About LEGO Books Dorling Kindersley
Dorling Kindersley, known as DK, publishes the official LEGO reference and idea books, and the run here starts with The Ultimate LEGO Book in 1999. Many come with a minifigure, often one not sold anywhere else, and for some collectors the figure is the reason to buy the book. The Visual Dictionaries and Character Encyclopedias are the best known of these, and the popular ones are updated every few years with a new edition and a new figure.
2012 LEGO Sets
2012 was a landmark year highlighted by LEGO’s 80th anniversary and major licensed expansions. LEGO The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit joined the lineup alongside Marvel and DC Super Heroes, establishing enduring partnerships with both comic universes. LEGO Friends debuted, introducing mini-doll figures and Heartlake City, becoming one of LEGO’s most successful modern themes. Other launches included Monster Fighters, Disney Princess, and Dino. Alien Conquest, Atlantis, Pharaoh’s Quest, Kingdoms, and Harry Potter retired, though Harry Potter would later return in 2018.