It has been the leader in the industry since its start many years ago. Highlighting the debuts of iconic super heroes like superman and batman, the geniuses that invented them, and the reallife events, like the vietnam war, the atom bomb, and the space race, that shaped the atmosphere of the times, dc comics. Dc is home to the worlds greatest super heroes, including superman, batman, wonder woman, green lantern, the flash, aquaman and more. No historical overview is provided anywhere in the book.
For decades, dc comics has been one of the two largest american comic book companies the other being. It is the comics publishing branch of dc entertainment, inc. Apr 15, 2020 dc comics has suspended publication in print and in digital of allnew comic books intended for the direct market of comic book stores. The 100 best comic book characters of all time paste. Meanwhile, dc comics acquired the rights to produce new material featuring fawcetts original captain marvel, which was ironic seeing as how they once sued that character right off the printed page. The journey to the future of dcs comic book universe begins with the free comic book day release generation zero in early may, but now its been revealed that issue is just the first in a.
Dc is home to the worlds greatest super heroes, including superman, batman, wonder woman. Stephen shin was one of aquamans allies before his hunt for knowledge turned deadly. Dc comics 15 best and strangest alternate histories screenrant. Entertainment, founded in 1934 and home to many memorable characters, including batman and superman. It is the publishing unit of dc entertainment, a subsidiary of warner bros. The precursor to marvel comics was founded in 1939 by pulp magazine publisher martin goodman. Publication history of dc comics crossover events wikipedia. Superman, tormented by what luthor had done, took violent retribution, using his heat vision to murder his longtime nemesis. Rather than contain a chronological list of every appearance a character has made these lists only contain issues that are important for that characters development or issues that are recommended reading. Immortal man was the first of two one shot stories in strange adventures that went on to become recurring series in that book during the period 1964 1967.
They are ordered, though prone to occasional shifting. President lex luthor publicly, and personally, executed the flash. Bibliography all characters and artwork by dc comics inc. Welcome to our list of dc character reading orders.
Usually published by dc comics elseworlds imprint, these stories reimagine some of the most popular dc characters, exploring and exposing that which makes them unique. Marvel comics, american media and entertainment company that was widely regarded as one of the big two publishers in the comic industry. Because everyone needs a favorite list of characters. One tragic event forever changed the course of history on earth50. Dc comics produces material featuring a large number of wellknown characters, including superman, batman, wonder woman, the flash, green arrow, and others. In order to capitalize on the growing popularity of comic booksespecially those starring superheroesgoodman created timely comics. Characters that appear in the superman comic books.
Two new dc characters, the hummingbird and gray, in anti hero. Within the dc universe, this new status quo is the result of efforts by. To commemorate dc comics 50th anniversary, dc published crisis on infinite earths as a 12issue comic book event. The exception are the dc giants issues intended for mass. To start with, dcs propaganda covers in world war ii include some cartoonishly racist depictions of the japanese. Apr 02, 2020 dc comics, american media and entertainment company whose iconic comic based properties represented some of the most enduring and recognizable characters in 20th and 21stcentury popular culture. The list of dc characters page features an alphabetized list of dc comics characters the list of dc teams page features an alphabetized list of all the groups in dc. The definitive guide to the characters of the dc universe hardcover october 25, 2016. Its parent company, marvel entertainment, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the disney company. The majority of its publications take place within the fictional dc universe and feature numerous culturally iconic heroic characters, most notably superman.
The history of dc comics has gone on to be a huge part of american culture. This category is for characters who are owned by dc comics and are part of its multiverse. The dc universe page features the universe in general. Superhero comics the silver age 1956 to circa 1970 dc comics began revising their 1940s superheroes, the flash and green lantern with a more scifi theme.
How the code authority kept lgbt characters out of comics. Rather, the history of dc comics is the history of the comic book industry as a whole, layered with intrigue, greed, great stories, politics, financial hell holes, but ultimately an innate desire in all of us for a great story. In this series, dc planned to clear up decades of plot inconsistencies, as well as bring together conflicting characters from the golden age and the silver age. With over 10,000 characters in the dc universe, this is the most complete listing in existence. Grifter cole cash is a fictional comic book superhero who has appeared in books published by wildstorm productions and dc comics. Comics history and provide an extraordinary insight into how the characters. Learn about marvel comicss characters and prominent writers and artists. It stands for detective comics which was considered as the popular series. This category is for characters who appear in the comic books of dc comics. A list of every character that can be found on the dc database. Apr 17, 2018 the 7 most racist moments in comic book history. Andrew bennett is dead, and with his death, cain, the sire of all vampires, has risen in gotham, leaving it up to the justice league dark to attempt to retrieve andrew from the realm of the dead in order to seal away cain once.
Created by artist jim lee and writer brandon choi, he first appeared in wildc. Dc comics is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in american comic books, and produces material featuring numerous wellknown heroic characters, including superman, batman, wonder woman, green lantern, flash, aquaman, shazam, hawkman and. The publishing unit of dc entertainment, itself a whollyowned subsidiary of warner bros. The company is known by its characters so what better way to tell its history than to. The dc universe is home to some of comics most prominent and famous superheroes. Dc comics is one of the largest american companies in comic book and related media publishing. Dc comics is one of the largest and oldest american comic book companies, and a subsidiary of warner bros. Excludes incredibly new introductions and the return of vertigo.
