Who's Who on Earth-Two: Your Opinions, Please

[Cei-U!]

As many of you know, I've been working on a project called The Collector's Guide to Earth-Two for the past several years. One of the project's features will be a "Who's Who," an index of characters with a brief summary of each entry's history and a list of canonical appearances.

Listed in the next several posts are the entries for A. The idea is that folks perusing the guide proper can click on a link and go to a page containing pertinent info about the cited character. In their final form, each entry will include an illustration, either a panel taken from the source material or, in the case of major heroes and villains, an original drawing by yours truly. You'll have to imagine the pix for now, alas, but otherwise I'd appreciate any feedback on the basic format. Is it too detailed? Not detailed enough? Should I drop the entries for minor characters?

Two things to remember:

1. All entries concern post-Golden Age, pre-Crisis continuity only.
2. Entries marked with an asterisk (*) are incomplete.

and the necessary disclaimer:

All characters, images and trademarks pertaining to Earth-Two, the JSA and related characters are © and ™ DC Comics and are used solely for historical purposes under the fair use provisions outlined in Chapter 1, Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. This publication and its content are not authorized by DC Comics. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the author. Text ©2006 Kurt Mitchell.

Okay, that's it. Thanks for participating.

Cei-U!
I summon the marketing research!

[Cei-U!]

Abnegazar
See Demons Three

Abra Kadabra
A time-traveling costumed super-villain, true name unknown, from Earth-One's 64th Century, who uses the science of his era to simulate magic in our own. He is a longtime foe of The Flash of Earth-One and has also battled Doctor Fate, Doctor-Mid-Nite and The Flash. [The Flash #170, 247]

Absorbo-Man
One of three beings magically created by The Thunderbolt (1) during his first period of service to the criminal Johnny Thunder of Earth-One. It had the power to absorb any physical force or energy used against it. Neither truly alive nor possessed of an independent will, Absorbo-Man was destroyed in battle with Doctor Fate. [Justice League of America #38]

Ackroyd, Lieutenant
An American army officer, first name unknown, who briefly encountered Wonder Woman during World War II. He served under Colonel Hammond Belushi. [Wonder Woman #233]

Adjuticator, The
An enormous humanoid extraterrestrial, true name and home planet unknown, who threatened to destroy Earths-One, -Two, -I and -X if their inhabitants proved unworthy of existence by his standards. He was defeated by a coalition of super-heroines from the endangered Earths led by Wonder Woman of Earth-One and including The Huntress (2) , Phantom Lady and Power Girl. The self-described “living tribunal of the starways” was ultimately exposed as an escaped lunatic and returned to his asylum. [Wonder Woman #293-95]

Agamemnon
The legendary king of Mycenae who led the allied Greek forces during the Trojan War. Doppelgängers of Agamemnon exist in many universes. His Earth-Two incarnation briefly encountered the time-traveling Seven Soldiers of Victory. [All-Star Squadron #29]

Agent Axis
A costumed Nazi operative of Earth-One, true name unknown, who clashed with four time-traveling members of the Justice League of America and a dimensionally displaced Wonder Woman during World War II. [World's Finest Comics #250]

Ahriman of the Windy Worlds
A demonic inhabitant of the extradimensional world of Dis. He and his fellow demons attempted to destroy The Spectre during his brief sojourn to their realm but proved unequal to the task. [Showcase #61]

Air Wave
A costumed super-hero of the 1940s. Larry Jordan, a lawyer in the New York District Attorney's office, used an electronic helmet and other specialized equipment to fight criminals beyond the reach of the law. His postwar fate is unknown. Air Wave had an Earth-One doppelgänger with an identical origin and early history who later married, fathered a son and was murdered in the early '60s. His son Hal carries on the family tradition as the second Air Wave of Earth-One. [All-Star Squadron #31, 59-60]

Aka
President of the nation of Akania on an alternate universe version of the planet Saturn. A dimensionally-displaced Hawkman helped the Akanians dethrone Hora, dictator of an aggressor nation, in favor of his daughter Ysult, Aka's beloved. [All-Star Squadron #52]

Akhet
A giant android created by Professor Elwood P. Napier and his associates as part of their plan to end World War II, a plan later subverted by Dr. Anton Hastor to further less honorable ends. Akhet claimed to be the spokesman for the Binary Brotherhood, an alliance of extraterrestrial races intent on imposing peace on Earth. The hoax was exposed by the All-Star Squadron. [All-Star Squadron #10-12]

Albion, Nick
A Metropolis mobster who attempted to blackmail Superman with proof of his secret identity. [Superman Family #209]

