What do you think?
Rate this book
The DC Book: A Vast and Vibrant Multiverse Simply Explained
Travel the myriad worlds of the DC Multiverse.
If you want to truly understand DC Comics, The DC Book is your one-stop guide to the DC Multiverse. It is a unique and insightful examination of this mind-boggling comics universe that takes readers on a compelling journey from the dawn of Super Heroes to the formation of the Dark Multiverse... and beyond.
Meticulously researched and expertly written, The DC Book is packed with stunning, painstakingly selected artwork, illuminating infographics, and incisive, specially curated essays that shed new light on the ever-evolving DC Multiverse. From the world's finest Super Heroes such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, to iconic villains like the Joker, Lex Luthor, and Darkseid, to mythic realms like Apokolips and Themyscira, to cosmic energies like The Source and The Speed Force, The DC Book explores the key concepts, characters, and events that have defined and shaped DC Comics over the past 80 years.
The book's content is divided into key subject areas--The Multiverse, Dark Multiverse, and Metaverse; Weird Science and Super Tech; Down to Earth; Mysteries from Space; Mystic Realms and Dream Worlds; and Time Warps and Other Earths--that form the foundations of DC Comics. The DC Book is an invaluable roadmap to DC Comics that no fan will want to miss!
If you want to truly understand DC Comics, The DC Book is your one-stop guide to the DC Multiverse. It is a unique and insightful examination of this mind-boggling comics universe that takes readers on a compelling journey from the dawn of Super Heroes to the formation of the Dark Multiverse... and beyond.
Meticulously researched and expertly written, The DC Book is packed with stunning, painstakingly selected artwork, illuminating infographics, and incisive, specially curated essays that shed new light on the ever-evolving DC Multiverse. From the world's finest Super Heroes such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, to iconic villains like the Joker, Lex Luthor, and Darkseid, to mythic realms like Apokolips and Themyscira, to cosmic energies like The Source and The Speed Force, The DC Book explores the key concepts, characters, and events that have defined and shaped DC Comics over the past 80 years.
The book's content is divided into key subject areas--The Multiverse, Dark Multiverse, and Metaverse; Weird Science and Super Tech; Down to Earth; Mysteries from Space; Mystic Realms and Dream Worlds; and Time Warps and Other Earths--that form the foundations of DC Comics. The DC Book is an invaluable roadmap to DC Comics that no fan will want to miss!
- GenresComics
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 2021
25 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 2, 2021
It is hard to believe just how much comics have changed in the past fifty or so years. A comic lover from the sixties, DC was my go to brand of comic, until Marvel caught my attention and most of my allowance.
DC though was noted for its varied characters, both heroes and villains, and if anyone wanted to catch up with past, and see what has happened in the interim, will definitely find everything necessary within THE DC BOOK. It is certainly a comprehensive journey through the past, to all the main players in the DC Comics universe.
It follows the long list of individuals both on the side of good and bad and explains them in more detail. The book does tap into the DC Multiverse and Omniverse, where life is played out and people live, die, and are often resurrected. Their complete names are given in detail, as many characters have several incarnations, like phoenixes rising from the ashes.
Even those who might be considered minor players (or were in my day) are noted, along with how they factored into the DC world. From the first characters such as Superman, Batman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and also the bad guys like Penguin, Joker, Riddler, and others, their stories are told in detail. It is nice to see how so many characters like Challengers of the Unknown, Doom Patrol, Metal Men, the Atom, Metamorpho, Hawkman, and others have fared and how they fit in with the vastly evolving worlds they interact with.
Comic lovers will definitely embrace the manner in which Stephen Wiacek has paid homage to the DC universe, and created both entertaining and memorable reading.
DC though was noted for its varied characters, both heroes and villains, and if anyone wanted to catch up with past, and see what has happened in the interim, will definitely find everything necessary within THE DC BOOK. It is certainly a comprehensive journey through the past, to all the main players in the DC Comics universe.
It follows the long list of individuals both on the side of good and bad and explains them in more detail. The book does tap into the DC Multiverse and Omniverse, where life is played out and people live, die, and are often resurrected. Their complete names are given in detail, as many characters have several incarnations, like phoenixes rising from the ashes.
Even those who might be considered minor players (or were in my day) are noted, along with how they factored into the DC world. From the first characters such as Superman, Batman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and also the bad guys like Penguin, Joker, Riddler, and others, their stories are told in detail. It is nice to see how so many characters like Challengers of the Unknown, Doom Patrol, Metal Men, the Atom, Metamorpho, Hawkman, and others have fared and how they fit in with the vastly evolving worlds they interact with.
Comic lovers will definitely embrace the manner in which Stephen Wiacek has paid homage to the DC universe, and created both entertaining and memorable reading.
January 18, 2022
I am a big DC guy - always have been - but this book seemed like it was just trying too hard to be taken seriously (look at us, we have a real internally coherent history). All the extra verbiage and fake tradition and mythos made me lapse into a Seinfeldian “yadda, yadda, yadda” frame of mind.
