The Deadpool & Wolverine movie is coming our way in July 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. 

These figures are currently available to order. And, if you’re attending San Diego Comic-Con, then you’re in luck. You will be able to do Funko’s Pop! Yourself experience and create your own cosplay character modeled after either Deadpool or Wolverine. It comes with an exclusive box, character body, and two additional accessories. 

Click To View Gallery

Those who don’t attend SDCC will be able to purchase a limited edition “attach pack” beginning on July 24 to cosplay their Funko figure as either Deadpool or Wolverine alongside the usual Pop! Yourself collectible. 

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

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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.

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Click To View Gallery

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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Admit it, the thought crossed your mind. When you saw the hit horror movie M3GAN last year, you thought to yourself “How long before they make a life-size version of that killer doll?” Well, as it turns out, it didn’t take very long at all. NECA has created a screen-accurate M3GAN replica of the loyal dolly/robotic murderbot, standing at over four feet tall. You can bring her out at Halloween, or just leave her to creep everyone out all year. You can check out images of the M3GAN replica doll, as well as read the official description, below.

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Own a fully posable, life-size replica of the robot doll from the hit film M3GAN. The Model 3 Generative Android (M3GAN) was designed to be a parent’s greatest ally and programmed to be a child’s best friend. But a self-aware doll with a life of its own can lead to sinister consequences. This 1:1 replica is based on M3GAN’s on-screen appearance, duplicated from actual film-used digital files to be the most screen-accurate representation available. It has an articulated inner-armature, movable eyes, and synthetic hair (matched to screen-used hair samples). Her clothing is made from film-used patterns and includes a dress with inner lining, two striped sleeves, a bowtie, underwear, tights, and shoes. The fabric material of her dress matches an exact swatch of the dress from the movie, and her shoes are customized with details from the screen-used shoes. This fantastically accurate replica doll stands approximately 55 inches tall and will be an excellent addition to any family!

Would the M3GAN replica doll actually be an excellent addition? Debatable. Fortunately, the doll will (probably) not come to life and do a little dance before starting a killing spree. It will just stare into your soul uncomfortably… forever. But hey, some people are into that. You can pre-order the life-size M3GAN replica doll now for $494 from NECA’s online store. It’s expected to ship in the latter half of this year.

The post You Can Now Own a Life-Size M3GAN Replica Doll and Creep Everyone Out appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s hard to think of a time when LEGO and Star Wars didn’t go together like peanut butter and jelly. But LEGO and Lucasfilm have only been collaborating since 1999 when The Phantom Menace hit theaters. This means that 2024 is the 25th anniversary of the LEGO and Star Wars partnership. As a way of celebrating, LEGO released new 25th anniversary products. Some of these are now available to purchase. While others are coming soon. Additionally, the LEGO Group announced the LEGO Star Wars 25-Second Film Festival, which will kick off in March as part of the celebrations.

Among the 25th Anniversary LEGO sets are brand-new builds inspired by the Millennium Falcon and the Invisible Hand, General Grievous’ flagship from Revenge of the Sith. There are also two building sets inspired by the Tantive IV from A New Hope; and a special 25th anniversary edition set honoring the iconic astromech droid, R2-D2. Some sets will include collectible minifigures never seen before in LEGO form or anniversary tiles to mark the special occasion.

Jump to: Sets Coming Soon // Already Available 25th Anniversary Sets

LEGO Star Wars Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Set

Joining the LEGO Star Wars 25th anniversary celebrations is the Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator set. This set allows you to “recreate Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator and Bloodfin speeder, and play out Star Wars: The Phantom Menace scenes with this building toy for kids.” (Or whoever happens to be playing with it.) Additionally, the set comes with four Star Wars LEGO Minifigures, “Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker and Qui-Gon Jinn, plus an exclusive LEGO Star Wars™ 25th anniversary Saw Gerrera minifigure with a display stand.”

The Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator Set costs $69.99 and releases on May 1.

LEGO Star Wars BARC Speeder Escape

The LEGO Star Wars BARC Speeder Escape set will give fans “everything they need to recreate the memorable Star Wars: The Mandalorian Jedi Temple flashback scene.” The set comes with Minifigures of Kelleran Beq, Grogu, and two 501st Clone Troopers. Needless to say, Grogu is adorable.

The BARC Speeder Escape Set costs $29.99 and releases on May 1.

LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon building set

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This official description for this Star Wars LEGO set shares, ” classic Star Wars™ saga continues in your living room with this collectible LEGO® Star Wars Millennium Falcon build-and-display starship model (75375). Channel Jedi-like focus and mindfulness to recreate authentic details of this iconic starship, as seen in Star Wars: A New Hope.”

More Details:

Age: 18+ /Price: $84,99/74,99 £ /Pieces: 921/Product No.: 75375/Dimensions: Measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 9.5 in. (24 cm) long and 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide.

LEGO Star Wars Tantive IV building set

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“Build the excitement you felt when you watched the opening scene of Star Wars: A New Hope all over again with this buildable LEGO® brick model of the Tantive IV starship,” share this Tantive IV Star Wars LEGO set. You can snag it here.

More Details:

Age: 18+/Price: $79,99/69,99 £/Pieces: 654/Product No.: 75376/Dimensions: Measures over 6 in. (15 cm) high, 12.5 in. (32 cm) long and 4 in. (11 cm) wide.

LEGO Star Wars Boarding the Tantive IV building set

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The Tantive IV fun continues with a scene recreation from Star Wars: A New Hope. This set “features a detailed recreation of the corridor inside Tantive IV where Darth Vader’s Stormtroopers battled Captain Antilles’ Rebel Fleet Troopers, with levers to ‘blast’ open the entrance door and topple characters during battle play.” Take a closer look, here.

More Details:

Age: 8+/Price:/$54,99/49,99 £/Pieces: 502/Product No.: 75387/Dimensions: Measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) wide and 8.5 in. (22 cm) deep.

 LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 building set

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Who doesn’t want a LEGO R2-D2 to keep them company? This LEGO brick-built R2-D2 toy figure is full of authentic details and little surprises like a “360-degree rotating head, an attachable third leg, attachable periscope and attachable tools.”

More Details:

Age: 10+/Price: $99,99/89,99/Pieces: 1,050/Product No.: 75379/Dimensions: Measures over 9.5 in. (24 cm) high, 6 in. (16 cm) wide and 4 in. (11 cm) deep

LEGO Star Wars Invisible Hand building set

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“Imagine leading the Separatist fleet into battle like General Grievous in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith with this LEGO Star Wars Starship Collection buildable model of the Invisible Hand,” shares the description for this celebratory LEGO set. You can check it out in full detail, here.

More Details:

Age: 8+/Price: /$54,99/49,99 £/Pieces: 502/Product No.: 75387/Dimensions: Measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 5 in. (13 cm) wide and 8.5 in. (22 cm) deep

Originally published on January 30, 2024.

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The first trailer for Star Wars: The Acolyte dropped on Tuesday and introduced us to a lot of Jedi and at least one foe. Set during the era of the High Republic, the dramatic series promises many, many Jedi. We love seeing more Jedi for a number of reasons. For one, they’re usually interesting—especially given that this time period that hasn’t been explored on the screen yet. What will the Jedi Order be like?! Also, Jedi make for excellent action figures. To that end, Nerdist has a closer look at five of Hasbro’s Black Series figures for The Acolyte. This unveiling is part of a fanstream for Lucasfilm’s Imperial March and comes just in time to celebrate The Acolyte’s trailer release.

The Acolyte Black Series figures include: Padawan Jecki Lon, Jedi Knight Yord Fandar, Jedi Master Indara, Jedi Master Sol, and the assassin Mae. See each individual figure more closely in the gallery below and then learn more about the figures.

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All figures are premium six-inch with multiple points of articulation and inspired by the characters as seen in The Acolyte.

• Padawan Jecki Lon – played by Dafne Keen in the series, the Jecki Lon figure comes with a lightsaber accessory with a removable blade.
• Jedi Knight Yord Fandar – played by Charlie Barnett in the series, the Yord Fandar figure comes with a lightsaber accessory with a removable blade.
• Jedi Master Indara – played by Carrie-Anne Moss in the series, the Indara figure comes with a lightsaber accessory with a removable blade.
• Jedi Master Sol – played by Lee Jung-jae in the series, the Sol figure comes with a lightsaber accessory with a removable blade.
• Mae – played by Amandla Stenberg in the series, the Mae figure comes with five entertainment-inspired accessories including four knife accessories and a removable face wrap.

