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Challengers of the Unknown (1991) #1-8
Challengers of the Unknown Must Die!
Four men who barely survive the crash of a small aircraft now consider themselves to be living on borrowed time! Because the escaped their fate, they dedicate themselves to a life of harrowing adventures, all in the name of good! Nothing is ddemed too dangerous for the Challengers!
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
About the author
Jeph Loeb
1,548 books1,472 followersJoseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a Co-Executive Producer on the NBC hit show Heroes, and formerly a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 22, 2021
The Challengers of the Unknown were a team of hero/adventurers created in the 1950's by Jack Kirby, possibly with the input of Joe Simon, and they had a nice run for several years, with the usual ever-changing roster of artists and writers. (There has been speculation that they were an early inspiration for the Fantastic Four.) This book is a collection of an eight issue reboot from 1991, which also happens to be the first collaboration of Jeph Loeb with Tim Sale. We find the team split-up, a lot of time has passed, a couple of them have been killed in an accident, and I found it to be too much against the grain in spirit from the original to really enjoy it. I thought there were too many attempts to be cutesy/clever at the expense of telling a story, (for example when Les opens the door and finds Corinna standing there she says, "Face it, Tiger... you just hit the jackpot!," which is cute, sure, but takes you totally out of the narrative), and too many divergent plot points that never really come together or lead anywhere. The art is pretty good, with some nice thoughtful layout (I particularly liked the Monopoly board), but, again, I thought it tended to distract more than to explain. I've liked almost all of the Loeb/Sale books I've seen, but this one just didn't do it for me.
March 5, 2018
What begins as a mysterious explosion and court case in the life of superhero mediocrity, quickly unfolds into adventure and existential introspection. Much like Watchmen, only cheesier, it’s about humanizing heroes, social depravity, and the folly of violence.
One of Tim Sale’s earlier works, his illustrations range from serviceable to exquisite, often giving impression over clarity, but are sometimes brilliantly creative, ethereal, complexly paneled, and spilling over the page.
One of Tim Sale’s earlier works, his illustrations range from serviceable to exquisite, often giving impression over clarity, but are sometimes brilliantly creative, ethereal, complexly paneled, and spilling over the page.
April 17, 2026
Very good! I think if I read the COTU in the swamp thing Omni maybe I’ll like this more
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March 19, 2025Tim Sale was THAT GUY from day one! Loeb, sadly, was not. Skipped the words in the back half. But the Tim Sale ink wash scene, yum yum!
April 14, 2019
Having enjoyed my previous run-ins with DC's Silver Age adventurers known as the Challengers Of The Unknown in the past, I was intrigued by the idea behind the 1991 miniseries that also marked the first teaming up of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Having now read it, my feelings about Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! are quite mixed. After all, it's basically The Dark Knight Returns for the Challengers with the basic concept and characterizations broken down and built up again. DKR is one of my favorite comics (indeed, I've written reviews and articles about it in a number of places over the last decade) but I'm not sure Loeb's use of the approach with the Challengers quite works, especially in doing what he does with at least a couple of the characters. It's also, at an original eight-issue run, too long for its own good with a fair amount of wheel-spinning in the middle and a conclusion that feels oddly rushed. On the plus side, Sale's artwork looks nice throughout to be sure. Add on a delightfully surprising cameo early on and the result is an interesting, if not entirely satisfying, read.
In short: If you're a Challengers fan, it's work seeking out but you might not be entirely happy with what you'll read.
In short: If you're a Challengers fan, it's work seeking out but you might not be entirely happy with what you'll read.
January 20, 2013
This review originally appeared on my blog, Shared Universe Reviews.
Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! Is the first published comic work of Jeph Loeb and the first collaboration between Loeb and artist Tim Sale. That alone makes this an interesting comic to read since we get to experience the writer and artist cutting their teeth on one of their earliest comics work. The story takes place in the aftermath of an attack on Challengers Mountain: they retire. Loeb and Sale give us the story of a group forcibly starting retirement, what they did after and then, how they came back out of retirement. It’s a nice little story but it’s something we’ve seen before: deconstruction of a superhero team followed by its reconstruction.
One of the highlights of the comic is Tim Sale’s art. I’ve always liked his art ever since the first time I read Batman: The Long Halloween but he’s been good ever since he started working in comics professionally. He really did a great job with the Challs. The most impressive aspect of his art on the book is his stellar page and panel designs. Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! is one of the few comics that revels in being a comic and telling the story in a way only comics can.
