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The Question (1986)
The Question, Vol. 1: Zen and Violence
Created by comics legend Steve Ditko, the faceless avenger known as The Question is one of comics' most mysterious and fascinating heroes!In the corrupt, crime-ridden Hub City, investigative reporter Vic Sage strives to tell his viewers the truth - and philosophical, trenchcoated hero The Question, whose face is a featureless blank - uncovers what Sage cannot. But with deadly martial artist assassins and political intrigue to contend with, will one man - even a master of unarmed combat - be able to make a difference?Legendary "Batman" writer Dennis O'Neill and penciller Denys Cowan (Deathlok) present one of the most acclaimed comics of the 1980s!
Collects THE QUESTION #1-6.
Collects THE QUESTION #1-6.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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635 people want to read
About the author
Dennis O'Neil
1,758 books276 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 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 16, 2024
This was recommended to me by a friend as the Question run to read.
I mean, he's a niche character that doesn't show up often, other than to cameo here and there as that faceless detective. But what the hell is he all about? What's up with his face? Does he have an origin story?
As many comics as I've read over the years, I didn't know the answer to those "questions".
So, Vic Sage (aka Charles Victor Szasz for some reason as yet unexplained) is a reporter in Hub City who is known for his take-no-prisoners exposés. He also moonlights as this faceless vigilante, using some kind of special gas to adhere his mask in a way that won't let someone yank it off his face.
Not exactly a terrible idea.
At this point, it was unclear to me whether or not he was going by the moniker The Question, but that's neither here nor there.
The bottom line was that he got too mouthy on air and the big man behind the scenes decided it was time for him to go.
Lady Shiva beats him half to death, he gets popped in the head with a low-caliber pellet gun, and then unceremoniously tossed in the river. Spoilery things happen. He ends up not dead, suffering from amnesia, and training like an adult version of the Karate Kid with Richard Dragon, who is somehow associated with Lady Shiva.
After his training montage is over, he heads back to Hub City to get revanchge!
The end leaves you with not only a meaty resolution to the first arc but also the introduction to what looks to be his newest nemesis.
This was all pretty good, honestly.
It's an 80s comic so it's half seedy & half campy, but the plot holds up. I'm going to definitely check out the next volume.
Recommended. <--if you're interested in The Question
I mean, he's a niche character that doesn't show up often, other than to cameo here and there as that faceless detective. But what the hell is he all about? What's up with his face? Does he have an origin story?
As many comics as I've read over the years, I didn't know the answer to those "questions".
So, Vic Sage (aka Charles Victor Szasz for some reason as yet unexplained) is a reporter in Hub City who is known for his take-no-prisoners exposés. He also moonlights as this faceless vigilante, using some kind of special gas to adhere his mask in a way that won't let someone yank it off his face.
Not exactly a terrible idea.
At this point, it was unclear to me whether or not he was going by the moniker The Question, but that's neither here nor there.
The bottom line was that he got too mouthy on air and the big man behind the scenes decided it was time for him to go.
Lady Shiva beats him half to death, he gets popped in the head with a low-caliber pellet gun, and then unceremoniously tossed in the river. Spoilery things happen. He ends up not dead, suffering from amnesia, and training like an adult version of the Karate Kid with Richard Dragon, who is somehow associated with Lady Shiva.
After his training montage is over, he heads back to Hub City to get revanchge!
The end leaves you with not only a meaty resolution to the first arc but also the introduction to what looks to be his newest nemesis.
This was all pretty good, honestly.
It's an 80s comic so it's half seedy & half campy, but the plot holds up. I'm going to definitely check out the next volume.
Recommended. <--if you're interested in The Question
July 25, 2016
Victor Sage, aka The Question, fights crime in Hub City, possibly the most corrupt city on Earth.
Prior to this volume, most of my exposure to The Question was in Modern Comics reprints of Charlton comics stories and the weekly 52 miniseries. The Question has been held in high regard for years so I finally gave it a shot.
Dennis O'Neil's run on The Question stems from DC creating a mature readers line before later creating the Vertigo imprint. It's a tale of a man facing an insurmountable tide of corruption in his home town.
The Question started as a backup feature in Blue Beetle, a Steve Ditko character who shared much of his creator's Randian philosophy. O'Neil and team gave The Question a near death experience and a new Zen lease on life, making him a much more viable character.
Now that the history lesson is over, this was some good shit, especially considering it's 30 years old at this point. While it's wordier than most of today's comics, O'Neil was way ahead of the curve. There aren't a lot of comics that feature the hero floating face down in a river after a gunshot to the head and that's just in the first issue.
The Question's journey sees him learning from Richard Dragon, 70's DC kung fu hero, now confined to a wheelchair. When he returns to Hub City, everyone has hell to pay.
Deny Cowan's art suits the story perfectly. I was skeptical at first since I wasn't a fan of his work on the Superman books in the 1990s but it had an understated, cinematic feel. There were a few wordless fight scenes that I'd put up against anything today. As always, Bill Sienkiewicz was marvelous on the covers.
O'Neil, Cowan, and the others had a good thing going with The Question, a dark crime comic that paved the way for a lot of others down the road. Four out of five stars.
Prior to this volume, most of my exposure to The Question was in Modern Comics reprints of Charlton comics stories and the weekly 52 miniseries. The Question has been held in high regard for years so I finally gave it a shot.
Dennis O'Neil's run on The Question stems from DC creating a mature readers line before later creating the Vertigo imprint. It's a tale of a man facing an insurmountable tide of corruption in his home town.
