Critics of the handbook have argued that the level of detail within the guide effectively limited the ability of writers to innovate, a charge Gruenwald dismissed, reputedly stating that the information presented was only the most recent data and was subject to change. Peter Sanderson, one of the writers of the original guide, noted that "Mark sought to make the Marvel characters' super-powers as firm a basis in real science as possible. After the first version of the Handbook, Mark decided that some of the explanations had grown too complicated, and asked me to simplify them."
The OHOTMU detailed the more significant characters, items and locations in the Marvel Universe, itemizing them into individual entries. Individual entries usually consisted of:
In the original Edition, characters were listed at one character to a page, although minor characters were sometimes listed at two to a page and major characters would occasionally receive more than one page. In the Deluxe Edition, however, every character received at least one page, with significant characters receiving up to 3-5 pages.
In the Master Edition (1990-1993) this changed and every character was allocated a double-sided loose leaf page. Later versions allocate characters different lengths of entry depending on their history and importance.
There have been several versions of the concept since first published in 1982:
| # | Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A from Abomination to Avengers Quinjet | January 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 2 | B - C from Baron Mordo to Collective Man | February 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 3 | C - D from Collector to Dracula | March 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 4 | D - G from Dragon Man to Gypsy Moth | April 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 5 | H - J from Hangman to Juggernaut | May 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 6 | K - M from Kang to Man-Bull | June 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 7 | M from Mandarin to Mystique | July 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 8 | N - P from Namorita to Pyro | August 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 9 | Q - S from Quasar to She-Hulk | September 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 10 | S from Shi'ar to Sub-Mariner | October 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 11 | S - U from Subterraneans to Ursa Major | November 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 12 | V - Z from Valkyrie to Zzzax | December 1983 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 13 | Book of the Dead and Inactive I: Air-Walker to Man-Wolf | February 1984 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 14 | Book of the Dead and Inactive II: Marvel Boy to Zuras | March 1984 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| 15 | Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia | April 1984 | 34 | $ 1.00 |
| # | Info | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abomination to Batroc's Brigade | December 1985 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 2 | Beast to Clea | January 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 3 | Cloak to Doctor Octopus | February 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 4 | Doctor Strange to Galactus | March 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 5 | Gardener to The Hulk | April 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 6 | Human Torch to Ka-Zar | May 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 7 | Khoryphos to Magneto | June 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 8 | Magus to Mole Man | July 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 9 | Molecule Man to Owl | August 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 10 | Paladin to The Rhino | September 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 11 | Richard Rider to Sidewinder | October 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 12 | Sif to Sunspot | November 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 13 | Super-Adaptoid to Umar | December 1986 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 14 | Unicorn to Wolverine | January 1987 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 15 | Wonder Man to Zzzax plus Alien Races | March 1987 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 16 | Book of the Dead: Air-Walker to Death-Stalker | June 1987 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 17 | Book of the Dead: Destiny to Hobgoblin | August 1987 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 18 | Book of the Dead: Hyperion to Nighthawk | October 1987 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 19 | Book of the Dead: Nuke to Obadiah Stane | December 1987 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| 20 | Book of the Dead: Stick to Zuras | February 1988 | 64 | $ 1.50 |
| # | Info | ISBN | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abomination to Circus of Crime | ISBN 0-87135-208-7 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 2 | Clea to Gaea | ISBN 0-87135-209-5 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 3 | Galactus to Kang | ISBN 0-87135-210-9 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 4 | Karkas to Mister Fantastic | ISBN 0-87135-211-7 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 5 | Mister Fear to Quicksilver | ISBN 0-87135-212-5 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 6 | Radioactive Man to Stilt-Man | ISBN 0-87135-213-3 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 7 | Stingray to Wendigo | ISBN 0-87135-214-1 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 8 | Werewolf to Zzzax Book of the Dead: Air-Walker to Dorcas, Dr. Lemuel | ISBN 0-87135-215-X | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 9 | Book of the Dead: Dorma to Patriot | ISBN 0-87135-353-9 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| 10 | Book of the Dead: Phantom Eagle to Zuras | ISBN 0-87135-366-0 | ? | 128 | $ 6.95 |
