Pharaoh's Quest: 1 of 2

A couple of Lego Pharaoh's Quest sets made their way into my stocking this year. The adults of the family all draw names, and I'm terribly easy to shop for, just imagine whatever a ten year old kid would want, and this thirty six year old kid will be content!

These new sets are great, just great, and really put the Johnny Thunder sets that came out over a decade ago to shame in a lot of ways. This says a lot, 'cause Señor Thunder was the bomb, and he got say things like, "Bring the THUNDER!" Okay, he didn't actually say that, but he could've if he wanted to.

Johnny Thunder started out very pulpy, tomb raiding in the Egyptian deserts. He moved on to South American jungles, and eventually found himself in the Himalayan Mountains. It wasn't until near the end when Johnny and friends started to fight unexplained and supernatural foes. This sounds cool huh? It's all Lego!

These new sets have a named hero in every one, and there's an even grittier / pulpier vibe going on. Plus, right off the bat this newest incarnation goes more of the style of the Mummy movie franchise, and less of a classic Indiana Jones route.


First up we have set #7306 Golden Staff Guardians. For a ten dollar set you get a very nice collection of mini-figs and accessories, and let's be honest, it's the mini-figs we do this for, right? Essentially all this set really boils down to is a mini-fig collection builder.


The Guardians themselves are awesome, and very menacing. New accessories include the wicked-looking khopesh swords, and very nice looking scarab shields too. Of course there is also the Golden Staff itself, another new piece. The head-dresses aren't new, but this the first time I've seen them in black. Then there's the figs themselves, with printed torsos (front and back), double-sided heads, and printed legs too. The red glowing eyes tell it all, these aren't husks lying around in a sarcophagus, but undead (sentient?) guardians wielding weapons they know how to put to good use!

Two different faces on the same head, and two sides to the torso are a nice touch


Mac McCloud is pure pulp hero. He's got the five o'clock shadow, oil stained tank top, suspenders, cocky smirk, and even a bit of an injury on his face. Another nice touch is that his torso is also double-sided. His motorcycle is awesome as well, it's two separate frames and comes equipped with a rifle and a bundle of dynamite. The rifle has been around, as has the helmet and goggles he wears. The dynamite isn't new, but unless you picked up the right Power Miner sets, you probably don't have it.

I like the dynamite, but a shovel would've made more sense...maybe both


There you have it, just ten bucks and it's loaded to the wrappings with pulp fighting horror goodness. The little altar you build with the set is pretty solid too, it's a small terrain piece, but it's not just slapped together. The human could pull off many different roles in many genres, and the mummies are pretty versatile too. Of course a lot of the equipment works just as well on a starship or in the 1930's, ancients, or whatever in between.