 3.2 centimeters/1.3 inches high. It also comes with the LEGO Star Wars anniversary logo. The set will set you back $229.00. You can pre-order it from the official LEGO site on May the Fourth, a.k.a. Star Wars Day.

As part of the 25th anniversary celebration, new LEGO Star Wars content is also coming to LEGO Fortnite from May 3. In addition, there’s a new LEGO Star Wars coffee-table book on the way, The Force of Creativity. It features interviews with more than 50 contributors from the LEGO Group and Lucasfilm. Other new additions include a Tatooine Mos Espa Podrace diorama building set. The 718-piece display set includes Anakin Skywalker, the Arch Canyon, and a plaque with one of Qui-Gon Jinn’s inspirational lines from the film. Also from The Phantom Menace is a droideka set and six collectible LEGO Brickheadz. We’re sure none of these are the end of the Star Wars LEGO 25th anniversary celebration.

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Are you ghoul enough for these Fallout Youtooz figures? If you’ve already inhaled all eight episodes of Prime Video’s series adaptation of the beloved gaming franchise, you just might be. (Although, if you still have your nose, this miniature version of Walton Goggins’ The Ghoul might judge you.) The Fallout TV series is bringing a lot to the table. It gave Vault Boy an origin story, offered an answer to a major franchise mystery, and much more. Whether you’re a longtime die-hard Fallout fan or you’re just coming to the series, you’ll likely want to celebrate it. And the perfect way to do so is with these adorable Fallout Youtooz figures which specifically honor the Prime Video show. You can choose from a Youtooz version of Fallout‘s The Ghoul, Lucy MacLean, or Maximus. The Vault Boy Youtooz figure is sold out… for now.

Prime Video’s Fallout series brings to life the games’ unique blend of dark humor, outright absurd silliness, and poignant tragedy. So these Youtooz Fallout figures, which take some relatively tragic and dark characters and make them perfectly cute, fit right into the franchise’s overall energy. We know Walton Goggins’ Ghoul was supposed to be kind of sexy, but now he is just so cute, we cannot stand it! The only thing missing is a Fallout Youtooz figure of CX404, otherwise known as the Prime Video series version of Dogmeat.

As always, these Fallout Youtooz figures think of everything. Maximus is ready for action in his power armor suit. Meanwhile, Lucy wears her Vault-Tec uniform, complete with the markings of Vault 33. She’s got her Pip-Boy and a big smile, but don’t test her. Her firearm training stats are high.

Of course, there’s Fallout‘s The Ghoul Youtooz figure. He is missing his nose, but it’s a good look for him. Thankfully, he has his hat and his rifle. We wouldn’t cross The Ghoul, cute Fallout Youtooz figure or not.

Lucy, Maximus, and The Ghoul are now available to order on Youtooz’ website. Lucy’s figure is a limited edition release.

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Get ready to celebrate Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) with the help of its cutest creatures. Just in time for Netflix’s live-action series, Youtooz is releasing a brand new line of Avatar merchandise starring everyone’s favorite critters, Appa and Momo. This new ATLA release brings us an Appa mug and a fuzzy assortment of Appas and Momos you won’t be able to resist snuggling. After all, you can’t go on a quest without your best companions. The new Youtooz Avatar: The Last Airbender collection is now available. And here’s what’s in store.

New Appa and Momo Plushes Arrive to Youtooz’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Collection

Youtooz’s new Avatar: The Last Airbender collection kicks off with what we all need in our lives, more Appa and Momo plushes. The Youtooz line offers us two new fluffy versions of the iconic creatures as part of their “shoulder riders” collection. That means these Appa and Momo plushes are perfectly designed, you guessed it, to sit on your shoulder. Momo naturally belongs on a shoulder. But Appa probably doesn’t get to ride around on others that much. So we’re glad he’ll get his time to relax in this Youtooz form.