The Acolyte Black Series figures will be available this summer from Hasbro; each costs $24.99. You can pre-order them on March 21 at 1:00pm ET from Amazon, Hasbro Pulse, and other major retailers. The series premieres on Disney+ on June 4.

The post We Reveal Hasbro’s THE ACOLYTE Black Series Figures appeared first on Nerdist.

Dungeons & Dragons has been celebrating its 50th anniversary this year in a number of ways. We’ve heard about a book about the history of D&D, a life sim-style video game, and more. Now, we can add a LEGO set to the list. LEGO has announced the LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale set, designed by a fan and chosen from over 600 submissions. Twenty-three-year-old Lucas Bold, a.k.a. BoltBuilds, designed this set that brings a typical adventuring moment from the tabletop roleplaying game to life in glorious brick style.

The Design of the Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Set

Bold worked with the LEGO Design team to come up with the unique Forgotten Realm setting in the final set. The LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is 3,745 pieces. It features a tavern (complete with removable roof), a dungeon, and a tower. You can populate the set with six LEGO minifigs, including an Orc Rogue, Gnome Fighter, Elf Wizard, and Dwarf Cleric. Brick-built monsters are along for the battle too, including a beholder, an owlbear, and a displacer beast. Cinderhowl, the red dragon, can wrap around the tower. Flip through the gallery below to check them all out!

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To add an immersive element, the Wizards of the Coast team developed a bespoke adventure for this Dungeons & Dragons LEGO set. It’s available for LEGO Insiders as a free digital download or as a paperback book for Insider points. It will be available through D&D Beyond as well. You can watch a group of bold players go through this adventure on April 6 at 9:00pm PT on the Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel.

What Is the Release Date for the Dungeons & Dragons LEGO Set?

The LEGO Ideas Dungeons & Dragons: Red Dragon’s Tale set will be available for LEGO Insiders to buy on April 1 from LEGO’s site and retail stores. Everyone will be able to buy it on April 4. The price is $359.99. In between April 1-7, all purchases of the set will come with a LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Mimic Dice Box as a free gift. Finally, the LEGO Dungeons & Dragons minifigs series will launch in September.

The post Embark on an Adventure with LEGO’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Set appeared first on Nerdist.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles weren’t the only grouping of anthropomorphic young animal heroes in ’90s media. Nope, there was Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters and Biker Mice from Mars. And of course, there was also Street Sharks, a series that ran for three seasons from 1994-1997. Of course, back then, where there were cartoons, there were action figures. Celebrating the brand’s 30th anniversary this year, Street Sharks return in a new line of toys from Mattel. The first wave focuses on two hero characters—Ripster and Jab—and a villain, Slash.

The new Street Sharks line will be collector-focused but kid-friendly. They feature real-feel skin, modern articulation, chomping jaws, and modular shark cage accessories. Ones that can fit together to form larger cages. These 6 to 6.5-inch tall toys are sure to appeal to collectors who grew up watching the crime-fighting superheroes with their bowl of cereal on Saturday mornings. You can check out the first images of these new Street Sharks figures, as well as read the new line’s official announcement, right here:

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After thirty years, Street Sharks is swimming back onto shelves as Mattel reignites the iconic brand. Since the brand’s debut in the 90s, fans’ hunger for new products and content has remained strong, and we are thrilled to announce the Street Sharks revival. In addition to new toys, Mattel is amplifying this moment by releasing exclusive Street Sharks apparel available at MattelCreations, and throughout the year, Mattel will be partnering with industry leaders on fashion collabs, comic books, collectibles and more. Street Sharks fandom encapsulates the resurgence of 90’s nostalgia, and we believe now is the time to inspire the next generation of fans.

Street Sharks’ Ripster, Jab, and Slash will be available for pre-sale at Walmart on March 15th as well as Amazon, Big Bad Toy Store, Entertainment Earth, and Diamond Collectibles.

The post The STREET SHARKS Return in New Line of 30th Anniversary Collector’s Figures appeared first on Nerdist.

This year’s MAR10 Day (or as we like to call it, Mario Day) was a big one. Especially with a new Super Mario Bros. movie announced for April, 2026. But LEGO also used MAR10 Day to show off several teases for future LEGO Super Mario sets, all arriving this summer. However, the big reveal was the confirmation that Mario Kart sets are arriving in 2025. The teaser featured a silhouette of a Mario Kart, which already has Super Mario LEGO fans excited for next year.

These new Mario Kart sets will soon be the latest in the growing collection of Nintendo LEGO sets. A collection that began four years ago with the LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course. Among the new sets are The Bowser Express Train set, King Boo’s Haunted Mansion set, and the Battle with Roy at Peach’s Castle set. You can watch the full 8-minute video right here. You can also check out several images and specs of each set down below.

LEGO Super Mario: Bowser Express Train Set

Ages: 9+/Price: $119.99, €119,99, £104,99/Pieces: 1392/Dimensions: 480 x 378 x 94 mm/Available: August 1st, 2024

LEGO Super Mario: King Boo’s Haunted Mansion Set

Ages: 8+/Price: $74.99, €74.99, £64.99/Pieces: 932/Dimensions: 456 x 282 x 72 mm/Available: August 1st, 2024

LEGO Super Mario: Battle with Roy at Peach’s Castle Set

Ages: 7+/Price: $64.99, €64.99, £59.99/Pieces: 738/Dimensions: 382 x 262 x 70.5 mm/Available: August 1st, 2024

What has fans most excited from the Mar10 Day reveal video however was the silhouette of a Mario Kart, as well as the Mario Figure. These suggest that we’re going to see more LEGO Mario figure functionality going into 2025. For more information from MAR10 Day, as well as pre-orders for these LEGO sets, be sure to head over to this link.

The post LEGO Teases Super Mario Kart for 2025 and Other Nintendo Sets appeared first on Nerdist.

With the upcoming premiere of X-Men ’97 on Disney+, there’s an all-time high appreciation for the Marvel mutants in their ’90s heyday. As much as we may love (some) of the live-action films, no media outside of comics has captured what people love about the students of Charles Xavier’s School more than X-Men: The Animated Series. Now, you can display your love for the ’90s era X-Men’s ultimate love triangle heroes, Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey, with a new series of figures from the folks at YouTooz. You can check out images and details for each one right here:

Cyclops (X-Men #1)

The first figure is of Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. The X-Men’s field leader, whose deadly optic blast can shatter a mountain. This figure captures Cyke in his Jim Lee-designed costume, featured prominently on the cover of 1991’s X-Men #1. Of course, it became world famous when X-Men: The Animated Series used it. This Limited Edition X-Men #1 Cyclops will set you back $39.99.

Jean Grey (Uncanny X-Men #281)

Where there is a Scott Summers, so too must there be a Jean Grey. The mutant with psychic abilities arrives wearing her signature ’90s look, as it appeared on the cover of Uncanny X-Men #281. This was the era when Jean joined the X-Men’s Gold Team, and Sentinels killed her (Don’t worry, she got better quickly again). No longer Marvel Girl or Phoenix, the Jean Grey of this era was the team’s most powerful member. This Limited Edition Jean Grey figure is also priced at $39.99.

Wolverine (Wolverine Omnibus Vol. 4)

Finally, it’s just not the X-Men without their most popular member, is it? This Wolverine figure is based on the cover of Wolverine Omnibus Volume 4. It shows Logan tearing through an alley with his adamantium claws. Like Cyclops and Jean Grey, he wears his signature ’90s costume. Also just like his teammates, the Wolverine YouTooz figure is $39.99.

To order these amazing X-Men YouTooz figures for yourself, head on over to their official site.

The post X-MEN YouTooz Figures Showcase Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey in ’90s Costumes appeared first on Nerdist.

Is Batman: The Animated Series the greatest cartoon ever? Some people say “yes,” while others say “probably.” But no matter whether you’re already on the right side of history or almost there, you can still make the most influential animated show ever a part of your. LEGO’s new set recreates Gotham’s infamous Art Deco skyline from Batman: The Animated Series.

