General Information
Release Date: September 2023
Price Point: $74.99
Retailer: Amazon Exclusive (with limited quantities available on Hasbro Pulse)
Accessories: Venom Blast Effect, Tail/Blaster, Frills (Dilophocon), Blaster, Helmet/Rain Hat, Shaving Cream Can, Embryo Container (JP12)
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: Transformers robots have always been More Than Meets the Eye. Now fans can experience Transformers characters as they mash-up with iconic characters who share this same quality
- JURASSIC PARK X TRANSFORMERS MASH-UP: Sightings of the dangerous bot, Dilophocon, have been reported near the East Dock. Autobot JP12 has been dispatched to investigate and track her down…but who’s hunting who?
- FILM-INSPIRED DETAILS AND ACCESSORIES: Features screen-accurate deco and comes with a shaving cream canister, embryo containment unit, rain hat, venom blast effect, and 2 blaster accessories
- ICONIC MOVIE SCENE-INSPIRED PACKAGING: Packaging is based on the iconic Dilophosaurus attack scene from the Jurassic Park film. Makes a great gift for boys, girls, Transformers robot fans, and Jurassic Park movie fans!
The worlds of Transformers robots and Jurassic Park collide with the Jurassic Park x Transformers Dilophocon and Autobot JP12 mash-up pack! The iconic Dilophosaurus and Jeep Wrangler Sahara from the Jurassic Park movie are now Transformers robots! Each figure converts from robot mode to movie-inspired alt mode and features screen-accurate deco and details. Remove the Dilophocon figure’s tail and attach as a blaster accessory. This 2-pack comes with an additional blaster for the Autobot JP12 figure, and movie-inspired accessories including a shaving cream canister, embryo containment unit, rain hat, and venom blast effect. Transformers robots have always been -- More Than Meets the Eye -- but now, through the Transformers Collaborative, fans can experience these larger-than-life characters as they team-up, mash-up, and meet up with other characters, teams, and people who share this same special quality. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro. © Universal City Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jeep, the Jeep grille and related logos, vehicle model names and trade dresses are trademarks of FCA US LLC and used under license by Hasbro, Inc. © 2023 FCA US LLC.
Background:
In the 1993 film Jurassic Park there is a sub-plot about the character Dennis Nedry (played by actor Wayne Knight) gets involved in some Corporate Espionage, stealing dinosaur embryos to sneak out of the park. To do this, he puts them in a container disguised as a can of Barbasol shaving cream. However, while attempting to leave the park in a Jeep Wrangler, he is attacked and killed by a Dilophosaurus. As a follow up to the 2022 Jurassic Park/Transformers Collaborative set, Hasbro released a new set in 2023 based on this iconic moment in the film which you can see in the clip below:
Accessories:
Dilophocon includes four accessories:
- Tail/Blaster: The tail of the beast mode is long and comes to a point at the end. The sculpt is fantastic, looking like it has organic skin. Swing the tail in and it reveals the blaster's barrel. This is a direct callback to Beast Wars Iguanus (and by extension, Crazybolt who I used in the gallery below) who had a similar tail/weapon. The tail piece is made of light green plastic with the barrel of the weapon painted silver. The base of the weapon has a 5mm peg while the weapon barrel has a 3mm port to accommodate the Blast Effect.
- Blast Effect: In the Jurassic Park film, the Dilophosaurus spits venom as part of its attack pattern. This Blast Effect is a nod to that attack. The piece is shaped like a burst of energy, but it also looks like it could be a cartoonish "burst" of venom. This piece is made of translucent blue plastic with green paint on the end. The back has a small 3mm peg that attaches to the blaster weapon. This piece is also designed to fit inside Dilophocon's mouth in beast mode as if she is "spitting" venom.
- Frills x 2: The frill pieces on the back of the robot mode or the front of the beast mode are actually two pieces that connect to the figure using 5mm pegs. Each frill piece is made of green plastic with green and reddish brown paint. You can have Dilophocon hold the frills in her hands like blade weapons or maybe even a shield of sorts.
Robot Mode:
Dilophocon's robot mode is a homage to Beast Wars Iguanus. While not an exact match, several parts on this figure are clearly inspired by the design of Iguanus. First the basic silhouette of the figure is similar including the frill near the robot head, the rounded shape of the robot head, the round shoulders and curved arms as well as the clawed feet. The beast mode head being on the torso is also another callback to Iguanus. As an Old Skool Beast Wars fan I absolutely adore this homage. I never expected to see an updated take on the Beast Wars Iguanus design so this is awesome to see.
The detailing on this figure is excellent. Dilophocon is definitely meant to be a mixture of technological and organic components. The legs are one of the best examples of this where the outer armor on the thighs and lower legs look like organic "skin" with wrinkles while the inner parts look like armor plates. I could easily see this figure retooled a bit and made into a modern day version of Iguanus.
