Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 by Mark Bellomo
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Book Reviews of Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994
Book Review: Ten Stars and Absolutely Ultimate!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is THE BEST collector's guide to ANY 80's toy line PERIOD. UNREAL information and insight NEVER BEFORE REVEALED on many of the core characters (i.e. Snake Eyes, Duke, etc.). It looks like the writer knew the creator of G.I. Joe, Larry Hama, and Mr. Hama gave him secret information about Joes never before seen or released by the Hasbro Co.
The pics are awesome for both the figures and the vehicles, and every weapon and accessory that's easily lost is noted and photographed. The text is clear and the font is fun and easy to read (and there's a LOT of it - probably more than 50,000 words!!!), and you can get to whichever figure, vehicle, and accessory you need quite easily (thanks to an index in the back of the book).
I bought Bellomo's book after wasting $$$ on a bunch of other stuff that doesn't measure up AT ALL in ANY WAY. For instance, I have bought the following guides for the 3 3/4" G.I. Joe line: the crappy James DeSimone Guide vol. 1-2 (riddled with mistakes, and only includes the action figures - no vehicles), the awful Beckett's G.I. Joe Collector's Magazine (64 pages of fluff = no REAL data whatsoever), the EXPENSIVE Tomart's Guides ($5-$10 each when you can get them, and they don't do the vehicles justice, that's $50.00 total), and Lee's Guide to Vehicles ($20 for this, and it only includes vehicles from 1982-1994).
The ULTIMATE GUIDE TO G.I. JOE 1982-1994 is unreal. It is a piece of literature that is well written and one can actually immerse themselves in in and READ. And I have read this thing front-to-back AT LEAST thirty times, and it is falling apart - I'll just have to pick up another copy. If you even have a SLIGHT INTEREST in the 80's Joe cartoon, figures, vehicles or comics, you MUST pick up this well-written, well-crafted piece of literature.
Now, I've bought Krause books before (the 12" Joe book by Santelmo) and this is exponentially better. By LEAPS AND BOUNDS. Probably the best thing they've ever done.
In conclusion, my seven year old has been reading this guide when I set it down, and now he asks me "Dad, when are we going to get THIS guy? He's cool." What more can I say?
If I can pass on my love of this hobby to another generation, then this book MUST be good.
Book Review: Masterful work!
Summary: 5 Stars
Though the G.I.Joe: Real American Hero line has been renewed since its hiatus in the mid 1990's, Mark Bellomo was wise to focus on the initial run of the toy line since much of it falls under the singular vision of Larry Hama, the latter-day Gepetto who fleshed out these little plastic men into fully formed personalities.
This book could have easily been a mere reference guide and still been valuable, but Bellomo provides more than pictures, prices, and descriptors. He presents us with previously unpublished source materials, including omitted biographical information and alternative code names (see the lengthy Destro/Warmaster dossier provided on page 24; it reads like a short Dumas novel). And I am sure this is the only toy guide that references the I-Ching to date.
When the toy line began in 1982, most figures donned a realistic drab green, but this look changed to match fledgling trends in toy sales following the success other franchises (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Captain Planet, Jurassic Park). But even as the figures became more fluorescent and fantastic, they retained just enough realism to have many fans suspending their disbelief. For Bellomo, these figures are--to paraphrase Marianne Moore--imaginary toads in real gardens. He evinces this marriage of fiction and fact in his introduction where he cites the newfound American patriotism of the early 1980's with the success of these toys.
Through his published literacy criticism, Bellomo has already proven himself as a skillful investigator, and he once again shows his relentless work ethic as he imbues his childhood passion with a serious and thoughtful treatment. His thorough handling of his subject suggests that these toys are real social artifacts no different than the galley proofs of a Fitzgerald novel or a collection of Navajo saddle blankets.
The Ultimate Guide to G.I.Joe satisfies the range of collectors, from the sentimental to the fastidious. While he knows that searching for Heavy Metal's elusive microphone is about as difficult as Descartes' quest to find the nesting place for the human soul, he doesn't privilege his book toward any demographic; cartoon, comic, and product are covered with equal enthusiasm. Well done. I look forward to your next book.
Book Review: Easily the best ~$20 you will spend on your GI JOE 3 3/4
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been around the GI JOE collecting scene on the internet since the internet first came to be (and even before that) I've observed and participated in my fair share of the fandom. Helped start (...) now operate (...). In all of these years, now approaching 25, I can count on two hands the number of truly significant collector reference contributions to the GI JOE collecting community that have appeared. It pleases me to say that Mark Bellomo's new book, Ultimate Guide to GI JOE 1982-1994, is the newest and most comprehensive entry in this category. Mark finally brings into print a complete collector guide for GI JOE 3 3/4" figures -AND- vehicles -AND- related ephemera. His intense interest as a fan combined with the academic quality of his research and writing means that you are getting a GI JOE reference guide of the highest calibre. Mark even tracked down original GI JOE comic series writer Larry Hama for insight into the characters of the GI JOE universe, as well as to write a foreword.
What you will find in the book are high-quality color photos, organized by year, of the GI JOE 3 3/4" figures, vehicles, and other collectibles such as mail-in premiums, trading cards, product pack-ins, store exclusives, and much more. Every photo is accompanied with commentary discussing pertinent and special topics about the item including rarity, easily lost pieces, etc. A price guide accompanies all of the toy entries.
Easily the best ~$20 you will spend on your GI JOE 3 3/4" reference library.
Book Review: The Best Of Its Kind - Anywhere! Anytime! A+++++++
Summary: 5 Stars
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.Book Review: The Ultimate 3 3/4" Resource Guide
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been buying the 3 3/4" Joe figures at Garage Sales for years and re-selling them on eBay. The only trouble was finding the correct figure names and matching the correct acessories to them. I've had to rely on scouring other auctions or by excellent websites like www.yojoe.com to find this info...until now that is. The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994 finally provides the one stop reference book I needed to identify and match up weapons and accessories. The book is 256 pages and features more than 1,300 color photographs of every figure with accessories, every vehicle complete with a listing of easily lost parts, and all accessories for the line. Included in the book are current prices for the items, both in package and loose, variations, pictures of inserts and paperwork, and even a Foreward by G.I. Joe Writer Larry Hama.
The photography is first rate and acessories such U.S.S. Flagg are shown with multiple pictures showing the ship from different angles as well as the acessories. Bellomo also includes the original prototype dossiers that Larry Hama wrote for the characters. This is just a marvelous guide and one I take with me to flea markets and garage sales. Truly an indispensible reference source. Well written, concise and knowledgeable. This is the one resource that Joe collectors must have!
Reviewed by Tim Janson