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Questions to Ask Your Doctor--Questions for Discussion about Family... ovarian.com |
This article concerns the first Question. For his successor, see Renee Montoya
The Question (alias Vic Sage, real name Charles "Charlie" Victor Szasz) is the name used by a number of comic book superheroes in the DC Comics universe. The original one was created by Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Blue Beetle #1 (June 1967). Originally created for Charlton Comics, he was acquired by DC Comics in the early 1980s and incorporated into the DC Universe. Following the events of the 52 maxi-series, his protege Renee Montoya has succeeded him as the Question. For many years, the Question has been one of the more philosophical superheroes. As a tireless opponent of societal corruption, the Question was an adherent of Objectivism during his career as a minor Charlton hero (much like Ditko’s earlier creation, Mr. A).[2] In an acclaimed 1987-90 solo series from DC, the character developed a Zen-like philosophy.
[edit] Fictional biography[edit] Charlton ComicsBased in Hub City, Vic Sage made his mark as a highly outspoken and aggressive investigative journalist. Not long after starting his TV appearances, he began to investigate Dr. Arby Twain.  Sage was approached by his former professor, scientist Aristotle Rodor, who told Sage about an artificial skin he had co-developed with Dr. Twain called Pseudoderm. Pseudoderm was intended to work as an applied skin-like bandage with the help of a bonding gas, but it had an unforeseen toxicity which was sometimes fatal when applied to open wounds. Rodor and Twain agreed to abandon the project and parted ways, but Professor Rodor discovered that Dr. Twain had decided to proceed with an illegal sale of the invention to Third World nations, regardless of the risk to human health. Sage resolved to stop him but had no way of going after Dr. Twain without exposing himself. Rodor suggested that Sage use a mask made of Pseudoderm to cover his famous features. Armed with information, and more importantly a disguise, Sage eventually caught up with Dr. Twain, stopping the transaction and extracting a confession, then leaving Twain bound in Pseudoderm. On television, Sage reported on Dr. Twain's illegal activities. Sage decided that this new identity would be useful for future investigations, and partnered with Professor Rodor, who supplied the Pseudoderm and eventually modified the bonding gas to change the color of Sage's hair and clothing. The two men became good friends, with Sage affectionately referring to Rodor as "Tot". Compared to other superhero characters of the Silver Age of Comic Books, The Question was more ruthless in his methods[citation needed]. For example, when he was fighting some criminals in a sewer and knocked them into a deep and fast moving water flow and declined to pull them out despite their real danger of drowning. Instead, he left to notify the police to retrieve them in case they survive the ordeal. [edit] DC ComicsThe Charlton characters were acquired by DC Comics while the former company was in decline in 1983. [edit] O'Neil seriesDC gave the Question his own acclaimed solo series in 1987, which was written by Dennis O'Neil and primarily drawn by Denys Cowan. The series was published for thirty-six issues, two annuals, and five "Quarterly" specials. In Question #1, the Question was defeated in personal combat first by the martial arts mercenary, Lady Shiva, beaten near to death by the hiring villain's thugs, shot in the head with a pellet gun, and thrown into the river to drown. Lady Shiva then rescued him for reasons of her own and gave him directions to meet Richard Dragon as soon as he recovered enough to get out of bed. Once there, Sage learned both martial arts and eastern philosophy. When he returned to the city, he resumed his journalist and superhero careers with adventures that tended to illustrate various philosophic points. To further illustrate those ideas, Dennis O'Neil had a reading recommendation in the letters page of each issue. In the O'Neil series, Victor Sage is an investigative reporter for the news station KBEL in Hub City, who uses the identity of the Question to get the answers his civilian identity cannot. Unlike other vigilante superheroes, O'Neil's Question is primarily focused on the politics of his city, and rather than hunting down the perpetrators of petty theft, he tends to fight the corrupt government of Hub City. O'Neil's Hub City is noted as being "synonymous with venality, corruption, and violence", perhaps even outranking Gotham City as the most dismal city in the DC Universe version of the US. Despite the impoverished and scandalous nature of Hub City, O'Neil insisted repeatedly that it was based on an actual US city, though for most of the series' run he refused to comment on which one that might be. He eventually confirmed, near the end of the run, that Hub City was based on East St. Louis, Illinois.