Welcome, Omnibus Hardcover Collaborators!
Ever since we produced our first poster, the community has provided valuable input throughout the creative process. Back in 2013 we were working on the "3DJoes of the 80s" poster. When we shared it with the community several folks recommended we make a version with codenames and specialties. We did, and 9 years later we can report that the version with codenames and specialties outsells the "clean" version 10 to 1. Your advice matters.
So thank you for joining us on this Omnibus Hardcover adventure. Your input will help shape this book, and when you have it in your hands you'll see your name in print as a collaborative editor. Let's jump in with the first collaborative poll!
So thank you for joining us on this Omnibus Hardcover adventure. Your input will help shape this book, and when you have it in your hands you'll see your name in print as a collaborative editor. Let's jump in with the first collaborative poll!
Poll 1: Figure Page Aesthetic [CLOSED]
Option 1: Clean |
This clean, minimalist look hearkens back to the softcover volumes.
|
Option 2: The Blueprint |
This look is inspired by the blueprints included with G.I.Joe vehicles and playsets.
|
Option 3: See Back Panel |
This look is inspired by the design elements featured on the back of the 1982-1985 vehicle boxes.
|
Voting has closed!
Option 3: See Back Panel was the clear winner, taking nearly 2/3 of the vote!
Poll 2: Limited Edition Art Prints [CLOSED]
The Collecting the Art of G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero Kickstarter campaign has been so successful that we wanted to say thank you with a bonus item. We'll be shipping a free set of Limited Edition Art Prints with each book!
These 11" x 14" offset lithograph cardstock prints will feature 12 of the most popular pieces of unadorned art from the A Real American Hero run. We didn't want to simply pick our favorite 12 paintings, we wanted you to have a chance to shape this exclusive!
So we narrowed the field to 55 – including images from 1982 all the way up through the canceled 1995 lineup – and now it's your turn!
Roll over the images below for more information, or click to view them full screen. Review the images, jot down the numbers of the ones you love, then cast your vote below! You can select as many as you'd like, but only the top 12 will win!
These 11" x 14" offset lithograph cardstock prints will feature 12 of the most popular pieces of unadorned art from the A Real American Hero run. We didn't want to simply pick our favorite 12 paintings, we wanted you to have a chance to shape this exclusive!
So we narrowed the field to 55 – including images from 1982 all the way up through the canceled 1995 lineup – and now it's your turn!
Roll over the images below for more information, or click to view them full screen. Review the images, jot down the numbers of the ones you love, then cast your vote below! You can select as many as you'd like, but only the top 12 will win!
Voting has concluded!
Your top 12 are: 1982 To The Rescue (4.8%), 1982 Stars and Stripes Forever (3.8%), 1982 Official Collectors Case (4.2%), 1982 Snake Eyes (3.4%), 1983 Destro (4%), 1984 Baroness (4.2%), 1984 Cobra Water Moccasin (3.7%), 1984 Killer W.H.A.L.E. (4.5%), 1984 Storm Shadow (4.9%), 1985 Catalog Art (4.3%), 1985 Snake Eyes (4.3%), and 1986 Vipers (3.0%). Thank you for helping shape this set!
Editors' Choice
After some deliberation we've decided to include 8 more prints! The Top 12 were selected by the Kickstarter backers. The remaining 8 will be chosen by the editors. These Editors' Choice prints will focus on aesthetics, historical significance, inclusion, and rarity. We want to include beautiful paintings from more varied artists, and we want to share some beautiful painted art that you might not be able to see elsewhere. So, what does our list look like as of today?
The current Editors' Choice selections are: 1983 Tyco Train Set by Bart Doe, 1987 Catalog Art by Doug Hart, 1988 Accessory Pack by Earl Norem, 1988 Ballantine YAF Fools Gold by Earl Norem, 1990 Collage by Doug Hart, 1990 General by Doug Hart, 1991 Cesspool by Doug Hart, and 1993 Sea Set (unreleased) by Doug Hart.
We hope you enjoy these additional 8 prints. They will be free with all Kickstarter book orders, just like the backer-selected Top 12 prints!
We hope you enjoy these additional 8 prints. They will be free with all Kickstarter book orders, just like the backer-selected Top 12 prints!
Poll 3: Go Big or Stay Home? [CLOSED]
Backers, please see Update #16 for the full rundown on the poll below! We have three competing estimates for printing this book, each with their own pros and cons. YOU own this book every bit as much as we do, so we are giving YOU the choice to select the winning estimate. Below is a size comparison illustrating five popular pop culture art books, and our three printing options.
Below are the three options, along with the pros and cons of each:
Option 1: Friesens
Pro: printing and binding in North America. Press checks are available.
Con: size is limited to 13” wide x 10” tall. This will allow for two 1:1 figures per page, but file cards will have to be presented at the end of each figure year, separate from the MOC figures.