The Question started as a backup feature in Blue Beetle, a Steve Ditko character who shared much of his creator's Randian philosophy. O'Neil and team gave The Question a near death experience and a new Zen lease on life, making him a much more viable character.
Now that the history lesson is over, this was some good shit, especially considering it's 30 years old at this point. While it's wordier than most of today's comics, O'Neil was way ahead of the curve. There aren't a lot of comics that feature the hero floating face down in a river after a gunshot to the head and that's just in the first issue.
The Question's journey sees him learning from Richard Dragon, 70's DC kung fu hero, now confined to a wheelchair. When he returns to Hub City, everyone has hell to pay.
Deny Cowan's art suits the story perfectly. I was skeptical at first since I wasn't a fan of his work on the Superman books in the 1990s but it had an understated, cinematic feel. There were a few wordless fight scenes that I'd put up against anything today. As always, Bill Sienkiewicz was marvelous on the covers.
O'Neil, Cowan, and the others had a good thing going with The Question, a dark crime comic that paved the way for a lot of others down the road. Four out of five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2022
I know I say this a lot but I enjoyed his animated appearances enough to make me want to pick up this series.
Though for someone called (the?) ‘Question’, Vic Sage sure likes using his fists!
There aren’t a whole of ‘investigative heroes’ so it’s a shame we don’t see more of this reporter doing that.
Links to individual status updates:
Issue #1│Issue #2│Issue #3│Issue #4-6
Though for someone called (the?) ‘Question’, Vic Sage sure likes using his fists!
There aren’t a whole of ‘investigative heroes’ so it’s a shame we don’t see more of this reporter doing that.
Links to individual status updates:
Issue #1│Issue #2│Issue #3│Issue #4-6
July 7, 2010
I love the fact that O'Neil took such a douche bag of a character and rather than reinvent him he actually reformed him by making him realize he was a prick, introducing him to eastern philosophy as opposed to his old set of "world is black and white, there is no gray" rules. And to top that, while becoming a reasonable human being he became 5 times deadlier, trained not only in a new school of thought but in the martial arts as well by none other than Richard Dragon. Thanks to Alex Boney for telling me this great series was from the 80's was available in TPB form (for about a day). I found it used on www.abebooks.com for $25. Go Abebooks!
If you like Denny O'Neil's run on Batman, you should give this a shot.
I wanted to add that my big turn-off on this character originally from one of my all-time favorite comics creators, Steve Ditko was that the comic looked great but read terribly. This was Ditko's first comic book sermon on Objectivism is the philosophy that holds that reality exists independent of consciousness (huh?) that individuals have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that they can attain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive and deductive logic, that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness or rational self-interest, that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual rights. Fine, but the Question was a selfish, brutish thug of an asshole, so love or hate the philosophy (religion? If the ideology has an eschatology) of Objetivism really reads bad when it is celebrated by a very unpleasant character. The Question AKA Vic Sage was a deeply unpleasant character. He was the Punisher in a dress suit and fedora and he was very angular.
The fact that he was born of objectivism is not what made him unlikeable, the fact that he was written as a self-righteous creep and a murder. I did not understand why I disliked this book (the issue I had read from 1967 that I probably bought at a flea market in '78) but not yers later I get it. Buddhist beliefs are peaceful as are the practitioners of their philosophy/religion but if an artist wanted to introduce a Buddhist character to mainstream comics in the 60's it probably would have been a bad idea to make Dr. Fu Manchu the hero. The Question was not that evil, but Fumachu was the worst Buddhist I could think of. Your belief system that you impose on your character does not make a character good or even likable just because they reflect your beliefs. And in the Question's case he was what someone with those beliefs could do to make a case that said beliefs may not be a very healthy thing to have. I just wanted to clarify why I did not like the Question before O'Neil tackled the character and why I think he did such a great job making the character viable, which was apparently depth vs obsession. Not the philosofy but the brutish, ham handed execution.
Do not get me wrong,. I would rather be stranded on a desert island with nothing but Ditko's Question and Mr. A (a bigger dick than the question) than have to suffer through the The 2005 Question mini-series,where the character is re-imagined 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. Yuck.
If you like Denny O'Neil's run on Batman, you should give this a shot.
I wanted to add that my big turn-off on this character originally from one of my all-time favorite comics creators, Steve Ditko was that the comic looked great but read terribly. This was Ditko's first comic book sermon on Objectivism is the philosophy that holds that reality exists independent of consciousness (huh?) that individuals have direct contact with reality through sense perception, that they can attain objective knowledge from perception through the process of concept formation and inductive and deductive logic, that the proper moral purpose of one's life is the pursuit of one's own happiness or rational self-interest, that the only social system consistent with this morality is full respect for individual rights. Fine, but the Question was a selfish, brutish thug of an asshole, so love or hate the philosophy (religion? If the ideology has an eschatology) of Objetivism really reads bad when it is celebrated by a very unpleasant character. The Question AKA Vic Sage was a deeply unpleasant character. He was the Punisher in a dress suit and fedora and he was very angular.
The fact that he was born of objectivism is not what made him unlikeable, the fact that he was written as a self-righteous creep and a murder. I did not understand why I disliked this book (the issue I had read from 1967 that I probably bought at a flea market in '78) but not yers later I get it. Buddhist beliefs are peaceful as are the practitioners of their philosophy/religion but if an artist wanted to introduce a Buddhist character to mainstream comics in the 60's it probably would have been a bad idea to make Dr. Fu Manchu the hero. The Question was not that evil, but Fumachu was the worst Buddhist I could think of. Your belief system that you impose on your character does not make a character good or even likable just because they reflect your beliefs. And in the Question's case he was what someone with those beliefs could do to make a case that said beliefs may not be a very healthy thing to have. I just wanted to clarify why I did not like the Question before O'Neil tackled the character and why I think he did such a great job making the character viable, which was apparently depth vs obsession. Not the philosofy but the brutish, ham handed execution.
Do not get me wrong,. I would rather be stranded on a desert island with nothing but Ditko's Question and Mr. A (a bigger dick than the question) than have to suffer through the The 2005 Question mini-series,where the character is re-imagined 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. Yuck.
July 1, 2010
I first became acquainted with The Question on The Justice League Unlimited animated show on Cartoon Network. I was intrigued. He wears a mask that gives him a face with no features. The Question is sort of a more philosophical (and less badass) Batman. He's a crusader against injustice and corruption, who doesn't mind using his fists, although he's also very cerebral.
This was a good introduction to him in the graphic novel/comics form. I liked seeing how he goes from being rather brash and unorganized in his pursuits, to becoming more spiritually focused and more of a deadly weapon, when necessary. This is very much in the crime drama genre, but with little bits of supernatural elements mixed in, since The Question comes back from the dead.
Zen and Violence uses the common villain of the evil, corrupt church member. I'm not sure how I feel about that. As a Christian, I do take exception to Christians almost always being portrayed as crazy, evil, hypocritical, and megalomanical, more than we are shown as being mere humans on a spiritual journey. We don't seem to get the same even-handed approach as the other religions (which seem more palatable in the media and the humanities as a whole). On the other hand, I respect that there are members of the clergy and so-called Christians who do give credence to the bad reputation of those who profess to follow Christ. It wasn't a deal-breaker, but more of a somewhat painful pinch to me as I read this story, since the only obvious Christian in this story was the most evil, craziest character. But, sadly, I've grown used to this (not sure if that's good or bad).
I was in the mood for a quick graphic novel read, and I enjoyed this. I liked the noir elements, and I'm a sucker for brainy, crime-fighting martial arts practitioners (Batman, Deadpool, and Daredevil anyone?). Although this was not a five star book, I'd like to read more stories about The Question, since I like my heroes on the edgy, yet thoughtful side.
This was a good introduction to him in the graphic novel/comics form. I liked seeing how he goes from being rather brash and unorganized in his pursuits, to becoming more spiritually focused and more of a deadly weapon, when necessary. This is very much in the crime drama genre, but with little bits of supernatural elements mixed in, since The Question comes back from the dead.
Zen and Violence uses the common villain of the evil, corrupt church member. I'm not sure how I feel about that. As a Christian, I do take exception to Christians almost always being portrayed as crazy, evil, hypocritical, and megalomanical, more than we are shown as being mere humans on a spiritual journey. We don't seem to get the same even-handed approach as the other religions (which seem more palatable in the media and the humanities as a whole). On the other hand, I respect that there are members of the clergy and so-called Christians who do give credence to the bad reputation of those who profess to follow Christ. It wasn't a deal-breaker, but more of a somewhat painful pinch to me as I read this story, since the only obvious Christian in this story was the most evil, craziest character. But, sadly, I've grown used to this (not sure if that's good or bad).
I was in the mood for a quick graphic novel read, and I enjoyed this. I liked the noir elements, and I'm a sucker for brainy, crime-fighting martial arts practitioners (Batman, Deadpool, and Daredevil anyone?). Although this was not a five star book, I'd like to read more stories about The Question, since I like my heroes on the edgy, yet thoughtful side.
November 20, 2022
A great noir style with a character I never much read before. Vic wants to be a hero of sorts but from the first issue learns the hard way that isn't simple. The origin story Is basically wrapped up in two issues but they work well. Then we get Into one shots and two partners that feel very grounded, dark, and work extremely well for a detective style character. The last story in particular about a father's acceptness is intense and brutal.
February 20, 2017
Great, great crime stuff. You can see how Frank Miller influenced this...or maybe was influenced by it. Rick Magyar's inks aren't bad. And it weaves an excellent crime story, with some great long-term mysteries.
February 7, 2020
The Question appeared at DC at a rather amazing time for the company. Post Crisis On Infinite Earths, DC was going through a new "DC Explosion," with new talent and new types of books. This was after the John Byrne Superman appeared and Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns, and coincided with the publication of Watchmen, the George Perez Wonder Woman reboot, and the Legends mini-series. The comic itself was printed on high quality paper called Baxter, and DC had a rather impressive set of comics that were using this process. At $1.50 each, each issue was about twice the cost of the newsprint comic. The Question, therefore, appeared at a time of change and renewal at DC.
The Question himself was formerly part of the Charlton Comics Group, a rather obscure (read: spottily distributed comic line) that often looked as if their comics were printed on cardboard. At one time, Charlton had a super-hero line, headlined by the Blue Beetle and Captain Atom, and many Bronze Age comic creators got their start or made their first big impression working for the company: Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Steve Skeates, Don Newton, and many others. Writer Dennis O'Neil was one of them. O'Neil, of course, soon made his way to DC in the late 60s, penning many classic comics, such as the Green Lantern run where Hal Jordan and Oliver (Green Arrow) Queen traveled across America and in doing so, brought a modern and social sensibility to the rather staid DC line. Illustrator Neal Adams joined O'Neil on Green Lantern, and the duo also created a new take on Batman, introducing Ra's al Ghul and bringing a more realistic feel to the Batman world. O'Neil also created Richard Dragon, DC's entry into the martial arts craze of the 1970s, the titular comic running for eighteen issues, which also introduced the character of Lady Shiva into the DC Universe.