Sale inks, presumably, with a pen. His lines are the same thickness throughout the comic. It’s a pretty thin line and it doesn’t matter how close or far an object or a character is the thickness of the line remains the same. It gives it a loose and casual feel. This isn’t an overly polished digital image. There is something classic about Sale’s style it’s put to good use here. I can’t help thinking of reasons for which I admire his art. He uses very few straight lines; the whole comic has a nice fluidity of movement and looseness to the action. Superman’s guest appearance in one of the issues is a rare example of Sale’s obvious use of straight lines (such a square jaw). The art is interesting from the first page to the last but I can’t say the same about the writing. Loeb starts off with a really strong story but the whole thing loses it’s footing with the last couple of issues. For someone first published work, Loeb should be proud of his efforts since he wrote a several compelling issues reviving one of the earliest super science hero teams. Having Tim Sale on art duties surely helped too. It’s too bad this was only an 8 issue mini-series since I think it had the potential for an interesting ongoing series.
Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! Is the first published comic work of Jeph Loeb and the first collaboration between Loeb and artist Tim Sale. That alone makes this an interesting comic to read since we get to experience the writer and artist cutting their teeth on one of their earliest comics work. The story takes place in the aftermath of an attack on Challengers Mountain: they retire. Loeb and Sale give us the story of a group forcibly starting retirement, what they did after and then, how they came back out of retirement. It’s a nice little story but it’s something we’ve seen before: deconstruction of a superhero team followed by its reconstruction.
One of the highlights of the comic is Tim Sale’s art. I’ve always liked his art ever since the first time I read Batman: The Long Halloween but he’s been good ever since he started working in comics professionally. He really did a great job with the Challs. The most impressive aspect of his art on the book is his stellar page and panel designs. Challengers of the Unknown Must Die! is one of the few comics that revels in being a comic and telling the story in a way only comics can.
Sale inks, presumably, with a pen. His lines are the same thickness throughout the comic. It’s a pretty thin line and it doesn’t matter how close or far an object or a character is the thickness of the line remains the same. It gives it a loose and casual feel. This isn’t an overly polished digital image. There is something classic about Sale’s style it’s put to good use here. I can’t help thinking of reasons for which I admire his art. He uses very few straight lines; the whole comic has a nice fluidity of movement and looseness to the action. Superman’s guest appearance in one of the issues is a rare example of Sale’s obvious use of straight lines (such a square jaw). The art is interesting from the first page to the last but I can’t say the same about the writing. Loeb starts off with a really strong story but the whole thing loses it’s footing with the last couple of issues. For someone first published work, Loeb should be proud of his efforts since he wrote a several compelling issues reviving one of the earliest super science hero teams. Having Tim Sale on art duties surely helped too. It’s too bad this was only an 8 issue mini-series since I think it had the potential for an interesting ongoing series.
January 12, 2020
The Challengers of the Unknown are a Silver Age property that should have died in the 60’s. Sorry. I like Kirby’s campy sci-fi adventures in spirit, but any attempts to modernize (or god forbid, darken) their stories have failed to make any lasting impact. A big reason is because they’ve been overshadowed by their most obvious comics parallel, the Fantastic Four. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Challengers series from 1991 (their first collaboration) doesn’t do the team any favors. The story entirely removes the fun aspect, splitting up the Challengers after a brutal crisis occurs on Challenger Mountain. Loeb and Sale’s storytelling is very fractured with lots of try-hard experimentation, almost like they felt they had to prove themselves to DC fans. I’m a big fan of continuity, but most of the references and cameos feel awkward and out of place. And Loeb tries to give the Challengers distinct personalities, though none of them really stand out.
This is an odd little book that I can’t bring myself to recommend. For the Challengers of the Unknown to work in the modern era, I think you have to embrace the Silver Age campiness and go full on pastiche. Even then, I’m not sure how good a Challs series would be.
This is an odd little book that I can’t bring myself to recommend. For the Challengers of the Unknown to work in the modern era, I think you have to embrace the Silver Age campiness and go full on pastiche. Even then, I’m not sure how good a Challs series would be.
May 10, 2020
This was very strange. It essentially acts as a gritty relaunch for the classic team, while keeping the canon of their goofy silver age adventures. Most of the book is rather disjointed, and the different plots only come together in the last few issues. There's some great character work here, but I'm not sure everything quite coalesces in a satisfying manner. It's definitely trying to be one of those bizarre 90's "anything goes" reboots in the tradition of Moore, Morrison, or Gaiman, but it doesn't quite reach that level. What's worse, I don't think there was ever any followup on this version of the team...so, so much for the reboot I guess. Still, it's an interesting read, and you really get to see Tim Sale grow into his own unique artist over the course of the series. The further it goes, the more creative and crazy his panels and designs get. Worth it for that alone.
