The Blight of the Boring Black Boxes

The Blight of the Boring Black Boxes

If you have even a passing interest in LEGO’s larger sets, you’re gonna run into the black boxes. And I, quite frankly, am sick of it. Today’s guest: Graham E. Hancock, writer and editor of Blocks Magazine [https://blocksmag.com/]. Blocks really carries on the spirit of mid-2000s LEGO Magazine with designer interviews, MOC showcases, and reviews of old LEGO themes. Each issue is massive and I can’t imagine the amount of work that goes into it behind the scenes. Graham’s actually been on Clutch Power before! In Episode 7: Just How Smart IS This Brick? [https://clutchpower.substack.com/p/just-how-smart-is-this-brick-with], we talked about his hands-on experience with the LEGO Smart Brick the day it was announced. Although if you recognize his name, it’s probably from the thick tome LEGO Star Wars - The Force of Creativity [https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/the-force-of-creativity-standard-edition-5009141]. It’s everything you want to know about LEGO Star Wars up to 2024. If you want newer LEGO Star Wars news, I’ll point you to a special issue of Blocks Magazine: LEGO Star Wars Special Magazine [https://blocksmag.com/product/lego-star-wars-magazine-special/]. If you’re a Clutch Power supporter, you get a bonus act called “Fast Times at Mos Eisley High”. LEGO’s original Mos Eisley Cantina - from 2004 - actually has two [https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=4501-1&name=Mos%20Eisley%20Cantina,%20Blue%20box&category=%5BStar%20Wars%5D%5BStar%20Wars%20Episode%204/5/6%5D#T=S&O={%22iconly%22:0}] box [https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?S=4501-2&name=Mos%20Eisley%20Cantina,%20Original%20Trilogy%20Edition%20box&category=%5BStar%20Wars%5D%5BStar%20Wars%20Episode%204/5/6%5D#T=S&O={%22iconly%22:0}] variants, which is the only example I can find of this. Graham talks me through why this happened, which put to rest a 22-year-old mystery. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I re-created the LEGO black box with a stud for you to put…whatever you want on display! If LEGO’s gonna do it, I’m gonna do it, too! It’s $2 / month to become a Clutch Power supporter, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! Join the Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/ClutchPower] All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com [https://clutchpower.substack.com/p/www.nihilore.com]): * Alter Ego * Are You Happy * Diving Violence * Laissez Faire * Throne of the Soul * apeiros * Violence

LEGO's Secret Language

Welcome to the world of AFOLs, MOCs, BURPs, SNOT, greebles, and a bunch of other nonsense words LEGO fans use. Wondering where to begin? The author of a LEGO glossary can help. Today's guest: the charming Jim Winslett [http://jimwinslett.com/]! Jim is what I would describe as a hobbyist, and his website shows that: LEGOs, roller coasters, handbells, and his most recent obsession: British hip hop group Pete & Bas [https://www.instagram.com/pete_and_bas/]. This is the most philosophical episode I've done so far (but I have many more planned), and it was so fun to dive into the why behind hobby-speak. I'd love to hear from you about your favorite LEGO-isms, and what you've found difficult about getting into the LEGO hobby? I mention this in the episode, but if you're as deep into LEGO fandom as I am, you'll want to check out Disturbing the Piece podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@disturbingthepiecepod]. It is about a niche as a LEGO podcast can get (even more than this one, somehow) and it is so entertaining. If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “Pete and Bas and Jim." Jim tells me about his cancer diagnosis and how that hip hop group saved his life (his words - not mine). It's a genuinely great story. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! For this one it is the long-lost LEGO dictionary. I found it deep within the LEGO vaults and am proud to share it with the wide world. Just don't go broadcasting about it or I could get into trouble. It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! * Join the Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/ClutchPower] All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com [https://clutchpower.substack.com/p/www.nihilore.com]): * Alter Ego * Against the Indifference * Black Light * Find Me in the Future * Consequences * Monolithic * Bones

That Time Minifigs Had Noses

LEGO Western may not be the shortest-lasting, the strangest, or the most problematic LEGO theme, but it’s up there. On this episode, a look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly legacy of these 24 sets with one of the people who knows it best. Today’s guests include the one and only TrikBrix [https://www.youtube.com/@TrikBrix]! Jamie has huge Clutch Power guest energy with his deep dives into 80s and 90s LEGO themes, and I’m so happy I got to talk about LEGO Western with him. You can really tell how much he loves this theme - if his masterful retrospectives didn’t give it away: * The Gold Rush of 1996 [https://youtu.be/SBgMmFuZktU?si=CMmQX4tznmpQWiz1] * LEGO 6746 Chief’s Tepee [https://youtu.be/L7rSg9WClb0?si=2w8NCkJz3nBV8-_p] * LEGO 6718 Raindance Ridge (& Friends!) [https://youtu.be/xsSlSpONFMs?si=-Zs836IsmHFZ5Vrf] But honestly you can’t go wrong with any of his videos. Jamie has some of the highest quality LEGO content you’ll find, period, end of sentence. Every frame of his videos is a masterpiece. I’m also honored to introduce you to two scholars in Part 2 of this episode: * James Mackay [https://euc.ac.cy/en/faculty-profiles/james-mackay/], Associate Professor of Literature and Digital Cultures at European University Cyprus * Gregory Smithers [https://www.gregorysmithers.com/], Ph.D., author, professor of History at Virginia Commonwealth University, and researcher Both of these men are absolute gems and gave me so much to ponder about Native American representation. I grew up in Alabama and my school didn’t give Native Americans a lot of focus - at least, not in the way you’d want in 2026. I can’t get over something James said - about how a “Native American LEGO set” is the same as a “white person LEGO set” or “black person LEGO set” which obviously would not fly. If you want to read more about LEGO and Native American representation, here are some great articles: * Native American Heritage and LEGO Representation (BrickNerd) [https://bricknerd.com/home/native-american-heritage-and-lego-representation-11-4-22] * Disappointing action behind LEGOLAND disappearing act (The Copenhagen Post) [https://cphpost.dk/2021-11-21/life-in-denmark/opinion/guest-opinion/] If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “The Music of 90s LEGO”. Jamie writes all the music for his videos, so I wanted to chat with him about his process, as well as throwing some curveball LEGO themes at him to see what kind of music he’d think up. Also - hot takes on Time Cruisers! You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I love this one: a classic Western standoff, with a sunset, silhouette, revolver. Man I love the Wild West. It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! Join the Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/ClutchPower] Songs from: Nihilore (www.nihilore.com [https://clutchpower.substack.com/p/www.nihilore.com]): * A way WombatNoisesAudio: * Song: Cesare Rides Again * Website: https://soundcloud.com/user-734462061 * License: Creative Commons (BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ * Music powered by BreakingCopyright: https://breakingcopyright.com And TrikBricks: * Wild West Background * Wild West Intro * Wild West Theme * Wild West - The Tribe

