139 Fun Facts About Superhero

Which comic book issue featured the first appearance of Superman?

Superman debuted in Action Comics #1, cover-dated June 1938, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster; its cover shows him lifting a car over his head.

In his 1962 origin story, which teenager is bitten by a radioactive spider at a science exhibit?

Peter Parker, a teenage high-school student from Forest Hills, Queens, was bitten by a radioactive spider in his 1962 debut story; the panel famously calls the spider an insect.

Which fictional metal makes up the shield carried by Steve Rogers?

In the comics it is a vibranium-steel alloy, but the MCU simplified it to pure vibranium from the Black Panther's homeland.

What planet is Superman originally from?

Superman comes from the planet Krypton; his parents Jor-El and Lara sent him to Earth as a baby shortly before Krypton's destruction.

Which of these was one of the original five X-Men introduced in 1963?

Beast (Hank McCoy) was one of the original five X-Men in X-Men #1 (September 1963), with Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel and Iceman; Storm, Wolverine and Nightcrawler joined in 1975's Giant-Size X-Men #1.

In which comic book did Batman make his debut?

Batman debuted in Detective Comics #27, cover-dated May 1939 and on newsstands that March, in the story 'The Case of the Chemical Syndicate'.

Which color was the Hulk originally intended to be before printing issues forced a change?

The Hulk was grey in The Incredible Hulk #1 (May 1962), but colorist Stan Goldberg could not keep the grey consistent in print, so Stan Lee switched him to green from issue #2.

What word does Billy Batson shout to transform into his superhero form?

Billy Batson shouts Shazam to transform into the superhero Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel). The word is an acronym for six mythological figures: Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury.

Deadpool's civilian name Wade Wilson parodies which masked DC mercenary?

Deathstroke is Slade Wilson, and writer Fabian Nicieza's comparisons of the two masked mercenaries gave Wade his name.

Which Marvel superhero was a billionaire weapons manufacturer before becoming a hero?

Tony Stark ran Stark Industries, a weapons manufacturer, before becoming Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39 (1963); later writers had him renounce arms dealing.

What is the name of Thor's enchanted hammer?

Thor's hammer is Mjolnir, forged from the fictional metal uru and enchanted by Odin so only the worthy can lift it; Gungnir is Odin's spear.

Where is Batman's primary base of operations?

Batman operates from Gotham City, first named as his home in Batman #4 (1940); Metropolis is Superman's city and Central City the Flash's.

Which superhero was the first to appear in a Marvel comic book?

The original Human Torch (an android named Jim Hammond) appeared in Marvel Comics #1 in October 1939, alongside Namor the Sub-Mariner. This was published by Timely Comics, Marvel's predecessor.

What is the name of the fictional African nation ruled by Black Panther?

Wakanda is the fictional African kingdom ruled by T'Challa, the Black Panther; it debuted in Fantastic Four #52 (1966) and sits on the world's richest deposit of vibranium.

Which Green Lantern villain is a former Corps member dishonourably discharged for abusing his power?

He went on to found the yellow-ringed Sinestro Corps, and Mark Strong played him in the 2011 film.

Which scientist debuted as the original Ant-Man, with the power to shrink to the size of an ant?

Hank Pym debuted as Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #35 (1962), after first shrinking in issue #27; Michael Douglas played him in the MCU.

What type of radiation exposure transformed Bruce Banner into the Hulk?

Bruce Banner was exposed to gamma radiation during a bomb test, which caused him to transform into the Hulk whenever he experiences extreme anger or stress.

Which superhero TV character was created for Batman: The Animated Series before appearing in comics?

Harley Quinn was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series in 1992. She became so popular that she was later incorporated into DC Comics continuity.

Which of these is one of the six main Infinity Gems?

The six are Mind, Power, Reality, Soul, Space and Time; Marvel later renamed them Stones and recoloured them to match the films.

Which hero was blinded as a child by radioactive chemicals that sharpened his other senses?

As a boy in Hell's Kitchen, Matt Murdock was hit by radioactive chemicals that fell from a truck; what he lost in sight became a radar-like sense.

Which Marvel film was the highest-grossing film of all time from July 2019 until March 2021?

Avengers: Endgame passed Avatar in July 2019 to become the highest-grossing film ever, at roughly $2.8 billion; Avatar reclaimed the record after a March 2021 re-release in China.

What is the name of the hidden island of the Amazons where Princess Diana was raised?

