Constructing the Set

As mentioned earlier, you'll encounter 44 bags of bricks. While that may seem overwhelming, each bag contains a manageable number of pieces, ensuring that the building process feels relatively brisk despite the set's size.

The assembly involves attaching pieces to plates, adopting a style reminiscent of LEGO ART sets, but it remains three-dimensional enough to include numerous micro-builds. While a smaller version of this set could resemble the LEGO Postcard sets, this is clearly on a much larger scale, with a depth of 5.5 cm—approximately 6 bricks deep. The width measures 42 cm while the length extends to an impressive 77 cm.

Similar to Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, this set combines ART and micro-building techniques.

It's essential to consider these details ahead of time, as constructing this set can be challenging if space is limited. The base consists of smaller plates, which is somewhat unusual for a set of this scale. The build includes 8 red plates measuring 16×16 studs and 4 red plates of 8×16 studs, all interconnected step by step with smaller plates at both the back and front as you build the various buildings of Gotham City.

To effectively join the two halves of the set, a flat, rigid surface is crucial. I found this out the hard way, as multiple attempts to connect them without a solid base led to failure. When connecting the pieces, it's best to align the bottom end and work your way up, ensuring everything comes together smoothly.

This set relies entirely on the clutch power of the studs to maintain its structure, a factor I hope holds up well given that the final build weighs in at 2731 grams and will be hung on a wall.

As for hanging, the set includes two hooks, similar to other LEGO ART offerings, integrated into the Gotham City base. This adds complexity to the build but is justified for practical reasons. With a recommended age of 18+, this set indeed presents a challenge, comparable to the micro-scale Harry Potter Hogwarts set, though it is more extensive and tests your patience more thoroughly. As an adult, I found the entire building process enjoyable, spanning 11 hours without any tedious or repetitive moments. However, as the set grows larger, maintaining focus and stability can be challenging, particularly for those who aren't die-hard Batman fans or may not yet have mastered the art of patience.

To enhance the display aspect, LEGO designers have included two foldable stands within the build. While they may help if you choose to place it on a shelf, I question their overall stability, especially concerning the risk of the model tipping forward—an issue also faced by the Captain America Shield set.

A notable highlight is the set's 3D nature. It would have been simple to outline Gotham City with bricks, but the designers, led by Joel Baker, opted for a "dark deco" style in three layers. Interestingly, only 15 colors are utilized throughout the entire set!

1. The first layer consists of the base plates that support everything else, featuring hooks for wall display.
2. The second layer serves dual purposes: it sets the nighttime scene with police blimps, clouds, and the Batman logo, while also representing the interiors of many buildings. Cleverly, many buildings conceal fun references to the show and notable characters, often represented by a tile with a sticker. It's always enjoyable to uncover these details when removing a building's facade.
3. The final layer is the facade that completes the stunning look of the city, with light yellow tiles and bricks creating the illusion of lit windows across the construction.

Experiencing such a wealth of surprises while building is rare, especially in a LEGO ART set. This build experience is filled with clever techniques and long-lost storylines, making it one of the top 10 best building experiences I've encountered in a LEGO set.

The Sinister Secrets and More...

Speaking of intriguing storylines, the set is packed with Easter eggs—so many that I lost track of them! I’ll describe them from right to left, roughly in the order you discover them while building. Only 14 are highlighted in the instruction manuals, while the rest I found through exploration—so I can confidently say I'm a genuine Batman fan!

The officially recognized Easter eggs in the instruction manual include:

• The Batcave, which also contains other unlisted Easter eggs, including his iconic talking computer, Robin, and the Giant Penny—a classic piece of memorabilia.
• A small brick-built Batmobile inside the Batcave, surprisingly accurate in shape and proportions for such a compact build.
• Wayne Manor, complete with a road leading to the house, featuring Alfred Pennyworth on a sticker, serving food and drinks as usual.
• The GCPD blimps, three of which illuminate Gotham City from above—impressive funding for the police department, indeed!
• Behind the facade, you’ll find the iconic trio: Gordon, Bullock, and Montoya, detailed on gray tiles.
• A printed red Batman tile reflecting the title sequence moment—too iconic not to print, and likely to be a rare piece in the future.
• The Bat Signal, which, while not perfectly matching the yellow of the bricks, still serves its purpose.
• ACE Chemicals, cleverly hidden behind Joker’s Carnival and the rest of Gotham's skyline, concealing a gray tile depicting The Joker, along with great detailing of gray bananas as smoke from the factory smokestacks.
• Joker’s Amusement Area, with an entrance that resembles its main resident.
• The Gotham City Greenhouse, which includes a yellow LEGO duck referencing The Penguin’s Duck Boat, along with tiles depicting Killer Croc and Bane in the sewers beneath Arkham.
• Arkham Asylum itself, complete with a detailed path leading to the building, housing characters like Scarface, The Ventriloquist, Baby-Doll, The Mad Hatter, and Man-Bat, with Lock-Up peeking from the right.
• The Batwing, constructed from just 29 pieces, serves as a clever nod to the larger 1989 Batwing set that comprises 2636 pieces.

