Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

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

, Marvel's then editor-in-chief, conceived the idea of envisioning a guide detailing statistics much in the manner of those found upon the back of baseball cards. This initial project was to be called The Marvel Super-Specifications Handbook. 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. Gruenwald brought in Josef Rubinstein to be the sole inker of the 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.
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. 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 their place of birth, former aliases, and physical features. The original edition opted only to describe the "origins" of characters, 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, 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 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 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 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. 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.
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. I

#	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.
1	Abomination to Zzzax Book of the Dead and Inactive: Air-Walker to Zuras Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia		January 2006

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

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

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

#	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.
1	Abomination to Gargoyle		April 2008
2	Garokk to Proctor		June 2008
3	Professor Power to Zzzax		September 2008

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. IV

Gamer's Handbook of the Marvel Universe

Marvel Encyclopedias

#	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.
1	Avengers, Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights / MAX, X-Men		October 2002
2	X-Men		April 2003
3	Hulk		June 2003
4	Spider-Man		November 2003
5	Marvel Knights		April 2004
6	Fantastic Four		November 2004

#	Info	ISBN	Month of publ.
?	X-Men	?	2006
?	Spider-Man		2006
?	Avengers		Januar 2008

Title	ISBN	Month of publ.
Spider-Man Character Encyclopedia		April 2014

Title	ISBN	Month of publ.
The Avengers Encyclopedia		October 2015

Title	ISBN	Month of publ.
Marvel Studios Character Encyclopedia		April 2019

Title	ISBN	Month of publ.
Ultimate Marvel		September 2017

Title	Author	ISBN	Month of publ.
Ultimate X-Men	Peter Sanderson		October 2000
Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		September 2001
X-Men: The Ultimate Guide	Peter Sanderson		March 2003
Hulk: The Incredible Guide	Tom DeFalco		May 2003
The Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		June 2005
The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		October 2005
X-Men: The Ultimate Guide	Peter Sanderson		April 2006
Ghost Rider: The Visual Guide	Andrew Darling		December 2006
Hulk: The Incredible Guide	Tom DeFalco		June 2008
Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide	Tom DeFalco		March 2007
Wolverine: Inside the World of the Living Weapon	Matthew K. Manning		March 2009
Iron Man: The Ultimate Guide to the Armored Super Hero	Matthew K. Manning		February 2010
The Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide	Alan Cowsill		September 2010
The Avengers: The Ultimate Guide to Earth's Mightiest Heroes!	Scott Beatty		April 2012
The Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide	Alan Cowsill		2013
X-Men: The Ultimate Guide	?		2014
The Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide	?		March 2015
Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger	?		April 2016
Guardians of the Galaxy: The Ultimate Guide to the Cosmic Outlaws	?		April 2017
Black Panther: The Ultimate Guide	?		January 2018
Marvel Studios Visual Dictionary	?		September 2018
Black Widow: Secrets of a Super-Spy	Melanie Scott		April 2020

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. 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."