Category Archives: News

Stay current on the latest news and information about LEGO, from sales & deals to new set announcements. We also cover LEGO events and conventions all over the world.

BrickCon 2020 is moving online in October with a full convention for adult fans of LEGO [News]

BrickCon today announced that its 2020 convention in October will be moving from the Space Needle to cyberspace. BrickCon is TBB’s “home convention” that usually gathers hundreds of talented LEGO builders in Seattle to exhibit their creations and meet fellow AFOLs (adult fans of LEGO) from around the world. As you might expect due to the current state of the pandemic, a gathering of 500 attendees with more than 10,000 people from the general public isn’t feasible, so BrickCon organizers are translating the full convention to an online format.

BrickCon 2020 will be held online Oct. 2 – 4 with builder registration opening on Aug. 1st. The convention will feature a keynote, online MOC exhibition, building awards including Best of Show and People’s Choice, games, prizes, workshops, social events, and a virtual marketplace for LEGO-related vendors. The convention will also offer registered builders “BrickCon Bundles” for purchase that include mailed swag like exclusive t-shirts, engraved bricks, a custom LEGO kit, activities and “other surprises.”

For this year’s exhibition, BrickCon 2020 will also accept photorealistic renders of LEGO creations since the online format is capable of showcasing them well. An online convention also means that adult builders from anywhere across the globe can attend BrickCon 2020 at home without traveling. With everything going on in the world, The Brothers Brick is excited to see our fellow builders online at BrickCon 2020 in October!

The full BrickCon 2020 announcement, registration details, and contact information are included below.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

TBB’s next recruiting effort for Contributors & Social Media Manager focuses on diversity, inclusion & representation [News]

Although The Brothers Brick has always been committed to diversity and inclusion in both the LEGO builders we feature and our own team members, ranging from the builders in Asia that we specifically featured on Pan-Pacific Bricks or our longstanding commitment to including LGBTQ+ staff on our team, we know that we can do better. During our interview with Ekow Nimako last month, we recommitted to ensuring that our own team better represents the real diversity of the LEGO community we’re a part of. The specific roles we’re looking to fill from members of the community are Contributor (Writer) and Social Media Manager.

LEGO 75551 Minions: Brick-built Minions and their Lair [Review]

We’ll have to wait until July 2021 to see Minions: The Rise of Gru in theaters, but in the meantime we can at least play with the LEGO sets. We’ve already taken a hard look at 75549 Minions: Unstoppable Bike Chase and found a lot of problems there. But what about the other currently available offering? 75551 Minions: Brick-build Minions and their Lair retails for US $49.99 | CAN $69.99 | UK £44.99 and spans 876 pieces including three Minion minifigures. That sounds pretty good on the surface…but is it? Let’s find out!

Click to read the full hands-on review

LEGO Brick Sketches featuring Star Wars and DC Comics portraits now available [News]

LEGO’s new Brick Sketches product line featuring brick-built portraits of popular characters is now available. The first four sets in the lineup include BB-8, a First Order Stormtrooper, Batman and The Joker.

The 2D portraits are the next collectible LEGO product line following BrickHeadz and are the work of recently hired LEGO designer Chris McVeigh who created the Brick Sketch concept several years ago (read our interview with him about how Brick Sketches became an actual LEGO product).

Take a look at the Brick Sketches sets available now.

LEGO 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System is a buildable NES console complete with Super Mario Bros. [News]

LEGO and Nintendo have partnered to reveal 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System, a buildable NES console and a retro CRT “tube” TV that comes with a Super Mario Bro. cartridge and a scrolling level reminiscent of World 1-1. The instant nostalgia trip is made up of 2,646 pieces and even comes with an 8-bit Mario.

The NES will be sold exclusively by LEGO through the end of 2020 then expand to other retailers starting in 2021. The set will sell for US $229.99 | CAN $299.99 | UK £209.99 beginning August 1st, the same day that the other new LEGO Super Mario sets become available for purchase.

(Edit: LEGO originally listed the purchase price of US $199.99 online and in its press release and then updated the online price to US $299.99 and then updated it again to US $229.99. We have received confirmation from LEGO that US $229.99 will be the final price.)

