Who Watches the Watchers - Forum for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe & Similar Works » Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

Andy E. Nystrom · 1/07/2020 5:11 pm

I created this thread on Comixfan on Jun 29, 2011, 07:25 pm. As I expect to update the first post once new material resumes, the rest of the historical text will start with the second post. This thread was completely overhauled during the Capes (Optional) era to cover both indicia and release dates.

I thought it might be fun to chart the publication history of the Handbooks and similar books published by Marvel over the years. Books are listed in order of release date, with cover dates noted at right

I’m listing borderline cases but with the exception of Contest of Champions, which is an important prototype, am not listing books that simply have a few entries in the back or the like. Saga books are only included if they’re significantly part Handbook hybrid, due to the amount of space devoted to panel reproductions. I decided to intermingle the Handbooks, Files type books, and the Index books to get a sense of how much reference output Marvel was produced. Only stuff published by Marvel is noted below, despite the irony of the Powers Encyclopedia qualifying and the first Marvel Index not qualifying as a result.

For trade paperbacks I only cover first printings. I probably overlooked some of the files stuff put out during the 1990s. I did use Wikipedia and the Overstreet guide for some of the info; both have accuracy challenges so corrections welcomed.

1982

Mar 9: Marvel Superhero Contest of Champions #1 (back of book is Handbook prototype) (June)
April 6: Marvel Superhero Contest of Champions #2 (back of book is Handbook prototype) (July)
May 18: Marvel Superhero Contest of Champions #3 (back of book is Handbook prototype) (August)
October 19: Marvel No-Prize Book (Saga prototype/bloopers book) (January 1983)
October 19: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #1 (January 1983)
November 16: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #2(February 1983)
December 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #3 (March 1983)

1983

January 18: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #4 (April)
February 15: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #5 (May)
March 15: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #6 (June)
April 12: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #7 (July)
May 17: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #8 (August)
June 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #9 (September)
July 19: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #10 (October)
August 16: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #11 (November)
September 13: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #12 (December)
October 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #13 (February 1984)
November 22: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #14 (March 1984)

1984

January 31: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series) #15 (May)

1985

January 15: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #1 (April)
February 12: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #2 (May)
March 19: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #3 (June)
April 16: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #4 (July)
May 14: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #5 (August)
June 18: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #6 (September)
July 16: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #7 (October)
August 13: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #8 (November)
August 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #1 (December)
September 3: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #1 (December)
September 3: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #1 (December)
September 17: Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man #9 (December)
September 24: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #2 (January 1986)
October 1: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #2 (January 1986)
October 8: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #2 (January 1986)
October 15: Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 (non-traditional format/licensed) (January 1986)
October 15: Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #1 (January 1986)
October 22: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #3 (February 1986)
October 29: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #3 (February 1986)
November 5: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #3 (February 1986)
November 12: Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #2 (February 1986)
November 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #4 (March 1986)
December 3: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #4 (March 1986)
December 10: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #4 (March 1986)
December 31: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #5 (April 1986)
December 31: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #5 (April 1986)

1986

January 7: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #5 (April)
January 15: Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #3 (May)
February 4: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #6 (May)
February 4: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #6 (May)
February 11: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #6 (May)
March 4: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #7 (June)
March 4: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #7 (June)
March 4: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #7 (June)
April 1: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #8 (July)
April 1: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #8 (July)
April 8: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #8
April 15: Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #4 (July)
April 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #9 (August)
April 29: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #9 (August)
May 6: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #9 (August)
June 3: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #10 (September)
June 3: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #10 (September)
June 10: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #10 (September)
June 17: Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #5 (October)
July 1: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #11 (October)
July 1: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four #11 (October)
July 8: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #11 (October)
July 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #12 (November)
July 29: Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#12 (January 1987)
August 5: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #12 (November)
August 12: G.I. Joe Order of Battle #1 (licensed) (December)
September 9: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #13 (December)
September 9: Transformers Universe #1 (licensed) (December)
September 16: G.I. Joe Order of Battle #2 (licensed) (January 1987)
September 16: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #13 (December)
October 7: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #14 (January 1987)
October 7: Transformers Universe #2 (licensed) (January 1987)
October 14: G.I. Joe Order of Battle #3 (licensed) (February 1987)
October 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #14 (January 1987)
October 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #1 (1987)
November 11: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #15
November 11: Transformers Universe #3 (licensed) (February 1987)
November 17: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #15 (March 1987)
December 2: G.I. Joe Order of Battle #4 (licensed) (May 1987)
December 9: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #16
December 9: Transformers Universe #4 (licensed) (March 1987)
December 16: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #2 (1987)