These official Easter eggs are just the beginning; as I built the set while rewatching the series, I uncovered a long list of additional intriguing details—two of which are particularly dark and sinister.

• Firstly, the two tombstones of Thomas and Martha Wayne, Batman’s parents, situated along the path to Wayne Manor.
• Secondly, the dark alleyway where their murder took place—a detail that initially seemed coincidental but became unmistakably clear upon closer inspection. This somber inclusion is both clever and poignant.

The gravestones and the alleyway are arguably the most somber Easter eggs I've encountered in any LEGO set.

• The Batcave features a neat feature: a disguised gate that flips down, allowing the Batmobile to discreetly enter the city.
• Behind Pussykins Pet Food Factory, Catwoman and her cat can be found depicted on a gray tile.
• The Gotham City Opera conceals The Penguin, complete with his open umbrella, on a brick-built stage.
• At Gothcorp, ice is forming from Mister Freeze, and upon removing the top facade, Summer Gleeson is seen reporting at a humanitarian event alongside Mister Freeze and Nora Fries, the frozen wife of the villain.
• The museum holds The Scarecrow, with a red-tiled cloud symbolizing his fear toxin, and nearby, Ra’s Al Ghul stands ready with his sword—an often-overlooked villain in Batman lore.
• Above the museum, the hospital reveals Two-Face, identifiable by the contrasting black and white checkered floors, caught in the act of flipping his iconic coin.
• Adjacent to the clocktower, nearing 3:15 PM (a nod to a famous storyline), removing the facade uncovers Harley Quinn and Ivy on separate gray tiles, alongside details referencing Ivy's beloved rose and Harley's classic color scheme.
• Detaching the top of the Laff Palace reveals the Condiment King squirting brick-built ketchup and mustard on stage, with the Clock King and gears from the clocktower positioned above, and a poster referencing the Grey Ghost—a significant influence on Batman's origins.
• The Riddler is represented by a large lime-green brick-built question mark, with an accompanying tile showcasing his figure.
• Finally, revealing the Galaxy Broadcasting building's top layer exposes Clayface, yet another iconic villain.

In total, that adds another 12 Easter eggs to the 14 officially acknowledged, making for a total of 26 references, many of which are not immediately apparent.

A Great Set of Minifigs

What about the minifigures? This set includes four, balancing heroes and villains. While I would have loved more minifig representations of the tile references, I find the offerings fair given the price.

Starting with Batman, some fans regard this edition as the definitive version after 18 years. Notable features include a dual-sided fabric cape—dark blue inside and black outside. The torso print is highly accurate and well-crafted, and the dual-moulded and printed leg piece is superb. The cowl is also dual-moulded, allowing for two expressions without obstructing the eyes—zero complaints here.

Catwoman is also a standout minifig with dual-moulded legs and a nice torso print. However, the face print, while accurate, doesn’t sit quite right with me in combination with the additional cat-ear piece. Fans debate whether the arms should have been dual-moulded as well—it's a small compromise.

The Joker, known as the clown prince of crime, is another impressive minifig. The torso printing is impeccable, and his facial expressions are iconic. The dark-green hair piece completes the character nicely. While there’s no leg printing for the shoes, it doesn’t detract from an otherwise excellent minifig.

Lastly, Harley Quinn might be the best minifigure aside from Batman. The alternating black, white, and red prints from her legs to her hat are striking, and her facial expressions are unforgettable. I can hear her voice from the TV series just by looking at her—an exceptional minifigure.

Final Verdict

By now, you’re likely as excited about this set as I was when I brought it home and began building. It will soon adorn my wall, and LEGO has made it easier to access the hook pieces, a common challenge with most LEGO ART sets. You simply mark where the holes need to go in the wall, drill, and hang the set, replacing the building facades afterward.

That thoughtful design detail is appreciated—having this set fall due to improper installation would be a nightmare.

I hope this review captures the brilliance of this set because it truly is remarkable. My enthusiasm for LEGO is no secret, and while I often see value in many sets, I genuinely believe this one stands apart and should be experienced by all, whether you're a Batman or DC fan or not.

Owning the Batman: The Animated Series Gotham City set feels like possessing the entire Batman universe and much of what has made DC Comics iconic over the years.

This set offers unparalleled value for money and has set a benchmark for future DC Comics LEGO sets that will be hard to surpass—if that even is possible.

Attila Vago — Software Engineer improving the world one line of code at a time. A lifelong enthusiast, writer of codes, blogs, and books. **Author*. Advocate for web accessibility, LEGO fan, vinyl record collector. Enjoys craft beer! Read my Hello story here! Subscribe for more insights on LEGO, tech, coding, and accessibility! For my less frequent readers, I also write about random bits and writing.*