Review: LEGO 76045 Kryptonite Interception

February 25, 2016 | 29

The Batman v Superman hype train has no brakes. Following on from my review of the excellent gateway set to the theme, 76044 Clash of the Heroes, I’ll be taking a look at the next set in the wave – 76045 Kryptonite Interception.

Kryptonite Interception is the medium-sized set from the initial bunch of Batman V Superman theme and is unique in that it’s completely Batman-focused. How typical of DC! The main draw of the set is a brand spanking new Batmobile, which I was really excited about.

Let’s take a closer look at 76045 Kryptonite Interception.

Name: Kryptonite Interception
Set Number: 76034
Pieces: 306
Price: AU$49.99 – Buy from LEGO.com [AUS] [USA]
Exclusive to: N/A
Minifigures: 3
Theme: DC Super Heroes – Batman v Superman
Year of Release: 2016
Instructions: LEGO 76045 Kryptonite Interception Book 1 Book 2

Unlike Clash of the Heroes, the minifigures are (comparitively) the weakest part of the set. Three minifigures are included in the set, Batman and two nameless LexCorp henchmen. To be honest, this is the first Super Heroes set that I didn’t buy because of the minifigures.

The two LexCorp henchmen minifigures are exclusive to this set. They’re nameless so I’ve decided to name the guy with the goatee Tony, and his friend, Bob. Tony and Bob both come with identical torsos – LexCorp has some pretty snazzy uniforms. They each sport dark green jackets, with zipper pockets and a LexCorp nametag clipped to their left breast.

To distinguish the both of them, Tony and Bob have alternating hair and pants combos. Tony has black hair and brown pants (Deadpool approved) whereas Bob has brown hair and black pants. Clearly Bob is the most competent one as he’s been entrusted with a massive stud-blaster bazooka.

Both the henchmen have double sided heads with obligatory angry teeth-baring expressions. The uniforms also have back printing, with the LexCorp logo and some other apparel details such as the lining on the bottom.

To be honest… it’s hard to be excited about either LexCorp henchman. They’re nameless goons and the fact that they have similar torsos makes them stand out even less. Out of the two, I like Tony the best thanks to his goatee which at the very least gives him a bit more of a distinctive (and useful) look.

Here’s the Batman minifigure who is sporting a new and different Batsuit from the one in Clash of the Heroes which was armoured. This version of Batman looks more like Bruce Wayne’s everyday crime fighting look, with familiar colours and designs. The oversized (fat bat) Batlogo occupies a huge space on his chest, and there’s the iconic gold utility-belt as well.

The Batsuit also has some dark grey flecks within the torso which I really like as it gives it a unique textured look but I was quite disappointed to discover that the patterns don’t extend to his arms or legs.

Batman also has boots thanks to LEGO’s new boot printing capabilities, which looks pretty nice. He’s got the spongy fabric cape and is equipped with the new pearl silver batarang.

Unmasking Batman reveals the cursed return of the headband AND the overly tan Bruce Wayne head. It’s super sloppy of LEGO but they’ve simply recycled the same Batman head from 2015’s wave of DC Sets (Gorilla Grodd Goes Bananas + Batboat Harbour Pursuit) which is a terrible disappointment.

As a DC Comics fan, I really expected LEGO to give us a new Batman face for the Batman V Superman sets – sure we got one in Clash of the Heroes, but this is just lazy of them.

Batman has some nice back printing which has some armour definition and plating that’s mostly hidden under his cape.

It might also surprise you to know that this Batman minifigure isn’t exclusive to this set. It’s the exact same Batman as the one from 76046 Heroes of Justice: Sky High Battle which I’m hoping to review next week.

I don’t say this often, but the minifigures in this set were a total letdown. I really don’t like the overly tanned Batman face, and to get a rehashed head on a new body just seems wrong.

The LexCorp Henchmen are also pretty boring and seem to serve as filler in this set. You know what would have been a better addition to this set even though it doesn’t really make much thematic sense? Lois Lane.

On to the more interesting parts of the sets, the vehicles. Here’s a look at the sticker sheet included. We get 2 control panel/dashboard stickers for the Batmobile, a Batlogo and 2 LexCorp logos.

The first thing you assemble is this LexCorp forklift. I was actually pretty surprised by how well this small build turned out. All the proportions are right and it has a pleasing colour scheme to it. The fork section is decently large and can be dragged down before snapping back to its original position thanks to the rubberband holding it in its place.

Here’s the forklift play feature in motion.

Here’s how the LexCorp forklife looks like from an alternate angle, which highlight two flaws about the vehicle. Firstly, why does a forklift have flick fire missiles? This has to be one of the most unecessary shoehorns of flick fire missiles I’ve seen in recent times.

Secondly, I really don’t like the tan technic pins used in  the back wheels. I’m not OCD or anything, but it irks me that they’re a different colour to the grey ones in front.

The LexCorp forklift has a nifty play feature built into it. By pressing down on a plate, you can dismantle the enclosure and cause the henchman to hurtle out of his seat.

There’s a pallet of Kryptonite for the forklift to transport. There are 3 capsules containing 3 Kryptonite crystals. I love that we get the “plant pot” piece in black that the crystals comfortable sit in.

