Featured set of the day: Sphinx Secret Surprise
Posted by Huw,
artdog141305 has this to say about his favourite set as a child:
I was a kid in the late 90s, and there was no better theme for me at that time than Adventurers. The aptly-named line was right up my alley. From Desert to Jungle, from Dino Island to Orient Expedition, I loved Adventurers. To me, there was no greater in the line of those that I own than 5978 Sphinx Secret Surprise
This set came from the Desert subtheme, of course, and contained a specialised baseplate that is unique to the set as far as I can tell. I received this set as a Christmas present, having the great fortune of two different relatives buying me the same set. That’s right; I have TWO of the Sphinx Secret Surprise!
At 347 pieces, this was not the largest in the Desert subtheme (it was second to 5988 The Temple of Anubis, which I unfortunately did not receive; 771 pieces), but I got plenty of play out of this one. The included structures give the illusion of a much larger set. The most prominent build is the name-sake, the Sphinx. The build proves how so much can be accomplished with the most basic of LEGO bricks and techniques.
The core of the Sphinx has a play feature that involves launching Pharaoh Hotep from within, a simple but effective surprise for any who dare try to steal the diamond mounted at the entrance. Hotep’s prints and Nemes headdress are very attractive, a favourite of mine as a child.
Next to the Sphinx is one of two obelisks. The 1 x 2 x 5 printed bricks used as part of the construction of both are highly detailed; I’ve found great use for them in my own builds over the years. The taller obelisk is more than meets the eye. It can be knocked down using a hinge, revealing some precious jewels for one to collect, if they dare.
On the opposite side of the Sphinx is a smaller Anubis statue, appropriately built using basic bricks and techniques again. A couple pits can be found in the baseplate: one directly below the Sphinx and one a level down in front of the Sphinx. These are great for hiding a snake or two!
The palm tree is flexible and an appropriate accent to the rest of the structures included; the perfect shade for the shady character walking beneath it on the box art. The included coffin hides the skeletal remains of another ancient Egyptian pharaoh, indicated by the white Nemes crown atop the smiling skull. Some more riches can be found here. Go ahead…I’m sure it’s not cursed.
The side builds are more than adequate complements to the main build. The tent uses a few ball-and-socket plates to hold the paper in place. The cooking fire is fine; all that it needs to be. There is a crate full of useful tools and printed maps, another of the printed pieces included with the Adventurers theme that I find personally valuable. The vehicle is typical of Adventurers, including a brick-built engine to pair with the radiator, plenty of boot space using another crate, and that beautiful two-seat cabin; loved those.
Many great minifigures are included in Sphinx Secret Surprise, and leading the charge is our hero; the one, the only, Johnny Thunder! I own about eight of him in total, only one of which being a true variant from the standard. He is about as perfect a minifigure as there is.
At his side are Dr. Charles Lightning and Miss Gail Storm (oh, the puns!). The doc wears a huge backpack, another very versatile piece, and Gail brought a camera to record the events of the exploration.
The main antagonist is Baron Von Barron (what are the odds?). He is about as villainous as Johnny is heroic, featuring a hook, monocle, and handlebar moustache. His partner is Lord Sam Sinister, and he is…well, sinister. Anyone with a red dress shirt and that particular facial hair is just asking for that last name.
5978 Sphinx Secret Surprise packs a lot in its 347 pieces. The price-to-part ratio isn’t the best, but the play value is incredible. I had hours of fun with this one. If there were ever an original LEGO theme that would be ideal to make a return, it’s Adventurers. I don’t think I’m reaching to say that it has a lot of fans out there who grew up with it and would undoubtedly create some new ones.
102 likes
25 comments on this article
Loved that set too. Great play value, great minifigs, and I really miss those original skeletons with the free moving arms!
Another Featured set which I am too young to appreciate...
One of my favourites I have it displayed in a set up with the temple of Anubis, as great as the temple Anubis is I still think this set has a great charm to it and the sphinx looks great for such a simple build using fairly standard bricks.
Thanks for posting - I've actually been thinking about the Adventurers recently and had been working on (and submitted) a set to LEGO Ideas that features Johnny Thunder's return. Check it out if interested: https://ideas.lego.com/content/project/link/60beb351-7f98-44f7-88a3-db4be4016a4a
The pattern is unique, but the baseplate itself isn't. It originated in 1992 with Paradisa set 6416-1 Poolside Paradise and was used again in 2001 for 6776-1 Ogel Control Center. (It also appeared in generic building set 4293-1.)
