Challengers of the Unknown #82
In "Chapter 1: The Lurker Below," the Challengers of the Unknown confront a town haunted by a buried demon summoned seventy years prior—its legacy preserved in whispered legends and a buried cave. As Dr. Monroe recounts the grim history, the team grapples with a new threat: a fungal presence still spreading beneath the surface, infecting the townspeople. With Prof’s life in jeopardy, Red and Ace race to Borotavia behind the Iron Curtain for critical medical aid, leaving June and Rocky to face the town’s secrets alone. Written by Gerry Conway and illustrated by Mike Nasser with inks by Joe Rubinstein and Bernie Wrightson, this issue features a cover by Nasser and Rubinstein.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸Cast · 8 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Dr. Monroe relates the town's history to the Challengers. Seventy years ago, a man summoned a demon to the town. Enthralled, the locals sacrificed strangers to the “god” until Swamp Thing came to town and collapsed its cave, burying the monster “forever”. Behind the scenes, we see the fungus lived on and still infects many locals. Doctor Monroe needs special medical equipment from a doctor in Borotavia behind the Iron Curtain in order to save Prof's life. Red and Ace zoom off in the jet again, leaving June and Rocky in the town.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).