O.K., pencils down . . . both of you. That's because, this time around, only Eric Sofer and Fraser Sherman took a shot at answering the quiz questions. Which is a first. Usually, I see so many folks submit their answers that, when it's time for me to cough up the answers, I almost always miss giving credit to someone for a correct response. More's the pity because this Silver-Age Challenge had some of my best "Wow! I didn't know that!" offerings, plus some real stumpers.
For this time around, there were two questions that no-one got right. Usually, there aren't any, and one is a rarity. Two unanswered posers is unheard of. I can't help wondering if that would've been the case if more of the old vets of my quizzes, like Philip Portelli or Jeff of Earth-J, had taken a go at it.
When Mr. Sherman provided his first set of answers, I pointed out that he was missing some small details that were throwing some of his responses off. He took that to heart and corrected one of his answers, getting it right---otherwise, there would've been three questions left without a correct response. Three unanswered questions would've, no doubt, signalled the end of the universe.
Anyway, enough blather. Let's get on with it. As usual, I'll save the unanswered posers for last . . .
1. Per the Legion Constitution, the Legion leader is answerable to only one official. Who?
I always begin my challenges with a lob . . . and this one was easier than most, because I used a question I had already asked in a previous quiz, my first Legion of Super-Heroes quiz 'way back in 2013. It was one of the first times that no-one had answered the question properly---they all replied with "the President of Earth", which was correct from the Bronze Age onward. But they overlooked that things were often different in the Silver Age. In asking it again, I wanted to see who had paid attention.
Well, Mr. Sherman had. He recalled my asking the question before, and how it was a total wipe-out for the responders then. That's why he was able to correctly answer this time that the Legion leader answers to the Commissioner of the Science Police.
Here's the text of the pertinent section of the Legion Constitution, published in Adventure Comics # 326 (Nov., 1964) . . .
By the way, Fraser, before you corrected yourself, I'd have accepted "Commander" of the Science Police---you got the gist of it by specifying the official. I wouldn't have quibbled over the title.
2. Doctor Strange's cloak of levitation wasn't just a fashion choice. How did he obtain it?
This turned out to be the actual easy question. Both Eric and Fraser knew the answer right off. Doctor Strange received his scarlet cloak of levitation from his master, the Ancient one as a reward for defeating the awesome threat of Dormammu, as seen at the end of "Duel with the Dread Dormammu", from Strange Tales # 127 (Dec., 1964).
3. During the brief time that Johnny Storm was a student at Metro College, who held the college football team's record for the most touchdown passes?
This was almost the third unanswered question, until Mr. Sherman uncovered the correct response in his last post. I had pointed out that some of his initial answers had overlooked small details. This was one of them. However, the detail he had missed was not the one I had in mind when I saw his initial incorrect offering. As Fraser stated, he had confused State University, the alma mater of Reed Richards and Ben Grimm, with Metro College, the school briefly attended by Johnny Storm.
The actual small detail that I expected folks to forget was that Jean Grey, Marvel Girl of the X-Men, enrolled at Metro College at the same time Johnny Storm was there, as shown in The X-Men # 24 (Sep., 1966). This was a deliberate feint on my part. I figured you guys would concentrate on Johnny's appearances at Metro in The Fantastic Four, and assume the correct answer was Metro football star Wyatt Wingfoot. That's what Eric did.
But Fraser persevered and remembered Jean Grey's time at Metro and her friendship with fellow frosh, Ted Roberts. Ted's older brother, Ralph Roberts, was a Metro alumnus and former quarterback of the college's football team. And he was the one who held the touchdown pass record, as shown in "We Must Destroy the Cobalt Man", from The X-Men # 31 (Apr., 1967).
4. Who considered Hal Jordan as his best friend while in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict?
This one was tough because the answer is buried in the events of the back-up story in Green Lantern # 36 (Apr., 1965)---"Green Lantern's Explosive Week-End". Here we learn that Bill Davis considered himself as Hal Jordan's best friend when they were both U.S. Air Force pilots during the Korean War. (Bill didn't survive the experience.) It wasn't tough for Mr. Sherman, though; he knew it right off.
This tale has minor significance in the Green Lantern mythos, as it establishes that Hal Jordan was a former U.S. Air Force aviator and a war veteran.
5. Who was the first Legionnaire expelled from the Legion of Super-Heroes?
This was another example I had in mind when I warned Mr. Sherman about small details, and another instance when he took it to heart. His initial answer was Ultra Boy, having misremembered the events of "Sun Boy's Lost Power", from Adventure Comics # 302 (Nov., 1962). Fraser initially believed that Sun Boy resigned from the Legion in that tale, but actually the Legion expelled him from the club before he could do so. So, Sun Boy is the correct answer, as Fraser finally recalled. Eric had beaten him to it, though.
6. What World War I ace in the DC universe was recognisable in the skies by his signature coal-black Spad?
I put a mild feint in this one, figuring some folks would go with Hans von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, or Lieutenant Steve Savage, the Balloon Buster, as their answers. But Fraser wasn't fooled for a second. He knew that the correct flier was the Hangman, who débuted in "The Slayers and the Slain", from Star-Spangled War Stories # 138 (May, 1968). This masked French ace became a recurring enemy for Rittmeister von Hammer.
8. Who was the valedictorian of the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy class of 1966?
This was clearly one of my throwaway questions, which is why I hadn't used it until now. As Eric and Fraser both knew, the only natural answer was rookie S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell, who remarked on his academy graduation status in "Lo! The Egg Shall Hatch", from Strange Tales # 145 (Jun., 1966).
9. Who finally repaired Professor Erdel's robot brain that brought J'onn J'onzz to Earth and enabled the Manhunter to return to Mars?
As you vets of my Silver-Age Challenges know, I phrase my questions carefully (usually) in order to filter out ambiguity. That's why the "enabled the Manhunter to return to Mars" portion was so critical in this case. Technically, my use of the word "repaired" was crucial, too.
In "Escape to the Stars", from Detective Comics # 228 (Feb., 1956), criminal scientist Alex Dunster---Mr. Sherman's first response---did not repair Professor Erdel's robot brain. It wasn't broken, then. As related in the first Manhunter from Mars story, the problem was re-programming the robot brain to send J'onn J'onzz back to Mars was too complicated a process, and Erdel died before he could do so. Dunster had simply taken the time to reprogram the device to enable its time-space transfer function to operate.
Unfortunately, in Detective John Jones' attempt to apprehend Dunster, the robot brain was severely damaged. And that's why, over the course of the series, we occasionally see J'onn J'onzz making attempts to repair the machine.
The Manhunter was never able to do so. In "The Mystery of the Martian Marauders", from Detective Comics # 301 (Mar., 1962), the Alien Ace, and the readers, are surprised to discover that an Earth scientist, Dr. Alvin Reeves, was able to finally make the robot brain operative. J'onn J'onzz was able to return to Mars for the first time since his involuntary exile on Earth.
At the end of the tale, the implication was that, from time to time, the Manhunter would use the robot brain to make visits to Mars. But the only time he ever did so was in "Wanted---the Capsule Master", from The Brave and the Bold # 50 (Nov., 1963).
Mr. Sherman figured out why my question was worded so precisely and came up with the right answer.
And now for the two that neither Eric, nor Fraser found the correct response.
7. What was the highest U.S. Army rank, specifically, did the Howlers' old World War II C.O., Sam Sawyer, hold during the Silver Age?
This was the one in which I'd forgotten to run a Google search until after I posted the quiz. When I ran "Samuel Sawyer; Howling Commandos" through the system, I examined the first four hits that contained a history of "Happy Sam" Sawyer, and I was relieved to find that all of them essentially repeated Mr. Sherman's answer: "Captain in WWII, Colonel in Korea, General in ‘nam."
I was relieved because in all of those cases, including Fraser's, that information is wrong with regard to Sawyer's Korean and Viet Nam service. Now, I can hear some harrumphing. But I want to point out that my poser asked for Happy Sam's rank specifically. I'm surprised that didn't send someone running to Google to look up the table of U.S. Army officer ranks.
Let me do it for you. At the general officer level in the U.S. Army (as well as the Air Force and Marine Corps), there are four levels. If he wears one star, then his rank is "brigadier general"; two stars is "major general"; three stars is "lieutenant general". Only the four-star rank is termed, simply and specifically, "general".
(Because someone is bound to bring it up: the Army used to have a five-star rank, termed "general of the Army". It was discontinued, with one exception, after World War II. The last military officer to be awarded the five-star rank was Omar N. Bradley, in 1950, and as the last wearer of five stars in any service, the rank ceased to actively exist when GA Bradley died in 1981.)
Happy Sam Sawyer made only one contemporaneous appearance in the Silver Age, in "The Valor and the Victory", from Sgt. Fury King-Size Special # 3 (Aug., 1967). In this tale, Sawyer conscripts Colonel Nick Fury and the rest of the former Howlers (even those who are now civilians) to handle a mission in Viet Nam.
