Challengers of the Unknown
Reprints in Various DC Comics

Secret Origins Annual Ad

The first Secret Origins, a 1961 annual of reprints, was a big deal. It heralded that the Silver Age had really arrived with a fresh batch of heroes for a new age. A lot of familiar supers hadn't even arrived yet, so the book includes pre-super heroes held over from the 1950s Space Age like Adam Strange. And the Challengers. Sure is nice to see the Challengers holding their own in such sterling company.

More on the book below.

Secret Origins Annual

The book had a gorgeous checkerboard cover of colorful heroes, including our guys. The 1961 art was murky by modern standards, so when the book was reprinted in 1998, it was refinished by Jerry Ordway. He did a nice job of capturing the individual likenesses and no-nonsense attitude. Note the Table of Contents shoehorns in the credits, with Dave Wood as the writer and Jack Kirby, Roz Kirby, and Marvin Stein all credited as artists.

Brave and the Bold 98
October - November 1971

The Challengers were reprinted in Brave and the Bold 98. The story was "One Challengers Must Die" from COTU 32. Note how the reprint editor dropped in the Kirby head shots. But "The League of Death Cheaters?" Eesh!

Brave and the Bold 113
June - July 1974

The intro reads, "Beginning this issue, we will be presenting the exploits fo the most daring heroes of all - ordinary men without any super-powers, who battle for justice with only their courage to aid them. To launch this new department, we present The Brave & the Bold Heroes."

Who's braver than the Challengers? This story, "The Man Who Conquered the Challengers", is reprinted from Challengers of the Unknown 14.

Brave and the Bold 115
October - November 1974

The Challengers were reprinted in Brave and the Bold 115. The story was "The Three Clues to Sorcery!!" from COTU 12. The blurb above the story says, "The Brave and Bold Heroes. In issue #113 we introduced this department with a story of the CHALLENGERS. Your reaction to BOTH the department and the CHALLS was so good that we're bringing them both back!" Good for you, readers! And the boys get a piece of the cover. That's Prof from a touched-up panel (blown up) taking one for the team. The artist might be Jim Aparo, since he drew the Batman pic.

World's Finest 230
May 1975

The Challengers' non-meeting with Deadman was reprinted in World's Finest 230. A non-meeting because the guys never knew Deadman was there! The banner at the top is cute, a montage of heads, including Corinna Stark. Makes our heroes look the Archies or the Scooby-Doo gang. Art by EC (Ernie Colon?).