For Marvel fans like me, this moment has been over a decade in the making. The Fantastic Four—the legendary core of the Marvel Universe—have been conspicuously absent from the LEGO Marvel lineup. Year after year, we asked, we hoped, we pleaded. Now, coinciding with the launch of The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie in 2025, LEGO has finally answered with set #76316: Fantastic Four vs. Galactus Construction Figure. But this isn’t just a basic set; it’s a monumental introduction, delivering not only the first-ever official minifigures of Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben, but also one of Marvel’s most physically imposing villains, Galactus Lego, built to epic proportions.

The name of the game here is scale. Standing 11 inches tall, the Devourer of Worlds dominates the box art and commands attention on your shelf. The question I tackle in this mega-review is: Did LEGO nail the execution of this cosmic clash? We’re going beyond the piece count (427 pieces) and the price tag ($59.99 USD) to see if the building experience, the poseability of Galactus, and, crucially, the design of the long-awaited minifigures make this set a must-have or a missed opportunity. Make sure you check out the full video on TheKZVerse YouTube channel, where you can see the whole build process!

The Long-Awaited Debut: Unboxing the Fantastic Four Lego Minifigures

The core excitement of the set revolves around the four figures. Getting Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Invisible Woman (Sue Storm), Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and The Thing (Ben Grimm) in one box for the first time is a milestone. The fact that these figures are based on their appearance in the First Steps movie gives us a modernized, uniform look. However, as a collector, you know I have to be honest about the details, and this is where the set gets controversial.

The Minifigure Breakdown: High Hopes and Low Blows

Let’s go through the heroes one by one, focusing on the real-world execution of their powers and design quirks. For a set this anticipated, the designers made some puzzling choices.

Mr. Fantastic: The Stretched Idea

Reed Richards, the brains of the operation, is meant to represent his stretching power. LEGO’s solution? Brick-built stilts to make him temporarily tall. While it’s a clever use of standard elements, let’s be real: they look awkward and are prone to tipping over. Many fans, including me, wished for the specialized rubbery arm pieces seen on Ms. Marvel figures, or even the long limb elements from the Avatar line. Reed’s torso print is unique and screen-accurate (no white collar), but his “power feature” feels like a gimmick rather than an integrated design element. If you’re a purist, you’ll likely want to swap out those legs immediately.

Invisible Woman & Human Torch: Reused Faces, Missing Flames

Sue Storm looks clean and classic in her blue uniform, featuring a white collar. She comes with two transparent force-field shields. The big letdown? She uses a generic, reused female head print, something collectors immediately pointed out as a missed opportunity for a unique expression. Meanwhile, Johnny Storm is provided only in his “flame off” form. He gets flame attachments for his hands and feet, plus a transparent flight stand—which is awesome for dynamic posing against Galactus! But the fact that LEGO didn’t include an alternate translucent orange “flame-on” head and body is a huge disappointment. This is where LEGO could have hit a home run, but instead, they only managed a solid double.

If you’re looking for more detailed character reviews, consider checking out some of my other Collectibles and Figure Reviews on the site!

The Thing: Minifigure vs. Bigfig Debate

And then there’s The Thing (Ben Grimm). The biggest point of contention. LEGO chose to make Ben a standard minifigure height, justifying it by stating it matches his non-towering appearance in the movie’s continuity. He gets a brand new, excellently sculpted rocky head mold and oversized fist/hand pieces. These fists, while detailed, create a weird gap where you can see the minifig’s normal hand holding the fist. The common fan reaction? “Ben should have been a bigfig, 100%, no cap.” While the small scale is accurate to the movie, the classic, bulky Thing deserves the bigfig treatment for comic accuracy. The compromise here is noticeable, but the rocky texture of his new head mold is undeniably great.

Despite these flaws, getting all four characters in one set is still a huge win for the community, which has waited patiently for LEGO to break the Fantastic Four ice. The set provides an excellent starting template, even if the minifigs are lacking in print detail compared to other recent high-end Marvel figures.

