Published in 2010, Totally Tubular ’80s Toys highlights a decade of the toy industry that was characterized by synergistic tie-ins to companion movie franchises, television shows, and books. Author Mark Bellomo has organized the book chronologically, reviewing a selection of toys that came out in each year of the decade. In addition, a section entitled “Entertainment-O-Rama” provides lists of the top 10 TV shows, movies, and music of the day.
The book is big (256 pages) and chock full of color photos (500+), all taken from Bellomo’s extensive personal toy collection. While his chronology is heavily focused the lines of action figures that dominated the decade, he also includes some of the favorite video games, dolls and board games from the decade.
If you’re a child of the ‘80s, Bellomo’s recollections of toys and games like Trivial Pursuit, GI Joe, Colecovision, Transformers, Voltron, Jem and the Holograms, M.A.S.K, ALF, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Nintendo Game Boy are bound to bring back a flood of nostalgic memories. The book also does an excellent job of highlighting some of the trendy toy buying crazes of the decade. Cabbage Patch Kids anyone?
