Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe explained

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications. The original 15-volume series was published in comic book format in 1982, followed by sporadic updates.

Origin

Jim Shooter, Marvel's then editor-in-chief, conceived the idea of^[1] envisioning a guide detailing statistics much in the manner of those found upon the back of baseball cards.^[2] This initial project was to be called The Marvel Super-Specifications Handbook (the eventual title incorporating the term "Marvel Universe" was appropriated from Al Milgrom, who had used it as a working title for the anthology series Marvel Fanfare). Shooter appointed Mark Gruenwald editor of the project, and Gruenwald developed the project to include all aspects of the Marvel Universe, although he noted it was not comprehensive. In addition to Gruenwald, contributing writers on the initial volume were Marvel editors Mike Carlin, Eliot R. Brown, and Peter Sanderson. Josef Rubinstein was brought on by Gruenwald to be the sole inker of the entire 20-year project because he felt Rubinstein was best able to make the characters easily recognizable and to subvert his own style to that of the handbook's various pencillers.^[3]

Critics of the Handbook have argued that the level of detail within the guide effectively limited the ability of writers to innovate, a charge Gruenwald dismissed, reputedly stating that the information presented was only the most recent data and was subject to change.^[4] Sanderson, one of the writers of the original guide, noted that "Mark sought to make the Marvel characters' super-powers as firm a basis in real science as possible. After the first version of the Handbook, Mark decided that some of the explanations had grown too complicated, and asked me to simplify them."

The OHOTMU detailed the more significant characters, items and locations in the Marvel Universe, itemizing them into individual entries. Individual entries usually consisted of:

A frontal full-body view of the character.
Prose text describing the character's origin, powers, and other abilities and unique traits, as well as "statistics" such as place of birth, former aliases, height, weight, hair and eye color and so forth. The original edition opted only to describe the "origins" of characters (how they acquired their powers), instead focusing heavily on detailed explanations for how those powers functioned. In the Book of the Dead supplement, however, the handbook provided entire "histories" for the deceased characters, a trend which was then adopted for the main body of the Deluxe Edition, allowing the entire life and career of the characters to be covered. Major important pieces of equipment were also given technical illustrations with breakdowns of their functions and features.
Example images of the character in action, taken directly from the comics themselves.

In the original, characters were listed at one character to a page, although minor characters were sometimes listed at two to a page and major characters would occasionally receive more than one page. In the Deluxe Edition, however, every character received at least one page, with significant characters receiving up to 3-5 pages. Both editions had wraparound covers that could be linked together to form a giant poster. In the late 1980s, a poster made up of the first twelve issues of the original Handbook was released. For the poster, several characters were added and others received up-to-date looks.

In the Master Edition (1990–1993) this changed and every character was allocated a double-sided loose leaf page. Later versions allocate characters different lengths of entry depending on their history and importance.

Publication history

There have been several versions of the concept since it was first published in 1982:

1982-1984: a 15-issue series. Issues #13-14 are titled the Book of the Dead and Inactive, featuring characters and groups who were, at the time, believed dead or inactive. Issue #15 is titled the Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia, featuring technical drawings of equipment such as Captain America's shield and Spider-Man's web shooters. One issue of the series (#9) can be seen in the movie Explorers.
1985-1988: a 20-issue Deluxe Edition is published; technical drawings of equipment are incorporated into individual characters' entries. Although numerous entries reference an Appendix, the Deluxe Edition Appendix is not published. This run was also collected in trade paperback format, in a series of 10 128-page volumes. The trade edition also feature updates of many characters. Supplements for licensed properties are published, including Conan the Barbarian, G.I. Joe, and the Transformers.
1989: An additional eight-issue supplement to the Deluxe Edition, denoted Update '89 on the cover, is published. This series covers primarily new characters and is notable for including numerous non-superhumans. This series also sported wraparound covers but, unlike previous versions, these did not link together.
1990-1993: A 36-issue Master Edition series is published, with each issue a shrink-wrapped pack of loose-leaf pages. A three-ring vinyl binder was also released for the pages to be inserted into.
2004-2005: Themed one-shot supplements are published, such as Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004. Other entries in this themed, subtitled series include Spider-Man 2004; Avengers 2004; Hulk 2004; Daredevil 2004; Wolverine 2004; Golden Age 2004; Women of Marvel 2005 and Avengers 2005.
2006: A new 12-issue series, the All-New OHOTMU A-Z, was published featuring new characters. A series of themed one-shot issues was also published in the same style as the 2004-2005 books, including Civil War Files which tied in with Marvel's Civil War crossover series. The original Handbook, original 20-issue Deluxe Edition, and the Update '89 edition were also reprinted in five Essential volumes.
2007: Four A-Z Update issues, six themed issues (including World War Hulk: Gamma Files and X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files) and the first issue of the Marvel Atlas are published.
2008: All material from 2004-2007 is updated and printed in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Premiere HC set, divided into 14 volumes (each containing 240 pages). The second issue of the Marvel Atlas is published. Other publications included Ultimate Secrets, All-New Iron Manual, Secret Invasion: Skrulls!, and Amazing Spider-Man: Brand New Day Yearbook.
2009: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Premiere HC set continued publication. A sister project to the Handbook, the Official Index to the Marvel Universe monthly series, began publication in January. Other forthcoming titles include Dark Reign Files and Wolverine: Weapon X Files.

