Today we take a very quick tour of the content of the LEGO Marvel set 76281 X-Men X-Jet, a box of 359 pieces which will be available from January 1, 2024 at the surprising retail price of €84.99. Whatever the possible qualities of this product inspired by the new season of the animated series X-Men '97 which will soon be available on the Disney+ platform, the price announced has monopolized the attention of fans who are still wondering how LEGO and Disney have come to believe that this is the right price for this box.

We can risk trying to find an explanation despite the reduced inventory of the product and the presence of four characters, but it is difficult to justify the public price by the presence of some very large elements for the fuselage of the X-Jet knowing that the many patterns present inside the ship are only stickers. A pad printing effort could have made it possible to argue in favor of LEGO but this is not the case.

We cannot conclude either that this X-Jet is ultra-detailed even if the 30 cm long vessel is not unworthy given the scale chosen. The construction, however, remains a modest children's toy like the previous version of the set. 76022 X-Men vs. The Sentinel marketed in 2014, with some basic functionalities such as the opening of the front glass roof and a portion of the cabin which allow access to the various piloting and command stations with basic layout or even the presence of Spring-Shooters as well as Stud Shooters placed under the ship to ensure minimal playability of the product and that's it.

The ship does not even have landing gear, it rests on its cabin and yet it would only have needed a few additional parts to make it gain a little height on our shelves. LEGO, on the other hand, did not forget to add a large sheet of graphically successful stickers but still just as annoying, especially at this price.

The supply of figurines is interesting without being overwhelming in substance and it is especially disappointing in terms of form: the Wolverine minifig seems at first glance very similar to that seen in the boxes of the 2nd series of collectible characters from the universe Marvel Studios (LEGO Marvel Studios reference 71039 Collectible Minifigures Series 2), but the version delivered in this box is economical with less pad printing on the arms and the side of the legs. It does not escape the usual problems of printing a light color, yellow here, on a dark support, the blue of the legs.

The figurine is therefore not completely connected from head to toe, which is frankly a shame. The Cyclops figurine is passable, it suffers like some Captain America figurines from the usual defect linked to light-colored faces pad-printed on a dark head, it's too pale.

The Malicia (Rogue) figurine is graphically very correct with a very pretty torso but hair that lacks white areas if we compare the LEGO version to the reference character. The small drip of ink visible on both sides of the head of the copy I received annoys me.

Finally, we get Magneto in an unusual outfit which is nevertheless more or less consistent with what we have already seen of the characters in the new season of the animated series. LEGO, however, seems to have forced a little too much on the pink and to have forgotten to integrate some shadows to give a little relief.

We cannot invoke here the usual excuse of "very preliminary artworks provided by the rights holders", Hasbro for its part unveiled its derivative products with a action figure of Magneto much more faithful to the version that should appear on screen. To be checked at the time of broadcast but this Magneto with straight hair seems quite irrelevant to me.

Those who want to complete their squad of mutants can add here the Beast and Storm figurines available in the 2nd series of collectible characters from the Marvel Studios universe and possibly replace the Wolverine minifig delivered in this box with the more advanced version as well. available in stamped boxes 71039 Collectible Minifigures Series 2.

We cannot decently say that this set lives up to the highly anticipated return of the X-Men at LEGO, it does not stand out on anything notable, is content with the minimum service charged at full price and it is even disappointing on several points techniques. You really have to be an unconditional and impatient fan to fall for it without at least waiting for this box to be available at a more reasonable price elsewhere. Sorry for not being more enthusiastic at the start of the year but the contents of this box are not capable of provoking blind amazement in me even if I am a fan of the subject covered.

To end on a positive note, don't hesitate to discover Chloé's informed opinion on this product (she has an X-Men t-shirt so she knows), her very personal analysis is worth a look. Be careful, if secondary education is an academic level for you, move on.