Pro: gatefold spreads would be a full 26” wide x 10” tall.
Con: production will cost much more than option 3. Option 1 would leave less than 5% margins on the $90 add-on books, which is little room for error.
Option 2: Sigler
Pro: printing and binding in North America. Press checks are available and local to Brian, so he could oversee all aspects of production.
Con: size is limited to 14” wide x 10” tall. This will allow for two 1:1 figures per page, but file cards will have to be presented at the end of each figure year, separate from the MOC figures.
Con: gatefold spreads are limited to 24” wide, leaving a 14” wide page and a 10” fold out page (all 10” tall).
Con: production will cost much more than option 3. Option 2 would put us in the hole by ~ 15% on the $90 add-on books, which is admittedly painful to consider.
Option 3: Regent
Pro: Regent can deliver on the 13.5” x 14.5” size! This will allow for two 1:1 figures per page, plus their corresponding trimmed file cards (see update #4).
Pro: gatefold spreads would be the full 27” wide x 14.5” tall, significantly larger than options 1 and 2.
Con: printing and binding in Hong Kong. Press checks are not possible, but samples are sent back and forth. This will likely add one month to the printing timeline.
Con: international shipping could add up to two months.
The fate of this book in YOUR hands! Are you willing to potentially wait an additional 2-3 months for the massive 13.5” x 14.5” Regent book? Or would you prefer to keep production here in North America and settle for the 13” x 10” Friesens book, or the 14” x 10” Sigler book?
Option 1: Friesens
Pro: printing and binding in North America. Press checks are available.
Con: size is limited to 13” wide x 10” tall. This will allow for two 1:1 figures per page, but file cards will have to be presented at the end of each figure year, separate from the MOC figures.
Pro: gatefold spreads would be a full 26” wide x 10” tall.
Con: production will cost much more than option 3. Option 1 would leave less than 5% margins on the $90 add-on books, which is little room for error.
Option 2: Sigler
Pro: printing and binding in North America. Press checks are available and local to Brian, so he could oversee all aspects of production.
Con: size is limited to 14” wide x 10” tall. This will allow for two 1:1 figures per page, but file cards will have to be presented at the end of each figure year, separate from the MOC figures.
Con: gatefold spreads are limited to 24” wide, leaving a 14” wide page and a 10” fold out page (all 10” tall).
Con: production will cost much more than option 3. Option 2 would put us in the hole by ~ 15% on the $90 add-on books, which is admittedly painful to consider.
Option 3: Regent
Pro: Regent can deliver on the 13.5” x 14.5” size! This will allow for two 1:1 figures per page, plus their corresponding trimmed file cards (see update #4).
Pro: gatefold spreads would be the full 27” wide x 14.5” tall, significantly larger than options 1 and 2.
Con: printing and binding in Hong Kong. Press checks are not possible, but samples are sent back and forth. This will likely add one month to the printing timeline.
Con: international shipping could add up to two months.
The fate of this book in YOUR hands! Are you willing to potentially wait an additional 2-3 months for the massive 13.5” x 14.5” Regent book? Or would you prefer to keep production here in North America and settle for the 13” x 10” Friesens book, or the 14” x 10” Sigler book?
Voting has concluded!
Option 3: Regent 13.5" x 14.5" was the clear winner, taking 90% of the vote!
Poll 4: Vehicle Page Backgrounds [CLOSED]
Option 1: No box outline, no background image, solid black background
Pro: Minimalist design
Con: Lots of empty black space, somewhat boring
Option 2: No box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background
Pro: Black empty space filled with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway
Option 3: White outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway
Option 4: White outline, no background image, solid black background
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background
Con: Lots of empty black space, somewhat boring
Option 5: White outline, key image art for each year (each year will be different and have its own art)
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background and the consistent background image for each year's vehicle section creates uniformity
Con: The same key art will be used for every vehicle in a given year, so no variation.
Pro: Minimalist design
Con: Lots of empty black space, somewhat boring
Option 2: No box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background
Pro: Black empty space filled with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway
Option 3: White outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway
Option 4: White outline, no background image, solid black background
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background
Con: Lots of empty black space, somewhat boring
Option 5: White outline, key image art for each year (each year will be different and have its own art)
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background and the consistent background image for each year's vehicle section creates uniformity
Con: The same key art will be used for every vehicle in a given year, so no variation.
Voting has concluded! Please see poll 5 below for two NEW background options.