Alchemist, The
See Professor Zolbar Zodiak

Alexander the Great (1)
(356-323 BC) King of Macedonia, one of the greatest military minds of the ancient world, who conquered much of southeastern Europe, northeastern Africa and western Asia before his untimely death at age 33. The Justice Society of America, traveling back in time from 1947 to thwart Per Degaton's plan to change history, helped Alexander win the Battle of Arabella in 331 BC. Alexander was one of five historical figures brought forward through time to 1942 as a pawn of Dr. Wilfrid Doome. Defeated in battle by Green Arrow and Speedy, he returned to his own time to meet his ultimate fate. [All-Star Squadron #2, 29]

Alexander the Great (2) *
A costumed super-villain, true name unknown, and early foe of Hawkman who later served as a pawn in Ian Karkull's scheme to change history by assassinating eight future US presidents. [All-Star Squadron Annual #3]

Allen, Iris
See Iris West

Allen, Woodley
A veteran FBI agent who acted as liason between the Bureau and Starman in the early days of that hero's career. [All-Star Squadron #41]

All-Star Squadron, The
A wartime organization of America's super-heroes, founded by and answerable to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its membership included the Justice Society of America, Seven Soldiers of Victory, Freedom Fighters and virtually every other costumed crusader then active. Its history after mid-1942 is unchronicled, though it was presumably disbanded at war's end. [All-Star Squadron #1-60; All-Star Squadron Annual #1-3; Justice League of America #193, 207-09]

All-Star Super-Squad, The
A rarely-used name for the association of Power Girl and The Star-Spangled Kid with the active duty roster of the Justice Society of America. The term was dropped completely when the duo were formally inducted into the JSA. [All-Star Comics #58-63]

Alura
The mother of Kara, aka Power Girl. Alura died with the rest of her race in the destruction of the planet Krypton early in the 20th Century. She has an Earth-One dopplegänger who survived the destruction of that reality's Krypton. [Showcase #97]

[Cei-U!]

Amazing-Man
A costumed super-hero of the 1940s, the first known African-American super-hero on Earth-Two. Former Olympic medalist Will Everett, forced to act as a guinea pig in one of The Ultra-Humanite's diabolical experiments, gained the power to consciously transform his body into any substance he touched with his fingertips. Originally a willing agent of Ultra, Amazing-Man switched sides and joined the All-Star Squadron. His postwar fate is unknown. [All-Star Squadron #23-27, 38-43, 46-7, 50, 53-4, 57-60; All-Star Squadron Annual #2; Crisis on Infinite Earths #5]

Amazons of Paradise Island
A legendary race of immortal warrior women who live apart from human society. Dopplegängers of the Amazons exist in several universes. On both Earth-One and Earth-Two, Paradise Island is ruled by Hippolyte (Hippolyta on Earth-One), whose daughter Diana, aka Wonder Woman, is the Amazons' greatest champion. [DC Special Series #9; Infinity, Inc Annual #1; Wonder Woman #237] See also Superwoman of Earth-Three.

Americommando, The
See Mister America

Americommando, The, of Earth-One
A popular comic book super-hero of World War II and a charter member of the Crusaders, impersonated by The Silver Ghost as part of a plot against the Freedom Fighters. Americommando and his teen sidekick Rusty had no true superpowers but were extraordinary acrobats and unarmed combatants. [Freedom Fighters #7-10]

Amon-Ra
The hawk-headed Egyptian god of light. Doppelgängers of Amon-Ra exist in several universes. His Earth-Two incarnation aided Doctor Fate in battle against Khalis and the god Anubis. [1st Issue Special #9]

Anankh
A priest of ancient Egypt who led the uprising that dethroned the extradimensional immortals Osira and Hefnakhti. [Wonder Woman #231]

Anders, Judge
A Keystone City jurist murdered by The Thorn as revenge for sentencing her to prison. [All-Star Comics #72]

Andre
See Blackhawks

Angle Man, The
A costumed super-villain of Earth-One. Originally a criminal mastermind known for the elaborate “angles” of his schemes, Angelo Bend donned a costume after receiving the Angler, a space-warping device, from the evil god Darkseid. The Angle Man is a longtime foe of Wonder Woman of Earth-One and served with the Secret Society of Super-Villains during the period that Grodd led the team. [Secret Society of Super-Villains #10; Wonder Woman #242-43]

Animal Man
A costumed super-hero of Earth-One. Movie stunt man Buddy Baker, exposed to the otherwordly radiation of a crashed spaceship, gained the power to temporarily acquire the abilities of any animal he came near. As one of the Forgotten Heroes, Animal Man was instrumental in defeating Vandal Savage's plan to conquer Earth-One by changing history. [Action Comics #552-53]

Anti-Matter Man, The
An extradimensional explorer, true name and point of origin unknown, from an anti-matter universe whose presence in the interdimensional void between Earth-One and Earth-Two threatened to destroy both planets. Though probably not malevolent in intent, his alien nature made it impossible for the members of the Justice Society of America and Justice League of America to communicate with him. The Anti-Matter Man was ultimately ejected from the matter universe through the combined efforts of The Atom of Earth-One and The Spectre. [Justice League of America #46-47]

Anti-Monitor, The
A cosmic entity of enormous power and immeasurable malevolence, the mastermind behind the Crisis on Infinite Earths. It took the combined powers of super-heroes from six parallel Earths to defeat his plans. The Anti-Monitor died in battle with Superman. [Crisis on Infinite Earths #2-12]

Anubis
The jackal-headed Egyptian god of death. Doppelgängers of Anubis exist in several universes. His Earth-Two incarnation aided his human disciple Khalis in battle against Doctor Fate and the god Amon-Ra. [1st Issue Special #9]

Aphrodite
The Olympian (Greek) goddess of love, known to the Romans as Venus. Doppelgängers of Aphrodite exist in several universes. In both her Earth-One and Earth-Two incarnations, she is a patroness of the Amazons of Paradise Island and played a role in the creation of Wonder Woman. [All-Star Squadron #57; DC Special Series #9, Wonder Woman #237]

Apokolips Underground Fighters
A cadre of children, escapees from Granny Goodness' orphanage on the extradimensional world of Apokolips, that lived in the planet's sewer system and conducted guerrilla warfare against the regime of the evil god Darkseid. After helping the Justice Society of America and the Justice League of America rescue the New Gods from the Injustice Society of the World, they were taken to live on New Genesis. [Justice League of America #184-85]

Aqualad
A costumed super-hero, the crimefighting partner of Aquaman of Earth-One and a founding member of the Teen Titans. Garth is an orphaned Atlantean “throwback,” a genetic anomaly with physical characteristics associated with the race's surface-dwelling ancestors. His superpowers are similar to Aquaman's. [DC Special Series #11, Showcase #100, Teen Titans #46]

Aquaman
A costumed super-hero, true name unknown, dedicated to protecting the oceans and their inhabitants. Aquaman can breathe underwater, has superhuman strength and can communicate telepathically with sea life. Little is known about his origin, the few facts mirroring that of his better-known Earth-One doppelgänger. Although he attended a handful of All-Star Squadron meetings, Aquaman rarely interacted with his land-based colleagues. His postwar fate is unknown. [All-Star Squadron #59-60]

Aquaman of Earth-One
A costumed super-hero, the crimefighting partner of Aqualad and a founding member of the Justice League of America. He is a doppelgänger of the Earth-Two Aquaman, with whom he shares a similar but not identical origin (though the Earth-One Aquaman is 10 to 15 years younger than his counterpart). Born Arthur Curry, Aquaman is the son of an American lighthouse keeper and an exiled noblewoman of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. He and his wife Mera reigned as king and queen of the Atlantean city of Poseidonis for years. Aquaman has met the Justice Society of America many times while serving with the JLA but has never encountered his doppelgänger. [All-Star Squadron #14-15; Freedom Fighters #3; Justice League of America #21-22, 65, 97-98, 100-02, 123-24, 139, 160, 193, 195, 207-09, 231; Showcase #100; (as Arthur Curry) World's Finest Comics #250]

Aquarius
An enormously powerful energy being known as a Living Star who was stripped of his powers and exiled for unspecified crimes. Driven mad after eons of solitude, Aquarius was drawn to Earth-Two by the stellar energy of Starman's cosmic rod. His attempt to end all life on Earth-Two was opposed by the Justice Society of America and the Justice League of America. Aquarius was destroyed during that battle. [Justice League of America #73-74]

Arak, Son of Thunder
A legendary Native American warrior of Earth-One. The last of his tribe, Arak was adopted by Vikings and eventually became a knight in the court of Charlemagne. As one of History's Heroes, he battled The Ultra-Humanite during the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Arak may have had an Earth-Two dopplegänger: the super-villain Arak the Wind Walker claims to be his descendent. [All-Star Squadron #55]

Arak the Wind Walker*
A costumed super-villain and a member of the “family” of mutants known as Helix. [Infinity, Inc #17-18, 22, 24, 26, 28-29]

