Themes
[table id=1 responsive=scroll filter=”marvel” /]
It was the year of the superhero in 2012, with both Marvel and DC joining the LEGO line-up. For the first time, the world’s most popular comic book characters would all be available across two LEGO themes.
The LEGO Group had linked up with Marvel once before, for a short-lived Spider-Man theme in 2003 and 2004. Based on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 films, the sets focused on the action-packed set pieces from the movies.
When the broader Marvel theme arrived in 2012, it coincided with the release of the long-awaited team-up film The Avengers. It is easy to forget how big of an event it was to have these disparate heroes share the screen, but there was no doubt at the time with the majority of the launch sets released to tie in with the movie. A few constraction sets were also released, bringing the BIONICLE style figures to the Marvel-verse.
The following year saw a mix of Iron Man 3 based sets and Spider-Man comic book based sets, which is the approach that the LEGO Marvel theme has taken since. A mix of comic book inspired sets featuring a wide selection of characters from the Marvel back catalogue launch each year and are released alongside movie inspired sets based on the latest Marvel Studios releases.
One of the things that LEGO Marvel fans love the most is collecting the minifigures. Deadpool is a character who has only appeared in one set – 6866 Wolverine’s Chopper Showdown. Other elusive classics include Agent Coulson, the Collector and Cyclops.
There has been one subtheme in the Marvel theme – Mighty Micros. In total there are nine of the little sets to collect, each one containing two tiny little vehicles and two tiny little minifigures. Each character features short legs and a cartoony face.
With the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reaching ever greater heights with Avengers: Endgame and comic book fandom seemingly more and more common, LEGO Marvel might come to rival Star Wars for longevity.