RENEE MONTOYA

Real Name: Renee Maria Montoya

Class: Human

Occupation: Vigilante, former police officer

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Benny Montoya (brother), Hernando Montoya (father), Louisa Montoya (mother)

Aliases: Question

Base of Operations: Gotham City

First Appearance: Batman I #475 (March, 1992)

Powers: Montoya was a trained police officer and a skilled markswoman and martial artist. As the Question she wore a mask that made it appear as though she had no face.

History: 

(Impulse #50) - <April 1st> Montoya and the GCPD responded to a hostage situation at the Smith-Johnson Novelty Co. The Joker was in a standoff with the GCPD until he was defeated by Batman and Impulse.

(Batman Versus Predator 3 #1-3) - Rene and Bullock investigated the deaths of gangbangers whose skulls and spines were removed. A similar crime claimed the lives of Mr. Freeze's gang, and Rene and Harvey interrogated him, getting nowhere. The culprits were a pair of Predators that Batman and Robin defeated and drove back into outer space.

(Catwoman II #63) - A Gotham bridge was blown up with a missile, and Catwoman was spotted in the vicinity. Gordon laid out the facts to Harvey and Renee, saying it didn't fit Catwoman's M.O. Harvey said women changed their minds all the time, which offended Renee. Gordon admitted that it looked more like joker's work, and decided to contact Batman to see if there was a possibility of them working together.

(Sins of Youth: Batboy and Robin #1) - Montoya and Harvey Bullock investigated the scene of Zatanna's abduction from Gotham Auditorium.

(Question I #37) - Aristotle Rodor and Renee Montoya learned that the dead were rising as the Black Lantern Corps. Rodor wondered if it was possible Vic Sage could come back from the dead and plucked some hairs from Question’s old hat. Lady Shiva arrived at Rodor’s lighthouse saying she’d come to test Renee in her prowess of the martial arts as she’d challenged her predecessor as the Question. Aristotle asked them to fight outside, and although Renee wasn’t thrilled with the idea Lady Shiva said she’d kill her if she didn’t fight. They found themselves evenly matched, and while they were fighting a Black Lantern ring appeared, raising Question from the dead as a Black Lantern. Question attacked Renee and Shiva, both of whom realized that although he looked like their friend there was nothing of Vic Sage inside him. Question intended to kill them, but Rodor interrupted the fight by shooting Shiva in the arm. Rodor desperately wanted Question to tell him the mysteries of life and death, seeing it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to understand the meaning of life. Question told him to beg, and Rodor realized Question meant to kill him as well. Shiva realized the Black Lantern Question saw through the emotional spectrum, so she allowed herself to feel nothing, making her invisible to him. After some prompting from Shiva Rodor and Renee were able to do the same, and the Question, frustrated, left. Renee changed into the Question, saying she couldn’t let him remain on the loose.

Comments: Created by Sean Catherine Derek, Laren Bright & Mitch Brian.

Renee Montoya was created for the Batman Animated Series, but her first appearance was in the comics.