In 2020, the LEGO Group introduced a new product line known as LEGO® Art. As the name suggests, the sets are built to create pieces of wall-mountable artwork. Previous sets have transformed various pop culture icons into unique buildable pictures. The latest addition to the line-up is inspired by DC Comics and the world of Batman. As the world’s great detective is set to return to the big screen in The Batman, the sets are actually inspired by specially created artwork by legendary comic book artist Jim Lee. He’s crafted three pieces of art based on three iconic DC characters which can be recreated with LEGO elements so here’s a closer look at the set.
Product Details
Superhero or Super-Villain fans, we have got the set for you. Create 1 of 3 art portraits with this LEGO® Art Jim Lee Batman™ Collection (31205) kit. As you build, you’ll develop other meaningful experiences, such as mindfulness. A zone of joyful zen. Calm focus that enhances creativity as you click each tile into place in this collectible decor piece.
Stand for something
Build 1 of 3 portraits of iconic DC comics characters: Batman, The Joker™ or Harley Quinn™. Can’t choose? Combine sets to make 1 of 2 ultimate memorabilia pieces. As you create, scan the QR code and listen to the Soundtrack, with nearly 2 hours of content tailor-made to really immerse you in the hobby project. Finish the art with a special signature tile, ready to display on a wall or shelf.
- Set Name: Jim Lee Batman Collection
- Set Number: 31205
- Pieces: 4167
- RRP: £104.99/$119.99/119.99€
- Number of Bags: 16 x bags of coloured elements plus 9 panel plates + additional elements
- Instructions: Booklet x 1
- Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail from March 1st
Upon opening the box you’ll find 16 bags of coloured elements, a box of 9 plate panels, the instructions and hidden underneath those, a couple more bags of elements used to create the frame plus some tools to assist the build.
The basis of every single LEGO Art set is the same. So the main images are built upon a canvas of nine special plate panels. These 16×16 plates are the same thickness as a standard LEGO brick, so they provide a sturdy surface to build upon. The thickness of the plates also allows them to feature Technic pinholes, which are used to connect them together as well as provide a surface to connect the frame.
There has been a little addition to the latest Art sets compared to the first few releases. There’s now a 2×16 plate, along with 2 printed tiles featuring numbers 1 to 16. This is used to create a colour key, with 16 studs relating to the coloured elements used to create the image. What I still don’t understand is the bags of coloured elements are still not numbered. It’s somewhat easy to work out which colour is which but some are quite similar and simply popping the number on the bags would be very easy to do. There’s also a wider brick separator, which is perfect for stripping multiple studs at the same time, but there’s also the addition of a new tool introduced in the DOTS sets, this looks a little like a key and it is perfectly suited to pop a single stud. Admittedly it doesn’t fit the brooding tones of the Dark Knight, but it’s useful nonetheless.
One thing I would highly recommend before starting the build is to get prepared. The Art sets are like other LEGO builds, so to make the build more enjoyable make sure you set out the coloured pieces nicely. I use one of the inner trays from the LEGO Advent Calendars and I pop the colours in the order they are lined up on the colour key. This way reaching out for the required colours almost becomes second nature.
Each panel of the image is represented in the instructions as a 1:1 image with the required elements shown as both colour and number. I build the image in strips from top to bottom and use the edge of the panel plate block of the rest of the image. I’ve found this the easiest way to stay on track and not start dropping colours in the wrong place.
Once the main image is complete and connected together, it’s finished off with an outer frame. This adds a single stud wide border to the picture as well as stabilising it. This is also achieved with a series of plates placed on the back of the image. Thankfully these have also been changed since the first sets. Previously, each panel had a 2×2 plate connecting them but they easily popped out. The 2×6 plates are way more secure. Being a picture it also offers the ability to hang it on a wall with two special Technic-style elements with a gap to sit them over a couple of nails or screws. You can also merely stand them on a shelf. Whichever way you decide to display it, make sure you do so securely as it’s quite a weighty set once built.
The set allows you to create one of three images, these include Batman, Joker and Harley Quinn. Obviously, each character has a vastly different colour scape. So not every colour is needed and you’ll have plenty of pieces over. Although there are plenty of elements left over once an image is complete, the set has been designed to create one image at a time. It’s possible to source more panel plates and additional elements to create more than one image at a time. With a small amount of additional coloured tiles, you could probably build both Batman and Joker.
I decided to build Joker as it seemed to provide a nice spread of colours and the overall image just looks rather cool. If you purchase more than one set, you can combine two to create an image of Batman with Catwoman or combine three sets to create a larger image of Batman. It’s these choices that are a big draw to the Art sets. Although it could prove an expensive endeavour, especially if you wanted to build all three images and the combined ones. As with other Art sets, there is a companion audio element, at the time of building this set, it was unavailable.
Review Round-up
Although the set doesn’t offer anything new in terms of the build experince, the slight tweaks to the design are an improvement. I like that the artwork used to cretae the images you build havve been crated by Jim Lee. The result is not only a great take on each character but also a legimate connection directly with the comics.
For
+ Artwork is amazing
+ Tweaks to the build are an improvement
+ Great collectors piece for Batman and comic fansAgainst
– If you’ve built one, you’ve built them all
– Element bags should be numbered
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This set was provided by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or DC Comics. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
25th March 2022
Hi, have built the Batman (looks great). Is it cheaper to buy the pieces on their own instead of another X3 sets?
25th March 2022
Although there are loads of parts over from each image, the base plates are were costly. However in the new PAB hub, they are much cheaper, so I’d say buying the extra bits would work out cheaper depending on how many additional studs you’d need.