All San Diego Comic Con LEGO Minifigures Ranked by Rarity

14th March 2023

For many years LEGO has given away exclusive minifigures and small sets at the world's oldest and largest Comic Cons: New York and San Diego. These free giveaways are typically distributed via a randomised prize draw to only a small number of lucky winners. Due to their rarity, they are among the most sought-after items for LEGO collectors. Most of them rarely come up for sale, and when they do they fetch eye watering sums of money.

Early Comic Con minifigures came attached to a cardboard backing on which was some artwork and the Comic Con branding. From 2013, the minifigures started coming in chamshell packs, which offered better protection. However, unlike the majority of Comic Con exclusive sets, all the packaging was unnumbered, which means determining their precise rarity is not straightforward.

In this article, we rank the minifigures in terms of their rarity, based on our thorough research. For some, their production run is not known for sure, but we've provided our best estimates.

Bard the Bowman

Production Run: 1,750 (non-exclusive minifigure)

Value: View price history

Bard the Bowman was handed to winners of a randomised lottery at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con, and to five winners of a Twitter competition held during the event. The minifigure itself is one of the least rare Comic Con exclusives, and isn't even rare by normal standards. This is because the exact same minifigure also appeared in 79017 The Battle of Five Armies.

However, the packaging is still highly sought after, so the complete clamshell pack still sells for a lot of money. It's reported that attendees had a 50% chance of winning the pack, which suggests that it's production run wasn't the rarest. The same win percentage has also been quoted for the Unikitty Comic Con exclusive, which was also given out in 2014 and had an estimated production run of 1,750. Therefore, there's a strong chance the same number of Bard packs were distributed. Furthermore, all the other 2014 Comic Con exclusive minifigures were limited to 1,750 copies, so we can be confident about this estimate.

Superman

Production Run: 1,500 (non-exclusive minifigure)

Value: View price history

One of the earliest exclusive Comic Con minifigures was Superman, who was given out in 2011 at the New York convention. The backing card was made to look like the front page of a fictional newspaper called the New York Brick. Similar packaging was used for the two other 2011 exclusives, but these came in two variants as they were also given away in San Diego.

1,500 copies of Superman were made, but the minifigure later appeared in 6862 Superman vs. Power Armor Lex and an exclusive set at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con.

Azog

Production Run: 100 (non-exclusive minifigure)

Value: View price history

Azog was given out in an unusual fashion, as LEGO opted against a randomised lottery system, and instead just handed the blister pack out randomly to visitors to the LEGO booth at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con. The minifigure was another non-exclusive as he later appeared in the 79014 Dol Guldur Battle set, but the packaging is some of the rarest out there, as only 100 packs were distributed.

If LEGO had of created a different version of Azog for the retail set, this would surely have become one of the most valuable minifigures ever made.

Unikitty

Production Run: 1,750

Value: View price history

Unikitty is not technically a minifigure, due to her lack of standard minifigure parts, but we thought we should include her on our list regardless. The clamshell pack had 16 pieces and included a brick-built Unikitty, which was exclusive thanks to its two printed face pieces, that allowed people to either build a Cutesykitty or Cheerykitty figure.

As mentioned above, this blister pack was also given out at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con via a randomised lottery. It's estimated that 1,750 packs were distributed, with attendees reportedly having a 50% chance of winning. Some of the packs were given to people involved in making The LEGO Movie and organising the event.

The Collector

Value: View price history

Production Run: 1,750

The Collector (a.k.a Taneleer Tivan) is a character from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, who gets his name from his giant collection of interstellar fauna, relics, and species. This minifigure was given out via a random lottery at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con and is currently the only one of this character, which adds further to his desirability. The Collector was limited to 1,750 copies.

Batman of Zur-En-Arrh

Value: View price history

Production Run: 1,750

The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh was another minifigure given out at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con, also through a randomised lottery, which attendees had to queue to enter. Many people were surprised by LEGO choosing this character as an exclusive, given he's an obscure superhero from the DC universe that has only appeared a handful of times in the comic books.

Personally, he is one of my favourite exclusives because of his unusual and distinctive colour scheme. It's also very unlikely that LEGO will make another minifigure of this character, which makes me want him even more. Only 1,750 copies of him were distributed at the event.

Atom

Production Run: 1,750

Value: View price history

At the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, LEGO gave away two exclusive minifigures, the first being ATOM from DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series. This is another favourite of mine because of the incredibly detailed printing that shows off his A.T.O.M exosuit.

It's very rare that a Comic Con exclusive minifigure has accessories, but Atom came with a 4x4 display stand with Palmer Technologies chipset printing, which is another reason he's high up my wanted list.

Ant-Man has stolen the throne of most popular miniature sized superhero, so this minifigure is one of the less desirable Comic exclusives for many fans. 1,750 copies of him were produced and given out through a randomised lottery on the Thursday and Saturday of the event. 10 of these were reserved for winners of a Twitter competition held during the convention.

Steve Rogers Captain America

Production Run: 1,750

Value: View price history

The second exclusive at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con was the original Captain America (a.k.a. Steve Rogers). This was a logical choice, given that 2016 saw the release of the third movie following this character.

Personally, Captain America has always been an uninteresting superhero for me, and while this minifigure looks decent enough, it pales in comparison to Atom. 1,750 copies of Captain America were also produced for the event, with 10 being given to winners of a Twitter competition and the fate of the rest decided by a randomised lottery.

Vixen

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

There is no information available on the production run of exclusives released at Comic Con between 2017 and 2019, so the production run of the next few minifigures on this list have all been estimated.

Vixen has given out via the traditional randomised lottery at San Diego in 2017 and depicts the superheroine Vixen (a.k.a. Amaya Jiwe), as seen in DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series. Although the exact production run is unknown, we estimate that 1,500 clamshell packs of her were distributed. This is based on the production run of other Comic Con exclusive sets and minifigures given out in previous and subsequent years.

Deadpool Duck

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

The other exclusive minifigure given out at the 2017 San Diego Comic Con was Deadpool Duck, who is a combination of Deadpool and Howard the Duck.

Many LEGO fans were disappointed and uninterested in this unlikely and odd-looking minifigure, which is why he is one of the “cheapest” Comic Con exclusives. However, despite what others think, you have to love that headpiece.

Again, exactly how many Deadpool Ducks were given out is unknown, but we estimate it to be 1,500 using the same logic we applied for determining the rarity of Vixen.

Sheriff Deadpool

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

In 2018, LEGO gave us a more conventional Deadpool character, to the delight and relief of Marvel fans. Here, the eccentric superhero comes disguised as a sheriff. This minifigure was exclusive to the San Diego Comic Con and was distributed to winners of the randomised lottery.

His production run is not known for sure, but we also estimate that 1,500 were distributed. We're more certain of this figure, as both the exclusive Marvel sets from the 2018 event were limited to 1,500 copies, so it would make sense for LEGO to produce the same number of Sheriff Deadpools.

Black Lightning

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

This minifigure was another exclusive minifigure at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con who depicts the superhero Black Lightning as seen in CW's Black Lightning TV series. There's no surprise that he was also given out to winners of a randomised lottery, but this was moved online in 2018, to save people queuing for hours.

Once more, his production run is not known, but we estimate there were 1,500 clamshell packs of him using the same logic behind our estimate of the number of Sheriff Deadpools.

Apocalypseburg Unikitty

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

The third exclusive minifigure (although she's not actually a minifigure) to be released at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con was Apocalypseburg Unikitty from the LEGO Movie 2. This figure consists of 17 parts and has a unique dual printed brick that allows either Rage Kitty or Angry Kitty to be built. This is certainly the maddest and badest Unikitty figure out there!

Having also been given out at the 2018 event in the usual fashion, her production run is shrouded in mystery. But like the other 2018 minifigures, we think 1,500 copies is likely.

PS4 Spider-Man

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

This minifigure of the famous web-slinger shows him in the advanced suit he uses in the Spider-Man Playstation 4 game. If you've ever played the game, you'll notice how accurate this minifigure is to the source material, which gives him a distinctive, slightly cartoon-like look. This niche variant looks fantastic, so many LEGO fans were annoyed about he's exclusivity to the 2019 San Diego Comic Con.

His production run is not known for certain, but we've again placed an estimate of 1,500 on him. This seems likely as both the exclusive Marvel sets from the 2019 San Diego event were limited to 1,500 copies.

Barb

Production Run: 1,500 (estimated)

Value: View price history

In 2019, we got a break from Marvel and DC as LEGO released Barb as an exclusive, who was a recurring character in the first season of the Stranger Things TV series. This left Stranger Things fans a little miffed as she was left out of The Upside Down (75810) retail set, so getting their hands on this much-loved character was going to be nigh on impossible.

