The Energon Pub

I just received Mark Bellomo's Transformers Identification and Price Guide and I am duly impressed with this book. It is just over 250 pages and contains images of every US Release 1984 to 1990 (up to Action Masters) G1 Transformer and its accessories, tech spec info, and a short description of the figure. These descriptions include a bit of history of the toy or notations on commonly broken or worn parts to look for. I have not seen the Transmanuals from a few years ago, only scans of some of the pages, but this book looks better.

The cover is a lenticular photo of the OP toy, going from bot mode to alt mode. The intro includes a history of the G1 line, describing the Japanese Microman and Diaclone origins. Most of the photos are excellent and all are full color. Some photos are a bit blurry, but that can be forgiven. These figures all come from the author's complete G1 collection. The prices he provides for loose, MIB, and MISB are within reason with the notation that market values vary. I wish it included Japanese figures. I also hope this author creates a post G1 reference book too.

It is only about $17 at Amazon.


I also recently discovered http://www.fortmax.com, an excellent source for buying G1 figures.

can i download the book from somewhere website?

red85_optimus wrote:can i download the book from somewhere website?

Why just order it and support the fandom...I also own this and I saw a mini on at borders this weekend it was 12.99...it on my xmas list now...I showed the wife...I recommend both to any G1 collector or anyone who is thinking about getting into G1

I love it because it shows which accessories are easy to lose with the earliest editions of the Transformer figures.

Ageed. This is a fantastic little book and very well done. Funny thing is, when I first bought it and mentioned it here, I actually got a PM from Bellomo.

red85_optimus wrote:can i download the book from somewhere website?

SEIBERTRON.com does not condone piracy. If you are looking for free pictures of various Transformers figures, check out the SEIBERTRON.com photo galleries.

Cascadia wrote:I love it because it shows which accessories are easy to lose with the earliest editions of the Transformer figures.

Just so it can rub salt in your wounds, yes. *sobs over lost Headmaster Krunk*

Bonger wrote:Ageed. This is a fantastic little book and very well done. Funny thing is, when I first bought it and mentioned it here, I actually got a PM from Bellomo.

I have the book an I have to agreed it is and excellent guide. It also includes lists for Mini spies, decoys and mail away S.T.A.R.S Headquarters.

I call it the G1 toy bible.

Here's another book by the author called the Transformers Field Guide, which appears to be twice as long. Can anyone tell me what the difference is, and which one to pick if I had to choose?

the field guide is pocket sized whereas the ID & Price guide is much larger. Beyond that, it may be the same.

Lapse Of Reason wrote:I also recently discovered http://www.fortmax.com, an excellent source for buying G1 figures.

YES!!! Thank you for sharing! They had Universe Groove, who I needed to complete the Micromaster Defensor. Thanks!

I've had a few opportunities to flip through this book, it is an amazing reference. My only gripe (and this detail is what kept me from shelling out 30$ when I saw it in stores) the is with the photographs. They're often slightly out of focus in some areas, and not always well cropped.

These are small details to some, but it's kept me waiting for a second edition with some improved attention to production.

However, for $17 - it'll be on my next order!

It Is Him wrote:

Lapse Of Reason wrote:I also recently discovered http://www.fortmax.com, an excellent source for buying G1 figures.

YES!!! Thank you for sharing! They had Universe Groove, who I needed to complete the Micromaster Defensor. Thanks!

Thank you for another place. Here is where I get some of mine... http://www.transformerland.com

Cascadia wrote:

It Is Him wrote:

Lapse Of Reason wrote:I also recently discovered http://www.fortmax.com, an excellent source for buying G1 figures.

YES!!! Thank you for sharing! They had Universe Groove, who I needed to complete the Micromaster Defensor. Thanks!

Thank you for another place. Here is where I get some of mine... http://www.transformerland.com

I've made a few orders off there. I love their prices (:

just got one. thanks for the link, i've been looking for such a book for a while

I was disappointed with it and it's limited number of various bots! Unless you are a major seller of transformers and want to know the current running price of items, it's not as good as the other collectors books for those of us want just want a reference book to refer to and use to add to our own collections!

eh, if i need reference, i use the interwebs.

SentinelPrime878 wrote:I was disappointed with it and it's limited number of various bots! Unless you are a major seller of transformers and want to know the current running price of items, it's not as good as the other collectors books for those of us want just want a reference book to refer to and use to add to our own collections!

So what do you recommend instead?

I thought this one was pretty comprehensive with just about every G1 figure.

I like the reference books by J. Alvarez. His books have quality pictures and very good infomation about various figures. He has put out several books, one on G1 Figures, and also Beast Wars and Beast Machines! (Very helpful books to add figures to my collection!) I esp. liked the International Transfomers book, as it features in english, Japanese and European (never released to U.S.) Transformers figures I'd never seen before. It has helped me to either google search or ebay search for rare items I wanted to purchase for my personal collection.

Since I am NOT a seller but a buyer these books are a better reference source for me. I'm not concerned about the "going" prices of an item, since I'm NOT going to sell any of them!

I rented Mark Bellomo's Transformers Identification and Price Guide from the library. I loved it! I plan to get it as soon as I can! Thanks to all of you who mentioned other Transformers guides as well. I want to look into those too!

I love this book. I look through it at least a few times a week, and it's great comparing the vintage G1 pics with some of my reissues. I'd love to see a book made along the same lines for all the Japanese originals, reissues, and KO Transformers too!

Ah totally, I PM'd Mark Bellomo to ask if he was planning a book to cover the International releases of G1, but I never heard back.

Bonger --

Sorry for not replying back, am currently working on a Masters of the Universe guide to complement my G.I. Joe and Transformers guides...

As for Japanese and British released G1 product, the TF G1 guide has sold quite well that I just might add some more pages the next time around...

Thanks for the kind words and support.

-- Mark Bellomo

woo! I was actually looking for this thread to thank Lapse Of Reason for sharing this awesome book with us. I received my copy of the book yesterday and I have to say I have spent well over 3 hours reading it yesterday.

Now I can thank the man in person! Thanks Mark Bellomo for this fantastic book!

and thanks Lapse Of Reason for bringing this book to my attention

markbellomo wrote:Bonger --

Sorry for not replying back, am currently working on a Masters of the Universe guide to complement my G.I. Joe and Transformers guides...

As for Japanese and British released G1 product, the TF G1 guide has sold quite well that I just might add some more pages the next time around...

Thanks for the kind words and support.

-- Mark Bellomo

Wowzers! ou actually keep an eye on the fans. Hasbro should take a que from you.

I would love to see a TF part 2 from you. From the Euro to the end of G1 in Japan. Ofcourse, getting pics of all those figs might be a major pain. Do you have all the figures till then?

Looking forward to your new guide and goodluck with that. What a fun job.