Bibliography of Official Handbook series

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. I

*Original Series* #1 - 15 (Marvel Comics, January 1983 - May 1984)
	Title	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
1	A from Abomination to Avengers Quinjet	January 1983	34	$1.00
2	B - C from Baron Mordo to Collective Man	February 1983	34	$1.00
3	C - D from Collector to Dracula	March 1983	34	$1.00
4	D - G from Dragon Man to Gypsy Moth	April 1983	34	$1.00
5	H - J from Hangman to Juggernaut	May 1983	34	$1.00
6	K - M from Kang to Man-Bull	June 1983	34	$1.00
7	M from Mandarin to Mystique	July 1983	34	$1.00
8	N - P from Namorita to Pyro	August 1983	34	$1.00
9	Q - S from Quasar to She-Hulk	September 1983	34	$1.00
10	S from Shi'ar to Sub-Mariner	October 1983	34	$1.00
11	S - U from Subterraneans to Ursa Major	November 1983	34	$1.00
12	V - Z from Valkyrie to Zzzax	December 1983	34	$1.00
13	Book of the Dead and Inactive I: Air-Walker to Man-Wolf	February 1984	34	$1.00
14	Book of the Dead and Inactive II: Marvel Boy to Zuras	March 1984	34	$1.00
15	Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia	April <	-- This is only a guess, based on the trend of releasing a handbook a month --Jamdav86 09:49, 22 October 2005 (UTC)--> 1984	34	$1.00

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. II (Deluxe Edition)

*Original Series* #1 - 20 and *Update '89* #1 - 8 (Marvel Comics, December 1985 - December 1989)
Series		Info	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
Original	1	Abomination to Batroc's Brigade	December 1985	64	$1.50
	2	Beast to Clea	January 1986	64	$1.50
	3	Cloak to Doctor Octopus	February 1986	64	$1.50
	4	Doctor Strange to Galactus' Heralds	March 1986	64	$1.50
	5	Gardener to Hulkbusters	April 1986	64	$1.50
	6		May 1986	64	$1.50
	7	Khoryphos to Magneto	June 1986	64	$1.50
	8	Magus to Mole Man	July 1986	64	$1.50
	9	Molecule Man to Owl	August 1986	64	$1.50
	10	Paladin to Rhino	September 1986	64	$1.50
	11	Richard Rider to Sidewinder	October 1986	64	$1.50
	12	Sif to Sunspot	November 1986	64	$1.50
	13	Super-Adaptoid to Umar	December 1986	64	$1.50
	14	Unicorn to Wolverine	January 1987	64	$1.50
	15	Wonder Man to Zzzax plus Appendix: Alien Races	March 1987	64	$1.50
	16		June 1987	64	$1.50
	17	Book of the Dead: Destiny to Hobgoblin	August 1987	64	$1.50
	18	Book of the Dead: Hyperion to Nighthawk	October 1987	64	$1.50
	19	Book of the Dead: Nuke to Obadiah Stane	December 1987	64	$1.50
	20	Book of the Dead: Stick to Zuras	February 1988	64	$1.50
Update '89	1	Adversary to Chameleon	July 1989	48	$1.50
	2		August 1989	48	$1.50
	3	Eon to Hulk	September 1989	48	$1.50
	4	Human Torch to Manikin	October 1989	48	$1.50
	5	Marauders to Power Princess	November 1989	48	$1.50
	6	Prowler to Serpent Society	Late November 1989	48	$1.50
	7	Set to Tyrak	December 1989	48	$1.50
	8	U-Man to Madelyne Pryor	Late December 1989	48	$1.50

*Reprints* (trade paperback) (Marvel Comics, September 1990 - November 1993 and 2006)
Series		Info	ISBN	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
Original (trade paperback)	1	Abomination to Circus of Crime		September 1990	128	$7.95
	2	Clea to Gaea		November 1990	128	$7.95
	3	Galactus to Kang		October 1991	128	$7.95
	4	Karkas to Mister Fantastic		October 1991	128	$7.95
	5	Mister Fear to Quicksilver		February 1992	128	$7.95
	6	Radioactive Man to Stilt-Man		October 1992	128	$7.95
	7	Stingray to Wendigo		November 1992	128	$7.95
	8	Werewolf to Zzzax Book of the Dead: Air-Walker to Dorcas, Dr. Lemuel		October 1993	128	$7.95
	9	Book of the Dead: Dorma to Patriot		November 1993	128	$7.95
	10	Book of the Dead: Phantom Eagle to Zuras		November 1993	128	$7.95
	contains material from the original series (without Update '89)
Essential (trade paperback, B/W)	1	Abomination to Magneto		March 2006	480	$16.99
	2	Magus to Wolverine		June 2006	480	$16.99
	3	Wonder Man to Zzzax plus Appendix: Alien Races Book of the Dead: Air-Walker to Zuras		July 2006	424	$16.99
	4	Update '89: Adversary to Madelyne Pryor		December 2006	448	$16.99

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. III (Master Edition)

