Review: 76274 Batman with the Batmobile vs. Harley Quinn and Mr. Freeze

[Max_Lego]

Realised in 1992 after the success of Tim Burton's 1989 movie Batman, the highly-acclaimed Batman: the animated series, co-created by Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett, re-imagined the eponymous character's mythos in a way, which revolutionised comic books, since many of the show's unique elements, popular among fans, were later incorporated into mainstream comics, becoming essential parts of the Batman lore. It was referenced in the 2017 hit The Lego Batman movie, and the 2018 video game Lego DC super-villains had a B:TAS story pack. In 2024, TLG realised 76271 Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City, the first set directly based on the show. The set reviewed, with the 'laconic' name 76274 Batman with the Batmobile vs. Harley Quinn and Mr. Freeze, is the second and more affordable one. Let's see what it's like and how good it is!

The box

Long gone is the DC comics Super Heroes theme name, now replaced with Batman's emblem next to the TLG logo. The front side of the box depicts the Batmobile racing against Harley and Freeze in a way, which makes me wonder if the two villains are speedsters like the Flash . Let's assume that the CG background is accurate to B:TAS (after all, it's not the box, but its contents that matter). The series' version of Batman is shown in the below right corner of the box.

The rear side of the box traditionally depicts the set's play functions.

The contents 

This is my first Lego set which paper bags!  Four of them, an instructions booklet and a sticker sheet. The instructions' cover isn't a copy of the box's front side image anymore, reminding me of the covers of some Chinese manufacturers. There is nothing of interest in the instructions - honest. Not even ads of other contemporary DC sets. 

The sticker sheet 

Am I really the only Lego enthusiast who likes stickers? The sticker sheet has got the Batmobile's headlights, interior instrument panels and a display plate with the vehicle's (approximate?) technical profile, possibly taken from B:TAS episode 'The mechanic'. I wish the latter was printed on the slope piece, for how large it is, but I don't really mind.

The build

Assembled contents of the bags (with extra parts):

Bag #1 (notice the mechanism which turns the rear turbine with the flame as the car rolls):

Bag #2 (Harley!):

Bag #3 (notice the 'snow' studs, intended as spares for Mr. Freeze's shooter):

And, finally, bag #4 (the Batmobile's stud shooters also have spares):

Overall, I don't think the build was challenging, but installing some bits required a little physical effort.

The minifigures

"Is there a man brave enough to wear the rubber underpants?" - Phileas Fogg, "Around the world in 8 days"

The main difference between this minifigure and the one, included in 76271, is the rubber cape, presumably intended to be easier to attach for younger builders, instead of the formidable printed black-and-blue one, with the latter being more faithful to the source material. It uses a relatively accurate generic head piece, hidden under the new dual-molded cowl I've been dreaming about since childhood (though now I think the cowl, first introduced in the Lego Batman 3: beyond Gotham videogame, would've worked better due to its notorious lack of the chin bridge - a feature that I really like). I really like the printed dual-molded legs of this minifigure - though the underwear is a little too long, IMHO.

My biggest issue with this minifigure is the odd choice of black instead of dark blue, which makes B:TAS Batman look less like himself and more like his TNBA counterpart, and is also inconsistent with the Batmobile's color scheme. Judge for yourself:

Overall, I think the minifigure isn't bad, and I am looking forward to upgrading it with dark blue parts. As for the legs, they work perfectly for my TNBA Batman fig.

Aside from Batman, the set comes with, probably, the two most significant villains of B:TAS: Harley Quinn and Mr. Freeze.

Harley Quinn was created by writer Paul Dini specifically for the show as a one-off character, but became so popular among fans that she became a recurring star and was even incorporated into mainstream comics, becoming an essential part of the Batman mythos. Fans love her, with some of them going as far as justifying every heinous crime she commits with the Joker's abuse (B:TAS, however , established that Harley is able to kick the Joker's butt whenever she wants to) - this infamously resulted in Harley becoming strictly 'heroic', or at least sympathetic, in most of her modern iterations, while retaining her insanity and brutality - something that I cannot understand.

This minifigure is identical to the one from 76271, and it's easily the best minifigure of the set! It's well-detailed, and the decision of printing her two facial expressions on a red head is a very good one. Many have complained about the lack of arm printing, but I personally think it's demanding a little too much from TLG. The character comes with her signature mallet weapon.

