70+ X-Mansion Easter Eggs and References
Posted by CapnRex101,
Much like previous Marvel Modular Buildings, 76294 X-Men: The X-Mansion is densely packed with fun references and Easter eggs, alluding to comics, animated shows, movies and even other LEGO sets.
There are lots to be discovered and all those we have identified are shown below...
The same black fire hydrant appears outside all Marvel Modular Buildings, while the lamppost returns from 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum and 76269 Avengers Tower.
The oval-shaped Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters sign closely resembles that in the X-Men movies.
There are three Technic pin holes near the front of the mansion, accommodating the misplaced Technic pin in 76178 Daily Bugle.
Two turrets have emerged from the lawn, closely resembling those featured in X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men. This animated pilot was developed shortly before X-Men: The Animated Series.
A sticker depicts the claw marks left behind when Wolverine performs the motorcycle slide from Akira in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Mutatis Mutandis is the school's motto throughout the X-Men comics, maybe best translated as 'with the necessary changes'.
The school was founded in 1963, the same year as The X-Men #1 was published.
Similar cardboard boxes appear in many of Justin Ramsden's sets.
Trask Industries created the Sentinels, headed by Bolivar Trask.
A basketball court is located outside the mansion in X-Men '97, the movies and other sources, opening to deploy the X-Jet from underneath.
An identical basketball hoop appears in 70840 Welcome to Apocalypseburg, also designed by Justin Ramden.
The yellow electrical box returns from 76178 Daily Bugle.
This poster is based on the famous Days of Future Past comic cover, featuring two characters yet to appear in minifigure form, Cable and Old Man Logan.
Pyro, a mutant able to control fire, has ironically damaged the fire exit.
Matching yellow dumpsters are found in each Marvel Modular Building.
A toad sits on the dumpster, in reference to frequent opponent of the X-Men, Toad.
Beast's fedora, as seen in X-Men: The Animated Series, is found inside.
The cutlass belongs to Nightcrawler.
The dumpster also contains a coin, used by Magneto in X-Men: First Class and featuring the same numerical value as his five Reichsmark coin from the movie.
Much like the scratches on the pavement in front of the school, Wolverine's claws clearly made these scratches on the back and graffiti has been added over the top.
Pixie, a mutant-fairy hybrid capable of flight and inducing hallucinations, has also inscribed her name on this wall.
76218 Sanctum Sanctorum includes a nearly identical air conditioning unit on the back, which also activates a function inside the building.
Kurt Wagner, also known as Nightcrawler, was raised in a circus, hence the style of his poster.
Dazzler's concert poster, meanwhile, reflects her singing and roller skating skills.
The X-Mansion shares the same lift manufacturer as 76178 Daily Bugle and 76269 Avengers Tower.
A red mug is hidden inside the lift, similar to those featured in 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum and 76269 Avengers Tower.
This image shows Erik and Charles as friends when the school opened, before their diverging views on mutant-human relations pushed them apart.
The other photograph is based on one seen in X-Men '97, showing the original X-Men team of Professor X, Beast, Angel, Jean Grey, Cyclops and Iceman.
Lifting the floor reveals a golden pyramid underneath, in reference to the villainous Apocalypse.
Gambit's Creole cookbook is stored on the bookshelf.
The book titled 'Medical Science' belongs to Beast.
Speaking of Beast, Dr. Hank McCoy can be seen teaching remotely, hanging upside down and carrying the X-Men mug from his Collectable Minifigure.
The screen states this is the 'first class', in reference to the X-Men: First Class film.
The digital chalkboard underneath includes mention of M-Day, the name of several events from comics and films, variously involving Scarlet Witch and Magneto.
A timeline on the board shows the potential complexities of time travel adventures, such as the events of the Days of Future Past storyline.
The symbol of Ashir En Sabah Nur, an Egyptian cult devoted to Apocalypse, is featured on the other side of the board. The symbol is sometimes associated with Apocalypse himself.
The other emblem belongs to Mr. Sinister, inspired by the red crystal on his forehead.
Sliding the board aside reveals a screen warning of the attacking Sentinel and showing where the mansion has been damaged, which matches the actual model.
A travel brochure for Japan is placed on the floor, alluding to Wolverine's time in Japan.
This brochure mirrors the style of one in 76218 Sanctum Sanctorum, there focusing on Kamar-Taj.
Logan's drawing of the X-Jet closely resembles the version in 75281 X-Men X-Jet.
Charles Xavier's card is found under the floor and resembles the card belonging to Quicksilver in X-Men: Apocalypse.
This newspaper refers to the Mutant Registration Act, a controversial proposed law that would require all mutants to register with the US government.
Identical fire extinguishers are found in many Super Heroes sets.
The news presenter shown in 76178 Daily Bugle and 76269 Avengers Tower also appears on television here.
It seems the news presenter is a mutant, given his nervous state reporting this story and extra arm!
The entrance to the Danger Room matches the door to Cerebro in the X-Men movies.
Weapons on the Danger Room walls are numbered and 141965 refers to The X-Men issue 14 from 1965, where the Sentinels were introduced.
