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Essential Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe Volume 1 TPB
A picture's worth a thousand words, and there have always been top supplies of both in the ever-moving manuals of marvels and miscreants! Now, witness first-hand the series that started it all in Mark Gruenwald's original fifteen issues worth of secrets, super-powers and schematics! About the best, by the best! Collects OHOTMU #1-15.
544 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2006
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About the author
Mark Gruenwald
920 books44 followersGruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity. Before being hired by Marvel, he wrote text articles for DC Comics official fanzine, The Amazing World of DC Comics. Articles by Gruenwald include "The Martian Chronicles" (a history of the Martian Manhunter) in issue #13 and several articles on the history of the Justice League in issue #14.
In 1978 he was hired by Marvel Comics, where he remained for the rest of his career. Hired initially as an assistant editor in January 1978, Gruenwald was promoted to full editorship by Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter in 1982, putting Gruenwald in charge of The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spider Woman, and What If. During this period, he shared an office with writer/editor Denny O'Neil, whom Gruenwald considered a mentor.
In 1982, Gruenwald, Steven Grant, and Bill Mantlo co-wrote Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions, the first limited seriespublished by Marvel Comics. As a writer, Gruenwald is best known for creating the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and his ten-year stint as the writer of Captain America during which he contributed several notable characters such as Crossbones, Diamondback and U.S. Agent. He made a deliberate effort to create villains who would be specific to Captain America, as opposed to generic foes who could as easily have been introduced in another comic.
His 60-issue run on Quasar realized Gruenwald's ambition to write his own kind of superhero. However, he considered his magnum opus to be the mid-1980s 12-issue miniseries Squadron Supreme, which told the story of an alternate universe where a group of well-intended superheroes decide that they would be best suited to run the planet
In 1978 he was hired by Marvel Comics, where he remained for the rest of his career. Hired initially as an assistant editor in January 1978, Gruenwald was promoted to full editorship by Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter in 1982, putting Gruenwald in charge of The Avengers, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Spider Woman, and What If. During this period, he shared an office with writer/editor Denny O'Neil, whom Gruenwald considered a mentor.
In 1982, Gruenwald, Steven Grant, and Bill Mantlo co-wrote Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions, the first limited seriespublished by Marvel Comics. As a writer, Gruenwald is best known for creating the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and his ten-year stint as the writer of Captain America during which he contributed several notable characters such as Crossbones, Diamondback and U.S. Agent. He made a deliberate effort to create villains who would be specific to Captain America, as opposed to generic foes who could as easily have been introduced in another comic.
His 60-issue run on Quasar realized Gruenwald's ambition to write his own kind of superhero. However, he considered his magnum opus to be the mid-1980s 12-issue miniseries Squadron Supreme, which told the story of an alternate universe where a group of well-intended superheroes decide that they would be best suited to run the planet
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 2, 2015
Wait. How many tons can the Thing bench press?
Have a hyperactive kid who just loves comics? This is the perfect gift idea!! Guaranteed to put your little nerd to sleep in half a page.
You're welcome and Excelsior!!
Have a hyperactive kid who just loves comics? This is the perfect gift idea!! Guaranteed to put your little nerd to sleep in half a page.
You're welcome and Excelsior!!
November 23, 2010
2.5 stars. These are pretty good reference books for Marvel character backgrounds and histories. Could be done better but they are certainly superior to the version put out by DC.
March 30, 2022
Literally a guidebook.
May 7, 2013
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe has always been one of my favorite series. This is where you get a full account, up to the time of publication, of your favorite heroes and villains. You get stats, history (what's known), power breakdown, and a full summary of the character's life up to that point. The first twelve books collected in this volume are full of the characters that were major players in the Marvel Universe at the time (and the appendix at the end of each issue included many of the characters that didn't get full-page treatment). Issues 13-14 are the books of the dead and inactive, filled with info on heroes and villains no longer around (or likely to come back at some point). Finally, issue 15 is the weapon and paraphernalia issue, full of schematics and descriptions of the weapons and tools used by your favorite heroes and villains.
These books are an excellent study guide for someone who is either new to the Marvel Universe, or has read so much and needs the occasional refresher without searching through countless back issues.
These books are an excellent study guide for someone who is either new to the Marvel Universe, or has read so much and needs the occasional refresher without searching through countless back issues.
March 29, 2016
The bios were a bit simplistic but loved the extras sprinkled throughout
August 5, 2016
Cause Boomerang has rocket boots!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews