Dr. Kilroy (or Professor Kilroy), also known as various other names including Dr. Charles Lightning, Professor Articus, and Professor Titus, is a Minifigure from the Adventurers theme introduced in 1998.

Description[]

In most of his appearances, Dr. Kilroy wears a white buttoned shirt, a red bowtie, suspenders, and dark green pants; this is his consistent outfit in the Egypt, Jungle, Dino Island, and China subthemes. He always wears a white pith helmet. His face is printed with large glasses and white muttonchops. Unlike Johnny Thunder, Pippin Reed, and Lord Sam Sinister, his face print remains unchanged in the Orient Expedition subtheme.

In India, Dr. Kilroy wears a green vest over his usual white shirt; his pants retain their usual green color in 7418 Scorpion Palace, but are changed to white in 7411 Tygurah's Roar. In Mt. Everest, he wears a dark grey jacket, earth orange gloves, and black pants.

When portrayed as a human in the Time Cruisers comic, Prof. Articus is initially depicted with a mustache and a full beard. His later appearance as Professor Titus has muttonchops more in line with the minifigure's printing, although his pith helmet is changed to tan.

Name[]

As with all other Adventurers Egypt characters, Dr. Kilroy has used a variety of names in different regions, and has even changed names multiple times over the years.^[1]

In Denmark, the character was originally named Professor Kilroy (abbreviated as Prof. Kilroy), as seen in 1998-2000 Danish catalogs.^[2][3] In international English media, such as interactive puzzle books The Curse of the Mummy and The Lost Temple,^[4][5] LEGO Adventures! Magazine,^[6] The Ultimate LEGO Book, 5774 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge, and 5784 Soccer Mania, he is also known as Doctor Kilroy (abbreviated as Dr. Kilroy). This name is directly translated in Japan as キルロイ博士^[7][8] and in Russia as Доктор Килрой.^[9][10] It is also used throughout LEGO.com, including the LEGO Shop, the Dinosaurs website,^[11] the Minifig Handbook, The Restless Mummy, and The Lost Treasure of Ancient Greece. "Professor Kilroy" is alternatively used in some sources, such as UK,^[12] Polish,^[13] and German^[14] catalogs in 2000 and the Game Boy Color version of 5730 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge; this is also reflected by the alternative Russian translation Профессор Килрой.^[15]

In North America, the character was originally named Dr. Charles Lightning in LEGO Mania Magazine January/February 1998.^[16] This name is retained in later issues of LEGO Mania Magazine for subsequent subthemes.^[17][18] In 1998-2000 Shop At Home catalogs, he is simply referred to as Dr. Lightning.^[19][20]

In the 1998 United Kingdom catalog and in Bricks 'n' Pieces March/April 1998, he is simply called The Professor most of the time.^[21][22] The latter also refers to him as Dr. Charles Kilroy in the comic, despite otherwise changing the North American names from its LEGO Mania Magazine counterpart.^[23]

In Germany, the character was originally named Professor Articus (abbreviated as Prof. Articus) in LEGO World Club Magazine March/April 1998^[24] as well as in the audio drama Die Jagd nach dem Pharaonenschatz^[25] and in the Time Cruisers comic's coverage of the Egypt subtheme.^[26]

A Swedish print ad^[source?] names this character Professor Påläst.

In French Canadian Shop At Home catalogs, the name "Dr. Lightning" is translated as Dr. Éclair.^[27]

When the Time Cruisers comic covered the Dino Island subtheme in 2000, he is called Professor Titus in both the English^[28] and German^[29] translations. This is an odd exception at the time; not only does it contradict the comic's earlier use of Prof. Articus, but also most other sources during the Dino Island theme either retained Dr. Charles Lightning or Dr. Kilroy as his name.

Beginning in 2000 with the Dino Island subtheme, the name "Dr. Kilroy" would see the greatest international use, replacing region-specific names such as Professor Articus in Germany and eventually replacing Dr. Charles Lightning in North America as well in 2001. Finally, it was cemented as his definitive name across all Orient Expedition media. Although its spelling is largely consistent, it is alternatively spelled Dr. Killroy on My LEGO Network.

Background[]

Professor Kilroy is a famous archaeologist and an expert on everything from ancient cultures to dinosaurs. Despite his age, Dr. Kilroy is willing to follow any adventure, no matter how dangerous or where it may lead. His intellect solves as many riddles as Johnny Thunder's bravery and physical strength. He is a brilliant scientist with extensive knowledge of artifacts and archaeology, but he is a little absent-minded and forgetful.

Dr. Kilroy is Johnny Thunder's uncle and taught him everything he knows.^[16][18][22] By extension, Dr. Kilroy would be the uncle-in-law of Ameila and a relative of Josh Thunder. In the Time Cruisers comic, Prof. Articus is revealed to be the brother of Prof. Cyber;^[26] therefore, this would also make him related to Tim Timebuster. In 5542644 Die Jagd nach dem Pharaonenschatz, Professor Articus has a pet Indian cobra named Kleopatra.

In the interactive puzzle books, Dr. Kilroy works at the National Museum along with his friend Alex Botnik.^[5] However, according to the Orient Expedition audio drama Die Suche nach dem Goldenen Drachen, he works in the London Museum and is a former colleague of Dr. Giovanni.^[30]

On LEGO.com, both the Dinosaurs^[11] and Orient Expedition websites have pages for fans to submit questions to Dr. Kilroy. In the latter, his consistent wardrobe is discussed; he explains that he always wears a pith helmet to keep his head warm and protect him from rocks knocked about by Johnny,^[31] and he wears the same clothes every day because it is difficult to do laundry in the Himalayas.^[32]

Dr. Kilroy theorized about a primitive "missing link" between bricks and minifigures. After LEGO City scientists discovered proto-minifigures from 1975, Dr. Kilroy proposed that they communicated by hopping and occasionally falling over. When questioned further about the "proto-fig" and its lack of facial features, Dr. Kilroy ran away while exclaiming that his baby T. rex was hungry.^[33]

Time Cruisers[]

Prof. Articus has been searching for the portal to the dimension Armeron, although he is too old to make the journey himself. Articus and Miss Lovely find the Pharaoh's Forbidden Ruins but are confronted by Mr. Hates and Sly Boots. After Pharaoh Ramses forces the villains to flee, Articus requests that the mummy open the portal to Armeron, and Tim Timebuster goes in his stead.

The character later appears in the comic as Professor Titus, a time-traveling adventurer who has gone back in time to study a dinosaur egg. Tim's arrival in this timeline allows Titus to take an egg from the nest of a distracted T-Rex. He panics when Ingo starts playing with the egg, which is snatched by a Pteranodon. After retrieving the egg, Johnny Thunder and Professor Titus watch as a Baby Tyrannosaurus Rex hatches.

LEGO Racers[]

Dr. Lightning makes a cameo in LEGO Racers. In Circuit 2 and Circuit 5, Dr. Lightning and Johnny Thunder can be seen flying the Expedition Balloon over the Amazon Adventure Alley race course.

LEGO Island 2[]

In the PC and PS1 versions of LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge, Dr. Kilroy appears as a major character on Adventurers' Island. In the game, he also speaks with a slight stutter and an English accent. It is revealed that Dr. Kilroy is a friend of the Infomaniac, and he eagerly helps their mutual friend Pepper Roni. He owns a Desert Speedster, which he loans to Pepper in order to reach the oasis. He is prone to heat exposure from being in the desert, requiring the adventurers to take the cooler Sea Plane so he can recover. In the jungle, Dr. Kilroy is able to speak with a T-Rex, learning that Mr. Hates has captured the dinosaurs.

In the Game Boy Color version, Prof. Kilroy has a much smaller role. He appears in the desert of Adventurers' Island, where he excitedly talks about his new magnifying glass. He is also depicted in a collectible trading card.

In the Game Boy Advance version, Dr. Kilroy only appears as a collectible trading card.

Soccer Mania[]

In 5784 Soccer Mania, Dr. Kilroy is the goalie for the Adventurer Explorers team. After the player beats the Adventurer Explorers in the story mode, he can be added to their custom team; this marks his only playable appearance in a video game. His stats (out of a maximum of 272) are 240 speed, 128 shooting, 128 passing, 128 tackling, and 240 goalkeeping.^[34]

In the Game Boy Advance version, Dr. Kilroy is the basic player on the Adventure team, who is gradually replaced by the star player Johnny Thunder as The Quest mode continues.

My LEGO Network[]

Dr. Killroy is a Rank 6 Networker on My LEGO Network. He is friends with Bur O Crat, Digger, and Jen Juniper, and can be friended by users who are at least Rank 4. He works with Digger and the Dino Team to excavate the Jeweled Triceratops, which is the Masterpiece required to achieve Rank 5. He often travels with Jen Juniper on his expeditions and, in his free time, he helps her in her greenhouse.