OUT:
Option 1: No box outline, no background image, solid black background
Option 4: White outline, no background image , solid black background
STILL IN THE RUNNING FOR POLL 5:
Option 2: 32 votes, 19% (Option 2: No box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background)
Option 3: 56 votes, 33% (Option 3: White outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background)
Option 5: 55 votes, 32% (Option 5: White outline, key image art for each year (each year will be different and have its own art)
Option 1: No box outline, no background image, solid black background
Option 4: White outline, no background image , solid black background
STILL IN THE RUNNING FOR POLL 5:
Option 2: 32 votes, 19% (Option 2: No box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background)
Option 3: 56 votes, 33% (Option 3: White outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background)
Option 5: 55 votes, 32% (Option 5: White outline, key image art for each year (each year will be different and have its own art)
Poll 5: Vehicle Page Backgrounds with Two New Options [CLOSED]
Option 1: No box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background.
Pro: Black empty space filled with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor.
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway.
Option 2: White box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background.
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor.
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway.
Option 3: White box outline, opaque key image art for each year. (Each year will be different and have its own art)
Pro: White box outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background and the consistent background image for each year's vehicle section creates uniformity.
Con: The same key art will be used for every vehicle in a given year, so no variation.
Option 4: White box outline, gradient background. This is the same background as the MOC figure layout.
Pro: White box outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background. The gradient background matches the MOC figure backgrounds.
Con: Having the same gradient background as the MOC figures is a little boring. Lots of dead page space.
Option 5: White box outline, opaque inverted (black) vehicle specific blueprints behind each vehicle. (*White blueprints didn’t look good during testing)
Pro: White box outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background. Each vehicle page will have unique blueprints to add some page flavor.
Con: None…..?
Pro: Black empty space filled with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor.
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway.
Option 2: White box outline, enlarged opaque individual vehicle art background.
Pro: White outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background with enlarged opaque vehicle art to add some page flavor.
Con: Background art must be scaled up significantly, images won't be terribly sharp, but will be opaque and only half visible anyway.
Option 3: White box outline, opaque key image art for each year. (Each year will be different and have its own art)
Pro: White box outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background and the consistent background image for each year's vehicle section creates uniformity.
Con: The same key art will be used for every vehicle in a given year, so no variation.
Option 4: White box outline, gradient background. This is the same background as the MOC figure layout.
Pro: White box outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background. The gradient background matches the MOC figure backgrounds.
Con: Having the same gradient background as the MOC figures is a little boring. Lots of dead page space.
Option 5: White box outline, opaque inverted (black) vehicle specific blueprints behind each vehicle. (*White blueprints didn’t look good during testing)
Pro: White box outline gives each box art a crisp definition against the background. Each vehicle page will have unique blueprints to add some page flavor.
Con: None…..?
Voting has concluded! Please see the results below.
Option 5 took nearly 2/3 of the votes, coming in at 64.5%!
Poll 6: 1990s Unadorned Art Backgrounds [CLOSED]
The desktop publishing revolution began in the mid-1980s. The 1988 Tiger Force figure paintings were completely painted over in 1987, to include the figure and the background. Hasbro began compositing package paintings in 1988, while developing the 1989 figure packaging. This explains why the original 1989 Python Patrol paintings feature revised figures and the original explosion backgrounds. Hasbro artists began painting figures on white in 1989, while developing the 1990 figure packaging. Gone were the days of painstakingly creating horizontal lines with markers.
We asked for your help deciding how to treat these unadorned art backgrounds. We came up with a few solutions, and 52% of YOU selected the third option.
Option 1: Minimalist. This option presents the art as it was painted. Most are on a plain white background (Eco-Warriors is an exception). Received 21.2% of the vote.
Option 2: Graphic on white. This option adds a recreation of the graphic element that was placed behind the figure art on the composited cardback. Received 26.7% of the vote.
Option 3: Graphic on gradient. This option adds a recreation of the graphic element and the gradient background that were placed behind the figure art on the composited cardback. Received 52.1% of the vote.
We asked for your help deciding how to treat these unadorned art backgrounds. We came up with a few solutions, and 52% of YOU selected the third option.
Option 1: Minimalist. This option presents the art as it was painted. Most are on a plain white background (Eco-Warriors is an exception). Received 21.2% of the vote.
Option 2: Graphic on white. This option adds a recreation of the graphic element that was placed behind the figure art on the composited cardback. Received 26.7% of the vote.
Option 3: Graphic on gradient. This option adds a recreation of the graphic element and the gradient background that were placed behind the figure art on the composited cardback. Received 52.1% of the vote.
Voting has concluded! Please see the results below.
Option 3 took over 1/2 of the votes, coming in at 52.1%!
Poll 7: Revised Cover [OPEN!]
Hasbro has requested I revise the cover. I've tried several options, and have landed on several I could be happy with. Please click through the image gallery below, and then vote in the poll on which character you'd like to see featured on the spine of this book.
Voting has concluded! Please see the results below.
1985 Snake Eyes + Timber came in first with 37.7% of the vote. 1982 Snake Eyes came in second with 34.4% of the vote.
