Do LEGO MONSTER FIGHTERS Sets Scare Away Profits?

There are certain LEGO themes that just seem to explode in growth on the secondary LEGO market.  Most of the time, popular investment LEGO themes do well after the theme is retired or goes EOL (End of Line).  But on occasion, there are LEGO themes that appreciate higher than MSRP before the theme is discontinued.  Popular themes like Ninjago, Friends and the CUUSOO line of LEGO sets have shown remarkable growth in values on the secondary LEGO market, even though most sets are still available at retail prices.  Another such LEGO theme was released in 2012 that has shown similar trends, the Monster Fighters theme.  The Monster Fighters theme is based on those old Saturday Horror movies.  Included in these creative and unique LEGO sets are the monsters and men that created them and in some cases, tried to “fight” and destroy them.  Thus the title...Monster Fighters.  Most of the major monsters are included in the mix and the theme has a variety of minifigures, vehicles and buildings to make it quite interesting.  Let's take a look at the individual Monster Fighter sets and their descriptions, data and BrickPicker analysis for each...  

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Swamp Creature	9461	70	$6.99	$9.86	-12.04%	41.86%	41.86%
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  Defeat the Swamp Creature and grab the moonstone!
On board his swamp boat, Frank Rock is on the lookout for the Swamp Creature's moonstone. If the Vampyre gets his undead hands on it first, he could use it to eclipse the sun and plunge the world into eternal darkness! Can he make it past his slimy adversary and ****** the stone? You decide! Includes 2 minifigures: Frank Rock and Swamp Creature.  

• Includes 2 minifigures: Frank Rock and Swamp Creature
• Features swamp boat and swamp with green moonstone and fish
• Swamp boat features spinning rotor and dual flick missiles
• Accessories include moonstone and 3 weapons
• Grab the moonstone!
• Battle the Swamp Creature!
• Drive the swamp boat!
• The swamp boat measures over 2” (4cm) high, 2” (5cm) wide and 3" (7cm) long

Very cool little set with the “Creature from the Black Lagoon” and Elvis lookalike minifigures...Worth every bit of $6.99(US).  With the two minifigures and some throw-in pieces, makes this set a surefire hit.  You can already see how the numbers for this set are appreciating and it is still available through primary LEGO retailers.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Mummy	9462	90	$11.99	$12.65	4.55%	5.5%	5.5%
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  Stop the Mummy's chariot and take the moonstone!
In her cool helicopter, hero Ann Lee flies after the Mummy making an escape in the ghostly chariot. If she can't stop the Mummy from handing the moonstone over to the Vampyre, the world will be cloaked in eternal darkness. Help her to stop him! Includes 2 minifigures: Ann Lee and Mummy.

• Includes 2 minifigures: Ann Lee and Mummy
• Vehicles include Mummy's chariot and helicopter
• Mummy's chariot features glow-in-the-dark skeleton horse
• Helicopter features spinning rotors
• Accessories include moonstone and 3weapons
• Attack from the skies!
• Capture the moonstone!
• Mummy's chariot and horse measure over 2” (6cm) high, 2” (6cm) wide and 5” (12cm) long
• Ann Lee's helicopter measures over 2” (6cm) high, 1” (3cm) wide and 2” (6cm) long

.Another neat little Monster Fighters set.  I don't see this set doing as well as the cheaper 9461, but it should be a steady gainer in the future.  A nice set for the investor with limited fundsBrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Werewolf	9463	243	$19.99	$22.39	-7.4%	12.01%	12.01%
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  Avoid the treetop ambush and recover the Werewolf's moonstone!
Major Quinton Steele spots the Werewolf's moonstone under a tree. But it's an ambush! As he jumps out of his hot rod to ****** it, the sneaky Werewolf pounces on him from the treetops above! Can Major Quinton Steele fend him off with his giant blunderbuss weapon and make off with the moonstone? You decide! Includes 2 minifigures: Major Quinton Steele and Werewolf.  

