Essential Handbook of the Marvel Universe—Deluxe Edition

    (Marvel, 2006)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

Can you name every member of the Avengers… how about Maelstrom’s Minions? Who is Yrdisis? Which sub-basement houses the heat exchangers? Not to worry, True Believers, these answers, and many, many more, are inside this definitive guide to everything Marvel—circa 1985–1986, at least!

Here’s where it gets confusing, though: this “Essential” guide collects the “Deluxe Edition” series, which was itself an expanded update to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, which only managed to remain definitive for about 3 years!

Like all Essential collections, this is a black and white reproduction, on lower quality newsprint. But the books make up for this with quantity and affordability—in this case, hundreds of pages of art and information for less than $17 each.

Included inside this complete A-Z listing of characters, places, and equipment are glossaries, articles, and even bios of various Marvel staffers of the time.

— Joseph Self
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