The Unofficial Guide to Transformers: 1980s Through 1990s (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) [Paperback]

J. E. Alvarez (Author), Jose E. Alvarez (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors | Publication Date: September 1999

What is a Transformer? "A toy that through a series of changes can alter its form from a vehicle to a robot." The history of these toys is presented, from the early Diaclone*t, Diacrone*t, and Micronauts*t of Japan through the emergence of Hasbro's*t Transformers*t creations to the Transmetals*t and Fuzors*t of the late nineties. Over 500 color photographs and a well-researched price guide are included. An "unauthorized" but ground-breaking look at those wonderful metal and plastic toys of the eighties and nineties that brought joy to millions of children., 533 color photos, 8 1/2" x 11", Price Guide

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. E. (Rikki) Alvarez is a Transformers*t expert and has been a professional toy collector for several years. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764309277
• ISBN-13: 978-0764309274
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,045,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to the Transformers Universe, October 15, 1999

By 

toybarons (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Transformers: 1980s Through 1990s (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

On of the most over looked and yet most active fields in thevaried world of action figure collecting today isTransformers. Eventually it had to happen that someone would produce a Transformers guide. While not a definitive bible, J E Alvarez's book "The Unofficial Guide to Transformers" is a good introduction to the Transformers' Universe.

For the novice collector just beginning to collect or for someone wanting to stroll down the memory lane of their childhood toys, this is a good guide. Visually, this is a good book. There are over 150 pages of full color pictures of all the great figures to Transformers. The pictures are well photographed and are a fair size so you can have a good look at each toy. The information on Transformers' history is ok but isn't very in depth. For instance, other than the mention of Diaclones and Diacrones in a few brief lines at the book's beginning, there is little information about the toys origins in Japan. Most of the information before each section is set up so the reader can skim through it easily.

For the seasoned Transformer collector already familiar with the figures you will notice some problems that holds this book back from being a great guide. The biggest problem is with the loose figures sections and how the accessories are shown. Some figures are shown with all their accessories while others which came with accessories are either shown incomplete or completely without what they came with them. It would have been nice if Mr Alvarez took a page from any of the three Lee's Guide To: Collecting Loose Figures, of which volumes 2 and 3 have loose Transformers pictured. In Lee's guides, each loose figure is shown with their given accessories, making them good identification guides for Transformers. In this area, Mr Alvarez's guide has room for improvement.

Another glaring over sight is the sections on Pretenders and Action Masters. Rather the lack there of. While it is true many purist view Pretenders and Action Masters as less desirable to other series in the line, never the less, they are still Transformers. Very few Pretenders are included in the book. The most obvious omission are the Action Masters, especially on pages 101 and 102. While the Action Master vehicles are shown, the figures which came with these vehicle sets, strangely, are not shown. Also there are no pictures of any of the individually released Action Masters. By excluding them from this book, it not only disappoints those of us who do like Action Masters [yes, we are out there] but it leaves a hole that needs to be filled in. Let's hope future updates to this guide correct the over sight.

Last, there is the price guide. Within the various action figure / toy communities, price guides have become a bane. In the wrong hands, price guides are often misused by sellers not familiar on how to correctly use them and by a few dealers who ill use them to try and justify the sometimes outrageous prices they charge. [That and on-line auction sites, but I digress.] While the prices in this guide are fairly reasonable, there is one area that should be better explained. That area is "How a price guide should be used." The brief explanation contained in the Introduction is to general and falls very short. It fails to mention things like various conditions a loose figure can be found in and how those differences affect value or tackling the debate of what is a "Mint in Package" figure verses a "Mint figure with its package"? [Which is a bone of contention between many Transfans some of whom believe it means the same thing.] On of the great things about any of the price guides published by Tomart is that they explain these differences and how to use a price guide in its correct context. Mr Alvarez's guide would be greatly improved if a fuller, more fleshed out explanation of conditions and how the affect value were used.

Over all, The Unofficial Guide to Transformers has a nice, friendly feel. With the photos of pristine pieces and pieces less than c10 condition shown together, you get the impression the author just invited you into his home to show you his collection. It likely will make many collectors feel good about the Transformers in their own collections. That a collection can have less than perfect pieces in it and still be cool. However, if your a seasoned Transfan you may find this guide falls short of your expectations. Though this guide on Transformers has room for improvement, it is a good beginning and worth having in your library.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buy this if you're desperate, January 13, 2000

By 

John Mouritson (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Transformers: 1980s Through 1990s (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

Transformers expert? What a joke, this guy doesn' even know how to correctly transform Bruticus. Overall the pictures were semi informative, the dialog was cheesy, and what's the point of a price guide. I expected from a "guide" pictures of all the toys, correctly transformed with all accessories. Instead many items are incomplete and some nobody took enough time to transform correctly or even pose. Also, there are many items missing including pretty much the entire action master line, most powermasters, and most pretenders. Unfortunately it is the best book currently avaliable.

31 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It's disappointing that this is the 1st book on Transformers, November 17, 1999

By 

Brent L Burcroff ([e-mail]) (Bloomington, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unofficial Guide to Transformers: 1980s Through 1990s (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Paperback)

As a long time collector of these toys, I was excited that finally, a book about Transformers was being released. What a disappointment. This book is abound with lots of pictures of toys that aren't even that well kept, let alone fun to look at (blue backgrounds? Is that the best you could do?). I guess I was expecting too much. I personally have toys that are related to the Transformers that I consider key to the history of the toy line, yet were somehow not mentioned in this book. Unfortunately, there is little mention of the television show, and this cuts severely into the importance of these toys. All this being said, the book simply isn't well written. Typos and poor grammar aside, this book could have been much more entertaining with a more seasoned writer. If you're looking for anything more than a photo record of most of Transformers available in the U.S., pass on this one.