Super Graphic

A VISUAL GUIDE TO THE COMIC BOOK UNIVERSE

Tim Leong
Whats in This Book?
Area Bar
Venn Chart Chart
Diagram

Bubble
Timeline Chart

Data
Table Art

Scatter Gauge
Plot Chart

Types of
charts:
Radial Line
Chart Graph

Radar Map

Polar
Area Matrix
Chart

Pie
Chart Other Network
Diagram

What the charts are about:

SUPERHEROES NON-SUPERHEROES

002
 Reasons
for the
charts:

TO INFORM T O E N T E R TA I N

Charts Charts that are not as

that are funny as I think they are
funny (including this one)
FULL DISCLOSURE

My Bookshelf

Ad House Books Archaia Entertainment BOOM! Studios Drawn & Quarterly Dark Horse Comics DC Comics
Dynamite Entertainment Fantagraphics Books First Second Icon IDW Publishing Image Comics

Books I havent read. Books I borrowed years Books I feel guilty about Books I pretend
ago and totally plan on buying from Amazon.com. I dont own.
returning. You know, (Support your local retailer,
eventually. folks).

004
Marvel Comics MAX Oni Press Other Pantheon Books Scholastic SLG Publishing Tokyopop
Top Shelf Productions Vertical, Inc. Vertigo Viz Media Wildstorm

Books Ive read more Books I bought only Books Ive bought Incomplete series
than once. because I like the writer. multiple copies of I plan on compulsively
because I forgot that completing.
I owned them.
True Colors
Crimson Crimson Scarlet Red Red Pink Green
Cavalier Daffodil Scarab Ronin Hulk Pearl Torpedo

Crimson Scarlet Red Omega Pink Yellow Fiddlers

Dynamo Witch Nine Red Lady Claw Green

Scarlet Red Percy Yellow Hershel Green

Spider Tornado Redwing Pinkerton Kid Greene Turtle

Red Red Red Pinky Green Green

Skull Sonja Hood Pinkerton Yellowjacket Lama Hornet

Red Red Lonesome Booster Green Green Blue

Robin Ghost Pinky Gold Arrow Lantern Streak

Rose Yellow Jade Jade Blue Blue

Red Pinky Wasp Dragon Emperor Diamond Falcon

Yellow Abe Blue Rafaella Ultra

Rose Peri Brown Jade Devil Blue Violet

Agent Charlie Blue Cobalt Indigo Black

Orange Brown Sage Beetle Blue Eshun Bolt

Stephanie Yorick Blue Deep Odysseus Black Black

Brown Brown Bolt Blue Indigo Adam Panther
 Green Bomo Green Blue Blue Purple Black
Skull Greenbark Thumb Marvel Eagle Zombie Widow

Green Green Blue Norwegian Purple Black

Sorceress Ghoul Shield Blue Claw Canary Blackheart

Green Crazy Blue Purple Black Black Black

Goblin Rocket Bluebird Phantom Knight Cloak Goliath

Blue Purple Camilla Black Silver Silver

Blade Boy Blue Mask Black Talon Surfer Squire

Code Purple Black Black Silver Silver White

Blue Marauder Mamba Lightning Fox Sable Queen

Violet Black Black Silver Silver Ebony Aelfyre

Grey Jack Spectre Samurai Racer White Whitemane

Black
Tom Black Silver Jean White White
Cassidy Mantis Scorpion Silverclaw Grey Dragon Ghost

Black Silver White White

Cat Dagger Silver Graymalkin Whiteout Rabbit Noise

Silver Nate Perry White White

Silvermane Sentry Grey White Whiteface Wolf Tiger
 GOOD MEASURES

Superheroes and Primary Colors

Captain Doctor
Spider-Man Wolverine America Flash Strange

Superman Iron Man Thor Beast

Costume Color Ratio

008
Historically, superhero costumes have been designed in reds, yellows,
and blues. The decisions are about more than just what looks good;
spandex in primary colors is a visual cue to the characters heroic nature.

Wonder
Firestorm Woman Cyclops Blue Beetle
Doctor Captain Booster
Fate Big Barda Marvel Gold Ant Man
 COLOR ME BAD

Supervillains and Secondary Colors

Green
Goblin Brainiac Mysterio Joker Kraven
Mirror Doctor Poison
Master Cheetah Octopus Ivy
Costume Color Ratio

010
Like superheroes, supervillains developed a set of costume conventions early
on, too. Orange, green, and purple are a signal of a characters evil intentions.

Kang Lex Luthor Lizard Riddler

Living Mr. Super-
Laser Sabretooth Mxyzptlk Copperhead Skrull
 Metamorpho

Hawkman
Wonder
Woman

Steppenwolf

Colossus

Darkseid Deathstroke

Underwear
Blue on the Spider-Man

Outside
Beetle

Emma
Frost
Magneto
Orion

Superman
Aquaman Guardian

Spectre
Thor
Doctor
Captain Fate
Zatanna
Carrot
Sentry

Vision
Etrigan the
Demon
Steel

COMMON PEOPLE

A Venn
Nite
Mister Owl
Miracle Raven

Diagram of
Superhero
Doctor
Shredder Strange Spawn

Comic Tropes
You know that one superhero, right? The one that dons a cape
Underdog Die Fledermaus

and tights following their parents untimely death. Turns out

that the description matches more than just a few characters. Red Tornado
Heres what most have in common. Quasar

012
 Wasp
Nightwing

Black Widow

Amulets Speedy
Emily
Falcon
Green
Lantern

Tragically
Hulk
Dead Deadpool

Wolverine Parents
Martian Daredevil
Manhunter Iron Man
Captain
America
Batman

Storm
Robin Blade

Black
Captain Panther
Marvel

Supergirl

Scarlet
Witch

Cape
Batgirl

Omni-Man Doctor
Light
Big
Barda

Mysterio
How to Read a Comic Book
ENGLISH

2 3 4

6 7 8
The 22 pages that are standard in American comics are read pretty much like any other book you pick up: from left to
right and top to bottom. Japanese comics though, called manga, are bound on the other side and are read from right to left.
Manga is printed on smaller-sized paper than its American counterpart and has six times the number of pages.

J A PA N E S E

4 3 2

8 7 6
What Is Manga?
Manga is the Japanese word for comics. In Japan, its a massive industry, making up nearly a quarter of all printed material.
Typically, manga is first published in 850-page anthology magazines that serialize chapters from several different comics.
Successful stories are then collected individually and sold afterward as books known as tankobon. Manga created in the
United States is called OEL manga, or Original English-Language manga.

History
Though manga has ties to Japanese art and culture dating back to the 1800s, modern manga originated after WWII.

Around 1920, With Japans After Japans Sazae-san (1946), Another success
Japan started print- entry into WWII, defeat and the the story of a resil- was Osamu Tezukas
ing magazines with manga was lim- nuclear bombing ient housewife. The manga and eventual
illustrated stories ited to all-ages of Hiroshima and creator, Machiko TV show, Astro Boy
focusing on fun. In content, and in Nagasaki, the Hasegawa, was (1951), about a
the 1930s, however, some cases, country found one of the few super-powered robot
the tone shifted to propaganda solace in lighter women working in boy. Tezuka went on
military heroism and against the Allied fare including: the industry at the to become the ani-
soldiers preparing forces. time. mation equivalent of
for battle. Walt Disney in Japan.

Longest-running manga

Golgo 13 (1969 ongoing), 160 vol. Dokaben (1972 ongoing), 165 vol. Kochikame (1976 ongoing), 176 vol.

Bestselling manga in Japan vs. worldwide bestsellers

as of 2012

MANGA NON-MANGA

172 130 152 100 135 120 113 260 120 116
million million million million million million million million million million
units

The Chicken Dragon James Kochi- The Naruto One Slam Twilight
Baby- Soup for Ball Bond kame Chronicles (1999 Piece Dunk (2005
sitters the Soul (1984 (1953 (1976 of Narnia ongoing) (1997 (1990 2011)
Club (1997 1995) 1966) ongoing) (1949 ongoing) 1996)
(1986 ongoing) 1954)
ongoing)

016
Types of manga If this were a manga, the headline
would be over here. And in Japanese.

SHONEN SHOUJO SEINEN JOSEI KODOMO GEKIGA ECCHI YA O I YURI

Written for Written for Written for Written for Written for Mature, Soft-core Love Love
boys 18 girls 18 and men women children serious and sexy, stories be- stories
and under under manga but not tween men, between
porn written by women, for
and for women
women

Manga content
While superheroes dominate American comics, Japanese manga is much more diverse
and without a single genre overshadowing the market.

Japan America
action adventure business

comedy f a n ta s y food
D O M I N AT E D B Y S U P E R H E R O E S
horror mystery romance

science fiction sex sports

Big in Japan Physical attributes

Some characters tend to be drawn with exaggerated eyes,
a small nose, and a very expressive mouth.

Manga eyes

22% of all printed material

in Japan is manga Normal eyes
 1'
2'
3'
4'
5'
6'
7'
Kandorian
Lockheed
Howard the Duck
Puck
Ganthet
Franklin Richards
Wolfsbane
Wolverine
Billy Batson Captain Marvel
Cassandra Nova
Black Canary
Dagger
Jean Grey
Kitty Pride
SHAZAM!

Invisible Woman
Lois Lane
X-23
Black Widow
Catwoman
Scarlet Witch
Harley Quinn
From insect-sized to giant, this crowd is full of standouts in stature.

Iceman
Character Lineup

Cheetah
Rene Montoya
Kamandi
Supergirl
Bouncing Boy
Hawkgirl
Nightcrawler
Doctor Octopus
Vandal Savage
Perry White
Peter Parker
Emma Frost
Nightwing
Ambush Bug
Jonah Hex
J. Jonah Jameson
Wonder Woman
Green Arrow
Storm
Bullseye
 Wally West
Doctor Fate
Thing
Daredevil
Two-Face
Riddler
Bizarro
Nick Fury
Hawkman
Aquaman
Elongated Man
Black Manta
Tomar-Re
Azrael
Blade
Doctor Strange
Batman
Lex Luthor
Joker
Superman
Cyclops
Silver Surfer
Deathstroke
Captain Atom
Booster Gold
Thor
Bishop
Luke Cage
Kingpin
Beta Ray Bill
Martian Manhunter
Cable
Bane
Mojo
Juggernaut
Omega Red
Big Barda
Strong Guy
Killer Croc
Doomsday
Red Hulk
Galactus

1'
2'
3'
4'
5'
6'
7'
Character Weigh-In

Juggernaut Deathlok M.O.D.O.K.

1,900 825 750

Cyclops Black Manta Batman Captain Silver Lobo

195 205 210 America Surfer 250
220 225

Sentry Joker Black Lightning Big Barda Spider-Man Alfred

194 192 182 175 167 Pennyworth
160

020
Sometimes weight means power. You wouldnt think so by looking at him, but Kingpin is
all muscle mass. The same cant be said for Chunk, who is aptly named. Heres
how superheroes and villains in Marvel and DC titles compare on the scales, in pounds.

She-Hulk Darkseid Chunk Kingpin

650 515 515 450

Namor Wolverine Bane Beast Luke Cage

278 300 350 402 425

Rene Catwoman Barbara Black Aunt May Longshot Bat-Mite Doll

Montoya 133 Gordon Canary 110 80 47 Man
144 121 120 7.5
Map Quest
Locating the fictional worlds most important super cities and countries.

Character lives/is from here Location referenced in characters series

Keystone City
(Wally West/
Flash)
Vancouver
(Alpha Flight)
Duckburg
(Scrooge
McDuck)
Atlantis
Star City (Aquaman)
(Green Arrow)
Midway City
Platinum Flats (Doom Patrol)
(Birds of Prey)
Secret
Coast City Sanctuary
(Hal Jordan/ (Justice League)
Green
Lantern) Fabletown
(Fables)
Gateway City
(Wonder Girl II) Gotham City
(Batman)
Gamma Base
(Hulk) Metropolis
(Superman)
Smallville
(Clark Kent) Hub City
(The Question)
Asgard
(Thor) Themyscira
(Wonder Woman)
Central City
(Barry Allen/ Santa Prisca
Flash) (Bane)
Houma
(Swamp Thing)
Temple of
the Sun
(Tintin)
Lair of the
Faceless
Ones
(Sub-Mariner)
Savage Land
(Ka-Zar)
City of Toads
(Sub-Mariner)

Antarctica
The Arctic

Fortress of
Solitude
(Superman)
Territory of
Polar Parasites
(Kamandi)
Monster Island
(Mole Man)
Neo-Tokyo
(Akira)
Nanda Parbat
(Deadman)
Providence
Slorenia (Cable)
(Bloodwraith)
Gaipajama
Rumekistan (Tintin)
(Cable)
Kanga Rat
Latveria Murder Society
(Dr. Doom) (Kamandi)
Genosha
(Magneto)
Wakanda
(Black
Panther)
Transia
(New Men)
Olympia
(The Eternals)
Gorilla City
(Gorilla Grodd)
Symkaria
(Silver Sable)
Markovia
(Terra/
Teen Titans)
Braddock
Lighthouse
(Excalibur)
Muir Island
(X-Men)
WELCOME TO THE MULTIVERSE

Wait, Theres EARTH

More Than One

44
EARTH
12

Earth?
Theres no easy way to say this . . . this Earth is not
EARTH
6
EARTH
22

the only Earth. Still with me? Okay. So, the DC

Comics world youre most familiar withthe one
where Superman grows up in Smallville and Bruce
Wayne decides to avenge his parents by becoming
Batman(a.k.a. New Earth) is actually a part of a
larger multiverse where there are an endless number EARTH
of possible Earths. But that changed in 1985 when 33
DC used its fiftieth anniversary to launch one of the
most famous stories of all time, Crisis on Infinite
Earths. During the 12-issue series, most of the
alternate Earths are destroyed. The few that remain
are pulled together to form one single Earth,
destroying the multiverse in the process. This Hal Jordan doesnt EARTH
single-Earth setup lasts twenty years until the sequel, become Green 1
Infinite Crisis, relaunches the multiverse. This time Lantern, Bruce

New
around the possibilities arent endless, as the Wayne does.
multiverse hosts a finite number (52 at the moment) of
possible Earths.

Earth
EARTH
32
Similar to
New Earth

EARTH
34
Different from New Earth

Every day is opposite EARTH

day. Here, Abraham 2
Lincoln assassinates
President John
EARTH Wilkes Booth, and
3 Ultraman (Superman),
Owlman (Batman),
and Johnny Quick EARTH EARTH
(Flash) are members 15 16
of the Crime Society
of America. The EARTH
Jokester (Joker) is the Home of 37
hero, naturally. the Cartoon
Network show
Young Justice.
EARTH
EARTH 19
8
EARTH
11
Genders are flipped on
Earth 11. Here youll find
Superwoman, Batwoman,
and Wonder Man.
 EARTH
13
Home to some
EARTH of the events
20 depicted in the
EARTH
Vertigo Comics. 26

Earth is occupied
by anthropomor-
This Earth phic animals. Their
is still in the EARTH hero is Captain
4 Carrot, the leader
Wild West.
EARTH of the Zoo Crew.
39 Pig-Iron, Yankee
Poodle, and Alley-
EARTH Kat-Abra are also
18 members.
EARTH
43

Here, Batman
is a vampire.
EARTH
9

EARTH
40 Nearly identical to our
Earth until the altered
outcome of the Cuban
Missile Crisis (Florida
All the EARTH and Cuba were annihi-
5 lated). This leads to a
main story strange set of superhe-
lines roes, including Harvey
happen Dent as Superman.
here. EARTH
31

EARTH
Host to one 48
EARTH of DCs most
21 famous story
lines, Batman: EARTH EARTH
The Dark Knight 50 51
Returns.

EARTH
10

EARTH
30
Here, the Axis
EARTH powers won WWII.
38 Superman is called
EARTH Home of the Superman: Red Overman, and he
23 Son storyline. Here, Supermans dons a Nazified
spaceship crashes in the Soviet costume. Oh, and
Union instead of in Smallville, English is a dead
Kansas. Superman grows up to EARTH language.
become the champion of the 7
common worker who fights a
never-ending battle for Stalin,
socialism, and the international
expansion of the Warsaw Pact.
A History of Heroic Proportions
1930 1940 1950 1960

GOLDEN AGE S I LV E R A G E

All-American
Publications

1929 Dell publishes The Archie Comic

Funnies, a precursor to Publications
the comic book akin to a
Sunday comics section
insert. Five years later, Dell 1946 Detective Comics Charlton Comics
collaborates with Eastern buys All-American,
Color Printing to publish whose roster includes 1953 Charlton
what is recognized as the The Atom, Green Comics buys
first comic book, Famous Lantern, Hawkman, several horror
Funnies: A Carnival of Mr. Terrific, and titles from Fawcett
Comics. Wonder Woman. Comics.

Dell Comics

Detective Comics, Inc

1961
1937 Detective DC Comics
Comics, Inc launches acquires
Detective Comics. Mad
Batman makes his first EC Comics magazine.
appearance two years
later in issue 27.

Fawcett Comics

Harvey Comics

1935 National Allied Publications releases

New Fun, the first recognized comic book of
original materialthe previous Dell series had
been collected comic strip reprints. National
launches Action Comics in 1938, marking the
first appearance of Superman.
1956 DC Comics
acquires the rights to
National several big names from
Allied Pub. Quality Comics,
including Plastic Man
and the Freedom
Quality Comics Fighters.

Timely Comics 1961, renamed Marvel Comics

1962 Western stops publishing their comics through

Dell Comics and launch their Gold Key Comics imprint.

