Welcome back to another edition of ASK…THE QUESTION. I’m Alex Jaffe, question-answerer in chief of our official Discord community. Every month, I take some of the most interesting queries to cross my desk to present them here to you, the readers who haven’t made it over to the server yet. (You should try it! It’s a good time.) Here are just some of the many mysteries I did my best to solve for the curious public this June.
 

DrWhoDidle asks:

Oddly specific question, but has Batman ever displayed skills with a skateboard?

As far as I’m aware, never. Batman surfs in the Batman TV show. He snowboards in the movie Batman & Robin. He even luges in the final episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. But Batman’s only notable attempt at skateboarding to date has been in Chapter 42 of the digital series Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, where… he pretty heinously wipes out. Well, nobody’s good at everything.
 

Rain asks:

Is Streaky affected by kryptonite other than x-kryptonite?

This is an extremely astute question, especially when you consider the source of Streaky’s powers. Unlike Krypto, Streaky is actually an Earthborn cat, who was given powers by exposure to X-Kryptonite. So, it’s very reasonable to ask whether Streaky could be affected by Kryptonite the same way as natural born Kryptonians.

We got an answer to this pretty early on, in 1961’s Action Comics #277. At the time, X-Kryptonite exposure only temporarily granted Streaky powers before he required another dose. In that issue, it’s explicitly a time lapse which divests Streaky of his powers, as opposed to the nearby Kryptonite exposure which depowers an imperiled Supergirl and Krypto. The need for that distinction does in fact communicate that normally, Streaky would be immune to traditional forms of Kryptonite.
 

Patsy asks:

Me and a friend were arguing over what kind of beings the New Gods were. I said they were 4th dimensional beings because they're from the Fourth World saga, but my friend was insistent that they were even higher than that. Can you help me and explain who was right?

Friends, friends, settle down. You’re both wrong. “Fourth World,” as it’s used in the comics, has nothing to do with the number of dimensions. It’s a sequential term, as the fourth generation in a lineage of realities. They are beings with the same number dimension as everyone else, but they occupy their own realm. Hope that clears it up.
 

Dragon Moth asks:

I keep hearing Hawkman being described as a conservative, contrasted with Oliver Queen being an "old lefty," but having read a lot of Hawkman comics recently, I can't tell if this is just something writers made up/exaggerated, if I just have not read the proper comics or if my media literacy skills are awful because he doesn't strike me as a particularly political character. So, what's the answer?

You’d be excused for having no idea where this idea comes from if you’re only familiar with Hawkman through his solo titles. The idea of Carter Hall or his various other incarnations as a conservative hero is not really one that ever comes up in his own book—but it was a big part of the Pre-Crisis Justice League of America title, beginning with Dennis O’Neil’s run.

Part of Denny’s legacy on Justice League was affording definable character traits to much of the League in order for the ensemble to play off each other in interesting ways, in a departure from the title’s Silver Age modus operandi of focusing almost exclusively on combinations of superpowers to defeat a powerful enemy. Early on, Denny made Green Arrow a mouthpiece for his own left-leaning point of view, and cast Hawkman as a Strawman of sorts to counterpoint his political and ideological arguments. In the modern age, the culprit for the popularization of Hawkman’s relative conservatism is Kevin Smith, who drew on those Dennis O’Neil stories to characterize Hawkman’s relationship with Oliver Queen in his own 2001 Green Arrow run.
 

Barbrum asks:

Is Guy Garner still half alien?

Functionally, no. But genealogically, it depends who you ask. (For example, my associate Joshua Lapin-Bertone would say the answer is yes, based on his recent list of Guy Gardner facts.)

The biological functionality of Guy Gardner’s Vuldarian ancestry was ripped out of him by Parallax in Geoff Johns’ 2004 miniseries Green Lantern: Rebirth. In the past twenty years, though, we’ve had to count for a great number of continuity shifts, reboots and restorations. So, “is this still canon” is a question I tend to get a lot, especially after the past-restoring events of Rebirth, Doomsday Clock and Death Metal. To help you all with this specific question, I have personally made this handy flowchart for you. (Look forward to seeing this a lot more often.)


Cinqo35 asks:

Isn't saying DC Comics technically like saying ATM machine?

