- 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.
Contents
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, the Himalayas, India, and China. The only fictional sub-theme that did not take place in real life environments took place on Dino Island, where prehistoric creatures still resided.
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 original Johnny Thunder minifigure has also been reused for the Studios theme and one of its subthemes, Jurassic Park III. Pippin Reed and Mike were also reused, but had minor changes including assorted headgear and, occasionally, different leg coloring.
There were two German radio plays released to promote the theme.[1] The first one was called LEGO SYSTEM Abenteuer: Die Jagd nach dem Pharaonenshatz (LEGO SYSTEM Adventurers: The Hunt for the Pharaoh's Treasure)[2] and was released in 1998. The second was called LEGO Orient Expedition[3] and was released in 2003.
Minifigures
Adventurers
- Johnny Thunder (Sam Grant, Joe Freeman)
- Dr. Kilroy (Dr. Charles Lightning, Professor Articus)
- Pippin Reed (Gail Storm, Linda Lovely)
- Harry Cane (Billy Speed)
- Mike
- Babloo
- Sherpa Sangye Dorje
- Jing Lee
Villains
- Lord Sam Sinister (Baron Von Barron, Mr. Hates, Evil Eye, Sam Sanister, Samuel von Barron)
- Slyboots (Sam Sinister, Lizard Boots)
- Rudo Villano (Max Villano)
- Señor Palomar (Señor Gomez)
- Mr. Cunningham
- Alexia Sinister (Alexis Sanister)
- Maharaja Lallu
- Scorpion Palace Guard
- Ngan Pa
- Emperor Chang Wu
- Dragon Fortress Guard
Neutral
- Pharaoh Hotep (Pharaoh Ramses)
- Pharaoh Skeleton
- Skeleton
- Achu
- Gabarro
- Evil Skeleton
- Dragon Fortress Statue
Creatures
Dino Island
Orient Expedition
Minifigures
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| 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 | Slyboots | Baron von Barron | (No Epaulettes) | Bi-Wing Baron (Pilot) | Island Racer (Driver) | Lord Sam Sinister | Lord Sam Sinister (Pilot) | Pharaoh Hotep | Señor Palomar | Palomar (Backpack) | Rudo Villano | Rudo (Backpack) | Gabarro | Achu | Alexia Sinister | Mr. Cunningham | Cunningham (Pilot) | Babloo | Sherpa Sangye Dorje | Jing Lee | Maharaja Lallu | 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 |
List of Sets
Egypt
- 1094 Johnny Thunder
- 1182 Adventurers Raft
- 1183 Mummy and Cart
- 2541 Adventures Car
- 2542 Adventure Mini-Plane
- 2879 Desert Expedition
- 2995 Adventurers Car
- 2996 Adventurers Tomb
- 3020 Adventurers Raft
- 3021 King Pharaoh the Third
- 3022 Harry Cane's Airplane
- 3023 Slyboots Car
- 3039 Adventurers Plane
- 3055 Adventurers Car
- 3722 Treasure Tomb
- 5900 Johnny Thunder
- 5909 Treasure Raiders set with Mummy Storage Container
- 5918 Scorpion Tracker
- 5919 Treasure Tomb
- 5928 Bi-Wing Baron
- 5938 Oasis Ambush
- 5948 Desert Expedition
- 5958 Mummy's Tomb
- 5978 Sphinx Secret Surprise
- 5988 Pharaoh's Forbidden Ruins
- 9377 Adventurers Combined Set
- 1024601 Adventurers Value Pack
Jungle
- 1271 Jungle Surprise
- 5901 River Raft
- 5902 River Raft
- 5905 Hidden Treasure
- 5906 Ruler of the Jungle
- 5925 Pontoon Plane
- 5936 Spider's Secret
- 5956 Expedition Balloon
- 5976 River Expedition
- 5986 Amazon Ancient Ruins
Dino Island
- 1278 Johnny Thunder & Baby T
- 1279 Cunningham's Dinofinder
- 1280 Microcopter
- 1281 Mike's Dinohunter
- 5903 Johnny Thunder and Baby T
- 5904 Microcopter
- 5911 Johnny Thunder's Plane
- 5912 Mike's Swamp Boat
- 5913 Dr. Kilroy's Car
- 5914 Sam Sinister and Baby T
- 5920 Island Racer
- 5921 Research Glider
- 5934 Track Master
- 5935 Island Hopper
- 5955 All Terrain Trapper
- 5975 T-Rex Transport
- 5987 Dino Research Compound
- Kabaya Dino Island 4-Pack
Orient Expedition
- 7410 Jungle River
- 7411 Tygurah's Roar
- 7414 Elephant Caravan
- 7424 Black Cruiser
- 7418 Scorpion Palace
- 7412 Yeti's Hideout
- 7415 Aero Nomad
- 7417 Temple of Mount Everest
- 3380 Johnny Thunder
- 3381 Lord Sam Sinister
- 3382 Jing Lee the Wanderer
- 7413 Passage of Jun-Chi
- 7416 Emperor's Ship
- 7419 Dragon Fortress
- 7422 Red Eagle
- 7423 Mountain Sleigh
- 7409 Secret of the Tomb
- 7420 Thunder Blazer
- K7417 Orient Expedition in Mount Everest Kit
- K7148 Orient Expedition in India Kit
- K7149 Orient Expedition in China Kit
- K7122 Orient Expedition World Travel Kit
- Kaborient Orient Expedition 3-Pack
- VPorient Orient Expedition Value Pack with Backpack
Adventurers References in Other LEGO Themes and Media
- In 1999, the Adventurers theme was featured in the 5706 LEGOLAND video game.
- In 1999, 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, the Studios theme featured characters from Adventurers: Johnny Thunder was featured in 1355 Temple of Gloom, and Pippin Reed was featured in 1354 Dino Head Attack. Johnny Thunder and Pippin Reed were also featured in the licensed subtheme Jurassic Park III in the set 1370 Raptor Rumble Studio.
- Numerous characters from the Adventurers theme appear in the 2001 video game 5774 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge. The Game Boy Color version features additional characters who do not appear in the PC/PS1 version, including Alexia Sinister and Senor Palomar.
- The Adventurers theme is featured in the 2001 video game LEGO Racers 2.
- Adventurers characters and sets are featured in the 2002 video game 5784 Soccer Mania.
- Senor Palomar, Rudo Villano, and Alexia Sinister appear as villains in the 2002 online Trains game Tales on the LEGO Express: The Heist.
- 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 2012, the Dino theme features a character named Josh Thunder, who is confirmed to be a descendent of Johnny Thunder.
- In 2014, Johnny Thunder made a cameo as a Master Builder in The LEGO Movie. He was also featured in a LEGO Movie theme set, 70815 Super Secret Police Dropship, and 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 Samuel von Barron and features many overt references to the Adventurers theme, particularly the Egypt theme and his exploits with Pharaoh Hotep.
Gallery
See Also
- Egypt
- Jungle
- Dino Island
- Orient Expedition
- Studios
- Indiana Jones
- Pharaoh's Quest
- Dino
- Jurassic World
- The LEGO Movie
- Jurassic Park III
- 10273 Haunted House