Wonder Woman was raised on Themyscira, also historically known as Paradise Island. It is the hidden island home of the Amazons, shielded from the outside world by divine magic.

Which symbiote-bonded character was partly based on a fan's contest submission that Marvel purchased?

Venom's black costume began as fan Randy Schueller's 1982 contest pitch for Spider-Man, which Marvel bought for $220; the alien suit later became the symbiote Venom.

Which speedster was the original Flash, debuting in Flash Comics #1 in 1939?

Jay Garrick was the original Flash, debuting in Flash Comics #1, on sale in November 1939 with a January 1940 cover date; Barry Allen did not arrive until Showcase #4 in 1956.

Kryptonite was officially introduced in 1943 not in a comic but in what medium?

Kryptonite debuted in the Adventures of Superman radio serial in 1943; it reached the comics only in 1949, in a Superman #61 story by Bill Finger and Al Plastino.

Which Marvel villain collected all six Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe?

Thanos gathered the six Infinity Stones into the Infinity Gauntlet and snapped his fingers in 1991's The Infinity Gauntlet, a storyline adapted across Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Which ancient beings from the planet Oa created the Green Lantern Corps?

The Guardians of the Universe, immortal beings from the planet Oa, founded the Green Lantern Corps and built its Central Power Battery; the Controllers and Zamarons are offshoots of the same Maltusian race.

Psychologist William Moulton Marston, creator of DC's Amazon princess, also co-invented an early prototype of what?

William Moulton Marston's systolic blood-pressure test became an early component of the polygraph, or lie detector; he went on to create Wonder Woman, who debuted in All Star Comics #8 in 1941.

Which superhero, leader of a team empowered by cosmic rays, can stretch his body into any shape?

Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) gained the ability to stretch his body into virtually any shape after being exposed to cosmic rays. He is also considered one of the most intelligent people in the Marvel universe.

Which metal are Wolverine's claws and skeleton bonded with?

Wolverine's skeleton was bonded with adamantium through the Weapon X program. Adamantium is a virtually indestructible fictional metal in the Marvel universe.

Bucky Barnes returned from apparent wartime death in 2005 as which brainwashed assassin?

Bucky Barnes returned as the Winter Soldier in Ed Brubaker's 2005 Captain America run, undoing one of comics' most famous deaths; Sebastian Stan played the character in the MCU.

What is the civilian occupation of Barry Allen, the most well-known Flash?

Barry Allen works as a forensic scientist for the Central City Police Department. He gained his super-speed when struck by lightning while surrounded by chemicals in his lab.

Which organization trained Black Widow to become a spy and assassin?

Black Widow was trained in the Red Room, a Soviet program that turned young girls into elite spies and assassins; she later defected and joined S.H.I.E.L.D.

Which villain is the archenemy of the Fantastic Four and rules the fictional nation of Latveria?

Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom) is the monarch of Latveria and the primary antagonist of the Fantastic Four. He is both a scientific genius and a powerful sorcerer.

What object gives a Green Lantern their abilities?

A Green Lantern's power ring, fuelled by willpower and recharged from a lantern-shaped battery, can conjure solid green constructs of anything the wearer imagines.

Thor made his Marvel debut in 1962 in issue #83 of which anthology title?

Thor debuted in Journey into Mystery #83 (August 1962) by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby; the book was renamed Thor with issue #126 in 1966.

Which superhero team operates from the Watchtower, a satellite headquarters orbiting Earth?

The Justice League's Watchtower is an orbiting satellite base in the 2001 animated series and in post-2006 comics; Grant Morrison's 1997 JLA put the original Watchtower on the Moon.

What is the name of the AI assistant that runs Iron Man's suits in the MCU films?

J.A.R.V.I.S. (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System) is Tony Stark's AI assistant in the MCU. In the comics, Jarvis was a human butler. In the films, J.A.R.V.I.S. later became the basis for Vision.

Which character wields the Lasso of Truth as their signature weapon?

Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth (also called the Golden Lasso) compels anyone bound by it to tell the truth. It was forged by Hephaestus from the Golden Girdle of Gaea.

Each of Nightcrawler's teleports releases a puff of another dimension's air with what smell?

Nightcrawler's teleports leave a smell of brimstone, sulphurous air from the dimension he passes through; the 'Bamf!' sound is air rushing in to fill the space he just left.

Which publisher created Superman and Batman?