Fast forward fifteen years or so, and O'Neil, along with illustrator Denys Cowan, inker Rick Magyar, and editor Mike Gold were the team that brought us The Question. The Charlton heroes had been acquired by DC some years before, and were famously the inspiration for The Watchmen. Blue Beetle and Captain Atom were already being published by DC or in the works, and the Question filled a spot on the schedule as well. What makes The Question a different sort of hero, however, is that he's not really really a super-hero as we normally think of one being. His world is gritty, real, and filled with criminals one would find in the real world. As Gold mentioned in one of the letter columns, The Question is a man with a secret identity, but not an alter ego. The Question is the same man, with the same motivations, whether in costume or in his civilian identity of Vic Sage.
This volume collects the first six issues of the comic. It sets up that the Question, who had already appeared in Crisis and Blue Beetle, as an established crime fighter, but he is killed off in the first issue. How he is revived is a bit spotty, but it works. One of his tormentors in the first issue, Lady Shiva, saves him and brings him to Richard Dragon for training. With new dedication to the art of fighting and certain Eastern principles, the Question returns to his city to fight the sleazy political machine that tried to murder him.
This political machine is controlled by a corrupt clergyman, seeking to bring in the Apocalypse through nefarious methods. While recuperating and training with Dragon, the clergyman's grip on the city tightened, so when The Question returns a year later, there is no way to save the city but to take out the clergyman. These issues deal with that struggle and the immediate aftermath. O'Neil brings in a lot of secondary characters that are just as interesting as the lead, and spends a good bit of page space fleshing them out and sharpening their motivations. There are no unnecessary words here, as O'Neil is both spare with descriptives (several pages are fight scenes with no dialog or exposition) and the spoken words of his character. This book reads like a hard-nosed detective novel.
Both O'Neil and Cowan were martial artists, and that background lends well to the comic. Cowan's fight scenes are pretty damn good, full of energy and correct technique. Although Cowan's art seems a bit dated to some of the other reviewers here, perhaps because his women are high- and tiny-waisted, but I think it still feels as fresh as it did in 1986. Master DC colorist of the 80s, Tatjana Woods, is the colorist, and she does a fine job in differentiating between The Question and Vic Sage.
This book is long out of print, and it goes for nearly $150 on Amazon and Ebay. I bought the individual issues for under $20, so I was able to read this book as it was originally published. That was a real treat, as the letter columns were a joy to read. The first few letter columns were more about how the book was created, and in every issue there was a book recommendation from O'Neil himself.
The best part about reading these in single issues were seeing the house ads for upcoming DC Comics. In addition to the titles mentioned in the first paragraph, there were ads for the first issues of the Suicide Squad, the Wally West Flash title, the Doug Moench/Gene Colan Spectre, the Outsiders, the Long Bow Hunters by Mike Grell, the DeMatteis/Giffen/Maguire Justice League, Matt Wagner's Demon mini-series, and the beginning of Max Collins's run on Batman. Pretty damn amazing time in comics history.
The Question himself was formerly part of the Charlton Comics Group, a rather obscure (read: spottily distributed comic line) that often looked as if their comics were printed on cardboard. At one time, Charlton had a super-hero line, headlined by the Blue Beetle and Captain Atom, and many Bronze Age comic creators got their start or made their first big impression working for the company: Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Steve Skeates, Don Newton, and many others. Writer Dennis O'Neil was one of them. O'Neil, of course, soon made his way to DC in the late 60s, penning many classic comics, such as the Green Lantern run where Hal Jordan and Oliver (Green Arrow) Queen traveled across America and in doing so, brought a modern and social sensibility to the rather staid DC line. Illustrator Neal Adams joined O'Neil on Green Lantern, and the duo also created a new take on Batman, introducing Ra's al Ghul and bringing a more realistic feel to the Batman world. O'Neil also created Richard Dragon, DC's entry into the martial arts craze of the 1970s, the titular comic running for eighteen issues, which also introduced the character of Lady Shiva into the DC Universe.
Fast forward fifteen years or so, and O'Neil, along with illustrator Denys Cowan, inker Rick Magyar, and editor Mike Gold were the team that brought us The Question. The Charlton heroes had been acquired by DC some years before, and were famously the inspiration for The Watchmen. Blue Beetle and Captain Atom were already being published by DC or in the works, and the Question filled a spot on the schedule as well. What makes The Question a different sort of hero, however, is that he's not really really a super-hero as we normally think of one being. His world is gritty, real, and filled with criminals one would find in the real world. As Gold mentioned in one of the letter columns, The Question is a man with a secret identity, but not an alter ego. The Question is the same man, with the same motivations, whether in costume or in his civilian identity of Vic Sage.
This volume collects the first six issues of the comic. It sets up that the Question, who had already appeared in Crisis and Blue Beetle, as an established crime fighter, but he is killed off in the first issue. How he is revived is a bit spotty, but it works. One of his tormentors in the first issue, Lady Shiva, saves him and brings him to Richard Dragon for training. With new dedication to the art of fighting and certain Eastern principles, the Question returns to his city to fight the sleazy political machine that tried to murder him.
This political machine is controlled by a corrupt clergyman, seeking to bring in the Apocalypse through nefarious methods. While recuperating and training with Dragon, the clergyman's grip on the city tightened, so when The Question returns a year later, there is no way to save the city but to take out the clergyman. These issues deal with that struggle and the immediate aftermath. O'Neil brings in a lot of secondary characters that are just as interesting as the lead, and spends a good bit of page space fleshing them out and sharpening their motivations. There are no unnecessary words here, as O'Neil is both spare with descriptives (several pages are fight scenes with no dialog or exposition) and the spoken words of his character. This book reads like a hard-nosed detective novel.
Both O'Neil and Cowan were martial artists, and that background lends well to the comic. Cowan's fight scenes are pretty damn good, full of energy and correct technique. Although Cowan's art seems a bit dated to some of the other reviewers here, perhaps because his women are high- and tiny-waisted, but I think it still feels as fresh as it did in 1986. Master DC colorist of the 80s, Tatjana Woods, is the colorist, and she does a fine job in differentiating between The Question and Vic Sage.
This book is long out of print, and it goes for nearly $150 on Amazon and Ebay. I bought the individual issues for under $20, so I was able to read this book as it was originally published. That was a real treat, as the letter columns were a joy to read. The first few letter columns were more about how the book was created, and in every issue there was a book recommendation from O'Neil himself.
The best part about reading these in single issues were seeing the house ads for upcoming DC Comics. In addition to the titles mentioned in the first paragraph, there were ads for the first issues of the Suicide Squad, the Wally West Flash title, the Doug Moench/Gene Colan Spectre, the Outsiders, the Long Bow Hunters by Mike Grell, the DeMatteis/Giffen/Maguire Justice League, Matt Wagner's Demon mini-series, and the beginning of Max Collins's run on Batman. Pretty damn amazing time in comics history.
February 7, 2021
A Gritty street-level vigilante tale. I have always liked the Question character since I watched the character's appearance on the DC animated series, Justice League. He is the inspiration for the character Rorshach that appears in the graphic novel, Watchmen. I like to think he is the spiritual successor to characters like the Shadow and the Spirit. This type of character really lends itself to the noir crime drama of that was popularized by the pulp magazine of the 30s. This series I believe was written and drawn in the late 80s and really showcases the feel and growing change of the comic industry moving away from the colorful and at times hopeful side of the superhero genre. This series was penned by the late great Dennis O'Neil who was greatly responsible for shaping the modern mythos of Batman. The artwork by Denys Cowan works really well to pace the story that O'Neil is telling. Hub City is a murky and terrible place to reside and it greatly increased the appeal of the Question in this book. This is a great jumping-on point for those looking for more Questions like he is depicted in the JL animated show. You don't get a full definitive origin for the hero but yet get a bare-bones idea of his training and ideology that shapes the Question's mind. The dialogue was a bit jarring as I felt O'Neil is laying on the southern cadence a bit campy and thick. That was really my only gripe. The story was never boring and there were some disturbing moments in the story. There is a real-world quality to the setting of the story.
Overall this was a good book and I will definitely pick up the next volume.
Overall this was a good book and I will definitely pick up the next volume.
February 4, 2024
It's always a nice change to have a super-hero figure who's aware of the structural problems behind the immediate crimes he or she is fighting against. That's probably what most notably differentiate the Question here from other self-righteous vigilante types lurking in the corners of all those impossibly violent fictional cities. Vic Sage is not only aware of the crippling corruption that lies beneath Hub City's criminal pandemonium, he is, both as the Question and as a journalist, trying to dismantle this corrupted system. Of course there's some traumatic motivation mixed there as well, some vague martial arts expertise, and the endless search for redemption (we are all looking for it, I get you Vic). Most of the elements used in this story aren't really original, even for the 80s, but it's the way Dennis O'Neil blends it all in the narrative that turns this into a good book.
Apart from that I'm a simple person I just like a good noir-tinged story with a smooth character development. The only thing that throws me off a bit is the dated art, every male character portrayed in this volume have eyebrows like a ragged cartoon villain. With the knowledge that Denys Cowan and Rick Magyar were nominated twice for an Eisner Award as Best Art Team for their work in this series, I can only hope that there will be some improvement on the art in later volumes.
Apart from that I'm a simple person I just like a good noir-tinged story with a smooth character development. The only thing that throws me off a bit is the dated art, every male character portrayed in this volume have eyebrows like a ragged cartoon villain. With the knowledge that Denys Cowan and Rick Magyar were nominated twice for an Eisner Award as Best Art Team for their work in this series, I can only hope that there will be some improvement on the art in later volumes.
September 25, 2009
The art is dated, but well done. I rarely found myself wondering what was happening in a given frame or how the character moved from position 1 to 2. There were a few mistakes with the colorist, but those can be forgiven.
The plot is smooth. There's a crapload of character development completed in a very short period of time and it's all very well done. The art and story work cohesively.
The plot is smooth. There's a crapload of character development completed in a very short period of time and it's all very well done. The art and story work cohesively.
October 5, 2024
Despite the fact that “The Question” is literally as old as I am, I’ve never heard of him. I’m reading this run as a recommendation by a friend and comics aficionado.
The Question is a super hero that wears a mask that makes him appear faceless. He goes around investing and punching baddies in Hub City, the armpit of America. When he’s not “The Question,” he’s an investigative reporter named either Vic Sage or Victor Zsasz (is that not a name of a minor Batman villain?). In this volume, we get the faceless investigator’s origin story.
The art and the writing are definitely in the 80s style (comics were so much wordier than they are now!). The characters talk to themselves and explain themselves so much! There are some pop culture references and remarks that have not aged particularly well.
I didn't love this story, but I'm curious enough to trust my friend's recommendation and continue on.