[3]  For the majority of the series, Vic Sage is covertly assisting the good-hearted Myra Fermin to win the seat of Hub City Mayor. His interest in Myra extends beyond admiration, as the two shared a relationship before his near-death experience with Lady Shiva, and his training under Richard Dragon. Upon his return he discovers she has married the corrupt drunkard, Mayor Wesley Fermin. Despite Myra's losing the election by one vote, she becomes Mayor when her competition is found dead as a result of what is called "the worst tornado in history." At her victory speech, her husband Wesley shoots her for supporting what he believes to be Communist beliefs, putting her into a coma and sending Hub City further into chaos. Sage dons the guise of the Question, acting as the city’s only form of justice for a short while, before the Mayor wakes from her coma. Gang warfare in the weeks following the election leads Sage to Lady Shiva, first as a combatant, and then enlisting her help as an ally of sorts to get in a position to talk to the gang-leaders. As Myra adjusts into her role as Mayor of Hub City, she and Sage begin to rekindle their relationship, though Myra tells Sage she will not act on her feelings until she leaves office. Despite their long-term friendship, she never connects that Sage and “the man without a face” are one and the same until the very end of his time at Hub City. O’Neil’s Question is very conflicted on how far to go in enforcing justice, often feeling tempted to kill. He resists this temptation during his time in Hub City, realizing that part of his desire to go so far is just to see what it feels like to take a life. His relationship with his mentor, Aristotle Rodor, is one of many things that keep him from going over the edge and back towards the darkness he had shown in his youth on the streets of Hub City. Eventually, during a massive hallucinogenic trip, his subconscious tells him through images of his mother that he has to leave Hub City to ever be able to live happily. Around the same time Richard Dragon comes to see Vic, as Richard has sensed that Vic is on the verge of a major turning point in his life, and convinces Vic that living in Hub City is killing him. In an agreement with Richard, Lady Shiva arrives with a helicopter to usher The Question and Aristotle Rodor away, at which point she decides to stay in Hub City and embrace the chaos. Vic nearly convinces Myra to come with him and escape the chaos of the city, but she is unable to leave. She leaves her only daughter, Jackie, and wanders back to the city alone to meet her duties as Mayor and do her best to stand for what she believes in. After leaving Hub City, Vic takes Jackie with him to South America, hoping to rid himself of his "No Face" alter ego and find a land free of the clutter and corruption that filled Hub City. However, Vic quickly gets drawn into a drug war which ultimately forces him to kill a man in order to save Jackie's life. This marks a major turning point in the Question's career as he thinks to himself that he didn't feel anything and would kill again if needed. Though it is not entirely clear what the Question's current view is on murder, he kills again in the 1991 Brave and the Bold mini-series and the 2005 Question mini-series. The Question Annual #2 retroactively altered the character's origin by revealing that Victor Sage was originally Charles Victor Szasz, an orphan who had a reputation as a troublemaker. Szasz prided himself on defiantly enduring the physical abuse of the Catholic orphanage where he was housed. He eventually managed to get into college where he studied journalism. However, his higher learning did not mellow his violent tendencies, such as when he beat up his pusher for giving him LSD which caused the frightening experience of doubting his own senses under its influence. [edit] Veitch miniseriesThe 2005 Question mini-series, authored by Rick Veitch, reimagines the character as a self-taught urban shaman whose brutal and at times lethal treatment of enemies now arises from a warrior ethos, rather than Objectivist philosophy. The Question "walks in two worlds" when sent into visionary trances by Rodor's gas, now retconned as a hallucinogen. In these trances, cities (Chicago, where he is a TV anchor, and then Metropolis, where the series takes him) "speak" to him through visual coincidences and overheard snatches of street conversation. Regarding himself as a spiritual warrior, he is now comfortable killing his enemies when this seems useful and poetically just. He uses his skills and his alternate moral code first to detect and then to foil a plot by Lex Luthor not only to assassinate Superman (using chi energy which Sage can detect) but to prevent his return from the dead (which Superman had recently achieved following his death in DC's notorious Doomsday event) by damning his soul upon death ("Psychopomp," a rival shaman, is among Sage's