Although lots of information is available for LEGO fans online through various LEGO news-sites, blogs and forums, it is nice to once in a while get unplugged and sit down with an old-fashioned paper magazine. This is the reason I keep all LEGO Catalogs and LEGO Club Magazines. There are also LEGO fan created magazines like BrickJournal and HispaBrick for serious LEGO fans, and today a new magazine launches, simply called Blocks. 🙂
The publisher of Blocks magazine is Blockhead Media (a UK based published who also produce Practical Performance Car and a number of other titles). The first issue, released today is 130+ pages and it is structured in such a way as to appeal to both newcomers to the LEGO hobby as well as hard-core LEGO fans. Below is the official press-release to give you an idea on what the magazine contains:
Blocks magazine is a celebration of everything LEGO. Aimed at enthusiasts, young and old, it is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the world of plastic bricks when taking a break from your latest build. It will showcase the latest big releases from LEGO and give in-depth reviews and opinion on each. It will focus on the big and the small and cover all palates, be it LEGO Space, LEGO Castle, custom builds, or LEGO Creator. It will showcase some of the best custom builds from around the world with interviews from the people behind them. Useful hints, tips and how to’s from LEGO experts and plenty of inside information, helping you get the most out of your hobby. Put together by like-minded LEGO-lovers and experts and priced at just £5.99 this is a must for any real LEGO enthusiast. Inside the first issue you will discover how to display your minifigures, interviews from set-designers, tips on storage and retro collecting, amazing LEGO art, and tons of reviews including a detailed look at the new LEGO Star Wars Sandcrawler. All this plus much-much more…
I have been in touch with the editor of the magazine, Mark Guest, since January of this year, and we have exchanged some ideas for the content. Sounds like it is going to be really interesting! At this point the focus is on introducing the magazine to the LEGO fan community, and depending on the response, the plan is to publish the magazine monthly or bimonthly. (The images you see here are directly from the magazine, sent to us by Mark.)
Currently Block magazine is available in the UK from WH Smiths or by calling 07858 892859. As mentioned above, the price is £5.99, which is not bad for a 130-page specialty magazine focusing on just one hobby. Later the magazine is going to be available in other countries, and Mark mentioned he will update us on this, so stay tuned.
What do you think? Are you interested in this LEGO magazine? If you are in the UK, are you planning to get it? (If you do, please let the rest of us know how you like it!) Do you prefer to read LEGO related new, reviews and tutorials online, or do you like paper magazines? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, if you have any questions for Mark, you can ask those as well. He will be watching. 😉
And you may also like to take a look at the following related post:
Cool!
I am gonna go try and feel out Mr. Burns today at Target 😀
I don’t live in the UK, but would love to get these magazine’s… is there any way to get them outside of the UK?
My understanding is that if the magazine becomes popular it will be distributed in other countries as well. In the meantime you can call the phone-number mentioned in the article (it is a UK number, so you will need to put whatever international code you use to dial outside of your home country), and order one. They do ship international.
I hope it gets distributed in the US, I’d like to get a copy.
The number on Brickset is 0044 7858 892859. Is the 0044 an international dial? 😕
yeah me too, BLP
I believe so. I have included the number I was given by Mark. I’m not so familiar with international dialing.
0044 is correct to dial uk from us. Note it’s a cellphone number though so could be expensive from the US.
Thanks, I’ll try that!
This looks like a must have. I have a WHSmith round the corner fron me will have to check and see if they have it in stock.
Tom, please note that you may have to ask for it. I was reading on Brickset this morning that people had trouble finding the magazine as it was placed in some odd section under train magazines, or something like that. So if you don’t see it in an obvious place just ask for it.
Please please please release in the US… This magazine looks pretty cool!
Nice looking magazine. Hopefully it will make it to the US. I wish them luck.
Proving hard to find. I’ve checked (and asked) in three WHSmith stores in central london and they hadnt even heard of it. Will go looking again tomorrow if I get a chance.
Tom, yes, it is a bit hard to find, but they are there. 😉
I’d love it if it came the U.S. I still like normal paper magazines and one on Lego that is perhaps geared more toward adult collector’s unlike the club magazine would be great.
I agree; a regular adult LEGO magazine would be great! 🙂
Off-topic, but I was bringing my Fairground ride (not a mixer) downstairs to build it on LDD, and the whole thing broke and shattered! 😮 😯 Luckily no pieces fell down the vent on the floor. 😐 Rebuilding now.
And this sounds interesting: http://brickset.com/article/11496/lego-fusion-lego-s-latest-attempt-to-blend-physical-bricks-with-digital-play
Ouch! The good thing about LEGO is that you can rebuild it though. As far as LEGO FUSION, I was actually invited to the press-release and had one of my friends go to it (as it was in New York). I will have his report ready about the event for tomorrow morning, so stay tuned. 😉
Yeah, I already rebuilt it, and onto LDD as well, so it’s saved. 🙂
And staying tuned. 😉
I like it. It seems interesting. I hope it is in the UK
Bob, it is only in the UK. 😉
It’s(almost) my birthday! (well, technically, it was May 21st, but my party is on Saturday!) The LEGO items on my list are: Emmet’s Construction Mech
Mirkwood Elf Army
Emmet LED keychain light
Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter
The LEGO Movie
My party was supposed to be at a park, but it’s going to rain on Saturday.
