365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs
Two individuals have operated as the enigmatic superhero detective known as The Question. The original had been a dogged investigative reporter named Vic Sage. Brilliant and stubborn, Sage was a driven man, ardently dedicated to the philosophy of objectivism. He believed that objective truth was all that matters... that subjective or relativistic elements were merely confounding variables in determining this higher order of truth and actuality.
Sage investigated a case involving a pair of medical scientists who had developed an adhesive pseudo-skin that might be used to treat severe wounds. One of these scientists determined their experiments with this ‘pseudoderm' could prove dangerous and wanted to abandon the project, while the other stole their formula intent on selling it to less regulated providers in South America. Sage took it upon himself to put a stop to this crime. He used the pseudo-skin to create a mask for himself so to conceal his identity; a mask that looked like a featureless face and could only be removed by a specialized solvent.
Sage solved the case and brought the criminal to justice. He found that working as an anonymous mystery man, answering to no one but himself, was very much to his liking. He chose to continue to use the pseudoskin to become the vigilante crime-buster known as The Question.
The Question’s early career as a crime fighter went well, yet took a turn when he encountered the villainess known as Lady Shiva. Her agents beat Sage ruthlessly, leaving him on the verge of death. Shiva saw something in Sage and she chose to place him in the care of the martial arts master known as Richard Dragon. Dragon helped Sage convalece and then trained him in the martial arts. Sage would go on to become a highly accomplished fighter. Dragon also had an effect on Sage’s world view and attitudes as he incorporated aspects of Eastern philosophy and Buddhism into his beliefs, softening the hard edges of his Objectivist mindset.
The Question embarked on many more missions and adventures. Some years later, he was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer. It was around this time that Sage took on former police detective Renee Montoya as a protege. He taught Montoya all that he knew so that she could take up his mantle and become the new Question after he was gone.
Montoya had been a successful and gifted detective in Gotham City who rose through the ranks despite the various obstacles placed in her way. As a woman, a Latina and a lesbian, Montoya endured a great deal of bigotry and prejudice rom her fellow officers and superiors, but she persevered nonetheless.
Unfortunately, Montoya’s enemies engineered an erroneous murder charge and she was kicked off the police force. The whole ordeal led her to fall into a deep depression whereupon she was sought out by Sage who offered her a new path.
Montoya proved just as effective a Question as Sage and she continued on the good fight after he had passed away. Along with solving crimes on her own, Montoya shared adventures alongside Batman, The Birds of Prey, Nightwing, Batwoman and the Justice League. Montoya maintained a tumultuous, on-again/off-agin romance with Kate Kane (Batwoman’s civilian identity).
Following alterations in the DC Comics continuity, Vic Sage returned to life. Sage and Montoya would go on to share the Question mantle, with each using the identity when the need arises. Montoya returned to the GCPD, becoming a tier-one detective and acting for a time as the interim police commissioner. More recently, Montoya (in her identity as the Question) has become the chief of security aboard the Justice League's orbital watchtower.
The Victor Sage iteration of The Question has appeared in a number of DC animated projects; herein the character has ben voiced by actors Jeffery Combs, Nicholas Guest and David Kaye. Renee Montoya, meanwhile, has also appeared in a number of live action and animated projects. In live action, her character has been portrayed by actresses Rosie Perez and Victoria Cartagena; while in animation the heroine has been voiced by actresses Liane Schirmer, Roxana Ortega, Michelle Bonilla. Vanessa Marshall and Alyssa Diaz.
Vic Sage first appeared in Blue Beetle Vol. 4 #1 (1967). Renee Montoya originally first appeared in the first season of Batman The Animated Series; whereas her first comic book appearance is in the pages of Batman #475 (1992).
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