I’ve had dinosaurs on my mind a lot lately. Here are my five favorite species:

1: Iguanadon

I don’t remember how Iguanadon became my dinosaur, but it has been as far back as I can remember. While it’s one of the most historically significant species, there isn’t anything particularly flashy or unusual about about Iguanadon. From what we know, they’re essentially the cows of the early Cretaceous period. But their thumb spikes do give them a permanent thumbs-up, and they were one of the inspirations for Godzilla, and I was obsessed with Iguanadons as a kid. I also went on and on about Iguanadon Cheese, which I’m sure will be the subject of a future comic.

2: Saltasaurus

It’s a saurapod.
With armor.
And a thumb spike.
And it could stand on its hind legs when necessary.
When the Planeteers combine their powers, they create Captain Planet. When dinosaurs combine their powers, they create Saltasaurus.

3: Ankylosaurus

To be honest, I like Ankylosaurus the same way some people like cars. I just think it has an incredibly nice design, and the armor and tail are bonus features. Bonus features that make it the dinosaur equivalent of a medieval knight armed with a mace.

4: Styracosaurus

I like all of the Ceratopsian dinosaurs, but Styracosaurus is the most striking. Growing up, I had a Triceratops and a Styracisaurus toy. At some point I decided that they were married, and the Styacisaurus was the wife. My dinosaur toys often lead more modern lives than those of other kids.

5: Deinonychus

Long before Jurassic Park came out, I loved Deinonychus. I loved it for all the reasons that people love Velociraptors today, which makes sense since when people think “raptor” they usually picture a Deinonychus instead. Still, I have to admit that “raptor” is an easier name to remember and say, and historical accuracy hasn’t really done any favors to the image of either Velociraptor or Deinonychus. I’m sure that feathers offered them many evolutionary advantages, but contemporary restorations look more cuddly than terrifying.

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