The 5 Strangest Lego Sets of All Time

Over the years, Lego made a lot of great sets based on a wide range of themes. But not all of them were a success, as some just came across as odd. In fact, there are probably a lot more weird sets than you are aware of. Today we are taking an in-depth look at the five strangest Lego sets of all time, including where Lego designers went wrong.

One commonality between these strange sets is that their minifigures are often weird-looking. For one reason or another, some characters just don’t look good in Lego form. Further worsening the problem is that many sets try to recreate scenes from movies and TV shows, such as The Simpsons and Toy Story. But some sets like Geoffrey the Giraffe and the Technic Stormtrooper are just outright scary.

History Computer’s Top Picks for the Strangest Lego Sets

#1 Strangest Overall Lego Set: The Kwik-E-Mart

Most Strange

LEGO Simpsons 71016 The Kwik-E-Mart Building Kit

$699.00

• Dimensions: 5x14x10 inches
• Rear walls are hinged and able to open up and roof can be removed
• Includes Marge, Bart, Homer, Apu, Chief Wiggum, and Snake minifigures
• The shelves inside are fully stocked with various items like dog food and Krusty-O's

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11/27/2023 05:16 am GMT

The Kwik-E-Mart, featured in the hit TV series The Simpsons, is the strangest overall Lego set. Unlike many of the other sets we will cover, the Kwik-E-Mart actually has a really good design. What puts it in the top spot as the strangest Lego set is its theme. Lego is known for its toys for children, and The Simpsons really isn’t a kid-friendly show.

This may not seem like a big deal today because Lego has entire product lines targeted toward adults. They’ve recently gone so far as creating sets based on Stranger Things and Fast and Furious. But when the deal was signed back in 2013, many couldn’t believe that Lego actually partnered with The Simpsons. The first set to come out was The Simpsons House, which debuted in 2014, followed by a line of minifigs.

The Kwik-E-Mart came out the following year, along with The Simpsons Level Pack for Lego Dimensions. The set comes with 2,179 pieces and 6 minifigures. These minifigures include Apu, Homer, Marge, Bart, Chief Wiggum, and Snake. What makes it stand apart from The Simpsons Home is the level of detail and easter eggs hidden inside.   

Besides the store, you also get a police car, and there is even a dumpster on the side of the building. One really cool feature is that the building is a complete 360-degree model, and it also has hinges to open it easily. Fans of The Simpsons will quickly spot some homages like a frozen Jasper, the Squishee machine, and arcade games.

Pros and Cons

Strangest Lego Toy Story Set: Trash Compactor Escape

Strange Toy Story Set

LEGO Toy Story Trash Compactor Escape (7596)

$169.95

• Based on the scene from Toy Story 3
• Features moveable parts (crane, claw, dumpster, conveyor belt)
• Figures included: Woody, Hamm, Lotso, 2x aliens

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11/27/2023 05:21 am GMT

Lego’s strangest set based on the animated film series Toy Story is the Trash Compactor Escape. Toy Story doesn’t have the large number of Lego sets that movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars have. But there are still a number of sets based on the movies.

The third movie is easily one of the best, as it brings a fitting end to Andy’s story. However, it also has one of the darkest moments in the franchise, as we see all the toys about to get burned in the incinerator before the aliens save them at the last minute. Of all the memorable scenes in the movie for Lego to draw inspiration from, they chose this one. Although controversial and odd, it is also one of the best Toy Story Lego sets ever made.

The set is exactly what you would expect, coming with all the necessary pieces to recreate the scene from the movie. A hopper dumps trash onto a conveyor belt that takes it to the incinerator. There is a control station where Lotso stands and a crane that you can use to save the toys. In addition to Lotso, you also get Woody, Ham, and two aliens.

Each of the minifigs is unique to the set, featuring small details like paint spots. There are also some moving parts besides the crane, such as the hopper and the conveyor belt. The set comes with 370 pieces and launched at a price of $49. Despite Lego keeping a pretty lighthearted image, the Trash Compactor Escape is a strange departure that surprisingly works well.

Pros and Cons

The Scariest Strange Lego Set: Geoffrey the Giraffe

Nostalgia Alert!

Lego 40077 Toys "R" Us Geoffrey

$18.47

• Based on the Toys "R" Us mascot
• Features Geoffrey's head only
• Number of pieces: 90

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11/27/2023 05:28 am GMT

The scariest Lego set has to be Geoffrey the Giraffe’s head. It is a great example of a set that no one asked for and, quite frankly, shouldn’t have existed. While the premise was great, the execution was poor, to say the least. What really makes this set stand out is that it wasn’t based on an actual giraffe you’d find in the wild; instead, it took inspiration from the Toys ‘R’ Us mascot.

For those who may not remember, Toys ‘R’ Us was a major toy retailer that sold Lego sets amongst an enormous selection of other toys. The two companies had a long history together, so they decided to commemorate their connection with an exclusive Lego set. Geoffrey was the beloved mascot of Toys ‘R’ Us and even made appearances in the store.

The decision to model a set after the mascot seems like a no-brainer considering his popularity. The set itself was pretty small, consisting of only 90 pieces and selling for $4.99. However, the age range does seem a little off, as it is recommended for ages 6-12. But what makes this set so scary is that it only recreates Geoffrey’s head and neck on a round base with some foliage.

Overall, the build is simple, but it is not something you would want staring at you on a shelf. Surprisingly, Lego redeemed itself with this set by creating another version called Geoffrey & Friends three years later, which includes Geoffrey’s entire body. Even though Geoffrey the Giraffe is one of the strangest Lego sets, they did make some really good Toys ‘R’ Us exclusives, like a store replica.

