Editing Monster Manual (section)

=== Original ''Monster Manual'' ===
The first publication bearing the title ''Monster Manual'' was written by [[Gary Gygax]] and published in 1977 as a 108-page book.<ref name="HW"/> It was the first [[hardcover]] book for any ''D&D'' game<ref name="WD8"/><ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| title=The History of TSR| publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]| access-date=August 20, 2005| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924195557/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| url-status=dead| archive-date=September 24, 2008}}</ref> and the first of the core manuals published for the new ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''AD&D''{{--)}} version of the game.<ref name="HW">{{cite book|last=Schick |first=Lawrence|title=Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games|publisher=Prometheus Books |year=1991|isbn=0-87975-653-5 |pages=106–107}}</ref><ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ| access-date = October 3, 2008| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132129/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| url-status = dead| archive-date = October 2, 2008}}</ref> The ''Monster Manual'' was a game supplement intended to detail the standard monsters used with ''AD&D''.<ref name="HW"/> The book compiles over 350 monsters, some new and others revised from older sources such as ''[[Dungeons & Dragons (1974)|Monsters and Treasure]]'', ''[[Greyhawk (supplement)|Greyhawk]]'', ''[[Blackmoor (supplement)|Blackmoor]]'', ''[[Eldritch Wizardry]]'', ''[[The Strategic Review]]'' and [[Dragon (magazine)|''Dragon'' magazine]].<ref name="WD8"/> Each monster was listed in the book alphabetically with a full description and game statistics and many featured an illustration.<ref name="WD8"/>

The cover of the original printing was illustrated by [[David C. Sutherland III]].<ref name="HW"/> A softcover version of the ''Monster Manual'' was printed in the United Kingdom by [[Games Workshop]] in 1978.<ref name="HW"/> When the book was reprinted in 1985 it featured new cover art by [[Jeff Easley]].<ref name="HW"/> The book remained relatively unchanged throughout its fifteen printings up to 1989. Minor changes during the print run included a cover art change to match a new logo and [[Style guide|house style]], and some minor corrections introduced in the 1978 printings.

The first edition ''Monster Manual'' included topless portrayals of some of its female monsters, such as the [[Succubus (Dungeons & Dragons)|succubus]], [[Marilith|Type V demons]], lamia, and [[Sylph (Dungeons & Dragons)|sylph]]. The first edition was also the first appearance of the [[Mimic (Dungeons & Dragons)|mimic]].

In 1999, a [[paperback]] reprint of the first edition was released.<ref name="Fogens">{{cite magazine|title=Classic ''AD&D'' books are back|last=Fogens|first=M.|issue=52|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer]]|page=20|publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]|date=August 1999}}</ref> The first edition ''Monster Manual'' was reproduced as a reprint in 2012.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Wizards Is Reprinting the AD&D Core Books!|language=en-US|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/01/wizards-is-reprinting-the-add-core-books/|access-date=2021-09-02|issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2012/08/28/art-of-the-genre-the-old-school-renaissance/ | title=Art of the Genre: The Old School Renaissance – Black Gate | date=August 28, 2012 }}</ref>