2011 was the year I rekindled my childhood love of Lego – it started with a Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut set that I found on sale, and since then I’ve been picking up sets from their different sub-lines. One of the things I enjoy the most are the minifigures that come with the sets, so it was a no-brainer that I started picking up their Lego Minifigures series as well.
The series is up to series 6 now, and like other series before it we get a great mix of minifigures inspired by myths, sci-fi, history and everyday people. These figs are least likely to appear in sets (although you never know), so they’re a nice addition to any Lego collection, whether you have them inhabit your Lego creations or you make environments just for them.
There are 16 different Minifigures in each series and they come blind bagged, so you won’t know what you’ll get… unless you feel your way around the bags for parts that may determine who’s who. Believe me, since I started buying Minifigures I’m always amused by the people I see “feeling” for the Minifigs that they’re looking for. It’s not just collectors, I see a lot of parents doing it for their kids too!
Lego has their Minifigures website that has a bio for every Minifigure, and I’ve included them here with the pics for each Minifig. I’ve also included tips on what part I felt for when I tried to determine who’s who!
Let’s start with one of my favorites, the Minotaur!
Minotaur
“Wait, was it left at the next passage, or right?”
Half Minifigure and half bull, the legendary Minotaur is said to make his home deep within a great, maze-like labyrinth that only the most brave or foolish of heroes dares to enter. And while that much is true, the rumor that the ferocious beast guards a fabulous treasure is not…in fact, he’s only in there because he can’t find his way out!
The thing is that the Minotaur is just terrible at directions. He used to have a map of the place, but he lost it somewhere and ever since, he’s wandered around the labyrinth hoping to run into somebody helpful who can show him where the entrance is. Unfortunately, everyone that he’s met so far either tries to fight him or runs away. Maybe it’s the horns…or the axe…or the cow-breath?
Tip: This guy has probably the biggest head piece of the bunch, so it’s hard not to miss him, you won’t feel the horns with the big head though as they’re loose in the bag.
Classic Alien
“The truth is around here somewhere!”
The pyramids? These guys built them. The microwave? They invented it. Elvis? Got him right up there on the mothership. All of those totally out-there conspiracy theories about little gray men from outer space are absolutely 100% true – or at least, that’s what the Classic Alien believes.
You see, he’s been out of communication with the home planet for a while (thanks to that whole Area 51 thing), and all of his recent news has come from what he’s read in supermarket tabloids and seen on the internet. Those reporters and bloggers really seem to know their stuff, so he figures they must have the real scoop. After all, if it’s not all true, then what’s he even doing here?
Tip: Feel for the Alien’s smooth round head together with his ray gun. The only other Minifig with the gun is the Intergalactic Girl.
Sleepyhead
“Just five more minutes…”
Ya-a-a-awn! Is it really time to get up already? The Sleepyhead isn’t quite ready to face the morning yet. He was just having a totally awesome dream about adventuring in a magical world full of colorful knights with swords that shoot lightning…or was it the one about the time machine powered by historical hats?
Who can rise and shine when bed is so comfy and you’ve got your favorite teddy bear by your side? Don’t worry; the Sleepyhead will be up in a minute. Maybe he’ll just close his eyes and grab a quick nap first, though. After all, you can’t get through the day without plenty of rest! Zzzzz…
This fig has two faces on one head, a sleeping face and an ” I’m still sleepy ” face!
Tip: That teddy bear is really easy to feel for together with the bed head hairdo!
Roman Soldier
“I’ll march anywhere, fight anyone, and build anything you command!”
Ever since he was first assembled, the Roman Soldier has followed his orders without a moment’s hesitation. Just tell him what you want done and he’ll carry out your command right away, treating each mission as equally important no matter how tough (or silly!) it may be.
The other Minifigures sometimes take advantage of this, so you may find the Roman Soldier hard at work doing the dishes, taking pets for walks and building aqueducts all over town, just because somebody else didn’t want to get their own chores done. But he doesn’t mind the extra work – according to him, that’s what a Roman Soldier is for!
Tip: The shield is what gave away the identity of this Minifig for me, the head of the spear is also a soft plastic you can feel for.
Bandit
“Whaddya mean, I can’t have seven aces?”
Lean, mean and bad-mannered, the black-clad Bandit is a notorious outlaw of the Old West. This despicable desperado is an expert at cattle-rustling, horse-stealing, claim-jumping and train-robbing, but he always ends up getting caught by the long arm of the law thanks to his one big weakness: he cheats at everything.
Whether he’s playing cards or trying to outride the sheriff, the Bandit always looks for the unfair and easy path to fortune. He’ll take secret shortcuts that get him stuck in cactus patches, swipe the fastest stallion in the county only to have it throw a shoe, and rig sharp-shooting contests that end with saloon signs crashing down on his head. As long as he keeps trying to cheat, this bad guy will never win!
Tip: Feel for the cowboy hats shape! His face cover confused me at first then I felt the two small guns in the package!
Genie
“I’ll grant your wish…your wish for bricks!”
Rub the magic lamp and this friendly Genie will pop out to grant your wishes*…as long as they have to do with LEGO® bricks! Want a big enough pile of pieces to build a perfect full-scale model of the Great Wall of China? No problem! Looking for that long-lost LEGO Castle set you left in the playground when you were 5 and never saw again? Your wish is his command!
There’s only one limitation on the Genie’s incredible magical powers: he doesn’t do instruction booklets. He’ll give you all the bricks you could possibly want, but it’s up to you to figure out what to do with them. Ask him why, and he’ll just tell you that building steps are another genie’s department!
(*wish-granting requires use of imagination)
Tip: This guy doesn’t have legs so feel for that curvy lower body together with that lamp and turban!
That’s it for now stay tuned for part 2 which stars the Leprechaun, Clockwork Robot, Lady Liberty, the Surgeon and the Butcher!