Although most of the LEGO® Marvel sets take inspiration from Marvel Cinematic Universe, occasionally they go beyond the MCU with what are seemingly random Marvel sets. These are often unconnected to any piece of source material beyond classic Marvel characters. The latest to fall into that category is a Hulk-themed vehicle, and the Mad Titan beefs with said vehicle. In past reviews, I’ve often pondered why super-powered individuals such as Spider-Man and Iron Man would need a car to get around, what with their superpowers. But I’ve come to love their craziness, and this set is a wonderful example of that. Here’s a preview of the upcoming LEGO Marvel set, The Hulk Truck vs. Thanos.
Product Details
Set Name: The Hulk Truck vs. Thanos | Set Number: 76312 | Pieces: 229 | Theme: Marvel
Number of Bags: Bags x 3 | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: sheet x 1 | Characters: Hulk (minifig) & Thanos (minifig)
RRP: £24.99/$34.99/29.99€/49.99AUD/44.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online and LEGO Retailers from April 1st
As mentioned above, there have been several Marvel-themed sets which have no connection to the interconnected MCU. These often feature well-known Marvel characters but in unusual situations. There is nothing more unusual than a superhero with the ability to fly or swing through the air, having a themed vehicle to drive around. But in a world filled with super-powered folks, logical transportation choices seem a frivolous complaint. This is why Bruce Banner’s alter ego having a Monster Truck
As you’d expect from a character-themed vehicle, the Hulk’s Monster Truck is mostly green with flashes of purple. Two colours closely associated with the character. The Hulk connection doesn’t end there, as the Hulk’s face is splashed on the front of the truck, and his trademark catchphrase ‘Hulk Smash’ is emblazoned on the sides of the truck. Beyond those, the overall shape of the truck is similar to the classic style used for many other versions. The section which houses the suspension is partly visible below the body of the truck and accounts for almost half of the set’s overall size. There’s enough room to place a minifigure inside the truck, which can be accessed by popping off the roof section.
One of the key features of a Monster Truck is its ability to rubble over various obstacles. They can do this thanks to their giant tyres and forgiving suspension. Past LEGO versions of Monster Trucks have featured the suspension in various ways. Often thanks to unique parts. But that’s not the case here. There isn’t a spring in sight; instead, a couple of Technic connector elements are interlaced to give the Monster Truck a surprising amount of movement in the wheels. This results in a simple but highly entertaining play feature.
The Hulk and Thanos have been portrayed as both BigFigs and standard minifigures. For this set, the characters are minifigures. Hulk is technically unique, but a similar version appeared in set 76287. Unfortunately, this version lacks the dual-moulded legs for solid purple ones. The Hulk may have super strength and be almost indestructible, but he’s still safety-conscious. So you can replace the Hulk’s hair with a yellow crash helmet. Thanos is also unique; almost all of his minifigure variants have offered slight tweaks to his design, although his head is the same as a couple of previous versions. Thanos is also sporting a piece of gold shoulder armour and a gold fist to represent the Infinity Gauntlet. There’s also a transparent blue cube to replicate the Tesseract.
If an alien warlord with a golden glove powered by gems can get about in a helicopter, then I think we can overlook a gamma-powered green rage monster having a drive around in a monster truck. For the target audience, this is a fun set, particularly the wonderfully effective suspension. I’ve come to quite like these random super-hero vehicles. They are fun to build and often feature interesting minifigures. It would have been nice to see another Marvel villain in place of Thanos, as these Marvel sets aren’t restricted by ties to the MCU. So, anyone could have been included. The Hulk Truck vs. Thanos set will be available from April 1st.
Shop Now: UKIrelandUSCanadaMexicoGermanyFranceDenmarkAustraliaNew Zealand
The LEGO Group provided this set to BricksFanz.com for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz.com and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Marvel. Providing the set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