A release from Youtooz shares more about these Avatar plushes, noting the Appa and Momo plushes are “made of a mixture of minky and faux fur materials, packed to the seams with the most huggable squishy 100% PP cotton, and come equipped with a magnetic disc to let them perch firmly atop your shoulder as the best accessory and a true testament to your love of the fandom!” As a note, Appa is six inches long, while Momo is six inches tall. There’s something really adorable about that in our eyes. We bet Momo has never felt more fearsome.

Appa and Momo Join Youtooz’s Magnetic Stickies Line

In addition to their shoulder rider plush form, Appa and Momo are also joining Youtooz’s line of magnetic stickies. What are magnetic stickies, you ask? Well, they’re small plushes that harness the power of four magnets to ensure you can stick your favorite fuzzy friends just about anywhere. And for creatures like Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Appa and Momo, adding a magnetic element gives these plushes a fun infusion of life. The creative fan will definitely be able to rig these stickies up like they’re actually flying around. Appa isn’t a sitting bison, after all.

Youtooz will introduce four magnetic stickie plushes in their new Avatar line: two Appas and two Momos. As far as Appa goes, you can snag a normal Appa or an Appa with a tongue blep. I mean, we all need Appa doing a tongue blep; he’s just too cute. And he doesn’t come with any of the damp side effects that getting licked by the real Appa would leave you with. Win, win.

Meanwhile, on the Momo end of things, Youtooz is introducing a normal Momo and a Momo Cactus stickie plush into its Avatar: The Last Airbender collection. Yes, the adorable variant has Momo peeping out of a cactus at you. It really is incredibly cute. But we do have to hope that Momo hasn’t gotten secretly high on cactus juice. “The Desert” may not be one of our all-time favorite episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it certainly is one of its most bizarre.

As mentioned, all of these Avatar Appa and Momo plushes “come with 4 sewn-in magnets, so you can stick them together or onto any magnetic surface.”

Sip From an Appa Mug

Do you want to feel happy every morning? The answer lies in starting your day sipping from Youtooz’s new Appa mug. We dare you to look this mug in the face and not smile back at its cheerful disposition. Making things so cute you have to grin back at them is Youtooz’s superpower. Appa is always darling, but his crinkled eyes and big snout melt the heart, here. Happily, he’s also microwave and dishwasher-safe. (Although he prefers to be hand-washed. Appa is a bit of a diva.)

Momo’s Youtooz Mug Celebrates Sokka and Cactus Juice

Not to be outdone, Momo has a mug of his own, which he shares with Sokka. Both Sokka and Momo do love their cactus juice. And this new mug will make sure you get all your quenchiest liquids right when you need them.

A release shares of the Avatar: The Last Airbender Momo and Sokka mug, “Whether you are stuck in the desert, or just making your morning brew, your new favorite mug is here! At 3.5 inches tall, the mug is made of sturdy ceramic and is handmade. The mug has been designed to look like the cactus Sokka and the G’aang stumble upon while lost in the desert. It is green with grooves and speckled with black lines to emulate cactus needles, while a little bit of cactus juice that overflows from the rim, and a cactus flower blooms as the base. Seated at the base, enjoying the effects of the cactus juice, is Momo with a happy smile and a full belly.” This mug is also microwave and dishwasher-safe, but would too prefer to be handwashed.

This new mug really completes the new Youtooz Avatar collection.

Youtooz’s New Avatar: The Last Airbender Products Are Now Available

All the Appas and Momos you could want hit Youtooz on February 22, when the new Avatar: The Last Airbender collection dropped. Coincidentally, or not so much, this was also the day Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s live-action adaptation arrives on Netflix. It’s a true holiday for ATLA fans.

Originally published on February 17, 2024.

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In celebration of Dungeons & Dragons‘ 50th anniversary, LEGO has brought to life a set honoring the beloved franchise. Dungeons & Dragons is many things—it’s a tabletop game, it’s lore, it’s books, it’s movies, and for many, it’s simply a way to live out their dreams of epic adventures and fantastical worlds. So, of course, it comes as no surprise that this LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is actually a LEGO Ideas set, which means it started life as a fan creation. And when you put it together, that love comes through loud and clear.

