Challengers Of Unknown

Jack Kirby reinvented the superhero genre with his sprawling saga of the Fourth World—a bold storytelling vision that was decades ahead of its time. In honor of this extraordinary talent’s centennial, DC Comics is proud to re-present the groundbreaking work of the King of Comics in a brand-new series collecting his classic DC titles in all their four-color glory! After walking away from a seemingly un-survivable plane crash, test pilot Ace Morgan, mountain climber Red Ryan, heavyweight boxing champ Rocky Davis and underwater explorer Prof Haley make a pact to continue defying death and seeking out mystery around the world. Their motto is “Dare Anything,” and their assignments are the most unusual and incredible tasks ever encountered! There is no danger that they fear, or risk that they will not accept! They call themselves…the Challengers of the Unknown! Discover some of comics’ most daring writing and dynamic art—and thrill to the imaginative power of one of the medium’s greatest masters—in CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN BY JACK KIRBY, collecting all of the King’s stories from SHOWCASE #6-7 and 11-12 and CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #1-8, accompanied by illuminating essays from former DC editor Paul Kupperberg and acclaimed Kirby historian John Morrow.

ÒTO SAVE A MONSTER/WHEN DEADMEN WALK.Ó Prof is infected with an alien fungus. Swamp Thing watches from cover and is attacked by a wolf, but brushes it off. The wolf is possessed by Deadman, who asks Rama Kushna why heÕs there. Back at Challengers Mountain, the heroes canÕt cure ProfÕs disease. Angry, Ace orders Gaylord to take a walk, which he does. Deadman tries a cure, diving in to possess Prof and fighting from within. Prof sloughs off the fungus and Deadman passes out. Prof wakes, healthy, and announces that Swamp Thing is Dr. Alec Holland, whoÕs wandered off and needs help. The Challengers search, but Swamp Thing has hopped a freight for Philadelphia. Deadman tries to possess Swamp Thing and bouncesÑheÕs already possessed! Deadman possesses Ace and announces that Swamp Thing is in Philly, where Swamp Thing rages to the state asylum and the cell of Duncan Pramble, the former Multi-Man.

ÒTHE WAR AT TIMEÕS END.Ó In the present, Prof is wheelchair-bound in Challengers Mountain, where he is attacked by a mutant lizard from the future. Future-boxes keep releasing monsters around the world, and Red (who quit) battles some in the streets. In the future, Rocky, Ace, June, Swamp Thing and Deadman find Rip Hunter (and his crew) are brainwashed pawns of the despotic Sunset Lords. After a fight, theyÕre overwhelmed and captured, but Deadman, sneaking around in a borrowed body, meets Lucas Lawspeaker and his rebels.

Four years before Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created Marvel's Fantastic Four, there was another adventurous foursome co-created by Kirby that set forth to challenge the unknown.

The Challengers investigate an event stranger than any they've encountered to date as a thousand-foot-tall giant rises from the ocean depths!

ÒTHE LURKER BELOW.Ó Prof is dying of an all-consuming fungus infection. Rocky, June, Ace and Red rush him to their jet. Gaylord Clayburne, playboy/Challenger wannabe, learns Prof is sick and finds a specialist to heal him. Ignoring Clayburne, the Challengers zoom off to Perdition, Pennsylvania, a farm town, but as soon as they land, the Challengers are mobbed by farmers with pitchforks. Dr. Monroe calls off the farmers and relates the townÕs history to the Challengers. Seventy years ago, a man summoned a demon to the town. Enthralled, the locals sacrificed strangers to the ÒgodÓ until Swamp Thing came to town and collapsed its cave, burying the monster Òforever.Ó Behind the scenes, we see the fungus lived on and still infects many locals.

Collecting Showcase Presents #6, 7, 11, 12 and Challengers of the Unknown#1-18 (1957-1959)! Relive the classic Silver Age adventures of Jack Kirby'sChallengers of the Unknown - a team brought together by fate dedicated to a lifeof harrowing adventure in the name of good!