E92131 makes reference to Earth-92131, where X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men '97 and Spider-Man take place.
E13122 represents Earth-13122, which is the LEGO Marvel universe.
UX266 alludes to Uncanny X-Men issue 266, where Gambit debuted.
Charles and Erik often play chess in the X-Men movies, so a chess board is included.
Video cassettes are kept beneath the computer, appropriate to the time period for X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97.
This screen highlights Asteroid M, a space station created by Magneto, in orbit around Earth.
Colourful cans appear in every Marvel Modular Building.
According to the set designer, Justin Ramsden, this cookie was baked by Aunt May and May can be found delivering cookies in 76178 Daily Bugle.
The teal and white MRI scanner shares the colours of 4000041 LEGO MRI Scanner.
An X-ray under the MRI scanner shows Wolverine's adamantium-infused skeleton.
Wolverine's healing factor disguises his advanced age, but his skeleton must be relatively old because it features the wobbly shoulder joints of the original LEGO skeleton!
Flowers are hidden in the roof, based on Storm's flora-filled room from the comics and X-Men: The Animated Series, located in the attic.
Beast's computer shows him working on a cure for the Legacy Virus, a viroid created to target mutants in X-Men comics.
The microscope accessory returns from the Beast Collectable Minifigure.
The sword displayed above Wolverine's bed is intended as a reference to multiple characters, as it could belong to Psylocke, Silver Samurai or Deadpool.
This photograph of Jean Grey and Scott Summers is inspired by one featured in X-Men: The Animated Series and has given rise to the 'sad Wolverine' meme, which you can recreate.
A recreation of The X-Men #1 is placed on the floor, featuring the characters from the cover in minifigure form.
The image of Wolverine on this calendar is inspired by a 1995 Fleer Ultra trading card, known as 'Wolverine Spring Break'.
Alkali Lake is highlighted on the calendar, the site of Colonel William Stryker's research facility and Wolverine's participation in the Weapon X project.
The mini Statue of Liberty alludes to the climax of the original X-Men movie, in which the team faces Magneto at the statue.
The printed bubblegum packet belongs to Jubilee.
The bubblegum packets states that eight pieces of gum are included and eight pink 1x1 round plates are therefore hidden around the set.
These elements are found inside the dumpster, under the classroom floor and behind the lift in the laboratory.
Five pieces are concealed in the cupola dome because Jubilee often retreats to the cupola to think, as seen in the first episode of X-Men: The Animated Series and later in X-Men '97.
What are your favourite references in this set and have you spotted any others? Let us know in the comments.
140 likes
30 comments on this article
All stickers?
I just love the sight of Video cassettes
I really like the calendar!
STuff like this make me like set more, but this still dont explain why the Jubilee is not in the set...
They can sure add a lot of details when they use a big sticker sheet.
The Pixie sticker has an image of a sticker that is peeling off. So in a few years, that will be a peeling off sticker of a sticker peeling off. Very meta.
Nice. I think the frog element is also a Justin Ramsden designer trademark
This is quite the extensive list! How many hours did it take to find them all?
I just love it when large sets are full of references. It's so fun to look through the set to find them all.
The sword is probably more likely to be the Muramasa blade
@Grammaticul said:
"isn't this just the review republished with less words and as much substance"
I did highlight quite a few references in the review and some photos are carried over, but no.
@CCC said:
"They can sure add a lot of details when they use a big sticker sheet.
The Pixie sticker has an image of a sticker that is peeling off. So in a few years, that will be a peeling off sticker of a sticker peeling off. Very meta."
Why would it be peeling off? I have sets from 2012-2014 with intact stickers.
@xoddam said:
"Nice. I think the frog element is also a Justin Ramsden designer trademark"
Nick Vas is the one who signs with frogs. That one’s easy to track down because he designed the froggiest set of all, 10281.
@CapnRex101:
As was pointed out in the comments on the review, Logan has, in his possession, a katana more significant than any of the characters you listed would have owned, so it’s most likely supposed to be his.
Difficult to think of anything worse than a Lego set where most of the Easter eggs and exciting parts are stickers
@PurpleDave said:
" @CapnRex101:
As was pointed out in the comments on the review, Logan has, in his possession, a katana more significant than any of the characters you listed would have owned, so it’s most likely supposed to be his."
Justin Ramsden has said he was thinking of Psylocke, Silver Samurai and Deadpool when he included the katana, so...
Referencing particular comics, characters who aren't in the set, and storylines would be expected, but a Fleer trading card. Did not see that coming!
@CapnRex101 said:
" @PurpleDave said:
" @CapnRex101:
As was pointed out in the comments on the review, Logan has, in his possession, a katana more significant than any of the characters you listed would have owned, so it’s most likely supposed to be his."
Justin Ramsden has said he was thinking of Psylocke, Silver Samurai and Deadpool when he included the katana, so..."
Even so, most fans will probably just assume it's his.
Predictably the commenteriat of Brickset have read through this article and furiously typed their banal "I hate stickers" reply. Ignoring just how the graphic designers at Lego have knocked it out of the park with this set. Stickers or not, some of these are wonderful and I appreciated the article as I do not plan on getting this set, but enjoyed seeing the details up close.
I read this article with dual trepidation. First, I was worried that enough cool features would be revealed that would induce desire to have this set at its current price (including the now retired Cerebro). Thankfully, this isn't the case.
My second cause of trepidation revolves around our esteemed author. I know how much of his brain is dedicated to the study of SW. How much more, I wondered, could be monopolized by Marvel comics and its vastly associated ilk? What's left to lead a productive life of adventure? What about classical education, literature, art?
Very few have this mastered this level of pop minutiae and the joy de vivre. Nevertheless, I have high hopes for our savant and appreciate his writing. Sail on good Cap'n. Sail on!
The Wolverine X-ray showing the older skeleton mold is one of my favorite deep cuts ever in a LEGO set. Just genius.
@StyleCounselor said:
"I read this article with dual trepidation. First, I was worried that enough cool features would be revealed that would induce desire to have this set at its current price (including the now retired Cerebro). Thankfully, this isn't the case.
My second cause of trepidation revolves around our esteemed author. I know how much of his brain is dedicated to the study of SW. How much more, I wondered, could be monopolized by Marvel comics and its vastly associated ilk? What's left to lead a productive life of adventure? What about classical education, literature, art?
Very few have this mastered this level of pop minutiae and the joy de vivre."
Sheldon Cooper?
@AustinPowers said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"I read this article with dual trepidation. First, I was worried that enough cool features would be revealed that would induce desire to have this set at its current price (including the now retired Cerebro). Thankfully, this isn't the case.
My second cause of trepidation revolves around our esteemed author. I know how much of his brain is dedicated to the study of SW. How much more, I wondered, could be monopolized by Marvel comics and its vastly associated ilk? What's left to lead a productive life of adventure? What about classical education, literature, art?
Very few have this mastered this level of pop minutiae and the joy de vivre."
Sheldon Cooper? "
True dat.
I know they’re limited on space, but it seems problematic that Wolverine and Jubilee share a bedroom.
@ikke said:
"All stickers?"
No. The bubblegums are all plates.
kinda wish they had included a minifigure of beast, he's one of my favorite characters and all the references to him are really cute. i guess you'd have to get the individual minifigure of him and add it to the set yourself!
@b2_O said:
" @CCC said:
"They can sure add a lot of details when they use a big sticker sheet.
The Pixie sticker has an image of a sticker that is peeling off. So in a few years, that will be a peeling off sticker of a sticker peeling off. Very meta."
Why would it be peeling off? I have sets from 2012-2014 with intact stickers."
I hear complaints about stickers peeling off all the time, but I've never experienced it myself or seen it as a widespread issue. My oldest set with stickers applied is from 2008 and the stickers are still perfectly fine. I do wish some of these details had been printed (like the comic book tile) but are peeling stickers really a big problem?
@GoldenNinja3000:
It depends on a couple things. One, of course, is how well you applied the stickers. If you let a kid do it, while they're eating finger food, on the living room carpet, in a house with pets, you might as well just plan on buying spare sticker sheets to hang onto because those stickers are doomed. If an adult is pretty meticulous about it, and makes sure to firmly press the entire surface of the sticker down to the plastic, no, generally speaking, you won't have many problems with them (that includes visible fingerprints under clear stickers).
The other issue is the sticker material itself. If you find a copy of 8458 with pristine stickers, know that they are 100% guaranteed to be aftermarket repros. That set was notorious for stickers that would flake and crumble, as I believe it was one of the first that people noted this happening with. I've also got a copy of 7674, and it looks like those stickers are starting to do the same thing, just eight years later maybe. This is one of the reasons I loathe white sticker stock. Clear stickers have never been noted for turning crumbly like this.
@GoldenNinja3000 said:
" @b2_O said:
" @CCC said:
"They can sure add a lot of details when they use a big sticker sheet.
The Pixie sticker has an image of a sticker that is peeling off. So in a few years, that will be a peeling off sticker of a sticker peeling off. Very meta."
Why would it be peeling off? I have sets from 2012-2014 with intact stickers."
I hear complaints about stickers peeling off all the time, but I've never experienced it myself or seen it as a widespread issue. My oldest set with stickers applied is from 2008 and the stickers are still perfectly fine. I do wish some of these details had been printed (like the comic book tile) but are peeling stickers really a big problem? "
The stickers on my copy of 3451 peeled horribly, and I think I have some other sets with peeling stickers, but none nearly so bad as the Camel. And I can't call to mind anything from the last several years that's peeled at all.
@PurpleDave: Another advantage of clear-backed stickers is that color-matching is a non-issue.
@TheOtherMike:
Yeah, but the trade off is all the “Er mer gerd, the fingerprints!” complaints (clean your hands first, don’t snack while building, and firmly press the entire sticker down once you’ve got it positioned).
@CaptainRex101 Regardless of whether or not I eventually buy this set, I really enjoyed your deep dive of so many references. Excelsior!