Challengers of the Unknown #14

History

By issue #14 the book was already in its second creative generation: Jack Kirby had helmed the launch and departed after issue #8 (July 1959), with Bob Brown stepping in as series artist. France Herron — a prolific DC workhorse who had co-created Captain Marvel Jr. and would later co-create Cave Carson and the Clock King — had taken over as the book's lead writer from 1959 onward and scripted this issue. The story was edited by Jack Schiff, who had overseen the title from its inception in Showcase #6 (1957). The creative mandate under Schiff and the Herron/Brown team was to keep the book's science-fiction adventure tone alive while building out recurring enemies, and Multi-Man was their most successful result.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance and origin of Multi-Man (Duncan Pramble), who becomes the Challengers' most persistent recurring villain throughout the Silver Age.
• Multi-Man's power — resurrection after each death with a completely new and random superpower — is rooted in an ancient alchemical elixir called 'Liquid Light,' stolen from ruins on an expedition the Challengers were attending.
• The lead story, 'The Man Who Conquered the Challengers' (12 pages), was written by France Herron and drawn by Bob Brown; Brown also provided the cover and the second story, 'Captives of the Alien Beasts.'
• Editor Jack Schiff oversaw the issue; Schiff had been with the Challengers from their debut in Showcase #6 (February 1957).
• Bob Brown had taken over as series artist from Jack Kirby after Challengers of the Unknown #8 (July 1959); this issue is squarely within the Herron/Brown era.
• Multi-Man returned as early as the very next issue (#15) and appeared at least once a year through 1968, later becoming a founding member of the League of Challenger-Haters and eventually a member of Justice League Antarctica and the Suicide Squad.
• The issue contains two complete stories; the second, 'Captives of the Alien Beasts,' features June Robbins alongside the team, reflecting her established role as the group's 'honorary' Challenger by this point in the run.
• The cover date is July 1960, placing it roughly two years before Jack Kirby co-created the Fantastic Four at Marvel — a team whose ensemble-of-specialists concept many historians trace back to the Challengers.

Full credits

Key issues in Challengers of the Unknown

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#27 1st appearance — Volcano Man