Historical text from Comixfan:

Eric J. Moreels

Jan 25, 2006, 04:52 am

For those curious to know, here's a complete rundown of the contents of each issue of the new Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z series. This thread will be updated upon the release of each new issue so you can see at a glance which character's are in what issues, who wrote them, and how much space they got!

For those interested in the Bibliography lists for each issue, they're also now available at Marvel.com:

http://www.marvel.com/universe/OHOTM...raphy-Contents

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #1
January 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Eric J. Moreels, Michael Hoskin, Ronald Byrd, Mark O’English, Anthony Flamini, Barry Reese, Mike Fichera, Stuart Vandal, Bill Lentz, Madison Carter & Chris Biggs
Cover: Keu Cha

Abraxas (1)
Abyss (1)
Achebe (1)
Acolytes (3)
Aegis (1)
Aged Genghis (1)
Agent/Rick Mason (1)
Agent X/Alex Hayden (1)
Ahab (1)
Akhenaten (1)
Albert/Elsie Dee (1)
Albion (1)
Alkhema (1)
Alpha the Ultimate Mutant (½)
Americop (½)
Amphibion (1)
Amun (½)
Anachronauts (1)
Anarchist (1)
Angel/Angel Salvadore (1)
Animus (1)
Anti-Cap (1)
Apache Kid (1)
Arabian Knight (1)
Arides (1)
Arranger (1)
Arsenal (1)
Arsenic & Old Lace (1)
Asbestos Lady (1)
Ashcan (1)
Atlantis (2)
Atlas (3)
Atleza (1)
Aurora (2)
Authority (1)
Avengers (MC2) (2)
Awesome Andy (1)
Axis Mundi (1)
Axum (1)
Ba'al (1)
Bad Girls, Inc. (1)
Bain, Sunset (1)
Band of the Bland (1)
Bandit (1)
Banshee (3)
Baron Mordo (3)
Baron Strucker (3)
Baron Zemo (2)
Baroness (1)
Bastion (1)
Batwing (½)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #2
February 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Eric J. Moreels, Michael Hoskin, Ronald Byrd, Mark O’English, Barry Reese, Mike Fichera, Stuart Vandal, Madison Carter & Chris Biggs
Cover: Keu Cha

Beckley, Benny (1)
Bedlam/Jesse Aaronson (1)
Berserker (1)
Beta Ray Bill (2)
Big Wheel (1)
Black Box (1)
Black Dragon (1)
Black Widow/Claire Voyant (1)
Blaquesmith (1)
Blindspot (1)
Blizzard/Donald Gill (2)
Blob (2)
Bloodwraith (1)
Bogatyri (1)
Bogeyman (1)
Bont, Alexander (½)
Boom-Boom (2)
Boudreaux, Bella Donna (1)
Bounty (½)
Brood (2)
Bruiser (1)
B-Sides (1)
Bug (2)
Bushmaster, John (1)
Buzz (1)
Cagliostro (1)
Caliban (2)
Callisto (1)
Calypso (1)
Captain U.K. (1)
Captain Ultra (1)
Captain Universe (3)
Caretakers (2)
Cassidy, Black Tom (2)
Celestials (3)
Centennial (½)
Centurious (1)
Cerebra/Cerebro (2)
Cerise (1)
Challenger (1)
Chamber (2)
Cheney, Lila (1)
China Force (1)
Code: Blue (1)
Cole, Kasper (1)
Collective Man (1)
Collector (3)
Contingency (1)
Crazy Eight/Lesley Shappe (½)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #3
March 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Mark O’English, Ronald Byrd, Michael Hoskin, Eric J. Moreels, Stuart Vandal, Bill Lentz, Richard Green, Anthony Flamini, Barry Reese, Mike Fichera & Chris Biggs
Cover: Keu Cha

Copperhead/Lawrence Chesney (1)
Copycat (1)
Cosmic Cube (3)
Council of Godheads (3)
Crazy Eight, The (1)
Crimson Cowl/Justine Hammer (1)
Crimson Dynamo/Gennady Gavrilov (1)
Cutter, Jaine (1)
Cyclone/Pierre Fresson (1)
Dark Gods (1)
Dark Riders (1)
Darkdevil (1)
Darkhold Redeemers (1)
Darkstar (2)
Daughters of the Dragon (2)
Dazzler/Burtram Worthington (1)
D'bari (1)
Dead Girl (1)
Death (2)
Deathcry (1)
Deathlok/Michael Collins (2)
Deathlok/M-Tech (1)
Death's Head (FPA) (2)
Death's Head (Minion) (2)
Deathweb (1)
Debrii (½)
Deluge (½)
Demogoblin (1)
Demolition Man (1)
Desak (1)
Desert Sword (1)
Deviants (4)
Devil-Slayer (2)
Devlor (1)
Diamond Lil (1)
Diamondback/Rachel Leighton (2)
Diamondhead (1)
Dimension of Manifestations (1)
Doctor Doom's Generals (1)
Doctor Nemesis (1)
Dominic Fortune (2)
Doomsday Man (1)
Doop (1)
Dormammu (3)
Drax (2)
Edwards, Ethan (1)


All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #4
April 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Michael Hoskin, Sean McQuaid, Eric J. Moreels, Mark O'English, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Madison Carter, Mike Fichera, Anthony Flamini, Chris Biggs & Barry Reese
Cover: Keu Cha

Dran, Damon (1)
8-Ball (1)
Ego (2)
Elements of Doom (1)
Elf With a Gun (2)
Elysius (1)
Emplate (1)
Epoch (1)
Equinox (1)
Ereshkigal (1)
Eric the Red (1)
Eternal Brain (1)
Eternals (4)
Eternity (2)
Euro-Trash (1)
Exemplars (2)
Fallen One (2)
Father Time (1)
Fathom Five (1)
Femme Fatales (1)
Feron (1)
Fight-Man (1)
Fisk, Richard (2)
Fixer (3)
Flag-Smasher (2)
Flying Dutchman's Ghost (1)
Folding Circle (1)
Force Four (1)
Forge (2)
Fortunato, Don (1)
Free Spirit (1)
Frog-Man (2)
Frost, Deacon (1)
Fury (1)
Galactic Guardians (1)
Gamecock (½)
Ganymede (1)
Gargoyle (2)
Garrett, John (1)
Gazer (½)
Geist (1)
Geshem (1)
Gibbon (1)
Glob (2)
Gnobians (1)
Gnucci, Ma (1)
Goliath/Bill Foster (2)
Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway (1)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #5
May 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Mark O'English, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Eric J. Moreels, Barry Reese, Madison Carter, Anthony Flamini, Chris Biggs & Mike Fichera
Cover: Keu Cha

