A Challengers of the Unknown birthday salute!
July’s San Diego Comic-Con was the first convention I’ve been to since before the pandemic and it was fun, as usual, to go back-issue diving. Now, historically, I’d be looking for ’60s-’80s books starring the heavy hitters. This year, though, I had an itch I’ve long wanted to scratch: DC’s Silver Age adventure/sci-fi features. Nothing too grand, mind you. Just a small selection like Sea Devils (which I’m already fond of), Blackhawk, Adam Strange and Ultra the Multi-Alien, both in Mystery in Space; Cave Carson in Showcase, and so forth.
Oh, and the Challengers of the Unknown.
When I think of the Challs (dorky nickname), I think of Jack Kirby. That’s natural. But after Kirby left the series after 1959’s Issue #8, the reliable Bob Brown was brought on as his artistic replacement. Brown, who was born 110 years ago, on August 22, 1915, saw the team through 1968’s Issue #63, then moved on to a significant run on Detective Comics.
So for Brown’s birthday, dig these 13 COVERS — all pencilled and inked by the illustrator (with a fancy Jack Adler washtone on Issue #11) and featuring a menagerie of very silly, very Silver Age monsters.
Right on.
—
MORE
— 13 Reasons BATMAN Artist BOB BROWN Deserves More Credit. Click here.
— PAUL KUPPERBERG: My 13 Favorite BOB BROWN Covers. Click here.
August 22, 2025
I think you could also do 13 Bob Brown silly monster covers from Tomahawk.
August 22, 2025
I thought just the same thing! But I mean, Sponge Man for the win, seriously
August 22, 2025
‘The Sinister Sponge-Man’ is awesome. That was such a fun series, and really a great time for comics. The banter among the Challengers was more Fantastic Four-ish than any other DC title. Great collection here.
August 22, 2025
Lordy I do so hope that James Gunn gets Sponge Man into the DCEU!