Since their introduction in 2010, LEGO® Minifigures have become a much-loved aspect of LEGO fandom. Even though these collectable characters have reached Series 27, along with several licensed series, they continue to offer unique characters and new accessories. Although their packaging has changed and the amount of characters featured in a series has become switched from 16 to 12, their popularity continues. Series 27 will be released on January 1st and will feature 12 new characters to collect. Here’s a closer look at the brand-new Minifigure crew.
Product Details
Set Name: Series 27 | Set Number: 71048 | Pieces: Various | Theme: LEGO Minifigures
RRP: £3.49/$4.99/4.99€/5.99AUD/5.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & general retail from January 1st (APAC tbc)
Since the LEGO Minifigures have switched from foil packets to boxes, how they are sold has changed. Firstly, a ‘full box’ features 36 minifigures and should result in three full sets. There are also boxes of six characters and a stack box of 12. The box of 12 should feature a full set of characters, that’s the case with the box I had for this review.
Although you can no longer feel the packets, the boxes do feature scannable codes which will allow you to search out specific characters. There are multiple codes and the best way to reveal these is with one of several scanner apps, I’d recommend Jay’s Brick Blog Minifig Scanner.
Wolfpack Beastmaster
LEGO Minifigures love leaning into past LEGO lore and this is another character to do that. The Wolfpack (or Wolf People) are a LEGO Castle faction from the early ’90s. The Beastmaster is kitted out in a similar outfit to his earlier counterparts, this features the classic Wolfpack logo. The dual-moulded arms and legs work nicely, especially as the black sections show a chainmail undershirt poking through. The cape is thicker than normal ones and has a furry side, this pairs nicely with a black hood element. It almost gets lost under the hood and cape, but the Beastmaster has a great expression. I’m torn between it showing the character whistling or howling. As cool as the minifigure its accessories are the real star. Along with a large sword and iconic Wolfpack shield, it includes a new wolf animal figure. This is surprisingly big and is almost double the size of a standard LEGO dog figure.
Pirate Quartermaster
Pirates are another classic LEGO theme although their modern-day counterparts are a little more ambiguous and not directly related to certain sets. A Quartermaster plays an important part on a ship, steering it and navigating the treacherous season. It’s nice to see this role taken by a female pirate. This minifigure has an amazingly detailed torso and legs, again making great use of dual-moulded legs and arms. The use of the tied-up hair bun helps set this pirate apart from other female pirates. The material wrap which sits around the waist, sits a little awkwardly. Thankfully, her other accessory is much better. In place of the usual parrot, the Quartermaster has a Cockatoo companion. This is a brand new creature figure and it looks great.
Steampunk Inventor
Steampunk is a fascinating world which blends Victorian-era elements with futuristic gadgets. I’m surprised it hasn’t inspired more LEGO sets or characters. The Inventor may seem a little minimal due to only having a small steam-powered hand-held gadget. But this minifigure excels thanks to the out he’s wearing. It features a top hat with unique print detail and a detailed suit dotted with tools and old-fashioned-looking materials.
Pterodactyl Costume Fan
Costumed characters are a running theme with the LEGO Minifigures range. Sub-section of themed costumes can although be found across different series and this character is the third to be inspired by dinosaurs. Following the T. rex Costume from Series 24 and the Triceratops Costume from Series 25 is the Pterodactyl Costume. Purely due to the nature of the creatures they are inspired by, the minifigure feels a little plain. But it does use a unique hood element and this character also has winged arms. I particularly like how it matches the style of dinosaur creature figures.
Bogeyman
The Bogeyman is a mythical creature often used as a threat to keep kids in check. There is no singular vision of the monster but even so, you can instantly tell this character is a monster of sorts. It uses a unique element which sits on a standard body. This is quite a big piece giving the Bogeyman and huge head. It looks a little more mischievous than scary. Tying into the fable of the Bogeyman, it also includes a book, with a unique printed cover panel and tile for the inside, telling the story of the character.
