Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #18 - First Appearance of Az-Rel, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe (DC, 1985 series)
Issue: #18
Publication date: August 1986
Key date: August 1986
On-sale date: April 22, 1986
Indicia publisher: DC Comics Inc.
Price: $1.00; 1.35 CAD; 0.50 GBP
Pages: 36

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

Why this issue matters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First appearance (profile) of Werewolf - 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: Dick Giordano	Brek Bannin, Devilance, Nadira Va-Dim First, Dr. Xadu, Nam-Ek First, Kru-El, Jer-Em, Amos Fortune, Angela Hawkins III, Roger Hayden, Pamela Isley, Anthony Ivo, Professor Ivo, Jewelee
1	Who's Who's Hows and Whys	letters page	1	letters: typeset
2	Phantom Girl	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Jaime Hernandez; inks: Jaime Hernandez; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Salu Digby, Lar Gand, Mon-El, Jo Nah, Phantom Girl, Shrinking Violet, Ultra Boy, Tinya Wazzo
3	Phantom Lady	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Dave Stevens; inks: Dave Stevens; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Sandra Knight, Phantom Lady
4	The Phantom Stranger	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Jim Aparo; inks: Jim Aparo; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	The Phantom Stranger
5	Phantom Zone	character profile	2	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Rick Veitch; inks: Rick Veitch; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Aethyr First, Nadira Va-Dim First, Dr. Xadu, Nam-Ek First, Kru-El, Jer-Em, Lar Gand, Cha-Kor First, Professor Va-Kox, Gra-Mo First, Mon-El, Gaz-Or First, Az-Rel First, Faora Hu-Ul
6	Phobia	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Chuck Patton; inks: Karl Kesel; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Angela Hawkins III, Phobia, Raven, Trigon
7	The Pied Piper	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Dennis Jensen; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Barry Allen, The Flash, Pied Piper, Hartley Rathaway
8	Pig-Iron	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Scott Shaw; inks: Scott Shaw; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Pig-Iron, Peter Porkchops, Wolfie
9	Plasmus	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Marv Wolfman; inks: George Pérez; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Kid Flash, Plasmus, Otto von Furth, Wally West, General Zahl
10	Plastic Man	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Joe Staton; inks: Joe Staton; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Eel O'Brian, Plastic Man, Woozy Winks
11	Plastique	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Joe Brozowski; inks: Dell Barras; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Firestorm, Plastique, Ronnie Raymond, Bette Sans Souci, Martin Stein
12	Poison Ivy	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Steve Rude; inks: Steve Rude; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Batman, Pamela Isley, Poison Ivy, Bruce Wayne
13	Polar Boy	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Steve Lightle; inks: Steve Lightle; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Brek Bannin, Blok, Fire Lad, Lydda Jath, Thom Kallor, Brin Londo, Staq Mavlen, Night Girl, Polar Boy, Quislet, Star Boy, Timber Wolf
14	Power Girl	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Joe Staton; inks: Joe Staton; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Power Girl, Kara Zor-L
15	Pow-Wow Smith, Indian Lawman	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Dick Giordano; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Pow-Wow Smith, Pow-Wow Smith
16	The Prankster	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Wayne Boring; inks: John Byrne; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Clark Kent, Oswald Loomis, The Prankster, Superman
17	The Predator	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Dave Gibbons; inks: Dave Gibbons; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Carol Ferris, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, The Predator
18	Primus	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Shawn McManus; inks: Shawn McManus; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Artin, Green Man, Kalista, Pren, Primus, Primus/Artin First
19	Prince Ra-Man, Mind Master	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Alex Saviuk; inks: Joe Giella; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Eclipso, Mark Merlin, Prince Ra-Man