DC grew out of National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935.

In the MCU, what does the acronym S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for?

In the MCU, S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. In the original comics, it stood for Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division.

Which X-Men member has the mutant ability to control the weather?

Storm (Ororo Munroe) is an Omega-level mutant with the ability to control weather patterns. She can summon lightning, wind, rain, and other atmospheric phenomena. She has also led the X-Men and married Black Panther.

Which Batman villain was once a respected district attorney before half his face was scarred?

Harvey Dent was Gotham City's district attorney and an ally of Batman before acid scarred half his face, driving him insane. As Two-Face, he makes decisions based on the flip of a two-headed coin.

Spider-Man first appeared in 1962 in issue #15 of which anthology comic?

Spider-Man debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), the anthology's final issue; sales were strong enough that Marvel launched The Amazing Spider-Man seven months later, in March 1963.

What is the real name of the X-Men villain Magneto?

Magneto's real name is Erik Lehnsherr (also known as Max Eisenhardt). He is a Holocaust survivor who became a mutant supremacist, believing mutants are superior to humans. He has the power to control magnetic fields.

Which writer was only added to Batman's 'created by' credit in 2015, decades after his death?

Bill Finger co-created Batman with Bob Kane but only received a 'created by' credit in 2015, 41 years after his death; he also named the hero's home city and created the Riddler.

Which cosmic Marvel entity, once a mortal man, is known as the 'Devourer of Worlds'?

Galactus consumes planets to sustain his life force, and his herald, the Silver Surfer, scouts suitable worlds for him.

Which superhero was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in 1941?

Captain America was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 in March 1941, nine months before the US entered World War II. The cover famously showed him punching Adolf Hitler.

In the DC universe, which hero is the king of Atlantis?

Aquaman (Arthur Curry) is the King of Atlantis in the DC Universe. He can communicate with sea life, breathe underwater, and possesses superhuman strength. Namor is the Marvel counterpart.

What is Superman's birth name?

Superman's Kryptonian birth name is Kal-El; his father Jor-El launched him toward Earth as a baby shortly before Krypton was destroyed. The earliest stories spelled it Kal-L.

What is Batman's real name?

Batman is Bruce Wayne, a billionaire industrialist who witnessed his parents' murder as a child and vowed to fight crime in Gotham City.

John Byrne's 1986 Superman reboot, which made Lex Luthor a billionaire industrialist, shares its title with which Superman nickname?

The Man of Steel also scaled Superman's powers back down after writers had slowly re-strengthened them. Other heroes still needle him as the 'big blue boy scout'.

What is the name of Thor's home realm?

Thor's home is Asgard, realm of the Norse gods ruled by his father Odin; Jotunheim is the giants' realm and Niflheim the land of mist.

Which telepathic gorilla is a long-running enemy of the Flash?

Gorilla Grodd, a super-intelligent telepathic gorilla from Gorilla City, debuted in The Flash #106 (1959) and has been one of the Flash's oldest foes.

Which team's original 1963 lineup was Iron Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, Thor, and the Wasp?

The Avengers formed in Avengers #1 (September 1963), when the Wasp named the group after they beat Loki; Captain America joined in issue #4 and the Hulk quit at the end of issue #2.

Which superhero is also known as the 'Merc with a Mouth'?

Deadpool, Wade Wilson, is the 'Merc with a Mouth', a disfigured Canadian mercenary who knows he is fictional and breaks the fourth wall; he debuted in New Mutants #98 (1991).

What newspaper does Clark Kent work for?

Clark Kent works as a reporter at The Daily Planet in Metropolis, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen.

Which villain is Batman's most famous archenemy?

The Joker debuted in Batman #1 (April 1940) and was meant to die in that first story, but editor Whitney Ellsworth had him spared; he became Batman's defining archenemy.

Which X-Man absorbs the powers and memories of anyone she touches?

Rogue absorbs the powers and memories of anyone she touches; she debuted as a villain in Avengers Annual #10 (1981) before joining the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #171.

In the Iron Man films, what device powers the electromagnet keeping shrapnel from Tony Stark's heart?

The arc reactor powers the electromagnet in Tony Stark's chest; Stark and Yinsen build the first one in a cave, and Obadiah Stane rips the improved version out of him in Iron Man (2008).

Which superhero can run at super speed and is known as the 'Scarlet Speedster'?

The Flash is DC's premiere speedster, with Barry Allen being the most well-known version. He draws his speed from the Speed Force.