Western Publishing

1930 1940 1950 1960

 The story behind the companies that publish your favorite comics is one of intense competition, censorship,
and idea theft. Artists defected, characters were traded, and new companies were born.

1980 1990 2000 2010

BRONZE AGE MODERN AGE

1983 DC Comics buys various CrossGen

Charlton Comics superheroes, Comics, Inc
including the Blue Beetle,
Captain Atom, The Question,
and Nightshade. Three years Dark Horse Comics
later DC publishes Watchmen,
whose cast is based on these 1991 Years after suing Fawcett for copyright infringement (Captain Marvel being
characters. strikingly similar to Superman), DC buys the rights to Captain Marvel.

1977, officially changes name to DC Comics

Drawn & Quarterly

Fantagraphics Books

1992 Seven of Marvels top

artists quit to form Image
Comics, which allows creators
to own the rights to their work.

Image Comics

Kitchen Sink Press

1970 Kitchen Sink is

founded, and becomes Malibu Comics
a leading publisher of
underground comix,
featuring content Mirage Studios
specifically banned by
the Comics Code
Authority.

2009 Four years after

Valiant Comics buying the comics
publisher CrossGen, Walt
Disney Company acquires
Marvel Comics.

1980 1990 2000 2010

Power Publishers

C O M PA N Y, M A R K E T S H A R E : Dark Horse Comics, 3.35% T H E R E S T, H AV I N G

Marvel Comics, 40.93% Dynamite Entertainment, 2.85% LESS THAN 1% EACH:
DC Comics, 36.77% Publishers not in the top 25, 1.79% Archie Comics, 0.74%
Image Comics, 4.71% BOOM! Studios, 1.43% Zenescope Entertainment, 0.64%
IDW Publishing, 3.78% Avatar Press, 0.54%

028
Although there are dozens of independent presses and thousands of indie artists stapling together passion
projects, most of what sold in comic stores in 2011 came from just a few influential paper-pushers.

Viz Media, 0.47% Oni Press, 0.15% Archaia, 0.09%

Aspen MLT, 0.35% Hachette Book Group USA, 0.12% Tokyopop, 0.09%
Bongo Comics, 0.34% Fantagraphics Books, 0.11% Top Shelf Productions, 0.08%
Eaglemoss Publications Ltd., 0.23% Titan, 0.10% Drawn & Quarterly, 0.05%
Random House, 0.17% Abstract Studios, 0.10% Humanoids, 0.02%
TAKE SHAPE

Evolution of Supermans Logo

1938 1939 1939 1941 1946 1948

Akin to a police The original design The first two are When Max Fleis- By the time The first live-
badge, the first doesnt last, how- blended. The cher creates his Wayne Boring action Superman
emblem to grace ever, and by the bottom becomes art deco Super- becomes the hits screens as a
Supermans chest time Superman #1 more rounded man cartoons, the comics regular 15-part serial
is on the cover debuts that next and the shape shield becomes artist, the top starring Kirk Alyn.
of Action Comics year it has already expands. much wider and becomes flatter The logo shrinks.
#1, his first become more gets notched and the bottom
appearance. triangular. corners. wider.

1940 1950 1960 1970

030
The Man of Steel was a pioneer in more ways than you probably realize. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman
is one of the first (and most successful) superheroes ever. He was also one of the first to wear a logo on his chest, which later
became standard superhero fare. What was not standard, though, was what exactly appeared there. The Superman logo
shape, like the stories themselves, morphed over time.

1951 1958 1978 1986 2006 2011

George Reeves Curt Swans take In the movie Artist John The movie DCs character
takes over as on the logoa Superman, Byrnes bigger, Superman relaunch features
Superman in the more angular Christopher Reeve diamond-shaped Returns features a larger Superman
B-movie Super- designwas wears an emblem emblem becomes a smaller shield logo with sharper
man and the Mole incredibly popular, with pointier the model for all and shrinking angles.
Men, and later in and lasted in the corners. future versions. popularity.
the first TV series. comic throughout
The logo gets the 60s.
bigger.

1980 1990 2000 2010

SHELL POWER
The Pizzas of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Tuna fish, Peanut butter, Peanut butter, Marshmallow,

peanut butter, clams avocado, pepperoni
grape jelly extra pickles

Chocolate sprinkles, Chocolate-chip Granola, Chocolate fudge,

clam sauce licorice sardine,
chili pepper,
whipped cream

Salami, Strawberry, Shredded coconut, Hot oatmeal

double yogurt anchovy sauce sweet pickles

032
In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons that aired for ten years in the 80s and 90s, the Turtles were passion-
ate about three things: defeating the Foot Clan, saying Cowabunga!, and eating strange, strange pizza.

Marshmallow, Pepperoni, Butterscotch, Tea, toast

asparagus hot fudge onions,
anchovies

Anchovies, Guacamole, Pepperoni, Jelly bean,

hot fudge marshmallow pickles sausage

Pizzas ordered
in the first 10
issues of the original
comic series:

Popcorn Anchovies, Goulash None

bananas
The Batman Theme Quantified
Only two words make up the popular 60s theme song.

Batman! Da

034
 The Jokers Favorite
Questions for Batman

Where does he get

Why so serious? those wonderful toys?

035
$50
Forbes
THE Fictional
COLORS OF MONEY15

Following Fictional Fortunes

Every year (except 2009) Forbes ranks the net worth of fictional characters. Criteria for inclusion
mandate that characters be authored fictional creations, star in a body of work, and are known for being
rich. Net worth is based on real-world economies pitted against each characters source material.

$40

$30
in billions

Sharp decline due to poor

investments in Web 2.0
start-ups.
$20

$10

$0
2005 2006 2007 2008

Scrooge
Richie Rich Lex Luthor McDuck Bruce Wayne
comic: Richie Rich comic: Superman comic: Uncle $crooge comic: Batman
s o u r c e : Inheritance, s o u r c e : Defense, s o u r c e : Mining, source: Inheritance,
conglomerates software, real estate treasure hunting defense

036
 $50
Highest
grossing
companies
In 2007, Forbes also rated the net
worth of fictional corporations.

Rich Industries
Richie Rich
$40 $163.4 billion
Scrooge McDuck and
his archrival, Flintheart
Glomgold, bet their entire
fortunes on a race around
the world. Glomgold wins,
but Scrooge swears he
cheated. Lesson: never
bet against someone
named Flintheart (who
names their kid that?).
$30

Richie Rich gifts

Occupy Richville
protestors with
cashmere-lined
sleeping bags.
$20

Warbucks
Industries
Little Orphan Annie
$61.5 billion
$10

Wayne
Enterprises
Batman
$31.3 billion
$0 Stark
Industries
2010 2011 2012 Iron Man
$20.3 billion

Oscorp
Spider-Man
Flintheart $3.1 billion
Tony Stark Adrian Veidt Glomgold
comic: Iron Man comic: Watchmen comic: Uncle $crooge
source: Defense source: Marketing source: Mining, theft
Team Colors
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Leonardo Raphael Donatello Michelangelo

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

Zack Taylor Kimberly Ann Hart Jason Lee Scott Tommy Oliver Trini Kwan Billy Cranston

Lantern Power Rings

Rage Avarice Fear Willpower Hope Compassion Love

Voltron

Keith Lance Pidge Hunk Sven/Princess Allura

038
The Metal Men

Copper Gold Lead Iron Platinum Mercury Tin

The Beagle Boys

Baggy Babyface Bankjob Bigtime Bouncer Bugle Burger

The Fantastic Four

Mister Fantastic Invisible Woman The Thing Human Torch

The Avengers

Black Widow Captain America Hawkeye Hulk Iron Man Thor

Richie Rich vs. Royal Roy
Harvey Comics first published Richie Rich, a comic about an extremely wealthy and kind boy, in 1953. Marvel Comics
decided to enter the rich-and-nice-boy market in 1985. As you can see, Royal Roy was a totally original take on the theme.

Richie Rich: The Poor Little Rich Boy

Royal Roy: A Prince of a Boy

Has a A snooty Publisher

commoner girl with an was
Young Alliterative girlfriend alliterative Co- sued for
boy with name with an name vies created copyright Lasted
extreme starting Moneyed Wears a alliterative for his by Warren infringe- more than
wealth with R hometown bowtie name affection Kremer ment six issues

(Gloria (Mayda
($$$) (Richie Rich) (Richville) (Red) (1953) (600+)
Glad) Munny)

(Crystal (Lorna
($$$) (Royal Roy) (Cashelot) (White) (1985) (1985)
Cleer) Loot)

040
 The Definitive
R. Crumb
Butt Matrix
R. Crumb was responsible for sparking the underground comix
(with an x) revolution of the 60s and 70s that brought satirical and
adult-themed titles into the mainstream. He was one of the most
important figures in comic history. Also: he really liked big butts.

Big

Sally
Blubberbutt
Vulture
Demoness

Yetti Forky
ODonnell
Devil
Girl
Patricia
Pig
Dale
Steinberger Pete the
Ruth Pumber
Schwartz
Ruff Tuff
Angelfood Creampuff
McSpade Whiteman
Tight Cheesis
Jiggly
Shuman the K. Reist
Human Eggs
Ackley
Dirty Dog

Mr. Natural

Fritz the Cat

Onion Head
Squirrely the
Squirrel

The Old
Pooperoo

Small
SECOND CITY

The Real
Metropolis
T H E I L L I N O I S H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S
DECLARED METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS, THE OFFICIAL
HOMETOWN OF SUPERMAN ON JUNE 9, 1972.
The Amazing World of Superman, a theme park
planned in Metropolis, Illinois, should have opened
in 1973. A simulated rocket ride to Krypton, an
interplanetary zoo, and a Bizarro playground were
to be attractions. A 200-foot Superman statue and
a giant key to the Fortress of Solitude were
supposed to stand beside boating and skating
rinks, a movie theatre, and a supermarket on the
grounds. But the oil crisis, compounded by an
interstate construction delay, effectively shuttered
the park to be. The town had already made a
significant investment when the project collapsed,
and it took years to recover. A Superman museum
did open in 1973, but it only lasted a year. In 1993,
across the street from the citys (substantially
smaller than planned) 15-foot Superman statue, the
town gave the Man of Steel museum idea another
shot. Today the Super Museum is home to more
than 20,000 Superman-related items, including
kryptonite from the Christopher Reeve films and the
device that allowed actor George Reeves to fly in
the 1950s television show. The museum currently
attracts around 200 visitors a day.

Population Geographical size in square miles

Factual Fictional 6,537 6,942,857 5.87 125

042
 In the TV show
Smallville,
Metropolis
was located in
Kansas, just
a few hours
away from the
Metropolis
real thing. FA C T U A L

Metropolis
FICTIONAL
The exact location of Metropolis has
varied over the years in the comics,
but has always doubled as the unof-
ficial DC Comics version of New York.

Fast facts: Metropolis, IL

GENDER BREAKDOWN RACE BREAKDOWN AGE BREAKDOWN

Female Male White Black Other <18 1865 >65

 150

NUFF SAID

Stan Lee
Has Issues
Stan Lee was Marvel Comics top editor for nearly 30 years (ending in 1972). During that
time he co-created some of the most iconic characters of all time, including Spider-Man, the
125

Fantastic Four, and the Hulk. But, as it turns out, his longest-running author credits occurred
on comics youve probably never heard of. (He had quite a fling with Millie the Model!) Heres
a look at the man and (most of) his issues.

044
 0 issues

Millie the Model 1945

Patsy Walker 1945
Kid Colt Outlaw 1949
Love Romances 1949
Journey Into Mystery 1952
Two-Gun Kid 1953 25
Homer, The Happy Ghost 1955
Wyatt Earp 1955
Tales of Suspense 1959
Tales to Astonish 1959
The Rawhide Kid 1960
Amazing Adult Fantasy 1961
Fantastic Four 1961
The Incredible Hulk 1962
The Amazing Spider-Man 1963
The Avengers 1963
Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos 1963
X-Men 1963
Daredevil 1964
Thor 1966
The Silver Surfer 1968
Captain America 1970
Where Monsters Dwell 1970
Strange Tales 1973
Ravage 2099 1992

50

Thor graced the

cover of Journey
Into Mystery for
43 issues before
75 he got his own
series in 1966.

Tales of Suspense actually starred

Iron Man for 61 issues and Captain
America for 42 (they shared the
100
cover most of the time).
A Fantastic Four Primer

The is best friends with Mister

Thing Fantastic

doesnt
have is
much in married
common to
with

Human Invisible
Torch is a sibling of Woman

Official Marvel Rankings

DURABILITY ENERGY PROJECTION FIGHTING SKILLS

Mister Invisible Human The Mister Invisible Human The Mister Invisible Human The
Fantastic Woman Torch Thing Fantastic Woman Torch Thing Fantastic Woman Torch Thing

046
 WEIGHT
300
250 350

Mister Fantastic 200 400

Human Torch
Franklin 150 450
Richards Invisible The
Woman Thing
100 500

50 lbs. 550

HEIGHT
are parents of
6'2"
Mister Fantastic
The Thing
6'0"

Human Torch
5'10"

Valeria
5'8"
Richards
Invisible Woman
5'6"

5'4"

INTELLIGENCE STRENGTH SPEED

Mister Invisible Human The Mister Invisible Human The Mister Invisible Human The
Fantastic Woman Torch Thing Fantastic Woman Torch Thing Fantastic Woman Torch Thing
 Super-Rollercoasters
Because Six Flags and DC Comics were once owned by the same company (with licensing agreements afterwards), it kicked off a number

Superman: Escape
225 ft.

Mr. Freeze from Krypton

70 mph 100 mph

Superman:
Krypton Coaster
Two-Face: 70 mph
The Flip Side
50 mph

Bizarro
61 mph

Green Lantern:
First Flight Superman:
Ultimate Flight The Incredible
35 mph Hulk
51 mph
67 mph
(Universal Studios)

Batman:
The Ride
50 mph
Batman:
The Dark Knight
Joker's 55 mph
Jinx
60 mph

Catwoman's Whip Batman:

(formerly Poison Ivy's The Escape
Tangled Train) 55 mph
22.4 mph
Height

Length

048
of superhero- and supervillain-themed rides around the country. Heres how their power measures up.

D U R AT I O N :

01 MINUTE

12 MINUTES
Superman:
Ride of Steel 2+ MINUTES
73 mph

Riddler's
Revenge
65 mph

5,500 ft.
 The Politics of Good vs. Evil
When your business is either saving the world or destroying it, its only natural that characters
would ideologically identify themselves.

A U T H O R I TA R I A N

Apocalypse Darkseid

Dr. Doom Lex Sinestro

Luthor
Magneto Iron
Man

Jenny Wonder Batman Hawkman

Sparks Flash Woman
(Wally West)

Cyclops

C O N S E R V AT I V E
Spider-Man
LIBERAL

Superman Thor

Daredevil

Professor Wolverine
Xavier
Catwoman Captain
America

Captain
Cold
Green Arrow

Spawn

Joker Hulk

L I B E R TA R I A N

050
 PISSED OFF
A Calvin and
Hobbes Trajectory

Urine trajectory on Calvin peeing decals My faith in humanity every time I see one of those decals

051
Fast-Ball Special
THE MARVEL COMICS EDITORIAL BASEBALL TEAM
For years, Marvel Comics has had a company softball team. Heres how Marvels Bullpen Bombers fared against
the Warren Warriors on August 3, 1982.

CF
Ken Fedunewicz
Special Projects Production

LF / MANAGER RF
Robbie Carosella Archie Goodwin
Photostat Operator Editorial Director of Epic

SS 2B
Harry Eisenstein Lance Tooks
Mail Clerk Assistant Editor

3B 1B
Nelson Yomtov P Jim Shooter
Merchandising John Morelli Editor-in-Chief
Development Letterer Correctionist

C
Ken Lopez
Production Assistant

B AT T I N G O R D E R

4 for 6 5 for 6 0 for 5 2 for 5 2 for 5 4 for 5 4 for 5 4 for 5 2 for 5

Goodwin Carosella Eisenstein Shooter Fedunewicz Yomtov Morelli Tooks Lopez

FINAL SCORE
Bullpen Bombers 20
Warren Warriors 1
CHARLIE BROWNS BASEBALL TEAM
Save for Snoopy, Charlie Browns team was notoriously terrible. Good grief.

CF
Frieda

LF RF
Patty Lucy van Pelt

SS 2B
Snoopy Linus Van Pelt

3B 1B
Pig-Pen P / MANAGER Shermy
Charlie Brown

Brown won both of these

C games with walk-off home
Schroeder runs against rival pitcher
Royanne Hobbs.

T O TA L G A M E S W O N B Y P E A N U T S T E A M Games won when Charlie Brown was not playing

1 9 5 9 S E A S O N R E S U LT S Peanuts Opponents

Hits
Runs
Errors
WARDROBE UPGRADE

Changes in Costume Color

Original color
New color

C AT W O M A N

M R . F R E E Z E Originally called
Mr. Zero. He changed costumes
when he changed names.

BLUE BEETLE D O N AT E L L O In fact, all the Teenage Mutant

Ninja Turtles started off with red masksthey were
only identifiable by their weapons. Raphael was the
only one who kept the red mask.

054
Costumes are important elements in comics. They help identify not only who the character is, but what theyre about as well.
Thats why costume redesigns are so significant. Everyones style changes a bit over timeespecially when characters have
been around for 70 years; the makeovers below mark some of the most drastic and longest-lasting in comics.

ANGEL I R O N M A N His original suit

was true to his name.

IRON FIST STORM

DAREDEVIL H U L K The character known for

being green actually started out as gray.

