Posts by Dave Schefcik (TBB News Contributor)

LEGO reveals six new sets to celebrate 80 years of Batman, including classic vehicles, villains and Shazam! [News]

Batman is turning 80 on March 30, so LEGO is launching six new DC Super Heroes sets to celebrate. The line-up of sets includes our heroes Batman, Robin and Batwoman using iconic vehicles such as the Batmobile, Batwing and Batcycle to defeat classic villains like The Joker, Harley Quinn, and The Riddler. In addition to the expected Batman characters, Shazam also comes in one set (most certainly a nod to the upcoming DC film).

The sets range in price from $9.99 to $99.99 USD with general availability starting later this summer on August 1st. One set including Mr. Freeze will be available at Walmart one month early starting on June 1st.

Don’t miss the rest of the LEGO summer 2019 sets reveals, and be sure to check out the new Toy Story 4, Spider-Man, and The LEGO Movie 2 sets that just went sale a few days ago:

LEGO Architecture
LEGO Batman
LEGO City
LEGO City Space
LEGO Creator
LEGO Friends
LEGO Friends Ocean
LEGO Harry Potter
LEGO Jurassic World
LEGO Ninjago
LEGO Star Wars

Click to take a closer look at the upcoming LEGO Batman sets

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The LEGO VIP rewards program is changing and going digital [News]

The LEGO VIP rewards program is changing and going digital. Starting in June, LEGO will be launching a new online rewards center with digital VIP cards that will “introduce some new ways to earn and spend VIP points.” The changes follow a beta program launched earlier this month offering a few users mobile wallet versions of their VIP cards on Apple or Android devices while also promising “targeted and personalized offers sent directly to your phone.”

While the digital push is framed as being part of LEGO’s environmentally conscious “Planet Promise,” physical cards will still be available upon request. There are no planned changes to existing VIP points or values, though VIP accounts must now be registered online and connected with a unique e-mail address.

VIP points will also now be valid for 18 months with the expiration countdown clock renewing after every purchase, essentially extending their life indefinitely for fans who make a LEGO purchase at least once every year and a half (a change from the points expiring two years after earning them if they were not used).

There are many benefits to the LEGO VIP Program including signing up for free, accruing points toward discounts on future purchases, early access to select product launches, as well as access to other offers and promotions throughout the year. (For example, the LEGO Store is running double VIP points through the end of March.) Going digital will hopefully lead to faster communication about new offers and more clarity about LEGO’s reward system.

However, the LEGO VIP Program has had several missteps in the past including the exclusive Black VIP Card roll-out which promised “exclusive contests, exclusive rewards, exclusive access” and then hardly delivered, as well as tracking and enforcing hard purchase limits across several online orders. It remains to be seen what the “new ways to earn and spend VIP points” will be, but we are cautiously optimistic based on past promises if the program remains true to providing loyalty rewards and doesn’t veer toward increased tracking with even more fragmented offers than currently exist.

We will publish more information about the changes when it is announced, but in the meantime you can read the full email announcement from LEGO after the jump.

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen steps down from LEGO Board of Directors [News]

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is stepping down from LEGO’s board of directors, essentially passing on control of the company to the next generation of the Kristiansen family. Like a parent giving their child a LEGO set they grew up with, Kjeld announced that he will step down from LEGO next month, which leaves his son Thomas Kristiansen acting in his stead as the fourth-generation Kristiansen to help lead the company.

The change follows a plan to make a generational shift in leadership which has been happening for several years since Thomas joined the board in 2007. He and LEGO Brand Group CEO Jorgen Vig Knudstorp are interviewing candidates to ultimately replace Kjeld on the board with the goal in mind of bringing in someone to help the company through their centennial anniversary.

Kjeld has been a reassuring presence to the LEGO fan community throughout the years, visiting several conventions and driving the creation of the LEGO House in Billund, Denmark. He is the son of Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (who was the son of LEGO inventor Ole Kirk Christiansen), and appeared on LEGO boxes as a child. He was CEO of LEGO from 1979 until 2004 and has continued to be a driving and inspirational influence on the company.

The full press release as well as a history of the Kristiansen family’s ownership of LEGO is included after the jump.

