| Characters |
Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Prof Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis] (first appearance; origin); sailors; citizens; VILLAIN: Mr. Morelian (first appearance; dies) |
| Synopsis |
Four heroes are being flown to appear on the radio show "Heroes" when their jet crashes in a storm. Miraculously, all four survive unharmed, even down to a working watch. Since they are "living on borrowed time", they vow to make the best use of it, taking risks to benefit others, challenging the unknown. (Origin, introduction, and first appearance of the team.) In their first official case, they are summoned by Morelian, a descendant of Merlin, to open four chambers of a dangerous alchemist's box and "witness things not seen on this Earth since the dawn of Man!" |
| Genre |
Adventure |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot, script); Dave Wood (script rewrite) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks) |
| Letters |
Ben Oda |
| Notes |
1) Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. 2) An epilogue occurs in Secret Origins 12 (1987), when the Challengers are reunited with the box to solve its final mystery. 3) Letters credit from Rodrigo Baeza via the editor e-mail list on March 5, 2007. 4) Learn more about the Challengers at www.challengersoftheunknown.com. |
| Reprinted |
in Secret Origins (DC, 1961 series) #1 (Summer 1961); in Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #64 (October-November 1968); in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1990 series) #nn; in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Essential Showcase 1956-1959, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1; in Secret Origins Replica Edition (DC, 1998 series) #1; in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 (July 2003) |
| Synopsis |
The Challs relocate the box to a tropical island and draw straws. The first chamber releases a "Dragon's Egg" that hatches a stone giant of legend. It wreaks havoc on ships, even resisting an atom bomb. What to do? While back on the island, Rockys ready to crack the next chamber. |
| Genre |
Adventure |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot, script); Dave Wood (script rewrite) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks) |
| Letters |
Ben Oda |
| Notes |
Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. Letters credit from Rodrigo Baeza via the editor e-mail list on March 5, 2007. |
| Reprinted |
in Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #64 (October-November 1968); in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1990 series) #nn; in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Essential Showcase 1956-1959, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1; in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 (July 2003) |
| Synopsis |
Picked up by sailors, Red returns to the island to find the second chamber open and Rocky frozen stiff. The menace is a sentient freezing sun from parts unknown that sucks up all heat, freezing people. Alone, Red cobbles a vacuum chamber and lures the sun inside, trapping it. Meanwhile, out on the water, Prof realizes that, since the Dragon Seed Giant cant be harmed by anything, it must be a thought, so he "thinks" it out of existence. All while Morelian flies overhead, watching. |
| Genre |
Adventure |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot, script); Dave Wood (script rewrite) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks) |
| Letters |
Ben Oda |
| Notes |
Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. Letters credit from Rodrigo Baeza via the editor e-mail list on March 5, 2007. |
| Reprinted |
in Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #65 (December-January 1969); in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1990 series) #nn; in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Essential Showcase 1956-1959, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1; in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 (July 2003) |
| Synopsis |
The third menace is a tube that releases a whirling weaver. Out of control, it spins ribbons that snarl entire cities. The Challs pursue, then discover a dial on the weaver's tube and slow it to a halt. Returning to the island, they find Morelian has opened the fourth chamber for his own selfish reasons. He got a diamond ring of immortality: he'll live forever. Except the inscription on the box is vague, "contained in me, find immortality". Morelian flies off, but his plane stalls and crashes, killing himself and destroying the box. The box granted immortality: the ring was certain death. The Challengers fly off, asking, "I wonder what what's ahead of us now?" |
| Genre |
Adventure |
| Script |
Jack Kirby (plot, script); Dave Wood (script rewrite) |
| Pencils |
Jack Kirby |
| Inks |
Jack Kirby?; Roz Kirby (blacks) |
| Letters |
Ben Oda |
| Notes |
Credits updated 10/06 by Bob Hughes. Previously inker listed as Marvin Stein. Per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. Letters credit from Rodrigo Baeza via the editor e-mail list on March 5, 2007. |
| Reprinted |
in Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #65 (December-January 1969); in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1990 series) #nn; in Greatest 1950s Stories Ever Told, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Essential Showcase 1956-1959, The (DC, 1992 series) #nn; in Showcase Presents Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 2006 series) #1; in Challengers of the Unknown Archives (DC, 2003 series) #1 (July 2003) |