Nothing has brought me more joy in recent years than David Silva’s Beasts of the Mesozoic figures. Some may call me a material boy, and that’s ok. We are humans, and we thrive on material culture. Part of that culture is our toys and figures which enrich our lives in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.
Monolophosaurus (Schleich)(2023)
2.5 (22 votes)
To start, I want to extend my thanks to Happy Hen Toys for generously offering this review sample for the Blog. Happy Hen Toys has rapidly been establishing themselves as one of the most reliable shops for prehistoric animal collectibles in the United States, and I encourage readers to check out their website for purchasing this and other related items.
Tyrannosaurus rex (1/35 Scale Kickstarter Exclusive)(Beasts of the Mesozoic by Creative Beast Studio)
4.6 (36 votes)
Review and photos by Faelrin, edited by Suspsy
The year was 2000 and I was 9 years old. I remember sitting wide-eyed watching the BBC Walking with Dinosaurs documentary series on the Discovery Channel on the big television in my family’s living room, with my parents. I eagerly anticipated every episode, which introduced me to familiar and new dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, plus environments the likes of which I hadn’t seen before.
Jurassic World: Dominion Roar Strikers Pteranodon (Mattel)
1.3 (46 votes)
Here we go again, for the last time, I hope. I, EmperorDinobot will now give you the final Mattel Pteranodon figure that uses the mold first used by the Roarivores Pteranodon from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and which has been retooled several times, as you can see here, here, here, here and here.
Upcoming release from PNSO (New for 2023)(Pt. 3)
4.5 (29 votes)
PNSO’s third reveal for 2023 is a third giant carcharodontosaur: Mila the Mapusaurus. While it is hoped that the next reveal will be a prehistoric animal from a different branch of the vast evolutionary hedge, there can be no doubt that Mila looks smashing.
Fukuiraptor (Favorite Co. Ltd.)
3.4 (28 votes)
Fukuiraptor isn’t a dinosaur name one hears too often – at least outside of Japan. First discovered in the 1990s, the “thief of Fukui Prefecture” is only known from fragmentary remains between a few specimens, consisting mostly of arm and leg bones. Like its relative Megaraptor from South America, Fukuiraptor was initially described as a dromaeosaur, only for later studies to reveal that the large fossil claw discovered among the remains belonged on the predator’s thumb, not its toe.
Shastasaurus (CollectA)
4.8 (72 votes)
Review and images by Kikimalou, edited by Suspsy
This is the very first time I’ve submitted a review for DTB and I thought that the new 2023 CollectA Shastasaurus would do the trick. What attracted me to this new ichthyosaur is the black and white interpretation. I like it when a creature from the past smells of convergent evolution.
Anomalocaris (CollectA)
4.8 (84 votes)
Review and images by bmathison1972; edited by Suspsy
In 2023, CollectA added Anomalocaris canadensis to its growing collection of Paleozoic invertebrates, following fellow arthropod Redlichia and mollusks Passaloteuthis, Pleuroceras, Orthoceras, Cooperoceras, and Pravitoceras (not to mention an extant nautilus and horseshoe crab). At this point A. canadensis probably doesn’t need much of an introduction on the Blog (I myself have reviewed it three times previously).
Dryptosaurus (Jurassic World Dino Trackers, Wild Roar by Mattel)
2 (78 votes)
The late Cretaceous tyrannosauroid, Dryptosaurus, is a historically significant genus that due to the fragmentary nature of its preserved material has been largely forgotten and ignored. Dryptosaurus aquilunguis was one of the first theropods ever discovered and the first theropod discovered in the Americas. Originally named Laelaps by Edward Drinker Cope in 1866, Othniel Charles Marsh would rename the genus Dryptosaurus in 1877, upon discovering that the name Laelaps was already being used for a species of mite.
Zuul (Dino Dana by Safari Ltd.)
4.7 (98 votes)
It’s yet another scorching summer day, but Murmillo is finding relief by wading placidly in the murky shallows of a lake. A slight ripple in the surface catches her eye, but no matter, it’s probably just a fish or a turtle or—a gargantuan alligatoroid that explodes from the water and engulfs her entire head and neck in its murderous jaws!
Edmontosaurus (Schleich)(2023)
2.2 (76 votes)
Before starting this review, I want to extend my thanks to Happy Hen Toys for generously offering this review sample for the Blog. Happy Hen Toys has, in my experience, become on of the most reliable sources for extinct & extant animal brands alike in the United States. Be sure to check out their website at happyhentoys.com; more links will be provided below.
Upcoming releases from LEGO (New for 2023)
3.5 (27 votes)
LEGO is marking the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park with five new sets based on scenes from the film, including the first ever Brachiosaurus figure. These are all slated for release on June 1.
Velociraptor Escape. Don’t rightly recall Ellie ever driving an ATV.
Dilophosaurus Ambush. Looks like the arrow sign can actually spin.
Upcoming release from Safari Ltd. (New for 2023)
4.7 (78 votes)
Behold Utahraptor! This big-headed blue beauty is based on the latest research, so it looks quite different from other Safari dromaeosaurs. A must-have for sure!
Jurassic World Destruct-A-Saurs Helicopter Set with Pteranodon (Mattel)
1.4 (63 votes)
EmperorDinobot here with another Pteranodon from the Jurassic World Franchise by Mattel. Destruct-A-Saurs saw very little distribution across the US, and the few that were found were purchases along the southern border, so collectors were scrambling to get these from our Mexican pals who were always willing to help.
Armadon (Primal Rage by Playmates)
2.3 (43 votes)
Review and photographs by Funk, edited by Suspsy
The 1994 Atari fighting game Primal Rage featured a roster of stop-motion animated dinosaurs and giant apes that battled it out on a post-apocalyptic Earth (or “Urth”), which seems like an irresistible concept for a toyline, with Playmates jumping to the task in 1996, possibly to coincide with the sequel of the game which never materialised (toys based on characters from the sequel were also produced).