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I highly recommend this book, both for identification and research purposes. It is, by far, the best field guide on the market for G.I. Joe action figures. It shows all figure accessories and most vehicle accessories in nicely done full color photos as well as telling a detailed history of the character or vehicle. I personally had been searching more than 10 years for an accurate reference guide on Hasbro G.I. Joe action figures. This guide has fullfilled my needs as a collector and fan. I only wish that he had included a photo of each items original package. Perhaps in a 2nd edition. I also highly recommend the authors follow up on vintage Transformers. It covers all of the original line and is actually better than the Joe guide.
I decided to buy this guide because I am an avid collector of all things 80's, especially toys. I find this guide to be the best I have found, so far. I love the inside info on the original file cards, and the nice clear pictures of the accessories. I only have 2 major complaints, 1. They only show one angle of most vehicles and they don't always show all the accessories that go with some of them. 2. I would like to see a picture of the original packaging.(though, that can be forgiven when you read the foreword, you find out that all of the toys shown actually belong to the author.) All in all, I would very highly recommend it anyone who wants to start a collection, or anyone who has been collecting for years.
You may enjoy the descriptive text that accompanies each figure and vehicle for the occasional insight concerning proposed file names and character or concept history. Each chapter, which encompasses one year, opens with flavor text and a run down of some of the promotions and a general synopsis of that year. While features like this are a welcomed addition it does make thumbing through this book as a reference guide somewhat more difficult than something akin to the DeSimone guide as there are only four figures to any page. The portions of the book concerning vehicles present pictures of each in a top-down perspective that can be taxing. Overall, a fine thing to have but it wont really replace another reference guide or the YoJoe database. Lastly, the price guide is fairly useless but I don't knock the book for it: no price guide of this kind is ever really accurate.Read full review
I bought this book with hopes of learning more about the ARAH G.I. Joe line. Not only did I find that it provided me with much information I was not aware of, I feel that this book does fill the title of "Ultimate". This book not only contains the pictures and information you need, but it also provides concrete advice and background information to make you feel more like an expert. Marc Bellomo did an excellent job in his research and preparation for this book. I recommed this book if you are a G.I. Joe collector or just an action figure enthusiast. This is truly a great book.
Overall, the book is a great resource, and I haven't found anything to be inaccurate yet. It's nice that you have not only figures, but vehicles, playsets, and all the little mail-away extras as well. Even talks about and shows pictures of variants to certain figures and vehicles. The pages are nice and thick; I have repeatedly thumbed through the guide, multiple times a day, and have yet to tear, or even bend, a page. Very durible, very convenient! The only negative aspect is that some of the pictures of figure or vehicle accessories don't show as much detail as I would like. So if you're unfamiliar with a particular part, then you need to look very closely to be sure you have the right one.
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