“Prehistoric Times” magazine (issue 144 winter 2023) is reviewed by team members at Everything Dinosaur and what a jam-packed edition it is! Canadian artist Julius Csotonyi provided the illustrations for a new publication that features 1,200 dinosaurs. This immense volume was written by Evan Johnson-Ransom and in an interview Julius explains that virtually all the illustrations contained in the book were especially commissioned and new. Magazine editor Mike Fredericks conducts an interview with the artist and this piece is accompanied by many examples of Julius’s work.

The front cover artwork is supplied by Daniel Navarro, and it features the Chinese tyrannosauroid Dilong. Dilong is one of the featured prehistoric animals in issue 143, the other being the super-sized, prehistoric snake Titanoboa.

David Navarro also provided the artwork to be found on the back cover of the magazine, a stunning illustration of a T. rex family feeding on the carcase of a mosasaur.

Tracy Lee Ford

Inside the magazine Tracy Lee Ford concludes his series on how to illustrate dinosaur integumentary coverings with an examination of the feathers and bristles associated with ornithischian dinosaurs. John Lavas continues his profile of the highly influential Czech artist Zdeněk Burian. In this issue, he focuses on the projects and volume of work produced by Burian from the end of war until his death in 1981. Look out for the stunning gouache prints contained within this in-depth article.

Randy Knol and Mike Fredericks bring us up to date with new model introductions from CollectA and Safari Ltd, the editor has had a busy month as he also interviews palaeoartist John Conway about his new book “A History of Painting (with Dinosaurs).” John explains that he wanted to create an art book that explores how famous painters from the past, each with their very own painting style, would have depicted dinosaurs. The article includes numerous examples such as a portrait of Lambeosaurus done in the style of Pablo Picasso and a stunning pterosaur reflecting the impressionist painters such as Monet.

Titanoboa

As well as covering Dilong, Phil Hore presents a short history of Titanoboa and proposes that amongst the enormous reptiles that existed in north-eastern Columbia during the Palaeocene, the most fearsome predator of all might have been a giant, prehistoric turtle. Reader submitted artwork is prevalent including illustrations by Esther Van Hulson, James Gurney and M. Elliott Massion who also contributes a drawing to the Dilong article.

The recently introduced Rebor museum-quality Titanoboa maquette is also featured in the Titanoboa article.

To view the range of Rebor prehistoric animal figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur, including Titanoboa figures (whilst stocks last): Rebor Replicas and Figures.

Mike Howgate follows up his article from issue 142 and examines the casting in bronze of a pair of European bison by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, prior to the creation of the famous Crystal Palace prehistoric animal sculptures. This provides a convenient segue into the extensive Mesozoic Media section providing reviews on lots of new prehistoric animal publications including the “Art and Science of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs” by Mark Witton and Ellinor Michael. Amongst the cornucopia of new publications, Mike Fredericks explores new fiction, reviewing “Liopleurodon: The Master of the Deep” by M. B. Zucker as well as two new publications from Gregory S. Paul and published by Princeton University Press which documents Mesozoic Sea Reptiles and Pterosaurs respectively.

Our congratulations to the team behind “Prehistoric Times” and to all the contributors to issue 144.

To learn more about this magazine and to subscribe: “Prehistoric Times” Magazine.

Prehistoric Times reviewed by Everything Dinosaur team members.

Celebrating thirty years since the first issue of “Prehistoric Times” magazine, it is time to review the latest edition of this quarterly magazine for fans of prehistoric animals and dinosaur models. The stunning artwork on the front cover was supplied by Jaime Chirinos, whose illustrations have adorned the front cover of this popular magazine on previous occasions. In this issue, magazine editor Mike Fredericks interviews the Peruvian-born illustrator and there are lots of fantastic artwork by Jaime included in the article.

Feathered Dinosaurs

It is fitting to have Jaime depict a feathered theropod on the front cover of issue 143 as inside Tracy Lee Ford continues his series of highly informative articles on dinosaur feathers, whilst John Lavas provides part 2 of his biography of the influential Zdeněk Burian. There are no feathered dinosaurs to admire in the artwork associated with this article, but plenty of illustrations produced by Burian associated with other types of commission he received. If you are a fan of Jules Verne, you are in for a treat.

Kunbarrasaurus and the Tasmanian Tiger

Aussie Phil Hore provides a conducted tour of the armoured Australian dinosaur Kunbarrasaurus, and the article includes some amazing, armoured dinosaur artwork, our congratulations to Wade Carmen, Anders Bang, John F Davies and the other contributors. Phil Hore stays in Australia to discuss the enigmatic and recently extinct Thylacine, otherwise known as the Tasmanian Tiger. Thanks to Daniel Navarro, Andreas Forrer and Marcus Burkhardt for their reader-supplied artwork with a special mention for Jaime Martinez for sending in a picture of his Thylacine models, complete with a female with offspring in her pouch.

From marsupials we move to monsters with Bruce Horton’s submission recreating a King Kong versus Allosaurus model diorama by combining two replica kits into a single, stunning display. Mike Fredericks interviews palaeontologist and author Steve Brusatte, who has taken time away from his research based at the University of Edinburgh to pen a sequel to his acclaimed “The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs” entitled “The Rise and Reign of the Mammals”. The piece is peppered with some illustrations from this new book charting the rise of the Mammalia created by the famous palaeoartist Todd Marshall. This beautifully illustrated book is highly recommended.

Prehistoric Times Reviewed

The regular features such as a section covering recent fossil discoveries, classified advertisements, book reviews in “Mesozoic Media” are all included, and Randy Knol provides an update on new model introductions too. The autumn edition provides a fitting tribute to thirty years of magazine publishing.

To visit the “Prehistoric Times” web page and to subscribe: “Prehistoric Times” Magazine.