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The Question (1986)
The Question, Vol. 4: Welcome to Oz
One of the most intriguing comic book heroes of the 1980s was DC’s The Question, a faceless, morally conflicted avenger based in corrupt Hub City. An expert in martial arts, The Question also delved into Eastern philosophy while taking on crime and crooked politicians.
In this new, fourth volume, The Question tries to find a manufacturer of deadly plastic guns and attends his high school reunion. Then, as the election of a new mayor is being held, a tornado tears through Hub City, killing the new mayor-elect and leaving an unlikely bureaucrat to fill his shoes. Collecting issues #19-24
In this new, fourth volume, The Question tries to find a manufacturer of deadly plastic guns and attends his high school reunion. Then, as the election of a new mayor is being held, a tornado tears through Hub City, killing the new mayor-elect and leaving an unlikely bureaucrat to fill his shoes. Collecting issues #19-24
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1993
4 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Dennis O'Neil
1,748 books281 followers
Dennis "Denny" O'Neil
was a comic book writer and editor best known for his work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until his retirement.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
His best-known works include Green Lantern/Green Arrow and Batman with Neal Adams, The Shadow with Michael Kaluta and The Question with Denys Cowan. As an editor, he is principally known for editing the various Batman titles. From 2013 unti his death, he sat on the board of directors of the charity The Hero Initiative and served on its Disbursement Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 14, 2018
The Question continues his futile fight to clean up Hub City, first taking care of the makers of plastic firearms, then going to his high school reunion, and then trying to survive a tornado on election day...
Wow. While the Question beating the shit out of people is pretty exciting, his best conflicts are the ethical ones. How does Hub City's vigilante handle a politician running on a platform of hate without sinking to his level?
There are too many things to spoil in this volume so I'll keep it brief. Dennis O'Neil spent the first two years of the Question building toward the end of this volume. Unlike other comics, things will never been the same again. O'Neil was playing the long game and it paid off in a big way.
If I had to pick something to complain about, it would be that the art doesn't have the unified feel that the other three books had. Rick Magyar pencils one of the books and there are a slew of inkers. Also, the mullet is back.
It's amazing what Dennis O'Neil and Denys Cowan have done with The Question in 24 issues, taking him from being a Charlton character with only a few appearances under his hat to the headliner of DC's mature readers line. The fourth volume of The Question is the best I've read so far. Dennis O'Neil definitely wasn't afraid to shake things up. Five out of five stars.
Wow. While the Question beating the shit out of people is pretty exciting, his best conflicts are the ethical ones. How does Hub City's vigilante handle a politician running on a platform of hate without sinking to his level?
There are too many things to spoil in this volume so I'll keep it brief. Dennis O'Neil spent the first two years of the Question building toward the end of this volume. Unlike other comics, things will never been the same again. O'Neil was playing the long game and it paid off in a big way.
If I had to pick something to complain about, it would be that the art doesn't have the unified feel that the other three books had. Rick Magyar pencils one of the books and there are a slew of inkers. Also, the mullet is back.
It's amazing what Dennis O'Neil and Denys Cowan have done with The Question in 24 issues, taking him from being a Charlton character with only a few appearances under his hat to the headliner of DC's mature readers line. The fourth volume of The Question is the best I've read so far. Dennis O'Neil definitely wasn't afraid to shake things up. Five out of five stars.
October 5, 2024
*Whew!* 4 volumes (24 issues) in one day!
The Question Vol. 4 continues with the meta narrative of Myra running for mayor of Hub City while allowing The Question to punch people in the face.
This volume was a bit a heavy on the election story, so it lost my attention a bit, but it definitely ends with a bang.
I feel like I’ve done my due diligence at this point. I know who The Question is and how he functions in the DC universe. I probably won’t finish the run.
The Question Vol. 4 continues with the meta narrative of Myra running for mayor of Hub City while allowing The Question to punch people in the face.
This volume was a bit a heavy on the election story, so it lost my attention a bit, but it definitely ends with a bang.
I feel like I’ve done my due diligence at this point. I know who The Question is and how he functions in the DC universe. I probably won’t finish the run.
November 27, 2022
Another strong volume though I'd say the hurricane coming through town and the villain there didn't work for me. Saying that this ends in a shocking way and the one shots remain really well done.
March 10, 2026
Enjoyable series if you like your heroes more down and dirty. Recommended
February 11, 2014
This comic has consistently been strong. However, it's sometimes held back from greatness by its short, self-contained stories. Here we get a great climax to the whole mayoral race spread out against the back three issues and a pretty shocking end to everything. It's strong comics writing and something that makes me want to continue straight on with the next volume.
April 28, 2009
O'Neil is sometimes a little on-the-nose, and a little preachy, in his approach, but overall, I continue to be stunned at how good this book is, and how much it lives up to all of its hype.
