The Official
Handbook of the Marvel Universe – Master Edition (fourth series) 1991-1993
Curiously this series claimed to be
the third series again. It was actually the fourth.
Number of
Issues: 36 (48 pages plus cover)
Covers: The
front cover had a colour image of a key character plus headshots of the other
characters, on a colour background, with contents. In #1-12 the contents were
on the bottom, in #13-36 they were on the left, which non-solo entries noted in
a blurb in the artwork.
There were no back covers.
Formatting: The
inside front cover have either an editorial with credits (sometimes with
additional entry info for those characters who needed more than two pages), an
explanation of the special ability categories, or a glossary.
All entries are exactly two
pages. Loofleaf format. Unlike previous
titles, where the alphabetizing spanned the entire run, each issue has its own
alphabetizing.
Interior Art:
For solo entries, the front side of each entry have three illos each with the
character facing front, left, and back; these were all pencilled by Keith
Pollard and inked by Josef Rubenstein. If there is room, some entries have
reprinted illos on the back of the character in action. For team entries, the front side have new art
from other artists showing the team in action; there is rarely art in the back
for those entries unless the team’s supporting cast is depicted (see below). Some sheets show a hero in action on the
front (new art). Usually but not always the back side show headshots of the
character’s supporting cast (new art).
Text Categories
(*=not all entries)
Roman numerals according to in
universe chronology were common.
Main Entries
ENTRY NAME IN CAPS (both sides;
sometimes the front side entry name different from the back side entry name)
Rest of the categories back side
only, divided into sections in caps, with bars around the sections. There were slight differences in the
biographical section if the character was deceased at the time.
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA
Real name
Other current aliases / Alias at
time of death
Former aliases
Dual Identity
Current occupation / Occupation at
time of death
Former occupation
Citizenship
Legal status
Place of birth
Place of death *(deceased
characters only)
Marital status
Known relatives
Known confidents
Known allies
Major enemies
Usual base of operations / Base of
operations at time of death
Former bases of operations
Current group membership / Group
membership at time of death
Former group membership
Extent of education
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Height
Weight
Eyes
Hair
Other distinguishing features
POWERS AND ABILITIES
Intelligence
Strength
Flight speed*
Stamina
Durability
Agility
Reflexes
Fighting skills
Special skills and abilities
Superhuman physical powers
Superhuman mental powers
Special limitations
Source of superhuman powers
PARAPHERNALIA
Costume specifications
Personal weaponry
Special weaponry
Other accessories
Transportation
Design and manufacture of
paraphernalia
BIBLIOGRAPHY
First appearance
Origin issue
Significant issues
So this series breaks things down
further than most series do, separating out similar categories that are
normally lumped together. Citizenship
refers to country while Legal status refers to criminal records. Education is
the main new carry-over into future editions, though some of the Ability
categories may have inspired the Power Grid and may in turn have been inspired
by the Marvel Superheroes Role-Playing Game being published at the time. Allies and Enemies, while interesting
categories, have not proven to have longevity, probably because the History
normally covers that. This is the only
volume to not have a History section as is normally perceived, though the
Significant issues section covers key events with issues noted; unfortunately
being the last section of the sheet and being limited to one sheet of text it
tends to get cut off a lot.
Team Entries
ENTRY NAME IN CAPS (both sides; the
front side usually refers to a specific line-up but that is not the case with
the back sides).
Rest of the categories back side
only, divided into sections in caps, with bars around the sections. Most team entries spanned multiple issues. The first time a team entry appears, it
follows the following format:
ORGANIZATION
Purpose
Modus operandi
Extent of operations
Relationship to conventional
authorities
Base of operationsFormer bases of
operations
Major funding
Known enemies
Known allies
MEMBERSHIP
Number of active members
Number of reserve members
Organizational structure
Known officers
Known current members
Known former members
Known special agents
Membership requirements
Note*
HISTORY
Founders
Other leaders
Previous purpose or goals*
Major campaigns or accomplishments
Major setbacks
TECHNOLOGY AND PARAPHERNALIA
Level of technology
Transportation
Standard uniforms
Standard weaponry
Standard accessories
BIBLIOGRAPHY
First appearance
Origin issue
So far more extensive in terms of categories
than any other volume’s team entries, though at the extent of a typical History
entry.
Most teams have additional pages
with MEMBERSHIP ROSTER data on the back. These followed the following patterns
per member
CHARACTER NAME IN CAPS
Real name
Current status
Membership record
Note
For those team entries that have a
supporting cast section, see In Action sheets below
IN ACTION Sheets
Some of these have equipment
instead. The front side is labelled as per what was being depicted, then for
the same character the back has text, usually SUPPORTING CAST for the same
character.
SUPPORTING CAST entries used the
following categories
CHARACTER NAME IN CAPS
Current occupation
Relationship
First appearance
The PUNISHER IN ACTION sheet has
PUNISHER’S ARSENAL on the back. This is a unique occurrence but it’s likely had
the series continued, these categories would have eventually reappeared.
ARSENAL NAME IN CAPS
Caliber
Action
Capacity
Weight
Note
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