| Issue | #82 |
| Published | August-September 1977 |
| Frequency | bi-monthly |
| Cover Price | 0.35 USD |
| Pages | 36 |
| Editing | Jack C. Harris |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown ["Ace" Morgan; Red Ryan; Prof Haley; Rocky Davis; June Robbins] |
| Genre | adventure |
| Pencils | Michael Netzer [as Mike Nasser] (signed) |
| Inks | Joe Rubinstein (signed) |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan, Rocky Davis, Prof Haley, Red Ryan. June Robbins]; F. Gaylord Clayburne III; Villains: Heathcliff Monroe; M'Nagala; cultists. |
| Synopsis | Prof is dying of an all-consuming fungus infection. Rocky, June, Ace, and Red rush him to their jet. Gaylord Clayburne, playboy-Challenger-wannabe, learned Prof was sick and found a specialist to heal him. Ignoring Clayburne, the Challengers zoom off to Perdition, Pennsylvania, a farm town. As soon as they land, the Challengers are mobbed by farmers with pitchforks. Doctor Monroe calls off the farmers. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Gerry Conway |
| Pencils | Michael Netzer [as Mike Nasser] |
| Inks | Joe Rubinstein |
| Notes | Continued from last issue. The villain is Heathcliff Monroe (an HP Lovecraft look-alike) from Swamp Thing (DC series, 1972) #8. |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown ["Ace" Morgan; Red Ryan; Prof Haley; Rocky Davis; June Robbins]; Dr. Heathcliff Monroe; Swamp Thing (flashback); a tractor salesman |
| Synopsis | Dr. Monroe relates the town's history to the Challengers. Seventy years ago, a man summoned a demon to the town. Enthralled, the locals sacrificed strangers to the “god” until Swamp Thing came to town and collapsed its cave, burying the monster “forever”. Behind the scenes, we see the fungus lived on and still infects many locals. Doctor Monroe needs special medical equipment from a doctor in Borotavia behind the Iron Curtain in order to save Prof's life. Red and Ace zoom off in the jet again, leaving June and Rocky in the town. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Gerry Conway |
| Pencils | Michael Netzer [as Mike Nasser] |
| Inks | Joe Rubinstein; Bernie Wrightson (page 7, panel 1 only) |
| Notes | The tractor salesman resembles Richard Nixon. The flashback is from Swamp Thing (DC, 1972 series) #8. |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown [“Ace” Morgan; Red Ryan; Prof Haley; Rocky Davis; June Robbins]; a tractor salesman (dies in this story); M'nagala |
| Synopsis | Red and Ace zoom off in the jet again. In Borotavia, they knock out some guards, out-fly jets, and get the blood filter machine. Meanwhile, in Perdition, the locals capture a visiting tractor salesman. Rocky and June, creeped out and worried about Prof, wander around, looking at Dr. Monroe's library, which is full of occult books. They hear the salesman’s screams and see him sacrificed to a tentacled horror. Both interrupt the sacrifice and are cold-cocked |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Gerry Conway |
| Pencils | Michael Netzer [as Mike Nasser] |
| Inks | Joe Rubinstein |
| Notes | The tractor salesman is a dead ringer for former president Richard Nixon. |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown [“Ace” Morgan; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis; June Robbins]; Dr. Heathcliff Monroe; M'Nagala; Swamp Thing (in the shadows) |
| Synopsis | Rocky awakes bound to a post. Monroe confesses he’s also infected with the fungus because it’s actually a manifestation of the god M’Nagala! Monroe leaves for another sacrifice. Rocky glimpses someone in the shadows. Rocky bursts his bonds and meets Ace and Red, who have returned witht he equipment. In the church, they freeze, because June is the next sacrifice! |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Gerry Conway |
| Pencils | Michael Netzer [as Mike Nasser] |
| Inks | Joe Rubinstein |
| Notes | Story continues next issue. Learn more about the Challengers at http://www.challengersoftheunknown.com. |