@hothbricks

Still no Batman… 😭 llegollegosetllegocollectionllegosetllegotiktokllegotokllegominifiguresllegomarvelmmarvelmmarvelcomicsxxmenxxmen92xxmen1992ttoyshhumourllegotiktokerhhotgirlggirladviceggirltalkggirltoknailsoftiktok

♬ original sound - hothbricks.com

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 11th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

And one more ! Another year has passed in your company and I definitely haven't gotten tired of it since 2010. I'm not going to be very original this year, you know that there are subjects that are close to my heart and formulas that I repeats regularly, it's not out of laziness, it's just that I consider them important and that I allow myself to bring them forward once a year.

So thank you like every year to all those who came, stayed, returned, to those who contributed via their comments, to those who helped other readers as well as to those who shared their good tips or their experiences, good or bad, with the others. I say it once again, without you and without all these interactions, this space would be very sad and without much interest and would ultimately be just another site. The word “community” is often used pretentiously, I think it belongs here.

In 2024, I hope that you will continue to come here regularly to pick out what interests you around our common passion. For my part, I will continue to try to give you ever more very personal opinions and as many more or less relevant remarks that you will obviously be free to contradict or criticize. I will also continue to try to obtain more and more products to put into play on the site and to offer all of the sets that LEGO is willing to send me via the LAN endowment and the various review offers that I receive throughout. throughout the year. Those who know me know that this sharing is important to me, it allows me to make some people happy throughout the year and nothing replaces the satisfaction of receiving a kind message of thanks from those who make me trust and who were lucky.

The usual remark that everyone who has been around for a long time probably knows by heart: don't sacrifice anything for a box of LEGO. Don't go into debt to buy LEGO. Plastic cannot be eaten and it does not sell for as much as some people would like you to believe, especially when urgent action is required. If personal constraints force you to put this passion aside temporarily, don't worry, nothing is permanent and you may be able to come back to it later. We will always be there to welcome you.

Take care of yourself and yours, enjoy your family and friends, the way you live your passion for LEGO should not isolate you, on the contrary it should allow you to meet other fans for share. I have the impression that this is my case, this site being the origin or the cause of some of my most beautiful encounters in recent years.

With these words, I wish you all an excellent year 2024 with or without all the LEGO products you dream of but above all with the health and love of those around you.

Today we take a quick look back at a year 2023 which will once again have been very rich in products targeting in a completely uninhibited and assumed manner an adult clientele who can afford plastic toys. . Like each of you, I was seduced, enthusiastic, annoyed or disappointed by some of these products but the tastes and colors cannot be discussed and the sets that I consider successful or unsuccessful will undoubtedly not be so for everyone.

I say this so as not to appear to be obsessed only by overpriced products, I am an adult fan generally seduced by sets which have a little more to offer than simple fun functionalities and my gaze is therefore turned logically towards the boxes at the high public price that LEGO tries to sell me all year round.

My big favorite this year is undoubtedly the set 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell (€499.99), a box which allowed me to immerse myself in a universe initially too poorly exploited for my taste by LEGO and put aside for too long afterwards. This product was an excellent surprise, not trying to take on the appearance of a playset by fully assuming its status as a pure exhibition model and the adult that I am was largely satisfied with it, both in terms of content and on form, despite a price that will probably seem unreasonable to many fans.

Another favorite in a universe that also takes me back a few years, the set 77015 Temple of the Golden Idol (€149.99) which is also a nice display product which does not, however, miss out on some well-integrated features. The object pays a beautiful tribute to the film from which it is inspired and I found something to get excited about and even have a little fun while having the possibility of displaying a relatively compact diorama on my shelves. I'm not one of those who dedicate an entire temple to their collection at home, but I like to keep a few sets assembled in a corner, at least until another box steals the spotlight and temporarily takes their place. This set fulfills this role perfectly.

