Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #1 - First Appearance of Anthro, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (DC, 1985 series)
Issue: #1
Publication date: March 1985
Key date: March 1985
On-sale date: November 27, 1984
Indicia publisher: DC Comics Inc.
Price: $1.00; 1.35 CAD; 0.45 GBP
Pages: 36

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance (cover) of Anthro - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of The Atomic Knight - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Rath - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Ghast - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (cover) of Abnegazar - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance (profile) of Amadeus Arkham - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Lady Chian - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Dart - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Erin Bia O'Rourke-Singh - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Goldie - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Babe - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Dr. Morphea - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Pakrat - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Tukla Oly - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Tempest - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Christopher Champion - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Taz - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Hukka - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Embra - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Majistra - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Herb Winston - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Marion Winston - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Calculha - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Joe Morgan - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Mohandas Singh - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Jake Everett - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Lula May Everett - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	Who's Who	cover	2	pencils: George Pérez; inks: George Pérez	Abel, Abnegazar First, Abra Kadabra, Citizen Abra, Ahri'ahn, Air Wave, Air Wave, Alley-Kat-Abra, Amazing-Man, Amazo, Ambush Bug, Amethyst, Angle Man, Animal Man
1	Whodunnit! Or Who's Who's Hows and Whys	text article	1	script: Marv Wolfman, Len Wein
2	Abel	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Joe Orlando; inks: Joe Orlando; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelley Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Abel, Goldie First
3	Abnegazar, Rath & Ghast	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Craig Hamilton; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelley Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Abnegazar First, Felix Faust, Ghast First, Rath First
4	Abra Kadabra	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Frank McLaughlin; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelley Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Abra Kadabra, Citizen Abra, Barry Allen, The Flash
5	Adam Strange	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Murphy Anderson; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelley Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Alanna Strange, Sardath, Adam Strange
6	Aegeus	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Don Heck; inks: Don Heck; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Aegeus, Nikos Aegeus, Pegasus, Princess Diana, Wonder Woman
7	Air Wave I [Larry Jordan]	character profile	0.5	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Alex Saviuk; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Air Wave, Larry Jordan
8	Air Wave II [Harold Jordan]	character profile	0.5	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Alex Saviuk; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Air Wave, Hal Jordan
9	Alley-Kat-Abra	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Scott Shaw!; inks: Scott Shaw!; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Alley-Kat-Abra, Felina Furr
10	All-Star Squadron	character profile	2	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Jerry Ordway; inks: Jerry Ordway; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Amazing-Man, The Atom, Johnny Chambers, Commander Steel, Robert Crane / Paul Dennis, Doctor Fate, Will Everett, Firebrand, Green Lantern, The Guardian, Carter Hall, Jim Harper, Hawkgirl, Hawkman
11	All-Star Squadron Headquarters	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Marshall Rogers; inks: Marshall Rogers; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston
12	Amazing-Man	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Jerry Ordway; inks: Jerry Ordway; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Amazing-Man, Will Everett, Jake Everett First, Lula May Everett First
13	Amazo	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Mike Zeck; inks: John Beatty; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Barry Allen, Amazo, Aquaman, Arthur Curry, The Flash, Green Lantern, Anthony Ivo, Professor Ivo, J'Onn J'Onzz, Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, Princess Diana, Wonder Woman
14	Ambush Bug	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Keith Giffen; inks: Bob Oksner; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Ambush Bug, Irwin Schwab
15	Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Ernie Colón; inks: Ernie Colón; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Amethyst, Citrina, Lord Garnet, Sardonyx, Prince Topaz, Amy Winston, Herb Winston First, Marion Winston First
16	Angle Man	character profile	0.33	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: José Delbo; inks: Romeo Tanghal; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Angle Man, Angelo Bend
17	Animal Man	character profile	0.67	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Gil Kane; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Animal Man, Buddy Baker
18	Anthro	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Howie Post; inks: Howie Post; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Anthro First, Embra First
19	Apokolips	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Greg Theakston; inks: Greg Theakston; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Darkseid
20	Aqualad	character profile	0.5	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: George Pérez; inks: George Pérez; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Aqualad, Garth
21	Aquagirl	character profile	0.5	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: George Pérez; inks: George Pérez; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Aquagirl, Tula
22	Aquaman	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Chuck Patton; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Aquaman, Arthur Curry
23	Arak, Son of Thunder	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Ernie Colón; inks: Ernie Colón; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Arak, Malagigi, Satyricus, Valda
24	Arcane	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Steve Bissette; inks: John Totleben; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Anton Arcane
25	Arion, Lord of Atlantis	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Jan Duursema; inks: Jan Duursema; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Ahri'ahn, Arion, Calculha First, Lady Chian First, Majistra First
26	Arkham Asylum	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Steve Bissette; inks: John Totleben; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Amadeus Arkham First, Harvey Dent, The Floronic Man, Joker, Two-Face, Jason Woodrue, Maxie Zeus
27	Atari Force	character profile	2	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Eduardo Barreto; inks: Eduardo Barreto; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Babe First, Christopher Champion First, Commander Martin Champion, Dart First, Hukka First, Dr. Morphea First, Li San O'Rourke, Erin Bia O'Rourke-Singh First, Tukla Oly First, Dr. Lucas Orion, Pakrat First, Lydia Perez, Mohandas Singh First, Taz First
28	Atlantis	character profile	2	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Marshall Rogers; inks: Marshall Rogers; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Aquagirl, Aqualad, Garth, Lori Lemaris, Ronal, Tula, Nuidis Vulko
29	The Atom I [Al Pratt]	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Rick Hoberg; inks: Romeo Tanghal; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	The Atom, Joe Morgan First, Al Pratt
30	The Atom II [Ray Palmer]	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Gil Kane; inks: Gil Kane; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	The Atom, Laethwen, Jean Loring, Ray Palmer
31	Atomic Knight	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Murphy Anderson; inks: Murphy Anderson; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	The Atomic Knight First, Bryndon, Gardner Grayle, Gardner Grayle, Douglas Herald, Marene Herald, Hollis Hobard, Wayne Hobard
32	The Atomic Skull	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Curt Swan; inks: Murphy Anderson; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	The Atomic Skull, Clark Kent, Dr. Albert Michaels, Superman
33	Auron	character profile	1	script: Len Wein, Marv Wolfman; pencils: Tod Smith; inks: Rick Magyar; colors: Helen Vesik, Shelly Eiber, Tatjana Wood, Joe Orlando, Greg Theakston	Auron, Lambien, X'Hal
34	DC Comics	promo (ad from the publisher)	1	letters: typeset

Printings and variants

Edition	How to tell
Newsstand	price 1.00 USD; barcode 0709893125103
Canadian	price 1.35 CAD; barcode 0709893125103

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Legends of Tomorrow: The Atom #[nn] ISBN 978-1-4012-7886-1	2018	On eBay ›
Who's Who Omnibus #1 ISBN 978-1-77950-599-6	2021	On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

1 of 26#2 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wikidata, Q574351 (Anthro), first-appearance property (CC0)
Wikidata, Q113504671 (Ghast), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com