The LEGO Group, Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, and DC have come together to celebrate a legendary superhero locale. The new 4,210-piece Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City LEGO set is a 3D homage to the cartoon’s iconic city. The tableau-style design features detailed recreations of the show’s most important spots. That includes the Gotham City Court, Arkham Asylum, Joker’s Amusement Park, and more.

The collection also boasts the many LEGO police blimps that dotted Gotham’s sky. They’re joined up there by the classic Batwing and the one thing evildoers everywhere fear, the Bat Signal. 

The Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City LEGO collection, designed for ages 18 and up, measures 16.4-inches in length, 11.8 inches tall, and 2.3-inches deep. That will make it easy to place it wherever you like in your home or office, including on your wall. It also comes loaded with Batman: The Animated Series Easter eggs for fans of the show to find in their LEGOs. Some of those are located inside parts of the set that open up to reveal more components. And it’s all topped off with four mini-figures: Catwoman, The Joker, Harley Quinn, and Batman. (We absolutely need LEGO to release at least 30 more mini-figs for this. The show has one of the best and deepest lineups of villains ever.)

LEGO Insiders can grab their copy early, beginning on April 1. Everyone else will have to wait a few days. The Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City LEGO set ($299.99) goes on full sale on April 4.

Is this the greatest LEGO set ever? We don’t want to say “probably,” but we also don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.

The post New LEGO Set Recreates BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES’ Gotham City Skyline appeared first on Nerdist.

The Pokémon franchise is all about catching them all. You can collect Pokémon by going along on the anime’s adventures, by playing Pokémon‘s numerous video games, and even by walking down your favorite street as you adventure with Pokémon Go. But, by far, one of the most adorable ways to amass many Pokémon is by collecting Pokémon Squishmallows. Pokémon Squishmallows evolve your favorite Pokémon into a cross between a stuffed animal and a pillow, which gives even the cutest Pokémon an extra edge of sweetness. Who doesn’t love a Pikachu you can cuddle?

Much like with Pokémon‘s games, though, new Pokémon Squishmallows are always being released into the wild. Unfortunately, they can be hard to catch because many Pokémon trainers are after them, so knowing which Pokémon Squishmallows are out there and will soon be released can be very helpful. And hey, no one ever said becoming a Pokémon master was easy. Here are all the Pokémon Squishmallows released or announced so far.

Every Pokémon Squishmallow You Can Catch

The Newest Pokémon Squishmallow: Dragonite Squishmallow

Although this Squishmallow hasn’t yet been officially revealed. The internet is abuzz with talk of a Dragonite Squishmallow. It looks the Dragonite Squishmallow will have a wide-release version and Pokémon Center exclusive version. More details about sizes, pricing, and release date will surely be available soon. But based on past Pokémon Center releases, we will likely see a 12-inch version of the Dragonite Squishmallow, which costs $29.99.

Clefairy and Teddiursa Squishmallows

Could there be a Pokémon better suited to become a Squishmallow than Teddiursa? That Pokémon is practically a stuffed animal already and is known to be one of the cutest Pokémon around. Clefairy, of course, is snuggly by design as well. We love these two new Pokémon Squishmallows.

When Will Clefairy and Teddiursa Pokémon Squishmallows Be Released and How Much Will They Cost?

Clefairy and Teddiursa Squishmallows became available for pre-order in November 2023. They can now be purchased at The Pokémon Center store. Clefairy comes in a 12-inch size and costs $29.99, as does Teddiursa. Currently a purchaser is limited to two of each variety. Additionally, 10, 14, and 20-inch sizes of these Teddiursa and Clefairy Squishmallows have arrived in stores beyond The Pokémon Center. These Squishmalls are also available at GameStop (Clefairy/Teddiursa), Hot Topic, Amazon (Clefairy/Teddiursa) 14-inch variety, Amazon 20-inch variety (Clefairy/Teddiursa).

Holiday Pikachu Pokémon Squishmallow

Get festive this winter with Holiday Pikachu Squishmallow. Pokémon has developed a tradition of releasing Pikachus with headwear of various kinds, and this adorable creature continues that trend beautifully. Holiday Pikachu could be a Squishmallow worth throwing out a Great Ball for.

When Will the Holiday Pikachu Pokémon Squishmallow Be Released, and How Much Will It Cost?

The Holiday Pikachu Squishmallow releases in stores on November 5. It comes in a 14-inch version that costs $24.99. It is back in stock at Target.

Winking Pikachu and Piplup Squishmallows

Winking Pikachu and Piplup Squishmallows were announced together—and they make a good pair. Another Pikachu is always a welcome addition to any trainer’s collection. And Piplup is one popular penguin creature. We can’t wait to snuggle these plushes, but gently, of course.

When Will Winking Pikachu and Piplup Pokémon Squishmallows Be Released, and How Much Will They Cost?

Winking Pikachu and Piplup Squishmallows have released online. A 14-inch version of these Squishmallows costs $44.99, while a 12-inch version of the plushes retails for $29.99. There is also a 10-inch version version that costs $14.97. It appears Winking Pikachu and Piplup Squishmallows have only recently appeared in stores as well, so keep your eyes out if you want to snag them!

Right now, it seems like these two Pokémon Squishmallows are freshly available at GameStop (Piplup, all sizes) and The Pokémon Center, but we suggest you act quickly if you wish to buy them.

Togepi and Snorlax Squishmallows

Togepi and Snorlax are among the most iconic Pokémon out there, so it makes a lot of sense they were in the second wave of Pokémon Squishmallows released. Snorlax, by nature, makes for a good soft pillow. And who can resist the charm of Togepi?

When Will Snorlax and Togepi Pokémon Squishmallows Be Released, and How Much Will They Cost?

Snorlax and Togepi have been around for a while. Although they’re sold out online and can be difficult to find in stores, they are periodically re-released and become available again. Keep your eyes out for them in stores like Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, and more.

The Snorlax and Togepi Squishmallows come in 10, 12, and 20-inch variations. These Squishmallows retail for $14.99, $29.99, and $44.99, respectively.

The Orignal Pokémon Squishmallows: Pikachu and Gengar

Of course, there’s nothing like an O.G. set of Squishmallows for your Pokémon Collection. Pikachu and Gengar started it all. While Pikachu is the most obvious choice for a collection, Gengar is a little bit more of a wild card. But hey, we love the ghostly guy.

When Will Pikachu and Gengar Pokémon Squishmallows Be Released, and How Much Will They Cost?

Like Snorlax and Togepi, Pikachu and Gengar are sold out online but tend to restock and then resurface in stores now and again. The vigilant trainer will likely be able to snag these squishy friends at some point.

The Pikachu and Gengar Squishmallows come in 10, 12, and 20-inch variations. These Squishmallows retail for $19.99, $29.99, and $44.99, respectively.

Future Pokémon Squishmallow Releases

Given the steady cadence of past releases, there will almost certainly be more of these Squishmallows in the future. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the next waves of these Pokémon collectibles to help you catch ’em all.

Originally published on September 8, 2023.

The post Here Is Every POKÉMON Squishmallow Released So Far appeared first on Nerdist.

Step aside, Life-size Barbie, it’s the age of the life-size Psyduck Poké plush now. I mean, who doesn’t need a 31-inch Pokémon plush of everyone’s favorite neurotic Pokémon to scare them in the night? We know we do. That is, if we can afford the price tag. It turns out this Psyduck Pokémon plush is priced at about $10 per inch. And that makes him one expensive plush. Still, Psyduck is so cute and snuggly; how can we resist? If you’re ready to incorporate a life-size Psyduck plush into your life, check out all the details below.

The Pokémon Center shares, “Ready to add some charming confusion to your living room, collection display, or workspace? Clutching its head in perpetual perplexity, this Psyduck Poké Plush features a jumbo 31-inch height based on the in-game Pokédex. Send it into a pretend Pokémon battle, or pose it somewhere within sight so it can keep you smiling!”

The best thing about Psyduck is how relatable it is. We, too, constantly have a headache. So we suppose it would be cheering to have a squishy companion around who can share our daily woes. But, of course, as mentioned, this large Psyduck plush comes with a large price tag. The Pokémon stuffed animal will cost you $324.99. Phew, that’s a headache all on its own.

