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Who's Who in the DC Universe

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Cover to issue #1 of Who's Who in the DC Universe (March 1985). Art by George Pérez.

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (usually referred to 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 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. 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 universe. For example, while both the Flash (Barry Allen) 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.

Who's Who was DC's answer to The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, which was published a few years earlier. The DC version had a less formal style than its Marvel counterpart. Each character had an individualized logo instead of a standard typeface; figures were shown in action poses rather than full-body portraits; character histories and power descriptions were more vague; and characters from all of DC's publishing domain were included (such as out-of-continuity series like Camelot 3000 and Watchmen), not just those from its shared universe (although the Who's Who Update '88 did limit its entries to in-continuity series only).

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. 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).

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 2 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.

The second spin-off was Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes, a 7 issue series (cover dated April to November 1988) which expanded on the Legion information included in the regular Who's Who and featured profiles on the various supporting characters, organizations, locations, and villains which have appeared in Legion stories over the years. Some of the information contained in this book was post-Crisis instead of pre-Crisis. For example, the Superboy profile relates the post-Crisis origin of the character as a creation of the Time Trapper, and there is no profile for Supergirl, despite her many adventures with the Legion, since by this time she was written out of continuity.

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 Atom, even though his character was undergoing major changes in the comic Suicide Squad), and some of the entries took on a less serious tone. One instance is an entry for Guy Gardner, which is written from the character's perspective. Another instance is a blank entry for Death, which has all the usual information headings crossed out and blue marker scrawl stating simply "Someday you'll meet her. You can find out for yourself."

This series was followed up by Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993 (2 loose-leaf issues, cover dated December 1992 and January 1993). DC also released a Who's Who series for their Impact Comics line (3 loose-leaf issues, cover dated September 1991 to May 1992).

During the period from the late 1990s through the end of the 2000s, Who's Who was replaced with Secret Files and Origins, a series of one-shots devoted to particular characters or events in the DC Universe and which feature Who's Who-like profiles. DK Publishing has also released a number of Ultimate Guides, as well as a book titled The DC Comics Encyclopedia, which serve a similar purpose.

On December 10, 2009, DC announced that a new Who's Who series would be published in 2010 as part of the company's 75th anniversary celebration.[1] The series was later announced for eighteen issues, 48 pages per issue, beginning in May 2010 with Bob Greenberger as sole writer and Bob Harras as editor.[2][3][4] The series launch was subsequently delayed,[5][6] but in October 2010 DC vice-president Dan DiDio stated that the series would be released after the 2011 DCU line-wide event, Flashpoint.[7] However, 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 seem unlikely in the short term because the histories of many characters are in a state of flux.

Bibliography of Who's Who series

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe

Volume Info Cover Date
I Abel to Auron March 1985
II Automan to Blackhawk Plane/Island April 1985
III Black Lightning to Byth May 1985
IV Cadre to Chris KL-99 June 1985
V Chronos to Cyclotron July 1985
VI Daily Planet to Doctor Polaris August 1985
VII Doctor Psycho to Fastback September 1985
VIII Fatal Five to Garguax October 1985
IX Garn Daanuth to Guardians of the Universe November 1985
X Gunner and Sarge to 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 Puzzler to 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 Wizard to Zyklon, plus Angel & the Ape to The 1000 April 1987

Who's Who Update '87

Volume Info Cover Date
1 All-Star Squadron to Catalyst August 1987
2 Catwoman II to 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 Amazing-Man to Harlequin II August 1988
2 Icemaiden to Nightwing September 1988
3 Parliament of Trees to Trident October 1988
4 Ultra-Humanite to Zuggernaut, plus Abby Cable to Wade Eiling and Appendix November 1988

