History of the DC Universe

History of the DC Universe #1-2

by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez (Illustrator)

A perfect companion to CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, this is a definitive history of the DC Universe based on the consequences of that epic tale.

Narrated by Harbinger, a central figure in the Crisis storyline, the reader is brought through the new history of the world and its heroes. Featuring virtually every character in the DC Universe, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and the Flash, this tale takes us from the dawn of creation to the end of recorded history and lays the foundation for adventures to come.

Featuring spectacular artwork by George Pérez, illustrator of FINAL LEGION OF THREE WORLDS, this trip through the DC Universe is not to be missed.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Fiction, Fantasy

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.

Reviews

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like its forebearer Crisis on Infinite Earths, I love it but objectively-speaking I can't recommend this volume to anyone but the most ardent DC fans... Nowadays, the History of the DC Universe--after being rewritten so many times--is thoroughly out of date and much of what the reader learns no longer "counts."

Still, what a perfect capture of the spirit of late 1980s DC comics. The whole universe is laid out in sincere, cheesy yet appropriate prose by Crisis author Wolfman. And then there's the art by Perez. Wow.

So read this history along with Crisis and any other comics from that era. But only if you are really into that specific window. For me, I will always remember......

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful visual comics I have ever read. The incredible pictures telling the history are amazing. Very recommended

[Alberto Martín de Hijas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como tebeo es un poco pche, pero cada una de las páginas de Perez es una maravilla.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has not aged well.

[Carlex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good enough, now starting New History Of The DC Universe.

[Tomás Sendarrubias García · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cualquier trabajo de George Pérez es un disfrute, vaya esto por delante, y por supuesto, esta Historia del Universo DC no iba a ser menos. Después de atreverse a reorganizar toda la cosmología del Multiverso de DC en Crisis en Tierras Infinitas, Marv Wolfman y George Pérez afrontaron una labor no menos apabullante, y esta fue establecer una línea temporal unificada para este nuevo universo único que tenía que integrar aquellos héroes procedentes de otros mundos: la Liga de la Justicia (con Superman), la Sociedad de la Justicia (sin Superman), Shazam, un mundo con un único Batman, un único Superman y una única Wonder Woman, los Luchadores por la Libertad del Tío Sam, al Green Lantern original con Cuerpo de Green Lanterns, etc.

Y no debió ser un trabajo fácil, ojo. Crisis en Tierras Infinitas dejó muchos huecos que poco a poco irían estallando en manos de los guionistas, como en el caso de los Halcones, o con Donna Troy, Wonder Girl, que de pronto había llegado a esta nueva continuidad antes que Wonder Woman. Pero esto saltaría con el tiempo, Wolfman y Pérez intentaron aquí en estos dos cómics en formato prestigio (reunidos por ECC ahora en un tomito) darle un sentido y una línea única para que los fans pudieran afrontar ese nuevo universo DC que iba a llegar.

En fin, un tomo muy disfrutable, al menos para los carcas como yo, que tengo en Crisis en Tierras Infinitas y el cambio de un Multiverso a un Universo.

[Rizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason to check this out is for the art, or if like me, you're simply interested in DC history or broader comics history. Perez was at the top of his game, and he really got to let loose with dozens of beautiful splashes.

But if you're looking for a compelling story here, don't bother. It's merely a summary of DC's various characters and their status circa the mid-80's. It is not even a comic, but rather illustrated prose, storybook-style. Wolfman was never the best writer, and it certainly shows here, but it's perfectly bearable for what it is. The real problem with this book is just how outdated it is. If you're wanting to read this as a primer on the DCU, expect to miss a LOT, because obviously it does not account for anything that happened after it was published. Unfortunately, "after it was published" happens to include just about the entire post-Crisis universe for which it supposed to be summarizing, not to mention nearly half of DC's entire publishing history.