The transparent domes are really dodgy as they don’t fit snugly onto the flower pots so they just sorta rest there. This means that they topple over every time you move the pallet around, which was quite irritating.

I liked the forklift and pallet combo a lot more than I expected to. It doesn’t seem like an afterthought at all and has some really cool play features. Add to the fact that forklifts are ubiquitous in any city which makes the LexCorp one very versatile – a few modifications to remove the sticker and to strengthen the overall structure and it will fit in easy into your LEGO city.

The forklift and minifigures are just appetisers for the main course, the new Batmobile. It’s the main reason why you’d pick up this set and it does not disappoint in the slightest.

I’m a huge fan of the new Batmobile’s design – it manages to combine the classic elongated Batmobile shape with a very contemporary and believable armoured tank look. It looks heavily armoured, yet agile enough to go fast and is packed to the rafters with weaponry. It does seem like the lovechild of the Tumbler and older Batmobiles.

Here’s a look at the Batmobile from the movie. I think the LEGO designers have done a remarkable job capturing the overall shape and design of the Batmobile, especially the cockpit which is easily the most prominent and interesting feature of the vehicle.

Here’s a look at the Batmobile from the side. I really like the subtle downward slope from the back to the front. The scale is also almost perfect – it’s a believable size compared to the Batman minifig.

This is the Batmobile from the front. It has a really fierce and aggressive look to it, which is exactly what a Batmobile should exude. For weaponry, there are 2 stud blasters attached to the front of the car. It has grey 1 x 1 studs as ammunition, which blend in very well with all the black so they’re not immediately very visible – a good thing for those that hate the chunky look of stud blasters.

There are also twin cannons that emerge from the front and point outwards at an angle. They’re shielded by a small flap, which make it look like surprise weaponry that’s cunningly hidden. It would’ve been cool if the guns could swivel around, but at the very least they can tilt upwards and downwards.

The back of the Batmobile is perhaps its weakest side, considering that there’s nothing really noteworthy about it.

The back area or roof of the Batmobile is one of my favourites, featuring flaps that can move oh so slightly to give it a very angular sleek look that you wouldn’t normally be able to achieve using conventional build methods.

It’s a really creative solution to give the Batmobile a unique, layered look. The lower two flaps can swivel in and out, giving it some degree of articulation so that you can slightly alter the look of the Batmobile. The wheel flaps on the larger back wheels are also really good looking and very Tumblr-esque.

The cockpit is easily the most impressive feature of the Batmobile. It’s a brand new mould and looks amazing thanks to the angle in which it slopes downwards, as well as the tinted glass.

The cockpit splits open in half, which is an amazing effect and I’m really glad that LEGO went all out with the functionality and look and feel of it. The cockpit is affixed to the studs very tightly but I’ve found the best way to pop it open is to grip it by its sides and lift them up.

The cockpit interior is tiny, with only space for Batman to lie down. There’s no steering wheel inside, just two stickered panels on each side with readouts and controls for Batman to steer.

The new Batmobile is such a terrific new build and is bound to delight Batman fans. The overwhelming black colour scheme with subtle splashes of grey and silver give it a very mature and stylish look. It just looks like it means business.

The most astounding part of the Batmobile is how the designers managed to capture the shape and design of the movie Batmobile and be able to translate that to such a small-scale.

What I liked:

• Forklift and Pallet make for decent complementary builds
• The Batmobile’s incredible design

What I didn’t like: 

• Weak minifigure lineup
• Recycled Batman head
• Not enough detail on Batman’s arms/legs

Final thoughts: Kryptonite Interception is a pretty difficult set to recommend because the pros and cons are pretty evenly balanced. For a Super Heroes set, the minifigures included are pretty disappointing.

The LexCorp Henchmen, while exclusive to this set are rather uninspired and boring. Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen the movie yet so the context is loss on me, but unless they both have memorable scenes, they both end up being largely forgettable minifigs.

Batman is another disappointment. I really hate that they recycled his head from 2015 sets and I hate the orange skin colour. It just reeks of laziness that we’re not given a brand new head.

Ben Affleck is a new Batman and it would have been so awesome if LEGO had designed a new Batman head which takes into account Affleck’s very prominent chin. Thankfully, his body design kinda makes up for it, sporting just enough detail to make the minifig look unique and fresh. Shame that there isn’t any arm or additional leg printing.

The forklift and pallet are great additions which I’m sure younger kids will be able to appreciate. On their own, they look good on display and this is possibly one of the best forklifts that LEGO have ever designed.

The Batmobile is the star of the set and is almost nearly flawless. Combining a ridiculously sleek look with all that lovely black, the Batmobile is a very impressive representation of the movie version. The scale of the set is perfect – it can easily fit in with other LEGO vehicles and has just enough articulation and play features to keep it dynamic and fun.

For what you get, I do concede that the price is the biggest drawback. Having to drop AU$50 on a Batmobile is a pretty big hit to the wallet, especially when the other components of the set such as minifigures don’t do much to cushion the blow.

The Batmobile will no doubt appeal to kids and adults. It’s a very attractive build and is perfectly suited for display but I would recommend waiting to get it on sale. Unless you’re a massive DC or Batman fan, there’s simply not enough value in this set to make this an instant must-have.

Rating: 3/5

Do you own Kryptonite Interception? Let me know what you thought of the Batmobile in the comments section!

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