Review: 76264 Batmobile Pursuit: Batman vs. The Joker
Posted by CapnRex101,
LEGO has produced some particularly expensive sets in 2023, even more so than usual. However, 76264 Batmobile Pursuit: Batman vs. The Joker arguably stands out above the rest. 4+ sets are often expensive, but the price of £20.99, $26.99 or €26.99 seems genuinely absurd.
While the price certainly overshadows other aspects of this set, a new version of the Joker is provided and looks superb, seemingly influenced by the villain's appearance in Batman: The Animated Series. Hopefully this minifigure does indeed prove impressive.
Summary
76264 Batmobile Pursuit: Batman vs. The Joker, 54 pieces.
£20.99 / $26.99 / €26.99 | 38.9p/50.0c/50.0c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Even among 4+ sets, this Batmobile is very basic and enormously overpriced
- Outstanding Joker minifigure
- Incredibly expensive
- Bland Batmobile
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
The vast majority of Batman minifigures have worn one of three cowls since this character's LEGO arrival in 2006 and a fourth has arrived this summer. The white lenses are striking and allow the use of various heads underneath the cowl, avoiding the need for a printed headband, which has previously been common.
The torso, on the other hand, has been in use since 2012. I am surprised this piece remains in continued use eleven years later, although there is little need for change when a generic comic-based Batman is required. After all, this bat emblem and printed belt look superb, alongside the usual muscle definition and fabric cape. A pliable fabric is used to avoid creasing when Batman sits in the Batmobile.
By far the most appealing feature of this set, from an adult perspective, is the Joker. Numerous versions of the villain have been produced and this is among my favourites, partly because the lavender colour is unique, but mainly thanks to its resemblance to the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series. The colour of the suit, the orange shirt underneath and the flower are notably similar to the animated character.
Admittedly, there are also various differences, as the Joker did not wear a waistcoat or striped suit in Batman: The Animated Series, but the similarities are enough for me. Furthermore, the manic grin looks marvellous and I like the green hair element, hearkening back to the Joker's minifigure from 2012, when the DC theme was launched.
The Joker comes with a banknote, which is fine, but 4+ sets often provide useful printed pieces and a Joker playing card would have been perfect. Batman, meanwhile, wields a Batarang and removing his cowl reveals an unusually cheerful head underneath. This double-sided head was created for Joey in 21319 Central Perk, but works for a child-friendly version of Batman.
The Completed Model
4+ sets are understandably limited in their complexity, assuring an easy building experience for young children. Even so, this version of the Batmobile is surprisingly basic. Comprising only 43 pieces, this vehicle is constructed around the 6x12x2 car chassis introduced in 2019, much like the equivalent model in 76180 Batman vs. The Joker: Batmobile Chase.
The size of the Batmobile is good for play, as is the significant ground clearance underneath. Otherwise though, the model lacks a distinct character. I like the shape of the bonnet and the requisite bat-inspired tail fins, but the 4+ Batmobile in 76180 Batman vs. The Joker: Batmobile Chase included far greater detail. This is more like the simplest Batmobile design possible.
However, the use of dark bluish grey 2x2 round textured bricks is effective, representing either an interesting radiator or twin turbine intakes. The printed bat symbol in the middle looks great and the bulbous wheel arches work well. Although generally used for large trucks, this chassis provides a suitable base for the Batmobile.
I like the 2x4 windscreen and printed console as well, but this model bafflingly lacks a steering wheel. Also, the grille tiles fixed on either side look awkward without more detail around them, particularly since a couple of studs remain empty. Again, comparing this vehicle with its 2021 counterpart, which was designed for the same age group, there was an opportunity to include much
Overall
I think the defining feature of this set is its price, unfortunately. £20.99, $26.99 or €26.99 feels incredibly expensive, especially when compared with 76180 Batman vs. The Joker: Batmobile Chase from 2021. That set cost £24.99, $29.99 or €29.99, so was only slightly more expensive, but included three minifigures, a more detailed Batmobile, another vehicle for the Joker and a cash machine.
Beyond the price, I find the Batmobile pretty underwhelming. It is a serviceable model for play, but has no distinguishing details or functions. The exclusive Joker minifigure is impressive, but does not come close to warranting such an expensive price. Hopefully the same minifigure soon becomes available in a more desirable set, or perhaps as a magazine gift in Europe.
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24 comments on this article
Will be seeing this in the clearance soon then I guess.
Reminds me of the Harley Quinn vs Batman 4+ set from last year, £13 felt way overpriced for that (so £21 for this is a while new level of crazy) but I have seen that set struggle to sell at 50% off at ASDA and Tesco's near me, only recently did my local ASDA cave in an drop it by 90% off.
I can see this set having a similar story. Same for the Hulbuster 4+ thing from Marvel.
It’s all a conspiracy: LEGO is trying to make the $100 tile cost $100 one increment at a time. It will get there sooner in some countries than others.
Genuinely wondered why the review of 76224 had been posted again before I realised it was a new one. Strong deja vu.
Also…is this supposed to be the Joker from
Batman: TAS? Maybe it’s just the natural lack of the very pointed features that version of him has throwing me off but the paler suit and taut face is giving me more Cesar Romero vibes
@Ridgeheart said:
"Yes, okay, but what the people really want to know: how does this compare to the Shadow Box-version of the Batmobile???"
^ This is the guy asking the hard questions we all want to know the answers to!
Offensively overpriced. Poor kids.