Like the PS4 Spider-Man, which was also released at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con, her production run is unknown, but we think it's also likely to be 1,500.

Zebra Batman

Production Run: 1,500

Value: View price history

2019 saw the 80-year anniversary of Batman and to mark this special occasion LEGO gave us one of the most original Batman minifigures. At the time this minifigure was announced, LEGO fans went online in their droves to complain about not getting a more iconic minifigure, such as one commemorating Michael Keaton's portrayal of the masked crusader. If that had happened, we would have got yet another black suited Batman, which we have plenty of already. LEGO had also already done that at Comic Con in 2011.

Instead we got a brilliant looking superhero who, despite the name LEGO gave him, is not Batman in a stripey costume. He was in fact a scientist named Jake Baker who got hit by radiation that gave him magnetic powers to attract or repel metal, wood, stone, and human flesh.

There's only one online source providing his production run, which states 1,500 copies of him were distributed in San Diego.

All New Captain America (Sam Wilson)

Production Run: 1,500

Value: View price history

This minifigure was given out at the 2015 San Diego Comic Con and depicts Sam Wilson as Captain America, who took over the role from Steve Rogers. Of all the Comic Con exclusives, this minifigure is probably the least accurate to its comic book and on-screen counterpart, largely because of the head and hair pieces. The lack of leg and arm printing also made this minifigure fall short of the standard of other exclusives.

1,500 copies of this minifigure were produced and distributed to attendees via the normal randomised lottery. 10 of these were reserved for winners of a retweet Twitter competition held during the convention.

Arsenal

Production Run: 1,500

Value: View price history

The second exclusive minifigure given out in San Diego in 2015 was Arsenal, which depicts Roy Harper from the Arrow TV series. This is another niche exclusive and a character that was only appeared once in minifigure form.

Like the All New Captain America, 1,500 copies of Arsenal were produced, with 10 being given away in a Twitter competition and the rest being awarded to convention attendees selected through a randomised lottery.

Batman

Production Run: 1,500

Value: View price history

Batman was one of the first two Comic Con exclusives, being given out at the San Diego event in 2011, and a few months later at the 2011 New York Comic Con. Being pre-2013, he came without a blister pack, and instead was attached to a cardboard backing by a 2x2 tile. Two variants of this backing were produced (one for each event) that were designed to look like front pages of fictional newspapers called “The San Diego Brick” and “The New York Brick”.

Because of the lack of plastic packaging, the cardboard is more susceptible to wear, which is important to look out for if you are lucky enough to be in a position to buy one.

1,500 Batmen were given out across both events, and although we don't know for sure, it's assumed that 750 of each variant were produced. The classic look and age of this Batman makes him one of the more expensive Comic Con exclusives to buy.

Green Lantern

Production Run: 1,500

Value: View price history

The other original Comic Con exclusive minifigure was Green Lantern, who was also released at the 2011 San Diego and New York events. Like Batman, this minifigure also came with two different cardboard backings styled on the two fictional newspapers. The Green Lantern was also one of the first LEGO DC superhero minifigures to be released that wasn't Batman.

1,500 copies of Green Lantern were also given out across both events, and it's assumed that 750 were given out at each convention.

Shazam / Captain Marvel

Production Run: 1,000

Value: View price history

For the second year of Comic Con minifigure exclusives, LEGO were very generous and gave away five minifigures across the 2012 San Diego and New York events. Shazam was one of two DC superheroes handed out in San Diego and it was the first time this character had appeared in minifigure form. Today, he still remains a scarcely seen superhero in LEGO sets.

1,000 copies of Shazam with a unique cardboard packing were given out through a randomised lottery.

Bizarro

Production Run: 1,000

Value: View price history

The other DC superhero to get an exclusive minifigure in 2013 was Bizarro. When this character first appeared in comic books, he most often played the role of antagonist to Superman, but has on occasion taken on an anti-hero role. Having not appeared in any live action movies, this is currently the only full-size minifigure of him.

Like Shazam, Bizarro was limited to 1,000 copies and given away to lucky winners of a lottery.

Jean Grey in Phoenix Costume

Production Run: 1,000

Value: View price history

Jean Grey is one of the best looking Comic Con minifigures in my opinion, as the simple yellow and green colour scheme works so well with the red of her hair. At the time of writing, this is the only minifigure portraying the highly powerful mutant.

