Review: 70907 Killer Croc Tail-Gator
Posted by CapnRex101,
Killer Croc is one of Batman's most physically imposing enemies but his appearance has been altered significantly on numerous occasions since the character first emerged in a comic of 1983. The LEGO figures are accordingly varied and 70907 Killer Croc Tail-Gator includes the largest version yet, measuring almost 10cm in height and dwarfing a traditional minifigure.
However, with an enormous bigfig comes a high price of £64.99 or $69.99 and just 460 pieces. The set seems to offer relatively poor value in that respect, although I am hopeful that the volume and quality of its content will give a fairer and more favourable impression.
Minifigures
Batman appears in almost every set based on The LEGO Batman Movie, as one might expect. The facial expressions vary between figures but they are otherwise identical, featuring a new utility belt element which includes plenty of pouches for storing all kinds of crime fighting equipment. The cowl covers a double-sided head which features a grimace on one side and a somewhat bemused expression on the other.
The cape is made from a soft fabric so does not show any creases when folded and its colour matches that of the torso which is printed with some muscle definition on the front and back as well as the bat symbol. Many other minifigures in this range include leg or even arm printing so it is a shame that the main character has been left without either, although I think it looks fine without it. Batman is armed with two black batarangs and a third is also included as a spare.
The LEGO Batman Movie is packed with obscure characters and Tarantula is among the most surprising ones as she has been involved in a couple of controversial storylines containing decidedly adult themes. Tarantula is more often associated with Nightwing than with Batman but this is an excellent minifigure and makes a welcome addition to the rogues gallery. The hair piece is new in this black colour and has only previously been seen on the Diner Waitress from the eleventh series of Collectable Minifigures. It looks great, with a short ponytail at the back and a prominent curl above the brow.
The darker flesh tone is appropriate for Tarantula and contrasts with her yellow outfit very nicely. I like the jagged design of her insignia and the domino mask printed on both sides of the head is similarly angular, as are the vambraces on her arms. These are appropriate for close quarters combat and she is accordingly equipped with a pair of pearl silver sai.
Zebra-Man has no need of such weapons. This unusual villain has appeared in different forms but the original character possesses diamagnetic abilities so is able to attract and repel objects made of any material other than metal. However, the mohawk is more closely associated with a later incarnation who has no notable super powers but is a skilled hand to hand combatant.
The minifigure is highly detailed with black and white stripes all over his body, including on each arm and on the back of the head. He looks appropriately disorientating and I like the black mohawk very much as it matches the designs on the head, torso and legs perfectly. The element is made from rubber but is held in place securely by the stud on top of the head, unlike some of the other rubber hair pieces which tend to come off such as that worn by Djinn Nadakhan in the NINJAGO theme.
One wonders why these relatively obscure villains make an appearance in The LEGO Batman Movie while others such as the Mad Hatter and Black Mask are left out, although their inclusion in this set makes perfect sense given that all three villains are named after animals. Both minifigures are excellent and I am glad to encounter some lesser known DC characters in these sets but I would also like to see the most important villains represented.
The brand new Killer Croc figure is undoubtedly the most appealing aspect of this set and this is my favourite of the three versions released to date. I prefer the larger and more monstrous versions of the character so the minifigure found in 7780 The Batboat: The Hunt for Killer Croc does not appeal to me and I was also somewhat disappointed by the bigfig from 76055 Batman: Killer Croc Sewer Smash as it is lacking in detail. This incarnation suffers from no such issues, with an appropriately hulking stature and plenty of printed and moulded detail all over the figure.
The figure consists of eighteen pieces in total, although seven of those are used to form each hand. The tail, legs, torso and most of the head are a single component, with the arms then plugged into click joint sockets before the hands, fingers and upper jaw are attached to complete Killer Croc. The articulation is somewhat limited as the legs and tail are fixed in place but I am very pleased that the jaw and fingers are poseable as this marks a considerable improvement over earlier figures. These hands last appeared on the Rancor in 75005 Rancor Pit and they are not the only elements to have returned for this character as the upper jaw from the original LEGO crocodile is used.
The presence of the original crocodile head is a fun reference to LEGO's history but it does not suit this figure at all in my opinion. The moulded eyes look completely lifeless and I think printed designs would have been vastly better, as would a less angular shape and a larger mouth. The lack of white printing to highlight the teeth is also disappointing as the rest of the figure is printed with considerable detail, leaving the head looking rather incongruous to me. I expect this will be a divisive factor for many people and I can certainly see the appeal but would rather have seen something more detailed.