S P I D E R - M A N In the late 80s Spidey got a black costume that was actually an alien parasite.
When he eventually ditched it, the costume merged with a new host, creating the villain Venom.

H AV O K
Cerebus: Judging a Comic By Its Covers
Over the course of 27 years starting in 1977, the writer and artist Dave Sim (with additional art by Gerhard) produced 300
issuesa whopping 6,000 pagesof his independent comic Cerebus the Aardvark. Below is a representation of the domi-
nant colors in each issue's cover. Although the interior panels were printed in black and white, the comics covers were a kind
of color compass for what was to come.

= Never collected into a larger volume

S T O RY L I N E : Cerebus, 19771981

Mothers & Daughters, 19911995

Ricks Story, 19971998

056
 High Society, 19811983

Church and State, 19831988

Jakas Story, 19881990

Melmoth, 19901991

Guys, 19951997

Going Home, 19982001

Latter Days, 20012004

Archer Appeal
G R E E N A R R O W : The DC Comics archer has a vast array of arrows thats always changing. Here are a few classics.

First used in 1947, the boxing glove When chasing a criminal in a car,
arrowhead was originally the size of a Explosive Trident Green Arrow fires this arrow. It
baseball. Later in his career it increases arrow arrow attaches to the bumper, inking the
in size (and hilarity) to a full-scale glove. path to the criminal hideout with a
pen that drags on the ground.
Boxing
glove Fountain
arrow pen arrow

Grappler
head Net
arrow arrow

Greek
fire-
arrow Glue
arrow

Bola
arrow Tear-gas
arrow

Buzzsaw Flash
arrow grenade
arrow

In 2001, Green Arrow (Oliver

Bleach Suction- Queen) is back from the dead
bottle cup arrow and also . . . homeless? He fends
arrow off a group of muggers with a
makeshift bow and a bleach
Bow String tension bottle arrow.
Length:
3'10"
0 lbs 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

058
H AW K E Y E : The Marvel Comics archer also has an evolving quiver.

For all those times you want to, you Boomerang EMP When facing
know, shoot an arrow and have it arrow arrow off against Iron
come right back at your head. Man, Hawkeye
fires this arrow,
causing an
Rocket Explosive-tip electromagnetic
arrow arrow pulse, which
shorts out all
electrical inter-
faces . . . Iron
Man included.

Sonic Smoke
arrow bomb
arrow

Flare
arrow
Putty
arrow

Vibranium Pym particles

arrow arrow

Magnetic Acid
arrow arrow
Using particles
created by the
original Ant-
Cable USB Man, his arrow
arrow arrow increases or
decreases with
the size of its
Bow String tension target.
Length:
6'2"
0 lbs 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130
The Flash
Ranking the Scarlet Speedsters by likability.

Barry Allen
Wally West
Jay Garrick
Bart Allen
(not shown,
hint hint)

060
Supermans
Movies
Ranking the Man of Steels films by enjoyment.

Superman

Superman II

Superman III

Superman IV

Superman Returns

061
Who Is the Fastest Man Alive?
Clocking the races between Flash and Superman.

1967 The United Nations organizes a race between the two speedy superheroes for charity. Rival gangs place heavy
bets and try to rig the outcome. Flash and Superman decide to tie to prevent either gang from profiting.

Flash

Superman

Frustrated with the outcome of the first race, two gambling aliens (yup, its exactly what it sounds like) force

1967 Flash and Superman to a rematchwith their home cities at stake. The race to the edge of the Milky Way and
back turns out just to be a ploy to kill Flash. The two heroes outsmart the aliens and tie a second time.

Flash and Superman try to hunt down robots traveling at the speed of lightand decide to race in the
1970 process. In pursuit, they beam to an alien planet, injure their legs, and end up scooting to the finish on their
elbows. Superman admits defeat. The Flash is the fastest man alive . . . on this particular alien planet.

1978 During a time-traveling mission to stop a war between two alien nations, Flash and Superman square off.

1990 After Barry Allen dies, Wally West takes over as The Flash and he too races Superman. The race determines if the
villain Mr. Mxyzptlk will have to leave Earth. The triumph sends the evil imp abroad for 90 days.
0-0-1

Tie!

0-0-1

0-0-2

Tie!

0-0-2

1-0-2

Winner!

0-1-2

2-0-2

Winner!

0-2-2

3-0-2

Winner!

0-3-2
SMALL WONDER
How Big Is the Miniature
City of Kandor?
Kandor, the capital city of Krypton, was stolen and shrunk by
the alien android Brainiac. Superman keeps the city and its
inhabitants in his Fortress of Solitude.

= 10,000 people

(contained in a bottle roughly 18 inches in diameter)

 PUT A RING ON IT
A History of
Concentric Circles
A common graphic device, the concentric
circle comes back around over time.

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Captain America Starro Daredevil Banshee Havok Black Canary Bullseye Dr. Manhattan
Whos Who in Sin City
In Frank Millers dark classic, everyone knows your nameand has your number. Heres how theyre all connected.

Carmen
Daisy

GIRLS OF
OLD TOWN Dallas Ava
Lord

Gail
Damien
Lord
Becky

Wendy

FORMER EMPLOYER Dwight

Goldie McCarthy
Miho

Agamemnon

Claire
REGULARS
AT K A D I E S
CLUB PECOS
PAROLE
PAROLE OFFICER OFFICER
Lucille

FORMER REMOVES RIGHT EYE

PARTNERS
Marv

Executioner
Eileen John
Hartigan Hartigan

Bob
Mort
Nancy
Callahan

Bundy Painted
Jack Cop
Rafferty
BASIN CITY The
POLICE Customer
D E PA RT M E N T
Manson Liebowitz
 S AL
P E
O R
IL T
E
Love interest

R
Family relation
Killed this person
Other connection

ROARK
FA M I LY
U.S.
The Attorney
Priest General
Roark

Kevin MENTOR
Senator Spinelli
Cardinal Roark
Roark

Vinnie

Junior

MAGLIOZZI CRIME
Luca FA M I LY
Douglas PARTNERS Burt
Klump Schlubb

Shellie
Vito
Don
Giacco
Magliozzi
FORMER EMPLOYER

Kadie

Gordo
Maxine
Manute Wallace

Irish
Mercs
Doctor
Orrin Fredric
Esther
Captain
Stukka

The
Colonel
Mariah
WA L L E N Q U I S T Jerry
O R G A N I Z AT I O N
Herr
Wallenquist Delia
SECRET IDENTITIES

Stan Lees Nicknames

for the Marvel Bullpen
While Stan Lee was Marvels editor-in-chief, he wrote a
Steve
The Angry
Man
Ditko
column called Stans Soapbox, which ran in each of Marvels
titles that month. In the Soapbox, Lee opined on reader Wholesome
mail, talked up the fan club, and gave shout outs to Marvel Howie Chaykin
staff membersbut always with a nickname. The tradition
of calling employees like Flo Steinberg Fabulous and
Todd McFarlane Tumultuous lasted for decades. Heres
a collection of the best nicknames, categorized by type.

TEMPERAMENT

Mellow Mary
Steve Baby Ellen Beveridge
Gerber
Merry Marty
Santa Goodman
Klaus Janson Jaunty
Jim
Stainless Steranko
Steve
Englehart
Affable
Duke
Wayne
CELEBRITY Archie Goodwin
Boring BASED Bashful
Edwardian
Ed Hannigan Barry Smith
Red Surfer
Sonja Tony Steve
Skarstedt The Tiger Leialoha
Isabella
Judo Tremendously-
"Jazzy" Jim Starlin Talented
Johnny Tony DeZuniga
Romita
Mark
Hut-Hut
Dimply Heike
Shimmering Diane Rodrigo
Titanic Sharon Ing
Tom
Lanky Dashing Brevoort
Frank Miller Don Heck
Kittenish Lovely
Gil Lisa
Sugar Karen Mantlo
Bouncing Trusiani
Kane
Bob
PHYSICAL Budiansky VA G U E LY
Cute
Big Carla SEXUAL?
John Joseph
Buscema Nimble
Gorgeous Sassy
Naomi Heavenly Sara
George Prez Basner Hellen Katz Tuchinsky
Breathtaking
Bobbie Chase
Adorable Jack
Artie Simek King Delicious
Kirby Doris Siegler
 Our Pal Uncanny
Sal Buscema Danny
Fingeroth

RHYMING
Marie
The She Stan
Severin The Man
Lee

Merry
Gerry
Conway Vince
Honest
Irving Forbush The Prince
Colletta
Whirlin
Jocular Don Perlin
John Byrne

Joe
The Rube
Timorous Rubinstein
Terry Austin
Arachnerd
Jim Salicrup
Nefarious
Neal Adams

Boisterous WORDS I HAD

Bill Mantlo TO LOOK UP
Bumptious
Bob Wiacek
Grouchy
Gregory Roisterous
Wright Ralph Reese
Macabre Mischievous
Michael Mike
Fleisher Friedrich
Rascally
Roy
Dubious Thomas Lethal
I N S U LT I N G Danny Crespi Larry Hama

Tumultuous Maniacal
Todd Mike Ploog Howlin
McFarlane Herb
Brash Trimpe
Delightful
Bruce Dave Cockrum
Patterson
Creative
Ever-Ready Evanescent Carmine
Ernie Colon Evan Skolnick Infantino
Klobbering
Keith Daring
Pollard
Madcap
PERSONALITY Dwayne
McDuffie
Mark
Gruenwald Active
Lively Clever Alex Nio
Len Wein Chris Fancy
Claremont Frank
Fabulous Springer
Flo
Swingin Steinberg Vulcanizin
Sammy Memorable Vicente Alcazar
Rosen Martha
Conway
Mirthful
Mick Demeo "Wandering" 069
A L L I T E R AT I V E Wally Wood
The Periodic Table
of The Metal Men
The Metal Men are a team of robots who pull their names and abilities fromyup, you guessed itdifferent metals.
The members of the original team, created in 1962, were Gold, Iron, Lead, Mercury, Platinum, and Tin. But over time,
more were createdspin-off teams and enemiesall springing from the Periodic Table.

sodium aluminium
11 13

Na
22.990
Al
26.982
potassium calcium iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium arsenic
19 20 26 27 28 29 30 31 33

K Ca Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga
55.845 58.933 58.693 63.546 65.38 69.723
As
74.922
39.098 40.078
strontium zirconium technetium silver tin
38 40 43 47 50

Sr Zr Tc Ag Sn
118.71
87.62 91.224 [98] 107.87
barium tantalum tungsten osmium iridium platinum gold mercury lead bismuth
56 73 74 76 77 78 79 80 82 83

Ba
137.33
Ta W
180.95 183.84
Os Ir
190.23 192.22
Pt Au Hg
195.08 196.97 200.59
Pb Bi
207.2 208.98
raidum
88

Ra[226]

thorium uranium plutonium

90 92 94

Th
232.04
U
238.03
Pu[244]

070
 The Metal The Metal An evil team of The first
Men. Copper Mens robots built by robot built by
is the only backup an evil robot Doc Magnus.
element not team. version of Doc
from the Magnus.
original team.

Through
issue 16, each Iron, Platinum,
comic includes Gold, and
a Metal Facts Mercury were
and Fancies transformed into
A robot shown page. These these metals.
in Silver Age are the robots They are the
Doc Magnuss Secret Files as a that make an Death Metal
robot servant. learning tool. appearance. Men.
Who Reads DC Comics?
In 2011, right after a massive relaunch of all their characters, DC Comics polled readers to
find out whom their so-called New 52 line was reaching. Here are the results.

Data collection

Customers at physical comic book stores Online respondents Readers via tablet apps

Distribution
of total
readership
by age

Age 13 18 25

Gender

93% men
7%
women

072
 Income Types of readers Digital Print
readers readers
New polled who polled who
readers also read also read
print digital
comics comics

57%
50% of in-store customers

16%
had incomes less than

$60,000 Lapsed
readers Avid readers

Readers over 35

48%
digital readers
35%
print readers

35 45 55

Two-thirds
made an
Purchasing Four in ten respondents said a New 52 title they wanted was out of stock at their store. impulse buy.
PLAYING FOR THE OTHER TEAM
The Many Affiliations of the Marvel Universe
Archangel/Angel
Beast
Black Knight
Black Panther
Black Widow
Cable
Caliban
Cannonball
Captain America
Colossus
Crystal
Cyclops
Darwin
Dazzler
Doctor Strange
Feral
Gambit
Havok
Hawkeye
Hellcat
Hepzibah
Hulk
Human Torch
Iceman
Invisible Woman
Iron Man
Juggernaut
Karma
Kitty Pride
Lady Mastermind
Leech
Longshot
Luke Cage
Magneto
Marrow
Marvel Girl
Mimic
Mister Fantastic
Mystique
Namor
Nightcrawler
Nighthawk
Nocturne
Omega Sentinel
Paladin
Peter Wisdom
Pixie
Polaris
Professor Xavier
Psylocke
Quicksilver
Rictor
Rogue
Sabretooth
Scarlet Witch
Shatterstar
She-Hulk
Spider-Man
Storm
Sunfire
Sunspot
Thing
Warpath
Wolfsbane
Wolverine
If youre a superhero or a mutant, youre almost
required to spread your powers around.

Avengers

Brotherhood
of Mutants

Defenders

Excalibur

Fantastic Four

Horsemen Of
Apocalypse

Illuminati

Marauders

Morlocks

New Mutants

Starjammers

Thunderbolts

X-Factor

X-Force

X-Men
Batmans Utility Belt, 1952
The Dark Knight is constantly updating the contents of his trusty belt with better gadgets;
a lot changes in crime-fighting tech over the years.

Infrared Miniature Secret Silken Gas

flashlight camera identity disc rope capsules

In Detective Comics #185, Batman faces certain death.

He wants the police to know hes Bruce Wayne after
he dies, so he pours a special chemical over the secret
identity disc, revealing his name. He eventually escapes
but loses the beltand the discin the scuffle.

A 1940 issue of Batman

advertises The Mystery
Rope! The 100 Secrets of
Batmans Silken Cord!
The cover features a
museum display of
previous Batman ropes,
including a gold cord used
against the Mad Musician,
an elastic cord used
against the Joker, and a
cellophane cord used
against the Hot Car Gang.

In Batman #119, Batman awakes after a fall and

realizes hes slept for years and has a long, gray
beard. The Rip Van Winkled Batman is eventu-
ally apprehended and tied up by criminals. But he
smashes the lens from his microscope and uses the
glass to cut the ropes. It was, of course, a dream.

Fingerprint Tiny Smoke Tiny

equipment oxyacetylene capsule microscope
torch

076
Batmans Utility Belt, 1968

Infrared Tear gas Fingerprint Miniature Skeleton Smoke

flashlight capsules kit camera keys capsules

Batmans first iteration was in 1939 as a glass pellet of

choking gaswhich he uses on a giant Indian.

In the current series, Batman sports

computerized contact lenses that
give him remote access to the Bat
Caves computers.

Transistorized Miniature Bat-rope Laser torch Plastic- Contact lens

power source voice with explosive assortment
recorder automatic grenades
reel

077
 After being bested by Batman in Batman #73,

Jokers Utility Belt, 1952 the Joker decides he wants his own utility belt.
Its a short-lived conceit.

Eyepiece
Water-squirting which False cigarette Flower
police badge Itching leaves pack, with pellets that
Hand with bulb and powder viewer with jumping-jack burst into
buzzer hose attached capsules a black eye mechanism inside bloom

The Joker actually

replaces Batmans gas
pellets for blooming
flower pellets, so when
the Caped Crusader
tries to stop him, flowers
appear instead of a
cloud of gas. Joker
responds, Ho-Ho!
I never thought youd
throw me bouquets,
Ha-Ha!

Batman actually uses the Jokers own

belt against him and unleashes the
snake pellets to stop a conveyor belt
carrying Robin to a fiery death.

The Joker leaves the noisy beans on a

fortuitously placed drum as a distraction
while he escapes.

Sneezing Snake Mexican Playing Exploding Small

powder pellets jumping cards cigarettes cork
capsules beans

078
Robins Utility Belt, 1994
Grappling Bo Roped
gun staff birdarang Handcuffs Communicator

Robins original two-way

communicator was
located in the belts
buckle. Though having
to talk into a microphone
located just below your
belly button could lead
to some awkward
encounters.

The bo staff was first introduced in 1989 when

Tim Drake became the third Robin. The staff is
collapsible and is his weapon of choice.

While Batman has batarangs, Robin has

birdarangs. Certainly better than Robins eggs.

