Challengers of the Unknown #69, Jack Kirby, Denny O’Neil, Jack Sparling, DC Comics, Ace Morgan, Rocky Davis, Red Ryan, Professor Hale, VG

Challengers of the Unknown #69 By Denny O’Neil, Jack Sparling Publisher: DC Comics 1969 Created by Jack Kirby at the dawn of the Silver Age this series continued long after he moved on to other publishers. Pilot Ace Morgan, wrestler Rocky Davis, acrobat Red Ryan and professional diver Professor Haley were strangers en route to an appearance on the “Heroes” radio show. There they were to be honored for their individual acts of heroism. On the way there, however, their plane was caught in a violent storm and crashed. The four miraculously survived, but they were changed by the experience. They felt they were living on borrowed time and decided to take on all life’s challenges for as long as it lasted. Thus the four strangers became the Challengers of the Unknown, fearless adventurers dedicated to exploring the edges of existence. The group first debuted in Showcase #6, later going on to star in this long-lived series which ran on-and-off from 1958 to 1978. 1st appearance of Corinna St