1987

January 6: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #17 (April)
February 10: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #18 (May)
February 17: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #3 (1987)
February 17: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #1 (May)
March 10: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #19 (June)
March 17: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #16 (June)
March 17: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #1 (June)
April 7: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#20 (July)
April 7: Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up #6 (July)
April 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #4 (1987)
April 14: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #2 (July)
May 12: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #21 (August)
May 19: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #2 (August)
May 19: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #17 (August)
June 9: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #22 (September)
June 16: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #5 (1987)
June 16: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #3 (September)
July 7: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #23 (October)
July 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #18 (October)
July 14: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #3 (October)
August 14: G.I. Joe Order of Battle trade paperback (licensed) (1987)
August 11: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #24 (November)
August 18: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #6 (1987)
August 18: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #4 (November)
September 1: Transformers Handbook trade paperback (licensed) (1988)
September 8: Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe #25 (December)
September 15: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #19 (December)
September 15: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #4 (December)
September 22: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #7 (1988)
October 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition) #20 (February 1988)
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #5 (March 1988)
November 24: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #8 (1988)
December 15: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #5 (April 1988)

1988

January 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #9 (1988)
January 26: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #6 (May)
February 23: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #6 (June)
March 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback #10 (1988)
March 29: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series) #7 (July)
April 26: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series) #7 (August)

1989

March 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #1 (July)
April 11: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #2 (August)
May 2: Wolverine Saga #1 (September)
May 9: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #3 (September)
June 6: Wolverine Saga#2 (November)
June 13: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #4 (October)
July 11: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #5 (November)
August 1: Wolverine Saga#3 (December)
August 8: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #6 (Late November)
September 5: Wolverine Saga #4 (Mid-December)
September 12: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #7 (December)
October 10: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89) #8 (Late December)

1990

January 2: Marvel 1989: The Year in Review (satirical reference) (1990)
May 22: Punisher Armory#1 (Files format) (July)
October 30: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #1 (1990)
November 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition ) #2 (January 1991)
December 18: Marvel 1990: The Year in Review (satirical reference) (1991)
December 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #3 (1991)

1991

January 15: Marvel Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue (part satirical reference, part pin-up magazine) (1991)
January 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #4 (1991)
Febuary 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #5 (1991)
March 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #6 (May)
April 9: Punisher Armory #2 (Files format) (June)
April 30: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #7 (1991)
May 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #8 (1991)
June 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #9 (August)
July 30: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #10 (September)
August 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #11 (October)
September 10: Spider-Man Saga (first series) #1 (November)
September 24: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #12 (November)
October 8: Spider-Man Saga (first series) #2 (December)
October 22: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #13 (December)
November 12: Spider-Man Saga (first series) #3 (January 1992)
November 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #14 (January 1992)
December 10: Spider-Man Saga (first series) #4 (February 1992)
December 17: Marvel 1991: The Year in Review (satirical reference) (1992)
December 30: ] Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #15 (February 1992)

1992

January 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #16 (March)
February 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #17 (April)
February 25: Punisher Armory #3 (Files format) (April)
March 31: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #18 (May)
April 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #19 (June)
May 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #20 (July)
June 30: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #21 (August)
July 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #22 (September)
August 4: Punisher Armory #4 (Files format) (October)
August 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #23 (October)
September 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #24 (November)
October 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #25 (December)
November 3: Stryfe’s Strike File #1 (Files format) (January 1993)
November 24: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #26 (January 1993)
December 1: Punisher Armory #5 (Files format) (February 1993)
December 15: Marvel: The Year in Review ’92 (satirical reference) (1993)
December 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #27 (February 1993)

1993

January 26: Iron Manual #1 (Files format) (1993)
January 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #28 (March)
February 2: Punisher Armory #6 (Files format) (April)
February 23: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #29 (April)
March 30: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #30 (May)
April 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #31 (June)
May 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #32 (July)
June 29: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #33 (August)
July 6: Punisher Armory #7 (Files format) (September)
July 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #34 (September)
August 31: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #35 (October)
September 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition) #36 (November)
October 5: Punisher Armory #8 (Files format) (December)
November 23: Avengers Strikefile #1 (Saga format) (January 1994)
December 14: Avengers Log #1 (non-traditional format) (February 1994)
December 14: Marvel: The Year in Review ’93 (satirical reference) (1994)

