Return Home News Reference Discussion Forums
Welcome,
BZPower Guest
.

Login | Register | Retrieve Password



Site Links
    - Forums Reference
    - Become a Member
    - Premier Membership
    - Timeline
    - Set Database
    - Parent's Guide
    - Collectibles
    - Good Guys
    - Bad Guys
    - Mythology
    - Story Sources
    - Official Greg Discussion
    - Product Reviews
    - Tool Kit
    - Wild Kraata Colors
    - BZPowercast
    - Mata Nui Translater
    - History of Bionicle
    - Accessories
    - Games
  • About BZPower
  •     - Staff
        - Site History
        - Contact Us

    Discuss This Story
    Set Review: 76049 Avenjet Space Mission
    ReviewFriday, January 29th, 2016 at 2:58pm by Andrew, BZPower News Manager
    [Source: Ta-metru_defender]

    While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is often at the forefront of people's minds when they think of Captain America and Iron Man, the comics, TV shows and other media still exist too. Such is the case with 76049 Avenjet Space Mission, based on the Avengers Assemble TV show, featuring characters that haven't shown up yet in the films alongside MCU favorites. BZPower Blog Assistant Ta-metru_defender takes a look at the set today and shares his thoughts on the wide array of characters and the spaceship it contains. Should you blast off into orbit to pick this one up, or is it better left sitting on the launchpad? Read on to find out!

    Presentation
    From the design of the box to the instruction manual, these are the first things you see before building the set.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 01 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 02

    Spaceship! And Avengers! AND CAPTAIN FRIGGIN' MARVEL! Oh, and Thanos too.

    Back of the box has got the usual showing off of play features, an ad for the the LEGO Avengers game that's been advertised for the last forever, and the inclusion of a comic.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 03

    There's also a nifty drawing of Iron Man and Captain America pushing a new building initiative or something. I dig it.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 04

    Along the top we've got the characters charging into battle and Iron Man there for scale.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 05

    Inside the box is the usual stuff you've probably come to expect.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 06 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 07

    The comic is fun, albeit fairly typical of LEGO's superhero comics. But it does have Captain Marvel being awesome, so I'm cool with that.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 08 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 09

    The sticker sheet is one of those that can be repurposed to outfit anything you want, which I like. Of note is that the instruction manual isn't stapled but rather bound like a book, like the instruction manual for Wall-E. It means there's only one booklet instead of a whole bunch, which is nicer for storage and organization.

    Building
    Half the fun is had building the set. How fun is it to build and how easy or challenging is it?

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 10 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 11 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 12 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 13

    It goes together in batches, bag by bag. It's not the most complex build, but hey. It's got elements of the prior Quinjets that have been released, but still feels newish. Elements of space sets of yesteryear too, but I'll get into that later.

    Set Design
    Now that the set is complete, we can critique how it looks from every angle. New or interesting pieces can also be examined here.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 14 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 15 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 16 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 17

    The new piece of most note is the rebreather/regulator thing that Captain America uses to breathe in space. It looks good on minifigs but also would do great as greebles on MOCs. ChocolateFrogs pointed out that the rebreather can fit under an Iron Man helmet (though without the faceplate). He figures there's some versatility there for custom figs, and I am inclined to agree. The round disks used on the wings are printed and also versatile, as is the 1x1 round tiles that have Captain America's star. You also get a bunch of extra pieces with the set, and that's grand.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 18

    Look at that range of minifigs!

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 19 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 20

    Thanos is a bigfig, which works for him given his impressive stature. He's nicely molded and his purple face and ridged chin are printed wonderfully. Thanos is represented as being beautifully diabolical. He's recognizable.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 21

    I do kinda start to see the limitations of the bigfig here though. Besides his arms he can't really be posed too much, which does limit him. Especially if Drax the Destroyer comes to collect. Maybe it's time for LEGO to give the bigfigs head and leg articulation. And, Frogs wants to make sure I mention that the stiffness of the bigfigs means you can't make Thanos sit all menacingly in a throne. So yay, Thanos! Boo, bigfig.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 22 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 23 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 24 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 25

    So we have Space! Captain America and Tony Stark in his Mark 39.

    Captain America's torso is nothing new. The head's new and locked in a permanently ready-for-battle face, but it's partially covered by his rebreather. It's not my favorite minifig of his (that goes to Age of Ultron). His space jets/tanks are pretty cool, but, ultimately, Captain America proves the most uninteresting of the lineup. Someone else could have been added to the lot (Richard Rider's Nova, maybe?) which would have made it even more standout.

    Iron Man, however, is totally new. Well, except the Tony Stark head, but beyond that we have an Iron Man armor in WHITE. Sure, it doesn't quite look like the Mk 39 in the movies, and I would have loved Iron Man's latest Space Armor of the comics, but that doesn't diminish the minifig in any way. Of particular note is how the trans-clear bracket's thruster-studs match up with the printing on the torso. This is a great minifig.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 26

    I just wanna highlight how absolutely gorgeous the Iron Man helmet mold looks in white. And how the printing on the faceplate is exceptional. Dude. Just dude.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 27 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 28 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 29 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 30

    Now, I'm not that familiar with Hyperion outside of Hickman's run on (New) Avengers, in which he wore a decidedly different outfit. But my brother, who's read more of Hyperion's comics, assures me that this is a pretty dang spot on representation of the superhero. Less interesting, though, is the reuse of Superman's head. I mean, it works for him, but hey. He does have a new cape piece though, that's all swoopy shaped. That's spiffy.