Gorgon (1)
Gorilla-Man (1)
Grandmaster (3)
Gravity (1)
Great Game (1)
Guardian/James Hudson (3)
Hamilton, "Cockroach" (1)
Harrier (1)
Harrow, Jonas (1)
Hate-Monger/Hitler clone (2)
Hawkeye/Kate Bishop (1)
Helix (½)
Hellbent (2)
Helleyes (½)
Hellions (3)
H.E.R.B.I.E. (1)
High Evolutionary (3)
Hindsight (1)
Hood (1)
Howard the Duck (3)
Hulkling (1)
Humbug (1)
Humus Sapien (1)
Huntara (1)
Hurricane/Albert Potter (1)
Hybrid/Jimmy Marks (1)
Hybrid/Scott Washington (1)
Hydra (4)
H'ylthri (1)
Hyperion (3)
Immortus (3)
Infinites (½)
Infinity (1)
Inkosi, Shola (1)
Iron Lad (1)
J2 (1)
Jack Flag (½)
Jack O'Lantern (1)
Jaekelsson, Harald (1)
Jaspers, "Mad Jim" (1)
Jeffries, Madison (2)
Jester/Jonathan Powers (2)
Joystick (1)
Judge (1)
Jury (1)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #6
June 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Mark O’English, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Eric J. Moreels, Barry Reese, Madison Carter, Anthony Flamini, Chris Biggs, Mike Fichera, Al Sjoerdsma, Rich Green & Eric Engelhard
Cover: Keu Cha

Justice/John Tensen (2)
Kangaroo/Brian Hibbs (1)
Kane, Garrison (2)
Ka-Zar the Great (1)
Ka-Zar the Savage (1)
Kelly, Senator Robet (1)
Khaos (½)
Killmonger, Erik (1)
Killpower (1)
Kismet (2)
Klaatu (1)
Korvac (3)
Kravinoff, Alyosha (1)
Kree (3)
Kylun (1)
Lacuna (1)
Livewires (1)
Living Erasers (1)
Living Tribunal (2)
Lockdown (1)
Locust (1)
Loki (3)
Looter (1)
Luphomoids (1)
Lynx (1)
M (1)
Mace, Gideon (1)
MACH-4 (3)
Machine Man (3)
Machine Teen (1)
Machinesmith (2)
Mad Jack (1)
Mad Thinker (3)
Madame Masque (2)
Maelstrom (2)
Magdalene (1)
Magnum, Moses (1)
Magus (2)
Major Mapleleaf/Lou Sadler Jr (1)
Malice/Nakia (1)
Man-Beast (2)
Marvel/KalAOL (½)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #7
July 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Mark O’English, Ronald Byrd, Eric J. Moreels, Stuart Vandal, Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Chad Anderson, Anthony Flamini, Eric Timothy Englehard, Madison Carter & Mike Fichera
Cover: Keu Cha

Man-Killer (2)
Mancha, Victor (1)
Mandarin (2)
Mandarin/Temujin (1)
Marduk (1)
Margali of the Winding Way (1)
Marko, Man-Mountain (1)
Marrow (1)
Marvel Boy/Noh-Varr (1)
Masque (1)
Master Hate (½)
Master Khan (2)
Master of the World (2)
Mastermind/computer (1)
Mastermind/Martinique Wyngarde (½)
Masters, Alicia (2)
Maverick/Chris Bradley (2)
Mephista (1)
Mercy (1)
Merlin Demonspawn (2)
Merlyn (3)
Metal Master (1)
Microbe (½)
Micromax (1)
Microverse (3)
Midnight (1)
Midnight Sun (1)
Miller, Layla (1)
Mimic (2)
Mister Sensitive (1)
Mister Sinister (3)
Mistress Love (1)
M.O.D.O.K. (3)
Modulus (½)
Mojo (2)
Mondo (1)
Morg (1)
Morlocks (3)
Morwen (½)
Motormouth (1)
Ms. Marvel/Sharon Ventura (2)
Mysterium (2)
Nasty Boys (1)
Nebula (2)
Phantazia (½)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #8
August 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Michael Hoskin, Mark O'English, Chris Biggs, Eric J. Moreels, Mike Fichera, Al Sjoerdsma, Barry Reese, Chad Anderson, Madison Carter, Anthony Flamini, Richard Green
Cover: Keu Cha

Nekra (2)
New Men (3)
New Son (1)
N'Garai (2)
Night Nurse (1)
Night Raven (2)
Night Thrasher (2)
Nighthawk (2)
Norvell, "Red" (1)
Nosferata (1)
Nova/Richard Rider (3)
Nova Omega (1)
Number Nine (1)
Oblivion (1)
Ogre (1)
Olivier (1)
Onslaught (1)
Origin (1)
Outlaw Kid (1)
Over-Mind (2)
Pacific Overlords (1)
Paibok (1)
Patriot/Elijah Bradley (2)
Penance (1)
Phantom Rider (3)
Phat (1)
Photon/Genis-Vell (2)
Phyla (1)
Piranha (1)
Pixie (1)
Plantman (2)
Plodex (1)
Powderkeg (3)
Presence (1)
Prester John (2)
Priapus (1)
Pride (1)
Promise (1)
Prosh (1)
Proteus (2)
Protocide (1)
Prowler (2)
Psionex (1)
Puma (2)
Quoi (1)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #9
September 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Mark O'English, Chad Anderson, Ronald Byrd, Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Al Sjoerdsma, Stuart Vandal, Anthony Flamini, Eric J. Moreels, Chris Biggs, Madison Carter
Cover: Keu Cha

Puppet Master (3)
Quicksilver (3)
Radioactive Man (2)
Radius (½)
Rappaccini, Monica (1)
Rawhide Kid (2)
Razorback (1)
Red Ghost (3)
Red Queen (1)
Red Wolf (3)
Redeemers (2)
Reyes, Cecilia (1)
Richards, Nathaniel (2)
Rictor (2)
Ringer (1)
Risque (1)
Rocket Racer (2)
Ronan the Accuser (2)
Roxxon (3)
Russian (1)
Sabra (1)
Salomé (1)
Santerians (1)
Sasquatch (2)
Saturnyne (1)
Sat-Yr9 (1)
Saurians (1)
S'Byll (1)
Scarlet Centurion (1)
Scorpion/Carmilla Black (1)
Scratch, Nicholas (1)
Scully, James (2)
Secret Empire (3)
Sentinels (4)
Sentry (2)
Seyfert, Juston (1)
Shade (½)
Shadow King (2)
Shamrock (1)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #10
October 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Michael Hoskin, Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Mark O'English, Anthony Flamini, Chad Anderson, Eric J. Moreels, Mike Fichera, Ronald Byrd, Al Sjoerdsma, Rich Green & Madison Carter
Cover: Keu Cha

Shadowoman (1)
Shanzar (1)
Shapandar, Karima (1)
Shatterstar (2)
Shi'ar Death Commandos (1)
S.H.I.E.L.D. (5)
Silhouette (1)
Silver Dagger (1)
Sin (1)
Siryn (2)
Six Pack (2)
Skein (2)
Skids (1)
Slaymaster (1)
Slingers (2)
Snarks (2)
Sons of the Serpent (2)
Southpaw (1)
Spaceknights (1)
Speed Demon (2)
Speedball (2)
Spellbinders (1)
Sphinx (3)
Spider Society (1)
Spider-Woman/Mattie Franklin (1)
Spider-Woman/Charlotte Witter (1)
Spiral (2)
Spirits of Vengeance (1)
Spot (1)
Squadron Sinister (2)
Squid-Boy (½)
Stacy X (1)
Stained Glass Scarlet (1)
Stankowicz, Fabian (2)
Starblasters (2)
Star-Lord/Peter Quill (2)
Starlord/Sinjin Quarrel (1)
Stature (1)
Steel Raven (1)
Steel Serpent (1)
Steel Spider (1)
Stegron (1)
Stoker, Olivier (1)
Strange, Victor (1)
Tara (½)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #11
November 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Mark O'English, Sean McQuaid, Chad Anderson, Michael Hoskin, Stuart Vandal, Ronald Byrd, Eric J. Moreels, Mike Fichera, Anthony Flamini, Al Sjoerdsma, Rich Green, Madison Carter, Chris Biggs & Bill Lentz
Cover: Keu Cha

