As I might’ve expected, the ever-vigilante Douglas Wolk at 52 Pickup has picked up a lot of the loose threads from this week’s 52. I’ve a feeling that Wolk started his niche blog without realizing just how time-consuming covering a multi-subplotted weekly comic would be, but he’s in the thick of it now and doing a bang up job. Keep it up, Douglas. You’ll get to see your family again in no time.
Well, in about 19 weeks, actually …
Anyway. Like I said before, The Question’s delusions refer back to specific events in the last few issues of his first DC series. We’ve covered the origins of his mommy reference, though it should be added that the faceless appearance of Vic Sage’s mother is firmly rooted in the fact that Sage was brought up in a Hub City orphanage. He’d never recognize her, face or none.
Now, about Myra. Who’s she? Myra Fermin was mayor of Hub City, a town depicted in the series as spiralling evermore out of control with each issue. Despite her best efforts, Hub City was too rotten to recover. By the end of the series, it might as well be Hell, as we’ll see.
In issue #35, Myra, with help from Richard Dragon (Vic’s one-time mentor, the man who taught him how to fight), finds the badly beaten Vic under some straw in a church. Somehow, the wheelchair-bound Dragon knew he’d be there. It is here that Vic mutters the exact line from this week’s 52 about needing to go, to leave Hub City, because his mommy told him to go. In his delusional state, he doesn’t remember that he’s actually in Gotham.
The next issue documents the trio’s journey out of Hub City. Sometime earlier, arrangements were made with another associate and pseudo-mentor to Sage. Lady Shiva was to provide transportation for The Question out of Hub City. To leave, of course, Vic would have to accept that Hub City was beyond saving. The mommy vision is pushing him in this direction, but still more events will solidify his conviction that there is no other choice.
On Christmas Eve, Vic (wearing little more than Myra’s coat), Myra and Richard head back to a parked taxi cab, only to find it under attack from a random mob. Rather than just stealing the taxi, the rioters are simply destroying it. While they attempt to make sense of the scene before them, they are approached by a beggar. He wants two dollars to help his sick infant. Myra determines quickly that the child isn’t ill. It’s dead. The beggar’s callous reaction to this news is the straw that breaks Vic’s will, so he collapses.
Realizing that Myra cannot carry Vic alone, Richard rises from his wheelchair and offers it for Vic. Turns out that he was only handicapped so long as he wanted to be. His explanation is very Kung Fu-esque, something about needing to experience his limitations. Anyway, Myra and Richard make their way to Myra’s office, only to find it burning. The only other place to go is the home of Vic’s friend, Aristotle Rodor, several miles away. Tot Rodor was the scientist who created the chemical formula behind The Question’s mask and costume.
Along the way, they find Isadore O’Toole, former crooked cop and acting chief-of-police. He’s that last of Hub City’s Finest, take him for what he is. Izzy has just apprehended (meaning shot) someone wearing The Question’s mask and suit, but he knows the perp isn’t really “No Face.” Izzy decides to walk with Richard and Myra, but first breaks up a violent encounter between a store clerk and a billigerent Santa Claus. Naturally, Izzy brings the fallen thug’s Santa coat to Myra, so she can be warm.
They arrive at Tot’s home, where Vic finally regains some awareness. As recalled in 52, Tot leans in and asks Vic if he can hear him, calling him “son.” Now, here’s a moment of lost reference on the part of this week’s artist, as Tot in the original series has longish white hair with a mustache to match. No such in this panel.
Izzy offers to stay with Vic while the others have a bite to eat. Vic comes further out of his fog and confirms Izzy’s suspicions about the true identity of “No Face.” As Izzy always felt at odds with The Question, this leaves the cop in a conflicted mood. In his words, it is like he lost a guardian angel.
Next time, maybe tomorrow, we’ll get around to that snow I promised. And more about Myra.
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