What is the real name of the Marvel hero known as Black Widow?

Black Widow is Natasha Romanoff, who debuted in Tales of Suspense #52 (1964) as a Soviet spy fighting Iron Man before defecting to the West and joining S.H.I.E.L.D.

Which Manhattan skyscraper became the Fantastic Four's headquarters from Fantastic Four #3?

The Baxter Building, a 35-story Manhattan tower whose top five floors house the Fantastic Four, appeared in Fantastic Four #3 (1962); after its destruction, Four Freedoms Plaza rose on the site.

Which comic book legend co-created Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four?

Stan Lee co-created many of Marvel's most iconic characters, including Spider-Man (with Steve Ditko), the X-Men and Fantastic Four (with Jack Kirby).

Which science-fiction novelist introduced Green Lantern's famous oath while scripting the Alan Scott comic?

Alfred Bester, later author of The Stars My Destination, scripted 1940s Green Lantern stories and is credited with the 'In brightest day, in blackest night' oath; its 'blackest night' line named DC's 2009 crossover.

Which X-Men villain, born En Sabah Nur in ancient Egypt, styles himself the first mutant?

Apocalypse, born En Sabah Nur in Akkaba in ancient Egypt, is a near-immortal shape-shifting mutant who styles himself the first of his kind; he debuted in X-Factor #5 (1986).

What is the name of the Punisher's real identity?

The Punisher is Frank Castle, a Marine veteran whose wife and children were killed by the mob after witnessing a Central Park murder; he debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974).

Which Daily Bugle publisher debuted in 1963 as Spider-Man's loudest critic?

J. Jonah Jameson, publisher of the Daily Bugle, debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963) and spent the following decades branding Spider-Man a menace; Perry White runs the Daily Planet.

Which Batman villain attacks his victims with a fear-inducing toxin?

The Scarecrow, Dr. Jonathan Crane, uses a hallucinogenic fear toxin on his victims; he debuted in World's Finest Comics #3 (1941), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.

Which DC hero, partly inspired by Robin Hood, is an archer who fights crime in Star City and Seattle?

Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, debuted in More Fun Comics #73 (1941) with a quiver of trick arrows; he was killed off in the 1990s and briefly replaced by his son Connor Hawke.

What is the real name of the X-Men's leader, Professor X?

Xavier is depicted as the founder and occasional leader of the X-Men, an exceptionally powerful telepath and a leading authority in genetics.

Which Marvel hero, once trapped in the Negative Zone, body-switches with teenager Rick Jones?

The Kree warrior Mar-Vell was the original Captain Marvel; striking the Nega-Bands together swaps him with Rick Jones, leaving one of them in the Negative Zone.

Near which fictional town did the infant Superman's rocket land?

Superman's rocket landed near Smallville, Kansas, where Jonathan and Martha Kent named the baby Clark; the town was not named in print until Superboy #2 in 1949.

Which identity did Dick Grayson adopt after giving up the Robin role?

Dick Grayson, the original Robin, became Nightwing in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (1984) and later protected the city of Blüdhaven in his own series.

In the 'Death of Superman' storyline, which villain killed Superman?

Doomsday beat Superman to death in Superman #75 (cover-dated January 1993), a black-polybagged issue that sold millions of copies; Superman returned in the 'Reign of the Supermen!' arc.

On which planet was the Silver Surfer born as Norrin Radd?

The Silver Surfer was born Norrin Radd on the idyllic planet Zenn-La and accepted servitude as Galactus's herald to spare it; Titan is Thanos's home and Hala the Kree capital.

Which superhero team was formed in response to a United Nations charter in DC Comics?

Justice League International (JLI), launched in 1987 by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, operated under a UN charter with embassies worldwide, giving the team a political dimension.

What is the civilian name of the Green Lantern who is a test pilot from Coast City?

Hal Jordan, a Ferris Aircraft test pilot, received his ring from the dying alien Green Lantern Abin Sur near Coast City; he first appeared in Showcase #22 in 1959.

In which 1988 storyline did a phone vote decide whether Robin (Jason Todd) lived or died?

In 'A Death in the Family' (1988), DC set up a phone poll where readers could vote on Jason Todd's fate. By a slim margin of 5,343 to 5,271, voters chose to kill the second Robin.

Which Marvel hero won his chi-powered punch in the mystical city K'un-Lun?

