Green Ninjas!

 

  • Green Ninjas!

    Posted by Huw, 15 Sep 2012 13:23. Filed under Pick of the week.

    Green NinjasThis is Lloyd ZX, from the spinner set 9574. It seems that he's in demand, because within days of being available at shop.LEGO.com early in September, the set went onto back order until mid-October.

    I managed to find one in my local Tesco, in a newly opened box of the new spinners.

    Can the set be found on the shelves where you are, or is it disappearing fast?

    I believe he's been hyped up in the cartoon series, which might explain his popularity, although as it's not aired here in the UK, I haven't seen it to be sure.

    He's a nice figure. The green spikes are very cool, and uncommon. His spinner is attractively decorated and if you only buy one Ninjago spinner (perhaps before they are retired next year (maybe)), make it this one.

    Green NinjasOf course, he's not the first green ninja: the other two in this photo are from 3346 from 2000, which was a hard-to-find set then and much in demand now. New examples will set you back $30/£20 each on BrickLink, while a MISB set will cost you around £80. Unbelievable for a set that cost just $5/£5 twelve years ago!

    I suspect the rarity and coolness of them is a contributing factor to the high demand for Lloyd ZX.

     


    25 comments, latest one posted 9 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by mo123567 in United States, 15 Sep 2012 14:10

I like the old ninjas better. I'm sure the new ones are a lot more popular with the majority of the lego fanbase though.

Posted by trax_3 in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 14:16

picked up the last one on the shop floor at stratford yesterday afternoon after a trip to shepherds bush on wednesday was unproductive

Posted by aquafreak125 in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 14:22

Seen Lloyd ZX at my Entertainer store, haven't got around to actually picking him up yet though! :/

Posted by copperwonder96 in United States, 15 Sep 2012 14:23

Yeah, I blame Power Rangers and M&M candy for the Green Hype. The Green Ranger was the elite so you had to have him; and if you eat green M&Ms according to the commercial you could hit a home run (baseball), yeah I grew up in the 80s.
Another note:
Knock offs of this little guy were going for $60 on ebay (some were really crappy (rubbish). Glad to see Lego put the clamps on this. They know how to smash hoarders and resellers (like a 3rd release of the Millennium Falcon)

Posted by bentherogue in United States, 15 Sep 2012 15:12

I've been wondering about these colored ninjas. How does a green ninja hide? Shouldn't he wear camouflage at that point?

Posted by xcrossx in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 15:44


I have a weird fascination with Ninjago but I don't really know why to be honest. I feel the need to collect all of them even though the 4 main Ninjas are too similar. I got the Green one ( Lloyd ) in Tesco a few weeks ago now. I think after Samurai X he is my fav!!!

Posted by Captain Blockbeard in United States, 15 Sep 2012 16:18

The green Lloyd spinner set isn't rare where I live, but, as far as I can tell, it is a Toys r Us exclusive and marked up 25% above the original Lego retail price, which is why I've refused to buy one. No store in my area besides Toys r Us is carrying Lloyd, so I'm only assuming it's an exclusive. Meanwhile, those stores have many other spinner packs that Toys r Us isn't bothering to stock.

Posted by toon10001 in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 16:23

I predictied this set would be a pick of the week someday...

Posted by jjb5000 in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 16:38

I managed to get him on the 1st at AFOL morning in Sheffield, not seen him anywhere by me so must be in short supply :-(

Never really bothered with ninjago but I must admit this snake line has been really good :-)

Posted by chrismajor2124 in United States, 15 Sep 2012 16:54

I bought a green ninja. He is epic.

Posted by TheDesuComplex in United States, 15 Sep 2012 17:14

Nah, I believe it's all hype about the television show; the Green Ninja being the 'Chosen One' and all.

Posted by paul_merton in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 17:20

I heard there was a new camouflaged ninja, but I couldn't see it anywhere.

Posted by goldfish in United Kingdom, 15 Sep 2012 17:46

My Toys R Us have loads on a side aisle end hanging display. Almost makes me want to go out and pile in 3 for 2 on this, but maybe not. A nice incarnation though, and for anybody who hasn't tried it with the kids, playing the spinners game is great fun!

just don't use your ltd edition chrome gold C-3P0...

Posted by TBOC in United States, 15 Sep 2012 21:28

Dude... every Wal-Greens in my town is full of them. Not hard for me to find at all, I bought three!

Posted by rainstorm26 in Europe, 15 Sep 2012 21:44

My son lined up outside the Lego store the first day of the official release. There were about 10 other people waiting to get it as well. So it was probably sold out that day at the store. I actually bought one of the green ninja hoods from Bricklink for about $7. My son made a Lloyd minifigure using that and some other green minifig pieces and the short green legs from the clown minifig with the pie.

Posted by BoobyToy in United States, 15 Sep 2012 22:15

Picked mine up at Miejer few weeks ago, so it's definitely not a TRU exclusive

Posted by Zordboy in Australia, 16 Sep 2012 00:35

I think he'll be out in Australia this week.

Honestly? I'm more hanging out for the final two snakes. Bytar and Lizaru. Their booster packs aren't out yet, and I have all the snakes (some purchased via eBay and bricklink) except for those two.

Posted by starfire2 in United States, 16 Sep 2012 02:51

The green ninja Lloyd spinner is not a Toys R Us exclusive. I saw one at a Walmart a few weeks ago.

Posted by airgap25 in United States, 17 Sep 2012 00:50

sold out lego.com

Posted by Be-Burger in Israel, 17 Sep 2012 05:28

Want... :(

Posted by mission_zed in United Kingdom, 17 Sep 2012 05:34

I picked up one from Tesco, Brent Park about a week ago. I still think the spinners are over-priced, but my son had been asking for the Ultimate Dragon for Christmas, just to get the Green Ninja. So £7.50 is better than £90 !

The Green Ninja does seem to be short=packed/selling faster, as all I seem to see are half empty boxes of NRG Cole & Zane.

Hey Lego: how about a Snake Battle Packs with minifigs from one tribe & cards, but no spinners ?

Posted by dcmal in United Kingdom, 17 Sep 2012 09:10

Maybe part of the green ninja's popularity has to do with the meaning of the colour green, in particular in certain middle-eastern religions? Just wondering.

Posted by doodlebird in United States, 17 Sep 2012 12:05

just saw this on a local craig's list ad for $20! don't know if anyone's buying at that price, but i bet they will if kids really want it... a $10 mark up is still cheaper than buying the epic dragon battle just to get the green ninja.

Posted by King of Bricks in United Kingdom, 17 Sep 2012 14:57

I saw one in tesco but I didn't get it wish I had now :(

Posted by Yodalicious in United States, 19 Sep 2012 18:57

Now I'm wondering if I should pick some up. I don't collect Ninjago, but do like some of the minifigs. That and it doesn't seem to be that rare in my area. Was at Toys R Us today and there were racks of them.

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