Next up, we head to the land of construction toys, and its undisputed leader, LEGO.

Toy Fair Report: LEGO

This year marks the 50^th Anniversary of the patenting of the LEGO brick in addition to the 30^th Anniversary of the LEGO Minifigure. LEGO has added two exciting new licenses this year: Indiana Jones and Speed Racer. In addition to those two lines, this report will cover new sets being released this year in the Star Wars and Batman lines. Let’s get building.

·SPEED RACER: Speed Racer returns this year as an incredible new movie from Wachowski brothers, starring Emile Hirsch and Matthew Fox, and due in theaters on May 9^th. There will be four sets in the LEGO Speed Racer line, each including at least two cars with their respective drivers. All of the following sets are due for release in April. The sets announced and their respective Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) are:

Set #8158: Speed Racer and Snake Oiler. (242 pieces) Set includes 2 cars and 2 minifigures: Speed Racer and Snake Oiler (SRP $19.99)

Set #8159: Racer
X and Taejo Togokahn. (237 pieces) Set includes 2 cars and 2 minifigures: Racer
X and Taejo Togokahn (SRP $19.99)

Set #8160: Cruncher Block and Racer X. (367 pieces) Set includes Semi-truck, 1 car and 3 minifgures: Crunch Block, Racer X and Speed Racer (SRP $39.99)

Set #8161: Grand
Prix. (595 pieces) Set includes 3 cars, including the brand new Mach 6!, 8 minifigures
and Chim-Chim, the chimp. (SRP $59.99)

· STAR WARS:This year the Star Wars license is split between two separate entities: The established film series and the new Clone Wars animated series. The following sets should be on shelves now. The new sets and their Suggested Retail Prices (SRP) are:

Set #7667: Imperial
Dropship. (81 pieces) Set includes 3 stormtoopers and 1 shadow stormtrooper(SRP
$9.99)

Set #7668: Rebel Scout Speeder. (82 pieces) Set includes 4 new Rebel troopers (SRP $9.99)

Set #7670: Hailfire Droid & Spider Droid. (249 pieces) Set includes Spider Droid, Super Battle Droid, Battle Droid Commander and 2 Battle Droids (SRP $19.99)

Set #7671: AT-AP
Podwalker. (392 pieces) Set includes 2 Clone Troopers (SRP $39.99)

Set #7672: Rogue Shadow. (482 pieces) This ship is found only in the Force Unleashed video game, making this the first-ever LEGO model based on a video game. Set includes Juno Eclipse, an Imperial Officer, Battle-Damaged Darth Vader and Darth Vader’s Apprentice.(SRP $49.99)

· STAR WARS: CLONE WARS: The newest installment of the Star Wars saga hits theaters and TV screens this Fall. Expanding on the animated shorts shown on Cartoon Network before the release of Episode III, Clone Wars tells the story of the years between Episode II and Episode III and features both new and familiar characters. There are five sets coming from LEGO to support the series. Four will be available in August, but one is available now as a sneak preview to the series.

Here is the “Sneak Preview” set, which is available now.

Set #7669: Anakin’s Fighter. (153 pieces) This set is a sneak preview to the Clone Wars animated movie and TV series It is a brand-new model of Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter, which features retractable landing gear, ejection action for R2-D2 and “flick firing action”. Set includes new Anakin and R2-D2 minifigures. (SRP $19.99)

The following sets will be available in August.

Set #7673: MagnaGuard Starfighter. (421 pieces) Set includes 2 new minifigures of General Grievous’ MagnaGuards. (SRP $44.99)

Set #7674: V-19 Torrent. (471 pieces) Set includes a new Clone Trooper Pilot minifigure. (SRP $54.99)

Set #7675: AT-TE Walker (798 pieces) This is the same vehicle that is getting the full-scale treatment from Hasbro, and the LEGO version looks just as impressive. Set includes Anakin Skywalker, 2 Clone Trooper and Battle Droid on STAP minifigures, in addition to 2 new minifigures, Anakin’s Padawan, Ahsoka and Rotta, the baby Huttlet. (SRP $89.99)

Set #7676: Republic Gunship (1,034 pieces) Set includes 7 minifigures: 4 Clone Troopers, new Obi-Wan Kenobi, and 2 new minifigures: Jedi Plo Koon and Sith Asajj Ventriss, with double bladed Lightsaber, that can be separated. (SRP $119.99)

· BATMAN:My personal favorite LEGO licensed line rolls on this year with four sets that continue to uphold the high quality standard that this line is known for.
It also includes one of my favorite LEGO sets that I have ever seen, which ties in with this Summer’s upcoming Batman Begins sequel: The Dark Knight. Here are the new LEGO sets for this year. These sets are due for release in June.

