Review: 40428 The Joker

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View image at Flickr

40428 The Joker is one of four Brick Sketches that are being released in June. They are the brainchild of AFOL-turned-LEGO-designer Chris McVeigh, who joined the company last year.

Chris and I go way back, so it's great to finally see what he's been working on.

The sets only arrived an hour or so ago but I wanted to get the first review out ASAP, so forgive me if it appears a bit rushed.


Construction

The basic premise of Brick Sketches is that they are low-relief pictures, a bit like decoupage, using layers of plates to form the image.

They are 12x16 in size and built simply by adding layer after layer of plate, with the odd brick or special part here and there.

View image at flickr

View image at flickr

I thought the 1x1 round eye tile was a new print, but it's been used in a couple of Star Wars sets.

View image at flickr

View image at flickr


The completed model

It's a quick, easy and satisfying build, seeing the picture take shape as you add the layers of plates. The mouth uses SNOT to form the teeth and lips but otherwise it's a conventional build.

The sketch has captured the look of Batman's nemesis well: his spiky green hair, eyebrows, lipstick, yellowed teeth, purple suit and bow-tie are all present and correct.

It looks good close-up, and even better at a distance.

View image at flickr

Excluding the bricks at the bottom which form the frame, it's 6 plates high, plus the nose.

View image at flickr

A stand is provided at the back which folds into the frame when not in use, and the 2x2 coupling plate at the top can be used to hang it on a nail in the wall.

View image at flickr


Verdict

It's easy to build, easy to display and looks fantastic. I can see these becoming very collectable with people wanting to hang them in a grid on the wall.

We've not sure of the piece count, or the price yet, although $20 has been rumoured. That seems a little on the high side but low enough for it not to be too much of a barrier.

View image at flickr


So, great job, Chris. I look forward to building the others!

Fun fact: Chris told me that he applied for the job as a LEGO designer after seeing a post on Brickset stating that the company was recruiting!

Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

58 comments on this article

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By in South Korea,

my wallet is starting to open.

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By in Netherlands,

I really love the build and look of this set but $20 is a no-go for me, that's way too much!

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By in United Kingdom,

Looks nice!

Just as a side, isn't it 12x16, not 8x16 as you say?

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By in Ireland,

If these are €10 or less I think I’ll pick the DC ones up! I’d love to get one of Wonder Woman!

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By in Canada,

It does look great! $20 US usually means $25 Canadian, so that gives me pause as a few of those add up to decent sized set. It won't be a collect the series for me, but I will get one or two over time. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the series. I hope there will be a Wonder Woman and a Superman!
Edit: Thanks for the quick review!

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By in Netherlands,

Nice and interesting set. But that last non-completed photo is scary as hell!

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By in France,

Brickheadz reboot.
Interesting idea though. Might pick up one or two if the characters are interesting but no interest to collect them all

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By in Germany,

Cool idea a great execution, but if it is indeed 20 USD/EUR, I am out.
The number of pieces/size makes this look like something that is worth 10 Euro, factoring in the licence maybe 15 Euro, but that should be about it.

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By in Belgium,

These are more interesting than BrickHeadz for me, not exactly sure why, and it would be nice to see the range expand to include characters from a variety of sources. Price does seem very high, though.

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By in United Kingdom,

These would be great to display.

I think it’d be even cooler with some brick built ‘pens’ include like Chris used to display on his pics, without raising the price.

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By in United States,

Awesome! Definitely worth saving some shelf space to hang these on the wall.

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By in Netherlands,

Not too interested in fictional characters, but I would get cityscapes of these. Hopefully they'll try that for future mosaics.

At least looking at this one, it's very recognizable and characterful, very well done. It's not for me, but they'll sell like hot cakes.

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By in United Kingdom,

I’m not a fan of the DC ones...

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By in United Kingdom,

This is to much something else to buy! I neeeeed more space! I like how its like a photo frame thing to!

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By in United Kingdom,

Surely these can’t cost more than a brickhead, think £9.99 would be the rrp if they want to do well. They do look good though

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By in United States,

I'll have to buy one or two of these, simply because I'm an enormous Chris McVeigh fan and I've been looking forward to seeing what he's working on at LEGO. I have 4 of his MOCs on display on my shelves already, including one of his originals that was displayed at the LEGO House. Keep on crushing it, Chris!