We Cheated on LEGO (with jtsandman45!)

There are a lot of sexy alt-bricks brands out there. Lumibricks. Bluebrixx. Pantasy. I made a lifelong commitment to LEGO, but I’ll be honest…the temptation is strong. Today’s guest: Jackson Sandler [https://www.youtube.com/@jtsandman45/videos] of LEGO YouTube fame. Jackson burst into the scene about a year ago with his phenomenal video Building All 36 Minikits from Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LCrKqG3D9g]. Since then, it’s been banger after banger of mid-2000s LEGO themes. As someone who grew up in that time, I am loving the content. * 2008 LEGO City Police was PEAK [https://youtu.be/XFIT1flTluA?si=seHkm9EyJklvZaEW] * Building the LEGENDARY 2008 Death Star [https://youtu.be/25HENA36OM8?si=6Waorrt6gRogJLx1] And of course his video that inspired the episode: * LEGO: The Rise of Alt-Bricks [https://youtu.be/gPNm0f8WMW4?si=DB-_FKDam7Hn319n] I know these alt-bricks can be controversial with us LEGO purists, but Jackson and I ranked some brands that you might want to check out: * Lumibricks [https://www.lumibricks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo96Uk9J1lc5Hlhl831te5vk9YIKm2AzybmnPya7NpMgNtFfUDO] * Pantasy [https://pantasy.com/] * Mattel Brick Shop [https://shop.mattel.com/collections/mattel-brick-shop] (formerly Mega) If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “My Hero” talking about his passion for Guitar Hero. Jackson will occasionally post a video on social media, playing Guitar Hero to some meme LEGO sounds. His video on the LEGO Star Wars Video Game death sounds [https://www.instagram.com/p/DVgrjBzjdi_/] is particularly good. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! There’s an underground movement of anti-LEGO fans, and here’s some of their graffiti. Just don’t tell LEGO I built this… It’s $2 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for every episode! * Join the Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/ClutchPower] All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com [https://clutchpower.substack.com/p/www.nihilore.com]): * Alter Ego * Mendel Hypercube * A Vision of Light * The Mountains, My Home * Whispers Invoke Paranoia

LEGOLAND's Lost Potential

If you’re over 10 years old going to a LEGOLAND park, something will feel off. The parks are…barren. Low attendance, badly-maintained attractions, and limited entertainment staff. LEGO is obsessed with high quality, so why are LEGOLANDs so shoddy? I’m proud to declare this Clutch Power’s first two-person interview! Dan Ibbertson of Slope’s Game Room [https://www.youtube.com/@slopesgameroom] and Slope’s Adventures [https://www.youtube.com/@SlopesAdventures], and his buddy Andrew Dalton (who’s appeared on many Slope’s Adventures videos). Both these guys are theme park mega-fans, and they’ve done some great coverage on UK theme parks, specifically Merlin Entertainments, who owns every LEGOLAND. A few LEGO-centric episodes: * The Sad State of Merlin Entertainment [https://youtu.be/E7TlyUUJ868?si=VW4c74SpjnuJ7pDJ] * Former LEGOLAND Performer Interview [https://youtu.be/T8X1JA0UUho?si=Pzj2k5B7zMr-fOkJ] * Is LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester worth it??? [https://youtu.be/_55hc3csl6M?si=bFzbwWSBhlJkPTYy] A ton of theme park discussion in this episode, and if you want to dip your toe into theme park YouTube, I cannot recommend Defunctland [https://www.youtube.com/@Defunctland] enough. The quality on these videos is unbelievable. Here’s the specific video I reference in this episode: * The History of Coney Island [https://youtu.be/7C5kxkBPhpE?si=FcmLaMmpU1O77n2V] If you’re a Patreon supporter, you’ll get a bonus act called: “This Park’s Theme? Nightmare!” Dan and Andrew share tales from Merlin parks, a really bevy of horror stories. The Peppa Pig park story in particular (4 P’s!) is my favorite. You’ll also get access to a special MOC just for this episode! I built LEGOLAND Windsor’s front gate (before the renovation). Yet even this small build conveys that feeling of emptiness. It’s just $5 / month to become a Patron, and you’ll get bonus content + a MOC for all episodes! Join the Patreon! [https://www.patreon.com/cw/ClutchPower] All music by Nihilore (www.nihilore.com [https://clutchpower.substack.com/p/www.nihilore.com]): * Alter Ego * Facticity * The Dweller on the Threshold * Hailstorm * Noctivagant * Artifice * Something Beautiful is Going to Happen