Challengers of the Unknown Archives #2

([July] 2004)

Table of Contents (Table of Contents: 1)

table of contents / 2 pages (report information)

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

?

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

typeset

Foreword (Table of Contents: 2)

Challengers of the Unknown / foreword, introduction, preface, afterword / 4 pages (report information)

Script

John Morrow

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

typeset

Genre

adventure

Reprints

• in Challengers of the Unknown by Jack Kirby (DC, 2012 series) ([August] 2012)
• in Challengers of the Unknown by Jack Kirby (DC, 2017 series) ([January] 2018)

Indexer Notes

Introduction by John Morrow

[Cover - Challengers of the Unknown #3]; The Invincible Challenger! (Table of Contents: 3)

Challengers of the Unknown / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby; Rosalind Kirby (blacks)

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #3 (August-September 1958)

The Secret of the Sorcerer's Mirror (Table of Contents: 4)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby ?; Rosalind Kirby (blacks)

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; Kregon the Sorcerer; a genie; Hillary Mycroft and his gang

Synopsis

A mirror and chart have been stolen from a museum by Hillary Mycroft and his gang. The mirror was fashioned by Kregon the Sorcerer to show where "the ancients" hid their most potent secrets. The chart shows where the secrets are hidden. The Challengers break into Mycroft's hideout but he escapes in a plane. The mirror reveals three destinations: the sea bottom, a stone needle, and Sinbad's Island. The team split up and face an array of threats. Mycroft finally acquires the globes that, when assembled will summon a genie but Red secretly extracted a rod causing the globes destruction.

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #3 (August-September 1958)

Indexer Notes

Marvin Stein listed as inker in DC Archive credits, but per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories.

The Menace of the Invincible Challenger (Table of Contents: 5)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Dave Wood ?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby ?; Rosalind Kirby (blacks)

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins (called June Walker); Professor Curtis; Chopper; Roxie

Synopsis

Summoned to a lab, the Challs observe a monkey with super abilities. It was given a pill derived from a meteorite, then boosted into space. Rocky is chosen to take the pill and rockets into space unaware the monkey has lapsed into a coma. The rocket crashes and Rocky emerges with super powers, including freeze rays, super strength, and invisibility, but he becomes irrational. A crook takes Rocky in hoping to use him to rob banks. Rocky's decency wins out and when the Challengers and June appear Rocky shocks the crooks. Grazed by a bullet Rocky recovers his memory and his powers wear off.

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #3 (August-September 1958)

Indexer Notes

This story is considered a dry run for Fantastic Four #1. Rocky is shot into space, crashes, then exhibits super-strength, invisibility, fire powers, and giant growth. Marvin Stein listed as inker in DC Archive credits, but per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories.

[Cover - Challengers of the Unknown #4]; The Wizard of Time! (Table of Contents: 6)

Challengers of the Unknown / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; Darius Tiko

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #4 (October-November 1958)

The Wizard of Time (Table of Contents: 7)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 25 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Rosalind Kirby; Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; Professor Harlan Fuller; Rhamis; Nostradamus; Darius Tiko; A Greek oracle; The Sorceror's Sect; The United Earth Police

Synopsis

When men dressed as ancient Greeks try to steal a plane, one is captured. The Challengers investigate and the captured soldier leads them to Darius Tiko, who experiments with time travel. Tiko disappears in a time cube but the Challs follow to ancient Greece in another. Ace and Rocky crash Tiko's stolen plane. In ancient Egypt, Prof and Red destroy Tiko's stolen telescope and reunite with Rocky and Ace in the 15th century. They find Tiko in the future, where all are arrested and judged by a machine. It dismisses all charges and sends them back to their own time for Tiko to face justice.

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #4 (October-November 1958), #4 (October-November 1958), #4 (October-November 1958), #4 (October-November 1958)

Indexer Notes

1) The splash on page 12 is very reminiscent of a panel in Fantastic Four #19 with Rama-Tut. 2) Tiko sabotages the final return so the time cube crashes in 1994 Metropolis: see The Adventures of Superman 508. 3) Marvin Stein listed as inker in DC Archive credits, but per Stein's conversations with Greg Theakston, he did not ink any Challengers stories. Some panels must be Wally Wood's.

[Cover - Challengers of the Unknown #5]; Riddle of the Star-Stone! (Table of Contents: 8)

Challengers of the Unknown / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins; Vreedl

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #5 (December 1958-January 1959)

The Riddle of the Star-Stone (Table of Contents: 9)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 25 pages (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins; Professor Brandon; Vreedl; Vreedl's gang

Synopsis

An archaeology assistant, Vreedl, steals the Star-Stone created by an ancient sorcerer. By turn he's a flame man, bird man, fish man, stealing as he goes. The Challengers pursue Vreedl through South America, India, and the Bay of Sharks. When Vreedl finds the fourth stone, he becomes super and invincible. Whipped, Ace notes his powers derive from the Star-Stone: someone else could become super. Vreedl smashes the stone - and his powers evaporate!

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #5 (December 1958-January 1959), #5 (December 1958-January 1959), #5 (December 1958-January 1959)

[Cover - Challengers of the Unknown #6]; The Sorcerors of Forbidden Valley! (Table of Contents: 10)

Challengers of the Unknown / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #6 (February-March 1959)

Captives of the Space Circus (Table of Contents: 11)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 15 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby; Dave Wood

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; captive aliens; Tartan the Ringmaster; the Stupendous Interplanetary Circus

Synopsis

The Challengers answer a shipwreck distress call, but find it's a trap. They're pulled through space on a light beam and made captives of a rocket ship space circus. The heroes are prodded through cages and catapulted into a tank to fight Quadro, the Four-Finned Demons. Other alien performers are also captives. As the Challengers prepare for a last stand, Prof learns the atmosphere gives them super-strength. They bombard the circus guards with boulders and disable the ships. The aliens are surprised to learn the circus owners are criminals and promise to send all the captives home.

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #6 (February-March 1959)

The Sorceress of Forbidden Valley (Table of Contents: 12)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby; Ed Herron

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins; Charles Agar; the Shong; residents of Forbidden Valley

Synopsis

June Robbins crash-lands on an uncharted island and finds an Aladdin's lamp in a cave. Lighting it creates fumes that overpower her. The Challengers track June down, discovering a hidden valley where they are attacked. They find June under a spell and with magical powers, controlled by Charles Agar, a criminal from the states.

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #6 (February-March 1959)

[Cover - Challengers of the Unknown #7]; The Isle of No Return! (Table of Contents: 13)

Challengers of the Unknown / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Jack Kirby

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #7 (April-May 1959)

The Beasts from Planet Nine (Table of Contents: 14)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby; Ed Herron

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; Alien visitors

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #7 (April-May 1959)

The Isle of No Return (Table of Contents: 15)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby; Ed Herron

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #7 (April-May 1959)

[Cover - Challengers of the Unknown #8]; Prisoners of Robot Planet! (Table of Contents: 16)

Challengers of the Unknown / cover reprint (on interior page) / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; Juhl

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #8 (June-July 1959)

The Man Who Stole the Future (Table of Contents: 17)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby; Dave Wood

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; June Robbins; Marie; Drabney

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #8 (June-July 1959)

Indexer Notes

Introduction of Drabny, later a member of the Challenger Haters.

The Prisoners of the Robot Planet (Table of Contents: 18)

Challengers of the Unknown / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script

Jack Kirby

Pencils

Jack Kirby

Inks

Wally Wood

Colors

Jamison Services (color reconstruction)

Letters

?

Editing

Jack Schiff (original editor)

Genre

adventure

Characters

Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Professor Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis]; Juhl; Kra

Reprints

• from Challengers of the Unknown (DC, 1958 series) #8 (June-July 1959)

Indexer Notes

Introduction of Kra, later a member of the Challenger Haters.

Biographies (Table of Contents: 19)

text article / 2 pages (report information)

Script

?

Letters

typeset

Genre

biography

Indexer Notes

Biographies for Jack Kirby, Roz Kirby, France (Ed) Herron, Marvin Stein, Dave Wood and Wally Wood.

[Backcover] (Table of Contents: 20) (Expand) /

Challengers of the Unknown / promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)