The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #13

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe was launched in 1983 as a comprehensive, encyclopedic resource designed to catalog the vast array of characters, teams, and technology within the Marvel Comics continuity. Issue number 13 was published in 1984 as the final installment of the original deluxe-style limited series, serving as an 'update' issue intended to capture characters and plot elements that had been introduced or revised since the project began, ensuring the reference remained as current as possible.

The series was a massive undertaking spearheaded by editor Mark Gruenwald, who was renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel lore and his dedication to continuity. The design featured clean, professional layouts with detailed profiles written by a team of contributors and accompanied by technical illustrations from various Marvel staff artists. It was met with significant enthusiasm by the fan community, who appreciated the attempt to codify the sprawling Marvel multiverse into a single, cohesive source of information.