According to the B:TAS Writer's Bible, Mr. Freeze initially wasn't going to receive a tragic backstory (the first attempt being made in the 1966 show), and was nothing more than an ordinary crook who suffered a freak accident. However, his debut episode, 'Heart of ice', portrayed him as a sympathetic (yet still cruel) anti-villain, willing to avenge the death of his wife (a later retcon established that she was still alive) at the hands of his egoistical boss Ferris Boyle (whose VA, Mark Hamill, later voiced the Joker in the same series). This benefitted the public's perception of the character dramatically; the tragic backstory was incorporated into Joel Schumacher's 1997 Batman and Robin movie and mainstream comics, transforming the once-bland villain into an interesting character.

Mr. Freeze's head has printing of his goggles on both sides and is covered with a new transparent dome piece. The character would've undoubtedly benefitted from a cylinder on his back and, most importantly, dual-molded legs; sadly, this isn't the case. Improving the minifigure in a purist fashion would be hard; it's easily the set's worst. It comes with an inaccurate stud shooter, reminding adult collectors that the set is intended for kids first and foremost.

The model

"That's right, Alfred - the Batcave. It's a big hole in the ground, with a big car in it that's all black..." - Bruce Wayne, B:TAS "Perchance to dream"

This isn't the first time the Batmobile from the Animated series appers in official Lego media - in the 2017 The Lego Batman movie, it is among the multiple historical Batmobiles stored in the Bat-garage. The formidable model was designed by Brent Waller.

I totally understand why the designers decided to recreate the Batmobile in dark blue, I just don't understand why Batman's suit is black then! 

The model is nicely designed, especially when it comes to wheel arches. The rear 'Bat-wings' are also smartly done, and I must praise the set's designers for it. The front grille and jet engine intakes, however, could've been better, I think.

The rear jet turbine isn't very accurate (it should've been shorter and more spherical in shape), bur has got a flame and spins when the car rolls on a flat surface:

The cockpit's windscreen can open upwards for better access to the interior, which has got surprisingly accurate detail, despite being single-seated instead of the two-seater from the show:

A nice feature of the cocktail is its ability to fit Batman with hir rubber cape on:

However, the mechanism which turns the rear flame can be seen in the open, which isn't good at all, but is a necessary sacrifice in favour of playability:

The Batmobile can be armed with stud shooters, which look so ugly that I decided not to install them. You can see them on the box image.

This set comes with a beautiful rotating stand, near-identical to the stands from 40433 1989 Batmobile and 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile, which is another great example of smart usage of NEXO shields.

Overall 

"YOU...ARE...A...TOY!!!  You aren't the real Buzz Lightyear, you're an... aw, you're an action FIGURE! You are a child's... plaything!" - Woody, "Toy story"

 

It is obvious that the model desperately tries to be faithful to the source material... And fails. One may notice many inaccuracies, when it comes to the shape and details. But, again, it's primarily targeted for children. It is a very nice playset; but it's just a playset, not a complex UCS build. Of course, many people don't care about accuracy, but It's, sadly, not my case.

I understand that Waller's TLBM model couldn't have been made into an official set, but I still believe it was better.

The minifigures are nice, especially Harley Quinn, but could've been better (especially Mr. Freeze). For me, the characters were the primary reason to acquire the set; even if I'm not satisfied with the model, I may try to rebuild it into something more accurate or, if I fail, scrap it for many good dark blue parts.

I personally don't think it's worth 60$; but if you pick up a bargain (like I did), it's up to you to decide. 

Happy building!

P. S. :Critical feedback is welcome 

Edited February 17 by Max_Lego

[Robert8]

That Mr Freeze minifigure is just....  hard on the eyes

Batman is not great either. The cowl makes his head look too big. Almost like a Funko Pop

Thanks for the review!

[Max_Lego]

12 hours ago, Robert8 said:

That Mr Freeze minifigure is just....  hard on the eyes

Batman is not great either. The cowl makes his head look too big. Almost like a Funko Pop

Thanks for the review!

Yes, I agree. The new cowl is indeed too big. That's one of the reasons why I prefer the Lego Batman 3 one, again.

You're welcome!