Marvel Handbook/Index/Files Chronology

Another post designed to preserve info during Comixfan's merger with CX Pulp

I thought it might be fun to chart the publication history of the Handbooks and similar books published by Marvel over the years. For earlier martial, where possible books are listed by indicia date or, to the best I am able to determine, when the indicia month would be if it had one. For newer material which typically has no cover month, I tend to go with actually month. In a few cases the two types of months have been intermingled due to info available. Help with this is greatly appreciated.

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
June
Marvel Superhero Contest of Champions#1 (back of book is Handbook prototype)
July
Marvel Superhero Contest of Champions#2 (back of book is Handbook prototype)
August
Marvel Superhero Contest of Champions#3 (back of book is Handbook prototype)

1983
January
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#1
February
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#2
March
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#3
April
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#4
May
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#5
June
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#6
July
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#7
August
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#8
September
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#9
October
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#10
November
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#11
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#12

1984
February
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#13
March
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#14
May
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (first series)#15

1985
April
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#1
May
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#2
June
Handbook of the Conan Universe#1 (note licensed; if memory serves the format is closer to Files)
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#3
July
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#4
August
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#5
September
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#6
October
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#7
November
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#8
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#1
Official Marvel Index to the Amazing Spider-Man#9
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#1
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#1

1986
January
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#2
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#2
Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#1
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#2
February
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#3
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#3
Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#2
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#3
March
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#4
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#4
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#4
April
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#5
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#5
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#5
May
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#6
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#6
Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#3
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#6
June
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#7
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#7
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#7
July
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#8
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#8
Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#4
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#8
August
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#9
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#9
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#9
September
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#10
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#10
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#10
October
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#11
Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four#11
Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#5
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#11
November
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#12
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#12
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#13
G.I. Joe Order of Battle#1 (licensed)
Transformers Handbook#1 (licensed)
Marvel Saga: The Official History of the Marvel Universe#13
?
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe trade paperback#1-3

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

1988
February
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (second series/Deluxe Edition)#20
March
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series)#5
April
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series)#5
May
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series)#6
June
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series)#6
July
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (first series)#7
August
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (first series)#7

1989
In 1989 Marvel readjusted its dates to bring them closer to the present, so the series wasn’t actually bi-weekly
July
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#1
August
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#2
September
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#3
Wolverine Saga#1
October
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#4
Wolverine Saga#2
November
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#5
Wolverine Saga#3
Late November
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#6
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#7
Marvel 1989: The Year in Review (satirical reference)
Mid December
Wolverine Saga#4
Late December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (third series/Update ’89)#8

1990
July
Punisher Armory#1 (Files format)
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#1
Marvel 1990: The Year in Review (satirical reference)

1991
January
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#2
Marvel Illustrated: Swimsuit Issue (part satirical reference, part pin-up magazine)
Febuary
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#3
March
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#4
April
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#5
May
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#6
June
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#7
Punisher Armory#2 (Files format)
November
Spider-Man Saga (first series)#1
December
Spider-Man Saga (first series)#2
?
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#8-16

1992
January
Marvel 1991: The Year in Review (satirical reference)
Spider-Man Saga (first series)#3
February
Spider-Man Saga (first series)#4
April
Punisher Armory#3 (Files format)
October
Punisher Armory#4 (Files format)
?
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#17-26

1993
January
Stryfe’s Strike File#1 (Files format)
Marvel: The Year in Review ’92 (satirical reference)
February
Punisher Armory#5 (Files format)
April
Punisher Armory#6 (Files format)
September
Punisher Armory#7 (Files format)
December
Punisher Armory#8 (Files format)
Marvel: The Year in Review ’93 (satirical reference)
?
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (fourth series/Master Edition)#27-36
Iron Manual#1 (Files format)

1994
January
Avengers Strikefile#1 (Saga format)
February
Avengers Log#1 (non-traditional format)
April
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series)#1
Punisher Armory#9 (Files format)
May
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series)#2
June
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series)#3
July
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series)#4
August
Official Marvel Index to the X-Men (second series)#5
November
Punisher Armory#10 (Files format)
December
Marvel 1994: The Year in Review (casual history review)

1995
April
Age of Apocalypse: the Chosen (Files type book)
August
Spider-Man: The Jackal Files
October
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#1
November
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#2
December
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#3

1996
January
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#4
February
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#5
March
Official Marvel Index to the Avengers (second series)#6
November
Wolverine Encyclopedia#1
Spider-Man Unmasked#1 (Files type)
December
Wolverine Encyclopedia#2

