More Information on TRU May the 4th event
Just got an update on Toys R Us May the fourth plans. There is a free Jek-14 build for children 5 and up. Plus a free Gauntlet with a LEGO purchase of $20 or more.
Visit Toys R US for more information and some online games.
*Offer available in-store only. Limit one per child. Quantities limited; no rain checks. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group ©2012 The LEGO Group.
Event intended for children, ages 5-up. Parental supervision required at all times. All giveaways and event materials available while supplies last and distributed to participating children only.
For my part in May the fourth celebrations I’ll be having an online print sale. Details to be posted here on the blog tomorrow.
UPDATE: My TRU is already handing out the Gauntlet polybag. They have signs in the LEGO Aisle about the promo offer. I saw a cashier get one from the service desk for customer that had a larger LEGO purchase.
New Page: What’s in the Bag?
I have a new page that lists some of the apps, tricks, and websites that help you determine what is hiding in that blind bag. The link is at the top of this blog. I made a page rather than a post so it could be easier to find. If you have more tips or sites please post them on the page.
Excerpt
What’s in the Bag.
The blind bags are cool but they can be frustrating finding the figure you want. You may want just one figure from a set. You might want to collect all the figures. or you may want multiples of the same figure for army building. But how can you know what is in the bag? These Blind bags guides can help.
The best I’ve found for LEGO is the Touch Guide in the My Mini’s app. The app coats $1.99 so less than a mini-fig and its well worth it. no only does it tell you what to feel for it shows you what mini’s you might confuse with it.
Exculsive Minifigs with DVD or Target and Back Again
March was great for Mini-fig collectors. There were two dvd releases that included exclusive min-figs. Target had an exclusive Bilbo Baggins mini fig with the Hobbit DVD/Blu-ray combo pack. Plus the Cartoon network LEGO Star Wars special, The Empire Strikes Out had an exclusives Darth Vader mini-fig. I’ll tell you about my experience with each.
I’ll start with The Empire Strikes Out DVD cause it a shorter story. The special aired on Cartoon Network last September. Last time there was a Star Wars:LEGO special the dvd release was announced right after wards. This time it took a while for the announcement. Speculation was what would mini-fig if any, would be included in the dvd release. This time it was Darth Vader with a medal.
The figure looks pretty cool and an alternate Darth Vader is always cool. The dvd retail for $14.99 but Amazon and Target have it for $9.99. It was easy to find on the shelfs at Target unlike the Hobbit dvd. The dvd was released on March 26.
When it was revealed that Target would offer an exclusive mini-fig with the purchase of The Hobbit dvd/Blu-ray combo I was eager to shop at Target. I decided to pre-order the set. I was afraid the store would sell out before I could get there. So I ordered from target.com, the delivery date was a few days after the date the dvds would be in store. I didn’t expect to be able to watch the movie that night anyway so it wasn’t that big of a deal. But I remember the days when you could pre-order a dvd or game and it would be delivered the same day it was in the stores. I had the same problem with the LEGO:Lord of The Rings Game.
The Sunday ads were released and the in store price was two dollars cheaper than the online price. Did Target guarantee and match prices like amazon did? No. The day the dvd came the online target.com listed the set as unavailable. I was worried they’d sell out. But They tell me if they were out right? I thought about going to the store but didn’t. The next day still no shipping notification. the set was still listed as unavailable online. I had to run some errands and went to Target. They still had about four sets with the mini-fig so I grabbed one. Turned out to be a good decision. This was on Wednesday.
The expected delivery date was between Friday the 22-tues 26. I thought about cancelling the order but I knew some birthdays were coming up and that make a good gift. Finally they send a shipping notification on Saturday. But the pic they sent with it was of the regular DVD/Blu-ray set sans Bilbo. But when I clicked the link in the email it showed the set with Bilbo. And the expected delivery date was changed to March 30. a week after the original expected date.
Finally on Saturday I open the mailbox and inside in a small package, It’s thin so I know before I open that there is no figure in the set. It was a holiday weekend so I waited till Monday to return the dvd to a Target store. The Hobbit dvd was released on March 19 it arrived on March 30. From the time it was released and arrived i had gone to Target bought the Hobbit dvd, made another trip to Target and got the Star Wars special. So lesson learned don’t preorder from Target. get out there and fight the crowds.