*Original Series* #1 - 36 (Marvel Comics, December 1990 - November 1993)
	Info^[5]	Month of publ.	Sheets	Orig. price
1	Model sheets: Anaconda, Blue Shield, Corsair, Counterweight, Dormammu, Foxfire, Gorgon, Agatha Harkness, Juggernaut, Llyra, Midnight Sun, MODAM, Moonboy, Nebulon, Oneg the Prober, Puck, Ronan the Accuser, Spider-Man, Starfox, Stranger, Trickshot, Typhoid, Watchdogs, Zuras	December 1990	24	$3.95
2	Model sheets: Awesome Android, Ulysses Bloodstone, Captain America, Destiny, Doctor Octopus, Eel, Forge, Grey Gargoyle, Howard the Duck, ISAAC, Kubik, Leader, Moonstone, Mother Night, Nitro, Orka, Plantman, Quicksilver, Rock Python, Scorpio, Sise-Neg, Triton, Volcana, Water Wizard	January 1991	24	$3.95
3	Model sheets: A.I.M., Baron Mordo, Big Bertha, Cable, Diamondback II, Electro, Firelord, Gargantua, Ghost Rider VI, Heimdall, Ka-Zar, Man-Ape, Mister Fantastic, Morgan le Fay, Naga, Porcupine, Razorback, Shocker, Sunder, Thunderbird, Venus, Whizzer, Wrecker, Zaran	February 1991	24	$3.95
4	Model sheets: Apocalypse, Baron Zemo II, Blastaar, Carrion, Devastator, Dr. Minerva, Executioner, Grim Reaper, Hammer, King Cobra, Living Mummy, Madame Web, Malekith the Accursed, Mister Jip, Nikki, Puppet Master, Red Raven, Shadowcat, Shape, Texas Twister, U-Man, Vector, Wolverine, Ziran the Tester	March 1991	24	$3.95
5	Model sheets: Abomination, Blizzard, Boomerang, Captain Marvel I, Crimson Dynamo V, Dagger, Doctor Malus, Eternity, Fandral the Dashing, Guardian II, In-Betweener, Knickknack, Magma, Man-Thing, Mesmero, Nighthawk I, Owl, Punisher, Quasimodo, Sleeper, Speed Demon, Titania II, Vulture, Wizard	April 1991	24	$3.95
6	Model sheets: Astronomer, Bullseye, Cannonball, Copperhead III, Darkoth, Fixer, Gatecrasher, Hela, Hobgoblin II-IV, Immortus, Leir, Mirage I, Mister Sinister, Mordred the Evil, Nomad III, One Above All, Professor Power, Rintrah, She-Hulk, Starlight, Thin Man, Ursa Major, Vertigo, Whirlwind	May 1991	24	$3.95
7	Model sheets: Armadillo, Barbarus, Black Knight III, Callisto, Cypher, Daredevil, Egghead, Firestar, Goldbug, Hangman, Jack Frost, Karnilla, Lizard, Magneto, Marvel Boy I, Mercurio, Nova II, Psycho-Man, Red Ronin, Shaper of Worlds, Slug, Stilt-Man, Ulik, Valkin	June 1991	24	$3.95
8	Model sheets: Attuma, Blacklash, Captain Ultra, Colossus, Devil Dinosaur, Dragon Man, Elektra, Gladiator II, Hulk, Jackal, Kang, Lamprey, Machete, Makkari, Manslaughter, Nighthawk II, Piledriver, Quicksand, Shang-Chi, Spider-Woman I, Supreme Intelligence, Tyrannus, Viper II, Woodgod	July 1991	24	$3.95
9	Model sheets: Air-Walker, Black Panther, Brother Tode, Chameleon, Doc Samson, Ego, Firebird, Gremlin II, Hyperion, Isis, Lightspeed, Machinesmith, Moon Knight, Over-Mind, Phantom Eagle, Rocket Raccoon, Scarlet Witch, Silver Dagger, Skids, Taskmaster, Vidar, Colleen Wing, Xemnu, Zarek	August 1991	24	$3.95
10	Model sheets: Ajak, Black Talon I & II, Blob, Captain Britain, Constrictor, Doctor Faustus, Grandmaster, Hercules, Jigsaw, Misty Knight, Llan the Sorcerer, Mad Thinker, Miss America, N'astirh, Odin, Poundcakes, Red Ghost, Seth, Siryn, Thanos, Umar, Venom, Wong, X-Ray	September 1991	24	$3.95
11	Model sheets: Ares, Balor, Cloak, Crucible, Death Adder, Gilgamesh, Hydro-Man, Impossible Man, Jocasta, Kronos, Lupo, Master Order, Multiple Man, Nezarr the Calculator, Oddball, Power Princess, Rocket Racer, Spider-Woman II, Storm, Tana Nile, Tinkerer, Vanguard, White Tiger, Yellow Claw	October 1991	24	$3.95
12	Model sheets: Aguila, Andromeda, Black Cat, Centurius, Crossbones, D'Spayre, Frenzy, Goliath III, Helio, Jack of Hearts, Karnak, Loki, Melter, Mister Hyde, Nightcrawler, Piper, Puff Adder, Runner, Satannish, Silver Surfer, Spitfire, Taurus, Uni-Mind, Whiplash II	November 1991	24	$3.95
13	Model Sheets: Arabian Knight, Blood Brothers, Bullet, Contemplator, Diablo, Dreadknight, Fer-de-Lance, High Evolutionary, Iceman, Mad Dog, Master, Mysterio, Northstar, Phoenix I, Quasar, Ringmaster, Shroud, Surtur, Thundra, Tiger Shark, ULTIMATUM, Werewolf Action Sheet: Spider-Man / Team Action Sheet: Fantastic Four	December 1991	24	$4.50
