From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up - This browser's delight brings together approximately 1000 superheroes, supervillains, sidekicks, demons, techno-sorcerers, malevolent entities, professional criminals, primordial beings, despotic conquerors, and similarly colorful characters from DC Comic's 70 years of history - systematically providing fact boxes, narrative introductions, and melodramatic period portraits for each one. The entries, more or less alphabetically ordered, range from the full spreads given to Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman, to quarter-columns for the likes of Ambush Bug, General Immortus, and such guest villains as Beelzebub and Morgaine Le Fey; each one includes physical descriptions, special abilities, origins, ultimate fate (if settled), and book and date of first appearance. Despite adding occasional topical spreads ("Amazing Weapons," for example, or "Romantic Moments"), the authors focus mainly on characters or teams rather than publishing history - which means that writers and artists are not identified, and the most significant event in the collective DC universe, "The Crisis on Infinite Earths," is relegated to two paragraphs on a "Great Battles" spread. Smaller collections, or those serving serious young historians of the comics, may be better off with Ron Goulart's Comic Book Encyclopedia (Morrow/Avon, 2004) or more narrowly focused reference works, but, like the Marvel Encyclopedia, which is currently up to volume six (Marvel, 2004), this compendium should provide hours of pleasure for both avid and casual collectors. - John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
This copiously illustrated encyclopedia chronicles more than 1,000 DC Comics characters from the 1930s to the present. Arranged alphabetically, each entry gives the first appearance, status (hero, villain, etc.), real name, occupation, height, weight, and eye and hair color of the superheroes or supervillains. Special abilities and superpowers are also listed along with ample cross-references to other comic characters or superleague affiliations, such as the L.E.G.I.O.N. cosmic peacekeeping force. The biographical entries make fascinating reading in alternative history. For example, the Crimson Avenger served in a league called the Seven Soldiers of Victory during World War II. Afterward, he was sent backward in time. He came forward in time and discovered that he was struck with a terminal disease. After his death, an unknown woman purchased two guns that had belonged to him. These guns transformed her into Crimson Avenger II, who became an agent of vengeance and execution. Of course, famous characters such as Wonder Woman or Batman are included. But lesser-known characters, such as Superman's college flame, Lori Lemaris (a mermaid), are also listed.The colorful design makes this book a pleasure to browse. Special two-page features, such as "Amazing Weapons" and "Romantic Moments," are interspersed with the biographies. Recommended for public libraries with active comic readership. Jack O'Gorman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
As a unique, one-volume encyclopedia of more than 1,000 characters created by DC Comics, this is the book that all comic book fans have been waiting for! Featuring some of DC's most creative artists and heroes and villains from the world famous to lesser known one-offs, this thrilling, one-of-a-kind guide has comic book history exploding off every page.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The DC Comics universe continues to expand. To date, DC artists and writers have created more than 1,000 characters. This unique, one-volume reference offers an encyclopedic who's who of DC superheroes, villains, and artists.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As a unique, one-volume encyclopedia of more than 1,000 characters created by DC Comics, this is the book that all comic book fans have been waiting for! Featuring some of DC's most creative artists and heroes and villains from the world famous to lesser known one-offs, this thrilling, one-of-a-kind guide has comic book history exploding off every page.

FROM THE CRITICS

Jabari Asim - The Washington Post

Within its 350-plus pages lie the answers to many of the more profound riddles surrounding some of the mightiest beings in the superhero universe … It's all here, with an abundance of full-color illustrations.

School Library Journal