LEGO’s Shadow Box could work for more locations than the Batcave

Although opinions are split over whether the peekaboo function in LEGO Batman 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box works, there’s potential for other sets to get the same treatment.

So far, opinions have been mixed on LEGO Batman 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box since its reveal. Some have criticised the set’s unique display style, with its bat-shaped cutout that allows a peek inside to the Batcave. While it’s a creative design that goes well with the secretive nature of the Batcave, it does mean that much of the detail of the interior itself is lost unless you display it opened out (which takes up a lot more valuable shelf space).

Still, it got us thinking that there are probably other locations from existing LEGO themes that could also make for fun Shadow Box-style builds. In particular, the criticism of 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box centres around the fact that the box itself is plain black bricks, without the rocky exterior that the Batcave has in Batman Returns. With that in mind, we’ve also got some ideas on how you could make even the exterior of a Shadow Box build more dynamic.

Here are six locations that are ripe for a Shadow Box reimagining.

6 – Lord of the Rings’ Mines of Moria

Although we love 10316 The Lord of the Rings – Rivendell, a LEGO set based on the Mines of Moria will forever be the dream. The towering columns, the dwarven riches, and the lair of the Balrog would all, in our opinion, make for a dramatic set.

In terms of Shadow Box possibilities, the exterior of the box could replicate the West-gate of Moria and its lake, as well as the hidden door that allows access to the ancient city. When you open it up, the bare rock and plants fall away to reveal the various steps and tunnels of Moria, culminating in the columned gallery at the base where Gandolf and the Fellowship make their stand against the goblins. We’ve got shivers just thinking about it…

5 – Minecraft’s Deep Dark

Next up is a location that has already been tackled by the LEGO designers: Minecraft’s Deep Dark. LEGO Minecraft 21246 The Deep Dark Battle already gives us brick-built versions of the Warden and the Skulk Sensors, but a Shadow Box where the exterior is the grassy plains of the upper crust of Minecraft worlds, which folds out to reveal the Deep Dark below.

This would replicate the depth of the world of Minecraft in a way that’s usually tough to replicate in LEGO sets, while not needing too many new parts thanks to 21246 The Deep Dark Battle.

4 – Harry Potter’s Chamber of Secrets

Similarly, this location is nothing new to LEGO Harry Potter fans, but one element that has never been tackled in the theme is the tunnel that brings characters from Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom down to the Chamber of Secrets. Having the exterior of the Shadow Box based on the bathroom, with a tunnel-shaped hole that looks through to the Chamber could be a fun and interactive way to send minifigures actually shooting down through to the secret lair.

What’s more, having more room could mean that we could better replicate the impressive line of snake statues that lead to the bust of Slytherin himself.

3 – Star Wars’ Yavin 4

Now, we know that LEGO Yavin 4 has a contentious history, but hear us out. Yavin is an unusual structure in that both its exterior and interior are iconic and well-loved among fans. Using the Shadow Box style to represent the iconic facade of the base, with an obvious peek-through via the hangar, and then opening it up to reveal a minifigure-scale version of Rebel rooms and the ceremony from the end of A New Hope would be an excellent way to capture the spirit and scale of the base at a relatively low piece count.

2 – Marvel’s Asgard’s Throne Room

Thor: Ragnarok saw various discoveries made about the reality of what lies underneath Asgard’s Throne Room, so what better way to display that than the two-step Shadow Box? The box itself could be golden, with a brick-built throne to represent the upper, most visible level, which then opens out to reveal Odin’s Vault, full of its apparently fake artefacts.

If the LEGO Group wanted to get really deep, they could even go one step further and replicate the tomb of Hela’s former soldiers, as well as an enormous brick-built Fenris. This is all to say that we really want a brick-built Fenris. Please.

1 – Super Mario’s Warp Pipes

LEGO Super Mario might be on its way out, we’ve still got plenty more ideas if the LEGO Group needs any. One of them is a Shadow Box version of the Warp Pipes, a fun way to show Mario’s nifty means of transportation. You could pick virtually any Super Mario location for him to travel to, with a peephole fashioned after the green Warp Pipe itself.

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