LEGO Description[]

This is a description taken from LEGO Mania Magazine January/February 1998. Please do not modify it.

DR. CHARLES LIGHTNING Dr. Lightning decodes hieroglyphics and treasure maps using his trusty magnifying glass. Dr. Lightning is also Johnny's uncle, and taught Johnny everything he knows. But sometimes he forgets things. Several times, while out in the desert sun, Dr. Lightning has left his magnifying glass in his back pocket and burned a hole in his pants.

This is a description taken from Bricks 'n' Pieces March/April 1998. Please do not modify it.

The Professor The Professor is Sam's uncle, who studies treasure maps and decodes hieroglyphics. He's a bit forgetful and keeps losing his magnifying glass!

This is a description taken from LEGO Mania Magazine January-February 1999. Please do not modify it.

DR. CHARLES LIGHTNING Dr. Lightning received a message from a friend describing a magical sun disc hidden in some jungle ruins. He was so excited, he rushed off without the letter, which Señor Palomar found.

This is a description taken from LEGO Adventures! Magazine Issue 3. Please do not modify it.

Dr. Kilroy He searches the world for lost treasures.

This is a description taken from LEGO Adventures! Magazine Issue 3. Please do not modify it.

Johnny Thunder and Dr. Kilroy Travelling the world in search of lost treasures!

This is a description taken from LEGO Mania Magazine September/October 2000. Please do not modify it.

Dr. Charles Lightning Dr. Lightning is Johnny's uncle, and taught Johnny everything he knows. But sometimes he forgets that the dinosaurs are real and not stuffed. One time, he almost got stomped on.

This is a description taken from LEGO.com. Please do not modify it. (See an archive of the product’s page)

Dr. Kilroy Professor Kilroy is a famous archaeologist and an expert on everything from ancient cultures to dinosaurs. Although he is getting along in years, Dr[sic] Kilroy is willing to follow any adventure, no matter how dangerous or where it may lead. His intellect solves as many riddles as Johnny's bravery and physical strength.

This is a description taken from LEGO Magazine March-April 2003. Please do not modify it.

DR. KILROY The world famous archeologist and an expert on practically everything!

This is a description taken from LEGO.com. Please do not modify it. (see the source of this quote)

Dr. Killroy, the celebrated paleontologist and archaeologist, has asked the Dino Team to help him on find the legendary Jeweled Triceratops. He has traveled all over the world hunting for fossils and dinosaur bones and has made many magnificent discoveries. When he's not off on a dig, he likes to help out in Jen Juniper's greenhouse.

Gallery of Variants[]

Appearances[]

• 1280 Microcopter
• 5904 Adventurers Mini Copter
• 2879 Desert Expedition
• 2995 Adventurers Car
• 5909 Treasure Raiders
• 5913 Dr. Kilroy's Car
• 5934 Track Master
• 5948 Desert Expedition
• 5956 Expedition Balloon
• 5958 Mummy's Tomb
• 5975 T-Rex Transport
• 5976 River Expedition
• 5978 Sphinx Secret Surprise
• 5987 Dino Research Compound
• 5988 Pharaoh's Forbidden Ruins
• 7411 Tygurah's Roar
• 7415 Aero Nomad
• 7418 Scorpion Palace
• 7419 Dragon Fortress
• 7423 Mountain Sleigh
• 9377 Adventurers combined set

Audio Drama Appearances[]

• 5542644 Die Jagd nach dem Pharaonenschatz
• 4215473 Die Suche nach dem Goldenen Drachen

Book Appearances[]

• The Curse of the Mummy - An Interactive Puzzle Book
• The Lost Temple - An Interactive Puzzle Book

Comic Appearances[]

• Time Cruisers

LEGOLAND Appearances[]

• Dino Safari
• Johnny Thunder and the Pharaoh's Crown
• Laser Raiders
• Lost Kingdom Adventure

Online Game Appearances[]

• The Great LEGO Dino Quest
• The Restless Mummy
• The Lost Treasure of Ancient Greece
• The Great Mountain Chase
• The Quest For The Golden Dragon
• My LEGO Network

Video Game Appearances[]

• LEGO Racers (cameo)
• 5730 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge (GBC)
• 5774 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge (PC)
• 5775 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge (PS1)
• 5777 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge (GBA; trading card only)
• 5784 Soccer Mania
• 5785 Soccer Mania
• 5786 Soccer Mania

Behind the Scenes[]

Just as Johnny Thunder is inspired by Indiana Jones, Dr. Kilroy is likely inspired by Professor Henry Jones Sr. from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Both characters are professors who are older relatives of the main hero (Johnny Thunder's uncle and Indiana Jones's father, respectively) and help them on their adventures.