Time has rendered this book rather irrelevant, and it wasn't exactly a masterpiece to begin with. So as I said, unless you're in it for the wonderful art or the historical curiosity, there's no need to bother here.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it's not very good is the thing. But the art is appropriately stunning and there is something sort of sweet about this attempt to render the DCU in the style of a child's mythology picture book. But as a history of the DCU (even one with the artificial limits of the Post Crisis universe) it doesn't really satisfy since it sacrifices so much depth for breadth. Plus it wastes a lot of space on Harbinger's repetitive musings on the nature of heroism, which is the particular bread and butter of DC and can be found in other works done a lot better. Obviously it's not particularly useful as a DC primer since continuity shifts is like DC's whole thing, which this book is literally the product of. This is a window into the very specific continuity of the second half of the 1980s and that's well pretty limited and extremely out of date now. And, of course, the work is pretty dated in other ways. Since it's written in the style of an alternative history based on intellectual property that is fully rooted in USAmerican culture of the 1930s through 80s it's view of actual world history is uuuuhhhhh limited to say the least!

All that said, I can't stress enough how gorgeous George Perez's art remains to this day. And if you have a taste for the cornball self-mythologizing that DC loves so much than there is certainly quite a bit of that kind of childish, but charming idealism here. It's not a bad idea really to try to present the DCU in this format and I'm honestly a little surprised DC hasn't gone to this well every decade or so (instead of just the once with "The Other History of the DC Universe" series).

Also, if, like me, you get a kick out of the messy history of the DCU as an intellectual property the fact that this book is SO TIED to its moment makes it an interesting artifact at least.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading the original, as an awe-inspired kid, just recovering from the cosmic event that was "Crisis on Infinite Earths". This graphic-novel version makes me re-live that time with a rush of nostalgia strong enough to knock me senseless. My only real complaint is the one I had even as a small proto-geek-in-training: it deserved even MORE detail, and MORE expansion on key events in the DC universe. But I will certainly cherish what we were bequeathed, and it's all worth it for George Perez's brilliant artwork. In my eyes, he's the Michaelangelo of comic books artists.

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come...


(B+) 79% | Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included issues can be found here:
- History of the DC Universe (1986) #1
- History of the DC Universe (1986) #2

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nunca dejará de sorprender lo monumental que supuso el evento Crisis en Tierras Infinitas. Tanto como gran decisión editorial de poder hacer un "borrón y cuenta nueva" en torno a sus ya incontables universos y personajes ficticios que entraban en colisión directa con diversas historias y homólogos de mismo personaje que suponían un gran obstáculo para mantener a lectores veteranos y captar nuevos. Al igual que en su ámbito más creativo, que originaba el ya lucrativo concepto de "eventos" y crossovers. Pero aunando ambos sentidos de esta historia en una narrativa totalmente funcional con esa entidad destructora de Universos cuya lucha derivaría en por fin el seguimiento de un Universo troncal que relataba desde orígenes o primeras historias. En consonancia con este desenlace de las Crisis en Tierras Infinitas, acabó llegando una miniserie de dos entregas que actuaría de "Biblia" ilustrada para lectores del Universo DCita. Nuevamente con el binomio Wolfman y Pérez a las teclas y lápices respectivamente. Historia del Universo DC acoge también una narrativa propia más allá de empacar una labor enciclopédica de anécdotas y sinfín de datos cuasi académicos.

