Six retro references in LEGO Collectible Minifigures 71037 Series 24

From Space and Castle to City and even the first-ever minifigure, LEGO Collectible Minifigures 71037 Series 24 is packed to the brim with retro references.

The best Collectible Minifigures series blend old with new, introducing fresh characters while subtly (or in some cases, overtly) calling back to some of the LEGO Group’s most revered themes. 71037 Series 24 does this in abundance, littering throughout its dozen-strong line-up a medley of retro references – some staring us in the face, others only noticeable if you already know what you’re looking for.

From the obvious to the obscure, here are six nods to themes of old scattered across 71037 Series 24’s 12 brand new minifigures.

6 – A bold new colour for Classic Space

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Unless this is your first time seeing 71037 Series 24, you’ve probably already clocked the Classic Space astronaut, decked out in brown here for the first time. (Brown. The colour of… chocolate.) Almost better than that minifigure is its accessory, however, which brings us the first-ever baby Classic Space astronaut. This one couldn’t have been any other colour than blue, could it?

5 – Wildlife Rescue’s new employee

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LEGO City’s Wildlife Rescue subtheme has a brand new addition in 71037 Series 24’s Conservationist. You’ll have spied him for his cute koala piece first and foremost, but that brand new hat-and-hair element is printed with exactly the same logo present across 60307 Wildlife Rescue Camp, 60302 Wildlife Rescue Operation and so on. Shame those sets will have retired by the time this new series launches, isn’t it? 

4 – Black Falcons (and a black falcon)

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Classic Castle’s Black Falcons have come back in a big way over the past couple of years, appearing in sets including 21325 Medieval Blacksmith, 31120 Medieval Castle and 10305 Lion Knights’ Castle. The fabled faction finally gets an actual black falcon in 71037 Series 24’s Falconer, though, who’s also equipped with striking red hair and a bow piece. She’ll slot right into any medieval display, including all three of those aforementioned sets.

3 – Farmers’ market, farmers’ mascot

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71037 Series 24 dials back the costumed characters from 71034 Series 23, and it’s very much a case of quality over quantity: the T. rex Costume Fan and Carrot Mascot are both sublime minifigures. The veggie warrior is also seemingly a direct reference to LEGO City’s summer 2022 farm sets, including 60345 Farmers Market Van and 60347 Grocery Store – but it’s a poorly-timed one if so, given both those models are scheduled to retire before this series arrives…

2 – Return of the trolls

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No, not those pesky internet trolls: instead, we’re talking about the troll warrior faction from Castle’s Fantasy Era subtheme, which ruled LEGO kingdoms everywhere from 2007 (until it was displaced by, erm, LEGO Kingdoms). From his colour scheme to his sword, 71037 Series 24’s Orc feels like an upgraded version of the minifigures from those sets – a notion cemented by the updated faction logo on his shield.

1 – Extra, extra: minifigures are real

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71037 Series 24’s Newspaper Kid includes a unique printed tile, and while the letters and words emblazoned across its front page are indecipherable, the image is instantly recognisable. Yep, it’s 71021 Series 18’s Classic Police Officer, or – if you prefer – the first minifigure ever released, all the way back in 1978. We’ll assume that the newspaper is announcing the arrival of the first minifigure, presenting an existential conundrum for the minifigure holding it.

71037 Series 24 will be available from January 1, 2023. Each blind bag will retail for £3.49 / $4.99 / €3.99. Check out more images of the entire series here.

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