Dc Comics: A Celebration of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes [Paperback]

Les Daniels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

Now updated, expanded, and available in paperback—the definitive chronicle of DC’s celebrated characters and their talented creators! In the nearly 70 years since the creation of the first super- heroes, DC’s legendary team of artists, writers, and editors have developed, refined, and extended the reach of their comic book characters. DC Comics: A Celebration of the World’s Favorite Comic Book Heroes celebrates the remarkable history of America’s leading comic book publisher. Packed with 650 dazzling, full-color illustrations, here is a mesmerizing account of DC’s growth, tracing the complex genealogies of its legendary characters and describing the behind-the-scenes dynamics that influenced its stories. It also features dozens of personal interviews with the artists and writers who provided the creative genius for DC’s classic characters and their amazing adventures.

This updated paperback edition sports a brand-new cover by legendary comic book artist Alex Ross, as well as new chapters on the acclaimed graphic novels Kingdom Come and The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Readers will also find brand-new material on Superman’s wedding; the movies Batman Forever and Batman & Robin; the Smallville television show; WildStorm comics; and many other exciting comics including JLA, Green Arrow, and Preacher.

Filled with comic book artwork, conceptual sketches, and original character designs; scenes from animated cartoons, movie serials and features, television shows, and Broadway musicals; superhero toys, games, comic collectibles, trading cards, and panels from graphic novels—this incredible chronicle is the perfect reference for fans of popular history, art, comics, and everything in between!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'It's all here - Batman and Robin, Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, even Captain Marvel and Billy Batson, in this brightly illustrated history' The New York Times; 'Anyone with an interest in the art or history of comics should have this book' Print Magazine; 'Wow! The greatest moments in history of comic books.' Book of the Month Club" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Les Daniels is the author of the best-selling Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World’s Greatest Comics and Comix: A History of Comic Books in America. His fiction, three times nominated for a World Fantasy Award, includes the novels The Black Castle and No Blood Spilled. He lives in Providence, RI.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; 1st edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823079198
• ISBN-13: 978-0823079193
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 0.6 x 11.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,637,341 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to the world of DC Comics., August 31, 2003

By 

Devlin Tay (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dc Comics: A Celebration of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes (Paperback)

Buyers beware, apparently this is an updated edition of Les Daniels' earlier book, so don't fork out the money if you already own the earlier book, unless you think 16 pages of new material is worth the price. Otherwise, this is an excellent introduction to the world of DC Comics. It summarises the history of most of the major DC characters, from their humble origins to their glory days and beyond. Much more so than Marvel characters, DC characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Justice League have, over the last half century or so, worked their way into the very cultural fabric and the psyche of the American public. With the advent of globalisation, their influence now extends well beyond the shores of America into the wider world - just show anyone in Australia, which is on the opposite side of the globe, a picture of Lynda Carter in her star-spangled costume, and they can tell you that she is Wonder Woman. A great reference for all comic book lovers, especially fans of DC characters.

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars New Title,New Cover,Same Book, July 13, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dc Comics: A Celebration of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes (Paperback)

Although the content still rates 5 Stars this edition has been deceptivly marketed and doesn't.This is essentially a reprint of DC Comics :60 Years from 1995. Ok it's an updated edition with 16 additional pages but that's only printed on the back cover.If you liked Les Daniels work on the first book you can easily be suckered into buying this edition online thinking it's a new book. It's not!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Attractive corporate history, October 4, 2005

By 

fourcolor (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dc Comics: A Celebration of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes (Paperback)

This is a beautiful coffee table book, thoroughly illustrated and full of much fascinating trivia about comics. When reading it, though, it's important to remember that the book was fully approved and virtually coproduced by DC Comics, and so basically represents DC's PR department view of its history. For example, it mostly rationalizes or dismisses the company's appalling treatment of Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. For history, there are non-corporate approved books that do a much more realistic job. But for beautiful pictures and an overview of the comics themselves, this is great.