The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition 1985 #1 - high grade - $4.99

Series info by writer and editor, Mark Gruenwald and Contents and artists credits.

A profile on the major Hulk villain, The Abomination.

A profile on Thor villain, The Absorbing Man.

A profile on the indestructible steel alloy, Adamantium.

A profile on the Spanish swashbuckling anti-hero, El Aguila, Or "The Eagle" in english.

A profile on the high-technology super-spy organization, Aim [A.I.M.].

A profile on the Canadian team, Alpha Flight.

A map of Asgard.

Short form appendix of places, universes, concepts, etc.

The on-sale date is from the shipping schedule as printed in the untitled newsletter from the comic book store Comics Plus in Dearborn, Michigan, published August 2, 1985, issue #1. Since this listing was for titles scheduled to be released on August 9, 1985, it is possible that this issue was released at a later date.

• Abomination - First appearance and origin, Tales To Astonish (1959 series) #90 April 1967. First inset panel clip art from: Page 9, Panel 2 from Tales to Astonish (Marvel, 1959 series) #90 (April 1967) Second inset panel clip art from: Page 6, Panel 23 from Tales to Astonish (Marvel, 1959 series) #90 (April 1967)
• Absorbing Man - First appearance and origin, Journey Into Mystery (1952 series) # 114 March 1965. The artwork for this character's entry is the same as it appears in The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe (1983 series) # 1 January 1983. First inset panel clip art from: Page 10, Panel 5 from Journey into Mystery (Marvel, 1952 series) #121 (October 1965) Second inset panel clip art from: Page 5, Panel 3 from Thor (Marvel, 1966 series) #236 (June 1975) Third inset panel clip art from: Page 14, Panel 1 from Journey into Mystery (Marvel, 1952 series) #121 (October 1965) Fourth inset panel clip art from: Splash Page 7 from Journey into Mystery (Marvel, 1952 series) #121 (October 1965)
• Adamantium - No artist credited for entry; uses various clip art from past issues. First appearance, The Avengers (1963 series) #66 July 1969. Inset panel clip art: Dr. Myron MacLain from: Page 6, Panel 5 from Captain America (Marvel, 1968 series) #303 (March 1985) Ultron-7 [labelled wrong should be Ultron-6] from: Splash Page 20 from The Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series) #66 (July 1969) Pouring metal into mold of Captain America's future shield from: Page 14, Panel 4 from Captain America (Marvel, 1968 series) #303 (March 1985) Wolverine swiping claws [altered - Dracula removed] from: Page 33, Panel 1 from X-Men Annual (Marvel, 1970 series) #6 (1982)
• Aguila - First Appearance, Power Man And Iron Fist (1978 series) #58 August 1979. Dave Cockrum also did the pencils on this character's entry with a different pose for The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe (1983 series) # 1 January 1983.In that issue his entry is listed as "El Aguila", but the clip art remained the same in both volumes. Inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 15, Panel 5 (Iron Fist removed) from Power Man (Marvel, 1974 series) #65 (October 1980)
• AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics) - First appearance: Strange Tales (1951 series) #146 July 1966. In The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe (1983 series) # 1 January 1983, this entry is listed as "A.I.M.". Inset panel clip art [altered] from: "If This Be... MODOK!", Page 6, Panel 1 from Tales of Suspense (Marvel, 1959 series) #94 (October 1967)
• Alpha Flight - First appearance, The inset art by John Byrne of Guardian (Then Vindicator); Shaman; Sasquatch; Snowbird; Northstar; Puck & Marinna is the same in The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe (1983 series) # 1 January 1983, John Byrne also did the artwork for the additional characters added here. No first appearance listed in entry.
• Alpha Primitives - Inset panel clip art from: Page 9, Panel 1 from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #47 (February 1966)
• American Eagle - Inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 16, Panel 4 (Ka-Zar removed) from Marvel Two-In-One Annual (Marvel, 1976 series) #6 (1981)
• Anaconda - Inset panel clip art [altered] from: Cover of Iron Man (Marvel, 1968 series) #160 (July 1982)
• Andromeda - Inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 4, Panel 2 from The Defenders (Marvel, 1972 series) #147 (September 1985)
• Angar The Screamer - Inset panel clip art [altered - figure only used] from: Splash Page 1 from Daredevil (Marvel, 1964 series) #101 (July 1973)
• Ant-Man - First inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 15, Panel 1 from Marvel Premiere (Marvel, 1972 series) #47 (April 1979) Second inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 10, Panel 5 from Rom #59 Third inset panel clip art [altered plus really Hank Pym] from: Page 13, Panel 5 from The Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series) #93 (November 1971) Fourth inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 13, Panel 3 from Marvel Premiere (Marvel, 1972 series) #48 (May 1979) Fifth inset panel clip art [altered - Ant-Man figure only] from: Page 14, Panel 1 from Iron Man (Marvel, 1968 series) #133 (April 1980) Sixth inset panel clip art [altered] from: Page 17, Panel 5 from Marvel Premiere (Marvel, 1972 series) #48 (May 1979) Seventh inset panel clip art [altered plus really Hank Pym] from: Page 8, Panel 4 from The Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series) #93 (November 1971)
• Glossary - Glossary contains information on Adamantium; alien; alternate Earth; alternate future; alternate world; amphibious; android; anti-graviton; anti-matter; anti-matter universe; astral body; astral projection; astral plane; Big Bang; bio-; bioelectricity; biokinetics; bionic; biosphere; clairvoyance; clone; cosmic; cosmic awareness; Cosmic Cube; cosmic power; cosmic radiation; cybernetics; cyborg; Darkforce; death; Death; death gods; demon; Deviant; dimension; dimension travel; divergence; divergent Earth