LEGO is providing pop culture fanatics with the chance to literally build up their favorite heroes and villains from the worlds of Star Wars, Marvel, and beyond with the company's recently announced LEGO ART line. The new series from the perennial toy company is targeted toward adults and is even offering an immersive element to the process, with curated soundtracks accompanying each set to keep users company while they build.
Besides the Marvel and Star Wars sets, there will also be one recreating Andy Warhol's famous Marilyn Monroe pop art, as well as a Beatles set that allows builders to make their own portraits of the band's members. Each set will be customizable, giving fans the opportunity to re-imagine and rebuild the finished pieces with various designs included in each project. Iron Man fans can create their own LEGO take on the Mark III, Mark LXXXV, and Hulkbuster suits; while Star Wars fans will have to embrace their Dark Side, since that set offers designs of Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and Kylo Ren. There are even instructions included for true die hard fans to create one epic, super-sized fourth portrait by combining the pieces from three copies of the same sets.
The LEGO ART series will release across Europe beginning August 1, while Americans will have to wait a month for a September 1 release date, according to LEGO's announcement. Each set will be $119.99 and contain around 3,000 pieces. The finished product of each set will measure more than 15X15 inches square. The sets even include a hanging element to let crafters display their work. But fans will be getting more than just the building materials with their purchase.
Described by LEGO as "the perfect building companion," each set will have unique soundtracks featuring stories and anecdotes from the various creators behind the characters. Iron Man fans will be hearing interviews with former Marvel Editor in Chief Roy Thomas, as well as commentary from Alex Grand, the host of the Comic Book Historians podcast. Star Wars aficionados will be treated to talks with Lucasfilm Vice President and Executive Creative Director Doug Chiang, and also stories from designer Glyn Dillon, the man responsible for crafting Kylo Ren's menacing look.
LEGO has been keeping Marvel fans busy with their recent offerings, whether it's in the form of LEGO Marvel video games or a whole new line of Avengers-focused LEGO sets. And Star Wars fans have had plenty to be excited about, too, with LEGO recently announcing that the highly anticipated video game LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is coming in October. LEGO is even developing sets that will help unlock additional content in its Star Wars games.
So any fans of Star Wars, Marvel, LEGO, or (ideally) all three have plenty to look forward to. But they should probably just watch their step if they're walking around barefoot.