Armed with a set provided by LEGO, my stalwart party companions, and some supplies of choice (a cupcake tin and lots of snacks), I set out to build this gorgeously fantastical piece. My full review of this LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is below, but in summation, much like the game itself, this D&D set feels alive and rife with possibilities.

Jump to: The Spirit of D&D in LEGOs // The Build // The Minifigures // The Creatures // The Dragon // Life Lessons // How Much Does the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Set Cost?

How Does the Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Bring D&D to Life?

So, how exactly does LEGO bring Dungeons & Dragons to life in this new set? We suspect fans might have this question, and it’s a fair one. After all, Dungeons & Dragons is a choice-based game, and it feels like it might be difficult to capture its spirit in one LEGO set. But, as always, LEGO rises to the occasion. The answer is two-fold. First, LEGO calls upon a few D&D stalwarts from the D&D Monster Manual and brings to life some races commonly associated with the game, such as elves, dwarves, and wizards. But secondly, the set really goes beyond that to capture the spirit of storytelling throughout the build.

Here are some examples of how the Dungeons & Dragons set brings an element of discovery and creation into its build to ensure the journey of putting the set together (and its outcome) depends heavily on the choices you make in your LEGO campaign.

Right from the start, this set feels different than others. Bag one, step one has you put together a “Dwarf Cleric.” While the LEGO manual gives a little insight into what a cleric is, it leaves the rest up to you. What is the name of your cleric? The set invites you to ask. Your cleric channels divine magic from a god, the LEGO manual then notes, but which god? One might intuit that the dwarf cleric serves the sun god Lathandar based on the design of their shirt. But we suppose it could also be the god of spring… Wait a minute, are we making a character sheet? And we’ve barely snapped two LEGOs together. Much like the game itself, that’s how this Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set sucks you in right from the start.

The Minifigures in the Dungeons & Dragons set are also especially cool because they come with several customizable options. While LEGO Minifigures often have more than one face, in this case many different choices can be made—including gender, weaponry, good vs evil affiliations, etc. A couple Minifigures actually come with no explanation at all. Are they a non-playable character, a party member you haven’t adopted yet, or a villain? You decide! While we’re not sure if this was fully intended, Minifigures that swap gender with ease do seem like a queer-positive development, and we approve.

In addition, I would describe the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set as full of secrets. You, the DM, might know there are four cherries and two peppers hidden in the boxes at the Tavern, but a passerby sure won’t. And you’ll have to roll for perception to find some of the doors that you build and then hide. Just make sure you don’t fall into the trap you laid 10 pages ago and then forgot. (Or you’ll end up in the secret dungeon that only has a bucket and a set of handcuffs inside of it.)

The D&D LEGO Build and Its Minifigures

The Build

The LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set creates a full fantastical scene. It includes a cozy tavern for bards to write their songs, a bewitching tower full of enchantments, a verdant garden, and a loot-filled dungeon where danger and treasure await. I would say that it’s the perfect fantasy build for anyone who doesn’t have the space or time for LEGO’s more elaborate The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set. While in situ the build only feels slightly less complex than Rivendell’s, it draws to a close much quicker. The LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set contains 3,745 pieces (32 bags) and four instruction books.

Although there’s less of it, and it’s a little less challenging than Rivendell, this Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set is still complicated in all the best ways. Not to mention, it contains plenty of those satisfying moments where tricky parts snap together exactly how you’d hoped. The set additionally offers a welcome variety of build types, from elaborate stonework designs to sweeping plant life to rocky terrains.

The Details

The devil is in the details in this set. Angled blocks create cool jagged windows, brown and green blobs form a symphony of evergreen trees, and flame-filled lanterns light up the way. The colors are gorgeously vivid. A curl of smoke equates to a fireplace below.