Iron Fist, Danny Rand, earned his chi-powered punch by defeating the dragon Shou-Lao in the mystical city K'un-Lun; he debuted in Marvel Premiere #15 (1974).

What was the first major superhero crossover event between Marvel and DC Comics, published in 1976?

Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man, a treasury-sized special from 1976, was the first Marvel/DC superhero crossover; the publishers had already shared a 1975 Wizard of Oz adaptation. The heroes fight first, then team up.

Jack Kirby co-created which of the following DC villains after leaving Marvel in 1970?

Darkseid, ruler of Apokolips, was Kirby's chief antagonist for his Fourth World titles at DC; he cameoed in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (1970) before his full debut in Forever People #1 (1971).

Which 1991 Barry Windsor-Smith story arc in Marvel Comics Presents depicted the program that experimented on Wolverine?

Weapon X, serialized in Marvel Comics Presents #72-84 (1991), showed adamantium being bonded to Logan's bones and his memories being tampered with; Barry Windsor-Smith handled both script and art.

In Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), which hero died fighting the Anti-Monitor?

Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) died fighting the Anti-Monitor in Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, in one of the most iconic death scenes in comic history. Barry Allen (Flash) also died in the event.

What was the name of the Marvel storyline where the Scarlet Witch uttered 'No more mutants,' depowering most of the world's mutant population?

In 'House of M' (2005) by Brian Michael Bendis, the Scarlet Witch's reality-warping powers created an alternate world, and when it collapsed, her words 'No more mutants' reduced the mutant population from millions to about 198.

Which DC hero gains his powers from an alien scarab fused to his spine?

Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes gains armour and weapons from an alien scarab, built by the Reach, that fused to his spine; he debuted in Infinite Crisis #3 (2006).

For how much did Siegel and Shuster sell all rights to Superman in March 1938?

Siegel and Shuster signed away Superman for $130, on a check dated March 1, 1938; they spent decades in lawsuits trying to reclaim the copyright.

Which 1936 comic-strip hero was the first to wear the skintight costume and pupil-less mask?

The Phantom, Lee Falk's 'Ghost Who Walks', debuted in February 1936 and is credited as the first costumed hero with a skintight suit and a mask with no visible pupils; he operates from the fictional African nation of Bangalla.

The Justice Society of America, the first superhero team, debuted in which comic?

The Justice Society of America debuted in All Star Comics #3, cover-dated Winter 1940–41 and written by Gardner Fox; it is credited as comics' first superhero team.

Which Golden Age hero outsold all others, including Superman, before a lawsuit ended his run in 1953?

Fawcett paid National $400,000 in damages and stopped publishing him.

Which writer-artist created the masked crimefighter the Spirit in 1940?

Will Eisner created the Spirit, masked crimefighter Denny Colt, for a newspaper comic-book supplement that launched in June 1940; the industry's Eisner Awards are named for him.

How often did the 1960s Batman TV series air during its first two seasons?

Batman aired twice a week on ABC in its first two seasons, with Wednesday cliffhangers resolved on Thursdays; Adam West and Burt Ward's 120 episodes ran from 1966 to 1968.

Who suggested the spinning transformation for the 1970s Wonder Woman TV series?

Lynda Carter herself proposed the spinning transformation used from the first season onward; the show moved from ABC to CBS after its 1940s-set first season.

Superman (1978) was the most expensive film made to that point, with what budget?

Superman (1978) cost about $55 million, the most expensive film made to that point; it grossed some $300 million and premiered at Washington's Kennedy Center.

Who played Jor-El in Superman (1978)?

Marlon Brando's Jor-El opens the film; Mario Puzo of The Godfather was among the writers.

Heath Ledger's Joker won him a posthumous Oscar in which category?

Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight at the 2009 Oscars, a year after his death; Peter Finch was the only earlier posthumous acting winner.

The Dark Knight was the first major motion picture to be shot partly with what?

About 28 minutes of the finished film is IMAX footage.

Which film-festival prize did Joker (2019) win?

Joker (2019) won the Golden Lion, the Venice Film Festival's top prize, in September 2019; it went on to become the first R-rated film to gross $1 billion.

Watchmen grew from a proposal using characters DC had acquired from which publisher?

Watchmen began as a pitch using the Charlton Comics heroes DC had acquired, such as Captain Atom and the Question; Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created new characters instead, and it won a 1988 Hugo Award.

Who voices costume designer Edna Mode in The Incredibles?

Director Brad Bird voiced Edna Mode himself in The Incredibles (2004), which won Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Sound Editing.

How many copies did Spawn #1 sell in 1992?

Spawn #1 (May 1992) sold about 1.7 million copies, a record for an independent comic; Todd McFarlane had conceived the character as a teenager.

What was the first comic published by Image Comics in April 1992?

Youngblood #1, by Rob Liefeld, was the first Image comic, released in April 1992; seven illustrators founded Image as a home for creator-owned work, with Spawn #1 following in May.

Which publisher launched Mike Mignola's Hellboy in 1993?

Dark Horse Comics launched Hellboy in 1993 with his debut in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2; Mike Mignola's Seed of Destruction miniseries followed in 1994.

In The Boys, which corporation manages the superpowered 'Supes'?

Vought International manages the Supes in The Boys, Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson's comic that Eric Kripke adapted for Amazon Prime Video in 2019.

Mark Grayson, hero of Invincible, is the son of which superhero?

Mark Grayson's father is Omni-Man, Nolan Grayson, a Viltrumite posing as Earth's greatest hero; Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker launched Invincible at Image in 2003, and Amazon adapted it in 2021.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are named after what?

The Turtles are named after Italian Renaissance artists: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird published the first issue through Mirage Studios in 1984.

Who was Marvel's first African-American superhero to headline his own series, in 1972?

Luke Cage headlined Hero for Hire #1 in June 1972, the first Marvel series built around an African-American superhero; its creators drew on Blaxploitation cinema.

In which comic did the Falcon, Sam Wilson, debut in 1969?

The Falcon, Sam Wilson, debuted in Captain America #117 (September 1969), created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, and soon became Cap's regular partner.

Which Alpha Flight member became Marvel's first openly gay superhero in 1992?

Northstar came out in Alpha Flight #106 (1992) and married his partner Kyle in Astonishing X-Men #51 (2012), Marvel's first same-sex wedding.

Wonder Woman (2017) was the highest-grossing film by a solo female director until which 2023 film overtook it?

Barbie passed Patty Jenkins's film, which had grossed over $824 million, the tenth-biggest film of 2017.

Who plays Superman in James Gunn's 2025 film that launched the DC Universe?

David Corenswet plays Superman in James Gunn's Superman (July 2025), the first film of the rebooted DC Universe; Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor.

In The Batman (2022), how long has Bruce Wayne been fighting crime?

The Batman (2022) opens in Bruce Wayne's second year as a vigilante, 'two years of nights' in his journal, with Robert Pattinson's Batman pursuing Paul Dano's Riddler.

Which was the first film based on a DC character to gross over $1 billion?

The Dark Knight (2008) was the fourth film ever to pass $1 billion worldwide, reaching the mark in early 2009; Aquaman (2018) was merely the first DC Extended Universe film to do so.

What inspired the name and medieval costume of Batman's Boy Wonder sidekick?

Robin Hood inspired the name and the medieval-style costume, which Jerry Robinson drew after N.C. Wyeth's Robin Hood illustrations; Dick Grayson debuted in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940).

Who played Batgirl in the third season of the 1960s Batman TV series?

Yvonne Craig played Batgirl in the 1967–68 third season; Barbara Gordon had debuted in Detective Comics #359 in January 1967, and Newmar, Meriwether and Kitt all played Catwoman.

After the Joker paralyzed her in The Killing Joke, Barbara Gordon was reinvented as whom?

Barbara Gordon became Oracle, a wheelchair-using information broker, in a 1989 Suicide Squad story by Kim Yale and John Ostrander, after The Killing Joke (1988) left her paralysed.

Supergirl first appeared in which 1959 comic?

Supergirl, Kara Zor-El, debuted in Action Comics #252 (May 1959), created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino; Superman #123 had tried out a magical prototype 'Super-Girl' a year earlier.

Krypto the Superdog made his 1955 debut in Adventure Comics in a story starring which hero?

A Superboy adventure in Adventure Comics #210 (March 1955) introduced him, created by writer Otto Binder with artists Curt Swan and Sy Barry. He made his live-action debut in Superman (2025).

How old is Bruce Wayne in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns?

Bruce Wayne is 55 in The Dark Knight Returns (1986), coming out of a decade of retirement; Carrie Kelley becomes the new Robin.

Batman: The Animated Series backgrounds were painted on what to create darker settings?