The front cover of the preliminary design document for the unreleased LEGO Adventurers video game depicts a minifigure with Dr. Kilroy's clothing and the Infomaniac's face. The document lists a character named Professor Fitz Bricksworthy, which is presumably intended to be Dr. Kilroy.^[35]

This is a description taken from LEGO Adventurers Inhouse Preliminary Design. Please do not modify it. (visit this item’s product page)

PROFESSOR FITZ BRICKSWORTHY, B.A., B.S., B.F.A., M.A., Ph.D., L.E.G.O. is a renowned Archeologist and is, needless to say, somewhat overeducated. His enthusiasm for discovery is overshadowed by his pride of already knowing all about it. His goal is to make academic history by uncovering the Forgotten City of OGEL. His verbosity is often seen as a bunch of hot air which can come in pretty handy in solving some puzzles. (To be continued) Professor has a erudite British academic voice.

A document describing the storyline of the Dino Island subtheme includes a character profile goes into greater detail than what is described in official publications, including Dr. Kilroy's Cambridge education and Pippin Read being one of his students.^[36]

This is a description taken from Dino Island Brief Description. Please do not modify it. (visit this item’s product page)

Dr. Kilroy Dr. Kilroy is everybody’s grand dad, who always talks about the old days. He is not easy to understand - but everybody loves him. He graduated from Cambridge and later he was appointed Dr. of anthropology. He has taught many good students among them Miss Read. Dr. Kilroy is a good-natured man, but not always easy. Mostly because he lives in his scientific world and therefore it is difficult for him to get on in our time. It makes him seem naïve at times and hopeless, but don’t get it wrong…. Dr. Kilroy is a wise man who always has a solution to everything even though the solutions are hard to implement. The solutions are often a few days late. Dr. Kilroy gets on well when he is studying at home. On the other hand he sees it as his duty to travel and examine new scientific opportunities. (Well supported by Miss Read who is more open-minded than the old Dr.). Dr. Kilroy is easy to recognise. He has a white beard, glasses and he always wears a red bow tie.

The LEGO Island 2 Design Document Revision Number 1.01 describes Dr. Kilroy abstaining from the cut Tribal Celebrations sub-game, and specifies that he was able to communicate to the T-Rex using "an ancient language".^[37]

This is a description taken from LEGO Island 2 Design Document Revision Number 1.01. Please do not modify it. (visit this item’s product page)

Dr. Kilroy (Mummies Tomb, Bi-plane, Landing Strip, Tribe Village, Dino Island) - This ‘ancient’ chap first meets Pepper at the entrance to the Mummies Tomb, where he has been working out a safe way in! After guiding the Adventurers into the Tomb and helping to collect the Gems, Dr. Kilroy leaves his Speedster for Pepper and travels in the back of the Scorpion to the Bi-plane. After landing at the Dino-Park, the Dr. decides to sit out of the Tribal Celebrations and get and early night! In the morning, he travels with Pepper in Miss Read's Adventurer-Tank to the Lookout Camp. Once Pepper has freed the T-Rex, he uses an ancient language, known only to a very few! After sending Pepper off on the T-Rex, Dr. Kilroy takes the Adventurer-Tank back to Johnny and Miss Read. After finding Johnny's predicament amusing, he convinces a Pterodactyl to take Pepper back to LEGO Island!

In the January 12, 2001 LEGO Media Adventurers Island Character Document for LEGO Island 3 (which would later become 14556 Island Xtreme Stunts), Dr. Kilroy is listed as one of the characters in the Valley.^[38]However, he does not appear in any capacity in Island Xtreme Stunts.

