Random set of the day: Brainiac Attack
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 76040 Brainiac Attack, released during 2015. It's one of 12 DC Comics Super Heroes sets produced that year. It contains 179 pieces and 4 minifigs, and its retail price was US$24.99/£24.99.
It's owned by 5,909 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $87.60, or eBay.
79 likes
49 comments on this article
Superman on the day the new movie releases? I see Huwbot is excited!
TRANS FLUORESCENT GREEEEEEN!! <3
so sad that one got the axe :[
Brainiac the Lego maniac.
I remember this set was very hard to find when it came out, but I really wanted it because it was (at the time) the only way to get Martian Manhunter in his classic JLA outfit.
Plus, y'know. Brainiac's skullship was really cool.
Even Huwbot thinks that Lego should have made sets for the new Superman movie.
Huh…not a Batman in sight.
We could use more DC sets like that.
@SearchlightRG said:
"Huh…not a Batman in sight.
We could use more DC sets like that."
We could use more DC sets in general.
I agree with the previous two comments. Although I'm a huge Batman fan, it would be nice to have more DC sets without him. I always thought that this set was cool and I really wanted it just for the four minifigures. The ship with the skull was cool. I have the Supergirl minifig from DC Fandome 2020 and would love to have a Martian Manhunter.
Dang I don’t remember this one at all. I wish I’d picked it up, though. That skull ship is awesome, and I am a sucker for brains in jars.
Weeeell...(looks around)...I have this set; because, of course I do...:) This one is bitter-sweet, as I think it was the last set I got from 'Target Canada', when Target stores of the US tried (and failed) at Canadian expansion...:|
@Zordboy said:
"I remember this set was very hard to find when it came out, but I really wanted it because it was (at the time) the only way to get Martian Manhunter in his classic JLA outfit.
Plus, y'know. Brainiac's skullship was really cool."
I drove all the way to the local LEGO Store just to buy this set...and they told me they weren't stocking it. Right before this set released, they instituted a change at LEGO Brand Retail where they simply wouldn't stock retailer exclusive sets like this (I can't recall if this was a Walmart or Target exclusive in the US). Why? Because idiots decided that LEGO Stores didn't need much stock of retailer exclusives (because being harder to find in general of course means there will be less demand for it at LEGO Stores). The unfortunate consequence of this is that stores would open and one individual would walk in, scoop up the _ENTIRE_ stock in one armload (yes, that few), and plonk it down on the counter to purchase. They'd then inform the individual that there's a limit on how many copies you could buy at one time, and the individual would then call someone at corporate and demand that they be allowed to buy the _ENTIRE_ supply in one purchase. And corporate would call the store and tell them to let that person buy it all. Ten minutes later, people would start showing up and ask to buy this new set, and the store would have to inform them that they were sold out. Too bad, so sad, and pity the poor customer service reps whose ears would get burned off by all the irate customers who couldn't find a copy for less than twice MSRP. So they decided it would simply make more sense to just not stock them at physical stores.
Well, that flew like a lead brick tied to an anvil with an anchor chain. And I think by TLBM, they were back in the business of stocking retailer exclusives again. I don't know if they figured out that the real solution is _don't_give_it_artificial_scarcity_, or if it's back to business as usual. Mostly I don't try to chase these sets on day of release, so it's not an issue for me. But this one had two new characters, and a better version of an insanely expensive polybag exclusive character, so I wanted a couple copies right away.
What do you know! I was just reading the Wikipedia article for the cancelled film Superman Lives starring Nic Cage before going to see the new one tonight! This also comes after watching the original 1978 film last night.
It's a really cool set too. Definetely on my radar.
What's this? A DC set with no Batman? That's allowed?
I remember finding this set in a store only once. It was a specialty lego selling business with a lot of other hard to find sets in stock. That was it.
Although I liked the skull spaceship, the characters didn't interest me and the build had too little going on for me to want it for the price at the time.
Of note is that around the time this set came out, Brainiac featured in a lego Batman game: Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham. His ship appeared there too, just bigger.
That makes this set a counterpart to 6862-2 Superman vs Power Armor Lex, of which a slightly altered version featured as the final phase of the final boss of Lego Batman 2.