Tras el sacrificio del Monitor, su más fiel allegada. La mujer conocida como Harbinger, se propone proseguir la labor de cronista de toda la existencia. Esto más importante que nunca cuando estamos en un Universo recién conformado que a pesar de que asimila tantas variantes de personajes e historias, sigue abarcando siglos de historia común. Por lo que desde los inicios del cosmos y la vida en el universo hasta alcanzar el relato de las Crisis en Tierras Infinitas y ese "actual" estado de la era heroica que todos conocen y aman con Superman y la Liga de la Justicia. La narración de Harbinger va tratando todos estos fragmentos de historia que se descubren mediante composiciones visuales de George Pérez que dan suma relevancia a los personajes más que a los propios eventos. Comento esto, porque hoy en día tenemos otra obra de labor enciclopédica de otro Universo comiquero como es Historia del Universo Marvel que sin duda resulta más fascinante en su labor de narrativa gráfica y en esas composiciones que deben contar más que el texto. Por supuesto, asumo las particularidades de la época de esta publicación. Pero sí que se acaba notando en Historia del Universo DC un hincapié tremebundo a la etapa de entreguerras reales terraqueas que dejan en muy mal lugar la posibilidad de tratar todos los confines del Universo DCita. Si bien por aquel entonces no había tanta gran trama que recalcar y de la 2º Guerra Mundial surgen los primeros grandes grupos de héroes (All-Star Squadron y la JSA). Merecía más la pena explorar de forma individual personajes conocidos de su actualidad (sangrante la nadería que supone la parte relativa a Swamp Thing). Porque sí que Historia del Universo DC, a pesar de la hiper pomposidad épica de la narración, casi se presenta como un "álbum de fichas".

Ha quedado como pieza igualmente indispensable al ser otra obra del equipo Wolfman y Pérez. Pero en un ámbito de coleccionismo casi de completísimo ciego.

[JD Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of the DC Universe is written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by George Perez, both of whom were creators of Crisis on Infinite Earths ("Crisis"). This book was originally intended to be issues 11 and 12 of Crisis, serving as its epilogue. After Crisis, Wolfman felt the need to explain what still remained a part of the new continuity and what had changed.

I usually buy the typical sequential comics. I rarely purchase reference or art books, but I just had to pick this up because I love history and I love DC Comics, so this is the perfect marriage between the two. While many things in this book have already been retconned, it's still a good read. However, I would not recommend this to people who do not enjoy reading prose. Even if you're not interested in the history of the DC universe, looking at George Perez's art is always a treat. This guy can draw any character. Also, that Alex Ross cover is great.

History of the DC Universe was originally released in two books in 1986. My copy contains both books. A hardcover reprint was released earlier this year, which collects History of the DC Universe 1-2.

Chronology: Even though History of the DC Universe is an epilogue of Crisis, I recommend reading it after Legends: The Collection because History of the DC Universe references the latter.

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you were to be a fan of DC comics at the time Crisis on Infinite Earths was in publication, confusion would be the first thing in your mind by issue #12.

This is a recording by Harbinger, who continues the Monitor's work by documenting the history of the universe from its inception to the present and even glimpses into the future.

At the time of Crisis on Infinite Earths, readers likely experienced a whirlwind of confusion by the time they reached issue #12. The event aimed to streamline the complex multiverse of DC Comics by consolidating it into a single, coherent universe. This meant significant changes, and your sentiment of uncertainty reflects the upheaval that many fans may have felt.

The new world became a single universe where the histories of various characters were merged and streamlined. The book acknowledges the shared history of the DC Universe, emphasizing the interconnectedness of characters and events.

This book stands as a significant snapshot of a particular moment in DC Comics history, capturing the ambitious attempt to redefine and streamline the complex narrative landscape illustrated with beautiful artwork, the downside is that it has become somewhat obsolete. The restoration of the multiverse and subsequent alterations to the timeline meant that the events chronicled have changed. Quite normal when talking about comic book writing.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: My intent in my goal of books is to include graphic novels or long-form comics as this is also part of my work. I've slipped recently and trying to catch up. Hope to add - at least - a comic a week.

This was quite an endeavor: A concise history that includes all of the DC comic book super heroes.
The result is a contrived silliness in writing. The artwork had to be a gargantuan effort. I'm not a fan of George Perez' artwork, but have to admire the work done in this.

Writer, Marv Wolfman, likely, did the best he could with what was thrown at him. Obviously there was a demand to include recent DC comic book characters featured in comics that were out at the time this volume was published. All of those comics failed despite the advertisement.