This is a description taken from LEGO Island 3 Adventurers Island Character Document. Please do not modify it. (visit this item’s product page)

Name: Dr Kilroy Job: Doctor Age: 67 Location: Medical Hut Description: Helper for the hero with a white beard, glasses and pith helmet, he is dressed in a white shirt and green, and wears suspenders and a red bow tie. The professor is an older man, a distinguished and active researcher. He possesses a broad knowledge of different cultures and about mentalities of ancient civilisations. History: He is not always quite as ‘with it' as he was in his younger days, partly due to his portly physique, and partly due to his failing vision, which makes him completely dependant upon his glasses. Quests:

Notes[]

• Dr. Kilroy's original North American name, Dr. Lightning, is part of the trend of naming the Adventurers heroes after stormy weather. This trend continues with Pharaoh's Quest, including Dr. Kilroy's spiritual successor Professor Archibald Hale.
• Dr. Kilroy is used frequently in LEGOLAND Windsor promotions, such as for the Minifigure Badges. There is a model of him outside the Dino Safari ride in Adventure Land.
• In 5542644 Die Jagd nach dem Pharaonenschatz, Professor Articus is voiced by Günther Lüdke.^[25] In 5774 LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge, Dr. Kilroy is voiced by Carl Kingston, who also voices Mr. Hates, Cedric The Bull, Red Greenbase, and Technician Bob in the same game.^[39]
• The Curator in 10326 Natural History Museum is based upon Dr. Kilroy, especially his appearance in 7415 Aero Nomad and 7423 Mountain Sleigh.^[40] However, it is unclear whether the Curator is canonically Kilroy himself or merely an homage since this is never explicitly confirmed; LEGO Designer Chris McVeigh describes the Curator as looking "a little familiar"^[41] and the instruction booklet says that fans of a 1990s LEGO theme may recognize the Curator.

Gallery[]

References[]

view · talk · edit Adventurers minifigures
Heroes	Babloo \ Dr. Kilroy \ Harry Cane \ Jing Lee \ Johnny Thunder \ Mike \ Pippin Reed \ Sherpa Sangye Dorje
Villains	Alexia Sinister \ Chang Wu \ Dragon Fortress Guard \ Lord Sam Sinister \ Maharaja Lallu \ Mr. Cunningham \ Ngan Pa \ Rudo Villano \ Scorpion Palace Guard \ Señor Palomar \ Slyboots
Neutral	Achu \ Dragon Fortress Statue \ Gabarro \ Golden Dragon \ Jun-Chi \ Pharaoh Hotep \ Pharaoh Skeleton \ Tygurah \ Yeti
Non-physical	Minotaur \ Mummy \ Pharaoh

view · talk · editLEGO Island series
Video games:	LEGO Island | LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge (Game Boy Color | Game Boy Advance | PlayStation) | Island Xtreme Stunts (Game Boy Advance | Playstation 2) | The LEGO Island Learning Project (Unreleased)
Web Games:	LEGO Island Comic Adventures | Pepper's Skateboard Challenge | Scavenger Hunt
Island Xtreme Stunts sets:	3386 Pepper Roni | 3387 Brickster | 3388 Snap Lockitt | 3925 Brickster Key Chain | 6731 Skateboarding Pepper | 6732 Brickster's Trike | 6733 Snap's Cruiser | 6734 Beach Cruisers | 6735 Air Chase | 6736 Beach Lookout | 6737 Wake Rider | 6738 Skateboard Challenge | 6739 Truck & Stunt Trikes | 6740 Xtreme Tower
Original characters:	Bill Ding | Bologna Roni | The Brickster | Brickster-Bots | Brickster's Henchmen | Captain Click | Captain D. Rom | DJ Jackitt | Dr. Clickitt | Ed Mail | Enter | Gideon Worse | Gnarly Bones | Infomaniac | Jack O'Trades | Laura Brick | Lucky Larry | Mama Brickolini | Margaret Patricia Post | Nancy Nubbins | Nick Brick | Nubby Stevens | Papa Brickolini | Pepper Roni | Red Greenbase | Rhoda Hogg | Return | Shugu | Sky Lane | Snap Lockitt | Studs Linkin | Other Characters
Other characters:	Achu | Alexia Sanister | Bob Longtree | Captain Redbeard | Cedric the Bull | The Director | Dr. Kilroy | Forestman | Gabarro | Gilbert the Bad | Imperial Guard | Imperial Soldier | Islander | JP | Johnny Thunder | John of Mayne | King Leo | Liam Lense | Majisto | Mike | Mr. Cunningham | Mr. Hates | Phil Maker | Pharaoh Hotep | Pippin Read | Princess Storm | Queen Leonora | Richard the Strong | Rock Monster | Rosie Brickolini | Rudo Villano | Señor Palomar | Slimy Slug | Slyboots | Super Station Master | Technician Bob | Weezil
Other:	2181 Infomaniac | Castle Island | Adventurers' Island | OGEL Island | LEGO Sea Challenge | LEGO Adventurers | LEGO Space: UFO Invaders | LEGO Castle (Video Game)