Take a closer look at the LEGO Nintendo NES

Thieves steal Fairy Bricks delivery van and LEGO sets donated to kids in hospitals [News]

Over the weekend, Fairy Bricks’ headquarters was broken into and robbed of their delivery van and a significant amount of the LEGO sets they donate to kids in hospitals. Fairy Bricks is a charity organization that frequently partners with LEGO to organize fundraising events, mosaic-builds, and hospital donations to children in need.

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for July 11, 2020

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 second week of July 2020.

We reviewed the next few sets in the Ninjago summer wave and more. Keep reading our Brick Report to get all the details.

TBB NEWS: This week we reviewed two Ninjago sets, learned how to make a forklift, and saw the release of the new Jurassic World sets in the US.

New LEGO Jurassic World sets for summer 2020 now available in the Americas – Adorable baby dino alert! The new LEGO Jurassic World sets are now available in the US and Canada.
Build your own plucky little forklift [Instructions] – You can build this fun little forklift by de-marco with video instructions.
LEGO Ninjago 71717 Journey to the Skull Dungeons [Review] – We take a Journey to the Skull Dungeons and see if this smaller set can keep up with the rest of the wave.
Ninjago 71719 Zane’s Mino Creature [Review] – We finish up our reviews of the summer 2020 Ninjago line with 71719 Zane’s Mino Creature.

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:

Surprising discovery about Godtfred Kirk Christiansen revealed on his 100th birthday, LEGO LAN – Here is the never-before-told story of the development of the iconic LEGO brick.
Life-Size Pokémon Made Entirely Out Of LEGO Have Fans In Awe, ScreenRant – One Pokémon fan has built some of the series’ most famous creatures out of LEGO in an impressive – and expensive – display of fandom and talent.
Magnetic couplings make this LEGO submarine airtight, TNW – The Brick Experiment Channel’s latest build, a submersible made almost entirely from LEGO.
Huge LEGO Millennium Falcon Constructed in Stop-Motion Video, Nerdist – YouTuber Lego My Legos animated the overwhelming effort required to build the UCS Millennium Falcon only using the Force.

Ninjago 71719 Zane’s Mino Creature [Review]

Here at The Brothers Brick, we’ve explored all the summer 2020 Ninjago sets…all but one, that is. There…lurking in the corner…it’s 71710 Ninjago: Zane’s Mino Creature. And, spoiler alert, this one is a little different from the rest of the wave. Part of the “Game Experience Inside” group, this set has odd build choices that make it feel like either an early version or a late addition to that sub-theme. Available now for US $49.99 | CAN $69.99 | UK £44.99, is this 616 piece set worth your time and money? Read on and see!

Click to read the full hands-on review

New LEGO Jurassic World sets for summer 2020 now available in the Americas [News]

Calling all LEGO dinosaur lovers! The newest summer wave of LEGO Jurassic World sets is now available in the US and Canada. Several retailers have had these on the shelves already, but they are now directly available from LEGO and include dinos like an Ankylosaurus, Gallimimus, Pteranodon, Velociraptor and Indominus Rex as well as an adorable baby Triceratops and Ankylosaurus.

The sets have been available in the UK for a month, but are now available in the US and Canada. Of note, the huge buildable dino of 75936 Jurassic Park: T. rex Rampage and 21320 Dinosaur Fossils are also now back in stock. Take a look at each new Jurassic World set now available after the jump.

Which dinosaur do you most want to add to your collection? Click to see them all.

LEGO Ninjago 71717 Journey to the Skull Dungeons [Review]

The summer 2020 Ninjago line contains a lot of big sets, but what if you’re on a budget? Coming in at 401 pieces, 71717 Journey to the Skull Dungeons is currently available, and pretty affordable at US $29.99 | CAN $39.99 | UK £24.99. Can it keep up with the excitement present in the rest this wave? Read on and see!

Click to read the full hands-on review

TBB Weekly Brick Report: LEGO news roundup for July 4, 2020

This week, we got hands-on with the new Technic Lamborghini, looked at the new pop art mosaics line, got a tour of the Crocodile Locomotive and more. Keep reading our Brick Report to get all the details.

TBB NEWS: This week we looked at the announcement of a new pop art mosaics line and had many new sets go on sale from Disney to Marvel, Friends to trains.

