Review: 76219 Spider-Man & Green Goblin Mech Battle
Posted by CapnRex101,
76219 Spider-Man & Green Goblin Mech Battle continues Spider-Man's consistent prominence among the Marvel mechs. However, this design appears completely distinctive, based upon the upcoming Mech Strike: Monster Hunters comic series.
Spider-Man appears ill-suited to the monstrous aesthetic, although Green Goblin seems totally perfect. 76198 Spider-Man & Doctor Octopus Mech Battle contains an excellent Doc Ock mech and Green Goblin provides similar potential, so his frightening vehicle should appear completely unique.
Summary
76219 Spider-Man & Green Goblin Mech Battle, 296 pieces.
£17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 | 6.1p/6.8c/6.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Despite their unusual appearances, these mechs lack personality.
- Effective colour choices
- Some interesting features
- Another Spider-Man mech
- Spider-Man mech is too monstrous
- Green Goblin mech is not monstrous enough!
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Spider-Man appears more frequently than any other Marvel character, albeit rarely changing. This minifigure is therefore widely available and such repetition is rather frustrating, given the enormous range of potential designs. However, I like the webbed decoration across the head and torso, continuing onto both arms.
Unfortunately, this minifigure lacks dual-moulded legs and the malevolent Green Goblin lacks the printed legs available in 76175 Attack on the Spider Lair and 76178 Daily Bugle. Otherwise, this design matches those appearances, wearing purple rags with grey padding across Goblin's chest. The head includes a manic smile and a grimace, so conveys excellent personality.
Nevertheless, the inconsistent application of dual-moulded and printed elements among these Marvel character mechs is disappointing. Both minifigures also omit any accessories, not even including simple web blasts or pumpkin bombs. Again, the presence of accessories is strangely inconsistent between sets.
The Completed Model
While the essential design corresponds with other models, Spider-Man's mech is noticeably bulkier than others, measuring 13cm in height to the shoulders. Those substantial shoulders seem strange on a Spider-Man mech, although similarly exaggerated proportions are shared across the new Marvel Mech Strike: Monster Hunters comic series.
The elongated arms are also noticeable and their articulation is poor, since the forearms are incredibly long. Fighting stances almost invariably appear awkward, particularly because this model lacks traditional fingers. However, such long limbs are somewhat reminiscent of spiders and details decorating this mech enhance that comparison.
Black barbs are mounted behind each shoulder, resembling claws and the motorcycle from 76148 Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock. Despite the shoulders' considerable size, the neighbouring joints remain free to move unhindered. The printed 2x3 pentagonal tile on the chest features metallic silver spider-like decoration, with a sinister eye at the centre.
Each mech possesses an animalistic quality, furthered by the printed eye on their chests. The minifigure cockpit matches existing sets though, comfortably accommodating Spider-Man, but lacking any controls. That detracts from mechanical designs, whereas these models seem like organic creations and are perhaps controlled by thought alone.
The back is inevitably bland, although the integration of those claws around the shoulders is pleasingly neat. The red and blue colour scheme also remains consistent, although the torso seems notably thin. I think this monstrous design should include a bulkier structure, balancing the shoulders visually.
While their articulation is limited, the arms look excellent. The black 1x1 slopes on the fingers are effective in particular, resembling the hairs which allow spiders to cling to surfaces, known as setae. The fingers can splay outwards and I love the black ice skates that have appeared in only three previous sets.
The legs are substantially shorter, reflecting the proportions of other character mechs. Their colours are perfect though, while black barbs return on both feet. Unfortunately, the hips are constructed using stacked 1x2 plates with ball joints, hence one leg is fitted behind the other. That is very noticeable when presenting neutral poses, but less so in more dynamic stances.
Green Goblin's mech remains closer in design to other models from this series, which seems counterintuitive. Nevertheless, the vehicle is definitely recognisable with its owner, particularly because of the purple, green, bright green and lime green colour scheme. Moreover, the height of 12cm matches other mechs, albeit mildly exaggerated by the stud shooters.
Compared with Spider-Man's equivalent, this mech offers normal articulation. The shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles each integrate ball joints, ensuring ample motion. The fingers and thumb are articulated too, but the updated hip construction has removed the waist rotation that was almost ubiquitous among the Marvel mechs released before this year.
