Who's Who in the DC Universe
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Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985–87), usually referred to simply as Who's Who, is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional characters in their imaginary universe, the DC Universe.
History
Who's Who was the creation of Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, and Robert Greenberger, and its first incarnation (Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe) debuted in the last month of 1984 (cover-dated March 1985) and ran for 26 issues until 1987 (cover-dated April 1987). It was essentially an encyclopedia in comic book form, listing the characters, places, and technology in the DC Universe,[citation needed] with a loose leaf format devised by editor Michael Eury.[1] It began one month before the 12-issue limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths began; therefore, the earlier issues discuss Pre-Crisis versions of the characters, whereas issues released after the conclusion of the limited series discuss the Post-Crisis versions. For example, while both the Flash and Supergirl died during the Crisis, the Flash's death is not mentioned as issue #8 predates his death, but Supergirl's death is recounted 14 months later in issue #22. Also, characters such as Superman and Wonder Woman were rebooted during the series' run, so their entries recounted their Post-Crisis histories only, while their entire Silver Age histories (and all the unique elements of those characters during that time, such as Superman's Fortress of Solitude and Wonder Woman's powerless period) were ignored.[citation needed]
Who's Who was DC's answer to
Various updated versions of the Who's Who have appeared over the years, including Who's Who Update '87 (five issues, cover dated August to December 1987) and Who's Who Update '88 (four issues, cover dated August to November 1988). Both books featured new entries, revised entries for characters in previous volumes, and an Appendix which included minor updates and corrections for previous entries. In 1989, most of the DC Annuals released that year included Who's Who entries.[a] Many of these were revised versions of entries in the regular Who's Who series, but there were several new entries (particularly for supporting characters).[citation needed]
DC Comics also put out two Who's Who spin-off series in the 1980s. The first was Who's Who in Star Trek, a two-issue series (cover-dated March and April 1987) which profiled many of the people and places from the 1960s Star Trek series (and subsequent movies), the 1970s animated series and the 1980s Star Trek comic book published by DC. As the series was released prior to the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, no information from that series was included.[citation needed]
The second spin-off was Who's Who in the
In 1990, DC started over with a new Who's Who series titled Who's Who in the DC Universe (16 loose-leaf issues with binders sold separately, cover-dated August 1990 to February 1992). This book was not as comprehensive as the previous Who's Who (for example, there was no entry for the
This series was followed up by Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993 (two loose-leaf issues, cover-dated December 1992 and January 1993). DC also released a Who's Who series for their Impact Comics line (three loose-leaf issues, cover-dated September 1991 to May 1992).[citation needed]
During the period from the late 1990s through the end of the 2000s, Who's Who was replaced with
In December 2009, DC announced a new Who's Who series to be published in 2010 as part of the company's 75th anniversary celebration.[2] The series was later announced for 18 issues, 48 pages per issue, beginning in May 2010 with Bob Greenberger as sole writer and Bob Harras as editor.[3][4][5] The series launch was subsequently delayed,[6][7] but in October DC vice-president Dan DiDio stated that the series would be released after the 2011 DCU line-wide event, Flashpoint.[8] The history of the DC Universe received an extensive overhaul in the aftermath of said Flashpoint event. The resulting New 52 comics are set in a greatly altered continuity, making a new edition of Who's Who unlikely in the short term because the histories of many characters are in a state of flux.
In 2022, The New Golden Age one-shot included 12 new Who's Who-style entries: Aquaman, Betsy Ross and Molly Pitcher, Cherry Bomb, Harlequin's Son, John Henry Jr., Ladybug, Legionnaire, Mister Miracle, Quiz Kid, Red Lantern, Salem the Witch Girl, and The Boom.
In 2023, the DC Power: A Celebration one-shot included 10 new Who's Who-style entries: Amazing-Man, Aquaman (Jackson Hyde), Batman (Jace Fox), Batwing, Nubia, Green Lantern (Jo Mullein), Green Lantern (John Stewart), Kid Flash (Ace West), Thunder/Lightning, and Vixen.
