Action Comics No. 1 is an ultra-rare classic, both because it introduced the world to Superman, and started a trend that would crush box offices and chances of getting laid for years to come. Now comics are not only popular, but a medium used to tell some of today’s most fascinating stories—and, they inspire a ton of original art. Classics like it are prime real estate for modern remixes, and David Whalen’s are a prime example.

“They simply started out as a way to test my ability lighting different backdrop colors without having to go full-scale,” Whalen tells The Creators Project. Then they turned into a full-blown art project that mixes the deep nostalgia for vintage comic books with the energy of a Lego playset. In the series he flexes his knowledge of comic book culture since, he says, “The cover selection was really a matter of, ‘What do I have on hand?’ Lego-wise, and then picking the more recognizable images to use with those pieces.” Says Whalen, you can thank the Nikon D5200 for those close-up shots of the Joker and Wolverine, made complete by the detailed expressions painted by their original Lego artist.

Check out Whalen’s photo set below.

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