‘I want to love it…but I don’t’: LEGO Batman fans react to Gotham City reveal

One day on from the official reveal of LEGO Batman 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City, LEGO DC fans have a lot to say about the upcoming set.

Following the full reveal of 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City, we’ve already shared our personal first impressions from across the Brick Fanatics team – but what does the wider community think? It’s certainly a thrust towards something different within LEGO DC, but the question remains of whether or not it will be enough to save the theme.

Here’s a look at some of the opinions from across the community, ranging across the good, the bad, and the hopeful.

There’s a tentative hope for the future of LEGO DC…

It’s hard to argue against the fact that 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City is something new for the theme. Those over on reddit are pleased to see the LEGO Group trying something new – even if the price is still a little too steep to get the set over the line.

“This is refreshing and original,” commented one reddit user. “If I were a bigger Batman fan, especially with a tie to the animated series, I’d consider it.”

Another added: “While $300 is off the table for me to buy this, [it’s] definitely nice to see Animated get representation.”

…but LEGO DC fans are still calling for heroes other than Batman

However, while the style of 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City is certainly different from what’s come before, it’s still staying firmly in LEGO DC’s comfort zone with the subject matter. Batman has been front and centre of the theme for a long time now – and fans are crying out for something different.

“Very cool, a step in the right direction BUT it would be better if we got sets with other characters, not just Batman-related,” commented one Instagram user on the LEGO Group’s official announcement of the post.

“It’s certainly nice as a build and concept…but not one I would own. The Bat-merch is oversaturated,” commented another on Instagram. “If you want me to keep spending money on Batman sets, there better be some Brave and the Bold team merch up there. New villains and DC hero minifigures please.”

‘The sheer amount of stickers’

Others were quick to point out ‘the sheer amount of stickers’ on the set, with several Instagram commenters picking out the volume of stickered elements. In such a large set, it is understandably hard to have everything printed. If the trade-off for getting a set packed full of references, then perhaps the stickers are something we’ll just need to battle through.

Introducing more people to LEGO Art-style sets

LEGO Art has been around for a while but isn’t for everyone. Sticking to iconic artworks and aesthetic builds, the theme has ushered in a lot of new fans but hasn’t made an impact on some existing fans of LEGO.

However, sets like 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City and 71209 The Amazing Spider-Man before it appear to be introducing people who wouldn’t usually want their LEGO sets hanging on the wall to the concept – as with this reddit user.

“The artwork stuff isn’t usually my thing, but dang, I think they got me, commented one person. “This is lovely.”

‘I want to love it…and I don’t’

Despite the positives that people are picking up on, 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City is missing a certain something for some builders. Despite really wanting to appreciate the detail in the set, some just…can’t.

“This is kinda hitting like 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box where I really want to love it more than I do. The price certainly doesn’t help either,” commented one person on reddit, while another agreed: “I really, really, really want to love it, and I don’t. And it’s that annoying amount of appeal where I like it enough that I will regret not having it, but not enough that I can pull the trigger on $300.”

It seems that the price in particular is getting in the way of making this a day one purchase for many.

Why are we getting another huge LEGO Batman set?

It’s also especially hard to stomach such a hard price coming less than a year after another, even more expensive LEGO Batman set: 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box.

“With them releasing thousands of dollars of big ticket sets this year, this is an easy pass,” commented a LEGO fan on reddit. “Honestly just getting tired of the growing number of blatant money grabs from adult nerds. [It] feels like they’re really going to kill their own brand with this worsening practice. I’m definitely close to being priced out of the hobby, and FOMO will lead many of us to just stop.”

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