Front cover of Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Volume I (March 1985). Art by George Pérez.

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.[1] 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 Annuals released that year included Who's Who entries.[lower-alpha 1] 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.[2] 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.[3][4][5] The series launch was subsequently delayed,[6][7] but in October DC vice-president Dan DiDio stated that the series would be released after the 2011 DCU line-wide event, Flashpoint.[8] 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 brought 12 new entries from DC Comics' Who's Who.

In 2023, DC Power: a celebration one shot brought 10 new entries to DC Comics' Who's Who.

Bibliography of Who's Who series

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

VolumeInfoCover Date
IAbel to AuronMarch 1985
IIAutoman to Blackhawk Plane/IslandApril 1985
IIIBlack Lightning to BythMay 1985
IVCadre to Chris KL-99June 1985
VChronos to CyclotronJuly 1985
VIDaily Planet to Doctor PolarisAugust 1985
VIIDoctor Psycho to FastbackSeptember 1985
VIIIFatal Five to GarguaxOctober 1985
IXGarn Daanuth to Guardians of the UniverseNovember 1985
XGunner and Sarge to HyenaDecember 1985
XIIcicle to Jonni ThunderJanuary 1986
XIIJonny Double to Kong the UntamedFebruary 1986
XIIIKrona to LosersMarch 1986
XIVLuthor I to Masters of DisasterApril 1986
XVMatrix-Prime to Mister Tawky TawnyMay 1986
XVIMr. Terrific to NightmasterJune 1986
XVIINightshade to PersuaderJuly 1986
XVIIIPhantom Girl to PursuerAugust 1986
XIXPuzzler to Roy RaymondSeptember 1986
XXRubberduck to Shining KnightOctober 1986
XXIShrinking Violet to StarfingerNovember 1986
XXIIStarfire I to SyonideDecember 1986
XXIIISyrene to Time TrapperJanuary 1987
XXIVTim Trench to UniversoFebruary 1987
XXVUnknown Soldier to Witch BoyMarch 1987
XXVIWizard to Zyklon, plus Angel & the Ape to The 1,000April 1987

Who's Who Update '87

VolumeInfoCover Date
1All-Star Squadron to CatalystAugust 1987
2Catwoman II to GoldstarSeptember 1987
3Gray Man to LionmaneOctober 1987
4Lois Lane to RampageNovember 1987
5Reaper to Zymyr, plus AppendixDecember 1987

Who's Who Update '88

VolumeInfoCover Date
1Amazing-Man to Harlequin IIAugust 1988
2Icemaiden to NightwingSeptember 1988
3Parliament of Trees to TridentOctober 1988
4Ultra-Humanite to Zuggernaut, plus Abby Cable to Wade Eiling and AppendixNovember 1988

Who's Who 1989 Annuals

Issue[lower-alpha 1]InfoCover Date
Action Comics Annual #2Entries for Cat Grant and MatrixJune 1989
Batman Annual #13Entries for Alfred Pennyworth, Barbara Gordon, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Robin (Dick Grayson), Robin (Jason Todd) and Vicki ValeJune 1989
Blackhawk Annual #1Entries 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 ChanMay 1989
Detective Comics Annual #2Entries for Catwoman, Clayfaces I-IV, Joker, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Ra's al Ghul, Riddler, Scarecrow and Two-FaceSeptember 1989
Dr. Fate Annual #1Entry for Dr. FateSeptember 1989
Flash Annual #3Entries for Chunk, Flash (Jay Garrick), Flash (Barry Allen), Flash (Wally West), Jerry and Tina McGee, Joan Williams Garrick, Kapitalist Kouriers, Mary West and Mason TrollbridgeJune 1989
Green Arrow Annual #2Entries for Black Canary I, Black Canary II, Green Arrow, James Cameron, Shado and SpeedyJuly 1989
Justice League International Annual #3Entries 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)July 1989
New Titans Annual #5Entries for the Titan Seeds, the Titans of Myth and TroiaAugust 1989
Question Annual #2Entries for Aristotle Rodor, Isadore O'Toole, Lady Shiva, Myra Fermin and the QuestionJuly 1989
Secret Origins Annual #3Entries for Antithesis, the Bumblebee, Flamebird, the Gargoyle, the Golden Eagle and HeraldMay 1989
Swamp Thing Annual #5Entry for the Swamp ThingAugust 1989
Wonder Woman Annual #2Entry for the Mayer AgencySeptember 1989