Smoke Birdarangs Explosive Lock pick

capsule discs

079
issue

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

The
Walking
Dead
Kill
Counter
You think a zombie hoard is the ultimate worst case scenario? Think again.
Death by human Death by zombie

o v e r a l l d e at h s b y h u m a n a n d z o m b i e s

79%
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

21%
Who is Left in Y: The Last Man
After a plague kills off every other man on the planet, Yorick Brown has to deal with being his genders sole survivor. With most firefighters,

GENDER BREAKDOWN AFTER THE PLAGUE

World population

Fortune 500 CEOs

World landowners

World mechanics, electricians, and construction workers

World agricultural labor force

US commercial pilots, truck drivers, and ship captains

US violent felons

World government representatives

World Catholic priests, Muslim imams, and Orthodox Jewish rabbis

US physicians

US registered nurses

US local police

US firefighters
 Men (dead)

Women
felons, and physicians now dead, this is whats left of the world.
Why Guys Like
Invisible Woman

Her maiden name is Storm, She makes Theyre secretly hoping her
which is just cool force fields clothes will turn invisible

084
 Why Guys Relate
to Spider-Man

Hes bullied He has a crush on a Constantly shoots sticky,

in school girl out of his league white fluid from his body

085
Battle Breakdown
How Marvel characters stack up, according to the 1990 Marvel Universe Trading Cards Series. = villain

10% 20% 30% 40%

Character (battles)
Punisher (122)
Silver Surfer (7,236)
Nick Fury (843)
Invisible Woman (318)
Captain America (2,433)
Human Torch (335)
Longshot (176)
Doctor Strange (502)
Rogue (549)
Captain Britain (514)
The Thing (511)
Moon Knight (263)
Cloak (256)
Mister Fantastic (436)
Galactus (2,729)
Sub-Mariner (1,673)
Bullseye (464)
She-Hulk (445)
Wolverine (629)
Archangel (389)
Quasar (153)
Kingpin (202)
Thor (2,746)
Apocalypse (6,344)
Black Panther (413)
Phoenix (142)
Nightcrawler (281)
Loki (9,372)
Professor Xavier (441)
Hulk (684)
Nightmare (8,957)
Spider-Man (1,582)
Iron Man (493)
Shadowcat (201)
Colossus (423)
Marvel Girl (263)
Lockheed (166)
Cyclops (276)
Elektra (276)
Storm (315)
Thanos (839)
Havok (344)
Daredevil (495)
Black Cat (182)
Green Goblin (293)
The Leader (475)
Electro (188)
High Evolutionary (513)
Sandman (573)
Mandarin (337)
Lizard (284)
Ultron (211)
Mister Sinister (599)
Baron Zemo (184)
Blob (347)
Doctor Octopus (327)
 Won Tied Lost

50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

BIRD WATCHING

The Five
Faces
of Robin
Its tough being Batmans sidekick. You get no thanks and crummy pay.
And some crazy guy in clown makeup is always trying to blow you up. Its
no wonder turnover for the position has been relatively high. Heres the
rundown of the five youths who have taken the mantle of the Boy Wonder
(and the characters they became afterwards).

Robin Nightwing Batman Red Hood Red Robin Batgirl

088
 1940

Dick Grayson
He is adopted by Batman after his acrobat
parents are murdered

Jason Todd
Meets Batman when he tries to steal
the Batmobiles wheels

Tim Drake
Named after Batman director Tim Burton

Stephanie Brown
Originally the vigilante The Spoilerand Tims lover

Damian Wayne
Bruce Waynes son with Talia al Ghul
2012
1964

1988

1988 2006 2004 2009

Fans kill the widely disliked
Jason Todd by voting
for his death in a phone-in
campaign. He returns,
miraculously, in 2005 as the
anti-hero Red Hood.
Batman meets his previously
unknown ten-year-old son
Damian, whom The League
of Assassins grew in a lab
and trained to be a killer.
Stephanie gets the boot Dick becomes Batman for a
after refusing to follow bit when Bruce Wayne is
orders. Oh, and then she sent through time by
fakes her death after Darkseids Omega beams.
inadvertently starting a
Gotham gang war.
The Chris Ware
Sadness Scale
Chris Wares work blends succinct, emotional storytelling
with high-end illustration and graphic design.
His work is beautiful, colorful . . . and really, really sad.

The ACME
Novelty
Library #20
2010
(Desperation angst,
douchebag angst,
death angst)
The ACME
Novelty
Library
2005
(Self angst,
naked angst,
nostalgia angst)

The ACME
Novelty
Library #17
2006
(Action figure angst,
childhood angst)

Quimby the
Mouse
2003
(Rodent angst)

SAD

090
 The ACME
Novelty
Library #16
2005
(Bully angst,
daddy issue angst, Building
suicide angst) Stories
2012
(Relationship angst,
prosthetic leg angst,
loneliness angst)

The ACME
Novelty
Library #19
2008
(Loneliness angst,
action figure angst,
Mars angst, murdered
dog angst)

Jimmy
Corrigan,
the Smartest
Kid on Earth
2000
(Relationship angst, loneliness
angst, Dead Superman angst,
daddy issue angst, angst angst)

SOUL-CRUSHING DEPRESSION
 META HUMAN

Pop Culture in Scott Pilgrim

Although Bryan Lee OMalleys series may star a Canadian slacker, its set of cultural references are absolutely
on point, from Scott Pilgrims bands name (Sex Bob-Omb) to his ex-girlfriends (The Clash at Demonhead).

Scott wears a
New Pornog-
raphers t-shirt
in a dream
sequence.

This volume's
title is a refer-
ence to The
Smashing
Pumpkins'
album Mellon
Collie and
the Infinite
Sadness.
A Mr. Show DVD
is on display at the
local video store.

The group that plays before

Scott's band at a gig, Crash
and the Boys, pulls its name
from the 1992 Nintendo
game Crash n the Boys:
Street Challenge. Bonus:
During the show the lead
singer is wearing a Kinks
T-shirt.

The title page is

an homage to the
'90s Nintendo
game Bonks
Adventure.

Scott Scott Scott

Pilgrims Pilgrim Pilgrim &
Precious vs. the the Infinite
Little Life World Sadness

092
 COMICS
MUSIC
TV
VIDEO GAMES
MOVIES

While at a friend's
house, Roxie
reads a volume
of Brandon
Grahams comic
King City.
The sword
Scott and
Ramona
use in the
final battle
is named
The Power
of Love,
which is also
a song by
Huey Lewis
and the
News.

A copy of
Madonnas
True Blue
appears in
Ramona's
room...

...and a Fargo
poster hangs on
her wall.

Scott Scott Scott

Pilgrim Pilgrim Pilgrims
Gets It vs. the Finest
Together Universe Hour
Venoms Family Web
When Spider-Man receives a new, black costume in 1984s Secret Wars storyline, it turns out the outfit is actually alive. Its
a Symbiote, or a member of an alien race that gives powers to the host it bonds with. Spider-Man eventually rejects the
Symbiote and the costume escapes, quickly finding a new host in the former Daily Bugle reporter Eddie Brock. Brock and
the Symbiote bond, and together they become Venom, creating one of Spider-Mans arch rivals. The Symbiote, how-
ever, doesnt stop at Brock. Its history with hosts, transformations and offspring (yup, the costume has spawn) created a
tangled...er, web of hosts.

Spider-Man
Host

Passed Symbiote to

Offspring

Transformed into

Flash
Thompson
Patricia
Robertson

Ms. Mac
Marvel Gargan

Angelo
Fortunato
Carnage
Anne
Weying

Venom
(Eddie
Brock)
Anti-
Venom Toxin

Scorn

Phage Agony
Scream Lasher

Riot

Hybrid

(All Symbiote versions joined)

000
DRESSED TO KILL
Explaining Cosplay and Crossplay
Want to dress up as your favorite character? Make sure you know what terms are in fashion.

A characters Pretending to be a character by Having fun;

outfit and wearing their costume and accessories may include
accessories for fun (not Halloween) roleplaying
or pretending
you are some-
one else

Costume Play

Cosplay

Crossplay

Crossdressing Cosplay

Pretending to
be a character
To dress as a Pretending to be a character of the by wearing their
member of the opposite sex by wearing their costume for fun
opposite sex costume for fun (not Halloween) (not Halloween)
 Guide to
Comic-Con

HISTORY

NERD PROM

Comic-Con
Attendance
San Diego Comic-Con International has attracted more than 100,000 people every year since
2005. Its a beacon for comics, movies, and video gamesa major pop-culture force. But it
wasnt always the behemoth it is today; when it started more than 40 years ago as the Golden
State Comic-Con, it was just a few hundred people talking about comics. Heres how the biggest
event in comics has grown up.

March 1970 1972 1975 1984

145 people turn up for a one-
day miniature convention
to raise money for a bigger
show that August.
The name changes to San Guests include Milton Caniff,
Diegos West Coast Comic Frank Capra, Chuck Jones,
Convention. Russ Manning, and Charles
Schulz. Its the first year of
the costume masquerade.
The convention takes place
in Junea month earlier
than usual because of the
summer Olympics in Los
Angeles.

096
 2012 1970
2011 1970
0 197
201 1
09 10 (thousands) 197
20 2
20 19
08 73
20
30
7 19
00 40 7
2

4
50
06

19
60
20

75
70

19
05

80

75
20

90

197
4

100
200

6
110
120
2003

1977
130
140
2002

1978
1979
2001

1980
2000
9

198
199

1
198
98
19

2
97

19
19

83
19
96

84
19

19
95 85
19
19
94 86
19
3 198
199 7
1988
1992 1989
1991 1990

1992 1996 2011 2012

The convention hosts Jack Due to the Republican Between attendee spending, All passes sell out just 90
Kirbys 75th birthday party. National Convention in hotels, and taxes, Comic- minutes after they become
(The cake had vanilla icing). San Diego, Comic-Con is Con brings in more than available online.
held a month earlier on $162 million to San Diego.
July 4th.
 Guide to
Comic-Con The Hulk
C O S P L AY

Bare skin Padded costume

098
X-Men Characters I Remembered
Thanks to Cosplay

Changeling Vulcan

Hepzibah Psylocke

099
 Guide to
Comic-Con

C O S P L AY
Spider-Man

High quality

Difficult
Easy

Low quality

Spider-Man
Venom
Carnage
Mary Jane Watson
Gwen Stacy
Aunt May (turned out to just be a grandma)

100
Pac-Man

Pac-Man Pinky Blinky Inky Clyde

101
 Guide to
Comic-Con

C O S P L AY
Wolverine
by prevalence of defining feature

Brown leather
jacket
and cigar

Black leather
outfit

Bone
claws
Popular Costumes

Star Wars Underwater

High High
Black Manta

Stormtrooper

Ariel
dignity

dignity
Hipster
Ariel

Jar Jar Binks Namor

Slave Leia

Low amount of skin shown High Low amount of skin shown High

Cartoons Johnny Depp

High High
Snarf Edward Scissorhands
Doctor
Girlfriend
dignity

dignity

Fred Flintstone Barnabas Collins

Jack Sparrow

Low amount of skin shown High Low amount of skin shown High

103
 Intelligence Rating
Light Yagami

Near

Character
Affiliations
L

Teru Mikami
MANGA MURDER

Mello

Kiyomi Takada

J A PA N E S E
Raye Penber

TA S K F O R C E
Naomi Misora

Watari

Roger

Reiji Namikawa

FOR KIRA
Takeshi Ooi

SPECIAL PROVISION
Masahiko Kida

Anthony Lester

HOUSE
Stephen Gevanni

WAMMYS
Halle Lidner
Outsmarting Death

Kanzo Mogi

FBI
 In the manga thriller series Death Note, whiz kid Light Yagami uses a magical notebook belonging to a Death
God to kill criminals, calling himself Kira. The police try figuring out who Kira is so they can stop him. The result
is an intense game of cat and mouse with allegiances betrayed just as fast as theyre made and each side trying
to outsmart the other to victory. Below are the intelligence ratings for the significant characters in this 12-volume
series, as noted by creators Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, and how theyre all connected.

Kyosuke Higuchi

Suguru Shimura
Shingo Mido

Hitoshi Demegawa
Eiichi Takahashi
Shuichi Aizawa

Hirokazu Ukita

Jacky Neylon
Matt

Hideki Ide

Soichiro Yagami
Rodd Los

Arayoshi Hatori
Tota Matsuda

Sachiko Yagami

Sayu Yagami
Misa Amane

YOTSUBA PEOPLE WHO

MAFIA MEDIA YA G A M I FA M I LY
C O R P O R AT I O N BECOME KIRA
Boom Boom Pow
Comics have influenced rap more than any other genre of music. Heres a look at where the two intersect.

Match-ups in Secret Wars

Philadelphia rapper The Last Emperor released the ultimate comic book rap song in 1997, titled Secret Wars, Part 1 (a refer-
ence to the infamous Marvel crossover series). In the song Last Emperor details an epic battle between rappers and comic
book characters. He followed it with Secret Wars, Part 2 in 2003, which included even more cross-platform fights. Heres who
took the title in each. = winner
Rappers Characters
Az Izz Beast
Beanie Sigel Black Panther
Bizarre Blade
Boot Camp Clik Blob
Busta Rhymes Captain America
Common Chameleon
Das EFX Cobra
DMX Colossus
Eminem Cyclops
Eve Daredevil
Fat Joe Doctor Doom
Freeway Doctor Octopus
Ghostface Doctor Strange
Golden Arms G.I. Joe
GZA Hobgoblin
Jay-Z Human Torch
Jeru the Damaja Hulk
Keith Murray Iceman
Kon Artis Iron Fist
KRS One Juggernaut
Kuniva Kingpin
Lauryn Hill Magneto
Ludacris Mister Fantastic
Masta Killa Mysterio
Method Man Power Man
Nas Professor X
No ID Puck
Notorious B.I.G. Punisher
Pace Won Red Skull
Proof Rhino Technically
not a
Rah Digga Sasquatch character,
Ras Kass Scorpion but is often a
Redman Shaman caricature of
himself.
RZA She-Hulk
Slang Ton Snowbird
Sticky Fingaz Spider-Man
Swifty Stan Lee
The Last Emperor Storm
Tupac Sub-Mariner
Xzibit Thing
Y-Not Thor
Young Memphis Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Young Zee Vindicator
Wolverine

Microphone check The quality of comic books written by rappers:

Method Man by Method Man Sentences by MF Grimm
BAD GOOD
Public Enemy: The Comic by Chuck D

106
 Snoop Doggs
Batman & Robin Professor X David Banner
(feat. Lady of Rage, the Overseer The Hulks alter
RBX), 2002 Professor X ego in the 1978
TV show
is the founder of
the X-Men The Incredible
Hulk
WORD FREQUENCY Mista Sinista MF Doom
Mister Sinister is a Fantastic Four foe
villain of the X-Men Dr. Doom

Batman X-Ecutioners
This DJ crew was DJ Clark Kent
originally called Clark Kent, a.k.a
The X-Men until Rappers who Superman
15 2.18509686118416
Marvel sued them take their names
8 1.59576912160573 from comics
7 1.49270533036046

Big Pun DJ Green

The Punisher, Lantern
Robin Green Lantern,
but much bigger
obviously

Jean Grae Johnny Blaze

Jean Grey is a Ghost Riders
founding member Tony Starks alter ego (as
of the X-Men Ghostface well as Method
Gotham Killahs alter ego Mans)
is pretty close
to Iron Mans
Tony Stark

VILLAINS MENTIONED
Two-Face Catwoman Eminems comic history Audio Print Video
Riddler Clayface
1999
My Name Is Clothes ripped like the Incredible Hulk
Say Goodbye Hollywood Bury my face in comic books,
2000 cause I dont want to look
Business looks like Batman brought his own Robin
2001
Superman The title of the 13th track on The Eminem Show
Penguin Mad 2002 Wanted The appearance of the main character in the comic
Hatter was based on Eminem. It later became a hit movie.
Mr. 2003 Without Me Wore a Robin costume in the music video
Freeze
2004 Rain Man I killed Superman, I killed Superman
GATman and Robbin He is featured on this 50 Cent track
B AT- G A D G E T S M E N T I O N E D 2005
Crack a Bottle Not to mention back with a
2006 vengeance so heres the signal, of the bat symbol
Batmobile Bat bomb
My Mom I fall in bed with a bottle of meds and a
Bat Bat 2007 Heath Ledger bobblehead (The Joker)
switches cave The Punisher Marvel created an Eminem/Punisher
2008 digital comic titled Kill You
2009 Cold Wind Blows When the Aquaman drowns
and the Human Torch starts swimming
2010 Love the Way You Lie Im Superman with the
wind in his back, Shes Lois Lane
Bat Bat gat 2011
On Fire Flows tighter, hot headed as Ghost Rider,
phone cold hearted as Spider-Man throwin a spider in the snow
Bat 2012
engine Wont Back Down I gave Bruce Wayne a Valium
 A Personal History
of Saying Good Grief
usage

time
ALTER EGOS

Bobby Digital vs. Batman

In 1998, the rapper RZA, best known for being the unofficial leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, released his first solo
album under the pseudonym Bobby Digital, a futuristic superhero. RZA stuck close to the persona and after a
while, the rappers life began looking somewhat familiar.

RZA Bruce Wayne

Superhero alter-ego Extremely wealthy Butler on staff Bomb-proof and bulletproof custom car
Bulletproof and knife-proof super-suit
Crime-fighter Gold album Cover by artist Bill Sienkiewicz
 R R
E E
T
L IL
Married
A O
P
S

Killed this person

apokolips

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Mapping the
Relationships
of the
New Gods
When master storyteller Jack Kirby started working
new genesis

for DC Comics in the early 70s, he introduced one of

comics most memorable creations: The Fourth
World, and its inhabitants, The New Gods. With
action that spanned four titles (Supermans Pal Jimmy
Olsen, The Forever People, Mister Miracle, and The
New Gods), the story follows the ruling families of two
planets (New Genesis, led by Highfather, and
Apokolips, led by Darkseid) through a messy and
murderous battle.

110
As Drax is about to
claim the Omega
Effect (a special
power) Uxas kills
him and takes it,
renaming himself
Darkseid afterward.
Dont worry,
Drax comes back.
Queen Heggra has Desaad kill
Darkseids wife, Suli, and then
forces Darkseid to marry Tigra,
even though he loathes her. When
Queen Steppenwolf Darkseid learns of his mothers
Yuga Khan Heggra role in his first wifes death,
he has Desaad kill the Queen.