LEGO Art revealed as mosaic sets of The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Star Wars Sith and Iron Man The new LEGO Art product line includes mosaic collections featuring portraits of pop art icons, musicians, and heroes and villains from film.
LEGO Friends sets with cute animals and National Geographic partnership now available in the Americas – Cute animals alert! The LEGO Friends summer jungle theme is now available in the US and Canada.
New LEGO Marvel sets now available in the U.S. and Canada including 76165 Iron Man Helmet – LEGO Marvel sets including the golden Iron Man Helmet, Avengers Tower and Helicarrier are now available in the Americas.
LEGO 10277 Crocodile Locomotive now available for purchase – The LEGO Crocodile Locomotive is rolling into the train station, available now from the LEGO Store online.
LEGO Disney 43179 Mickey and Minnie Mouse available for pre-order – Mickey and Minnie Mouse in buildable LEGO form are now available, including new pieces, a new color, and even black space helmets as a blast from the past.

TBB REVIEWS: This week we reviewed the new Technic Lamborghini Sian and Ninjago Skull Sorcerer’s Dragon, one a speed demon and the other a dungeon demon!

Ninjago 71721: Skull Sorcerer’s Dragon [Review] – Wu’s Battle Dragon is tough, but there’s an even bigger dragon in the summer 2020 Ninjago line. Check out our hands-on review of this new massive set.
The LEGO Technic 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 rolls in: the good, the bad, and the ugly – Lamborghini’s first-ever hybrid is here, and we’re taking a look at the 3,700-piece LEGO Technic model of this bright green Italian speed demon.

MORE TBB NEWS: We also got a tour of a Crocodile and a virtual Pride Parade this week, along with a preview of some upcoming LEGO City sets.

LEGO 10277 Crocodile Locomotive designer takes us for a ride – LEGO Designer Pierre Normandin gives us a tour of the new Crocodile Locomotive, available now.
New LEGO City Police summer sets revealed include a runaway speedboat, a driller and lighthouse arrest – We get a first look at three more City Police summer releases that include a lighthouse scene, boat chase and a drill based heist.
GayFOLs Virtual Pride Parade 2020 – Who doesn’t love an awesome parade?! Our good friends from the online LEGO community GayFOLs have shared this wonderful virtual Pride Parade.

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:

LEGO pulls ads on Facebook over ‘hate speech’, BBC News – LEGO has become the latest big name to join an advertising boycott on social-media platforms.
Bionicle: How Comics Brought the LEGO Franchise to Life, CBR – The story of Bionicle was told over multiple mediums, but perhaps the most important storytelling platform for the franchise was the comic books.
From Asia to Africa, ‘Sesame Street’ special tackles coronavirus pandemic, Reuters – “Elmo’s World News” is a collaboration with the LEGO Foundation.
Two years later, Maryland’s ‘LEGO Turtle’ has recovered from shell fractures, USA Today – A turtle’s long road to recovery, which included a custom LEGO wheelchair, finally came to an end when he was set free in a Baltimore park.
‘LEGO Masters’ Host Will Arnett on the Show’s Family-Friendly Appeal, and When to Expect Season 2, Variety – Variety‘s Awards HQ newsletter recently spoke to host Arnett about what made the show special, and what’s hopefully to come.
Endlessly Looping LEGO Marble Run Is a Soothing Sight, Nerdist – JK Brickworks has created a LEGO marble run and thanks to its use of a little motorized elevator, it is endlessly loopable and endlessly soothing.

LEGO 10277 Crocodile Locomotive designer takes us for a ride [News]

LEGO Designer Pierre Normandin is no stranger to trains–he grew up loving them and has designed many of the LEGO City trains available the past few years. He recently shifted within LEGO to the Creator Expert team and had the chance to flex some building muscles by designing the recent Fiat 500 and now an even more detailed train! In this designer video, Pierre talks about his love of trains, why the Crocodile Locomotive is so iconic, and how the set started off larger and eventually grew to be 7 studs wide to include more detail.

10277 Crocodile Locomotive set comes with 1,271 pieces used to create the brown electric locomotive, a buildable display base, an informational placard, and two conductor minifigures. It is now available from LEGO for US $99.99 | CAN $149.99 | UK £89.99. Make sure to read our interview with LEGO Design Lead Jamie Berard about the creation of this LEGO train and the design effort that went into it.

Click to watch the LEGO Crocodile Locomotive designer video