I've tried to purchase them... no, seriously, I've been to three different Targets, but each one has their Lego isle ransacked. One only have a couple giant sets left, and the space was filled up with Megablock junk. (A choking to death emoticon would be appropriate right here) I saw Malum and Skrall a couple days before Christmas, but I haven't seen any since. And I didn't particularly want those two.

I might try and hit up the Washington Lego store this weekend... depending on the weather and homework. I was going to wait to review the sets based on their pictures I've seen until I actually had one in hand, but I guess I'll do it now.

I'll go in the order of which they appeal to me.

Malum: Alright, he's a bulked up powerhouse with some neat claws. But there just doesn't seem to be anything new with him besides head and weapon. Most of it's just recolored. The bulky design is okay, but not to my liking. I already got Carapar, I see no need to get Malum.

Skrall: This one I was greatly influenced by the BZP review of him. Because in about every shot, he looked horrible! The design, while different, lacks. The spinning, spiked shield is great, and the color scheme is a nice one for a black dude, but he's not worth it. Maybe on sale... clearance...

Strakk: Dude, this guy reminds me so much of Thok, who was my favorite Piraka. The icy spikes on his head and shoulders are a big win, and the weapon, while maybe not the best for MOCs, works with him. He looks like he has the same body design as Skrall... AKA bent, so he potentially may not pose very well. But, dude, he certainly has the mask... sorry, face... with the most attitude.

Gresh: He sounds like a rather cool character and has a nice weapon and color scheme. Unfortunately, his body does scream "I'm an Inika!" so that throws me off a little... plus all that lime, because I still don't trust lime. (Frankly, though, all my new joints are snapping. Lego, what on Mata Nui did you do to your plastic? I can hardly MOC with this new stuff, it's so fragile). Overall, Gresh has a nice flow, especially with the spikes, but he's still too "repeat" to be on the top of the list.

Tarix: First off, why did they make him a dude. Lego, take a look; this is the first hero to actually look slightly feminine. You make those bulky horrid blue humanoids girls (Gali Mistika and both forms of Hahli) but then you come up with a good design and you make him a chap! Wha! If I ever write a story, Tarix is so a female. He's got the thinner shoulder armor for torso armor, which I applaud (I actually used it on Lewa Phantoka for a while, when I was waiting for his actual torso armor to arrive, since it wasn't included in the canister when I bought it). The mask (head) looks more feminen than other blue masks as of late (hasn't been a good one since the Great Rau) Even the character Bio could fit with a girl... I just don't get it.

Anyway, that aside, while Tarix's design is still very repetitive, I will seriously consider buying it because it flows so well. Cool weapons, awesome shoulder spike, good use of torso armor... and the gold's not bad either.

Vorox: Of course, the tan creature calls to me. I must get him. Maybe it's the brown, maybe it's the tan, maybe it's the mask... but he's just so frickin' unique that I must pay Lego for coming up with him. I agree that brown hasn't exactly fared well in the past... of the brown sets of the past, the only one that wasn't part of a cloned bunch that was really good was Pohatu Mata. (I give props to Pahrak and Panrahk, because the basic Bohrok and Rahkshi design was killer). But Pohatu Nuva... Onewa Hordika... Avak... they were not the best designs of their bunch, so it's no wonder the color scheme faded. (I thought Hewkii Inika and, to a lesser degree, Hewkii Mahri were okay design-wise, and Pohatu Phantoka was great, so they may have been able to go with brown without being rejected. Or maybe not... I'm not the target audience anymore, so what does my opinion matter?) Anyway, I find it cool that Lego's taking the chance... even if it's mostly with tan. (BTW, is that classic Mata tan or new Avak tan?)

And Vorox's color isn't it all... the mask (head) is really wicked. The new shoulder armor is a plus, as is the stinger tail. On the downside, the weapons are the only ones in the Glatorian that are reused silver weapons. Of course, Hewkii's war-blade and shoulder blades are cool weapons, and I guess the Vorox are so primitive that they have to settle for two year old blades. If I can find one on a shelf, I will buy it... even at full price.

And a few notes on the Agori... pathetic. I thought the Av Matoran were bad... these dudes are just repeats of them. The only reason to get them is for some new or cool recolored weapons, and maybe a mask/head. Or I might play it safe and just not buy any at all. (A bleh emoticon would be appropriate here)