[TheBlueMarvel]

@Ariel

Some of the first TPBs I purchased were the Official Handbook of Marvel Universe and I own the complete set along with the Marvel Encyclopedia, which is pretty unimpressive by the way. While Wiki has tried to fill the void in the absence of Marvel updating their previous effort, the online resource is rife with errors and often incomplete - voluminous info is overwhelmingly skewed largely toward popular characters or well known heroes and villains.

Having poured over the Handbook as a kid and again as an adult has provided me with a different dimension/outlet for the hobby. I recommend the journey to anyone that enjoys reading. If you have a voracious appetite for these things, a world of experience awaits.

Marvel had an eclectic mix of talent back then (not bashing current Marvel - I honestly don't know what the tapestry looks like now) with people that came to comics from different industries and backgrounds. There were former engineers, medical professionals, and scientific researchers. The diversity helped them realistically explain powers using plausible ties to real world science in a way that no other publisher did. DC tried with Who's Who, but there wasn't really a comparison to be made.

@Starlord

Lol Yup, I remember having a crush on her! I loved those toys, my dude! They were pretty well done, to boot. I had a lot of them. Crystar and Moltar were the best from an execution perspective, but Feldspar may have been my underground fav as a mixture of the two factions. I remember being disappointed that Warbow's proportions were off and the toy was smaller than Crystar, when it should have been the opposite.

That's really awesome that you passed them along to your sons - generational fandom is pretty gratifying.

These are the moments where being an old-head feels pretty damn good! Lol