Who’s Who and Who’s Not

January 11, 2010
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Last Thursday the Official DC Comics blog The Source gave details to the previously announced new line of Who’s Who and DC Legacies, which is an update to The Official History of the DC Universe. Who’s Who, under the guidance of Editor Bob Greenberger, will be 18 issues and Legacies will be 10 issues. I won’t be buying either.

I think in this age of digital media, that the way of these printed “handbook” style encyclopedias are a thing of the past. Thanks to a numerous online sources including Wikipedia and DC’s own elaborate website, getting character profiles are at the tips of your fingers. Not to mention that the comic book world moves at lighting speed and once it’s printed it’s already old. However, online biographies can be updated and more importantly corrected in seconds. Besides you can add some much more information on a digital page then you can a printed one. Can you really sum up Batman’s career in a few paragraphs? No. But in a Wiki you can link and cross reference to friends, villains, creators and detailed summaries to notable storylines.

Same thing goes for you too, Marvel.

Related posts:

  1. Marvel’s DCU – part 1

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0 Responses to Who’s Who and Who’s Not

  1. Richard Holland on January 11, 2010 at 11:43 am

    Chris, usually you and I are on the same
    wavelength, but not this time. Sure wikipedia is easy and generally in depth but WW and OHTMU are fun to browse in a way that wikipedia can’t replicate. Wikipedia on a plane, no, wikipedia in the restroom, no, wikipedia in bed before you go to sleep, possible but cumbersome.

    I’m excited about dc doing who’s who again and will be waiting for the hardcover collection. I was just about to bind my old set and will have to hold off

    Reply
  2. Chris Marshall on January 11, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    Individual installments is not the way to go – 18 Who’s Who comics? Is that really necessary?
    I’ll meet you halfway. If DC (and Marvel) are going to publish books like these, then they should do so as an affordable color trade paperback of character and event updates every year. It could include commentary from notable artists, writers and Dan Didio, himself. Think of it as an Annual Report.

    Reply
  3. Ian Aleksander Adams on January 11, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    You’re right that this is a thing of the past, but it’s a thing I like. I still flip through the DC History books when I wanna find something for a quick reference when trying to explain some complicated hoo ha to my fiance.

    If the discussion gets more in depth, internet becomes involved, but a nice page flipping search is fun when it involves my comics shelf.

    Reply
  4. John Mayo on January 11, 2010 at 9:45 pm

    While I understand your thoughts on this, Chris, but I do not share them. I love these sorts of things. Sure, they can be out of date as soon the ink dries but I’m okay with that. I like have a fixed point in time reference for the characters. I’ll be getting both the new Who’s Who and the DC Legacies. I’m also in favor of the individual issues and would like to see the Who’s Who series continue after the 18 issues on a sporadic basis. As soon as they have enough to fill another issue, release it.

    Reply
  5. Richard on January 12, 2010 at 1:45 am

    I agree that floppies are a silly choice for this. Marvel actually did something clever with the nice hardbound series I have dropped a hundred bucks on thusfar. DC should follow suit.

    Did you notice that marvel is printing updates to the HB OHTMU as floppies?!? I don’t understand that at all. I hope they are smart and Eventually print the updates HB with the same format and spine.

    Reply

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