1998
December
Encyclopedia Deadpoolica (Index with Files-like writing style)

2000
February
Avengers Casebook
X-Men Yearbook
October
X-Men: Declassified (included red herrings)

2002
October
The Marvel Encyclopedia#1

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

2004
April
The Marvel Encyclopedia#5: Marvel Knights
May
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004
June
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man 2004
July
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers 2004
August
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk 2004
September
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Daredevil 2004
October
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Wolverine 2004
November
The Marvel Encyclopedia#6: Fantastic Four
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead 2004
December
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004

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

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

2007
January
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#1
February
Marvel Legacy: The 1990s Handbook
March
Civil War: Battle Damage Report (Files book)
April
Spider-Man: Back in Black Handbook
May
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#2
Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter – Guilty Pleasures Handbook (licensed)
June
Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic
The Mighty Avengers: Most Wanted Files (handbook, not “Files” book)
July
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#3
August
World War Hulk: Gamma Files (handbook, not “Files” book)
The Marvel Tarot (kind of Files like)
Dark Tower: Gunslinger's Guidebook#1 (licensed)
September
Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities
October
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#4
November
Marvel Atlas#1
December
X-Men: Messiah Complex – Mutant Files
?
Marvel Legacy: The 1960s-1990s Handbook

2008
January
Ultimate Secrets
February
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 1
March
Marvel Atlas#2
April
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 2
Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition#1
May
All-New Iron Manual
June
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 3
Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition#2
July
Skrulls! (Files book)
Dark Tower: End-World Almanac#1 (licensed)
August
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 4
Marvel: Your Universe Saga (part Saga, part Handbook)
September
Essential Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Master Edition#3
October
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 5
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 6
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Yearbook (part Saga, part Handbook)

2009
January
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#1
February
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#2
Dark Reign Files
March
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 7
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#3
April
Wolverine: Weapon X Files (Handbook, not “Files” book)
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#4
Dark Tower: Guide to Gilead#1 (licensed)
May
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 8
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#5
June
Marvel Pets Handbook
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#6
July
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 9
Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#7
X-Men - Future History: The Messiah War Sourcebook (Files book)
Marvel Reading Chronology
September
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 10
Marvel Mystery Handbook
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#8
November
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 11
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#9
Son of Marvel Reading Chronology
December
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#10

2010
January
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 12
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#11
Siege: Storming Asgard: Heroes & Villains (Files book)
February
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#1
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#12
March
Deadpool Corps: Rank & Foul
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#13
April
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 13
Iron Manual Mark 3
Official Index to the Marvel Universe#14
Iron Man: Official Index to the Marvel Universe
May
Avengers Assemble!
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#1
June
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol. 14
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#2
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#2
Amazing Spider-Man: Official Index to the Marvel Universe
July
X-Men: Phoenix Force Handbook
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#3
Thanos Sourcebook (Files)
Women of Marvel: Celebrating Seven Decades Handbook
August
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#3
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#4
September
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#5
Heroic Age: Heroes (Files book)
October
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#4
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#6
Spider-Man Saga (second series, actually 1-shot) (has handbook pages)
November
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#7
Heroic Age: Villains (Files book)
X-Men: Official Index to the Marvel Universe
December
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update#5
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#8
Heroic Age: X-Men (Files book)

2011
January
Blockbusters of the Marvel Universe
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#9
February
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#10
March
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#11
April
Thor: Asgard’s Avenger
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#12
May
X-Men: Earth’s Mutant Heroes
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#13
Thor: Official Index to the Marvel Universe
Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe
June
Captain America: America’s Avenger
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#14
July
Avengers, Thor & Captain America: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#15
August
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#1
Fear Itself: Fellowship of Fear (mostly Saga-Handbook hybrid; a few Files-type entries)
September
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#2
FF: 50 Fantastic Years
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z v1 (softcover edition)
October
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#3
Vampires: The Marvel Undead #1
November
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#4
History of the Marvel Universe (Saga format)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z v2 (softcover edition)
December
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#5
Defenders: Strange Heroes

2012
January
Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#6
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z v3 (softcover edition)
February
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#7
March
Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#8
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z v4 (softcover edition)
April
Avengers Roll Call
May
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z v5 (softcover edition)
June
Punisher: Official Index to the Marvel Universe

2013
May
Wolverine: Official Index to the Marvel Universe