Decades later, this volume of "history" has been redone, reformed and undone many times. That has more to do with the lack of respect of the owners of DC trying to brown-nose the whatever current trend flies by to be "inclusive" in one way of the other.
Today, the task Wolfman had would be impossible to create.

Bottom line: i don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable, though not without its flaws. I understand it was meant to be written in the style of a history book, but at times it was a bit of a slog to get through. While the concept was interesting, it often felt more like a homework assignment, something designed primarily to fill in a needed timeline rather than tell a fully engaging story. That’s no easy task, and while the effort is clear, I’m not sure it fully hit the mark.
Given how much has happened in the main titles, a lot of major events seemed pushed aside in favor of cameos from lesser-known series. The art was fun, slightly dated, but for its time, it was on par with some of the best. However, the execution suffered from a lack of coordination between the writer and artist. In several places, exposition text was hard to read because it blended into the artwork behind it.
Overall, it’s a decent book, but it didn’t quite click with me.
Grade: C

[Anchorpete · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend reading the introduction to this book. It gives you an idea of what putting together a super ambitious project like this really took. Perez' work is outstanding, as always, and I really could not think of a better artist to illustrate the creation and expansion of the DC universe. I wonder how many modern comic book fans would appreciate such a well compiled book. Personally, I felt this was made just for me. DC really needs a book like this now, to clear up the details between the new 52 and Rebirth.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

CRISIS will always be one of the major stories of the DCU and this is a nice little postscript to that series.
While it's true that parts of this history is valid, it does offer a snapshot of the late 1980s for our heroes (and those lost or forgotten).
Wolfman can write prose and Perez was in Top Form.
If you are a fan of DC then pick this up and give it a read.... but it's really for those who really, really want some deep dives into the history of these characters... plus it's a fun game to try and figure out Who's Who.

[Kole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good art like Crisis on Infinite Earths, however this ends up more like a list of characters and backstories after we get the history of the first part. Lots of these heroes are silly and I'm not sure how remembered a lot of them are. I've read from other reviews that a lot of stuff here no longer counts so not sure if this exists as anything other than a curio. Only reccommended if you loved Crisis on Infinite Earths or if you like your comic book history, even if it's out of date!

2/5

[Parker J]

I'm not going to rate this one because I don't know how I would rate this. I read this after finishing Crisis on Infinite Earths because this is the "new" history of the DC universe told by Harbinger after it was retconned by that event. It is a really nice and comprehensive guide to the history and the changes in continuity. Plus it has some GORGEOUS art. I miss the art of these old DC comics.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Crisis on Infinite Earths before I read this comics. Wolfman perfectly provided a great event postscript (and a prelude to the next chapters of DC Comics). The narrative is so moving. George Pérez's art is brilliant! This is a good introduction to almost all DC Universe characters.

[Quill]

Not a zero star rating, just the type of book which probably can’t really be rated. Though it purports itself as a history of the DC universe, and it certainly fulfills that mandate, more than anything this is a George Perez art book. RIP to the legend. Truly classic comic art throughout.

[Hoch Hech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué linda e inconseguible esta edición. Me encantaría tenerla aunque esté incluida en otras versiones.

[purplusly · Rating 4 out of 5]

great heroes and terrible villains ... the stuff of legends. i love the dc universe so much, this was such an interesting read. can't wait to read other histories of dc as well :)

[Dan Prestwich · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some nice art, but this is not a story, it's barely a comic, it's just a tedious act of table setting and also probably an advertisement for future comics.

D+

[Kamal · Rating 2 out of 5]

By far the most ill-conceived stories of the Post-Crisis era. It's better to read DC's Who's Who to get a better idea of what was going on after 1986. Or even better, just ignore it since almost none of the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths actually took hold permanently. Marv Wolfman should have known that his was a doomed project right from the start. You can't write a history of a world whose history is continually and completely re-written.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have read some DC when I was really young but I thought I didn't remember any of them. Then around two thirds through this book a strange thing happened. They started talking about heroes that I recognized but had forgotten I knew. Hourman, Doctor Mid-Nite, Spectre, Doctor Fate. It was like a nostalgiagasm.