Killer Croc's skin is primarily olive green but includes some dark green scales and he wears bright blue jeans which are supported by a length of brown rope around his waist. The lack of printing on the head bothers me but otherwise I think this is an excellent figure and it is perfectly completed by the inclusion of pearl silver chains on the wrists, demonstrating the raw strength of this animalistic villain.
The Completed Model
Batman is equipped with a wide variety of watercraft in The LEGO Batman Movie, ranging in size from the enormous Bat Galleon to the tiny Batski. This agile vehicle is ideal for pursuing a towering brute like Killer Croc but also serves as an adequate dining table when eating lobster thermidor, as revealed in a trailer for the film. The model is quite detailed and its black and red colour scheme is consistent with other vehicles in the range, as are the prominent bat wings which are fitted to the stern.
A clip is included for storing a batarang and the Batski is armed with two stud shooters on its flanks. Stickers adorn the curved slopes beside the thruster and they feature a red arrow design which is visible on the other vehicles in Batman's extensive arsenal, as is the silver bat symbol. Black slider pieces are hidden underneath and these allow you to skim the vehicle across a surface with ease, although they make it difficult to display the model in an upright position so you may wish to remove them.
Another sticker forms a control panel which features a tiny image of Killer Croc and the pilot can hold onto the handlebars when standing in the cockpit. It is quite spacious and you could seat a minifigure inside if you prefer, although the handlebars are set at a height intended for standing and Batman's cape flows more neatly over the decorative wings when he is posed this way.
The Tail-Gator is based on a pickup truck which has been heavily modified with enormous tyres, high suspension and replacement body panels. It looks marvelous on the whole, with an appropriately rugged design and plenty of detail represented by stickers, printed elements and lots of small pieces.
A bank of different headlights are fitted to the front of the truck, including a large floodlight which can be angled on a hinge. The bullbar covers a radiator grille and the dark bluish grey bumper is decorated with a sticker showing some rust and a Florida number plate which is a nice touch. The skull of a longhorn bull is mounted on the bonnet and this suits the style of Killer Croc and his pickup truck perfectly.
The engine extends beyond the bonnet and is topped with an air scoop which obscures the view through the windscreen. However, this issue is avoided as the cab has been modified to move the steering wheel and gear stick to the flatbed at the back, thereby allowing Killer Croc to drive. There is still room for a passenger to sit inside and door mirrors are situated on either side, although there are no opening doors.
The steering column stretches through a window at the back of the cab and is mounted on a ball joint so its positioning can be adjusted. A long gear stick is also secured using a ball joint and it is topped with a printed eight-ball which looks brilliant and has the potential to be somewhat useful, although it is vastly oversized in relation to a minifigure so may not be suitable for a minifigure-scale pool table. Nevertheless, it is a delightful component and adds a bit of extra detail which is always welcome.
The flatbed includes four reddish brown 2x3 plates which allow Killer Croc to stand in place and the gear stick can be positioned so the figure can grip it. Unfortunately the arms are a little too wide to reach the steering wheel but I think it looks great overall and appreciate the unusual nature of the design.
Both sides of the flatbed section are very detailed and give the impression of being quickly cobbled together with any materials available. Several 1x3 and 1x6 tiles are printed with attractive wood graining and the warning sign stickers which adorn the truck could prove useful for your own swamp based models.
The yellow 1x1 round plates seen above the rear wheels are intended to represent shock absorbers. This is not particularly effective in my opinion and I think the scale would have allowed the use of functional springs, although I am glad that the space beneath the wheel arches has been filled. Barred doors are fitted on either side of the driver and these provide some protection from Batman, as do the hidden offensive measures.
A pair of grey dials are found at the back of the vehicle and these activate one of the main features of the model. Turning each one will release the crates and discourage pursuers. The mechanism is very simple but works perfectly and does not interfere with the appearance of the model at all.
One of the crates contains some sticks of dynamite while the other houses a couple of green frogs. Presumably they are poisonous in order to maximise the threat. The crates are large enough to hold Tarantula's sai if you wish and they are just the right size for Killer Croc to hold as well.
Turning the truck upside down reveals the suspension system. The front wheels are fixed but the rear wheels can be moved by the use of four yellow rubber bands, with two on each side yielding appropriate tension. The wheels are linked by a Technic axle so they cannot bounce independently which is a shame. However, the assembly is very sturdy and allows the truck to drive over obstacles with ease.
