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The Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Average customer rating:

Prime reading
A good history lesson, but an uneventful book.
Lots of pictures... and that's it
This sequel is a vast improvement over the previous guide
Another excellent book

The Unofficial Guide to Japanese and International Transformers (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
J. E. Alvarez
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Toys | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Unofficial Guide: Transformers (A Schiffer Book for Collectors with Price Guide)
Transformers Collectibles: Unofficial Guide (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Beast Wars Transformers: The Unofficial Guide with Price Guide (A Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Transformers: The Ultimate Guide: The Ultimate Guide (Transformers)
Prime Targets: The Unauthorized Guide to Transformers¿, Beast Wars¿ and Beast Machines¿

ASIN: 0764312820

Book Description

Welcome to the world of Transformers! These immensely popular robots in disguise originated in Japan, and the United States has only been one destination on their worldwide tour. Learn about fascinating variations between the Transformers of Japan, America, and Europe through hundreds of gorgeous color photographs of Transformers from all over the world. This in-depth guide delves into such Japanese toy lines as the Headmasters, Masterforce, Zone, and the Return of Convoy. There is discussion of many of the European figures including the Turbomasters, Predators, and the Obliterators. Also appearing are early Pre-Transformers like the Diaclones and Kronoforms. Fun to read, and with current market values in each caption, this is the book collectors have been waiting for. Transform and roll out!

Customer Reviews:

Prime reading.......2004-09-02

Since 1999, Mr. Alvarez has done a great job of providing both the curious observer and hard-core fans a visual guide to the Transformers toy mythos. This addition is a particular triumph because of the wealth of photography of rare figures, both those whose presentation vary dramatically from their North American release and those never released outside of the Japanese market.

It really is a teaser for the community, to leave fans salivating for these rare items.

While the visuals are first rate and Alvarez does an admirable job of walking the reader through the significance and timing of each release, it's clear he is no writer. A lot of his writing borders on the banal, although he does a better job of conveying the message in this edition than he does in others in this series. But as this is really not intended as a great writen masterpiece, the superb organizational job more than compensates for the prose here.

This is a must-have for anyone with a passing interest in Transformers toys.

A good history lesson, but an uneventful book........2003-10-12

What I learn was the Transformers were put together by Takara from combining many different toy manufacturers line in Japan. Later in the early 80s a storyline was conceived through the cartoon series and a seperate comic from the existing toy products. This simply mean the story had very little to do with the early toy design. The problems I had with this book is it is not a very good as a toy catalog nor did it described the history in great detail. The writing is not very deep nor long, it just give you a lot of surface information that make you ask for more questions. Each chapter writing contents averaged only about a page long. There are no in depth analysis on the individual toys at all. For the image qualities: The photographs were horrible. The photographers need to learn about lighting and angle. You get a lot of pics of Transformers' boxes, unsharp close-up, reddish tint, redundancy, and a lot of white empty area. As a history book there is not enough for you to own this book, more of a library checkout. Takara's own "Welcome to the World of Transformers" as a toy catalog is much better. There is writing for each toy products and the photo is very professional, but it is in 95% Japanese's' text. I am somewhat happy with this book, but can not recommend it to a casual fan and it was done very generic.

Lots of pictures... and that's it.......2003-01-28

I bought the two guides and I don't see any improvement from one to the other.
A lot of pictures, some trade prices but that' s it.

I expected some explanations but for an "unofficial guide", there is not even a word about the previous transformers (diaclone, kronoform, etc) and/or all the fakes you can find.
There is also no chronology and more over as a european transfan I didn't see something about the european special releases.

In others words: it's every thing but a reference.

You would find much more info by surfing on personnal web sites.

I gonna keep the two books cause there are very nice pictures in them but it's very disappointing.

This sequel is a vast improvement over the previous guide.......2002-04-03

I liked the original book (80's through 90's) but this book is SO much better. The writting has improved although some dire humour is still there, the pictures are of a better quality and show more details of the variations. A lot of the Japanese Transformers i have never seen before as well as the white Astrotrain and Red Tracks for example. The price guide should really be dropped as it really isn't that neccesary. The only thing that is realy missing is the Programme and comic guides but there could be a chance he's saving that up for another book. It is a good continuation of the series and I'm looking forward to the 2nd edition of the origianl and the Beast Wars book keep up the good work.

Another excellent book.......2001-08-08

Lots of pictures to drool over, and lots of information that I did not know previously. If there are omissions in this one, I am not equipped to point them out. The price lists are still here, and I still consider them unneccessary. Don't use them as a guide if you're looking for a deal ...This is a minor quibble. This is a must have book for the Transformers fan.

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