Every October, LEGO builders around the world turn their attention to the brutal and boisterous denizens of fantasy lore: the orcs. For Orctober, I wanted to explore what makes these creatures tick: not just their monstrous brawn, but the different archetypes that define their place in the horde. We have a lot of noble heroes in LEGO, but now it’s the villains’ time to shine! My goal was to create four distinct characters: each representing one of the RPG classics: Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity, and Guile – showcasing the diversity and ferocity that defines the Greenskin horde. I wanted to make each of da Orks distinct with each of the LEGO system colours: Sand Green, Olive Green, Dark Tan, and Bright Green, and still using roughly the same scale and style. Gorgash, the hulking warboss, is all brute force, heavy armour, layered plates, and a giant hammer to match his ego. Zul’gar,...

Over the past three years, Polish AFOL Mihał Ch has been documenting his nation’s history in a series of LEGO vignettes. The minifig-scale scenes celebrate the heroes of art and culture, as well as recognizing atrocities, uprisings, and statecraft, with builds paired with a history lesson. Just in time for Halloween, as part of the third series of vignettes, Mihał remembers some of the darker chapters in Polish history. For example, dissidents being exiled to Siberia during the Russian occupation. Here, Mihał pays tribute to the January Uprising of 1963-1964, when the escalation of “russification” and repression sparked a guerrilla war for independence that, despite early successes, was ultimately quashed. Here we see Mihał’s depiction of the Galician slaughter when, in order to avert a Polish uprising for independence, the Austrian military incited the local serfdom against the Polish aristocracy in bloody revolt with promises of a better life, only to sweep...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when concerned humans raise awareness, promote earlier diagnosis, and support people affected by a disease that affects over 10% of women globally. The campaign is signified by wearing a pink ribbon, but many advocates find other ways to show support, like a group of LEGO fans who are using their bricks and voice to spread awareness under the #Cyberpink2025 hashtag. What started as a six-builder collab has been growing as all are invited to participate with the hashtag. The participants promise to return bigger and more organized next year.  Leading the charge for a cause is zakar.ion with this rabbit-themed Jū Gaito mech. The mech’s eyes come from this year’s Lucky Cat set while the stickered pink elements are sourced from the 2 Fast 2 Furious Honda. My favorite element is the matching minifig. part_parakeet fights back with this Killer Cupcake, a sweet ally in...

LEGO’s Belville dolls are such strange and wonderful creations – a product of the late ’90s that looks like they came from a much earlier decade – which is probably why the dolls work so well in the amazing nostalgia-steeped dioramas of Victoria Worsley. They’re especially perfect in Victoria’s homage to ’60s set Little Shop of Horrors where she depicts the climactic confrontation as Seymore suddenly stands up to the alien plant. The larger scale allows ample space for potted plants, and of course, the diva plant herself, Audrey II. Hero Factory cocoon shells work perfectly for the petals around Audrey II’s mouth. Flip the scene around and you can see what happened to demented dentist Orin Scrivello. His ride is the conveniently scaled Creator 3-in-1 Vintage Motorcycle. It’s great to see the Fabuland garbage bin is capable of holding severed limbs. Victoria’s model is currently on display in the lobby...

When we first encountered the LEGO castle creations from Luke, who posts on Instagram as cathedralofbricks, we were immediately struck by the builder’s skill with medieval architecture and dramatic landscaping. Since we last spoke with Luke, he has gone on to win two top awards in the Summer Joust competition and sailed from castle territory into pirate-infested seas with a stunning tall ship.  This month, Luke debuted his biggest model yet, a tribute to Tolkien called “The Fellowship.” It’s such a magnificent build, we had to follow up with Luke about its creation. TBB: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us again. Congratulations on your latest large-scale MOC, “The Fellowship.” Luke: My pleasure! And thanks so much! TBB: Up until now, your builds have been original settings but this time you’re recreating a beloved location from a book and film. How did this change your approach to building? Luke:...