Building the Devourer: The Galactus Lego Construction Figure

Now for the main event: the colossal Galactus Lego figure. This 11-inch giant is built using the “construction figure” format, familiar from the buildable Iron Man and Thanos figures, but executed on a much grander scale. The building experience itself is satisfying. The set comes with exactly four numbered bags, which one fan gleefully noted was a fitting nod to the “Fantastic Four” theme!

The Build Process: From Technic Skeleton to Cosmic Armor

The build begins with the core skeleton, utilizing sturdy Technic pins and ball-and-socket connectors to ensure the figure is stable and highly poseable. This foundation is crucial because a figure this size needs robust joints to hold dynamic poses. The articulation is excellent, featuring knees and elbows that previous large figures (like the Celestial Arishem) often lacked.

The progression is visually engaging, moving from the dark blue structural elements to the vibrant magenta and dark blue armor plating. This use of color keeps the build visually interesting, and parts enthusiasts will be thrilled to know the set contains rare parts and new recolors in magenta—perfect for MOC builders looking to expand their palette! The final step of attaching the completed head onto the body is frequently cited as a genuine “wow” moment; that’s when you truly appreciate the scale of your new Galactus Lego model.

Design Critique: The Proportions and the Fingers

While the overall aesthetic is incredible, there are two main areas of design critique for the Galactus Lego figure. Firstly, reviewers noted that the limb proportions are a bit skinnier than ideal. The legs and arms, underneath the excellent magenta ribbed armor, are somewhat thin rods for a character meant to convey massive cosmic strength. This is a common limitation of LEGO’s current buildable figure format.

Secondly, the hands only have three fingers per hand (plus a thumb). While functional for grasping, it simplifies Galactus’ typically humanoid, five-fingered look. However, these are minor nitpicks. For a figure at this price point and size, the overall capture of the character’s essence is phenomenal. For more analysis on figure design, check out my recent YouTube Shorts on figure scale comparisons!

The Killer Feature: Grasping Hands and the Human Torch Stand

The most fun play feature is the figure’s articulated hands. Galactus can securely grasp a minifigure by the waist, a direct nod to classic comic art where he holds a hero captive. Furthermore, the set includes a curved, clear transparent support stand that can attach to Galactus’ back or head. You can clip the Human Torch onto this stand to simulate him flying around Galactus—perfect for recreating dramatic comic-book poses!

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Real-World Impressions: Display Value vs. Play Value

In terms of real-world use, the LEGO 76316 Fantastic Four vs. Galactus set excels in both display and play value. For collectors, the 11-inch Galactus Lego figure provides a striking centerpiece that looks fantastic towering over a shelf of minifigures. His colors pop, and the helmet design is instantly recognizable.

Comparison with Other Giant Marvel LEGO Battles

It’s essential to contextualize this set against similar large Marvel LEGO releases. The most obvious comparison is the Eternals set In Arishem’s Shadow (76155), which had a similarly-sized Celestial figure and 4 minifigures for the same price. While Arishem had a light-up brick, Galactus benefits immensely from better articulation (knees and elbows) and, crucially, being a far more iconic character in Marvel lore.

It also stands well against the X-Men Sentinel figure (if released). Galactus is slightly taller (11 inches vs. ~10.5 inches), reinforcing the idea that LEGO is embracing these large, buildable antagonists. The Galactus Lego truly feels like the best execution yet of this “giant villain + hero team” format.

Value Proposition: Price vs. Pieces

At $59.99 for 427 pieces, some feel the set is overpriced, arguing that you’re paying a premium for the four first-edition minifigures and the Marvel brand licensing. The general community advice is that the set becomes an undeniable great deal when found on sale for $45–$50. However, for a die-hard Fantastic Four fan who has waited this long, the collector’s value alone makes the purchase justified at MSRP. The Galactus Lego figure provides a ton of display impact for the money, unlike sets that prioritize vehicles or structures.

