The January 2012 catalog - Ahead of the game!

The contents of the Shop At Home catalog are usually well behind the retail selection, much to my annoyance. The January 2012 edition, however (arrived in my mailbox Christmas Eve) breaks that tradition. Yay! The following aren't yet out (at least, they weren't in TRU a week ago, which was my most recent retail check): four Ninjago snake-vehicles, eight new Cars 2 sets, two new SpongeBob, 11 Friends, the Series 6 CMFs, and three Star Wars "Buildable Galaxy" sets, which are micro-vehicle plus minifig packed in a two-part planet-patterned sphere. Actually, there are a total of seven "pre-order starts 1/1, available to ship 1/30" Star Wars sets. ("Ceremonial Leia" is holding a gun, pfah! And the new Y-Wing features the classic 2x2x2 four-fin rocket cylinders.)

The listed Dino, woodlands police and fire, and Super Heroes sets are already in TRU. As are the latest Hero Factory which employ a new packaging concept -- not cardboard boxes or plastic canisters, but foil packets. (Don't mistake this buildable action figure for a sugary drink, kids!)

The new Lord Garmadon figure in 9446 "Destiny's Bounty" has four arms by virtue of a second, half-height torso (different from the four-armed green alien from SPIII). You'd almost think TLG were planning Tharks for a "John Carter of Mars" movie tie-in line.