Unfortunately the suspension mechanism is as visible from the side and rear as it is from underneath. The yellow rubber bands are distracting and the exposed Technic liftarms which support the rear wheels look awful, an issue which could easily have been resolved by the addition of some greebling.
I was also surprised to find that the enormous suspension provides very little travel due to a buffer which only allows the body to move by a few centimetres. Impressive suspension is vital to a model like this one but it is by far the weakest aspect of the set. The large scale and space beneath the truck would have been ideal for incorporating a realistic mechanism based around springs, thereby allowing each wheel to move independently, so it seems bizarre that this method has been chosen instead.
Overall
This set is very impressive on the whole but its appeal is somewhat reduced by a number of issues. The most pressing of these is undoubtedly the suspension which offers little movement and looks very poor in relation to the detailed body of the Tail-Gator. I am also not entirely convinced by the price point as Killer Croc's truck is not particularly large in relation to some of the other vehicles from The LEGO Batman Movie.
On the other hand, the minifigures and Killer Croc himself are excellent, with plenty of printed detail and considerable play value. Furthermore, the Batski is splendid and the pickup truck is quite impressively detailed on the whole, even if certain areas of the model are disappointing. My recommendation depends in part upon your appreciation for Killer Croc and at full price I think it feels quite expensive. At a discount, however, this is a worthy addition to any Batman collection.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
We will be publishing our spoiler-free review of The LEGO Batman Movie tomorrow and our coverage of the sets will continue throughout next week so keep an eye on the homepage for more!
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29 comments on this article
The $70 price tag on this set is extremely hard to swallow. Other than that it looks like a great set! I love the use of the old crocodile head for Killer Croc. It gives it a comedic feel!
This should be interesting. I think I will wait for an incredibly good sale, or try to pick up Tarantula and Zebra-man separately for the right price.
The vehicle looks okay, but unnecessary since these are comically large. I would end up sorting them into my collection and I don't need any of those parts other than maybe the printed tiles.
Either way, thanks for the review.
Good review. I have to disagree with you about the use of the classic croc head on this figure. While I do generally prefer newer animal molds with printed eyes, the use of the older, blockier head on this fig is more a joke than anything, and because of the blank expression and retro appeal I'd say it's quite an effective one.
I also think that the printed eight ball piece isn't really a problem. In general when you look at minifigure accessories I think you'll find that a huge number of them are oversized. The katana and rifle is as tall as your average fig, for example while even dollar bills are as long as their torsos are wide. As with most questions of minifigure scale, the overall resemblance to a real-world object and the ability for figs to interact with it in all the expected ways is more important than its exact measurements.
Anyway, I'm not sure how many of the Lego Batman Movie sets I'll collect and this is an example of one I might have to do without. While the Killer Croc figure is great and the vehicle works well with him, the vehicle itself feels less essential than some of the others (due to its more mundane appearance and association with a minor character) and the price point (while necessary for such a large figure and a vehicle scaled to fit them) is still pretty high. Of course, who knows? Given the high probability that the figures in this set (especially Killer Croc) are going to skyrocket on the aftermarket in future years, perhaps that might be enough to help me justify getting it while I can still do so at stores for a reasonable enough price.
The old crocodile head is hilarious. Hope I can get this on sale sooner or later.
Lego's licensed prices have been insane this year. If I hadn't found Joker's Lowrider on an amazing markdowns ($22 US), I wouldn't be getting anything but polybags.
Zebra man and the 8-ball are my favorite parts of the set. Also, as someone who lives in Florida myself, I can say that this truck is pretty accurate to vehicles I've seen in the state. :p
This is my least favorite LEGO Batman set, it is almost worse then Hulk vs. Red Hulk. And IDC that it has a massive bigfig.
Looks like the designer was a fan of Rat Fink.https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.clipartfest.com%2F36393ca9f003c4a6560c87b80f2e18f9_ed-roth-the-car-customization-rat-fink-clipart_600-357.jpeg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fclipartfest.com%2Fcategories%2Fview%2F73df06581db2dc8673e900d9998ae71537c4e247%2Frat-fink-clipart.html&docid=lhzAZimCbhIQ6M&tbnid=p8Xh92xLmxCwaM%3A&vet=1&w=600&h=357&client=ms-android-sprint-us&bih=518&biw=360&q=rat%20fink&ved=0ahUKEwibiZmAmPfRAhVq04MKHfREAa0QMwiPASgNMA0&iact=mrc&uact=8
@gmonkey76
If this set was designed by Adam Grabowski (aka Misterzumbi) - you are right (see here: https://flic.kr/p/irGDBn).
