Review: 76022 X-Men vs. The Sentinel
Posted by CapnRex101,
The X-Men have received surprisingly little attention in Marvel Super Heroes sets, but their absence has finally been rectified to an extent by the release of 76022 X-Men vs. The Sentinel. This will inevitably be a hugely popular set as the only previous set to include any X-Men characters, 6866 Wolverine's Chopper Showdown, flew off the shelves when it was available, and now carries an enormous price following its retirement.
This set contains 336 pieces and is priced at £44.99 or $49.99, so in this regard the value is not the best. However, I think the completed models are probably just about substantial enough to justify the price, and we get four excellent Minifigures in addition, a couple of which will warrant the price alone for some people, such is the popularity of these characters.
Box and Contents
This set is packaged in a box of the standard size, with some appealing artwork showing off the X-Jet as it flies into action against the Sentinel. There is plenty of movement captured and the entire scene looks rather exciting to me. The back is equally busy, with the jet landed and the various features demonstrated in some smaller panels surrounding the larger central image.
There are three numbered bags inside the box as well as two small instruction manuals, a sticker sheet and a comic. This is the same comic booklet that appears in the other Marvel sets released this Summer in conjunction with the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
The Minifigures
The Minifigure selection in this set is quite simply marvellous (pun not intended). Three of the most popular X-Men appear, along with their arch-nemesis Magneto in a new outfit, which I suspect may be enough to sell this set to children and fans of the subject matter.
As ever, we must begin with Wolverine, who has undergone an enormous update since his last appearance in 6866 Wolverine's Chopper Showdown. In that set he was attired in the blue and yellow costume worn during his first appearance in 1974's Incredible Hulk #181, which is perhaps his most iconic outfit of the many he has sported. In this set however the dark blue is abandoned in favour of brown, which contrasts nicely with the bright yellow and red of the rest of his costume. This design is printed on the front and back, and is accurate to his appearance in Uncanny X-Men #139 from 1980. His legs are left without printing on this occasion, but they nevertheless look fine to me, as do his claws which are the same as ever.
Another enormous improvement over the previous edition is the inclusion of Wolverine's mask, which is striking in yellow and black. This looks to be accurate to his appearance in the comics, and he is not without his hair either should you prefer to display him with his mask off. The head is printed on both sides to accommodate either accessory, on one side with white goggles and bared teeth, and on the other with simply a grimace. Both also include some stubble and his trademark sideburns. I would argue that this is a potential challenger for the Minifigure of the year so far, as he really is perfect as far as I can see.
The second Minifigure in this first bag is Magneto, who appears in a new outfit just as Wolverine does. This one comes from New Mutants #35, which was released in 1986, and although this is not his most popular costume (that title goes to the red and purple of the Minifigure in 6866 I think) it is nice to see a new version of the character. His helmet remains the same, and is as accurate as ever, but unlike the previous edition he now includes a white hairpiece to wear. His head is also the same, featuring a surly frown on on side and an angry expression on the other. He wears a red cape which looks rather nice beside the purple and white of his torso and legs. Magneto is equipped with a small plinth on which to stand and fly, which is an improvement over the single 2x2 round plate which was used in 6866.
The first of the two brand new characters included is Cyclops, who is again one of the most popular members of the X-Men. This is a simple Minifigure but a good one, wearing his original outfit from the first issue of Giant-Size X-Men, released in 1975. The contrast between the dark blue which features most prominently on this outfit and its red, yellow and gold highlights is stunning. The printing is fairly simple on each component with the famous visor and his exposed mouth on the head, and some muscular printing on the front and back of the torso. For a Minifigure without any accessories or even headgear to look this good is extraordinary, which is testament to the fantastic colour scheme of the character and how well this has been captured by LEGO.
The last of the four Minifigures is Storm, a figure which will probably attract many people to this set. Once again this is a contender for my favourite Minifigure of the year as it is a perfect representation of the character in her most famous attire. Her hair is white, a new colour for this component and she has two faces, one with a smile and the other with an angry expression. On the second face her eyes are a vivid white, representing her appearance as she uses her elemental powers, which is a nice touch. The outfit is impressively accurate, featuring a black and yellow colour scheme on the front and back as well as her boots printed on the legs. Storm comes with a pair of lightning pieces and, most notably of all, a unique cape. This fits around her neck and wrists, just as in the comics, and it looks brilliant, thus completing an incredible Minifigure and a lovely Minifigure selection!