• Includes 2 minifigures: Major Quinton Steele and Werewolf
• Vehicles Major Quinton Steele's hot rod
• Includes tree, moonstone and a weapon
• Tree features opening top ambush section with space for the Werewolf
• Avoid the Werewolf's ambush attack!
• Watch out for the Werewolf's glow-in-the-dark claws!
• Fire the blunderbuss weapon!
• ****** the moonstone!
• Quinton Steele's hot rod measures over 2” (4cm) high, 2” (5cm) wide and 3” (8cm) long
• Tree measures over 5” (12cm) high, 7” (17cm) wide and 4” (9cm) deep

One of my favorite smaller sets, The Werewolf is a set that will do well because of the Werewolf minifigure, which is awesome.  I love the big head.  LOL.  With 243 pieces, this set is a fair value, but I would wait for the discounts before picking one up.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Vampyre Hearse	9464	314	$34.99	$36.92	7.33%	5.52%	5.52%
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  Stop the hearse and retrieve the Vampyre's moonstone!
The Vampyre and his faithful servant the zombie driver have the moonstone and are making a getaway in the black hearse. Can Dr. Rodney Rathbone catch them on his motorcycle and steal the moonstone? Or will Vampyre launch a surprise coffin attack and send the doctor spinning out of control? You decide! Includes 3 minifigures: Rodney Rathbone, Vampyre and the zombie driver.  

• Includes 3 minifigures: Dr. Rodney Rathbone, Vampyre and the zombie driver
• Vehicles include the Vampyre's Hearse and Dr. Rodney Rathbone's motorcycle
• The Vampyre's Hearse features coffin with catapult function
• Accessories include moonstone and 4 weapons
• Stop the Vampyre's Hearse!
• Dodge the Vampyre's catapult attack!
• Retrieve the moonstone!
• Measures over 4” (10cm) high, 3” (7cm) wide and 7” (19cm) long
• Dr. Rodney Rathbone's motorbike measures over 2” (6cm) long
•  

Sharp car...I love the bones on the engine block!  Bang for your investment buck, not a great deal.  Wait for the discounts.  Probably will be a solid performer over the long haul, but I wouldn't call it one of my favorite sets for investing.  A must have to complete the entire theme, though.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Zombies	9465	447	$39.99	$57.71	2.12%	44.81%	44.81%
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  Help Jack McHammer get out of grave danger and seize the zombie moonstone!
Through the mist, Jack McHammer catches sight of the zombie graveyard. He's on a mission to recover the zombie moonstone, but as he reaches for it, the zombies rise from their coffins and attack! Can he make it back to his car and battle the zombies with the giant hammer? You decide! Includes 4 minifigures: Jack McHammer and 3 zombies.  

• Includes 4 minifigures: Jack McHammer and 3 zombies
• Features zombie graveyard and Jack McHammer's car
• Zombie graveyard features crypt, 2 coffins and zombie attack function
• Accessories include zombie moonstone and a weapon
• Bash the zombies with the giant hammer!
• Run from the zombie attack!
• Seize the moonstone!
• Zombie graveyard measures over 4” (11cm) high, 7” (18cm) wide and 5” (12cm) deep
• Jack McHammer's car measures over 3” (8cm) high, 5” (12cm) wide and 6” (16cm) long

.LEGO S@HGreat set and looks like a rare one.  This set was not sold with the 5001133 Monster Fighters Collection, so you have to buy it separately.  This set looks to have been retired as of this moment(EOL) and I would say that it will explode in value very soon.  It was an under-the-radar set to begin with and now that it looks to be EOL, it will become that much more valuable.  See if you can locate it on EBAY in the $50-$70 range, because it might be a lot more than that in a short time if it does not come back into stock on   Zombies are investment winners!BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Crazy Scientist & His Monster	9466	430	$49.99	$50.32	-3.97%	0.66%	0.66%
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  Defeat the Crazy Scientist and his Monster at the laboratory!
Dr. Rodney Rathbone and Major Quinton Steele have stumbled upon the Crazy Scientist's laboratory. As our heroes reach for the moonstone, the dastardly scientist zaps his ghoulish monster and brings him to life! Can they escape to their car or will the Crazy Scientist's Monster win the battle and imprison them in the laboratory? You decide! Includes 4 minifigures: Rodney Rathbone, Quinton Steele, the Crazy Scientist and his monster.

