The Marvel X-Men Guidebook

by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

Everyone's talking about the X-Men - they're the hottest super heroes around! Now everything you wanted to know about the X-Men - their incredible powers, their best team-ups, their greatest battles, and much, much more - is here inside The Marvel X-Men Guide Book

*The Top Secret Origins of the X-men, X-Factor, X-Force and Excalibur!

*Profiles of the most famous super mutants - and their fiercest foes!

*A guided tour of the X-men mansion and the top-secret Danger Room!

*A list of the most valuable X-men comics!

Genres: X Men

80 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

DWIGHT JON ZIMMERMAN is an award-winning author and producer. His most recent book, Uncommon Valor: The Medal of Honor and the Six Warriors Who Earned It in Afghanistan and Iraq, co-authored with John D. Gresham and published by St. Martin’s Press, received the 2010 Founder’s Award from the Military Writers Society of America, the organization’s highest honor. Zimmerman’s other books include the award-winning The Vietnam War: A Graphic History (Hill & Wang), with artist Wayne Vansant, the first-ever single-volume graphic history of the Vietnam War; the critically acclaimed Beyond Hell and Back (St. Martin’s Press), with co-author John D. Gresham, about seven pivotal special operations missions from Vietnam to present day, and the award-winning First Command: Paths to Leadership (Vandamere Press), about the pivotal moments in the early careers of some of America’s most important generals. First Command later became an award-winning mini-series on the Military Channel. Zimmerman has lectured at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Naval War College and has written numerous articles on military history subjects. His articles have been selected by the Naval War College for use in their curriculum and recognized by the prestigious Journal of Special Operations Medicine. Zimmerman began his career in publishing at Marvel Comics, where he held a variety of editorial positions. In 1992, Zimmerman became executive editor of Topps Comics and was responsible for the editorial and art direction of its lines of media tie-in comics.

His next book is Saga of the Sioux an authorized young adult adaptation of Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Zimmerman lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife and daughter.

Reviews

[Willow Redd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this has any actual association with Marvel, outside of having to be officially licensed to use names and artwork, just one of several books released during the early '90s to cash in on the Mutant Hysteria of the day. And, as a teen right in the middle of that Mutant Hysteria, this seemed like a good purchase.

Not to say that it's a bad book, just very simple. It includes the origins of the X-Men, grossly simplified, as well as the various teams and group members with short histories, also simplified. Reading through this, it's also very clear how much has changed or come out about the characters and the X-Men since the release of X-Men #1 (which this book was written to coincide with). In fact, with that particular X-Men series, much of the information shared about certain characters was incorrect or just grossly out of date within six months of its release. But, that's the problem of keeping tabs on comic chronologies... they're always changing.

Still, a fun read for its time, and something a younger comic book fan might enjoy. I'll be dropping this one in my Little Free Library for someone else to find.

[Chuck White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book from childhood, a quick read and added to the donation pile. Gives a simplified version of the history of the X-Men and their characters.

Recommended for children under 10.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, we read most of it. Anyway, I probably read it when I was a kid. We found this in a box of stuff my Mom gave me that she saved from my childhood. Not the best, but it is what we had.

[Eligos Vespillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, 90's as hell little handbook on everything you'd ever want to know about Marvel's beloved mutants.

[Miss Ryoko]

I've had this book since I was a little kid... it's been one of my prized possessions when it comes to my love for X-Men... and I just stumbled across it while cleaning out boxes of my stuff. So happy to have found it! I will keep it close by!

[William Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember having that books when I was real little my older brothers and sister liked it. I liked the drawings of the characters.