LEGO Collectible Minifigures 71048 Series 27 – More for the fans [Review]
After a phenomenal Dungeons and Dragons Collectible Minifigure Series, it’s hard to imagine another CMF series following it with as much grandeur. However, we’re on to next either way! LEGO Collectible Minifigures 71048 Series 27 may not be a licensed series, but the folks at LEGO are still swinging for the fences. Join us as we give each one a close inspection! Series 27 consists of 12 characters and will be available beginning January 1st. Individually, they’ll retail for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49.
The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Unboxing the case and packaging
Like the D&D minifigure series, we received this collection in 2 tall cases, each with 12 individual cartons stacked inside. Also like the last series, each case has a complete set of 12 figures. This would be excellent news for fans who would like to complete a full series. However, it appears that at least online in some regions, LEGO is selling them in cases of 6. And if this series is anything like the D&D series, there have been reports of little randomization in those boxes. Some people have mentioned buying multiple cases to have them all be the same 6 unique figures in the same order, while others have bought cases where the same figure was repeated three or four times within multiple cases. We can only hope that LEGO has corrected this issue.
The typical look and feel of this series is the same as those from the past. Each carton has 8 of the 12 figs featured on its front. This time the series is denoted with lime packaging.
Fortunately, like the last few series, the QR codes on the bottom of the boxes can help decipher who’s inside. Most standard smartphone cameras can pick up the QR code and reveal the unique minifigure number (as long as it’s the larger QR code and not the tiny version). The first 7 numbers are the fig number, while the next 5 are the factory code. If your factory code contains an “S” it’s from Europe, and if it contains an “R” it’s from North American. The code for the box below is as follows:
6522990 (Fig ID#) 641S4 (Factory Code) 14767677 000698 (Don’t need these)
Because our cases came from Denmark, the table below indicates the numbers for figures distributed in Europe. Those in North America may be different. Some apps also claim to be able to do the lookup work for you.
It is interesting that their ID numbers are out of order from their official release number…
| Character | EU (S) Code | NA (R) Code |
|---|---|---|
| Hamster Costume Fan (#1) | 6522982 | ? |
| Wolfpack Beastmaster (#2) | 6522981 | ? |
| Jetpack Racer (#3) | 6522986 | ? |
| Astronomer Kid (#4) | 6522989 | ? |
| Plush Toy Collector (#5) | 6522991 | ? |
| Pterodactyl Costume Fan (#6) | 6522988 | ? |
| Longboarder (#7) | 6522983 | ? |
| Bogeyman (#8) | 6522992 | ? |
| Cupid (#9) | 6522985 | ? |
| Pirate Quartermaster (#10) | 6522987 | ? |
| Cat Lover (#11) | 6522990 | ? |
| Steampunk Inventor (#12) | 6522984 | ? |
As usual, the cartons also contain a folded sheet with the entire series pictured on one side and instructions for the mini-builds on the other.
Hamster Costume Fan
Mascot-style costumed characters have been very popular with fans, and this time we get two more! Up first is an adorable little hamster. The legs, torso, and hamster-head of this figure are all given special treatment. This includes pink toes on dual-molded white feet, a fuzzy belly and tail printed on a torso with dual-molded white arms, and eyes and nose printing on the head, with a dual-molded white stripe and buck-teeth. The kiddo’s face is also dual-sided, with one side featuring a cute closed-eyes smile. The other side could be considered a one-sided smile, but it’s more likely the face of someone chewing. This matches nicely with the printed cucumber tile accessory. There’s also a bonus extra in the box.
Wolfpack Beastmaster
At this point we’ve seen representatives of a couple of the original Castle era factions in the CMFs: the Series 24 Falconer (Black Falcons) and the Series 25 Vampire Knight (Fright Knights). Now, likely to be one of the most sought-after figures in this series is the Wolfpack Beastmaster. In general, he’s cool, but true fans know that he directly pays homage to the Wolfpack faction. First showing up in 1992, the Wolfpack are a group of renegades and thieves, but they have only been featured a few times in the entire history of LEGO products.
This fellow plays the part perfectly, looking like someone you don’t want to mess with. The Wolfpack crest is featured on both his shield and his chest, and he carries a large sword. He wears the typical brown tunic, however, this fig takes it up a notch with dual-molded boots, and chainmail printed on the neck, arms, and upper legs. Additionally, he has a serrated cape that’s plain on one side and fuzzy on the other. His face is dual-sided, with giant eyebrows and a faint scar running through one eye. There’s a menacing, jagged-toothed grin on one side, and a howl on the other. The look is made complete by a black hood, the only downside being that it covers up his exceptional black and grey mutton chops. Finally, animal fans will rejoice at the inclusion of his wolf companion – an excellent new mold.
Jetpack Racer
Perhaps the second most sought-after figure from the series would be the Jetpack Racer. This character has excellent printing and a phenomenal dual-molded helmet. As LEGO throws everything into these special release minifigures, once again the printing is found on nearly surface, including the arms and sides of the legs. The latter features a nod to Octan, LEGO’s fictional megacorporation and fuel brand, which also has humble beginnings in 1992 as a gas station. These days, it’s a sponsor in many racing sets, however, I believe this is a first for jetpacks.
Speaking of which, the actual brick-built jetpack for the character is not very interesting and covers up a lot of the back print. The helmet, on the other hand, is absolutely fantastic, with a trans-red strip dual-molded all the way from the face to the rear crown. The head is actually white with a yellow printed face to give the appearance of a tight hood. On one side our racer has a confident grin and on the other his mouth is masked.
Astronomer Kid
LEGO’s move to show support for disabilities is a key feature of the Astronomer Kid. This sweet little fig has movable (rather than fixed) short legs, a spaceship themed shirt (front only), and a prosthetic lower left arm. So far, this part has only been seen in Friends sets, so it’s nice to have it – and the accompanying torso mold – show up in minifigure form. This character also features curly black hair and a dual-sided face. On one side is a cute open-mouthed smile and on the other is a winking grin. The brick-built telescope accessory might be the coolest iteration of a LEGO telescope thus far. It utilizes a great new part! If you think you’ve seen it before in plants, look again. Instead of 3 stems of varying heights, they are all even. But you can be sure to see it in the Botanicals soon!
Plush Toy Collector
LEGO says “plush toy” but we all know what this figure is really referring to. Squishmallow stuffed characters are all the rage, and this fig is most definitely showing them some love too. We’re lucky enough to get two of them in the form of a new mold. The character herself appears to be wearing a medium lavender cat-themed onesie. Her printing includes fuzzy squiggles, pink pom tassels, a cat-ear hood on the back, and shoulders featuring a cat head and paw print.
The hair has been seen in black and coral from the Chinese New Year sets and Ninjago’s Sora, respectively, but this is the first time it has shown up in pink. Finally, her dual-sided face features a sweet open-mouthed smile on one side, and a serene smile on the other, both with pink cheeks.
Pterodactyl Costume Fan
Our second costumed character follows up the Triceratops Costume Fan from Series 25. The Pterodactyl Costume Fan has probably the most plain set of legs of the bunch, with the only printing being clawed toes. The torso has decent printing, but only on one side, leaving it feeling a bit bare at the back.
The torso mold itself is interesting though! We’ve seen the upturned arms with bat wings several times on minifigures, including a CMF, but this is the first appearance of this particular mold. The arms are movable, however the edges of the wings bump into the head of the costume, not allowing them to make a full rotation. Speaking of the costume head, this is another interesting new element. The nose and crest don’t feel quite as long as they should be, but it works. Finally, our wearer’s face is dual-sided, one excited and one somewhat menacing. The sand-blue lipstick sets the outfit off nicely.
Longboarder
One of my favorite figures in the bunch is the longboarder. The LEGO skateboard we know today has been around for over 20 years! One even made it into the very first CMF series (plus 2 others). But this is the first time we’re seeing a true longboard, which is sure to be a hit with many fans. It can even be held in the hand. Like the others in this series, the actual fig has lots of printing, with ripped pants and a shirt with graffitied letters (either CSO or CSD). We’re not sure what the significance of the letters is, but they’re likely an easter egg for one of the designers.
The figure also has a backpack previously seen many times as both a parachute and standard pack, but this is the first time in grey. My favorite part of this figure is actually the fantastic hat/hair piece. Previously only seen with a red cap and brown hair on Hidden Side’s Jack Davis, the punky green and black are a great addition. As for the head, once again we have two faces: one grinning and one with serious focus. Both sport a bandage on the left cheek.
Bogeyman
Questions and arguments can always be made for any of these figs as to why they’re included in a particular series. The Bogeyman has no less right to join this crew than any other, but for some reason he feels a teensy bit out of place. Perhaps it’s because he’s late for Halloween. Or perhaps it’s because he missed the Series 14 Monster CMFs by 9 years (although there have been other monsters both before and since then). Regardless, none of that is to say he’s a boring fig – quite the contrary! The dark blue body is printed with hair on both the front and back, however much of this printing gets covered by the large head mold. There’s something charming about the “scary” face, and I’m glad they went this route over a hood-style costume head. If you’re wondering, the horns (new in the color) are removable, and he comes with an extra. Finally, his accessory is a book with a lovely printed cover saying, “Booo” and an interior tile.
Cupid
With a January release, Cupid enters the party just in time for Valentine’s Day in February. This little guy comes with a bow and arrow element (new in red) and a heart tile (plus an extra). Like many of the others, his short legs are dual-molded and he has toga printing on both the front and back, plus a gold armband. His tousled light yellow hair sits atop a dual-sided head. On one side we have a cute rosy-cheeked smile, and on the other we have comical heart-eyes and a big smile.
Unfortunately, his bangs cover up his eyebrows and the tops of the hearts, giving him a bit of a weird look. The wings are cool, as they are a new element independent of the neck bracket (affixed with a single anti-stud). I like that they can be used outside of minifigures, but they do go askew and pop off quite easily.
Pirate Quartermaster
Pirates are a popular LEGO character, so it’s not unexpected to see one in this series. The Quartermaster has dual-molding on her legs, torso, and hair, alongside fantastic printing and a red cloth skirt. I’m especially fond of the shiny gold pattern and top of the boots on the legs, although the print doesn’t extend beyond the front. The lace and jewelry on the arms is a close second. Her head features two expressions: one with a toothy smirk and one with mouth closed. If you look closely, the tooth in the corner of her mouth is gold – a nice touch.
The hair fits fine, but I could see the personality of this character being changed dramatically with different hat/hair pieces. A minor issue with this particular hair piece is that you can see the bottom lip of the open-mouthed face peaking out when it’s on the back side. But after all that, the cockatoo is the real hero here! Love this new mold!
Cat Lover
Past CMFs have given dogs a fair bit of attention, arguably more than cats. But now cat fans are getting more than the Plush Toy Collector in a cat onesie! In the same series we also get the Cat Lover! This fig is a love letter to the feline fans of the world, with a kitty-themed sweater showcasing at least 30 cats, and legs covered in cat hair. The dual-sided head is fantastic, with one face featuring glasses and a wide smile, while the other has clearly been mauled. The character’s mouth is contorted, glasses askew, and there are scratch marks on one cheek. Overall, excellent! We even get both a new cat and ball of yarn mold!
Steampunk Inventor
The final minifigure in this band of characters is perhaps my favorite of the lot. And bias aside, I think he’ll be pretty popular with everyone else too. I’ve heard pleas for steampunk for years now, and this Steampunk Inventor does not disappoint! He gets the same treatment as everyone else, with dual-molding on the legs and fabulous printing throughout. The legs feature shiny pinstripes, a pocket full of tools, and detailed boots. Meanwhile, it’s hard to pick up in the pictures, but the torso also has shiny gold details, as well as copper and silver accents on the mechanical right arm.
I believe the top hat is the same mold as the one used for Dr. Facilier from the Disney 100 Minifigure Series, but this time colored dark brown with a reddish brown band and printed goggles. It might have been cool to have the goggles molded, like those on the hat of Apocalypseburg Abe from the LEGO Movie 2 CMFs, or even better, removeable! However, I do like this version. I’m especially fond of how it leans forward on his head. The hat style prevents the Inventor from having a dual-sided head, but the monocle and mustachioed one we have is perfect. And what would the Inventor be without an invention? His accessory (which includes a new gauge print, plus an extra) is a steam-powered mechanical arm – an extension of his real one. The hand armor element has appeared in many sets, but this is a first for pearl gold, and it’s ideal for the occasion.
Conclusions and recommendations
I had little nitpicks throughout, but overall I’m pretty pleased with the showing this time around. With each subsequent series, LEGO seemingly tries to take it up a notch. While prices have gone up in the past several series, so has the quality of the figs. The number of new molds, dual-molding, recolors, and extensive beautiful prints is swoon-worthy. They’re also listening to fans, delivering figs that fulfill a lot of wishes. One glance will probably tell you whether or not you want to buy any of the minifigures in this series, but if you’re still on the fence, I would certainly recommend them. Additionally, there is likely a bit of foreshadowing, and we can hope to see a few elements (like the animals) showing up in other sets.
Some additional commentary:
With a few series come and gone, it’s clear that the cardboard boxes are here to stay, and while I’m very glad that there’s less plastic waste floating around, I do have concerns. The D&D figures have been very popular and hard to find where I live, but the couple times I’ve seen cases on the open shelves (not locked behind glass), all that has remained are carton carcasses lying around. Thieves have gone through and ripped open every box, pocketing the fig and leaving the rest behind. I’m sure this happened before the inability to identify by feel, but seemingly not to this degree. Hopefully, at a minimum, these won’t be as scarce.
Also, reports of LEGO’s non-random randomness is troubling. With possibly limited physical availability, buying online will be the way to go. However, if LEGO is going to make the cartons random, they should make them truly random, instead of selling some cases of 6 that are “random” inside but identical to others packed at the same time, or containing more than a reasonable number of the same figure. Duplicates are to be expected, and it’s a risk you take when buying mystery figures, but if someone buys 12 at once and only finds duplicates of the same 3 or 4, that’s wrong, particularly considering the price.
LEGO Collectible Minifigures 71048 Series 27 consists of 12 characters and will be available beginning January 1st. Individually, they’ll retail for US $4.99 | CAN $5.99 | UK £3.49. You might also be able to find them from third party retailers on Amazon and eBay.
The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
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