For those willing to splurge on Psyduck, the plush is now available for pre-order. According to The Pokémon Center, it will likely ship the plush in late October 2024. It’s a jump scare in the making just in time for Halloween; we love it. And secretly, we love this Psyduck plushie too. It’s Psyduck season, after all, given that the Pokémon just starred in a new stop-motion series titled Pokémon Concierge, and more episodes of the show are on the way.

Life-size Psyduck plush, here we come.

The post $300 Life-Size Psyduck Plush Matches Pokédex Height appeared first on Nerdist.

The 2024 Super Bowl featured plenty of great commercials, but there’s no question which one stands above the rest. At least there isn’t to me because I’m from Massachusetts. Nothing—nothing—can compete with native sons Ben Affleck and Matt Damon celebrating our region’s greatest institution by rocking out in orange tracksuits as part of the DunKings. Their musical performance was truly a glorious moment for Boston. Now Dunkin Donuts is partnering with Funko to let everyone everywhere get in on the stylish fun. For a limited-time, you can order a custom Pop! figure of yourself dressed like a member of the DunKings.

Starting today until March 1, fans of Dunkin Donuts, Ben Affleck, wicked cool accents, music, and fashion can get a very special collectible. When you order a Pop! Yourself figure ($30) you can adorn yours with those wonderful DunKings’ tracksuits. You can also put some custom coffee accessories in your mini replica’s hands. The collection includes both a Dunkin iced coffee and a Dunkin box of donuts.

For those of you not from New England, an iced coffee is a mandatory accessory. It’s possibly even a legal requirement. We drink iced coffee 365 days a year. This is not an exaggeration.

The collaboration marks Funko’s first-ever partnership for its Pop! Yourself line. If these figures are even a fraction as popular as the replica DunKings tracksuits that sold out with minutes of going on sale, it won’t be Funko’s last crossover. People, rightfully, love the DunKings. If they don’t they’re probably the lowest of the low (a.k.a. Yankees fans).

As a bonus this DunKings collaboration also gives us a perfect excuse to share the full ad, which should get Affleck both a special Oscar and Emmy next year. And also the year after.

Kid, these are my people. Long live the DunKings, both the real versions and their wicked awesome Funko countahpahts.

The post Put a Custom Funko Pop! Figure in a Dunkin Donuts’ DunKings Tracksuit appeared first on Nerdist.

Disney’s first-ever full-length animated film remains one of its most beloved movies. Now it’s ready to be one of your most beloved LEGO sets. The company’s newest collectible will let you move in with an iconic princess and her seven hi-ho’ing roommates thanks to the LEGO Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage.

Bring to life a legendary home from Disney’s distant past with LEGO’s new 2228-piece set. Designed for ages 18 and up, the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage is a colorful re-creation of the 1937 animated classic’s cozy forest abode. Inside the replica cottage fans will find plenty of notable touches from the film. There’s a bedroom with seven beds, a room with the dwarves’ pipe organ, a baking table, sink, and plenty of cupboards.

The set measures more than 13.5-inches long, 7.8-inches tall, and 7.8 inches wide. It also comes with plenty of characters to fill it. There are 10 minifigures in total: Snow White, each of the Seven Dwarfs, the handsome Prince, and the evil Queen, who comes with her red apple. Plenty of animal friends also join the musical fun. You can place some of those woodland creatures at the nearby wishing well included with the set. Or they can stop by the collection’s sleeping chamber where those under a spell can remain under glass.

Anyone can get their set early next month on March 4, either online or in stores. LEGO Insiders can get theirs even earlier if they want. They can order online starting March 1. The LEGO Disney Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage retails for $219.99.

Putting this set together will also be a fun way to prepare for Disney’s upcoming live-action Snow White remake starring Rachel Zegler. It comes to theaters next year on March 25, 2025. Until then avoid getting close to any sleeping chambers except for this mini LEGO one.

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When asked to imagine a bouquet of flowers, most people will likely dream up a bunch of red roses. And that’s why LEGO’s newest addition to its Botanical Collection makes total sense. We’re only surprised that the LEGO Bouquet of Roses set took so long to manifest. But now you can officially show your affection for that special someone with a set of LEGO roses that will always remain perfect. While real red roses will wilt quite quickly, this version of a bouquet will remain red and lovely forever. Not to mention, it’s a gift and activity in one. What could be better than that? Let’s take a closer look at this bouquet of roses and see what LEGO’s newest Botanical Collection creation is all about.

LEGO’s Botanical Collection has always been filled with absolutely exquisite sets, and its Bouquet of Roses is no exception. In true LEGO style, the set doesn’t want you to build the same rose over and over twelve times. Instead, it includes a dozen red LEGO roses in three different varieties. You’ll create “four [roses] in full bloom, four blooming, and four in bud.” And anyone who knows LEGO knows that even within each category there will likely be small nuances in the roses to keep you on your toes. In addition to the roses, you’ll get to build “a scattering of small white flowers.”

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In total, the LEGO Botanical Collection: LEGO Icons Bouquet of Roses contains 822 pieces. Additionally, it will cost you $59.99. This set was released on January 1, 2024—so it’s available to purchase at any time. Additionally, if the LEGO Botanical Collection is one of your favorites, you can look forward to an upcoming in-depth “field guide” to the floral builds. LEGO Botanical Almanac: A Field Guide to Brick-Built Blooms releases on March 19 and is available for pre-order now. It will give you a deeper look at LEGO’s collection of roses, flowers, succulents, and other plants.

All we need now is for these LEGO roses to gently waft the scent of fresh-cut blooms all around our house.

Originally published on December 11, 2023.

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Don’t even let anyone tell you that Godzilla is not a giant atomic lizard with his finger (claw?) on the pulse of what’s trendy. Because no sooner did Barbie become a cinematic sensation, than we soon saw the trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. And in that peek at the latest Monsterverse movie, Godzilla was wielding the power of some very pink atomic fire. We suspect that Godzilla knew Barbie was “the moment,” and wanted in on that hot pink style. And when we say “hot” pink, we’re being quite literal. You can now buy a Funko Pop! figure of this “Barbiezilla,” a name that we are unofficially coining right now. Pre-orders are already available for this Amazon exclusive.

You can check out the first images of the new Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Funko Pop! vinyl figure figure above. You can also read the official description for the new Monsterverse toy below:

Clear the way for a colossal adventure! Bring along this exclusive Pop! Godzilla (Sleeping) to take on the latest threat raging in the Monsterverse. Godzilla and King Kong, two Titans, will face a challenge that looms larger than ever before. Capture your favorite movie moments from Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and build your Pop! Movies set. This new vinyl figure is approximately 2.2-inches tall.

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Godzilla was originally born out of Japanese cultural anxiety over nuclear power after the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during WWII. So we think that Godzilla was the original “Barbenheimer” anyway. So is Kong the Ken of the Monsterverse? Does he only have meaning if Godzilla is looking at him with those beady, judgmental eyes? Also, does that mean Kong is going to have a song called “Just Kong” in the spirit of Ken? We sure hope so. Because we kind of want to hear it.

The Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Funko Pop! releases on March 11, and the film hits theaters on March 29.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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Although we think of the Rubik’s Cube as an ’80s phenomenon, the iconic brain teaser toy first came out in 1974. This means that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Rubik’s Cube in our lives. The toy, now owned by Spin Master, is celebrating with a variety of new products, commemorating the past, while also leaning into the future. Some of these products include Rubik’s Cubes with Batman and Marvel themes, and even one honoring Wednesday Addams.

Despite its ’80s heyday long in the rearview mirror, the Rubik’s Cube has never really gone away. Its creator, Hungarian professor Ernő Rubik, said the following about his world-famous creation in a statement.

The Rubik’s Cube is a piece of art. It comes to life when we attempt to discover our own solutions to the vast complexity of the challenge. It speaks to the universal values in human nature: curiosity, perseverance, and ingenuity. Recognizing the Cube’s 50th anniversary is a celebration of these eternal values.

You can check out some images of upcoming items down below, as well as preview even more Rubik’s Cube products celebrating the golden anniversary in 2024.

Rubik’s Cubers

Cubers bring your favorite characters to the Rubik’s Cube with Rubik’s Cubers. Collect, solve, and display these puzzle characters, including Batman, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Black Panther. (July 2024, $14.99).

Rubik’s 50th Anniversary Retro Cube

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Displayed in a replica of the 1980s issue packaging, this blast from the past is decorated with the original Rubik’s logo and classic-colored stickers. (January 2024, $14.99).