Desaad Drax
(Infinity Uxas
(chief (Darkseid) Suli Tigra
torturer) Man)
Unknown
mother
assistant

Scott Free Big

Justeen Grayven Kalibak (Mister Barda
Miracle)

Highfather Avia Vayla Himon

Izaya

As part of a peace
treaty, Darkseid and
Highfather exchange Orion Bekka
their young sons,
Orion and Scott Free.
Spy vs.Spy
Soon after he started at MAD magazine in 1960, Antonio Prohas introduced one of the most recognizable cartoons,
well . . . ever. Spy vs. Spy ran for more than 25 years under his hand, starting in January of 1961, and featured two
pointy guys constantly trying to off each other. Heres how they matched up.

115

Win distribution
8% 2%

44%
Victories

46%

0
1961
112
 Black Spy
White Spy
Gray Spy
Tie

Live free and spy hard

Prohas began his career as a political satirist in
Cuba. He expressed his distaste for the politics of
the new dictator, Fidel Castro, through his cartoons,
which led to his firing, spying accusations, and even
death threats. He fled to the United States three
days before Castros government took control of the
last of the Cuban free press. Prohas used Castros
spy accusations as inspiration for MADs most
popular comic.

Longest win streak 6 5 Biggest lead 3 12

The Gray Spy

Prohas introduced a third, female spy in 1962, The Gray Spy, or The Lady in Gray. She won in every appearance, as
she used her female prowess to pit the Black and White spies against each other.

Gray Spy appearance Gray Spy win

1987
JET SET
Avengers vs. X-Men
Forget long lines, in-seam patdowns, and body scanners at the airport, the Avengers and X-Men man their own jets.

X-Men vs Avengers
Lockheed/SHIELD (RS150) Blackbird Stark International Quinjet A-1

LENGTH
88'4"
34'8"

W I N G S PA N
62'6"
23'9"

N O R M A L TA K E - O F F W E I G H T M A X PAY L O A D MAX S E RV I C E
R AT E O F CEILING
CLIMB
FROM 230,000 feet
SEA 220,000
LEVEL feet
20,000 lbs with
after-
burner

4,000 lbs 155,760

feet/min
130,000
145,000 lbs feet
without
after-
burner

29,000 lbs

7,900
feet/min

R A N G E W I T H M A X I M U M F U E L , C A R RY I N G M A X I M U M PAY L O A D
8,200 mi
9,500 mi

RANGE WITH MAXIMUM FUEL

12,600 mi
11,000 mi

A C C O M M O D AT I O N S

Crew Crew Crew Crew Crew

CABIN WIDTH
9'5"
10'4"
 BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Scrooge McDucks Family Tree
The story of the McDucks actually dates back to AD 122 when the clan was known as the MacDuichs.
They dropped the Gaelic spelling 800 years later. The modern history, however, is a different (duck) tale.

Cornelius
Coot

Dirty
Clinton Gertrude Molly Dingus Quagmire
Coot Gadwall Mallard McDuck McDuck

Elvira Hump- Angus

Gretchen Casey erdink Jake Fergus Downy
Grebe Grandma Pothole
Coot Duck McDuck McDuck ODrake
Coot McDuck

Cuthbert Luke Fanny Eider LuluBelle Daphne Goostave Quackmore Hortense Scrooge Matilda
Coot Goose Coot Duck Loon Duck Gander Duck Duck McDuck McDuck

Gus Abner Fethry Gladstone Donald Della Unknown

Goose Duck Duck Gander Duck Duck

Huey Dewey Louie

Duck Duck Duck
115
BAT CHANNELS

Every TV Show
Starring Batman
Super
Friends:
The The
The The All- Challenge Worlds Legendary
Batman/ The New New Super of the Greatest Super
Superman Super Adventures Friends Super Super Super Powers
Batman Hour Friends of Batman Hour Friends Friends Friends Show

1970 1980

116
 The Super
Powers Batman: Batman:
Team: The The New Justice The Brave
Galactic Animated Batman Batman Justice League The and the Young
Guardians Series Adventures Beyond League Unlimited Batman Bold Justice

1990 2000 2010

 Character Kingdom
A taxonomy of characters, classified by name.

CyberFrog Frogs
Frog-Man
Frogzilla Amphibians
Froggett
Frog Princess
Black Toad
Leap-Frog Toads
King Toad

Black Vulture
Mr. Toad
Toad
Toady-Drone
Animals
Black Crow
Blackhawk Toad Men
Black Condor
Blue Jay Black Canary Penguin
Count Duckula Black Bird Black Shark
Birdy Cant Fly
Falcon King Shark
Falcona Bird-Brain Fish Shark
American Eagle Sharkeeta
Fire Bird
Sharko
Firehawk
Birds Sharkskin
Flamebird Tiger Shark
Sharks
Golden Eagle
Gunhawk Black
Moray
Hawkeye
Warhawk Rays Barracuda
Can Fly Eel
Vulture Black Manta
Hawkgirl Eelar Ray
Hawkman Thunderbird Eeleta Stingray
Hawkwoman Snowbird Electric Eel Eels
Howard the Duck Skyhawk Muray Eel Bat-Mite
Killer Shrike Black Spider
Silver Swan Arachnids
Killraven Black Tarantula
Robin
Lady Blackhawk Black Widow
Mockingbird
Raven Anthropods Brown Recluse
Nighthawk Phoenix Daddy Longlegs
Nite Owl Owl Phantom Eagle Scarlet Spider

Tiger Moth Scorpion

Ambush Bug Scarlet Beetle
Ant Man Spider Jerusalem
Wasp Scarabus
Blue Beetle Yellow Wasp Scarab Spider-Girl
Bug Yellowjacket Queen Bee Spider-Ham
Bug Baron Moth Man Spider-Man
Bug-Eyed Bandit Moth
Crustaceans Spider-Woman
Bugman Mantis
Maggott Tarantula
Bumblebee Insects
Ladybug Tick
Bumbling Bee Killer Moth Barnacle Shrimp
Butterfly Killer Bee
Dragonfly Fiddler Crab Lobster Random
Iron Butterfly
Firebug Fly Man Fly Girl Gypsy Humbug Jimbo Da Mighty Lobster Lobster Johnson
Moth
 Albert Alligator Killer Croc Green Turtle Dragon
Doctor Crocodile Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dragon Man
Mock Turtle Dragoness
Alligators Crocodiles Turtles Dragons Dragonfly
Turtle
Turtle Man Dragonmage
Chameleon Komodo Dragon
Chameleon Boy Moondragon
Iguana Richard Dragon
Reptiles Komodo Dragon Savage Dragon
Lizards
Lizard Ulysses
Dragonblood
Lizard King
Silver Dragon
Orka Reptillia
White Dragon
Whale Salamander
Whales
Whaler Tuatara
Atomic Mouse
Armless Tiger Man Rodents
Dr. Ratty Rat
Black Cat
Gray Mouser
Black Panther
Mammals Ignatz Mouse
Bronze Tiger
Angel and Ape Mighty Mouse
Cat Primates
Ape God Mouse Man
Cat Grant
Felines Ape X Mouser
Cat-Man
Apeface Packrat
Catiana
Acro-Bat Bamboo Monkey Rat
Catman
Bat-Mite Bats Detective Chimp Rat King
Catseye
Batgirl Gorilla Montague Ratbat
Catspaw
Batman Gorilla-Man Ratcatcher
Catwalk
Batwing Joe the Gorilla Ratface
Catwoman
Batwoman Man-Ape Ratman
Cheetah
Billy Batson Mandrill Ratsputin
Hellcat
Foxbat Monkeyboy Ratty
Josie and the Squirrel-Girl
Pussycats Man-Bat Monkeyman
Ratbat Vermin
Kill-Cat
Krazy Kat
Lion
Lion-Mane Ace the Bat-Hound Canines Yankee Poodle
Lionheart Bad Dog Wolfsbane
Ms. Lion Bigby Wolf Wolf-Man
Pantha Black Fox Wolf Sazen
Puma Crimson Fox Wolf Cub
Sabretooth Demon Fox Wild Dog
Satanna the Dog Logan White Wolf
Tiger Girl
Dogpool Top Dog
Shadowcat Dylan Dog Timber Wolf
Tiger Flying Fox Steppenwolf
Tiger Jack Fox Silver Fox
Tigorr Foxbat Reynard T. Fox
Tigra Foxfire Rex the Wonder Dog
Tigress Foxilon Cardluck Mongrel
Man-Wolf
White Tiger Grey Fox Hot Dog Lucius Fox
Wildcat Hellhound Jackal Lone Wolf and Cub
The
Punishers
Kill
Count
Piling up all The Punishers bodies
from movies and comic books

60
The Punisher
22 97
The Punisher Punisher:
(1989) (2004) War Zone
starring starring (2008)
Dolph Thomas Jane starring
Lundgren Ray Stevenson
48,502
The Punisher
in comic books,
19742011
FIGHTING FORCES
Oppression and Rebellion in Persepolis
Persepolis is the true story of Marjane Satrapi, a young girl growing up during the Iranian Revolution in the 1980s.
Satrapi is a free spirit growing up in an oppressive world. Despite an environment thats closing in on her and her
independent-minded parents, Satrapi isnt afraid to give as good as she gets.

High Uncle Anoosh killed

Mohsen is killed by
the new regime

Election results faked

Marjane
has to wear
a veil to
school

Marjane and
Mehri attend the
demonstrations

All universities
are closed

Marjane plans to put

nails between her
fingers and beat up
a classmate whose
father works for the
secret police

Low
Time

122
 S AL
P E
O R
IL T
E
R
Oppression
Rebellion

A missile hits their block

Partying Marjane and Marjane hits

and her grand- her principal
drinking mother pour
the alcohol
down the Guardians
drain to of the
thwart the Marjane Revolution
police lies to her stop
mother Marjane
Demonstration The police question Marjane and
smokes Marjane
resistance turns and her family lies to the
violent Guardians
of the
Revolution
Marjane Marjane
makes tells off her
fun The religion
of the Marjane principal
and Marjane teacher
martyrs skips class takes her
wears nail wears Nikes
and gets a polish bracelet
hamburger and hangs
up posters
of Iron
Maiden in
her room
Marjane and her both are
class are yelled forbidden
at for their poor
decorations for the
anniversary of the
revolution
Mutant
Manhattan
A guide to New York locations in the Marvel Comics universe

124
Avengers Tower
Formerly Stark Tower, this 93-floor skyscraper
is the home of the main Avengers team.

Hells Kitchen
Daredevil, the man without fear,
lives and patrols this neighbor-
hood. Superspy Nick Fury is also
from the area.

Gem Theater
The office of Luke Cage
and the Heroes for Hire.
Wakandan Embassy
The consulate to Wakanda,
home of the Black Panther.
Damage Control, Inc.
This construction and engineering
firm specializes in repairing build-
ings damaged in super-battles. Central Park
Frank Castles wife and children
are murdered here, leading
Castle to become The Punisher.
The Sanctum
Sanctorum
Home of Doctor Strange, The Hellfire Club
master of the mystic arts. This branch has the appearance
Its magically disguised as a of a social club, but is a front for
construction site for a new clandestine terror.
Starbucks.
Empire State Avengers Mansion
University The family home of Tony Stark
Peter Parker (Spider-Man) (Iron Man), is converted to the
meets his first love, Gwen Avengers headquarters. Its design
Stacy, and Harry Osborn, is inspired by the Frick Collection,
the second Green Goblin, a historic museum in Manhattan.
while in college here.

The Baxter Building

The Fantastic Fours first headquarters,
the Baxter Building, was destroyed after be-
ing shot into space. It was replaced by Four
Freedoms Plaza, which was also destroyed.
The current Baxter Building was built in
space, and teleported into the empty lot
previously occupied by the original building.

The Daily Bugle

The tabloid newspaper that employs Peter
Parker (Spider-Man) as a photographer.

Yancy Street
The Yancy Street Gang often serves as
antagonists to The Thing (Fantastic Four).
TO THE GRAVE AND BACK

How Long Characters Stayed Dead

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

Anti-Monitor

Aunt May

Barry Allen

Cypher

Doctor Octopus
Dove
Elektra
Green Arrow
Guardians of the Universe

Harry Osborn
Hellcat

Jason Todd
Jean Grey
Kilowog
Kraven the Hunter

Magik

Moon Knight

Professor Zoom

Sinestro

Superman

Thunderbolt Ross

126
 S AL
P E
O R
IL T
E
R
Favorite character get killed off? Dont worry. Chances are, theyll rise again.
That heart-stopping moment will be explained away (a clone! a dream! that darn
multiverse!) and [insert character here] will return to the land of the living. = Dead

97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Alexander Luthor, Jr.

Apocalypse

Aquaman

Bart Allen
Batwoman
Betty Ross
Captain America
Carnage
Colossus

Donna Troy
The gun used to shoot him doesnt actu-
ally kill him, it just freezes him in space
and time. Spoiler: he becomes unstuck.

The supervillains death

is undone as a part
Hal Jordan of a deal Spider-Man
makes with Mephisto
to save Aunt May.
Hippolyta
Human Torch

Kyle Rayner
Loki

Mister Terrific
Mogo

Ms. Marvel
Odin

Psylocke
Scott Lang

Skeets Brought back to life

by a time-traveling
JK, was Steel hug from his daugh-
actually an Superboy ter. Aww. Of course,
android body she dies not long
double! after.
The Thing
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
The MAD Magazine Mystery Record

And you greet And a fat

Round quarter cousin Beth British guy
to five your with terrible who destroys
relations arrive breath your hi-fi

CHORUS:
Its a great big, beautiful,
wonderful, incredible, A creature
super-spectacular day Round seven The streets are comes out with
at night you go aglow from a two heads and
And your heart is humming out for a bite large UFO a snout
with good times coming
And you got that happy feel-
ing things are going your way
All the bells are ringing and You walk out And youre Who mistak-
a little birds singing while he the door of a grabbed by sur- enly think that
sits on your windowsill dry cleaning prise by three youre Hymie
store Mafia guys the Fink
Saying yessiree, I can surely
see, it will plainly be, most
definitely
A super-spectacular day!
A quarter past And you really Of the girls
eight you pick go ape for that youve
up your blind her fabulous met shes the
date shape classiest yet

To those
Untilllllllll. . . Youre called Cuz you dont classes you
down in class have a clue skipped and
and you feel and you know your fly is
like an ass that its due unzipped

And youre
covered with And your
You develop spots and feet start to
a twitch and a youre getting swell and its
horrible itch the trots easy to tell

Your sister And your neigh- And you just

pours glue in bor says that left the john
her hair and youre abusing with the water
blames you her cat turned on

And the steer-

You go out ing wheel And the gears
for a spin and shakes so you get all stuck as
your sunroof slam on the you sideswipe
caves in brakes a truck
In the summer of 1980, MAD magazine tucked an exclusive flexi-disc record within its pages. Depending on where the
needle landed on it, the record would play one of eight variations of the song, Its a Super-Spectacular Day.

And your And youre

great-uncle And your And his creepy sure there
Fred who gets third cousin friend Joe and and then as
drunk in your Dick who is six more you youre shafted
bed mentally sick dont know again. . .

It talks like It thinks you Youre sealed And you

a frog and are great and in a case and silently say as
throws up on wants you for go flying in the Earth fades
your dog its mate space away. . .

That your
They break And youre name is And you let
your right arm writhing in pain Jerome and out a sigh as
and do bodily and you try to youre on your youre left
harm explain way home there to die. . .

And shes Cuz she

pretty and And its really thinks youre a And you sob in
bright and its a shame shes schmuck and despair as she
love at first not feeling the she says gives you the
sight same lots of luck air. . .

And some
And your acne jerk spreads And you fight And there isnt . . . that its
has spread to the word that in the hall and a doubt as not such
the back of youre some punch through theyre flunking a super-
your head kind of nerd a wall you out. . . spectacular
day!

From this hid- So you call If it gets any And you man-
eous wheeze an M.D. and he worse you can age to say as
that some says, Dont speak to my you wither
awful disease ask me nurse away. . .

And the house And youd die if And your And you cry
gets all wet you knew what python gets there in fear
and your your dads loose and you and its now
mothers upset gonna do know its no use very clear. . .

But the trains And you

And you run And youre coming have a quick
out of gas stalled on the through and flash as you
while youre tracks and you its heading for brace for the
trying to pass try to relax you crash. . .
FAST COMPANY

The Four
Faces
of The Flash
Since 1940, four different people have put on the
famous red costumeand sometimes at the same
time. Blame alternate realities, a return from the
grave, and time travel. Its confusing! Heres a guide
to the fastest men alive.

THE FLASH KID FLASH IMPULSE

130
 1940

Jay Garrick
A founding member of the Justice Society of America

Barry Allen
Gains his powers when lightning hits a case of chemicals

Wally West
Wallys Aunt Iris is Barrys wife

Bart Allen
Bart is Barrys grandson from the 30th century

2012 1964

1988

1951 1959 1961 1985 2006 2007

Jay retires after the House Wally starts Jay is revealed Barry dies Wally and his Bart dies and
Un-American Activities his career as to actually be during the family leave for returns a few
Committee investigates the JSA Barrys side- a hero on Crisis on another dimen- years later as
for Communists and asks for kick. Earth-2, an Infinite Earths. sion and return his teenage
their identities. alternate after his twins self from the
reality. rapidly age. future.
A Watchmen Primer
Originally published by DC Comics as a limited 12-issue series in 1986, Watchmen is widely regarded as the best comic . . . ever.
The story, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons, spans generations of superhero teams, as much of a critique of the
genre as an exploration of it.