The Bilbo figure is very well done. He has blue jacket, a vest and an ascot. His head is double-sided. You will see him in this blog again.
Related Posts
LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out
Hobbit mini-fig included with The Hobbit
Minifigures Character Encyclopedia News plus free poster
LEGO Email announces the exclusive mini-figure with Mini-figures Character Encyclopedia (book preview). The mini figure is a Toy Solider. It’s been know for a while but since LEGO included it in LEGO VIP newsletter the release date is getting closer.
The newsletter had more news
1) Double Vip points March 25-April 8
2)A special offer coming in May only on shop.LEGO.com – Get a free DK limited-edition LEGO Minifigures poster with the purchase of 5 or more LEGO® Minifigures Series 10!
Hobbit Mini-fig included with Target Hobbit dvd/Bluray
Groove Bricks reports that Target will have a Hobbit DVD/blu-ray pack with an exclusive Bilbo Baggins mini-fig. So I know where I’ll buy my Hobbit Blu-Ray set. Now do I wait and buy in store or preorder? The release date is March 19. A week later the Empire Strike Out Dvd will be released with an exclusive Darth Vader mini-fig.
Groove Bricks post.
Also this week Target has a few LEGO sets on sale. The Spider-Man’s Spider-Cycle set, Superman vs. Power Armor Lex Luthor set, Batman Arctic freeze set, and Star Wars AT-RT set are $18.00 each. These sets are usually 19.99. It’s only 10% off but since I was already there so I picked up a set rather than use my LEGO VIP card. There maybe other sets on sale. When I checked the weekly ad online they didn’t show up. But they showed up on a Google shopping search.
I checked Target’s Easter section. Their seasonal polybag is the same as they had for valentine’s day. It is Winzar’ pack patrol from Legends of Chima.
The mini-fig was posted here, Winzar’s Pack Patrol
Updates: The Droid Escape set also shows up as a temporary price cut.
I just got back from Target the temporary price cut sign on the sets said 3/3-3/16 so there’s a little time to grab some of these sets. Now I just need to sell a bunch of prints so I can get these sets and DVDs.
There was a 19.99 LEGO City fire truck for $18. The Easter section had a Friends polybag and the KRE-O GI Joe figs.
Yoda Archives 2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 13,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 3 Film Festivals
Most popular posts viewed in 2012
1 Darth “no Legs” Maul Returns #2. February 2012
2 Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) Redemption Offer September 2011
3 Don’t forget Valentines Day January 2012
4 Shelob Lair June 2012
5 Hasbro is giving away a life size Darth Maul January 2012
6 Darth Maul Returns, But how? February 2012
7 Darth “no Legs” Maul has returned * Spoilers. February 2012
8 Yoda wishes Jim Henson A Happy Birthday September 2011
9 LEGO Stormtrooper Ornament October 2012
10 Star Wars LEGO Christmas Advent Calendar 2012 December 2012
I love this graphic they made with my top posts.
Yoda archives had traffic from 94 countries in all!
Most visitors came from The United States. The United Kingdom & Canada were not far behind.
Views I hit 10,000 views in August, In December I passed 14,000 on the 9th and 15,000 two weeks later.
In 2012 I had two articles posted to theBrickBlogger.
Brick and Heroes at MCFC and LEGO Christmas Ornaments
I look forward to the new year and new images.
250th post: raeppa idej
This is the 250th post on Yoda Archives. The master Jedi had to make an appearance.
This is my first customization of a character. I have built a few MOC character but.this is the first try at making a published character. LEGO Zatanna is built from the parts of various LEGO mini-figures. The legs are borrowed from the Black Canary Figure I purchased online. The other parts are official LEGO items. On one version of this I had text on the image. She said “raeppa idej” or Jedi appear but I think it slowed down the joke. Yoda said “Fire my agent, I will”. I think the visual is enough.
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Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2012 * Dec 5
This year, like last year, LEGO has released a Star Wars Christmas Advent calendar. Today’s gift is also from The Phantom Menace, a mini model of a Trade Federation MTT (The Multi-Troop Transport). Super tiny vehicle.
