16 replies to this topic

[Hapori Tohu]

A variety of books spanning various LEGO themes (Hero Factory, Ninjago, LEGO Friends, and more) have been announced for publication in 2013 on Amazon.com. Click through to see a list of some that may be of interest to BZPower readers, along with links and further details:

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[Bambi]

Hero Factory books, eh? No idea they had those. I'll defiantly be sure to try and check those out.

[Wind Elemental]

The books sound pretty cool. I think I'll look forward to them.

[Bulik]

Well, I guess this means we'll have to tolerate hero factory for another half-year or possibly a year

Edited by Bulik, Oct 06 2012 - 11:55 AM.

[Sumiki]

Looks like they're trying to expand the Hero Factory universe to make it more interesting and less straightforward. We'll see how that turns out.

[Aanchir: Rachira of Time]

Well, I guess this means we'll have to tolerate hero factory for another half-year or possibly a year

Or, ya know, you could just ignore it. Or if it's within your power, even enjoy it. I've only read the first chapter book, but it gives me hope that the "Secret Mission" series will add a lot more depth to the story as a whole. And the sets do a great job maximizing user-friendly construction just as BIONICLE's sets tried to do for so many years with the increases in posability and customization potential over the years. Obviously the theme isn't for everyone, but it'd be great if people who didn't like it would stop acting like its very existence is an offense against them.

I wish BIONICLE fans would get the idea already that Hero Factory is doing nobody any harm just by existence. It wouldn't make BIONICLE or even the more Technic-based constraction building style come back any quicker if it were to end abruptly. Just look at all the changes in building styles that happened during BIONICLE's lifespan and how few of them were ever reversed-- this is because most of those changes were made for very sound reasons. And as for the story, there's no reason why TLG couldn't create another story as brilliant as BIONICLE's, but I can think of no reason except laziness that they'd write themselves into a hole by constraining themselves to a story that's already been written, when they have the same potential to create great original stories that they have had since before BIONICLE's existence.

[Bulik]

Well, I guess this means we'll have to tolerate hero factory for another half-year or possibly a year

Or, ya know, you could just ignore it.

that's what I have been doing for the past 2 years.

[Toa Smoke Monster]

I couldn't help but notice that the Ninjago novels and HF chapter books are both written by Greg. And the the LEGO friends books are written by Cathy Hapka. Both are good writers, so I bet fans of all those series are going to get some great storylines within these books.

[Lyichir]

I couldn't help but notice that the Ninjago novels and HF chapter books are both written by Greg. And the the LEGO friends books are written by Cathy Hapka. Both are good writers, so I bet fans of all those series are going to get some great storylines within these books.

I was never such a fan of Cathy Hapka, but that was largely due to what I perceived as her inferior grasp of the Bionicle universe's internal rules and mechanics. In a series that takes place in a more realistic world, with more focus on characterization than on fantasy worldbuilding, I'm sure she'll do just fine.

Meanwhile, Greg's writing for Ninjago and Hero Factory is spectacular. It's a shame Greg's been largely replaced in writing the Ninjago chapter books by Tracey West, who only writes minimalist adaptations of television episodes as opposed to offering a new or deeper perspective on the Ninjago story. But Greg's work on the graphic novels is still excellent, and the Hero Factory novels are good enough to make up for that theme's fairly weak television episodes.

[Meiko]

It appears they threw in "Not Final Art" stuff for the Ninjago Graphic Novels, but I have the art for book 6 here.

[Aanchir: Rachira of Time]

Updates: Amazon.co.uk lists two Ninjago sticker activity books for release next year (1, 2). I have never seen these books in the U.S. (we tend to get different sticker books here), but the European sticker activity books published so far also tend to include great pictures (including illustrations that don't tend to show up here, like this example) and exclusive short stories by Greg Farshtey.

The date listed for those two books is December 5, 2013, but I'm fairly certain that's a typo since we wouldn't be hearing about them that far in advance, and because there's not much logic in publishing brand-new Ninjago media months after the last wave of sets has been released and the final episodes of the show have aired.

[Meiko]

we tend to get different sticker books here

We tend to get different everything books here. Just look at the ones not available in the US.

[ShadowWolfHount]

Hero Factory book that new but Hero Factory do not talk about other Hero Factory team.
Ninjago book is a good idea beside bionicle, out of Hero Factory and Ninjago i go with Ninjago.

[Lyichir]

Hero Factory book that new but Hero Factory do not talk about other Hero Factory team.
Ninjago book is a good idea beside bionicle, out of Hero Factory and Ninjago i go with Ninjago.

...What? I'm sorry, your comment was a little bit hard to decipher. Did you use Google Translate or something?

In any case, I would say you should give the Hero Factory: Secret Mission books a chance. They're very well-written and reminiscent of Greg's run on Bionicle. The Ninjago graphic novels are decent, but they pale in comparison to the Bionicle comics. Greg Farshtey also wrote the earlier Ninjago prose novels, which were superb and consisted of brand new story, but recently Greg stopped writing those, and was replaced by Tracey West, who only writes mediocre adaptations of the television episodes.

[Paleo]

"Alien Wars" and "Alien Attack"? Not very creative titles
Hope to get my hands on those Greg HF books though. They sound pretty interesting (and hopefully more complex).

Edited by Paleo, Oct 19 2012 - 03:09 PM.

[Lenny7092]

Hero Factory books coming in 2013. Hmm... They sound interesting. I am forward to buy and read them all.

[Black Six]

Revival.
Thread closed.