Rubik’s Gridlock Board Game

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A new challenge, in this game one tests flexible thinking and problem-solving skills. With blocks in place, the objective is to fit all of the pieces onto the board to solve each puzzle. (March 2024,$14.99).

Over the course of the year, they’ll also bring out other Rubik’s Cube products, including the Rubik’s 3×3 Speed Cube, made for competition, the Rubik’s Sensory Cube, with different tactile shapes for each color, and the Rubik’s Connected X, bridging together the physical and digital world of solving via a Bluetooth-enabled 3×3 cube. In addition to Wednesday Addams’ Official Rubik’s Cube, there will be more themed cubes coming in 2024, including one for Barbie! For more information, head over to the official Rubik’s Cube site.

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Over the years, the LEGO company has created sets based on all kinds of video games. But, there are a few that we want and haven’t gotten quite yet. So, Guide Strats asked themselves this question — what might some of the most awe-inspiring buildings in video games look like if they were LEGO sets? Using BrickLink Studio 2.0, they digitally rendered several video game-based architecture builds and their packaging. For an extra cherry on top, the group even calculated how many LEGO bricks each set would have. You can check out our faves down below:

Kaer Morhen from The Witcher III

From The Witcher III comes Kaer Morhen, a run-down fortress, reimagined as a LEGO set that comes with 2,385 pieces. Kaer Morhen stands atop the Blue Mountains of Hertch. It’s where the witchers belonging to the School of the Wolf, including Geralt of Rivia, began their training. The original inspiration for this foreboding fortress came from Orava Castle in Slovakia, also built upon a high rock and surrounded by a dense forest.

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Temple of Time from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda has been around for nearly forty years, but the building that inspired Guide Strats is a lot more recent. The Tears of the Kingdom game from 2023 inspires their digital LEGO architecture build, with the Temple of Time. Guide Strats has reimagined this mystical building as a buildable set with 1,845 pieces. The coolest part of the Temple of Time is that it floats in mid-air. They’ve simulated the temple’s gravity-defying power by placing it atop transparent tube pieces, and then scattering clouds at the base.

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Dragonsreach from Skyrim

If you’re a fan of Skyrim, the fifth installment in the Elder Scrolls series, you’ll recognize the castle known as Dragonsreach. This imposing fortress would take 2,325 pieces to put together. Their digital LEGO version of Dragonsreach uses brown blocks stacked into patterns evoking Gothic architecture. In Skyrim lore, they say that King Olaf built Dragonsreach to house the captured dragon Numinex. Sadly, there’s no dragon head included, but we still think it’s pretty imposing.

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Altissia Palace from Final Fantasy XV

There’s even some Final Fantasy representation here, with ltissia Palace, the luxury palazzo fans know from Final Fantasy XV. This set would have a whopping 10,580 pieces in total. That’s more than any other build in Guide Strats’ research, and over 500 more than the LEGO Eiffel Tower set that exists in real life. That one is the tallest LEGO structure you can build (at 58.5 inches) and the second-largest of any set.

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For digital LEGO builds for Elden Ring and Half-Life 2, check out the official Guide Strats site.

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Ewoks can be a divisive topic in Star Wars fandom. The space bears from the forest moon of Endor look sweet and cuddly, but their cuddly faces belie their fierce warrior skills. As we saw in Return of the Jedi, they stand ready to defend their home. They tried to roast Han Solo alive! They fought off stormtroopers and their ground vehicles. In short, we all learned not to mess with Ewoks. You can, however, collect them. Sideshow is here to help with that with a new limited edition Ewok Designer Collectible Statue and a Fine Art Print. The company teamed up with artist Mab Graves, known for her pop-surreal art, on this gorgeous statue. Nerdist had the chance to chat with Graves over email to learn more about the Ewok design came to life.

Nerdist: I love a space bear! What was the process like of bringing an Ewok into your art style?

Mab Graves: I have been a fan of Star Wars my entire life, so the source material was already deeply etched into my mind. With the Ewoks, I didn’t have to do a ton of character reference research like I normally would, I mainly had to decide what tone, direction, and feel I wanted to evoke in the final sculptural piece. I wanted it to have the same weight and muted softness of my paintings, so I really focused of the subtleties; the gentle placement of a hand, or the tilt of a finger, the way the cowl frames her face, or the soft feathering of the fur around the eyes. Ewoks aesthetically fit my style quite organically, so it felt completely natural to work with them.

Ewoks contain multitudes: they’re fierce, they’re nurturing, they live with nature. What sort of qualities did you want to bring to your Ewok sculpture?

Graves: I love how complex Ewoks are. When you first see them, you think they’re just pure cuteness, but as you keep watching, you start to notice the teeth and the bones, and your view begins to change. They have organized societies and rituals. You realize they are much more than cute balls of fur. I wanted to pay homage to that complexity in this piece. One of the joys of working with 3D sculptural pieces is you can really work with depth and texture to make the best use of shadows for storytelling. Depending on how you light this sculpture, the shadows shift or soften so feeling of the pose changes from fierce protectiveness to gentle presentation.

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Can you share a little of your process in bringing this sculpture to life?

Graves: For this piece, I wanted to create a sculpture that had a refined elegance to the composition. I looked at classical Venetian sculptures of the Madonna and Child, and paintings by Raphael and Cassatt for inspiration. I wanted the serenity of motherhood and the immortality of that bond to really be highlighted. It was a bit of a challenge to work with the Ewoks shortened limbs, but I love how the final piece turned out!

I feel like delivering on the cuteness of a baby Ewok could be a challenge, but you did it! (The little hands!) What was the best part of designing the baby?

Graves: Creating baby monsters is one of my specialties, so the baby Ewok was really fun. Babies are one of those subjects that you have to toe a very fine line with. Too far in one direction and they’re just cutesy and vapid… too far in the other and they can be grotesque or knowingly creepy. Capturing that sentience, and that ever-so-delicate expression of apprehensive curiosity is always the hardest (and most rewarding) part of the challenge! The little hand resting on the mama’s fur was definitely my favorite part.

As for your new Ewok friend, the Ewok Designer Collectible Statue stands seven inches tall. The fine art print, “It Takes an Ewok Village,” is a giclee print and available either framed or unframed. It’s limited to 250 pieces worldwide.

The post Go Behind the Scenes of Sideshow’s Ewok Statue Collaboration appeared first on Nerdist.

1984 is perhaps the most pivotal pop culture year in memory. So many of the movies, music, and television series debuting that year had an incredible impact, and their legacy continues to this day. Rarely has a confluence of circumstances resulted in so much memorable pop art happening all at once. And that was perhaps most true in the world of cartoons, toys, and comics—three mediums that often intermingled. Here, we celebrate the iconic properties that debuted in ’84, from Transformers to Ninja Turtles, and explain how they all still live on decades later.

Transformers

Under Ronald Reagan’s presidency starting in 1981, his FCC chairman pick Mark S. Fowler changed the rules that didn’t allow children’s programming to advertise directly to kids. By 1983, the airwaves were flooded with cartoons that were literally 30-minute toy ads. Shows were featuring everything from Pac-Man, to Smurfs, to 1983’s “Big Two,” He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and G.I. Joe. The “Big Two” cartoons continued to dominate as 1984 began, but another iconic brand that arguably dwarfed them—the Transformers—joined soon after.

Toy company Hasbro licensed transforming robot toys from the Japanese company Takara, which had already existed in that country since 1980. But in America, Hasbro wanted a whole mythology to go with the toys, something they didn’t have overseas as Diacolone or Micro Change. Hasbro hired Marvel Comics—specifically former Batman writer Dennis O’Neil—to develop the American names and personalities of Optimus Prime, Megatron, and the rest.

In the spring of 1984, the rebranded toys hit the shelves. In May, Marvel’s Transformers #1 also arrived, billed as “a 4-Part Limited Series.” The Transformers‘ catchphrase “More than meets the eye” became something every kid knew, overnight.

The Continuing Legacy of Transformers

Transformers was such an instant runaway success with kids, that the comics expanded from limited series to ongoing and ran until 1990. Then, the animated series arrived that fall, sending the brand into the stratosphere. The three-tiered approach– toys, comics, and cartoons—worked like gangbusters. The “More than Meets the Eye” robots from Cybertron became household names, and totally kicked the butts of their counterparts, the Go-Bots. Although the brand quietly went dormant in 1990, in the later part of the decade it returned as Beast Wars. From that point on, the brand became perennial, and a live-action movie franchise that has grossed billions of dollars followed. The biggest toy debut of 1984 is still as ubiquitous as ever decades later.