But I’m still shufflin’ every day 😎
Happy Birthday! And happy Birthday party! 😛
sing-along time! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! 🙂 EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN YOU’RE PART OF A TEAM! 😀 EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! :smile:WHEN WE’RE LIVING OUR DREAM! 😀 EVERYTHING IS BETTER WHEN WE STICK TOGETHER! SIDE BY SIDE, YOU AND I, GONNA WIN FOREVER! LET’S PARTY FOREVER! WE’RE THE SAME, I’M LIKE YOU, YOU’RE LIKE ME, WHEN WE’RE WORKING IN HARMONY! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN WE’RE PART OF A TEAM! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! WHEN WE’RE LIVING OUR DREAM! WOO! 3,2,1, GO! HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS, EVERYONE’S TALKIN’, LIFE IS GOOD , ‘CAUSE EVERYTHING’S AWESOME! LOST MY JOB, THERE’S A NEW OPPORTUNITY, MORE FREE TIME FOR MY AWESOME COMMUNITY! FEEL MORE AWESOME THAN AN AWESOME ‘POSSUM, DIP MY BODY IN CHOCOLATE FROSTIN’, THREE YEARS LATER WASH OFF THE FROSTIN, SMELLIN’ LIKE A BLOSSOM, EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! STEP IN THE MUD, GOT NEW BROWN SHOES, IT’S AWESOME TO WIN, AWESOME TO LOSE!(awesome to lose!) EVERYTHING IS BETTER WHEN WE STICK TOGETHER! SIDE BY SIDE YOU AND I GONNA WIN FOREVER, LET’S PARTY FOREVER! WE’RE THE SAME, I’M LIKE YOU, YOU’RE LIKE ME, WHEN WE’RE WORKIN’ IN HARMONY! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME…EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN WE’RE PART OF A TEAM…EVERYTHING IS AWESOME… WHEN WE’RE LIVIN’ OUR DREAM…..BLUE SKIES, BOUNCY SPINGS, WE JUST NAMED TWO AWESOME THINGS! A NOBEL PRIZE, A PIECE OF STRING, YOU KNOW WHAT’S AWESOME? EVERYTHING! DOGS WITH FLEAS, ALLERGIES, A BOOK OF GREEK ANTIQUITIES… BRAND NEW PANTS, A VERY OLD VEST, AWESOME ITEMS ARE THE BEST! TREES, FROGS, CLOGS, THEY’RE AWESOME! ROCKS, CLOCKS,
AND SOCKS, THERE AWESOME! FIGS, AND JIGS,AND TWIGS,
THAT’S AWESOME! EVERYTHING YOU SEE OR THINK OR SAY,IS AWESOME! EVERYTHING IS AWESOME, EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN WE’RE PART OF A TEAM, EVERYTHING IS AWESOME,
WHEN WE’RE LIVIN’ OUR DREAM! Next sing-along: Let It Go!
LOL! 😀
Thanks! I’m starting a sing along in that’s just this month the first one is EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! And being the first, there will be a special bonus: a Deadpool epilogue!
Admin, what do I do when it says my comment is awaiting moderation. What does this mean?
It just means that for some reason the comment moderation system flagged your comment and is waiting for me to check on it. This is an automated system for the safety of our community. I’m not sure what it didn’t like about your comment, but I had it approved. 😉
Looks like a good magazine. The only problem is magazine subscriptions are expensive. If it comes to the US maybe a yearly subscription wouldn’t be too bad. I always prefer the paper magazine to reading online. It lets me get my LEGO Community fix away from the computer =P
Yes, I would buy it if it was available in the US. And I really wish it was!
Beth, hopefully it will be available in the US soon as well. Mark will keep us updated. 🙂
My birthday party is going to be a kung fu fiesta. ARRIBA- SAN!
Are you serious?!
Hey guys,
Has anyone from the US called the number and received it? I am unsure of whether I should do that or ask my aunt from the UK to ship one…
The magazine was just released today, so I don’t think anyone in the USA would have it, but to answer your question, I’m pretty sure it would be cheaper to get it through your aunt. Shipping should be cheaper for her just setting it in an envelope.
Definitely ask your aunt. If it gets imported to US stores it will be more expensive.
Would love to read it, hope it will be published in the Netherlands
Wow this seems like SUCH an awesome magazine!! Do you know (Mark?) when and if it will be available in Germany??:) Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
I have emailed Mark to make sure he is aware of your questions. Hopefully he will stop by soon or will email me his responses. 🙂
Mark emailed me back. He said the following: “We do have a limited amount of overseas copies that can be shipped, and to save people the cost of calling they can email accounts@ppcmag.co.uk and there they will be looked after and can order a copy. Payment can be made through paypal, bacs or cc. If I recall the cost including postage is around £12. Moving forward we have had a great response so far and have had some contact already from LEGO asking us to submit a plan as they like what they see so very positive so moving forward if we get a frequency sorted then I believe we would look at a digital edition for overseas as the cost to the consumer via dispatch we appreciate is high.I hope that helps any further questionss and I will log into TBB tonight and aim to answer as many questions as possible.”
Alright! I think I’ll pay the £12, I’m too curious! ^_^ And I love having a printed copy in my hands rather than reading something on the computer. Thank you very much!!
Keep us posted on what you think of it! I’m curious too! 😛
I will! I have just sent my request via email, I hope I don’t have to wait too long ^^ 😀
Where is this magazine going to be available from ?
Martin, based on your email address is appears that you are in the UK. The magazine should be readily available there at book-stores. Also, you can sign up for a subscription as well directly on the Blocks Magazine website.
These are now at Barnes and Noble in the US. Unfortunately since it’s imported it was $16.99. That was too much for me while I’m still hunting Christmas gifts. The magazine looks great, it’s quality paper, great photos but I can’t get it yet.
Chris, thanks for sharing that. I was wondering when it will be available. But that price! Ouch! I might check it out though just to flip through at the bookstore. 🙂