Written by: Christopher Cantwell
Art by: Sean Izaakse
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover art by: Mike Deodato Jr. (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: December 18., 2024
Challengers Of The Unknown #1, by DC Comics on 12/18/24, sends the world's greatest team of mortals on missions across the solar system to investigate anomalies created by Darkseid's death.
Is Challengers Of The Unknown #1 Good?
First Impressions
The Challengers of the Unknown are not your everyday DC hero team. Technically, they haven't had an ongoing series in years, so the prospect of bringing the team back to tackle a unique set of challenges (*he*) related to the All-In initiative was a curious one, especially under the uneven hand of the writer, Christopher Cantwell. That said, Challengers Of The Unknown #1 has potential.
Plot Synopsis
The issue begins with a recap of the All-In Special #1, where a brief battle with the Absolute Darkseid led to the villain's destruction and the creation of the Absolute Universe. Now, the newly-reformed Justice League Unlimited gets to the business of saving the world and investigating curious anomalies created when Darkseid "exploded." We meet the Challengers of the Unknown as they busy themselves by cleaning septic tanks and trying to seem useful aboard a space station, the Watchtower, peopled by the most powerful superheroes in the world.
It's clear most of the team isn't happy about their second-fiddle status aboard the Watchtower.
Mr. Terrific calls the team together to tackle their first, big set of assignments. The issue focuses on Ace, expert pilot, as he leads Superman to meet with Ms. Martian to investigate a strange crystal formation. Before they leave, Mr. Terrific exerts an overbearing manner to make sure everyone understands their place, whose in charge, and how much the away team members need to know.
When Ace and Superman arrive on Mars, Ace discovers the giant crystal has a theoretically perfect structure, which absorbs an attempt to break off a chunk for study. Ace concludes they can get a sample if Superman uses his heat vision at an atomic level, so the Man of Steel starts micro-cutting.
Suddenly, Ace is overcome with a nightmarish vision about his life regrets coming back to haunt him. He eventually snaps out of it, but Superman and Ms. Martian insist they return to the Watchtower with the crystal sample. The issue concludes with Mr. Terrific giving Superman a dire warning.
What’s great about Challengers Of The Unknown #1?
If you're new tot he Challengers of the Unknown, Christopher Cantwell does a relatively good job giving new readers an introduction to the team and give you a sense of what each team member can do.
Further, this appears to be the first inkling since the All-In Special #1 that Darkseid's presence in the universe is far from over.
What’s not great about Challengers Of The Unknown #1?
When DC presented the idea that the Challengers would be running Ops aboard the Watchtower, it seemed like a waste of their talents. Here, the notion that the Challengers are wasted aboard the Watchtower appears to not only be true, but Mr. Terrific comes off as a royal jerk to the team.
If the goal was to have mortals aboard the Watchtower for optics and to hold the metas accountable to transparency, it's not working. Why is Mr. Terrific a jerk? Why would the Challengers accept a crap job? The mission to investigate anomalies makes sense, but accepting jobs as lackeys and janitors does not, and Cantwell doesn't make it make sense here.
How’s the Art?
The art is decent enough, but the details from Sean Izaakse are a mixed bag. The wide-shot panels are loose enough to make the characters look like blobs. Romulo Fajardo Jr's colors greatly enhance Izzakse's inks, but the art could have used crisper, more refined inks.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Challengers Of The Unknown #1 is a decent enough start toa series of missions that puts the Challengers on the trails of anomalies created by Darkseid's demise. Christopher Cantwell's script does a decent enough job introducing the team and their mission, but the setup and some of the character work is off-kilter. Likewise, the art is decent enough, but the details are lacking.
6.5/10
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