Watchmen changed everything. It showed just how layered and how adult a comic book could
The Watchmen effect beand the industry took notice. After its publication books became significantly less jokey.
Dark

Publication of
Watchmen

Light
1929 2013

Captain Metropolis
Character relationships
The Comedian
Dr. Manhattan
Dollar Bill
Hooded Justice
Mothman
THE MINUTEMEN
Nite Owl
Nite Owl II (father)
THE CRIMEBUSTERS
Ozymandias (tries to rape)

Rorschach
Silhouette (gives her
Love interest cancer)
Silk Spectre
(mother)
Kills this person Silk Spectre II

Family relation Janey Slater

Watchmen timeline, 19351985 1947 Silk Spectre retires and

marries her agent. Dollar Bill,
1959 Jon Osterman is
disintegrated during an
1938 Hooded Justice 1940 Comedian 1946 Silhouette is a member of the Minutemen, accident. He rematerializes
stops a robbery and leaves the group outed as a lesbian dies in action. later as Dr. Manhattan.
inspires Hollis Mason after attempting and removed from the 1949 The 1950 Silk
to become Nite Owl. to rape Silk Spectre. group. She and her Minutemen Spectre 1958 Ozymandias
lover are murdered six disband. gives birth makes his crime-
1939 The Minutemen weeks later.
become a team. to Laurie fighting debut.
Juspeczyk.

1935 1945 1955

132
 S AL
P E
O R
IL T
E
R
Characters The smiley face
origins Watchmens most iconic image is the smiley face button belonging to the Comedian.
Alan Moores When the Comedian dies in the opening pages, his blood splatters in a dripping line on
original pitch for the smiley face. The smiley face imagery is a direct visual metaphor to the face of the
Watchmen had doomsday clock that is prominently featured in each issue. The circle and line imagery
included characters also appears in many subtle forms throughout the series, including a radar screen,
that DC Comics goggles and the sun. Heres how many times you can spot the symbolism in each issue.
acquired from Charlton
Comics a few years ISSUE 1 ISSUE 2 ISSUE 3 ISSUE 4
prior. Realizing their
inclusion in Watchmen
would render many
unusable thereafter,
Moores editor, Dick
Giordano, suggested
creating original
characters. Moore did
just that, but based his
cast on the Charlton
lot. Heres where he Appearance
pulled his inspiration. ISSUE 12 of smiley ISSUE 5
symbolism
THE QUESTION
C A P TA I N AT O M

T H U N D E R B O LT
PEACEMAKER
BLUE BEETLE

NIGHTSHADE

ISSUE 11 ISSUE 6

ISSUE 10 ISSUE 9 ISSUE 8 ISSUE 7

THE COMEDIAN
D R . M A N H AT TA N
NITE OWL
OZYMANDIAS
RORSCHACH
SILK SPECTRE

1962 Hollis Mason 1966 Captain Metropolis 1977 America 1985 With the world on the brink of nuclear war, The
retires as Nite Owl. Dan forms the Crimebusters. outlaws non Comedian discovers Veidts plan to beam an artificial alien
Dreiberg later asks to Laurie Juspeczyk joins as government- monster to New York. First Veidt offs The Comedian.
take on the superheros Silk Spectre II. sanctioned Then he transports the monster to New York, killing 3
name, as Nite Owl II. 1971 President costumed million people. Silk Spectre II, Nite Owl II, and Rorschach
Nixon sends superheroes, try to stop him, but fail. Because the truth would cause
1965 Crime-fighters
Dr. Manhattan to by way of the more strife, Dr. Manhattan kills Rorschach, a teammate
Rorschach and
Vietnam. Keene Act. threatening to expose Veidt. The world bands together
Nite Owl II team up.
and finds peace, united against a threat that never was.

1965 1975 1985

 AMAZONIAN PRIME

70 Years of
Wonder
Womans
More revealing
than a bikini
bottom.
Gloria Steinem
(among others)

Legs
objects to Diana
losing her abilities
and launches a
campaign to have
them restored.
Her powersand
shortsreturn in
1973.

. . . and starts
. . . but when showing more
her own series leg . . .
launches the
following year
she transitions
to star-spangled
culottes.

Wonder Woman
debuts in All-Star
Comics wearing a
skirt . . .
Amount of leg shown

Wonder Woman
surrenders her
powers, trades in
her hot pants
for a mod jump-
suit, opens a
boutique, and
becomes a
martial-arts
crime-fighter
named just
Diana.

1941 1942 1948 1968 1973 1993

 Underwear levels
Establishes a return when DC
baseline for how relaunches of all its
much skin to show. It doesnt last. characters.

Wonder Woman
comes back as
just Dianabut
this time in black
biker shorts.

DC Comics
Wonder Woman introduces
introduces a Wonder Womans
short-lived most signifi-
alternative to her cant costume
costumea full redesignpants!
bodysuitand The wardrobe
goes by Agent change is one of
Diana Prince. the shortest lived.

1995 1996 2006 2007 2010 2011

 RECURRING CHARACTER

Chris Evans
The actor has the notable distinction of having appeared in more comic
book movies than any actor before him. While were going to ignore
the questions of quality (whats up, not-so-Fantastic Four?), some of his
performances have fared better at the box office than others.

Fantastic Four TMNT Fantastic Four: The Losers Scott Captain The Avengers
$330,579,719 $95,608,995 Rise of the 29,379,723 Pilgrim vs. America: The a ton of money
(2005) (2007) Silver Surfer (2010) the World First Avenger (2012)
as Johnny as the voice $289,047,763 as Jensen $47,664,559 $368,608,363 as Captain
of Casey
Storm Jones (2007) (2010) (2011) America
as Johnny Storm as Lucas Lee as Captain
America

136
 How to Spot a Vigilante
This class of superheroes has more in common
than just their ability to kick major ass.

Casey Moon Night

Batman Jones Daredevil Knight Thrasher Punisher Quantum Robin Vigilante Wolverine

Wealthy

Cape

Ridiculous
gadgetry

Martial
arts

Kinda
nutty

Impressive
intelligence

Amoral

Goofy
period

Named
Vigilante

Dead
parents/
family

Incredibly
fit

137
 Series: Secret
Wars Crisis on Infinite Fall of the X-Tinction
(Marvel Comics, Earths Legends Mutants (Marvel Millennium Agenda (Marvel,
1984) (DC Comics, 1985) (DC Comics, 1986) Comics, 1988) (DC Comics, 1988) 1990)
Tie-in issues:12 51 28 15 45 9

NOT STANDARD ISSUE

An Explanation
of Crossover
Issues and
Their Tie-Ins
Big events that span multiple series are a boon to
sales, but the stories tend to be so expansive that
they require additional issues just to explain what
the heck is going on. These extras are called tie-ins.
Heres how many tie-ins were needed to explain
each series crossover.

Flashpoint Siege Blackest Night Final Crisis Secret Invasion Sinestro Corps
(DC Comics, 2011) (Marvel Comics, (DC Comics, 2008) (DC Comics, 2008) (Marvel Comics, War
71 2009) 76 30 2008) (DC Comics, 2007)
38 102 18

138
 X-Cutioner's The Death and
Song Return of Underworld
(Marvel Comics, Superman Knightfall Zero Hour Unleashed DC One Million
1992) (DC Comics, 1992) (DC Comics, 1993) (DC Comics, 1994) (DC Comics, 1995) (DC Comics, 1998)
15 42 96 73 47 39

Civil War Infinite Crisis House of M Identity Crisis Avengers No Mans Land
(Marvel Comics, (DC Comics, 2005) (Marvel Comics, (DC Comics, 2004) Disassembled (DC Comics, 1999)
2006) 101 2005) 13 (Marvel Comics, 86
104 51 2004)
35
Tintins Travels
Hergs The Adventures of Tintin stars the titular Tintin, a young investigative reporter
who travels all over the worldand sometimes out of itin search of a story.

Redskin
City
BOOK:
Tintin in the Land of the Soviets 1930
Tintin in the Congo 1931
Tintin in America 1932 Chicago
Cigars of the Pharaoh 1934 New York

The Blue Lotus 1936

The Broken Ear 1937
The Black Island 1938 2037 42"N 6832'1"W
Mayan Island
King Ottokars Sceptre 1939 Temple
Los Dopicos
The Crab with the Golden Claws 1941
The Shooting Star 1942 Sanfacion
The Secret of the Unicorn 1943
Red Rackhams Treasure 1944
The Seven Crystal Balls 1948
Prisoners of the Sun 1949
Land of Black Gold 1950 Jauja

Destination Moon 1953 Callao Temple of

the Sun
Explorers on the Moon 1953
The Calculus Affair 1956
The Red Sea Sharks 1958
Tintin in Tibet 1960
The Castafiore Emerald 1963
Flight 714 1968
Tintin and the Picaros 1976

140
 Adonis Asteroid Moon

Meteorite

Akureyi

Black Island
Moscow
Stolbtzy
Marlinspike Berlin
Antwerp Klow
Southhampton Prague Sprodj
Bakhine
Le Havre Brussels
Nyon Douma
Szohod
Geneva Rolle
Vargese
Marseilles
Lisbon
Nanjing
Santa Afghar Port Said
Cruz New Dehli Shanghai
Cairo Hukow
Bagghar
Katmandu
Jidda
Gaipajama
Saudi Arabia
Dahlak Kebir
Khemed
Khemikhal

Pulau-
Pulau
Matadi Bompa
Djakarta
Mataram Sumbawa
Tintin Publication History
Herg collects his black Herg prints The Black Island, the only book in which
and white Tintin in America Tintin physically disciplines his trusty dog Snowy. Prisoners of the
strips and publishes them Sun picks up where
in book form. The Seven Crystal
The Crab with the Golden Claws Balls leaves off.
marks the first appearance of Tintins
companion Captain Haddock. The
story is written after Herg is forced
After befriending a to abandon Land of Black Gold when
Tintin in Chinese sculpture the Nazis take over Belgium. The Bernard
the Land student who teaches newspaper that had previously pub- Heuvelmans,
of the him Chinese his- lished the Tintin comic strip adven- the father of
Soviets is tory, culture, and tures is shut down. The switch to a cryptozoology,
published art, Herg begins Nazi-cooperating newspaper means writes the
in book researching Tintins Herg must print 3 or 4 panels every original script
form, destinations more day, instead of 2 pages every week. for Destination
written by thoroughly. In his Moon.
Georges book The Blue
Remi Lotus, a sequel to
under the Cigars of the Pha-
pen name raoh, Herg bases Picking up from the
Herg. the character Chang last installment, Tintins
Chong-Chen on the story continues in Red
student. Rackhams Treasure.

1930 1940 1950

Tintin in the The Broken Though the Publication Picking

Congo Ear collects strip was of The Seven up where
appears in the previous black and Crystal Balls Destination
book form two years white, The is post- Moon
in black and of strips, Shooting poned when leaves off,
white. Its featuring Star is the Belgium is Explorers of
stereotypical adventures first Tintin liberated from the Moon
depiction in South book to Nazi control in features
of the America. be printed 1944. Herg is Tintin and
Congolese in color. investigated for company in
is still working at a outer space.
controversial collaboration-
today. ist newspaper
Herg publishes The eighth Herg and eventually Land of Black Gold
Cigars of volume, King publishes arrested. He is originally from
the Pharaoh. Ottokars The Secret moves the 19391940, but it
Sceptre, is the of the strip to a new ends abruptly mid-
first Tintin Unicorn, magazine and story. It is redrawn
collection to the first of publishes The and colored for
actually a two-part Seven Crystal publication in Tintin
name the story. Balls in 1948. magazine.
detectives
Thomson and
Thompson.

142
 First serialized several Flight 714 is noted for its heavy
years earlier, The Calculus supernatural content, including
Affair debuts in book form. telepathy and flying saucers.

The Castafiore
Emerald is one
of two books in
which Tintin does After several years of illness
not visit another Herg dies at age 75. His 24th
part of the world. volume, Tintin and Alph-Art,
It also is void of goes unfinished. Its released
guns, villains, in 1986 as a series of
and danger. sketches and notes.

1960 1970 1980

The twentieth volume in the series, Tintin in Tibet, Hergs

personal favorite, is praised by the Dalai Lama. During its
creation, Herg falls out of love with his wife and is plagued
with nightmares of overwhelming whiteness. A psychoana-
lyst student of Carl Jung recommended quitting Tintin. Herg
instead finishes Tibet, separates from his wife (whom he
divorces 17 years later) and begins a relationship with a
young artist in his studio (whom he marries 17 years later).
Tintin and the Picaros
depicts Tintin older and
changed; he practices
yoga and wears bell
bottoms. In the course
of the work, Herg
realizes he has created
The Red Sea 63 pages instead of
Sharks reunites the required 62, so he
many former Tintin removes an entire page
characters from that does not affect
previous volumes. the story.
REVISIONIST HISTORY
30 Years of Changing Tintin
1943 1946 1955 1961
Herg re-edits and Herg redraws and Herg re-draws and The original strips that make up this volume
colors The Crab with colors Tintin in the colors Cigars of the ran during Germanys occupation of Belgium.
the Golden Claws. He Congo in his new ligne Pharaoh. He cuts full Amidst accusations that Herg is anti-Semitic,
also adds four arbitrary claire style. He also pages including the he removes several offensive Jewish characters
full-page panels since scraps nearly half the scenes where Tintin and all references to God in The Shooting Star.
the original strips pages, adds cameos dons makeup to pass
didnt have enough by Thomson and as a Muslim and
material to fill the 62- Thompson, and where Snowy plays a
page quota set by the removes several gramophone to warn
publisher. references to Belgian his owner of an
rule in Africa. approaching cobra.

1930 1940 1950

Tintin in Tintin in Cigars The King The Red Rackhams Prisoners

the Land America of the Broken Ottokars Shooting Treasure of the
of the Pharaoh Ear Sceptre Star Sun
Soviets The The The The Secret of The Seven Land of
Blue Black Crab with the Unicorn Crystal Balls Black Gold
Tintin in the Lotus Island the Golden
Congo Claws Destination Moon
Millions of people have read Tintin, but the stories they picked up may not have been the same ones originally published. The
reason: Tintin creator Herg often went back to rewrite, re-draw, and re-edit his famous series. Sometimes he did it for space,
sometimes to add color, and sometimes to subdue controversy.

1962 1966 1971 1972 1975

After complaints, Herg The Black Island is up- Herg again updates Land of Black Gold Herg again re-draws a
removes the Air India dated to portray Great Cigars of the Pharaoh changes locations. page from Tintin in
logo from plane crash Britain more accurately, when it is translated Palestine turns into the Congo for Scan-
debris that appears in including names, police into English. Herg the fictional Arab dinavian publishers.
Tintin in Tibet. uniforms, locations, redraws a scene where state of Khemed He changes a scene
and modern vehicles. a Sheik shows Tintin and actual Arabic where Tintin kills a
that hes reading is inserted into rhinoceros by drilling a
Destination Moon, a the dialogue in place hole in its back, filling
Tintin volume pub- of nonsensical it with gunpowder, and
lished 19 years after imagined script. lighting it on fire. In the
Cigars original release. updated version, the
rhino runs away scared
after accidentally firing
Tintins gun.

1960 1970

The The Red Tintin in The Flight Tintin

Calculus Sea Tibet Castafiore 714 and the
Affair Sharks Emerald Picaros
Explorers
on the
Moon
BOOK REPORT How thoroughly

The Library
the library collects
different subjects
Basic

of Congress
Materials introducing
the subject
Intermediary

Comic Collection
Enough to support
undergrad instruction
Advanced
All important reference
works
The Library of Congresss mission, according to official policy, is to create a
comprehensive record of the Platinum, Golden, and Silver Ages of US comic book Comprehensive
publishing (representing the formative years of comic book development as well All significant works
as current trends). They collect a lot; but they also miss a lot. Heres how they go
about beefing up their collection.

Graphic
novels Published Published
Comic Syndicate Comic and collec- collec- Secondary Secondary
books Comic proof Web books collected tions, tions, Original sources, sources,
(foreign) strips sheets comics (U.S.) works Manga comics cartoons comic art comics cartoons

Are not
presently
acquired

The bulk
of the
acquisi-
tions are
via the
copyright
registration
process
(the library
is also
home to
the U.S.
Copyright
Office).

Copyright Purchase Donation Digital deposit

(in the future)

how theyre acquired

ART, WORK

The Schedule In Japan, giant magazines hundreds of

of a Manga Artist
pages thick are printed every week. To
meet the page count, comic book artists
work some pretty crazy hours. Heres a
week in the life of one artist.

m o n d ay t u e s d ay w e d n e s d ay t h u r s d ay f r i d ay s at u r d ay s u n d ay

AM12

10

11

PM12

10

11

Work on Assistants help Meet with Work on Sleeping Meal break Free time
rough pages production the editor cover or
color pages

147
$4

COVER TO COVER

Marvel and DCs

Price History
$3.50

Marvel Comics DC Comics

$3

$2.50

$2

$1.50
In the late 70s Marvel begins producing more titles and
more original stories, which led them to become the
unmistakable industry leader. Trying to regain a foothold,
DC counters with The DC Explosion, launching more than
50 new titles, adding eight pages to each issue, and raising
prices from 35 to 50. Weak sales, however, forced DC to
cancel more than two dozen titles, reduce the number of
$1 pages in each issue, and lower issue prices to 40. The
whole ordeal padded Marvels lead and is now known as
The DC Implosion.

$.50

$0

1970 1980
 The industry hits record highs in sales as
limited editions and new series launch.
The price spike coincides with a speculation
boom; it was believed that a comics value
would go up over time. Boom turns to bust,
however, as the titles fail to live up to the hype.
The resulting crash hits the industry hard, and
Marvel is forced to declare bankruptcy in 1996.