14	Model sheets: Annihilus, Beast, Black Knight II, Champion of the Universe, Darkstar, Eon, Gargoyle II, Jetstream, Kurse, Mentor, Modred the Mystic, Mongoose, Namorita, Prowler, Rhino, Sidewinder, Sphinx I, Super Sabre, Thor, Tombstone, Wendigo Action Sheets: Captain America, Spider-Man (Web-Shooters) / Team Action Sheet: Fantastic Four (Replacements)	January 1992	24	$4.50
15	Model sheets: Ant-Man II, Brothers Grimm II, Bushwacker, Charlie-27, Crystal, Deathurge, Frankenstein's Monster, Garokk the Petrified Man, Guardsman, Hate-Monger I, Iron Man, Killer Shrike, Mangog, Moonglow, Omega, Princess Python, Rogue, Sandman, Saturnyne, Space Phantom, Tyr, Adam Warlock Action Sheet: Ghost Rider / Team Action Sheet: Avengers (First Line-Up)	February 1992	24	$4.50
16	Model sheets: Absorbing Man, Baron Strucker, Cyclops, Darkhawk, Force, Graviton, Hawkeye, Jemiah the Analyzer, Kofi, Lava Men, Martinex, Midas I, Mole Man, Pluto, Sabretooth, Spymaster, Stallior, Tatterdemalion, Vamp, Yellowjacket II, Zzzax Action Sheet: Wolverine / Team Action Sheet: Avengers (Second Line-Up)	March 1992	23	$4.50
17	Model sheets: 3-D Man, Ancient One, Black Queen, Brother Voodoo, Count Nefaria, Death-Stalker, Eson the Searcher, Glob, Havok, Kingpin, Lady Deathstrike, Maelstrom, MODOK, Namor, Paladin, Red Guardian II & V, Sasquatch, Scorpion, Thunderball, Vishanti, Worm Action Sheet: Punisher / Team Action Sheet: Avengers (Third Line-Up)	April 1992	23	$4.50
18	Model sheets: Arishem the Judge, Beetle, Bulldozer, Clea, Demolition-Man, Fang, Ghaur, Hogun the Grim, Ironclad, Kangaroo, Lucifer, Madcap, Moondragon, Nebula, Professor X, Razor-Fist, Nicholas Scratch, Spirit of '76, Thing, Wolfsbane, Zaladane Action Sheet: She-Hulk / Team Action Sheet: Avengers (Fourth Line-Up)	May 1992	23	$4.50
19	Model sheets: Apollo, Battle Star, Ch'od, Dr. Demonicus, Earth-Lord, Gamora, Iron Monger, Rick Jones, Major Victory, Mandarin, Marrina, Nova I, Oracle, Ringer, Satana, Shatterstar II, Tom Thumb, Ultimus, White Bishop, Zodiac I, Zodiac II Action Sheet: Daredevil / Team Action Sheet: Avengers (Fifth Line-Up)	June 1992	23	$4.50
20	Model sheets: Archangel, Baron Blood I, Black Knight I, Captain Atlas, Controller, Doctor Doom, Enchantress, Flag-Smasher, Ghost, Korvac, Lilandra, Maha Yogi, Maximus, Nuke, Quantum, Redstone, Sabra, Silvermane, Unicorn I, Wasp, Wolverine (original costume), Zarrko the Tomorrow Man Team Action Sheet: Avengers (Sixth Line-Up)	July 1992	23	$4.50
21	Model sheets: Aquarian, Banshee, Bi-Beast, Crossfire, Dakimh the Enchanter, Dominic Fortune, Gambit, Haywire, Invisible Woman, Jester, Karkas, Living Laser, Mantis, Master Man, Occult, Power Broker, Red Wolf III, Speedball, Swordsman I, Thena, Thor, Uatu the Watcher, Will o' the Wisp	August 1992	23	$4.50
22	Model sheets: Arcade, Black Bolt, Bushmaster, Crimson Commando, Diamond Lil, Doctor Nightshade, Nick Fury, Gammenon the Gatherer, Hermes, Kismet, Madame Masque, Merlin, Phantom Rider IV, Screaming Mimi, Silver Sable, Slither, Starbolt, Terrax, Ultron, Volstagg, Whizzer II, Yondu Team Action Sheet: Avengers (Seventh Line-Up)	September 1992	23	$4.50
23	Model sheets: Arkon, Batroc the Leaper, Blonde Phantom, Cage, Chthon, Collector, Dr. Spectrum, Falcon, Glorian, Hammerhead, It the Living Colossus, Krang, Left-Winger, Mockingbird, Psylocke, Radioactive Man, Sauron, Silhouette, Supremor, Tarantula I & II, Unus, Vermin Team Action Sheet: X-Men (First Line-Up)	October 1992	23	$4.50
24	Model sheets: Ape-Man, John Blaze, Byrrah, Chemistro I-III, Cyclone, Deathbird, Drax the Destroyer, Gladiator I, Horus, Human Torch II, Iron Fist, Jubilee, Klaw, Machine Man, Medusa, Phoenix III, Prester John, Red Skull, Stingray, Terminatrix, Trump, Zeus Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Second Line-Up)	November 1992	23	$4.50
