The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe [Hardcover]

Scott Beatty (Author), Phil Jimenez (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

As a unique, one-volume encyclopedia of more than 1,000 characters created by DC Comics, this is the book that all comic book fans have been waiting for! Featuring some of DC's most creative artists and heroes and villains from the world famous to lesser known one-offs, this thrilling, one-of-a-kind guide has comic book history exploding off every page.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This copiously illustrated encyclopedia chronicles more than 1,000 DC Comics characters from the 1930s to the present. Arranged alphabetically, each entry gives the first appearance, status (hero, villain, etc.), real name, occupation, height, weight, and eye and hair color of the superheroes or supervillains. Special abilities and superpowers are also listed along with ample cross-references to other comic characters or superleague affiliations, such as the L.E.G.I.O.N. cosmic peacekeeping force.

The biographical entries make fascinating reading in alternative history. For example, the Crimson Avenger served in a league called the Seven Soldiers of Victory during World War II. Afterward, he was sent backward in time. He came forward in time and discovered that he was struck with a terminal disease. After his death, an unknown woman purchased two guns that had belonged to him. These guns transformed her into Crimson Avenger II, who became an agent of vengeance and execution. Of course, famous characters such as Wonder Woman or Batman are included. But lesser-known characters, such as Superman's college flame, Lori Lemaris (a mermaid), are also listed.

The colorful design makes this book a pleasure to browse. Special two-page features, such as "Amazing Weapons" and "Romantic Moments," are interspersed with the biographies. Recommended for public libraries with active comic readership. Jack O'Gorman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"... it's hard to top this encyclopedia." -- Winston-Salem Journal

"Fabulous artwork and pictures of more than 1,000 famous comic book characters fill this classic that will thrill all collectors." -- Detroit Free Press

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing (October 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075660592X
• ISBN-13: 978-0756605926
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 10.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > History & Price Guides
  • #20 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Literature
  • #67 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Art

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Hardcover Collection, October 4, 2004

By 

Martin Maenza (Hickory, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe (Hardcover)

Many folks for years have been wanting DC to revisit their Who's Who series from the mid-80's, an A to Z covering of characters. This new hardcover fits that bill in a solid, colorful volume. The wrap around cover by Alex Ross is beautiful and eye-catching.

As for the book's interior, it is obvious a lot of effort was put into this. Four main writers handled the text portions, with art taken from hundreds of artists across the decades.

Naturally, there will be a few errors that creep into something such as this. I found characters in group shots mislabeled, and the occasional wrong fact in an entry. These things probably should have been caught in final proofing. I can forgive them though as they are few and far between.

The one thing that becomes painfully obvious to this long time comic reading fan is that the focus of this tome swings heavy to the post-Crisis universe (understandable as that is what the current continuity is - stuff reorganized and introduced since 1986). This tome makes it obvious that continuity is in fact constantly in flux, being rewritten and reworked. The book is uneven in that at times it takes both old and rewrites into account. Examples include the Legion of Super-Heroes stuff and the Doom Patrol relaunch from earlier this year.

Still, it is a nice coffee table tome and good for quicky research on characters and such.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome information, September 24, 2005

By 

David A. Smithey "Living in Books" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe (Hardcover)

I really didn't know what to expect when I bought this book. It was just something to help me figure out who some of the characters were in the DC universe. What I found was a history of EVERY character DC has ever created! There were some really obscure characters in there dating back to the 1940s that I had never even heard of.

If you're into DC comics, it's well worth the price. I know I've had hours of fun reading the different entries on not only the characters I knew but many I didn't.

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice guide to the DC Characters, November 20, 2004

By 

M. B. RENTZLER (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe (Hardcover)

Some people may gripe over that their favorite character got only a small entry in the book but I was surprised at how complete this book was.

Lets face it, unless DC reprints Who's Who you are not going to get a complete guide to the DC characters, this book is made to represent as many of their characters as they could. I enjoyed the entries about the lesser known characters and being given updates on some of the heros and villians I had followed but lost touch with.

The DC Comics Encylopedia makes a nice gift for any comics fan.