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Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982-1994
Introduced in the 1980s, the 3 3/4-inch G.I. Joe became an instant hit. Today, the first run of these action figures (1982 - 1994) has become one of the hottest collectibles in the toy-collecting hobby. The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe 1982 - 1994 is the must-have resource for enthusiasts, with more coverage than any other book available! This comprehensive, full-color reference features 1,000 brilliant photos, identification information and current collector pricing for 350 action figures and 240 vehicles and accessories.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 11, 2018
Well done guide/catalog. But I got to say this is for a very specific public. This is for people who wanted to start or have start a collection of G. I. Joe. The guide show you every characters/toys (in French we call it figurine, but the English word escape me at the moment... maybe it's the same thing?) and vehicles, anyway, it shows them, a picture for every one of them, describe the them, give a range of price and more. Really a catalog/guide for serious people of want to collection those!
November 13, 2018
The book’s value to serious Joe collectors is obvious. For the rest of us, it’s a figure-by-figure walk down memory lane — or, for those who didn’t know Joe, a voyage into the undiscovered territory of Cobra-La (an evil lost civilization that was much maligned by Joe traditionalists, Bellomo notes), Cobra Island (a sovereign nation the enemy tricked the Joes into creating by bombing an impenetrable fortress, thus mounting a massive pile of rock around it), and beyond.
If you were even a causal fan of the figures and their associated T.V. show and comic book, you probably remember the popularity of a Joe warrior based on the WWF wrestler Sgt. Slaughter. Did you remember, though, that William “Refrigerator” Perry of the Chicago Bears had his own G.I. Joe avatar? (“The Fridge” will now run you $42-60, mint in sealed baggie.) Did you know that Bazooka wore the jersey of Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan because Hasbro was based in New England? Remember Tomax and Xamot, the evil twins? Did you covet the Defiant, the G.I. Joe space shuttle with a booster rocket that was somehow also a space station?
I reviewed The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe for The Tangential.
If you were even a causal fan of the figures and their associated T.V. show and comic book, you probably remember the popularity of a Joe warrior based on the WWF wrestler Sgt. Slaughter. Did you remember, though, that William “Refrigerator” Perry of the Chicago Bears had his own G.I. Joe avatar? (“The Fridge” will now run you $42-60, mint in sealed baggie.) Did you know that Bazooka wore the jersey of Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan because Hasbro was based in New England? Remember Tomax and Xamot, the evil twins? Did you covet the Defiant, the G.I. Joe space shuttle with a booster rocket that was somehow also a space station?
I reviewed The Ultimate Guide to G.I. Joe for The Tangential.
July 3, 2019
I loved this book. The full color pictures and details about each toy were perfect. I especially liked the ‘did you know’ style interesting facts included in the descriptions. It was a wonderful walk down memory lane with lots of great times remembered.
One thing I found interesting was that the author seemed to run out of steam further along in the book as the descriptions got less interesting and more basic. These later series toys actually had some pretty awesome play features that were better than most action toys on the market then. They did a great job. Yo Joe!!
One thing I found interesting was that the author seemed to run out of steam further along in the book as the descriptions got less interesting and more basic. These later series toys actually had some pretty awesome play features that were better than most action toys on the market then. They did a great job. Yo Joe!!
May 19, 2017
Almost forgot that I owned this e-book ;)
I bought this e-book at 2012, the year I started to collect G.I. Joe action figures. This book is simply awesome! Especially if you were a G.I. Joe collector.
There are a lot of G.I. Joe action figures, a character could have more than 5 versions and all of them usually came with tons of accessories which are clearly depicted in this book!
Totally recommended, especially for vintage G.I. Joe collectors. This book is your bible!
I bought this e-book at 2012, the year I started to collect G.I. Joe action figures. This book is simply awesome! Especially if you were a G.I. Joe collector.
There are a lot of G.I. Joe action figures, a character could have more than 5 versions and all of them usually came with tons of accessories which are clearly depicted in this book!
Totally recommended, especially for vintage G.I. Joe collectors. This book is your bible!
July 15, 2020
Not a page turner and not nearly as complete as it could be;however, for those either entrenched in the Joe collecting game or newly getting into it, it’s a great resource. The area of greatest discrepancy for me, that for whatever reason Bellomo mostly ignored, was his consistency in giving the names of the Joes from their file cards. It’s a little thing, but their names and places of origin, outside of their code names, to me was always one of the most interesting creative choices of Hama. I know he hit the most interesting ones, but for those who do not have all the file cards, which is most, the addition of their names and places of origin would have been a nice touch.
June 3, 2019
I would give this book a 10 stars if I could. As a huge fan of the GI Joe toy line, this book was a terrific trip down memory lane. What set it apart was that not only did it include a complete encyclopedia of all figures and vehicles, the author also researched their history. He interviewed the designers and the incredibly talented Larry Hama to get trivia on alternate names and biographies of figures. I did wish for more pictures for some of the vehicles, but that’s a minor complaint.
August 2, 2019
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I requested to read this book because I had a lot of these action figures as a child. My twin sister got dolls and I got Joe. I loved looking thought the pages and seeing the ones I used to have and and learning more about them and what series they were in. Brought back a lot of memories of our childhood. It is worth looking to have have this is you are a collector or just a fan looking to relive memories of the past.
October 5, 2019
This book is certainly an exhaustive guide to 3-3/4” GI Joe figures from the 80s and 90s, which is its strong suit. But the sometimes poor photography and weak design work against it being truly excellent. But my understanding is that this is the first edition, and the current third edition upgrades the presentation on many levels.
Still, this was a fun walk through the toy line I grew up with and it surely is pretty comprehensive.
Still, this was a fun walk through the toy line I grew up with and it surely is pretty comprehensive.
Read
August 9, 2011This is an excellent guide book that provides sufficient information on the collecting of G.I. Joe figures, vehicles and play sets. Small bits of trivia and history are spread throughout the entries in regards to design, naming origins, and remolding to say the least. While I'm surprised that the editor (or author) has let notable typos slip into the print, the author adds his own personal experiences with collecting and that makes this a very interesting book to read (and use).
If you're looking for a pricing guide that identifies variants, weapons and accessories, issue dates, and collecting value then this is definitely a book you can make great use of. I received mine as a gift from a close friend and I don't know where he bought it, however, I expect that you may still find current copies on the shelves of any major book and magazine retailer. Enjoy!
If you're looking for a pricing guide that identifies variants, weapons and accessories, issue dates, and collecting value then this is definitely a book you can make great use of. I received mine as a gift from a close friend and I don't know where he bought it, however, I expect that you may still find current copies on the shelves of any major book and magazine retailer. Enjoy!
February 19, 2020
sweet nostalgia...
Reread (3rd edition hardcover) February of 2020. Still a fun bit of nostalgia though it doesn't seem that a ton was updated in this new edition apart from values. One negative I will give is that it is obvious where the author's interests lie. I almost feel like someone else should have stepped in for the later years as there is just very little information in the book about these figures compared to the earlier offerings and so the later years are a bit boring to read as it is just the same information on each figure, more or less. I love the alternate info and storytelling bits from Larry Hama earlier on, though. They totally make this book in my opinion.
Reread (3rd edition hardcover) February of 2020. Still a fun bit of nostalgia though it doesn't seem that a ton was updated in this new edition apart from values. One negative I will give is that it is obvious where the author's interests lie. I almost feel like someone else should have stepped in for the later years as there is just very little information in the book about these figures compared to the earlier offerings and so the later years are a bit boring to read as it is just the same information on each figure, more or less. I love the alternate info and storytelling bits from Larry Hama earlier on, though. They totally make this book in my opinion.
July 19, 2021
Nominally a price guide, it's really a big, well-illustrated serving of nostalgia chow with pictures and descriptions of every single toy from the original run of the GI Joe: A Real American Hero line. Maybe not everybody's cuppa, but it sure was mine.
March 1, 2008
I read this at Barnes and Nobles. It said my GI Joes were only worth $20 altogether. What a farce!
July 25, 2011
fun, nostalgic trip back.
May 1, 2015
great book about collectibles.
January 9, 2013
Holy deja vu. This book summarizes most of my childhood. Wish I'd kept all my Joes mint-in-box, I'd be rich now. That's a better return than the stock market.
March 1, 2016
A trip down memory lane. Well worth the money.
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February 2, 2013amazing.
October 14, 2018
This book captures the interest and fan-driven nature of the GI Joe universe. The text is informative and full of helpful illustrations.
Great for nostalgia and as a collector’s guide. Highly recommended.
Great for nostalgia and as a collector’s guide. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews