DC Comics celebrates its 75th, and you can win prizes– if you can stump our expert

Robert Greenberger

Robert Greenberger is best known to comics fans as the editor of Who's Who In The DC Universe, Suicide Squad, and Doom Patrol. He's written and edited several Star Trek novels and is the author of The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. He's known for his work as an editor for Comics Scene, Starlog, and Weekly World News, as well as holding executive positions at both Marvel Comics and DC Comics.

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42 Responses

  1. Mason says:

    In the DC/Vertigo Sandman series, which supporting character began life in the Dreaming as Dream’s first raven? BG: Matthew Cable, Abigail’s husband.

    • Mason says:

      Nope. It was Lucien, Dream’s librarian.

      • Mason says:

        In issue 68, it is revealed that Lucien’s existence in the Dreaming began as serving the role of Dream’s first raven.

        BG: Absolutely correct. You are our second prize winner.

  2. Peter David says:

    In what city and state did Miss Teschmacher’s mother live (prompting her to get Superman’s promise to save her?)PADBG: Newark, if I recall.BG: Just looked it up. Its Hackensack so Peter wins out first prize.

    • Peter David says:

      “But Lex…my mother lives in Hackensack…”

      Lex checks his watch and then sadly shakes his head. I love that moment.

      PAD

  3. Jess Nevins says:

    Who was the first *costumed* super-villain that Superman fought?

    BG: That would be the Archer as seen in Superman in Action Comics Archives Vol. 1.

  4. J-P Chicago says:

    Do the questions have to be DC mainstream characters or may it be some of the appropriated characters from Fawcett, Quality, Charlton, et al?

    BG: Sure. I’m game.

  5. Chuck Williams says:

    How about non-DCU subjects–things like the Funny Stuff characters, non-continuity mini-/maxi-series of the 80s, etc.?BG: Absolutely, gimme a try.

  6. Marc Alan Fishman says:

    Which Green Lantern was able to create fully sentient constructs, and what were their names?BG: We’re talking about Kyle Rayner when he created Oblivion, which was the focal point of the Circle of Fire event.

  7. Howard Margolin says:

    What was the name of the villain responsible for Supergirl’s on-again off-again super-powers?

    BG: We’re talking Lesla-Lar, the Kandorian lookalike. Which allows me to plug the forthcoming Essential Superman Encyclopedia, written with Martin Pasko, and coming from DelRey in October.

  8. Jess Nevins says:

    Who was the first *costumed* super-villain that Superman fought? BG: That would be the Archer as seen in Superman in Action Comics Archives Vol. 1.

  9. J-P Chicago says:

    Do the questions have to be DC mainstream characters or may it be some of the appropriated characters from Fawcett, Quality, Charlton, et al?BG: Sure. I'm game.

  10. Mason says:

    In the DC/Vertigo Sandman series, which supporting character began life in the Dreaming as Dream's first raven? BG: Matthew Cable, Abigail's husband.

    • Mason says:

      Nope. It was Lucien, Dream's librarian.

      • Mason says:

        In issue 68, it is revealed that Lucien's existence in the Dreaming began as serving the role of Dream's first raven.BG: Absolutely correct. You are our second prize winner.

  11. Peter David says:

    In what city and state did Miss Teschmacher's mother live (prompting her to get Superman's promise to save her?)PADBG: Newark, if I recall.BG: Just looked it up. Its Hackensack so Peter wins out first prize.

    • Peter David says:

      "But Lex…my mother lives in Hackensack…"Lex checks his watch and then sadly shakes his head. I love that moment.PAD

  12. Chuck Williams says:

    How about non-DCU subjects–things like the Funny Stuff characters, non-continuity mini-/maxi-series of the 80s, etc.?BG: Absolutely, gimme a try.

  13. Coin says:

    OK, this should be easy, but what the hey…..what would this chemical be better known as in the DC Universe?sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide:)BG: Why are people posing questions about kryptonite to the co-author of The Essential Superman Encyclopedia? Silly people.

  14. Elie says:

    The Order of St. Dumas was responsible for a number of scientific innovations in the last thousand years. However, there was one field of “science” that they went to a great trouble to disprove and keep the secret to themselves. Which field of science was this?BG: Okay, this one stumped me and I should know this but don’t, so you’re our third and final winner.

