This is essentially a review of the 2024 LEGO City Jungle Explorers subtheme. I may get distracted along the way and explore aspects of the Adventurers Theme. Readers are warned of upcoming rabbit holes and narrative cul-de-sacs. Normal service shall resume shortly

From 1998 to 2003, the LEGO® Adventurers theme represented the pinnacle of in house, story-driven themes – complete with heroes, villains, exotic locals and angry locals, the theme felt like a cross between Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. And while both of those themes were years away from formal licensing, Johnny Thunder, Pippin Reed and Professor Articus Kilroy led the way, travelling through Egypt, the Amazon, and Asia…with a stop by Hollywood along the way.

We have seen recent remakes of Professor Kilroy and Pippin Reed in ICONS and IDEAS sets, but this year, Johnny Thunder returns at the other extreme of price points in a couple of the new LEGO City Jungle Explorers sets. Thanks to the LEGO Group for sending me sets from the LEGO City range to review. Before we dive in too quickly, lets take a look at the ways that Johnny has appeared over the years.