This is the first in a series that looks at the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe hardcovers, and notes how the entries were changed from the original Handbooks that were compiled for the hardcovers. Some information presented here was previous posted to the Who Watches the Watchers forum at Comixfan while other information is presented here concurrently.
Fantastic Four 2005 Entries – List of Changes in the Hardcovers
All: Abilities, Superhuman Powers, Paraphernalia merged as Abilities/Accessories; Distinguishing Features and Marital Status removed. Origin and Significant Issues info from back of book removed.
Annihilus
Hardcover Volume: 1
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: History greatly revised/expanded
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one still present), two new secondary illos added
Doctor Doom
Hardcover Volume: 3
Page Count: unchanged at 4
Text Changes: Known Relatives, Group Affiliation, final History paragraph expanded
Graphic Changes: 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned)
Fantastic Four
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: increased from 3 to 5
Text Changes: Team Stats revised and expanded, including large section on Employees. History greatly expanded; initially text more or less untouched, with 2 paragraphs merged; starting on 3rd page, text starts to diverge more from the original text, with some text embedded within existing paragraphs, new paragraphs added even before post-2004 material, existing paragraphs rewritten.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed; new main illo, 5 new secondary illos (3 captioned by Handbook writers with a 4th captioned as originally printed). 30 headshots with issues joined (21 members, 29 employees)
Galactus
Hardcover Volume: 4
Page Count: increased from 4 to 5
Text Changes: Aliases/Occupation expanded. History: revisions to 1st, 3rd, 16th paragraphs; 4 new paragraphs added before final paragraph.
Graphic Changes: Main illos removed, replaced with classic Handbook illo; secondary illo now captioned; 3 new captioned secondary illos followed by 20 headshots of Galactus as viewed by other races.
Human Torch
Hardcover Volume: 5
Now Listed As: Human Torch (Storm)
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics somewhat revised. History considerably revised/expanded, though some old paragraphs intact. Abilities/Accessories completely revised/expanded. Durability on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed, replaced with new main illo and 10 secondary illos (5 captioned).
Inhumans
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: increased from 3 to 6
Text Changes: “Known Members” split into 8 new categories and greatly expanded. History largely revised; a lot of old text still present, with new and altered text weaving through it with new paragraphs, paragraph breaks etc. (it’s hard to look at black text on blue background –the original format- but the additions are clearly substantial, especially later on).
Graphic Changes: Main and secondary illos captioned; 3 new secondary illos (2 captioned). 96 new headshots with First Appearances added.
Invisible Woman
Hardcover Volume: 5
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics somewhat revised. New sentence added to end of 1st paragraph; the former 3rd-last paragraphs moved to new paragraph; then 2nd-last and last paragraphs removed; depending on if you ould the split off part of former 3rd last paragraph, 8 new paragraphs added. Abilities/Accessories greatly but not completely revised/expanded. Given old format’s black text on blue background, I may be overlooking some changes.
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one removed), 7 new secondary illos (3 captioned).
Mister Fantastic
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised/expanded. History paragraphs somewhat revised/expanded, though most original text still present; some paragraphs merged; final paragraph replaced with 6 new ones. Abilities/Accessories revised/expanded, though a lot of old text still present.
Graphic Changes: Old illos removed; new main illo and 8 new secondary illos (4 captioned).
Mole Man
Hardcover Volume: 7
Page Count: increased from 2 to 3
Text Changes: Vital Statistics a little revised. History and Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 4 new secondary illos (2 captioned)
Alyssa Moy
Hardcover Volume: 7
Now Listed As: Alyssa Moy-Castle
Page Count: increased from 1 to 2
Text Changes: History greatly revised/expanded (no longer just one paragraph). Abilities/Accessories almost completely revised/expanded (lots of new text for both History and Abilities/Accessories).
Graphic Changes: New main illo (old one now secondary); 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).
Psycho-Man
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Aliases and Identity revised. History greatly revised/expanded, though a lot of old text still present. Abilities/Accessories a little revised/expanded. Height/Weight revised.
Graphic Changes: Main illo no longer cut off on right; 2 new secondary illos.
Ramades
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 1
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History mostly rewritten (small amount of old text still present). Abilities/Accessories completely rewritten. Speed on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo no longer cut off on right and bottom; new captioned secondary illo.
Franklin Richards
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Vital Statistics greatly revised. History greatly revised/expanded. Abilities /Accessories mostly revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 2nd illo removed; 7 new secondary illos (6 captioned)
Valeria Richards
Hardcover Volume: 9
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Known Relatives and Education revised. History somewhat revised/expanded, with paragraph mergers and new text weaving in and out of old. Abilities/Accessories greatly revised/expanded. Power Grids merged and Strength, Speed, and Durability as Valeria revised.
Graphic Changes: Old illo no longer cut off on right and bottom; new captioned secondary illo.
Silver Surfer
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: increased from 3 to 4
Text Changes: Aliases, identity, Occupation, Group Affiliation revised. Final History paragraph revised, then 6 new paragraphs added. 2nd Abilities/Accessories paragraph somewhat revised.
Graphic Changes: 6 new secondary illos (4 captioned)
Skrulls
Hardcover Volume: 10
Page Count: increased from 3 to 7
Text Changes: Known Members and Base of Operations considerably revised/expanded. Traits added (2 paragraphs), incorporating material from first old History paragraph. History considerably revised/expanded.
Graphic Changes: 5 new secondary illos (3 captioned); 48 headshots with First Appearances added.
Thing
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: increased from 3 to 5
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. Old History somewhat revised, with new text weaving in and out of old, with 6 new paragraphs added before the 2nd last. Abilities/Accessories mostly revised/expanded. Intelligence on Power Grid revised.
Graphic Changes: old main illo removed and secondary illo cropped; new main illo and 12 new secondary illos (8 captioned).
Uatu the Watcher
Hardcover Volume: 12
Page Count: unchanged at 2
Text Changes: Vital Statistics revised. History somewhat revised/expanded, with new text weaving in and out of old, and some paragraph mergers. Nte added to Power Grid.
Graphic Changes: 2 new secondary illos (1 captioned).
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