March 7, 2026
Si bien han conseguido pervivir en la editorial desde su precoz creación y abandono por el gran Rey del cómic Jack Kirby hasta nuestros días en plena debacle del Torneo DC KO y el Asbolute Universe. Los Investigadores de lo Desconocido siempre se han caracterizado por tener brevísimas oportunidades comiqueras donde resulta difícil o imposible devolver e incluso encontrar sentido a estos personajes tan singulares para un paradigma superheroíco tan grandilocuente como el de DC. Al fin y al cabo, aunque se acaban implicando en tramas y aventuras parejas a las de formaciones como la Justice League, estos personajes siguen siendo individuos humanos con algún talento sobredimensionado por el guion pero nunca para alcanzar esa definición de "meta humano". Sí que les une el evento canónico de sobrevivir a un mortal accidente de avión, el cual marca ese sentido heroíco a aprovechar ese "tiempo prestado" al sobrevivir a ese desenlace prematuro y investigar lo desconocido como el por qué no murieron ese día. En el caso de la miniserie que nos ocupa, hay mucho interés en torno a ello desde el equipo creativo que aquí surge con el autor Jeph Loeb y el artista Tim Sale. Quienes en DC crearían esa aún presente saga de El Largo Halloween para Batman y en Marvel Cómics revisitarían a grandes personajes como Spiderman o Hulk en una saga conceptual unida por el cromatismo y una narración sentimental a un ser querido. Es con este Los Investigadores de lo Desconocido donde encontramos todas las trazas en bruto que en esas obras futuras se perfilan para regalarnos los mejores cómics posibles del "pijameo" comiquero. La apuesta era alta ya solo en encargarse de presentar una historia de unos personajes tan poco tratados y realmente desconocidos (sic.) de la editorial. Quizás esto motivó al principiante Loeb a replicar a su manera la fórmula Milleriana "Born Again" en trastocar de entrada la existencia de los personajes arrebatándole toda su idiosincrasia heroíca para explorar al personaje desde lo más bajo como humano para que este trate de reencontrarse con lo más puro del sentimiento heroíco que lo volverá a alzar quizás cambiado respecto a su pasado, pero justamente preparado para el incierto futuro.
Aunque no sean los superhéroes más conocidos, los Investigadores de lo Desconocido han generado toda una ciudad alrededor de su base de operaciones en esa montaña donde sobrevivieron a ese terrible accidente de avión. Este enclave es una atracción turística total y parte de un conglomerado mediático y de merchandasing que literalmente vuela por los aires debido a una devastadora explosión surgida en las entrañas de la montaña de los Investigadores, los cuales pasan a ser odiados a nivel nacional al tener que pasar por un mediático juicio que dictamina que deberán de dejar de ejercer como Investigadores de lo Desconocido. A partir de aquí los 3 supervivientes del grupo tratan de salir adelante a su respectiva manera la cual es más o menos auto destructiva y particular. Es en todo este meollo de la historia donde la obra tiene su mayor acierto e interés, saliéndose de esa tangente recurrente que tampoco era lo más original ya habiendo mencionado Daredevil: Born Again, o contando con otra "Milleriada" como The Dark Knighth: Returns, Animal Man o en específico Watchmen. Siendo quizás esta última opus magna la que Loeb y Sale intentan sintetizar a su manera con estos personajes que aunque se tildan de superhéroes, lo empiezan siendo solo a modo de la pantomima de reunirse en un grupo donde vestir con trajes estrafalarios y tratar de encontrar el rival más extravagante posible. Es pasando respectivos via crucis personales en lo decadente de cualquier representación del mundo (Hollywood, las calles abandonadas de una gran ciudad o una zona sudamericana en conflicto armado), que estos personajes tan acotados a su ajado origen de la Silver Age, empiezan a redefinirse ante los lectores (seguramente en su mayoría nuevos). Esto hace que el enfrentarse a un 3º acto que revela un enemigo más amparado en lo fantástico, frustre en gran parte la apuesta creativa de Loeb y Sale. Quienes puede que no quisieran "ofender" de alguna forma a Jack Kirby a la hora de tratar sus creaciones desde ese ámbito de reformulación grisocura moderna.
