DC Comics Encyclopedia HC Definitive Guide to Characters DK Publishing Alex Ross Cvr

Description

DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe Hardcover
by Scott Beatty (Author), Phil Jimenez (Author)

A richly illustrated reference provides a definitive guide to all of the superheroes and archvillains of the DC universe, featuring more than one thousand different characters, including images from the original comic books, from the past sixty years of DC Comics.

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.

Publisher : DK Publishing
Language : English
Hardcover : 352 pages
Item Weight : 4.3 pounds

This is a very good book. If you are familiar with the Star Wars Visual Guides then you will love this book! Its unbelievable how many characters there are in this one. Though there may be heroes and heroines missing but only the hard-core and older fans of the DC Universe will notice. There is a small photo of John Constantine. The book does however have a large section of Swamp Thing! There are huge sections of Superman and Batman and most of their villains are present in great detail and write ups. For instance, Superman’s villains like Doomsday, Lex Luthor, Bizarro, Sinestro, The Eradicator, and Darkseid all have good sections. Batman’s villains like the Joker, Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Bane, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Man-Bat, Killer Croc, Black Mask, and Ra’s Al Ghul all have great sections as well! Also big sections of Wonder Woman, Aqua Man, the Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkman and the rest of the JLA. Many other shots of other groups as well! Great pictures of Powergirl, Supergirl, Batgirl, The Birds of Prey (Oracle, Black Canary, and the Huntress) have decent pictures and sections. People such as Alfred, Robin, Nightwing and other have good sections. Many simians such as Gorilla Grodd have good sections. There is a huge index at the end of the book to quickly find who you’re looking for! The cover art by Alex Ross is unbeatable! The heroes and villains look like real human beings! I really dig the pictures of Supergirl, Batgirl, The Black Canary, and Catwoman! The book has so many, really neat pictures from the DC Universe all in color. If you are looking for a book that has most of DC’s characters and information about them such as real names and what issue and year they first appeared in and more then I strongly recommend this book!

What can be said about this encyclopedia that hasn’t already been said? I had the previous 2004 edition I was thrilled to have that one, this new expanded encyclopedia is spectacular. This book is exhaustive on referencing over one thousand DC characters, origins, significant events in DC mythology. It provides a definite order to the pandemonium of DC characters and history in a most visually acceptable way. The encyclopedia focuses on teams, places, weapons, vehicles, battles and everything that is DC. Emphasised in more brand new pages are the icons of DC mythology like Batman, and Superman which have been around forever and even of the most obscure and forgotten individuals. The art work is so legendary that it’s beyond the norm of realistic in that all the characters seem to jump out of you in the book in all directions. The cover is a masterpiece! Alex Ross is the most artistically talented artist ever. This is a book for true DC aficionados that no true DC lover can be without -it will become a collector’s item because everything about it is fabulous. Not only does it supersede the 2004 edition but it also has an added 48 brand new pages in it with expanded detail on some characters of a more pronounced nature in it with updates and new storylines including the recent Infinite Crisis story. This book will be even more successful than the previous one. An essential DC mythology and character reference of all the charcters good or bad in the dc universe.

978-0-7566-0592-6

Tiny tear at bottom of spine. Minor ding to first 10 pages or so. Otherwise the book is in NM condition.