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By in Puerto Rico,

These look great but I can't help but wonder that LEGO found a replacement for the BrickHeads.

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By in United States,

Love it - a day one purchase for sure.

Although I wish it included some brick built pencils and markers like the original sketches had! (A very minor quibble to be honest!)

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By in Canada,

@mfg3000 said:
"It does look great! $20 US usually means $25 Canadian, so that gives me pause as a few of those add up to decent sized set. It won't be a collect the series for me, but I will get one or two over time. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the series. I hope there will be a Wonder Woman and a Superman!
Edit: Thanks for the quick review!"

I fear it’ll be $30 CAD (almost $35 after taxes!). The value of our dollar is pretty bad right now. That’s why 80013 is $250 CAD instead of $170 US.

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By in United States,

@Lordmoral said:
"These look great but I can't help but wonder that LEGO found a replacement for the BrickHeads."

I can see them existing as two different, yet complimentary product lines. I'm not one for BrickHeads but I could see myself buying one or two of these depending on the subject matter. I like how the branding is a derivative of Brick Heads. Chris' stuff is great and I'm happy to see his concept transfer to an official LEGO product so directly.

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By in Germany,

@Huw What's the piece count on these sets or the Joker set in particular? Anything more than 10cents/piece would be overpriced since there are no Minifigures and only a handful of larger parts.

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By in Ireland,

They really shouldn’t be providing items for a review without providing the prices.

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By in United States,

With no custom printed tile like brickheadz, most people can build with their own inventory. Don't see the need to spend $20. if the price was $15 I wud think abt it.

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By in Singapore,

I'm hoping there is a clever way coming to do the equivalent of Go Brick Me for Brickheadz. I'd probably end up doing the family. For once my wife would approve of purchasing more lego!

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By in United Kingdom,

always enjoyed Chris' bricksketches turning up on my facebook feed until he went off to the new job. wish the sets included the pens he used to build with the sketches, sort of completed the illusion. will reserve judgement until i know a price - $20 usually translates to £20 despite exchange rates which i think would be too much. if its £10ish (considering there are really only bricks, plates and tiles, no minifigs) then they could do well.

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By in Poland,

Another "put it on shelf after building and forget" licenced set. Not fan of those.

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By in United Kingdom,

@R0Sch said:
" @Huw What's the piece count on these sets or the Joker set in particular? Anything more than 10cents/piece would be overpriced since there are no Minifigures and only a handful of larger parts."

We were not told the price or piece count and, as is often the case when we are offered sets to review ahead of their release, I had no idea what they were until they turned up!

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By in Germany,

@Huw said:
" @R0Sch said:
" @Huw What's the piece count on these sets or the Joker set in particular? Anything more than 10cents/piece would be overpriced since there are no Minifigures and only a handful of larger parts."

We were not told the price or piece count and, as is often the case when we are offered sets to review ahead of their release, I had no idea what they were until they turned up!"

Ok, could you count the parts in the instruction please?

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By in United Kingdom,

@ezzzzz53 said:
"With no custom printed tile like brickheadz, most people can build with their own inventory. Don't see the need to spend $20. if the price was $15 I wud think abt it. "

Most people don't have an inventory. Very few Lego customers do in terms of proportion of all AFOL customers.

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By in United Kingdom,

@R0Sch, about 170.

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By in Germany,

@Huw said:
" @R0Sch, about 170."

Thanks a lot Huw. So it will most likely cost 20$ considering license fees and such. If really so, I will pass on them same as with BrickHeadz.

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By in United States,

I'm surprised they didn't introduce with a couple Lego Movie sketches

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By in United Kingdom,

I think they look great and any Head shot will be good, not too keen on BB-8, but lets wait for Price.... either snatch em up quickly, wait for a sale or try to part pack them.

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By in Turkey,

Amazing idea. There is truly no limit to what you can build with Lego.

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By in Netherlands,

I like this plate-based style of display a lot more compared to Brickheadz, also seem to be decent parts overall, and can be combined with DOTS.

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By in Portugal,

just hope they're not hugely overpriced. the sets look cool, but the part selection interests me even more! this joker one for instance is an amazing parts pack! and a cool model as well while we're at that!