In the LEGO Star Wars range, these are not the two stamped products Ultimate Collector Series marketed this year which excited me the most with on the one hand yet another X-wing and on the other the nevertheless very successful Hunter, the good surprise came for me from the set 75356 Executor Super Star Destroyer (€69.99), an accessible box which offers an excellent compromise between level of detail and space occupied by the construction. I obviously remain a fan of the more ambitious models regularly offered in this range, but the possibility of having on hand some more compact products without being too simplified or symbolic really appeals to me.

Another set that found an audience at home: the LEGO Disney reference 43227 Naughty Icons (139.99, €) with its references to the cartoons of my childhood and especially the presence of a VHS cassette which takes me back to my younger years. This product, which is obviously aimed at a Disney clientele "before", reaches its target as far as I am concerned, the worn-out video cassettes, erased by mistake or rewound by hand having punctuated a large part of my youth. Ultimately, it's almost more the presence of this cassette that attracts me here than the subject matter.

I also place the LEGO Harry Potter set 76419 Hogwarts Castle & Grounds (€169.99) in my top of this year, even if I am not an unconditional fan of this franchise. The construction takes up just enough space so as not to invade my living space while offering an effective and affordable nod to this universe. It's a good compromise which appeals to me and which allows all those who like the license to have access to a derivative product that is less invasive than the usual Hogwarts playsets. Once again, LEGO wants to seduce what I call fans in "mode"casual", those who love a license or a franchise but not to the point of living in a plastic museum all to the glory of the universes they appreciate.

A special mention for some products from the LEGO Ideas range such as the sets 21338 A-Frame Cabin (179.99 €) and 21343 Viking Village (€139.99), two boxes which in my opinion have favorably embodied the concept this year. Some will no doubt consider that this range sometimes strays a little by trying to ride trends or attract an audience that is not the brand's usual clientele, but there are still some good ideas that are often well executed. among the selected creations which meet the expectations of the most demanding fans. In my opinion, this is sufficient to tolerate the more hazardous attempts which leave those who are not fans of the universes, licenses or franchises in question.

My main disappointment 2023 materializes in an overall award awarded to the LEGO Marvel range which was content with a few derivative products without any particular flavor and the marketing of the very acceptable set 76269 Avengers Tower (€499.99) was in my opinion not enough to relaunch. The 2023 offer oscillates between a large, somewhat crude shield and some very messy micro-dioramas, I needed a little more to get me excited despite some pretty figurines available in some of these boxes. This is undoubtedly the end of a cycle, both in the cinema and on the shelves of toy stores and I hope that Disney and LEGO will quickly be able to relaunch themselves to offer us more successful films and more associated derivative products. creative and attractive.

What more can I say about this past year except that I had the impression of being the target of some pretty, well-designed companies and of not being asked too often, which allowed me to stay within a relatively reasonable budget . A small regret concerning the DC Comics range which has still not emerged from the slump in which it has been stuck for several years already and this is not the set 76252 Batcave Shadow Box (€399.99) which helped to resuscitate her. I was not seduced by the aesthetics of the product even if some perhaps see it as a good idea and this set which makes intensive use of black parts highlights an important detail at LEGO which annoys me to no end. point: scratches. This is also the case for the set tower 76269 Avengers Tower (€499.99) and at this price level, I expect a little more from the world's number 1 manufacturer in the toy sector in terms of finishing.

I say it again like every year: there will be as many opinions as there are fans and the LEGO offer was in any case so varied again this year that everyone will have found at least one product considered to tick all the boxes. My selection of successful or failed products is therefore far from exhaustive, I base myself mainly on the impressions that these different sets leave me several months after their marketing. Other sets will have simply left me indifferent, it doesn't matter, they will inevitably have found their audience among other fans who will have been sensitive to the proposition.

Don't hesitate to mention your favorite sets of 2023 in the comments, this article is ultimately just a pretext for everyone to express their opinion and read those of others. Also indicate the products that left you hungry, there was plenty to do this year and that's ultimately the good news: the offering offered by LEGO for its adult customers is still as varied as ever, there's something for everyone enough to have fun even on a limited budget.