Stranger (3)
Strong Guy (2)
Stryfe (2)
Stryker, William (1)
Sublime (1)
Suma-Ket (1)
Sundown (1)
Sunspot (2)
Sunturion (1)
Superia (1)
Super-Skrull (3)
Swarm (1)
Swordsman/Andreas von Strucker (1)
Talkback (1)
Taskmaster (2)
Terminatrix (2)
Thanatos (1)
Thanos (4)
That Which Endures (½)
Thor/Dargo Ktor (1)
Those Who Sit Above In Shadow (1)
Thousand (1)
Thunderbird/Neal Shaara (1)
Tiboro (1)
Time Variance Authority (2)
Time-Keepers (2)
Timeslip (1)
Tinkerer (2)
Titania/Mary MacPherran (2)
Titanium Man/Boris Bullski (2)
Titannus (1)
Toad (2)
Tombstone (2)
Torgo (1)
T-Ray (1)
Tremont, Jonathan (2)
Turbo (2)
Two-Gun Kid (2)
Typeface (½)
Typhon (1)
Tyrant (1)
Ultimate Nullifier (1)
Ultimo (1)

All-New Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe A-Z #12
December 2006
Writers: Jeff Christiansen, Michael Hoskin, Stuart Vandal, Al Sjoerdsma, Eric J. Moreels, Sean McQuaid, Chad Anderson, Mark O’English, Anthony Flamini, Ronald Byrd, Jacob Rougemont, Mike Fichera, Madison Carter & Chris Biggs
Cover: Keu Cha

Ultragirl (1)
Umar (2)
Uncreated (1)
Undying (1)
Undying Ones (1)
Union Jack/Joseph Chapman (2)
Unus the Untouchable (1)
Urthona (1)
V-Battalion (2)
Vargas (½)
Varnae (1)
Vegas (1)
Venom/MacDonald Gargan (1)
Venus Dee Milo (1)
Vernard, Kristoff (2)
Vibraxas (1)
Vision (1)
Vivisector (1)
Vulcan (1)
Warhawk (1)
Warlock (2)
Warlock, Adam (3)
Warpath (2)
Washout (½)
Wiccan (1)
Wild Child (2)
Wild Thing/Rina Logan (1)
Wilder, Alex (1)
Wildpride (1)
Windshear (1)
Winter Soldier (1)
Wisdom, Pete (2)
Witchfire (1)
Wizard (3)
Wolfsbane (2)
Woo, Jimmy (1)
X-Babies (1)
Xandu (1)
Xavier's Underground Enforcers (1)
Yandroth (1)
Yith (½)
Young Allies (1)
Yukon Jack (½)
Z'nox (1)
Zarrko the Tomorrow Man (2)
Zeitgeist/Larry Ekler (1)
Zodiac (4)
Zola, Arnim (2)




Playmobil

Jan 25, 2006, 10:24 am

So many characters I don't know, that's why I'm buying it. Could also the artists be included?




Playmobil

Jan 25, 2006, 10:26 am


Does the entry for Zemo cover both Barons?




danielsan52

Jan 25, 2006, 11:45 am

Disappointed that El Aguila didn't make it...or does he fall under "E"?




Sean McQuaid

Jan 25, 2006, 08:47 pm

Playmobil wrote:

Does the entry for Zemo cover both Barons?

It references most of the significant Heinrich life events as part of the Zemo family background, but it's primarily a profile of Helmut (I think Heinrich got his own profile a year or so back in the Book of the Dead, IIRC; and regardless, his old Deluxe profile is coming back into print via the Essentials).

-Sean




Sean McQuaid

Jan 25, 2006, 08:49 pm

danielsan52 wrote:

Disappointed that El Aguila didn't make it...or does he fall under "E"?

It was decided there hadn't been enough in the way of major events or major changes regarding this character since his 1980s handbook entries, which are coming back into print via the Essential paperbacks now, so he didn't make the cut for 2006. Maybe 2007...

-Sean




Rayeye

Jan 26, 2006, 04:06 am


I'm glad to see Abyss, Acolytes, Albion, Aurora and Angel!

But why on Earth isn't Avalanche included?




Eric J. Moreels

Jan 26, 2006, 04:41 am

Rayeye wrote:

But why on Earth isn't Avalanche included?

He, along with many others, just didn't make the cut for inclusion in this series. Hopefully, if it sells well enough, we'll get a 2007 series and an updated Avalanche profile!




Playmobil

Jan 26, 2006, 11:22 am

Eric J. Moreels wrote:

He, along with many others, just didn't make the cut for inclusion in this series. Hopefully, if it sells well enough, we'll get a 2007 series and an updated Avalanche profile!

If I'm not mistaken, he was included in the Encyclopedia.




Sean McQuaid

Jan 26, 2006, 12:45 pm

Playmobil wrote:

If I'm not mistaken, he was included in the Encyclopedia.

Also, his Deluxe handbook entry is coming back into print via the ESSENTIAL line, which was another factor in his exclusion. Though if 2006 does well enough, we may see Avalanche again in 2007...

-Sean




Rayeye

Jan 27, 2006, 11:33 am

You guys did a wonderful job with the first Handbook of 2006!!!
I love the extra costume pictures at some of the individual entries, and the headshots of every member at the team profiles were nice too!

I have also a few questions / comments:

Abyss:
- the bio says he was a member of the Neyaphim. It's also stated Azazel was the father of the Neyaphim (so including Genniyeh, Jillian, Ophis, Yizdrazil). So then why aren't Genniyeh, Jillian, Ophis and Yizdrazil listed under "Known relatives" as Abyss' half-siblings?
- And since Abyss was a member, can I assume Nightcrawler and Kiwi Black were also members of the Neyaphim?

Acolytes:
-Nice to see the real name of each member! So did this new information come from the writers who created them, or was it created by the Handbook writers?
- I'm almost sure the guy in Rakkus' picture is Seamus Mellencamp, not Rakkus.
- I remember in X-Men #1 there was also a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent called (Harry) Delgado. I always thought he was same person as the mutant Acolyte called Delgado. But since the Handbook listed the Acolyte as Marco Delgado, were they after all two different persons?

Alpha the Ultimate Mutant:
- his bio says he was a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. However, the Brotherhood profile (from the Teams Handbooks 2005) didn't listed him as a member. So which one is correct?

However, keep going with the great Handbooks! I understand it's a lot of research work, but I'm sure most fans appreciate what you're doing!




Eric J. Moreels

Jan 27, 2006, 07:07 pm

Rayeye wrote:

You guys did a wonderful job with the first Handbook of 2006!!!
I love the extra costume pictures at some of the individual entries, and the headshots of every member at the team profiles were nice too!

Thanks! :Biggrin:

Rayeye wrote:

I have also a few questions / comments:

the bio says he was a member of the Neyaphim. It's also stated Azazel was the father of the Neyaphim (so including Genniyeh, Jillian, Ophis, Yizdrazil). So then why aren't Genniyeh, Jillian, Ophis and Yizdrazil listed under "Known relatives" as Abyss' half-siblings?

They are, as "other half-siblings".