  15. Marc Alan Fishman says:

    Which Green Lantern was able to create fully sentient constructs, and what were their names?BG: We're talking about Kyle Rayner when he created Oblivion, which was the focal point of the Circle of Fire event.

  16. Marc Alan Fishman says:

    Just in case I can ask more than one question: How did Scandal receive her trademark fist blade?

  17. Howard Margolin says:

    What was the name of the villain responsible for Supergirl's on-again off-again super-powers?BG: We're talking Lesla-Lar, the Kandorian lookalike. Which allows me to plug the forthcoming Essential Superman Encyclopedia, written with Martin Pasko, and coming from DelRey in October.

  18. Greg Hatcher says:

    Whose coming and eventual end was foretold by Sonnabend the prophet, and who proved him wrong?BG: Again with the Superman questions although this one was borderline too obscure.

  19. Coin says:

    OK, this should be easy, but what the hey…..what would this chemical be better known as in the DC Universe?sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide:)BG: Why are people posing questions about kryptonite to the co-author of The Essential Superman Encyclopedia? Silly people.

  20. Peter S. Svensson says:

    Which three Earths (officially named in a DC comics, possessing their own native superheroes) did the Justice League of America never visit prior to the Crisis on Infinite Earths?

    BG: Pre-Crisis the number of parallel worlds in existence was infinite so even though they only named three the JLA of Earth-1 never visited, there were actually countless unvisited worlds.

  21. Marc Alan Fishman says:

    Just in case I can ask more than one question: How did Scandal receive her trademark fist blade?

  22. Eric Recla says:

    Who did Per Degaton work as an assistant for?

    BG: Per Degaton worked for Prof. Zee who is not to be confused with SUperman’s foe, Mr. Z.

  23. Chuck Williams says:

    Many characters from DC’s “funny animal” anthologies appeared in cameos and minor roles (and one starring role) in the original Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew! series–which two of those characters re-appeared as antagonists, and what where their respective villainous identities?

  24. Elie says:

    The Order of St. Dumas was responsible for a number of scientific innovations in the last thousand years. However, there was one field of "science" that they went to a great trouble to disprove and keep the secret to themselves. Which field of science was this?BG: Okay, this one stumped me and I should know this but don't, so you're our third and final winner.

  25. Greg Hatcher says:

    Whose coming and eventual end was foretold by Sonnabend the prophet, and who proved him wrong?BG: Again with the Superman questions although this one was borderline too obscure.

  26. Peter S. Svensson says:

    Which three Earths (officially named in a DC comics, possessing their own native superheroes) did the Justice League of America never visit prior to the Crisis on Infinite Earths? BG: Pre-Crisis the number of parallel worlds in existence was infinite so even though they only named three the JLA of Earth-1 never visited, there were actually countless unvisited worlds.

  27. Eric Recla says:

    Who did Per Degaton work as an assistant for?BG: Per Degaton worked for Prof. Zee who is not to be confused with SUperman's foe, Mr. Z.

  28. Chuck Williams says:

    Many characters from DC's "funny animal" anthologies appeared in cameos and minor roles (and one starring role) in the original Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew! series–which two of those characters re-appeared as antagonists, and what where their respective villainous identities?

  29. Miles Vorkosigan says:

    Okay, Bob. Non-Superman question for ya. In Phil Foglio’s Angel and the Ape 4-parter, how did they beat Grodd?Miles

    • Miles Vorkosigan says:

      Sam used an Oan teaching robot to plant a hypnotic suggestion in Grodd’s brain. Everytime he got angry, he was compelled pig out on junk food. Grodd attacking the police and eating all their donuts was a joy to behold.

  30. Miles Vorkosigan says:

    Okay, Bob. Non-Superman question for ya. In Phil Foglio's Angel and the Ape 4-parter, how did they beat Grodd?Miles

    • Miles Vorkosigan says:

      Sam used an Oan teaching robot to plant a hypnotic suggestion in Grodd's brain. Everytime he got angry, he was compelled pig out on junk food. Grodd attacking the police and eating all their donuts was a joy to behold.

  31. hawk says:

    which dc character has the most variation of their costume? this includes the tv shows, comic books, and toy line costumes. omg this is hard and if you look it up it will take forever. believe me

  32. hawk says:

    which dc character has the most variation of their costume? this includes the tv shows, comic books, and toy line costumes. omg this is hard and if you look it up it will take forever. believe me