Marvel Studios is currently going through a crucial transitional period. And correspondingly, the LEGO sets are also at a crossroads—still relying on the classic iconography of Phases 1-3, while making initial, if hesitant, steps into the MCU's future.
The latest LEGO Marvel sets demonstrate that the age range for this brand is shifting upward. There are more adult and teen sets—catering to the generation that came of age during the Infinity Saga—and more model-oriented builds, designed for display over play. And with the R-rated Deadpool and Wolverine coming out this year, we will likely see this trend continue in the months ahead.
We removed the retired sets and added the best of the brand new. Here are the top LEGO Marvel sets that you can buy in 2024.
Venomized Groot
A bit of What If?-esque fantasy making, this set combines Baby Groot with the Venom Symbiote. You customize the level of Symbiote infestation by adding additional mouths, a long tongue, and more or less of Groot's original "wood," depending on your personal preference.
Starlord's Helmet
This set is composed of the helmet only, rather than a filled-out model of Peter Quill's head. And because it is 'hollowed out,' the build double-functions as a pencil holder and would make a great addition to any office space.
Captain America's Shield
It is a redundant build with an incredible cumulative effect, and whether you purchase it comes down to whether you think the end result is worth the monotony. But if you have the blank wall space or the shelf to properly display it, definitely keep it under consideration. The Shield's primary colors really pop.
Daily Bugle
This massive set is not tied to the MCU. Instead, it's a celebration of all things Spider-Man, with 25 Minifigures in all—everyone from Peter Parker to Dr. Octopus to Venom to Spider-Gwen to Mysterio. It even has more ancillary characters like the Black Cat, the Punisher, and J. Jonah Jameson! The building itself is a classic gray high-rise, with plenty of staging elements to recreate every classic Spidey battle.
The Avengers Quinjet
Mountable on a stand, the Quinjet functions either for play or for show, and lets you recreate the moment when Black Widow, Iron Man, and Captain America apprehend Loki for the first time. It comes with two sets of stickers, and you make the decision to decorate it as a S.H.I.E.L.D. or Avengers aircraft.
I am Groot
Here's another build project that's high on the cute factor. This set is a winning depiction of Baby Groot, and it comes with a LEGO-made cassette tape and an information placard, ideal for display.
LEGO Art The Amazing Spider-Man
A homage to our favorite neighborhood web crawler, this three-dimensional piece of pop art depicts Spidey in an iconic pose, literally climbing out of the picture's frame. The instructions include a QR code, so you can listen to a sountrack while you build.
Infinity Gauntlet
Two LEGO Marvel gauntlets are available for purchase. There's Thanos' gauntlet, which the Mad King used to destroy half of all life in the universe—and Stark's gauntlet, which Hulk used in Endgame to bring everybody back. Although the latter looks cool, we prefer the original version, for its ornate, golden ostentatiousness.
Avengers Tower
Nearly three feet high, the Avengers Tower looks incredible from every angle, and it features a whopping 31 Minifigures—of everyone who was someone in the MCU during the Infinity Saga. It has a completely furnished interior, with tons of Easter Eggs of every film from Iron Man to End Game, and a 271-window exterior that gives the Tower its trademark glass-encased look.
Sanctum Sanctorum
Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum is a masterful modular building. It is beautiful from every angle on the outside, and the inside is even better, with three stories of incredible detail and movie references. It includes a library with portals, an oddities room on the top floor, and of course, the iconic grand staircase when you enter through the front door.
It's an adult set, which is notable. Compared to other themes, like Star Wars and Harry Potter, Marvel skews towards a younger audience, with smaller sets that emphasize the mini-figures and storytelling potential rather than the construction. The Marvel theme has only recently started to launch more technical, ambitious sets for its older audience. Overall, if you're either a parent of a precocious child or an adult who's looking to pick up LEGO as a hobby, Marvel is the most rudimentary access point from which to start your building journey.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