Rayeye wrote:

And since Abyss was a member, can I assume Nightcrawler and Kiwi Black were also members of the Neyaphim?

Yep!

Rayeye wrote:

Nice to see the real name of each member! So did this new information come from the writers who created them, or was it created by the Handbook writers?

We were allowed to come up with names for them, with Marvel's approval for each.

Rayeye wrote:

I'm almost sure the guy in Rakkus' picture is Seamus Mellencamp, not Rakkus.

Yes, unfortunately, it is. Um, oops?

Rayeye wrote:

I remember in X-Men #1 there was also a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent called (Harry) Delgado. I always thought he was same person as the mutant Acolyte called Delgado. But since the Handbook listed the Acolyte as Marco Delgado, were they after all two different persons?

Yes, they were two different characters.

Rayeye wrote:

Alpha the Ultimate Mutant:
- his bio says he was a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. However, the Brotherhood profile (from the Teams Handbooks 2005) didn't listed him as a member. So which one is correct?

I'll have to defer this one to the writer of Alpha's profile. So far as the Brotherhood Teams entry, I'd always considered Alpha a non-member ally.




Playmobil

Jan 28, 2006, 09:46 am

Eric J. Moreels wrote:

We were allowed to come up with names for them, with Marvel's approval for each.

Were you allowed to come up with nationalaties also?




Playmobil

Jan 28, 2006, 09:48 am


Neyaphim? Please enlighten me.




Eric J. Moreels

Jan 28, 2006, 10:10 am

Playmobil wrote:

Were you allowed to come up with nationalaties also?

No, we didn't list nationalities for them.

Playmobil wrote:

Neyaphim? Please enlighten me.

The various children of Azazel, including Nightcrawler, Abyss, Kiwi Black, etc.




Playmobil

Jan 28, 2006, 11:10 am

Eric J. Moreels wrote:

The various children of Azazel, including Nightcrawler, Abyss, Kiwi Black, etc.

That's from the storyarc where Nightcrawler's parents were revealed, right? I missed that.




Rayeye

Jan 28, 2006, 07:13 pm


I just realized Arcade didn't make to the Handbooks of 2006. Is that because of the recently released Essential OHOTMU?

By the way: Marvel, PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE will you include (at least some) members of X-Men 2099 or X-Nation 2099 in the up-coming Handbooks?! Personally I think some of them were very interesting characters (some were even created as toy figures!) and it's a pity they are lost in limbo.
The same thing goes for the new Alphans from the second Alpha Flight series (e.g. Murmur, Flex, Radius) and (former) Beta/Gamma Flight members (Goblyn, Persuasion, Pathway, Manikin, Witchfire, Feedback, etc.).
They each deserve at least a half-page individual entry in the Handbooks.

... I guess I have to hope many fans will agree with me. :ohwell: :hope:




Stuart V

Feb 5, 2006, 02:36 pm

Rayeye wrote:

I just realized Arcade didn't make to the Handbooks of 2006. Is that because of the recently released Essential OHOTMU?

To an extent. Some characters haven't changed very much since the original and Deluxe OHOTMU's, and since those are back in print (or will be soon) it seemed better to focus on others for 2006. Arcade has had some appearances, but the fundamentals about him are pretty well the same as they were in the 1980s.

Rayeye wrote:

By the way: Marvel, PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE -PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE will you include (at least some) members of X-Men 2099 or X-Nation 2099 in the up-coming Handbooks?! Personally I think some of them were very interesting characters (some were even created as toy figures!) and it's a pity they are lost in limbo.
The same thing goes for the new Alphans from the second Alpha Flight series (e.g. Murmur, Flex, Radius) and (former) Beta/Gamma Flight members (Goblyn, Persuasion, Pathway, Manikin, Witchfire, Feedback, etc.).

They each deserve at least a half-page individual entry in the Handbooks.
No specific promises, but some of your list will be seen in this run.




William Keogh

Feb 6, 2006, 06:21 pm


Profiles I'd like to see in this run, or a 2007 edition:
The Redeemers (especially the Second Beetle)
Marlo Jones
Phyla
Photon
MACH IV
The Fixer
Machinesmith
White Tiger (Heroes For Hire)
High Evolutionary
Thanos
Kazar
Gamora
Adam Warlock
Spider-Man 2099
Spider-Woman (Franklin)
Ogre
Sif
Loki
Winter Soldier
Winter Guard
Citizen V

All I can think of at the moment




Rayeye

Feb 6, 2006, 06:53 pm

William Keogh wrote:

Profiles I'd like to see in this run, or a 2007 edition:
The Redeemers (especially the Second Beetle)
Marlo Jones
Phyla
Photon
MACH IV
The Fixer
Machinesmith
White Tiger (Heroes For Hire)
High Evolutionary
Thanos
Kazar
Gamora
Adam Warlock
Spider-Man 2099
Spider-Woman (Franklin)
Ogre
Sif
Loki
Winter Soldier
Winter Guard
Citizen V

All I can think of at the moment

The Winter Guard has been covered yet in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Teams 2005.
The first Citizen V had a profile in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004.




Zach Kinkead

Feb 6, 2006, 10:44 pm


I have several I’d like to see but I’ll just repeat my request for the Prowler because he should have had a handbook entry ages ago.

Rayeye wrote:

The Winter Guard has been covered yet in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Teams 2005.

The individual members weren’t though. Granted Dorkstar is the only one I know of who’s experienced any significant change since the old handbooks...which is kinda odd considering that the team outlasted the government that formed it.

Rayeye wrote:

The first Citizen V had a profile in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004.

So? There have been six people to use that name and only two of them (Lt. John Watkins Sr. and Baron Helmut Zemo) have ever received an entry. Now John Watkins Jr. and Paulette Brazee may be relatively unimportant footnotes in Marvel’s history (and the Thunderbolts’ history for that matter) but Dallas Riordan and John Watkins III are both much more significant to the current Marvel universe than several of the characters already featured in the recent handbooks; the first is currently a regular cast member in New Thunderbolts and the second is going to be dropping in on Cable/Deadpool soon. They’re likely to become even bigger players with the impending Civil War considering that Dallas works for the CSA and, because of her own involvement with the Thunderbolts and V-Battalion, is aware that John is part of a secret superhero organization that has existed since the Second World War ended. After all, proactive groups of superhumans with no loyalties to any government who have taken upon themselves to police the planet are just the kind of organizations that make the CSA uncomfortable.




DrJohnnyDiablo

Feb 7, 2006, 03:42 am


Dallas Riordan was profiled in the Women of Marvel 2005 Handbook as Vantage.




William Keogh

Feb 8, 2006, 07:13 pm

DrJohnnyDiablo wrote:

Dallas Riordan was profiled in the Women of Marvel 2005 Handbook as Vantage.

Yes, that I recall. As for the Citizen V I'd like to see profiled, it's Watkins III. And have Siryn or M of X-Factor been profiled yet anywhere else?




Playmobil

Feb 9, 2006, 11:43 am

William Keogh wrote:

Yes, that I recall. As for the Citizen V I'd like to see profiled, it's Watkins III. And have Siryn or M of X-Factor been profiled yet anywhere else?

I'm pretty sure M appeared on the Encyclopedia.




eh_ver

Feb 9, 2006, 06:00 pm


I just HAVE to ask, will this set of Handbooks be collected in trade? I would assume that these ones would lend themselves to that format, but the Handbooks in general have been kind of mysterious as to reprints. I can only think of a couple that have made it into a trade of some kind (New Avengers: Most Wanted and Monsters). I missed out on the first issue and I'd hate to think that I have no chance of seeing it again.