Today we take a very quick look at the contents of the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 set 31148 Retro Roller Skate, a small box of 342 pieces which will be available from January 1, 2024 at the public price of €29.99. This small product offers, as is always the case in this range, three constructions including a main model which uses the entire inventory and two secondary models which simply take advantage of a more or less substantial portion of the elements available. This involves assembling a roller skate with vintage accents, a cassette boombox and a skateboard.

I remind you of this for all purposes because LEGO presents the three models on the same presentation visual: It is not possible to assemble one model without dismantling the other, even for secondary constructions which do not reuse the entirety of the model. inventory available.

You read correctly, we only build one roller skate and even if the construction is completely convincing, I find it a bit of a shame not to have a real pair of roller skates to display on the corner of a shelf. The main model of the set, however, makes its small impact with its large yellow laces and its pink wheels which should bring back memories to those who experienced the colorful debauchery of the 80s.

We obviously remain here in nostalgia lifestyle already wrung out for several years by the LEGO ICONS range and adapted for the occasion to the codes of the Creator 3-in-1 range, and even if LEGO promises children to "replay fun stories" with the three constructions offered we all know Who is this product really for?

The skate is pleasant to assemble with some interesting techniques, particularly when it comes to integrating the lacing and giving it its final shape. Everything remains relatively simple but the object will have its small effect even if it is obviously not on a 1:1 scale (16 cm long by 14 cm high).

Please note that LEGO provides a variation of the decoration installed on the sides of the slipper with a choice of a DOTS mode pattern or a rainbow with a cloud. The boom box and the skateboard, however, struggle to convince me, they only use a very small portion of the total inventory and their finish frankly leaves something to be desired.

The boombox lacks volume even if it reuses two of the four white rims for the speakers and the skateboard is in my opinion frankly disappointing because it is too crude and poorly proportioned. I added the four pink tires, they don't disfigure the construction and I said to myself that there might be something to make a little radio-controlled car out of it. But I gave up.

This small set will therefore not revolutionize the concept of the Creator 3-in-1 range, it remains within the usual codes without innovating or showing panache regarding the two alternative models imagined by the designer. Other boxes do much better on the benefit of secondary constructions which slightly extend the lifespan of the product, in my opinion this is not the case here.

I think that I will still let myself be tempted by two copies of the product when it becomes available for around twenty euros at Amazon and company, just to have enough to assemble two skates and to be able to benefit from a real pair. I am from the generation of this type of colorful products, so I will make the effort. Concerning the target invoked by LEGO, children from 8 years old, I don't really see what they could do with these constructions beyond possibly displaying the single skate in their room.

Note: The product shown here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at 5th January 2024 next at 23:59 p.m. Simply post a comment below the article to participate. Your participation is taken into account regardless of your opinion. Avoid “I’m participating” or “I’m trying my luck”, we suspect that this is the case.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.

We are there once again, so I wish you an excellent New Year's Eve and a Merry Christmas 2023. As usual, it's up to you how you're going to spend this moment: with family, friends or alone bundled up in front of your series favorite, there are a thousand ways to spend this evening and none is better than another.

The usual recommendations: avoid angry topics at the table even if we all know that there will inevitably be someone who will try to open hostilities, do not eat or drink too much even if we all know that it will be difficult to resist, don't judge those who give you gifts based on what you find under the tree, they are certainly doing their best, and think of all those who are not lucky enough to be able to spend this special moment near their loved ones. relatives.

Like every year, be careful if you take the road and it is probably not too late to check if a neighbor or friend has "nothing planned". the formula may seem conventional, but you would be surprised at the number of people who find themselves alone for one reason or another. Optionally add a plate to the table, it was a tradition at my house and I still perpetuate it today because you never know who might drop by unexpectedly, there will be turkey left anyway.

Happy New Year everyone, see you on the other side.