(kudos for the Batman cameo!)
(Collects “The Question” #1-6)
The Question is a super hero that wears a mask that makes him appear faceless. He goes around investing and punching baddies in Hub City, the armpit of America. When he’s not “The Question,” he’s an investigative reporter named either Vic Sage or Victor Zsasz (is that not a name of a minor Batman villain?). In this volume, we get the faceless investigator’s origin story.
The art and the writing are definitely in the 80s style (comics were so much wordier than they are now!). The characters talk to themselves and explain themselves so much! There are some pop culture references and remarks that have not aged particularly well.
I didn't love this story, but I'm curious enough to trust my friend's recommendation and continue on.
(kudos for the Batman cameo!)
(Collects “The Question” #1-6)
October 7, 2015
There's enough here to keep me reading. (Especially given that I believe in the book's critical bona fides, although from where I'm not sure.)
Two things really undermine the book. First, it seems like the Question's secret identity is easy to figure out. Despite the explicit text saying that the Question has a special transformation that makes his suit change colors, his suit does not change colors. There is a famous newsman in the city who always wears a salmon dress shirt in a bondi blue suit and a superhero who looks exactly the same (except no face) in the same suit. Normally, you'd just "comics logic" it like Superman's glasses, but here, people discover his identity pretty readily from time-to-time.
The second is that the villains were so caricatur-ish to really undermine the believability of the whole thing. The mayor is super-drunk all the time and totally a moron. There exist leaders who had debilitating addictions and there are times when there is a real power behind the man. But here's it's not believable that this mayor represents a viable puppet. Then, the power behind the throne is so insane that no one could imagine him achieving any popularity or helping anyone. So insane is he that his eye sclera is black, he has no iris, and his pupil is white.
The author's clear choice to position "Eastern" philosophy as his ideal makes the choice of an evil clergyman as the main villain (so far) at least a little strange. It's not clear that the author wants to "go there." (And probably for good reason!)
And the numerous hired toughs are awfully bulky and awfully useless.
There's something compelling about the visual design and the aura of mystery, though.
Two things really undermine the book. First, it seems like the Question's secret identity is easy to figure out. Despite the explicit text saying that the Question has a special transformation that makes his suit change colors, his suit does not change colors. There is a famous newsman in the city who always wears a salmon dress shirt in a bondi blue suit and a superhero who looks exactly the same (except no face) in the same suit. Normally, you'd just "comics logic" it like Superman's glasses, but here, people discover his identity pretty readily from time-to-time.
The second is that the villains were so caricatur-ish to really undermine the believability of the whole thing. The mayor is super-drunk all the time and totally a moron. There exist leaders who had debilitating addictions and there are times when there is a real power behind the man. But here's it's not believable that this mayor represents a viable puppet. Then, the power behind the throne is so insane that no one could imagine him achieving any popularity or helping anyone. So insane is he that his eye sclera is black, he has no iris, and his pupil is white.
The author's clear choice to position "Eastern" philosophy as his ideal makes the choice of an evil clergyman as the main villain (so far) at least a little strange. It's not clear that the author wants to "go there." (And probably for good reason!)
And the numerous hired toughs are awfully bulky and awfully useless.
There's something compelling about the visual design and the aura of mystery, though.
May 20, 2013
Vic Sage is a brutal hero in a brutal town. Populated by truly despicable yet rounded characters, Hub City makes Gotham seem almost Utopian; an inept, drunken mayor, a corrupt, bullying police force, and a crazy evangelist ensure that Hub City mirrors the "real world" in a way that Gotham, with its gleefully evil crazies, never could. Vic Sage (The Question) is a truly complex, conflicted character, at times bordering on being unlikeable but at others displaying a surprising tenderness (like when he builds a snowman with the children). Tot, who serves a similar role as Alfred does for Batman, is a wonderful supporting character and foil to Sage, as is Myra, the mayor's reluctant wife and Sage's lover. This first volume of Dennis O'Neil's run is as riveting as any TV crime drama. I am thrilled that I have another five volumes to go.
February 7, 2021
I've always wanted to read and learn more about The Question. I was excited when it came up in my master reading list. And it didn't disappoint. I loved the cameo appearance of Lady Shiva and Batman. It's so cool to see another non-powered hero. The Reverend was a cool villain too. I was not expecting things to go down the way they did. I'm excited to start the next volume!
February 5, 2010
Great 80s comics. From a modern perspective, it does seem a little dated, but only a little. Mostly it doesn't really seem to deserve the "mature readers" tag it had at the time, when there's only a little violence and some social commentary. But it's some great crime comics, all in all.
July 18, 2012
xtremely innovative. At times, thoughtful, brutal, and disturbing.
September 5, 2021
A good start to O'Neil's run, Zen and Violence establishes the tone and characters pretty well while leaving the series a little uneven. The art by Cowan, Magyar, and Wood is an immediate draw, immersing the reader in the gritty, noir setting that is Hub City. While the first issue is the weakest part of the book, the artwork keeps you going as the intrigue ramps up and the creative team starts to find its voice. Each of the main characters are layered individuals that are fascinating to watch, especially Sage and Myra. The Reverend makes for a good antagonist while he's involved in the plot, though some of his long-term plans seem a tad unrealistic at the rate he's going. Issue five is one of the highlights of the entire series, and the volume would be worth checking out for it alone. This is before O'Neil's open-ended endings get a little too abstract, where the conclusions feel emotionally potent even if the main goal hasn't been achieved.