• Includes 4 minifigures: Rodney Rathbone, Quinton Steele, the Crazy Scientist and Monster
• The Crazy Scientist's laboratory features resurrection table with LEGO® light brick, catapult on the roof and prison with space for minifigure
• Vehicles include the hero's car
• Hero car features sliding seat and 3 flick missiles
• Accessories include moonstone and 3 weapons
• Zap the Monster to life!
• Launch a rooftop catapult attack!
• Fire the missiles!
• Zap the Monster with the light brick!
• Measures over 6” (16cm) high, 9” (24cm) wide and 5” (13cm) deep
• Hero car measures over 3” (8cm) high, 3” (8cm) wide and 4” (12cm) long

Another cool set that doesn't have a lot of bang for your investment buck when piece count is a factor.  Some of these Monster Fighter sets have well done models and creative minifigures, but you pay for it.  This set in particular has some creative features, but for the price($49.99), its piece and minifigure count is on the low side.  By no means an investment loser, just not a good “part out set.”BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
The Ghost Train	9467	741	$79.99	$64.81	3.46%	-18.98%	-18.98%
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  Stop the Ghost Train in its tracks and grab the moonstone!
The Ghost Train is getting away with the moonstone.  Help Frank Rock and Ann Lee catch it in their acrobatic airplane, suck up the ghosts with the vacuum weapon and grab the moonstone! Don't let them trap the heroes in the Ghost Train's prison! Includes 5 minifigures: Frank Rock, Ann Lee and 3 ghosts.  

• Includes 5 minifigures: Frank Rock, Ann Lee and 3 ghosts
• Vehicles include Ghost Train and hero airplane
• Ghost Train features prison, detachable carriages and lots of glow-in-the-dark elements
• Hero airplane features vacuum weapon, flick missiles and spinning propeller
• Suck up the ghosts!
• Fire the missiles!
• Stop the ghost train!
• Includes glow-in-the-dark elements
• Measures over 4” (10cm) high, 4” (10cm) wide and 19” (48cm) long
• Hero airplane measures over 3” (7cm) high, 8” (21cm) wide and 8” (20cm) long
•  

BrickPicker Analysis: LEGO trains are investment winners and I see this set continuing that trend.  Very creative set.  A must have for any Monster Fighter fan.  Another set that is pricey on the parts side, but is well worth it.  You can find this set discounted quite frequently, so keep your eyes peeled.  Prices are a little low right now, but that is from heavy discounting.  This set will do very nicely after EOL.

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
Vampyre Castle	9468	949	99.99	117.34	41.36	17.35	17.35
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  Enter Vampyre's castle and rescue the world from eternal darkness!
It's time for the final showdown with the Vampyre! He has gathered all 6 moonstones at his castle and is about to cloak the world in darkness forever so that his followers can roam free for the rest of eternity! Will our heroes Dr. Rodney Rathbone and Jack McHammer survive the castle's hidden spikes and traps to disable the moonstone device? Or will the Vampyre's bride and the manbats throw them into the castle dungeon? You decide! Includes 6 minifigures: Rodney Rathbone, Jack McHammer, the Vampyre, the Vampyre's bride and 2 manbats.