1994

February 1: Punisher Armory#9 (Files format) (April)
February 22: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series) #1 (April)
March 29: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series) #2 (May)
April 26: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series) #3 (June)
May 31: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series) #4 (July)
June 28: Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series) #5 (August)
August 30: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series) #1 (October)
September 6: Punisher Armory#10 (Files format) (November)
September 27: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series) #2 (November)
October 25: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series) #3 (December)
November 29: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series) #4 (January 1996)
December 13: Marvel 1994: The Year in Review (casual history review) (1995)
December 27: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series) #5 (February 1996)

1995

January 31: Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series) #6
February 7: Age of Apocalypse: the Chosen (Files type book) (April)
June 27: Spider-Man: The Jackal Files (August)

1996

November 27: Wolverine Encyclopedia #1 (November)
December 4: Spider-Man Unmasked #1 (Files type) (December)
December 24: Wolverine Encyclopedia #2 (December)

1998

October 21: Encyclopædia Deadpoolica (Index with Files-like writing style) (December)

1999

December 8: X-Men Yearbook 1999 #1 (February 2000)
December 15: Avengers Casebook (February 2000)

2000

August 23: X-Men: Declassified (included red herrings) (October)

2002

October 30: The Marvel Encyclopedia #1 (2002)

2003

April 2: The Marvel Encyclopedia #2: X-Men (2003)
June 4: The Marvel Encyclopedia #3: Hulk (even more casual than Files books) (2003)
November 5: The Marvel Encyclopedia #4: Spider-Man (2004)

2004

March 3: The Marvel Encyclopedia #5: Marvel Knights (2004)
May 5: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004 (2004)
June 9: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man 2004 (2004)
July 7: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers 2004 (2004)
August 4: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk 2004 (2004)
September 29: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Daredevil 2004 (2004)
October 20: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine 2004 (2004)
November 3: The Marvel Encyclopedia#6: Fantastic Four (2005)
November 10: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead 2004 (2005)
December 15: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004 (2005)

2005

January 26: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Women of Marvel 2005 (2005)
February 16: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Marvel Knights 2005 (2005)
March 23: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men – Age of Apocalypse 2005 (2005)
April 20: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man 2005 (2005)
May 18: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Teams 2005 (2005)
May 25: Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury (2005)
June 29: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Fantastic Four 2005 (2005)
July 20: Secrets of the House of M (2005)
July 27: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers 2005 (2005)
August 31: The Official Handbook of the Ultimate Marvel Universe 2005: The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man (2005)
September 28: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 (2005)
October 19: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005 (2005)
October 26: New X-Men: Academy X Yearbook (part story, part Files, part Handbook) (2005)
November 16: Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone (and the Monster Hunters) (2006)
November 30: The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2005 (2006)
December 14: New Avengers: Most Wanted Files (2006)
December 28 The Official Handbook of the Ultimate Marvel Universe: The Ultimates & X-Men 2005 (2006)

2006

January 4: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1 (2006)
January 4: X-Men: The 198 Files (2006)
January 25: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #1 (March)
February 1: Marvel Legacy: The 1960s Handbook (2006)
February 22: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #2 (April)
March 1: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Deluxe Edition #1 (2006)
March 22: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #3 (May)
April 26: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #4 (June)
May 10: Marvel Legacy: The 1970s Handbook (2006)
May 31: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #5 (July)
May 31: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Deluxe Edition #2 (2006)
June 21: Marvel Westerns: Outlaw Files (2006)
June 28: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #6 (August)
July 5: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Deluxe Edition #3
July 19: Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook (Files book) (2006)
July 26: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #7 (September)
August 2: Annihilation: The Nova Corps Files (2006)
August 30: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #8 (October)
September 13: Civil War Files (2006)
September 27: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #9 (November)
October 25: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #10 (December)
November 8: Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook (2007)
November 22: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #11 (January 2007)
December 13: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Update ’89 #1 (2007)
December 27: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12 (February 2007)