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars

Speaking of toys and Marvel Comics, their other big success that year was both a Marvel Comics series and an action-figure line. Interestingly, one was far more influential than the other. In the early ‘80s, Mattel Toys got the Marvel Comics license. They wanted their upcoming action-figure line to have a big comic book event to push it, so Mattel, after doing focus groups on kids, discovered their target demographic of little boys loved the words “secret” and “wars.” Thus, Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars was born. And then-Marvel EIC Jim Shooter took it upon himself to write the series.

Secret Wars was the first crossover event series between all of Marvel’s biggest titles, except for the grittier Daredevil and Doctor Strange. The story was simple enough. A cosmic being called the Beyonder gathered the best heroes and the worst villains to fight it out on an artificial planet called Battleworld, deciding what is more powerful, good or evil? Older readers scoffed at the story, but younger kids ate it up. Secret Wars sold better than any Marvel Comic in 25 years, and the “company-wide crossover” event was born. The next year, DC would do the same with their own Crisis on Infinite Earths.

The Continuing Legacy of Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars

Secret Wars as a toy line petered out after two waves, likely because of lack of big-name characters. The comics also launched the much-disliked Secret Wars II a mere two years later. But the original series introduced very important elements to the Marvel Universe, like Spider-Man’s black alien costume, which later became Venom, a character who is now one of Marvel’s most popular heroes. The ’90s Spider-Man: The Animated Series adapted the first Secret Wars, and it got a reboot/sequel of sorts in 2015, by writer Jonathan Hickman. That series will serve as the basis for the upcoming Avengers sequel, also titled Secret Wars. The pop culture legacy of this one comic book event series has truly lasted far past 1984.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Cartoonists and buddies Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird started Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a small print black and white comic on a lark. Interestingly, this happened after Eastman randomly doodled a turtle with a mask and a sword. From this one image, a full comic arrived soon after, which was meant to be a one-shot. That comic soon became a phenomenon. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 was a parody of popular Marvel heroes, poking fun at Marvel’s mutant X-Men, and the ninja world of Daredevil. The first issue debuted at a Comic-Con in May 1984, and had a limited print run of only 3,275 copies. It blew up and an ongoing series was next. They couldn’t keep this black and white series of anthropomorphic turtles transformed by toxic waste into formidable warriors off the shelves.

Much like Superman in the ‘30s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became a pop culture staple almost overnight. Within four years of their 1984 debut, Ninja Turtles became an animated series, a live-action movie, and a massively successful line of action figures from Playmates. In the late ‘80s/early ‘90s, you simply couldn’t escape Turtlemania. It was everywhere. Of course, all of this kid-oriented entertainment was far more family-friendly than the original comics by a significant amount. But the core of Eastman and Laird’s idea was still there in this more mainstream version. And it all started with that 1984 comic book that was the sleeper hit of the century.

The Ongoing Legacy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Turtles remain a perennial brand to this very day, never leaving the zeitgeist for very long. They had three live-action films in the ’90s, one TV reboot after another, and even more movies. The “joke” comic became as popular, if not more so, than the comics it once mocked. And with the animated film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hitting theaters recently, it’s an IP that shows no signs of slowing down. Soon, that film will have its own animated TV spin-off. Their peak of the ‘90s may be long over, but they are still a beloved part of popular culture.

Voltron

Much like Transformers before it, the animated series and toy line Voltron: Defender of the Universe doesn’t exist without Japanese origins. In 1981, Beast King Go-Lion aired in Japan, with a companion series airing later, Armored Fleet Dairugger XV. Both series featured several giant robots which combined to form one even more gigantic robot, who fought all manner of kaiju-like creatures on the planet Arus. Beast King Go-Lion were lion robots, naturally, and Armored Fleet were vehicles. Aside from that, the two series were not really connected.

American company World Events Productions—which bought both series—re-dubbed them, edited them for content, and combined them together as Voltron. This was done to meet the episode order needs for daily syndication. (Robotech would pull this trick a year later.) The series first aired on North American weekday afternoons in September of 1984, and it was an instant smash. Voltron instantly launched a franchise of toys, games, merchandise, and comic books. In 1986, World Events commissioned the Japanese studio Toei to combine both Voltron teams into one for a movie, despite neither series having anything to do with each other in their native Japan. For much of the ’80s, Voltron ruled the weekday afternoon airwaves.

The Continuing Legacy of Voltron

Voltron was very much a child of 1984, but it continues to resonate in popular culture. There was a ‘90s, reboot, another reboot in 2012, and Voltron: Legendary Defender, which aired 78 episodes over 8 seasons on Netflix. Work also continues on an eventual live-action Voltron for the big screen. Heck, the word “Voltron” has even become a verb in the Urban Dictionary. It means “to combine or assemble individual things (which may function individually) made separately into a common meta-product where they all work together synergistically for a common goal.” How about that for longevity? All of this ensures that the legacy of Voltron will extend way past its original expiration date.

Super Powers

Super Friends, the cartoon version of DC Comics’ Justice League, had existed on Saturday morning TV for over a decade by 1984. But the ‘80s was all about tying your cartoon with a larger toy and merchandise brand. When Mattel got the Marvel license and produced Secret Wars, Kenner Toys got the DC Comics license. They created a new line of 5” action figures, vehicles, and playsets based on the DC heroes, called Super Powers. Unlike Secret Wars, however, the first wave came out with all the DC heavy hitters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc. It was an instant hit with kids, who loved how each figure had a special “action feature.”

Because of the new toyline, Super Friends on ABC Saturday Mornings was rebranded as Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, and took on storylines and characters that reflected the action figure line. In the toy’s storyline, Darkseid and his minions from Apokolips were the main villains, and the show now reflected that. Marvel Comics legend Jack Kirby even illustrated two Super Powers tie-in comics series. The only time he ever drew DC’s Justice League heroes. The toy and merchandise line ran for three years—an eternity for any toy line at the time. All the merch surrounding the toys was from famed comic book illustrator José Luis García-López, whose renditions represented the DC heroes at their most iconic.

The Continuing Legacy of Super Powers

The legacy of Super Powers is pretty significant, even decades later. The idea of Darkseid as the League’s main villain stems mainly from Super Powers and Super Friends, as he’d barely fought the Justice League in the comics at that point. This is something that has stuck in the main DC continuity for years since. If you ever bought a “retro” DC t-shirt, chances are it used art from the Super Powers era.

In the last few years, McFarlane Toys has brought back the Super Powers line, with updated versions of the classic toys. In many ways, even forty years later, the Super Powers version of the DC heroes remains their most iconic.

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

In the 1980s, New Teen Titans was DC Comics’ biggest-selling series by a country mile. Yet, the Marv Wolfman/George Perez comic book was constantly compared to Marvel’s hit Uncanny X-Men. Both series had a lot in common, as they were reboots of 1960s teams that weren’t terribly popular in their day. But Titans writer Marv Wolfman decided to use the comparisons to their advantage with a story that would run for two years and culminate in the team’s greatest epic—The Judas Contract. The storyline ran through summer 1984’s Tales of the Teen Titans # #42–44 and Tales of the Teen Titans Annual #3.

Marvel’s X-Men introduced readers to Kitty Pryde in 1979, a spunky sarcastic teen who would become a fan favorite. In response, Titans introduced Terra, a.k.a. Tara Markov, a 15-year-old wisecracking brat with earth-controlling powers. She’d get comparisons to Kitty Pryde almost right away. Then, Marv and George pulled the rug out from readers a year into her being a Titan. Tara was actually a sociopathic spy sent by the team’s mortal enemy, Deathstroke. He sent her to gain their trust and learn their secrets, after which Tara and Deathstroke would attack the team. Everything came to a head in the 4-part finale of the story, The Judas Contract. Terra would die trying to kill her former teammates. This included Beast Boy, who was in love with her. Perhaps most importantly, Dick Grayson would graduate from Robin the Boy Wonder into the adult hero Nightwing in this saga.

