After rising to the top during the first half of the 1980s, Hasbro continued to build momentum in 1985, especially with their Toy Fair Catalog. Even though Hasbro did not introduce a new franchise this year, they continued to ride the wave of success from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and The Transformers.
Thanks to the revival of the G.I. Joe brand, Hasbro mastered a multi-media strategy that brought in new fans. By partnering with Marvel, they gave the toy line a new feel with relatable characters and a strong storyline. This partnership also taught Hasbro the importance of having an enemy force for their heroes to fight against. With both the cartoon series and the comics at the height of their popularity, Hasbro happily continued to push the toys onto store shelves.
Using the lessons from G.I. Joe, Hasbro replicated the success with 1984’s hottest toy line, The Transformers. Once again, they partnered with Marvel to craft the epic clash between the Autobots and the Decepticons. So, they happily expanded the cast in 1985 with new characters, such as Shockwave and Jetfire.
Besides the popular boys toys, Hasbro included many other toys for many demographics. The company featured many toys from its extensive catalog. For instance, readers found information on My Little Pony, Lite Brite, and many more toys that fascinated children across the nation.
Wheeljack’s Lab proudly presents high-definition scans of the 1985 Hasbro Toy Fair Catalog featuring G.I. Joe, Transformers, and more.
Explore the pages of the 1985 Hasbro Toy Fair Catalog
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About Our Hasbro Catalog Scans
To promote their upcoming slate of products, Hasbro handed out catalogs to attendees of toy fairs and other events. Each catalog was filled with information about their newest toys, even ones still in development. Thus, they often provided the first looks at action figures, playsets, vehicles, and more from their lines. Therefore, they have become valuable and rare collector’s items.
These Hasbro Toy Fair Catalogs featured toys from their beloved lines. For instance, the company was responsible for one of the most popular action figures of all time: G.I. Joe. They also partnered with Takara to bring the Transformers to the Western market. The company also dipped into the fantastical worlds of Air Raiders, Inhumanoids, and Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light. After Hasbro acquired Kenner, they also became the home of toy lines like Jurassic Park and Star Wars.
Hasbro used in-production prototypes in their images, as these catalogs were prepared before the lines were released. This meant that the featured toys often differed from the retail releases. Moreover, toys sometimes appeared only on these catalog pages, as they were canceled or never hit retail store shelves.
While Hasbro only handed these booklets out to trade professionals, we have now made them available to all. You can explore the toys featured in these catalogs with our Hasbro Toy Fair Catalog Scans. This is a rare treat since catalogs like these have become increasingly difficult to locate with each passing year.