While I already own two LEGO minifigs sets, The Simpsons Series and The Simpsons Series 2, I’ve never really considered myself a minifig collector. I bought The Simpsons sets because I already had a huge non-LEGO The Simpsons collection at home and I was just starting to get back into LEGO (after 20-year+ layoff). These minifig sets, along with The Simpsons House and The Kwik-E-Mart helped re-kindle my love for LEGO, though.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been on a huge LEGO Batman kick and I was really excited about the sets that LEGO released in December for The LEGO Batman movie. Fortunately, Santa came through for me big time and I got all five sets that came out in December 2016: Mr. Freeze Ice Attack, The Batmobile, The Joker Notorious Lowrider, Mr. Freeze Ice Attack and Batcave Break-in.
When I heard that LEGO was releasing a set of 20 minifigs for the new movie on January 1, I was psyched. Earlier this month, I drove around town looking for them but couldn’t find them anywhere. Since I wasn’t having much luck finding them locally and was having serious impulse-control issues, I went ahead and ordered 40 minifigs (the max allowed) on LEGO.com. I had read that there were 60 unique minifigs (three full sets) in a case and hoped that I would be able to make a full set.
On the night that I opened the minifigs, my 8-year-old daughter insisted on helping me open the grab bags. It really was a lot of fun blindly opening the bags and seeing what we got. It was an experience that I missed with the two Simpsons minifig sets above because I bought complete sets off Amazon.
Out of the first 10 grab bags we opened, we got 8 unique minifigs. I was pretty happy with those odds but my wife smartly suggested that we start “feeling” the grab bags to determine what minifigs were inside. That was a fun game in itself, especially when we got down to the last few remaining minifigs. I was able to pull together a full set of 20 out of the 24 grab bags we opened.
I’ll share some tips below for figuring out what minifigs are in each grab bag to help you make a full set too.
Before I get into my review, here are a few quick thoughts:
- I love Batman and have been a huge fan since the Batman movies were released back in the 90’s with Michael Keaton (still my all-time favorite). I also watched re-runs of the classic TV series as a kid. That’s why I had to get the Classic Batcave set last year.
- I don’t know the backstory/history on Batman and all the villains. I never read Batman comics. Most of what I’m going to share in this review is what I’ve learned about some of the more obscure minifigs during this whole adventure. I learned a lot from the Batman Wikia and I’ll be sharing links about some of the minifigs below.
- There were 8 characters/villains I had never heard of. I’ll talk more about these below.
- This is a pretty long review with 20 minifigs and a lot of pictures. Feel free to skip ahead to the minifigs you’re most interested in.
- I paid for all these minifigs with my own money. I’ve seen some reviewers had LEGO send them minifigs in advance of the release. I was not so lucky.
That’s it. Let’s get into the review.
The Packaging
They fit 60 of these bad boys into a box. You can see from the packaging that it’s impossible to see what’s inside. I guess that’s why they call it a “grab bag.” Also, note the huge crease on the right side. I believe this was The Calculator’s shoulder pads. The packaging is pretty darn thick too. LEGO really wants to make you work if you’re trying to find certain minifigs. Fortunately, I’ve included some tips below to help you locate those hard-to-find minifigs.
The Checklist/Instructions
Every minifig comes with the checklist below. If you’re going to be out in stores looking for specific minifigs, I would HIGHLY recommend that you have this with you. And don’t worry, this same exact sheet is included with all 20 minifigs. You’ll most likely end up with a stack of them if you’re going for the full set.
The back side of the checklist has a promo for the LEGO Batman Movie, instructions for assembling the minifigs and a promo for the next set of LEGO minifigures to be released in May. I think LEGO picked out the most complex minifigs to include in the instructions. They are pretty easy to assemble, considering there aren’t any extra pieces and you don’t have to sort through various bricks like you would in a set.
The Minifigs
Lobster-Lovin’ Batman
Batman eating lobster is one of the first things I remember seeing in a sneak peek trailer for the LEGO Batman movie. I love the playfulness of it. As a Dad, I’ve always thought it would be funny to create a brick film showing the personal side of super heroes. Imagine Batman coming home to his wife and kids after a long day at work. He’d be wearing a business suit and his mask. There would be family pictures in the background with Batman (wearing his mask) and the rest of the family. I guess when you think about it, that’s kind of what these LEGO movies are. Oh well. I’m happy to see this side of Batman, especially after recently watching the Dark Knight trilogy. They are so dark.
How to Find One
The lobster is probably the easiest item to look for but you have to be careful not to get it confused with Harley Quinn’s hair piece. The platter is unique too. Finding the mask will help you narrow it down to a Batman-like minifig but there are six of those in the set.
Glam Metal Batman
Have you ever imagined Batman in a heavy metal band? Now you don’t have to. Glam Metal Batman is a cross between a super hero and heavy metal rocker. He looks like he could step right into a KISS cover band. The more I look at this minifig, I like it even more. It’s probably in my top 5 for this set.
