Challengers of the Unknown #27

History

By August 1962, the Challengers of the Unknown was already well into its post-Jack Kirby phase: Kirby had departed after issue #8 (1959), and artist Bob Brown had taken over the visual duties, handling both stories in this issue under editor Jack Schiff, the same editor who had shepherded the team since their debut in Showcase #6 in 1957. The writer for issue #27's stories is not credited in surviving records, which was standard practice at DC during this period; multiple writers including Ed Herron, Bill Finger, and Arnold Drake rotated through the series in these years before Drake eventually settled in as the more-or-less permanent scripter. The book was a bimonthly Silver Age adventure title operating squarely within DC's pre-Marvel-revolution editorial style, and the introduction of a recurring monster villain like the Volcano Men reflects the era's taste for science-fiction creature threats.

Trivia · 8 facts

• Cover date: August–September 1962 (DC Comics, Volume 1, Issue #27).
• Contains two stories: 'The 1,001 Impossible Inventions' (12 pages) and 'Master of the Volcano Men' (13 pages), both drawn by Bob Brown and edited by Jack Schiff.
• First appearance of the Volcano Men — anthropomorphic giants composed of flaming volcanic rock, created and unleashed by the criminal scientist Dr. Edward Gruner — who debut in the 'Master of the Volcano Men' story.
• First appearance of Dr. Edward Gruner, the villain responsible for creating the Volcano Men; both Gruner and the individual Volcano Men appear only here before the creatures resurface in issue #32.
• The Volcano Men introduced in this issue later evolved into the singular 'Volcano Man,' who became a member of the League of Challenger-Haters — the team's most notable rogue's gallery grouping — appearing in issues #34, #45, #55, and beyond.
• This issue marks the debut of the 'Challengers Mail Chute,' the series' first dedicated letters column, establishing a formal reader-correspondence feature for the title.
• The cover depicts Dr. Edward Gruner, the four Challengers, and the Volcano Man — art by Bob Brown.
• The series was in its post-Kirby era: Jack Kirby, who co-created the characters and defined the book's visual identity, had moved on after issue #8 (1959), with Brown serving as the ongoing artist from that point through this issue and well beyond.

Full credits

Key issues in Challengers of the Unknown

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