Fan of Jenkins’ opening Deadman tale or not, DC Universe Presents remains a tantalizing experiment, especially for those of us eager for lower tier characters to get star turns in a monthly book. Boston Brand has made for a polarizingopening act, but there’s been little clue as to the underdogs waiting in the wings for the series’ second arc. Until now.
DC Comics announced this morning that February’s issue #6 will see the start of a new story line featuring the Challengers of the Unknown. First introduced in the late 50s by Jack Kirby in the pages of Showcase, the team of adventurers will receive a modern update from Dan DiDio and artist Jerry Ordway. It seems a natural fit for DiDio, who’s more than exceeded expectations on the new O.M.A.C. title with co-writer and artist Keith Giffen.
Here’s a look at the cover by Ryan Sook. Oh yes.
DC Universe Presents #6, cover by Ryan Sook
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I’ve always liked the concept of the Challengers of the Unknown. They just seem to pail in comparison with some of the other super powered human beings in the DC universe. Excited to see them given another shot.
What a great cover too.
i’m with you on that, really always liked the name and the concept of the Challengers (they were also great in DC New Frontier).
were they super powered?
same here….the idea is cool. I’m always willing to give a new interpretation of this team a try.
@wangman31888
I may have to double-check, but while they didn’t have super powers, they were still “super powered” in a sense.
No super-powers, just regular adventurer skills. Pilot etc. They were a rough template for the FF, I think.
need to remember that i will jump on again on issue 6. didn’t really dig the first arc since i am not a deadman fan but i had a lot of love for the Challengers in the last volume of Brave and the Bold.
Good going.
I am really, really happy that Ryan Sook is doing so many covers lately. One of my all-time favorite artists.
Yeah but not happy so many of them are for ultra-obscure books I have no interest in, and not happy that he hasn’t done any interiors since Return of Bruce Wayne (unless i missed something?)
not that Challengers is ultra-obscure. I’m thinking of books from Dynamite and such. It always weirds me out seeing someone like him or Cassaday doing covers for books that have no buzz whatsoever.
The only downside of his prolific cover-making is the disappointing disconnect between his art and the interiors…
His BPRD covers are astounding. Not that Guy Davis and Ryan Crook are bad artists by any means but part of me is disappointed when I open those books and it’s not his art.
Ahhh their debut was in showcase #6 now coming back in Dc presents #6. icwhattheydidthere
Oh shi-
Oh, hell yeah.
Even if I would’ve preferred to see an up-and-comer given a chance on the art or writing.
I’m not sure if Ordway is the right artist for a modern take, but I also haven’t seen any newer stuff for him. This will definetly get a look from me. The Challengers is a concept that could be huge when in the right hands.
Ordway’s style hasn’t really changed much in recent years. Expecting some major disparity between the Sook covers and Ordway interiors.
I’m in!
Holy cow, Ordway is old-school. That fits for Challengers, for me.
I would’ve loved for Allred or Cooke art but Ordway’s good too. If the story is tight we can put to rest whether or not Giffen is really carrying DiDio on OMAC.
Oh man, Allred is amazing at that Silver-Age style.
They had me at Ordway.
For anyone interested, check out the Loeb/Sale “Challengers of the Unkown must Die” It is one of my favorite calabos between the two creators and fun look into the characters themselves
I think this book needs shorter arcs. Three issues is probably more ideal. If you put out an arc that most people don’t care about, that’s half your year gone.
Back-ups are returning, right? Maybe they’ll do that for this book as well.
Ya thats a good point Conor luckily for me im enjoying the current Deadman arc so i havent had this thought
this will be a three issue arc, they just put out the solicit for the first trade, and it’s issues 1-8.
At first I was so impressed by that Ryan Sook cover (as usual) and focusing on the foreground that I didn’t even realize what was going on behind them. Sweet.
Didio also did a good job on the Metal Man strip in Wednesday comics. He seems to have a genuinely great handle on that Silver Age-y style.
Wow….That cover is amazing.
Excitement rising, I need to scrap some nickels together to get this. It sounds interesting.
after OMAC i’ll gladly give Dan Didio a chance with this. will get.
looks great. picking this up
I’m intrigued to pick this new arc up. But two things trouble me:
A) Even though OMAC is getting huge praise (I have yet to read it), I don’t trust Dan Didio as a writer.
B) Jerry Ordway fits the old school aesthetic for the arc, but his recent work has been pretty bad. That arc he did toward the tail end of Geoff Johns run on JSA is the best example.
Just listen to the New Pornographers instead.
I’m in…I seem to be one of the few who have enjoyed the take on Deadman, but Im very excited to see what they do with the Challengers. I’m LOVING that cover! Feels like I’m seeing a seamless blend of Basri, Darwyn Cook, and Jack Kirby.