r/whowouldwin • u/RageExTwo • Oct 05 '16
Featured Featured Character: The Question (DC Comics)
He is known by many names--Charlie, Charles Victor Szasz, Vic Sage, No Face--but above all, he is
The Question!
Vic Sage was an orphan who grew up in a rough orphanage. Though intelligent, he often got into trouble, getting into numerous physical altercations. After graduating from college, he decided to become a reporter in Hub City, renowned for his outspokenness and aggressive journalism. He soon met up with his former professor, Aristotle Rodor, who developed the material The Question's mask would be made from: Pseudoderm. Aiding the professor in stopping someone from illegally selling pseudoderm, which was a risk to human health if applied to open wounds, Vic became The Question and managed to stop the crime. He then used what he had learned for his television journalism. This adventure would become the basis of Vic's life: fighting crime as the vigilante The Question and uncovering criminals through his own public journalism. Over the course of his superhero history, he would make many allies such as Green Arrow and train with the likes of Richard Dragon. He would become a valuable partner in the fight against crime to many heroes, including Superman, and even aid and befriend the likes of Black Adam.
Equipment:
The Question's equipment is fairly minimal as he relies mostly on his own martial arts training and detective skills to combat crime. His most prominent piece of equipment is his signature pseudoderm mask--specially tuned to his own body chemistry, an application of binary gas adheres the mask to his skin and changes the color of his clothing. The mask is also lead-lined, preventing figures such as Superman from discovering his identity.
The binary gas the Question utilizes in his "transformation" is for more than aesthetic purposes, however--a combination of the hallucinatory effects of the gas along with the Question's own spiritual abilities allow him to enter a shamanistic state.
Street Shamanism:
When the Question enters this shamanistic state, he becomes capable of detecting and manipulating earth energy. Here are some applications of the ability:
The city speaks to him through the people (notice how different people's dialogue, when read together, produces a single cohesive cry for help)
Combats the Psycho-Pomp in the spiritual plane and kills him
Attacks the Subterraneans using his spirit/chi. He can even choke people out while his physical body is in another place
Physical Attributes:
While not superhuman, the Question is physically very impressive for a human. Though not on the same level as peak humans such as Batman or Captain America, he is still more than capable of cleaning up street crime and could certainly hold his own against some street tiers.
Strength:
Durability/Pain Tolerance/Endurance:
Survives a beating from Shiva, several goons, being shot in the head with a small bullet, and drowning; he survives drowning due to the Diving Reflex and being saved by Shiva and survives the bullet due to the mask slowing it down; he regained consciousness after six days
Is fine when a bundle of dynamite explodes from a short distance
Survives a huge fall with a person to cushion his fall and is fine
Taught methods by Richard Dragon to help him ignore pain; Richard Dragon is one of DC Earth's master martial artists
Fine after falling off a cliff out of a car then slamming into a branch
Speed:
Before someone can shoot him, Vic disarms him with some sort of bowl
Dodges automatic fire multiple times
Physical Skill:
Martial Arts Skill:
The Question was initially not very skilled--while able to handle thugs, he was a sloppy fighter and did not have much technique. However, upon receiving training from Richard Dragon he became a far more effective fighter.
Spars against Lady Shiva several times and, while unable to win, does well considering she is one of DC's top martial artists.
Takes on the greatest martial artist in Brazil and a master of capoeira. To further back up this claim, Shiva went to him to learn the martial art. They tie in their first fight, putting Vic on the same level (the fight happens off-panel).
Gets the upper hand against John Butcher, countering his drunken monkey style
After playing around, he wrecks a former marine and division boxing champ
Stealth Skills:
Despite not being seen at all in his cell, it turns out he was somehow hiding and proceeds to escape
Quickly detects someone is following him then gets him off his tail
Intellect:
Detective Skills:
Knowledge:
Psychological Manipulation:
Persuades The Mikado killer to spare his life and causes him to go into hiding and stop his crimes
Uses subliminal imagery to trigger memory recall in an eye witness
Takes advantage of The Riddler's mental problems to take him down
Manipulates some gang members into turning against their employers
Recommended Reading:
The Question V1 #1-36
The Question Quarterly #1-5
The Question Returns #1
The Question V2 #1-5
52 #1-52
For more feats, make sure to check out my respect thread!
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u/flownominal1 Oct 05 '16 edited Oct 05 '16
I always felt DC did him an injustice by not giving him more action and basically letting Batman do everything involving detective work. I know that is supposed to be one of Batman's best attributes but what's the point of having such an interesting character like The Question if Batman is allowed to do basically everything he could do and more. One of the reasons I love fantastic four and most stories involving them is because as smart as they make
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u/Commanderluna Oct 05 '16
Yeah like in
there Batman admits that Question is a better detective. Justice League Unlimited 24
u/flownominal1 Oct 05 '16
Ya that whole story where he figures out that Superman kills Lex in the future was really cool. If I remember correctly he snuck into
with huntress and also snuck into Lex's office which was cool cuz he was actually risking his life since he's not a heavy hitter. If it was Batman he would've snuck in beaten everyone up and gotten the information with maybe just a little trouble. I know I sound like I'm hating on Batman but I just feel DC could get more creative with their stories than Batman figures out how to save the day, tells everyone what to do, and then even joins in the fight whether it's a street level villain or darkseid. The few stories that stray away from this have been some of the best ones in my opinion. Cadmus → More replies (17)13
u/GimmieDemWaffles Oct 06 '16
"The plastic tips a the end of shoelaces are called aglets. Their true purpose is sinister."
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Oct 05 '16
a lot of them don't get to fully showcase themselves because of Batman
DC in a nutshell tbh
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u/shadowsphere Oct 05 '16
Holy shit it's a mask, I just thought his face was magically fucked up or something
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u/IronOhki Oct 05 '16
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u/ProbeEmperorblitz Oct 05 '16
I never knew "Brobdingnagian" was a real dictionary word until this episode.
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u/Imperium_Dragon Oct 05 '16
What a great scene. I know this is kinda cliche, but I kidna wish more cartoons nowadays had the balls to show something like this.
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u/Commanderluna Oct 05 '16
Thank you for this the Question is one of my favorite characters after Justice League Unlimited!
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Oct 05 '16
He's always fascinated me because of JLU. Love his mask. And the scans I read of his 80's martial arts adventures always seem interesting. Just never gotten around to picking up a run.....
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u/budgetcutsinc Oct 05 '16
Always thought Question was a cool hero, will probably check out the recommended reading.
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Oct 05 '16
Alright. I love The Question and this is beautiful. He is my favorite DC character and I sincerely hope he appears in one of the DC shows or movies.
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u/Imperium_Dragon Oct 05 '16
Is it bad that I thought it was Indiana Jones at first?
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u/bigh0rnyman Oct 05 '16
I thought this was Victor Zsazs.