You can download the silver age of dc comics in pdf format. This deluxe book celebrates nearly eighty years of compellingly corrupt characters from the dc universes remarkable gallery of supervillains. Dc comics, american media and entertainment company whose iconic comic based properties represented some of the most enduring and recognizable characters in 20th and 21stcentury popular culture. The dc universe or dcu is a comic book continuity in which the dc comic books take place. Meanwhile, dc comics acquired the rights to produce new material featuring fawcetts original captain marvel, which was ironic seeing as how they. They paved their way with their styles and strategies and many other comics book industries in america followed them such as their rival marvel comics.
Originally known as national publications, dc is a publisher of comic books featuring iconic characters and teams such as superman, batman, wonder woman, green lantern, the justice league of. Throughout the 1970s, dc made an overdue effort to populate their fictional universe with more black people. The dc universe is explored with amazing illustrations and detailed histories, giving readers an amazing tour of the cosmos of the comic book heroes of our time. A visual history follows the characters foray into the real world through tv series and blockbuster movies. Before 1970, dc comics only africanamerican character was jackie johnson, a member of sergeant rocks easy company. Dc comics simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Its parent company, dc entertainment, is a wholly owned subsidiary of time warner inc. Today a subsidiary of time warner, dc is responsible for such famous characters as superman, batman, wonder woman, and their teammates in the justice league. The actual creation of the universe is shrouded in mystery, save that it is against an unwritten law of the universe to see its birth due to the dire consequences. Dc comics reboots justice league and other series the new. The silver age of dc comics download free ebook now. Comic book by jordan raphael a marvelous life by danny fingeroth the secret history of wonder woman by.
Over characters are packed into this 400page hardcover. Jul 31, 2016 throughout its history, dc universe has accumulated numerous heroes and villains who battle each other not only on different worlds, but in different realities as well. Dc comics graphic novel collection is currently unavailable to new subscribers. This is the 2008 edition of the dc comics encyclopedia, and it looks very comprehensive. In the aftermath of flashpoint, the dc universe has a new status quo with all their comics i, vampire. Rorschach was created by writer alan moore with artist dave gibbons, but as with most of the main characters in the series, he was an analogue for a charlton comics character, in this case steve ditkos the question.
The art of modern mythmaking, quite literally, crushes them all. It was a substantially lower number when compared to marvel, its chief competition of that time. The characters are arranged alphabetically so they are pretty easy to find, and all are illustrated with beautiful images from original comic books. Feb 27, 2017 before 1970, dc comics only africanamerican character was jackie johnson, a member of sergeant rocks easy company.
The book is a dazzling journey through dc comics history that brings together everyones favorite heroes and villains and is a musthave for. Dc comics is an american comic book publisher owned by warner bros. Also within the batman story was the supporting character, james gordon, police commissioner of what later would be gotham city police department. With this, disney was able to distribute comics for the many titles that they also owned and help create many more movies and other media for the comic book characters found at marvel already. Dc, along with rival marvel comics, is one of the big two american comic book publishers. Cyborg is probably the best known and most popular of dc s africanamerican heroes. Dc comics cover art is a unique, sumptuous compendium of more than 350 covers from the past 85 years, specially selected based on their historical significance, iconic status, or groundbreaking design. Rorschach born walter joseph kovacs is a fictional character and an antihero in the acclaimed 1986 graphic novel miniseries watchmen, published by dc comics. Dc to reveal hidden history with generation comics. From the penguin to harley quinn and doomsday to general zod, dc comics. This newest tribute to the history of dc comics, 75 years of dc comics. The definitive guide to the characters of the dc universe.
Dc comics is one of the big two superhero comics publishers. Dc rivalry, suicide squads reception again, for the most part, dc just ignored it all, but one dc comics creator who got his fair share of marvel knocks was bob haney, who had his own little comic book universe in brave and the bold where he could seemingly do whatever he wanted to. Dc comics is one of the largest and oldest american comic book companies. Batman is one of the stories featured in detective comics. Throughout the first half of the 1950s, the popularity of superhero comics dipped, though comic books featuring superman, batman, and wonder. Dc entertainment is a subsidiary of warner brothers and its parent company time warner. Please use the character template for creating new entries. Dc comics is a comic book company that is most famous for its shared universe of superheroes. On august 31, 2009 disney announced that they would acquire marvel entertainment. Over the past several decades, my bookshelf has filled up with publications that cover the long history of the comic book and the big two publishers. It is notable as one of the largest as well as most popular comic book publishers today. Supervillains explores the story of these beloved baddies through new interviews with acclaimed writers and artists, including. Popular characters published by the company include.
Oct 04, 2004 this is the 2008 edition of the dc comics encyclopedia, and it looks very comprehensive. Community content is available under ccbysa unless otherwise noted. Stephen shin is a marine biologist who was a crucial figure in the life of a young arthur curry in the years before becoming aquaman. It is the publishing unit of dc entertainment, a subsidiary of walt disney studios, which itself is owned by the walt disney company. In 1985, dc comics reached its fiftieth anniversary of publishing comic books. Marvel followed suit in the 1960s with the introduction of spiderman, fantastic four, the hulk, xmen and iron man. A marine biologist obsessed with discovering the secrets of atlantis, dr. The majority of its publications take place within the fictional dc universe and feature numerous culturally. Dc comics owns the rights to green arrow, flash, etc.