Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures set review

I don't think any other Lego set has been quite as 'what you see is what you get' as the Marvel Logo & Minifigures set. As the name suggests, this literally is a 3D box with the Marvel logo on the front. It's not exactly inspiring. But it is a solid model, and with some interesting building techniques, it's fairly fun to build too. Its real surprise comes in how five Marvel minifigures can stow away inside it, ready to pop out at the push of a few buttons.

Of course, a Lego set like this needs to be distinctive and clearly achieve what it sets out to do. Otherwise, what's the point of it? And, where playable options are limited, the minifigures on offer can impact the overall quality of the set. I think the selection on offer is solid, but it may miss out on your favorites: There's no Spider-Man or Doctor Strange, for example. Fortunately, if you have other Lego Marvel sets, more minifigures will only add to the overall display of the Lego Marvel logo.

Is Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures good enough to earn a spot on our best Lego Marvel sets list? Read on to find my full review, and exactly what I think of this unique and rather novel set.

Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures review: Build

• Technic pieces make a potentially mundane build, fun
• Sturdy when complete
• No stickers

Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures is a set split over 11 bags, accompanied by a 208-page instruction book. There are a surprising number of steps that go into bringing the Marvel logo to life, and to Lego's credit, its designers have done a great job of making this potentially mundane set a rather entertaining build.

That's largely down to the amount of Technic pieces used inside the set to make its mechanisms work. Thankfully, there's nothing too complex here, but there are a number of moving components that allow for each of the five minifigures included to pop out of their relevant secret compartments in the set. Is it entirely necessary? No, but it’s a very nice touch that helps bring this set to life.

It's not just the Technic components that make Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures more enticing to build, either. Seeing the Marvel logo take shape over several bags is a joy. Pieces are placed seemingly randomly, and it’s not until the last couple of bags that the iconic white letters start to come together. An interesting selection of building techniques have been employed to ensure the shape of each letter is just right: It can't have been an easy feat, but the finished product looks almost perfect compared to a printed Marvel logo.

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Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures review: Design

• Looks exactly like a printed Marvel logo
• Five iconic minifigures can be on display or hidden inside
• Different building techniques used with standard pieces

As I've said, Lego has done a fantastic job of recreating the Marvel logo out of standard Lego pieces. There are no special pieces used here; instead, the set's designers have used a clever blend of building techniques, layering bricks frontways and sideways to ensure each letter's dimensions are as close to the real thing as possible. The result is striking.

As for the rest of the set? Well, to look at it it's just a hunk of red. But it's what's inside that counts: the carefully constructed Technic pieces allow for the sides of the set and two panels on the top to pop off at the press of two buttons. There’s also a third lever on the back that allows one further minifigure to ascend from within the set — the perfect positioning for Iron Man.

The included minifigures are Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow and Captain America. Perhaps your favorite Marvel character is missing, but it's a solid selection of key Marvel characters. And if you do have other Marvel sets, nothing is stopping you from adding additional minifigures to its lineup.

When the set isn't in use, the minifigures can be stowed away inside, which is a nice touch though they do look better out on display. The set can also be displayed with them in their 'popped out' positions — although it means you’ll have a few stray panels not in use. Alternatively, you can place the panels back in place and simply stand the minifigures on top of the finished Logo. There are plenty of studs to keep them secure, too.

Is it the most creative Lego set I’ve ever seen? No, but for what it is, Lego's done a great job of bringing it to life. If you do want a Marvel logo to add to your collection of Lego Marvel sets, this really does look the part. It'd be unfair to expect anything more from it, really.

Should you buy Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures?

If you've got a growing Lego Marvel collection, then yes: I think this is a great addition to any display. The logo is unmistakably Marvel, and the pop-out minifigures are a nice touch. It is, however, a little pricey for what's on offer here: There’s undoubtedly a chunk of Disney/Marvel tax embedded into the price, which is a shame given the simplicity of the set. Still, if you can afford it, or want to wait for a sale, it'll look great on a shelf, alongside other Marvel sets.

Other sets to consider

If money is no object, the best Marvel set you can buy is unquestionably the epic Avengers Tower. Made up of 5,201 pieces, it's three feet tall and carries a whopping 31 minifigures. At $500, though, it's a large margin more expensive than the Marvel Logo.

For a more reasonable price, why not consider Lego Marvel Rocket and Baby Groot or Venomized Groot? Both are iconically Marvel, and both are available for roughly half the price of the Lego Marvel Logo & Minifigures.