adversaries here). Sage is revealed to have a lifelong infatuation with fellow journalist Lois Lane, which he does not divulge to her. Superman accepts the Question's visionary drug use, and expresses gratitude for his assistance, but forces him to leave the city after several unheeded warnings about killing, and also after noticing Sage's crush. [edit] "52"See also: 52 (comic book) The character's difficult ethical history, and the character himself, were laid to rest by DC in its year-long weekly title, "52," in which Sage recruits and trains Gotham ex-cop Renee Montoya as his replacement before dying of lung cancer. In this incarnation he is wry, cheerful and avuncular, although still enigmatic, and displays no discernible philosophical commitments aside from a determination to recruit Montoya and to have her decide who she is and who she will become. Montoya is herself agonized over the issue of killing criminals, although her guilt is over a principled refusal to kill one, specifically the murderer of her former partner. The series' action chiefly alternates between Gotham City, where Montoya struggles to save Kane from Intergang and its Crime Bible cult, and Nanda Parbat, where she trains with Sage's mentors Rodor and Dragon, and whence she later returns with Sage, too late to find him a cure for his cancer. En route there, Sage dies muttering snatches of conversations from his early comics appearances and a final invocation to Montoya to decide who she will become. After grieving, she determines to take up his mantle as the new Question.  [edit] Renee MontoyaMain article: Renee Montoya Renee assumes the mantle of the Question as she and Nightwing search for the captured Batwoman[4] and retains the role afterwards. After the recreation of the Multiverse, an alternate version of Vic Sage is shown to be alive on the new Earth-4. The Renee Montoya Question is currently the second feature in Detective Comics, written by Greg Rucka and drawn by Cully Hamner. [edit] EquipmentThe Question's mask is made from Pseudoderm, a substance made by Doctor Aristotle Rodor. According to the revamps of 52, this substance was developed using technology lifted from an old Batman foe named Bart Magan (Dr. No Face) and Gingold Extract, a fruit derivative associated with the Elongated Man. The Question's series by Denny O'Neil presented Pseudoderm as Rodor's attempt to create an artificial skin for humanitarian purposes. The Question's specialized belt-buckle, which releases a binary gas that binds his mask to his skin and temporarily recolors his garb and hair, is similar to that of the Spider-Man villain Chameleon. In his initial appearances, which were drawn by Steve Ditko, the Chameleon had used a device in a belt buckle which emitted a transformation-enhancing gas. It is possible that Ditko used that as inspiration for the Question. The binding element is adjusted to Sage's specific body chemistry. The binary gas Rodor created reacts with chemicals in Sage's treated clothing and hair, causing them to change color. Sage's hair would change from red to black, or later to a darker red. Sage's treated clothing would change to light blue and orange, or later to dark blue. Some later versions of the gas caused no color change whatsoever. The faceless mask, combined with the color change of clothing, was sufficient to disguise Sage's identity to most onlookers. All of Sage's clothing was similarly treated. Originally Sage favored trench coats, business suits, and fedoras. Later he expanded his treated wardrobe, giving him a less standardized look. Early in his career, the Question used seemingly blank calling cards with a delayed chemical reaction that after a specified time caused a question mark to appear in a burst of gas. Other writing could be similarly treated to reveal itself at the pre-determined time. While the binary gas has no other known properties, the Question often used the gas to enhance his image and intimidate criminals into confessing. The implication was that the gas would cause anyone exposed to it for extended periods to lose their face permanently. [edit] Inspiration, homages and other versions[edit] InspirationThe Question's appearance — business suit, fedora hat, gloves, and faceless mask was very similar to three other alike-attired/blank-faced characters who appeared in comics in the late 1930s:
[edit] Homages
[edit] 52 MultiverseIn the final issue of 52, (52 #52, published 2007) a new Multiverse is revealed, originally consisting of 52 alternate realities, including a new "Earth-4". While this new world resembles the pre-Crisis Earth-Four, including unnamed characters who look like the Question and the Charlton characters, writer Grant Morrison has stated this is not the pre-Crisis Earth-Four.[6][7] Describing the conception of Earth-4, Grant Morrison alluded that its interpretation of Vic Sage would resemble the classic Charlton incarnation, with tones borrowed from Rorschach and Watchmen.[7] A number of other alternate universes in the 52 Multiverse may also contain versions of the Question from DC Comics previous Elseworlds stories or from variant "themed" universes, such as the gender-reversed world of Earth-11.[8] On Earth-9, "The Question" is the name given to a global surveillance network.[9] [edit] Other versions
