DC Comics Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle [Hardcover]

Daniel Wallace (Author), Matthew K. Manning (Author), Alexander Irvine (Author), Alan Cowsill (Author), Michael McAvennie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2010

For more than 70 years, DC Comics has been entertaining children and adults alike. Here, for the first time, is the chronological account of the adventures of both the characters and the company that created them.



The DC Chronicle Year by Year traces DC's fascinating story: the company's beginnings as National Allied Publications in the 1934, and its subsequent change to Detective Comics, Inc. in 1937. The book details all the major DC publishing landmarks and more, displayed clearly, month by month.



Highlighting the debuts of Superman and Batman, the geniuses that invented them, and the real-life events-like the Vietnam War, the atom bomb, the Space Race-that shaped the atmosphere of the times, DC Chronicle Year by Year follows the characters' foray into the real world through TV series and blockbuster movies.



Features original cover art by well-known DC artist Ryan Sook and a foreword by Paul Levitz, who was president of DC Comics from 2002 - 2009.



TM & © DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In 1938, DC Comics set the template for the nascent comic-book business when it introduced Superman, creating the superhero genre that would dominate the medium for most of the next seven decades. This lavish, slipcased volume traces the company’s long history, which mirrors the trajectory of the entire industry: after starting out in the mid-1930s with black-and-white publications that emulated newspaper comic strips, DC was in the forefront of the ascendance of superheroes in the 1940s. Tastes shifted the following decade, and DC moved into the same genres as other publishers: horror, war, westerns, and romance. Superheroes bounced back in a big way in the 1960s—led by DC’s revival of its most popular characters, such as the Flash and Green Lantern—and they’ve constituted the bulk of the company’s roster ever since. The book’s colorful, chronological rundown showcases a dozen or so key titles from each year, reproducing the cover and detailing the issue’s significance. No matter when their comics-reading youth occurred, anyone who ever loved comics, from baby boomers to millennials, will enjoy this nostalgia-laden tome. --Gordon Flagg

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: DK Publishing; #4 edition (September 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756667429
• ISBN-13: 978-0756667429
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 10.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars must for any dc fan October 25, 2010

By joe

Format:Hardcover

I am a diehard DC fan and always love these company retrospective books detailing the history, but I've always been slightly disappointed with them because they would either focus too heavily on Superman and Batman (for good reason admittedly) and seemingly reduce the other characters to little more then footnotes OR they would spend way too much time on the characters (again mainly Bat's and Supes) achievements in other media such as television and films. Well not so with this book thankfully. While obviously Superman and Batman and all their respective milestones are well represented, all the other major and minor heroes, villains, teams, story lines, series, imprints and series, obscure or legendary are included in well written detailed entries in an easy to follow year by year, month by month layout. The films and tv shows are all mentioned, thankfully in little sidebars that don't take the focus off of the comics that made DC in the first place. Of course with a publishing history that spans 75 years and counting, across varied genres, it's almost inevitable that a few things would get left out. But this book does a good job of being comprehensive, covering all the important moments and many others in an illustrious history. So for all DC fan's or general comic history buffs, this is as good a way as any to celebrate DC's 75th (other then reading the actual comics that is!)

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book that brought me back to my childhood October 28, 2010

By caj

Format:Hardcover

Although I haven't finished reading this cover to cover, I have to say that this is one of the most thorough historical books I've ever seen dedicated to comics. It literally goes year by year and showcases all the highlights that took place in DC Comics' long history. It's complete with issue covers, writers & artists, and sufficient details of the comic or event.

Almost every significant character introduction or change is covered, spotlighting Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Justice League, Legion of Super Heroes, Justice Society, Teen Titans, Doom Patrol, Sandman, Jonah Hex, and many more.

The only omission I've seen was the death of the pocket universe Superboy in Legion of Super Heroes, which was a pretty big deal. But every other event I can think of in my years of reading DC Comics is addressed here.

This brought back some amazing memories for me. Nice book and nice presentation.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Hmm. Actually, a pretty thorough overview. October 22, 2010

By Radkins

Format:Hardcover

When a publishing company as prolific as DC publishes a "Year by Year" chronicle, there's certain to be a lot left out for brevity's sake. To DC's credit, though, this book hits an overwhelming majority of high points in their evolution from the '30s to the current catalog, and the book does so by including some really stunning covers and inside illustrations.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect celebration of 75 years October 22, 2010

By Cunning Linguist

Format:Hardcover

In case you couldn't tell by the sterling silver Green Lantern ring on my right hand, I am a DC Comics diehard. Still, despite my weekly trips to the comic store nowadays, there is so much rich DC Universe history that I've missed out on. This tome is the ideal resource that I've been waiting for.

The rebirth of The Spectre in 1974 (Adventure Comics #431), the great race between Superman and Flash in August 1967 (Superman #199) and even The Wizard of Oz DC/Marvel crossover in the '70s. Just a sampling of the famous and the obscure moments of DC mythos that intersect in this single volume.

This well written, comprehensive book proudly presents 75 years of DC's legacy. Visually and contextually, I am very, very pleased with this item, and any comics fan (expert or novice) will cherish it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive! November 29, 2010

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

Just what it says - a year by year review. And boy, do they review the years! A great book, nicely designed, with dozens of covers I've never seen... and I'm a hardcore DC fan going way back! (and I love that they've actually photoshopped these covers to look the way they did when they came out, instead of just sticking in a scan of any ratty version they could lay their hands on.) A very nice overview of the history of the company that any DC fan will LOVE. Highest recommendation!

5.0 out of 5 stars One terrific DC Comics book April 4, 2013

By Al Leslie

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This DC Comics publication is a timeless treasure for all DC fans. It is extremely entertaining and information. I highly recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect March 28, 2013

By penelope

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Exactly what i was looking for. year by year of your favorite DC superheros and small features of villains :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Totally Awesome February 17, 2013

By RSC

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This has everything that a comic collector and historian would love. It details everything that is remotely significant and worth documenting on an annual basis. Artwork is definitely a big plus as well.