The DC Power 2024 one-shot included five new Who's Who-style entries:
Bibliography of Who's Who series
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe
| Volume | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| I | Auron |
March 1985 |
| II | Automan to Blackhawk Plane/Island | April 1985 |
| III | Byth |
May 1985 |
| IV | Cadre to Chris KL-99 | June 1985 |
| V | Cyclotron |
July 1985 |
| VI | Daily Planet to Doctor Polaris | August 1985 |
| VII | Fastback |
September 1985 |
| VIII | Fatal Five to Garguax | October 1985 |
| IX | Garn Daanuth to Guardians of the Universe |
November 1985 |
| X | Hyena |
December 1985 |
| XI | Icicle to Jonni Thunder | January 1986 |
| XII | Jonny Double to Kong the Untamed |
February 1986 |
| XIII | Krona to Losers | March 1986 |
| XIV | Luthor I to Masters of Disaster | April 1986 |
| XV | Matrix-Prime to Mister Tawky Tawny |
May 1986 |
| XVI | Mr. Terrific to Nightmaster | June 1986 |
| XVII | Nightshade to Persuader | July 1986 |
| XVIII | Phantom Girl to Pursuer | August 1986 |
| XIX | Roy Raymond |
September 1986 |
| XX | Rubberduck to Shining Knight |
October 1986 |
| XXI | Shrinking Violet to Starfinger |
November 1986 |
| XXII | Starfire I to Syonide | December 1986 |
| XXIII | Syrene to Time Trapper |
January 1987 |
| XXIV | Tim Trench to Universo | February 1987 |
| XXV | Unknown Soldier to Witch Boy | March 1987 |
| XXVI | Angel & the Ape to The 1,000 |
April 1987 |
Who's Who Update '87
| Volume | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | All-Star Squadron to Catalyst | August 1987 |
| 2 | Goldstar |
September 1987 |
| 3 | Gray Man to Lionmane |
October 1987 |
| 4 | Lois Lane to Rampage | November 1987 |
| 5 | Reaper to Zymyr, plus Appendix | December 1987 |
Who's Who Update '88
| Volume | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harlequin II |
August 1988 |
| 2 | Icemaiden to Nightwing |
September 1988 |
| 3 | Parliament of Trees to Trident |
October 1988 |
| 4 | Zuggernaut, plus Abby Cable to General Wade Eiling and Appendix |
November 1988 |
Who's Who 1989 Annuals
| Issue[a] | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| Action Comics Annual #2 | Entries for Matrix |
June 1989 |
| Batman Annual #13 | Entries for | June 1989 |
| Blackhawk Annual #1 | Entries for Andre Blanc-Dumont, Blackhawk, Blackhawk Express, Carlo "Chuck" Sirianni, Grover Baines, Keng Quan Chee a.k.a. "Mairzey", Lady Blackhawk (Natalie Reed), Olaf Friedriksen and Weng Chan | May 1989 |
| Detective Comics Annual #2 | Entries for Catwoman, Clayfaces I-IV, Joker, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Riddler, Scarecrow and Two-Face | September 1989 |
| Dr. Fate Annual #1 | Entry for Dr. Fate | September 1989 |
| Flash Annual #3 | Entries for Joan Williams Garrick, Kapitalist Kouriers , Mary West and Mason Trollbridge |
June 1989 |
| Green Arrow Annual #2 | Entries for Speedy |
July 1989 |
| Justice League International Annual #3 | Entries for JLI Embassy staff members (Anatole "Bob" Blazac, Boris Dmitravich Razumihin, Tasmanian Devil ) |
July 1989 |
| New Titans Annual #5 | Entries for the Titan Seeds, the Titans of Myth and Troia |
August 1989 |
| Question Annual #2 | Entries for Aristotle Rodor, Isadore O'Toole, Lady Shiva, Myra Fermin and the Question | July 1989 |
| Secret Origins Annual #3 | Entries for Antithesis, the Golden Eagle and Herald |
May 1989 |
| Swamp Thing Annual #5 | Entry for the Swamp Thing | August 1989 |
| Wonder Woman Annual #2 | Entry for the Mayer Agency | September 1989 |
Who's Who in Star Trek
| Issue | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entries from | March 1987 |
| 2 | Entries from Marla McGivers to the Vulcans plus Appendix display of command symbols and the environmental jacket |
April 1987 |
Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes
| Issue | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | History of the Absorbency Boy to Dr. Gym'll |
April 1988 |
| 2 | History of the Legion (part two), plus entries for Dr. Mayavale to High Seer of Naltor |
June 1988 |
| 3 | Planets of the 30th Century, plus entries for Heroes of Lallor to Legion of Super-Rejects | July 1988 |
| 4 | Homeworlds of the Legion, plus entries for Legion of Super-Villains to Mon-El | August 1988 |
| 5 | Tour of Legion Headquarters, plus entries for Mordru to Science Police | September 1988 |
| 6 | The Wonders of Timber Wolf |
October 1988 |
| 7 | The Nik Feelds Show, plus entries for Time Trapper to Zoraz |
November 1988 |
Who's Who in the DC Universe
| Issue | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entries for | August 1990 |
| 2 | Entries for | September 1990 |
| 3 | Entries for Speedy and Spider Girl |
October 1990 |
| 4 | Entries for Barter, S.T.A.R. Labs, Troia, Ultra the Multi-Alien, Vandal Savage, Vril Dox II, Weather Wizard and Wonder Woman |
November 1990 |
| 5 | Entries for Vigilante I |
December 1990 |
| 6 | Entries for Vi and Wildcat II |
January 1991 |
| 7 | Entries for Vanessa Kapatelis ) |
February 1991 |
| 8 | Entries for Yuga Khan |
April 1991 |
| 9 | Entries for | May 1991 |
| 10 | Entries for Wild Dog |
June 1991 |
| 11 | Entries for Madman, Mister Miracle Scott Free, Mister Miracle Shilo Norman, Prankster, Rainbow Raider, Red Star, Sudden Death, Terra-Man, Two-Face and Wanderers |
July 1991 |
| 12 | Entries for Tasmanian Devil and Zatanna |
September 1991 |
| 13 | Entries for Star Sapphire |
October 1991 |
| 14 | Entries for Wildebeest |
November 1991 |
| 15 | Entries for | January 1992 |
| 16 | Entries for Zamarons |
February 1992 |
Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993
| Issue | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entries for Yankee Doodle Dandy |
December 1992 |
| 2 | Entries for Willoughby Kipling |
January 1993 |
Impact Comics Who's Who
| Issue | Info | Cover date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entries for Applejack, Arachnus, A.R.M.S. Installation, Len "Big Daddy" Rothco/Frances "Gunny" Beaupre, Richard "Brew" Troy/Jesus "Jump" Kennedy, Chromium, Timon de Guzman, The Fly, Wild Bill Grady, Lt. Devon Hall, Arvell Hauser, Inferno, Victoria Johnson, Ben Lee/Lance Perry, Mary Masterson-Higgins/Masterson Concepts, Maxx-13, The Moonlighter, Lt. Walker Odell, Professor Maxim Ruiz, The Shield, The Sunshine Kid/Ishmael "St. James" Himes, Templar, Luiza Timmerman, and The Web | September 1991 |
| 2 | Entries for The Jaguar , Powell Jennings, Dusty Madigan, Meridian, The Problem, Donald "Rowdy" Spates/Radcliffe "Rad" Stiles, Jason Troy Sr., Albert E. Watson/Millie Mazda, The Weapon, Kevin Wells/Crawford "Win" Winfield, and The Wolf |
October 1991 |
| 3 | Entries for The American Crusaders, Black Hood "Hit" Coffee, Black Hood Nate Cray, , Hangman, Indigo, Kalathar, Mann-X, The Original Shield, Ozone, Pirate Blue, Shield III, Studs, Tech Wizards, Tom Sickler, Tremor, and Void | May 1992 |
Collected editions
- Who's Who Omnibus
- Volume 1 collects Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Volumes I-XXVI, Who's Who Update 1987 #1-5, Who's Who Update 1988 #1-4, and the Who's Who profiles from Action Comics Annual #2, Batman Annual #13, Blackhawk Annual #1, Detective Comics Annual #2, Doctor Fate Annual #1, Green Arrow Annual #2, Justice League Annual #3, Secret Origins Annual #3, Swamp Thing Annual #5, The Flash Annual #3, The New Titans Annual #5, The Question Annual #2, and Wonder Woman Annual #2; 1,320 pages, April 2021, 978-1779505996.
- Volume 2 collects Who's Who in the DC Universe #1-16, Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-7, Who's Who Update 1993 #1-2; 1,216 pages, December 2022, 978-1779515193.
In other media
In the
See also
Notes
- ^ a b The following Annuals released in 1989 did not have Who's Who entries: Doc Savage Annual #1, Hellblazer Annual #1, and The Shadow Strikes! Annual #1.
References
- ^ Trumbull, John (May 8, 2017). "Inside HERO-A-GO-GO with Michael Eury!". Atomic Junk Shop. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "DCU IN 2010: CELEBRATE THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
- ^ "Dan DiDio talks LEGACIES, WHO'S WHO | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
- ^ [1] Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived October 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Wonder Woman. Amazon. Hero. Icon". Comic Book Resources. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
- ^ "DC Nation Panel: Co-Features, Accidental Spoilers, And Why You Don't Invite Fans On Stage [NYCC]". Comicsalliance.com. 2010-10-09. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2014-02-12.