LEGO 71039 Marvel Studios Collectible Minifigures; the Marvel CMF line got renewed for a second season [Review]
There’s a lot of talk on the internet about “superhero fatigue” setting in at the box office. But, if you’re a fan of LEGO and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the fatigue you might be feeling is the exhaustion that comes with waiting for your favorite hero to finally be rendered in minifigure form. Thankfully, the latest wave of LEGO Collectible Minifigures is here to save the day with 12 new figures. Like the first series of Marvel CMFs, this line focuses on characters from the numerous TV projects on Disney+; Moon Knight, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Hawkeye, and the upcoming X-Men ’97 animated series just to name a few. But is the combined might of these superheroes strong enough to fight your fatigue? Let’s crack open a box and find out. 71032 Marvel Studios Collectible Minifigures Series 2 will be available on Sept 1st for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Unboxing the case and packaging
This series continues the use of slimmer 36 figures box. The 12-figure assortment allows for three full sets to fit inside each box, so there are no shortpacked or harder to find figures. Once the box is slipped out of its protective brown cardboard case, you’ll find a dark blue, double decker display package with 18 figure packages on each level.
What makes this set’s packaging different from all other CMF sets so far is that LEGO has moved away from the individual bag packaging and opted for a new cardboard box system.
The boxes are sturdy, but easy to open. Inside you’ll find the figure packaged in the familiar manner, split into pieces with a checklist and a 3×4 black display stand. Additionally, like past superhero themed CMF lines, each figure also includes a black jumper piece and a trans-clear posing stand.
Agatha Harkness
The villainous witch who is soon to be headlining her own series comes wearing her outfit from the final battle in the series finale of WandaVision, including a cape and a printed dress piece instead of minifgure legs. Her accessories include two purple magic blasts (perfect for squaring off against Scarlet Witch from the first wave) and a copy of the Darkhold, aka The Book of Sins. The book contains printing on the front cover and includes a 1×2 tile “interior page” that shows Wanda Maximoff gaining power.
Agatha also includes a double-sided head featuring friendly smile and mischievous wink faces.
Kate Bishop
Kate Bishop, aka the other Hawkeye, aka Clint Barton’s biggest fan, comes wearing her superhero duds and carrying the bow and quiver combo you’d expect of an archery expert. Her outfit is covered with nicely detailed printing, including on one arm and on the front and sides of both legs. Her head sports both happy/healthy and angry/bandaged expressions. Her quiver is the standard piece you’ve probably run across before, but I believe her brown bow is a new piece. It’s not the compound bow that previous Marvel Hawkeyes have come with, but it’s got a larger amount of sculpted detail than the classic LEGO bow.
Also included is printed 2×2 pizza box tile for “Hit the Spot Pizza” and the always adorable scene stealing sidekick, Lucky the Pizza Dog.
Hawkeye
Clint Barton, aka the original Hawkeye, comes dressed a mostly black outfit with a few lavender accents. While his legs are just standard black legs, his arms are dual-molded with printing that makes them look mostly lavender. He is, of course, armed with a black quiver and the same bow as Kate, although this time in black. Unfortunately, the arrow is tipped with a traditional point. An explosive device or a Pym Particle container would have made a nice addition, considering the show’s focus on trick arrows. But the traditional point gives LEGO more versatility in making use of the piece. Also, like Kate, he comes with both healthy and bandaged expressions.
His other accessory is the owl that was nesting in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree from the show. An adorable accessory for such a gruff character.
Moon Knight
In what might be a first for the various CMF lines, our next two figures are actually the same guy. Marc Spector, aka the mysterious Moon Knight is all wrapped in his mummy style supersuit, making him one of the more impressively printed figures in the line. His arms, legs, back, and even his brand-new hood piece are all printed with black, gray, and various gold accents. Combine that with his dual-molded legs and you’ve got one of the most detailed figures in the line. And if you turn his head around, you get an unmasked Marc Spector with glowy eyes.
Moon Knight’s accessories include a round tile with a scarab beetle print and a new crescent blade weapon.
Mr. Knight
Mr. Knight, aka Steven Grant, aka also Moon Knight/Marc Spector, isn’t nearly as detailed as his alter ego. But what’s there does the job. His three-piece suit is well realized and his legs have at least a little printing to carry through the jacket and pants details. Because there’s no hood or hair to hide the other side, he has just the single face print.
Where Mr. Knight really shines is his accessories, which include metallic truncheons and a fish tank with his goldfish Gus printed on it (There are a lot of animal pals in this series.)
She-Hulk
I have no objections to superpowered attorney Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, aka Breaker of Walls (fourth and otherwise). Her superhero outfit by renowned designer Luke Jacobson is recreated here in extensive detail, requiring dual-molded arms and legs and detailed, multi-color printing across all her parts. Her head features two expressions, but it’s just big grin and little grin. I would’ve liked to have seen an angry or at least an exasperated expression. (Okay, so I had one objection. But LEGO overruled.)
Her accessories include a 1×2 phone tile that shows her getting a call from Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme, and a 2×3 tile printed with the cover to Emil Blonsky’s case file.