Lovely! I love those hieroglyph prints. I was lucky enough to have the Temple of Anubis and also the Scorpion Palace from this theme - loved and still love them both.
As a child I had every one of the desert Adventurers sets... except this one!
@Bricktastic_builder said:
" @arselus said:
"Thanks for posting - I've actually been thinking about the Adventurers recently and had been working on (and submitted) a set to LEGO Ideas that features Johnny Thunder's return. Check it out if interested: https://ideas.lego.com/content/project/link/60beb351-7f98-44f7-88a3-db4be4016a4a"
Wow! What are the odds! I’ve been thinking about adventurers as well, and was just about to start working on a 25th anniversary idea. (2023 is the 25th anniversary of the theme’s launch.)"
Please do it - it would be sweet to bring this series back, with updated minifigs and more detailed builds it would be really cool. Share it when you build it, I'll support!
I remember clearly as if it was yesterday when I first saw the 1998 catalog. pharaoh Hotep on the right, Temple of Anubis in the background and in front a speeding car, driven by Johnny Thunder. I always preferred 5988 to this one but this car is in my mind the most beautiful Adventurers vehicle. It's just perfect. Not having any sets from this theme as a kid I used my bricks to build one resembling this - I even used jumper plates to make it 5 wide in the middle to accommodate two minifigs sitting side by side. I spent hours playing with it. Upon discovering Brickset and Bricklink I started buying Adventurers sets. 5988 still stands as my favorite, but having an original car featured in this set really made my dream come true. This truly is a great set form an even greater theme.
I had this set when I was a child ;)
@phi13 said:
"The pattern is unique, but the baseplate itself isn't. It originated in 1992 with Paradisa set 6416-1 Poolside Paradise and was used again in 2001 for 6776-1 Ogel Control Center. (It also appeared in generic building set 4293-1.)"
That’s good to know! I hadn’t realized. It was so unique in shape, I didn’t expect it being used again. It’s great to see that it was versatile enough for that.
@arselus said:
"Thanks for posting - I've actually been thinking about the Adventurers recently and had been working on (and submitted) a set to LEGO Ideas that features Johnny Thunder's return. Check it out if interested: https://ideas.lego.com/content/project/link/60beb351-7f98-44f7-88a3-db4be4016a4a"
Thanks for sharing this link.
I was well into my Dark Ages when this set came out, and would love to have it now.
Nice review, though it only made me want it more.
I think I still prefer this to the Temple of Anubis, though I wonder if it’s because I got this as a child and only got the Temple as an adult. Might be nostalgia blinkers?
Thanks for that review so I don‘t have to write it ;) great set, love it!
loved this set, would love to see adventurers return!
I got this set off eBay back in the day 99% complete with the original box for like 30 or 40 bucks. One of my all-time favorite sets.
Adventurers is my favorite theme of all time. And this set is a marvelous highlight, which is well described in the article above. This set has it all. Even if you only had this (or two, in this case) you had enough to create countless adventures. Villains, heroes, a mummy along with a great build. I still prefer this sfinx over set 7236 Rise Of The Sfinx from the more recent Pharaoh's Quest. It feels more complete, in a way. Adding way more than just the sfinx itself.
Thanks Arselus for sharing your Ideas submission. I support any potential return of Adventurers.
Wow, these featured sets of the day are absolutely killing it lately! Three of my Top 10 sets of all time have been recently featured- Dragon Fortress, An Unexpected Gathering, and now Sphinx Secret Surprise!
Great article by the way. The author is bang on with respect to the play value! This set is so nostalgic, as is the Adventurers theme as a whole! Very fond memories indeed. Thanks for the article and doing the set justice.
I didn’t realize the cloth tent piece was made for this set, I thought it was introduced for that one Kingdom of the Crystal Skull set.
What a set, what a set... Look at those minifigures. All of them are almost CMF quality. The car, the tent, raised baseplate, there is so much to love. I truly wish I had this.
That Sphinx Build is just beautiful... Easily the best part about the set in my opinion.
One of my favourite sets of all times, remember as yesterday unwrapping it as Christmas present and being fascinated with so much new elements like the red gem, the vitage car grille, and the tent! I just managed to get an incomplete one but with original box, that will match my own set.
Great set and great review! Unfortunately, I could only dream about it in that time... So nice memories from the catalogues...
I only ever had 5900-1 and 5918-1 , so very small sets from this series. I would love to see a return of Adventurers, with maybe a combination of the Pharaoh's Quest range? I missed those as well, due to some dark ages.
I really enjoy the old classic adventure style stories, and Egyptology in general. Love what Lego made with these as well.