Parts
This set is filled with rare or even new parts. The pink and purple of the Sentinel, as well as the dark blue of the X-Jet make up the bulk of the most desirable parts, but there are some slightly more common pieces which are perhaps surprisingly uncommon. As ever, the pieces listed below have all appeared in fewer than ten sets, and are organised in descending order from the most previous appearances to the least:
- 1x2 plate with small ball and small ball receptacle - 14419 - dark bluish grey.
- 1x4 brick with bow - 11153 - dark blue.
- 2x2x2 cone - 14918 - black.
- 2x2 round plate - 4032 - dark purple.
- 1x10 brick with bow - 13731 - blue.
- 1x2 plate - 3023 - dark pink.
- 1x3 brick with bow - 50950 - violet.
- 1x4x3 rudder - 2340 - blue.
- 2x2x2 plate with bow - 15068 - dark blue.
- 8x8x2 inverted double curved slope - 54091 - dark bluish grey.
- 1x2 slope with 1/3 plate - 15672 - blue.
- 1x1x3 brick - 14716 - black.
- Arrow for spring shooter - 15303 - trans-blue.
- 3x12 right shell with bow - 42060 - dark blue.
- 3x12 left shell with bow - 42061 - dark blue.
- 3x8x2 right shell with bow - 41749 - dark blue.
- 3x8x2 left shell with bow - 41750 - dark blue.
- 6x8x2 inverted shell with bow - 42021 - dark bluish grey.
- 2x12x5 rudder - 87614 - dark blue.
- 1x2 plate with bow - 11477 - dark blue.
- 2x2x2 dome (glass case) - 18044 - dark purple with Sentinel pattern.
- 4x4 brick with bow - 18032 - dark purple with Sentinel pattern.
As you can see, there is a good selection of new or rare pieces for a set of this size, and that is to say nothing of the Minifigure components. A couple of uncommon or even brand new hair pieces, as well as Wolverine's claws are all likely to be desirable and quite useful for creating your own Minifigures if you are so inclined.
The Build
Construction of this set is enjoyable, but nothing particularly special. As you might anticipate from the relatively low piece count in relation to the price, many of the parts are quite large, although seeing how the various shell and slope pieces combine to yield some attractive curves is interesting.
In addition, for those new to constructing mechs, the Sentinel is an excellent example. The new smaller ball joint components are used in abundance, and some basic features of how these kinds of parts can be used in conjunction with System bricks are demonstrated, which might be new to some.
However, building this set is nothing out of the ordinary really and is certainly not the most appealing aspect of the set. This might be a good set for a younger Super Heroes fan who is becoming interested in LEGO as the build is fairly simple and a variety of techniques are demonstrated, although none of them are unusual enough to elicit too much excitement in my opinion.
The Completed Model
It is no secret that Super Heroes sets are almost always carried by the Minifigure selection. In the case of 76022 however I would argue that the set itself matches the figures with ease, not only because a Sentinel and the X-Jet are something I have been looking forward to seeing in LEGO (although that is certainly true) but also on account of the brilliant execution of each model.
The Sentinel is the first thing you construct, using pieces from bag one, and it mainly consists of pink and purple components. It looks quite accurate to me in its colour scheme, and the printed torso and head complete the model nicely. Although it is not as large as I would like, it nevertheless looks fairly intimidating standing over a Minifigure, as you can see in the final photo. The Sentinel is armed with a pair of flick fire missiles on its back, which can be adjusted to launch over the shoulders, although I like to display them somewhere in between as though they would be shooting at a distant target.
The feet include the rocket boosters which are a feature of every incarnation of the Sentinels, and the hands have three poseable fingers and a thumb. Minifigures can he held in the hand by way of a Technic connector which is placed in each palm, and this connection point can also be used to hold the red missile which is included to look like a laser beam. Overall the Sentinel has far surpassed by expectation as despite its small size, it is still a decent representation of these gargantuan robots. I can imagine people will want to build a small army of these, which would be difficult at the moment as there are not many for sale at the moment on Bricklink, and the printed parts are of course exclusive and therefore bound to command a relatively high price.
