Action Heroes Archives volume 2
Date: 2007 (collection), 1966-76 (contents)
Writer(s): Steve Ditko, DC Glanzman, Michael Uslan
Artists(s): Steve Ditko, Alex Toth
Collects: Captain Atom 83-89; Blue Beetle 1-6; Mysterious Suspense 1; Charlton Bullseye 1,2,5
Storyline:
Who is the Question (from Blue Beetle #1)
WWBC TV news reporter Vic Sage did a special on a local illegal gambling ring run by Lou Dicer. A police officer had been killed in a recent raid.
Sage went out in a faceless disguise he called The Question. He found Dicer's men and one told him where their boss was. The Question tracked Dicer and tipped the police as to his next transaction.
Sage and his TV crew were there to tape and broadcast the arrest of Dicer working with one of their own - WWBC's Jim Lark.
The Question vs. The Banshee (Blue Beetle #2)
Max Bine, a circus performer, killed his teacher and stole his flying cape. As the Banshee, he began plaguing small towns with robberies until he decided to move to some place bigger - Crown City.
His first target was thwarted by Vic Sage, but the Banshee escaped. The Question made him his top target. They fought on a rooftop in a storm and the Banshee was blown out to sea.
The Diving Suit Killer (Blue Beetle #3) The Question took down a man killing construction conglomerates while wearing a dive suit. The killer turned out to be one of the victims' partners attempting to get the business all to himself.
Kill Vic Sage (Blue Beetle #4)
The Question was captured and left to die after he was caught snooping. He escaped. A package bomb arrived for him the next day at the station. His secretary was kidnapped. Sage was able to save her with help from the police.
The Question went after the men who were gunning for him and lost them in the sewer. He made no attempt to save their lives.
What Makes a Hero? (Mysterious Suspense #1)
The Question saw a businessman giving money to a known criminal. Later, that man attempted to sponsor Sage's show. Sage refused him and the man began a smear campaign against him. Sage was given two weeks to get proof or his show was doomed.
One of Sage's staff members was framed for murder. Sage stood behind him on the air and more of his sponsors were picketed. The Question got a line on the real killer, but he was dead before the police got to him. As a last-ditch effort, the Question sent a message to Ord saying he was giving pictures and recordings of him with Kroe to Sage. Kroe's men captured Sage snooping on their meeting.
Vic's man was cleared of the murder charge while he escaped from Ord and Kroe. They sent goons after him, but he kept changing back and forth between his identities. They believed both Sage and the Question were after them. He eventually got to a phone and called the police. They arrived in time to see Ord, the legitimate business man, fleeing with a gun. Sage had everything on tape, including a confession of his partner.
The Sage-haters at the station attempted to take credit for his story.
The Critic (Blue Beetle #5) Vic and the Question took down an art critic out to destroy a painting the reporter had given his girlfriend. It reminded him of what he never became.
The Question Strikes (Charlton Bullseye #5) After eight years, the Banshee returned to Crown City. The Question hit his men as he was out to capture Vic Sage. He instead grabbed Nora. The Question appeared and took him down once again, this time destroying part of his cape.