The Werewolf
I don’t think there’s any debate that some of Marvel’s strongest Disney+ outings have been the seasonal holiday specials, a trend that kicked off with Werewolf by Night. Unfortunately, the Werewolf, aka Jack Russell (Yep, like the dog…get it?) proves to be one of the weaker figures in the line, in my opinon. I mean, there’s nothing inherently wrong with him. There’s plenty of printing across all his pieces, dual-molded legs, and a brand-new hair piece featuring sculpted pointed ears. But something about him just doesn’t wow me.
Maybe it’s that his two expressions – smiling and pouting – are almost too cute for the tortured hero. Or maybe it’s that he only comes with the one accessory – a round tile with a bloodstone printing. Or maybe it’s that he’s not in a grayscale color scheme to match the special’s black and white film motif.
Goliath
Goliath is an oddity in this line, as I believe this version of the character hasn’t appeared on screen, yet. Goliath, aka Bill Foster, was played by Laurence Fishburne in Ant-Man and the Wasp, but I don’t recall him appearing in his supersuit. Instead, I suspect this minifigure is an early look at his appearance in What If…? Season 2. Wherever this design comes from, it’s one of the best in the line. Goliath is covered in interesting tech detail printing that I suspect many LEGO Space fans will want to get and put to use. Underneath his helmet is a head with smiling and angry expressions, and he’s got a hair piece to wear when going helmet-less.
His other major accessory is a tiny Ant-Man. Or maybe it’s a regular sized Ant-Man and Goliath is in his giant form?
Storm
One of the Diseny+ projects I’m personally most excited about is X-Men ’97, a sequel series to the animated show that ran from 1992-1996. And my absolute favorite minifigures in this series are the three hailing from that show. Starting with Storm, aka Ororo Munroe, the weather controlling mutant and sometimes leader of the X-Men. Storm appears in her Jim Lee designed white costume. Other than the X-Symbols and the yellow striping, this look doesn’t require a lot of printing but, like Mr. Knight, the legs do contain some minor lines. The costume is topped off perfectly with pointed shoulder pads and Storm’s trademark cape designed to allow her to ride the wind currents that are under her control.
Storm has been known to rock a mohawk in the past, but I don’t think I’ve seen it paired with the white suit, and I have to say I’m a fan. The only downside is the mohawk doesn’t sufficiently cover the back of her head to hide a second expression, so she has the only head with absolutely no back printing in the line-up. She also comes with two giant lightning bolts to toss at villains.
Beast
Hank McCoy, aka Beast, is one of the five founding members of the X-Men, and only the third of the original five to be immortalized in minifigure form. Beast’s torso and legs are printed with plenty of furry texture, and he’s got a brand-new dual-molded hair piece that features sculpted pointy ears. And, while Beast may look animalistic, he’s actually the team’s resident genius, so aside from his angry snarling expression, the other side of his head sports a smile and his glasses.
Keeping with the genius theme, his accessories include a microscope (which is probably the most elaborate build in the line) and an X-branded mug to sip hot tea from while he’s doing those complex equations.
Wolverine
It’s a little-known fact that California state law says you can’t release any X-Men product without the inclusion of Wolverine, aka Logan, aka James Howlett. And LEGO has gone all out with their most accurate representation to date. Wolverine’s mask is the same mold as previous releases, this time dual-molded in black and yellow, instead of the black and bright light orange. Every detail of his classic look is recreated here, from the pointed sides of his boots to the grisly arm hair. Wolverine comes with a double sided head, featuring an unmasked look to be paired with the included hair, and a side wearing googles to pair with the mask.
Of course, he’s also carrying a set of adamantium claws for each hand and he also comes with a damaged Sentinel robot head, printed on a 2 x 2 x 1 2/3 round dome top. This means you can swap this head on to the Sentinel build from set 76022.
The assembled trio of X-Men is sure to be a sought after group.
Echo
The final figure in the line is, like Goliath, a character appearing in a costume that I don’t believe we’ve seen on screen, yet. Maya Lopez, aka Echo, debuted in the Hawkeye series, but is coming to us now in a uniform that I suspect will make its first appearance in Echo’s solo show. Molded mostly in dark red and black, this new costume is printed with plenty of detail that looks to honor her heritage. The extensive printing even includes the braids in the ponytail of her hair piece. She’s armed with a club weapon of some kind, and features smiling and angry faces.
Both of Echo’s arms are dual-printed, but only one leg is. The reason for the difference is Echo’s right leg is a brand-new prosthetic limb piece, which is great to see.
Conclusion and recommendation
This line continues LEGO’s commitment to going above and beyond with the collectible minifigures. Whether it’s first-time characters like Agatha or an update to a fan-favorite like Wolverine, every figure in this line works hard to do the character justice. The inclusion of the 90s X-Men means some of these figures are going to appeal to Marvel fans who may have cooled on the sprawling MCU. While Goliath and the Werewolf may offer pieces useful to space and fantasy set builders. In short, I think there’s something here for everyone.
71039 Marvel Studios Collectible Minifigures Series 2 will be available starting Sept. 1 from LEGO for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49 They may also be available from third-party sellers on Amazon and eBay.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
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