Integration

HISSTANK · 12-03-2010, 10:20 AM

Originally posted by: C.I.A.D. @ Hisstank.com

Quote:

The 1980's were a time of great imagination for many of us. The U.S. beat Russia for Hockey gold at the 1980 Olympics, Michael Jackson's Thriller won eight Grammy awards and the Berlin wall still stood strong as a barrier between East & West Germany.

During this same time, legislation was passed that gave toy manufacturers the ability to promote their products via 30-minute commercial slots which we lovingly refer to as cartoons. The first to appear on T.V. and appeal to boys and girls alike was He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.This set up the industry for what was a decade of hit cartoons and toy lines to accompany them.

Kids were captivated, spending hours upon hours reenacting scenes from their favorite animated programs with toys made in their favorite character's likeness. I can recall hours setting up my G.I.Joes & Transformers, Star Wars and Thundercats for epic battles around the house.

MWB, better known as Mark W. Bellomo, is no stranger to this concept. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his work, well...thanks for coming out from under that rock! Mark is one of the country's leading authorities on all things collectible and has been a "fan boy" for as long, if not longer than many of us today. Think of him as Yoda...only younger...and not green at all.

MWB's body of work is rather impressive, including titles such as The Transformers: Identification and Price Guide and The Ultimate Guide to G.I.Joe, a title that many collectors refer to as the G.I.Joe Bible. Mark recently teamed up with our good friend Flophouse to create a series entitled Collectable Spectacle , where we were introduced to Mark's massive collection for the first time. Many collectors gasped after seeing the treasures found behind the locked doors of Mark's storage unit. Many of us wondered: "Wow, I wonder what else is in there?"...well wonder no more.

MWB has released a new book entitled Totally Tubular 80's Toys, which IMO is another home run. I had a chance to sit down with MWB and pick his brain about his latest book, trade ideas and hear what lays ahead for our favorite professor.

To check out the extensive interview in its entirety, click the Discuss button.

Read More: Totally Tubular 80's Toys Review and Interview @ G.I. Joe - HissTank.com.

12-03-2010, 10:20 AM	#2769
HISSTANK Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 6,797	Originally posted by: C.I.A.D. @ Hisstank.com Quote: The 1980's were a time of great imagination for many of us. The U.S. beat Russia for Hockey gold at the 1980 Olympics, Michael Jackson's Thriller won eight Grammy awards and the Berlin wall still stood strong as a barrier between East & West Germany. During this same time, legislation was passed that gave toy manufacturers the ability to promote their products via 30-minute commercial slots which we lovingly refer to as cartoons. The first to appear on T.V. and appeal to boys and girls alike was He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.This set up the industry for what was a decade of hit cartoons and toy lines to accompany them. Kids were captivated, spending hours upon hours reenacting scenes from their favorite animated programs with toys made in their favorite character's likeness. I can recall hours setting up my G.I.Joes & Transformers, Star Wars and Thundercats for epic battles around the house. MWB, better known as Mark W. Bellomo, is no stranger to this concept. For those of you who are unfamiliar with his work, well...thanks for coming out from under that rock! Mark is one of the country's leading authorities on all things collectible and has been a "fan boy" for as long, if not longer than many of us today. Think of him as Yoda...only younger...and not green at all. MWB's body of work is rather impressive, including titles such as The Transformers: Identification and Price Guide and The Ultimate Guide to G.I.Joe, a title that many collectors refer to as the G.I.Joe Bible. Mark recently teamed up with our good friend Flophouse to create a series entitled Collectable Spectacle , where we were introduced to Mark's massive collection for the first time. Many collectors gasped after seeing the treasures found behind the locked doors of Mark's storage unit. Many of us wondered: "Wow, I wonder what else is in there?"...well wonder no more. MWB has released a new book entitled Totally Tubular 80's Toys, which IMO is another home run. I had a chance to sit down with MWB and pick his brain about his latest book, trade ideas and hear what lays ahead for our favorite professor. To check out the extensive interview in its entirety, click the Discuss button. Read More: Totally Tubular 80's Toys Review and Interview @ G.I. Joe - HissTank.com. __________________