Are You A ‘Dabbler’ Or An ‘Expert’ In The Graphic Novel World? Take This 50 Question Quiz And Find Out.

In honor of SDCC 2015, I’ve been thinking about all of my favorite comics/graphic novels and how I love discussing them with other readers and fans.

So many exciting films and television shows are on the horizon, but it is important that we not forget the great origins of these stories…the comics! The history and tradition of comics is as fascinating and captivating as any movie franchise, and as with most novel-to-film adaptations, the books are better (sorry, Marvel cough DISNEY).

Below is a 50 question SUPER QUIZ that I administered to college sophomores in my Graphic Novels: Lit Genres class. They took it at the end of the semester, and whoever scored highest received tickets to Age of Ultron.

I can’t promise you movie tickets for high scores, but if you know all of these answers, you BELONG at SDCC. And if you’re anything like me, you’re sitting at home, wishing you were there (in cosplay as Jareth from Labyrinth).

1. What is the name of the creator of American Splendor?
2. In which superhero comic did the Punisher first appear as a villain?
3. What is the Punisher’s real name?
4. Name the two creators of Superman.
5. What year did Superman comics debut?
6. Name the two creators of Batman.
7. What year did Batman debut?
8. Name the writer of The Dark Knight Returns.
9. Name the two authors of The Long Halloween.
10. Name at least two characters who have donned the mask as Robin (Batman’s sidekick).
11. What year did Robin first appear in Batman comics?
12. Name at least three different regulations enforced by the Comics Code Authority.
13. What year did the Comics Code become active regulation for comic content?
14. Who created Spiderman?
15. Who created Iron Man?
16. Who created the Fantastic Four?
17. Which three comic superheroes have never broken publication (meaning completely out of comic circulation)?
18. What is the original Captain America’s real name?
19. What is the collection of Batman’s foes called?
20. What is the name of Superman’s birth father?
21. How many colors were available in original comic publishing?
22. Name the type of media that is largely credited with being the foundation for many comic characters.
23. In what year did the Batman television series first air?
24. Who directed the 1989 Batman film, starring Michael Keaton?
25. Define the term “Camp” as it relates to media, such as the original Batman television series.
26. Describe one aspect of the Silver Age of comics that sets it apart from other periods of comic publishing.
27. Superman’s first cover page is referred to as an _____________ cover, whereas a cover that features the Flash pleading with a reader to read the comic in order to help him would be called a ______________________ cover.
28. Name two types of comic transitions and how they work.
29. What do comic readers/writers call the space between panels?
30. If we lived in Thor’s universe, in what realm do we currently reside?
31. Define the term anti-hero. Give an example.
32. According to Scott McCloud, the daily act of observing parts but perceiving a whole scene is called ______.
33. According to McCloud, participation level in comics is so complex that it invokes our ________.
34. What 1986 graphic novel first utilized “prestige” formatting (shinier pages, book-like density)?
35. What comic superhero outsold both Batman and Superman for the better part of the 1970s-80s?
36. What types of villains were largely in play during the Golden Age of comics?
37. What is Captain America seen doing on his debut comic cover?
38. Name at least two DC Comics characters OTHER than Batman and Superman.
39. What genre of comics did Sandman largely credit its origins to?
40. Who is the writer of the Sandman series?
41. What year did the Sandman series debut?
42. Name the seven Endless.
43. Historically, what film were Bruce Wayne and his parents leaving when they were mugged and shot?
44. What was the name of the original criminal who shot Thomas and Martha Wayne?
45. What is Art Spiegelman’s father’s name?
46. What was Art’s mother’s name?
47. What writer is credited with having given Daredevil a martial arts background?
48. SAGA and The Walking Dead are part of which comic publishing company?
49. The Sandman Chronicles are part of which comic publishing company?
50. What other name does Dream of the Endless frequently get called?

Answers below the image.

