Warning: contains spoilers forChallengers of the Unknown #2!
It took some time, butDCjust fixed a big issue with one of its oldest and best teams. Although they may lack the name recognition of theJustice League or the Titans, the Challengers of the Unknown have a long history at DC Comics. Theteam are currently starring in their own title, and in issue two, a glaring issue, present since their inception, is finally addressed.
Before their new ongoing, the Challengers of the Unknown last appeared inThe Outsiders.
Challengers of the Unknown#2 is written by Christopher Cantwell and drawn by Jorge Fornes, Sean Izaakse and Amacay Nahuelpan. The issue’s perspective shifts between Challenger June Robbins in the present, as she and Batman investigate a mysterious island, and to her past, focusing on her role as the CEO of a major robotics firm. The issue also recounts the Challenger’s origin story: four men, caught in a plane crash, devoted their lives to challenging the unknown. This issue gives June’s origin as well, showing her caught in an accident not unlike that which befell the Challengers.
The Challengers of the Unknown’s Role in the DC Universe, Explained
The Challengers of the Unknown Were Very Much a Product of Their Times
While Jack Kirby traditonally gets credit for creating the Challengers of the Unknown, there is some disagreement over whether he had any help.
The Challengers of the Unknown are one of DC’s oldest teams, debuting early in the Silver Age of Comics.Created by Jack Kirby shortly beforethe Marvel Age of Comics kicked off,the Challengers of the Unknown could be viewed as a “dry run” for the Fantastic Four.The Challengers faced high-concept, science fiction-oriented villains, such as Ultivac, seen in this issue. The team embodied the philosophy of the time: that science could solve any problem. Other Silver Age heroes, such as the Flash and the Atom, also represented this belief as well.
June Robbins, who takes center stage inChallengers of the Unknown#2, was the first woman member of the team, but it took many years for her to be recognized as an official.First appearing in 1959’sShowcase#7 (the Challengers’ second outing), June was made an honorary Challenger in that same adventure.Challengers of the Unknown#2 faithfully recounts the Ultivac incident, which brought her into contact with Rocky, Ace, Morgan and Red. After years as an “unofficial” member, June was made an official Challenger, and she continues in that role to this day.
Science was seen as a “man’s game” at the time the Challengers debuted, and the team’s lineup reflected this.
Despite June eventually joining the team in an official capacity, the fact remains, the character was done dirty for many years. Much of this treatment can be chalked up to the standards of society at the time, ones that kept women off such teams. Science was seen as a “man’s game” at the time the Challengers debuted, and the team’s lineup reflected this. June was present from the beginning, with her scientific acumen acknowledged even then, but she was still denied a spot on the team until much later.
DC Is Finally Acknowledging That June Belongs on the Challengers of the Unknown
June Robbins Is a Technical Genius On Par With John Henry Irons or Will Magnus
Challengers of the Unknown#2 rectifies this mistake. It reinforces June Robbins’ considerable scientific accomplishments, giving her sole credit for creating Ultivac.Regarded as one of the most sophisticated artificial intelligences in the DC Universe, to the point June could never recreate it, Ultivac stands as a testament to her abilities. The issue also reveals June headed up her own robotics firm prior to becoming a Challenger, further solidifying her as a formidable scientist and a businesswoman. It also shows just how much June lost when she became a Challenger–much like her teammates.
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AndChallengers of the Unknown#2 ties June’s life story into the tragedy that created the team.By recounting the similar origins of the Challengers and June Robbins, Cantwell and his artistic collaborators strengthened the connection between the two stories. It shows that June is just as capable as Rocky and Ace, and just as deserving of a spot on the Challengers. While it took many years for this to happen in the real world,DCnevertheless came to their senses and made June Robbins a Challenger of the Unknown.
Challengers of the Unknown #2is on sale now from DC Comics!