TIER ONE

TIER TWO

Both Marvel and DC introduce tiered

pricing levels for all their titles in the
90sa practice previously only in
place for special issues. Heres each
publishers high and low end.

1990 2000 2010

149
Size Matters
Heres how Marvel and DCs
super cities (and a few small
countries) stack up against
real-world urban development.

Atlantis 9,000 Kingdom of Latveria 500,000 Coast City 781,071 Star City 1,735,714
Paris 2,211,297 Chicago 2,833,321 Gotham City 5,554,285 Kingdom of Wakanda 6,000,000
Metropolis 6,942,857 London 7,830,000 New York 8,175,133

150
 Best friends

Assorted Peanuts Love interest

Family
Best friends, brothers, and budding love in Charles Schulzs long-running strip.

listed in order of appearance

10/2/1 Brown
Pegg2y3/1990

950
Re 3/

7/

Charlie
run 26/

Jean
van 1973

0
95
10 atty
Pe

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lt

P
F
7/ ran
31 k y
/1 lin m 0
96 her /195
8 S 0/2
1

M opy 0
6/18 arcie Sno4/195
/196
8 10/

Violet Gray
Woodstock 2/7/1951
4/4/1967

int Sch
perm 5/30 roeder
Pep Patty /195
6
/196 1
8/22

- L
Red irl 3/ ucy
3/ v
tle d G 61 19 an
Lit aire 9/19 52 P
elt
H 1/1
1
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Lin 19/1
3/6 ried
61

9/
us 952
8/23 wn

Pig-Pe954
F

7/13/1
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va
Bro

nP
elt
n
Sally

0151
00
Marvel Universe Trading Cards

Superheroes Supervillains Rookies Famous Battles Most Valuable Team Pictures

Comics

152
Just as the comic book industry enjoyed booming sales in the 90s, so did collectible trading cards. It started when Marvel
Comics released their first set in 1990. The 167-card set featured notable characters, famous battles, and even 12-cards
featuring Spider-Man interviewing his peers.

Superheroes
Men
Women

Supervillains
Men
Women

Cards
I Have
I Need

Spider-Man
Cards
with him
Cards
without
him

Spider-Man Stan Lee Checklist Holograms

Presents
Gotham City
Police Department
Utility Bill
When the city needs to call in its big gun,
it does so at a big price.

154
Bat Signal
Electricity
Water
Sewer
Heating
Power Pack
Super strength is not the only asset artists have given Power Girl.

AV E R A G E
WOMANS
BREAST SIZE
 Completely
superfluous
level

P O W E R G I R L S
BREAST SIZE
If You Were The Punisher,
What Would You Do?
A glimpse into the mind of Frank Castle, a man searching for someone who deserves to die.

You walk into a bar Do you Is it the

and see someone. YES know him? NO bartender? YES
Is it a man?

YES
NO NO

Is it a woman? Must be a
friend! Is NO Does he have
it Microchip? a scar? NO
The Punisher
YES NO doesnt have
other friends. YES
YES
Only bad guys
have scars.

Are you sure? YES Buy him

a cider!
Is it your wife? Now that you
mention it...
NO
Is it an alien?
YES

Hey, The Punishers NO YES

wife is dead. Thats Give the unidentified
part of why hes a NO thing a glass of water.
vengeance machine.
Who are you trying Did he die?
to fool?
YES NO Shoot him.
Friendly alien? YES
See, an alien!
Like in the movie Signs.
NO Doesnt
Have you tried to matter.
NO
kill her before?
Ease up! The
Thats what Punisher
she wants you Is that sexist? YES is an equal
YES to think. Shes opportunity
probably a spy. killer.
NO
Finish the job.

158
 Did the
Order a Did you Wow, customer
even try it? NO thats NO
cider. tip you?
tasty!

YES YES
Fine. Kill the bartender,
take his job and help
What? The Punisher the next customer.
would never order a
cider!!!

Is he an
old man?
YES
Does he have Did you spit
a cane? in the drinks?
YES NO YES

Ew. That was rude,

NO NO especially after he gave
you that nice tip.

Is he a war criminal in hiding?

Are the drinks
poisoned?
Is he
smoking?
NO YES
NO NO YES
But he does speak
fondly of his old friend It just seems that way Then take it
YES Adolf and the because its easy, pal.
good ol days. a slow-acting poison.

Cigarettes? NO Is he a pimp? YES

Well then he
must have been
YES smoking NO Still a
something Is he crime.
illegal. surrounded by Must be a
henchmen? crime boss.
Leave him alone. YES
Hell get cancer and
die. Kids: seriously,
smoking will kill you.
NO
Order them
Like a round of
Its an inside comics joke. everything Well, that makes
it easy. drinks.
And not even a good one. else in
this book?

I dont get it. Yep, sorry.

Kill him.
Stuff her into
a refrigerator. Now THAT is sexist.
Gotham City Police Department Partner
Love Interest
The Major Crimes Unit in the DC Comics series Gotham Central
deals with the toughest cases in the Police Departmentincluding First Shift (day)
all superhero and supervillain issues. Heres how the squad has
paired up to fight crime . . . and each other. Second Shift (night)
Support

Captain
Maggie
Sawyer Sergeant
Jim Commissioner First shift
Gordon Michael commander; Vincent
Former Akins Del Arrazio Detective
formerly First shift Crispus
Gotham City Former head of
police commissioner second-in- Allen
Metropolis command Killed by
commissioner. for Gateway Special
Currently City; replaced Crimes Unit Jim Corrigan,
teaches Jim Gordon now
criminology The Spectre
Nora at Gotham Detective
Fields University Joely
City Bartlett
Jim coroner
Corrigan
GCPD crime Detective
scene Tommy
investigator Burke
Killed by Crispus
Allens son
Stacy
Receptionist; Detective
only person Eric
permitted to Cohen
operate the
Bat-Signal

Detective Detective
Nate Andi
Patton Kasinsky
Killed by Joker

Detective
Josephine
Detective Josie Mac
Trey MacDonald
Hartley The first MCU
officer selected
after Jim
Gordons
retirement
Detective Detective
Charlie 2nd Grade
Fields Renee
Killed by Montoya
Mr. Freeze Now The Question
Detective Detective
Marcus Dagmar
Driver Projnow

Lieutenant
Detective David
Nelson Cornwell
Crowe Second shift
Detective Sergeant commander
Romy Jackson
Detective Lieutenant Sarge
Chandler Ron
Josh Davies
Azeveda Probson Second shift
Second shift co-second-
co-second- in-command
in-command
Killed by Joker
 The Most
Quotable
Lines from
300

This is
blasphemy!

This is
madness!

This is
Sparta.
Lifespans of Characters in
The Walking Dead
HOW MANY ISSUES EACH CHARACTER LASTED

0 5 15 25 35 45 55 65

Albert
Alice
Allen
Amy
Andrew
Arnold
Axel
Ben
Billy
Billy
Bob
But strangely
Bruce does not last
nearly as long in
Carol the TV show.
Chris
Chris
Dale
David
Dexter
Doc Stevens
Donna Women live a little longer than
Eric men in the real world, but not in
the zombie apocalypse.

18 19
ON AVERAGE, Survival, by gender (in issues)
HOW MANY
ISSUES A
MEN WOMEN

17
CHARACTER
SURVIVES

162
 S AL
P E
O R
IL T
E
R
Its hard to stay alive for long when all your neighbors are either zombies or the people freaked out by them. Heres a
breakdown of the first 75 issues of The Walking Dead, tracking how long characters survived after they were introduced.

0 5 15 25 35 45 55 65

Eugene
Gabe
Governor
Greg
Heath
Hershel
Jim
Judith
Julie
Lacey
Lily
Lori
Martinez
Otis
Patricia
Rachel
Shane
Susie
Theresa Black
people are
Thomas the first to
die in
Tyrese comics, too.

Survival, by race (in issues)

WHITE BLACK LATINO

19 14 20
A Peek Inside the Jean Grey
School for Higher Learning
When the X-Men first debuted, the mutants, then teenagers, all studied at Professor Charles Xavier's School for Gifted
Youngsters. As the X-Men drew more enemies, the school came under constant attack. Needing a change of scenery, the
X-Men eventually moved their headquarters from Salem, New York to San Francisco, California. But Wolverine decided to
stay put, rebuilding the old facility under a new moniker (an ode to his one-time teammate Jean Grey, RIP) and reopening it
in 2011 with a brand new faculty.

Wolverine Kitty
Pride

teaches: HEADMASTER teaches:

World History Ethics 101: Forgetting
(18801950): An Everything You Ever
Eyewitness Account Learned From Emma Frost

Beast

teaches: teaches:
Outer Space Survival Diction and
Skills: My Time as a V I C E - P R I N C I PA L Linguistics
Starjammer

teaches:
Mutant Philosophy:
The Teachings
Gambit Rachel of Xavier, Rogue Iceman
Grey the Lessons of
Magneto

teaches: teaches:
How to S E N I O R S TA F F Zen and the Art of
Weaponize Ice Sculpture
Household
Cannon- Products
Chamber Karma Husk
ball

teaches: teaches:
Flying Into Things The History of Mutant Art: From Jumbo
Headfirst J U N I O R S TA F F Carnation to Kenji Uedo

Frenzy Doop

Leads the Lets All Clean Up A D J U N C T S TA F F Leads the choir

After Ourselves club club

Toad

C U S T O D I A L S TA F F
 CALLING THE SHOTS

How Fans Voted

to Kill Robin
In late 1988 the DC Comics brass became aware of the
publics unfavorable opinion of the current Robin, Jason Todd.
So that September, DC set up a phone line to determine the
fate of Batmans sidekick and instructed fans to call
1-900-720-2660 to save Robin, or 1-900-720-2666 to kill him.
With the phone lines open for two days and each call costing
50, more than 10,000 people voted.

kill robin s av e r o b i n
51% 49%

Margin
of only
72 votes!

According to then Batman editor Denny ONeil, one man programmed his phone to dial the kill number every 90 seconds
for 8 hours, which could have generated enough votes to sway the outcome (and cost the caller $160).
Archies
Ample,
Awesome,
and Awful
Alliteration
Riverdales Archie Andrews is best known
for being in the middle of a love triangle between
Betty, the girl next door, and Veronica, the
one-percenter. But his acquaintances are vast,
and have similar sounding names.

166
 first name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Archie Andrews
A

Bernice Beazly
B

Betty Cooper
C

Dilton Doiley
D
E

Fangs Fogarty
F

Geraldine Grundy
G

Herkimer Hassle
H
I

Jughead Jones
J

Kevin Keller Midge Klump

K
L

Ginger Lopez Veronica Lodge

last name

Ethel Muggs Moose Mason Reggie Mantle

N
O

Patti Pacer Raj Patel

P
Q
R

Sandy Sanchez
S

Terry Pop Tate

T
U
V

Nancy Woods Waldo

W

Weatherbee
X
Y
Z
 What Makes
Nick Fury
So Intimidating

Head of the nations most Eyepatch

powerful security force

168
 Reasons to
Like Cyclops

Team leader Cool sunglasses Dude gets the hottest X-women

even though hes kind of a stiff

169
How DC Characters Rank in HeroClix

Speed Attack

B A R RY A L L E N S TA R R O
GANTHET DEADSHOT
K Y L E R AY N E R SINESTRO
GUY GARDNER B A R RY A L L E N
SINESTRO B AT M A N
HAL JORDAN GANTHET
J O H N S T E WA RT GUY GARDNER
DR. POLARIS J O H N S T E WA RT
MONGUL HAL JORDAN
SUPERMAN MONGUL
SUPERBOY BEAST BOY
WONDER WOMAN BLUE BEETLE
T H E AT O M C A P TA I N B O O M E R A N G
BEAST BOY CAROL FERRIS
CAROL FERRIS THE COMEDIAN
CHRONOS DONNA TROY
DONNA TROY DR. POLARIS
LEX LUTHOR GREEN ARROW
M E TA L L O K Y L E R AY N E R
OCEAN MASTER LEX LUTHOR
PLASTIC MAN M E TA L L O
B AT M A N MR. TERRIFIC
BLUE BEETLE OCEAN MASTER
C A P TA I N B O O M E R A N G RORSCHACH
THE COMEDIAN S G T. R O C K
DEADSHOT SUPERBOY
GREEN ARROW SUPERMAN
NITE OWL WONDER WOMAN
RORSCHACH T H E AT O M
MR. TERRIFIC CHRONOS
PROFESSOR IVO NITE OWL
S G T. R O C K PLASTIC MAN
TA L I A A L G H U L PROFESSOR IVO
S TA R R O TA L I A A L G H U L

170
Launched in 2002, HeroClix is a game where players battle each other with miniature comic character figurines.
Each figure has ratings for Speed, Attack, Defense and Damage dealt, which are updated during gameplay. They're
interesting because the ratings don't exactly align to the comicsin fact, they can't, because DC Comics doesn't
use official power ratings the same way that Marvel Comics does (see page 184).

Defense Damage

B A R RY A L L E N S TA R R O
DONNA TROY M E TA L L O
GANTHET GANTHET
HAL JORDAN GUY GARDNER
K Y L E R AY N E R HAL JORDAN
M E TA L L O MONGUL
MONGUL SINESTRO
SINESTRO SUPERBOY
S TA R R O SUPERMAN
SUPERBOY WONDER WOMAN
T H E AT O M T H E AT O M
B AT M A N B A R RY A L L E N
BEAST BOY B AT M A N
CAROL FERRIS DONNA TROY
THE COMEDIAN DR. POLARIS
DR. POLARIS J O H N S T E WA RT
GUY GARDNER K Y L E R AY N E R
J O H N S T E WA RT LEX LUTHOR
MR. TERRIFIC OCEAN MASTER
NITE OWL BEAST BOY
OCEAN MASTER BLUE BEETLE
S G T. R O C K C A P TA I N B O O M E R A N G
SUPERMAN CAROL FERRIS
WONDER WOMAN CHRONOS
BLUE BEETLE THE COMEDIAN
C A P TA I N B O O M E R A N G GREEN ARROW
CHRONOS DEADSHOT
DEADSHOT MR. TERRIFIC
GREEN ARROW NITE OWL
LEX LUTHOR PLASTIC MAN
PLASTIC MAN PROFESSOR IVO
PROFESSOR IVO S G T. R O C K
RORSCHACH TA L I A A L G H U L
TA L I A A L G H U L RORSCHACH
Shell Boy
The other Turtles constantly make fun of Donatello. Heres why:

He spends his time He spends his time

studying science playing with his staff
-P]L,HZ`7PLJLZ
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BAT-RELATIONSHIPS MOTHER Love interest

The World of the Caped Crusader

Family relation
Killed this person

Nyssa
al Ghul The
Commissioner Talia Edward
Jean-Paul Azrael Michael Riddler Nygma
Lane Loeb al Ghul
Valley, Jr. Harvey Maggie Dusan
Bullock Sawyer al Ghul
Batman The

FATHER

FATHER
FATHER
Brion Spectre Dr. Jonathan
FATHER
Markov Emily Scarecrow
Briggs Crane
Looker Joe Gotham Crispus Pamela
Violet Isley
Thomas Martha Halo
Harper
Chill Police Allen
Ras al
Wayne Wayne Geo-Force Helena Ghul
Poison Mad Jervis
Ivy Hatter Tetch
Kathy Batwoman
Kate The FATHER
Slam Jim
Webb-Kane Rebecca Black
Bruce FATHER
MOTHER
Kane Outsiders Lightning Vic Bradley, Jr. Corrigan

MOTHER
Wayne Meta- Jim
Nightwing Sage Gordon
Rex morpho Jeremiah
Carmine Mr.
Julia FATHER Mason Jefferson Pierce The Arkham Freeze
Remarque Falcone
Question Renee Sarah
Alfred Selina
Dick Kyle Montoya Essen-Gordon Alberto Dr. Victor
Pennyworth Damian Dinah Falcone FATHER Fries
Wayne Grayson Lance
ADOPTED
FATHER

Mr.
Black Zero
Jason Catwoman

FATHER
Robin Canary Kitrina Roman Black
Todd Catgirl
Lucius Bat- Falcone Sionis Mask Holiday
Killer
Fox
Family
Dinah Birds Holly The
Stephanie Tim Oswald
Ace the Brown Drake
Red
Robin
Drake of Robinson Penguin
Cobblepot
Bat- Prey David Hugo
Hound Cain The Strange
AD Joker
Killer
OP
TE
D FA FA
TH
ER
Villains Croc
Waylon
Jones
Spoiler TH
ER
Lady
Maxie
Black Shiva
Batgirl Barbra Zeus
Bat Cassandra Gordon
Cain Willis
Todd Mr. Victor
Nocturna
Sandra Zsasz Zsasz
Woosan Harley Hush
Helena Quinn
Bertinelli
Bette/Betty
Batwing Kane Oracle Bane
Red Dr. Harleen Quake
Natalia MO
Quinzel
TH Hood Master
Knight ER

David Clayface MOTHER

(mother)
Zavimbe
Flamebird Julie Peyton
Huntress Madison Riley Thomas
Vicki Harvey The Elliot
Vale Dent Ventriloquist
Lovers Cluemaster
FATHER (father)
Arnold
Two- Wesker
Face
Rachel Jezebel Silver Linda Vesper Arthur Gilda MOTHER

Caspian Jet St. Cloud Page Fairchild Brown Dent Basil Matt Preston Sondra Cassius Dr. Peter Todd Johnny
Karlo Hagen Payne Fuller Clay Payne Claything Russell Williams
Malley
FATHER
The Letter V
in V for Vendetta
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV

1
VVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV V
Book VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6

2
Book
chapter:
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
Prologue
V
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
1
VVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
2
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
3
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
4
VVV
VVVVVV
5
VV
VVVVVV
6

3
V
VVVVVV
V VVVVVV VV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
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VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
Book VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
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VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV

chapter: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6

178
 VV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
V VVVVVV
VVVVVV V VVV VV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
7 8 9 10 11

VV
VV VVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

V
VVVVVV
VVVVVV
VVVVVV VV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
V VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV
VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV VVVVVV

7 8 9 10 11
FIGHTING WORDS

The Evolution of
the Green Lantern Oath
The very first Green Lantern was introduced in 1940. He neither received
his powers from a dying alien, nor was he a member of the intergalactic
peace-keeping force, the Green Lantern Corps. The earliest Green Lantern
was railroad engineer Alan Scott, who, like the modern Green Lantern,
sports a ring that transforms his thoughts into real world manifestations.
Over time, though, the ring loses power. Recharging requires a power
battery and a recited oath. While battery tech has stayed the same, the
Green Lantern's oath has evolved over time.