• Includes 6 minifigures: Rodney Rathbone, Jack McHammer, the Vampyre, the Vampyre's bride and 2 manbats
• Features the Vampyre's Castle with the moonstone device, shooting spiders, hidden spikes, trapdoor, stairs, secret entrances, coffin, organ and dungeon
• Hero car includes a net launcher
• 4 weapons included
• Watch out for the spiders!
• Dodge the hidden traps!
• Defeat the Vampyre and his nightmarish helpers!
• Measures over 18” (45cm) high, 11” (28cm) wide and 10” (26cm) deep
• Hero car measures over 1” (5cm) high, 2” (6cm) wide and 6” (16cm) long 

Great set.  An investor should buy multiples of this set.  A truly creative and accurate looking castle from those late night B Horror movies.  Nice selection of minifigures and the playability looks fantastic.  A solid, solid investment that will make you money in the long term.  Another set that can be found at discounted prices, so be patient.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
Haunted House	10228	2064	$179.99	$214.64	7.19%	19.25%	19.25%
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  Enter the haunted house at your peril!
The crooked Haunted House is home to the scariest ghosts and monsters. Tremble in fear as you open the gate, go weak at the knees as you step onto the porch and gasp in horror at the fireplace, kitchen, office, folding staircase, bedroom, potion room, music room and collection of other creepy objects. Dare you enter the Haunted House?  

• Add to your LEGO® Monster Fights Collection with the first officlal LEGO® Haunted House!
• Includes 6 minifigures: 2 glow-in-the-dark ghosts, Vampyre, Vampyre's Bride, Zombie chef and butler
• Features unique ‘crooked’ design featuring boarded up windows and working front gate.
• Haunted House opens to reveal detailed interior with 3 floors.
• First floor features fireplace that swings open and displays a ship in a bottle on the mantle.
• Cook up a ghoulish meal with the Zombie chef in the kitchen complete with old-style stove, jars and table!
• Write letters from the Vampyre’s haunted office!
• Pull the lever hidden in the chimney to release the drop down staircase and access the top floor!
• Top floor features gramophone, records and newspaper LEGO® elements.
• Customize the Haunted House with new stickers for wall hangings, spider webs and curtains!
• Measures 15.4” (39cm) high, 9.4” (24cm) wide and 7.5” (19cm) deep

One of the BEST LEGO sets created in years in my opinion.  A LEGO “exclusive,” this set is hard to find at this writing.  A cross between the Monster Fighters theme and the Modular Building theme.  Creative, accurate, a wonderful display piece and a nice bang for your investment buck.  This is one complete model.  It splits in half to show a well done and finished interior.  The exterior, with its boarded up windows and dead shrubs truly amazes.  If you can afford just one LEGO set, make it this one.  Whether or not you like the Monster Fighters theme, make an exception for this set.  It might not be the biggest or baddest set out there, but as a whole package, this set is truly a winner in my book.  Just don't buy one, buy multiples if possible.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
Zombie Chauffer Coffin Car	30200	32	$3.49	$8.94	4.68%	155.43%	155.43%
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  LEGO.com Description: N/A

Rad little car that is no longer available.  These limited release polybags sometimes explode in growth as this one looks to be doing.  LEGO Zombies are winners and this set looks to continue the trend.  Pick one up now before the set quadruples in price.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
Ghost	30201	33	3.49	14.06	-0.42	301.71	301.71
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  LEGO.com Description: N/A

Another Monster Fighters set that is no longer available, but this one has already tripled, if not quadrupled in value.  The set has a cute little Ghost in it with a ball and chain attached, which is unique to this set I believe.  Overall, an investment winner.  Pick one up to complete the entire theme.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
Zombie Car	40076	60	N/A	$11.10	18.34%	N/A	N/A
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  LEGO.com Description: N/A

Once again, this is a limited edition polybag that was released by LEGO around Halloween 2012.  This is a rare set at the moment and difficult to come by for less than $10 a set.  As with the other Monster Fighter Zombie sets, I believe this set will continue to increase in value, so now is the time to get one while they are still available at acceptable prices.BrickPicker Analysis:

