Spider-Man Beware! The Green Goblin Has Arrived!
Written: Jun 01 '02 (Updated Mar 23 '06)
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Pros: Green Goblin and Mary Jane figures, silver spears, flames, nice glider.
Cons: Only two sets in the Spider-Man series have been released so far.
The Bottom Line: Get your spider senses tingling with this fantastic set.
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| Freak369's Full Review: LEGO Studios Green Goblin Set |
Released under the Lego Studio line rather than it’s own dedicated series, the Green Goblin is a visually stunning set filled with cool little pieces and two awesome figures. For lovers of Lego’s, this will surely be a huge hit, how the rest of the world reacts to it is anyone’s guess. Perhaps that’s why Lego clumped this into the already over populated Studio line not wanting a repeat of the Soccer line. In any event, the first wave of Spider-Man Lego’s have hit the stores - so if your spider senses were tingling, this may be the reason why.
The Basics
This is a nice small set, but not exactly something that a child will get much play from as a stand-alone set. There are some nice small pieces that make up the light poles that can easily be broken down and reconstructed in a more functional manner. Seeing as the piece count is a modest 55 pieces, this may or may not be the best set to use as an introduction to the Studio series, but fans of the movie will love it for the two figures and glider. If you plan on giving this to a child who hasn’t accumulated stock Lego pieces or doesn’t have other sets I highly suggest picking up one of the bulk sets as a companion gift. There are various piece count sized tubs to choose from and it will definitely spark a child imagination.
Goblin Glider
This is a pretty cool looking piece – the stenciled design is detailed but not so much so that it takes away from the Green Goblin figure. Assembling it is fairly easy and it can be made a little larger with the addition of some stock pieces or left overs from other sets. There is a clear pole inside the box that can be placed under the glider for enhanced play. The pole is sturdy but since it is about three inches long but rather thin, it could break easily if stepped on. The pole can also be attached to a standing structure to give the illusion of it floating or flying in a scene. This is a great addition for those that have the Studio camera set up and like to create movies.
Make sure you check out the back of the box for an additional design for the components of the glider. While no step-by-step instruction is given, it is pretty easy to build this from looking at the picture. We’ve had the set open for a while and haven’t noticed any scratches on the wing elements but since they are an odd shape I do suggest trying to protect them by either placing them in small plastic bags for storage or coating them with clear nail polish.
Mary Jane
Not exactly the nicest color combination for the clothing [purple] or hair [orange], but still, a nice figure to have in a collection. The reversible faces really make this piece stand out – one side has a cute little smile with the other side shows a distressed and worrisome look. On both sides the tendrils of flowing hair run down the side of the face, making it a distinctive head piece. Without the hair element being applied to the figure, it looks rather strange, but once assembled it’s rather cute.
The stenciled torso / breastplate displays a somewhat oriental design that covers the right shoulder. The color of the legs matches the torso piece exactly and there is no black divider between the leg pegs.
Green Goblin
One of the most unique Lego figures I have come across since the Darth Vader face piece. A very impressive bold green covers the Goblin from head to toe when he is fully assembled. The detail on the face piece is tremendous and gives it a real eerie feel. The stenciled design on the front portion of the torso carries over to the legs and resembles a skeleton. Turning the figure around there is a nice bit of detail work on the back portion of the torso as well as a series arrowhead patterns on the back of the head. The figure can be displayed with out without the green headpiece due to the ‘smirkish’ expression on his face.
Extras
The nicest extras in this set are the two small silver spears that rest at the bottom of the glider. These are pretty sharp, so keep them away from the smaller kids. Since they are coated with the silver metallic material, they will eventually start to show signs of wear. Coat them with some clear nail polish to retain the shine of the pieces.
When you are unpacking the set, make sure you do a quick inventory check before pitching the box. There is a small clear display arm that can be placed under the glider. These are the same display arms that came with a few of the Star Wars ships and kids love them. They have a little more freedom when playing with the ships, or in this case the glider, and they don’t have to worry about breaking off pieces when they are playing with them.
As I like to do every once in a while – I’d like to mention the Lego Club offer that comes with every set of Lego’s. Fill out the form and you’ll receive free catalogs packed with great ideas and special offers, the chance to test out sets or receive random promotional offers and keep up to date with all the latest Lego has to offer. [Currently the Lego magazines come with Bionicle comic books and trading cards]
The Instructions
The instruction for Green Goblin come in a 16 page booklet [not stapled but glued] and carry you through the various stages of assembly. The 5 sections of the Green Goblin figure are shown in one illustration and the female figure is shown assembled. The instructions are very detailed and guide you through the process with no major catches. Be sure to check out the back inner flap of the booklet for a nice photo of Spider-Man Action Studio [1376].
Recommendations
If Spider-Man is your thing, you should also checkout the Spider-Man Action Studio [1376]. Even though the set was released under the Studio series, that doesn’t mean that it needs the entire Studio set up to be a lot of fun. The Green Goblin set makes a great add on for any of the Studio sets but it best when kept with the action / adventure portion of the series [Werewolf Ambush, Cameraman or Studio Basics].
There are a lot of small pieces that could present a choking hazard – most notable the silver spears, pumpkin bombs and clear red flames. Please use caution if younger children will be playing in the same area as Lego addicts. These pieces are also extremely painful when stepped on in the middle of the night :]
Interesting Note: On the outside of the box the recommended age is 6 – 12 but the instruction booklet has it listed a 7 – 12. This might just be a first series snafu but it is nice for those that collect botched or incorrectly labeled sets.
The Stats
Set Name: Green Goblin
Family Set: Studios / Spider-Man
Lego Set: 1374
Number of Pieces: 55
Age Recommendation: 6 - 12
Ease Of Assembly: Easy to moderate
Time Of Assembly: 10 minutes
Cost: $5.99
I found this at Wal-Mart for $5.99 but the suggested retail price is $6.99. They haven’t replenished the stock as of yet so I am unsure if this is ‘real’ price or if it was incorrectly scanned into the pricing system.
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
Other Lego Studio related reviews ...
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Green Goblin Set
Werewolf Ambush
Vampire's Crypt
Pirate Scene
Curse of The Pharaoh
Mini Copter
Pirate Treasure Surprise
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Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $5.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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