How to Find One
You can’t count on the mask because there’s just too many minifigs wearing one like it. I’d look for the spiked shoulder pads. Be careful not to get it mixed up with The Calculator’s or Hood’s. The guitar is a dead giveaway too.
Fairy Batman
For me, this was probably the most unexpected minifig in the set. I love having it in my collection. I can’t wait to see how this shows up in the movie.
How to Find One
You definitely have to look for the wings. They’re really hard plastic, curved and should be pretty easy to feel. If you’re unsure, you can feel for the magic wand. I wouldn’t count on the tutu too much because it’s a little too close to what Batgirl is wearing.
Clan of the Cave Batman
I couldn’t help but think of the classic cartoon character, Captain Caveman when I first saw this minifig. Captain Batmaaaaaaan! Again, it’s a completely random look at Batman. It will definitely be interesting to see how this comes out in the movie.
How to Find One
The spiked club is really the best way to find this guy. Some of the other minifigs have bulky items but nothing shaped liked that.
Vacation Batman
This is by far my most favorite minifig in the set. He’s totally worth the price of admission too. I would imagine that everyone will want this guy in their collection.
How to Find One
You can spot that floating ducky from a mile away. It’s pretty large and you should be able to feel the round circle and the duck’s head pretty easily.
Barbara Gordon
So here’s where my knowledge of Batman falls flat. I first thought this was just a random police officer. And then when I saw “Barbara Gordon,” I was confused even more. I watched the first two seasons of “Gotham” on TV (but stopped because there was no Batman) and I remembered that Jim Gordon’s girlfriend was named Barbara. After reading around a little bit more, I realized that she’s Commissioner Gordon’s daughter. In this set, she’s portrayed as a police officer but according to the Batman Wikia, she’s Batgirl. I’m so confused. I can’t tell if this is the same person that’s wearing the Batgirl outfit below. I guess we’ll find out in the movie.
How to Find One
I found mine by finding the police hat and feeling the super smooth surface on the top of it. If you’re unsure, you could look for the little button too. Just be careful because you could get it mixed up with the top of The Eraser’s head. One more note. The printed checklist doesn’t show the Batman button and 1×1 tile pictured above but it definitely comes with the set.
Commissioner Jim Gordon
This is definitely one of my favorite non-Batman minifigs in the set. I love how he looks like a grizzly veteran cop and tough like he’s ready to whip up on some bad guys.
How to Find One
This one is a little bit trickier than the ones we’ve covered so far. Your only choices really are the radio and the 2×2 tile (Wanted poster). You have to be careful thought because two other minifigs have the 2×2 tiles. The radio is also a little tricky too because the end of it could be mistaken for Fairy Batman’s wand. Putting them both together makes the job a little bit easier.
The Joker – Arkham Asylum
Ahh, finally a bad guy. The Joker, Batman’s arch-nemesis. I was so happy to see the Joker in this set, especially since more of what I’d consider classic villains are nowhere to be found (more on that later). Not to mention, I like this slightly less scary version, especially after recently watching The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger’s Joker was a little too dark for me. The only downside I see with this minifig is that it’s almost exactly like the Joker that comes with the new Arkham Asylum set (except for a different printed face). I would have liked to see LEGO mix it up a little bit more.
How to Find One
This is another slightly tricky one because none of the accessories really stand out. Your best bet is to locate the hairpiece and then verify with the handcuffs. The only other set with handcuffs is Barbara Gordon. You can exclude her by finding the police officer hat.
Dick Grayson
Holy sardines, Batman! I think Robin is going to be one of my favorite characters from the movie. You can’t help but laugh when you see him. Those glasses are ridiculous. Also, are those Robins on the front of his sweater? Very subtle, LEGO. Nice.
How to Find One
The hairpiece is probably the best path to go, especially since the glasses are attached to it. You could potentially mix it up with The Calculator’s helmet but you could eliminate him because of the shoulder piece. Finding the nozzle for the shark repellant is pretty helpful as well.
Pink Power Batgirl
Who would ever think that two minifigs in a Batman set would be rocking pink? I wouldn’t have. I think most of the Gotham good guys are included. This version of Batgirl is quite a bit different than the one that comes with The Catwoman Catcycle Chase.
How to Find One
I would probably start with the hairpiece. It’s similar to Harley Quinn’s and the lobster but you should be able to pick it out. The tutu makes things easier as well but you have to watch out for the tutu that comes with the Fairy Batman.
Red Hood
The Red Hood is another villain that I knew nothing about before seeing him in the set. According to Wikia, there are several different back stories on who he is. One was that it was The Joker and another one about a criminal that eventually became The Joker.
How to Find One
I’d start with the “hood.” There aren’t any other pieces that big with a smooth top. You can then verify with the shoulder pads or two guns. Just be careful because you could get the shoulder pads mixed up with The Calculator’s.
The Eraser
The Eraser? Seriously? As you can tell, I’ve never heard of him. Apparently, he’s a villain that “erases” evidence from crime scenes. He has a list that he carries around with him to remind him to erase stuff? It reminds me of the scene from Billy Madison where the guy marks out Billy’s name on his “People to Kill” list.
