Honestly, it’s hard to believe it’s been over ten years since Joss Whedon’s second Avengers outing hit theaters. Looking back at the lego marvel avengers age of ultron lego sets released in 2015, you realize they were a massive turning point for the theme. Before this wave, Marvel Lego was kind of hit-or-miss with its builds. But the Ultron era? That’s when things got serious. We got the first truly massive Hulkbuster, our first taste of the Quinjet becoming a "premium" vehicle, and minifigures that finally looked like the actors on screen rather than generic comic book templates.
If you were collecting back then, you remember the hype. If you’re just getting into it now, you’re probably scouring eBay and BrickLink for these specific boxes. Why? Because these sets captured a very specific, tech-heavy aesthetic that Lego hasn’t quite revisited in the same way since.
The Hulkbuster Smash (76031) and the Evolution of the Mech
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the giant red suit in the room. Set 76031, the Hulkbuster Smash, is arguably the most famous of all the lego marvel avengers age of ultron lego sets. It was small by today’s "UCS" standards, but for 2015, it was a revelation. It had that dome piece that actually fit a minifigure inside! That was a big deal.
Most people don't realize how much this single set influenced Lego’s design philosophy for the next decade. Before this, mechs were spindly. This one had heft. It felt like something that could actually take a punch from the included Hulk big-fig. You also got Scarlet Witch in her debut appearance, looking very different from her later "sorceress" designs. She had these weird trans-blue power bursts because, back then, Lego hadn't quite figured out how to represent her chaos magic.
The scaling was a bit wonky. The Hulkbuster was barely twice the height of a regular minifig, which isn't movie-accurate at all, but as a toy? It was perfect. You could actually play with it without it falling apart, which is more than I can say for some of the $500 versions we've seen recently.
Why the Quinjet City Chase (76032) is Secretly the Best Version
There have been so many Quinjets. Seriously, Lego loves that plane. But the version from the lego marvel avengers age of ultron lego sets line—specifically set 76032—offered something the others didn't: a sense of "The Mission."
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It wasn't just a plane. It came with the Lab truck that held the cradle containing Vision. This allowed you to recreate the Seoul chase sequence. You could drop a motorcycle out of the bottom of the jet, which was peak play-feature design. It felt cohesive.
- The color scheme was a sophisticated navy blue.
- The interior actually had room for more than just a pilot.
- It included the only "civilian" style Captain America from that era.
- Vision’s debut minifigure featured a unique metallic sheen.
Comparing this to the 2012 version or the 2023 remake, the 2015 model hits a sweet spot. It's not too blocky, yet it’s not so fragile that you can’t "swoosh" it around the living room. It’s also one of the few times we got a decent Ultimate Ultron figure, which, let's be real, is one of the coolest villain designs Lego has ever executed.
The Tower That Everyone Wanted
The Avengers Tower (76038) was the centerpiece of the 2015 wave. It’s funny looking at it now that we have the massive 5,000-piece version, but at the time, this was the "holy grail." It was a folding dollhouse-style build.
You had the infirmary where Tony and Bruce tinkered with the scepter. You had the lounge where the "lift the hammer" scene happened. It even had a little launchpad for the Iron Legion drones. Speaking of the Iron Legion, those minifigures are still some of the most sought-after by collectors. They have a clean, robotic aesthetic that works for MOCs (My Own Creations) even outside of the Marvel universe.
What most people get wrong about this set is thinking it was just a building. It was really a playset designed to be "attacked." The windows blew out. The Ultron Mark 1 figure—the "broken" one—was included to show the moment the party went south. It was storytelling through plastic.
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Rarities and Oddities in the Ultron Wave
Not every set was a 1,000-piece masterpiece. We had the smaller stuff too. The Hydra Showdown (76030) was basically a glorified jeep and a buggy. Kind of forgettable? Maybe. But it gave us a cheap way to get Hawkeye and Thor.
Then there was the Attack on Avengers Tower (76038) mentioned earlier, but don't forget the Hulk vs. Hulkbuster dynamic. A lot of collectors actually preferred the "The Hydra Fortress Raid" (76041) which was a retail exclusive in many places. It featured the first Quicksilver minifigure.
Fact check: That Quicksilver figure remains one of the rarest Marvel minifigs because he died in the movie and Lego, for some reason, rarely revisits characters who aren't in the current MCU cycle. If you have him in a bin somewhere, he's probably worth more than the rest of the set combined.
The Design Shift: How Ultron Changed Lego Marvel
Before 2015, Lego Marvel sets were often "blue sky" designs—meaning the designers saw concept art but didn't know the plot. By the time we got the lego marvel avengers age of ultron lego sets, there was more synergy. The sets felt like they were pulled directly from the storyboards.
The inclusion of the "Sersi" or "Super Jumper" elements was a weird experiment. Do you remember those? Little translucent plastic pieces you'd put a minifig on to make them "jump." They actually ended up damaging the legs of the minifigures over time by cracking the plastic. Lego eventually phased them out, but they are a hallmark of this specific era of sets.
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The printing also got a massive upgrade. Look at the Ultron Sentry figures. The level of detail on the torsos and legs was miles ahead of the 2012 Chitauri. This was the era where Lego realized adults were buying these just as much as kids were. They started leaning into the "collector" aspect.
The Aftermath and Legacy
When you look at modern Marvel sets, you see the DNA of the Age of Ultron wave everywhere. The modularity of the 2015 Avengers Tower paved the way for the Daily Bugle and the Sanctum Sanctorum. The success of the $30 Hulkbuster proved that mechs were a goldmine, leading to the "Mech Armor" line we see today.
There's a specific nostalgia for these sets. They represent the "Golden Age" of the MCU, when the team was all together and things felt slightly less complicated. The colors were vibrant, the builds were sturdy, and the minifigure selection was top-tier.
What to Look for If You’re Buying Now
If you’re looking to add these to your collection today, you need to be careful. Because these sets are a decade old, the "Brittle Brown" or "Brittle Dark Red" syndrome can be an issue, though it's less common in the 2015 sets than the 2012 ones.
- Check the stickers. 2015 was a heavy sticker year. If you're buying used, ask for photos of the Tower windows or the Quinjet wings. They peel and crack over time.
- Minifigure Authenticity. Specifically for Quicksilver and Vision. These are faked a lot. Check for the "LEGO" logo on the neck post.
- The Hulkbuster’s joints. The friction joints in the 76031 set can wear out if they were played with heavily. If the arms won't stay up, it’s a sign of heavy use.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
- Audit your "spares" bin. If you have the light-blue "power bursts" or the specific trans-orange studs from these sets, keep them. They are specific to this era's version of the characters.
- Prioritize the Quinjet (76032). If you only buy one set from this era, make it this one. It’s the most "complete" experience and still looks great on a shelf next to modern sets.
- Download the digital instructions. Physical manuals from 2015 are notorious for falling apart. Lego’s official app has the high-res versions which make rebuilding much easier.
- Invest in a display case for the Tower. Since it’s a "hinged" building, it catches dust in every single room and crevice. A closed acrylic case is your best friend here.
The lego marvel avengers age of ultron lego sets aren't just old toys. They are a snapshot of a moment when Lego Marvel found its footing. They aren't perfect—some builds are a bit gappy and the scale is all over the place—but they have a charm that the modern, hyper-realistic sets sometimes lack. They were built to be played with. They were built to be smashed. And ten years later, they are still the benchmark for what a superhero Lego wave should look like.