About
This set is a rare case where LEGO takes an idea that sounds like it belongs in a B-movie pitch meeting (“a shark… with legs… and a cockpit…”) and turns it into a display piece that genuinely works. The Shark Mech has presence, a strong silhouette, and that more “dead”/industrial colour scheme sells it as the villain’s military machine instead of a neon toy. The result is a model that looks awesome on a shelf while still having real play features: two cockpits for minifigs, cannons that actually shoot, and that bite mechanism in the jaw.
Build-wise, the head is the star. That’s where the set gets its personality. The mix of smooth slopes and sharper mechanical lines makes the shark feel both organic and machine, which is exactly the joke of the model. And yes, the size matters: the Shark Mech is around 38 cm long, so it’s not “just another mech,” it’s a big, chunky beast that takes space.
Where does it fall short? Two classic action-set issues from that era: the articulation isn’t as poseable as the look suggests, and the interior is more restrained than many people would want.
Minifigure review
The minifigure line-up is one of the big wins here, because it gives you an instant story on the table: hero, villain, henchmen, and civilians. You get Lloyd Garmadon in his movie version, great for the face-off and to give the mech context (even if he isn’t exclusive, since he appears in other sets from the wave).
Then you’ve got the “flavours” that make this set memorable. Hammer Head is the most striking Shark Army figure visually, and the best part is he’s exclusive to this set, which instantly makes him more interesting for collectors. Nomis is the perfect minifig joke: the hot dog costume is pure contrast against the threat of the Shark Mech and it’s also exclusive to this set. Nancy rounds it out as the “civilian with personality,” with printing that makes her feel like more than just a generic city figure—and she’s exclusive here as well.
Box design
Instruction manual
Stickers
The stickers here do two jobs: they add life to the food cart, and they give the Shark Mech that “military asset” identity. On the cart, at least one sticker is used to show food/menus quickly and effectively (this is one of those cases where being a sticker makes sense because it’s a graphic detail). On the mech, the stickers show army markings and numbering (“01”), reinforcing the idea that this is the villain’s command machine—and visually they work, because they break up the big colour blocks without screaming for attention.
If you hate stickers, this set won’t ruin your day. If you’re picky about alignment, apply them slowly: these “military markings” look instantly wrong when they’re crooked, and the shark doesn’t forgive.
So…
70656 wins on personality. The Shark Mech is a strong display piece, the play functions are well chosen (a trigger bite is an automatic yes), and the exclusive minifigures are meaningful and collectible, not padding. It loses points if you want super dynamic poses or a rich interior, because you’ll feel those limits. Still, as a full package, it’s one of those movie-era sets that aged well: weird, iconic, and with real shelf presence.