Stud shooters are mounted on both shoulders, launching orange 1x1 round tiles. That colour was doubtless picked for its resemblance to pumpkin bombs, but the stud shooters are rather conspicuous in light bluish grey. The printed eye on the chest appears suitably peculiar, taking direct inspiration from the Marvel Mech Strike: Monster Hunters character.
Opening the chest again reveals space for the Green Goblin minifigure to stand, without any control systems surrounding him. However, as mentioned above, that seems rather fitting for organic mechs because mechanical controls might be superfluous. Additionally, I like how the purple and lime green colours continue inside.
The back is undecorated, again, but avoids incongruous colours. This model does include an exclusive purple tail element, intended to resemble the tapered design of Green Goblin's hat. Such design features are welcome because they differentiate the mech from others, but this memorably maniacal character could surely have incorporated many more distinctive details.
The hands, for example, include intimidating talons. These are completely suitable for Green Goblin, although their shape is familiar. Perhaps the designer could have exploited the vacant bar to attach another thumb, giving Green Goblin's mech distinctive claws. The arms look quite bland too, lacking the dramatic spikes or scales one might associate with this character.
Some texture is present across the legs, but their appearance is otherwise unremarkable in relation to comparable models. The narrow feet were suitable for 76171 Miles Morales Mech Armour, but Green Goblin seems more deserving of larger clawed feet. However, I do like the 1x1 slopes on each foot, recreating the Goblin's traditional pointed boots.
Overall
76219 Spider-Man & Green Goblin Mech Battle certainly provides something different to the Marvel mech series, despite revisiting Spider-Man again. The organic appearance of the two designs is interesting and reflects the upcoming Marvel Mech Strike: Monster Hunters comics. However, the results are not necessarily appealing.
Spider-Man's mech varies dramatically from other designs and includes some brilliant features, but seems inappropriate for the hero. Green Goblin's mech, conversely, lacks those monstrous details that would capture his savage personality, instead closely resembling other models. The minifigures are also underwhelming, so there is little to appreciate here, unfortunately.
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25 comments on this article
*Quickly glances at the tiny image of the Green Goblin mech on the home page*
"Is that a Grimmsnarl?"
As much as adults may be tired of these mechs, I think they're great kids toys. I know a lot of parents look for inexpensive but familiar toys that entice children away from video games, and these appeal to the purpose very well.
It's incredibly jarring seeing printed arms and single-molded unprinted legs. It feels unbalanced. It feels anachronistic. It feels wrong. And the fact that the opacity is still so poor makes it worse.
Again I'd have preferred something larger for the pumpkin bombs. Otherwise, the Goblin mech looks great.
Those arms on Spider-man mech remind me of a mutation ability in Prototype 2 video game. I find these mechs way too funny, not to mention that picture where Green Goblin mech proposes to Spider-man mech.
@LegoSonicBoy said:
"It's incredibly jarring seeing printed arms and single-molded unprinted legs. It feels unbalanced. It feels anachronistic. It feels wrong. And the fact that the opacity is still so poor makes it worse.
Again I'd have preferred something larger for the pumpkin bombs. Otherwise, the Goblin mech looks great."
I’m not excusing it but the reason why there’s singled-molded legs in these sets is because you’re supposed to put the Minifigures in the mechs, that’s why the trend is so common. As usual, “it’s a very well-designed set but not my interest™?“ but the fact that it’s based on an actual comic book is intriguing and sets it apart from previous mech sets. The Spider-Man Mech looks effective as a “starting to become Venom” one.
Wierd. I kinda like the Venom-esque mech. Sick looking.
I don't mind the Marvel Mechs Universe™, but these look absolutely appalling. Sorry.
Why would Spiderman even want a mech? His whole shtick is that he can zip around and shoot webs like a spider, he can't do that in a big mech suit.
Great for kids, as per usual with these. Two big characters, relatively inexpensive, and an equal battle-in-a-box. Having a fresh spider-man out there is not a bad thing, especially since as far as I'm aware, last year's Spider-Ock pack wasn't a wide release anyway.
I do like the monstrous proportions on Spider-man's mech, we're far enough into this subtheme (and in particular, have two other red and blue spider-mechs), that going a little extreme is good for varieties sake. GG being more stock is also more understandable in this context, since then his only mech is closer to the norm.
