The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8

Covering everyone from Magus to Mole Man, this 1986 Deluxe Edition installment of Marvel's essential reference series packs a dynamic crowd of characters onto its cover, penciled by John Byrne and inked by Josef Rubinstein. The artwork sweeps across the page with a caped figure at center, flanked by a green-costumed redhead, a snarling foe, a woman with flowing auburn hair wielding a staff, a blonde in black, and smaller figures soaring in the background — a vivid cross-section of the Marvel Universe's rich roster. Writer Mark Gruenwald's meticulous approach to documenting Marvel's characters makes this handbook an enduring go-to for fans who want the facts straight from the source.