Technically, I suppose. But here’s the thing about language: it exists not to be confined by established rules, but to best suit a function. Conversationally, you may hear “DC Comics” to distinguish it from other kinds of media. There are movies, television, games and all other sorts of media under the DC umbrella. So, when we say “DC Comics,” then you know we’re talking about the comics. Language is always evolving, and what works best always overrules any prescriptive linguistics.
 

Khamass Pigeon asks:

When was Superman’s original motto of "Truth, Justice and the American Way" established? Was it during the 1940s at the height of World War II?

It was, yes. Specifically, in the intro of the Adventures of Superman radio show. But after the war, it went back to “Truth and Justice.”

The 1948 Superman film serial changed the motto to “Truth, Tolerance and Justice.” “American Way” was added again in the 1950s Adventures of Superman TV show with George Reeves, but after that went off the air, the Filmation Superman cartoons of the ’60s had it as “Truth, Justice and Freedom.”

It wasn’t until 1978’s Superman: The Movie that “Truth, Justice and the American Way” became a lasting indelible slogan, up until it was modified to “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow” for Jon Kent’s debut as Superman in 2022.
 

Xxgre3gxx asks:

Is there a list of which superheroes debuted in another series before getting their own?

No, Greg, there isn’t. But…you did get me curious. So, I took a week to go through the history of every single DC Super Hero to ever get their own solo title, either with DC, or predating DC at a publisher before they were acquired. Now, you’ll have to forgive a certain margin of error for what constitutes a “superhero,” or even their “own series,” so depending on where your personal parameters lie, there may be a few names on or off this list you might object to. But this is the result of my best estimation.

Access

DC Versus Marvel #1

Adam Strange

Showcase #17

All-Star Squadron

Justice League of America #193

Ambush Bug

DC Comics Presents #52

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld

Legion of Super-Heroes #298

Anarky

Detective Comics #608

Angel and the Ape

Showcase #77

Anima

New Titans Annual #9

Animal Man

Strange Adventures #180

Anthro

Showcase #74

Apollo

StormWatch #4

Aquaman (Arthur Curry)

New Fun Comics #73

Aquaman (Jackson Hyde)

Brightest Day #3

Arak, Son of Thunder

Warlord #48

Arsenal

More Fun Comics #73

Artemis

Wonder Woman #90

Argus

The Flash Annual #6

Arion, Lord of Atlantis

Warlord #55

Atlee

Supergirl #12

Atom (Ray Palmer)

Showcase #34

Atom (Ryan Choi)

Brave New World #1

Azrael (Michael Lane)

Batman #665

Backlash

StormWatch #3

Bat-Mite

Detective Comics #267

Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Detective Comics #359

Batgirl (Cassandra Cain)

Batman #567

Batgirl (Stephanie Brown)

Detective Comics #647

Batman (Bruce Wayne)

Detective Comics #27

Batman (Thomas Wayne)

Detective Comics #33

Batman (Jace Fox)

Batman #313

Batwing (David Zavimbe)

Batman, Incorporated #5

Batwoman (Kate Kane)

52 #7

Beast Boy

Doom Patrol #99

Black Adam

The Marvel Family #1

Black Canary

Flash Comics #86

Blood Pack

Showcase '94 #12

Blue Beetle (Dan Garret)

Mystery Men #1

Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)

Captain Atom #83

Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)

Infinite Crisis #3

Blue Devil

Firestorm #24

Body Doubles

Resurrection Man #1

Bulletman

Nickel Comics #1

Cameron Chase

Batman #550

Captain Atom (Allen Adam)

Space Adventures #33

Captain Atom (Nathaniel Adam)

History of the DC Universe #2

Captain Carrot

New Teen Titans #16

Captain Marvel (Billy Batson)

Whiz Comics #2

Captain Marvel, Jr.