25	Model sheets: Black Widow II, Bucky I & II, Cottonmouth, Deadpool, Fin Fang Foom, Guardian I, Hepzibah, Infinity, Hannibal King, Mirage II, Mister Fear, Night Thrasher, Osiris, Peregrine, Quagmire, Rama-Tut, Silver Samurai, Stellaris, Strong Guy, Terminus, Vibro, Wind Warrior Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Third Line-Up)	December 1992	23	$4.50
26	Model sheets: Aginar, Belasco, Boomer, Caber, Chondu the Mystic, Doctor Druid, Foreigner, Jean Grey, Halflife I, Ikaris, Jarella, Lockjaw, Molten Man, Mystique, Neptune, Orb, Psyklop, Rattler, Stryfe, Super-Skrull, Titan, Windshear Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Fourth Line-Up)	January 1993	23	$4.50
27	Model sheets: Anvil, Asp II, Bengal, Beta Ray Bill, Cat-Man, Deathlok I, Devos the Devastator, Electron, Foolkiller, Giant-Man II, Green Goblin, HYDRA, Jack O'Lantern II, Korath the Pursuer, Marauders, Master Pandemonium, Needle, Pip the Troll, Raza, Snowbird, Toad, Wyatt Wingfoot Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Fifth Line-Up)	February 1993	23	$4.50
28	Model sheets: Aron the Rogue Watcher, Black Crow, Blade, Changeling, Cutthroat, Domino II, Dream Queen, Elysius, Galactus, Hellfire Club, Kaluu, Living Lightning, Man-Beast, Meggan, Possessor, Ramrod, Scarecrow, Squadron Supreme, Starhawk II, Terror, Inc., Valinor, Warstar Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Sixth Line-Up)	March 1993	23	$4.95
29	Model sheets: Aurora, Balder, Blackout I, Carnage, Black Tom Cassidy, Chief Examiner, Dazzler, Dredmund Druid, Gardener, Justin Hammer, Lightmaster, Mastermind, Mentallo, Occulus, Puma, Reavers, Sabretooth, Sersi, Solo, Talon, U.S. Agent, Warwolves Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Seventh Line-Up)	April 1993	23	$4.95
30	Model sheets: The Answer, Bishop, Blackout II, Chord, Crusader II, Dracula, Dreadnought, Griffin, Hera, Impala, Janus II, Longshot, Magik, Nobilus, Portal, Rage, Shalla Bal, Skrulls, Snowblind, Union Jack III, Yandroth, Wraith Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Eighth Line-Up: Blue Team)	May 1993	23	$4.95
31	Model sheets: Agamemnon, Blue Eagle, Cardiac, Coldblood, Destroyer III, Feral, Gronk, Hussar, Killraven, Living Monolith, Mandrill, Micromax, Molecule Man, Nebula, Presence, Quill, Shockwave, Sleepwalker, Talisman II, Vision II, War Machine, Wildheart Team Action Sheet: X-Men (Eighth Line-Up: Gold Team)	June 1993	23	$4.95
32	Model sheets: Analyzer, Bird-Man I & II, Captain Universe, Doughboy, The Enclave, Famine, Growing Man, Harriers, Ion, Kree, Lord Chaos, Maverick, Mephisto, Nefarius, Paibok the Power Skrull, Rampage, Señor Muerte, Shapeshifter, Trapster I & II, Union Jack I & II, Voice, Ymir Team Action Sheet: Avengers West Coast (First Line-Up)	July 1993	23	$4.95
33	Model sheets: Avalanche, Black Archer, Centurious, Crippler, Deathwatch, Enforcers, Feron, Gideon, Hercules, Human Torch I, Inertia, Iron Man, Karma, Living Tribunal, Morg, Rancor, Reptyl, Scourge, Slapstick, Spider-Man 2099, Tyler Stone, Warpath Team Action Sheet: Avengers West Coast (Second Line-Up)	August 1993	23	$4.95
34	Model sheets: Aragorn, Blackheart, Caliban, Captain Marvel II, Cyber, Demogoblin, Frank Drake, 8-Ball, Frog-Man, Grizzly II, Jack of Hearts, Lilith II, Multiple Man, Null the Living Darkness, Omega Red, Punisher 2099, Henry Pym, Replica, Rictor, Sunfire, Tigra, Wonder Man Team Action Sheet: Avengers West Coast (Third Line-Up)	September 1993	23	$4.95
35	Model sheets: Beyonder, Bloodaxe, Crystal, Deathlok III, Dr. Strange, Doom 2099, Fearmaster, Hellstorm, Kala, Lyja the Lazerfist, Magus I, Polaris, Proteus, Tamara Rahn, Shotgun II, Specialist, Spirit of Vengeance, Starhawk I, Thunderstrike, Turbo I & II, Weapon X II, Zero Team Action Sheet: Avengers West Coast (Fourth Line-Up)	October 1993	23	$4.95
36	Model sheets: Ajax, Binary, Blackwing, Cerise, Chance I, Evilhawk, Goddess, Grizzly I, Hardcore, Moonhunter, Morbius, Ms. Marvel II, Proctor, Pyro, Ravage 2099, Roma, Savage Steel, Siege, Sunspot, Ultimo, Vanisher, White Queen, Zarathos	November 1993	23	$4.95

