Marvel’s Doctor Strange is unlikely to appeal quite as much to the kiddie-winks as the studio’s cast of colourful, costumed crime fighters. Fittingly, this new Doctor Strange Sanctum Sanctorum Lego set is one that might suit the grown-ups out there – yeah, and what of it? Everyone knows it’s all right for adult men to play with Lego these days – that it will the younger Lego fans.
Its difficult to judge against the movie, of course, having not seen it, but this looks like another spoiler-tastic set from Lego, depicting a pivotal action scene from the upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch-starring film.
(I felt a minor annoyance over having the appearance of Giant Man in Civil War spoilt by a Lego set – but then, as a man of 33 who spends an ungodly amount of time in the Lego shop drooling over the latest releases, I really have myself to blame on that one.)
Of course, this one’s not quite as easy to spoil. Casual readers of Marvel comics – such as myself – likely won’t have a bleedin’ clue who the accompanying characters, The Ancient One and Karl Mordo, actually are (they’re played in the movie by Tilda Swinton and Chiwetel Ejiofor, if that’s any use to you).
In fact, this set feels like it’s one especially for the real fans. Lego has a tendency these days to pack their more geek-baiting sets with little easter eggs, and this one comes with maps, accessories, and small trinkets that are lost on me, but are sure to make sense to the initiated. Indeed, this one’s all about the details – which is why it will probably appeal more to older fans.
The big sell of the set is the “portal beast”, with its big horrible tentacles reaching into Doctor Strange’s pad from another dimension. It’s actually a really cool feature, as the tentacles are mounted on a little cog system so you can rotate them for proper tentacle-ly action.
There are also some transparent levers to place the mini figures on, which go up and down and can be used to position the characters in various battle poses. (Not that this 33-year-old would resort to anything quite so childish, of course. Ahem.)
Overall, it’s a decent little set – and though not actually one those disappointingly small sets, a relatively swift build – and something a bit different to the usual action-based Marvel Lego. And extra points for the grey streaks in Doctor Strange’s hair. Magic, you could say.
For more information visit Lego.com