The Dungeons & Dragons set also contains a plethora of miniatures in its depths. Little dragon eggs, coins, jewels, mushrooms, inkwells, spell books, staffs, weapons, and bags of loot emerge to decorate the halls of this building. The beer steins even have a foam float. And there’s a tiny lute!!!

The Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Minifigures

Your LEGO Dungeons & Dragons party includes six minifigures in total. As mentioned, each Minifigure from this set comes with many choices. Here’s a rundown of them all.

The LEGO D&D set’s Minifigures include:

• Dwarf Cleric – This D&D LEGO Minifigure comes with two hair choices, braided or basic, two heads, bearded or smiling, and a beard you add on top. We hear Dwarven ladies also love a beard. (We named ours Marigold.)
• Gnome Fighter – The Gnome Fighter comes with four different expressions and a variety of weapons.
• Orc Rogue – Sneaky, sneaky. The Orc Rogue comes with a couple of heads, a crossbow, and some knives. But is he friend or foe? You decide. He definitely seems chaotic either way. (We named ours Hawthorne.)
• Elf Wizard – The Elf Wizard is one powerful lady. She comes with a changeable head. (We named ours Belladona.)
• The Mysterious Dragon Sorcerer? – This mysterious Minifigure isn’t given any description at all in the pages of the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons book. And isn’t that the fun of it? He seems like some kind of dragon-loving sorcerer to us, though.
• A Dragonborn Minifigure – He seems like a friendly fellow, but who he is in your LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is entirely up to you.

Building Dungeons & Dragons Creatures Out of LEGOs

A truly unique facet of this set is that in addition to Minifigures and miniatures, builders get to use actual LEGO blocks to create familiar monsters from Dungeons & Dragons. While many sets center on their architectural facets or their figure builds, it’s neat to see both blended here. In total, you’ll get to build six types of small creatures out of LEGOs and one VERY big one. The creatures are skeletons, a Gelatinous Cube, an owlbear, a Beholder, a Displacer Beast, a mimic, and, of course, a dragon.

Using the blocks in this way allows fans to see LEGOs in a new light. And delightfully, the types of LEGOs snapped together vary for each creature, making for seven nuanced experiences.

Cinderhowl the Red LEGO Dragon

The pièce de résistance of the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is the Cinderhowl the Red Dragon build. Cinderhowl takes up eight out of 32 bags of this set. That’s 1/4 for those of you whose stats tend away from intelligence. Building this LEGO dragon is some of the most complex work in the set. But, boy is Cinderhowl worth it. (He can even sit on your shoulder)

You might not typically play a god in your D&D campaign, but you sure feel like one as you raise this dragon to life, starting with his skeleton and ending with his wings. Cinderhowl has articulated feet, a mouth that can open and close, and wings that actually flap. He is well worth your while. He could honestly be a Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set all on his own.

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Life Lessons From the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Set

It wouldn’t be an adventure without some life-changing realizations. Here are just some my party experienced on this LEGO Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

• It’s all a matter of perspective.
• Don’t start building your last four bags of LEGOs at 11 pm.
• Sometimes, you just have to turn it over one more time.
• The only time you’ll be happy to step on a LEGO is when one you need has fallen onto the floor.
• It’s about the build, not the destination.
• Jeremiah, Todd, and Howard are excellent skeleton names.
• Get yourself a party member who can cook.
• Sometimes, we all need a little stability, even if we’re a Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set.

How Much Does the Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Set Cost, and Where Can You Buy It?

The LEGO Ideas Dungeon & Dragons LEGO set is now available for purchase on LEGO’s website. This D&D set costs $359.99.

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Over the 20+ hours I spent piecing together the massive new LEGO Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City skyline set the company sent me I thought a lot about how I might start this post. I considered opening with a screed about how this beautiful and incredibly creative collectible fully captures the series’ iconic and influential Art Deco aesthetic. At various points I also debated comparing the challenge of putting together such an intricate and highly-detailed set with Bruce Wayne’s attempts to clean up his hometown. And during a few especially frustrating moments I considered explaining why the Joker isn’t always wrong. But by the time I snapped in the final piece, the Bat Symbol, I finally knew exactly what I wanted to say. It’s simple, but true: if you love Batman: The Animated Series you’ll absolutely love this set.