Por supuesto, este es un trabajo "de formación" para Tim Sale, en quien ciertos momentos puede notarse algo "incoherente" o "tosco" en según qué viñetas o personajes (recordando que gran parte del estilo tan característico del artista es ver su increíble deformación de personajes y dinamismo). Pero por la contra, creo que aquí es donde más se ha esforzado porque las composiciones e ideas de secuenciación de viñetas trabajen más allá de la narración de los párrafos de guion. Eleva mucho este trabajo y define bastante las partes concretas de cada personaje protagónico.
Hay un detalle bastante gustoso en este Los Investigadores de lo Desconocido en la referencialidad más allá de la DCita (que la verdad, muy bien integrada en los cameos de grandes espadas como Superman, Batman o otros tantos personajes a costa de cierta escena "mascarada") y es justamente en la contraparte en La Casa de las Ideas. Por supuesto, está ese detalle revelador que Los Investigadores de lo Desconocido son el "prototipo" que Jack Kirby consagraría de verdad en Marvel Cómics con Los 4 Fantásticos. Y realmente Jeph Loeb y Tim Sale parece que estuviesen trabajando más en base al trasunto de La Primera Familia que lo conocido de estos personajes en DC. Así llega a disfrutarse más lo de y esa idea tan a la torera de que uno de los Investigadores prácticamente se convierta en el Doctor Extraño infiltrado en el Universo DC.
Aunque no sean los superhéroes más conocidos, los Investigadores de lo Desconocido han generado toda una ciudad alrededor de su base de operaciones en esa montaña donde sobrevivieron a ese terrible accidente de avión. Este enclave es una atracción turística total y parte de un conglomerado mediático y de merchandasing que literalmente vuela por los aires debido a una devastadora explosión surgida en las entrañas de la montaña de los Investigadores, los cuales pasan a ser odiados a nivel nacional al tener que pasar por un mediático juicio que dictamina que deberán de dejar de ejercer como Investigadores de lo Desconocido. A partir de aquí los 3 supervivientes del grupo tratan de salir adelante a su respectiva manera la cual es más o menos auto destructiva y particular. Es en todo este meollo de la historia donde la obra tiene su mayor acierto e interés, saliéndose de esa tangente recurrente que tampoco era lo más original ya habiendo mencionado Daredevil: Born Again, o contando con otra "Milleriada" como The Dark Knighth: Returns, Animal Man o en específico Watchmen. Siendo quizás esta última opus magna la que Loeb y Sale intentan sintetizar a su manera con estos personajes que aunque se tildan de superhéroes, lo empiezan siendo solo a modo de la pantomima de reunirse en un grupo donde vestir con trajes estrafalarios y tratar de encontrar el rival más extravagante posible. Es pasando respectivos via crucis personales en lo decadente de cualquier representación del mundo (Hollywood, las calles abandonadas de una gran ciudad o una zona sudamericana en conflicto armado), que estos personajes tan acotados a su ajado origen de la Silver Age, empiezan a redefinirse ante los lectores (seguramente en su mayoría nuevos). Esto hace que el enfrentarse a un 3º acto que revela un enemigo más amparado en lo fantástico, frustre en gran parte la apuesta creativa de Loeb y Sale. Quienes puede que no quisieran "ofender" de alguna forma a Jack Kirby a la hora de tratar sus creaciones desde ese ámbito de reformulación grisocura moderna.
Por supuesto, este es un trabajo "de formación" para Tim Sale, en quien ciertos momentos puede notarse algo "incoherente" o "tosco" en según qué viñetas o personajes (recordando que gran parte del estilo tan característico del artista es ver su increíble deformación de personajes y dinamismo). Pero por la contra, creo que aquí es donde más se ha esforzado porque las composiciones e ideas de secuenciación de viñetas trabajen más allá de la narración de los párrafos de guion. Eleva mucho este trabajo y define bastante las partes concretas de cada personaje protagónico.
Hay un detalle bastante gustoso en este Los Investigadores de lo Desconocido en la referencialidad más allá de la DCita (que la verdad, muy bien integrada en los cameos de grandes espadas como Superman, Batman o otros tantos personajes a costa de cierta escena "mascarada") y es justamente en la contraparte en La Casa de las Ideas. Por supuesto, está ese detalle revelador que Los Investigadores de lo Desconocido son el "prototipo" que Jack Kirby consagraría de verdad en Marvel Cómics con Los 4 Fantásticos. Y realmente Jeph Loeb y Tim Sale parece que estuviesen trabajando más en base al trasunto de La Primera Familia que lo conocido de estos personajes en DC. Así llega a disfrutarse más lo de y esa idea tan a la torera de que uno de los Investigadores prácticamente se convierta en el Doctor Extraño infiltrado en el Universo DC.
February 25, 2013
I'd like to reread much of the Loeb/Sale collaborative stories, including this take on Challengers of the Unknown. I recall liking it at the initial publication in serial form.
Recommended.
Recommended.
March 13, 2023
I read this story in the original 8 individual issues. Before this, I knew almost next-to-nothing about the Challengers (the Challs) in DC history other than they were a similar in concept to the Fantastic Four (but predated them) and they were Kirby creations. So, the idea of this being a "modern reboot" didn't factor in as much as it has for some people.
This was what I call "high-concept" or "prestige format" comic storytelling. Like a Watchmen, it takes an almost meta-approach to make commentary on superheroes, comics, and adventures. Loeb has something to say here and I think he's mostly successful in telling it. The story suffers a bit in the fact that you can tell they were hoping this 8-issue mini-series would be expanded to a series so some storylines don't develop evenly or really get closure. However, the characters are complex and Loeb crafts a "not clean" story that is entertaining.
Art-wise, this is early Tim Sale. I think you either like Sale's style or you don't, and I for the most part do. This isn't Long Halloween quality yet, but Sale has a keen eye for splash pages and clever construction to his panels.
I would have liked to see where this team took the story beyond this mini. I guess the Challs really haven't appeared very much since this which is a shame because they are a neat idea.
This was what I call "high-concept" or "prestige format" comic storytelling. Like a Watchmen, it takes an almost meta-approach to make commentary on superheroes, comics, and adventures. Loeb has something to say here and I think he's mostly successful in telling it. The story suffers a bit in the fact that you can tell they were hoping this 8-issue mini-series would be expanded to a series so some storylines don't develop evenly or really get closure. However, the characters are complex and Loeb crafts a "not clean" story that is entertaining.
Art-wise, this is early Tim Sale. I think you either like Sale's style or you don't, and I for the most part do. This isn't Long Halloween quality yet, but Sale has a keen eye for splash pages and clever construction to his panels.
I would have liked to see where this team took the story beyond this mini. I guess the Challs really haven't appeared very much since this which is a shame because they are a neat idea.
May 17, 2020
Closer to a 4.5
Loeb and Sale's first collab is amazing! I've never read any Challengers before, and somehow I feel that enhanced my experience. Reading about these forgotten heroes redefine themselves in a new world after a horrible destruction of the status quo was awesome!
Loeb writes an incredibly intricate script with some imaginative panelling in even just the first issue! I was floored by how well it all came together, especially considering this is his first ever comic script.
Sale's art needs no introduction. It feels old-school but so cool! Especially the disorganized panels and overlapping effects gave the book such a unique feel! So many interesting effects and great shots. Especially everything to do with Ace was incredible! When he walked through the interdimensional portal I was floored at the artwork! It's so unique and unlike anything I've seen from Sale before!
It feels like the start of the legendary partnership that it is. It's a little rough around the edges and some the characters are a little tedious to follow, but in the end it comes together so well!
Definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to try something different, and wants to experience the roots of the Loeb/Sale duo.
Loeb and Sale's first collab is amazing! I've never read any Challengers before, and somehow I feel that enhanced my experience. Reading about these forgotten heroes redefine themselves in a new world after a horrible destruction of the status quo was awesome!
Loeb writes an incredibly intricate script with some imaginative panelling in even just the first issue! I was floored by how well it all came together, especially considering this is his first ever comic script.
Sale's art needs no introduction. It feels old-school but so cool! Especially the disorganized panels and overlapping effects gave the book such a unique feel! So many interesting effects and great shots. Especially everything to do with Ace was incredible! When he walked through the interdimensional portal I was floored at the artwork! It's so unique and unlike anything I've seen from Sale before!
It feels like the start of the legendary partnership that it is. It's a little rough around the edges and some the characters are a little tedious to follow, but in the end it comes together so well!
Definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to try something different, and wants to experience the roots of the Loeb/Sale duo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2019
5
I had not heard of the Challengers of the Unknown until the Teen Titans Movie and I'm happy to say they are not the boring characters from that movie. Jeph Loeb is a great writer and he weaves an interesting storyline with these B grade characters and I was done for every story beat. I'm still not entirely convinced these guys can exist in the current DC canon, they are certainly not the strongest characters around, but I would like to see their story continue with the Young Animal team for example.
