Toy Fair isn’t just a place to discover new playthings and see what’s hitting toy store shelves over the coming year. It’s also an excellent place to compile a shopping list. Here are ten new building sets I saw during my LEGO booth tour this year that will be mine.
1. 60124 Volcano Exploration Base
I don’t know if it was my childish fascination with volcanoes bubbling to the surface or the whimsical juxtaposition of one of nature’s most destructive forces with translucent orange globes that burst forth from a LEGO volcano.
Oh wait, I know what it was. It was both of those things, coupled with the morbid possibilities of combining this set with...
2. 60134 Fun In The Park City People Set
A relatively simple set, Fun in the Park is perfect for building a diorama of little LEGO people having some innocent fun, be it in the park or, say, on the side of an active volcano.
Oh look! A LEGO baby! I am a monster.
Speaking of me being a monster...
3. 76057 Spider-Man Web Warriors Ultimate Bridge
Spider-Man loves bridges. Nothing bad has ever happened to Spider-Man on a bridge. And while this one has LEGO versions of the Lizard, Scarlet Spider, the Green Goblin, other Spider-Girl, Kraven the Hunter and what looks like Aunt May, there is no indication that it includes Gwen Stacy, so everything should be peachy.
4. 76047 Black Panther Pursuit
You know that scene in the Captain America: Civil War trailer where the Black Panther is chasing the Winter Soldier through a parking structure? I love how LEGO escalates it.
I am picturing how this goes in my head. Bucky jumps on the motorcycle, thinks he’s made a clean getaway, then here comes the Black Panther in his black and purple airplane, because that’s the sort of thing the Black Panther has all the time.
5. 70595 Ninjago Ultra Stealth Raider
I’ll be honest here: I have absolutely no idea what the hell this thing is. I know it’s Ninjago, but other than the fact that the series has ninjas my knowledge is lacking.
What I do know is the moment I saw this magnificent thing, with its gorgeous curves and ability to split into four different vehicles, I knew I had to have it in a box in a bag in my office come August. I am a slow builder.
6. LEGO Elves Dragons. All of Them
Despite the freakish-looking figures accompanying the fantasy spinoff of the LEGO Friends line, the LEGO Elves line has produced some beautiful sets. I own everything but the Pegasus Chariot and Castle sets so far, so it’s pretty much a given that the colorful dragons coming out this spring through summer will flock to the un-LEGO’d spots in my office.
I almost thought I was done with the Elves line, but then translucent wings, cool colors and crystal accents dragged me right back in.
7. Mixels Waves 8 And 9
Speaking of lines I thought I was over, LEGO’s stupidly affordable Mixels line has come a long way over the past couple of years. The latest themed sets are amazing, and waves 8 and 9 look to follow suit.
Each Mixels wave consists of three sets of three buildable figures, each group combining to form a bigger guy if you’re into that sort of thing. I bought three I was missing from wave 5 while visiting New York for Toy Fair. Clearly I have a problem.
8. 75157 Captain Rex’s AT-TE
So fresh they had to use placeholder minifigures for the display, Captain Rex’s AT-TE is one of the coolest vehicles from the second season of Star Wars Rebels. The idea of an old clone commander and his cohorts retired and living on a walker is just brilliant.
Plus I own all the other Rebels sets except for the Wookie Dropship, and I’ll probably get that this weekend.
9. 70323 Jestro’s Volcano Lair
While the new NEXO Knights line is still growing on many fans, the combination of future tech and dark magic has me hook, line and LEGO Necronomicorn. Problem is I’ve run out of room for the smaller sets, and only have one spot left for something bigger. This lava-gushing castle will do nicely.
Packed with little mechanical features like spinning bits and trap doors, it looks like the engineering team from my beloved Chima line is creating these, and I need that.
10: 31052 Vacation Getaways
Part of the LEGO Creator line, this camper can also be built into a yacht or a beach house. I’m sticking with the camper though, because I’ve affectionately nicknamed this set LEGO Bear Attack and I can’t see a bear attacking a yacht or beach house.
And that’s 10 new LEGO sets that will definitely be put together by my old and callused hands. Consider the rest of this year’s releases “almost definitely.”
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