Who's Who in Star Trek

IssueInfoCover Date
1Entries 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 ZetarMarch 1987
2Entries from Marla McGivers to the Vulcans plus Appendix display of command symbols and the environmental jacketApril 1987

Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes

IssueInfoCover Date
1History of the Legion (part one), plus entries for Absorbency Boy to Dr. Gym'llApril 1988
2History of the Legion (part two), plus entries for Dr. Mayavale to High Seer of NaltorJune 1988
3Planets of the 30th Century, plus entries for Heroes of Lallor to Legion of Super-RejectsJuly 1988
4Homeworlds of the Legion, plus entries for Legion of Super-Villains to Mon-ElAugust 1988
5Tour of Legion Headquarters, plus entries for Mordru to Science PoliceSeptember 1988
6The Wonders of Metropolis, plus entries for Sden to Timber WolfOctober 1988
7The Nik Feelds Show, plus entries for Time Trapper to ZorazNovember 1988

Who's Who in the DC Universe

IssueInfoCover Date
1Entries 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 WotanAugust 1990
2Entries 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 StarmanSeptember 1990
3Entries 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 GirlOctober 1990
4Entries 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 WomanNovember 1990
5Entries 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 IDecember 1990
6Entries 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 IIJanuary 1991
7Entries 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 and Wonder Woman Supporting Cast (Ed Indelicato, Etta Candy, Julia Kapatelis, Steve Trevor, Vanessa Kapatelis)February 1991
8Entries 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 KhanApril 1991
9Entries 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 VixenMay 1991
10Entries 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 DogJune 1991
11Entries 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 WanderersJuly 1991
12Entries 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 ZatannaSeptember 1991
13Entries 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 SapphireOctober 1991
14Entries 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 WildebeestNovember 1991
15Entries 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 HunterJanuary 1992
16Entries 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 ZamaronsFebruary 1992

Who's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993

IssueInfoCover Date
1Entries 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 DandyDecember 1992
2Entries 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 KiplingJanuary 1993

Impact Comics Who's Who

IssueInfoCover Date
1Entries for Applejack, Arachnus, A.R.M.S. Installation, Len "Big Daddy" Rothco/Frances "Gunny" Beaupre, Richard "Brew" Troy/Jesus "Jump" Kennedy, Chromium, Timon de Guzman, The Fly, Wild Bill Grady, Lt. Devon Hall, Arvell Hauser, Inferno, Victoria Johnson, Ben Lee/Lance Perry, Mary Masterson-Higgins/Masterson Concepts, Maxx-13, The Moonlighter, Lt. Walker Odell, Professor Maxim Ruiz, The Shield, The Sunshine Kid/Ishmael "St. James" Himes, Templar, Luiza Timmerman, and The WebSeptember 1991
2Entries for The Black Hood, The Black Witch, Bobby "Brick" Boone/Jennifer Novak/Eldon Sinclair, Theo Carver, The Comet, The Connors' lab, Dan Connors/Henry and Betsy Connors/Karen Davis, Tracy Dickerson, Dolphus, Victor Drago, General Mechanix, General Higgins, Saleh "Silver" Himes/Karen "Buster" Thomas, The Jaguar, Powell Jennings, Dusty Madigan, Meridian, The Problem, Donald "Rowdy" Spates/Radcliffe "Rad" Stiles, Jason Troy Sr., Albert E. Watson/Millie Mazda, The Weapon, Kevin Wells/Crawford "Win" Winfield, and The WolfOctober 1991
3Entries 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 VoidMay 1992

Collected editions

  • Who's Who Omnibus
    • Volume 1 collects Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Volumes 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, 978-1779505996

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

Notes

  1. 1 2 The following Annuals released in 1989 did not have Who's Who entries: Doc Savage Annual #1, Hellblazer Annual #1, and The Shadow Strikes! Annual #1.

References

  1. Trumbull, John (May 8, 2017). "Inside HERO-A-GO-GO with Michael Eury!". Atomic Junk Shop. Archived from the original on May 9, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  2. "DCU IN 2010: CELEBRATE THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  3. "Dan DiDio talks LEGACIES, WHO'S WHO | DC Comics". Dcu.blog.dccomics.com. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  4. Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Archived October 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Wonder Woman. Amazon. Hero. Icon". Comic Book Resources. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  8. "DC Nation Panel: Co-Features, Accidental Spoilers, And Why You Don't Invite Fans On Stage [NYCC]". Comicsalliance.com. 2010-10-09. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
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