⌘ K
"A BrickScore of 57 reflects genuine expert disappointment: Black Manta Deep Sea Strike wraps an outstanding villain minifigure in a set that serious reviewers found overpriced, vehicle-design weak, and padded with a recycled Aquaman, though fans who simply wanted the character in their collection and owners rating it nearly 5 out of 5 seem largely satisfied with the purchase."
Expert reviewers are divided on Black Manta Deep Sea Strike, landing it a BrickScore of 57 and a Skip It tier. Brickset called it 'the weakest DC set of the fantastic new wave by some distance,' while Jay's Brick Blog argued it was effectively a vehicle for selling one desirable villain at an inflated price. JANG was considerably warmer, praising the Sea Saucer's design and the minifig lineup, though even he acknowledged the hollow construction and low piece count. Owner ratings tell a sharply different story: a 4.82 average across 10 ratings with 89% recommending the set, suggesting casual buyers are satisfied while expert critics see the structural weaknesses more clearly.
Where they split: JANG rated the set 78 and recommended buying it, praising the Sea Saucer's design and minifig variety. Brickset (55) and Jay's Brick Blog (40) were substantially more critical, with Jay calling the set overpriced and structurally sloppy. The split likely reflects the audience lens: JANG was evaluating it as a kids' play set, while Brickset and Jay assessed it against adult collector expectations. Owner ratings (4.82 average) align closer to JANG's more positive view.
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"I may not be a big fan of the comic superheroes series in general. But that does not stop me from appreciating the design of this Black Manta's Sea Saucer here. I love this thing."
JANG's LEGO Reviews
"This is the weakest DC set of the fantastic new wave by some distance."
Brickset Reviews
"What LEGO have done here is basically put a pretty popular villain into a sloppy expensive set with the aim of making you pay more than you should so that you can add him to your collection. In a sense, it's incredibly p…"
Jay's Brick Blog"I may not be a big fan of the comic superheroes series in general. But that does not stop me from appreciating the design of this Black Manta's Sea Saucer here. I love this thing."
"This is the weakest DC set of the fantastic new wave by some distance."
"What LEGO have done here is basically put a pretty popular villain into a sloppy expensive set with the aim of making you pay more than you should so that you can add him to your collection. In a sense, it's incredibly predatory and aimed at collectors who cannot stand missing out on the DC characters that they love."
Buyers, especially collectors and younger DC fans, are happy with the diverse minifigure lineup including the first-ever Black Manta figure, glow-in-the-dark missiles, and solid play value, with only minor gripes about the cartoony aesthetic and Batman not being sufficiently updated.
LEGO.com4.8
Walmart5.0