Batman: The Animated Series painted its backgrounds on black paper, a 'dark deco' technique that gave Gotham its shadowy look; Mark Hamill voiced the Joker.

What rule did Smallville's creators pitch to Warner Bros. for their teenage Clark Kent?

Alfred Gough and Miles Millar pitched Smallville with a 'no tights, no flights' rule that kept Clark out of the costume; Tom Welling starred for ten seasons from 2001.

How much was spent to complete Zack Snyder's Justice League for HBO Max?

Completing Zack Snyder's Justice League for HBO Max cost about $70 million; the four-hour 2021 cut followed the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut fan campaign.

Which musician wrote the comic behind Netflix's The Umbrella Academy?

Gerard Way, frontman of My Chemical Romance, created The Umbrella Academy with artist Gabriel Bá for Dark Horse in 2007; Netflix adapted it in 2019.

Why does Ralph in The Greatest American Hero struggle to use his alien suit?

Ralph lost the instruction book the aliens gave him with the suit, so he never masters its powers; his surname was briefly changed from Hinkley after the 1981 Reagan shooting.

In Unbreakable, David Dunn discovers his powers after surviving what?

David Dunn is the sole unhurt survivor of the Eastrail 177 train crash in Unbreakable (2000); Shyamalan structured the film like a comic book's three-part story.

Which 2008 Will Smith film is about an alcoholic superhero?

Hancock (2008) stars Will Smith as a hard-drinking superhero; Charlize Theron plays his ex-wife, who shares his powers, and it grossed over $620 million worldwide.

How was Christopher Reeve paralyzed in 1995?

Christopher Reeve was thrown from his horse at an equestrian event in Culpeper, Virginia, in May 1995; he had learned to ride for the film Anna Karenina and took up the sport seriously.

Who directed the 2011 Green Lantern film starring Ryan Reynolds?

Martin Campbell, who had rebooted Bond with Casino Royale, directed Green Lantern (2011); the film underperformed, and Deadpool 2 (2018) mocked it in an end-credits scene.

Who directed Batman & Robin (1997), often ranked among the worst films ever?

Joel Schumacher directed Batman & Robin (1997) after Batman Forever and said the studio pushed him to make it more 'toyetic'; George Clooney played Batman.

Which pop star wrote songs for Tim Burton's Batman (1989)?

Producers first wanted Prince for the Joker's music and Michael Jackson for the romance songs.

Where does Lee Falk's 'Ghost Who Walks' live, according to the comic strip?

The Phantom lives in the Skull Cave, deep in the jungle of Bangalla, with his wolf Devil and his horse Hero.

What was Kevin Conroy's role in the DC Animated Universe?

Kevin Conroy voiced Batman across the DC Animated Universe, starting with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, with Mark Hamill as the Joker opposite him.

In which Manhattan neighbourhood does Doctor Strange keep his Sanctum Sanctorum?

Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum stands at 177A Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan; the Sorcerer Supreme debuted in Strange Tales #110 (1963).

Hawkeye debuted in 1964 as an antagonist of which Marvel hero before joining the Avengers?

Hawkeye debuted in Tales of Suspense #57 (1964) as a foe of Iron Man, manipulated by the Black Widow, before joining the Avengers in 1965; artist Don Heck imagined him as a Robin Hood type.

Which rogue robot, built by Hank Pym, created the Vision to destroy the Avengers?

Ultron, the rogue robot built by Hank Pym, created the Vision in Avengers #57 (1968) to destroy the Avengers; the synthezoid turned on him and joined the team.

Jack Cole's stretchy hero Plastic Man debuted in 1941 in Police Comics #1 from which publisher?

Quality Comics published Police Comics #1 (August 1941), where Jack Cole's Plastic Man debuted; DC acquired Quality's characters in 1956, and Plastic Man was among the first heroes to mix humour into mainstream action.

Kamala Khan, the Ms. Marvel introduced in 2013, is a teenager of which heritage?

Kamala Khan is a Pakistani-American teenager from Jersey City, created by Sana Amanat, G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona; she was Marvel's first Muslim character to headline her own comic, in 2014.

The magician Zatanna debuted in 1964 in issue #4 of which DC hero's comic?

Zatanna debuted in Hawkman #4 (1964), drawn by Murphy Anderson, searching for her father Zatara, the magician who had appeared back in Action Comics #1 in 1938.