[edit] Other media[edit] The New Batman AdventuresIn the episode "Beware The Creeper", The Creeper knocks over a thrift shop mannequin cleverly dressed to resemble the Question in costume. The shop was named "Ditko's Vintage Clothing", an homage to Steve Ditko, who created both Question and Creeper. [edit] Justice League Unlimited The Question is a major recurring character in the animated television series Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Re-Animator's Jeffrey Combs (who previously voiced the Scarecrow on The New Batman Adventures). Like his comic book counterpart, he uses a special mask (bonded to his face by a gaseous chemical) to conceal his identity. He is portrayed as a conspiracy theorist, a blend of Rorschach from the Watchmen comics and Fox Mulder of the popular television series The X-Files. His character design is similar to the O'Neil/Cowan revamp of the character. The Question of the DC Animated Universe is a completely obsessive, darkly comic loner — skeptical, eccentric, paranoid, antagonistic and somewhat unpredictable. He is given to believing in abstruse conspiracy theories and is suspicious of even his fellow League members; despite this (or perhaps because of it), he is one of the Justice League's best detectives. In the episode "Fearful Symmetry aka Galatea", he mentions that Supergirl eats peanut butter sandwiches before going to bed, to which she asks him whether he goes through her trash: he responds, "Please... I go through everyone's trash." The Question's various conspiracy theories, which he insists are a single, tied-together theory, are usually portrayed in a humorous manner[original research?]. He claims the motives and purpose of aglets (the plastic caps at the end of shoelaces) are "sinister"[10], that the government is brainwashing people through "secret messages coded in amino acid chains in low-carb cereal bars""[10]. In the episode "Fearful Symmetry aka Galatea", he claims there's an ominous link between boy bands and global warming (in the episode "Question Authority", a Cadmus database does indeed have a file on "BRAZILBOYZ", indicating a hidden connection[original research?]). He believes that the Girl Scouts are either the cause of or connected to the crop circle phenomenon"[11], and that fluoridated toothpaste doesn't prevent tooth decay, but renders the user's teeth detectable to spy satellites"[10]. He also believes there was a literal 'magic bullet', "forged by Illuminati mystics to hide the truth"."[10] It should be noted that several of these comments were made under the duress of torture.[10] After the events of "Fearful Symmetry aka Galatea", in which Supergirl encounters her clone Galatea, Batman assigns Question to investigate and find out whatever he can about those responsible, much to the chagrin of the other League founders. Batman admits that The Question is "...wound up a bit too tight" and obliquely indicates that the Question's detective skills may even exceed his own. The title, "Fearful Symmetry", is a reference to Watchmen (specifically a chapter centering on Rorschach),[citation needed] and is derived from William Blake's poem "The Tyger". In the episode "Double Date", Huntress (recently kicked out of the League for making a failed attempt on the life of Steven Mandragora, the mob boss who killed her parents), appeals to Question for help tracking him down, in exchange for information she claims to have on Project Cadmus. He agrees, knowing in advance that she's lying. After being pursued by Green Arrow and Black Canary to the dock where Mandragora was meeting his son, Question talks Huntress down from killing Mandragora, whom she instead pins under rubble to await imprisonment. Afterward, he reveals to Huntress that, despite having known the outcome of the encounter far in advance, he helped her because he likes her. In response, Huntress kisses him and drags him away, presumably to show her appreciation; the two would continue to be an item throughout the rest of the series, the Huntress dubbing him with the nickname "Q". (This episode was probably inspired by the Batman-Huntress comic book mini-series Cry for Blood, though in that story the Huntress deliberately lures an enemy into what she knows will be a fatal trap and the Question turns his back on her in disgust.) In "Question Authority", the Question discovers Lex Luthor's plot to instigate a full-scale war between the government and the Justice League, in the process learning of an alternate universe (seen in the Justice League story "A Better World") in which Luthor becomes president and is murdered in the Oval Office by Superman, an