I am going to be taking a break from The Brick Life for an indefinite period of time.
LEGO and The Brick Life have been part of my life a long time but I can feel us drifting apart for now.
I’m at a stage in my life where I need to focus on creating my own stories and my own worlds. As a part of this creativity, I want to be on the web as little as possible as I have a tendency to get distracted easily.
However, I know better than to close doors firmly behind me so I will leave the site up for the time being and my LEGO shop will also remain open as I will be clearing out many of the LEGO sets I have stored away in cupboards. So if you are in Australia drop by the store and you might find a set you are after.
Lego Spiderman was a short lived theme from Lego, first released in 2002, then followed by subsequent releases in 2003 and 2004.
In 2012, as Lego re-acquires the license to produce Lego Marvel Super Hero sets and the latest relaunch of the film franchise gears up for release in November, we take a look back at the sets of the past and also look forward to the sets that will no doubt accompany the film’s release.
This is the first in a series on the characters and comics that make up the new Lego Super Heroes theme.
Spider-Man
If you are unfamiliar with the legend of Spider-Man then perhaps we can take a little look at this super-hero’s origins and his place in popular culture.
The character of SpiderMan was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, two artists working for Marvel Comics in the early 1960’s. His first appearance was in Amazing Fantasy Issue #15 (August 1962) and if you have a copy of this comic lying around please feel free to forward it to me – it is worth a Mint!
The comic told the story of Peter Parker, a talented but weak student who comes by super-powers after being bitten by a radio-active spider. He takes on the moniker Spider-Man to hide his true identity.
The comics have changed in looks and tone through out the decades but one thing remains true…
An orphan, Parker is raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Before his untimely death, Ben tells Peter “With great power comes great responsibility”.
This belief system has stayed strong throughout the series and makes Spiderman one of the most interesting superheroes comics being published today.
When Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movie was released in 2002, Lego produced a series of sets based on Spider-Man as part of their “Studios” theme.
The theme centered around the film-making process and even included a figure of Steven Spielberg!
Most sets released in this year featured Peter Parker’s nemesis in the first film, The Green Goblin, otherwise known as Norman Osborne, the father of Peter’s best friend Harry.
The first three sets were:
Lego Spider-Man Green Goblin 1374
Lego Spider-Man Wrestling Scene 1375
Lego Spider-Man Action Studio 1376
Lego Spider-Man Sets 2003
The following year Lego released three more sets, without the “Studios” banner. This time Spiderman would have his own Lego theme.
Lego Spider-Man’s First Chase 4850
Lego Spider-Man The Origins 4851
Lego Spider-Man The Final Showdown 4852
Still three sets isn’t alot of releases for an entire theme, so the next year Lego amped up their output.
Lego Spider-Man Sets 2004
2004 saw the theatrical release of the second (and arguably the best) Spider-Man film.
The villain of the story, Doc Oc was less black and white in his “Evilness” than the Green Goblin and ultimately had many things in common with Peter Parker.
In 2004 Lego released five regular sets and two sets aimed at younger builders ages 4 and over.
Lego Spider-Man’s Street Chase 4853
Lego Spider-Man Doc Oc’s Bank Robbery 4854
Lego Spider-Man’s Train Rescue 4855
Lego Spider-Man Doc Oc’s Hideout 4856
Lego Spider-Man Doc Oc’s Fusion Lab 4857
Lego Spider-Man For Junior’s Sets
Lego Spider-Man Doc Oc’s Crime Spree 4858
Lego Spider-Man Doc Oc’s Cafe Attack 4860
Lego SpiderMan Sets 2012
Poster Courtesy of SuperHeroHype
After a break of eight years Lego Spider-Man is back.
This is partly due to Lego’s acquisition of the Marvel Comics license and partly due to the upcoming relaunch of the Spider-Man films.
The new Spider-Man films will be known as The Amazing Spider-Man and will feature a new Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and the first film in the series will also showcase a new villain, Lizard or The Lizard.
Lego has permission to produce sets both from this film and The Avengers film also due for release this year (in which everyone is hoping Spidey will make a guest appearance!).
Information on the new sets is sketchy but the first release for 2012 will be Doc Oc Ambush Set 6873, obviously drawing from events in the earlier movie franchise rather than the new relaunch.
However, as the November release date for the new Spider-Man film approaches and The Avenger’s franchise gains momentum, you can guarantee that more Lego Spiderman sets will come to light.
Interestingly, “With great power comes great responsibility” is a line that seems to fit with The Lego Group and hopefully they will be able to make Lego Spiderman sets for many years to come.
Lego Spiderman was a short lived theme from Lego, first released in 2002, then followed by subsequent releases in 2003 and 2004.