Reprint *Essential OHOTMU - Master Edition* (trade paperback, B/W) #1 - 3 (Marvel Comics, April - September 2008)
	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.!	Pages	Orig. price
1	Abomination to Gargoyle		April 2008	592	$16.99
2	Garokk to Proctor		June 2008	584	$16.99
3	Professor Power to Zzzax		September 2008	576	$16.99

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. IV

*Original Series* (Marvel Comics, May 2004 - May 2021)
Series		Title / Info	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
2004 One-shots		X-Men 2004^[6]	May 2004	48	$3.99
		Spider-Man 2004^[7]	June 2004	48	$3.99
		Avengers 2004^[8]	July 2004	48	$3.99
		Hulk 2004^[9]	August 2004	48	$3.99
		Daredevil 2004^[10]	September 2004	48	$3.99
		Wolverine 2004^[11]	October 2004	48	$3.99
		Book of the Dead 2004^[12]	November 2004	48	$3.99
		Golden Age 2004^[13]	December 2004	48	$3.99
2005 One-shots		Women of Marvel 2005^[14]	January 2005	48	$3.99
		Marvel Knights 2005^[15]	February 2005	48	$3.99
		X-Men - Age of Apocalypse 2005^[16]	March 2005	48	$3.99
		Spider-Man 2005^[17]	April 2005	48	$3.99
		Teams 2005^[18]	May 2005	48	$3.99
		Fantastic Four 2005^[19]	June 2005	48	$3.99
		Avengers 2005^[20]	July 2005	48	$3.99
		Ultimate Spider-Man & Ultimate Fantastic Four 2005^[21]	August 2005	48	$3.99
		Alternate Universes 2005^[22]	September 2005	48	$3.99
		Horror 2005^[23]	October 2005	48	$3.99
		X-Men 2005^[24]	November 2005	48	$3.99
		The Ultimates & Ultimate X-Men 2005^[25]	December 2005	48	$3.99
2006 All-New A - Z	1	Abraxas to Batwing^[26] ^[27]	January 2006	64	$3.99
	2	Benny Beckley to Crazy Eight^[28] ^[29]	February 2006	64	$3.99
	3	Copperhead to Ethan Edwards^[30] ^[31]	March 2006	64	$3.99
	4	Damon Dran to Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway^[32] ^[33]	April 2006	64	$3.99
	5	Gorgon to Jury^[34] ^[35]	May 2006	64	$3.99
	6	Justice to Marvel^[36] ^[37]	June 2006	64	$3.99
	7	Victor Mancha to Phantazia^[38] ^[39]	July 2006	64	$3.99
	8	Nekra to Quoi^[40] ^[41]	August 2006	64	$3.99
	9	Puppet Master to Shamrock^[42] ^[43]	September 2006	64	$3.99
	10	Shadowoman to Tara^[44] ^[45]	October 2006	64	$3.99
	11	Stranger to Ultimo^[46] ^[47]	November 2006	64	$3.99
	12	Ultra Girl to Arnim Zola^[48] ^[49]	December 2006	64	$3.99
2006 One-shots		Files	January 2006	48	$3.99
		Marvel Westerns Outlaw Files	June 2006	48	$3.99
		Planet Hulk Gladiator Guidebook	July 2006	48	$3.99
		Annihilation Nova Corps Files	July 2006	48	$3.99
		Civil War Files	September 2006	48	$3.99
2006 Marvel Legacy		The 1960s Handbook: Acrobat to Zota^[50] ^[51]	February 2006	64	$4.99
		The 1970s Handbook: Avengers to Xorr the God-Jewel^[52] ^[53]	May 2006	64	$4.99
		The 1980s Handbook: Archer, U.S. to Zxaxz^[54] ^[55]	November 2006	64	$4.99
		The 1990s Handbook: Annex to X-Treme^[56] ^[57]	February 2007	64	$4.99
2007 All-New A - Z Update	1	Amatsu-Kami to Walker^[58] ^[59]	January 2007	64	$3.99
	2	Adam II to Zodiak^[60] ^[61]	May 2007	64	$3.99
	3	Acts of Vengeance to Zodiac Key^[62] ^[63]	July 2007	64	$3.99
	4	Aqueduct to Zaran^[64] ^[65]	October 2007	64	$3.99
2007 One-shots		Handbook^[66]	April 2007	48	$3.99
		- Guilty Pleasures Handbook	May 2007	48	$3.99
		Mystic Arcana The Book of Marvel Magic^[67]	June 2007	64	$3.99
		The Mighty Avengers Most Wanted Files^[68]	July 2007	48	$3.99
		World War Hulk Gamma Files^[69]	August 2007	48	$3.99
		Marvel Zombies The Book of Angels, Demons, & Various Monstrosities^[70]	September 2007	48	$3.99
		Marvel Atlas #1	November 2007	64	$3.99
		X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files^[71]	December 2007	48	$3.99
2008 One-shots		Ultimate Secrets	January 2008	48	$3.99
		Marvel Atlas #2	March 2008	64	$3.99
		All-New Iron Manual^[72] ^[73]	May 2008	64	$4.99
		Secret Invasion Skrulls!	July 2008	64	$4.99
		Amazing Spider-Man: Brand New Day Yearbook	December 2008	64	$4.99
2009 One-shots		Dark Reign Files	February 2009	64	$4.99
		Wolverine Weapon X Files	April 2009	64	$4.99
		Marvel Pets Handbook	June 2009	48	$3.99
		Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica	July 2009	64	$4.99
		Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special	September 2009	64	$4.99
2010 A - Z Update	1	Marlene Alraune to Zuri	February 2010	64	$3.99
	2	Abyss (Sorcerer) to Xartans	June 2010	64	$3.99
	3	Aakon to Yondu	August 2010	64	$3.99
	4	Beetle (Davis) to Zodiac (gang with no name)	October 2010	64	$3.99
	5	Advisor to Witness	December 2010	64	$3.99
2010 One-shots		Deadpool Corps: Rank and Foul	March 2010	64	$3.99
		Iron Manual Mark 3	April 2010	64	$3.99
		Avengers Assemble	May 2010	64	$3.99
		X-Men Phoenix Force Handbook	July 2010	64	$4.99
2011 One-shots		Blockbusters of the Marvel Universe	January 2011	64	$4.99
		Thor Asgard's Avenger	April 2011	64	$4.99
		X-Men Earth's Mutant Heroes	May 2011	64	$4.99
		Captain America America's Avenger	June 2011	64	$4.99
		Fear Itself Fellowship of Fear	August 2011	32	$3.99
		FF: 50 Fantastic Years	September 2011	64	$4.99
		Vampires The Marvel Undead	October 2011	64	$4.99
		Defenders Strange Heroes	December 2011	64	$4.99
2012 One-shots		Avengers Roll Call	April 2012	64	$4.99
2014 One-shots		Avengers Now	Handbook	December 2014	64	$4.99
2015 One-shots		Secret Wars Official Guide to the Marvel Multiverse	December 2015	64	$4.99
2016 One-shots		All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe	May 2016	64	$4.99
2018 One-shots		Spider-Geddon Handbook	December 2018	64	$4.99
2020 One-shots		Empyre Handbook	August 2020	64	$4.99
2020 One-shots		X of Swords Handbook	October 2020	64	$4.99
2021 One-shots		King in Black Handbook	May 2021	64	$4.9