Dilophocon is mostly made up of a light green and reddish brown plastic. A darker green and reddish brown paint are used to paint in details on almost every major section of this figure. The patterns resemble what many illustrators imagine dinosaur skin patterns may have looked like but this is of course more aesthetic than scientific.
There are thirteen points of articulation on this figure. That may not sound like a lot by today's standards, but most of these points are ball joints so the range of articulation is good. This is also a fun (I assume intentional?) homage to Beast Wars Iguanus who also had many ball joints. Each fist has a 5mm port, allowing her to hold her weapon or the frills.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the frills, blaster and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the base of the frill section back.
- Swing the beast mode head up and connect it to the frill section.
- Swing the robot arms in, connecting the tabs on the forearms to the slots in between the legs.
- Rotate the beast mode arms forward.
- Swing each lower leg back.
- Pull the panels on the front of each lower leg forward, then up and connect it to the thighs.
- Swing the feet forward.
- Rotate the legs forward, connecting them to the tabs on the sides of the main body.
- Swing the base of the tail back.
- Swing the barrel of the weapon in, then attach it to the base of the tail.
- Reattach the frill pieces.
Beast Mode:
Dilophocon's beast mode is meant to represent the Dilophosaurus as seen in Jurassic Park. I phrase it that way because there is no evidence that the real life Dilophosaurus had a frill or spit venom. However, the lore of Jurassic Park established that the creatures in the film are not "true" dinosaurs but are in fact genetically engineered creatures intended to resemble what people imagine dinosaurs looked and acted like. To that end, this beast mode succeeds, looking like a Dilophosaurus with a giant frill behind its head. She also has legs that angle back in a "chicken walker" position and the beast mode head has two distinct crests on top. This mode looks almost entirely organic, calling back to the beast modes from the early years of Beast Wars. I really love the look of this figure and I hope it is retooled for an actual Iguanus figure one day.
This mode mostly shows off the light green plastic with some reddish brown parts sticking out here and there. The green color patterns from the robot mode are also seen on the beast mode head and back. I do wish a bit had been painted on to the tail, but given how much it would be handled during transformation I can see why they left it off. The eyes are painted yellow.
There are seven points of articulation in this mode. This includes two on each leg and the mouth being able to open and close. The lower jaw has a port that allows you to attach the Blast Effect to make it look like she is spitting "venom".
Accessories:
JP12 is based on the character of Dennis Nedry so his accessories relate to that character. He has four accessories altogether:
- Helmet/Rain Hat: Sitting on top of the robot head of this figure is what looks like a helmet at first, and I suppose for the purposes of JP12 as an Autobot character that's exactly what it is. The helmet has a rim at the bottom then the top has two bumps on top. This piece serves as a callback to the raincoat worn by Dennis Nedry and the hood he had on. Like that raincoat, this accessory is painted yellow. The middle has a small Jurassic Park logo on it in black. It fits on top of JP12's robot had and actually holds very securely thanks to tabs on the head fitting into slots on the helmet.
- Blaster/Winch: JP12's vehicle mode is a Jeep Wrangler that features a winch in the front. In his final scene in Jurassic Park, Nedry actually uses the winch. JP12's blaster weapon is a callback to that scene. This piece is cylinder shaped and there are rope details sculpted into it. When detached from the vehicle mode, it can be held in JP12's hand as a blaster thanks to the 5mm peg on the bottom. The front has a small point that can fit a Blast Effect. This piece is made of black plastic with no paint applications.
- Embryo Container: JP12 includes a handheld accessory that resembles the container Nedry used to store the stolen dinosaur embryos complete with several chambers walled off from one another. This piece could also double as a dagger like weapon when held by JP12. This piece features a 5mm peg at the bottom. The entire piece is translucent blue with no paint applications.
- Shaving Cream Can: To complete the film reference, JP12 also has the faux shaving cream can to slide on top of the Embryo Container! The shaving cream can looks a lot like the real thing. It is cylindrical in shape with a smaller cylinder on top. The piece is made of translucent blue plastic, but it is mostly painted red, white and blue with stripes running along the bottom that pay homage to the famous Barbasol can in the film. However, to avoid licensing issues, there is an Autobot symbol painted on where you would normally expect the Barbasol logo. The top of this piece is a 5mm peg so JP12 can hold it and the Embryo Container like he is about to connect the two pieces together.
Robot Mode:
When looking at the initial promo pics for JP12, it would be easy to assume that it was a redeco/retool of Siege Hound (or the more recent Detritus figure). However, it turns out the figure is actually a brand new sculpt. This may be in part due to the vehicle mode being an actual licensed Jeep Wrangler. All that said, there are many similarities to Hound's design. The torso is largely made up of the front of the vehicle. The rear of the vehicle forms the legs and the top of the vehicle mode winds up on his back. The doors on the back are also reminiscent of Alternator Rollbar (who himself was a redeco/retool of Alternators Hound). For the most part, the body is very Hound-esque but the key to making this a Jurassic Park based figure is the head sculpt. The face is wide and looks vaguely human. The eyes look like a pair of glasses and he appears to have a headset microphone on the right side leading to his mouth. The top of the head even has a section that looks like "hair". All of these details come straight from Nedry's various appearances in the film. Overall the sculpt works well and I find myself wishing this body could be repurposed as another character in Generations.
