Fri May 16, 2008 4:20PM4 comments ›
Fri May 16, 2008 — by Van Jensen
Review: 'The Question: Poisoned Ground'
Thinking man's hero returns with second collection
After 20 years, DC is finally collecting Dennis O'Neil and Denys Cowan's run on The Question
It's a collection that's well worth the wait, and I'm not just saying that because the author is one of ComicMix's own. While the first collection (Zen and Violence
O'Neil explores not just the mind of his hero (who still has plenty of questions for himself), but those of his villains (who are always far more complex than first impressions indicate). The narrative slips between harsh reality and even harsher dreams, a paean to the ugliness of the world.
The book features three standalone stories and one three-issue story, each in turns bizarre, troubling and inspiring. The art is creative, highly detailed and evocative, and O'Neil's scripts are every bit as inspired and poetic as those of Alan Moore or Neil Gaiman.
Especially now, with Vic Sage having been killed off in the current DCU, these collections are a must-have for fans of The Question, or anyone who likes their comics with plenty of depth.
Jump to comments (4) 
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Comments (4)
Mike Gold (6:25 PM on Fri May 16, 2008)
It would have been nice if they popped for a new cover.
Russ Rogers (10:47 PM on Fri May 16, 2008)
If they didn't shell out any cash for a new cover, there probably isn't a new forward by the author. No pages of an original script. No bonus pages, reprinting trading card pictures of The Question. I looked at the listing on Amazon.com, and there didn't seem to be much of anything added to this collection.
Denny O'Neil is every bit as inspired as the big Brits, Moore, Gaiman and Morrison. But maybe no prophet is accepted in his own country.
And you are comparing apples and oranges. Moore, Gaiman and Morrison have worked at turning comic book conventions on their ear. They are revolutionaries. Denny O'Neil is a craftsman, journeyman and master storyteller. But to me his style has always been within the framework of the classic super-hero story. Sure, Denny O'Neil has broken through the frame and expanded what comics are about, many times. But his stories start from the inside space. The Big Brits work the opposite side of the court, they break the frame from the outside or turn the whole picture against the wall and paint on the back of the canvas.
Compare how Moore handles Rorschach to how O'Neil works with the Question. Moore's idea is that by the end of the story Rorschach is dead. It's a shocker. It works for the story. But it's also why Moore had to rewrite the story so that it was The Question and Capitan Atom, it was Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan. O'Neil works in the opposite direction. Each issue of the Question expands the character, giving him more and more life. Even when he gets shot in the head (and I can't remember if that happens in Poisoned Ground or not. I have to go back and reread what I have), the Question is still learning something new.
Van Jensen (7:37 AM on Sat May 17, 2008)
That's an interesting point, Russ. I'm curious to hear Mr. O'Neil's take on it.
As for special features -- well, there's none, unless you count inclusion of the original issue covers. A foreword, script pages, sketches, etc. would have been great. I'm curious why it didn't happen, as everyone I know at DC was really excited about finally putting out these new collections.
Mike Gold (11:26 AM on Sat May 17, 2008)
At least they're out. All of us are very proud of the series.
At convention last month, Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator, Star Trek, The 4400, The Pit and the Pendulum -- AND the voice of The Question in the Justice League animated series) actually asked US to autograph a copy of the first volume! That's pretty cool..