LEGO Blind Bag Mania!
As with many collectibles, a lot of the fun (and profit) is in what are known as “blind bags”. The customer doesn’t know which specific item in a series they’ll get. Maybe it’ll be a rare holographic Venusaur or maybe it’ll just be another Doduo. LEGO has its own version of this, though perhaps not as extreme, with it’s Collectible Minifigures (CMFs).
LEGO CMFs are released in series, typically of around 16 unique minifigures, for fans of LEGO to buy in an attempt to catch ’em all. However, unlike with collectible trading cars, there’s an inherent flaw in the system. You can feel the individual LEGO pieces without opening the bag, meaning dedicated and tactile fans can pinpoint specific minifigures in a series to purchase.
Of course this method isn’t fool-proof. Sometimes one piece feels similar to a completely different piece and you can easily be misled. Success rate undoubtedly varies considerably among fans, but there’s a clear advantage for those with the right touch. “Unboxing” videos have sprouted across YouTube of LEGO fans opening their blind bags to surprise and/or disappointment in search of their favorite collectible minifigs.
Batman Minifigures
The Batman series of CMFs contains 20 unique minifigures, well over the customary 16. This series was released in anticipation of The LEGO Batman Movie and contains some great pieces for Batman fans as well as unique accessories and pieces for LEGO enthusiasts.
Disney Minifgures
LEGO also released a CMF series of classic Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear and Captain Hook! This series has 18 unique minifigures and is a great haul for fans of LEGO and Disney. However, many of the Disney characters have custom head molds (as does the Simpsons CMFs) which could be a turn-off for some hardcore LEGO fans. Still, the accessories are a lot of fun and you can’t beat the rush of childhood nostalgia from seeing your favorite Disney characters as a LEGO.
Bump Codes
Some users swear by “bump codes”, which are little markings on the bags from the automated packaging process. The bump code theory is that every specific minifigure in a series would have a specific set of markings, or bump codes, on the bag. So if you’re targeting a certain minifig, all you have to do is look online for people sharing its bump code and every bag you find with the same markings is guaranteed to have your minifig! There is a lot of debate on how accurate this is and many people still prefer to simply feel each bag for certain pieces that give away its contents.
What are your favorites?
It’s been almost two decades since LEGO started releasing CMFs and people love them! There have been so many classic LEGO people created through these CMF series, such as Banana Suit Guy, the Sea Captain and the Magician. Which CMFs have you collected? Who are your favorites? Let us know in the comments!