There’s online content as well this year. With each door there is a code enter it on LEGO’s SW calendar page and there’s a small animation of the model. It’s like the item building scenes from the LEGO Star Wars Games. I’m already getting searches for advent calendar Lego code so if I get shares,via the links under this post, I’ll post the advent calendar Lego codes for those that want to see.
Today’s code is 9515. There’s interaction with a previous build today. In the animation one model attacks the other.
Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2012 * Dec 4
This year, like last year, LEGO has released a Star Wars Christmas Advent calendar.
There’s online content as well this year. With each door there is a code enter it on LEGO’s SW calendar page and there’s a small animation of the model. It’s like the item building scenes from the LEGO Star Wars Games. I’m already getting searches for advent calendar Lego code so if I get shares,via the links under this post, I’ll post the advent calendar Lego codes for those that want to see.
Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2012 * Dec 3
This year, like last year, LEGO has released a Star Wars Christmas Advent calendar. Today’s gift is a mini model of a Gungan weapon rack with spear and shield plus a catapult. Something has Yesterday’s Gungan warrior is running to grab his spear.
There’s online content as well this year. With each door there is a code enter it on LEGO’s SW calendar page and there’s a small animation of the model. It’s like the item building scenes from the LEGO Star Wars Games. I’m already getting searches for advent calendar Lego code so if I get shares,via the links under this post, I’ll post the advent calendar Lego codes for those that want to see.
It’s a Battle Droid on a STAP (#30058)!
Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2012 * Dec 2
This year, like last year, LEGO has released a Star Wars Christmas Advent calendar. The Calendar has 234 pieces. Each day there is a new mini ship or mini figure. There’s even an exclusive Santa Darth Maul and another Christmas themed Star Wars mini-fig.
There’s online content as well this year. With each door there is a code enter it on LEGO’s SW calendar page and there’s a small animation of the model. Spoilers though just like on the box you can see hints at the other gifts.
Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2012 * Dec 1 Extra
An extra post for today’s advent gift. The Opee Sea Killer returns to the blog to capture a min-ship. I knew I wanted to shot this once I saw the mini ship.
In a previous post I mentioned that there’s extra online content for the calendar. It’s a code that unlocks a mini animation. I’m already getting searches for advent calendar Lego code so if I get shares on my advent posts I’ll post the advent calendar Lego codes.
Opee Sea killer was seen here in august 2011.
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Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2012 * Dec 1
This year, like last year, LEGO has released a Star Wars Christmas Advent calendar. The Calendar has 234 pieces. Each day there is a new mini ship or mini figure. There’s even an exclusive Santa Darth Maul and another Christmas themed Star Wars mini-fig.
There’s online content as well this year. With each door there is a code enter it on LEGO’s SW calendar page and there’s a small animation of the model. Spoilers though just like on the box you can see hints at the other gifts.
Star Wars LEGO Christmas Advent Calendar 2012
I’ll begin blogging this later today. I’ll also collect and post links from other blogging the calendar this year. I have a few blog links from last year’s calendar and hope to find more this year.
It was fun blogging the calendar last year. It even resulted in one of my most popular images. One of these things is not like the others, is still a crowd favorite at art shows and conventions. And some time this month I’ll hit the 250 blog post mark. So I’m looking forward to that.
2012 Advent Calendar Bloggers
Star Wars
Bricks and Pics
Bricks in my Pocket
Half asleep
Yaleman.org
Brick Fan
Chris McVeigh
From bricks to Bothans
Brickdoctor remakes the Star Wars Advent calendar
City
Bricks and Pics
Brick Fanatics
Bricks in my Pocket
Yaleman.org
Friends
Brick Fanatics
The LEGO Woman
If you are blogging or you know more sites add them in the comments and I’ll add them to the list.
Elrond commands you to get Hobbit tickets
I was finally able to shot Elrond. This mini-fig came with pre-orders of LEGO:Lord of The Rings, which I have still not had time to play. I’ve shot a few more figures today so more post to follow tomorrow. And Saturday I start posting Star Wars Advent calendar.
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Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention with Bricks & Heroes.
It’s been over a week since the Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention. I finally have time to blog on the con. This was the third year of the con but the first time they had a track dedicated to LEGO. This was also the first LEGO event I’ve attended.
