by Scott Tipton
August 10, 2005
THE COMICS 101 POP QUIZ, PART II – ANSWERS GALORE
Another huge round of responses for our newest quiz, and I’m pleased to announce that Jimmy Stuart of Springfield, Missouri, was the first to nail a perfect score of 25, earning him not only the all-important bragging rights, but also the DC Archive or Marvel Masterwork of his choice. Mr. Stuart chose DC COMICS RARITIES, an excellent choice, which features some of the most rare comics from the 1939-40 World's Fair, never before reprinted.
Good show, Jim, and thanks to everyone who entered. Now, let’s get to the answers.
1. What action-figure body mold was reused by the 1970s toy company Mego to create the “Thing” action figure?
That would be the shorter, stubbier, more muscular body first used for Mego’s “Hulk” figure, with some bricky hand pieces swapped in.
2. What did Oliver Queen use to create the drill arrow when stranded on a deserted island?
Naturally, the elastic from his socks, which gave the arrow the necessary spin, although he must have been winding it really tight…
3. Fight trainer Joe Morgan trained what super-hero in the pugilistic arts?
The height-challenged Al Pratt, who would later become the Atom. It was later revealed, I believe, that Morgan also trained Ted Grant, the boxing champ who would become Wildcat, and Jim Harper, the beat cop who lived a double life as the Guardian.
4. What longtime enemy of Superman once carried around an alien monkey as a pet?
The computer-brained Brainiac, strange as it sounds, originally traveled with a weird space monkey he called.“Koko.” Yep. Koko.
5. Mal Duncan has had several different costumed identities as a member of the Teen Titans. Name them.
Mal started out adventuring under his own name, then briefly took up Jim Harper’s mantle as the Guardian, had a thankfully brief tour of duty as the Hornblower, and most recently has been known as the Herald.
6. SAT Analogy time: Nuke is to Firestorm as Tom Thumb is to _________.
The Atom. Nuke and Tom Thumb are the Squadron Supreme analogues to DC’s JLA members Firestorm and the Atom.
7. What was the name of the case that resulted in Batman keeping a giant penny in the Batcave as a memento?
“The Penny Plunderers.”
8. Name the Justice Leaguer who once led the street gang known as “Los Lobos.”
Who else but that breakdancin’ fool Paco Ramone, a.k.a. Vibe?
9. What voice actor played the arch-enemy of a superhero on one popular Saturday-morning cartoon series while at the same time playing the trusted manservant of another superhero on a different series?
None other than Efrem Zimbalist, Jr, who played Alfred on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES at the same time he was guest-starring on SPIDER-MAN as Dr. Octopus.
10. What was the first suggested name for the Punisher?
The character was originally dubbed “The Assassin,” which was a little more serious, but had considerably less panache.
11. How does the Spidey-villain the Tarantula incapacitate his victims?
By stabbing them with his pointy shoes, which are dipped in a paralyzing poison. No, really.
12. “Fatman” was the sidekick of which WW II mystery man?
Fatman sidekicked for Tex Thompson, a.k.a. Mr. America, a.k.a. the Americommando. Not only that, but he wore a lampshade on his head.
13. Before he was recruited to become the Red Skull, what did Johann Schmidt do for a living?
He was Hitler’s bellhop, as it turns out…
14. On Earth-2, the grown-up Dick Grayson had a somewhat lofty government job. What was it?
Richard Grayson served as the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. (In case you’re still looking for this in the archives, by the way: while it wasn’t mentioned in the actual column, the accompanying art does mention it.)
15. Colossus dumped Kitty Pryde for a girl from out of town. Waaaay out of town. What was her name and where did they meet?
The lovestruck Russian dope fell for Zsaji, an alien healer he met on the Beyonder’s battleworld during the “Secret Wars.”
16. Who were the members of DC’s bottom-of-the-barrel super-team The Forgotten Heroes?
Animal Man, Cave Carson, Dane Dorrance of the Sea Devils, Immortal Man, Rick Flagg, Rip Hunter, Dolphin and Congorilla. These guys made the Defenders look like the Justice Society…
17. Roy Lincoln swallows a top-secret formula to become the Human Bomb. Name it.
Roy knocked back a big ol’ slug of Formula 27QRX, and next thing he knew his hands were blowing up… (I had lots of entries listing this as QRX-27, but I’m being a stickler here and insisting on 27QRX, not only because that’s how it was discussed in the column, but also because that’s how the new DC ENCYCLOPEDIA lists it…)
18. Hawkman Carter Hall is the reincarnation of what Egyptian prince?
Carter reigned over Egypt as Prince Khufu.
19. Wonder Girl has made a single appearance on the small screen. Who played her?
Debra Winger, and looking none too happy to be there, either…
20. Name the only member of the Legion of Superheroes to die in the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS.
Kid Psycho had an unfortunate encounter with the waves of anti-matter, and was the only Legionnaire to do so. (Yes, I suppose Supergirl qualified, but she wasn’t really a member at the time, so Kid Psycho was really what I was looking for)
21. There’s only one superhero who can’t say his own name. Who is he and why?
Captain Marvel, Jr., since the magic word that changes him from crippled Freddy Freeman to his magically powered self is “Captain Marvel.” So introductions are out.
22. Green Kryptonite will kill Superman, and Red K affects him differently each time. What effects do Gold Kryptonite and White Kryptonite have?
Gold K will remove a Kryptonian’s superpowers permanently, while White K kills all plant life.
23. Stargirl is apparently destined to marry what JSA member?
Courtney Whitmore will one day marry Al “Atom-Smasher” Rothstein, at least if the events of “Darkness Falls” are to be believed.
24. Swamp Thing and Man-Thing weren’t the first swamp monsters in comics. Name the original.
Appearing decades before either character was “The Heap,” published in the 1940s by Hillman.
25. The late Ted Kord was the second Blue Beetle. Who was the first?
The original Beetle was archaeologist Dan Garrett, who gained his powers from an ancient magical scarab, with the magic words “Kaji Dha!”
So there you have it. Thanks to all who entered.
Got questions about the answers? Send ‘em to stipton99x@comics101.com.
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