Set Name	Set #	Pieces	MSRP (US $)	Current Value (US $)	% Change (Last Month)	% Change (From Retail)	CAGR (%)
Monster Fighters Promotional Pack	5000644	12	N/A	$11.50	N/A	N/A	N/A
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  LEGO.com Description: N/A

Rare promotional set that has a skeleton minifigure with some other neat little trinkets.  Not a big winner in my opinion, but because of its rarity, I can see the definite increase in value continuing.BrickPicker Analysis:

As the reader can see, there is quite the variety of LEGO sets in the Monster Fighters theme.  Small and large.  Cost effective and expensive.  Hearses, houses, planes, trains, graves, zombies, bats, rats...whatever.  There is something for everyone.  The theme caters to the casual fan and serious collector and investor.  For instance, the 9461 Swamp Creature is a tremendous value for the investor with limited funds to invest, while the iconic 10228 Haunted House will be talked about for years as one of the all time classic LEGO sets.  Also, Zombies seem to play a major role in the theme and we all know how well the 8683-5 Zombie, from the Series 1 Collectible Minifigures collection, has done in the secondary market.  A $2 Zombie collectible minifigure has hit the $20 mark in the secondary market, so one would like to think that Zombies are moneymakers and will enable some sets in the theme to do very well in the secondary market.  If I have any issue with this theme it's the lack of sets and no proposed new Monster Fighters sets for 2013.  But on the positive side, a theme with limited sets is one that can be collected in its entirety, which, in the LEGO world, is rather difficult to do on a regular basis.

  As stated above, the one thing that stands out to me with this theme is that no new sets are planned for 2013 as of this writing.  It looks to be a LEGO theme that has a limited life span.  While I have no proof of this and there is no telling when these current sets will be retired, an educated guess would be this is a one and done theme.  One year and on to the next theme.  It is quite possible a new Monster Fighters set or two will be released around the Halloween holiday, but I would bet against it.  Why?  If you look closely at the current Monster Fighter sets, the majority of generic monsters have been turned into minifigures and sets.  Vampires, Frankenstein, The Mummy and Wolfman, Zombies and the Creature(from the Black Lagoon) all have been immortalized in ABS plastic.  What's left?  Maybe the Invisible Man and mostly 'themed' movie monsters like Jason(Voorhees), Freddy(Kruger) and Michael(Myers).  I don't think LEGO wants to go there...LOL.  Another reason why I think this theme is limited in its production is that set 9465, The Zombies, looks to be EOL already.  The set is “sold out” on LEGO S@H and is not available at MSRP at any other retailer.  Now, being sold out is not a definite indicator of a set being EOL, but from the word on the proverbial LEGO street, from fans who have tried to buy this set, is that no more are going to be available.  Time will tell.

  So what does this mean to the investment potential of this theme?  Well, for starters, limited production of a popular LEGO theme means big time appreciation later in the secondary LEGO market.  Depending on how long this theme remains in production will determine how valuable the current sets will become in the secondary LEGO market.  If set 9465, The Zombies, is the first to actually go EOL, then the others might follow soon after.  But if the 9465 comes back in stock on LEGO S@H in a couple of weeks, then all bets are off and this theme might be produced for months.  My gut feeling is that this theme is winding down, with the exception of the 10228 Haunted House, which will be produced for quite a while due to its popularity, but what do I really know...I thought the 10188 Death Star was going EOL two years ago.  Point is, this is a quality theme, with quality sets, that engages adults and children alike.  It has shown great investment potential so far as indicated by the Theme CAGR and depending on how much longer the Monster Fighters are produced, the sets will either show strong growth in the secondary market or have the possibility to explode in the secondary market.  Either way, now is the time to buy these sets if you haven't already, because you never know when the LEGO Grim Reaper will come and “retire” these sets...