We went to sell my toy photography prints. Once we were set up I got to walk around a bit. The first purchase I made was from the Citizen Brick booth. I knew they mini-fig babies so I had to get one to commemorate my son’s birth. I also picked up a zombie heady and a victim torso.
image via citizen brick
As previously posted in Zombie Invasion and Magneto’s first job, I got a few custom pieces from EclipseGRAFX. The Zombie fighter is one of the coolest things at the show.
EclipseGRAFX mini-figs
I bought a few Mini-figs from Milton Train Works. I got a series 2 life guard, series 8 Santa and another figure from a set that I don’t own. It’ll appear in a future post. With the purchase of the life guard I now have at least one mini-fig from every series but #1
one of milton train works displays.
Brickmania toys had some great looking kits. and a Bikini Bottom MOC. The LEGO group was there but as display only they didn’t have products for sale. But they did have a LEGO Batman comic book. It was game trailer in a printed form. 
There were also vendors selling various LEGO sets and mini-figures. Since it was part of a comic convention, there were several places selling comic books, toys, t-shirts and geek stuff. There were also some panels, concerts, and short films.
We had a lot of fun and hope to make it back. More pictures on my site, RenaissanceFairePictorial.com
Coolest costume at the convention.
LEGO Ornament (part 2)
Earlier I posted about Hallmark’s LEGO Star Wars Ornaments. I have a brief update. I went to a another Hallmark store today. They had the Stormtrooper ornament on display and the place where Darth Vader was suppose to be was empty. But the ornament was on the shelf!
So I looked at it. Box says dated 2011. There is a photo on the box and the shelf. It’s not the online computer generated image. The picture is of the same ornament from last year. He’s on a smaller brick than the trooper.
I asked the sale associate if it was new or last year backstock. She said he was new. Didn’t understand at first that it was out early. She checked after I left so it may not be out anymore. I was really hoping that it was last year’s backstock and that the November one would have the same size brick as the trooper. But It looks like it the same as before.
The ornaments are $14.95 each. Stormtrooper is available now. Darth Vader is due out in November. Or maybe now if you look.
No Hallmark Store near you?
Hallmark stores are not the only place to purchase these ornaments. Previous years Kohl’s, Books a Million, and Walgreens have carried Hallmark ornaments. Walgreen only carried a few and I’m not even sure I saw them there past couple years. Books a Million did not have them out yet. Kohl’s puts their Christmas out pretty earlier but I haven’t been there this season.
Behind the scenes.
A behind the scenes look. When I went to shoot the ornaments, my Darth Vader mini-fig was not handy so I grabbed another sith. I mention that because the same day I shot this Bricks and pics posted a pic of the same version of Darth Maul from the Jedi Duel set.
Update: During the SDCC coverage there was a hint at 2013 LEGO Ornament. In the background of a photo, there was a card showing a LEGO Yoda ornament so hopefully we’ll see him next year.
Update 2: Books a Million now has their Hallmark ornaments out. They do carry the LEGO Stormtrooper.
LEGO Stormtrooper Ornament
Hallmark stores have many of their Christmas Ornaments out now. There are more Star Wars Ornaments this year, Han on a tauntaun, a Darth Vader peek buster, Darth Maul, and more. They have a couple LEGO Star Wars ornaments as well a Stormtrooper and Darth Vader. I got the LEGO Stormtrooper. You may remember that LEGO Darth Vader was released last year. I asked a a sales associate about it. She said Darth Vader is same as last year but they are re-releasing it because they couldn’t meet demand last year. Vader is Due out in November.
The ornaments are really impressive. They are large and solid pieces. And are the quality product you would expect from a joint Hallmark, LEGO, and Lucasfilm project. The character is attached to a standard 2×4 brick featuring the LEGO and Star Wars logos.
Here is the 2012 Stormtrooper next to 2011 Darth Vader. The bottom of the brick is dated the year each ornament was released. The Stormtrooper is on a slightly larger brick. I don’t what date will be on the 2012 Darth Vader. Or if it will be made bigger to match the Trooper. The info from Hallmark’s site says
Imperial Stormtrooper
Guard each branch of your most villainous tree. With rifle in hand, this Stormtrooper Keepsake Ornament is ready for battle.