Archer, The
A costumed super-villain, real name Quigley, and an early foe of Superman. A big game hunter who decided to use his lethal skills for profit, the Archer was caught and sent to prison. Escaping years later, he tried — and failed — to avenge himself on the Man of Steel by murdering Lois Lane Kent. [Superman Family #221]

Arkham Sanitarium inmates
Policemen, material witnesses and other enemies of organized crime imprisoned by Dr. Amos Tarr and Professor Fether at the Arkham Sanitarium for the Criminally Insane. Fed psychosis-inducing drugs that mimicked insanity, the inmates were freed when The Huntress (2) broke up Tarr and Fether's racket. [Wonder Woman #305-06, 308]

Armageddon
A costumed Nazi super-villain of World War II who wore special boots that could generate seismic tremors. A master strategist and ruthless tactician, Armageddon and his gang of assassins and saboteurs plagued the American war effort. His operations were broken up by Wonder Woman but he got away during their last known encounter. No account of his capture has been given and his true identity remains a mystery. [Wonder Woman #233-36]

[Cei-U!]

Armsby, Osgood
See Doctor Occult

Arnold, “Tricky Dick”
A burglar whose metal-dissolving “metalizer” tool nearly killed Hourman (1) before the hero brought him to justice. [The Spectre #7]

Arthur, Justin
See The Shining Knight

Arthur Pendragon, King
The legendary 6th Century British monarch, lord of Camelot and leader of the Knights of the Round Table. He and the other characters of the Arthurian cycle are history, not legend, on Earth-Two. Arthur was briefly deposed and impersonated by a time-traveling Vandal Savage but was restored to his throne by Merlin the Magician, The Shining Knight and the Justice Society of America. [All-Star Comics #65]

A-Rym
An alien child, point of origin unknown, stranded on Earth-Two after falling out of a spaceship in the interdimensional void. His alien nature and his desperation to be reunited with his symbiotic pet Teppy made A-Rym a menace for a time until the Justice Society of America and Justice League of America reunited the symbiotes and sent them home. [Justice League of America #91-92]

Ash
The friend and co-pilot of Ted Knight aka Starman during the latter's brief military service. Ash was present when Starman and Hawkman encountered the Binary Brotherhood's Flying Eye. [All-Star Squadron #10]

Athena
The Olympian (Greek) goddess of wisdom, known to the Romans as Minerva. Doppelgängers of Athena exist in several universes. In both her Earth-One and Earth-Two incarnations, she is a patroness of the Amazons of Paradise Island and played a role in the creation of Wonder Woman. [DC Special Series #9]

Atom, The
A costumed super-hero and a founding member of the Justice Society of America. 5'1" college student Al Pratt, tired of being bullied by men and scorned by women, trained under athletic coach Joe Morgan until he was a paragon of physical perfection. He battled crime throughout the 1940s, both on his own and with the JSA. The Atom gained superhuman strength in 1948 as a side effect of his exposure six years earlier to the thorium radiation of the super-villain Cyclotron. He retired his costumed identity in 1951 after the forced disbanding of the JSA. As Al Pratt, he became a professor of nuclear physics at Calvin University, his alma mater. He resumed his Atom identity when the JSA reorganized in 1963 but became less active during the '70s and '80s. A longtime bachelor, Al finally married sometime before 1980. His wife Mary is aware of his double identity. He is the godfather of Cyclotron's daughter Terri Kurtzberger Rothstein and takes a grandfatherly interest in her son Albert aka Nuklon. [Adventure Comics #466; All-Star Comics #74; All-Star Squadron #1-13, 19-21, 23-28, 30-32, 50, 53-54, 57, 60; All-Star Squadron Annual #1-3; America Vs. the Justice Society #1-4; The Atom #29, 36; Crisis on Infinite Earths #5-7, 9-11; DC Comics Presents #30; DC Special #29; The Flash #137; Infinity, Inc #1-5, 8-11, 21-23, 25, 27; Infinity, Inc Annual #1; Justice League of America #21-22, 37-38, 64-65, 82, 91-92, 97-98, 193, 195; Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1; Secret Society of Super-Villains #15; Wonder Woman #231-32; (as Al Pratt) DC Special Series #10; Infinity Inc #12]