Though vehicles to other constructions ratio in this line is in my opinion too high - this one is one of my favorites.
i like the use of the old head for killer croc, besides they couldn't have used the newer printed head because that is an alligator head and killer croc is a crocodile (duh.)
I'm totally digging the Rat Fink hot rod design of the truck and the Killer Croc bigfig.
But man! The price is INSANE and the box is almost 2/3rds empty!!
Looks like LEGO gave up on "honest boxes" a while back.
I'm confused by the increased costs of TLBM sets. Why the license fee for a Lego movie?
I love the ridiculousness of it; this is really, really tempting me.
@hammerdragon: LEGO movie or not, it uses characters that don't belong to LEGO, meaning LEGO has to pay royalties. Mind you, I have absolutely no idea how big an impact license fees have on the price of the LEGO Batman Movie sets — the costs of moldmaking, molding, and assembly of the Killer Croc figure probably have a much bigger impact on this particular set's cost than license fees do.
They could have stuck some trans yellow Lego gems or something in the eyesockets and still used the classic head to make it a bit more menacing.
I love the Killer Croc bigfig, and Zebraman is a must-have; I thought I could do without Tarantula but the closeup pictures of her make me doubt even that. So, rather like the set with the Riddler, I'm very likely going to get this because of the minifigures, despite the high price. Glad to see that the build is more interesting than it looked at a distance. A little modifying here and there and it could be a real winner--and the comic touches are delightful! Great (and persuasive) review--I thank you very much even though my wallet doesn't!
Meh. The price for this one is absurd for what you get. Tarantula is an odd inclusion for the set like the review said, given the storyline that the character is most infamous for. I like the minifigs though (I actually could care less for Tarantula, but oh my gosh, I'd love to have Zebra Man), so it's off to Bricklink.
@Brick Belt, nothing fits in those eyes. They are too small and they are rounded off on the inside
I'm rather annoyed that Lego has been throwing in odd characters to sets which up the price at least $4 per figure. Plus an extra vehicle with the Bat boat, it's not needed.
I just like the truck, I mean really like it, it's super cool. But I am not familiar with the mini fig characters, though they look nice enough. And I do not like that version of killer Croc, he looks awkward.
I'm an adult collector and can afford more costly sets. But this one is just ridiculous per piece count and as mentioned the odd additions. I am one that will wait for a sale or for when this goes on clearance.
Final thoughts. I totally agree on your first thoughts. and Not cool Lego not cool.
I'll bricklink or ebay Killer Croc, not too crazy about the rest of the set, but I love the design to death. The bigfig Killer Croc last year felt like a waste - I would prefer a humanoid Croc minifig or a very crocodilian bigfig, and this fulfills the latter category very well. The meta-joke to me beats out the lack of head detail.
The price point on this is really rather high. And I'm not a fan of the news Killer-Croc figure as it's nothing like he was in the comics. Seems absurd looking with the croc head. Major turn off for me. Nice to see Tarantula in this mix but Zebra Man is an odd choice. Passing on this even at a discount...
We can say that Joker shouldn't be on Lego sets when referring that Tarantula has appeared on some not so appropriate themes for children and thus making it not able for here.
Meh. I am not convinced by the bigfig, the minifig was a bit small, but in a way more detailed. The truck is great, except for the rubber bands, I simply dislike their use, there is no way they will survive as long as the rest of the set. The price tag is the deal breaker, though.
^But we've already had a couple of Killer Crocs which more closely resemble the comic version. I love this version to death haha, it's time we had an adaptation that merges the idea of the character with a very LEGO-y physical appearance to produce a purely comical mutation-creation. :)
I prefer the Killer Croc version from the 90's animated series.
Why the rubber bands instead of springs? Cost. LEGO is getting really 'cheap' in that regard, so not surprised, even with a bloated price tag. Rest assured though , this set will likely be on sale, and quite frequently. I do like the printed 1x3 and 1x6 with a wood pattern though.. Will be looking to get many of those for MOCs
It's the best version of killer croc yet. Probaby my favorite big fig. I've passed on super heroes as the number of sets per year are growing beyond the 12 (6 marvel/6 DC). It's a must buy for croc alone... but on a sale.
@Aanchir, thanks for the info. The license cost on the Star Wars sets recently have, imo, added way too much to the cost of some sets, so was a little disappointed to see the price hike with TLBM sets too.