UPDATE: The Classic Batcave is now available for purchase on LEGO.com for VIP members!c Don’t forget to log on to purchase it. No word if the retro Mr Freeze polybag will be included – although I think it will in a day or two.
This morning, LEGO unveiled the much anticipated 76052 Batcave, based on the classic Batman TV series from the 1960s starring Adam West and Burt Ward. The 1960s live action TV series left an indelible mark on pop culture and super hero fans, with Adam West spearheading an era of Batman that would be remembered fondly for its silly campiness, puns galore and good old fashioned fun that’s fit for the whole family.
While I wasn’t alive to witness Adam West’s Batman on TV, I do have many fond memories of watching episodes and highlights from the TV series on Youtube. I would embed a whole ton of my favourite clips, but then this post would descend into an entire essay about how awesome Adam West’s Batman was.
I’ll leave you with my all-time favourite moment from the TV series below – the infamous Shark Repellent Scene. I get the giggles every time I think of this.
ANYWAY. Enough gushing about Adam West and more gushing about the LEGO Batman™ Classic TV Series – Batcave set!
The set weighs in at 2526 pieces, featuring a fully tricked out Batave and a portion of Wayne Manor. LEGO DC Super Heroes fans will be delighted with the inclusion of 9 exclusive minifigures from the show in all their retro glory.
The set contains Batman, Robin, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth, The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin. The Batcave also includes a Batcopter (to reenact the Shark Repellent Scene!!!), Batcycle and an awesome looking Retro Batmobile.
The minifigures are definitely one of the biggest draws of the set, with Adam West’s Batman represented incredibly well. I also really love The Joker’s painted on moustache on his face as well as the use of Series 14’s Tiger Woman’s hairpiece for Catwoman!
The set’s release date is 1 March 2016 and the Australian price for the Classic Batcave is jaw-dropping $399.99. In the United States, it’s priced at US$269.99.
You can check out the product listing on the LEGO.com site.
Personally, I think the Australian price is a little excessive. I was predicting that it would cost AU$350 at the very most. 400 dollars for a set that only has 2500 pieces is incredibly steep. That said, LEGO is purely targeting this set at AFOLs who typically have the cash to splash on opulent sets like these.
Too expensive and a worrying precedent to set for large DC Super Heroes playsets.
The set certainly looks impressive, with heaps of dark tan pieces used to construct the Batcave’s cavernous look. That said, it looks quite bare and skeletal but I look at this as a good thing as LEGO have certainly left plenty of room and potential for LEGO fans to upgrade and add to the cave to give it more structure.
The Batcave’s repertoire of Bat-vehicles should delight fans and I love how well-designed the vehicles are, especially the retro Batmobile. Good news for fans who refused to pony up a king’s ransom for the exclusive SDCC Batmobile set on eBay.
Will I get the set? I really love the 1960s Batman series and all things DC Comics… so I’m going to say yes. I won’t lie, the price is a HUGE deterrent and I doubt I’ll be first in line to order it when its released on 1 March 2016. I may just wait it out till it hits Australian retail shelves and try and snag it at a discount.
LEGO 76052 Batman™ Classic TV Series – Batcave will go on sale on LEGO.com on 1 March 2016. Not too sure if there’ll be a VIP release for this set.
Be sure to check out the designer video for a closer look at the retro Batcave set.
So now that it’s official, what do you think of the LEGO Classic TV Series Batcave? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments section!
Adele says
Hey dude, can you give me more info on this Mr. Freeze polybag you speak of in the update? I am about to purchase the GB headquarters and this set with my VIP membership but not interested in the current free nexoknights free stuff…are you saying there might be a Mr Freeze free fig in a day or so? Cos I would gladly wait a couple of days if that is gonna pop up.
Jay says
Hey Adele, this is the Mr Freeze polybag (http://imgur.com/GIwMCx9).
I (and a lot of other people) were expecting it to be bundled together with the Classic Batcave as a bonus but it doesn’t seem like it now.
Brickset claims that it’ll be available in April, although I’m not too sure how reliable that info is since it could be just for US customers.
I assumed it would’ve been the same case as the Helicarrier launch last year where we got the Winter Soldier polybag with early orders. I still feel it’s worth waiting a day or two to see if the polybag shows up in your cart if you’re not in a rush to get the set.
Adele says
Yes, im going to keep it in my cart and see what happens.
I emailed LEGO and they said:
“Unfortunately, I can’t confirm nor deny that news and I am so sorry. I really wish I could provide you with more information regarding that! What I can suggest for you is to keep a lookout on our website for any details regarding that rumor.”
That sounds like it is leaning towards a maybe??? 😀
I will just get the GB HQ for now.
Thanks for the reply!
Jay says
Heads up! The UK LEGO Store calendar has been released, and it looks like the retro Mr Freeze polybag will be available from 1 – 30 April. http://imgur.com/BRhFN9u
Our LEGO.com promos are almost always synced up with the UK, so I’m about 90% sure that we’ll get the polybag in that same time period. Our purchase threshold would probably be like AU$75.
Hope this helps!
Adele says
Oh great! Thanks for that news. Eagle eye Jay.
Now to decide whether I hold out on the Batcave till then (I think it is quite an expensive specific set and seeing as it will still be available for non VIP peeps from March, it could still be there in April) OR buy it before it goes and get a DC set at $75 in April or wait.
decisions, decisions.