I suspect that someone at DC must have got wind of the far more informative and engaging “All the Marvels” and decided, as so often happens, that DC should copy the idea and publish a comprehensive guide to their story lines and characters also. But instead of offering an in-depth look at their own publishing history the authors opted instead for an overabundance of pretend gravitas, in the process they totally obscured all that is fun about the DC world.
Like all DK Books the artwork, layout and design of this book is wonderful. As a guide to the "vast and vibrant [DC] multiverse [so the subtitle proclaims]" though this is just okay. Best advice, if you do read this book just skip around to read about your favorite characters or events and call it done.
I suspect that someone at DC must have got wind of the far more informative and engaging “All the Marvels” and decided, as so often happens, that DC should copy the idea and publish a comprehensive guide to their story lines and characters also. But instead of offering an in-depth look at their own publishing history the authors opted instead for an overabundance of pretend gravitas, in the process they totally obscured all that is fun about the DC world.
Like all DK Books the artwork, layout and design of this book is wonderful. As a guide to the "vast and vibrant [DC] multiverse [so the subtitle proclaims]" though this is just okay. Best advice, if you do read this book just skip around to read about your favorite characters or events and call it done.
December 4, 2021
This books is extremely solid regarding laying out the details of DC's Cosmology and more "abstract" concepts and themes such as "Hypertime". It does a great job with explaining timelines, corners of the universe and possible futures but ultimately focuses on the main universe without exploring the...actual multiverse.
However, I found it a bit distasteful there's zero mention of creatives and instead solely the universe. It's perfect brand whitewashing. At the end, there's a mention of all the artists who contributed to the book, but no mention of the writers or editors involved throughout.
However, I found it a bit distasteful there's zero mention of creatives and instead solely the universe. It's perfect brand whitewashing. At the end, there's a mention of all the artists who contributed to the book, but no mention of the writers or editors involved throughout.
September 23, 2022
I normally enjoy books like this that look at comics, but this book was actually difficult to get through at times. Because DC has rebooted their universe so often and is now trying to bring all of those different iterations into the same continuity, it has made their universe extremely complex. The book is written like a philosophy major and a lawyer got together and drafted it...its very dense and confusing and really not very helpful. I think I came out of it knowing less about the DC Universe than I did going into it.
September 3, 2022
Beautifully illustrated semi picture book that attempts to deliver a coherent story of the DC universe. (Or universes). I love these things. They’re really folk stories renewed by the artist’s eternal quest for money. Walt Disney’s animators were the best paid in the film industry. They still weren’t paid very much. Why? You don’t have to pay grown men and women that much to sit around and draw. Love the intersection of art, commerce and exploitation.
July 31, 2024
While the detail skews more toward the high level overview of the subjects the choice of what to include in the book was broad. I liked that the focus wasn't just on the most popular characters in the DC library. Including some of the lesser known characters was refreshing. I just wish that maybe some references to the actual comic book would be there (first appearances, storyline issues, etc.).
December 10, 2021
A Waste of Time
Unlike a recent book I read on the Marvel universe, this book wastes your time trying to justify all of the multi-universes that are part of its mythos. It takes over 100 pages before the first super hero graces its pages.
Unlike a recent book I read on the Marvel universe, this book wastes your time trying to justify all of the multi-universes that are part of its mythos. It takes over 100 pages before the first super hero graces its pages.
December 15, 2021
Very Informative. wonderful artwork.
July 8, 2022
A great and very in depth book. I thought I knew a lot about the DC Universe and this book contained so much more information. Especially, in regards to recent events and storylines.
May 9, 2023
Great reference book for all DC die hards.
August 9, 2024
Imprescindible para entender el multiverso DC
June 24, 2023
This is a well designed, compact book about the main roster of DC characters, their universes, locations and timelines.
If you are (like me) liking DC comics, but always felt overwhelmed of catching up on the whole storylines & the who is who with twists and turns and want to get a quick overview of it all, this book is for you.
You can read it cover to cover or just pick up topics or characters you are interested in.
This is a quick roundup, if you want to really deep dive, there are some other chunky in depth encyclopedia.
But this one suits well for beginners who want to dip into it and explore the awesome DC universe.
I mean, did you know that clark kent was superman all along??? (⑉⊙ȏ⊙)
If you are (like me) liking DC comics, but always felt overwhelmed of catching up on the whole storylines & the who is who with twists and turns and want to get a quick overview of it all, this book is for you.
You can read it cover to cover or just pick up topics or characters you are interested in.
This is a quick roundup, if you want to really deep dive, there are some other chunky in depth encyclopedia.
But this one suits well for beginners who want to dip into it and explore the awesome DC universe.
I mean, did you know that clark kent was superman all along??? (⑉⊙ȏ⊙)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews