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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg2u_De8j5o

Sorry I've been taking so long to translate these comics. I think from now on I'll just post a transcript of the non-Time Cruisers ones, as they are a little trickier to edit the text into. Here's the Count Batlord one from the November December 1997 issue, it picks up where the last one left off: Count Batlord Fights with the Magician and his Diabolical Dragon! It took me a while (and two comics) to realize that "flatterfels" ("Flutterrock") is actually the name of the castle. Before I was coming up with a bunch of contrived explanations for the word "flutter," of all things, to be cropping up in the translations where it just didn't make sense.

I think I hate the rock raider more than anything, although one could argue that this provides the 'challenge' in this game

Ah, well, what to say about this? The existence of a "Simpsons" theme perturbs me, as it seems the result of hypocrisy on the part of Lego. Mind you, I have never watched the show, but it does have a reputation for containing "adult" (or as the RRU guidelines put it, "not safe for work") content. Indeed, the heated debate(s) that have occurred as a a result of the announcement of this theme seem to confirm this reputation, with those many of those defending the theme admitting it, arguing that it will not lead children to watch the show or arguing that the violence of franchises such as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings is much worse. Mind you, I don't expect Lego to conform to what I consider appropriate, but I do expect it to adhere to its own guidelines. I would respect the production of this theme if Lego formally changed its guidelines, provided that the change seemed sincere. However, these guidelines have not been formally changed, and Lego has been pointing to them constantly over the past few years in regards to Cuusoo. In fact, a Lego Simpsons project on Cuusoo was deleted for not following the guidelines. So, what Lego is doing seems the equivalent of the old sitcom trope of parents chastising one of their children for lying, only to tell a falsehood to get out of a bridge game, or some such appointment. If Lego does not respects its guidlines, what do they mean? But, enough ranting. On to the actual set: It's not abominable, though given the size it seems to lack much "bang for its buck." I would imagine that a set presumably costing well over $200 would be something spectacular, something that a lesser piece count could simply not do justice. This set however, seems simply an enlarged (perhaps bloated) and grandiose version of something that I would happily buy with less than a thousand pieces. It doesn't even seem that much more impressive for all its size. Granted, it's not bad, just impractical. That said, the design seems decent, with coloring and structure that it are easy on the eyes. The car does seem a bit gaudy and awkward, but the picture on the back of the box shows it in a more favorable light. The minifigures have been one of the most controversial aspects of this theme, with many complaining about the over-sized heads. While they do seem a bit odd at first, I think they are still an adequate design, especially given that they portray cartoon characters. What bothers me most about them is the cynical expressions that all save the baby and Flanders possess. They may be accurate to the television characters, but they are nonetheless rather unpleasant. All in all, not a set I would feel compelled to buy, though given the overwhelmingly positive reaction on Brickset I suspect that I am in a minority. Indeed, it seems that even those who are not Simpsons fans want to buy the set and use it for normal minifigures. On a side note I should like to ask why Lego thinks that this theme will be particularly profitable. While, as I noted above, the house has garnered mostly positive reactions, it has the appeal of size that most other potential sets in the theme would lack. The theme may be profitable, but it hardly seems that it will be profitable enough to justify the controversy surrounding its very existence. Simpsons merchandise used to be quite common, but the last major wave of merchandise for the franchise that I can recall accompanied the release of the Simpsons movie in 2007. The appeal of such products seems to have died down since then. I may be mistaken, of course. I suppose that it is also possible that the Simpsons has a huge following outside of the United States.

All that detail... It's so beautiful... Then I think about how much money was spent on all those Lego bricks and then I start to feel woozy. Someone cosplayed as the Infomaniac. I can't seem to find the actual source though, so I linked to a Tumblr reblog.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I need to make up for a lack of news reports, so... And on an uncannily related note: EDIT: Apparently someone changed my first picture from the box to something more high-quality. Sources: jamesster (Via Skype) ...He also gave me http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=85449&st=650#entry1782844

After 2 months of building I where able to finish this giant! I don't even know where to start, it have taken so long and it have been so fun to watch it grow over the weeks (but I have to admit it got a little boring to build some of the rock sections). At some points I had my doubts that I would be able to finish it of due to how massive it was and when I constantly realized that I had to make it bigger too fit this and that but in the end it was worth it! The finished models weights in at 7,7kg (around 20 pounds/16lbs and have something between 7000-8000 parts! Sorry for the bad picture btw! by =DoNe=, on Flickr by =DoNe=, on Flickr by =DoNe=, on Flickr

It was a maybe. The term I would use is Hiatus, but yes, it has been on that. BUT NOT ANYMORE. Adam clears the rubble, and.... Found 5 Ore. (yes, I drew about 9 in the picture. Whatever. it's 5) Dink. So.... Next commands?

Well, I don't have much to scan, I guess. I think I became a club member in 1997, but my issues from that time are the others are pretty in complete. The Lego World Club did indeed become Lego Magazin. 3-4/2002 is still Lego World Club, 9-10/2002 is Lego Magazin and is actually the same as Lego Magazine issue 3. I'll skip my damaged issues and first do all the complete ones, so Dark_Turtle can continue his scanning and we fill the gaps for eachother.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88574960@N02/11293435825/in/photostream/ 200,000 Bricks. An achievement of gargantuan proportions. I bow before the might of the artificer who endowed this gift upon the world. It really is so beautiful. *sniff*

1: BIONICLE: Mata Nui Online Game 2: iRacing 3: Halo Reach 4: Minecraft 5: Rock Raiders (of course! ) 6: Junkbot 7: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 8: Wii Sports. 9: Midnight Club: LA 10: rFactor

Each Rahkshi has one of the Makuta powers. All Makuta have a large set of special Kraata powers, and when they create a Kraata by pulling it from their very esssence, the Kraata and resulting Rahkshi has one of those powers. (chain lightning, heat vision, disintegration, etc.) About the BIONICLE symbol: Its supposed to represent the three virtues of the Matoran. (Unity, duty, destiny) It also represents the three main planets in the BIONICLE universe, Bara Magna, Aqua Magna, and Bota Magna. Up until 2009, the story was set in Aqua Magna, in a 40 million foot tall robot (Mata Nui) containing the Matoran Universe. The three planets were once one large planet, Spherus Magna, until an explosion caused by the unstable planet core blew the whole planet into three pieces. This event is known as the Shattering. At the end, this planet is reformed into Spherus Magna by Mata Nui after an intense battle with Makuta Teridax, , and then BIONICLE was canned.

At least the game doesn't announce bats, like it does with almost everything else. "Bats are trolling your Rock Raiders!" "Bats are trolling your Rock Raiders!" "Bats are trolling your Rock Raiders!" "Bats are trolling your Rock Raiders!" Yeah, I'd kill myself.