Since JP12 transforms into a Jeep from Jurassic Park his deco is based on that vehicle. Many of the vehicle mode parts that form robot mode sections are beige colored. Other robot parts are black and grey plastic. The headlights and the cabin cover are translucent blue plastic. Paint colors on this figure include red, orange, black, silver and blue. The red is found parts including the arms, torso and legs and really contrasts nicely against the plastic. Another defining feature of these vehicles are the Jurassic Park logos on the doors and on the chest. Even better, the small tampo on his chest also has the number "12" on it, just like the film. This is also where his name comes from "JP" for Jurassic Park and "12" for the Jeep number.
There are twenty three points of articulation on this figure. That includes five in each arm and six in each leg. Waist articulation is lost due to the transformation scheme, but the head can still move side to side. Each fist has a 5mm port to hold his accessories and you can also store them on the 5mm ports on the back of his doors.
Transformation to Vehicle mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Point the robot feet down, then swing them back and press them against the back of the lower legs.
- Swing the front panel of each lower leg forward.
- Push the shoulders down.
- Pull the back piece back a bit.
- Swing the robot chest up to form the front of the vehicle.
- Swing the arms up at the shoulders, then push the shoulder hinges in so the arms wind up under the vehicle.
- Push the hood piece down.
- Swivel the front wheels out.
- Swing each lower leg over the thighs, then swing the lower leg panels back into place.
- Push the doors in.
- Swing the arms up, pressing the tabs on them into the slots under the robot head.
- Swing the panels that form the top of the front wheel wells down.
- Swing the rear panel on the cabin cover back.
- Tuck the front wheels into the wheel wells.
- Swing the cabin cover section back. Press the tabs on the rear panel into the robot feet.
- Attach the blaster/winch to the front bumper.
- The Shaving Cream can stores on the bottom of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
I absolutely love Transformers figures that have licensed vehicle modes because they are often held to a very specific standard and the licensor has to approve them. That generally means they look very accurate to the real life vehicles. JP12 is no exception. This vehicle's design looks like it came right off the screen. This vehicle has the same general boxy shape as a real life Jeep Wrangler. This figure has many of the details you would expect including the vertical slots in the front grille, rectangular headlights, a winch in the front and a row of lights mounted on top of the car. While Jeeps can have an open driver/passenger section, the vehicle in the film had a cover over the frame of the cabin section and that is also reflectedhere. The vehicle even has the "Jeep" logo sculpted into the sides! Overall the sculpt looks fantastic.
This mode consolidates a lot of the beige parts. The row of lights on top of the cabin section and wheels are black plastic and the cabin cover is translucent blue plastic. There's a lot of excellent paint detailing on this vehicle. Red is used on the frame around the windshield and large chunks of the vehicle's front end. It is also used to paint "JP12" on the hood. You'll also find it on the sides of the wheels and the spare tire on back. Orange paint is also used on the lights on the front wheel wells and the back of the vehicle. The back also has the same tampograph as the front, but it is a bit larger. The front section has beige paint that matches up really well with the beige plastic. The cabin cover is painted a tan color that helps make it look like fabric. Overall this deco looks amazing!
This vehicle mode can roll on all four wheels. Since it is a licensed Collaborative figure, there are not any ports on the sides or anything on this vehicle. My guess is this was done to keep this mode as accurate to the real life vehicle as possible.
Final Thoughts:
I really like this set a lot. Dilophocon is an awesome homage to Beast Wars Iguanus (and by extension, Crazybolt). The figure fits right in with the Beast Wars related characters from Kingdom. Meanwhile, JP12 is a really fun example of a Transformers figure paying homage to a human character. The main issue I have with the figure is the price. Both these figures are basically Deluxe Class figures in terms of complexity and size, however the price point is $74.99 USD. Even taking into account the exclusive nature of the figure and the licensing costs involved that's a lot to ask for fans to spend on the set. That said, as I type this review in June of 2024 the set is on sale at Amazon for $49.23 (via a third party seller) and at that price I would say this set is worth it. For the record, I myself waited for Amazon to put this set on sale before I purchased it.
Pros:
- Dilophocon being an Iguanus homage is wonderful.
- JP12 is a fun Nedry homage.
- JP12's licensed vehicle mode looks great and should make Jeep fans who also loved Jurassic Park happy.
- Both figures have intuitive and fun transformations.
- I love how the accessories for both figures relate directly to events in the Jurassic Park film.
Cons:
- The initial price was a bit too high in my opinion.
- I do wish JP12 was a bit bigger and had waist articulation.