Jetpack Racer
The Jetpack Racer has a lot going on. Despite it looking like it should be part of a LEGO Space set, it actually has closer links to LEGO City. Think of one of the Red Bull extreme sports folks who jump out of super high planes. The torso and legs of dotted with logos including Octan and the Extreme Sports brand (a mountain range) found on other sporty minifigures. The helmet is quite impressive, pairing a transparent red visor with a white helmet. In addition to the helmet, the character has a small rocket-like device connected to its back by an element slipped over the torso’s neck.
Cat Lover
You’re either a dog person or a cat one regardless of which camp you fall in, you’ll be united by the abundance of hairs imparted by your furry friend. This is something shared by the Cat Lover character. Their legs are covered in small white hairs. If those weren’t enough evidence to portray a love of cats, the character is also sporting a delightful cat-themed sweater. The Cat Lover is joined by two new elements, a ball of will which can be slotted over a minifigure hand. Plus another new creature figure, which is a fluffier white cat. Different breeds of cats are harder to do in LEGO form, so it’s nice to see a new cat figure in place of using a recoloured version of the older style.
Longboarder
The LEGO CMFs have been the source of several sporting characters and the latest to join the ranks is a longboarder. This extreme sport is similar to skateboarding but features a longer skateboard, hence the name. This requires a new board element, which still uses the standard wheel bars. It’s a shame the board is so plain. But to be fair, the minifigure isn’t wearing anything colourful either. Although their outfit does fit in with the skating culture, and I like the ripped jeans. Be they a fashion choice or a result of a few wipeouts along with way. Oddly, despite the muted outfit, the Longboarder has bright green hair. This reuses and recolours Jack’s hat elements found in the Hidden Side sets.
Astronomer Kid
The LEGO Group have held a long-running belief that their products should represent those who play with them. This has come to the forefront even more in the last few years. This particular minifigure is the first to show a character with an arm-limb difference. Similar to Autumn from the Friends set, the Astronomer Kid is missing part of their arm. It also includes a prosthetic add-on which slips over the left hand. The limb difference isn’t just a standard arm missing the hand, it’s a new piece. But it’s not the only new element in the set, the telescope uses a new piece for the tripod. It is similar to a flower stalk but the rods with normally hold flowers are thicker and shorter. Expect to see this appear in more new sets.
Cupid
Past LEGO Minifigures series have taken inspiration from seasonal characters such as Halloween monsters, Santa, Elves and a Thanksgiving Turkey. So a Valentine’s Day character seems a natural next step. Cupid is often tasked with spreading love. The character’s famous wings are added by a new element, a separate pair of wings which connect to the back of the minifigure by a neck element. Unlike most wings, which are normally one element, this is two. Although they look nice, the wings are easily dislodged. To finish off the look, Cupid includes a red bow and arrow plus a heart-shaped tile.
Hamster Costume Fan
Similar to the Dinosaur Costume Fans, past minifigure characters have expressed their love of various animals through costumes. The latest is inspired by a hamster and uses a unique hood element to replicate the head of a hamster. It’s a cute little character and again uses dual-moulded arms and legs to great effect. Famed for their ability to stuff copious amounts of food in their cheeks, the inclusion of a lone cucumber slice seems a little stingy.
Plush Toy Collector
Plush Toys is a term which covers a vast array of things. They can be animals, monsters and people. In the world of LEGO characters, plush toys have been portrayed with teddy bears and cuddly rabbits. But instead of simply offering different coloured versions of these elements, a new piece has been created. Exactly what they are is unclear but they are round creatures and there are two of them included with the Plush Toy Collector. They may look odd but they fit the term of being a plush toy, almost Pokémon-like. The Japanese theme continues with the minifigure. She’s wearing an animal-themed onesie and has bright pink hair. It’s a fun character, especially due to her overjoyed expression.
The LEGO Minifigures range continues to delight. Series 27 includes a nice mix of characters and new elements. I like how there is a great blend of new characters and those which expand on both past LEGO themes and similar characters from previous minifigure series. As is the case with past series, some characters are better than others but overall this is a pretty impressive group of characters. The Series 27 LEGO Minifigures will be released on January 1st, 2025. You can preorder a full set or box of 36 from The Minifigure Store.
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These were provided to BricksFanz by the LEGO Group for purposes of review. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