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By in United Kingdom,

Great idea but nothing that I'm interested in, also if the price is a rumoured $20 that will mean these will probably be £18 which is way way to much for what looks like less than 200 pieces.

Easy pass for me. Though if the Stormtrooper one ever goes below a tenner then I might break for that one but that's it.

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By in Germany,

@R0Sch said:
" @Huw said:
" @R0Sch, about 170."

Thanks a lot Huw. So it will most likely cost 20$ considering license fees and such. If really so, I will pass on them same as with BrickHeadz."

BrickHeadz are also around 170 pieces and all 10$. And they have licenses too. So fingers crossed it could be 10 - 15 $.

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By in United States,

The Batman looks great, but not sure why they went with this version of the Joker . . . it looks the most like the Cesar Romero Joker from the old Batman television series . . . I would have preferred a more modern looking Joker.

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By in United Kingdom,

If you google ‘yahoo Lego avengers’ you can see new marvel sets

(Sorry if off topic)

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By in United Kingdom,

These don't appeal to me at all but I wasn't a fan of Brickheads either.

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By in Hungary,

I hope they'll do a go brick me style set for this too.

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By in United States,

Looks to me about around 150 parts for this build.

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By in Canada,

Chris is the designer of some awesome LEGO christmas ornaments. I've made a good number of them over the years with the aid of his instructions on his web site. With the new dots lineup, his ornaments can only be better than ever. The LEGO Company should get him to make some of those to offer for Xmas, either as bonus sets, or for sale. Guaranteed hit!

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By in United States,

Of the four, Joker looks to be the only one with anything interesting to offer in terms of parts. Batman looks very well done, but there's really not much to his cowl unless it's a special Batsuit like the BvS armored Batsuit.

@Thanosvbest:
Huh? Green cheese slopes have been in 100 sets before this, and have been released in new sets every year since 2009.

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By in Finland,

Hmm. Maybe one could bricklink those parts and get them under 20 bucks?

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By in Germany,

For me personally the Brick Sketches line is not "3D" enough. Only a halfway step up from 2D Lego mosaics (which look like easily generated 8-bit computer pixel art). I definitely prefer Brickheadz or the new 18+ helmets. It surely is unique and fills a good role for being a collectable series. I predict it will fill a niche with some fans who want to collect this.

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By in Russian Federation,

Sweet thing.
Paired with Batman one, it will be a nice tribute to Animated series, which may be seems to somehow neglected...

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By in United States,

They are kind of neat. A cool display piece for a child’s room. But the $20 price point is awful and a recipe for market failure. These needed to be at the sub $10 impulse buy pricing. They are a one time afternoon craft kit, with no Ongoing play value.

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By in United Kingdom,

A bit of useless info... The round eye pieces are also in Dots set 41904 too. And you get 7!

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By in Australia,

We truly live in a society

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By in Austria,

Oh no, a new iteration in form, to do all the licences again.
I like the build of the first 4, I like the idea as such, but for tlg it's just another excuse for a tour through all the licenses - this time at 20 instead of 10 dollars, same part counts and actually less prints and specialities than brickheadz needed to be recognisable. total pass for me in this circumstances.

looking forward to the "go sketch me" box though.

edit: not telling a price at first might be a tactic to test the market ... let people talk, see if 20 dollars could be reachable or too much, and adjust it for release. so we might end up with 15 eventually, everyone is "relieved" and tlg has maxed out the potential.

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By in United States,

When I first saw the photos I thought it looked like what Chris McVeigh did! I had no idea this was going to be a thing or that he actually became a Lego designer!

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By in Germany,

sadly 20$ / 20€ confirmed by LEGO (source: zusammengebaut.com)

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By in United States,

Sorry, I can't look at this without thinking of that terrible movie. Pass.

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By in United Kingdom,

This looks absolutely fantastic! I love the fact that you can hang it on the wall or use the stand at the back...I can tell you right away that I will definitely be purchasing this.

Does anyone know when this will come available for purchase in the UK on LEGO.com?

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By in United Kingdom,

@mdransom

That is a great idea, I think that Emmet and Lucy amongst other Lego Movie characters would be a hit with these new theme.

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