1940

FA L L 1 9 4 2
Let the light of the
lantern penetrate
the dark places
of ignorance and
wrong, setting all
minds rightand
overthrowing all
J U LY 1 9 4 0 servants of evil! WINTER 1942
And I shall shed SUMMER I shed my light The light of the
my light over dark 1942 upon the dark- Green Lantern
evil, for the dark I shall shed my ness! Evil has DEC. 1942 WINTER 1942 pierces darkness
things cannot light upon dark no place to hide My rays strike "Let all power and and mystery,
stand the light, evil,For evil cannot itself! Green Lan- the darkest corner, triumph be mine and its radiance
the light of the stand the light of tern goes forth to banishing in whatever right will strike at the
Green Lantern! Green Lantern!" conquer!" all wickedness! I do!" heart of evil!"

180
 2013

FA L L 1 9 4 3
In brightest day, in 1959
FEB. 1943 blackest night, no A new series
As the green rays evil shall escape my debuts starring
strike forth into sight! Let those 1949 Hal Jordan (the
darkness, so may who worship evils The original Green current Green
all black evil be ex- might beware my Lantern series Lantern), who
posed and driven powerGreen starring Alan Scott uses the last oath
away! Lanterns light! is cancelled. from 1943.
Overlapping Interests
S O M E O F M A R V E L S M O S T P R O L I F I C W R I T E R S : 20002010

Spider-Man
Fantastic Four

Avengers
J O N AT H A N H I C K M A N

JEPH LOEB

J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

M A R K WA I D
Iron DAN SLOTT
Man

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS

MARK MILLAR

Hulk
CHRIS CLAREMONT P E T E R D AV I D

CHRISTOS GAGE
WA R R E N E L L I S
G R E G PA K
ED BRUBAKER JOSS WHEDON

M AT T F R A C T I O N

X-Men
Iron Fist G A RT H E N N I S GRANT MORRISON

RICK REMENDER

Punisher

182
 S O M E O F D C S M O S T P R O L I F I C W R I T E R S : 20002010

Wonder Woman

Hawkgirl

WA LT S I M O N S O N

ALLAN HEINBERG
The Atom

RICK REMENDER

Nightwing

GAIL SIMONE
M A RV Superman
WOLFMAN B R I A N K . VA U G H A N J O E K E L LY
CHUCK DIXON
GREG RUCKA
D E V I N G R AY S O N J . M . D E M AT T E I S

GEOFF JOHNS
M A R K WA I D

JUDD WINICK Flash

JAMES ROBINSON
PETER MILLIGAN
CHUCK AUSTEN

BRIAN AZZARELLO

JEPH LOEB DAN JURGENS

K U RT B U S I E K
ED BRUBAKER

Green Lantern
M AT T E O C A S A L I TA D W I L L I A M S

Aquaman
Batman Catwoman
SUPER ANALYTICS

Rating the
Characters
in the Marvel
Comics
Universe
To keep track of the thousands of characters in their library, Marvel
Comics catalogues each one and rates them according to their
attributes. Heroes, villains, and even civilians are given a score in
the following categories: fighting ability, intelligence, strength,
speed, durability, and energy projection. Use the key to the right to
see how the characters on the next couple of pages measure up.

184
 Use this key with the next few pages to compare character ratings.

Fighting ability Intelligence

PROFICIENCY IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT ABILITY TO THINK AND PROCESS INFORMATION
Poor 1 1 Slow/impaired
Normal 2 2 Normal
Some training 3 3 Learned
Experienced fighter 4 4 Gifted
Master of a single form of combat 5 5 Genius
Master of several forms of combat 6 6 Super-genius
Master of all forms of combat 7 7 Omniscient

Energy 6 Strength
projection ABILITY TO
LIFT WEIGHT
ABILITY TO 5
DISCHARGE 1 Weak: cannot
ENERGY lift own body
4 weight
None 1 2 Normal: able
Ability to 2 to lift own body
3 weight
discharge
energy on 3 Peak human:
contact 2 able to lift twice
Short range, 3 own body weight
short duration, 4 Superhuman:
single energy 1 800 lbs25 ton
type range
Medium 4 5 Superhuman:
range, dura- 2575 ton range
tion, single
energy type 6 Superhuman:
75100 ton
Long range, 5 range
long duration,
single energy 7 Incalculable: in
type excess of
100 tons
Able to 6
discharge
multiple forms
of energy
Almost unlim- 7
ited command
of all forms of
energy

Durability Speed
ABILITY TO RESIST OR ABILITY TO MOVE OVER LAND
RECOVER FROM BODILY INJURY BY RUNNING OR FLIGHT
Weak 1 1 Below normal
Normal 2 2 Normal
Enhanced 3 3 Superhuman: peak range: 700 mph
Regenerative 4 4 Speed of sound: Mach 1
Bulletproof 5 5 Supersonic: Mach 2 through orbital velocity
Superhuman 6 6 Speed of light: 186,000 miles per second
Virtually indestructible 7 7 Warp speed: transcending light speed
Intelligence Strength Speed Durability Energy projection Fighting ability
Hero Villain Civilian

Adam Warlock Archangel Apocalypse Aunt May Parker Banshee

Black Panther Blade Blob Cable Callisto

Cyclops Daredevil Darkhawk Dazzler Deadpool

Elektra Emma Frost Falcon Fantomex Fin Fang Foom

 Beast Ben Urich Beta Ray Bill Black Bolt Black Cat

Cannonball Captain Captain Britain Carnage Colossus

America

Doc Doctor Doom Doctor Octopus Doctor Strange Electro

Samson

Forge Franklin Galactus Gambit Ghost Rider

Richards
Intelligence Strength Speed Durability Energy projection Fighting ability
Hero Villain Civilian

Green Goblin Gwen Stacy Hank Pym Havok Hawkeye

Iceman Invisible Iron Fist Iron Man J. Jonah

Woman Jameson

Kitty Pride Kraven the Hunter Lady Lizard Luke Cage

Deathstrike

Mister Sinister Mojo Moon Knight Multiple Man Mystique

 Hellcat Howard the Duck Hulk Human Humbug
Torch

Jean Grey Jubilee Juggernaut Ka-Zar Kingpin

M.O.D.O.K. Magneto Mandarin Microchip Mister

Fantastic

Namor Nick Fury Nightcrawler Northstar Nova

Intelligence Strength Speed Durability Energy projection Fighting ability
Hero Villain Civilian

Odin Omega Red Onslaught Patriot Phoenix

Punisher Quasar Quicksilver Rawhide Kid Rhino

Shatterstar She-Hulk Silver Samurai Silver Surfer Spider-Man

Thor Thunderbird Toad Ultron Vulcan

 Polaris Professor Xavier Proudstar Psylocke Puck

Rogue Sabretooth Scarlet Witch Shadowcat Shanna the She-Devil

Spider-Woman Storm Strong Guy Stryfe The Thing

Warpath Wasp Wolverine Wonder Man X-23

Index
A comic books
Adrian Veidt, 3637, 133
Angel, 5455, 74
Aquaman, 19, 22, 107, 127, 183
archers, 5859
Archie Andrews, 16667
Atom, 26, 17071, 183
Avengers, 39, 45, 7475, 114, 125, 182
B crossplay, 95
Banshee, 65, 186
Barry Allen, 22, 60, 62, 12627, 131, 169, 186
17071
Bart Allen, 60, 127, 131
Batman
Gotham City and, 22, 15455
height of, 19
Joker's questions for, 35
political ideology of, 50
rap and, 107, 109
rating of, 17071
relationships of, 17475
roller coasters and, 48
on television, 11617
theme song for, 34
utility belt of, 7677
as vigilante, 137
weight of, 20
writers for, 183
Beagle Boys, 39
Black Canary, 18, 21, 65, 174
Black Widow, 18, 39, 74
Blue Beetle, 9, 27, 54, 133, 17071
books, 45
Bruce Wayne, 24, 3637, 76, 89, 107,
109, 174
Bullseye, 18, 65, 86
C
Calvin and Hobbes, 51
Captain America
affiliations of, 74
battles of, 86
Chris Evans as, 136
costume colors of, 8, 39
political ideology of, 50
rap and, 106
rating of, 187
return from death by, 127
shield of, 65, 173
Stan Lee and, 45
weight of, 20
Catwoman, 18, 21, 48, 50, 5455, 107, 17071
175, 183
Cerebus the Aardvark, 5657
Charlie Brown, 53, 108, 151
circles, concentric, 65
cities, sizes of, 150
Clark Kent, 22, 107
colors
in character names, 67
of costumes, 811, 5455
of teams, 3839
Comedian, 13233, 17071
192
price history of, 14849
Hulk
affiliations of, 74
publishers of, 2629 battles of, 86
rap and, 1067 color of, 39, 55, 98
reading, 1415 location of, 22
Comic-Con, 96103 political ideology of, 50
cosplay, 95, 98103 rap and, 106, 107
costumes, 811, 5455. rating of, 189
See also cosplay roller coasters and, 4849
crossover issues, 13839 Stan Lee and, 45
Crumb, R., 41
writers for, 182
Human Torch, 39, 4647, 74, 86, 106,
Cyclops, 9, 19, 20, 50, 74, 86, 106, 127, 189
IInvisible Woman, 18, 39, 4647, 74,
D
Daredevil, 19, 45, 50, 55, 65, 86, 106, 84, 86, 188
125, 137, 186 Iron Fist, 55, 106, 182, 188
Darkseid, 21, 50, 89, 110, 111 Iron Man, 8, 39, 50, 55, 74, 86, 107,
DC Comics. 125, 173, 182, 188
See also individual characters
character ratings by, 17071
history of, 2627 J
market share of, 2829 Jay Garrick, 60, 131
multiverse of, 2425 Joker, 10, 19, 20, 35, 48, 50, 78, 107,
price history of, 14849 160, 175
readers of, 7273
roller coasters and, 4849
writers for, 183 K
death, return from, 12627 Kandor, 64
Death Note, 1045 Kirby, Jack, 110
Depp, Johnny, 103
Dr. Manhattan, 65, 132, 133
L
Lantern Power Rings, 38
E The Last Emperor, 106
Earths, alternate, 2425 Lee, Stan, 4445, 6869, 106
Eminem, 107 Lex Luthor, 11, 19, 3637, 50, 17071
Evans, Chris, 136 Library of Congress, 146
F M
Fantastic Four, 39, 45, 4647, 7475, MAD magazine, 11213, 12829
107, 125, 182 manga, 1517, 1045, 147
Flash, 8, 50, 60, 6263, 13031, 183 Marvel Comics.
Flintheart Glomgold, 3637 See also individual characters
fortunes, fictional, 3637 battle breakdown for, 8687
character affiliations of, 7475
character ratings by, 18491
G history of, 2627
gender, breakdown by, 8283 market share of, 28
Gibbons, Dave, 132 New York locations and, 12425
Gotham City, 15455, 160 nicknames at, 6869
Green Arrow, 18, 22, 50, 58, 12627, price history of, 14849
softball team of, 52
Green Lantern, 22, 24, 26, 48, 107, trading cards, 15253
18081, 183 writers for, 182
Metal Men, 39, 7071
Metropolis, 22, 4243
H Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, 38
Havok, 55, 65, 74, 86, 188 Miller, Frank, 66
Hawkeye, 39, 59, 74, 188 Mister Fantastic, 39, 4647, 74, 86,
Hawkgirl, 18, 183 106, 189
Herg, 140, 14245 Mr. Freeze, 48, 5455, 107, 160, 175
HeroClix, 17071 Moore, Alan, 13233
Highfather, 110, 111 movies
 Chris Evans in, 136 affiliations of, 7475
history of, 17677 battle breakdown for, 8687
Superman in, 61 by color, 67
multiverse, 2425 common themes of, 1213
costume colors of, 811, 5455
height of, 1819
N locations of, 2223
New Gods, 11011 political ideologies of, 50
New York City, 12425 ratings of, 17071, 18491
Nick Fury, 19, 86, 125, 168, 189 taxonomy of, 11819
Nightwing, 18, 88, 174, 183 on trading cards, 15253
weight of, 2021
Superman
O costume colors of, 8
O'Malley, Bryan Lee, 9293 Flash vs., 6263
height of, 19
hometown of, 22, 4243
P logo of, 3031
Pac-Man, 101 in movies, 61
Peanuts, 53, 108, 151 museum for, 42
Persepolis, 12223 political ideology of, 50
Power Girl, 15657 rap and, 107
Prohas, Antonio, 11213 rating of, 17071
Punisher, 86, 106, 12021, 125, 137, return from death by, 126
15859, 182, 190 roller coasters and, 4849
writers for, 183

R
rap, 1067, 109 T
Richie Rich, 3637, 40 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 3233,
Robin, 79, 8889, 107, 137, 165, 38, 106, 172
174 Thing, 19, 39, 4647, 74, 86, 106, 125,
roller coasters, 4849 127, 191
Royal Roy, 40 Thor, 8, 19, 22, 39, 45, 50, 86, 106,
RZA, 109 173, 190
300, 161
tie-ins, 13839 Most popular letter section
S Tintin, 22, 23, 14045 by sub-category
Satrapi, Marjane, 12223 Tony Stark, 3637, 107, 125
Scott Pilgrim, 9293 trading cards, 15253
Scrooge McDuck, 22, 3637, 115
Silver Surfer, 19, 20, 45, 86, 136, 173,
19 0 V
Sim, Dave, 56 Venom, 55, 94, 100
Sin City, 6667 V for Vendetta, 17879
Snoop Dogg, 107 vigilantes, 137
Spider-Man Voltron, 38
affiliations of, 74
battles of, 86
costume of, 8, 55, 100 W
in New York City, 125 The Walking Dead, 8081, 16263
political ideology of, 50 Wally West, 19, 22, 50, 60, 62, 131
popularity of, with men, 85 Ware, Chris, 9091
rap and, 106 Watchmen, 13233
rating of, 190 Wolverine, 8, 18, 21, 50, 74, 86, 102,
Stan Lee and, 45 106, 137, 164, 191
on trading cards, 15253 Wonder Woman, 9, 18, 22, 50, 13435,
Venom and, 55, 94, 100 17071, 183
weight of, 20
writers for, 182
Spy vs. Spy, 11213 X
Starro, 65, 17071 X-Men, 23, 45, 7475, 99, 107, 114,
Star Wars, 103 164, 182
Storm, 18, 55, 74, 86, 106,
19 1
superheroes and supervillians. Y
See also individual characters Y: The Last Man, 8283 A B C D E F G H I J K L MNOPQR S T UVWXY Z
Acknowledgments
HUMANS

Chris Anderson

David Brothers

Alice Cho

Neil Egan

Thomas Goetz

Emily Haynes

Laura Hudson

Erica Jewell

Adan Jimenez

Brandon Kavulla

Alan Kistler

Rina Kushnir

Suzanne LaGasa

Andrew Lawrence

Nancy Leong

Rich Leong

Jason Michelitch

Wyatt Mitchell

Caitlin Roper

Peter Rubin

Chris Sims

Rachel Swaby

Jacob Young

Everyone at
WIRED Magazine

SUPERHUMANS
To Rachel, for not breaking up with me during this long process, but also for supporting me through it with incredible love,
enthusiasm, and inspiration. Thank you for pointing out when I got things wrong in the book, though I still dont know why you
took so much pleasure in doing so. You made this book, and my life, so much better, and I love you so much for it. I could not
have done this without you, nor would I have wanted to.
 WRITING

EDITING

DESIGN

RESEARCH

GENERAL
SUPPORT

EMOTIONAL
LOVE

PHYSICAL
LOVE

Thanks to everyone at Wired
for teaching me so much about
infographics and being so over-
whelmingly supportive.
To all the former readers of
Comic Foundry. Your support still
means the world, and pushed me
to take on this project.
NON-HUMANS
To comic books and everyone that makes
them and reads them. This book is a love let-
ter to the medium, and hopefully a way to give
back to the industry that I owe so much to.
Tim Leong is the Director of Digital Design at WIRED Magazine.
He was previously the Design Director at Complex Magazine, and
before that he founded and edited the Eisner Awardnominated
magazine, Comic Foundry. He organizes his graphic novels by color
and lives in San Francisco, California.

Copyright 2013 by Tim Leong.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-1-4521-2988-4

The Library of Congress has cataloged the previous edition as follows:

Leong, Tim.
Super graphic : a visual guide to the comic book universe / Tim Leong.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-4521-1388-3
1. Comic books, strips, etc. I. Title.

NC1340.L46 2013
741.5--dc23

2012042335

Cover design by Tim Leong

Chronicle Books LLC

680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com