Glorificus

Feb 21, 2006, 09:55 am


Just 1 word - Selene. Please say she'll be included somewhere!!




Rayeye

Feb 21, 2006, 05:33 pm

I hope supporting characters like Tom Corsi, Sharon Friedlander, Irene Merryweather, Stevie Hunter, Alistaire & Alysande Stuart will also make it to the OHOTMU A-Z 2006 handbooks. Being 'just' supporting characters, they deserve to be in the spotlight for once.




Gaara of the Sand

Feb 21, 2006, 08:46 pm


Will we get to see the main Eternals get individual entries, or will they just be under one big "Eternals" listing?

Also, Ikaris is still Prime Eternal, right? Nothing changed between New Eternals and now?

Thanks
 
Eric J. Moreels

Feb 22, 2006, 12:24 am

Folks, these kind of questions belong in the General Q&A thread. This thread is for the lists of characters in the A-Z issues published thus far.




Rayeye

Feb 22, 2006, 12:51 pm


I love the A-Z Handbooks so far!

It's nice to see Marvel gives us a mix of old characters (like the Golden Age's Black Widow), less known or new characters (like Blindspot), different teams (China Force, Bogatyri) and special items/places (like Cerebro).
It was fun to read Cerebro was originally called Cyberno, I never knew that.

However, it suprises me Big Bertha wasn't included, since the GLA/GLX has recently been more in the spotlights. But perhaps she doesn't have enough story on her own (instead of the whole team). Or perhaps Blob and Big Bertha in one issue is a little bit too much
And although I really liked the second Handbook, I was a little dissapointed a profile of the team Clan Destine was missing (so now I'm hoping some of the Destine members will make it to the handbooks). But hey, I know there are so much characters/teams to chose from, so it's understandable Marvel can't include everyone.
However, I'm still very satisfied with the profiles of Cerise, Bedlam, Captain UK, Centennial, Caliban, Callisto, Black Tom Cassidy, Blaquesmith, Boom-Boom, Lila Cheney, Chamber and China Force!




Sean McQuaid

Feb 23, 2006, 03:40 pm

Rayeye wrote:

I love the A-Z Handbooks so far!

Glad to hear it.

Rayeye wrote:

It's nice to see Marvel gives us a mix of old characters (like the Golden Age's Black Widow), less known or new characters (like Blindspot), different teams (China Force, Bogatyri) and special items/places (like Cerebro).

We strives for variety, we does.

Rayeye wrote:

However, it suprises me Big Bertha wasn't included, since the GLA/GLX has recently been more in the spotlights. But perhaps she doesn't have enough story on her own (instead of the whole team).

The GLA/GLX group got profiled fully in the Avengers 2005 handbook a few months back, and most of the team's members don't have much history beyond the group's stories (the exception being Squirrel Girl, who got her own profile in that same handbook). Maybe we'll see individual profiles of other GLAers someday, though...

-Sean




Rayeye

Feb 23, 2006, 05:02 pm


I have a few questions/comments about Boom-Boom's profile.
- Why isn't she listed as a member of Nextwave? Is this because it's too recently information so it couldn't make to the Handbook?
- I haven't read Nextwave (yet), but is that's why she is listed under her Boom-Boom alias instead of Meltdown?
- Although the inset is, the second body picture wasn't penciled by Liefeld. The picture is taken from X-Force #64 which was drawn by Anthony Castrillo & Mark Pajarillo.

Another question about Centennial. When I read Alpha Flight #12 (which I think was difficult to read, because I had to read it twice or more to understand which scene was taking place in the past or in the present, etc), I thought the last pages were simply taken place in the present. But the Handbook revealed this was instead a vision. So does this mean currently Centennial and Nemesis are still alive, Puck (Yu) and Major Mapleleaf don't have a child, and Snowbird and Yukon Jack aren't married?




Inferno

Feb 24, 2006, 03:32 pm


I had some questions on Boom Boom also, but I think Sean McQaid said over on CBR that Nextwave is not really 616 after all. I don't think this is correct though.

By the way.....I LOVE the handbooks!




Sean McQuaid

Feb 25, 2006, 10:39 am

Rayeye wrote:

- Why isn't she listed as a member of Nextwave? Is this because it's too recently information so it couldn't make to the Handbook?

It being recent didn't keep that info out. The sticking point is continuity: the fact that NW continuity seems to conflict with 616 continuity in multiple places, plus various statements from Ellis about how he isn't trying to make this book gel with established continuity. The impression we get so far is that NW is taking place in its own not-quite-616 reality.

Earlier on, before we'd seen many details regarding the NW series, we were planning to include it in the Handbooks--that's why Boom Boom's on the cover in her NW outfit. But the more we learned, the more it seemed like maybe this wasn't quite mainstream continuity, so we modified her entry to reflect that.

This could change, of course; there could be material in upcoming issues of NW or other books that might unavoidably represent NW as 616 continuity, or editorial could make a ruling to the effect that NW must be represented as 616 continuity. Should such developments come to pass, we'll have to either explain or ignore the assorted contradictions in NW continuity. In the meantime, we're setting NW events aside since the evidence to date suggests a non-616 property.

Rayeye wrote:

- I haven't read Nextwave (yet), but is that's why she is listed under her Boom-Boom alias instead of Meltdown?

When we first started planning the issue, we'd been led to understand Boom Boom would be her primary name again; when we later learned that wasn't the case, it was too late to move her further down the alphabet, partly because she'd already been drawn onto the cover for issue 2. Still, Boom Boom being her original title, and as much a nickname as an alias, it's not a bad overall heading for her entry.

Rayeye wrote:

- Although the inset is, the second body picture wasn't penciled by Liefeld. The picture is taken from X-Force #64 which was drawn by Anthony Castrillo & Mark Pajarillo.

Yup, a number of people have pointed that out.

Rayeye wrote:

Another question about Centennial. When I read Alpha Flight #12 (which I think was difficult to read, because I had to read it twice or more to understand which scene was taking place in the past or in the present, etc), I thought the last pages were simply taken place in the present. But the Handbook revealed this was instead a vision. So does this mean currently Centennial and Nemesis are still alive, Puck (Yu) and Major Mapleleaf don't have a child, and Snowbird and Yukon Jack aren't married?

Short answer: this remains to be seen, so we've left it ambiguous for now.

-Sean




Rayeye

Feb 25, 2006, 03:52 pm

Sean McQuaid wrote:

It being recent didn't keep that info out. The sticking point is continuity: the fact that NW continuity seems to conflict with 616 continuity in multiple places, plus various statements from Ellis about how he isn't trying to make this book gel with established continuity. The impression we get so far is that NW is taking place in its own not-quite-616 reality.

Earlier on, before we'd seen many details regarding the NW series, we were planning to include it in the Handbooks--that's why Boom Boom's on the cover in her NW outfit. But the more we learned, the more it seemed like maybe this wasn't quite mainstream continuity, so we modified her entry to reflect that.

This could change, of course; there could be material in upcoming issues of NW or other books that might unavoidably represent NW as 616 continuity, or editorial could make a ruling to the effect that NW must be represented as 616 continuity. Should such developments come to pass, we'll have to either explain or ignore the assorted contradictions in NW continuity. In the meantime, we're setting NW events aside since the evidence to date suggests a non-616 property.