The Fan Reaction: Triumphs, Tribulations, and the Future

When this set dropped, the Marvel LEGO community was loud and varied. The consensus is split between sheer excitement for finally having the Fantastic Four and underwhelm regarding the detail of the minifigures.

The Triumphs: What Fans Love

Fans are simply thrilled that the Fantastic Four roster is complete. Comments like “I’ve been waiting 13 years for a Fantastic Four LEGO set… I am ecstatic about this,” were common. The Galactus Lego build itself has been lauded as “phenomenal,” capturing the character’s essence in a fun, playable form. The novelty of the set is a massive draw, making it an instant buy for many collectors.

The Tribulations: What Fans Criticize

The lack of dual-molded boots and arm printing on the minifigures was the biggest headache for adult fans. The disappointment over Reed Richards’ goofy brick-built legs and The Thing’s standard minifig scale shows that LEGO missed opportunities to elevate these historic figures. Some critics feel LEGO “phoned it in” on the heroes, focusing only on the giant villain. Jokes flew around comparing Reed’s tall legs to President Business from The LEGO Movie with his height boosters!

Ultimately, these criticisms are balanced by the sheer joy of the final display. You can forgive a few printing omissions when you have a giant purple space god fighting Marvel’s First Family on your desk. The set invites that kind of playful interaction as soon as it’s built, overriding many of the initial critiques. You can find many more custom modifications and fan reactions on my TheKZVerse Facebook page!

Future Outlook and Investment Value of the Galactus Lego Set

Since its release, the LEGO Fantastic Four vs. Galactus set has been widely available. Its secondary market price has hovered slightly below retail, indicating healthy supply and mixed demand. But what does the future hold for this unique set?

Retirement and Appreciation

BrickEconomy projects the set will retire by late 2026. After retirement, it might see around 5% annual growth in value. This is steady, but not explosive, largely because many fans anticipate LEGO might release improved, comic-based versions of the Fantastic Four in the future (perhaps with a Bigfig Thing and better printed details). However, if this remains the only set containing the core four minifigures for an extended period, demand will certainly increase among collectors who missed it.

The MCU Effect

The set is labeled “Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” implying future content. If the subsequent movie is a massive hit, this first tie-in set could become more sought-after by casual fans and new collectors discovering the characters. The broad appeal of Galactus and the Fantastic Four, extending beyond just LEGO fans, helps the set maintain its value. For those interested in the long-term investment potential of collectibles, you can follow my updates on the TheKZVerse Homepage.

Final Verdict: A Colossal Step for LEGO Marvel

The Pros (Why This Set is a Must-Buy)

• The Colossal Galactus Lego Build: Excellent scale (11 inches), fantastic color (magenta/blue), and superb articulation.
• First Ever Fantastic Four Minifigs: Despite flaws, owning the first official Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben is a historic collector’s win.
• Dynamic Play Feature: The transparent flight stand and minifig-grasping hands maximize display and play possibilities.
• Unique Set Focus: A welcome change from jets and jeeps, focusing entirely on an imposing antagonist figure.

The Cons (The Set’s Compromises)

• Minifigure Detail Omissions: Lack of dual-molded legs and arm printing is noticeable and disappointing.
• The Thing Scale: Using a minifigure instead of a Bigfig remains controversial among purists.
• Price at MSRP: Feels slightly high for the piece count, making sales highly recommended.

The LEGO Marvel Fantastic Four vs. Galactus set (76316) is, without a doubt, a dream come true for fans. It delivers the ultimate, massive Galactus Lego figure that is arguably the best of LEGO’s large construction characters to date. While the Fantastic Four minifigures are flawed and compromised—a solid double instead of a home run—their existence alone makes this set essential. It scores high on novelty, nostalgia, and sheer display power. This set is a must-have for any Marvel collector who has patiently waited for the First Family’s arrival.

Ready to Bring Galactus Home?

Don’t miss out on securing the first-ever official Fantastic Four set and this magnificent Galactus Lego figure. Grab the set now, especially if you can find it on sale!

LEGO Fantastic Four vs. Galactus: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)