One of the most sought-after collections is finally in the offing…
We do quite a bit of coverage of cool comics collections that’ll interest fans. Plainly put, some get bigger responses than others.
Well, hold onto your cowls because one collection that fans have been clamoring — clamoring — for is being planned for 2021 by DC: The Who’s Who Omnibus Vol. 1.
Dig the official description, according to a listing by DC’s book distributor Penguin Random House, along with a placeholder cover of the original Issue #1 (Or Issue I, if you prefer):
Who’s Who Omnibus Vol. 1
The series fans demanded is collected at last! Who’s Who was a series that began in 1985 and ran through the 1990s, cataloguing every character, good or evil, in the DC Universe, from Abel to Zyklon and beyond, with copious detail on powers, origins, and other key facets of each character.
The series fans demanded is collected at last! Who’s Who was a series that began in 1985 and ran through the 1990s, cataloguing every character, good or evil, in the DC Universe, from Abel to Zyklon and beyond, with copious detail on powers, origins, and other key facets of each character.
Illustrated by a wide range of top artists from the Golden Age of comics up through the 1980s indie comics scene, Who’s Who was a feast for the eyes as well as being the ultimate guide to the denizens of the DC Universe.
Collects Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1-26 (1985), Who’s Who Update 1987 #1-5 (1987), Who’s Who Update 1988 #1-4 (1988), plus material from Action Comics Annual #2 (1987), Batman Annual #13, Blackhawk Annual #1 (1989), Detective Comics Annual #2 (1988), Dr. Fate Annual #1 (1989), Green Arrow Annual #2, Justice League Annual #3 (1987), Secret Origins Annual #3, Swamp Thing Annual #5, The Flash Annual #3 (1987 series), The New Titans Annual #5 (1995), The Question Annual #2 (1988), and Wonder Woman Annual #2 (1988).
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A few thoughts:
— I think that description covers it all, but if something’s missing, say so in the comments.
— The 1,328-page hardcover lists for $150. But you know as well as I do that it will be available at various places for substantially less. It’s scheduled for an April 2021 release.
— This is not the only cool reprint news: DC is planning a hardcover Facsimile Edition of the classic 1973 Amazing World of Superman — in full treasury size. Click here for the details.
— Since that placeholder cover by George Perez only covers the As, I would imagine we’ll get a new cover featuring DC’s broad array of heroes. Wouldn’t it be cool if DC got Perez to do it?
— I’m particularly interested in the printing quality of this one. Given how much material there is, I would expect the book to be presented with its original coloring. Original Who’s Who issues don’t always age well because the pale background illustrations sometimes bleed and/or become washed out. So here’s hoping this one will look as good as it could. For example, this is how a page looks digitally:
— Standard caveat: This has not been solicited by DC yet, so nothing is official until it’s official. Even then, things can change. Just keep coming to 13th Dimension for updates.
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MORE
— GEORGE PEREZ: Here’s What Made the WHO’S WHO Covers So Special. Click here.
— AMAZING WORLD OF SUPERMAN Treasury to Be Released as Hardcover FACSIMILE EDITION. Click here.
July 14, 2020
Great news. When I first started to collect I sought these out.
July 14, 2020
Meh … 27 year old encyclopedia of DC characters? In a 25 lbs multi-volume hardcover omnibus (it did say Vol. 1, right?). Was the art really THAT pretty?
July 14, 2020
Art was hit and miss, but when it was on it was on… Dave Stevens Catwoman and Dolphin, for example
July 14, 2020
Well, this is really interesting news. Steep price and legible printing concerns aside, it will be hard to resist.
July 14, 2020
They should include the inner back covers.
July 14, 2020
Seconded.
July 14, 2020
I wanted this so much!!! After I had the Bronze Age Doom Patrol and Joker I wrote yo DC asking for this… YES YES YES YES YES.
WHO will draw the cover??? Steve Lightle gets my vote
July 15, 2020
Jose Luis Garcia Lopez is the only logical choice.
July 14, 2020
Man, what a great thing! Who’s Who was during the sweetest age of DC Comics… Whereas the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe relied on a “sameness” of poses and art, with the consistency of a unifying inker, the DC version reveled in the differences of page layouts, art styles, and logotypes. I remember the disappointment of seeing the terrible printing of the original issues, published during the infamous “flexigraphic” period, where DC switched to plastic printing plates to cut costs. It was a real betrayal of the quality and variety of the art.
July 14, 2020
ALSO, now if only they would print a nice volume of Jose Luis Garcia Lopez’s DC Licensing art guide.
July 14, 2020
You’re not kidding!
July 14, 2020
I’m super excited for this, but it is missing a few ancillaries. For example, Who’s Who in the Legion and the loose leaf version from 1990. I can live with that, I suppose.
If they use the digital coloring, I hope they fix a few errors. For example, my favorite, Captain Marvel Jr seems to have magenta and blue swapped on the version on the DC Universe app.
July 14, 2020
So great to hear this is in the works! And a perfect companion for this upcoming volume is the Fire and Water Podcast Network’s Who’s Who podcast, which covered ALL of these comics, and is co-hosted by 13th Dimenson’s own Rob Kelly!
http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/whos-who-the-definitive-podcast-of-the-dc-universe/
…and Rob hosts Treasury Cast on the same network (of which I am also a part), so I know he’s happy to hear this!
Chris
July 14, 2020
I’ve been listening to the Who’s Who podcasts all summer and I just started issue #19 which features “guest commentary” about Robin (or Red Tornado) and their placement on the cover. Sound familiar, Chris? 😉
It’s been so great listening to these podcasts. I own all the issues (somewhere) but I would definitely buy a collection to have them conveniently on hand.
July 15, 2020
Oh yeah, that one rings a bell. I never did find any more of those “Behind the Mask” features…hmm…
July 14, 2020
Saw immediately that it was missing the Legion series–maybe volume 2? It would be nice to include all the loose leafs, and it would be really great (but probably impossible) to include the Impact Who’s Who.
Were there any other licensed characters in the original run that would create rights / permissions issues today in having those pages reprinted? Atari Force comes to mind–are there others?
July 14, 2020
Yep. DC is definitely sort of keeping the retro vibe going. 🙂
July 14, 2020
I’ve got the originals. I bought them digitally and I will definitely be getting the omnibus. So glad this is coming to pass.