Superhero Origins: The Question
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VOICE OVER: Dan Paradis
Hard-hitting TV reporter Vic Sage was first established as a secondary character in the comic pages of The Blue Beetle. A man who saw things in terms of back-and-white, good and evil. His no-holds-barred approach to reporting angered many of the bigwigs. It soon became clear that Vic had taken on a second career, as a costumed crime fighter by the name of the Question. With the help of his associate Professor Rodor, he was given a special mask with the appearance of having no face. He also began using a special gas to cements the mask to his face while gaining the ability to change the color of his clothes and hair. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origin of The Question.
*Script written by Craig Butler.
Comic books are filled with mystery men but who is the superhero whose name is itself a question? Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origin of The Question.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen primarily to follow the storyline which unfolded in 1967's Blue Beetle #1, which was expanded upon in 1989's Question Annual #2, 2007's 52 #38 and 48, and 2012's New 52's Free Comic Book Day #1.
The Question debuted in 1967 as a backup story in Charlton Comics' Blue Beetle #1. Readers weren't given much in the way of an origin; instead, they were presented with a cast of characters and a story and expected to fill in the blanks as they went along.
Hard-hitting TV reporter Vic Sage was established from the start as a man who saw things in terms of back-and-white, good and evil. His no-holds-barred approach to reporting angered many of the bigwigs at WorldWide Broadcasting; fortunately, Sam Starr, the President of WWB, was solidly in Vic's corner.
It soon became clear that Vic had taken on a second career: as a costumed crime fighter by the name of the Question. Readers quickly learn that an associate by the name of Professor Rodor created a special mask that gives Sage the appearance of having no face. They also discover that a special gas that Sage uses cements the mask to his face while at the same time changing the color of his clothes and hair. Thus appropriately attired, the Question was ready to pursue Lou Dicer, the criminal behind the city's gambling ring.
The Question learned that Dicer had a secret partner and arranged a trap for the two of them. The partner turned out to be Jim Lark, one of the bigwigs at WWB who so disliked Vic Sage's style. True to form, Sage reported the whole truth about Lark on the air, despite the black eye it gave his own TV station.
When DC Comics revived the Question in the 1980s, the character went from being a black-and-white absolutist to a zen-inspired character who questioned everything. His origin was related in 1989's Question Annual #2.
Sage was again presented as a loud-mouth with strong views and opinions, as well as a tendency to make accusations without being sure of his facts. While going after a suspicious character by the name of Dr. Twain, Sage is contacted by a former professor, Aristotle Rodor. Years ago, Rodor had worked with Twain in the development of pseudoderm, an artificial skin intended for medical uses. Unfortunately, the product turned out to be toxic under certain conditions, so it was abandoned.
Rodor, however, believed Twain had set up an operation to sell pseudoderm to third world countries, heedless of the danger it could present. In order to get the evidence he needed, Sage had to break into Twain's office. Rodor made him a special mask made of pseudoderm, as well as a gas to change the appearance of his hair and clothing; so disguised, Sage went to gather the evidence he needed – and thus began the career of the Question.
In 2007, a significant change occurred in DC's 52 series: namely, Vic Sage died and the mantel of the Question was passed on to Renee Montoya, a Gotham City detective.
Then in 2012, yet another a significant change was made to the Question's origin. In a special issue of The New 52 which was distributed as part of that year's Free Comic Book Day, three figures were judged for their sins by seven powerful magical figures. Deemed the world's greatest transgressors, one of these people was a redhead who brazenly defied the authority of his judges. His punishment was to forget his identity and to search for eternity for answers; as he was banished from the court, his facial features disappeared, giving him the appearance of the Question – and implying that there would be more to learn about the Question's origin in coming years.
The Question served as the inspiration for the Rorschach character in the landmark Watchmen series and movie. Perhaps because of this, he has often displayed some Rorschach-like characteristics, especially in his TV appearances in Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Where will he show up next? That's a good question.
Are you a fan of The Question? For more comic book origins, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
Superhero Origins: The Question
Comic books are filled with mystery men but who is the superhero whose name is itself a question? Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origin of The Question.
As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen primarily to follow the storyline which unfolded in 1967's Blue Beetle #1, which was expanded upon in 1989's Question Annual #2, 2007's 52 #38 and 48, and 2012's New 52's Free Comic Book Day #1.
The Question debuted in 1967 as a backup story in Charlton Comics' Blue Beetle #1. Readers weren't given much in the way of an origin; instead, they were presented with a cast of characters and a story and expected to fill in the blanks as they went along.
Hard-hitting TV reporter Vic Sage was established from the start as a man who saw things in terms of back-and-white, good and evil. His no-holds-barred approach to reporting angered many of the bigwigs at WorldWide Broadcasting; fortunately, Sam Starr, the President of WWB, was solidly in Vic's corner.
It soon became clear that Vic had taken on a second career: as a costumed crime fighter by the name of the Question. Readers quickly learn that an associate by the name of Professor Rodor created a special mask that gives Sage the appearance of having no face. They also discover that a special gas that Sage uses cements the mask to his face while at the same time changing the color of his clothes and hair. Thus appropriately attired, the Question was ready to pursue Lou Dicer, the criminal behind the city's gambling ring.
The Question learned that Dicer had a secret partner and arranged a trap for the two of them. The partner turned out to be Jim Lark, one of the bigwigs at WWB who so disliked Vic Sage's style. True to form, Sage reported the whole truth about Lark on the air, despite the black eye it gave his own TV station.
When DC Comics revived the Question in the 1980s, the character went from being a black-and-white absolutist to a zen-inspired character who questioned everything. His origin was related in 1989's Question Annual #2.
Sage was again presented as a loud-mouth with strong views and opinions, as well as a tendency to make accusations without being sure of his facts. While going after a suspicious character by the name of Dr. Twain, Sage is contacted by a former professor, Aristotle Rodor. Years ago, Rodor had worked with Twain in the development of pseudoderm, an artificial skin intended for medical uses. Unfortunately, the product turned out to be toxic under certain conditions, so it was abandoned.
Rodor, however, believed Twain had set up an operation to sell pseudoderm to third world countries, heedless of the danger it could present. In order to get the evidence he needed, Sage had to break into Twain's office. Rodor made him a special mask made of pseudoderm, as well as a gas to change the appearance of his hair and clothing; so disguised, Sage went to gather the evidence he needed – and thus began the career of the Question.
In 2007, a significant change occurred in DC's 52 series: namely, Vic Sage died and the mantel of the Question was passed on to Renee Montoya, a Gotham City detective.
Then in 2012, yet another a significant change was made to the Question's origin. In a special issue of The New 52 which was distributed as part of that year's Free Comic Book Day, three figures were judged for their sins by seven powerful magical figures. Deemed the world's greatest transgressors, one of these people was a redhead who brazenly defied the authority of his judges. His punishment was to forget his identity and to search for eternity for answers; as he was banished from the court, his facial features disappeared, giving him the appearance of the Question – and implying that there would be more to learn about the Question's origin in coming years.
The Question served as the inspiration for the Rorschach character in the landmark Watchmen series and movie. Perhaps because of this, he has often displayed some Rorschach-like characteristics, especially in his TV appearances in Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Where will he show up next? That's a good question.
Are you a fan of The Question? For more comic book origins, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