This'll do fine for who it is targeted at, so I'm not going to mark it down because it's not quarely aimed at me.
It would’ve been cool if they’d incorporated Green Goblin’s hover board somewhere. Perhaps on the back, or maybe even detachable from the feet?
Spider-man mechs and vehicles must sell pretty well, because that’s all we get with the character anymore!
Spidey’s looks cooler than it normally does. Gobby gets the short shrift - looks like a total pushover compared with Spiderman.
My head canon is that the mech is built for fighting larger foes that you’d expect someone piloting a giant robot to go up against. However, Green Goblin has decided to take a different approach. His mech is smaller, faster, and more maneuverable. He can stay out of range of Spidey’s attacks, while taking potshots at him with pumpkin bombs.
Green Goblin's torso would be nice for castle minifigs
Funny summary! It's a disappointing set after the excellent Doc Ock pack last year. Hopefully a good version of Green Goblin will appear in a better small set soon.
My son loves the Lego mecha, so will be picking this up for him once it has any discount.
It's not bad value at RRP to be honest.
@empire0 said: "Why would Spiderman even want a mech?"
Well, clearly he wants as many of them as possible. He's already got, what, five of them?
@Trigger_ said:
"I’m not excusing it but the reason why there’s singled-molded legs in these sets is because you’re supposed to put the Minifigures in the mechs, that’s why the trend is so common."
Miles Morale's Mech Armour was released last year and he had dual molded legs.
I was planning to get this set just for the Green Goblin minifigure, but I don't think I will now. I have the first Spider-Man Mech Armour already, the minifigures aren't anything new even though I don't have them yet, and the mechs look unappealing.
I really like collecting these marvel mechs, and I will definitely be picking these up. Only that the should have replaced the generic Spider-Man mech with a Spider-Gwen/Ghost Spider mech and given green goblin a glider, which I suppose would bump up the price a bit but it would totally be worth it! With great products, comes a head-scratching company.
@Lord_Garmadon_Studioz_YT said:
" @Trigger_ said:
"I’m not excusing it but the reason why there’s singled-molded legs in these sets is because you’re supposed to put the Minifigures in the mechs, that’s why the trend is so common."
Miles Morale's Mech Armour was released last year and he had dual molded legs.
"
I’ll admit I’m pulling from some of the most random conclusions I can come up with but I assume they included them with Miles either because they’re otherwise unprinted or since the same figure also appeared in the Daily Bugle set. That or they were just feeling generous when designing the set and decided to give us dual-molded legs.
Meh-cs!
No doubt the kids like them though.
this set really suffers due change to tile shooters. with stud shooters, goblin could shoot pumpkin bombs
First off as an adult I love these mechs. Still need Thor, Miles and Oct vs Spidy. I can't wait to get these new ones. But this set is obviously based some on the Mech Strike: Monster aeries. Both mechs have a eye in the chest piece design. Which isn't a bad thing. I do wish the Goblin had a small glider that attached to the back of the mech. But otherwise love it
I'm an adult fan of lego and a parent of a (4 year old) child. My son loves lego and is just starting out with real lego, from Duplo. He like superheroes and Ninjargo, I have to say these mech are poor, both figures my son has repeats of. Mech parts that only make mechs, he has 6 or 7 mechs and they are great for a day or two but then the play value falls through the floor and unlike other lego sets you can't really build anything else with them. Looking forward for the bubble to pop with the whole mech craze.
As others have stated, LEGO had two attempts at the hip joints, and still managed to screw it up. Why couldn't they have just stuck to the tried and tested method that they've used for the last few years!? I'm sure everyone would have been fine with that. The Spider-Man mech is a little cumbersome, and also awkwardly top-heavy. I don't understand why we needed yet another Spidey mech, or why LEGO decided to bundle these two together (I really abhor bundles in this range and Speed Champions). The context for this mech is also lost on me, and it seems an odd match-up, given that the barbs are clearly supposed to indicate Venom's influence. Maybe had the Minifigure matched with partial Venom-isation, it may have made more sense. The Spidey Minifigure itself is lacklustre, seeming to be going backwards rather than forwards - I'm not keen on the colour disparity between the arm and torso prints, and the lack of leg printing is just lazy. I would have paid a little more for this set had they solved these minor irritations.