Jean Grey came attached to a unique and personalised cardboard backing and was one of two Marvel superheroes given out in San Diego via a lottery. She was also limited to 1,000 copies.

Spider-Man in Black Symbiote Costume

Production Run: 1,000

Value: View price history

The other Marvel exclusive for 2012 was Spider-Man in Black Symbiote Costume. Fans of the Toby Maguire Spider-Man movies will remember his antics in the dark suit very well in Spider-Man 3. Although a black Spidey is very cool, this is the simplest exclusive minifigure, and the simplest of all Spider-Man minifigures for that matter. This is because the printing on the torso and head is very basic and only the headpiece is unique.

Regardless, this is still a minifigure I would very much like to have in my collection. It's also still very expensive to buy, as only 1,000 copies were made, but most of the value comes from his unique cardboard backing.

Shadow Leonardo

Production Run: 900

Value: View price history

This minifigure was the first to depict a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and was an exclusive at the 2012 San Diego and New York Comic Cons. Unlike most other Comic Con exclusives, this minifigure came with an accessory in the form of a black skateboard with a sticker referencing each event he was given away at.

500 Shadow Leonardos were handed out across both Comic Cons, and a further 400 were given away in the UK to children who dressed as turtles at The Entertainer store in London's Westfield shopping centre. The UK giveaways also came in a metal tin, as opposed to the circular cardboard Comic Con packaging. This gives Shadow Leonardo a total production run of 900.

If I could pick any Comic Con exclusive to own this would be it, as I love the head mould and skateboard accessory, and shadow versions of any character are always so much cooler.

Spider-Man - Red Lower Legs

Production Run: 350

Value: View price history

LEGO were a little stingy at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con as fewer copies of the four exclusives (two from DC and two from Marvel) given out at the event than in any other year. This Spider-Man minifigure depicts Andrew Garfield's portrayal of the superhero and can regularly be found at the top of the list of most expensive LEGO minifigures.

His eye watering price is down to a number of factors. Firstly, there is his extreme rarity, as only 350 copies of him were given out in San Diego. Then there is the popularity of Spider-Man, who is arguably the most loved of all the superheroes. Finally, this minifigure was great printing, particularly on the head.

Spider-Woman

Production Run: 350

Value: View price history

The second Marvel minifigure given out at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con was Spider-Woman, who was another unusual choice for an exclusive figure, as she has rarely appeared in mainstream media. We guess LEGO must just have liked the symmetry of giving out a Spider-Man and Spider-Woman at the same event.

The printing on this minifigure is simplistic compared to other exclusives but it does a good job in capturing her appearance in comic books. Because of her production run of 350 she is also one of the most expensive minifigures money can buy. Like Spider-Man, she was also given out to winners of a randomised lottery.

The Kraang - Battle Damage Suit

Production Run: 300

Value: View price history

The Kraang minifigure was the first to portray the supervillain and antagonist of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He appeared during the 2012 New York Comic Con, but is not technically a Comic Con exclusive, as he was given out at the Rockefeller Center's LEGO store to people who visited dressed as TMNT characters.

Like Shadow Leonardo, he came fixed to a cardboard disc by a 2x2 green plate. Only 300 copies of the Kraang were handed out.

Green Arrow

Production Run: 200

Value: View price history

The two DC superheroes given away in 2013 tie for the title of rarest Comic Con exclusive minifigure. Only 200 of each were distributed, which is 150 fewer than the Marvel exclusives at the same event. This is presumably because DC is less popular. As a result of their rarity, the Green Arrow and black suited Superman are near the very top of the list of most valuable LEGO minifigures ever made.

In 2013, season 1 of the hit TV series Arrow, which focused on the superhero, had recently finished, so bringing a Green Arrow minifigure to Comic Con was not surprising. Despite the show's long lifetime, only a couple of other Green Arrow minifigures have been released, largely because of character's absence in live action movies.

Superman - Black Suit

Production Run: 200

Value: View price history

The second DC minifigure, of which there were only 200 copies, was Superman. However, this is no ordinary Superman, as here he is in the Recovery Suit, which he wears after emerging from the Kryptonian Regeneration Matrix. It's a suit he wears when he's weakened as it grants some protective powers and absorbs solar energy to speed his regeneration. I think it gives Superman an edgier and much cooler look than his classic red and blue suit.

So now you can see why Comic Con minifigures are so expensive and so badly wanted by many LEGO collectors. If you're interested in finding out their value, you can view the top 100 most expensive minifigures.

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