Thank you clearing it up. I can understand it can sometimes be very difficult for you handbook writers to deal with continuity confusions and possible errors in a character's history and still give us a logical and chronological story about the character.

Also I had another question about Boom-Boom:
The Handbook listed under known relatives: Lou Smith (father), unidentified mother, Amanda "Mandy" Smith (step-mother).
I can be wrong, but wasn't Amanda "Mandy" Smith her mother instead of her step-mom? Also, Lou (which full name is Marty Louis by the way) re-married with Wanda Jo Bialowski-Smith, so shoudn't she listed as Tabitha's (second) step-mother then?




William Keogh

Feb 25, 2006, 05:43 pm

Sean McQuaid wrote:

Earlier on, before we'd seen many details regarding the NW series, we were planning to include it in the Handbooks--that's why Boom Boom's on the cover in her NW outfit. But the more we learned, the more it seemed like maybe this wasn't quite mainstream continuity, so we modified her entry to reflect that.

-Sean

You've answered one of my questions by confirming that's Tabitha on the cover, and the other one is about the girl in the red beret in the lower right. Is that Bruiser?




Rayeye

Feb 25, 2006, 05:45 pm

William Keogh wrote:

You've answered one of my questions by confirming that's Tabitha on the cover, and the other one is about the girl in the red beret in the lower right. Is that Bruiser?

Yep, that's Bruiser.




BadMotives

Feb 25, 2006, 05:52 pm

I don't know you guys know this, but Marvel.com has been drastically altered for he better. The character profiles have greatly improved by listing almost every character and allowing user inputs ala wikipedia.




Stuart V

Feb 25, 2006, 06:00 pm

BadMotives wrote:

I don't know you guys know this, but Marvel.com has been drastically altered for he better. The character profiles have greatly improved by listing almost every character and allowing user inputs ala wikipedia.

Yes, we know - we've been beta testing it the last few weeks.




BadMotives

Feb 25, 2006, 06:04 pm

Stuart V wrote:

Yes, we know - we've been beta testing it the last few weeks.

Cool. I prefer having an 'on-line' handbook that can be easily maintained. I got the first two issues of the new OHOTMU A-Z. I found them incomplete. I just remember as kid that the when the ones in the eighties listed every character.




Stuart V

Feb 25, 2006, 06:12 pm

BadMotives wrote:

Cool. I prefer having an 'on-line' handbook that can be easily maintained. I got the first two issues of the new OHOTMU A-Z. I found them incomplete. I just remember as kid that the when the ones in the eighties listed every character.

The ones in the eighties didn't listed every character - they missed out tons of them. The trouble is, if you have only bought those two issues, you'll probably feel there are characters missing, because A-Z #1 is actually about the 20th issue in the series, which means many of the usual suspects already have entries. If we get a 2007 run, we've already said we'll start revisiting some of them for expanded and updated entries.




Eric J. Moreels

Feb 26, 2006, 06:46 am

Rayeye wrote:

Also I had another question about Boom-Boom:
The Handbook listed under known relatives: Lou Smith (father), unidentified mother, Amanda "Mandy" Smith (step-mother).
I can be wrong, but wasn't Amanda "Mandy" Smith her mother instead of her step-mom? Also, Lou (which full name is Marty Louis by the way) re-married with Wanda Jo Bialowski-Smith, so shoudn't she listed as Tabitha's (second) step-mother then?

Actually, that's right, so Boom-Boom's known relatives should be listed as follows:

Known Relatives: Marty Louis Smith (father), Amanda “Mandy” Smith (mother), Wanda Jo Bialowsky (step-mother)

My bad




DrGoodwrench

Feb 28, 2006, 07:05 pm

Sean McQuaid wrote:

It being recent didn't keep that info out. The sticking point is continuity: the fact that NW continuity seems to conflict with 616 continuity in multiple places, plus various statements from Ellis about how he isn't trying to make this book gel with established continuity. The impression we get so far is that NW is taking place in its own not-quite-616 reality.

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but does the same apply to Iron Man?




Rayeye

Mar 4, 2006, 07:20 am

I have a question. Although I like it the Handbooks also includes those characters who just appeared only one issue, I was wondering why you guys decided to include Crazy Eight (because there are a lot of other possible 'candidates')? Was it because she was requested by many fans, or was she just taken randomly?

(Hope you understand my English, since it's not my native language)




abnormal13

Mar 8, 2006, 05:49 pm

I was wondering, now that Warpath is going to be a part of Uncanny X-Men, will we see an entry for him in the W's. And will it have under Unusual features: Warpath has a large thunderbird tatoo across his back, spanning shoulder to shoulder.

He got the tatoo, during X-Force Vol. 1,( issue ?, can't remember), right after he encountered Mimic and left with a woman Named Risque.

If it does contain that, someone should inform Mr Tan so it can be added




Eric J. Moreels

Mar 9, 2006, 05:59 am

DrGoodwrench wrote:

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but does the same apply to Iron Man?

I'm not following the series, but I wasn't aware that Iron Man was considered out of continuity.

Rayeye wrote:

I have a question. Although I like it the Handbooks also includes those characters who just appeared only one issue, I was wondering why you guys decided to include Crazy Eight (because there are a lot of other possible 'candidates')? Was it because she was requested by many fans, or was she just taken randomly?

None of the characters in the 2006 A-Z series were chosen at random. We went through a painstaking decision process to decide who would make the cut based on a number of factors, including (but not limited to) whether they've been profiled before (and if so, has anything significant happened since then).

Rayeye wrote:

I was wondering, now that Warpath is going to be a part of Uncanny X-Men, will we see an entry for him in the W's. And will it have under Unusual features: Warpath has a large thunderbird tatoo across his back, spanning shoulder to shoulder.

Well we don't have a section entitled "Unusual features". Things like that are typically mentioned in the subject's history if not readily apparent in the accompanying images.

If Warpath gets an entry, then that's how it will be done.




Sean McQuaid

Mar 10, 2006, 01:09 pm

DrGoodwrench wrote:

I'm not sure if this has been covered elsewhere, but does the same apply to Iron Man?

I'm not sure what you mean...

-Sean




Sean McQuaid

Mar 10, 2006, 01:19 pm

Rayeye wrote:

I have a question. Although I like it the Handbooks also includes those characters who just appeared only one issue, I was wondering why you guys decided to include Crazy Eight (because there are a lot of other possible 'candidates')? Was it because she was requested by many fans, or was she just taken randomly?

When it comes to selecting characters in general: one or more of the writers suggests including a given character, the other writers might or might not debate the selection, and the head writer makes a decision (which editorial could theoretically overrule, though I don't recall them vetoing any minor characters selected for the A-Z run so far).

In the case of Crazy Eight, I'm not aware of us having received any requests for her, though at least one of our writers is pretty fond of the character.

-Sean




Eric J. Moreels

Mar 22, 2006, 03:15 am

The list for issue #3 has just been added!




Rayeye

Mar 22, 2006, 04:47 am


Woohoo issue #3 is there! I'm so glad Copycat, the Dark Riders, Darkstar, Desert Sword and Diamond Lil are included!
Can't wait till I have the issue in my hands!!!
I only hoped the Crazy Gang was included....




gtrmp

Mar 23, 2006, 07:04 pm


Why is Death's Head 3.0 on the cover if he doesn't have an entry?




