Posts by Chuck Hagenbuch

LEGO Harry Potter 76414 Expecto Patronum [Review]

LEGO has given us large-format winged creatures from the Harry Potter series, each with an integrated flapping mechanism, and with 76414 Expecto Patronum, the series continues at least somewhat in spirit. There is no movement mechanism, but the “Expecto Patronum” is similar to the name plates on the winged creatures. And in a bit of a surprise, it’s a 2-in-1 set, offering the option of building either Harry’s stag patronus or Remus Lupin’s wolf. Here’s our review of the set, which contains 754 pieces and 2 minifigures, and is available now for US $69.99 | CAN $89.99 | UK £62.99.

This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.

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.

Read the full review

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO 43227 Disney Villain Icons celebrates the characters we love to hate [Review]

LEGO and Disney have a supercharged set lineup this year for Disney’s 100th anniversary, and LEGO 43227 Villain Icons is the second 18+ set targeted at adults after the Royal Clamshell. The “Adults Welcome” range is much more about who the set is aimed at and marketed to than about LEGO’s traditional age ranges. We concluded that 76391 Hogwarts Icons set was a great introduction to the LEGO hobby for new adult builders. This set is obviously similar, and Disney is one of the few fandoms that significantly outnumbers Harry Potter, so it’s reasonable to guess this will be a big hit. Does it rise to that potential? LEGO 43227 Villain Icons, with 1,540 pieces and 4 villainous minifigures, will be available starting June 1st for US $129.99 | CAN $169.99 | UK £124.99.

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.

Read our hands-on review of LEGO Ideas 21337 Table Football

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Harry Potter 76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station [Review]

The June 2023 Harry Potter wave includes a handful of unique treatments of the subject matter, and we’ll start our coverage with 76423 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade Station. This isn’t quite unique, but it does include the first Hogsmeade Station since 2004! And compared to the most recent Collector’s Edition Hogwarts Express, it is compatible with LEGO track, a welcome change. It also intriguingly features the return of metal train axles after a 5-year break. Does the rest stack up, or is it off track? Here’s our review of the set, which contains 1074 pieces and 8 minifigures, and will be available starting June 1st for US $129.99 | CAN $169.99 | UK £114.99.

This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.

Continue reading →

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO brings the black bat brick base back as Batcave Shadowbox [News]

LEGO has unveiled 76252 Batcave Shadowbox today, a 3981-piece Batcave-in-a-box loaded with features, light bricks, and a tricked-out Batmobile build. It goes on sale with VIP early access on June 5th and broad availability on June 8th for US $399.99 | CAN $519.99 | UK £344.99.

Here’s the set description from LEGO:

Adult enthusiasts can recreate the iconic Batcave™ from 1992’s Batman Returns™ movie with the LEGO® DC Batman™ Batcave – Shadow Box (76252). This 3,981-piece tableau incorporates movable items, minifigures and a feature-rich Batmobile™ to produce a detailed and dynamic display piece that will captivate all who see it.

Batman drama in a display case

Measuring over 20 in. (51 cm) wide, this Batcave tableau contains an assortment of authentic details, including movable items that can be controlled from the rear. Users can turn the chair, change the computer screen and open and close the tool store and illuminated Batsuit™ vault. For extra realism, a Batmobile with a variety of hands-on features is included along with 7 minifigures: Max Shreck, The Penguin™, Catwoman™, 2 versions of Batman, Alfred Pennyworth™ and Bruce Wayne™. For added convenience, a digital version of the set’s building instructions can be found on the LEGO Builder app.

  • A Batman™ tableau – Adult enthusiasts can capture the drama and style of the Batcave™ from 1992’s Batman Returns™ movie with the LEGO® DC Batman Batcave – Shadow Box (76252) active display model
  • Authentic details – The scene includes a feature-rich Batmobile™ and 7 minifigures: Max Shreck, The Penguin™, Catwoman™, 2 versions of Batman™, Alfred Pennyworth™ and Bruce Wayne™

  • Dynamic action – Movable items can be controlled from the rear: turn the chair, change the computer screen and open and close the tool store and illuminated Batsuit™ vault
  • Realistic Batmobile™ – The roof opens for the Batman™ minifigure with the fabric cape to enter. Turning the cog on the side causes 2 hidden shooters to appear. A flame element attaches to the exhaust

  • Gift for adults – Experienced model-makers and Super Hero movie enthusiasts will find this rewarding build-and-display project provides pleasure long after the construction work is over
  • Collectible curio – Measuring over 11 in. (29 cm) high, 20 in. (51 cm) wide and 5.5 in. (14 cm) deep, this celebration of Batman™ style will add interest to any home or workplace

  • Use your mobile device – For added convenience, a digital version of the set’s building instructions can be found on the LEGO Builder app and rotate the model in 3D, save sets, track progress and find inspiration for new builds
  • Relax and recharge – The range of LEGO® Sets for Adults provides a rewarding build-and-display experience that lasts long after the construction work has been completed

  • Quality guaranteed – LEGO® components meet stringent industry quality standards to ensure they are consistent, compatible and easy to build with
  • Safety assured – LEGO® bricks and pieces are dropped, heated, crushed, twisted and analyzed to make sure they satisfy rigorous global safety standards

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO reveals new DreamZzz theme with 10 trippy sets and tie-in show [News]

LEGO is launching a brand-new theme, DreamZzz, which the company says is designed to help kids process complex emotions by engaging with the things they imagine in their dreams, whether nightmares or happy dreams.