Despite its tableau design, you do not build LEGO’s Gotham City set atop a big sheet as I expected. It’s made up of smaller boards you connect throughout the process. It’s akin to making small individual mosaics of the city’s various regions that together form a single, cohesive work of art. And that’s exactly what this set is, a work of art. It’s not an exact re-creation of the show’s Gotham. Instead it’s an original amalgamation that brings together different locales from the series. The effect is something that is wholly of Batman: The Animated Series while also being totally new. It’s a homage in the best way, because it made me want to rewatch the series. What could be a better tribute and celebration of the show than that?

That’s easy to see even in pictures. But while you can certainly appreciate the beauty of this set from images, it’s impossible to fully grasp just how gorgeous it really is unless you see it in person. For one it’s much deeper than it looks. (It’s also heavier. You’ll need a shelf to display it. Hanging it on your wall is not an option.) There are layers and layers of depth, as buildings sit on buildings sitting in buildings. The design invites deep investigation into every nook and cranny. Every time you look you’ll find something new to appreciate.

Even the night sky with its dark red clouds have layers that give this otherwise static piece a kinetic energy—as do my favorite pieces, the billowing smoke stacks. They look like they’re actually operating. The easily removable row of bottom buildings are also hiding unseen depth and fun Easter eggs. From character stickers to the Batmobile, there are lots of extras to discover within. Only you might never find all of them unless you build the set yourself and know where to look.

Unless you put Gotham together you can never fully appreciate how much detail went into the many individual designs, either. Some of my favorite parts of this build involved making smaller structures that have triple the amount of LEGO bricks than you’d think by looking at them. Piecing this together is a different reward from admiring the finished product.

It’s a good thing working on this set provides its own kind of fulfillment, because the amount of detail involved is a double-edged sword. The 4,210-piece set designed for ages 18 and up features roughly 80,000 tiny parts. It can be aggravating adding molding and decor in a normal building. Adding small single piece details on a relatively thin LEGO set is really freaking hard. (Especially if you have sausage fingers like I do. Those are also why I hated putting the set’s many small stickers on pieces, too.)

It was really hard at the start. Initially the set felt much more delicate than I imagined. That made me especially cautious about how I connected the different components. I was terrified of breaking multiple parts. But as I kept going I realized the set is more sturdy and stronger than my first impression. That allowed me to pick up the pace. Out of the 44 individual bags that make up LEGO’s Gotham, I finished the first 10 at a much slower rate than the rest.

While I ultimately love this set and think it’s actually undervalued at $300 (even with only four minifigs), I did have some issue with its two massive instruction booklets. The set’s color scheme—which includes lots of black and brown pieces, various hues of grays, and dark blues—sometimes made it hard to see which exactly piece was needed. I often had to rely on my smartphone’s flashlight or a bright headlamp to distinguish between colors.

The booklets, which are genuinely excellent visual guides overall, also show everything at an angle. That was a helpful most of the time, but not when it came time to put something on top of something else or when connecting two large mosaics. It wasn’t always obvious exactly where or how they went together. An overhead picture would have cleared that up and saved me from my most consistent (and potentially disastrous) mistakes.

Once I became aware of that problem, I course corrected. I slowed down and took extra time when placing anything directly on the growing tableau. And by the time I finished that problem, like the others, didn’t seem like a big deal. What I was looking at was too incredible to focus on difficulties I experienced during the build. And that was before I realized you can backlight the whole thing to create a nighttime effect that truly evokes the aesthetic of the show it celebrates.

That’s why it took finishing this set to know how I wanted to start talking about it. As a fan of Batman: The Animated Series I love everything about LEGO’s Gotham City, especially the fact I have one in my own home.

Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City LEGO set is available now.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who knows exactly where Condiment Man is hiding in the Batman Gotham City LEGO set. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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