*Reprints* (Marvel Comics, November 2007 - June 2012)
Series		Title / Info	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
2007 (trade paperback)		Marvel Legacy: The 1960s-1990s Handbook	November 2007	280	$19.99
2007 (hardcover)		Mystic Arcana *	December 2007	264	$24.99
2008 (trade paperback)		Mystic Arcana * * contains the four-part comic miniseries Mystic Arcana, The Official Tarot of the Marvel Universe and The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Mystic Arcana	June 2008	264	$24.99
2008 (trade paperback)		Marvel Atlas	July 2008	144	$14.99
2008 A - Z (hardcover)	1	1602 A.D. to Blackwing (Manfredi)	February 2008	240	$24.99
	2	Blackwulf to Crimson Dynamo	April 2008	240	$24.99
	3	Crimson Dynamo (Gavrilov) to Elements of Doom	June 2008	240	$24.99
	4	Elf with a Gun to Guardians of the Galaxy	August 2008	240	$24.99
	5	Guardsmen to Jackal	October 2008	240	$24.99
	6	Harald Jaekelsson to Maelstrom	December 2008	240	$24.99
	7	Maestro to Ms. Marvel	March 2009	240	$24.99
	8	Multiple Man to Phoenix Force	May 2009	240	$24.99
	9	Photon to Sage	July 2009	240	$24.99
	10	Salem's Seven to Speed	September 2009	240	$24.99
	11	Speed Demon to Terrible Trio	November 2009	240	$24.99
	12	Terror (Pevely) to Vision (Aarkus)	January 2010	240	$24.99
	13	Vision (Victor Shade) to Zaran	April 2010	240	$24.99
	14		June 2010	240	$24.99
	contains material from 2004 - 2009, plus updates and several all-new entries
2009 (trade paperback)		Wolverine Weapon X Files contains Wolverine: Weapon X Files (2009), Wolverine Encyclopedia (1996) # 1 - 2 [sic!] and the Beast Files (from Marvel Vision # 5 - 30)^[74] ^[75]	September 2009	224	$24.99
2010 (trade paperback)		Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades	July 2010	240	$19.99
2011 A - Z (trade paperback)	1	1602 to Blackwulf	September 2011	256	$19.99
	2	Blade to Crooked World	December 2011	256	$19.99
	3	Crimson Dynamo (Gavrilov) to Elements of Doom	February 2012	256	$19.99
	4		April 2012	256	$19.99
	5		June 2012	256	$19.99
	6		Publication cancelled	256	$19.99
	contains material from 2008's A - Z (hardcover) with corrections, plus 16-page addendums entitled "Where are they now?"

Bibliography of other handbook titles

Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe

See main article: Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe.

Marvel Encyclopedias

*Wolverine Encyclopedia* (trade paperback) #1 - 2 (Marvel Comics, November - December 1996)
	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
1	A - K^[76]		November 1996	48	$5.95
2	L - R^[77]	^[78]	December 1996	48	$5.95
3	S - Z	-	Publication cancelled	48	$5.95
	Wolverine Weapon X Files includes reprints of Wolverine Encyclopedia # 1 - 2		September 2009	224	$24.99

*Marvel Encyclopedia* (hardcover) #1 - 6 (Marvel Comics, October 2002 - November 2004)
	Info	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
1	Avengers, Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights / MAX, X-Men	October 2002	240	$29.99
2	X-Men	April 2003	240	$29.99
3	Hulk	June 2003	208	$19.99
4	Spider-Man	November 2003	240	$24.99
5	Marvel Knights	April 2004	240	$29.99
6	Fantastic Four	November 2004	240	$29.99

*Marvel Encyclopedia* (trade paperback) (Scholastic, 2006 - 2008)
	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
?	X-Men^[79]	?	2006	?	$ ?
?	Spider-Man		2006	?	$ ?
?	Avengers		Januar 2008	120	$ ?

