Warning: Spoilers for Challengers of the Unknown #1
Every comic book fan has some degree of familiarity with the Fantastic FourBut what many don't know is that DC Comics houses a team with a very similar gimmick to Marvel's First Family – but they've never shared the same level of popularity. Now, after joining the Justice League, the Challengers of the Unknown have undergone a major lore overhaul that shows they have what it takes to finally surpass the Fantastic Four.
Challengers of the Unknown #1 by Christopher Cantwell, Sean Izaakse, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou marks the long-awaited return of DC's most underrated team to the Justice League cast. As the team is reintroduced into the DC canon, their history is explained and Ace Morgan sums up the tragedy of their origin: “We are blessed with life. But we are also tinged with death.”
The backstory of the Challengers of the Unknown has been redefined in a compelling way that reveals the dark side of their loreas the effect the team's past has on them demonstrates how much more compelling they can be than their competition from the Fantastic Four.
DC's version of the Fantastic Four just got a tragic new origin
Sorry, Fantastic Four: The Challengers of the Unknown have a sadder story
The Challengers of the Unknown were formed after their heroes were caught up in a devastating plane crash that, for all intents and purposes, should have been fatal. However, miraculously, the team members – Ace Morgan, Professor Haley, Rocky Davis, Red Ryan and June Robbins – survive and are struck with the realization that they are “living on borrowed time”. Knowing that their time could run out at any moment, they become the Challengers of the Unknown and dedicate themselves to chasing anomalies as a way to live their lives to the fullest. However, in pursuing this cause, the Challengers inadvertently lived emptier lives.
In this issue, Ace faces his inner demons during a mission to Mars with Superman. Different versions of himself confront him, all following different paths than the real Ace, and accuse him of never making a choice for himself. By becoming the Challengers, Ace and his companions deprived themselves of things like falling in love or accepting superpowers. Simply put, living on borrowed time means they are not truly embracing life. Ace's variants reiterate that he should have died in the plane crash, and the other Challengers likely feel the same way. The origin of the Fantastic Four is certainly sad, but that of the Challengers is officially much more tragic.
Jack Kirby's 'Prototype' for the Fantastic Four Sets the Precedent for Marvel's First Family
The Challengers of the Unknown is the project of the Fantastic Four
If the Challengers of the Unknown's backstory sounds familiar, it's because the Fantastic Four's is surprisingly similar. Just like the Challengers, Reed Richards and his allies faced an accident during a space flight in which he encouraged them to join him. The four were exposed to cosmic rays that forever altered their biology, with Reed responsible for their suffering. Herein lies the main difference between the Fantastic Four and Challengers of the Unknown; the Fantastic Four received superpowers from their incident as a consolation prize, while the Challengers only have trauma to show for it..
The Fantastic Four have joined forces with the Challengers of the Unknown before! At Amalgam Comics, the two teams combine to form the Fantastic Challengers. To learn more, check out Fantástico Challengers #1 by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett.
The shared qualities between the Fantastic Four and the Challengers stem from the fact that both teams were created by comic book legend Jack Kirby. The Challengers of the Unknown were originated by Kirby in 1956 Showcase #6, and the Fantastic Four made their debut later in 1961 Fantastic Four #1. Both teams also share the main goal of investigating strange cosmic phenomena in their respective universes. Unfortunately, despite the Challengers filling this role first, they haven't had much luck with the public and are therefore ignored by many. The Fantastic Four, on the other hand, is much more successful – for now.
The Fantastic Four are more popular than their DC challengers, but that could change
DC's Fantastic Four are finally coming into their own in their new series
Despite being preceded by the Challengers of the Unknown, the Fantastic Four remain the most popular team on the pop culture scene. Furthermore, with Fantastic Four: Getting Started on the horizon to introduce them to the MCU audience, their popularity will only continue to skyrocket over time. However, the latest evolution of Challengers proves that they have the potential to reach this wider audience. Their profound tragedy adds to their appeal, and now that they have been granted such an integral role in CC tradition, the Challengers of the Unknown may have what it takes to overcome the Fantastic Four.
Challengers of the Unknown #1 is now available from DC Comics.