Looking at the scenes in which one can determine the number of stars on the epaulets of Sawyer's uniform, he wears two stars, which means his rank is a major general. (There is one panel in which he displays only the one star of a brigadier general, but that can be considered an artist's error, because all of the other panels consistently show Sawyer with two stars.)
So, the answer to the question is the highest rank, specifically, Sam Sawyer was seen to attain in the Silver Age is major general.
But wait a minute, commander, COL Fury and the other Howlers refer to Sawyer as "general". How about that, huh?
That's because of military protocol. In officer ranks which carry modifiers, such as the Army/Air Force/Marine Corps generals or the Navy/Coast Guard admirals (rear admiral---vice admiral), there's an allowed difference between official address and conversational.
In formal address, such as on correspondence or in introductions, the officer is indicated by his full rank title, such as "Heading the operation will be Major General Sawyer." But to avoid the awkwardness of constantly using the full title in conversation, the modifier is dropped, such as in "We're glad to have you on board, General Sawyer."
As a former G.I.'s, Stan Lee (editor of Sgt. Fury King-Size Special # 3) and Dick Ayers (penciller) undoubtedly knew this, and that's why, in talking with Happy Sam, they refer to him as "general". But in actual rank, Sawyer is a major general.
The same protocol affects Sawyer's appearance in Sgt. Fury King-Size Special # 1 (Oct., 1965). This issue contains the tale "Commission in Korea", which depicts the Howlers' mission during the Korean War. At the time of this adventure, Happy Sam is a lieutenant colonel (one grade below a colonel), but in conversation, Fury and the Howlers refer to him as "colonel". However, the narrative text, along with the silver-oak-leaf insignia on Sawyer's collar clearly establish that he is a lieutenant colonel.
So, what Mr. Sherman's answer should've been was: "Captain in WWII, Lieutenant Colonel in Korea, Major General in ‘nam."
10. Who was the first person projected into the Phantom Zone by Jor-El?
I knew this one would send people to the seminal story about the Phantom Zone---"The Untold Story of the Phantom Zone", from Superboy # 104 (Apr., 1963). In fact, I planned on it. Because the answer is not to be found there. In fact, we're talking about one of the most significant details of the Superman mythos; yet, I've never seen anybody note it. But it's right there in print, and the implications are staggering.
First, let's examine why Eric and Fraser, who both took their answers from Superboy # 104, were wrong.
The Silver-Age Fogey stated that the first person Jor-El case into the Phantom Zone was his wife, Lara. He was undoubtedly referring to Jor-El's demonstration of the Phantom Zone projector for the people of Krypton.
That's wrong for the simple reason that Lara wasn't the first person to be dispatched to the Zone.
Mr. Sherman posited that it was Jor-El himself who was the first person sent to the Phantom Zone.
But that answer is incorrect because it didn't fit the requirements of the question. As seen in the art above, it was Lara who operated the projector, and the question called for the first person sent by Jor-El himself. Ordinarily, I'd entertain an argument that Fraser's answer should be considered correct because Jor-El oversaw the test of the projector, and that would fit the wording of the question. But that interpretation is ruled out by the actual correct answer. And for that, we turn to . . .
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane # 59 (Aug., 1965)---believe it or not.
The cover story of this issue, "Lois Lane's Romance with Jor-El", kicks off when the intrepid newshen learns of a scientist's new invention, an anti-nuclear ray which would deaden any build-up of atomic forces at the centre of the Earth. Obtaining a copy of the device's plans, Lois uses Professor Potter's time machine to go to Krypton and give the plans to Superman's father, Jor-El. She figures that Jor-El will build his own anti-nuclear ray and prevent Krypton's destruction.
Lois arrives on Krypton at a time when Jor-El and Lara are an item, but have not yet married. She contacts Jor-El and shows him the anti-nuclear ray plans. Jor-El sees that the device is workable and agrees to build it. But after that, things go south pretty quickly.
First, when Lois tries to return to Earth, she discovers that the time-machine has broken down. (Of course---it's a Potter invention.) Deciding to make the best of things, as she's saved Krypton from exploding, she sets her cap for Jor-El. If she can't have the son, she'll have the father. But a jealous Lara and a faithful Jor-El kill Lois' boyfriend-stealing attempts.
Last, the anti-nuclear ray is built and installed on a tower--- within Kandor! Just in time for the space-pirate Brainiac to miniaturise and make off with the city. And the rare materials used to construct the ray cannot be replaced.
Suddenly, getting off of Krypton becomes more of a priority for Lois. She returns to Professor Potter's time-machine, kicks a few instrument panels, and the time-machine starts working again. Our plucky would-be home-wrecker makes a quick detour before heading back to Earth in 1965. She jumps ahead a few years, to land at the El residence, after Jor-El and Lara have married and given birth to baby Kal-El. The youngster is playing outside, and Lois stops long enough to smother him in kisses.
At that particular moment, Jor-El is about to test his latest invention, a prototype of the Phantom Zone projector. He aims through a window at a bird flying outside---and instead, unknowingly hits Lois with the ray, sending her to the Phantom Zone!
Lois spends the next thirty-odd years in the Phantom Zone before Superman, on a routine check of the villains imprisoned there, discovers her presence.
I won't go into the ramifications fraught in the idea that Lois Lane spent three decades as an invisible phantom observing everything taking place on Earth. There just isn't enough time in life. But, going back to the matter of the correct answer to my question, that sequence shows why Jor-El wasn't the first one to be sent to the Phantom Zone.
Jor-El tells Lara that his new invention will cast anything into "another dimension". He has not yet named it "the Phantom Zone". Nor does he speak of using the device to imprison criminals. Both of those things he did when he had Lara send him to the Zone as a test. Also, it follows scientific protocol that he would test his ray on an animal before trying it on a human being. Furthermore, if he had already successfully tested the ray on himself, why would he test it on a bird?
All of these things are sound enough for me to accept that the test in Lois Lane # 59 preceded the instances in Superboy # 104. And, therefore, the correct answer to "Who was the first person projected into the Phantom Zone by Jor-El?" is Lois Lane.
* * * * *
And that's it for this time around, gang. I hope all of you who didn't play found it fun and interesting. I certainly do, in coming up with these questions.
Replies
Great fun as always. Looking forward to next year's quiz.
[T]his time around, only Eric Sofer and Fraser Sherman took a shot at answering the quiz questions... I can't help wondering if that would've been the case if more of the old vets of my quizzes, like Philip Portelli or Jeff of Earth-J, had taken a go at it.
Sorry about that. I did read through all the questions and determined some of them were just too difficult for me to answer. (I always do better on the Marvel-based quizzes than the DC ones.) My intention had been to let the Silver Age mavens take first crack at it, then swing back and take a look at the unanswered ones. Now, with the answers in front of me, here is how I would have scored:
KNEW: I knew only #2 off the top of my head.
LOOK UP: I could have easily looked up #1 and 6 just to verify.
GUESS: I could have guessed #8 (or looked it up).
WRONG: I would have answered #3 and 5 incorrectly.
UNANSWERED: I would have had to leave #4, 7, 9 and 10 unanswered.
Thank you for another challenging quiz! Even though I did not participate this time, I enjoyed reading the responses.
Most of the time, these quizzes cover stories published well before I started reading comics. Occasionally there are two of three questions I can answer because they are in stories I have read and still remember. Not this time. The fun for me is in just reading the questions and reveal of the answers.
I think of your questions as breaking into three categories.
1)I know the answer. #7 because I'm a big Enemy Ace fan and the Hangman stories are a standout (a shame they didn't do more with his vengeful sister, the Harpy).
2)I know where to find it. #4 fits that category: I didn't remember the name but I remembered it's the one story discussing Hal's Korean War service
3)The Brute Force approach: read over all the stories that might have the answer. That worked on #3 once I figured out the Jean Grey connection; it didn't work on #10 because I had no idea of the right story to look at. I agree with your reasoning as to this being chronologically the debut of the Zone. Did Lois stop to consider that if Krypton doesn't blow up, she'll never become Mrs. Superman?
To that trio now I add 4)Stuff from your past posts. Not only the Legion question — I relied on your post about J'Onn's returns or near-returns to Mars for #9.
Then we have questions like #7 which I would never have gotten, even if I'd read that Annual. Unsurprisingly, the answer and the details behind it were informative and interesting.
A wonderfully entertaining time, Commander, as these quizzes always are.
I loved it! I ALWAYS enjoy your quizzes Commander, even if, as this time, I potted out on it. I had fun and that's what counts!
But if I get that S.P. question wrong one more time... I will do something desperate and I will not be held responsible for my actions!
It's great, as always, Adam! Looking forward to your special quiz next year!
Eric L. Sofer
The Silver Age Fogey
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