It's a dark book that's unafraid to do dark things, have quirky and at least mildly disturbing characters and Hub City feels like a place as much as James Robinson's Opal City did in Starman a decade or so later.
It's a dark book that's unafraid to do dark things, have quirky and at least mildly disturbing characters and Hub City feels like a place as much as James Robinson's Opal City did in Starman a decade or so later.
May 25, 2015
Un inesperado atentado a la alcaldesa esparce el caos en Hub City, mientras u solitario campeón se ve reducido a un vigilante que opera contra turbas envalentonadas por el miedo. Nuevos rumbos para la etapa creativa de O'Neil.
September 25, 2022
The last of my Long Beach Comic-Con purchases.
I loved this series back in the 80s, and it still holds up thirty-four years later as O'Neil and Cowan were at the top of their game here.
There are a number of societal issues they weave into the stories that pop up a few years later in the birth and life of the original Milestone titles. Voter fraud, police brutality, politicians out for themselves, and more. Mixed into that is the clear love that O'Neil and Cowan have for Vic Sage, martial arts, and eastern philosophy.
The issues collected cover the time where Myra is running for Mayor on her own terms and has basically put her husband Wesley (former mayor) and his political machine behind her. Needless to say, the powers that run Hub City want to keep riding their gravy train and Myra is the stack of railroad ties blocking the track.
Just when things look completely lost, O'Neil brings in an act of God (Which Cowan superbly illustrates) and an election rule so incredibly ridiculous that it has to be based in reality somewhere. Probably in a state that embraced the old Jim Crow laws.
I'm leaving it there, because anything else would probably spoil the ending and it's simply too good for that.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
I loved this series back in the 80s, and it still holds up thirty-four years later as O'Neil and Cowan were at the top of their game here.
There are a number of societal issues they weave into the stories that pop up a few years later in the birth and life of the original Milestone titles. Voter fraud, police brutality, politicians out for themselves, and more. Mixed into that is the clear love that O'Neil and Cowan have for Vic Sage, martial arts, and eastern philosophy.
The issues collected cover the time where Myra is running for Mayor on her own terms and has basically put her husband Wesley (former mayor) and his political machine behind her. Needless to say, the powers that run Hub City want to keep riding their gravy train and Myra is the stack of railroad ties blocking the track.
Just when things look completely lost, O'Neil brings in an act of God (Which Cowan superbly illustrates) and an election rule so incredibly ridiculous that it has to be based in reality somewhere. Probably in a state that embraced the old Jim Crow laws.
I'm leaving it there, because anything else would probably spoil the ending and it's simply too good for that.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
February 5, 2018
It's election season for mayor of Hub City! In this volume, O'Neil produces some quality work that is consistent with the previous stories. Vic Sage is still fighting his one-man war against a corrupt city. It's at this volume that I really miss his zen-self who practiced meditation and went where life took him. He's more-or-less reverted back to his violent self. However, the stories still prove very entertaining, and the cliff-hanger definitely had me by surprise. Can't wait to read what happens next!
November 5, 2024
I think this was the best volume so far. That said, there are a lot of plot twists but they're all very predictable. For example: at some point a guy is toying with a gun, so you think he might shoot himself. Then he shoots another person - before he does, there are several panels showing him with the gun. It's not really that shocking if you give so many hints beforehand. Not to mention the twist about the electoral result, which I could see coming from a mile away. To be honest the whole run so far feels like a great story that is way beyond the writer's capacity of telling it.
May 16, 2021
Aside from a somewhat heavy-handed story on plastic in the first issue collected here, Welcome to Oz is an impressive depiction of political regime changes that O'Neil interweaves with a literal storm. This is the volume that assured me O'Neil's storytelling was back on track from Zen and Violence.
September 15, 2022
I was less into this volume than the previous ones. I'm just not one for election stories.
May 2, 2024
Fucking HELL that ending--
April 16, 2026
OH. MY GOODNESS. That ending????????????
Vic Sage once again having the most impeccable wardrobe
Vic Sage once again having the most impeccable wardrobe
July 20, 2012
Arranqué la serie sin tener mucha idea de qué iba, gracias a que conseguí varios tacos muy baratos en Mar del Plata, y me terminé volviendo un gran fan de Vic Sage y compañía. En su momento fui consiguiendo los tomos al tuntún, y así mismo los fui leyendo.
Algún día debería pegarle una buena releída integral en orden cronológico.
Algún día debería pegarle una buena releída integral en orden cronológico.
May 31, 2018
Quinto taco recopilatorio español, cuyo contenido coincide en su mayoría con el cuarto tomo en inglés.
June 16, 2010
Whaaaat?! What are you doing ending a trade like that, DC?!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews