Challengers of the Unknown #4 review

Now this is interesting. This Justice League Unlimited spin-off has presented a series of team-ups between solo Challengers and Leaguers, linked by a mystery. And the pattern continues this issue, but after Red and Green Lantern’s recce of a ‘Darkseid anomaly’ – weird science in the wake of the villain’s recent disappearance – we find out what’s probably going on.

The adventure itself proves pretty disturbing. It starts well. Red, the Challs’ resident daredevil, and Hal, a typically fearless Green Lantern, get on like a house on fire.

Comet? Ah yes, the boys have liaised with a deep space expert, one of the oldest – yet most obscure – heroes in the DC Universe.

A massively powerful mutant psychic, Adam Blake is a stand-up guy, even if he can sound a bit of a blowhard when he explains his deal..

They’re in space to investigate an asteroid that seems to be gaining sentience, and it’s even confusing the clever Captain.

And that brings us to that first image, with Red and Hal, and what they find there is pretty horrific, especially if you’re a fan of obscure Silver Age characters (who aren’t Captain Comet).

Before the three heroes leave the asteroid, with no answers, Red has a vision that takes him back to the day the Challengers of the Unknown were born.

The dark reverie leaves Red in a bad state, so he’s put in isolation with colleagues Ace, June and Prof, who have had their own encounters with Darkseid anomalies. Meanwhile, core members of the League are worried…

I love this. As Hal points out, Death isn’t a stranger to the heroes of the League, and it’s long seemed weird the members don’t talk about it. Now they’re forced to, and it looks like that fact will take us away from the (admittedly entertaining) formula of the first few issues.

Christopher Cantwell knows his way around DC lore, and he’s making great use of it, building a a fascinating, fun yarn from plot points laid down in the DC All In Special. And the shot of Black Manta and a blond child will have bells ringing with longtime readers – it’s all made clear in the book. The interactions between the players are good value, and what a treat to see Captain Comet with a tweaked, very logical personality.

And I love that artist Sean Izaakse has Adam Blake in his first costume, so old-fashioned it automatically has retro charm – only the white stripes down his chest have been tweaked, they were originally braces/suspenders! I like Izaakse’s grainy, open style, which takes the spacetastic colours of Romulo Fajardo beautifully. This issue’s featured Challenger, Red, looks terrific, in flashback, in the current day and in his vision. There’s a splendid spread with Red and Hal negotiating the tunnels/guts of the living asteroid while the corpse of the dead hero is suitably horrible (I’m not worried about the poor guy, this is DC).

The final few pages, featuring the League’s get-together, are the work of Amancay Nahuelpan, and don’t look as slick as his usual work – I think that’s because he’s generously trying to chime with Izaakse’s style. Or maybe I’m wrong as to who did what… whatever the case, both Nahuelpan and Izaakse are top talents.

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou letters with fizz, ensuring volume and tone are clear.

If you’ve not tried this series, you could easily jump in – Cantwell is giving great recap in the voice of Mr Terrific – but if you have DC Infinite, the first three issues are on there now. Give it a go!