Answers:

1. What is the name of the creator of American Splendor?: Harvey Pekar
2. In which superhero comic did the Punisher first appear as a villain?: Spiderman
3. What is the Punisher’s real name?: Frank Castle
4. Name the two creators of Superman: Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster
5. What year did Superman comics debut?: 1938
6. Name the two creators of Batman: Bob Kane & Bill Finger
7. What year did Batman debut?: 1939
8. Name the writer of The Dark Knight Returns: Frank Miller
9. Name the two authors of The Long Halloween: Tim Sale & Jeph Loeb
10. Name at least two characters who have donned the mask as Robin (Batman’s sidekick): Tim Drake, Jason Todd, Damian Wayne, Dick Grayson, Carrie Kelley, Stephanie Brown
11. What year did Robin first appear in Batman comics?: 1940
12. Name at least three different regulations enforced by the Comics Code Authority: No gratuitous gore, violence, evil cannot win, law enforcement must be portrayed respectfully, no anti-social behavior, no sexual relationships (homosexual), etc.
13. What year did the Comics Code become active regulation for comic content?: 1954
14. Who created Spiderman?: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
15. Who created Iron Man?: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
16. Who created the Fantastic Four?: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
17. Which three comic superheroes have never broken publication (meaning completely out of comic circulation)?: Wonder Woman, Batman, & Superman
18. What is the original Captain America’s real name?: Steve Rodgers
19. What is the collection of Batman’s foes called?: Rogues Gallery
20. What is the name of Superman’s birth father?: Kal-El
21. How many colors were available in original comic publishing?: 4 – red, blue, yellow, & black
22. Name the type of media that is largely credited with being the foundation for many comic characters: The pulps
23. In what year did the Batman television series first air?: 1966
24. Who directed the 1989 Batman film, starring Michael Keaton?: Tim Burton
25. Define the term “Camp” as it relates to media, such as the original Batman television series: Focused on aesthetic as opposed to content, visual art, pop art
26. Describe one aspect of the Silver Age of comics that sets it apart from other periods of comic publishing: Teaching comic readers about science via the Flash (among other things)
27. Superman’s first cover page is referred to as an _____________ cover, whereas a cover that features the Flash pleading with a reader to read the comic in order to help him would be called a ______________________ cover: Iconic 2. Situational
28. Name two types of comic transitions and how they work: Action to action, scene to scene, aspect, moment to moment, subject to subject, non-sequitur
29. What do comic readers/writers call the space between panels?: The gutter
30. If we lived in Thor’s universe, in what realm do we currently reside?: Midgard
31. Define the term anti-hero. Give an example: A protagonist displaying traits not usually ascribed to a “hero,” i.e. cowardice, violence, a temper, etc.
32. According to Scott McCloud, the daily act of observing parts but perceiving a whole scene is called ______: Closure
33. According to McCloud, participation level in comics is so complex that it invokes our ________: Five senses
34. What 1986 graphic novel first utilized “prestige” formatting (shinier pages, book-like density)?: The Dark Knight Returns
35. What comic superhero outsold both Batman and Superman for the better part of the 1970s-80s?: Captain Marvel (XMEN would also work)
36. What types of villains were largely in play during the Golden Age of comics?: Historic villains, i.e. Nazis, Hitler, etc. ‘real world’ foes
37. What is Captain America seen doing on his debut comic cover?: Punching Hitler
38. Name at least two DC Comics characters OTHER than Batman and Superman: Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, etc.
39. What genre of comics did Sandman largely credit its origins to?: Horror
40. Who is the writer of the Sandman series?: Neil Gaiman
41. What year did the Sandman series debut?: 1988
42. Name the seven Endless: Destiny, Dream, Desire, Delirium, Death, Destruction, Despair
43. Historically, what film were Bruce Wayne and his parents leaving when they were mugged and shot?: Zorro
44. What was the name of the original criminal who shot Thomas and Martha Wayne?: Joe Chill
45. What is Art Spiegelman’s father’s name?: Vladek
46. What was Art’s mother’s name?: Ana
47. What writer is credited with having given Daredevil a martial arts background?: Frank Miller
48. SAGA and The Walking Dead are part of which comic publishing company?: Image
49. The Sandman Chronicles are part of which comic publishing company?: Vertigo (part of DC)
50. What other name does Dream of the Endless frequently get called?: Morpheus.