DC Comics: A Celebration of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes

1 rating: 3.0

A book by Les Daniels

"'It's all here - Batman and Robin, Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, even Captain Marvel and Billy Batson, in this brightly illustrated history' The New York Times; 'Anyone with an interest in the art or history of comics should have this book' Print … see full wiki

Tags: Books

Author: Les Daniels

Publisher: Watson-Guptill

1 review about DC Comics: A Celebration of the World's...

Showing 1-1 of 1

Sort by:

History of comics, cartoons, movies and television versions

Apr 6, 2005

by CharlesAshbacher
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

The best description of the power of Superman as a cultural icon is the answer that former science fiction writer Isaac Asimov gave to the question: "How is it possible that Superman is capable of flying faster than light?" His answer was, "Einstein's theory of relativity is based on theory, while Superman's powers are based on fact." While Asimov's answer is of course presented with tongue in cheek, it does demonstrate the influence Superman has over our lives. He, along with Batman, have been the primary characters in the DC comics group of characters.
However, the DC comics group has featured many different characters over the years, and even the main characters have undergone dramatic changes. This book is a recapitulation of those characters as well as their origins and in some cases their demise and rebirth. Even Superman was once killed by a super villain, an event that made national headlines. Many people considered the death of a hero to be intolerable, yet the issue where Superman was killed sold more than any other issue that was not a premiere issue. Unusual and short-lived characters such as Deadman, the Creeper, and the team of the Hawk and the Dove are mentioned.
If you are serious about comics, then this is a book you must read. The television and movie incarnations of the comic heroes are also included. Until I read this book, I never realized how many different television series and pilots featuring DC super heroes have been created. Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, Batman, Flash, and Wonder Woman have all been the star of one or more television series. While some never progressed beyond the pilot stage, others are timeless. Even though the special effects are weak when compared to what can now be done, the strength of the characters still makes the Superman series starring George Reeves well worth watching

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized