I’m just a summertime guy.
Well, no, I’m not really. I hate the heat. I much prefer the crisp temperatures of the autumn. But I am a summertime guy when it comes to my annual Silver-Age challenge. I also started with that line because I was going to throw in a bonus just-for-fun trivia question, asking what television show that started in the Silver Age used “Summertime Guy” as its theme song? However, I discovered that it was too easy to Google the answer, so I’ll turn it into a fun fact: the answer is The Newlywed Game.
I posted my first Silver-Age Challenge here one summer fourteen years ago, mainly because I was stuck for an Log Entry topic, and a quiz was a handy way of knocking out two---the questions, then the answers. It turned out to be so popular that I’ve done one every year since, even during the last couple, when my Deck Log was otherwise suspended because of my work. I enjoy putting the challenges together, and as long as you folks enjoy taking them, I’ll keep doing it.
First, some boilerplate for anyone who’s never tackled one of my quizzes before. (You old vets can skip the next five paragraphs.)
All of the questions and answers are drawn from Silver-Age material. In the case of this quiz, that means anything produced by Marvel Comics from July, 1956 (the month Showcase # 4 hit the stands) until the end of 1968, which I demark as the end of the Silver Age. If your answer comes from outside that period, then it is invalid. For example, if I were to ask “Who taught Hawkeye archery?”, and you answered with “Trick Shot”, you would be wrong. During the Silver Age, it was established that the Swordsman trained Hawkeye in the bow and arrow. Trick Shot was a 1987 revision.
Fair warning: forgetting the Silver-Age limitation has been the biggest reason that folks have gotten a question wrong.
I’m definitely not infallible, also something to which the veteran players here will attest. I easily might have missed something, somewhere, in those twelve years of Marvel publication. If you come up with an answer that meets the criteria of the question and can cite the Silver-Age reference, then I’ll gladly award you credit for a correct response. “But I always thought . . .” explanations won’t cut it, though.
I’ve got no problem with anybody using a search engine to look for answers. That’s why I try to make my questions as Google-proof as possible. The right answers to my quiz-questions are difficult to find with a search engine, though I cannot say impossible. At least once, I tripped myself up when an article that I had written for another site contained the answer to a question from that year’s challenge, and one of the players found it.
Lastly, there are no prizes, not even No-Prizes. You're playing for bragging rights.
(This is where you veteran players can come back.)
O.K., gang . . . everybody ready? Then, here we go! As always, I'll start with a lob.
1. After being held captive by Doctor Octopus, the worst part of the experience for May Parker was missing that night’s episode of what television series?
2. Who was the parish priest in the neighbourhood of Hell’s Kitchen where Nick Fury grew up?
3. After being suspended from professional baseball, this star pitcher used his throwing skill to become what costumed villain?
4. Who is the only living relative of Rick Jones to appear in a story?
5. In the story of her only solo adventure, the Wasp defeated what super-villain?
6. What must Odin, king of the Norse gods, do for one day each year to maintain his immortality?
7. The Mandarin saved this woman’s life when she was a child and oversaw her education. She grew up to become what villainess?
8. Who was the first scientist hired to replace Dr. Bruce Banner as the chief scientist on Lieutenant General “Thunderbolt” Ross’ staff? (NOTE: it didn’t work out.)
9. What super-hero story was the first to show Stan Lee’s face; in other words, not in shadows or the back of his head to the readers or otherwise obstructed? (NOTE: “super-hero story” means a standard adventure; humorous or informative stories don’t count. Also, for clarity, extras, such as someone in a crowd scene, drawn to resemble Stan Lee, don't count, either. The correct answer refers to a character identified as Stan Lee.)
10. Apparently, the Ancient One had set himself up well financially. Who managed the Ancient One’s wealth?
* * * * *
As always, I’ll post the answers next month, but you guys probably won’t need nearly that long. Good luck!
Replies
I don't generally do internet searches for these quizes. This will be a first for me in that I don't expect to be able to answer any of the questions. I will enjoy reading everyone's answers.
Overconfidence is always my downfall as I rush to answer the ones I think I know off the top of my head, but I fall into your carefully laid traps as often as not. So have I learned my lesson from previous Challenges? Hell, no! (What would be the fun in that?)
1. After being held captive by Doctor Octopus, the worst part of the experience for May Parker was missing that night’s episode of what television series?
I am going to guess the answer you are looking for here is The Beverly Hillbilies. The only reason I "remember" that (if, indeed, I am correct), is that, when the issue was reprinted in the '80s, the editor had the "neat idea" to substitute all topical references with more "up-to-date" ones (and he chose The Dukes of Hazzard).
3. After being suspended from professional baseball, this star pitcher used his throwing skill to become what costumed villain?
Professional baseball pitcher Fred Meyers became Boomerang. (I had to look that one up, but I knew right were to find it).
4. Who is the only living relative of Rick Jones to appear in a story?
Rick's Aunt Polly appeared in Hulk #3.
5. In the story of her only solo adventure, the Wasp defeated what super-villain?
I am guessing the answer you are looking for is the Wobbow from Tales to Astonish #51.
6. What must Odin, king of the Norse gods, do for one day each year to maintain his immortality?
I am guessing the answer you are looking for is the "Odinsleep."
8. Who was the first scientist hired to replace Dr. Bruce Banner as the chief scientist on Lieutenant General “Thunderbolt” Ross’ staff? (NOTE: it didn’t work out.)
The earliest one I can think of is Dr. Zaxon, from Tales to Astonish #78.
That's six of the ten off the top of my head (more or less). As far as the others are concerned...
2. Every year (every Marvel year, anyway), I resolve that I really must read Sgt. Fury one of these days, but I never seem to get around to it.
7, 9 & 10. I think I could look these up, but I'll wait and see if anyone else comes up with them first. If not, I'll give 'em a try.
I think #9 is particularly tricky because you stipulate Stan Lee's face. I can think of several early appearnces, but in every one he is shown from the back or his face is otherwise obscured... or is it? See, now you've got me doubting myself (which, of course, was your intention, you slyboots you).
Jeff of Earth-J said:
As a longtime Sgt. Rock man, I say ... well, if you do, at least read ones drawn or inked by John Severin so you have something to look at that's worth the effort.
I'm coming in late and accidently glanced at some of Jeff's answers. Luckily I KNEW those!
1) The Beverly Hillbillies, of course. I even knew about The Dukes of Hazzard retcon! I wonder what Aunt May would have been watching after the "Great Rural Purge"?
2) Have to look through my Nick Fury volumes!
3) Boomerang because his debut was reprinted in Marvel Super-Heroes #36 (My'73), my very first Hulk comic!
4) I know Rick had an aunt. Jeff names her. I defer to him!
5) That would be the Magician in Tales To Astonish #58 (Au'64), reprinted in Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Au'74)
6) Originally called the Sleep of Life, I presume it evolved into the Odinsleep.
7) Another one I got to look up!
8, 9, 10) Ditto
I've had to put my comics into storage but I'll take a stab at a few of these (then, of course, I'll peek to see what everyone else has come up with).
#1: The Beverley Hillbillies (Spider-Man Annual #1)
#3: Boomerang
#5: The Magician (TTA #58)
#6 The Odinsleep
#7 Madam Macabre (TTA #66)
I know the answers to 1, 3 and 6 - the rest I have no clue.
Stan appeared in FF #10 along with Jack Kirby when they were taken prisoner by Dr Doom but I don't believe we saw their faces at any point in the story.
I half-remembered the answer to 1. because an issue of Marvel Age did an article about how the reprint of the story changed the reference, as if The Beverly Hillbillies was off the air. Sure, it might be a rerun, but if I'm the type who can always drop what I'm doing and watch Barney Miller, I can easily believe Aunt May is the type who can drop what she's doing and watch The Beverly Hillbillies even if she's seen any given episode a dozen times.
I have no hope of answering any of the other questions. My response to 3, "After being suspended from professional baseball, this star pitcher used his throwing skill to become what costumed villain?" would be Daredevil's recurring antagonist Bullseye, which is true but falls outside the Silver Age.
2. Lewis Hargrove
Reference please?
'Cause I went through three volumes of Nick Fury and two volumes of Sgt. Fury and found nothing!
Looks like Sgt. Fury #7 (March 1964).
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next