Why the 5?
I just enjoyed the book and it felt like Jack Kirby incarnated. The story was fun and very unpredictable. My book is the hard cover and it is an amazing read, the artwork is amazing. I can't take anything away from Loeb, he created a strong storyline and threw caution to the wind. If you don't know anything about the Challengers like myself, don't fear too much as there is some exposition here. I enjoyed the learn as you go storyline and trusted Loeb to stick the landing, which he does. One of the highlights of my graphic novels for 2019 and it now has me searching for more Kirby reboots.
I had not heard of the Challengers of the Unknown until the Teen Titans Movie and I'm happy to say they are not the boring characters from that movie. Jeph Loeb is a great writer and he weaves an interesting storyline with these B grade characters and I was done for every story beat. I'm still not entirely convinced these guys can exist in the current DC canon, they are certainly not the strongest characters around, but I would like to see their story continue with the Young Animal team for example.
Why the 5?
I just enjoyed the book and it felt like Jack Kirby incarnated. The story was fun and very unpredictable. My book is the hard cover and it is an amazing read, the artwork is amazing. I can't take anything away from Loeb, he created a strong storyline and threw caution to the wind. If you don't know anything about the Challengers like myself, don't fear too much as there is some exposition here. I enjoyed the learn as you go storyline and trusted Loeb to stick the landing, which he does. One of the highlights of my graphic novels for 2019 and it now has me searching for more Kirby reboots.
May 4, 2025
Pretensioso. É como eu posso avaliar este encadernado de Os Desafiadores do Desconhecido, o primeiro trabalho de quadrinhos de Jeph Loeb e um dos primeiros de Tim Sale. Comecemos pelo roteiro. Ele é uma emulação de trabalhos de Grant Morrison e de Peter Milligan se Loeb fosse inglês ou invasor, mas ele não é nenhum dos dois. Percebe-se aqui também um estilo de contar histórias - as famosas repetições de quadros e de temas -, que fizeram Brian Michael Bendis identificável. Não por acaso Bendis traça loas ao trabalho de Loeb e Sale. E falando em Sale, o artista traz um espetáculo à parte, como é comum em suas colaborações com Jeph Loeb, em que a arte acaba sobressaindo ao roteiro, tal é o virtuosismo de Tim Sale. Aqui, encontramos traços menos refinados de Sale e personagens ainda mais caricatos, mas com boas soluções de layout e bastante inventivas. Mas a história em si é confusa e enrolada, algo que não precisava de tantas edições para se desenvolver, bem ao estilo das narrativas de Loeb. Ah sim, e tem também um mistério que acaba envolvendo uma quantidade maior de pessoas que deveria. O melhor deste encadernado é a história extra que tem a participação de Guy Gardner.
August 13, 2026
Weird as it may sound, this remains my all time favourite Jeff Loeb / Tim Sale collaboration (and yes, Batman is my favourite superhero, and Long Halloween is a favourite story arc).
Superheroes hardly, if ever, age, but this story is all about what happened to the Challengers of the Unknown after they retired. Jeff Loeb does an excellent job writing them as distinct individuals, and, as he mentioned, the Tim Sale artwork helped too.
Huge nostalgia factor, of course, but I loved this reread, in 2026, just as much as I loved reading the single issues in the early '90s, during high school. A huge part of my early comic book reading experience involved the Adventure Comics digests, and while the Legion of Superheroes stories were my favourite, I have fond memories of the Challengers of the Unknown stories as well.
I doubt most people would enjoy this story as much as I did, but a very personal five star rating to remind me to reread this story every few years.
Superheroes hardly, if ever, age, but this story is all about what happened to the Challengers of the Unknown after they retired. Jeff Loeb does an excellent job writing them as distinct individuals, and, as he mentioned, the Tim Sale artwork helped too.
Huge nostalgia factor, of course, but I loved this reread, in 2026, just as much as I loved reading the single issues in the early '90s, during high school. A huge part of my early comic book reading experience involved the Adventure Comics digests, and while the Legion of Superheroes stories were my favourite, I have fond memories of the Challengers of the Unknown stories as well.
I doubt most people would enjoy this story as much as I did, but a very personal five star rating to remind me to reread this story every few years.