The theme will be accompanied by an animated show that will stream on LEGO’s YouTube channel. The first 10 episodes will be available starting May 15, followed by an initial launch of 10 sets and the remaining 10 episodes of the first season in August 2023. A second season of the show is slated for 2024.

Read more about LEGO Dreamzzz and see the full product lineup

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Harry Potter House Banners: show your Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff colors [Review]

Harry Potter sets that can be made for each of the Hogwarts Houses are a natural collectible angle for LEGO to take. It’s a bit surprising there haven’t already been more of them! The House Banners series has something to offer no matter the buyer’s favorite House, and four things to offer for collectors. But do these banners fly? 76409 Gryffindor House Banner (285 pieces, US $34.99 | CAN $44.99 | UK £29.99), 76410 Slytherin House Banner (349 pieces, US $34.99 | CAN $44.99 | UK £29.99), 76411 Ravenclaw House Banner (305 pieces, US $34.99 | CAN $44.99 | UK £29.99), and 76412 Hufflepuff House Banner (313 pieces, US $34.99 | CAN $44.99 | UK £29.99) are available now.

This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.

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.

Jarvis, give me a link where people can click to read more about this. Attaboy.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Harry Potter 76420 Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake [Review]

The March 2023 Harry Potter wave includes one more playset, 76420 Triwizard Tournament: The Black Lake. This returns to a scene that LEGO has only depicted once before, almost 20 years ago (!) in 2005. This version takes advantage of the reintroduction of dark turquoise, which was just leaving the LEGO color palette back when 4762 Rescue from the Merpeople was released. Here’s our review of the set, which contains 349 pieces, 5 minifigures, and a Grindylow, and is available now for US $44.99 | CAN $59.99 | UK £39.99.

This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.

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.

Read the full review

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Harry Potter 76413 Hogwarts: Room of Requirement [Review]

LEGO’s 2023 Harry Potter line so far has just one entry in the ongoing modular Hogwarts Castle line: 76413 Hogwarts: Room of Requirement. Surprisingly given that the Deathly Hallows spans two complete movies, this is only the fourth set that LEGO has based on that material. There was a previous set covering the room — 75966: Hogwarts Room of Requirement — but that version, in addition to being much smaller, was based on Order of the Phoenix. Here’s our review of the set, which contains 587 pieces and 5 minifigures, and is available March 1st for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £44.99.

This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.

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.

Read the full review

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Star Wars 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack [Review]

Today we’ll take a quick look at the last of three new LEGO Star Wars sets for January 2023. 75345 501st Clone Troopers Battle Pack returns to the popular 501st Legion, with their distinctive blue markings. In fact, the 501st was the subject of the most recent battle-pack-like set to feature clone troopers, 501st Clone Troopers. Let’s see if it’s a worthwhile return to the subject matter. The set comes with 119 pieces and 4 minifigures and will be available Jan 1st for US $19.99 | CAN $24.99 | UK £17.99.

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.

Read the full review

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO 75344 Boba Fett’s Starship Microfighter [Review]

In 2022, LEGO released one Microfighter featuring a Mandalorian, and in 2023, so far we know there will be … one Microfighter featuring a Mandalorian! 75344 Boba Fett’s Starship Microfighter is, surprisingly, the first Microfighter treatment for our favorite space western villain’s ride – either under its old name or this newer eponymous one. There’s another first with this set: it’s the first time a Microfighter pilot has been behind a canopy or otherwise “inside”! The set comes with 85 pieces and 1 minifigure and will be available Jan 1st for US $9.99 | CAN $13.99 | UK £8.99. Let’s take a quick look at this bite-size build and see if Boba should keep the roof, or be out in the cold, err, January Tatooine rain?

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.

Read the full review

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Star Wars 75347 TIE Bomber – a blast from the past [Review]

Today we take a look at one of the least-covered Original Trilogy vehicles left: the TIE/sa bomber! LEGO Star Wars fans have been anticipating the reappearance of this ship after its sole minifigure-scale version from twenty years ago. 75347 TIE Bomber nearly triples the piece count of the 2003 version and changes up the minifigures, introducing the very first LEGO version of Rae Sloane, a popular and important character who bridges the Original Trilogy all the way to the sequel movies and the First Order. The set comes with 625 pieces and 4 minifigures and will be available Jan 1st for US $64.99 | CAN $84.99 | UK £59.99. Is this new version on target? Let’s dive (bomb) in!

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.

Read the full review

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Will you get a kick out of LEGO Ideas 21337 Table Football [REVIEW]

LEGO Ideas has produced an increasing number of sets based on contests, in addition to the regular get-10,000-votes method. Most of these have been smaller gift-with-purchase items, but LEGO Ideas 21337 Table Football joins 21329 Fender Stratocaster as a full-size retail set. This was the winning submission in the We Love Sports LEGO Ideas contest, and let’s get right to the main question: the winning submission was a full-size, 11-on-11 table football setup (usually referred to as foosball in the U.S.). When the contest results were announced, lots of fans were excited to get a near full-size playable game. That swiftly turned to disappointment when the official pictures were released. The set has been scaled down to 5-a-side, less than half the size of the original! While there are very clear reasons for that choice, does it still leave us with a desirable set? LEGO Ideas 21337 Table Football, with 2,339 pieces and a whopping 22* minifigures (* and even more hair and heads), is available now for US $249.99 | CAN $309.99 | UK £214.99.

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.

Read our hands-on review of LEGO Ideas 21337 Table Football

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.