Not sure if I imagined it or if I read something about this one being a bit of a reference to 10192 "Space Skulls".
This is one I wanted and actually saw in store once, but I decided to pass on it that day, and, well, never saw it again. That ship has sailed, I guess.
Look at what they took away from us. I have this set and it's peak.
I have this. It's a great little set!
@Polynices said:
"Not sure if I imagined it or if I read something about this one being a bit of a reference to 10192 "Space Skulls"."
I would assume the opposite was true, that the Space Skulls set was inspired by Brainiac (since the character has been using skull-shaped ships for quite some time).
@Brickbuilder0937 said:
"Brainiac the Lego maniac."
Zack?
I miss the days when LEGO DC meant more than just Batman. This wave had so many great characters in it. My Justice League went from almost entirely purist customs to an official set in the space of a few sets!
I also have this set, loved it at the time and still do. 4 minifigs and decent build for (then) £25?
Barjain (those of you who watch SwitchUp on YouTube will know that phrase :D)!
Great little set and a great example of the original awesomeness of the DC sets. I even started collecting these before Marvel ones (2006 Batman series may have swayed me a little!) as the series (to me) was so good.
This one was a Target retail exclusive, but also available at official Lego Stores. It's a great moment of the Justice League cartoon brought to life in Lego. Perfect set, reasonable price.
even though I'm not a DC fan I wanted this set back then but I literally never saw it in stores. a shame.
Really reminds me of 7051. Some very similar shapes.
@Zordboy said:
" @Polynices said:
"Not sure if I imagined it or if I read something about this one being a bit of a reference to 10192 "Space Skulls"."
I would assume the opposite was true, that the Space Skulls set was inspired by Brainiac (since the character has been using skull-shaped ships for quite some time). "
10192 was based on the fan-created"3vil" theme. How much influence Brainiac had on that theme, I don't know.
There's a cold kinetic heat
Struggling, stretching for the peak
Never stopping with his head against the wind
He's a braniac, braniac behind the door
And he's plotting like he's never schemed before
He's a braniac, braniac behind the door
And he's scheming I know fo'sho.
@StyleCounselor said:
"There's a cold kinetic heat
Struggling, stretching for the peak
Never stopping with his head against the wind
He's a braniac, braniac behind the door
And he's plotting like he's never schemed before
He's a braniac, braniac behind the door
And he's scheming I know fo'sho."
nice
@CommanderR3x said:
" @SearchlightRG said:
"Huh…not a Batman in sight.
We could use more DC sets like that."
We could use more DC sets in general. "
LEGO: 'Best I can do is a Batman Forever batmobile that's out of scale with the sole included Batman fig.'
Here is a full list of all of my complaints over and issues with this set:
2015 was the best year for DC super heroes. It’s a wave Lego should return to. One of the few waves where I got every set. I remember getting the Darkseid set on sale for $40. Ahhhh good memories.
Man, I miss when DC sets were fun like this.
A new set with Supergirl is long overdue, but perhaps at least a mech like 76302 Superman Mech vs. Lex Luthor might appear , considering 2025 = Superman movie and 2026 = Supergirl movie , with the DC movies having a "Reboot" after the rebranding of "DC Studios"
@Crux said:
"Here is a full list of all of my complaints over and issues with this set:"
Ooh, I have one: J'onn's wearing pants, instead of trunks and boots.
Darkseid Invasion, Gorilla Grodd Goes Bananas, Green Lantern vs. Sinestro, and this. This was one of the most varied and creative (and, crucially, colourful) waves of any licensed theme that I can recall, and I didn't get a single one of them! At the time that is—I've picked them up one by one since, or as close as. Brilliant.
An absolutely god tier Super Heroes set!! We need more LEGO Supergirl, this is the only standard set she's ever come in. Maybe we'll see a Supergirl mech set next year to loosely tie into her new movie, like we got the Superman mech this year.
@Freddy_Hodson said:
"Darkseid Invasion, Gorilla Grodd Goes Bananas, Green Lantern vs. Sinestro, and this. This was one of the most varied and creative (and, crucially, colourful) waves of any licensed theme that I can recall, and I didn't get a single one of them! At the time that is—I've picked them up one by one since, or as close as. Brilliant."
