Trivia Quiz #42: Superboy

1. Who caused the crack in the Liberty Bell?

2. I was a teenage hoodlum on Krypton before reforming and becoming a member of the Counter Intelligence Corps in the 30th Century. Who am I?

3. What civic function did Pa Kent perform?

4. Who saved Superboy from certain death at the hands of the Kryptonite Kid?

5. To stop girls from mooning over him, who did Superboy claim was his ideal girlfriend?

Trivia Quiz #41: What Do They Have In Common?

1. Stone Boy, the Blob and Metamorpho?

2. Batman, Aquaman and Green Arrow?

3. Tommy Tomorrow, Congo Bill and the Legion of Super-Heroes?

4. Jimmy Olsen, Robin and Alfred?

5. The Joker, the Blue Bowman and the Clock?

Trivia Quiz #40: Grab Bag

1. Who taught Roy Harper how to use a bow and arrow?

2. Name the three major differences between the Silver Age Mr Mxyzptlk and his Golden Age counterpart.

3. What souvenir did Batman bring back with him from the planet Zur-En-Arrh?

4. Who was Barry Allen's childhood sweetheart?

5. What famous actor was Hal Jordan's appearance patterned after?

Trivia Quiz #39: Answers

1. What did Dick Grayson and Kathy Kane have in common? (No, not that!)

Both Dick and Kathy were circus performers before they teamed up with Batman.

2. Who was Bat-Boy?

Bat-Boy was Midge Merrill, a circus performer who took up crime-fighting to avenge his acrobat pals who were killed in a fire set by mobsters to cover their stealing of the gate receipts. He teamed up with Robin in Batman #90 to catch the murderers of his pals. His "shtick" was that he used baseball bats filled with unusual items (including webbing) to thwart his enemies.

3. Who was Batman Jones?

Batman Jones was a youngster whose parents had named him after the Caped Crusader. This was first mentioned in Batman #92 (June 1955):

The thread was later picked up in Batman #108 (June 1957). It turned out that young Master Jones, inspired by his namesake, was studying detecting as a career and was actually pretty good at it:

But his threat to become a permanent addition to the cast ended with that story as well, as Batman Jones decided that what he really wanted was to become a stamp collector.

4. Who was Mr. Marvel?
Mr Marvel was an alien gambler who had wagered that he could lure Robin away from Batman, and who posed as the new superhero in Gotham City. At first it appears that he has succeeded, but then at a critical moment Robin disarms MM and reveals that he only joined the new guy because Batman's life was threatened.

5. Who was the Eagle?
The Eagle was Alfred, the butler.

In one of Dick Sprang's last stories in Batman #127, Alfred trips over some wires, shines a light on one of those alien jewels that Superman was always bringing back from outer space, and gains (temporary) super-powers.

6. What did Commissioner Gordon like to have every evening? (Golden Age reference).

Commissioner Gordon liked to have a rub-down (massage) every night, which his son, Tony, gave him. Permission to say "Ewwwww!" granted.

Darius Smith got #3 right. Michael Rebain correctly answered #1. Blaze Morgan got #1, #2, #4 and #5. Ed was on the money for #1 and #5. The Strange Sr. Mulder hit the target with #1, #3, #4 and #5.

Trivia Quiz #39: The Joker. Tee Shirt Prize!

The kind folks at Nerdy Shirts have offered to give the winner of this trivia quiz a tee shirt featuring the Costumed Crime Clown. Because of the prize, this post will not allow comments; send me your answers via email. The contest will end at 11:59 PM on Tuesday. Note: Some of these questions involve the Golden Age Joker as well as the Silver Age version.

#1. What color was the Joker's suit?

#2. Who was the son of the Joker?

#3. What crime boss willed his fortune to the Joker?

#4. It is well-known that the Joker appeared in a story in the Golden Age which also featured the Catwoman, and another story where he teamed up with the Penguin. Who was the next super-villain to team-up with the Joker?

5. Who was Gotham City's police commissioner in the 21st century?

6. How did the Joker get his distinctive appearance?

7. Was there a Bizarro Joker?

8. Who was the Joker's diminutive sidekick in the Silver Age?

Trivia Quiz #38: Jor-El

These should be fairly tough:

1. Which of Jor-El's official duties did he hate?

2. When the young Jor-El was cramming for his exams, what trick did he use to maximize his study time?

3. What invention of Jor-El's led to him being elected to the Science Council?

4. Jor-El was stuck in the Phantom Zone twice when the projector failed to bring him back. What two people repaired the projector on those separate occasions?

5. When Jor-El first got married, where did he work?

Trivia Quiz #37: Solve the Puzzle Cover

I've talked a bit in the past about Mort Weisinger's fondness for what I call puzzle covers. These covers show something bizarre and unexpected, which he hoped would compel the kid to at least take the magazine off the rack and flip through it to find out why the event depicted on the front was taking place. Here's your opportunity to match wits with Mort:

1. Why is this happening?

a. It's a plot to fool some aliens
b. It's the result of Red Kryptonite
c. It's actually a Bizarro Supergirl
d. It's a plot to fool some crooks

2. Why is this happening?

a. It's a plot to fool some aliens
b. It's an effect caused by a comet
c. It's an effect of Red Kryptonite
d. It's actually Bizarro Superman

3. Why is this happening?

a. It's a plot to fool some aliens
b. It's a plot to increase the Daily Planet's circulation
c. It's a plot to fool some crooks
d. It's an effort to save Superman's secret identity

4. Why is this happening?

a. It's a plot by Mr Mxyzptlk
b. Superman really likes Jimmy's guitar licks
c. It's an effect of Red Kryptonite
d. It's a scheme by a saboteur

5. Why is this happening?

a. It's a plot by Mr Mxyzptlk
b. Jimmy really has a secret super-punch
c. It's a plot to fool some crooks
d. It's an effect of Red Kryptonite

Tough Silver Age Trivia Quiz #35

This is really, really tough, so I make no apologies:

1. Who thought Americans were all gum-chewing gangsters?

2. What Daredevil villain does the Batman villain the Masquerader resemble? Update: Resemble is the wrong word here; what I'm looking for is the DD villain that the Masquerader has the most in common with.

3. Whose favorite dish was Korala Stew?

4. What do the Blue Bowman and the Trapster have in common?

5. What happened during the Great Evolution?

Comics Trivia #34: Answers

What do they have in common?

1. The Silver Age Green Lantern and the Golden Age Flash?

Both battled Star Sapphire.

2. The JSA and the Frightful Four?

Both included a member named the Sandman.

3. The Doom Patrol and the X-Men? (not that they were led by men in wheelchairs)

Both fought the Brotherhood of Evil (actually the X-Men faced the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants).

4. Sea Devils and the Fantastic Four?

Both had the same core team: Smart man, strong man, woman, teenager.

5. Whitey Ford and Frank Sinatra? (Yeah, it's off-topic, but it's one of my favorite trivia bits.

Both were called "Chairman of the Board."

Jim was on the mark with #4, then later added #2 and #3. Lito S. was the first to get #1, and also got #2. Ed O'Toole definitely got #4 and gave some good alternative answers to #3, but I really wanted the Brotherhood bit. Mark popped in with the correct answer to #5, so once again I fail to stump the gallery. Great job all!

Trivia Quiz #33: Answers

1. What villain was responsible for Professor X losing the use of his legs?

Lucifer was the guilty party as Professor X revealed in X-Men #9

2. What organization did Flash Thompson start?

Flash Thompson founded the Spiderman Fan Club (Forest Hills Chapter).

3. Jeopardy-style: Flash Thompson, Mysterio and the Chameleon. (That's the answer, what's the question?)

Who were the three people who dressed up as Spiderman (other than Peter Parker) in the first 20 issues of Amazing Spiderman?

4. What villain was Professor X's step-brother?

The Juggernaut was Professor Xavier's step-father's son.

5. What position did Professor X play in football?



The Prof was a quarterback in football.

James Murton came, he saw and he kicked major league butt on this quiz, getting all five answers correct. RAB got the first four correct. ShadowWing Tronix got #4, while Jacque Nodell was right on #1 and #4. Sorry Jacque, but while Flash Thompson may be an enemy of Peter Parker, he's a big fan of Spidey! And Ralph C doesn't realize it, but the Chameleon has been in his kitchen; did you really check that meter reader guy's ID carefully?

Trivia Quiz #32

1. Who failed in his first effort to join the Mystery Analysts of Gotham City?

Private Detective Hugh Rankin was blackballed by Batman in his first attempt to join the Mystery Analysts, although he was later inducted.

2. Who was the first person to graduate at the top of Gotham City Police Academy in all four categories of training: Academic, Physical, Firearms and Overall?

Patrolwoman Patricia Powell was the police academy's finest graduate ever, startling Batman:

In an oddball pair of stories from the very early New Look, Patricia was introduced as a new love interest for Bruce Wayne. She confided in Batman shortly after the awards ceremony, puzzling the Caped Crusader, who could not remember meeting her, but it turned out that they had encountered each other several times, but were always wearing masks at the time: a diving mask and a domino mask at a costume party. But like all of Batman's love interests, she eventually just faded out of the picture.

3. Who did not first re-appear in the Silver Age after a long absence during the New Look period: the Riddler, the Penguin, the Scarecrow or the Catwoman?

I worded this poorly, what I meant to say was that three of those villains returned for the first time in the Silver Age during the New Look period, and one did not. The answer is the Penguin, who first returned in Batman #155, a year before the New Look debuted.

4. According to the Riddler, why do inmates refer to the state penitentiary as "Fiddler's Hotel"?

Because it's a "vile inn" (violin).

5. It is not uncommon for crooks to "die" at the end of a story, but what Batman villain was declared dead three times in the same story?

Deathman died three times in Batman #180; the first two were hoaxes, but the last one was for real as he was electrocuted by a lightning bolt while trying to shoot Batman and Robin.

Michael Rebain got #1, #2, #3 and #5. Ed O'Toole got #2, #3 and #5. And Darkmark90 correctly answered #4. Great job, all!

Trivia Quiz #32: New Look Batman

1. Who failed in his first effort to join the Mystery Analysts of Gotham City?

2. Who was the first person to graduate at the top of Gotham City Police Academy in all four categories of training: Academic, Physical, Firearms and Overall?

3. Who did not first re-appear in the Silver Age after a long absence during the New Look period: the Riddler, the Penguin, the Scarecrow or the Catwoman?

4. According to the Riddler, why do inmates refer to the state penitentiary as "Fiddler's Hotel"?

5. It is not uncommon for crooks to "die" at the end of a story, but what Batman villain was declared dead three times in the same story?

Trivia Quiz #30 Answers

1. True or false: Ray Palmer is a professor at Ivy University.

False: Ray is a grad student and research scientist at Ivy U.

2. What retired professor at Ivy invented the Time Pool, by which the Atom travels into the past?

As first revealed in the Atom #3, Alpheus V. Hyatt invented the Time Pool.

3. At what high school did Ray Palmer deliver the commencement address?

Ray Palmer gave the commencement address at Happy Harbor High School, where JLA honorary member Snapper Carr was graduating.


4. Ivy Town had more than its share of criminals. Of the following, who was not a crook:

A. Bates, the caretaker.
B. Clinton, the watchmaker.
C. Phillips, the newspaper reporter.
D. Dudley, the horticultural expert.
E. Elkins, the photographer.

Dudley, the horticultural expert, was another retired professor at Ivy University and not a criminal.

5. What did Jean Loring's father do for a living?

Jean Loring's father was a professor and scientist with no specific details as to the field he was involved in when he was introduced in Showcase #36. Later, in the Atom #21, we learned that he was researching using gravity as an energy source for spaceships, so it appears that his specialty was physics.

Jim kicked major league butt on this question, getting all five correct and even adding some details on the inspiration for Alpheus V. Hyatt. Great job!

Trivia Quiz #30: The Atom

1. True or false: Ray Palmer is a professor at Ivy University.

2. What retired professor at Ivy invented the Time Pool, by which the Atom travels into the past?

3. At what high school did Ray Palmer deliver the commencement address?

4. Ivy Town had more than its share of criminals. Of the following, who was not a crook:

A. Bates, the caretaker.
B. Clinton, the watchmaker.
C. Phillips, the newspaper reporter.
D. Dudley, the horticultural expert.
E. Elkins, the photographer.

5. What did Jean Loring's father do for a living?

Trivia Quiz #29: Answers

1. The Zeta-beam that transported Adam Strange to Rann only appeared where?

The Zeta-beam only appeared in the Southern Hemisphere; the idea was that it only appeared on the closest half to Earth, and that was (spatially) the area south of the Equator.

2. With what museum was Adam Strange associated?

Adam Strange was associated with the Metropolitan Museum as we found out in Mystery in Space #87:



Incidentally, this story established that Adam's museum was located in New York City; there is no doubt about that as Carter and Shiera are mentioned as driving, "along a highway entering New York City," and the couple also attend a Broadway play during their visit to the Big Apple.

3. Who was Adam's girlfriend?

Adam's girlfriend was Alanna.

4. Who was Adam's girlfriend's father modeled after?

Alanna's father Sardath was modeled after Julius Schwartz. From Schwartz's wonderful and entertaining autobiography, Man of Two Worlds (pg 85):

"... incidentally, Sardath, the father of Alanna, was based on an Infantino characterization of me."

5. What villain picked up amazing mental powers from a rock Adam brought back from Rann?

Ira Quimby, aka, IQ, shown with the purple suit and blue bowtie at the extreme right of the panel shown in the answer to #2 above. Quimby gained mental abilities from a rock stored at the Metropolitan Museum that enabled him to plan elaborate robberies with amazing gadgets. However, he was a Hawkman villain, not an Adam Strange character except as to his origin.

Jim got 1, 3 and 5 correct, and later identified 2. Ian correctly identified 4 as Julius Schwartz and later chipped in the answer to 2. Robert McKinney got 1, 3, 4 and 5 right. Michael Rebain answered 1, 3 and 4.

Trivia Quiz #28: Barry Allen Flash

1. Who told Barry Allen, "You're my best friend, Barry!" and after that story never appeared again in the Silver Age?

2. What Flash villain was inspired by a competition to represent a game company?

3. What Flash villain had the reverse name of a famous outlaw?

4. What Flash villain passed up a lifetime in another dimension with beautiful women waiting on him hand and foot?

5. What college did Barry Allen graduate from?

Trivia Quiz #27: Answers

1. What did Pieface collect?

A. Autographs
B. Stamps
C. Coins
D. Comic Books

The answer is B. Pieface was a philatelist:



This was a major point in the origin story of Sonar in GL #14.

2. Abin Sur, the prior Green Lantern for Earth's sector, had what job in his non-GL identity?

A. Sports star
B. Newspaperman
C. Physics professor
D. History professor

Abin Sur was a history professor, as we learned in Green Lantern #16's slightly misnamed Earth's First Green Lantern:



I say slightly misnamed as Abin Sur was not from Earth although he did patrol our sector.

3. True or false: Hal Jordan was shown smoking a pipe occasionally.

A. True
B. False

The answer is A, True, as you can see in the panels above with him discussing stamps with Pieface.

4. Who was Abel Tarrant?

A. The Tattoed Man
B. Sonar
C. Star Sapphire
D. Black Hand

Abel Tarrant was the Tattoed Man.

5. What was Green Lantern's occupation in 5700 AD?

A. Spaceball player
B. Solar Director
C. Superhero
D. Scientist

GL was the Solar Director in 5700:



Jonathan Miller got #3 and #4 correct, as did Michael Sensei. Jacque Nodell takes second place for the week, getting #2, #3 and #4 correct. Michael Rebain gets the blue ribbon, with #2, #3, #4 and #5. Great job!

Trivia Quiz #26: Iron Man Answers

1. Name Tony Stark's two alliterative assistants.

Answer: Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan

2. Name Tony Stark's ne'er-do-well cousin.

Tony Stark's cousin Morgan Stark liked to spend his time gambling.

3. Which of Iron Man's villains reformed and ended up working for Stark Industries?

While several of Iron Man's villains reformed, the only one who received a regular paycheck from Tony was the original Crimson Dynamo, Professor Vanko.

4. Which of the following villains was never on the communist payroll: the Black Widow, the Crimson Dynamo, Hawkeye, or the Titanium Man?

Hawkeye did it for love:

Or for the cause of international peace.

5. Why did Tony Stark paint his Iron Man costume yellow (later adding the red bits)?



A girlfriend named Marion suggested that Iron Man would be less frightening if he were in a suit of golden armor, like the knights of old. Well, that's what she said, so don't blame it on me! ;)

Michael Rebain gets #1 and #4 correct. James Murton rings the bell with all five correct, and Hube concurs and even adds the detail to #5 that the color change was suggested by a woman. Dan from Nashville Beat hits all but #3 out of the park and gets the last question even tighter by observing that the suggestion for the gold color came from Stark's girlfriend. Jacque from Sequential Crush gets 1, 2, and 4 correct.

Friday Trivia Quiz #23: Green Lantern

1. According to Julius Schwartz, Hal Jordan was intended to look like what famous actor?

2. True or False: Hal Jordan did not know of the existence of the Guardians for several years after his debut.

3. Who was Green Lantern's love interest in the far distant future?

4. What villain was initially a competitor with Green Lantern for the affections of Carol Ferris?

5. What Green Lantern villain's motivation for committing crimes was to bring power and fame to his native land?

Friday Trivia Quiz #21: Marvel Grab-Bag

1. Who was Tyrannus' mortal enemy?

2. Match these Marvel villains up with their respective partners in crime: The Cobra, The Masked Marauder and the Ringmaster.

3. Spiderman battled two female heroines in the Silver Age, but only one female villainess. Name all three.

4. When Matt Murdock was suspected by Foggy and Karen of being Daredevil, who did he claim was really the Man Without Fear?

5. In what comic and issue # did Johnny Romita first draw Spiderman?