I did read DC as a teen because I thought they were cheesy and Marvel was modern and cool. When I was about 30 a friend mentioned how great JLA was. I tried it out and loved it. I couldn't believe that I could enjoy a comic with all these old fogey superheroes like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

I saw this at a library and thought it would be a great way to familiarize myself with the DC Universe. It's kind of strange. It starts "in the beginning" as in where life began. There was a lot of talk about Greek gods and I don't remember ever hearing about gods playing a role in DC comics.

I did really like the art in this and I'm hoping that it will help me understand other DC stuff I plan to read in the future like the Crisis on Infinite Earths a couple of the other classic story arcs.

The edition I read actually had a book 1 and book 2 and had a crappier cover but I believe the interior is the same. Pretty cool but I wish it would have went into more detail. As it was many heroes and villains were just mentioned by name and a picture.

[Sr. Lado Brillante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se siente extraño leer este libro cuando DC ha experimentado otro reboot hace poco tiempo. Casi todo lo explicado aquí ya no es valido, muchos de los personajes mencionados no han aparecido aún en el universo DC actual o no aparecerán.
En cuanto a la "historia", a pesar de tener poco texto es una lectura lenta. Quizás se deba a todo el detalle que Marv Wolfman tuvo que poner, a toda la historia que tuvo que comprimir. Pero lo hace bien, uno se queda queriendo saber más de muchos personajes. Lo cual es lamentable, porque como ya dije, quizás de muchos no volvamos a saber.
Lo que hay que reconocer aqui es el dibujo. La verdadera estrella de este libro se llama George Pérez.
Después de haber dibujado Crisis (del cual de hecho este libro es un epilogo), con paneles con cien personajes, es hermoso ver lo que puede hacer con tan pocos elementos.
Paneles completamente iconicos.
Después de haber dibujado el final de un universo, fue bueno ver a George dibujar el comienzo de otro.
Otro con el que gente como yo creció.

[Helmut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Geschichte vom Urknall bis 2050...

...ist in diesem dünnen Bändchen gesammelt. Nicht die "echte" Geschichte, sondern die des DC-Universums nach Crisis on Infinite Earths. Man merkt dem Buch an, dass es in Zusammenhang mit CoIE geschrieben wurde (es war eigentlich als zwei reguläre Einzelausgaben im Zuge von CoIE geplant) - die Zeichnungen von Perez sind makellos wie immer, die Schreibe von Wolfman kann da meist nicht mithalten. Im Grunde ist es eine relativ belanglose Aneinanderreihung von Pseudo-historischen Ereignissen. Die 3 Sterne gibt es hauptsächlich für Perez, und dafür, dass es als Companion zu CoIE einen ganz guten Abschluss bildet. Allerdings hätte ich mir von einem Titel der "History of the DC Universe" heißt, deutlich mehr erwartet - vielleicht bin ich durch die übermäßige Detailfülle ähnlicher Bücher auf Marvel-Seite vorgeschädigt. Nett, aber kein "Muss-Haben".

[Jason Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this companion to Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wolfman and Perez lay out the new continuity of the DC universe post COIE. It's interesting if you're into that kind of thing, but it's more of an illustrated fictional history essay than a conventional comic book, and very little of it is still valid. So, outside of niche DC history buffs, I can't really recommend it.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting primarily as a historic object. The art is great, though.

After Crisis on Infinite Earths merged the various earths of the DC multiverse into one combined DC universe, this two-part series was made to show how all of that fit together into one timeline. Unfortunately, DC hadn't really gotten stuff sorted out very well yet, so this includes several inexplicable things (such as Wonder Woman's sidekick Wonder Girl appearing and growing up before Wonder Woman ever appears) or inaccuracies in things that would slowly evolve over the next few years (some but not all of the changes to the founding members of the Justice League are included).