 Dr. Ian Malcolm Glider Escape Pack
Silly fun for 1990s kids' kids
Jurassic Park '93 Classic Target Exclusive
Item No.: No. HLN18
Manufacturer: Mattel
Includes: Dr. Ian Malcolm, triceratops hatchling, dilophosaurus, dino mask, dino shackles, dino carrier, green dart, dart launcher, glider
Action Feature: Green rocket launches, lock up dinosaurs, scan DNA tab in app while it lasts
Retail: $23.99
Availability: ca. August 2023
Other: Kenner pastiche
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I pre-ordered Dr. Ian Malcolm Glider Escape Pack at Target back in 2023, but fate made me cancel it. Then I saw it was cheap on eBay, so I got it three years later at a much lower price. It's a pastiche of Kenner toys from 1993-1997, one that constantly elbows you while saying "get it?" And yes, Mr. Matt L., I do get it. Nicely done.
This JP93 collection and the Reimagined line that follows is packed with toys that make you remember the older, more expensive ones you didn't buy because your allowance, space, and more likely parents said "no." At least these are cheap enough 3 3/4-inch scale toys that seemingly nobody wants - so you can snag them at a steep discount.
Click here to check availability at eBay.
I was surprised that Dr. Ian Malcolm seems to be a new mold. Mattel has made at least two versions of him from the first movie, one from Jurassic World Dominion, and htis one is more or less a nod to at least three Kenner figures. The human figure itself is based off Kenner's first carded Jeff Goldblum from The Lost World - note the undershirt and gloves. He doesn't have his binoculars, but the compaion JP93 Grant set does if you want to borrow them. As far as I can tell it's a totally new mold, complete with a waist joint that was missing from the first Legacy Collection Dr. Ian Malcolm [FOTD #2,053] back in 2018. If you want the best articulation, go get the Hammond version. But if you want one that looks and feels a lot like a 1990s toy, this is good. The face sculpt is pretty authentic, the glove paint isn't quite perfect around the fingers - but it's good - and the details are generally where they need to be.
This figure fit in every 3 3/4-inch scale vehicle I had within reach, including Adventure People and Star Wars. Despite the lack of ankles and wrists, his feet fit on car pedals and his hands could hold steering wheels (and other controls.) You don't need mega-articulation to get a good toy that works, and of course I'll lob some "in my day, our figures only had five points of articulation, the rockets could blind you, and you loved it it."
Malcolm is light on deco. The lips and eyes are painted, as is the hair. The upper arms above the elbow are painted, the gloves are painted, and the belt buckle is painted. A tiny patch of skin around the neck is painted. And not much else. Each paint application costs money, but the lower torso and legs are unpainted. That's good for the ol' budget.
The gear designs will remind you of some of your favorite old toys. The Glider recalls a couple of toys in the line, but will probably remind you the most of the Kenner 1997 "Glider Pack." While that was more of a hang glider, the silver coloring and vibes match a bit. The back of the glider has a couple of clear green barrels on them, which reminded me of the very first Kenner Malcolm figure (which came out a year after the first movie.) Obviously this is meant as a nod to the wacky toys of the 1990s, and it does a good job mixing things up so you'll see it and understand in an instant that Mattel sees you and is trying to appeal to your childish interests.
He also includes a rocket launcher with a clear green projectile. It's a clear nod to the 1994 "Launching Tranq Missile Dart," but with a few changes. The dart is clear green, without any silver embellishments. The launcher is still ridiculously big and bulky, but is a different shape from Kenner's original. I appreciate that it's like the original without being the exact same thing all over again. It works well enough, but I wouldn't miss it were it left out of the package.
A tiny green Triceratops hatchling looks just like the one from 1997 that got packed in with Eddie Carr. It has the same big black eye, with different white paint around the eye for a nice little highlight. The pose is similar, but not identical. Mattel made the legs a little stumpier, and the tail a little lower. The frill is also larger. Which is better? It probably depends on if you had the old one as a kid.
The green plastic is glossy, and there's more sculpted scale detail all over the body than I would have guessed. This one is harder PVC and not nearly as rubbery, no doubt thanks to the fact that it's a stockier dinosaur. I would say it has better detail than some of the other sidekick dinosaurs Mattel gave us, and it feels a lot more like Kenner's old dino-buddies. Also, this toy reminds me how much I missed getting ghosts or hatchlings or robot birds and what have you with various old Kenner toys.
A Dilophosaurus is also included, taking cues from multiple toys. The sculpt itself is very close to the 2018 version, which had an open mouth, a spit effects part, and a jointed frill. The pose is very similar, but has different colors and a revised body. This 2023 version has a collapsed frill on the neck, an opening jaw, and a slide-out DNA tab on her back.
You won't find the toy's articulation to exceed its mandate. The jaw opens, and the arms, legs, and tail all swivel. She is good at standing up, and it is notable that she has quite an underbite. It gives her personality.
At first glance, the deco reminded me of the 1993 no-frills (minus the squirting) Kenner figure, but then I remembered to check out the Jurassic Park III version from Hasbro. While that version does have a frill, it also has numerous light green marks on her body and limbs plus some creamy colors on the head and crest. Neither had an off-white lower jaw, but the electronic 1993 Dino Screams model comes somewhat close. I guess you can see what you want here, as Mattel seemed to draw inspiration from multiple toys. I was excited to get it because it reminded me of that first, no-spoilers, no-frills version that can squirt. She's probably a little bit small, but I'm not complaining. I am surprised they didn't just hold her back for the motorcycle Nedry pack, though.
This figure also has three gray pieces of dino-capture gear. For the triceratops hatchling, you get a handle attached to a claw of sorts so Malcolm can fly off with her. It fits nicely for an unjointed accessory. The hood for the dilophosaurus is a tight fit, covering her eyes and mouth. I'm not crazy about it because of how tight it is, I'm always worried about paint rub issues. The four-limbed shackles fit fairly easily, so I guess you can chain her up if she consents. (She won't.)
At current prices ($10-$15 shipped on eBay) this is a worthwhile set. Actually, I am kind of mad at myself for waiting to buy it, there were just so many on eBay and they were all fairly cheap. Had I bought this set at Target in 2023, I think I would have liked it. Malcolm's worth about $10, the dilophosaurus seems like an $8-$10 dinosaur with the gear, and the little glider and hatchling certainly seem to add enough value to justify the original price. Closed-box packaging does not make a good argument for the fun that awaits you in the box, so this set sat for months and went to clearance. And those unsold clearance toys seemed to get closed out to a number of online toy brokers.
If you feel inclined to collect Jurassic Park or Jurassic World toys from Mattel, I'd suggest these sets as a good starting point. They're fun and cheap. They're 3 3/4-inches tall, and they seem to be pretty well-made. You won't find ankle tilts or swappable limbs, but there's a lot of stuff in here that will go well in a growing collection of stuff. I found it satisfying enough that I don't think I need another Malcolm figure, but to be honest, the Legacy one was fine too. I wanted the dinosaurs from this set too, and the glasses seem to be a bit more stable in this one. If you can get this set delivered to your home for under $15, do so.
--Adam Pawlus
Additional Images
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