2007

January 24: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #1 (March)
February 14: Marvel Legacy: The 1990s Handbook (2007)
February 28: Civil War: Battle Damage Report (Files book) (2007)
March 28: Spider-Man: Back in Black Handbook(2007)
April 25: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update # (June)
May 23: Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic (2007)
May 30: Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter – Guilty Pleasures Handbook (licensed) (2007)
June 13: The Mighty Avengers: Most Wanted Files (handbook, not “Files” book) (August)
July 18: The Marvel Tarot (kind of Files like) (2007)
July 25: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3 (September)
August 1: Dark Tower: Gunslinger's Guidebook#1 (licensed) (2007)
August 22: World War Hulk: Gamma Files (handbook, not “Files” book) (2007)
September 26: Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities (2007)
October 24: All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #4 (December)
November 7: Marvel Legacy: The 1960s-1990s Handbook trade paperback (2008)
November 28: Marvel Atlas #1 (2008)
December 26: X-Men: Messiah Complex – Mutant Files (February 2008)

2008

January 23: Ultimate Secrets (2008)
February 13: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #1 (2008)
March 26: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition #1 (2008)
March 26: Marvel Atlas #2 (2008)
April 23: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #2 (2008)
May 14: All-New Iron Manual (2008)
May 14: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition #2 (2008)
June 11: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #3 (2008)
June 25: Marvel Atlas trade paperback (2008)
July 2: Dark Tower: End-World Almanac#1 (licensed) (2008)
July 9: Skrulls! (Files book) (2008)
August 27: Marvel: Your Universe Saga (part Saga, part Handbook) (2008)
August 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #4 (2008)
September 3: Iron Man: Iron Manual trade paperback (2008)
September 17: Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition #3 (2008)
October 22: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #5 (2008)
December 24: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #6 (2009)
December 24: Spider-Man: Brand New Day Yearbook (part Saga, part Handbook) (2009)

2009

January 7: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #1 (2009)
February 4: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #2 (2009)
February 11: Dark Tower: Guide to Gilead#1 (licensed) (2009)
February 25: Dark Reign Files (April)
March 4: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #3 (2009)
March 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #7 (2009)
April 1: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #4 (2009)
April 22: Wolverine: Weapon X Files (Handbook, not “Files” book) (2009)
May 1: Marvel Reading Chronology (2009)
May 6: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #5 (2009)
May 20: X-Men - Future History: The Messiah War Sourcebook (Files book) (2009)
May 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #8 (2009)
June 3: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #6 (2009)
June 17: Marvel Pets Handbook (August)
July 1: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #7 (2009)
July 15: Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica (2009)
July 22: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #9 (2009)
August 5: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #8 (2009)
September 2: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #9 (2009)
September 23: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #10 (2009)
September 30: Marvel Mystery Handbook (2009)
September 30: Wolverine: Weapon X Files trade paperback (Handbook/Encyclopedia combo, not “Files” book) (2009)
November 1: Son of Marvel Reading Chronology (2010)
November 4: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #11 (2010)
November 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #11 (2010)
December 2: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #12 (2010)

2010

January 6: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #13 (2010)
January 27: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #12 (2010)
January 27: Siege: Storming Asgard: Heroes & Villains (Files book) (2010)
February 3: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #14 (2010)
February 24: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#1 (April)
March 10: Iron Man: Official Index to the Marvel Universe trade paperback (2010)
March 24: Deadpool Corps: Rank & Foul (May)
March 31: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #13 (2010)
April 21: Iron Manual Mark 3 (June)
May 5: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#1 (June)
May 12: Avengers Assemble! (July)
May 26: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover #14 (2010)
June 3: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #2 (July)
June 16: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (2010)
July 8: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #3 (August)
July 8: Thanos Sourcebook (Files/Saga combo) (2010)
July 14: Amazing Spider-Man: Official Index to the Marvel Universe trade paperback (2010)
July 21: X-Men: Phoenix Force Handbook (September)
July 28: Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades Handbook trade paperback(2010)
August 4: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #4 (September)
August 18: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3 (2010)
September 1: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #5 (October)
September 15: Heroic Age: Heroes (Files book)
October 6: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #6 (November)
October 20: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #4 (2010)
October 27: Spider-Man Saga (second series, actually 1-shot) (has handbook pages) (December)
November 3: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #7 (December)
November 10: Uncanny X-Men: Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2011)
November 17: Heroic Age: Villains (Files book) (January 2011)
December 1: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #8 (January 2011)
December 15: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #5 (2011)
December 29: Heroic Age: X-Men (Files book) (February 2011)

