17. The inspiration behind Alan Moore’s Rorschach, the Question is a masked investigative journalist who, unlike Batman, is willing to kill and consistently tries to seduce Lois Lane away from Superman
Offering an interesting spin on the superhero genre, the Question, like Batman, is an individual without any notable special powers. Created by Steve Ditko for Charlton Comics in 1967, the popular character was later bought by DC comics in the early 1980s to be added to their roster of heroes and incorporated into the wider DC Universe. An investigative journalist, the Question is forced to conceal his identity in order to perform his duties without exposing himself to retribution. However, in contrast to “the world’s greatest detective”, the Question is far more ruthless in his methods than Batman.
Although conflicted with regards to the limits of his vigilantism, the Question, unlike the caped crusader, permits himself to kill others in the course of his work. Entering into conflict with Superman – whose partner, Lois Lane, the Question is infatuated with – over his willingness to murder, the Question opens up an entirely new and more morally ambiguous side of the superhero medium rarely seen outside Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed Dark Knight Trilogy. With the over-saturation of traditional superheroes and the demand for more adult characters, the Question would be a more than suitable protagonist for the 21st century.