Finally...printed/painted "lenses" in the Bat-mask...and they LOOK GOOD, makes me wonder if dual-molding wasn't used here...
The old 76182 was a great little 4+ set, clearly simplified for the intended age range, but nevertheless looked fun and had great play features. Unlike this sad thing. And it was just a few bucks more with 2 vehicles plus a side build, 3 minifigs, and way over double the piece count. I know inflation is a thing and I know thoses Ferrari's need some maintenance every once in a while, but dare I say this pricing is downright offensive? Lego really seems to think their customers are idiots, willing pay anything regardless how terrible a set is.
Price aside, it looks like a fun set. I'm sure the billionaire children will love it too.
I HATE THIS SETT!!!!!1!!!!!!!1
They are bleeding the 4 year olds dry.
Price per piece is ridiculous, but what’s the price by weight? How does it compare to other sets?
@brick_r said:
"Finally...printed/painted "lenses" in the Bat-mask...and they LOOK GOOD, makes me wonder if dual-molding wasn't used here... "
The new cowl element is dual moulded, per the review of 76265
Lazy design, offensive price.
So many comparisons to demonstrate the ridiculous price. 10774 was a much better value, it was released in 2022 and Disney so the inflation and license excuses are less valid. I don't think it matters how you value this, by all objective measures (price per piece, per mass, or price per volume of stuff) this is overpriced.
Another point in 76180's favor compared to this: The third minifigure was a really cool Batgirl that was only otherwise available in 212115, which was a magazine gift, so not available in all markets, and 76160, which was £79.99/$89.99/€89.99, so not cheap at all. Although if this Joker is based of the B:TAS version, hey, a chance to get one of Mark Hamill's best roles, so there's that!
@WizardOfOss said:
"The old 76182 was a great little 4+ set, clearly simplified for the intended age range, but nevertheless looked fun and had great play features."
76182 definitely wasn't a 4+ set. Did you mean 76180?
@fourstud said: "Offensively overpriced. Poor kids."
I'm actually quite surprised.
In terms of price-per-piece, this set is even worse than the new Thanos vs Hulkbuster Juniors set. And that's surprising, given that set is $40 AU for about ten pieces.
Wait, this isn't the 4+ set? I seriously thought it was when I started reading this article!
I agree the Joker is nice, especially considering his resemblance to the Joker from Batman the Animated Series. Now give us the Batmobile from that show!
Bat005 is based on the B:TAS Joker. This one definitely is not. B:TAS Joker had a solid dark purple suit, an orange vest, no visible shirt (or it’s the same orange as the vest), and a green shoestring tie, with a pink boutonnière that looks like a dandelion about to go to seed. This has a lavender pinstriped suit, a green vest over an orange shirt, and a five petal boutonnière, but they did get the green shoestring tie correct. I’m not sure what this is based on, but it’s definitely not B:TAS. Or if it is, they did it from memory, and haven’t watched the show since original broadcast.
Just to clarify, I never stated this version of the Joker was based directly on his Batman: The Animated Series appearance. I think this minifigure is closer than others though, especially with the lavender suit, rather than purple.
I expect the graphic designer was merely tasked with developing a unique Joker minifigure and likely took influence from a number of sources, including the animated series.
@CapnRex101 said:
"Just to clarify, I never stated this version of the Joker was based directly on his Batman: The Animated Series appearance. I think this minifigure is closer than others though, especially with the lavender suit, rather than purple.
I expect the graphic designer was merely tasked with developing a unique Joker minifigure and likely took influence from a number of sources, including the animated series."
I still don't see it.
https://brickset.com/minifigs/bat005/the-joker
This version, along with the 2006 Two-Face, and the 2008 Harley Quinn, are clearly based on their B:TAS appearances. The green vest alone throws this one off. A boutonnière is not exclusive to the DCAU versions of the character, as Jack Nicholson wore one in the 1989 Batman. I also don't see this being based off the Romero costume, as someone else suggested above.
https://www.toyark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DCC-Expressions-Joker-027.jpg
There's enough variance in the animation from B:TAS (since the animation was farmed out to several dozen animation studios) that it's hard to pick any definitive screencap (I've actually found pink, orange, or yellow flowers, plus they changed it to lime when they overhauled the character designs post-S:TAS), and I can even find instances of the same image that have wildly different colors, but I would expect the action figures to be keyed to the original character designs. Dark-purple may not be the most accurate color, but neither is lavender. I'd lean more towards the retired colors purple or sand-purple, depending on the specific image someone was trying to match.
At least the set don't lie. Joker's runnin' off with your dough.
It seems the Batman logo print on the torso is not exactly in the center.
@TheOtherMike said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"The old 76182 was a great little 4+ set, clearly simplified for the intended age range, but nevertheless looked fun and had great play features."
76182 definitely wasn't a 4+ set. Did you mean 76180?"
Ah yes....how did I get those mixed up?
If this was the only Batmobile available I can imagine kids wanting it (and using it as a base to build one of their favourites), but I can see them all point to 76224 saying: no, I want that one!
I think 2022 would have been an anniversary for Batman: TAS. That would have been a good moment for that batmobile. I gues we'll have to wait.
@Ridgeheart said:
"So I've just been given this amazing tip by @thor96 over in a different thread: if you build this set using your own bricks, or bricks you've bought second-hand, it's not expensive at all.
I would humbly request that that fantastic lifehack be included in every set from now on."
Yeah, but then you can't scan the manual. Think man, think!