The X-Jet, or Blackbird, is a vehicle which was inevitably going to be created in LEGO sooner or later, and although this version is not huge it is certainly big enough, much like the Sentinel. As far as I am aware it is not based on any particular design from the comic books, but it is recognisably the X-Jet as it combines a few of the trademark features including the swept forward wings and the cockpit which is placed at the very front of the vehicle, complete with a large X-Men symbol.
Inside the cockpit are seats for two Minifigures sitting one behind the other, and behind this is an area for an additional two Minifigures to sit on either side of a table. Both are accessible using hinged canopies, and there is quite a lot of internal space, with a narrow doorway connecting the forward and rear seating areas. A 2x2 tile is decorated with a sticker showing the head of the Sentinel is stored in the jet along with a small cabinet containing a few tools and the almost obligatory fire extinguisher.
At the rear are the two engines and various wings, six in total. Between the thrusters are a pair of spring loaded missile launchers which can hinge up. They are fairly well disguised when concealed, although there is an unsightly gap left towards the rear of the fuselage and the missiles poke out of the back, which is unfortunate. On either side there is also a flick-fire missile, which is a nice feature I suppose, but again the aesthetics suffer a little in my opinion.
Overall
I am very impressed with this set. The X-Men are not my favourite Super Heroes, but I would love to get some more of them, and this set feels like the first step on that road. The Sentinel and X-Jet are both excellent, but I think the real draw here is probably the Minifigures. Few sets offer two of the best figures of the year so far, but Wolverine and Storm are certainly challengers for that title in my opinion, as both are perfectly executed. That is to say nothing of Cyclops and Magneto, which are also great figures well worth adding to your collection.
I would certainly recommend this set to any Super Heroes fan, and it is one which should appeal to any age range as not only is there a great deal of playability, but it would also look good on display, particularly if you were able to acquire a couple more Sentinels.
- Minifigures: 5 - All four Minifigures are must haves in my opinion, particularly if you missed out on 6866 Wolverine's Chopper Showdown.
- Parts: 5 - There are plenty of rare pieces included, consisting mainly of uncommon colours such as dark blue, dark purple, magenta and dark pink.
- Building Experience: 3.5 - Construction is enjoyable, but there are few new or unusual techniques beyond a bit of SNOT building here and there.
- Playability: 5 - There are plenty of features included, but the fact alone that the set features three of the most popular X-Men, their arch-nemesis, a Sentinel and the X-Jet guarantees enjoyment I think.
- Value for Money: 4 - Although the number of parts may appear low in relation to the price of the set, the finished models feel substantial enough to justify it in my opinion. With some large pieces, printed components and Wolverine's new mask, it is perhaps not surprising that the set is priced as it is.
Final Score: 4.5 - For the X-Men fan this is just about the dream set (but for the X-Mansion I suppose) and the characters and vehicles recreated alone are bound to make this a popular set. At a slightly higher price point this set might have been improved a little as the two models could be a little bigger, but as it stands this is still a fantastic set
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24 comments on this article
Yeah, I was of two-minds about this set (I knew I wanted the figures, but I wasn't sure about the jet and Sentinel), but now? That was a great review, and I really want the set now! :)
Great. Now I'm definitely regretting not picking this set up yesterday at TRU. It was the last one on the shelf too. I had opted for the Ultra Agents Mission HQ and Tremor Track Infiltration instead, let's hope I don't regret that decision.
... I swear I saw the Chopper set at a local hobby store the other day. I might need to pick that up for resale. Unreal! Wonder if the Superman vs Power Armor Lex set will shoot up in value in the near future, too...
Also, this set looks awesome. Love the 80s outfits on the minifigures, especially Magneto's big open collar. Classic.
Yay! A dark-skinned female minifig!
No there is no way to justify a $50 price point on that set, none. The set is a $40 set at best.
"6866 Wolverine's Chopper Showdown, flew off the shelves when it was available, and now carries an enormous price following its retirement."
Oh man, why didn't I buy this at the time?
Something of a missed opportunity. The Sentinel is smaller and skimpier than it ideally should be. They could've made a bigger, badder Sentinel with more pieces--or even included two of them--rather than making it a glorified accessory to the Blackbird.
