The Question, Vol. 1: Zen and Violence [Paperback]

Dennis O'Neil (Author), Denys Cowan (Illustrator), Rick Magyar (Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (October 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401215793
• ISBN-13: 978-1401215798
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.2 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,324 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An underrated title and character finally get the spotlight, October 13, 2007

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Question, Vol. 1: Zen and Violence (Paperback)

After being re-established in the pages of 52, The Question's classic series from Denny O'Neil is now in TPB form, and be glad it is. Investigative reporter Vic "Charlie" Sage, AKA the enigmatic, arrogant, faceless would-be superhero known as The Question, finds himself in a bit of a predicament. When he stumbles upon a deadly plot involving crooked politicians in his hometown of Hub City, The Question is defeated in combat with Lady Shiva and thrown into the river for dead. After he is rescued, he begins being re-trained in body and mind by Richard Dragon, and soon enough, he's back on the prowl looking to set things right, and maybe get a little bit of revenge on the way. Classic superhero writer O'Neil really captures what The Question is all about with Zen and Violence; the first in the TPB collection of the series which originally debuted in 1986. After reading this initial collection, you'll get the feeling that 52 authors Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, and Greg Rucka in particular, really nailed the character down and paid wonderful homage to O'Neil's work. The artwork from Denys Cowan and Rock Magyar is solid enough, and really starts to come together in the last issue which finds the creation of a new, scarred foe for Charlie to contend with. All in all, Zen and Violence is an excellent introduction for new fans to one of the most underrated heroes in DC's stable, and worth picking up for old fans as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I Want You To Pray.", December 2, 2008

By 

Ryan G. Collins "Daikaiju" (Plainfield, NH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Question, Vol. 1: Zen and Violence (Paperback)

I first heard of the Question when the Justice League cartoon became Justice League Unlimited. He was introduced in "Fearful Symetry", and although his name was not mentioned, and he had no powers to speak of, I knew he was incredibly cool. I began researching his character, and my hopes of finding any comics about him dwindled. He was such a minor player, how could he ever get a compilation like Batman or Superman?

I don't know what triggered it- maybe Question's role in 52, or the sudden resurgeange of interest in Watchmen -but Question got his compilations, and thank God I found them.

Question is not like most super heroes. He has a simple costume, and lacks over-the-top themed enemies. He lives in what could be deemed "the real world" and fights real criminals. Now, I normally prefer some fantasy elements in my comics, but the setting fits the Question incredibly well. He needs no Joker, nor Brainiac, nor Gorilla Grod. He needs corrupt politicians, street thugs, and gangsters. This, coupled with excellent writing and stylish art, allows the book to transcend being silly, and so it becomes film noir told in panels.

If you ask me, the Question needs his own movie. Who knows? Pending the success of The Spirit and Watchmen, it might happen. For now, though, we have the source material of the comics, and they are so amazing, you can't go wrong.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, gritty late 1980s DC series, October 16, 2007

By 

K. W. Schreiter (Conshohocken, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Question, Vol. 1: Zen and Violence (Paperback)

One of the highlights of DC's recent '52' series, The Question was originally created in 1967 by Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko for Charlton Comics. DC Comics obtained the rights to the character and published this series starting in February 1987. This trade paperback collects the first six issues, each 28 pages long with a 1987 cover price of $1.50.
Vic Sage is an KEBL-TV investigative reporter in 1980s Hub City where 'the social contract is a shambles and the city's in chaos'. He uses the guise of '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.
The first story arc focuses on a sinister cabal that has hijacked the Hub City government from a pathetic, drunken mayor. After an initial setback (beaten and left for dead on a river bottom at the end of issue 1) Sage trains in martial arts and Eastern philosophy and returns to Hub City to resume his battles with thugs and demagogues. Writer O'Neil explores moral and philosophical issues through the violent but introspective plot.
The series lasted for 36 issues (plus annuals and a separate quarterly series) so I'm hoping to see future volumes. I've read praise for the original letters columns (some even featured reading recommendations from O'Neil) but unfortunately they are not reprinted herein. One suggestion for DC: include these in Volume 2.