The Question: The Five Books of Blood

The Crime Bible #1-5

by Greg Rucka, Tom Mandrake (Illustrator), Matthew Clark (Illustrator)

Taking on the persona of the Question, ex-cop Renee Montoya is on the hunt for the near-mythical "Crime Bible"--a dark text that has been passed between master criminals for years.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Fiction, Crime, Fantasy

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Greg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg Rucka, are you out there? Can you hear me? May I have more Renee Montoya please?

[Siona Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story with good art. I really like the religion of crime and I don’t particularly care whether Vic or Renee is the Question. The ending was a surprise, but I don’t know of any follow up story (since this takes place after 52), which kinda sucks. Maybe there is one and I’m just not aware of it, but regardless I wish there were more in-print trades of The Question available.

[The Sapphic Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Renee Montoya. She's such an interesting character - not just because of personality, but also because of all the axes of inequality that intersect in her. I also happen to have a weakness for Spanish women, but that's a bonus. And those muscles on her back and arms... *clears throat* OKAY. Anyway. On top of Renee being the protagonist in this book, it's written by Greg Rucka (whose other work with Renee and Kate Kane I think very highly of). Naturally, I was bound to read this book. I've been saving it for Halloween reading, and here we are.

Each issue starts with a page from one of the "Books of Blood", which adds a great deal to making the mood creepy, dark, and mysterious. When we meet Renee, she's doing research and going undercover to learn more about the Religion of Crime. At this point, I haven't read the 52 omnibus that's sitting on my bookshelf, so I have no context as to why she's investigating the cult, but I don't think it affected my reading experience. Renee/The Question's main goal is to stop/disband/tear down the Religion of Crime from the looks of it. She eventually enlists Kate Kane/Batwoman's (yesssssssss!) help in obtaining a copy of the Crime Bible. The Religion of Crime's leader appears later and threatens to kill everyone she cares about if she doesn't meet him at a specific location and time. Of course, Renee goes, and that's where they have the final showdown (cue my drooling at the fight scenes and Renee's upper-body muscles in a tank top). Ignoring my not-so-subtle reasons for enjoying the ending, what actually happens is pretty darn badass. Scary, as well, but a "whoa", as Renee works to take down a cult without compromising her own morality.

It's a good book. The story is interesting and sufficiently creepy. Renee is flawed, strong, and very human. I'm a sucker for Kate Kane (no surprise there, huh?) and their interactions are well-written. The art varies in quality, but overall it's pleasing to the eye. If you don't mind reading about the occult, having a hero who's not morally perfect, or you're interested in the characters, I'd definitely recommend this one to you.

[Nate]

I’ve loved seeing Rucka evolve Renee Montoya’s character from his early Batman days through Gotham Central and 52 (his first ever DC story was about Renee). But I did not like this. Renee herself isn’t the problem. It’s that the Religion of Crime is a concept I find completely dumb. A cult that worships criminal activity? Really? The Religion worked okay in 52 where it mostly lingered in the background. But in this, a full-throated noir story? No. Each issue sees Renee uncovering a crime linked to the Religion based on one of their gimmicky tenets - deceit, lust, greed, and murder. Excuse me while I roll my eyes. Adding to the disappointment is Rucka’s writing, which is uncharacteristically lifeless. I wonder if his heart was even in this project. Either way, a real shame.

[John Yelverton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very dark book that borders on the Satanic in it's presentation.

[Oviya · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHATS THE SEQUEL

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid and quick read. This is after Renee takes over being The Question for Vic. She hunts down a cult, dark ending, and solid art. Nothing amazing but a fun story.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greg Rucka loves the idea of the Crime Bible and I wish I loved it half as much. It still hasn't been pulled off well. This wasn't a bad book but maybe better served as a Batwoman/Question team-up book. Renee's addictive behavior is still here but its now aimed at the Crime Bible. The writing makes perfect sense. The art in the book, by multiple artists, was very good. Overall, this book is more for a niche audience but its a solid look at a great character's evolution.

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pero qué tapa tan fea. Por suerte la historia está muy bueno y los varios dibujantes que se encargan de la faz gráfica hacen un digno trabajo. El que no hace un digno trabajo de lector soy yo, que dije que no iba a leer este tomo hasta no terminarme 52.

[Comics Instrucciones de uso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nuevamente habla bien de los editores de Salvat el que se hayan atrevido con este tomo, casi de culto, un joya, pero que, lamentáblemente, no tuvo en su momento la recepción que se merecía. Hay que aclarar que este tomo es consecuencia directa de la excelente, y ya legendaria, mega saga "52" (2006/07), de la cual Greg Rucka fue uno de los guionistas. Una de las líneas argumentativas de esa saga tenía que ver con René Montoya, la estimable agente de policía de Gotham, que el propio Rucka, junto a Ed Brubaker, habían hecho brillar hasta la perfección en esa saga de oro puro que fue "Gotham Central" (2002-2006). De allí, Rucka cogió a René Montoya y en "52" la situó como acompañante y heredera de Vic Sage, el anterior Question, y, luego, como salvadora de Kate Kane, Batwoman, (su ex amante, además), a quien una religión de enloquecios fanáticos (la religión del crimen), intentó asesinar a partir de una profecía. Hasta ahí "52". Pero Rucka, según sus mismas palabras, sentía que la historia de René Montoya, ahora como Question, no podía terminar ahí, así que ideó una miniserie en la cual ella se dedica a indagar aún más en aquella religión del crimen. De eso va este tomo. Son cinco historias de tono detectivesco en las cuales vemos a Montoya perseguir a los fanáticos, y a su libro sagrado, pero a la vez, y poco a poco, vamos comprendiendo que, en realidad, es Montoya la perseguida. Rucka oculta los desenlaces hasta el momento justo, como buen escritor de policiales, y dota a Montoya de una personalidad propia, alejada del cliché de víctima de las historias de superhéroes. Este comic es tan de culto, que para su lanzamiento se diseñaron un puñado de decenas de libros de notas con los apuntes que Montoya va tomando luego de cada caso. Esos artilugios hoy, son oro puro.
En fin. Un exquisito comic policial para ultrafanáticos del universo DC.

