TheJustice Leagueis getting a new look just as a classic, if not underrated team finally makes their big return to the DC Universe. With thefinale ofAbsolute Powerrapidly approaching and DC All In just days away, fans are getting new glimpses of what lies ahead for the DCU.
Though the metahumans are still fighting Amanda Waller and herterrifying forces inAbsolute Power, a new era is coming for every DC hero, including ones who haven’t been seen in years. As strange events begin to plague the DC Universe, the Justice League is joining forces with the last team fans saw coming (and are getting new costumes to boot).
Challengers of the Unknown #1(2024)
December 18th, 2024
Mike Deodato, Jr.
Variant Covers:
Gleb Melnikov, Tuarin Clarke, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Danny Earls, and Dan Mora
Ace Morgan, June Robbins, Prof Haley, Red Ryan, and Rocky Davis, adventurers “living on borrowed time,” run day-to-day operations for the Justice League’s Watchtower base in orbit above Earth, collaborating with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the League to seal the rifts that threaten the galaxy. But a mysterious foe from the Challengers’ past lurks in the shadows, and its connection to the Darkseid wave will put not only the Challengers, but all of the DC Universe on borrowed time.
For the last few months, fans have been buzzing ever since DC Comics announced its new All In initiative, a line-wide event spinning out of the publisher’s summer event,Absolute Power. While much of the initiative is shrouded in secrecy, fans have discovered exciting new things planned for the new era, such as the return of the DC Universe’s premier superhero team inJustice League Unlimited. Unlike previous iterations of the team, writer Mark Waid promised that this version would bethe most expansive and inclusive Justice League ever assembled.
DC’s new era officially kicks off withDC All In Special #1on October 2nd!
This December, DC Comics continues to showcase just how massive this new team is with a new series featuring the Justice League’s most surprising allies. Challengers of the Unknown by Christopher Cantwell and Sean Izaakse features the infamous team of explorers as they work alongside the League to repair cosmic rifts that threaten the DC Universe. But a foe from the Challengers' past returns, one who’s connected to the mysterious ‘Darkseid wave’ andputting the Challengers and the Justice League in danger.
…each of the heroes' traditional outfits is swapped for a more uniform look…
If it weren’t enough that the classic iteration of the Challengers were returning for DC All In, glimpses at the new title suggested that several surprising A-list heroes were joining the team (or at least modeling themselves after the underdog crew). Cover art by Mike Deodato Jr., Gleb Melnikov, Tuarin Clarke, and Dan Morareveals new costumes for Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batmanand each of the heroes' traditional outfits is swapped for a more uniform look featuring the Challengers of the Unknown’s purple, yellow, and white color scheme.
Who are the Challengers of the Unknown and Where Have They Been?
Challengers of the Unknowncreated by Jack Kirby
The Challengers of the Unknown are a group of explorers created by comic book icon, Jack Kirby. The group was brought together to appear on a program profiling accomplished people, but their lives were nearly claimed in a plane accident. After surviving and agreeing they were all living on borrowed time, the group stuck together and formed the Challengers of the Unknown. Together,the Challengers of the Unknown explored the furthest and strangest reaches of the DC Universe, encountering all manner of strange phenomena, whether it be alien or supernatural.
The Challengers of the Unknown first appeared inShowcase #6 (1957)!
The Challengers of the Unknown appeared sporadically throughout the decades, meeting heroes like the Doom Patrol, Deadman, and even Swamp Thing. However, the promise of the Challengers living on borrowed time proved true as several founding members eventually died while others went into retirement. However, the name lived on and other Challengers rose to explore the DC Universe. The Challengers also took part inInfinite Crisisandaided the DC Universe’s heroes in their war against the villainous Secret Society.
The New 52 shook the Challengers’ history up a bit and revealed that the team was sent into the Dark Multiverse to investigate it. Unfortunately, team member Prof Haley was badly injured during the mission and the team became stranded in the Dark Multiverse while Haley’s Dark Multiverse counterpart escaped to take the real Haley’s place. However,the latest iteration of the Challengers of the Unknown ventured into the Dark Multiverse and found the original team, saving them and bringing them back to their home on Prime Earth.
What the Justice League’s New Challenger Costumes Mean
Collaboration with Other Heroes is Key in DC All In
It’s a big enough surprise to see DC Comics giving the Challengers another shot with a new book, but the most exciting thing to come out of this announcement is almost certainly the new looks for Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. Purple might not be any of their colors, but they all certainly pull it off (even Batman with his bat-eared helmet on Taurin Clarke’s variant cover). But the question must be asked:Why is the Justice League’s Trinity donning new outfitsand working directly with the Challengers of the Unknown?
The Justice League recognizes that they need all the help they can get exploring these fascinating unknowns…
While the Challengers are no strangers to new members joining up, they’ve never had legit superheroes on their team, especially ones as big as Superman or Wonder Woman. Of course, there’s nothing saying that the trio is actually joining the Challengers (which makes sense considering the Trinity is shepherding the biggest version of the Justice League that has ever been). If anything, these new costumes are symbolic of the collaboration theJustice League is embracing during the strange new chapter of the DC Universe’s history.
Be sure to check outAbsolute Power #1-4andDC All In Special #1to prepare for this new initiative!
There’s a lot of variables that are coming with DC All In. Darkseid is dying and the Absolute Universe is going to be born. The Justice League recognizes that they need all the help they can get exploring these fascinating unknowns and who better to help them out than the Challengers? And what better way to proveWonder Woman, Batman, and Superman are ready to take on these new challengesthan by fashioning themselves after the team that made a name facing the unknown head-on?
The Justice League’s Next Adventure Builds on the Mysteries of DC All In
It’s hard to tell where things are going to go when DC All In kicks into high gear. But it’s clear that the only way DC’s heroes are going to whether the storm of uncertainty is by working together across the board. The Challengers of the Unknown might not be the biggest names in the book, but the Trinity knows that few are as well-equipped to handle huge, cosmic mysteries as they are. They may not be becoming full-fledged Challengers, but theJustice League’snew costumes speak to the team’s dedication to solving the new unknowns threatening the DC Universe.
Challengers of the Unknownis available on December 18th from DC Comics.
