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Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (1985–87), usually referred to simply asWho's Who, is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series whichDC Comics published to catalogue information about their characters.

Who's Who was the creation ofLen Wein,Marv Wolfman, andRobert Greenberger, and its first incarnation (Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe) debuted in the last month of 1984 (cover dated March 1985) and ran for 26 issues until 1987 (cover-dated April 1987). It was essentially anencyclopedia incomic book form, listing the characters, places, and technology in the DC Universe,^{[citation needed]} with aloose leaf format devised by editorMichael Eury.^[1] It began one month before the 12-issuelimited seriesCrisis on Infinite Earths began; therefore, the earlier issues discuss pre-Crisis versions of the characters, whereas issues released after the conclusion of the limited series discuss the post-Crisis versions. For example, while both theFlash andSupergirl died during theCrisis, the Flash's death is not mentioned as issue #8 predates his death, but Supergirl's death is recounted 14 months later in issue #22. Also, characters such asSuperman andWonder Woman were rebooted during the series' run, so their entries recounted their post-Crisis histories only, while their entireSilver Age histories (and all the unique elements of those characters during that time, such as Superman'sFortress of Solitude and Wonder Woman's powerless period) were ignored.^{[citation needed]}

Who's Who was DC's answer toThe Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, which was published a few years earlier. Each character had an individualized logo instead of a standard typeface; figures were shown in action poses rather than full-body portraits drawn by individual artists; character histories and power descriptions were more vague; and characters from all of DC's various lines and imprints were included (such as out-of-continuity series likeCamelot 3000 andWatchmen), not just those from itsshared universe (althoughWho's Who Update '88 did limit its entries to in-continuity series only).^{[citation needed]}

Various updated versions of theWho's Who have appeared over the years, includingWho's Who Update '87 (five issues, cover dated August to December 1987) andWho's Who Update '88 (four issues, cover dated August to November 1988). Both books featured new entries, revised entries for characters in previous volumes, and an Appendix which included minor updates and corrections for previous entries. In 1989, most of the DCAnnuals released that year includedWho's Who entries.^[a] Many of these were revised versions of entries in the regularWho's Who series, but there were several new entries (particularly forsupporting characters).^{[citation needed]}

DC Comics also published twoWho's Whospin-off series in the 1980s. The first wasWho's Who inStar Trek, a two-issue series (cover-dated March and April 1987) which profiled characters and locations from theStar Trek franchise. As the series was released prior to the premiere ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, no information from that series was included.^{[citation needed]}

The second spin-off wasWho's Who in theLegion of Super-Heroes, a seven-issue series (cover-dated April to November 1988) which expanded on the Legion information included in the regularWho's Who and featured profiles on the various supporting characters, organizations, locations and villains which have appeared in Legion stories over the years. Some of the information contained in this book was post-Crisis instead of pre-Crisis. For example, theSuperboy profile relates the post-Crisis origin of the character as a creation of theTime Trapper, and there is no profile for Supergirl, despite her many adventures with the Legion, since by this time she was written out of continuity.^{[citation needed]}

In 1990, DC started over with a newWho's Who series titledWho's Who in the DC Universe (16 loose-leaf issues with binders sold separately, cover-dated August 1990 to February 1992). This book was not as comprehensive as the previousWho's Who (for example, there was no entry for theAtom, even though his character was undergoing major changes in the comicSuicide Squad), and some of the entries took on a less serious tone. One instance is an entry forGuy Gardner, which is written from the character's perspective. Another instance is a blank entry forDeath, which has all the usual information headings crossed out and a blue marker scrawl stating simply "Someday you'll meet her. You can find out for yourself".^{[citation needed]}

This series was followed up byWho's Who in the DC Universe Update 1993 (two loose-leaf issues, cover-dated December 1992 and January 1993). DC also released aWho's Who series for theirImpact Comics line (three loose-leaf issues, cover-dated September 1991 to May 1992).^{[citation needed]}

During the period from the late 1990s through the end of the 2000s,Who's Who was replaced withSecret Files and Origins, a series ofone-shots devoted to particular characters or events in the DC Universe and which featureWho's Who-like profiles.DK Publishing released a number ofUltimate Guides as well as a book titledThe DC Comics Encyclopedia, which serve a similar purpose.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2009, DC announced a newWho's Who series to be published in 2010 as part of the company's 75th anniversary celebration.^[2] The series was later announced for 18 issues, 48 pages per issue, beginning in May 2010 with Robert Greenberger as sole writer andBob Harras as editor.^[3][4][5] The series launch was subsequently delayed,^[6][7] but in October DC vice-presidentDan DiDio stated that the series would be released after the 2011 DCU line-wide event,Flashpoint.^[8]Flashpoint andThe New 52 rebooted the DC Universe, making a new edition ofWho's Who unlikely in the short term because the histories of many characters were in a state of flux.

In 2022,The New Golden Age one-shot included 12 newWho's Who-style entries forAquaman,Betsy Ross andMolly Pitcher,Cherry Bomb,Harlequin's Son,John Henry Jr.,Ladybug,Legionnaire,Mister Miracle,Quiz Kid,Red Lantern,Salem the Witch Girl, andBoom.

In 2023, theDC Power: A Celebration one-shot included 10 newWho's Who-style entries:Amazing-Man,Aquaman (Jackson Hyde),Batman (Jace Fox),Batwing,Nubia,Green Lantern (Jo Mullein),Green Lantern (John Stewart),Kid Flash (Ace West),Thunder/Lightning, andVixen.

TheDC Power 2024 one-shot included five newWho's Who-style entries:Black Manta,Mister Terrific (Michael Holt),The Signal,The Spectre (Crispus Allen), andVal-Zod.

• Who's Who Omnibus
  • Volume 1 collectsWho's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe VolumesI-XXVI,Who's Who Update 1987 #1-5,Who's Who Update 1988 #1-4, and theWho's Who profiles fromAction Comics Annual #2,Batman Annual #13,Blackhawk Annual #1,Detective Comics Annual #2,Doctor Fate Annual #1,Green Arrow Annual #2,Justice League Annual #3,Secret Origins Annual #3,Swamp Thing Annual #5,The Flash Annual #3,The New Titans Annual #5,The Question Annual #2, andWonder Woman Annual #2; 1,320 pages, April 2021,978-1779505996.
  • Volume 2 collectsWho's Who in the DC Universe #1-16,Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-7,Who's Who Update 1993 #1-2; 1,216 pages, December 2022,978-1779515193.

• Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

• An unofficial version ofWho's Who
• Who's Who Article at DC Database Project
• Who's Who – The Definitive Podcast of the DC Universe

• 1985 comics debuts
• Comics by Len Wein
• Comics by Marv Wolfman
• Comics by Paul Levitz
• DC Comics titles
• Encyclopedias of fictional worlds
• Magazines about comics

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