I know the Blackbird was the X-Men's mode of transport for years, but I don't think it's the type of iconic vehicle that fans were clamoring for, and this version doesn't do it justice anyway. With the squashed shape and weird coloring, it looks more like the 6869 Quinjet than the actual Blackbird.
I'd rather a smaller, more affordable set with a better Sentinel, even if it meant only 2 or 3 minifigures. The 6862 Lex Luthor power armor set is a good example of that.
I hadn't realised Magneto and Wolverine both had new printing. I think I prefer Magneto in red, but the variety is nice, especially when it wasn't needed.
As for the build, the Blackbird may not be spectacular but it's still nice and I like all the space on the inside. The Sentinel is also cool and makes good use of those fantastic new ball joints.
Minor nitpick:
"Wolverine's Chopper Showdown. In that set he was attired in the blue and yellow costume worn during his first appearance in 1974's Incredible Hulk 181"
Actually, it's his Astonishing X-Men suit.
I'm hoping this set gets knocked down in price on Amazon. $50 just seems too much for what you get. Also, it's a real shame that in the limited X-Men cast we have available in Minifigure format, we're getting two rehashes. Gimme some Juggernaut and Archangel!
I'm so undecided about this set. The figures are great, and this review is really helpful, but the Blackbird just looks too chunky and clumsy, like they followed a toddler's crayon drawing of it instead of any comic or cartoon picture. I suppose the killer is the price that makes even my beloved Star Wars sets look like good value!
Looks like another very good set from the Marvel line. I love that they are using the comics as inspiration for this set, and I hope to see more. I know that I'd far rather see the Avengers from the comics rather than the mediocre cartoon that is currently running; perhaps then we will see greater variety in minifigures such as Captain Marvel, Wasp, and Ant-Man.
Monkey_Shuttle, I want a Juggernaut too, along with Colossus and Gambit.
I'd also love a Professor Xavier and Mystique.
Wow. Thanks to this review, I can buy this for Storm, Logan, and parts reasons. Love the parts list due to the showcasing of the tiny mech knob joint pieces.
Also, pretty sure that Wolverine helicopter flew off the shelves because of LEGO Deadpool. I got my 'Pool (just the guy) for $25 which is what the set retailed here. Really turned off by the helicopter. I think the Deadpool video game (which is hilarious by the way) was out around the time of that Wolverine helicopter as as well. All those eBay's for just the helicopter made me laugh.
Thanks for the review, after reading it I'm now motivated to get a 2nd set!
The Sentinel looks way better in this review than it does in the official pics for some reason. The Minifigs are fantastic but I'm still put off by the pricetag and the low piececount - discount when?
Thanks for the review. The set is decent itself, but I hate that price. I could have waited for a sale, but I just ended up ebaying the few figures I wanted and will call that good.
Although I will need a second storm for my daughter. Curse you LEGO and your rare female superhero figures!!
I too am kicking myself for not buying Wolverine's Chopper Showdown. I agree with the earlier comment that the inclusion of a Deadpool minifigure is the chief reason this set now commands such a high price. Deadpool has quite a large cult following, but I had never heard of his character outside of the Ryan Renolds version (how embarrassing) or I would have known better and made the purchase!
Not sure I'll be buying this one. I only have one or two Marvel sets and this one is not helping my opinion of the "wonderful Marvel-Superheroes sets". If I had the amount of money this set costs, I would probably go for Star Wars or City... This is an extremely overpriced set - I would pay £35 at the most for this.
Will you be doing reviews of the Guardians of the Galaxy sets?
@dragonboy1 - Possibly. I am hoping to review most of the new Star Wars sets and a couple of Super Heroes ones. As soon as I get 76021 The Milano Spaceship Rescue I will be reviewing that set for certain.
Thanks. I've been dying to get my hands on the Milano for ages! :)
Happy with this except the undersized craft- its more like the Midnight Runner size and shape from Marvel's 'Excalibur' comic. That said, all very good.
Actually the Sentinel is about right size wise. In most of the comics they are portrayed as being mildly giant. Maybe 8-12 meters tall. They are bigger than the heroes, but not so huge that it is like battling Godzilla. This set seems to nail that about right.