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for March 24, 2019 [News]

In addition to the amazing LEGO models created by builders all over the world, The Brothers Brick brings you the best of LEGO news and reviews. This is our weekly Brick Report for the fourth week of March 2019.

What are The LEGO Group’s plans for the future and what has impacted their business model most strongly the past few years? Read on to find out.

TBB NEWS & REVIEWS: It could have been called Disney week with new minifigures, Steamboat Willie revealed and a Darth Vader bust that caught our eye.

LEGO reveals Disney Collectible Minifigures Series 2 – Eighteen new Disney LEGO minifigures are on their way, including characters from Frozen, Hercules, DuckTales and more.
Review of LEGO Ideas 21317 Steamboat Willie – Hop on board with our hands-on review of the new black-and-white LEGO Ideas set based on one of Disney’s first animations.
Details of LEGO Ideas Disney 21317 Steamboat Willie set including retro Mickey and Minnie Mouse – The set comes with 751 pieces and will be available starting April 1st.
LEGO Star Wars 75227 Darth Vader Bust revealed as Star Wars Celebration and Target REDcard exclusive – This set will be a one-day Target REDcard online exclusive.
LEGO partners with NimbleBit to create the LEGO Tower mobile game – Fans of the game Tiny Tower will soon have a chance to make their pixelated world out of LEGO.
Instructions to make your own LEGO Toothless – Build Better Bricks offers instructions to build your favorite night fury dragon from How to Train Your Dragon.
LEGO Store offering double VIP points from now until the end of March – Double VIP points are back at the LEGO Store through the end of the month. Happy shopping!

https://youtu.be/I7ybyV3C3M8

OTHER NEWS: There were quite a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:
Click to read even more LEGO news

LEGO Store offering double VIP points from now until the end of March [News]

The LEGO Store is offering double VIP points on all purchases through the end of the month, ending on March 31st. This is the perfect opportunity to pick up some new sets like the sleek 10265 Ford Mustang, LEGO Ideas 21316 The Flintstones, or the massive 70840 Apocalypseburg. There are region-specific links below for the LEGO Shop online, or you could peruse our guide to all the new LEGO sets launched earlier this year.

Link for readers in the United States: The LEGO Shop online (US)
Link for readers in the United Kingdom: The LEGO Shop online (UK)
Link for readers in Canada: The LEGO Shop online (Canada)

LEGO partners with NimbleBit to create the LEGO Tower mobile game [News]

Fans of NimbleBit’s popular mobile game Tiny Tower will soon have a chance to make their blocky, pixelated world out of LEGO. The new game, LEGO Tower, challenges you to build a skyscraper with apartments and businesses for your digital minifigures to live, work and play in with one huge elevator that connects them all. The game will be available starting this summer.

Interested tower builders can also visit LEGO Ideas on March 26th to find out how their creations can be featured in the new mobile game.

Click to get a closer look at the new LEGO Tower mobile game

LEGO reveals Disney Collectible Minifigures Series 2 [News]

LEGO has revealed the full line-up from the much-anticipated second Disney Collectible Minifigures series, including characters from Frozen, Hercules, Aladdin, Nightmare Before Christmas and more. The collection includes 18 characters from many beloved Disney films and will be available from LEGO and other toy retailers starting May 1st for $3.99 US | £2.99 UK | 4.99 CAN.

Hot off the heels of the LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie set announcement, it might as well be Disney week in all things LEGO. We have your first look at all the new Disney minifigures right here, including close up photos of each character.

Click to see all the new LEGO Disney minifigures

Details of LEGO Ideas Disney 21317 Steamboat Willie set including retro Mickey and Minnie Mouse [News]

LEGO has revealed 21317 Steamboat Willie, the next LEGO Ideas set featuring retro-Mickey and Minnie Mouse minifigures as well as the iconic S.S. Willie steamboat. The boat’s steam pipes bounce up and down and the paddle wheels rotate as the set is pushed forward. The set comes with 751 pieces and will be available starting April 1st for US: $89.99 | Canada: 119.99 CAD | UK: £79.99.

