Who's Who In The DC Universe

''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, with a loose leaf format devised by editor Michael Eury. 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.

''Who's Who'' was DC's answer to ''The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe'', which was published a few years earlier. Each character had an individualized logo instead of a standard typeface; figures were shown in action poses rather than full-body portraits drawn by individual artists; character histories and power descriptions were more vague; and characters from all of DC's various lines and imprints were included (such as out-of- continuity series like ''Camelot 3000'' and ''Watchmen''), not just those from its shared universe (although ''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 ''Annual''s 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 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.

The second spin-off was ''Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes'', a seven-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'' (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).

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.

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. 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. The series launch was subsequently delayed, but in October DC vice-president Dan DiDio stated that the series would be released after the 2011 DCU line-wide event, '' Flashpoint''. 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: Black Manta, Mister Terrific (Michael Holt), The Signal, The Spectre (Crispus Allen), and Val-Zod.

Bibliography of ''Who's Who'' series

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

''Who's Who Update '87''

''Who's Who Update '88''

''Who's Who'' 1989 ''Annual''s

''Who's Who in Star Trek''

''Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes''

''Who's Who in the DC Universe''

''Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993''

''Impact Comics Who's Who''

Collected editions

* ''Who's Who Omnibus''
** Volume 1 collects ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Volume''s ''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, .
** 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, .

See also

* ''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe''

Notes

References

External links

An unofficial version of ''Who's Who''

''Who's Who'' Article at DC Database Project

Who's Who – The Definitive Podcast of the DC Universe

{{Authority control

1985 comics debuts
Comics by Len Wein
Comics by Marv Wolfman
Comics by Paul Levitz
DC Comics titles
Encyclopedias of fictional worlds
Magazines about comics