Super Heroes DC

Batman Batwing and The Riddler Heist

A gorgeous black jet, a proper crime scene, and one sneaky-good Shazam.

Brick Rated Score

3.7/5

Set 76120 · 2019

Pieces501

Minifigs4

Year2019

Set number76120

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The verdict

The Batwing is the whole reason to buy this one, and it delivers.

That wide black wingspan with the swept angles looks fantastic on a shelf, and the little heist scene (Riddler's chopper hoisting a cracked safe full of cash and gems) gives Batman something to actually chase. It is not the deepest build in the world and the price never felt quite right for the part count, but if you want a display-worthy Batwing without spending UCS money, this is a satisfying pick.

Best for: Batman fans who want a shelf-ready Batwing and a crime scene to play out

The full review

What it is

This is the 2019 Batwing set, and the plane is what got me. It is a wide, low, angular black jet with an opening cockpit and four shooters tucked into the wings, and once it is finished it has that unmistakable Batman silhouette that looks brilliant sitting on a shelf. Around it, LEGO built an actual scene rather than just a hero and a villain: the Riddler flies a green helicopter with a chain and hook, uses it to hoist a lockable safe stuffed with cash and gem elements, and Batman comes screaming in to stop the heist. Commissioner Gordon rolls up in a little police car to round it out. There is a proper story baked into the box, and for kids that turns it from a display piece into a game.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the caveats. When this launched at around 50 dollars, 501 pieces felt a touch light, and plenty of reviewers pointed out that other Batman sets gave you more brick for the money. The minifigures are a mixed bag too. Batman is the familiar suit (well printed, but nothing new), and the Riddler is disappointingly plain with green legs, thin torso printing, and a single face. A few builders also mentioned the Batwing feeling wobbly partway through the build, with sections that do not fully hold until the later steps lock everything down. It comes together fine in the end, but it can test your patience in the middle.

Who it's for

So who lands where. If you love Batman and you want a striking Batwing on your shelf plus a heist to act out, this is an easy yes, especially now that it has retired and the scene reads as a complete little set. Younger builders will get the most out of it thanks to the three vehicles and the safe-grabbing play. If you are chasing pure part-count value or you already own a nicer Batwing, though, you can comfortably skip it. This is a charming, playable set rather than a showpiece flagship, and it is happiest when it is judged on that.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

Building it is quick and pleasant rather than demanding. The Batwing is the meatiest section and uses some nice angled techniques to get that swept, aggressive wing shape, which feels a step above the boxy vehicles you get in a City set. The helicopter and police car are fast, satisfying sub-builds you can knock out in a sitting, and the chain-and-hook safe rig is a fun bit of function that kids will fiddle with endlessly. Just know the Batwing can feel loose before the final steps tie it together.

The standout in the box is the exclusive Shazam. His face printing and torso detailing are the best in the set, and he can shoot lightning bolts from his hands, which is a lovely touch for an included figure. The Batwing carries the new-for-mid-2019 rapid-fire multi shooters, firing tile ammo, alongside a pair of shooters that can launch tiles or studs. Add the printed cash and translucent gem elements from the safe and there is more play-focused hardware here than the modest part count suggests, even if none of it is a rare-parts goldmine.

Fun facts

01The set retired at the end of December 2020, and on the secondary market it has climbed well above its original 50 dollar RRP, with sealed copies trading around 90 dollars.
02Two of the four minifigures are exclusive to this set, with Shazam widely called the pick of the litter for his printing and lightning-bolt hands.
03The Batwing introduced LEGO's rapid-fire multi shooters that were new for its June 2019 release, feeding tile ammunition into the wings.
04The heist gimmick is self-contained: the Riddler's helicopter uses a chain and hook to lift a lockable safe holding printed cash and gem pieces.