2011

January 5: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #9 (March)
January 26: Blockbusters of the Marvel Universe (March)
February 2: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #10 (April)
March 2: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #11 (May)
April 6: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #12 (June)
April 6: Marvel Backlist Reading Chronology #1 (2011)
April 27: Thor: Asgard’s Avenger (June)
April 27: Thor: Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2011)
May 4: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #13 (July)
May 25: Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2011)
May 25: X-Men: Earth’s Mutant Heroes (July)
June 1: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #14 (August)
June 29: Captain America: America’s Avenger (August)
July 6: Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #15 (September)
August 10: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #1 (October)
August 10: Fear Itself: Fellowship of Fear (mostly Saga-Handbook hybrid; a few Files-type entries) (October)
September 21: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #2 (November)
September 28: FF: 50 Fantastic Years (November)
September 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z trade paperback #1 (2011)
October 19: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #3 (December)
October 26: Vampires: The Marvel Undead #1 (December)
November 16: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #4 (January 2012)
November 30: History of the Marvel Universe (Saga format) (2012)
December 14: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z trade paperback #2 (2012)
December 21: Defenders: Strange Heroes (February 2012)
December 21: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #5 (February 2012)
December 28: Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2012)

2012

January 18: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #6 (March)
January 25: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z trade paperback #3 (2012)
February 22: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #7 (April)
March 28: Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe #8 (May)
March 28: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z trade paperback #4 (2012)
April 25: Avengers Roll Call (2012)
May 30: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z trade paperback #5 (2012)
June 4: Punisher: Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2012)

2013

May 20: Wolverine: Official Index to the Marvel Universe (2013)

2014

December 17:Avengers Now! Handbook #1 (2015)

2015

October 22: Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Iron Man (December)
October 22: Secret Wars: Official Guide to the Marvel Multiverse #1 (December)
November 25: Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Incredible Hulk/Marvel's Iron Man 2 (January 2016)
December 23: Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Thor (February 2016)

2016

January 21: Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Captain America: The First Avenger (March)
February 24: Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's The Avengers (April)
March 30: All-New All Different Marvel Universe (May)
April 27 Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Iron Man 3/Marvel's Thor: The Dark World (June)
May 25 Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier/Marvel's Ant-Man (July)
June 22 Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season One (August)
July 27 Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (September)
September 28 Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron (November)
October 26 Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season Two/Agent Carter Season One (December)

Andy E. Nystrom · 1/07/2020 5:20 pm

The rest of the historical text from Comixfan

Sidney Osinga

Jun 29, 2011, 10:52 pm

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:
April
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#7

I'm fair sure this series only went to #6.

captainswift

Jun 29, 2011, 11:44 pm

Sidney Osinga wrote:
I'm fair sure this series only went to #6.

Nope. I've got issue 7, so I'm going to back this up.

Sidney Osinga

Jun 30, 2011, 01:41 am

captainswift wrote:
Nope. I've got issue 7, so I'm going to back this up.

What issues did it cover?

captainswift

Jun 30, 2011, 10:44 am

Oops. I got volumes 1 and 2 reversed.

You're right. Sorry

Andy E. Nystrom

Jun 30, 2011, 01:54 pm

I edited out the Index #7 error. Can anyone think of Files books I might be overlooking? I'm pretty sure there were a few other files books from that era (more the 1990s than the 1980s) but I can't think of any specific ones that I'm missing. I'm also keen on finding out if people know for certain that a book with an unknown month came out at a particular time. Even if it's the real month I might be able to figure out the corresponding indicia month for other titles from that period.

Sidney Osinga

Jun 30, 2011, 02:49 pm

You missed the Age of Apocalypse: the Chosen files-type book from April 1995

Sidney Osinga

Jun 30, 2011, 06:45 pm

Just remembered the Wolverine Encyclopedia #1 (Nov. 1996) and #2 (Dec. 1996)

Also, I'm wonder if you should include the Saga books (Marvel Saga, Spider-Man Saga, and Wolverine Saga) in this list. After all, you included Avengers Strikefile #1, which is closer in format to the Sagas than a Handbook or Files.