April 5, 2025
Me lo compré por Tim Sale y, por ese lado, nada que objetar. El despliegue de recursos gráficos y composiciones de página es arrollador, y eso que este es su segundo trabajo artístico completo en cómic, creo recordar. En cuanto a la historia, sin tener prácticamente idea sobre ellos, este grupo me resulta bastante atractivo las pocas veces que me lo he encontrado. En ese sentido, el cómic sirve de presentación de los personajes, lo cual está bien, y tiene algunas fases de guion inspiradas, como la parte del juicio. Pero el asunto va perdiendo fuelle con el discurrir de los números, hasta el punto de que perdí mucho interés en el tramo final.
September 16, 2024
The writer seems to have no grasp of the Challengers' basic elements of success. The four characters are self-sacrificing friends, the odds are always stacked against them, and some clever turn must save their collective asses. Any writer can take a classic character and blow it up, which is what Loeb has done here. This new version of the Challengers is short on plot, short on friendship, and short on Challengers, as a couple are blown up as the story gets started. Pretty dull with some outbursts of decent art.
August 21, 2022
Sadly, Loeb and Sale's first team-up is a bit rough around the edges.
The story requires knowledge of previous Challengers of the Unknown storylines, so the uninitiated will be left in the dark.
Also, Sale's art looks inconsistent, especially compared to his other earlier work (The Amazon and Billi 99); it's almost as if he tried to emulate Jack Kirby, but then couldn't commit fully. Whatever the case, it's rather uneven.
The story requires knowledge of previous Challengers of the Unknown storylines, so the uninitiated will be left in the dark.
Also, Sale's art looks inconsistent, especially compared to his other earlier work (The Amazon and Billi 99); it's almost as if he tried to emulate Jack Kirby, but then couldn't commit fully. Whatever the case, it's rather uneven.
November 22, 2019
It’s the standard “gritty, witty interpretation of a cheesy old superhero/superhero team” thing Vertigo was doing a lot at the time. The panel layouts are super creative, and there’s a lot enjoyably odd intertextual references to other comic books. Fun stuff.
October 22, 2017
It's pretty fun, but took me forever to get through. It just didn't pull me in at all.
December 12, 2017
I love the vast majority of Loeb/Sale collaborations, and this one has it's moments, but this was not good. It did not age well, despite some cool narrative storytelling.
September 16, 2022
Sale's style isn't fully formed yet and Loeb's story, while it does a decent job relaunching the Challengers, probably isn't going to interest too many who weren't already fans of these characters.
February 20, 2026
3,5 - 02.2026
Did Not Finish
May 29, 2026The story was all over the place. I couldn't focus on the comic book.
July 13, 2023
3,5⭐
Compito non facile, riportare in auge dopo essere finiti nel dimenticatoio il team degli esploratori dell'ignoto.
Team di eroi creato da Kirby, e ripreso dalla coppia Sale/Loeb alle prime armi.
Ho approcciato questo gruppo senza sapere niente del loro passato, sono riuscito a godermi la storia tranquillamente, nonostante una partenza un po' lenta, una volta ingranata la marcia la trama è un crescendo.
Finale molto alla Dr.strange e un capitolo finale extra molto auto ironico.
Compito non facile, riportare in auge dopo essere finiti nel dimenticatoio il team degli esploratori dell'ignoto.
Team di eroi creato da Kirby, e ripreso dalla coppia Sale/Loeb alle prime armi.
Ho approcciato questo gruppo senza sapere niente del loro passato, sono riuscito a godermi la storia tranquillamente, nonostante una partenza un po' lenta, una volta ingranata la marcia la trama è un crescendo.
Finale molto alla Dr.strange e un capitolo finale extra molto auto ironico.
September 26, 2010
To all you graphic novel and comics lovers out there: Have you ever experienced the joy of discovering an earlier work by one of you favorite comic book creators years after its publication? Well, in my case it was running across Loeb and Sale’s very first collaboration tripping the light fantastic by revisiting one of Jack Kirby’s lesser known creations. Loeb’s experience as a writer for Lost has never been more evident than here, as he plays with multiple points of view, and leaves his ace up his sleeve until the very last moment possible in his circuitous and, later in the story, other-worldly narrative. And let’s not forget Sale, who does some of his best creative experimentation with unorthodox comic book panels – like his Monopoly game board that takes up two entire pages midway through. (These days he is much more inclined for singular splash pages, which is in demand by the profitable original comic book art market.)
Loeb and Sale’s brilliantly executed eight-issue series may not have made much of splash at the time of its publication – 1991, if I read the indicia correctly – yet it is a surprising treasure to discover when randomly browsing through the trade paperback shelves at your local comic book store. Which proves that comic book reading and collecting is anything but dull.