20	Privateer	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Stan Woch; inks: Bob Smith; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Barry Allen, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, Clark Kent, Manhunter, Princess Diana, The Privateer, Mark Shaw, The Star-Tsar, Superman, Bruce Wayne, Wonder Woman
21	Professor Amos Fortune	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Luke McDonnell; inks: Bill Wray; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Barry Allen, Aquaman, Arthur Curry, The Flash, Amos Fortune, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, J'Onn J'Onzz, Hal Jordan, Martian Manhunter, Princess Diana, Oliver Queen, Wonder Woman
22	Professor Hugo Strange	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Denys Cowan; inks: Art Nichols; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Batman, Hugo Strange, Bruce Wayne
23	Professor Ivo	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Irv Novick; inks: Rodin Rodriguez; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Barry Allen, Amazo, Aquaman, Arthur Curry, The Flash, Green Lantern, Anthony Ivo, Professor Ivo, J'Onn J'Onzz, Hal Jordan, Clark Kent, Martian Manhunter, Princess Diana, Superman
24	Prof. Milo	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Mike Zeck; inks: John Beatty; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Batman, Anthony Lupus First, Professor Milo, Bruce Wayne, Werewolf First
25	Proty I	character profile	0.5	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Keith Giffen; inks: Joe Rubinstein; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Chameleon Boy, Reep Daggle, Proty
26	Proty II	character profile	0.5	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Keith Giffen; inks: Joe Rubinstein; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Proty II
27	Psi	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Carmine Infantino; inks: Bob Oksner; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Kara Zor-El, Decay, Gayle Marsh, Daniel Pendergast, Psi, Supergirl
28	Psimon	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Chuck Patton; inks: Larry Mahlstedt; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Baran Flinders, Selinda Flinders, Dick Grayson, Simon Jones, Koriand'r, Mammoth, Nightwing, Psimon, Shimmer, Starfire, Trigon
29	Psions	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Shawn McManus; inks: Shawn McManus; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein
30	Psycho-Pirate	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Jerry Ordway; inks: Jerry Ordway; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Barry Allen, Jim Corrigan, The Flash, Charles Halstead First, Roger Hayden, Psycho-Pirate First, Psycho-Pirate, The Spectre
31	Pulsar Stargrave	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Keith Pollard; inks: Will Blyberg; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko; letters: Todd Klein	Imra Ardeen, Brainiac 5, Querl Dox, Thom Kallor, Lightning Lad, Dirk Morgna, Garth Ranzz, Saturn Girl, Star Boy, Pulsar Stargrave, Sun Boy
32	Punch & Jewelee	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Arthur Adams; inks: Gary Martin; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Allen Adam, Captain Atom, Eve Eden, Jewelee, Nightshade, Punch
33	The Pursuer	character profile	1	script: Mike W. Barr, Paul Kupperberg, Paul Levitz, Barbara Randall, Greg Weisman, E. Nelson Bridwell; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Greg Theakston; colors: Anthony Tollin, Len Wein, Tatjana Wood, Tom Ziuko	Beautiful Dreamer, Big Bear, Devilance, Drax, The Infinity Man, Mark Moonrider, Serifan, Vykin the Black

Printings and variants

Edition	How to tell
Newsstand	price 1.00 USD; barcode 0709893125108
Canadian	price 1.35 CAD; barcode 0709893125108

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus #4 ISBN 978-1-4012-1583-5	2008	On eBay ›
Superman: Tales from the Phantom Zone #[nn] ISBN 1401222587	2009	On eBay ›
Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus #4 ISBN 978-1-4012-3746-2	2013	On eBay ›
Batman Arkham: Poison Ivy #[nn] ISBN 978-1-4012-6445-1	2016	On eBay ›
The Fourth World Omnibus by Jack Kirby #[nn] ISBN 978-1-4012-7475-7	2018	On eBay ›
Batman Arkham: Hugo Strange #[nn] ISBN 978-1-4012-7470-2	2018	On eBay ›
Batman: The Dark Knight Detective #2 ISBN 978-1-4012-8468-8	2018	On eBay ›
The Forever People by Jack Kirby #[nn] ISBN 978-1-77950-230-8	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

‹ #1718 of 26#19 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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