Andy E. Nystrom

Jun 30, 2011, 08:43 pm

Sidney Osinga wrote:
Also, I'm wonder if you should include the Saga books (Marvel Saga, Spider-Man Saga, and Wolverine Saga) in this list. After all, you included Avengers Strikefile #1, which is closer in format to the Sagas than a Handbook or Files.

In that instance I rather rashly I admit assumed it was Files-like from the title of the volume, never having read it. I'm more inclined to take that one out rather than add the Marvel Saga books (since those types of books are typically not covered here unless there's extra material in the back, unlike the Handbooks, Files, and Indices). Having said that, before I delete the Avengers book I'll consider what others have to say, and if most people think thedy're relevant, I'll add them.

I added your other suggestions. I can see now why the Wolverine Encyclopedia got cancelled prematurely. The late 1990s were a very bad time for any sort of reference material.

Sidney Osinga

Jun 30, 2011, 10:49 pm

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:
In that instance I rather rashly I admit assumed it was Files-like from the title of the volume, never having read it. I'm more inclined to take that one out rather than add the Marvel Saga books (since those types of books are typically not covered here unless there's extra material in the back, unlike the Handbooks, Files, and Indices). Having said that, before I delete the Avengers book I'll consider what others have to say, and if most people think thedy're relevant, I'll add them.

I added your other suggestions. I can see now why the Wolverine Encyclopedia got cancelled prematurely. The late 1990s were a very bad time for any sort of reference material.

Avengers Strikefiles has a short bridging story, a Saga-like retelling of Operation: Galactic Storm (told in an in-universe manner similar to Files books), and a number of pin-ups of current Avengers and their allies. If you're not going cover Sagas book, then you should remove it from the list since it's nothing like the other books on the list.

As for including the Sagas, it's up to you. They have the same basic purpose of providing information, and share a writer with the Handbooks, Peter Sanderson. Also, there are a number more recent books, like the Spider-Man Sagas and Marvel: Your Universe, that will be covered when you start on the recent books.

I'm glad you appreciate the books I found.

captainswift

Jun 30, 2011, 10:53 pm

How about Encyclopedia Deadpoolica? I haven't seen the interior, but it seems pretty file-booky to me.

Sidney Osinga

Jun 30, 2011, 11:31 pm

captainswift wrote:
How about Encyclopedia Deadpoolica? I haven't seen the interior, but it seems pretty file-booky to me.

I have this book. It contains synopsis of early Deadpool books, along with behind the scenes material. It's tone was a lot more casual than the Indexes. It came out in Dec. 1998.

There is also the Avengers Casebook and the X-Men Yearbook, both from Feb. 2000. They both contain synopsis of recent both, and also in a more casual manner. The Avengers Casebook also contains an Avengers roster, and the X-Men Yearbook has brief character profiles for the X-Men and their enemies at the both of most pages.

And there is also X-Men: Declassified, from Oct. 2000, which contained files on the X-Men. The story, however, contained a lot of red herrings.

Andy E. Nystrom

Jul 6, 2011, 09:39 am

Sidney Osinga wrote:
I have this book. It contains synopsis of early Deadpool books, along with behind the scenes material. It's tone was a lot more casual than the Indexes. It came out in Dec. 1998.

Thx. Just to clarify, since you mention "came out" are you talking indicia or release date? If the latter I'll need to back it up a couple months because I'm using indicia dates to ensure everything's relative to each other.

EDIT: Looking into the matter further, it appears that the more recent a Handbook is, the easier it is to find actual month info instead of indicia info. I think that unless the two overlap at any point, I'm going to live with this particular discrepancy.

Sidney Osinga

Jul 6, 2011, 01:21 pm

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:
Thx. Just to clarify, since you mention "came out" are you talking indicia or release date?

The indicia date.

Andy E. Nystrom

Jul 6, 2011, 01:55 pm

Sidney Osinga wrote:
The indicia date.

Excellent! That was my original preference until I realized that it's less practical the closer to the present.

Above chronology now up to 2008. Sagas added, plus a few other surprises that I felt it was Time to put in.

Andy E. Nystrom

Jul 7, 2011, 10:18 am

The list above is now complete up to the recent past (by recent past I mean yesterday)

RVcousin

Jul 7, 2011, 07:14 pm

Wow !!! Awesome job and very useful.
Apparently there is 2 files books missing : Secret War - From The Files Of Nick Fury (2005) and X-Men - Future History - The Messiah War Sourcebook (2009).
Also, in december 2010, it's Heroic Age : X-Men and not the Villains one.
I also have a question : why are the two Reading Chronologies in your list ?

RVcousin

Jul 8, 2011, 07:50 pm

I also noted that the Stryfe's Strike Files are appearing twice and the Spider-Man : The Jackal Files one-shot (August 1995) is missing

Sidney Osinga

Jul 9, 2011, 11:07 pm

Couple more I found

Spider-Man Unmasked #1 Nov. 1996

The Dark Tower files months not supplied
Gunslinger's Guidebook #1 2007
End-World Almanac #1 2008
Guide to Gilead #1 2009

Andy E. Nystrom

Jul 17, 2011, 11:48 am

RVcousin wrote:
Wow !!! Awesome job and very useful.
Apparently there is 2 files books missing : Secret War - From The Files Of Nick Fury (2005) and X-Men - Future History - The Messiah War Sourcebook (2009).
Also, in december 2010, it's Heroic Age : X-Men and not the Villains one.

I also have a question : why are the two Reading Chronologies in your list ?
I've added in your and Sidney's additions, thx. I decided to treat the reading chronologies as poor man's index books, or at least a source for reading the material covered in other sources. A bit of a reach to be sure, but what the heck.

RVcousin wrote:
I also noted that the Stryfe's Strike Files are appearing twice

I did a keyword search and only found the one reference, though there's also Avengers Strikefile.

Andy E. Nystrom

Aug 10, 2011, 11:56 pm

Updated to August 2011

Andy E. Nystrom

Oct 1, 2011, 10:47 pm

Updated to September 2011.

Andy E. Nystrom

Oct 26, 2011, 02:08 pm

Updated to October 2011.

Andy E. Nystrom

Dec 20, 2011, 01:42 am

Updated to November 2011

Andy E. Nystrom

Dec 21, 2011, 10:01 pm

Updated to December 2011

Andy E. Nystrom

Feb 15, 2012, 04:25 pm

Updated to January 2012

Andy E. Nystrom

Mar 28, 2012, 09:41 pm

February and March 2012 added!

Andy E. Nystrom

Jun 29, 2012, 03:12 pm

Updated to June 2012. Alas, nothing more to add until the Wolverine Index trades comes out (sniff).

Eduardo M.

Jun 29, 2012, 08:36 pm

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:
Updated to June 2012. Alas, nothing more to add until the Wolverine Index trades comes out (sniff).

(hugs Andy) there there

Louis

Sep 9, 2012, 12:48 am

I think you could include Web of Spider-Man Annual 3 (1987).

Louis

Sep 14, 2012, 10:10 am

You didn't include Avengers: Official Index to the Marvel Universe.

Andy E. Nystrom
Oct 29, 2013, 09:52 pm

Wolverine Index added.

Additional historical text from CxPulp:

Andy E. Nystrom
12-17-2014, 08:14 PM
Avengers Now! added. Funny how the last two full Handbooks (as opposed to appendices being added to the softcovers) ended up both being Avengers (prior to this one it was Avengers Roll Call).

Andy E. Nystrom
10-29-2015, 11:19 AM
Yesterday's books now added. If anyone spots any Files, Sagas, etc books I've overlooked, let me know. My only rule is, with the exception of Contest of Champions (which is pivotal for historical reasons: they point to the start of the Handbooks), the reference material must take up a substantial portion of the book.
Andy E. Nystrom
11-25-2015, 02:10 PM
Hulk/Iron Man 2 Guidebook added.

Additional historical text from Capes (Optional):
MISSING

zuckyd1 · 7/08/2023 11:41 am

DEADPOOL EPIC COLLECTION: DEAD RECKONING
reprints Encyclopaedia Deadpoolica

Index
» Raw Data on Official Marvel Works
» Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

1/07/2020 5:11 pm #1

Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

1/07/2020 5:20 pm #2

Re: Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:

Sidney Osinga wrote:

captainswift wrote:

Sidney Osinga wrote:

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:

captainswift wrote:

Sidney Osinga wrote:

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:

Sidney Osinga wrote:

RVcousin wrote:

RVcousin wrote:

Andy E. Nystrom wrote:

7/08/2023 11:41 am #3

Re: Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

Index
» Raw Data on Official Marvel Works
» Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

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