The Continuing Legacy of Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

Forty years later, Nightwing is one of DC Comics’ most popular heroes. The Judas Contract storyline continues to be adapted in various media. The 2003 Teen Titans animated series gave us a (very toned-down) version of the story. The 2016 animated movie Teen Titans: The Judas Contract adapted the story in a more mature fashion, as did the live-action Titans series (only with Ravager substituting for Terra). And while no one behind the scenes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has ever mentioned it, The Judas Contract storyline was clearly an influence on that show’s third season, particularly the character of Faith. Whatever media form the Titans take in James Gunn’s DCU, be certain they will adapt The Judas Contract.

Long live these iconic properties that spawned toys, comics, and cartoons that still resonate with us today.

The post Celebrating the Toys, Cartoons, and Comics of 1984 appeared first on Nerdist.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie turned the iconic toy into a record-setting box office hit. Now the movie has inspired a new collection of the iconic toys. In the best spirit of Barbieland, Mattel is celebrating the professionals who bring cinema to life with a new film collection of dolls. Check out the latest line of Barbie dolls which celebrate “Women in Film.”

Mattel’s newest “Barbie Career Of the Year” set (which we first heard about at Variety) celebrates four different jobs in the film industry. The Women in Film Barbie collection includes figures for a Studio Executive, Director, Cinematographer, and Movie Star. Each toy also comes with a distinct ensemble and appropriate accessories. The Studio Executive Barbie comes with gold sunglasses and a cellphone. Director Barbie carries a film script and wears a viewfinder and headset. Meanwhile, her cinematographer holds a camera and clapboard. And the glamorous, award-winning Movie Star Barbie sports a pearl necklace and holds a golden statue.

We’re not saying Margot Robbie absolutely must show up to the Oscars in that exact same Movie Star Barbie outfit. We’re just saying it will be pretty amazing if she does.

Mattel says this collection is for kids three and up. Obviously a whole lot of adults will the Women in Flim Barbie collection, too. At MattelCreations.com It is available only to Barbie Signature members until January 11 at 5:59am PT, and only while supplies last.  The rest of us can find the collection online at Target and Walmart. The Women in Film Barbies should also arrive on Amazon at some point. The set retails for around $50 and will likely sell out very quickly, so if you hope to bring these dolls home you will want to act fast.

The collection is the latest in the toy company’s “Career of the Year” franchise. Since 2010 it has honored more than 250 professions. Mattel also has an entire line of (mostly sold out) Barbie movie Barbie dolls, as well.

That’s a whole lot of dolls inspired by a movie inspired by those very same dolls. Forget Barbenheimer and Christopher Nolan’s latest movie. This Barbie set is working hard to make Barbception a reality.

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Superman made his debut in the pages of 1938’s Action Comics #1. Since then countless actors have brought the character to life on screen. Which live-action iteration of the Man of Steel is our favorite? George Reeves? Christopher Reeve? Brandon Routh? Henry Cavill? One of the many other performers who have played him? It’s almost impossible to pick just one as the best. But it’s not hard to name our top choice when it comes Kal-Els who have actually flown in the real world. The internet is rediscovering the joy of RC Superman, a moppy-haired remote-controlled recreation of the iconic superhero.

Chris Wolf, who goes by the online handle The RC Geek, recently celebrated his delightful 2015 device by uploading a new short YouTube video of his model RC Superman. (Which we first saw at Laughing Squid.)

His super remote-controlled device made its debut at the 2015 PVMAC Big Jolt all-electric RC event. It featured a body that looked like a blue and red model airplane up-close. (Well, a model airplane that had a head with floppy black hair for a nose.) But the real genius of his flying contraption is best appreciated when it’s actually being used. His design made it so that when RC Superman took to the sky, it captured the look and feel of the “real” Man of Steel.

This machine is fantastic unto itself. If we saw it in-person our brains would short circuit until we figured out what was going on. But seeing it soar high in the air in this latest video is its own reward. It features John Williams’ iconic Superman theme. That song makes this footage something special. It’s strangely captivating, as though, for just a brief moment, Clark Kent is real and here to protect us.

The song really does matter, too. Just compare the new video to the original longer one that doesn’t use Williams’ song.

It’s not a bird. It’s not a plane. And it’s not even actually Superman. But it’s still something that is bringing us joy after all these years—just like Superman himself has since 1938.

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We’re not getting Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse any time soon; however, you can still celebrate several versions of our favorite arachnid hero. Actually, make those arachnid heroes, plural. The folks at YouTooz are creating a series of collectible figures based on Spider-Man. And it’s not just the Peter Parker Spidey, but also Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2099! Each one is based on an iconic moment from Spider-Man’s comic book history, spanning decades of Marvel Comics. You can check out images and descriptions of each Spider-Man collectible down below:

Amazing Fantasy #15 First Appearance Spider-Man

The first YouTooz Spidey figure is based on Spider-Man’s first appearance in 1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15. This was the first Spidy story ever, written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Steve Ditko. Based on the cover of that iconic issue, this figurine showcases your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man swinging away with a criminal in tow. The figure stands at 5.1 inches tall.

Amazing Spider-Man #50 Peter Parker

The next Spidey figurine is based on one of the most iconic comic book covers ever, John Romita’s cover of Amazing Spider-Man #50. This was the famous story “Spider-Man No More,” which had Peter Parker leave his role of Spider-Man behind. This figure is 4.4 inches tall, with a large Spidey standing in front of a beaming orange background looking over his shoulder at the disheartened Peter.

Web of Spider-Man #1 Black Costume Spider-Man

We flash forward now to the ’80s, when Peter Parker got a new black outfit, an alien symbiote costume that would eventually become Venom. Black costumed Peter Parker also landed a new ongoing series, Web of Spider-Man. This figure recreates the iconic cover for Web of Spider-Man #1, with Peter Parker perched on a red brick ledge at 4.8 inches tall, hovering over a gargoyle.

Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O’Hara)

In the early ’90s, Marvel fans embraced the first non-Peter Parker wallcrawler in Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of the future. Recreating the iconic cover of 1992’s Spider-Man 2099 #1, this figurine leaps forward at 5.1 inches tall, flying through the air as a series of colorful New York City buildings fan out in the background. Small blue police vehicles flying surround Miguel.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man

Our most recent iconic Spider-Man is teenager Miles Morales, who debuted in Ultimate Spider-Man in 2011. This Spidey would become a household name thanks to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and Beyond the Spider-Verse. This 4.8″ figurine is perched on top of a makeshift throne of CRT televisions stacked up around him with glowing blue screens. Miles’ eyes mimic the TV static and are highlighted with deep red rims.

Each YouTooz Spider-Man Limited Edition collectible figurine will set you back $39.99, and ship from May 1-31, 2024. Each collectible ships in a matte, embossed, protective outer sleeve and a custom-sized plastic protector for maximum protection during shipping. You can pre-order each of the five figures by clicking here.

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At some point in the first half of 2024, the mighty mutants from the ’90s X-Men: The Animated Series are making their grand return on Disney+ when X-Men ’97 premieres. But in anticipation, a ton of new X-Men ’97 merchandise has already hit the shelves, including action figures, t-shirts, and more. Of course, there will also be X-Men ’97 LEGO sets, starting with a new X-Jet. Or, as Marvel Comics fans know it, the Blackbird. This 359-piece construction set measures over 3 in. (8 cm) high, 11 in. (30 cm) long, and 10 in. (25 cm) wide, and is already available for pre-order for $84.99. You can check out several images of the new X-Jet set in our gallery below:

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The buildable toy features twin cockpits with room for 4 minifigures, including Wolverine, Cyclops, Rogue, and Magneto, in his new good guy costume. It also has 2 stud shooters on both sides of the plane, and 2 spring shooters beneath the wings. The buildable model plane also includes 2 removable containers where you can store spare studs… and Wolverine’s long claws when they are not attached to him. For added fun, builders can zoom in, rotate models in 3D, and track their progress using the LEGO Builder app.

Unlike some early LEGO announcements, this set doesn’t really offer up any spoilers for the upcoming X-Men ’97 series. They already revealed some time ago that Magneto would be in hero mode in this continuation, so that doesn’t count. His costume is an homage to the era of comics where Charles Xavier left him in charge of his school. But other product releases have spoiled certain plot developments, like the addition of Mister Sinister as the series’ main villain. Hopefully, some big surprises will remain unspoiled from merch reveals when X-Men ’97 drops later this year.

