Adventurers

This article is about the LEGO System theme that lasted from 1998 to 2003. For other uses, see Adventurers (disambiguation).

Adventurers is a LEGO theme that was introduced in June 1998 and was discontinued in Spring 2003. The main character of the theme is an Australian adventurer, by the name of Johnny Thunder (also known as Sam Grant and Joe Freeman). It includes subthemes such as Egypt, Jungle, Dino Island and Orient Expedition. A ride was made in LEGOLAND California and LEGOLAND Florida, based on this theme, where the rider must shoot enemies with a laser-pointer gun.

Overview

Unlike most other themes, which take place in fictional locations, most of the Adventurers sets take place in areas in real world countries and places, such as Egypt, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Himalayas, India, and China. The only fictional subtheme that did not take place in real life environments took place on Dino Island, where prehistoric creatures still resided. Johnny Thunder also was part in the LEGO Massively Multiplayer Online Game or MMOG, Lego Universe. This was his first appearance since this theme was discontinued.

The theme essentially consists of four distinct subthemes, Egypt, Jungle, Dino Island, and Orient Expedition. The main characters of the theme are Johnny Thunder, Dr. Kilroy, and Pippin Reed. Villains were also introduced to provide contrast for the heroes. Such characters included Lord Sam Sinister (aka Baron Von Barron), the main recurring antagonist of the story, Emperor Chang Wu, Maharaja Lallu, and Señor Palomar.

The exact Johnny Thunder minifigure has also been reused for the Studios theme and one of its subthemes, Jurassic Park III, to save on new elements. Pippin Reed and Mike were also reused, but had minor changes including assorted headgear and, occasionally, different leg colouring. Also, different hair colouring was used.

There were two radio plays released to promote the theme the first one was called LEGO SYSTEM adventure: The hunt for the Pharaoh[1] and released in 1998. The other one was called LEGO Orient Expedition [2] and was released in 2003. [3]

Minifigures

Adventurers

Johnny Thunder (also known as Sam Grant and Joe Freeman)
Dr. Kilroy (also known as Dr. Charles Lightning and Professor Articus)
Pippin Reed (also known as Gail Storm and Linda Lovely)
Harry Cane (Egypt and Amazon sub-themes only)
Mike (Dino Island sub-theme only)
Babloo (Orient Expedition India sub-theme only)
Sherpa Sangye Dorje (Orient Expedition Himalayas sub-theme only)
Jing Lee (Orient Expedition China sub-theme only)

Villains

Lord Sam Sinister (also known as Baron Von Barron, Mr. Hates, Evil Eye and Sam Sinister)
Slyboots (Egypt theme only) (also known as Sam Sanister)
Rudo Villano (Amazon theme only)
Señor Palomar (Amazon theme only)
Mr. Cunningham (Dino Island theme only)
Alexia Sinister (Dino Island theme only)
Maharaja Lallu (Orient Expedition India theme only)
Scorpion Palace Guard (Orient Expedition India only)
Ngan Pa (Orient Expedition Himalaya only)
Chang Wu (Orient Expedition China only)
Dragon Fortress Guard (Orient Expedition China only)

Neutral

Pharaoh Hotep (Egypt only)
Pharaoh Skeleton (Egypt only)
Skeleton (Egypt and Amazon only)
Achu (Amazon only)
Gabarro (Jungle sub-theme only)(Worked for both the Adventurers and villains)

Creatures

Dino Island

Orient Expedition

Tygurah (India theme only)
Yeti (Himalayas theme only)
Jun-Chi (China theme only)
Golden Dragon (China theme only)
Dragon Fortress Statue (China theme only)

Minifigures

Johnny Thunder

Johnny (With Backpack)

Orient Expedition (With Pupils)

India

Mount Everest

Dr. Kilroy

Kilroy (With Backpack)

India

India (Green Legs)

Mt.Everest (Flight)

Pippin Reed (Desert)

Jungle

Jungle (With Backpack)

Pippin Reed (Pilot)

Pippin Reed (India)

Pippin Reed (Mt. Everest)

Pippin Reed (China)

Harry Cane

Sam Sinister

Baron von Barron

(No Epaulettes)

Bi-Wing Baron (Pilot)

Island Racer (Driver)

Lord Sam Sinister

Lord Sam Sinister (Pilot)

Palomar (Backpack)

Rudo (Backpack)

Cunningham (Pilot)

Scorpion Palace Guard

Ngan Pa

Chang Wu

Dragon Fortress Guard

Dragon Fortress Guard (Quiver)

Dragon Fortress Statue

Skeleton

Skeleton with Evil Skull

Pharaoh Skeleton

Pharaoh Skeleton (White Nemes)

Pharaoh Skeleton (Yellow Nemes)

Tygurah

Yeti

Jun-Chi

Gallery

Adventurers References in Other Lego Themes and Media

In 1999, the Adventurers theme was featured in the 5706 LEGOLAND video game.
In 1999 and 2000, the Adventurers theme was featured in LEGO Racers (Video Game).
Several Adventurers characters can be seen in the intro of 2000's LEGO Stunt Rally video game.
In 2001, Johnny Thunder and Pippin Reed were featured in the licensed theme Jurassic Park III in the set 1370 Raptor Rumble Studio. Although these characters had nothing to do with the movie, they were included because this theme was a subtheme of Studios, which encouraged builders to create their own movie scenes as if they were playing with a movie set.
Also from the Studios theme, Johnny Thunder was featured in 1355 Temple of Gloom, and Pippin Reed was featured in 1354 Dino Head Attack.
Numerous characters from the Adventurers theme appear in the 2001 video game 5774 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge.
The Adventurers theme is also featured in the 2001 video game LEGO Racers 2.
Adventurers characters and sets are featured in the 2002 video game 5784 Soccer Mania.
Johnny Thunder can be seen on a backdrop in the 2003 Sports sets 3548 Slam Dunk Trainer and 3550 Jump and Shoot.
In 2010, Johnny Thunder appeared in the subscription-based video game 55000 LEGO Universe.
In 2014, Johnny Thunder made a cameo in The LEGO Movie.
- That same year he was featured in a LEGO Movie theme set, 70815 Super Secret Police Dropship.
- He also appears as an unlockable playable character in The LEGO Movie Videogame.
In 2017, the Ninjago theme set 70620 Ninjago City makes a reference to Orient Expedition.
In the 2018 set 70657 Ninjago City Docks, 5935 Island Hopper can be seen on a billboard in the set.
In 2019, Johnny Thunder returns as a playable character in The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame.
Also in 2019, 71025 Minifigures Series 19 features a character called "Jungle Explorer" that is strongly implied to be a redesigned/modernized Johnny Thunder.
In 2020, the Creator theme 10273 Haunted House set was released, which has a backstory centered around Baron Von Baron and features many overt references to the Adventurers theme, particularly the Egypt theme and his exploits with Pharaoh Hotep.

Start a Discussion Discussions about Adventurers

Popular Themes Returning?

154 messages
- Jessanna Stansu
  
  Yeah, we've had a whole thread about it. 2014-08-31T02:29:57Z
- Bioniclezilla76
  
  Schtickman wrote: yes. But i think castle 2013 was bad. If they return castle i would like something special like older temes- forestm... 2014-08-31T16:10:11Z
new lego adventure sets?

11 messages
- Red-Wiss
  
  we need johny back 2013-08-25T03:28:21Z
- Darthleapyous
  
  what about LEGO adventure TIME sets?!? that would be awesome. 2013-08-25T04:46:49Z