How to Find One
I’d start with the 2×2 tile. You can then eliminate Harley Quinn because of the hair and Commissioner Gordon because of his hair/handcuffs. I wouldn’t count on the “eraser” piece because Barbara Gordon has a similar tile in her set.
Nurse Harley Quinn
Finally, another bad guy that we all know and love. Except this Harley Quinn isn’t technically a bad guy. Yet. She’s a nurse at Arkham Asylum and hasn’t yet been influenced by The Joker.
Orca
This is probably the weirdest minifig in the set. A killer whale minifig? Um, okay. According to Wikia, Orca started as a human scientist that worked at an aquarium and was experimenting with whale genes as a way of regenerating her spinal cord (because she was hurt in an accident). She has the ability to change back and forth between being a human and a whale. After getting shot, the scientist swallows the rest of her formula and permanently turns into a killer whale.
How to Find One
The killer whale suit makes it pretty easy to find this one. You should also be able to feel the flippers/arms.
Zodiac Master
Here’s another completely obscure super villain. The Zodiac Master became well-known in Gotham City because he could accurately predict tragic events that were going to happen in the future. The thing is that he actually caused the events to happen in the first place. His suit is covered by various Zodiac symbols.
How to Find One
I’m not sure that you’ll be really excited about finding this guy unless you’re trying to make a complete set. The crab is probably a good starting point and you can verify with the fish.
Catman
When I first saw this one, I thought, “Awesome. Batman dressed up like Wolverine!” I was quickly disappointed to learn that it’s not Batman. According to the Batman Wikia, Catman is a world-class hunter that turned to a life of crime after squandering his fortune.
How to Find One
The claws are really the only way to distinguish this one from the other Batman minifig unless you’re able to single out the utility belt. What’s weird about the utility belt is that it comes with every other Batman in the The LEGO Batman series but none of the Batmans in this set are wearing it.
March Harriet
So let me get this straight? March Harriet is a villain that dresses like a bunny rabbit? Uh, okay. I’m so scared.
What to Look For
Between the bunny ears and the Tommy Gun, you shouldn’t have any problems.
The Calculator
So this dude used to get whipped by super heroes only so he could press a button on his suit that would record their fighting styles and help ensure that he couldn’t be beaten by them again? Come on. Nothing super about this villain. I’d rather type “80,085” (or 58,008) into MY calculator. It would be more fun. Yes. I’m a kid in a grown man’s body.
King Tut
King Tut might be an obscure villain for some but I actually know who he is from watching reruns of the Classic Batman TV series when I was a kid. If you don’t know, he’s a criminal Egyptologist that leaves Egyptian-themed clues when he commits crimes.
How to Find One
The head gear might work but there are several other minifigs with a similar piece. You might have trouble singling out the snake but there aren’t any other pieces as long as the cobra staff.
The Mime
Speaking of obscure villains, The Mime is at the top of the list. I couldn’t find anything on the Batman Wikia about her but found some info about her here. It says that her weapon of choice is a pistol but that she also has electrified hands. Maybe that’s why she has lightning bolts coming out of her hands?
How to Find One
All you have to find are the two lighting bolts, although you might be able to feel the mohawk too.
Final Thoughts
The Good:
- I really like the nice selection of fun Batman minifigs. These alone are reason enough to buy the set.
- There’s almost an even split between good guys (9) and bad guys (11).
- LEGO put out 20 minifigs in the set. Most sets come with 16.
The Bad:
- A good portion of the bad guys will be pretty obscure for the average Batman fan. I count 7 or 8 depending on how much you know about all the backstories.
- I was really disappointed to not see Alfred, The Penguin, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Bane or Two-Face. I expected to see more familiar faces. Maybe they won’t be so obscure after The LEGO Batman movie comes out.
- I like The Joker minifig but he’s almost exactly the same one that comes with the Arkham Asylum set. Most of the other minifigs are unique and not available in other sets.
Overall, I’m still really excited about the set. There are a handful of minifigs I could do without but they do all look really nice on my shelf. I also really enjoyed opening the grab bags blindly. It was also fun grabbing the packages and trying to figure out what minifig was inside the package. If you just want to find a full set, you can go on Amazon or eBay and pay a couple dollars more per minifig.
I’m really looking forward to seeing The LEGO Batman movie and what other minifigs/sets come out.
What do you think? Who are your favorite and least favorite minifigs in the set? Feel free to leave your comments below.
Check out my reviews of other LEGO sets from The LEGO Batman Movie:
Note: I’ve built all of these sets and I’m hoping to add the reviews soon. Stay tuned!
- 30524 The Mini Batwing
- 70901 Mr. Freeze Ice Attack
- 70902 Catwoman Catcycle Chase
- 70903 The Riddler Riddle Racer
- 70904 Clayface Splat Attack
- 70905 The Batmobile
- 70906 The Joker Notorious Lowrider
- 70909 Batcave Break-in
- 70911 The Penguin Arctic Roller