"DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide" by author Brandon T. Snider is a new hardcover publication from DK Publishing which offers readers a "who's who" look at the characters from the DC Comics Universe.

With the DC Universe undergoing a complete relaunch this September, former character guides to DC characters will be flawed and incorrect. As such, there was a need for a guide to the DC Universe not linked to specific issues or story lines.

The book does a wonderful job of showcasing the heroes and villains of DC but tends to rely heavily on artwork while offerring only general facts and overviews as accompaniment to the visuals. Most readers should be able to look past this minor flaw since the visauls are so wonderfuly done and the art styles give each character their own sense of identity.

Artwork by such legends as Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, George Perez, Jim Aparo, and Brian Bolland is featured throughout the book with a complete listing of all artists included on the last page.

While the "DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide" may not be for die-hard fans, most of whom will already be familiar with the information included, it does provide a great introduction for those readers just getting into the DC superhero comics.

For those interested in much more extensive character guide, look no further than the "The DC Comics Encyclopedia" which is still in print and available at many retail stores and on-line outlets. At 400 pages, it lists just about every character in the DC Universe no matter how major or minor a role they have played.

All in all, "DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide" is a wonderful publication that supersedes the character guides from years ago and makes a wonderful addition to the library of any DC aficionado or collector.

"DC Comics: The Ultimate Character Guide" is available at most major book sellers and on-line retailers including Amazon.com.