Introduction This is the first part of what I hope will be a series looking at the history of The LEGO Group from 2000 onwards. On a year-by-year basis, I’ll use a mix of newspapers, annual reports, and other media sources to tell the LEGO story as it was being reported at the time. Today I will focus on the years 2000 and 2001, but before I do, I would like to fast-forward to 2005, when The LEGO Group announced the biggest loss in its history. These upcoming and seismic events nicely set the context for 2000 and 2001—The Ides of March—documenting the years building up to those difficult times. The Height of Financial Distress The LEGO Group’s loss booked in the 2004 Annual Report was the largest in its history. On 2 July 2005, The New York Times reported on The LEGO Group’s devastating financial results stating “competition from abroad,...

The next round of collectable minifigures 71039 LEGO® Minifigures Marvel Series 2 has re-appeared LEGO’s Shop-at-Home website, likely for good. The collection features such mutant icons as Storm, Beast, and Wolverine from the upcoming X-Men ’97 series on Disney+, along with those from other streaming MCU series like Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and Hawkeye. From pictures on the website, the packaging for this series will utilize the blind box instead of the feeler-friendly bags discontinued in Series 16. This roster of 12 super heroes and villains will be available on September 1, and will retail for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49. 71039 LEGO® Minifigures Marvel Series 2 | 12 Minifigure Series | Available September 1 | US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49 The post 71039 Marvel Series 2 Collectable Minifigures revealed on LEGO.com [News] appeared first on The Brothers Brick. Original linkOriginal author: Ben Dodds

If this were a LEGO Technic set, I’d see it, think it’s impressive, then probably move on to buy something else. But in the very capable hands of Michał Skorupka, he can use System brick on something that would normally be Technic and make it quite exciting indeed. This rugged Doosan DL420 Wheel Loader is about the most interesting thing I’ve seen all week and I’ve seen a major social media platform pretty much implode. It doesn’t hurt that I’m (ahem) digging the orange and dark gray color scheme. The amount of detail Michał can achieve with his creations is awe-inspiring. See for yourselves in our Michał Skorupka archives. This color-coded overlay illustrates the power functions and inner workings that get this sturdy beast on the move. But don’t just take it from me, check out this video of this creation in action. I’d advise watching until the end. You will...

Just look at this lovely new LEGO creation by Thomas van Urk. The shapes and textures here; I’m almost lost for words. The slopes and tiles along that very interesting red roof are masterfully sculpted. A lesser builder would have just spired the roof and called it good but Thomas taunts us with first a spire, then an onion dome, and back into a spire. I frankly can’t even fathom how he did that! The Tudor-style detailing is not entirely uncommon in LEGO. The medium most certainly works well in that style but there are parts of the Tudor detailing that, like the red spire I can’t fathom. Thomas calls this The Princess Tower and I’d happily be a princess for a day if it means hanging out in this fantastic world for a while. Even the gray stone part of the tower utilizes both new gray and some sun-faded old...

The Saskatchewan LEGO Users Group (or SLUG) enjoyed their annual BRICKSPO this past weekend, and builder Taylor whipped up quite the fortified creation for the show. The Emerald Keep is a citadel of epic proportions, sporting light gray walls and sand green roofs. The builder doesn’t shy away from angled walls either, creating interesting and unique angles throughout the construction. I also like the wooden door to the left side of the structure, no doubt concealing a boat launch of some kind. It’s a great feature, and one that doesn’t make it into every castle creation. But I’m sure you’d like to see some more details, right? Well read on, my friend! The front gate’s shape is an intriguing choice, opting for a wider entryway instead of the typical multi-story portal and portcullis. It absolutely fits well with the model, but differs from the normal LEGO castle construction. The flowerbeds, with...