Volk-Weiss Launches Toy Book Imprint
TV and film producer’s Nacelle Co. dives into publishing with pop history, toy and nostalgia driven book line.
Toy fans have cause to celebrate. The work of noted toy author Mark Bellomo and others has found a new publishing home.
The Nacelle Co., founded by film and television producer – as well as noted toy enthusiast – Brian Volk-Weiss, is diving into the book business. The eponymous new imprint is partnering with Ingram Publishing. Bellomo and Volk-Weiss have a close relationship. The two worked together on the hit Netflix docu-series The Toys That Made Us.
Nacelle will focus on pop history, nostalgia and limited edition reprints, distributed by Ingram nationwide through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores.
Although release dates are still undetermined, the first book offerings are heavy on nostalgic toys and will feature a couple of long-awaited new editions by Bellomo, including The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Star Wars Action Figures, 1977-1985 and Totally Tubular ‘80s Toys.
“Our dedication to celebrating and preserving pop history continues with this new venture for Nacelle,” said Volk-Weiss, Nacelle’s CEO. “We hope to bring the same type of nostalgic admiration to our publishing arm that we try to do with our shows.”
In addition to Bellomo’s work, Nacelle will offer The Toys That Made Us Compendium, based on the Netflix docu-series first three seasons featuring Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Barbie, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers and Star Trek toys; and Rack Toys: Cheap Crazed Playthings, by Brian Heiler, “A love letter to re purposed illogically licensed toys that were not meant to be remembered.”
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While publishing a long list of books with Krause Publications, Bellomo emerged at The Voice of 80s toys. Penguin Random House acquired Krause, an imprint of F+W Media in 2019. Many of Bellomo’s titles were seemingly doomed to go out of print when Penguin Random House decided against publishing titles in the collectible toy genre.
Nacelle develops, produces and distributes feature and documentary films as well as TV shows – both scripted and unscripted. Nacelle’s vast array of partnerships include: Netflix, Amazon, Disney +, HBO, Discovery, BET+, A&E Networks, Hulu and Viacom. In addition to The Toys That Made Us, Nacelle has produced the hit Netflix docu-series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron and The Movies That Made Us as well as Behind The Attraction for Disney +, Sony’s Mad About You reboot, Netflix’s How To Fix A Drug Scandal, CW’s Discontinued, and Netflix’s Kevin Hart’s Guide To Black History.
Paul Kennedy is Editorial Director of the Collectibles Group at AIM Media. He enjoys Mid-century design, photography, vintage movie posters and people with a good story to share. Kennedy has more than twenty-five years of experience in the antiques and collectibles field, including book publishing. Reach him at PKennedy@aimmedia.com.