    And now, the main attraction. Captain. Freaking. Marvel. Full disclosure beforehand, Captain Marvel's my favorite Marvel character. Carol Danvers is the best and it makes me SO happy to get a minifig of her. So I'm biased.

    And I love her minifig. Look, half the fun of minifigs is them being representations of their counterparts, and man, is Captain Marvel representative of hers. The printing is great an instantly recognizable. Now, her head is the Wonder Woman head, but it works well enough. The hairpiece, well, I do really wish they included a blonde mohawk part for when she has her helmet on, but alright. On that note, the set comes with an alternate head for her with her helmet/mask on. I really like this minifig and am incredibly freaking excited to have Earth's Mightiest Hero in ABS form.

    But anyway. On from the minifigs.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 31 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 32 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 33

    Sorta. Thanos gets a pair of rocket boots. They, well, I guess they'll get you through space and all. They're kinda unremarkable, and they have some completely bizarre stud shooters on the heels which, well, okay. Whatever.

    ON TO THE SPACESHIP!

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 34

    Now, I don't watch Avengers Assemble, but I've googled the Avenjet a bunch of times and this has the right color scheme. It looks a bunch like the other Quinjets, at least in silhouette, so there's a common design language.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 35 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 36 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 37 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 38

    The Avenjet looks like a jet that can go in space, rather than a strict spaceship. I'm a bit disappointed by this, because I'm a spaceship man, but at the same time it makes sense. It also reminds me more than a little of the Avenjet of the comics, which is my main frame of reference. Either way, it's pretty cool.

    The white and red color scheme looks really good and some clever use of jump panels and stickers. Now, the cockpits aren't quite airtight, which is a bit of a bummer, but there' nothing too awful. Of note is that the blue flickfire missiles don't stand out anywhere nearly as bad as they could. Points for that!

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 39

    The thruster design is simple, but effective. I'm not sure how much I like the use of trans-red, though; it tends to blend in with the rest of the set (that picture was right hard to get). Trans-orange or blue would have been better, I think.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 40 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 41

    The main cockpit is super simple, not fancy chairs like in the Milano or Quinjets. There is a targeting display with Thanos on it, which is a nice touch I think. There's also another one of those ubiquitous fire extinguishers. Also, anyone piloting the Avenjet has to lie down in it. It's a bit of a disappointment, really, after the last few Marvel jets have done such good jobs with their cockpits.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 42 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 43

    The mini-jet is a simple build. it's got some mild SNOT on the side that helps keep it slick. Besides that it's kinda unremarkable.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 44 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 45

    There are also clips on the back to hold on to Captain America's breathing tank and shield when he's not using it.

    As a whole, though, I do like the Avenjet. I've got gripes with it - and it's no 2012 Quinjet - but it still looks nice.

    Playability
    The other half of the fun is in playing with the set. How well does the set function and is it enjoyable to play with?

    So why does the Avenjet remind me of 90's era space sets? It's not just the double cockpit, it's that the second cockpit can detach.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 46 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 47 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 48

    It's done quite simply, but holds together quite well and won't go flying off at a moment's notice - always a good sign. It does leave a big hole in the center of the jet, though.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 49 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 50 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 51 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 52

    You can stash Iron Man in that hole, though, and then pop him up. I guess if you have a super fancy suit of armor they don't let you ride in the cabin.

    It does mean that all three heroes (Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Captain America) can ride in/beneath the Avenjet though.

    There aren't that many play features besides that. The flickfires fire, and the stud shooters shoot. The number of minifigs does make it great for roleplaying though.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 53 76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 54

    Avengers Space Fight, go!

    Final Thoughts
    Once it's all said and done, how does the set stack up? Should I get it?

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 55

    Pros
    What's to like?

    • CAPTAIN MARVEL MINIFIG WHAAAAAT
    • We also get Thanos and Space Iron Man, amongst others
    • It's a spiffy jet
    • Nice color scheme

    Cons
    What's not to like?

    • Thanos has jet boots...?
    • Disappointing cockpit
    • Captain America isn't the most interesting minifig.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 56

    My opinion of this set is very heavily influenced by the fact that we're getting a CAPTAIN MARVEL MINIFIG. That's the big reason I got this set. That said, the Avenjet itself seems a bit paltry for a $60 set, but that in turn is allayed by the impressive minifig lineup. Thanos is a big deal and I'm always happy to get a new Iron Man - especially one that's as radically different from the prior ones like this.

    Whether or not you get this set depends entirely on how much you want the minifigs. Unlike the Quinjets or the Milano, the vehicle itself isn't cool enough to justify the purchase alone. But there's a Captain Marvel minifig, and for me, that was more than enough reason to get the set.

    76049 Avenjet Space Mission Review 57

    Thanks as always to Ta-metru_defender for taking the time to put together this review. We hope you enjoyed it, and would appreciate your questions, comments, and feedback in the Talkback. We're working on more set reviews, so make sure you keep checking back on BZPower for those and all the latest Bionicle and LEGO news!

    Discuss This Story

    « Return to News

    LEGO® and BIONICLE are trademarks of the LEGO Group. BZPower is not authorized or endorsed by TLG. All non-LEGO images & contents are copyright BZPower.com and are not authorized or approved by the LEGO Group. BZPower.com logo & graphic design are copyrights of the owners of this site. ©2001-2024