Atom, The, of Earth-One
A costumed super-hero and a longtime member of the Justice League of America. A professor of physics at Ivy University, Ray Palmer uses the special properties of the white dwarf star matter in his costume to shrink in size. He can become sub-microscopically small but fights most effectively at six inches. The costume also allows him to vary his weight from near-nothing to his normal 180 pounds. The Atom has met the Justice Society of America many times while serving with the JLA and has developed a close friendship with his Earth-Two counterpart. [The Atom #29, 36; Justice League of America #21-22, 46-47, 65, 72-74, 82-83, 91-92, 100-02, 139, 159-60, 183, 195-97; Showcase #100; (as Ray Palmer) Justice League of America #231; Secret Society of Super-Villains #10; World's Finest Comics #250]

Atom, The, of Earth-A
See Lawless League of America

Atoman, The
A costumed Nazi super-villain of the 1940s. Heinrich Melch, a German soldier, was transformed into the superhuman Atoman to avenge the Third Reich's defeat by murdering the victors' mightiest champion, Superman. Injected with an experimental serum that gave him super-strength and the power to emit kryptonite radiation at will, Atoman clashed repeatedly with the Man of Tomorrow until seemingly killed in battle. Deep in a healing state of suspended animation, he slept more than three decades before inexplicably waking up on Earth-One. With his superpowers increased in this new reality, it took the combined efforts of Superman, Robin, Superman of Earth-One and Batman of Earth-One to end the vengeance-crazed Nazi überman's rampage. [World's Finest Comics #271]

Atomic mutants of Earth-Prime
A race of monstrous radioactive survivors of a thermonuclear war triggered when Per Degaton and the Crime Syndicate of America interfered in Earth-Prime's Cuban missile crisis. The Justice Society of America encountered the mutants when they accidentally teleported to their reality. History corrected itself on Earth-Prime following Degaton's defeat, wiping the mutants' timeline from existence. [Justice League of America #208]

[Cei-U!]

Attila the Hun
(c. 406-453) King of a barbarian people that swept through eastern and central Europe in the waning days of the Roman Empire. Attila was one of five historical figures brought forward through time to 1942 as a pawn of Dr. Wilfrid Doome. Defeated in battle by The Vigilante and Billy Gunn, he returned to his own time to meet his ultimate fate. [All-Star Squadron #29]

Auchinleck, General Sir Claude
(1884-1981) A British military commander of World War II. General Auchinleck's Earth-Two doppelgänger was kidnapped by the Nazi super-villain Baron Blitzkreig and rescued by Wonder Woman and Mlle. Marie's band of French resistance agents. [World's Finest Comics #246-47]

Aurikon
An extradimensional super-villain, one of the Gold Men of Xenca. Aurikon and his men posed as carnival performers while gathering scraps of iron, an element unknown in their dimension, needed to power three gigantic robots with which they planned to conquer Xenca. The Justice Society of America foiled those plans. [America Vs. the Justice Society #4]

Ávila Camacho, Manuel
(1897-1955) The president of Mexico during World War II. The All-Star Squadron saved his Earth-Two doppelgänger from overthrow and assassination at the hands of The Feathered Serpent. [All-Star Squadron #6]

Ayrn the Underlord
The ruler of the subterranean kingdom of Middle Earth and the race of humanoids that inhabit it. Ayrn formed an alliance with the Injustice Society of the World, offering to kill the Justice Society of America in exchange for the ISW's aid in his planned conquest of the surface world. Despite his superhuman strength, the Underlord was defeated in battle by Power Girl and his army routed by the JSA. [All-Star Comics #67]

Azmodus
A demonic inhabitant of the extradimensional world of Tholagga. Azmodus came to Earth in 1945 intent on spreading evil and terror but was trapped within his human host for more than two decades. Liberated by the death of his host, the demon was defeated in battle, stripped of his magical powers and exiled to another dimension by The Spectre. [Showcase #60]

[benday-dot]

If being a mental midget when it comes to DC esoterica disqualifies me from giving up proper criticism, then maybe it also does the same to due praise. But the hell with it... that is outright wonderful! That's stuff I've always dreamed would be at hand. Its the sort of "just the facts ma'am" material that could swell a mental mental midgets head. Could turn all ignorance into a semblance of knowledge. As far as detail goes I think you just about nailed it. Reminds me of my Smaller Classical Dictionary I've worn out. And of all the other one volume reference sources I keep around the house for trivias sake, and well for the sake of you just never know when you might need to look something up (my little reference collection began before Google). Yes, looks more akin to a dictionary than an encycolpedia, and that suits me fine. You reference the canon with a source that doubtless will soon be of the canon.

Brilliant! Can't wait 'til the projects finished Cei-U. Sell it to DC, and tell 'em to print it up shiny and thick and beautiful. I don't think they yet have a handbook quite like that do they? Anyway, very well done indeed. A labour of love for sure.

