Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! Review

Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! TPB
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Tim Sale
DC Comics

Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! is an obscure – but good – comic collection. This TPB (trade paperback) collection is the initial pairing of writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale from way back in 1991. The pair went on to create some truly fantastic stories featuring Batman, Superman, Catwoman, Spiderman, Daredevil, and the Hulk. More on this later.

The Challengers of the Unknown are a group of adventurers living on borrowed time. Originally created back in late 1950’s for DC Comics, four strangers survived a plane crash that should have killed them. As happens only in comics, they instantly decided to band together and challenge the unknown. As happens over time – 40 years – the Challs faded into obscurity.

This eight-issue mini-series picks up the Challengers late in life. After a horrific accident that destroys their headquarters, Challenger Mountain, and kills thousands of innocent civilians, the Challengers of the Unknown are forced into retirement. With each character going his separate and disastrous way, it is up to a hack reporter to track them all down and solve the mystery behind the plot that ended the Challengers.

Coming into this series with only a limited knowledge of the Challengers, I was pleasantly surprised when I began to care about these characters. I shouldn’t have been surprised; Loeb has a gift for characterization. His future comics work, especially Superman For All Season, only proves the point. By the end of the series I am left wanting their story to continue. I like these guys. I like this team.

Tim Sale was doing his first comics work with this series. And while his art is good in this collection, it does not compare to his more polished work in their later collaborations. Sale’s art was recently all over the place this past year on TV. It was his amazing art that showed the future on NBC’s Heroes.

I’m getting off topic. What I need to say about this collection is that it’s good. Only, it’s probably enjoyed more by those who have read the duo’s other works. This series is only the kernel – the starting point – for the mysteries and the characterization that define such modern classics in comic storytelling as, Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Dark Victory, Superman For All Seasons, Catwoman: When in Rome, Spiderman: Blue, Daredevil: Yellow, and Hulk: Grey.

Do yourself the favor and pick up Superman For All Seasons, it is the essential Superman story. Once you finish it, pick up the rest. Just don’t forget to eventually give the Challengers a shot, too. While not the best of the pair’s work, it’s still a good read.