[Aidan]

A fun continuation of Rucka’s story of Renee Montoya, with some solid art particularly in the second half. Nothing crazy, and I probably won’t be rereading it again, but Rucka’s always an easy read and the scenes back in Gotham were a particularly fun return after Gotham Central and 52. The religion of crime is cool, and Renee’s obsession with them as a new form of addiction is very interesting, but the idea that it would change Renee is not convincing. I like the Lovecraftian conspiracy influences, but the religion of crime was more exciting to me as an ideology as opposed to a religion. The cop hunting others after Flay kills his friends and wipes blood on his face is silly. I think the failure of the book comes out in the final scene where Renee tells Flay “I wouldn’t kill the man who murdered my partner. What makes you so special?” She’s right, and this book feels underwhelming because we’ve seen Renee go through so much worse, there’s never a real threat to her character here.

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of the CRIME BIBLE miniseries that spun out of DC's event series 52. It folllows up on several storylines that started in that series (and the amazing GOTHAM CENTRAL series before that.)

The series follows Renee Montoya as she investigates the mysterious "Crime Bible" and the cult that has sprung up around it. There's some fun mythology here, and Rucka's dialogue and characterization is strong (as usual) but the whole thing feels like a build up to some big event that (as far as I know) was never really followed up on after Rucka left DC. As a result, it's a bit of a letdown. Worth reading for Renee Montoya fans and Rucka fans, but I don't think others would get much out of it.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the idea that Renee would get so caught up in seeking answers about her enemy that she would be recruited in their cult and be changed by the experience was a great idea for the book. She's sober but still exhibiting her addictive behavior. I liked the themes, I liked seeing Kate Kane and Harvey Bullock again, but I just don't really care about the whole Crime Bible story. It was fine, and the art was good, but I just couldn't get into the sins or caring about any of that, and I guess I just would have preferred a different plot to drive the themes that were being explored. Still, any Renee Montoya is better than none.

[Rylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The crime bible was one of the concepts in 52 that really intrigued me, it’s such a creative concept that plays with religion. This series expands a little more on the religion of crime, each issue focusing on one of the four lessons of blood. I really enjoyed this series not only for expanding the lore of the religion of crime but also because I loved seeing Renee be a badass. Renee had one of the best character arcs in 52, it was great seeing her take all the stuff she learned and put it to use.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Renee Montoya, but I find Rucka's treatment of her as The Question in this book as somewhat less remarkable. The concept informing this volume- that there is a cult that worships sin, fails to feel like it is a natural outgrowth of the DC comic universe. Why does such a cult exist? Why would Montoya feel drawn towards this cult? The questions this volume leaves unanswered do not give the book a charming mystique. The story is fine otherwise, but I expected more out of Greg Rucka.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting concept: a Bible for criminals. Of course the new Question, Renee Montoya, is obsessed with it. Rucka's reinvention of The Question is clever and exciting, with enough cameos to keep any fan of Gotham happy.

[Francisco Becerra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two sets of adventures of the late Question, Reneé Montoya. The first one more in to the paranormal/cultish bend, with a somewhat insatisfactory ending. The other a gripping tale of modern slavery that ended too superheroic. Good ideas, mediocre endings.

[Jason Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really enjoyable! A gritty, intriguing story, and ended on an interesting cliff-hanger (Final Crisis: Revelations is the next book in line for anybody reading Montoya's escapades). In the end, a solid read with a good rotational art team throughout.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this on the back of Greg Rucka's Gotham Central, as i wanted to follow the adventures of Renée Montoya. However, this book left me cold, the character, tone and style all seem completely different and the plot didn't seem to have any real depth to it.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fact that it ends on a question is appropriate...

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite my cup of tea.

[Kereesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly couldn't get into this one. I liked the other Question bind-up by Rucka much better.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt very unfinished. Also, is The Question a villain now?

[furious · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta be honest, as much as I love Renee Montoya, all the Religion of Crime stuff is a turn off. This book is very unexciting. Not bad, just not engaging.

[Macka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish there were more books about The Question!

[Shawn Ingle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not really familiar with the events that lead into this. Seems like it would have been helpful to fully appreciate the story. Still, it's not bad.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermoso dibujo, muy buena historia, un muy buen primer encuentro con este personaje

[Mati G. W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originalmente publicado como un "especial 52 aftermath". Una saga con René en la que no termina de lucirse.

[Ernest · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an intriguing volume of a work I did not know anything about. I think this volume is best for those who have been following the character or are into the world, as while the story involving the Crime Bible has some interest, there is not enough there for a casual reader like myself to want to find out more about the character or the larger story. There is nothing wrong with a work being primarily for fans and for them, read and enjoy this work.

[Mark Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ive loved the Question since the 80s when Denny O'Neil brought him back as complex philosophical Anti-hero. When Vic died in the 52 series I was crushed, but I understood because he hadn't been around for a while. And now Renee Montoya has taken over for Vic and I love the Question more than ever. While this book isn't perfect, it is good...albeit a little uneven. Much better Renee/Question stories have come since.