*The Marvel Encyclopedia* (hardcover) (Dorling Kindersley, October 2006 - March 2014)
Title	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
The Marvel Encyclopedia - 1st Edition	October 2006	352	$40.00
The Marvel Encyclopedia - Limited 1st Edition	October 2006	352	$ ?
The Marvel Encyclopedia - 2nd Edition	October 2009	400	$40.00
The Marvel Encyclopedia - Limited 2nd Edition	October 2009	400	$ ?
The Marvel Encyclopedia - 3rd Edition	March 2014	432	$40.00
The Marvel Encyclopedia - 4th Edition	April 2019	448	$40.00

Ultimate Guides (hardcover) (Dorling Kindersley, October 2000 – Present)
Title	Author	ISBN	Month of publ.	Pages	Orig. price
Ultimate X-Men	Peter Sanderson		October 2000	174	$19.99
Spider-Man The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		September 2001	168	$19.99
X-Men The Ultimate Guide (Updated)	Peter Sanderson		March 2003	184	$24.99
Hulk The Incredible Guide	Tom DeFalco		May 2003	176	$24.99
The Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		June 2005	144	$ ?
The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		October 2005	144	$24.99
X-Men The Ultimate Guide (updated)	Peter Sanderson		April 2006	192	$24.99
Ghost Rider The Visual Guide	Andrew Darling		December 2006	128	$19.99
Hulk The Incredible Guide (updated)	Tom DeFalco		June 2008	144	$ ?
Spider-Man The Ultimate Guide (updated)	Tom DeFalco		March 2007	184	$24.99
Wolverine Inside the World of the Living Weapon	Matthew K. Manning		March 2009	200	$24.99
Iron Man The Ultimate Guide to the Armored Super Hero	Matthew K. Manning		February 2010	200	$24.99
The Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide	Alan Cowsill		September 2010	208	$16.99
The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth's Mightiest Heroes		Scott Beatty		April 2012	192	$24.99
The Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide (updated)	Alan Cowsill		2013	208	$16.99
X-Men The Ultimate Guide (updated)	?		2014	184	$ ?
The Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide (updated)	?		March 2015	232	$16.99
Captain America The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger	?		April 2016	200	$30.00
Guardians of the Galaxy The Ultimate Guide to the Cosmic Outlaws	?		April 2017	200	$30.00
Black Panther The Ultimate Guide	?		January 2018	200	$30.00
Marvel Studios Visual Dictionary	?		September 2018	200	$30.00
Black Widow Secrets of a Super-Spy	Melanie Scott		April 2020	200	$30.00

Marvel Fact Files

See main article: Marvel Fact Files.

Marvel Fact Files are a series of encyclopedic guides which detail the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications. The magazine series is published in the U.K. by Eaglemoss Publications starting in 2013.

Reception

Lawrence Henry Apodaca reviewed the original The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe in Space Gamer No. 64.^[80] Apodaca commented that "Non-comic collectors should be able to find copies at stores which carry back issues - and should look for them. They are a valuable aid to science fiction or superhero RPGs."^[80]

External links

OHOTMU at the Marvel Universe
Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Who Watches the Watchers OHOTMU Discussion Forum
Jeff Christiansen's Master List
Marvel Catalog at Marvel.com

Notes and References

DeFalco, Tom. "Bullpen Bulletins Special," Marvel Comics cover-dated March 1984.
Peter Sanderson (2005-01-28). "Comics in Context #70: Elektra Lite: Superheroes A to Z."
News: Henderson, Chris . July 1986 . Joe Rubinstein . . 36 . 40–51 . Fictioneer Books.
Scott Tipton (2004-09-15). "Gone Too Soon: Remembering Da Gru."
MileHighComics.com: OHOTMU Master Edition cover gallery (with character overview)
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: X-Men 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Spider-Man 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Avengers 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Hulk 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Daredevil 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Wolverine 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Book of the Dead 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Golden Age 2004
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Women of Marvel 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Marvel Knights 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: X-Men: Age of Apocalypse 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Spider-Man 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Teams 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Fantastic Four 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Avengers 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Ultimate Spider-Man & Fantastic Four 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Alternate Universes 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Horror 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: X-Men 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Ultimate X-Men & Ultimates 2005
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #1
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #1
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #2
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #2
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #3
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #3
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #4
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #4
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #5
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #5
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #6
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #6
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #7
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #7
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #8
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #8
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #9
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #9
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #10
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #10
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #11
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #11
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z #12
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z #12
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Marvel Legacy: The 1960s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Marvel Legacy: The 1960s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Marvel Legacy: The 1970s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Marvel Legacy: The 1970s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Marvel Legacy: The 1980s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Marvel Legacy: The 1980s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Marvel Legacy: The 1990s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Marvel Legacy: The 1990s
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z Update #1
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z Update #1
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z Update #2
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z Update #2
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z Update #3
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z Update #3
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: All-New A - Z Update #4
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New A - Z Update #4
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Spider-Man: Back in Black
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Mighty Avengers: Most Wanted Files
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: World War Hulk: Gamma Files
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: Marvel Zombies: The Book Of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings (including character listings)
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Bibliography: All-New Iron Manual
Web site: Wolverine: Weapon X Files (TPB) . www.comic-odyssey.com . April 26, 2013.
Web site: Wolverine: Weapon X Files (TPB) . National Library of Australia . April 26, 2013.
Web site: Wolverine Encyclopedia #1 . ComicVine.com . March 7, 2013.
Web site: Wolverine Encyclopedia #2 . ComicVine.com . March 7, 2013.
Web site: Wolverine Encyclopedia #2 . Comics.org . March 7, 2013.
Marvel.com: OHOTMU Listings: Marvel Encyclopedia: X-Men 2 (TPB)
Apodaca . Lawrence Henry . July–August 1983 . Capsule Reviews. Space Gamer. Steve Jackson Games. 64. 38–39.