Pros and Cons

Strangest Vintage Lego Set: Robot Command Center

Older Lego sets were often very simple, but the Robot Command Center tried something new, making it the strangest vintage Lego set. Before the days of Lego Star Wars, Lego had its own popular collection of space toys. Over the years, Lego space sets were a staple of the brand, along with other popular themes like Castle Knights.

The old space sets from the 1970 and 1980s had a distinct design, relying on a lot of blue and gray pieces. Additionally, the pieces were often very simple, featuring only a couple of printed bricks. In recent years, Lego has largely ignored original ideas outside of models like the Space Shuttle. But that changed when they released the 90th anniversary Galaxy Explorer.

At first glance, the Robot Command Center looks pretty normal, with classic blue bricks and yellow windows. But upon closer examination, the robot part really starts to stand out. The upper portion contains the command center, and further down, you can make out hands and feet. But here is where things get even stranger; the feet look like rollerblades, and there is a spaceship on the back.

The sides have triangular pods where the ears should be, and the arms come out of the legs. In addition to the robot, the set also comes with a small rover vehicle and a hovercraft. The total number of pieces is 295, which includes three space minifigures. Overall, this is easily the strangest retro Lego set; however, it still uses some unique building techniques and is very imaginative.

Pros and Cons

Strangest Star Wars Lego Set: Technic Stormtrooper

Skeleton Star Wars

LEGO Star Wars Storm Trooper 8008

$99.98

• Based on Technic Lego pieces
• Posable model
• Includes blaster

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11/27/2023 05:28 am GMT

Star Wars is one of the most popular Lego themes, and the Technic Stormtrooper is easily the strangest set based on the franchise. After 20 years and over 400 sets based on the Star Wars universe, there has to be at least one disaster. Surprisingly, the strangest set isn’t even a conventional Lego set as it actually falls under Technic.

Technic sets use a different building system than Lego. Instead of square blocks, Technic uses pins and slotted rails to create unique designs. Not only does the system provide an interesting look, but it is also better for moving and posable objects like cars or figures. This is certainly true of the Technic Stormtrooper because, despite his strange appearance, he has a full range of motion.

Today, Lego rarely uses Technic for posable builds like the Stormtrooper. Instead, they typically integrate Technic pieces into conventional builds. But the Stormtrooper came out in 2001, which was the very early days of Lego Star Wars. Additionally, Lego had good luck in the late 1990s with other Technic action figures like Throwbots, RoboRiders, and eventually Bionicle.

Unfortunately, the Technic Stormtrooper just didn’t turn out very well. Trying to model the bulky armor with a limited range of pieces was difficult, to say the least. The figure also stands tall and slender with a lot of open space, looking more like a skeleton than a Stormtrooper. But the absolute worst part is the helmet and head. Fortunately, Lego has since mastered creating Star Wars sets.

Pros and Cons

How to Pick the Strangest Lego Set: Step by Step

When buying the strangest Lego set, most buyers have four main concerns. 

• Personal Interests
• Rarity
• Price
• Condition

Let’s review each of these criteria in more detail.

Personal Interests

The first consideration for picking any Lego set should always be your personal interest. You shouldn’t spend money on something that you are not interested in. With so many different Lego themes available, you will easily be able to find one that piques your interest. In the case of strange Lego sets, there are a lot more than we covered above, so be sure to do some research before picking one.

Rarity

The next factor you should look at is how rare an item is. There are two reasons for taking rarity into consideration. The first is that rare Lego sets are often more expensive, which means spending more money. But the other reason is that rare sets typically appreciate in value faster. Additionally, older sets like the Robot Command Center are rare because of their age.

Price

The biggest concern for most people is often price, and this actually hinges largely on a set’s rarity. Older sets are often incomplete, so one with all the pieces will come at a high price tag. Just like with new sets, the price is also dependent on the number of pieces. Prices of older sets also fluctuate depending on demand at a given time.

Condition

Finally, you should always look at the condition of Lego sets. Because all the sets mentioned above are old, you will not be able to buy them at local retailers. You can find new sets still in the box at places like eBay and Bricklink. However, you should always ensure that used sets have all pieces included, and that there is no fading or damage.

What to Know Before Buying a Strange Lego Set

Lego has some amazing designers, but sometimes a set just doesn’t turn out as planned. Oftentimes these sets are very well thought out, but the execution just doesn’t translate into something that people want to buy. For instance, a Stormtrooper or Giraffe sounds like great ideas, but the end result definitely could have been better.

You’ve probably noticed that they discontinued all the sets listed long ago. Much of the strangeness comes from the age of the set and Lego evolving to do so much more with its products. For instance, it would likely look amazing if Lego designed it today. In fact, there may be a set on store shelves today that we look back on as strange ten years from now.

Using the Strangest Lego Sets: What It’s Like

When it comes to the strangest Lego sets, most people will purchase them to either keep in a box or sit on a shelf for display. In fact, you are very unlikely to purchase one of these sets for a kid to play with because of the cost and the chance of losing pieces. But playing with them is really the entire point of Lego sets.

Nonetheless, the strangest sets are excellent display pieces, particularly the Kwik-E-Mart, which looks fantastic sitting on a shelf. Of course, collectors will always want oddities from their favorite TV shows and movies. But that doesn’t mean you should have sets like the Technic Stormtrooper sitting on a shelf in your living room.

Summary Table

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock.com.