In terms of negatives, it feels like the amnesia plotline doesn't get a proper conclusion. Vic Sage is having major memory problems one issue, the next he's completely fine. The conclusion to the Reverend's plotline feels anticlimactic and rushed, though I like what it means for Vic and Myra's character arcs, and the biblical allusions worked really well for me. The Question is a series that has decent issues intermixed with nearly perfect ones, so the level of quality isn't always consistent, though there isn't an issue I disliked.
While it takes a minute to pick up, you should absolutely check out The Question. It isn't talked about as much as other DC books that came out at the same time, but I think it more than deserves to be.
In terms of negatives, it feels like the amnesia plotline doesn't get a proper conclusion. Vic Sage is having major memory problems one issue, the next he's completely fine. The conclusion to the Reverend's plotline feels anticlimactic and rushed, though I like what it means for Vic and Myra's character arcs, and the biblical allusions worked really well for me. The Question is a series that has decent issues intermixed with nearly perfect ones, so the level of quality isn't always consistent, though there isn't an issue I disliked.
While it takes a minute to pick up, you should absolutely check out The Question. It isn't talked about as much as other DC books that came out at the same time, but I think it more than deserves to be.
January 29, 2020
Dennis O'Neil is one of the great graphic novel writers of the last century. I think his material is a testament to great story telling, and I will never pass over a chance to buy anything of his in a collected volume at a used book store. I only say that because buying graphic novels at cover price is something I do rarely, but that is not a marker on O'Neil.
This is a story of arrogance, bravado, and corruption, so it translates very well into modern times. The hero is a reporter for television by day, and a superhero with no face by night. The first two issues leads us through Campbell's Journey, setting up for the rest of the story, which is about the corruption of government, the corporate world, and religion. His struggle with the establishment is at the core of what makes this hero so great. Unlike Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man, this is a hero who looks for crime in the seats of power, and then is forced to calculate just how to take down that corruption.
I think the art is more than competent. I recognize every random thug every time they are drawn, and even see the character in their faces. I'm not a follower of comic book art, but I do like the way the 1980's drew their comics.
I am not a very critical reviewer, unfortunately, and read to enjoy. I think the fight scenes were understandable, the plot points were easy to follow, and each issue felt shorter than they actually were, leaving me wanting more by the end.
I cannot recommend this enough to people who like to read graphic novels. I will be pursuing the rest of this series.
This is a story of arrogance, bravado, and corruption, so it translates very well into modern times. The hero is a reporter for television by day, and a superhero with no face by night. The first two issues leads us through Campbell's Journey, setting up for the rest of the story, which is about the corruption of government, the corporate world, and religion. His struggle with the establishment is at the core of what makes this hero so great. Unlike Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man, this is a hero who looks for crime in the seats of power, and then is forced to calculate just how to take down that corruption.
I think the art is more than competent. I recognize every random thug every time they are drawn, and even see the character in their faces. I'm not a follower of comic book art, but I do like the way the 1980's drew their comics.
I am not a very critical reviewer, unfortunately, and read to enjoy. I think the fight scenes were understandable, the plot points were easy to follow, and each issue felt shorter than they actually were, leaving me wanting more by the end.
I cannot recommend this enough to people who like to read graphic novels. I will be pursuing the rest of this series.
April 28, 2015
Bajo la pluma del experimentado Denny O'Neil, el viejo enmascarado de la extinta Charlton Comics tuvo en 1987 una estupenda revisión que combinó crimen y filosofía. Tras salvarse de la muerte en circunstancias insólitas, el arrebatado Vic Sage tiene una segunda oportunidad que reorienta sus metas y lo convierte en un extraño vigilante en una ciudad violenta, corrupta y solitaria. Lectura perenne.
April 20, 2013
This was cool. It feels right at home in the 80s, with the noir-style of Frank Miller's Daredevil and the art of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing. Dark, smart and with a unique character I can get behind. Can't wait to read more.
January 3, 2021
After watching far too many superhero movies/tv shows especially the dog-awful Nolan Batman trilogy (and the super cringey Wonder Woman 1984), I was left wondering which of them stands up as an inspiration? I scoured my memory and was thinking I had fond memories of the Question: a more thoughtful philosophical hero.
It's amazing what tricks your memory can play. Reforming an Objectivist hero was a bold move. The philosophy I fondly remembered as a youth is not quite as developed as I hoped. But it was refreshing to see a hero tackle systemic corruption rather than cartoonish villains (it had those too).
It's only 6 issues in. I'll give it more of a chance and see if it develops into something more substantial. But than again, it's a 1980s DC Mature Readers title. Can't have too high hopes, right?
It's amazing what tricks your memory can play. Reforming an Objectivist hero was a bold move. The philosophy I fondly remembered as a youth is not quite as developed as I hoped. But it was refreshing to see a hero tackle systemic corruption rather than cartoonish villains (it had those too).
It's only 6 issues in. I'll give it more of a chance and see if it develops into something more substantial. But than again, it's a 1980s DC Mature Readers title. Can't have too high hopes, right?
October 29, 2023
Imaginați-vă Gotham-ul lui Batman, sau Star City - orașul vegheat de Green Arrow. Ei bine, cam așa e și cu Hub City, locul în care reporterul Vic Sage (pe numele său real Charles Victor Szasz) devine celebru pentru anchetele sale care urmăresc corupția și mafia administrației. Atunci când meseria sa de jurnalist nu îl ajută suficient, Vic Sage devine Question - un tip violent, cinic, având o mască pe față, un costum cu câteva gadgeturi și mult tupeu. Și ca asemănarea cu Batman să fie și mai puternică, Question are un prieten, fost profesor și inventator - Aristotle Rodor, care îl ajută în pregătirea costumului de supererou și în misiunile sala, așa că trimiterea către Alfred Pennyworth nu e chiar discretă. La fel ca Green Arrow și Vic Sage are parte de propriul său antrenament mai oriental și mai primitiv, însă deosebit de eficient pentru a face față orașului și inamicilor săi.