act that eventually leads to the renamed Justice Lords taking over the world. Convinced that the history in this alternate universe was in fact a predestined time loop that would eventually repeat itself, the Question decides the only way to derail this possible future permanently is to kill Luthor himself, before he can become president and before Superman can kill him. He rationalizes that, as a "crackpot", any action he takes, no matter how deplorable, would not be blamed on the League, thus allowing the League and Superman's legacy to survive his actions. However, Luthor, now augmented with super-strength thanks to Brainiac (who, in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Ghost in the Machine", had planted a nanotech copy of his programming in Luthor's body), delivers a savage beating to the faceless vigilante while admitting that his presidential campaign was nothing but an expensive ruse to keep Superman on edge, "a small part of a much grander scheme." Question is turned over to Project Cadmus for interrogation by Dr. Moon. After almost a week of torture (with Captain Atom as his warden) without caving in, he is rescued by Huntress and Superman. Although still weak from the torture, the Question aids the other heroes when the Ultimen invade the Watchtower, subduing one of the clones by hitting him over the head with a bedpan. "Question Authority" has several homages[citation needed] to Ditko's Objectivist beliefs, as well as to Rorschach, Alan Moore's Question pastiche[citation needed]. As he recoils from the information he's downloaded from the Cadmus files, he begins to speak in monotone sentence fragments, as Rorschach did.[original research?] In the same episode, Huntress' comments indicate that, while spending days at his research, Question has neglected everything else, including his personal hygiene — another Rorschach trait[original research?]. In his room on the Justice League satellite is a poster warning of a global fluoridation conspiracy, a reference to[citation needed] the last page of Watchmen, which in turn references[citation needed] Kubrick's black comedy about nuclear war, Dr. Strangelove, in which mad General Ripper believes that it is part of a Communist plot. Later, as Question confronts Luthor at his penthouse office, he declares that; "Everything that exists has a specific nature, and possesses characteristics that are a part of what it is. A is A... And no matter what reality he calls home, Luthor is Luthor." This is an explicit statement of the Law of Identity, upon which Ditko based certain characters and their opinions. After being severely tortured and beaten, Question notes that Huntress was right when she said "he had to be the ugliest man in the world" to wear his faceless mask; Rorschach, since childhood, had been teased and bullied because of his appearance (again, a nod to Rorschach).[citation needed] The Question makes cameos in the episodes "Flashpoint", "Panic in the Sky" and "Grudge Match", as well as the series finale "Destroyer". In the battle between the League and the forces of Apokolips, he is seen fighting off Darkseid's Parademons by running them over with his car (a Pontiac GTO), while Captain Atom, Hawk and Dove and the Creeper battle them on foot and in the air; each of these characters was created by Steve Ditko. His last appearance, in the same episode, is running down the steps of the Metro Tower alongside his fellow Ditko/Charlton era Leaguers. [edit] SmallvilleHub City is used in the Smallville episode 'Ryan'. [edit] Batman: The Brave and the BoldThe Question appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Mystery in Space". He is caught by Equinox with Gorilla Grodd. Batman comes to free him and they give chase. Equinox escapes and both wonder who, or what, he is. This version of the Question speaks only in questions, with the exception of the line "I was trying to put a stop to Grodd's scheme". He is voiced by Nicholas Guest. [edit] MerchandiseBoth versions of The Question had have been turned into toys with a Vic Sage action figure[12] and the Renee Montoya version as a Minimate.[13] In fall 2008, The Question (DCAU version) debuted in Mattel's "Justice League Unlimited" line as part of an action-figure three-pack with Wonder Woman and The Flash. Toyfare magazine held a poll in 2008 to decide on a character that would be included in the DC Universe line of action figures. Fans could vote on who should be included. Among the nominees were Starman (Jack Knight), Vixen, Ragman, Huntress, Cat Man, and the Question. In the end, The Question won the majority votes and the action figure is expected some time in 2009.[citation needed] [edit] Bibliography[edit] Appearances
[edit] Cameos
[edit] CollectionsThe Question's 1980s series has been collected into trade paperbacks:
Collections featuring the Renee Montoya Question:
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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