Fellow toy collectors, this November 2022, we are about to welcome the most expensive and largest LEGO Marvel set by piece count: 76210 Hulkbuster! Today, the Toy People editorial team is here to review this heavyweight behemoth.
Making its spectacular debut in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," the "Hulkbuster" is the "Mark 44" armor designed by "Iron Man" Tony Stark to handle a rampaging Hulk. It boasts dimensions and specifications that surpass other Iron Man suits, with incredible durability. If a part is damaged, it can be instantly replaced with components from an orbiting satellite parts pod to continue the fight. Even years after "Age of Ultron" was released, the Hulkbuster remains an immensely popular Iron Man suit. This time, LEGO has recreated it with 4049 pieces, standing at a height of 52 cm. The anticipation is real!
With over four thousand pieces, it surpasses the previously released 76178 Daily Bugle, which had 3772 pieces, to become the largest LEGO MARVEL set to date.
▼ The front of the massive, plain black box features the LEGO model of the "Hulkbuster" itself, along with the MARVEL, LEGO, and The Infinity Saga logos. The Hulkbuster image has a spot gloss finish, adding a touch of depth. For scale, I've brought in Iron Man himself—Tony!
▼ The back showcases play features, the detailed dimensions of the completed model, and a still of the Hulkbuster from the movie "Avengers: Age of Ultron."
▼ The side features an illustration of the upper body opening up, about to fire a repulsor blast, also with a spot gloss finish.
▼ The top has a LEGO-style print of the Hulkbuster's upper torso.
▼ The bags are numbered up to 25, with a total of 34 bags of parts. Other contents include the Hulkbuster head piece and a large flat tile for the information plaque sticker.
▼ I really have to point this out: for such an expensive product where the printed head is so crucial, it's surprising that the head piece wasn't protected in a separate bag!
▼ There are three instruction manuals in total, which can be roughly divided into the torso, legs, and arms with the remaining outer armor.
▼ The instructions immediately reveal an interesting play feature of this set: you can place the "76206 Iron Man Figure" inside!
▼ The page numbers are surrounded by a high-tech graphic print.
▼ Now, let's start building! GO!
Besides admiring the exterior of this massive mech, there are many noteworthy details that become hidden after assembly. So this time, I want to share several details from the building process with all you toy collectors!
▼ After finishing Bag 1, we have the torso's frame. The hollow space constructed with light gray long bricks is clearly reserved for placing the "76206 Iron Man Figure" inside later.
▼ Many sections use Technic pins and connectors for stability, a building method commonly favored in large LEGO mech models.
▼ The knee joint of the leg uses as many as 6 click hinges for connection, so there's no need to worry about stability!
▼ Assembling the legs was personally the most interesting part for me! The internal mechanisms, the layering of the outer armor, and the clever part combinations are all fascinating.
▼ The image below shows the outer armor built from bags 21 to 25 (excluding the head). Although the instructions have you attach each section to the main body as you build it, completing all the armor pieces first and then installing them at once is also very cool. It really gives you the feeling of suiting up and assembling the armor.
▼ The shoulder armor is incredibly cool! The golden stripe stickers on both sides create an excellent effect.
▼ The mechanical detail of the arm joints is quite captivating.
▼ The gear mechanism that moves when the shoulder rotates.
Now, let's take a look at this behemoth from all angles! The articulation is basically limited to the arms, along with the flip-up head and several opening armor panels. The legs have no articulation at all, likely a decision made for overall stability.
After all, it stands on only two legs. If the joints were to loosen over time, they would surely be unable to support this massive body. It can't be compared to the previous 75313 AT-AT, which was both huge and articulated, supported by four legs. This significantly sacrifices the playability of this set.
▼ The mechanical feel, the sense of depth from the layered parts, and the overall weighty presence are all outstanding! The abundance of gold pieces is also very eye-catching. Of course, it would be even more perfect if the head were a bit larger!
▼ The light brick for the chest Arc Reactor!
▼ The light-up feature in the palms of both hands!
▼ The mechanisms in the legs and the visual effect of sharp, angular lines mixed with smooth curves are truly fantastic!
▼ This part is just beautiful!
▼ The trans-blue parts here are even infused with glitter.
▼ Moving on to the arms, the shoulders can rotate 360 degrees, but the elbow's range of motion is limited due to parts collision.
▼ This is the spot where it gets stuck; you'll notice it easily if you try to bend it too far.
▼ The fingers use ball joints and click hinges for flexible articulation!
▼ Despite using many curved pieces, the model still effectively portrays armor plating with varying depths, which looks incredibly satisfying.
▼ Next up is a showcase of this set's play features!
▼ These round parts here have a glow-in-the-dark effect.
▼ Besides the Hulkbuster, here are the other contents: a Tony Stark minifigure and the information plaque (sticker).
▼ This Stark minifigure is based on the scene in "Age of Ultron" just before Vision's debut, where Tony is partially suited up in the Mark 43 armor. The head has two facial expressions, but unfortunately, the legs and arms are plain with no special printing.
▼ Next is the interaction with the "76206 Iron Man Figure." I have to say, the experience of this feature isn't as smooth as I'd imagined. When placing the 76206 figure inside, you not only need to have its limbs hanging down naturally, but you also have to be mindful of how far apart its legs are. It often gets caught on the edges while being inserted, and the instruction manual doesn't provide detailed guidance on this part, which is a bit of a shame!
【76210 Hulkbuster】Review Summary:
This Hulkbuster is not only the most expensive and largest MARVEL set, but it's also the biggest mech LEGO has released to date! Personally, I find the proportions to be a bit awkward, which might be a consequence of designer Junya Suzuki's goal to accommodate the "76206 Iron Man Figure" inside. However, other aspects like the presentation of mechanisms, the layering of details, and the overall reinterpretation into LEGO form are satisfying.
Regarding post-build playability, this set is clearly display-oriented. Besides the non-articulated legs, the arms also have a limited range of motion. However, the structurally sound torso allows you to move it with ease. Given enough space, this Hulkbuster is an absolutely stunning display piece with an immense and powerful presence.
Finally, let's talk about the price. At $549.99 USD (NT$17,999), with only 4049 pieces, it is clearly more expensive than other sets in its class. While it uses an abundance of metallic-colored parts, large Technic elements, and a printed head, the number of stickers is still quite high. It would have been better if more printed parts were used. Overall, the "76210 Hulkbuster" offers a very enjoyable building experience and a tremendous sense of accomplishment and substance upon completion. If you are a huge fan of the Hulkbuster and have the space to properly display it, this is a set worth considering!
LEGO 76210 Hulkbuster (Infinity Saga Hulkbuster)
MSRP: NT$17,999
Total Pieces: 4049
LEGO VIP members can enjoy Early Access and purchase starting November 4, 2022, at LEGO Certified Stores in Taiwan (Taipei Far Eastern Xinyi A13, Banqiao Mega City, Taichung Top City, Hsinchu Big City SOGO).
Official Release Date: November 9, 2022