Seria aceasta are meritele sale, și nu puține: desenele lui Denys Cowan sunt excelente, povestea și replicile bune, inteligente. Iar intriga, violența brutală, ici-colo tușele sexi ale lui Cowan, finalurile deschise ale fiecărui număr și multe altele îi dau o notă personală și fac din Question unul dintre cele mai interesante personaje DC, chit că e unul marginal. Începe să-mi placă din ce în ce mai mult de „eroii” nu chiar mari din lumile DC sau Marvel, cei care bântuie prin suburbiile poveștilor centrale, dar care sunt cu adevărat interesanți.
Seria aceasta are meritele sale, și nu puține: desenele lui Denys Cowan sunt excelente, povestea și replicile bune, inteligente. Iar intriga, violența brutală, ici-colo tușele sexi ale lui Cowan, finalurile deschise ale fiecărui număr și multe altele îi dau o notă personală și fac din Question unul dintre cele mai interesante personaje DC, chit că e unul marginal. Începe să-mi placă din ce în ce mai mult de „eroii” nu chiar mari din lumile DC sau Marvel, cei care bântuie prin suburbiile poveștilor centrale, dar care sunt cu adevărat interesanți.
January 7, 2018
Every issue provides a satisfactory ending. The action flows really well without using any gimmicks. The noir/pulp crime-fighting atmosphere is great. A lot of tropes that are now tired - the gritty and dark city, the hero who beats criminals to a pulp, the psychotic crime bosses tearing the city apart, the loyal and wise older companion/mentor figure, the time abroad training, etc - all works here through sheer quality of writing. O'Neil knows when to let the (superb) art do the talking, when to narrate, when to describe a scene and when to move the plot forward. The pacing is fantastic.
Basically, one of the best comics I've read in a while. It's aged incredibly well.
Basically, one of the best comics I've read in a while. It's aged incredibly well.
March 28, 2018
I really appreciate Denny O'Neil's social conscience and I'm all for occasionally tackling important issues in superhero comics, but O'Neil does sometimes overplay his hand. Overall, I did enjoy these stories, and they're not as preachy as Denny's socially-aware stories from the 70s, but the Question stories are heavy-handed and over-written at times. He could add some subtlety to the villains at times, as well.
Still, the stories mean well, and Vic Sage's transition from angry, young vigilante to zen hero is interesting to see unfold. Cowan's art is visceral and rough, but tells the story very well and fits the mood of O'Neil's Hub City perfectly.
Still, the stories mean well, and Vic Sage's transition from angry, young vigilante to zen hero is interesting to see unfold. Cowan's art is visceral and rough, but tells the story very well and fits the mood of O'Neil's Hub City perfectly.
January 10, 2019
(3.25)
This is for 1-12.
It's Batman... without Batman. Keep the dead parents, remove the riches, and give him a Dick Tracy-esque disguise. Hub City is practically the same as Gotham, but without the lush backgrounds or the fear of the Batman. Despite the description, the philosophy is pretty light. It's like a Kung Fu movie with the various shallow witticisms that somehow make the world easier to see, as opposed to Kant in color.
It's a real shame more weird shit didn't happen in The Question! It would have really fit the character, and my appetite for comics. Unfortunately, this book was really dry, and yearning for creativity. Two interesting villains in one issue each don't add up to a whole five stars.
This is for 1-12.
It's Batman... without Batman. Keep the dead parents, remove the riches, and give him a Dick Tracy-esque disguise. Hub City is practically the same as Gotham, but without the lush backgrounds or the fear of the Batman. Despite the description, the philosophy is pretty light. It's like a Kung Fu movie with the various shallow witticisms that somehow make the world easier to see, as opposed to Kant in color.
It's a real shame more weird shit didn't happen in The Question! It would have really fit the character, and my appetite for comics. Unfortunately, this book was really dry, and yearning for creativity. Two interesting villains in one issue each don't add up to a whole five stars.
September 23, 2019
Somewhat outdated art and a bit outdated storytelling. But then again, good nice 80s feel in it.
I remember the first time I read this and I did not care about it that much then either. I do not care about the main character and I really dislike all that eastern-mysticism-oo-I-meditate-and-become-so-strong-stuff.
But there are some nice bits and the ending is really dramatic.
I remember the first time I read this and I did not care about it that much then either. I do not care about the main character and I really dislike all that eastern-mysticism-oo-I-meditate-and-become-so-strong-stuff.
But there are some nice bits and the ending is really dramatic.
May 16, 2021
I spent years tracking down this book. Why DC doesn't keep this continuously in print is beyond me as Zen and Violence has some of the most stylish, fluid action panels paired with strong prose. Though I find some "mature" aspects of the storytelling heavy-handed, especially now that I have read the entire run, I cannot deny the magic I felt while reading this book for the first time.
January 24, 2024
So many reasons to recommend this book - Dennis O'Neil was one of the masters. This is a journey - a journey that a man takes both internally and externally - a journey that he has to take before he is destroyed. Randian objectivism permeates throughout; concepts of 'ethical engagement' between law and order are looked at in depth. Highest recommendation.
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