‘Inexcusable’: LEGO Batman fans call Batmobile’s missing character a ‘deal-killer’

The newest LEGO Batmobile is missing what many corners of the community are calling a crucial character – and it’s putting a dampener on the entire set.

To paraphrase Homer Simpson: “Whenever Robin’s not in a set, all the other characters should be asking, ‘Where’s Robin?’” This is pretty much the general sentiment around 76328 Batman: The Classic TV Series Batmobile, which was finally officially revealed earlier this week following a couple of early looks from third-party retailers. The 1,822-piece set includes only a single minifigure… and it isn’t the Boy Wonder.

Dick Grayson (as portrayed by Burt Ward) has only appeared once before in LEGO, in 2016’s 76052 Batman Classic TV Series – Batcave. The LEGO DC team passed up the opportunity to bring him back in 2021’s standalone 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile, and they’ve now committed the same Bat-crime with 76328 Batman: The Classic TV Series Batmobile, a large-scale rendition of the iconic 1960s Bat-vehicle.

The October 1 release includes only a single minifigure, Adam West’s Batman, which is a step down from previous large-scale Batmobiles. 76139 1989 Batmobile includes Batman, Joker and Vicki Vale, while 76240 Batmobile Tumbler includes both Christian Bale’s Batman and Heath Ledger’s Joker. And while the focus of these sets is not on their minifigures (they aren’t compatible with them, after all), the absence of Robin is something many fans are struggling to look past.

“I know minifigures aren’t the most important thing in non-minifigure-scale releases and this is a nitpick if anything, but it feels kind of wrong not to include Robin along with Batman in a Classic TV Series set,” Hugglemorris wrote on reddit. “[In my opinion], that series is peak ‘dynamic duo’ to the point it is even reflected in the design of the Batmobile.”

MolaMolaMania added: “Damn, I was considering getting this one as I grew up with this show, but that’s just an inexcusable omission. I guess I should be glad I’m saving the money. They put in all those pieces so Batman could have a roof to stand on instead of Robin? DUMB.” The sentiment isn’t exclusive to reddit, either: all across the web Bat-fans are taking the LEGO Group to task for skipping over Dick Grayson again.

“The fact that LEGO neglected to make it a complete set with NO Robin is a deal-killer,” Mike Johnston wrote on Brick Fanatics’ Facebook page. “I got a classic Robin for my earlier version of this. I’d certainly buy this new one except for that…” Over on Instagram, maniaczone_official described the inclusion of only a single minifigure as ‘devastating’. YouTuber Ashnflash has even dedicated an entire video to the lack of Robin in recent DC sets (the Boy Wonder hasn’t shown up at all since 2020).

The comments on our stories here on Brick Fanatics sing a similar tune. “I don’t know why both of the classic Batmobiles (this one and 76188) both exclude Robin,” wrote Josh. “Without Robin, it’s incomplete.” Andrew Bell agreed: “No Boy-Wonder is a big let-down. I don’t know how much it costs to develop and create a minifigure but I’m pretty sure I’d have paid the going price.”

The Brick Dynasty put things into context on X, pointing out that it ‘wouldn’t be a LEGO set if we didn’t have at least one thing to complain about’, but conceding that the model’s RRP of £129.99 / $149.99 / €149.99 is a ‘reasonable price for an iconic set’. In fact, those who are able to look past 76328 Batman: The Classic TV Series Batmobile’s paltry minifigure count are pretty pleased with the model.

“I know it’s not perfect but this is a day one purchase for me,” Japples123 wrote on reddit. A couple of other users chimed in that the set will be a day one pickup for them too, while PenPlays wrote on X: “This is yet another INCREDIBLE LEGO 18+ build of a Batmobile with one major flaw: it’s another ‘60s series set that doesn’t include Robin.”

The bad news for collectors who want to pair Robin with their copy of 76328 Batman: The Classic TV Series Batmobile is that he doesn’t come cheap on the aftermarket. Still exclusive to a single retired set, the minifigure – complete with dual-moulded arms and legs – fetches a hefty average of £45 new on BrickLink. Good thing the price of the Batmobile itself is so reasonable…

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76328 Batman: The Classic TV Series Batmobile launches October 1 for £129.99 / $149.99 / €149.99. Look out for our detailed review of the 18+ set later this month.

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