Stuart V

Mar 23, 2006, 08:02 pm

gtrmp wrote:

Why is Death's Head 3.0 on the cover if he doesn't have an entry?

A miscommunication, or error if you prefer. Somehow the cover artist was given the impression the newest DH was in the book (he was never intended to be, simply because we know too little about him yet to do a decent profile - if we get a 2007 run, by that time his origin story should have finished, and it'd be much more sensible to cover him then). We saw roughs of the pencils for the cover, but at that stage we mistakenly believed he was the M-Tech Deathlok; by the time we saw the final version, it had been colorized and inked, and was too late to change.




Foenix

Mar 24, 2006, 01:12 am


Issue #3...

No Darkhawk?

There are other characters like Desert Sword and Crazy Eight, who last appeared, what? Years ago? But no Darkhawk, who had his own series, appeared damned near everywhere, and even had some recent appearances in both Runaways and Marvel Team Up?

That's a shame...

J




skippcomet

Mar 25, 2006, 06:40 am

Feonix wrote:

Issue #3...

No Darkhawk?

There are other characters like Desert Sword and Crazy Eight, who last appeared, what? Years ago? But no Darkhawk, who had his own series, appeared damned near everywhere, and even had some recent appearances in both Runaways and Marvel Team Up?

That's a shame...

J

I suspect that Darkhawk might be covered in the eventual MARVEL LEGACY: THE NINETIES Handbook that'll probably come out late in the year...

Which leads to my next question for Eric and Co.: How do you decide which characters will be covered in the ANOHOTMU A-Z and which will be covered only in one of the decade-specific or other themed books like New Avengers: Most Wanted Files, Marvel Monsters, the just-announced Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files, etc.?

After all, a number of the entries in NA:MWF had already been featured in the 20 theme issues from 2004-5 and were only minorly updated from those entries, while several had been only featured in the Master Edition and could have benefited from actual full OHOTMU entries (like Crossbones, Cutthroat, Rampage, or the Answer) and still several others had had perhaps sufficient development since the Deluxe Edition to merit entries in the All-New Edition (Graviton, Mandrill, King Cobra, or Vermin), yet by now I think we can assume anybody covered in NA:MWF who wasn't in the first 20 theme issues won't be in the All-New Edition.

Meanwhile, Fin Fang Foom first gets a one-page entry in the Book of the Dead and then gets two pages in Monsters. Apache Kid, nominally a Western character if a recently created one, appears in the All-New edition, but will she/he/they get an entry in MW:Jawdrop:F? We know Two-Gun Kid will be in the latter, but given his exposure to and interaction with the modern Marvel universe, plus plans for him to appear in the modern-day in She-Hulk's book, wouldn't he merit an All-New entry?

Please forgive my lack of brevity, but the selection criteria for who appears in what book, if they appear at all, seems mystifying.




Sean McQuaid

Apr 6, 2006, 09:28 pm

skippcomet wrote:

I suspect that Darkhawk might be covered in the eventual MARVEL LEGACY: THE NINETIES Handbook that'll probably come out late in the year...

Can't confirm anything yet, but that certainly sounds plausible--Darkhawk being by far one of Marvel's most "Nineties" heroes.

skippcomet wrote:

Which leads to my next question for Eric and Co.: How do you decide which characters will be covered in the ANOHOTMU A-Z and which will be covered only in one of the decade-specific or other themed books like New Avengers: Most Wanted Files, Marvel Monsters, the just-announced Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files, etc.?

The profile selection for most of our books is a long and constantly shifting process. In the case of the A-Z run, it began many months ago when our head writer and the rest of us spent months assembling a list of profile subjects, debating many of the various choices among ourselves, revising the profile map over and over again, seeking input and approval from Marvel editorial as needed. Just about every selection and omission had some sort of rationale behind it.

More specifically, though, you're wondering how/why characters end up in a particular book--for instance, why various profiles end up in the theme specials instead of in the A-Z run.

It's something we figure out on a case by case basis, really--every project is different, and every profile subject is different.

The profile line-up in New Avengers: Most Wanted Files was somewhat out of our hands, since we were working from the list of villains involved in the NEW AVENGERS Raft breakout (a list which, handily enough, fit more or less perfectly within a handbookish one-shot, so we didn't add or subtract much material there beyond covering the characters on Bendis's original Raft list).

By the time we were working on New Avengers: Most Wanted Files, we already realized that the A-Z run was gonna be overstuffed to the point of bursting (twelve issues is a very small venue in which to showcase roughly seventy years worth of Marvel, even when we exclude most of the characters from the 2004-2005 theme books). So we made the decision at some point that New Avengers: Most Wanted Files was probably going to be the only profile most of these Raft villains got in the near future, and we did our best to cram practically all the info of a standard-format handbook entry into every Most Wanted file.

As an added bonus, if we get a chance to squeeze these Raft characters into future A-Z editions or compilations after 2006, it shouldn't be too hard to make new/updated entries for them based on the New Avengers: Most Wanted Files material, much of the work already being done.

Regarding Marvel Monsters, that was a chance to do something fun and different with a batch of characters who occupy a very specific niche in the MU, characters who have often been ignored by the handbooks before. Just about all the significant characters from the big rampaging monster genre got included--and again, knowing this might be the only shot some of these characters get at a profile in the near future, we tried to include as much info as possible. And as was the case with New Avengers: Most Wanted Files, we've got a good body of material that can be coverted into standard handbook entries down the road if space is found to give these characters additional coverage.

Since Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files isn't out yet, I can't say as much about it--but like Marvel Monsters, it'll be jampacked with genre-related characters profiled in unconventional formats. Some of them will be characters who've already gotten modern handbook entries or are slated to get modern handbook entries in the near future, while others will be confined to the genre book for now.

As a general rule, a character who appears in one of these recent/upcoming theme books is less likely to appear in the 2006 A-Z run, since space is so limited and so many characters are competing for it; however, there will be at least a few exceptions to the rule where a character merits the additional A-Z coverage.

skippcomet wrote:

After all, a number of the entries in NA:MWF had already been featured in the 20 theme issues from 2004-5 and were only minorly updated from those entries, while several had been only featured in the Master Edition and could have benefited from actual full OHOTMU entries (like Crossbones, Cutthroat, Rampage, or the Answer) and still several others had had perhaps sufficient development since the Deluxe Edition to merit entries in the All-New Edition

(Graviton, Mandrill, King Cobra, or Vermin), yet by now I think we can assume anybody covered in NA:MWF who wasn't in the first 20 theme issues won't be in the All-New Edition.
For the most part, it's a safe bet that NA:MWF-profiled characters won't be getting 2006 A-Z coverage, especially since most of those NA:MWF files contain almost all the info you'd find in a standard handbook entry, albeit formatted differently. Would we like to do expanded, handbook-style entries for all those NA:MWF characters? Sure, eventually. But these characters getting handbook-like coverage in NA:MWF makes them a somewhat lower priority on the handbook profile selection list for the time being.

skippcomet wrote:

Meanwhile, Fin Fang Foom first gets a one-page entry in the Book of the Dead and then gets two pages in Monsters. Apache Kid, nominally a Western character if a recently created one, appears in the All-New edition, but will she/he/they get an entry in MW:Jawdrop:F? We know Two-Gun Kid will be in the latter, but given his exposure to and interaction with the modern Marvel universe, plus plans for him to appear in the modern-day in She-Hulk's book, wouldn't he merit an All-New entry?