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Earlier in the year, Nerdist went on its own epic journey and built LEGO’s Rivendell set. As expected, the results were astounding. The build features all the hallmarks of The Lord of the Rings movies’ elven sanctuary, including the bridge and gazebo where Arwen and Aragorn share a moonlit moment and the Council Ring where our favorite fellowship forms. Not to mention, it comes with 15 Minifigures. In short, it gives you everything you need to recreate sequences from the beloved franchise in LEGO form. And in a gorgeous stop motion video, shared by Warner Bros. itself, DigitalWizardsStudios did exactly that. Watch as LEGO’s The Lord of the Rings Rivendell set transforms into a stop-motion animation masterpiece that reimagines all our favorite cinematic scenes.

DigitalWizardsStudios notes, “Join the Fellowship of the Ring for a building adventure of a lifetime as you relive all of your favorite Rivendell scenes thanks to LEGO 10316’s Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set. This stunning 6,167-piece set comes to life in beautiful LEGO stop-motion animation like you’ve never seen before!”

And we have to agree. Is this not exactly the sort of imaginative creation this The Lord of the Rings LEGO set was begging for? The stop-motion video really brings to life the beauty of the Rivendell LEGO build… And of the movies. After all, not just any dialogue can remain effortlessly elegant in LEGO form. And we must say, watching the LEGO One Ring drive a bunch of Minifigures to argument is a singular experience. In short, we’re ready for the LEGO The Lord of the Rings Movie to release any day now. Can you imagine LEGO Frodo interacting with LEGO Batman?

For those who want to know more about how this epic LEGO Rivendell stop-motion video was created, DigitalWizardsStudios has just the videos for you. In addition to the end result, they’ve shared two other fun LEGO recordings. First, you can experience a speed build of the LEGO Rivendell set, noted for ASMR purposes. We do enjoy the clicking of the blocks and the satisfying way they come together. And second, the creators have shared a “Making of” behind-the-scenes video so you can check out exactly what went into making the seemingly effortless animation.

Now we just need someone to yell, “And my LEGOs!” as Frodo heads off to Mordor.

Feature Image: DigitalWizardsStudios

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Rejoice, Twihards! LEGO is getting its first Twilight set ever, and it’s all thanks to LEGO Ideas. We should have known a Twilight fan would help make this happen. Although we don’t yet know when this set will release, it is officially coming our way. LEGO recently announced its first LEGO Ideas 2023 review results, revealing seven fan creations that are currently in development. And in among the seven? Why yes, it is a LEGO Twilight: Cullen House set.

It honestly feels hard to believe that LEGO never made a Twilight set before this one. But it’s better late than never. Edward waited decades for Bella, after all. What is that compared to a few years for a Twilight LEGO set? And it seems like this set will be worth it.

LEGO shares of the Twilight: Cullen House set and its creator, “Nick became a huge Twilight fan as an adult and was inspired to create this impressive LEGO replica of the iconic Cullen family house. His design included a brick-built wolf and, of course, some of the main characters in Minifigure likeness so you can replay your favorite scenes from the movie.” Meanwhile, creator Nick Micheels, aka LobsterThermidor, notes, “No one asked for it, I answered! Welcome to Twilight: Cullen House.  When you see this set on the shelf, you’ll ask, “Where the H-E-Double Lego Bricks have you been, loca!?”

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But we have all obviously asked for it. Although the final set will be different than the LEGO Ideas model, this Twilight: Cullen House perfectly brings to life everyone’s favorite vampire family home. It comes complete with three levels and lots of windows. (No turrets, dungeons, or moats.) Of course, Edward must have his piano so he can serenade Bella. And we love the nod to Twilight‘s cover art on the walls, as well as other details such as:

A baseball bat and glove in the garage for playing vampire baseball (only during a thunderstorm, of course)

Graduation cap display art because the Cullens matriculate a lot (it’s a private joke)

NO BEDS! (because vampires don’t get sweepy)

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Of course, LobsterThermidor imagines Minifigures will come with the collection. These will include Bella, Edward, Jacob (shirtless and sweaty, duh), and Carlisle Cullen, who looks handsomely pale. With any luck, the official LEGO Twilight set will end up coming with all the Cullens. And these Twilight Minifigures had better sparkle, if you ask us. But the LEGO build of a Werewolf that LobsterThermidor imagines in the collection is very cool. We hope that remains in the purchasable version.

This definitely shouldn’t be LEGO’s last Twilight set, though. We suggest, nay DEMAND, a “Cullens and Bella Play Baseball” set, stat!

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No one can be Tony Stark or Iron Man. But with LEGO’s new Avengers Tower set, you can pretend. The massive set replicates the Avengers Tower we know from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s not really the Tower, formerly known as Stark Tower, at any fixed point in time, but more a showpiece of a key MCU location and the Avengers who have made it their base. That’s the best way to look at it—it’s a highlights reel of the Avengers throughout the Infinity Saga in towering LEGO form. Seriously, you don’t realize how tall Avengers Tower is until you assemble it. LEGO sent Nerdist a copy to unbox and snap together, piece by piece. It’s a mostly satisfying build that dwarfs anything else in my LEGO collection.

LEGO Avengers Tower Specs

The LEGO Avengers Tower comes with a whopping 5,201 pieces. (The pieces come in 39 bags!) It’s 10 inches deep, 14 inches wide, and 36 inches tall. That makes it LEGO’s tallest brick-built skyscraper. And so yes, it’s taller than the Daily Bugle set. (For what it’s worth, it’s also a far more interesting design than the Daily Bugle.) The set comes with 31 minifigures, the most ever included in a single LEGO set.

You can get the LEGO Avengers Tower for $499.99.

Building the LEGO Avengers Tower

Build Time

This is a set that will keep you occupied. I put around 13 hours into the build, most of it on my own. A little repetition comes with constructing a tall building with LEGO bricks. I felt that with the windows, of which the set has many. So many. In fact, it has the most windows in a single LEGO set. But watching it all come together to form the elegant outline of the skyscraper made it worth it.

Overall Design

If you have any LEGO City buildings, the Avengers Tower will bring a drastic change to your cityscape. It adds plenty of height and it brings another style of building to put alongside your shops. Adding it to a LEGO City street also means you can scatter some of the minifigs through town. The Kevin Feige minifig should, for example, be guzzling coffee at a café. Instead of attaching a Chitauri Leviathan to the tower, it could be casually invading your LEGO City. You have a lot of posing possibilities.

The options are dang near endless if you construct the tower as a standalone piece, too. You can dangle Hulk and Chitauri warriors off the side or remove the front of the building to showcase scenes from the history of the MCU Avengers. Though one quick note: if you’re used to LEGO City buildings with multiple floors, you are accustomed to the modular way of LEGO life. The Avengers Tower is not modular. Once you get a floor into place, it remains there.

Overall, it’s an architecturally sharp design. I wouldn’t have pegged LEGO as the best medium to bring the Avengers Tower and its curvy building to life, but it’s beautiful. The building’s construction and the storytelling present throughout come together as a tribute to the Marvel superhero team. Once you complete assembly, you’ll see every part of the building has things happening. It’s literally covered in content.

As mentioned earlier, the set comes with 31 minifigs, which is a lot. I would not have chosen the same 31 minifigs. Multiple Tony Stark figures come with the set, but no Bruce Banner. Meanwhile some other minifigs have no direct connection to Avengers Tower, nor are they part of the Avengers.

Surprises

This actually isn’t a surprise, because LEGO always delivers when it comes to detail, but the design goes above and beyond with discovery. It comes with a Captain Marvel beeper to put behind the building. A LEGO shawarma is by the dumpster. Maybe you’ve seen lots of photos or videos of the Avengers Tower set online. Even if you have, discovering and building the Easter eggs and all the MCU scenes is a delight. The set has two Captain America minifigs just to recreate the America’s a*s scene from Endgame. One of the upper floors has a Quinjet launchpad that has room for the ship to roll in and out of place. Those are only a few of the little touches in the set, and they really make it.

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In summary, the LEGO Avengers Tower is a beast of a build that shows off the best of the Avengers. The designers are clearly giant MCU nerds, and we appreciate them for it. If you love the MCU and have a passion for LEGO, this is a set to save for.

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