Review: LEGO Marvel 76185 Spider-Man at the Sanctum Workshop

Today we are quickly interested in the content of the LEGO Marvel set 76185 Spider-Man at the Sanctum Workshop, a product very loosely derived from the film Spider-Man: No Way Home currently in theaters. In the box, 355 pieces including four minifigs and what to assemble what LEGO presents to us as the basement of the Sanctum Sanctorum, the residence and headquarters of Doctor Strange. The place is good in the film, the minifigs are indeed characters in the film, but it is difficult to consider that the set reveals anything: it is two pieces of walls and a simple bunch of 'accessories. For 39.99 €, we also get a somewhat shapeless creature which has nothing to do there but which in principle must offer some playful possibilities.

The characters delivered in this box were expected in the film since the first trailers, so there is nothing here that could spoil a cinema session, in any case not more than the devastation caused by the social network trolls who do not do not hesitate to reveal the key moments of the film.

So we end up with a mini-scene to assemble which, apart from a few details, could be the basement of any character from any universe. The construction is completely generic, the designer having contented himself with adding a few "magical" or at least mysterious elements which will establish the link with the supposed owner of the premises. The stickers which frame the passage reinforce this affiliation effect but it remains difficult to see in the contents of this box a real product derived from the film. LEGO is content to specify that it was "inspired" by No way home.

The assembly of the three sachets provided only takes a few minutes and the product is not a great purveyor of original techniques. However, we will have fun putting together the various and varied micro-decorations that fill the shelves and the few pieces of furniture, it is rather successful in terms of creativity and it is always taken. The diorama obtained benefits from a little depth thanks to the extension which is placed in the extension of the central "door" and is not satisfied with being a simple facade even if the back of the playset is relatively basic.

Is it possible to have fun with this product if you are a young fan of the Marvel universe and more particularly of Spider-Man? I think so. The character endowment opens up a few possibilities, the provided creature will serve as the designated opponent and Peter Parker can even ride a bike while MJ plays the Playstation with his controller but without a screen or TV. The computer which is satisfied with a simple sticker stuck on a tile with a clip deserved better, we know that LEGO is able to produce a more credible representation. The large creature provided could be from the universe of Strange, it is connected with its tentacles and its pincers that can hold a minifig.

The minifig endowment is correct with Spider-Man, Michelle Jones (MJ), Doctor Strange and Wong. Perhaps missing a fifth character who would have had his place in this scene: Ned Leeds, a minifigure who would have easily found his place in front of the computer placed on the desk.

The Spider-Man figurine seems particularly successful to me. It uses almost all of the manufacturer's know-how in pad printing and injection with two-color legs with perfectly fitted printed patterns, a torso that benefits from an impressive level of detail and a head that is also very accomplished. . Nothing to say, it's almost perfect if we admit that neutral arms do the trick. We will retain the pattern on the knees which protrudes from the blue / red double injection and which is perfectly executed.

Strange is also very believable with a torso and legs detailed and it is obviously the molded cape that gives character to the figure. The prop is an actor in its own right in the film and it finds here a representation that allows it to exist a little more than when LEGO provides us with a simple piece of fabric. The cloak can be installed and removed without having to remove the figure's head, so it can switch from character to character in the blink of an eye if the need arises. It is just missing a few patterns on the two returns around the neck so that the accessory is a little less monochrome and a little more faithful to the version seen on the screen.

The Michelle Jones (MJ) minifigure, embodied on screen by Zendaya, seems a bit behind me aesthetically. The face already used in 2019 in the set 76129 Hydro-Man Attack is appropriate with Zendaya's signature pout, but Wonder Woman's hair looks a bit off topic to me here. The outfit is sober with a torso without the curves used in the past for the female characters but rather well executed. The legs are unfortunately neutral, not a pocket or a seam.

Wong is in the good winter outfit, known from the trailer for the film, just missing his two big suitcases. The down jacket worn by the actor is there, with its hood in the back, it's perfect. No alternative facial expression for this character but it's a detail that won't bother many people.

This film derivative Spider-Man: No Way Home is a set designed, announced and sold before the film's release, so it logically remains very vague and approximate. We feel that Marvel has simply indicated to LEGO that one of the scenes of the film takes place in a cluttered basement, the toy maker will then have extrapolated by piling up everything that he could reach, down to the usual tools with a drill and a car wheel disassembly cross.

Hopefully LEGO has planned other boxes around the really important moments of the film, there is something to offer us some beautiful minifigs with a revisited and updated design. This playset will serve as a waiting product, it puts us a little in the mood for the film and it is already that. The demand was there, this product has been out of stock for several weeks already and the delivery of my current order at LEGO is postponed every week, I am now on January 29, 2022. Too bad, I will wait, out of question of lining the pockets of an aftermarket dealer who would profit from my impatience.

Note: The set presented here, provided by LEGO, is as usual involved. Deadline fixed at December 26, 2021 next at 23pm.

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