In Episode 4 of Tales From The Brick, Jon is joined by Victor and Maggie from EclipseGrafx, one of the longest-running and most respected custom LEGO printers in the community. The conversation traces Victor’s journey back into LEGO through a chance visit to a LEGO Store at Downtown Disney, his frustration with expensive “display-only” custom minifigures, and how that led him to start making his own; with the goal of creating pieces meant to be played with, not locked behind glass.

Victor and Maggie share the real story behind EclipseGrafx’s evolution: early water-slide decals, their first event at Lyndhurst Manor, the move into pad printing, and the constant balance between quality, speed, and sustainability. They talk candidly about learning the hard way, why quality matters more than trends, and how creative vision often clashes with market expectations.

The episode also dives deep into LEGO fandom history and convention culture - how events have changed over the last 15–20 years, the impact of The LEGO Movie and LEGO Masters, and why the modern hobby feels more saturated than ever. Along the way, Victor shares behind-the-scenes stories involving Marvel, LEGO trademarks, logo redesigns, glow-in-the-dark printing, kits that almost broke him, and the unexpected paths that led EclipseGrafx to work with LEGO itself.

They also discuss acquiring Brick Warriors, launching custom injection-molded accessories, funding new molds through Whatnot streams, and what’s coming next - including Halo collaborations, Fallout, Castle, Vikings, and beyond.

🔗 Find EclipseGrafx: • eclipsegrafx.com – custom printed figures & parts • brickwarriors.com – injection-molded accessories • Whatnot – live streams, rare items, and community fun

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 3 of Tales From The Brick, Jon, aka 8 Bit Bricks, sits down with Manny Garcia, Season 1 contestant on LEGO Masters, who competed alongside his father, Nestor, as the show’s first father–son team. Manny shares his lifelong relationship with LEGO—from being rewarded with bricks as a kid, through his “dark ages,” and back into the hobby as a parent looking to connect with his children.

The conversation dives deep into Manny’s experience on LEGO Masters: the audition process, what the show really taught him about storytelling, aesthetics, and motion, and why the relationships built on and off camera mattered more than winning. Manny reflects on building with his dad, navigating TV production versus real LEGO building, and how Season 1 helped shape the future of the show in the U.S.

Beyond the show, Manny talks about the evolution of the LEGO fandom, convention culture, community collaboration, and why LEGO continues to push creativity forward through new parts, motors, programming, and play. The episode also explores mentoring future builders, inspiring kids and adults alike, and what Manny has planned next—from BrickWorld Chicago to BrickFair and beyond.

📍 Find Manny online: • TikTok: The Certified Brick Boy • Instagram / YouTube: GIB Bricks (Get Into Building) • Website: getintobuilding.com

Until next time… play well.

In Episode 2 of Tales From The Brick, Jon sits down with Joe Meno, longtime AFOL, founder of BrickJournal Magazine, and one of the key figures behind the early days of LEGO conventions in the United States. Joe traces his journey back to the late 1990s, when a job at the LEGO Imagination Center and the release of the first Star Wars sets pulled him out of his “dark ages” and back into the hobby.

The conversation dives deep into the origins of online LEGO fandom, including early community hubs like LUGNET and Brickshelf, and what it was like building and sharing MOCs before algorithms, social media, or influencer culture existed. Joe reflects on how those early spaces created genuine global connections—and friendships that still last more than 20 years later.

Joe also shares behind-the-scenes stories from organizing early conventions like BrickFest, the challenges of running volunteer-driven events, and how those experiences helped shape later conventions such as BrickFair, BrickWorld, and BrickCon. Along the way, he recounts memorable moments from Toy Fair, Comic-Con, LEGO community outreach, and unexpected opportunities that only LEGO could open the door to.

This episode is a firsthand look at how the LEGO community grew from small message boards into a worldwide phenomenon—and why, at its core, it has always been about people first.

📍 Find Joe Meno: • Facebook (search Joe Meno) • BrickJournal Magazine – available via twomorrows.com

Until next time… play well.