The monochromatic set comes only a month after it was selected to be one of the next LEGO Ideas products, a shockingly fast turnaround in comparison to previous LEGO Ideas sets. The set is also quite an upgrade from the original submission. Continue reading to see all the official photos, or take a closer look at the insides and build process in our review of 21317 Steamboat Willie.

Click to see all the details of the Steamboat Willie LEGO Ideas set

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for March 17, 2019 [News]

This life-size LEGO Ford Anglia from set 75953 Hogwarts Whomping Willow is making its debut at London Comic Con. How many pieces did it take to build? Read on to find out.

TBB NEWS & REVIEWS: LEGO news was slim this week, but we still have a few good sales, a new gift with purchase and some awesome instructions, just for you.

Popular LEGO sets discounted on Amazon in the US – A few sets from LEGO Ideas to Harry Potter are currently on discount from Amazon.
30542 Cute Pug polybag now free gift with purchase from LEGO, with double VIP points on a few cars – We love pugs at The Brothers Brick, and you can get one for free with purchase from LEGO through the weekend.
Build your own Bulbasaur from Pokémon – hachiroku24 has made a delightful model and shared video instructions so you can build it too.

Big Build: Ford Anglia – LEGO Harry Potter

Check out this magical Ford Anglia made completely out of LEGO bricks! ✨????

Posted by LEGO on Tuesday, March 5, 2019

OTHER NEWS: There were quite a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:
Click to read even more LEGO news

30542 Cute Pug polybag now free gift with purchase from LEGO, with double VIP points on a few cars [News]

The LEGO Store has launched two new gift-with-purchase promotions lasting through the weekend. The adorably humorous 30542 Cute Pug polybag is free with purchases of $35 or more online or in LEGO Stores through 11:59pm EST on March 17th.

The second gift-with-purchase offer is in-stores only and not available online. You can get a Build a Minifigure Pack for only $5 (half off the normal price) with purchases of $40 or more through March 17th as well. LEGO stores just got in a few new minifigure pieces not seen before in any set, so dig through what is available to see what treasure you can find.

Double VIP Points

Additionally, LEGO is offering double VIP points on the 42093 Technic Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and the 75893 Speed Champions 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 1970 Dodge Charger R/T through the end of March.

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for March 10, 2019 [News]

LEGO has built a life-size Bugatti Chiron out of Technic pieces before but has done it again with a new one made of standard bricks. Read on to find out where this model is on display.

TBB NEWS & REVIEWS: Spoiler alert for the Avengers: Endgame product reveals below, plus check out some awesome instructions for another space vehicle.

LEGO sets from Avengers: Endgame revealed, including War Machine Buster & Ultimate Quinjet – The whole LEGO line-up of Avengers: Endgame sets have been revealed.
LEGO Avengers: Endgame 76125 Iron Man Hall of Armour set revealed – This set features not one but four Iron Man suits on display in Tony Stark’s lab.
HispaBrick Magazine issue 032 now available for free download – For International Women’s Day, HispaBrick Magazine is featuring female builders from around the world.
LEGO Marvel Avengers Minifigure Bricktober Pack now available in the US through Sunday – This elusive Avengers Bricktober pack was available with purchases of $75 or more.
Instructions to build your own police spinner from Blade Runner – You can build this blue spinner if you can gather all the parts with instructions provided by hachiroku24.

OTHER NEWS: There were quite a few other interesting LEGO news articles from around the web this week. Here are the best of the rest:
Click to read even more LEGO news

Bricks Cascade 2019, Portland’s premier LEGO convention, is this weekend [News]

Portland’s premier LEGO convention, Bricks Cascade, will be open to the public this weekend, March 2 – 3. Beginning Saturday, builders from around the country will gather at the Oregon Convention Center to showcase thousands of square feet of amazing LEGO creations. There will be activities for kids of all ages including play areas, car racing, photo booths and more. Vendors will also be selling minifigures, rare LEGO sets, LEGO-themed jewelry, custom gifts, and more.

Tickets are $11 each or a $40 for a family four-pack (kids under 3 are free) and are available either at the door or online. The show hours are 10am to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Brothers Brick is proud to be a sponsor of Bricks Cascade.