Set #7884: Batman’s Buggy: Escape of Mr. Freeze (76 pieces) Set includes Batman and Mr. Freeze minifigures, (SRP $9.99)

Set #7885: Robin’s Scuba Jet: Attack of the Penguin (207 pieces) Set includes Robin and Penguin minifigures and 2 mini penguin goons. (SRP $19.99)

Set #7886: The Batcycle: Harley Quinn’s Hammer Truck (267 pieces) This is one of my favorite new sets and it features an absolutely hilarious new vehicle that really captures Harley’s whimsical spirit. Also, you might recognize Batman’s vehicle in this set by its more common movie related name: the Batpod. The set includes Batman and brand-new Harley Quinn minifigures. (SRP $29.99)

Set #7888: The Tumbler: The Joker’s Ice Cream Surprise (449 pieces) Ok, this is the big one. I heard rumors of this set about a month before Toy Fair and resolved that I would not believe it existed until I saw it for myself in person. Well, I am thrilled to tell you I have seen it, it does exist and it is my favorite LEGO set this year. The Tumbler, for those of you who don’t know, is the new tank-like version of the Batmobile introduced in Batman Begins and also featured in the Dark Knight. The Tumbler is reproduced faithfully and intricately in this amazing set. Also included is a great new Joker vehicle. The Ice Cream Truck, with its “Uncle Joker’s Ice Cream Surprise” graphics, is a fantastically whimsical vehicle that completely captures the nature of the character. Set includes Batman, Joker and Joker’s Henchman minifigures. (SRP $49.99)

· INDIANA JONES: LEGO will be releasing a total of 8 Indiana Jones sets this year. The first four, in stores now, draw from the rich history of the first 3 Indiana Jones movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indian Jones and the Last Crusade. The other four sets come from the new movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdome of the Crystal Skull, and will be in stores in May. Here is a look at the new Indy LEGO sets, with the ones available now first, followed by the sets due in May.

Set #7620: Indiana Jones Motorcycle Chase (79 pieces) This set is taken from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and features the motorcycle with sidecar in addition to the first Sean Connery minifigure. Set includes Indiana Jones with whip, hat and shoulder bag, Professor Jones, and German guard minifigures. (SRP $9.99)

Set #7621: Indian Jones and the Lost Tomb (277 pieces) Another scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark brought to life. Set includes Indiana Jones with whip, hat and shoulder bag, Marion and skeleton minfigures. (SRP $19.99)

Set #7622: Race for the Stolen Treasure (272 pieces) A daring race after a truck on horseback to recover the stolen artifacts. Set includes Indian Jones with whip, hat and shoulder bag, truck driver, 3 guards and Dr. Rene Belloq minfigures. (SRP $29.99)

Set #7623: Temple Escape (554 pieces) This is probably one of the most famous scenes in the entire Indy film series. Yes, using this set, you can create the famous Boulder Race. Set includes Golden Idol and Boulder, in addition to Indaian Jones with whip, hat and shoulder bag, Dr. Rene Belloq, Jock the Pilot, 2 skeletons and 2 native minifgures. (SRP $59.99)

These are the sets due in May, to accompany Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. To prevent spoilers, the descriptions of these sets will be very basic.

Set #7624: Jungle Duel (554 pieces) Set includes 2 hungry ants, Mutt, Irina and Indian Jones, with whip hat and shoulder bag, minifigures. (SRP $9.99)

Set #7625: River
Chase (234 pieces) Set includes 2 Russians, Indian Jones, with whip, hat and
shoulder bag, and Marion minifigures. (SRP $19.99)

Set #7626: Jungle Cutter (511 pieces) Set includes Dovchenko, 2 Russians, Mutt and Indiana Jones, with whip, hat and shoulder bag, minifigures. (SRP $39.99)

Set #7627: Temple of the Crystal Skull (929 pieces) Set includes 4 skeletons and 6 minifigures. ($79.99)

Finally, Lucusarts and Traveller’s Tales have joined forces for LEGO Indiana Jones : The Videogame, coming to all major platforms in May. A full preview of this game will be coming soon.

My thanks go to Julie Stern at LEGO for her assistance with this report.