Marvel Universe Handbook and DC Comic’s Who’s Who

 

When the Direct Sales Market began to come into its own both Marvel Comics and DC Comics realized that there was a market for direct sales titles specifically targeted to comic book collectors.

Both DC and Marvel created a series of character encyclopedias that spotlight their entire cast of comic book characters and give complete histories of each up until the time of publication.

Details and updates were printed in later issues.

The Marvel Universe series boasts a full front and back wraparound illustration of characters represented by alphabetic order. 

Twelve issues were issued for the first series.

Interior pages consist of full color art of characters in alphabetic order along with small illustrations from comic books that featured them.

Full stats include full biographical information, origins, powers and so forth.

DC Comics’ Who’s Who series is of a similar format but with more information and artwork that consists of the characters overlapping a screened single color scenes in which they appeared.

Both series also include locations, maps, structures and etc.

For fans of both Marvel and DC these books are must-have reference material and are beginning to rise in price.