Who's Who Annual entries

Issue [8] Info Cover Date
Action Comics Annual #2 Entries for Cat Grant and Matrix 1989
Batman Annual #13 Entries for Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Robin (Dick Grayson), Robin (Jason Todd), and Vicki Vale 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 1989
Detective Comics Annual #2 Entries for Catwoman, Clayfaces I-IV, Joker, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Riddler, Scarecrow, and Two-Face 1989
Dr. Fate Annual #1 Entry for Dr. Fate 1989
Flash Annual #3 Entries for Chunk, Flash (Jay Garrick), Flash (Barry Allen), Flash (Wally West), Jerry and Tina McGee, Joan Williams Garrick, Kapitalist Kouriers, Mary West, and Mason Trollbridge 1989
Green Arrow Annual #2 Entries for Black Canary I, Black Canary II, Green Arrow, James Cameron, Shado, and Speedy 1989
Justice League International Annual #3 Entries for JLI Embassy staff members (Anatole "Bob" Blazac, Boris Dmitravich Razumihin, Catherine Maureen Colbert, Cyndy Kurahara, Ernesto Lopez, Esteban Sanchez, Inada Akatsu, Joshua Barbazon, Michael and Lisa Morice, Rodan "Duke" Katatami, Rosa and Dana Rubikskova, and the Tasmanian Devil) 1989
New Titans Annual #5 Entries for The Titan Seeds, The Titans of Myth, and Troia 1989
Question Annual #2 Entries for Aristotle Rodor, Isadore O'Toole, Lady Shiva, Myra Fermin, and the Question 1989
Secret Origins Annual #3 Entries for Antithesis, Bumblebee, Flamebird, Gargoyle, Golden Eagle, and Herald 1989
Swamp Thing Annual #5 Entry for Swamp Thing 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 Andorians to Leonard McCoy plus Appendix entries for Balok, Lt. Boma, Charlie Evans, Zefram Cochrane, the planet Cheron, John Gill, Landru, Angela Martine, Marlena Moreau, Admiral Harry Morrow, Nomad, Omicron Ceti III, Lt. Carolyn Palamas, Andrew Stiles, Captain Stiles, the Tholians, Trelane, Zarabeth and Zetar. 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 Legion (part one), plus entries for 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 Metropolis, plus entries for Sden to 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 Amanda Waller, Amethyst, Atlantis, Blue Beetle's Bug, Brotherhood of Dada, Cain and Abel, Challengers of the Unknown, Darkseid, Dominators, El Diablo, Fire, Geo-Force, Hawk, Jericho, Kono, Ma and Pa Kent, Ocean Master, Orion, Rokk Krinn, Scarecrow, Sinestro, Stanley and His Monster, Superman, Time Masters, and Wotan August 1990
2 Entries for Booster Gold, Captain Boomerang, Changeling, Deadline, Despero, Doctor Polaris, Flamebird, Flash, Hawkworld, I…Vampire, Katana, King Faraday, Laurel Gand, Maxima, Maxwell Lord, Metamorpho, Metron, Mordru, Mother Box, Mudpack, Naiad, Newsboy Legion, Secret Six, and Starman September 1990
3 Entries for Alfred Pennyworth, Apokolips, Black Racer, Brainiac, Brainiac 5, Chunk, Count Vertigo, Deadman, Deadshot, Gorilla Grodd, Green Lantern, Ice, Jade, Kadaver, Kestrel, Madame Xanadu, Manga Khan, New Guardians, Rebis, Reep Daggle, Silver Swan, Sinbad, Speedy, and Spider Girl October 1990
4 Entries for Barter, Blaze, Blue Beetle, Cheetah, Chronos, Desaad, Fastbak, Granny Goodness, Human Target, KGBeast/NKVDemon, Khunds, Lightning Lord, Lightray, Persuader, Phantom Lady, Plastic Man, Rocket Red, 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 Batmobile, Chemo, Cyborg, Daxamites, Dr. Light I, Extremists, Hourman II, Jimmy Olsen, Jo Nah, Lyrissa Mallor, Mad Hatter, Martian Manhunter, Nightshade, Peacemaker, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Sandman, Solomon Grundy, Sonar, Son of Vulcan, Toyman, Trickster, and Vigilante I December 1990
6 Entries for Adam Strange, Ayla Ranzz, Bolt, Captain Atom, Conglomerate, Copperhead, Crazy Jane, Dolphin, Dove, Floro, Fortress of Solitude, Gangbuster, Glorious Godfrey and Amazing Grace, Hawkman, Huntress, Kanjar Ro, Mister Bones, Mister Nebula and Scarlet Skier, Northwind, Power Girl, Royal Flush Gang, Sarge Steel, Snapper Carr, Vi, and Wildcat II January 1991
