By this point, we all know the drill when it comes to LEGO Minifigures Series. Each series has an “official” release date. But let’s get real here–when was the last time that a ton of stores all over the country (including the LEGO Stores themselves) didn’t slip and put boxes out early, leading to loads of people completing their LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series before the street date even arrives? Good for LEGO collectors–bad for LEGO street dates. That trend will continue, as the 71007 LEGO Minifigures Series 12 blind bags have now turned up in mass for sale online and in some stores!

If you’ve been yearning for some plain and simple, not TV- or movie-inspired LEGO Minifigures blind bags, it’s time to get excited: the famine is over, and 71007 LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 12 has arrived at last!

While this new wave of Series 12 LEGO Minifigures is not supposed to be stocked in stores until Wednesday, October 1st 2014, a tidal wave of sightings have come in from stores putting the trays of this set out early.

Hoping to grab your own personal set of LEGO 71007 Series 12 Minifigures early? Your best bet seems to be Walmart, as I’ve heard more reports of Walmart putting the LEGO Minifigures Series 12 cases out early than any other store. In addition to Walmart, I’ve heard reports of Target, Walgreens and the LEGO Store putting the new series out early (although, oddly enough, I haven’t had one person report finding the wave early at Toys R Us).

Wondering which are going to be the toughest LEGO Series 12 figures to locate? You’re not alone! The case assortment for LEGO Minifigures Series 12 71007 is as follows:

(5) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Video Game Guy Minifigure
(5) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Space Miner Minifigure
(5) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Swashbuckler Minifigure
(4) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Dino Tracker Minifigure
(4) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Pizza Delivery Guy Minifigure
(4) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Rock Star Minifigure
(4) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Piggy Guy Minifigure
(4) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Wizard Minifigure
(4) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Battle Goddess Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Hun Warrior Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Fairytale Princess Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Lifeguard Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Prospector Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Jester Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Genie Girl Minifigure
(3) LEGO Minifigures Series 12 Spooky Girl Minifigure

The LEGO Minifigures Series 12 case ratios are actually quite decent, with nothing being packed at less than three-per-case and nothing being packed at more than five-per-case. I rejoice that the LEGO Pizza Delivery Guy Minifigure is packed at four-per-case, as that’s definitely my favorite figure in this assortment and the one that I want to track down first.

I also love that the tough-as-nails looking female LEGO Dino Tracker Minifigure is heavy-packed at five-per-case, as she is clearly one of the most powerful and tough LEGO women figures ever made. Good choices all around this time, LEGO!

The official LEGO Minifigures Series 12 71007 blind bags release date is October 1st, 2014. You may get lucky and find them at a local store, and then again, you may not. Complete sets of LEGO 71007 and individuals of each figure have already turned up for sale online, so if you can’t wait or don’t particularly want feel up the bags in the middle of the store to get the figures you’re hoping for, buying online for known LEGO Series 12 Minifigures just may be for you.

Who’s excited for the early release of LEGO Minifigures 12? Are you heading out to your stores in search of scoring this hotly-anticipated series of LEGO blind bags early (or perhaps you’ve already found them)?