The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #16

The "Book of the Dead Deluxe Edition" wraps up this landmark reference series with a suitably somber cover by penciler Keith Pollard and inker Josef Rubinstein — a graveyard scene where Captain Marvel strides forward dramatically among tombstones, flanked by a haunting cast of fallen Marvel characters including a cloaked figure at left and an armored figure at right, with several more mourning figures visible in the background. It's a visually striking tribute to the heroes and villains who didn't survive Marvel's ever-expanding universe, rendered with real emotional weight. Writer Mark Gruenwald's meticulous 1987 encyclopedia project reaches its conclusion here, making this final volume an essential companion for any serious fan of Marvel lore.