Welcome to The Brick Stand’s weekly spotlight on retired LEGO sets! This week, we’re diving into the world of DC Comics Super Heroes with the retired set, Aquaman: Black Manta Strike (Product number: 76095). This set was a fan favorite, featuring iconic characters and exciting scenarios. Retired on December 27, 2019, the Aquaman: Black Manta Strike set remains a sought-after collectible for LEGO enthusiasts and fans of the DC universe.
Diving Into the Depths
The LEGO set “Aquaman: Black Manta Strike” is part of the DC Comics Super Heroes theme and includes a total of 4124 pieces. The set features Black Manta’s submarine with an opening minifigure cockpit, 2 spring-loaded shooters, a 6-stud rapid shooter, and 2 engines. Additionally, there is a buildable underwater scene with 2 detachable treasure elements, 3 minifigures with trident, sword, and Power Blast weapons, as well as a shark figure for immersive role-play. The three included LEGO DC Super Heroes minifigures are Aquaman, Mera, and Black Manta, with unique weapons and features. The set allows fans to recreate exciting underwater scenes from the Aquaman movie. The designer of this set, if any, was not discussed in the available reference materials.
A Look Back at a LEGO Classic
The Aquaman: Black Manta Strike set holds significance in LEGO history as it is the only set based on the 2018 Aquaman film. This marked the first appearance of certain minifigures, such as Aquaman in a new costume and Mera’s first LEGO incarnation. It also represents an improvement over previous Black Manta submarine sets, featuring sleek design and enhanced play features. Upon release, the set received positive feedback for its detailed minifigures and the impressive appearance of Black Manta’s submarine. While it received favorable reviews for its playability and value for money, some reviewers noted the high cost. Among Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs), the set is still valued for its unique minifigures, improved design, and good play features.
Fan Buzz
The Aquaman: Black Manta Strike set received mostly positive reviews from LEGO enthusiasts. One reviewer praised the minifigures, stating, “The minifigure selection is fantastic and the sub looks really awesome and faithful to the character of Black Manta” (Renaissance_Ravensly). Another reviewer appreciated the design of the submarine, mentioning, “IT LOOKS LIKE A RAY, A PLANE, A SPACE SHIP… The submarine has a smooth and aerodynamic shape, with plenty of play features for the kids” (legopraetorian13114). However, some reviewers expressed disappointment with the set choice, with one stating, “The only set based on the 2018 Aquaman film delivers a barely above mediocre set considering the possibilities the film offered Lego” (losinglemo). Nevertheless, the set was still recommended by a reviewer who said, “This is a very good set… I’d still recommend this set though, Mera and Black Manta are strong reasons” (Odeinoichus). Overall, the set garnered positive feedback for its minifigures and the faithful representation of the characters and their vehicles from the Aquaman movie.
All the reviews for this article were provided by Brickset.com: Aquaman: Black Manta Strike Reviews
Image Gallery
Join us next week as we continue our weekly spotlight on retired LEGO sets. This week, we highlighted the popular DC Comics Super Heroes set, Aquaman: Black Manta Strike (Product Number: 76095), which retired on December 6th and 27th, 2019. Be sure to check back in next week to discover another retired gem from the world of LEGO!