Whiz Comics #25

Catwoman

Batman #1

Cave Carson

The Brave and the Bold #31

Challengers of the Unknown

Showcase #6

Checkmate

Action Comics #598

City Boy

WildStorm 30th Anniversary Special

Congo Bill

More Fun Comics #56

Cosmic Boy

Adventure Comics #247

Creature Commandos

Weird War Tales #93

Creeper

Showcase #73

Crimson Avenger

Detective Comics #20

Crush

Teen Titans Special #1

Cyborg

DC Comics Presents #26

Damage (Ethan Avery)

Dark Days: The Casting #1

Dead Boy Detectives

The Sandman #25

Deadman

Strange Adventures #205

Deadshot

Batman #59

Deathblow

Darker Image #1

Deathwish

Hardware #5

Destiny

Weird Mystery Tales #1

Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)

More Fun Comics #55

Doctor Fate (Inza Nelson)

More Fun Comics #55

Doctor Fate (Khalid Nassour)

Convergence: Aquaman #2

Dogwelder II

All Star Section Eight #1

Doll Man

Feature Comics #27

Donna Troy

The Brave and the Bold #60

Doom Patrol

My Greatest Adventure #80

DV8

Gen 13 #6

Elongated Man

The Flash #112

Eternity Girl

JLA/Doom Patrol Special #1

Female Furies

Mister Miracle #6

Fire & Ice

Justice League International #12

Flash (Barry Allen)

Showcase #4

Flash (Wally West)

The Flash #110

Flex Mentallo

Doom Patrol #35

Forager

The New Gods #9

Freedom Fighters

Justice League of America #107

Gen 13

Deathmate: Black

Golden Arrow

Whiz Comics #2

Great Ten

52 #6

Green Arrow (Oliver Queen)

More Fun Comics #73

Green Lantern (Alan Scott)

All-American Comics #16

Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)

Showcase #22

Green Lantern (Abin Sur)

Showcase #22

Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)

Green Lantern #59

Green Lantern (John Stewart)

Green Lantern #87

Green Team

1st Issue Special #2

Grifter

WildC.A.T.s #1

Guardian (Jim Harper II)

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #135

Gunfire

Deathstroke the Terminator Annual #2

Hawk and Dove (Hank and Don Hall)

Showcase #75

Hawk and Dove (Sasha Martens and Wiley Wolverman)

Genesis #2

Hawkgirl (Kendra Saunders)

JSA Secret Files and Origins #1

Hawkman

Flash Comics #1

Hector Hall

All-Star Squadron #25

Hero Hotline

Action Comics #637

Hitman (Tommy Monaghan)

The Demon Annual #2

Holden Carver

Point Blank #1

Hoppy the Marvel Bunny

Fawcett's Funny Animals #1

Hourman (Matthew Tyler)

JLA #12

Human Target

Action Comics #419

Huntress (Helena Wayne)

All-Star Comics #69

I, Vampire

House of Mystery #290

Ibis the Invincible

Whiz Comics #2

Immortal Men

Dark Days: The Forge #1

Impulse

The Flash #92

Infinity, Inc.

All-Star Squadron #25

Inferior Five

Showcase #62

Inferno

Legion of Super-Heroes #64

Jenny Sparks

StormWatch #37

Jet

Backlash #9

Jezebelle

Wildstorm Annual 2000

John Constantine

Swamp Thing #37

Jonah Hex

All-Star Western #10

Judomaster

Special War Series #4

Justice League of America

The Brave and the Bold #28

Justice Society of America

All-Star Comics #3

Karate Kid

Adventure Comics #346

Katana

The Brave and the Bold #200

Kid Eternity

Hit Comics #25

Klarion the Witchboy

The Demon #7

Knight and Squire

Batman #62

Krypto the Superdog

Adventure Comics #210

L.E.G.I.O.N.

Invasion! #1

Legion of Super-Heroes

Adventure Comics #247

Lobo

Omega Men #3

Loose Cannon

Action Comics Annual #5

Madame Xanadu

Doorway to Nightmare #1

Magog

Kingdom Come #1

Man-Bat

Detective Comics #400

Manhunter (Mark Shaw)

1st Issue Special #5

Martian Manhunter

Detective Comics #225

Mary Marvel

Captain Marvel Adventures #18

Mera

Aquaman #11

Metal Men

Showcase #37

Metamorpho

The Brave and the Bold #57

Midnighter

StormWatch #4

Minute-Man

Master Comics #11

Mister Majestic

WildC.A.T.s #11

Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman)

Mister Miracle #15

Mister Terrific (Michael Holt)

The Spectre #54

Monkey Prince

DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration #1

Mother Panic

DC's Young Animal Ashcan Edition

Nemesis

The Brave and the Bold #166

New Guardians

Millennium #1

Night Force

New Teen Titans #21

Nightwing (Dick Grayson)