7 Entries for Aqualad, Barbara (Batgirl) Gordon, Blockbuster, Brother Power the Geek, Checkmate, The Chief, The Creeper, Darkseid's Elite, Demon, Elongated Man, Felix Faust, Global Guardians, Jan Arrah, Justice League America, Killer Croc, Major Force, New Genesis, Oberon, Parasite, Perry White, Phase, Shade the Changing Man, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Wonder Woman Supporting Cast (Ed Indelicato, Etta Candy, Julia Kapatelis, Steve Trevor, Vanessa Kapatelis) February 1991
8 Entries for Ares, Black Thorn, Brain and Monsieur Mallah, Butcher, Byth, Captain Comet, Death, Durlans, Flaw and Child, Furball, Green Lantern John Stewart, Hero Hotline, Kent Shakespeare, Lobo, Nuklon, Phantom Stranger, Punch and Jewelee, Raven, Society of Sin, Spectre, Strata, Turtle, Ventriloquist, and Yuga Khan April 1991
9 Entries for Black Canary, Blue Devil, Bronze Tiger, Chuck Taine, Dev-Em, Dirk Morgna, Dr. Fate, Firehawk, Gim Allon, Glorith, Hugo Strange, Kalibak, Kilowog, Legion of Super-Heroes, Luornu Durgo Taine, Mysa Nal, Rhea Jones, Roxxas, Shadow Thief, Tenzil Kem, Terminator, Universo, Vicki Vale, and Vixen May 1991
10 Entries for Angel and the Ape, Dial "H" For Hero, Dorothy Spinner, Draaga/Death-Rite, Element Girl, Firestorm, Flash II, Flash Supporting Cast (Connie Noleski, Joan Williams Garrick, Linda Park, Mary West, Mason Trollbridge, The McGees), Garryn Bek, Hippolyte, Joe Potato, Jonni Thunder, Kilg%re, Lady Shiva, Lords of Order and Chaos, Nimbus, Patchwork Man, Robin, Shark, Starfire, Thorn, Velvet Tiger, Waverider, and Wild Dog June 1991
11 Entries for Big Barda, Boom Tube, Crimson Fox, Doctor Light II, Doctor Spectro, General Glory, Guardians of the Universe, Guy Gardner, Hell's Hierarchy, Joshua Clay, L.E.G.I.O.N., Legion SUBS, Legion Supporting Cast (Calorie Queen, Circe, King Jonn, Loomis, Marte Allon, Rond Vidar, Shvaughn Erin), LexCorp, 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 Aquaman, Bibbo, Blasters, Blue Jay and Silver Sorceress, Cheshire, Elasti-Girl, G'nort, Hawkwoman, Highfather, Intergang, Klarion the Witch-Boy, Lois Lane, Man-Bat, Mera, Metal Men, Mister Freeze, Project Cadmus, Question, Red Tornado, Silver Banshee, Stealth, Suicide Squad, Tasmanian Devil, and Zatanna September 1991
13 Entries for Arkham Asylum, Batcave, Blackfire, Captain Cold, Cat-Man, Dark Circle, Doctor Psycho, Eclipso, Eradicator, Female Furies, Heat Wave, Joker, King Snake, Kobra, Lex Luthor, Metallo, Mirror Master, Mister Mxyzptlk, Psi-Phon and Dreadnaught, Psycho-Pirate, Ra's al Ghul, Reverse-Flash, Shrapnel, Starro, and Star Sapphire October 1991
14 Entries for Anarky, Animal Man, Catherine Cobert, Doctor Alchemy, Green Arrow, Injustice League, Invasion!, Lady Quark, Lana Lang and Pete Ross, Lord Chaos, Maxie Zeus, Millennium, New Titans, Nightwing, Obsidian, Pantha, Ragman, The Ranzz Family (Garth Ranzz, Imra Ranzz), Rex the Wonder Dog, Tamaran, Teen Titans, Untouchables, Valor, and Wildebeest November 1991
15 Entries for Abby Arcane, American Scream, Anton Arcane, Black Orchid, Cliff Steele, Danny the Street, Doom Patrol, Doom Patrol Rogues Gallery (The Beard Hunter, Red Jack, The Scissormen, and The Shadowy Mr. Evans), The Dreaming, The Endless, Flex Mentallo, John Constantine, Kathy George, Kid Eternity, Les Perdu, Matthew the Raven, Men From N.O.W.H.E.R.E., Mister E, Parliament of Trees, Swamp Thing, Tefé, Temptress, Three Witches, and Tim Hunter January 1992
16 Entries for Ambush Bug, Batman, Black Lightning, Catwoman, Circe, Commissioner Gordon, Cosmic Odyssey, Demon Supporting Cast (Glenda Mark, Harry Matthews, Randu Singh), Desaad, Devlin O'Ryan, Forever People, Infinity, Inc., Krypton, Laurel Gand, Legion of Super-Heroes: The Beginning, Major Victory, Matrix (Supergirl), Maxwell Lord, Monarch, New Challengers of the Unknown, New Gods, Phantasm, Pied Piper, Prince Evillo, Rampage, Talia, Uncle Sam, and Zamarons February 1992

Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993

Issue Info Cover Date
1 Entries for Abra Kadabra, Agent Liberty, Azrael, Black Condor, Black Mask, Cerberus, Count Viper, Eclipso, Evil Star, Green Lantern Corps, The Heckler, Ice Man, Ig'nea, Jack Marshall, Hacker, Lady Jane, Legionnaires, Lord Satanus, Mister Z, The Netherworld, Starbreaker, Timber Wolf, Valor, White Dragon, and Yankee Doodle Dandy December 1992
2 Entries for Arion, Atomic Skull, Battalion, Bloodwynd, Candlemaker, Congorilla, The Darkstars, Doomsday, Guy Gardner, Jakob Whorrsman, Justice League America Headquarters, Justice Society of America, L.E.G.I.O.N. R.E.C.R.U.I.T.S., Lex Luthor II, Linear Men, The Lurker, New Earth, Oa, the Mosaic World, Ramona, The Ray, Team Titans, Thrust, Thunderbolt Supporting Cast (Anne-Marie Brigette Brogan, Cairo De Frey, Detective Inspector James Sidney Flint, Tabu Jaswinder Singh), Vigilante III, and 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 and Frances "Gunny" Beaupre, Richard "Brew" Troy and Jesus "Jump" Kennedy, Chromium, Timon de Guzman, The Fly, Wild Bill Grady, Lt. Devon Hall, Arvell Hauser, Inferno, Victoria Johnson, Ben Lee and Lance Perry, Mary Masterson-Higgins and Masterson Concepts, Maxx-13, The Moonlighter, Lt. Walker Odell, Professor Maxim Ruiz, The Shield, The Sunshine Kid and Ishmael "St. James" Himes, Templar, Luiza Timmerman, and The Web September 1991
2 Entries for The Black Hood, The Black Witch, Bobby "Brick" Boone, Jennifer Novak, and Eldon Sinclair, Theo Carver, The Comet, The Connors' lab, Dan Connors, Henry and Betsy Connors, and Karen Davis, Tracy Dickerson, Dolphus, Victor Drago, General Higgins, Saleh "Silver" Himes and Karen "Buster" Thomas, The Jaguar, Powell Jennings, Dusty Madigan, General Mechanix, Meridian, The Problem, Donald "Rowdy" Spates and Radcliffe "Rad" Stiles, Jason Troy, Sr., Albert E. Watson and Millie Mazda, The Weapon, Kevin Wells and Crawford "Win" Winfield, and The Wolf October 1991
3 Entries for The American Crusaders, Black Hood "Hit" Coffee, Black Hood Nate Cray, Bob Phantom, Burnout, Captain Commando, Creeptures, Crusaders, Domino, Fireball, Fox, Hangman, Indigo, Kalathar, Mann-X, The Original Shield, Ozone, Pirate Blue, Shield III, Studs, Tech Wizards, Tom Sickler, Tremor, and Void May 1992

In other media

In the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Emperor Joker", during a battle between Batman and the Ten-Eyed Man, Bat-Mite (who breaks the fourth wall) was seen reading about the Ten-Eyed Man in issue #23 of the original Who's Who series.

See also

References

  1. ^ "DCU IN 2010: CELEBRATE THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  2. ^ "Dan DiDio talks LEGACIES, WHO'S WHO | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  3. ^ [1] Archived 2010-01-13 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ [2] Archived 2010-10-07 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ [3] Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Wonder Woman. Amazon. Hero. Icon". Comic Book Resources. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  7. ^ "DC Nation Panel: Co-Features, Accidental Spoilers, And Why You Don't Invite Fans On Stage [NYCC]". Comicsalliance.com. 2010-10-09. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  8. ^ Although Hellblazer Annual #1 was also released in 1989, there are no Who's Who entries in the book.