World Famous Comics: The Question Vol. 2: Poisoned Ground
The Question Vol. 2: Poisoned Ground
By: Dennis O'Neil Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 176 Publication Date: April 02, 2008 Release Date: May 13, 2008
Product Description: One of the most intriguing comic book heroes of the 1980s was DCs The Question, the faceless, morally conflicted avenger based in corrupt Hub City, whose adventures were written by longtime Batman writer Dennis ONeil.An expert in martial arts, The Question also delved into Eastern philosophy while taking on crime and crooked politicians. In this second volume, The Question tracks a killer to a distant island prison and becomes involved with a gambling crimelord.
Underrated Treasure The second collected The Question book from Dennis O'Neal's run really expands on the themes of the first. Here, you see what is going on inside The Question (Vic Sage)'s head, something that all recent works lack. If you are a fan of the grittier side of the DC universe, get this book.
Issues #7-#12 of this dark, thoughtful 1980s DC series This second "The Question" trade paperback collects issues #7-#12 of the DC series, each 28 pages long with a 1987-88 cover price of $1.50. Readers of the first collection should enjoy this second one. Vic Sage is a KEBL-TV investigative reporter in dismal Hub City (allegedly based on East St. Louis, IL) where "the social contract is a shambles and the city's in chaos". In pursuit of thugs and demagogues, he dons his alter ego "The Question" by applying an artificial skin that bonds to his face but allows for normal breathing and speaking. Lacking faith in the law enforcement and judicial systems, Sage uses both identities to pursue horribly corrupt Hub City politicians and criminals. I learned of this character though DC's "52" series which interested me in this 36 issue late 1980s title. The first two issues are single stories, with #8 being especially striking. The last four issues span one continuous plot that involves the kidnapping of Sage's confidante and mentor Professor Aristotle and the Question's pursuit in a distant dictatorship. Writer O'Neil explores moral and philosophical issues through the violent but introspective plot. Though the artwork does seem dated, (I agree with a previous reviewer's thoughts on the ridiculous hairstyles), it cements the late 1980s Hub City setting for the reader. By Issue 7, the cover featured a "suggested for mature readers" label, rare for a mainstream 1980s comic.
Answer The Question... Poisoned Ground, the second TPB in Denny O'Neil's The Question series from the 80's, takes an even darker tone than the issues found in its predecessor, as Vic "Charlie" Sage, AKA The Question, continues to wage his war against the corrupt in Hub City. Poisoned Ground begins with Charlie forming a brief alliance of sorts with a crimelord that was raised by wolves (yes, you read that right), and later on attempts to rescue his friend Tot after he's kidnapped. While all this is going on, Charlie finds himself getting ever distant from his true love Myra. Had The Question series been in the hands of a lesser writer, there could have been much here that would just come off as laughable. However, legendary superhero writer Denny O'Neil is so good at writing these types of gritty and noir-ish stories that you can't help but enjoy it. Some of the artwork from Denys Cowan and Rick Magyer may be a little dated (seeing The Question with a mullet just induces laughs), but it manages to do the job regardless. All in all, if you enjoyed Zen & Violence, chances are that you'll dig Poisoned Ground too.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
