Today we return to the Marvel Avengers universe with the small pack of LEGO characters 40418 Falcon & Black Widow Team-Up (60 pieces - € 14.99) marketed since June and that I had forgotten in a corner.

This small box which serves as a complement to other sets more or less inspired by the Marvel's Avengers video game published by Square Enix only allows you to obtain one truly new character, the other three figurines being also available in other boxes marketed this year. year.

Black Widow's cute minifigure with prints on the arms is identical to the one delivered in the sets 76153 Helicarrier et 76166 Avengers Tower Battle. Here it is equipped with classic sticks which in my opinion are more suitable than the lightsaber handles with the Harry Potter wands that come with the 2020 version of the Helicarrier.

The two AIM agents are the ones seen in the sets 76143 Avengers Truck Takedown, 76166 Avengers Tower Battle et 76167 Iron Man Armory. No jetpacks or additional equipment for these two villains, here we have to be content with "naked" versions of the usual minifigs with their respirators in Titanium Metallic.

The Falcon minifig delivered in this small character pack is an updated version of the one in the set 76018 Avengers: Hulk Lab Smash (2014), here equipped with legs in two colors. We will appreciate the effort but these legs only accentuate the difference in color between the white of the boots which is tinted throughout and the pad printing, moreover very detailed, of the upper torso.

LEGO also took the trouble to pad two different expressions on the face, but this change in mimicry comes down to the orientation of the line which symbolizes the character's closed mouth. It's thin, a real smile or a really "angry" expression would have allowed for more marked variations. The effect of transparency on the glasses worn by the character is very successful.

The jetpack with the brick-based wings won't necessarily appeal to all fans. Some will prefer the molded wings delivered in 2016 in the set 76050 Crossbones' Hazard Heist or those of the set 76018 Avengers: Hulk Lab Smash (2014). Those provided here at least have the merit of being able to be oriented for poses a little more dynamic, even if they seem a little too crude to me to convince.

Finally, and because we must be able to justify the name "construction toy", LEGO delivers here enough to assemble a small rotating cannon that will be used by the two AIM agents. Nothing crazy, but it is still more playability for the youngest.

In short, for 15 €, there is nothing to think about for too long: If you absolutely want to add this unprecedented version of Falcon to your collection, for the moment you have no choice and you have to do the acquisition of this small pack of characters. The rest of the inventory is not unheard of, but Black Widow's minifigure is superb and the two AIM agents will eventually be able to flesh out a diorama.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at September 16, 2020 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Today we are very quickly interested in the fourth "collector" helmet available at LEGO after the three models inspired by the Star Wars universe already launched last May: the LEGO Marvel set 76165 Iron Man Helmet (480 pieces - 59.99 €).

Not everything was perfect for each of the three previous models, but overall it could be estimated that the designers had so far done their best to try to come up with rather faithful reproductions of the accessories seen on the screen.

We could also hope that these same designers had really been able to take this new and interesting format into their own hands in order to push the realism even further on future products. This is apparently not the case, the Iron Man helmet in version Mark III marketed since the beginning of August is far from convincing.

Regarding the statement in the official product description: "... LEGO sets for adults allow you to escape for a moment from the hustle and bustle of the world and rediscover the pleasure of creative building ...", with 480 pieces in the box, you will only escape the hustle and bustle of the world here for an hour of assembly.

For reference, the version Mark III Tony Stark's helmet seen on the screen, that's it and I'm not inventing anything, the photo is even on the back of the box:

You don't have to be a specialist to quickly understand that the LEGO interpretation is far from paying homage to the movie version. It is not one detail in particular that makes this new reproduction a failed product, it is rather its overall appearance.

There are, however, some good ideas in this box, with some very original assembly techniques, a colorful inventory to break up the monotony a little by assembling the inside of the helmet before moving on and a nice set of golden pieces. But that's not enough to make it a successful product worthy of joining the three Star Wars helmets on a discerning collector's shelf.

If we avoid looking too closely, we can say that this LEGO version does not demerit despite the few aesthetic approximations that we will put on the account of the LEGO concept. When detailing the product, you quickly realize that little or nothing is going well and that you have the impression of buying a hastily cobbled together prototype that was collecting dust on the desk of an inexperienced designer.

The front face of the helmet is too flat, the chin gives the impression that Tony Stark has lost his dentures, the cheeks are empty and the designer probably intended to sell us the "shadow" effect to justify his creative choice, the transition between the edge of the golden visor and the frame of the helmet on the sides is very coarse and the two modules which are provided to narrow the two sides of the jaw are equipped with Ball Seals gray that remain visible from almost any angle. Oddly, the sides and back of the helmet are almost believable, as if the designer had applied at first but panicked when he got to the point where he had to figure out how to finalize the front end.

If everything had been perfect or almost, I would obviously have taken the time to bitch about the two stickers that are used for the eyes, but I don't even make the effort, it's useless. I do not put a layer on the different color variants of the parts either. Dark Red, I wouldn't want to be accused of doing too much.

It is difficult to find extenuating circumstances for the designer, who nevertheless explains to us in the first pages of the French version of the instructions than "...we managed to achieve the smooth and powerful side of the typical Iron Man welding helmet.. ", even if the product only uses 480 pieces, including the base. The three helmets in the LEGO Star Wars range were however more opulent with 625 pieces for the set. 75277 Boba Fett Helmet, 647 pieces for the set 75276 Stormtrooper Helmet and even 724 pieces for the set 75274 Tie Fighter Pilot Helmet.

I do not know if the reduced inventory of this new model yet sold at the same retail price of € 59.99 as the other three is the result of a particular restriction or simply a deliberate choice because the designer will have considered that the product was "finished" as is, but there was probably a way to add a large handful of elements to at least fill the cheeks and avoid serving us a petty and failed trompe-l'oeil effect.

If this helmet is indeed a passable exhibition product that will vaguely illusion from afar, it is in any case not a high-end product that deserves to be served in a pretty (and too big) black box stamped 18+ .

Neither its overall appearance nor its finish allow it in my opinion to claim to integrate this new collection for adult fans which had started well with the first three references based on the Star Wars universe.

Hopefully the next products based on the same concept will be more convincing. If you absolutely want to add this helmet to your collection, at least wait until it is offered at a more interesting price than the 60 € requested by LEGO. You will feel like you haven't paid too much for it for what it really has to offer.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at September 9, 2020 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Notice to all those who collect the mini-sachets supplied with the various LEGO magazines, the publisher Blue Ocean is today launching the French version of the first issue of the new LEGO Marvel Avengers magazine.

It is Spider-Man who accompanies this number 1 with a minifig far from unprecedented since it is the one seen in the sets 76133 Spider-Man Car Chase (2019) 76134 Doc Ock Diamond Heist (2019) 76146 Spider-Man Mech (2020)76147 Vulture's Trucker Robbery (2020) et 76149 The Menace of Mysterio (2020)

To expand the contents of the bag a little, the publisher adds the traditional white "canvas" pieces already supplied in many boxes.

It will cost you € 6.50 if you want to add the small bag provided to your collection and for this price you will also get a magazine with a few pages of games and advertisements for products from the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes range, as well as two posters to detach.

If this French version of the magazine follows the same logic as the editions available in other countries, the minifigure "offered" with number 2 to be published in October will be that of Iron Man.

Note that this magazine is also available online at Journaux.fr, but the shipping costs are really very high (4.40 € for a shipment by Green Letter ...). This first issue is still not online on the publisher's online sales platform abo-online.fr.

If you missed all the previous offers, know that the little LEGO Marvel promotional set 40334 Avengers Tower is currently offered again from 75 € / 80 CHF purchase of products from the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes universe. Sets 31199 Marvel Studios Iron Man et 76165 Iron Man Helmet are included in the offer.

In this small box of 211 pieces, enough to assemble a micro tower with its display, a Quinjet microphone and especially an exclusive Tony Stark / Iron Man minifigure that collectors will not want to miss.

The offer is valid online and in the LEGO Stores at best until August 31st or while stocks last.

In addition to this offer, note that VIP points are currently doubled on the LEGO Creator Expert set 10271 Fiat 500 (637 points x 2), as is the case until the end of the month for sets 76160 Batman: Mobile Bat-Base et 76166 Avengers Tower Battle.

Finally, be aware that the mention indicating "Surprise! We have added a free mystery gift to your order."currently appears in the basket regardless of the order amount ...

DIRECT ACCESS TO THE OFFER ON THE LEGO SHOP >>

THE OFFER IN BELGIUM >> THE OFFER IN SWITZERLAND >>

Note: The LEGO Speed ​​Champions polybag 30342 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO is once again offered for orders over 35 € in the LEGO Stores only. The offer is valid until August 31st.

Today we quickly tour the LEGO Marvel Avengers set 76153 Helicarrier (1244 pieces - 129.99 €), a box vaguely inspired by the Marvel's Avengers video game (Square Enix) which has been on the market since June 2020.

This is not the first LEGO version of the Helicarrier: in 2015, the manufacturer indeed offered an interpretation of the machine intended for the exhibition with the set. 76042 The SHIELD Helicarrier (2996 pieces - 349.99 €). This new version is much less ambitious, but also less expensive, and this time it is a playset intended for the youngest fans of the Marvel universe.

The idea of ​​offering a playable and affordable version of the Avengers headquarters is not bad, but its execution leaves me a little dubious here. The designers have however tried to integrate different functionalities which reinforce the playability of the product while trying to respect the aesthetic codes which allow to recognize the machine at first glance.

The whole thing could have almost convinced if a major detail had not been sloppy: the four propellers which allow the Helicarrier to fly and stabilize in the air are simply added above the fairings which in principle serve to them. frame and protect them.

However, there is a very rational explanation for this somewhat dubious aesthetic choice: The integration of the various mobile propellers in a frame entailed the risk for the youngest of getting their fingers caught or their hair caught in the mechanism and deporting them. above the side extensions eliminates this risk.

Seen from the outside, one could imagine that this Helicarrier offers many accessible and possibly playable interior spaces. This is not the case, only the cockpit placed at the front allows three characters to be installed in their respective seats and there is a large cell at the rear intended to accommodate the large MODOK figurine. The rest of the fuselage is filled with axles and gears held by Technic elements in the service of the rotation of the four propellers when the Helicarrier rolls on the ground.

The missile launcher placed in the center of the machine is a novelty for 2020 also delivered in the Spider-Man sets 76151 Venomosaurus Ambush and Ninjago 71703 Storm Fighter Battle, just like the arrow with its rubber tip which is a variant of the usual version. The possibilities of integrating this new element are really better than those offered by the gun Technic classic (ref. 6064131) often used until now.

With a Helicarrier version microfighter luxury, you also needed at least a matching Quinjet. And the version delivered here does not have much of a Quinjet as we know it, but the small ship remains playable with its cockpit which can accommodate a minifig and its rotating coin launcher placed in the front. It is also easier to install a character at the controls of this micro ship than to try to fit three miniatures in the very deep helicarrier cockpit accessible only through the very narrow hatch placed at the front. .

For those who were wondering what the 18 yellow parts seen grouped next to the craft on the official product visuals are for, they take place under the fuselage to prevent the Helicarrier from rolling and falling off the shelf on which it is. is stored or displayed.

This 1200-piece Helicarrier therefore vaguely resembles the machine seen on the screen and in the video game, but the size / functionality / playable space ratio is definitely not to its advantage. Note that all the stickers provided in this box are on a transparent background which allows to remain in line with the background color of the parts on which these different stickers are placed at the cost of a few bubbles or white burrs on the largest of them .

The figurine endowment here is rather substantial with a total of 8 characters, some of which are also available in other boxes marketed this year.

We assemble a large MODOK figurine which takes over from the version seen in 2014 in the set 76018 Avengers: Hulk Lab Smash. This new version of the leader of the AIM is in my opinion more interesting than the pseudo-minifig with the big head with its somewhat ridiculous seat proposed in 2014. The construction fits perfectly in the cell placed at the back of the Helicarrier, it is planned for that.

The Black Widow minifigure is not exclusive to this box, it also appears in the set 76166 Avengers Tower Battle and in the minifig pack 40418 Falcon & Black Widow Team-Up. I'm not really convinced by Harry Potter wands plugged into lightsaber handles, but why not.

The versions of Thor and Agent of AIM delivered in this box are identical to those seen earlier this year in the set. 76142 Avengers Speeder Bike Attack. Nick Fury's minifig could have been brand new, but LEGO didn't make the effort and it is simply the one seen in 2019 in the set 76130 Stark Jet and the Drone Attack.

Captain Marvel's minifigure is the one seen this year in the set 76152 Avengers: Wrath of Loki and Tony Stark's minifigure comes in a big handful of new 2020 releases.

We still have War Machine, delivered here in an unprecedented configuration with back-mounted equipment flanked by pad printed parts already seen in 2019 in the set 75893 Speed ​​Champions Dodge Challenger SRT Demon & 1970 Dodge Charger R / T. Well done for the three stacked roller skates that make a very believable missile launcher. The character's head with its red HUD is that of the set 76124 War Machine Buster (2019)

Knowing that the Helicarrier is an iconic machine in the Avengers universe, I think this new version at least has the merit of making it accessible to younger fans. The machine is solid, easy to handle and the narrow cockpit remains easily accessible to small hands.

Everything is not perfect in this set with a very rough aesthetic and few really playable interior spaces but there is plenty of fun with the beautiful assortment of characters provided and we already find this box less than 90 € at amazon in Germany. Collectors wishing to afford a more successful Helicarrier will wait for a hypothetical reissue of the 2015 version, but children will be happy to settle for this more affordable compromise.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at August 25, 2020 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.