Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bible of A Real American Hero, Aug 3 2010
This review is from: The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 (Paperback)
I haven't checked out the second edition yet, this review is for the first edition, a near-flawless book as it stands! This book covers every domestic action figure, vehicle, accessory, and weapon of the original A Real American Hero toyline from 1982 to its 1994 cancellation. It is organized by year, and is meticulously well researched and written. Every single item gets detailed photos, a write-up, and an estimated value. It is in full colour with glossy pages. Really, this book is so perfect that rather than talk about what makes it so good, I'd rather just discuss what I would have improved, given the chance. Most photos of the vehicles are top-down, and I would have preferred to see some alternate angles. I also would have liked to see photos of each character's file card. It would be nice to see prototypes for the 1995 line. However, I think this is basically just nit-picking. If you're familiar with Bellamo, you know he'll show you every single piece that came with every single toy, so you will know whether yours is complete or not. He will also provide biographical information on each toy, from the Marvel comic series and the Sunbow cartoon. Larry Hama, the man who created Joe, also provides previously unseen file card biographies that were not used by Hasbro. This book is a must. I plan on upgrading to the second edition when I can find a copy. 5 stars,
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Of Its Kind - Anywhere! Anytime! A+++++++, Dec 16 2005
By Stace - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 (Paperback)
This is, without hesitation, THE best toy reference guide I have ever read. It's a well written book... it's fun, informative, and has no competition as far as I can see. Bellomo gives you info on all aspects of the world of G.I.Joe: all figures, all accessories, all vehicles, all playsets, all for YOUR fun and for your personal info. Wizard Magazine just released an Ultimate (!?!) G.I. Joe guide in this month's issue of ToyFare Magazine (12/05) and it was RIDICULOUS compared to Bellomo's excellent TEN STAR book. There are SOOOOOOOO many other Joe Guides out there that are complete crap, but NOT THIS BOOK! Great intro, great index, great summaries of the charcters PLUS lots upon lots of new info on characters that I've never seen ANYWHERE before. One of the BEST gifts I've ever received and it has FORCED me to get back in to G.I.Joe collecting and my collection again, not that that's a bad thing ;) . The simple fact that Bellomo took every pic, wrote every word, and owns every single toy in the book is unbelieveable, but to put this book together for all of us to enjoy is even cooler... I hear (according to the great web site [...]) that he's currently writing a second edition wih some minor corrections and bonus pages with interviews with Hasbro designers from the 1980's PLUS some of the true minds behind the Joe Team's backstory like Mr. Kirk Bozigian, Mr. Ronald Rudat, and Mr. Larry Hama. YES!!! I've been reading this book for a week straight and I'm not bored yet, and I'm halfway done.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great job overall, Dec 4 2005
By James E. Hayen - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 (Paperback)
I will start by saying I think this is just about the best book of its kind on the market. Lots of great pictures and item details. I wish book space hadn't been given for a price guide however because price guides in books are only a snapshot in time and 1-2 years from now may be worthless, but the toy history will last forever. Then only real price guide in my opinion is eBay and I wish people would stop putting price guides in publication. I also agree with a prior comment that most vehicle pictures were just top down shots and I think isometric shots of all vehicles would have been more valuable. Also a picture of the carded figures/boxed vehicles would have added nicely. Gripes out of the way, I do think that the amount of information and the order presented worked very effectively and I have not found another publication that comes close.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I HAVE WAITED YEARS FOR THIS!!!!!, May 3 2005
By Big Brian "Big Brian" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 (Paperback)
I bought this when I saw it advertized online and thought I'd give it a chance. WHAT A PAY OFF!!! UNBELIEVEABLE!!! I already have a bunch of little Joe guides (Desimone's, Lee's), and didn't know what to expect. And from the first page to the very last image, this is the most important book I ever read on 3 3/4" Joes. Not only will it help me complete my collection with piecing figures and vehicles together, I think it says there are 1300 pics in the book - but there's a BUNCH more, AND ALL FULL COLOR. The guy who created G.I. Joe wrote the intro, and its really insightful!!! This is the most imformational action figure guide I've ever seen, Star Wars, Transformers, whatever. The research it must have taken to put this together is ASTOUNDING cause there are blurbs for every single figure (500+ with little bios and notes from Hasbro resources and file cards) every vehicle (300+ with technical details like ACTUAL MISSILE NAMES) and accessory (even variations!!!). This is like a Joe Bible. And even if your not a Joe fan, like you just watched the cartoon - the memories that come back from reading this thing!!! TEN STARS!!! AWESOME!!! GET IT FOR EVERY JOE FAN!!!
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