LEGO Simpsons Series 2 Bartman :: Hitting Stores NOW!

We went to the Toys R Us Star Wars Day free LEGO build event today and built a sweet mini Wookie Gunship. We also met Geoffrey and my intern was not only not scared of the massive guy in a giraffe suit, but she hugged him and told him all about the snail she found that morning that was hanging around her neck in a little bug locket.

But the highlight of the day was also discovering that the Simpsons Series 2 LEGO Minifigures  are out now! I didn't have much time to squeeze the packages but fortunately in the time I did have I found my #1 most wanted figure: Bartman!

As iconic as the Simpsons are today it's easy to forget how much Bartman is a product of the early nineteen nineties. The Simpsons were a fairly new phenomenon, and Bat-mania was hitting at a level that it hadn't seen since the sixties thanks to the Burton Batman movie of '89. The mash-up was perhaps not inevitable, but it happened anyways and sold a lot of t-shirts: Batman combined with Bart Simpsons (and 'nineties neon' too) and Bartman was born!

The LEGO Bartman minifigure comes with a cape and a slingshot. I won't waste your time with dot codes because to me those are worthless. I will say if you squeeze for these you will easily recognize Bart's cylindrical head and flat-top, and you can also easily distinguish the slingshot.

The other figures in this wave include:
Sunday-Best Homer, Sunday-Best Marge and Sunday-Best Lisa (who comes with Snowball 2 or 16 or whatever), Maggie with Santa's Little Helper. Milhouse as Fall-Out Boy, Comic-Book Guy, Professor Fink, Hans Moleman, Patty, Selma, Groundskeeper Willie, Mrs. Krabappel, Smithers Dr. Hibbert and Martin Prince.

I may seek out Fall-Out Boy, but since I now have Bartman if I don't get anyone else from this wave it won't be the end of the world.

Fun with Simpsons LEGO minifigures!

The best part about the LEGO Simpsons minifigures is that they are yellow skinned - just like LEGO minifigures! Making the customizing fun absolutely endless.

To wit:

'Under da sea! Under da sea! Everything's hotta, under de wata, espeshly ME!'

The Little Homer-maid.

'I haaaave the powwwweeeerrrrrrrrrrr!'

Homer the Barbarian. Or perhaps Ho-Man.

'Freeze, boy! HAHHHAHAHAHA Get it? Freeze? HAHAHAH!'

Homer Freeze and Bartman.

Bartman. Sort of. My only dissapointment with the Simpsons LEGO series is that an actual Bartman is not an available figure. He'd be a pretty easy custom though, with an extra Bart head and some purple paint. I might attempt it if I find an extra Bart.

'I prefer a fair and balanced discourse over violence. But I hate snakes.'

Lisa-anna Jones.

'I prefer the more PC: Lisa of the peoples you do not yet understand, but that have an equally valuable and rich culture, if you would only take the time to get to know them better before raping and pillaging.'

Lisa the Barbarian.

'WHOAH, man!'

Figure Skater Bart.

'Eat my...shell?'

Teenage Mutant Ninja Simpson. Or Bartonardo (I know, he has Mikey's nunchucks...but Bartonardo sounds better than Bartelangelo.)

'Hey Homer, those aren't the 'rhoids you're looking for!'

Barttrooper.

'Margeriannn!'

Homer Balboa.

'This reminds me of a dream I had once.'

Lazy Sunday Homer.

Mmmm...dooonuts'

Officer Homer.

'Sigh. Another weapon? You didn't have an Emily Bronte minifigure to slap my head upon?'

Swashbuckler Lisa.

Slapping Simpsons heads on LEGO minifigures is a hoot. I look forward to doing more with the few I have, and hopefully I am able to find the rest of the family soon.

Stay tuned!

LEGO Simpsons minifigures are hitting stores NOW!

'Aww, this stupid show is on again?!?'

Thanks to a tip from Dan at The Toy Museum, I was able to find the latest LEGO The Simpsons minifigure series at a local Walgreens.

There were only about eight or ten packs laying alone on a shelf. I presume Walgreens stores are just getting a smattering of these sent in to begin with. I was in a hurry, so I used the 'squeeze method' and properly identified Bart Simpson via his skateboard wheels...

...and Homer Simpson via his cylindrical cranium.

As I said - I was in a hurry. So while I REALLY wanted to find Itchy and Scratchy, in my haste what I hoped was Scratchy turned out to be Lisa Simpson...

'You thought you were getting Itchy. HA HA!'

...and what I thought was Itchy turned out to be Nelson Muntz.

I'm not disappointed, mind you. I just like to get the 'must-haves' out of the way as soon as possible. But I'll keep hunting for Itchy and Scratchy, and Marge and Maggie, and maybe some others. Maybe all of them!

Now get out there and start canvasing your local Walgreens stores...and good luck!

Geek Credentials

Chunky B over at Eclectorama has started a new internet Meme: "Geek Credentials." It sounded like my cup of meme, so here's my contribution to the newest sensation to rock the inter-nation!

Remember the scene in The Dark Knight, where a bunch of Gothamites have dressed up as Batman and have decided to become vigilantes of their own? They just end up getting in the way, or dead, and tend to make matters worse for our hero in blue and grey.

Well let me tell you, you ain't a Bat-Geek unless you have a few guys like that in your collection. The wanna-bes, the fakers, the posers. You know the ones: the "I can't believe it's not Batman" crowd.

Well behold, and BELIEVE!

"...I agree, that Bale kid gave a great reading. But the agency sent over four more at the last minute...let's at least see what they have to offer before calling it a day."


First up we shall examine Adam. This guy is so "not Batman" that the toyline he was produced for, Tech Deck, was actually forced to stop producing him. See ya' later, finger skater.

Next up is Bat-Duck. He was actually released as a McDonald's premium many years back, along with Super-Bugs, Wonder-Pig, and Taz-Flash. Very spiffy figures...but sorry duck, no luck.

The outfits are removable, but the movie is sans nudity, so it won't score you any more points. Next!

Here we have Wile E. Coyote in his Bat-Man's Outfit. Manufactured by Acme.

Flight capabilities? Impressive. But...green?!?! We'll call you when they cast for Hal Jordan. And...sheesh...eat a sandwich will ya? You're nothing but skin and bones!

Finally we have Bartman. From the Secret Identity handbook: Page one. Chapter one. Don't use your real name as a component of your superhero name. Have you ever heard of a hero named Bat Wayne? Peter Spider? Super Kent? Guy Gardner?...

Never mind.

As a Post Script, I give you a couple "I can't believe it's not Batman" characters who actually kind of are. First up is Batzarro from DC Direct:

As drawn by Ed McGuinness in Batman/Superman, this guy is pretty fun. He has real chains hanging from beneath his cape (because they make a lot of noise) No eyes, an inverted Bat as well as an upside down utility belt (with opened pockets, having spilled out their contents long ago.)

I'm so geeky, I even drew him once. How's THAT for Geek Creds?


And lastly but not leastly we have Ace the Bat-Hound. From the recent Krypto the Superdog cartoon and toyline, this guy is the bee's knees. His collar serves as his "utility belt" and his cape flows majestically in the breeze, ready for the call to action from his "partner" Batman!

So there you have it. I'm a geek. (As if there were ever any doubt ;) )

Do you claim to be a geek? Prove it. What're your creds, Fred? Join in the Meme, Joaquin. Create a "Geek Credentials" post of your own, Joan!