brew + review: the unofficial guide to vintage transformers by j.e. alvarez
The Unofficial Guide to Vintage Transformers - 1980s through 1990s by J.E. Alvarez is an updated edition of the popular guide first published 15 years ago. As a fan of Alvarez’s Beast Wars book, I jumped at the chance to sink my teeth into this one.
According to the intro, the mission of this version is to provide new imagery and consolidate the ever-changing landscape of the Transformers franchise, taking advantage of better collection pieces and new info.
In a phrase: mission accomplished.
This guidebook is chockful of robotic nostalgia. From the very first editions of Bumblebee to mint-in-the-box Machine Wars toys, it spans the golden years of Transformers releases with beautiful pictures and to-the-point excerpts. Alvarez strikes the right blend of true fan and professional collector, coming across conversational yet informed. This is to be expected as Alvarez himself has had quite a career in the biz, serving as creative consultant for the Official Transformers Collectors Club, and a full-time member of Hasbro’s design team.
And yet what Alvarez does best is bridge the gap between hardcore collector and casual fan. From opening the book with a shot of his first childhood Transformer to collaborating with collectors to provide the best product pics, there is a personal warmth to this guidebook that is missing from other price guides. This book (star)screams for the fans, by a fan. Whether you’re looking to find professional insight or simply want to revisit toys from your youth that you may or may not still have, this book truly has something for everyone.
Personal highlights for me included an extensive, almost historical, look at international releases of the Minicars as well as discovering my favorite year was 1986. Ultra Magnus, Combiners, Triple Changers?? Game over. Speaking of, does anyone else have a holy grail G1 Transformer? I drool whenever I see Sandstorm.
The Unofficial Guide to Vintage Transformers of course delivers on the basics: if you want pricing and bots pictured in both robot and alt mode, you get it in spades. But it also has so much more, mainly heart. This will be a super fun read in light of the recent Combiner Wars and Titans Return releases, as well as the upcoming Power of the Primes toyline, offering a look back at the origin of these molds. The book is also very comprehensive, including a look at Beast Wars as well as a must-see curio of vintage Transformers licensed products: party favors, bubble bath, and even the mysterious “Sandbot.”
All in all, Alvarez’s updated guide is his definitive edition. A veritable ‘one stop shop’ for Transformers fans!
Order your copy on Amazon here.
For more about Alvarez check out his Twitter @PlayWithThisToo or follow his new venture of putting his collection on Facebook @ facebook.com/RiksVault/