John Kellerman's Action Figures Guide for Collectors

John Kellerman's Action Figures Guide for Collectors

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I know somebody here has this. On the choice cast they pretty much describe it as the ultimate guide to all vintage card backs. What ime wondering is, why is this book like $400? Why doesn't he just sell an E-book at even $50 so he would be getting some of that money? I want one but forget that price when all that info is online. That just seems like a clean and quick way to get a look at what cards are out there.

Anyone else gonna confirm that it's as good as the choice cast makes it out to be? Am I wrong not to own this? Lol anyone else find a better way to get a copy? I'm on an 8 hour bus ride back to southern Ontario from Washington and I'm trawling eBay lol lort help me

Although I own a small handful of MOCS, I'm mainly a loose figure collector, so the book holds less interest for me (other than looking to see which loose figure variants came on which MOC). The main reason for not buying it though is the stupid price!
I completely agree with you Chris, an E - book, for considerably less money, would be a great idea.

It's a nice book with nice photography, and great coverage of *US kenner MOC releases*. But don't be mistaken, it does not have example pictures of ALL MOC figure/cardback variations and does not include any info about non US releases. So it's not the ultimate guide to all vintage cardbacks when you consider the rest of the world is ignored.

Prices are very high for the book, but hang in there and keep searching. If you get it for £100-£130 pounds you have done well.

Haven't read this but it is supposed to be fantastic. But yeah like Jared says, it might need some updating. I heard John K was bringing out another edition but I stopped following the updates a while ago.

Yeah I recall hearing on the chive cast that it was missing certain U.S. Kenner things like the 12-backs with the 31-back stickers attached.

ChristianC wrote:Haven't read this but it is supposed to be fantastic. But yeah like Jared says, it might need some updating. I heard John K was bringing out another edition but I stopped following the updates a while ago.

people have been waiting for the 2nd edition for years , imo its just not happening

jared007 wrote:It's a nice book with nice photography, and great coverage of *US kenner MOC releases*. But don't be mistaken, it does not have example pictures of ALL MOC figure/cardback variations and does not include any info about non US releases. So it's not the ultimate guide to all vintage cardbacks when you consider the rest of the world is ignored.

Prices are very high for the book, but hang in there and keep searching. If you get it for £100-£130 pounds you have done well.

Considering the US releases by ignoring the rest of the world..... I bet there will be a new release in near future by the Trump Administration

It is supposed to be the definitive book to date concerning cardback variations. Not just for the pics, but for the "Matrix", which describes every figure and what it's available on (I believe). I don't own it, as until recently my carded collection was complete and had no real need for it other than reference, and the price is just too high for me.

Kellerman has been working on the second book for years, but updates on progress have become few and far between.

Ian

The matrices, which many find so valuable, are available at Rebelscum and were update in 2007. Or, is it a bad thing to link back to that site?

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robotHivemind wrote:The matrices, which many find so valuable, are available at Rebelscum and were update in 2007. Or, is it a bad thing to link back to that site?

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No worries linking to RS mate. We're happy to promote the forums in general.

Ian_C wrote:
Kellerman has been working on the second book for years, but updates on progress have become few and far between.
Ian

Last I heard progress was halted due to John Kellerman's health. Hopefully we will see a second edition.
The first edition is an excellent reference guide, but as already stated, it focuses on the US Kenner releases. Fortunately I bought my copy at retail for £25.00. Although I debated buying it for a few weeks as it was shrink wraped & I couldn't see the contents (At the time £25.00 wasn't cheap). Seeing what they go for now, I got a bargain!

Yeah I suppose it's just a convenient reference guide that can help one get familiar with the A, B, C, D, type variations of certain cards. Something readily available online anyway, although I'm assuming this book might be the original source of some of those specific classifications?

Thanks Steve, I never really kept up on it much, so the insight is appreciated. Hope he's doing better.

Chris, I believe the SWCA's cardback guide was around long before Kellerman's stuff, but I think what he tried to do was expand on the current knowledge by listing every single figure and its known cardbacks, where most sources just define what the different backs are.

Ian

You'd think the list of stuff missing in terms of amercican card variations wouldn't be too extensive. Even if it's like 20 that's a pretty low percentage.

That e-book route is the way man lol I'd send him $50 right now and there's much less production costs. Hope he gets better, even if he decided to leave it at that one edition, a used copy of a 90's book selling for like $300+ USD is quite an accomplishment.

jared007 wrote:It's a nice book with nice photography, and great coverage of *US kenner MOC releases*. But don't be mistaken, it does not have example pictures of ALL MOC figure/cardback variations and does not include any info about non US releases. So it's not the ultimate guide to all vintage cardbacks when you consider the rest of the world is ignored.

Prices are very high for the book, but hang in there and keep searching. If you get it for £100-£130 pounds you have done well.

You guys helped me save a lot of money, I was considering buying this book for a few years but the high prices asked for it always kept me away from purchasing. But knowing what's missing on it I'm not so sure it is needed now. I'll wait and maybe get it if an updated (and more affordable) edition is made some day.

Sturm86 wrote:

jared007 wrote:It's a nice book with nice photography, and great coverage of *US kenner MOC releases*. But don't be mistaken, it does not have example pictures of ALL MOC figure/cardback variations and does not include any info about non US releases. So it's not the ultimate guide to all vintage cardbacks when you consider the rest of the world is ignored.

Prices are very high for the book, but hang in there and keep searching. If you get it for £100-£130 pounds you have done well.

You guys helped me save a lot of money, I was considering buying this book for a few years but the high prices asked for it always kept me away from purchasing. But knowing what's missing on it I'm not so sure it is needed now. I'll wait and maybe get it if an updated (and more affordable) edition is made some day.

Nice work mate, makes more sense. I'm in the same boat.