Loeb and Sale’s brilliantly executed eight-issue series may not have made much of splash at the time of its publication – 1991, if I read the indicia correctly – yet it is a surprising treasure to discover when randomly browsing through the trade paperback shelves at your local comic book store. Which proves that comic book reading and collecting is anything but dull.
January 29, 2015
Jeph Loeb's comic debut and his first pairing with Tim Sale shows hints of the great books they would create later in their careers together, but this one just ain't one of them. The story is badly paced. I couldn't tell where it was headed. It introduced some interesting characters (and dramatically altered existing character's personalities in an attempt to make them more interesting), but it wasn't enough. One of the Chall's turns into a lunatic Punisher-type (going so far as to murder 2 kids for graffiti- a point which is never addressed); another turns into a crappy Dr. Strange. I'm not certain how much time is supposed to pass in these 8 issues. The story had numerous critical problems.
Sale's art, however, is on point. He and Loeb seem to hit it off extremely well as each issue features formulaic, but intricate panel page constructions. His figures look natural, and his backgrounds are detailed enough to be believable (something I think he got lazy about later in his career when deadlines were looming).
Sale's art, however, is on point. He and Loeb seem to hit it off extremely well as each issue features formulaic, but intricate panel page constructions. His figures look natural, and his backgrounds are detailed enough to be believable (something I think he got lazy about later in his career when deadlines were looming).
September 6, 2008
an interesting, if uneven, attempt to jump start/ reinevent the Challengers of the Unknown.
The idea of trying to make them more distinct from each other was interesting, except to pull it off, Loeb had them acting really out of character ( Red is suddenly really angry, almost Wolverine lite and Ace goes from pilot to dabbler in the occult)
I did like that the writer had them getting older, but along with that bit of interesting realism we had a whole bunch of shoveled on 'grim and gritty' stuff that I didn't really think was needed.
The reveal of the mystery bad guy was a bit feeble, as it comes at the last minute, is a bit obvious because the Chals have a pretty limited rogues gallery and is used to tie up part of the grand finale.
Not a great story, but it does have some great action scenes, and little nods to the rest of the DC universe. Would have been interesting to see if Loeb could have pulled off a decent follow up and built on the ideas in this story.
The idea of trying to make them more distinct from each other was interesting, except to pull it off, Loeb had them acting really out of character ( Red is suddenly really angry, almost Wolverine lite and Ace goes from pilot to dabbler in the occult)
I did like that the writer had them getting older, but along with that bit of interesting realism we had a whole bunch of shoveled on 'grim and gritty' stuff that I didn't really think was needed.
The reveal of the mystery bad guy was a bit feeble, as it comes at the last minute, is a bit obvious because the Chals have a pretty limited rogues gallery and is used to tie up part of the grand finale.
Not a great story, but it does have some great action scenes, and little nods to the rest of the DC universe. Would have been interesting to see if Loeb could have pulled off a decent follow up and built on the ideas in this story.
February 8, 2017
A remarkable debut by the creative team behind Batman: The Long Halloween. Loeb's storytelling and dialogue is top-notch, while Sale's artwork is stunning. Some of the most innovative panel structuring I've seen.
November 5, 2017
Los Retadores de lo Desconocido completan el camino del héroe (con matices) a sus 50 años. Me encanta el desarrollo de personajes, como juega con su pasado y sus vidas actuales, mostrando toda su crudeza.
El arte es otro nivel. No se trata solamente de la imagen que Tim Sale da a nuestros protagonistas y su mundo, sino la cantidad de recursos narrativos que despliega número tras número. Sublime.
Muy recomendado. La historia es muy completa y el dibujo te hace no parar de leer. 8/10
Edición: Regular. Rústica con bocetos y portadas en miniatura al final, mal no incluirlas al principio de cada número a tamaño original porque son muy buenas. El encolado ha durado dos lecturas, los librillos de principio y final se han despegado.
Un saludo.
Guión-7 Dibujo-9 Edición-5
El arte es otro nivel. No se trata solamente de la imagen que Tim Sale da a nuestros protagonistas y su mundo, sino la cantidad de recursos narrativos que despliega número tras número. Sublime.
Muy recomendado. La historia es muy completa y el dibujo te hace no parar de leer. 8/10
Edición: Regular. Rústica con bocetos y portadas en miniatura al final, mal no incluirlas al principio de cada número a tamaño original porque son muy buenas. El encolado ha durado dos lecturas, los librillos de principio y final se han despegado.
Un saludo.
Guión-7 Dibujo-9 Edición-5
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