Don’t Tell Me You Never Heard of this Site?
As a Watcher, you may need supporting characters. Or you may need to create a minor (or major) villain for a campaign. If you don’t already know, let me introduce you to one of the greatest treasure troves on the web.
Jeff Christiansen
As a longtime gamemaster (30+years), one of my favorite resources has been the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. According to the website “The entire purpose of this site is to stimulate interest and supply information about the vast universe Marvel has created. (and to have fun).”
The author/owner of this bounteous resource is Jeff Christiansen. According to his latest update (10/20/2017), Jeff has contributed to around 20% of the profiles. He states on his profile page, “I started collecting back in 1978 and I’ve got a collection of over 34, 000 currently (not including perhaps 1000 or more doubles). I’ve always loved the various incarnations of the OHotMU and wanted to get the obscure characters some time. I got further motivation by working with the Beetle and the folks at Spider-Fan. After reading a “Website for Dummies” book, a little trial and error, some help from some friends, and a few thousand curse words, my website has come true.”
Here are some of his mighty achievements:
- The head writer/researcher for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers 2004, Hulk 2004, Daredevil 2004, and Book of the Dead 2004, Women of Marvel Comics 2005, Marvel Knights 2005, Teams 2005, Fantastic Four 2005, Avengers 2005, Alternate Earths 2005, Horror 2005, all twelve 2006 A-Z Handbooks, the Marvel Legacy specials, A-Z Updates#1-4, Hulk: Gamma Files, Marvel Zombies, 2008’s massive A-Z Hardcover project, and the entire run of handbooks that wrapped up with the Defenders in 2012.
- The head writer/researcher on the Fantastic Four Encyclopedia, head researcher for the Marvel Knights Encyclopedia, as well as the writer of the Punisher section
- A major researcher on the Spider-Man Encyclopedia, including writing several dozen entries.
- Co-Head writer for the Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters, Spider-Man: Back in Black, Mystic Arcana, X-Men: Messiah Complex
- Writer for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man 2005, Outlaw Files, Annihilation: Nova Corps Files
- And much much more…
HOW I USE THE APPENDIX
I use the Appendix to revive classic characters and bring non-powered NPCs into the game. This has the effect of helping my players feel like they are really a part of the Marvel Universe, interacting with great, obscure characters. After all, its not all about Cap, Thor, and Iron Man.
Most writers would agree that the quirky support characters make comics fun.
Pull Captain Barracuda, Firefrost, Mr. Troublesome, or Karthon the Questor in as your team’s arch-villain. Or round out your story by reviving cool NPC’s with great back stories like Gerard Dolan, Manoli Wetherell, or strike up a romantic relationship with Billie Lumpkin.
If you follow my online fan fiction comic series, you will catch an obscure character pop up here or there or become a series regular.
So, give it a try. Or share how you are already using this fantastic resource!
Excelsior!
About Michael Dismuke
2 comments on “Don’t Tell Me You Never Heard of this Site?”
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Marvel Plot Points 
Thanks for the tip, this site looks great! I’ll have to use it for my next campaign =)
Awesome! Glad to have introduced you to it.