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#83
Challengers of the Unknown, #82

Published: August-September 1977

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Issue Contents:

Story Featuring Challengers of the Unknown

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Other
The Challengers of the Unknown
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Story Notes

Color credit provided by Anthony Tollin.

Chapter 1: The Lurker Below

Story Featuring Challengers of the Unknown

Storyline

Prof is dying of an all-consuming fungus infection. Rocky, June, Ace, and Red rush him to their jet. Gaylord Clayburne, playboy-Challenger-wannabe, learned Prof was sick and found a specialist to heal him. Ignoring Clayburne, the Challengers zoom off to Perdition, Pennsylvania, a farm town. As soon as they land, the Challengers are mobbed by farmers with pitchforks. Doctor Monroe calls off the farmers.

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The Challengers of the Unknown
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Story Notes

Continued from last issue. The villain is Heathcliff Monroe (an HP Lovecraft look-alike) from Swamp Thing (DC series, 1972) #8.

Chapter 4: The Lurker Rises

Story Featuring Challengers of the Unknown

Storyline

Rocky awakes bound to a post. Monroe confesses he’s also infected with the fungus because it’s actually a manifestation of the god M'Nagalah! Monroe leaves for another sacrifice. Rocky glimpses someone in the shadows. Rocky bursts his bonds and meets Ace and Red, who have returned witht he equipment. In the church, they freeze, because June is the next sacrifice!

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The Challengers of the Unknown
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Story Notes

Story continues next issue.

Chapter 3: The Soul Predator

Story Featuring Challengers of the Unknown

Storyline

Red and Ace zoom off in the jet again. In Borotavia, they knock out some guards, out-fly jets, and get the blood filter machine. Meanwhile, in Perdition, the locals capture a visiting tractor salesman. Rocky and June, creeped out and worried about Prof, wander around, looking at Dr. Monroe's library, which is full of occult books. They hear the salesman’s screams and see him sacrificed to a tentacled horror. Both interrupt the sacrifice and are cold-cocked

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The Challengers of the Unknown
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Story Notes

The tractor salesman is a dead ringer for former president Richard Nixon.

Chapter 2: Legacy of the Damned

Story Featuring Challengers of the Unknown

Storyline

Dr. Monroe relates the town's history to the Challengers. Seventy years ago, a man summoned a demon to the town. Enthralled, the locals sacrificed strangers to the “god” until Swamp Thing came to town and collapsed its cave, burying the monster “forever”. Behind the scenes, we see the fungus lived on and still infects many locals. Doctor Monroe needs special medical equipment from a doctor in Borotavia behind the Iron Curtain in order to save Prof's life. Red and Ace zoom off in the jet again, leaving June and Rocky in the town.

Characters
Other
The Challengers of the Unknown
Credits
Story Notes

The tractor salesman resembles Richard Nixon. The flashback is from Swamp Thing (DC, 1972 series) #8.

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Story Notes

Text article with biographical info on Mike Netzer.

Volume 77 Issue 21 - Week of May 23, 1977

In-House Column Featuring Daily Planet

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