Written by Mark Gruenwald; Alan Zelenetz; Eliot R. Brown; Ralph Macchio; & Peter Sanderson
Art by (See Below), including Andy Yanchus
Wraparound Cover Art by Edward Hannigan & Andy Yanchus
SUMMARY:
Released for January 1983, this first 34-page issue (counting the inside covers) initiated Marvel Comics’ periodic handbook series. As applicable, each profile features a quick biography, a full frontal image, height, weight, eyes, hair, unusual features, and a brief description of a character’s powers. This inaugural issue consists of these characters (with their pencillers and/or inkers):
- Abomination (Ron Wilson)
- Absorbing Man (Ron Wilson)
- El Aguila (Dave Cockrum)
- A.I.M. (Luke McDonnell)
- Ajak (Ron Wilson)
- Alpha Flight (John Byrne & Terry Austin)
- Alpha Primitives (Ron Wilson)
- American Eagle (Ron Wilson)
- Anaconda (Mark Gruenwald)
- Angar the Screamer (Brian Postman)
- Angel {Warren Worthington III} (Brian Postman)
- Annihilus (Luke McDonnell)
- Ant-Man {Scott Lang} (Brian Postman)
- Aquarian (Mark Gruenwald)
- Arabian Knight (Mark Gruenwald)
- Arcade (Bob Budiansky)
- Ares (Paul Smith)
- Ariel {Kitty Pryde} (Paul Smith)
- Arkon (Bob Budiansky)
- Arnim Zola (Jack Kirby)
- Asgard (Peter Gillis & Tom Orzechowski)
- Asgardians (Ron Wilson)
- Atlantis (Peter Gillis & Rick Parker)
- Atlanteans (Paty)
- Attilan (Peter Gillis & Eliot R. Brown)
- Attuma (Walt Simonson)
- Aurora (John Byrne)
- Avengers (John Byrne & Terry Austin)
- Avengers Mansion (Eliot R. Brown)
- Avengers Quinjet (Eliot R. Brown)
- Alien Races {Aakon, A’Askvarii, Achernonians, A-Chiltarians, Alpha Centaurians, Arcturans, Astrans, & Autocrons} (Paty)
Note: Originally billed as a twelve-part series, this Original Handbook series went on to include supplements (i.e. two issues for the dead and inactive characters).
REVIEW:
Aside from the near-microscopic typography, it’s a Marvel relic worth perusing. For instance, considering that the recently-introduced Alpha Flight’s entry merits a mere half-page vs. two full pages detailing the Avengers roster, one can easily which characters earned top priority. More importantly, this inaugural issue serves as the template that both Marvel and DC have worked off for decades now as yet another vehicle for their perpetual rivalry.
Though the material is nearly forty years old (i.e. the biographies are often a meager paragraph), the quality control is still decent considering the ambitious scope of this project. Furthermore, it’s a reminder of the simplistic fun (for a whole $1.00!) that comics used to be before Marvel & DC Comics began their innumerable continuity shifts over-complicating the genre.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The inside front cover is the table-of-contents & credits page. The back inside cover is Mark Gruenwald’s half-page editorial introducing the project. The other half-page is an appendix acknowledging characters who didn’t make Issue # 1’s cut.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
