LEGO DC 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor and 76301 Batman & Batmobile vs. Mr. Freeze review
Superman finally returns to LEGO DC whilst Mr Freeze faces off with Batman yet again, across a pair of sets for which you (yes, you) are probably not the target audience.
Alongside the eye-catching release of 76303 Batman Tumbler vs. Two-Face & The Joker comes two other LEGO DC releases for January 2025 in the form of 4+ LEGO Batman set 76301 Batman & Batmobile vs. Mr. Freeze and LEGO DC set 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor.
Do we need another Mr Freeze so soon after the excellent Batman: The Animated Series version from 2024? And does Superman of all superheroes need a mech suit to take on human businessman Lex Luthor?
76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor
Release: January 1, 2025 Price: £12.99 / $14.99 / €14.99 Pieces: 120 Minifigures: 2 LEGO: Order now
76301 Batman & Batmobile vs. Mr. Freeze
Release: January 1, 2025 Price: £17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 Pieces: 63 Minifigures: 2 LEGO: Order now
Superman returns
In the case of LEGO DC 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor, if it’s a matter of giving Superman a mech suit in the same style as we received earlier in 2024 for Batman in 76270 Batman Mech Armour so that we can simply get a Superman minifigure again, then sure, give Supes a mechanised, oversized suit for him to absolutely make sure he defeats Lex Luthor this time.
Why? Because believe it or not, 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor is the first non-Batman set from the LEGO DC theme in over four years. Not since April 2020’s 76157 Wonder Woman vs. Cheetah have we not had a LEGO DC set to feature Batman or be based around the Dark Knight. And the time before that takes us back to 2018 and the era of Mighty Micros. It’s been a while, just as it has for Superman and Lex Luthor to appear in LEGO minifigure form – the last time we saw Superman as a minifigure was in 2020’s DC Collectible Minifigures series.
76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor is a silly but fun premise, just as all the other mech suits we’ve seen across LEGO DC, Marvel, NINJAGO and Star Wars this last year or so, and it follows the same premise, sitting the named character in the suit’s hollowed-out chest, with the suit otherwise themed to that character in design and colour, as well as particular attributes.
In this case that’s the Superman crest on the chest and the ability to fly, achieved with two rocket boosters built in red and attached to the suit’s back.
Lex Luthor may have a Kryptonite gun in one hand and a large chunk of the green rock in the other, but he doesn’t stand much chance here.
Both minifigure designs are the highlight of the set, with the LEGO DC team staying super consistent with the use of the exact same head-piece for Lex as we’ve always had, but the green suit is new and works even better as a concept in the bright green colour this time. Superman’s stern look with the glowing red eyes is particularly good, whilst the design for his suit is simple and clean.
A chilly reception
76301 Batman & Batmobile vs. Mr. Freeze is the third LEGO DC set releasing January 2025 and is the latest aimed at the 4+ audience – Batman is a good pull for young LEGO fans as evidenced by the large number of junior sets we see featuring the Caped Crusader.
76301 is a cute concept with a mini Batmobile for him to run around in and take on another version of Mr. Freeze, this time equipped with a flick-fire… ice-patch shooter… powered by a lollipop?
Everything in these younger sets is printed and it’s no different in 76301, and whilst it doesn’t make the Batmobile build any grander or more interesting to put together, the final result is a fun little interpretation – you can imagine Bruce Wayne wheeling around in this little four-wheeler driving through his Batcave choosing which Batmobile or Batwing to take out for the night.
Do we need another Mr. Freeze, though, so soon after we had the excellent version inspired by Batman: The Animated Series in 76274 Batman with the Batmobile vs. Harley Quinn and Mr. Freeze? Why not? The design here borrows the same truly excellent head and head-piece design from that version, but offers up a new sand blue suit with metallic detailing. The minifigure strikes a nice balance between what worked so well in the previous version and something new to enjoy too.
Small but fun
Launching January 2025, 76301 Batman & Batmobile vs. Mr. Freeze and 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor come in at the more affordable end of the theme and both clearly target younger builders. For once, older LEGO Batman and DC fans are given something a little more interesting to build with 76303 Batman Tumbler vs. Two-Face & The Joker (see our review here), from a theme that usually only skews cheap and junior or super-expensive and older.
That means that there’s a likelihood of both these sets being slept on by a portion of the fanbase – those old enough to read these reviews. Both sets offer enough to appeal for hardcore collectors, even if 76301 Batman & Batmobile vs. Mr. Freeze is a little pricey. Ultimately, whilst the concept for these mechs is getting ever sillier and starting to verge on repetitive now, if sets like 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor are the excuse LEGO DC needs to give us minifigures that aren’t Batman, we can’t really complain for the cost.
Our honest opinion: None of us are the target audience for either set so both do seem a little pricey for what comes in their respective boxes. However, there’s still a little bit to love about either, if you can find them on sale…
These sets were provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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