Lego Adventurers (stylized as LEGO Adventurers) was a Lego theme based on an early 20th century 'explorer' concept. It centred around the main character named Johnny Thunder and a team of explorers who go on adventures. Unlike other Lego themes, which take place in a fictional "Lego Universe", most of the Adventurers sets took places in real-world locations, such as Egypt, the Amazon rainforest, the Himalayas, India, and China. The only fictional sub-theme took place on an island where prehistoric creatures still lived. The theme was first introduced in 1998. The product line was discontinued in 2003 and replaced with the Lego Pharaoh's Quest theme in 2011.

Overview

The product line centered around early 20th century exploration and involved the characters exploring new areas and going on adventures. It focused on a character named Johnny Thunder. It began in 1998 with a desert theme, which involved the character searching for the pharaoh's ruby in Egypt. The Adventurers toy sets were the first to include sand-coloured parts. Johnny Thunder was accompanied by several other characters, including Miss Pippin Reed, Dr. Kilroy, and a daredevil pilot named Harry Cane. These characters were pursued by the evil villains Slyboots and Baron Von Barron. In 1999, the theme moved from the Egyptian desert to the Amazonian jungle. The storyline involved a race to obtain a sun disc from a mystical figure named Achu. The antagonists were changed to Senor Palomar and Rudo Villano. These Adventurers jungle toy sets were the first to include a Lego blimp (set number: 5956). In 2000, Johnny Thunder reappeared in a product line named Dino Island. The pilot character Harry Cane was replaced by a dinosaur expert named Mike. The evil character Baron Von Barron, now renamed "Sam Sinister", reappeared alongside his new cohorts Mr. Cunningham and Alexia Sinister. The storyline centered around the villains attempting to capture dinosaurs from an island. In 2003, Johnny Thunder returned in a product line named Orient Expedition, which centered on a journey across Asia. The storyline involved the team travelling to various countries in search of Marco Polo's treasure, the Golden Dragon.

Characters

Adventurers

Villains

Other characters

Construction sets

According to BrickLink, The Lego Group released 87 playsets and promotional polybags as part of the Lego Adventurers theme. The product line was eventually discontinued by the end of 2003.

Egypt

The first sub-theme starts off with Johnny and company in the deserts of Egypt. The main goal for Johnny is to explore the ancient egypt structures, and find the "Re-Gou ruby" before any of his enemies obtain it first. 25 sets and promotional polybags was released from 1998 to 1999.

Jungle

The crew must search deep into the Amazon Jungle in order to discover the ancient ruins where the powerful "Sun Disc" lies. But they first have to get past their new enemies and the tribal chief "Achu". 10 sets and promotional polybags was released in 1999.

Dino Island

The explorers discover a new mysterious island. In search of new adventure, the crew discovers that there are dinosaurs living on the island. They realize what fame they could have with this new discovery so they start researching the prehistoric animals. Unfortunately, Johnny's old enemies come along to capture and steal the dinosaurs from him. 17 sets and promotional polybags was released in 2000.

Orient Expedition

The adventurers travel east to find the "Golden Dragon of Marco Polo" in China. Along the way, the crew comes across many new allies, enemies, and artifacts in the Himalayas and India. 20 sets and promotional polybags was released in 2003.

Video games

Lego Adventurers make several crossovers into the video games such as cameo and playable characters.

Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge

Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge was a 2001 action-adventure video game developed by Silicon Dreams Studio and published by Lego Software. The video game's plot includes a segment where the player character Pepper Roni goes to Adventurers' Island, a location modeled after the Lego Adventurers theme and featuring characters including Johnny Thunder, Dr. Kilroy, Miss Pippin Read, Mr. Hates, and Achu.

Lego Racers

Lego Racers was a Lego-themed racing video game developed by High Voltage Software and published by Lego Media. Set in the fictional "Legoland" universe, the single-player mode follows various minifigure characters competing in a racing competition created by a fictional racing champion called Rocket Racer. In this video game, three racetracks are based upon the Lego Adventurers theme. Johnny Thunder and Baron von Barron are bosses while Pharaoh Hotep, Achu, Sam Sinister, and Gail Storm appear as additional racers.

Lego Racers 2

Lego Racers 2 was a Lego-themed racing video game developed by Attention to Detail, published by Lego Software and distributed in North America by Electronic Arts. It was first released in September 2001 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance. It is the sequel to the 1999 game Lego Racers. The Lego Adventurers characters and setting return in the Dino Island stage of Lego Racers 2, reflecting the then-ongoing sets.

Lego Universe

Lego Universe was a massively multiplayer online game that was available from October 2010 to January 2012. The game was developed by NetDevil and released on October 26, 2010. Johnny Thunder makes an appearance in Lego Universe as a non-playable character.

Lego Stunt Rally

Lego Stunt Rally was a Lego-themed racing video game for Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Color. Developed by Intelligent Games for PC and Graphic State for Game Boy Color and published by Lego Media, the game features a track editor that allows players to build single-player and multiplayer tracks. The Lego Adventurers characters make a guest appearance in the game's intro cutscene.

Football Mania

Football Mania (known as Soccer Mania outside Europe) was a Lego-themed sports game released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. The Lego Adventurers characters can be found on various teams in Lego Football Mania, and several levels take place on fields inspired by Lego Adventurers sets.

Lego Legacy: Heroes Unboxed

Lego Legacy: Heroes Unboxed (2020) was developed by Gameloft. Lego Legacy: Heroes Unboxed was released exclusively for Microsoft Windows, Android and iOS devices on 27 February 2020. Johnny Thunder makes an appearance in the game.

Theme park attractions

In 2002, Jungle X-pedition was introduced to Legoland Deutschland Resort. The attraction featuring a log ride for guests of all ages ending in a 12-meter drop over a waterfall. In 2008, Land of Adventure was launched at Legoland California in March 2008. The attraction was designed to replicate the 1920s in Egypt, drawing inspiration from the Lego Adventurers line (Egypt sub-theme). Also in this area is Beetle Bounce, Cargo Ace, Dune Raiders, Lost Kingdom Adventure and Pharaoh's Revenge. In 2009, Laser Raiders was launched to Legoland Windsor Resort in March 2009. The attraction featuring an interactive dark ride through an Egyptian tomb where visitors shoot targets to gain points. Also in this area is Scarab Bouncers, Aero Nomad, Desert Chase and Thunder Blazer. The latter three rides are fairground based attractions such as a carousel and a Ferris wheel ride. It was later launched in 2011 at Legoland Florida and in September 2012 at Legoland Malaysia Resort. The attraction (It was also known as The Temple.) also was launched in 2019 at Legoland Billund Resort.

Other media

The Lego Movie

The theme's main character Johnny Thunder made an appearance in the 2014 film The Lego Movie and The Lego Movie Videogame.

Lego Minifigures

Lego Minifigures Series 19 (set number: 71025) was released on 1 September 2019 worldwide. The "Jungle Explorer" minifigure is a direct reference to Johnny Thunder and the Lego Adventurers theme. It also included a magnifying glass and backpack, and marks the first appearance of the new Lego chameleon piece..

Legacy

Stig Hjarvard remarked on the similarity of Johnny Thunder and the dinosaur hunting theme to Jurassic Park and opined that the Johnny Thunder series, amongst other unlicensed Lego product lines, "may be considered to be the forerunners of the subsequent licensing of a variety of media stories and characters."