The dedicated focus on adult LEGO® fans has truly changed the landscape of LEGO sets being released. They no longer have to appeal to a wide or younger age range. This has seen the sort of sets released really showcase just what’s possible to create with LEGO bricks. This particular set is a great example of this, a life-sized bust, which recreates one of the most iconic Marvel superheroes. It’s also a difficult set to review, as it doesn’t include any play features. This is merely a displayable LEGO model, but it’s one which needs to be seen to be believed. So here’s an early look at the first-ever life-sized LEGO Super Heroes bust – Marvel’s Black Panther.
Product Details
Adult fans of the Marvel Avengers can immerse themselves in a creative model-making project with LEGO® Marvel Black Panther (76215). This collectible celebration of Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga will be a guaranteed conversation starter, wherever it is placed.
Advanced, buildable model of King T’Challa
This detailed recreation features the almost life-size head, chest and hands of Black Panther, posed in the iconic Wakanda Forever salute. Both hands feature articulated fingers and detach from the main model to increase display possibilities. A sturdy display base with an attached logo plate completes this lasting reminder of an epic legend. With 2,961 pieces, this challenging and rewarding model is sure to provide great pleasure and satisfaction long after the construction has been completed.
- Set Name: Black Panther
- Set Number: 76215
- Pieces: 2961
- RRP: £299.99/$329.99/329.99€
- Number of Bags: Bags x 33 over 17 steps
- Stickers: Sheet x 1
- Minifigures: N/A
- Instructions: Booklet x 2 + LEGO Building Instructions App
- Availability: LEGO Stores & LEGO Online from October 1st
The character of Black Panther first appeared in 1966, in an issue of the Fantastic Four comic. Created by comic book legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther would be one of the first superheroes of African descent to appear in mainstream comics and would soon appear in his own comic book series as well as crossing paths with other Marvel characters. But the character’s iconic status would come more recently as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU’s Black Panther first appeared in Captain America: Civil War in 2016 and two years later would be the subject of his own solo outing in Marvel Studio’s Black Panther. This was an immense success with the film becoming one of the highest-grossing solo superhero films and was even nominated for a handful of Academy Awards. The world of Wakanda will soon be revised in the Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever. Making it the perfect time for this set to be released.
This is billed as a life-sized bust of Black Panther but when it was delivered I must admit I wondered why the box was so big. It wasn’t until it was officially revealed that a sense of its scale was conveyed. But even then, it wasn’t until I was halfway through building it that its size was truly shown. This is unlike any other LEGO set both in terms of the finished model and the build. It could be considered similar to the various Star Wars helmets and other Marvel character heads but even they pale in comparison to this set.
The configuration of the bust is a plinth upon which the top half of the shoulders and head are built. Later arms are added in the iconic Wakanda Forever salute. Despite this set being a first, the build experience is rather traditional. A colourful core of bricks is used to add various plate sections, which build up to craft Black Panther’s mask. As is the case with many LEGO sets, the bricks used within are a vast contrast to the largely black exterior. But the ones used within the head of Black Panther have a Wakandan vibe to them. With many of them being purples, pinks and blues.
As the source material would suggest, the outer detail of the Black Panther mask is mostly made up of black pieces. Yet, it doesn’t suffer the same blandness some mostly black Star Wars ships do. This is partly due to the use of silver elements and the texture of the bricks, as well as flashes of transparent purple elements. Although studded surfaces are kept to a minimum, the way the various plates sit against each other gives the mask definition. I especially like the area around the eyes and nose as the feline features of the Black Panther mask have been recreated perfectly here.
In all honesty, the build could end here and it would still offer an incredibly impactful set. But it continues with the addition of two hands and forearms. These are mounted in a way to recreate the crossed arm salute of Wakanda. They provide an extra layer of detail and do give the set greater impact, but in all honesty, they could have easily been left out. Should you wish to merely display the head section, the platform holding the arms can easily be detached. This section also features a display plate with the MCU Black Panther logo. It is a sticker, which is a shame, especially considering the price point of the set.
And the pricing of the set certainly needs to be touched upon. It’s a pricey set and one which will be unobtainable for many, especially in the current climate. It’s also a set with a unique appeal. You may be a Marvel fan yet a set of this sort may not pique your interest or you could be a fan of the character in which case it’s the perfect way to showcase your love of Black Panther. But pricing and subject matter aside, it’s a damn impressive set. Its visual impact is unrivalled and imposing but in a good way. It’s just tricky to say who exactly the set is aimed at. Deep-pocketed, Black Panther fans, with plenty of space I guess. I must also commend the fact that Black Panther was chosen as opposed to Iron Man or Spider-Man, both of which could easily have been captured on the same scale and would arguably have a greater appeal; yet are overly used across the LEGO Marvel theme.
Review Round-up
After building the smaller ‘helmets’ sets, I wasn’t prepared for just how much bigger this Black Panther bust is. The sheer size of the finished set is a sight to behold and which is was the set is so impressive. Unlike some of the recent large sets, such as the Titanic and Hogwarts Express, this is a little more sensible and much easier to display, although the addition of the arms and the nameplate does extend it out a little further than I would like. The set would be just as impressive if it was just the head section. Both the head and the arms could easily be a set in their own right, but I fully understand why the arms have been included as they are very symbolic and do look great. No matter how impressive the set was to build or to look at, it will have limited appeal solely due to the price and also due to the character. This is something that a true fan of the character will be drawn to more than an average LEGO fan, but even beyond the appeal of the character, it really is an impressive use of LEGO bricks.
For
+ Visually impressive
+ Interesting build experience
+ Incredible display piece
+ Great showcase of LEGO design
Against
– Very expensive set
– It’s very big
– Limited appeal
– Didn’t really need the arms
Coming Soon: UKIrelandUSCanadaGermanyDenmarkAustraliaNew Zealand
This set was provided to BricksFanz by the LEGO Group for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Marvel Entertainment. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