Detective Comics #38

Nubia

Wonder Woman #204

OMAC (Michael Costner)

Brave New World #1

Omega Men

Green Lantern #141

Orion

The New Gods #1

Outsiders

The Brave and the Bold #200

Pandora

Flashpoint #5

Peacemaker

Fightin' 5 #40

Phantom Lady

Police Comics #1

Plastic Man

Police Comics #1

Power Company

JLA #61

Power Girl

All-Star Comics #58

Primal Force

Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #2

Psyba-Rats

Robin Annual #2

Question (Vic Sage)

Blue Beetle #1

Question (Renee Montoya)

Batman: The Animated Series

Ravagers

Teen Titans Annual #1

Raven

DC Comics Presents #26

Red Hood

Batman #357

Red Lantern Corps

Green Lantern #25

Red Tornado

Justice League of America #64

Rip Hunter

Showcase #20

Robin (Tim Drake)

Batman #436

Robin (Damian Wayne)

Batman: Son of the Demon

Rose and Thorn

Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #105

Sandman (Wesley Dodds)

New York World's Fair Comics #1

Scare Tactics

Showcase '96 #11

Sea Devils

Showcase #27

Section Eight

Hitman #18

Seven Soldiers of Victory

Leading Comics #1

Shade (Richard Swift)

Flash Comics #33

Shade the Changing Girl

DC's Young Animal Ashcan Edition

Shadowpact

Day of Vengeance #1

Signal

Batman #21

Sixpack

Hitman #9

Smax

Top 10 #1

Son of Vulcan (Johnny Mann)

Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #46

Spartan (Yohn Kohl)

WildC.A.T.s #1

Spectre

More Fun Comics #52

Spy Smasher

Whiz Comics #2

Stanley and His Monster

Fox and the Crow #95

Starfire

DC Comics Presents #26

Stargirl

DCU Heroes Secret Files & Origins #1

Starman (Jack Knight)

Zero Hour: Crisis in Time #1

Steel (John Henry Irons)

Adventures of Superman #500

Suicide Squad

The Brave and the Bold #25

Superboy (Conner Kent)

Adventures of Superman #500

Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)

Action Comics #252

Supergirl (Matrix)

Superman #16

Superman (Clark Kent)

Action Comics #1

Superman (Jon Kent)

Convergence: Superman #2

Superwoman (Lana Lang)

Superboy #10

Swamp Thing (Levi Kamei)

Infinite Frontier #0

Team 7

Gen 13 #4

Teen Justice

DC's Very Merry Multiverse #1

Teen Titans

The Brave and the Bold #54

Telos

Convergence #0

Tempest

Adventure Comics #269

Timber Wolf

Adventure Comics #327

Time Masters

Showcase #20

Trenchcoat Brigade

Books of Magic #1

Trinity

Wonder Woman #800

Triumph

Justice League America #91

Uncle Sam

National Comics #1

Unknown Soldier

Star-Spangled War Stories #151

Valor

Superboy #89

Vext

DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins #1

Vibe (Cisco Ramon)

The New 52: FCBD Special Edition #1

Vigil

Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution

Vigilante (Greg Sanders)

Action Comics #42

Vigilante (Adrian Chase)

New Teen Titans #23

Vigilante (Dorian Chase)

Nightwing #133

Vixen

Action Comics #521

Voodoo

WildC.A.T.s #1

Wanderers

Adventure Comics #375

Warlord

1st Issue Special #8

Wetworks

WildC.A.T.s #2

Wise Son

Blood Syndicate #1

Wonder Girl (Cassandra Sandsmark)

Wonder Woman #105

Wonder Girl (Yara Flor)

DC Nation Presents: DC: Future State #1

Wonder Twins

Super Friends

Wonder Woman

All-Star Comics #8

Xanthe Zhou

Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn

Zatanna

Hawkman #4

Zealot

WildC.A.T.s #1


I hope that satisfies your curiosity for now. If there are any other itches in your comic brain that need a good scratch, you know where to find me. You only have to ASK…THE QUESTION.
 

Alex Jaffe is the author of our monthly "Ask the Question" column and writes about TV, movies, comics and superhero history for DC.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @AlexJaffe and find him in the DC Official Discord server as HubCityQuestion.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Alex Jaffe and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.