[spoon_jenkins]

It might be better to title the entry "Atom, The, of Earth-One" as "Atom of Earth-One, The."

[moonlight_night78]

Personally, I like it, even though I think it should include the Golden Age books themselves. Also a 1st appearance note might be nice or at least a note for the retconned characters characters that were created and sho-horned into the All-Star Squardon.


Atoman, The
A costumed Nazi super-villain of the 1940s. Heinrich Melch, a German soldier, was transformed into the superhuman Atoman to avenge the Third Reich's defeat by murdering the victors' mightiest champion, Superman. Injected with an experimental serum that gave him super-strength and the power to emit kryptonite radiation at will, Atoman clashed repeatedly with the Man of Tomorrow until seemingly killed in battle. Deep in a healing state of suspended animation, he slept more than three decades before inexplicably waking up on Earth-One. With his superpowers increased in this new reality, it took the combined efforts of Superman, Robin, Superman of Earth-One and Batman of Earth-One to end the vengeance-crazed Nazi überman's rampage. [World's Finest Comics #471]


Hate to tell you this. but there isn't a World's Finest Comics #471, the book ended at #323

[Cei-U!]

Personally, I like it, even though I think it should include the Golden Age books themselves.

Two reasons I don't do that. One, the project is big enough as is without dealing with several hundred additional stories. Two, there's no way on God's green earth I'm ever going to have access to 90% of the Golden Age stuff, even factoring in the Archives volumes. I do, however, include a list of GA hero and villain appearances elsewhere in the guide.

Also a 1st appearance note might be nice or at least a note for the retconned characters characters that were created and sho-horned into the All-Star Squardon.

Again, that sort of info is covered elsewhere in the guide.

Hate to tell you this. but there isn't a World's Finest Comics #471, the book ended at #323

D'oh! You're right, of course. It was #271. Thanks for catching that typo.

Cei-U!
I summon the virtual Liquid Paper!

[Reptisaurus!]

Seems just about perfect to me. Enough information to provide context but little enough to be easily digestible.

[moonlight_night78]

Two reasons I don't do that. One, the project is big enough as is without dealing with several hundred additional stories. Two, there's no way on God's green earth I'm ever going to have access to 90% of the Golden Age stuff, even factoring in the Archives volumes. I do, however, include a list of GA hero and villain appearances elsewhere in the guide.



Again, that sort of info is covered elsewhere in the guide.



D'oh! You're right, of course. It was #271. Thanks for catching that typo.

Cei-U!
I summon the virtual Liquid Paper!

That's cool, I really look forward to seeing it when you finish

[DarthAstuart]

just a "hear, hear" on the praise for this...i know nearly none of this history and i can see myself poring over this early and often just for fun.

which brings my next question: is this just for a website? or eventual publication? this seems like a nearly ideal candidate for TwoMorrows...even if it takes more than one volume. I'd love to have this in hard copy to flip through at my leisure.

great work!

[scratchie]

First of all, Kurt is now my hero! The idea and execution are awesome.

On specifics:

The format seems to provide a good level of detail.

Please DON'T drop the minor characters. While it's always nice to browse through this sort of guide and read about your favorite characters, when comes to the guide with a character they've never heard of, chances are it will be a minor character.

Or to put it another way, if you're doing a project like this at all, there's no reason not to go whole hog. You're writing a guide to Pre-Crisis Earth-Two Characters; there's really no point in worrying whether some particular entry is "too trivial!" :D

One thing I dislike in a lot of similar guides is when they don't give you a "first appearance" reference. For collectors, that sort of thing is essential. When you say "That sort of thing is included somewhere else in the guide", it sounds like you're referring to the first GA appearance (maybe I misread). I would love to see a first Silver or Bronze appearance as well (i.e., the first appearance that qualifies them for inclusion in the guide).

When I recently read some of the "DC Encyclopedia" (or whatever it's called), I was very disappointed that the entries didn't include the names of the writers or artists who created the characters. I suppose there may be some potential problems to doing something like that in an "official" DC publication (e.g., the writer and artist on the character's first story might not have actually "created" him if he came from an editor's idea, etc.) and it probably conflicts with the overall attitude at the Big Two that the characters are the primary product and the creators are just cogs in the machine (although DC seems more "enlightened" in that regard).

Point of all of that is that if you know who created certain characters (either the original version or the "Earth Two" version), I would love to see that information as well.

[Lone Ranger]

Kurt

I think the format works well overall.