I picked up most of these at the time for this very reason. This set alone gave 3 unique characters! So many of those sets let you build out your DC heroes and villains. Much better then any of the current waves.
This set wouldn't have been the place for it, since its designs are generally older, but it's weird that Superman's New 52 costume never got a physical release when so many other Leaguers' did. Even his Rebirth costume was only released as a CMF, the Rebirth Justice League wave also stuck with his classic costume.
@Freddy_Hodson said:
"Darkseid Invasion, Gorilla Grodd Goes Bananas, Green Lantern vs. Sinestro, and this. This was one of the most varied and creative (and, crucially, colourful) waves of any licensed theme that I can recall, and I didn't get a single one of them! At the time that is—I've picked them up one by one since, or as close as. Brilliant."
The wave that ended my dark ages. This is a great set. And our family just got back from seeing the new movie - myself, Mrs. ForestmenOfEndor and our kids (8 and 9) give it 4/5 stars! Excellent casting….
I never realized before just how much this set looks like 7051.
@Polynices said:
"Not sure if I imagined it or if I read something about this one being a bit of a reference to 10192 "Space Skulls"."
Pretty sure Brainiac was flying skull ships before Mark Sandlin was even born.
@Rimefang:
LEGO Stores most certainly did not sell this, at least on day of release. LEGO.com did, but they probably understocked it so you might have run into Sold Out notices if you showed up at the wrong time.
@RogueWhistler:
If you want Martian Manhunter in awkward fetish gear, buy the polybag version with the monogrammed crotch.
@GoldenNinja3000:
I ended up with every version of Supergirl. Bought the PS4(?) version of Dimensions just to swipe the minifig out of, and won the intended SDCC version in their online giveaway once everything fun got cancelled in 2020.
@markisnot:
Two unique, as the Martian Manhunter polybag predates it. However, that sucker sold out in just a couple hours, so this may have felt like a third unique character to many people.
Oh, almost forgot: So YouTuber AshnFlash did a fantastic video on Lego, WB and DC and the state(s) thereof, w/perspective on "Why aren't there more 'DC' sets, esp. as there IS a new movie out now..."...one that I'm intending to see Sunday :D...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7vaLL4GHc
@brick_r said:
"Oh, almost forgot: So YouTuber AshnFlash did a fantastic video on Lego, WB and DC and the state(s) thereof, w/perspective on "Why aren't there more 'DC' sets, esp. as there IS a new movie out now..."...one that I'm intending to see Sunday :D...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7vaLL4GHc"
I’m…going Tuesday. Probably. $5 ticket price and free small popcorn, plus we’re doing a 3-day show this weekend. Dino themed, at the event’s request, to coincide with the theater bordering the park playing the original Jurassic Park this weekend. Except then we put all this effort into dinoizing a Town layout, and I’m in the middle of setup and happen to look over at the marquee. “The Legend of Ochi, July 11, 12, 13, & 17”. Um…
My guess is the studio nixed their scheduled film once someone realized it conflicted with JW4 having just opened recently. Studios don’t like having soundalike movies in theaters when new movies open, even if they own both of them. They make more money off ticket sales for the new release, both in terms of percentage of box office and basic ticket price.
@BrickAnomie said:
"I never realized before just how much this set looks like 7051."
I hadn't either, and I have both of them. Just never had them both out at the same time.
https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Brainiac%27s_Skull_Ship
@TheOtherMike said:
" @BrickAnomie said:
"I never realized before just how much this set looks like 7051."
I hadn't either, and I have both of them. Just never had them both out at the same time."
So you've just noticed how much they look alike, and yet you've never seen them in the same room together. Would you say one of those sets is a bit more mild-mannered than the other? Have you ever tried putting a pair of glasses on that set?
@Crux said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @BrickAnomie said:
"I never realized before just how much this set looks like 7051."
I hadn't either, and I have both of them. Just never had them both out at the same time."
So you've just noticed how much they look alike, and yet you've never seen them in the same room together. Would you say one of those sets is a bit more mild-mannered than the other? Have you ever tried putting a pair of glasses on that set?"
“Hypno-glasses”
"...where new ones sell for around $87.60"
Its probably what LEGO would try to charge for it today as well.
How randomized was this?