The Question v.1 #26

"Riddles" - Mar. 1989

The Cover of The Question #26 by Denys Cowan

ENLARGE: Script: Dennis O'Neil; Pencils: Bill Wray; Inks: Malcolm Jones III; Lettering: Willie Schubert; Colors: Tatjana Wood; Aspirin: Brian Augustyn; Editor: Mike Gold; Cover: Bill Wray; Special Thanks: Dom Carola; Published by DC Comics

Riddler is released from prison on a technicality. Commissioner Gordon suggests he leave Gotham and go straight.

As Eddie Nigma, he boards a bus headed for Hub City. Onboard, he meets a stripper named Sphinx who takes a shine to him.

Tot drags Vic out of the house to force him to take some much needed rest after he faints from exhaustion -- he's been pushing himself too hard since Myra was shot.

In a hurry to get the vigilante out of town, the scholar neglects to fill up with gas. They hit empty in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, a bus comes by to pick them up - the bus that the Riddler and his paramour are on. Sphinx convinces Riddler into joining in a hold-up of the bus.

The woman forces the driver towards an old abandonded bridge and the bus gets stuck in the snow. Sphinx offers to let anyone who can correctly answer the Riddler's riddle get safely off the bus. Those who fail die.

Vic puts on his mask and becomes the Question. He distracts the two psychopaths by telling them riddles of his own -- metaphysical, existential riddles. He gets close enough to disarm Sphinx. She runs from the bus, but when she tries to cross the old bridge, she falls through and drowns.

Feeling in the Christmas spirit, the Question offers the Riddler his freedom if he can correctly answer a riddle....

A more complete summary coming soon!