Are you using Flash #123 as the starting point?

If so, that makes sense to me as it was when the concept of multiple Earths was introduces. It's a very clear moment in time.

Do not drop the minor characters - each one is important to somebody.

Have you given any though into listing appearance in chronological order (based on events/continuity) or even publication order. I was thinking that it might be a good idea, but then I saw an entry like Atom and realized it might get messy for those bigger characters.

What about a list of Earth-One characters who have made appearances on Earth-Two? I know that individual entries would be overkill, but perhaps just a list of who crossed over.

First appearances and Creator credits might get tricky for characters who originated in the Golden Age, but perhaps Origin stories could be noted. I am always interested in those. Would that be too much work at this stage?


Anyhow - this is great stuff, as always. You are the man!

[Cei-U!]

Kurt

I think the format works well overall.

Are you using Flash #123 as the starting point?

If so, that makes sense to me as it was when the concept of multiple Earths was introduces. It's a very clear moment in time.

Yup, with Infinity, Inc #30 as the cutoff point. As far as I can tell, that's the last story in which characters seem to be consciously aware of their Earth-Two origins (plus it features the "funerals" of those JSAers lost in Last Days of the Justice Society #1).

Do not drop the minor characters - each one is important to somebody.

That seems to be the consensus and my own inclination as well.

Have you given any though into listing appearance in chronological order (based on events/continuity) or even publication order. I was thinking that it might be a good idea, but then I saw an entry like Atom and realized it might get messy for those bigger characters.

The comics themselves are listed in order of publication and there will be a separate section titled "An Earth-Two Chronology" which will list all Earth-Two related stories and events in chronological order.

What about a list of Earth-One characters who have made appearances on Earth-Two? I know that individual entries would be overkill, but perhaps just a list of who crossed over.

Any character who appears in a story set on Earth-Two or interacts with an Earth-Two characters will receive a "Who's Who" entry, regardless of their Earth of origin.

First appearances and Creator credits might get tricky for characters who originated in the Golden Age, but perhaps Origin stories could be noted. I am always interested in those. Would that be too much work at this stage?

The guide entries for individual comics track first appearances and/or the reintroductions of Golden Age characters. Since there seems to be a demand for them, I'll consider adding such notations to the "Who's Who" entries.

Anyhow - this is great stuff, as always. You are the man!

Thank you kindly.

Cei-U!
I roll up my sleeves!

[Cei-U!]

just a "hear, hear" on the praise for this...i know nearly none of this history and i can see myself poring over this early and often just for fun.

which brings my next question: is this just for a website? or eventual publication? this seems like a nearly ideal candidate for TwoMorrows...even if it takes more than one volume. I'd love to have this in hard copy to flip through at my leisure.

great work!

Thanks.

At the moment, the plan is for the Collectors' Guide to appear as a website in Autumn '07. I'm not adverse to publishing it as a book but TwoMorrows has already passed on it. I am, however, a contributor to their forthcoming All-Star Companion, Vol. 2. It's supposed to hit the shelves by this Christmas, I'm told.

Cei-U!
I summon Roy Thomas' labor of love!

[Cei-U!]

First of all, Kurt is now my hero! The idea and execution are awesome.

On specifics:

The format seems to provide a good level of detail.

Please DON'T drop the minor characters. While it's always nice to browse through this sort of guide and read about your favorite characters, when comes to the guide with a character they've never heard of, chances are it will be a minor character.

Or to put it another way, if you're doing a project like this at all, there's no reason not to go whole hog. You're writing a guide to Pre-Crisis Earth-Two Characters; there's really no point in worrying whether some particular entry is "too trivial!" :D

One thing I dislike in a lot of similar guides is when they don't give you a "first appearance" reference. For collectors, that sort of thing is essential. When you say "That sort of thing is included somewhere else in the guide", it sounds like you're referring to the first GA appearance (maybe I misread). I would love to see a first Silver or Bronze appearance as well (i.e., the first appearance that qualifies them for inclusion in the guide).

I appreciate the kind words, scratchie.

When I recently read some of the "DC Encyclopedia" (or whatever it's called), I was very disappointed that the entries didn't include the names of the writers or artists who created the characters. I suppose there may be some potential problems to doing something like that in an "official" DC publication (e.g., the writer and artist on the character's first story might not have actually "created" him if he came from an editor's idea, etc.) and it probably conflicts with the overall attitude at the Big Two that the characters are the primary product and the creators are just cogs in the machine (although DC seems more "enlightened" in that regard).

While my focus is on the fictional history of Earth-Two, there will be a short Golden Age history section for the DC (and Quality) super-heroes and super-teams. Not only will creators be credited in that section but later writers, artists and editors who've made major contributions to that history. The "Who's Who" entries, however, are meant to summarize a character's powers and history just enough to allow a reader to understand them in the context of the story entries.

I encourage folks interested in the publishing history of the Earth-Two canon and its creators to turn to Roy Thomas' All-Star Companion and Alter Ego. He covers such material far better than I can.

Cei-U!
I summon the plug!

[Jeremy A. Patterson]

I appreciate the kind words, scratchie.



While my focus is on the fictional history of Earth-Two, there will be a short Golden Age history section for the DC (and Quality) super-heroes and super-teams. Not only will creators be credited in that section but later writers, artists and editors who've made major contributions to that history. The "Who's Who" entries, however, are meant to summarize a character's powers and history just enough to allow a reader to understand them in the context of the story entries.

I encourage folks interested in the publishing history of the Earth-Two canon and its creators to turn to Roy Thomas' All-Star Companion and Alter Ego. He covers such material far better than I can.

Cei-U!
I summon the plug!


The Golden Age History section is a neat idea. My main concern is: Will it include DC/Quality heroes who are barely used in recent DC books [Even in the Who's Who section], like X of the Underground, X-5 Secret Agent, The Barker [A humorous circus guy], Black Roger, Eric Falcon Soldier of Fortune, Captain Daring [The Quality Comics pirate], The Destroying Demon, The Spider Widow [A gal who dressed up like the Wicked Witch of the West, She met the Quality Phantom Lady in a crossover in the Golden Age], The Raven [The Quality version who was the ally of the Spider Widow], The Red Bee, The Unknown, Boomerang Jones [A one-shot hero from New Adventure Comics], Little Boy Blue & The Blue Boys, Darwin Jones, Jack Woods [His claim to fame was that he appeared on the cover of the very first DC comic], Congo Bill, Johnny Everyman, & the Carol V. Martin version of Wildfire [The gal that Roy really wanted to include in the early All-Star squadron line-up!]?

I hope you read this!


J.A.P.

[Cei-U!]

The Golden Age History section is a neat idea. My main concern is: Will it include DC/Quality heroes who are barely used in recent DC books [Even in the Who's Who section], like X of the Underground, X-5 Secret Agent, The Barker [A humorous circus guy], Black Roger, Eric Falcon Soldier of Fortune, Captain Daring [The Quality Comics pirate], The Destroying Demon, The Spider Widow [A gal who dressed up like the Wicked Witch of the West, She met the Quality Phantom Lady in a crossover in the Golden Age], The Raven [The Quality version who was the ally of the Spider Widow], The Red Bee, The Unknown, Boomerang Jones [A one-shot hero from New Adventure Comics], Little Boy Blue & The Blue Boys, Darwin Jones, Jack Woods [His claim to fame was that he appeared on the cover of the very first DC comic], Congo Bill, Johnny Everyman, & the Carol V. Martin version of Wildfire [The gal that Roy really wanted to include in the early All-Star squadron line-up!]?

I hope you read this!

Unfortunately, Jeremy, I had to draw some clear boundaries around the project if it was going to be even remotely doable. Only those Quality heroes who appear in a canonical Earth-2 story are featured. Ditto with the Fawcett heroes.

Cei-U!
I appreciate the input!

[Metamorpho]

Sounds great to me! I look forward to reading the entire website when you finish and btw THANKS for doing it!

[gentlesatirist]

...with how your entries are brief yet informative. They're educational without getting bogged down in fanboy minutiae.

Good work!


- FE

[Strannik]

From what I understand, Earth-2 Aquaman's origin was the very first Aquaman origin - Aquaman's father stumbled upon the ruins of Atlantis, settled there and used Altantian science to give Aquaman an ability to breathe and survive under water. I could be wrong, though.

[dr_cyclops]

Listed in the next several posts are the entries for A. The idea is that folks perusing the guide proper can click on a link and go to a page containing pertinent info about the cited character. In their final form, each entry will include an illustration, either a panel taken from the source material or, in the case of major heroes and villains, an original drawing by yours truly.
Is this the project that you needed character designs in all their different costumes?

[Cei-U!]

Is this the project that you needed character designs in all their different costumes?

That'd be the one.

Cei-U!
I summon the fashion plates!

[dr_cyclops]

We should go over this the next time I'm in Tacoma. Speaking of visits, I set aside the DC Direct Justice Society of America PVC sets for you. Looking forward to seeing you soon.;)