Summary
- The New 52 version of the Question was revealed to be Narcissus from Greek mythology, whose face was wiped clean due to his sin of vanity.
- DC had plans to further explore the character, but the editorial had other plans and the New 52 Question died as an enigmatic cipher.
- As the New 52 era ended and the Rebirth era began, this incarnation of the Question was seemingly erased from continuity, making it unlikely for the character to return.
After 12 years, writer Geoff Johns has finally revealed the identity of the New 52 version of the Question. DC’s controversial New 52 initiative rebooted their universe, and introduced new versions of classic characters, such as the Question. Once a street-level detective, the Question was reimagined as a mysterious mystical being and a member of the “Trinity of Sin.” Now, Johns has finally peeled back the curtain on this elusive character.
In his column Ask…The Question, Alex Jaffe got the chance to ask Johns about the New 52 Question. Johns revealed that this new version, like other members of the Trinity of Sin, had been famous “sinners” from history. In this case, this new incarnation of the Question was actually Narcissus, the figure from Greek mythology who was so vain he stared at himself in the water, until he fell in and drowned. Because vanity was his sin, his face was wiped clean, just like the Question’s mask.
Johns revealed there had been (aborted) plans to explore the character further.
The Question is One of DC’s Most Engimatic Heroes
Top Talent Has Chronicled The Question’s Adventures
However, DC editorial had other plans, and the New 52 Question died as he lived: an enigmatic cipher, which is fitting given the character’s nature and appearance. Created by Steve Ditko in the 1960s for Charlton Comics’ “Action Hero” line, the Question was originally a mouthpiece for his creator’s Objectivist views. When the character was purchased by DC, writer Denny O’Neil and artist Denys Cowan revamped the Question, jettisoning Objectivism and moving him towards a more Zen Buddhist approach. O’Neil and Cowan’s stories gave the character a long shelf life and made him a cult favorite.
The Trinity of Sin, of which the New 52 Question was a member, was composed of famous villains from mythology and history. The Question, as stated earlier, was intended to be Narcissus. The other two members were Pandora, based on the woman who unleashed evil on Earth, and the Phantom Stranger, revealed to be Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus. While well-intentioned, the reboots of the Question and the Phantom Stranger did not go over well with fans. Fans felt this new version of the Question betrayed the character’s original concept.
The New 52 Question Will Remain Mysterious
There Is Little to No Chance the New 52 Question Will Return
As the New 52 drew to an end, and the Rebirth era began, this incarnation of the character was seemingly erased from continuity. Vic Sage the original Question returned (inexplicably) in the recent Checkmate miniseries, and the current version, Renee Montoya, continues to make appearances. Sage also received a four issue Black Label miniseries, from writer Jeff Lemire and artist Cowan, that explored the character’s history, and the New 52 Question was nowhere to be found. The character made little impact on both the New 52 and the DC Universe, and now Geoff Johns has revealed the truth about him.
Source: Ask…The Question
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