| # | Info | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adversary to Chameleon | July 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 2 | Champion of the Universe to Ecstasy | August 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 3 | Eon to Hulk | September 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 4 | Human Torch to Manikin | October 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 5 | Marauders to Power Princess | November 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 6 | Prowler to Serpent Society | Late November 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 7 | Set to Tyrak | December 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| 8 | U-Man to Madelyne Pryor | Late December 1989 | 48 | $ 1.50 |
| Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-Men 2004 | May 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Spider-Man 2004 | June 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Avengers 2004 | July 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Hulk 2004 | August 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Daredevil 2004 | September 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Wolverine 2004 | October 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Book of the Dead 2004 | November 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Golden Age 2004 | December 2004 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women of Marvel 2005 | January 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Marvel Knights 2005 | February 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| X-Men - Age of Apocalypse 2005 | March 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Spider-Man 2005 | April 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Teams 2005 | May 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Fantastic Four 2005 | June 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Avengers 2005 | July 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Ultimate Spider-Man & Ultimate Fantastic Four 2005 | August 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Alternate Universes 2005 | September 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Horror 2005 | October 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| X-Men 2005 | November 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| The Ultimates & Ultimate X-Men 2005 | December 2005 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| # | Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abraxas to Batwing | January 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 2 | Benny Beckley to Crazy Eight | February 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 3 | Copperhead to Ethan Edwards | March 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 4 | Damon Dran to Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway | April 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 5 | Gorgon to Jury | May 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 6 | Justice to Marvel | June 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 7 | Victor Mancha to Phantazia | July 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 8 | Nekra to Quoi | August 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 9 | Puppet Master to Shamrock | September 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 10 | Shadowoman to Tara | October 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 11 | Stranger to Ultimo | November 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 12 | Ultra Girl to Arnim Zola | December 2006 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| # | Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amatsu-Kami to Walker | January 2007 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 2 | Adam II to Zodiak | May 2007 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 3 | Acts of Vengeance to Zodiac Key | July 2007 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| 4 | Aqueduct to Zaran | October 2007 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Back in Black Handbook | April 2007 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic | May 2007 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| The Mighty Avengers: Most Wanted Files | June 2007 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| World War Hulk: Gamma Files | August 2007 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons, & Various Monstrosities | September 2007 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Marvel Atlas #1 | November 2007 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| X-Men: _Messiah_Complex - Mutant Files | December 2007 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Secrets | January 2008 | 48 | $ 3.99 |
| Marvel Atlas #2 | March 2008 | 64 | $ 3.99 |
| All-New Iron Manual | May 2008 | 64 | $ 4.99 |
| Skrulls! | July 2008 | 64 | $ 4.99 |
| # | Title | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1602 A.D. to Blackwing (Manfredi) | February 2008 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| 2 | Blackwulf to Crimson Dynamo | April 2008 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| 3 | Crimson Dynamo to Elements of Doom | June 2008 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| 4 | Elf with a Gun to Guardians of the Galaxy | August 2008 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| 5 | Guardsmen to J | October 2008 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| 6 | J. Jonah Jameson to Madame Masque | December 2008 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| # | Info | ISBN | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvel in general: Avengers, MAX, Ultimate Marvel | ISBN 0-7851-0984-6 | October 2002 | 240 | $ 29.99 |
| 2 | X-Men | ISBN 0-7851-1199-9 | April 2003 | 240 | $ 29.99 |
| 3 | Hulk | ISBN 0-7851-1164-6 | June 2003 | 208 | $ 19.99 |
| 4 | Spider-Man | ISBN 0-7851-1304-5 | November 2003 | 240 | $ 24.99 |
| 5 | Marvel Knights | ISBN 0-7851-1385-1 | April 2004 | 240 | $ 29.99 |
| 6 | Fantastic Four | ISBN 0-7851-1480-7 | December 2004 | 240 | $ 29.99 |
| Title | ISBN | Month of Publ. | Pages | Orig. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Marvel Encyclopedia | ISBN 0-7566-2358-8 | October 2006 | 352 | $ 40.00 |