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'''Kid Stuff''' was a publisher of children's read-along audio storybooks in the 1980s. | {{nav-G1|logo=TheTransformers_Logo.jpg}} | ||
[[File:GreatCarRallyRecord.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Raise your hand if you know what one of these is.]] | |||
'''Kid Stuff''' was a publisher of children's read-along audio storybooks in the 1980s. They published innumerable titles based on franchises such as [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]], the Care Bears, Garfield, [[My Little Pony]], and many others. The storybooks typically came with an audio cassette or 45rpm record. They also released VHS versions of some of their titles. | |||
==Transformers books== | ==Transformers books== | ||
Kid Stuff published a number of ''Transformers'' titles. | Kid Stuff published a number of ''Transformers'' titles in 1985. There were two sets of books; one consisted of adapted [[Big Looker Storybook|Big Looker]] stories previously published by [[Marvel Books]], while the other group contained original stories. Many of the original stories are not credited, but similar plot elements and dialog styles make it seem likely that they were all written by [[John Braden]]. | ||
The original stories form their own little [[continuity]], with a common set of oddities. | The original stories form their own little [[continuity]], with a common set of oddities. Among the defining aspects of the stories: | ||
*Only [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] speak in most adventures. But there are [[Attack of the Decepticons#Notes|exceptions]]. | |||
* Only Optimus Prime, Prowl, Megatron and Soundwave | *Soundwave is a simpering toady. | ||
* Soundwave is a simpering toady. | *The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] fly around in their beast forms. | ||
* The Dinobots fly around in their beast forms. | *There exist literally hundreds of Dinobots. | ||
* The Autobots fly around in their robot ''and'' vehicle forms. | *The Autobots fly around in their robot ''and'' vehicle forms. | ||
* Megatron is obsessed with mole-boring machines. | *Every Transformer jet is a "Superjet". Not only the Seekers and Skyfire, but a mysterious team of [[Autobot superjet]]s unique to this continuity. | ||
* Megatron is obsessed with calling Soundwave a "tape-filled idiot" and variants thereof. | *Megatron is obsessed with mole-boring machines. | ||
* Events tend to occur in obscure geographic locations, all of which are specified by name, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim. | *Megatron is obsessed with calling Soundwave a "tape-filled idiot" and variants thereof. In fact, Soundwave is treated as the Decepticons' whipping boy instead of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. | ||
* Violence on a massive scale is disturbingly common. | *Megatron is obsessed with acquiring [[oil]], to the exclusion of all other fuels. [[Energon]] is never mentioned. | ||
*Events tend to occur in obscure geographic locations, all of which are specified by name, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim. | |||
*Violence on a massive scale is disturbingly common. The Rocky Mountains are melted into a molten puddle, massive volcanic eruptions are triggered, entire jungles are leveled, the Andes Mountains collapse into the sea, world weather patterns are violently altered, coastal cities are flooded, and thousands of human slaves die in a huge explosion. Nobody seems very much bothered by any of this. | |||
The artwork is heavily toy-based, and sometimes features direct copies of characters' [[package art]], even when it makes little or no spatial sense. | The artwork is heavily toy-based, and sometimes features direct copies of characters' [[package art]], even when it makes little or no spatial sense. | ||
==Titles== | ==Titles== | ||
===Adapted Big Looker books=== | |||
*[[Battle for Cybertron]] | |||
*[[The Great Car Rally]] | |||
===Kid Stuff originals=== | |||
*[[Satellite of Doom]] (also on VHS) | |||
*[[When Continents Collide]] (also on VHS) | |||
*[[Storms of Destruction]] | |||
*[[Jaws of Terror]] (also on VHS) | |||
* [[Satellite of Doom]] | *[[Slaves of the Insecticons]] (also on VHS) | ||
* [[When Continents Collide]] | *[[Attack of the Decepticons]] (audio only - no storybook) | ||
* [[Storms of Destruction]] | |||
* [[Jaws of Terror]] | |||
* [[Slaves of the Insecticons]] | |||
* [[Attack of the Decepticons]] (audio only - no storybook) | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
[http://www. | *[http://www.camphortree.net/tf/books/ Generation 1 books] at Steve-o's Transformers Site | ||
{{stub}} | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Home entertainment]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:17, 2 April 2022
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Kid Stuff was a publisher of children's read-along audio storybooks in the 1980s. They published innumerable titles based on franchises such as G.I. Joe, the Care Bears, Garfield, My Little Pony, and many others. The storybooks typically came with an audio cassette or 45rpm record. They also released VHS versions of some of their titles.
Transformers books
[edit]Kid Stuff published a number of Transformers titles in 1985. There were two sets of books; one consisted of adapted Big Looker stories previously published by Marvel Books, while the other group contained original stories. Many of the original stories are not credited, but similar plot elements and dialog styles make it seem likely that they were all written by John Braden.
The original stories form their own little continuity, with a common set of oddities. Among the defining aspects of the stories:
- Only Optimus Prime, Prowl, Megatron and Soundwave speak in most adventures. But there are exceptions.
- Soundwave is a simpering toady.
- The Dinobots fly around in their beast forms.
- There exist literally hundreds of Dinobots.
- The Autobots fly around in their robot and vehicle forms.
- Every Transformer jet is a "Superjet". Not only the Seekers and Skyfire, but a mysterious team of Autobot superjets unique to this continuity.
- Megatron is obsessed with mole-boring machines.
- Megatron is obsessed with calling Soundwave a "tape-filled idiot" and variants thereof. In fact, Soundwave is treated as the Decepticons' whipping boy instead of Starscream.
- Megatron is obsessed with acquiring oil, to the exclusion of all other fuels. Energon is never mentioned.
- Events tend to occur in obscure geographic locations, all of which are specified by name, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim.
- Violence on a massive scale is disturbingly common. The Rocky Mountains are melted into a molten puddle, massive volcanic eruptions are triggered, entire jungles are leveled, the Andes Mountains collapse into the sea, world weather patterns are violently altered, coastal cities are flooded, and thousands of human slaves die in a huge explosion. Nobody seems very much bothered by any of this.
The artwork is heavily toy-based, and sometimes features direct copies of characters' package art, even when it makes little or no spatial sense.
Titles
[edit]Adapted Big Looker books
[edit]Kid Stuff originals
[edit]- Satellite of Doom (also on VHS)
- When Continents Collide (also on VHS)
- Storms of Destruction
- Jaws of Terror (also on VHS)
- Slaves of the Insecticons (also on VHS)
- Attack of the Decepticons (audio only - no storybook)
External links
[edit]- Generation 1 books at Steve-o's Transformers Site
