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.
News: Upcoming releases from LEGO (New for 2023)
3.3 (34 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.
Review: Jurassic World Destruct-A-Saurs Helicopter Set with Pteranodon (Mattel)
1.7 (75 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.
Review: Armadon (Primal Rage by Playmates)
2.3 (63 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).
Review: Gastonia (Schleich)
Review: 3D Dinosaur Pictorial Book (The Access)
3.3 (55 votes)
Japan has a prolific industry for collectibles and merchandise, although it is a fairly insular market that western collectors might find tricky to break into. There are always new surprises to uncover from riches of new releases each year. One such item which caught my attention in 2022 was a set of minifigures produced by The Access, a company dedicated to planning, manufacturing, and wholesaling a variety of in-house products for multiple age ranges.
News: Upcoming release from PNSO (New for 2023)
4.6 (25 votes)
PNSO’s second reveal for the year is Mungo the Meraxes! This giant carcharodontosaur was only described in 2022, so props to PNSO for being on top of the latest paleontology news. The grey colour scheme is pretty cool too, a welcome change from previous PNSO theropods.
Review: Macrauchenia (MPC)
4 (53 votes)
“If MPC Ran the Zoo”…
Macrauchenia looked like it could have inspired some of the creatures in a Dr. Seuss book, if its history of paleoart is anything to go by. First described in 1838, the “long-necked llama” hasn’t achieved the same level of fame as some of its mammalian contemporaries from the Miocene and Pleistocene; however, its lanky legs, long neck, and peculiar trunk make for a very distinct image, and have earned the genus at least a few toys over the decades.
Review: Diabloceratops (Jurassic World Dino Trackers, Wild Roar by Mattel)
News: Upcoming releases from Mattel (New for 2023)
4.2 (39 votes)
Earlier this week, we saw the reveal of the very retro-looking Electronic Real Feel Tyrannosaurus rex. Now check out its packaging, which is similarly a homage to the original 1993 Jurassic Park packaging by Kenner.
Also newly revealed are three additional Classic ’93 products.