Fin Fang Foom is one of the relatively rare cases where a subject got profiled more than once during the 2004-2006 span. After his GOLDEN AGE profile, he got a second shot in the MONSTERS book--partly because he's such a major monster that his omission from that book would have left a glaring gap, partly because he was prominently featured in the Marvel Monsters event tied to the book, and partly because the single-page format of the GOLDEN AGE volume wasn't really enough to do the Foomster full justice.

Regarding who all ends up in the OUTLAW FILES, all we can say for now is "wait and see". As for Two-Gun specifically, I can't give anything away--but if we take Fin Fang Foom as an example of a major niche-genre character getting coverage in both a standard handbook and a non-handbook info-comic, then I'd say Two-Gun has a good shot at coverage aplenty.

skippcomet wrote:

Please forgive my lack of brevity, but the selection criteria for who appears in what book, if they appear at all, seems mystifying.

Hope I've made things somewhat less mystifying.

-Sean




Eric J. Moreels

Apr 26, 2006, 11:21 am


The list for issue #4 has just been added!




Rayeye

Apr 26, 2006, 11:44 am


Again I can't wait till I have the newest issue in my hands!!!

Personally, I'm glad Emplate, Eric the Red, Eternals, Feron, Fury, Gazer, Geshem and Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway all do have an entry.

Okay, I know you guys can't please everyone, but I was a little sad to see Flex was missing in the latest Handbook. :~(

I have also an "alphabetical" question:
Why is Damon Dran in this issue and Ethan Edward in the last issue? It seems they each have an one-page entry, thus that couldn't be the problem.




Sean McQuaid

Apr 26, 2006, 07:23 pm

Rayeye wrote:

Why is Damon Dran in this issue and Ethan Edward in the last issue? It seems they each have an one-page entry, thus that couldn't be the problem.

Ethan got drawn onto the cover of issue 3 early on so we had to keep him in that issue, even though the alphabetical placement turned out to be slightly off. As such, Ethan appeared a month early and Dran a month late.

-Sean




Rayeye

Apr 29, 2006, 07:54 am


So far I'm enjoying the All-New Handbooks!

I especially like the diversity of profiles: from Golden Age characters like Father Time and the Challenger, Marvel U.K. characters like Albion to new characters like Gazer; major characters as well as less known characters; and not only characters but also a mix of teams, locations and alternative Earths (like Geshem).
I also like the new information or info which clears up things (such as continuity confusionbs).

Inferior things:
- Personally I think it's a pity that some inset pictures are indistinct (like two insets at Eternal Brain's profile).
- And, unless they are left out with a reason (f.e. to appear in Marvel Legacy handbooks), I wonder why Feral, Flex, Darkhawk, Generation X, Genetix and Clan Destine and certain members of X-Men 2099 didn't make it to the handbooks. I know the handbooks can't include everyone, but Feral, Flex, Darkhawk and Generation X have made a lot of appearances, many X-Men 2099 members appeared in at least more issues than a one-issue character like Crazy Eight, and Genetix and Clan Destine had their own miniseries.

However, the Handbooks are still my favorite number one series!
 
Eric J. Moreels

Apr 29, 2006, 10:17 am

Rayeye wrote:

- And, unless they are left out with a reason (f.e. to appear in Marvel Legacy handbooks), I wonder why Feral, Flex, Darkhawk, Generation X, Genetix and Clan Destine and certain members of X-Men 2099 didn't make it to the handbooks. I know the handbooks can't include everyone, but Feral, Flex, Darkhawk and Generation X have made a lot of appearances, many X-Men 2099 members appeared in at least more issues than a one-issue character like Crazy Eight, and Genetix and Clan Destine had their own miniseries.

Simple reason - there's just not enough space to include everybody! If we get a 2007 series, there's a good chance you'll see them then, but that depends on sales of the 2006 series!




Rayeye

Apr 29, 2006, 11:25 pm

Eric J. Moreels wrote:

Simple reason - there's just not enough space to include everybody! If we get a 2007 series, there's a good chance you'll see them then, but that depends on sales of the 2006 series!

Of course, I understand. But what I mean is, I wonder, when you guys have to chose between some characters (who all are possible candidates for the Handbooks according to the conditions mentioned in issue #1) because of the limited space, how do you decide to choose one or another?
For example: if you have to choose between Feron and Feral, what does make you decide Feron instead of Feral?




Eric J. Moreels

Jun 1, 2006, 07:25 am


The list for issue #5 has just been added!




Playmobil

Jun 1, 2006, 11:35 am

Eric J. Moreels wrote:

The list for issue #5 has just been added!

Glad to know the Guardian and Hulkling are on this issue.




William Keogh

Jun 1, 2006, 07:57 pm


Will Marrow have a listing in Issue 6 or 7?




Eric J. Moreels

Jun 2, 2006, 09:32 am

William Keogh wrote:

Will Marrow have a listing in Issue 6 or 7?

She's on the cover to #7 (as per Marvel's July previews (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/...ad.php?t=38568)), so yes, she will




William Keogh

Jun 2, 2006, 01:22 pm

Eric J. Moreels wrote:

She's on the cover to #7 (as per Marvel's July previews (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/...ad.php?t=38568)), so yes, she will

Thanks. Didn't think to check the previews




William Keogh

Jun 8, 2006, 08:35 pm


Unless they're being included with their first names in alphabetical order, I've noticed that there were no entries for Sally Floyd or Kat Farrell in the Handbooks thus far. If there's a 2007 edition, I wouldn't mind seeing them there.




Rayeye

Jun 8, 2006, 10:43 pm

William Keogh wrote:

Unless they're being included with their first names in alphabetical order, I've noticed that there were no entries for Sally Floyd or Kat Farrell in the Handbooks thus far. If there's a 2007 edition, I wouldn't mind seeing them there.

I hope there will be a 2007 edition indeed. From a commercial view, I think there are enough popular A-characters (besides many B-/C-characters) left for big entries, like Arcade, Ares, Black Bolt, Gorgon I, etc.




William Keogh

Jun 9, 2006, 06:38 pm

Rayeye wrote:

I hope there will be a 2007 edition indeed. From a commercial view, I think there are enough popular A-characters (besides many B-/C-characters) left for big entries, like Arcade, Ares, Black Bolt, Gorgon I, etc.

I agree with you. Someone else I've noticed missing is the Mad Jack version of Jack O'Lantern, and I've been wondering if Genis will get an entry somewhere along the line.




Madison Carter

Jun 10, 2006, 12:40 am

William Keogh wrote:

I agree with you. Someone else I've noticed missing is the Mad Jack version of Jack O'Lantern, and I've been wondering if Genis will get an entry somewhere along the line.

Well, considering Mad Jack would be listed under "M" and we haven't gotten there yet, there's always a chance.




William Keogh

Jun 10, 2006, 05:25 pm

Madison Carter wrote:

Well, considering Mad Jack would be listed under "M" and we haven't gotten there yet, there's always a chance.

I glanced at the solicitations for June, and there on the cover is Mad Jack. So much for my memory.




William Keogh

Jun 27, 2006, 07:31 pm


Seeing as how we have or will be seeing entries on most of the Thunderbolts, will there be profiles on Skein and Plantman too?