- 1.75″ x 3″ x 2″
Darth Vader
Prepare your Christmas craft for the dark side of the holiday with Darth Vader. Deflect enemy ray gun bolts as you duel your way onto the naughty list this Christmas.
- 2.25″ x 3.25″ x 1.25″
If these are right then the 2012 Darth Vader will be taller than the Trooper. Maybe same size brick.
The Hallmark online pic looks like a render and not a product shot. Is that a 5×3 brick? I don’t think that is what the in store pic looked like. I try to visit a store and look at it again.
Here’s a scale shot with Vader ornament and Vader mini-fig. The ornament are bigger than mini-figs. A collection of these will look really cool.
The ornaments are $14.95 each. Darth Vader is due out in November. Stormtrooper is available now.
2012 Star Wars Hallmark ornaments
LEGO Star Wars Ornaments
It’s Bricktober at Toys R Us
This week if you spend $60 or more on LEGO sets or board games you get a free mini-fig 5-pack. There will be a different mini-fig pack each week during Bricktober.
Toys R US says they’ll have LEGO deals all month-long. This week deal is Buy one LEGO set get another for 40% off. But sale excludes Ninjago, Friends and Technic.
I don’t know if you can buy the figures separate. TRU lists them as a $24.99 value so that would be the price. There’s a new set of figs each week, I’d like to get one or two of the sets I’ll have to see what the special is the week the set I want is offered.
The Avenger’s Job Fair
Appearing in this scene Thor (LEGO Superheroes Thor and the Cosmic Cube 30163) plus Captain America (6865), The Hulk (5000022), Spongebob Squarepants, and Patrick (Heroic Heroes of the Deep 3815) make their Yoda Archives debut.
Comic-Con: LEGO Exclusives Revealed – IGN
Comic-Con: LEGO Exclusives Revealed – IGN.
Build Bilbo at Comic-Con!
Comic-con Exclusive mini-figs revealed!
Not only will LEGO be introducing its 2013 lineup of minifigures this year at SDCC, but as an added bonus they will be giving away four LEGO Super Heroes minifigures: Marvel Venom, Marvel Phoenix, DC Shazam and DC Bizarro. There are 1,000 of each minifigure to be given away (4,000 total).
There’s a lot of LEGO News in this article. Including the reaveling a new set we’re all waiting for that should pair up with The Jabba’s Palace set.
SIdekick no more.
Robin finally had it with being a sidekick. After bring hit by an embiggen ray and armed he tells the Batman his real feelings.
Appearing in Who’s a Sidekick, Lego Robin from McDonald’s Happy Meal(2008), and LEGO Batman 30160.
Robin was a thrift store find bagged with a few other happy meal toys. Batman jetski set is a toy r us exclusive. I’d been looking for him for a while. I was on the far side of town and decided to check out that store. As I was walking towards the store a guy got out of his car. My Colletor sense told me he was another collector. Sure enough I found the LEGO aisle there was the Batman polybagged set. I got one and a momnet later the other guy was there grabbing him a set as well.
Final reminder Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) Redemption Offer ends soon.
The Prototype Armor Boba Fett figure mail away offer ends Saturday. Get your forms in the mail before the end of the week.
You need the official order form found in selected packages. Look for the sticker on packs. You also need 5 UPCs from selected figure collections, and $6.99 for shipping. 
- Official order form
- 5 UPC codes from these Star Wars action figure collections: Vintage (97568 Asst.), Saga Legends (21115 Asst.) or The Clone Wars (94736 Asst.)
- $6.99 for US shipping or $8.99 for Canada
- Must be postmarked by March 31, 2012
See Hasbro.com for details and pics 
Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) Redemption Offer ends soon.
The Prototype Armor Boba Fett figure mail away offer ends soon.You have till the end of the month to get your request in the mail.
You need the official order form found in selected packages. Look for the sticker on packs. You also need 5 UPCs from selected figure collections, and $6.99 for shipping.
- Official order form
- 5 UPC codes from these Star Wars action figure collections: Vintage (97568 Asst.), Saga Legends (21115 Asst.) or The Clone Wars (94736 Asst.)
- $6.99 for US shipping or $8.99 for Canada
- Must be postmarked by March 31, 2012
See Hasbro.com for details and pics