Jay says
You’re welcome! I’ll probably aim for the Deadshot set and maybe a couple of Mighty Micro sets to qualify for it in April.
Adele says
Oh I completely forgot about the Deadshot set! Great minifigs in that. Yes, I might do the same so I dont have to linger on the Batman series set too long. Good idea.
The Micro set minifigs look adorable too…I need a Bane.
Adele says
I also think that the polybag COULD appear at the end of February because that is when the current Nexo Knight free offer ends…im just having a guess there.
Richard says
First time posting Jay. Following your page. And i must say, you sure do know your lego. Back to the batcave. As a passionate DC lego collector, it’s a must for any fan. Save your money and snap it up quick. Or it be gone like the tumbler. And you would be paying twice rhe price. Polybag will make it easier. Jay can you snap some pics of your dc collection?
Jay says
Hi Richard, thanks for commenting! I am saving as we speak. I don’t know if it will spike up like The Tumbler as LEGO playsets typically don’t appreciate as much… But the range of minifigs would probably make this a really special set. I think it’ll last for quite a while since its not attached to a movie like The Tumbler was.
Most of my DC collection is currently in storage! I think I only have the minifigs on display at the moment!
Nick says
Hey Jay!
What a post to read after just buying a few sets for parts at the big w sale lol. This is one wow set. The other commenters make a good point about the U.S. Price being before tax and considering the worthless AUD at present (going to get much worse), I suppose it’s reasonable value.
Let’s touch on the upsides:
More pieces for less than the Ewok Village
Nine exclusive minifigures (which before long may well exceed the value of the set)
It’s yet another rendition of the caped crusader
It isn’t just one large repetitive build- but an assortment of structures (interior and exterior detailing) and three vehicles
You can reenact the shark repellent scene if you have a shark in your collection (easy to pick up with the deep sea starter set).
I’d like to say I’ll definitely be getting this, but to be honest, I’m still very giddy with the Force and I’m still very much enamoured by anything to do with the Force Awakens. I have Poe’s x wing, the special forces tie fighte, Rey’s speeder and more polybags than I can poke a stick at.
Thanks for the review !
Jay says
Hey Nick!
Yeah, with our exchange rate is certainly seems like a good deal but with forex, you never know…they can go up and down on a whim.
The comparison with the Ewok Village is fitting, but I think the Ewok Village beats this set hands down from a display/AFOL perspective. It’s absolutely massive and captures a very convincing section of Bright Tree village. The Batcave still kinda irks me with its skeletal look. I feel that another 1000 pieces or so would’ve been perfect, which is why I suggested in the post that there’s plenty of room for upgrades/combining two sets.
You’ve hit the nail on the head with the minifigs – they’re such a HUGE draw and I highly doubt that we’ll ever see “retro” versions of these characters ever again.
That said… if LEGO dangles an exclusive polybag with the release of this set, I’ll snap it up immediately. Curse me for picking DC over Marvel!
starwarsfolder12 (YADDA YADDA BATMAN) says
DUN NUN NUN NUN NUN NUN DUN NUN NUN NUN NUN NUN HOLY GOD THAT LOOKS AWESOOOOOOOOME!
i must get it someday
Jay says
Dem minifigs tho!
spudbud01 says
THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE SEEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!! *wipes tear from eye*
Jay says
Haha! It is quite cool and very unlike anything that LEGO has ever pumped out.
spudbud01 says
Yeah, if only I had a million dollars to spend on LEGO!!!
Michael says
I dislike the Australia tax as much as anyone, but the conversion isn’t too bad – at today’s exchange rate, 270US is 386AU. I think I will be saving pennies!
abe francis says
Don’t forget that sales tax is added at the register in the US so we’re actually getting a better deal.
Jay says
For now while our dollar remains weak 😉
Mark says
“Holy inflation Batman!”. Seriously, the price doesn’t surprise me. If you compare to another licenced high piece count/minifig playset – Ewok village – it retails for $389 and “only” has 1998 pieces. So, for 500 more pieces a $10 seems a little easier to swallow. Albeit with half the number of minifigs as Ewok village. Our dollar has dropped significantly since the release of that set though!
Jay says
The Ewok Village comparison has been brought up countless times but just comparing the both of them, I still get the niggling feeling that it just feels very bare and incomplete. It’s designed to be a playset and yeah, the play features are really cool but as a display piece which it will most ultimately become since its targeted at AFOLs, it seems very very lacking in that department.
Mark says
I agree it’s no Ewok Village and have commented in other forums on its lack of visual appeal for AFOLs. I was merely making a price/piece comparison. The above ground part of Wayne manor is gorgeous (those wallpaper bricks are perfect!) but it’s way too small. I actually wish they made the set as ‘Wayne manor’ in the style of a haunted mansion / ghostbusters HQ dollhouse with the bottom floor as the Batcave and sold the vehicles separately. Surely this would have made sense from a marketing perspective…affordable cheaper vehicle sets that both kids and AFOLs would love and a hero set that has enormous visual appeal and collectibility.
anthony says
At $399 not seeing much value for money in this
Jay says
I’m on the fence with this one. With a 20% discount, I’ll buy it in a heartbeat.