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April - May 1978 |
Continuing from last issue. . . Prof is wheelchair-bound in
Challenger Mountain, and attacked by a mutant lizard from the
future. He picks up a green gun “Red Ryan built for use against
an Ice Age mammoth we once fought”. It blasts the “freak-sized
lizard” to goo. |
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Then six more future-boxes pop in,
crack, and release lizards. Hampered by a wheelchair, Prof drives
into a “special airlock we designed” and slams the hatch.
THOOOM! He’s safe, for now. “Monsters from beyond
time. It’s so insane.” He recalls. . . Chapter 1 The Way It Began (A flashback shows COTU 85 events.) But, “All the monitoring equipment
I was using to keep track of the time sphere – It’s inside the
main lab!” If the creatures destroy the equipment, the other
Challengers “may be trapped in the future – literally – for all time!” (We wonder why hungry lizards would
destroy things and not, say, go hunt up a juicy mountain goat.
But monsters will be monsters.) |
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Chapter 2 "If This Is Tomorrow, You Must Be Rip Hunter!" In the future, Ace, Rocky, and June and Swamp Thing and Deadman
(unseen) have found Rip Hunter, who’s “a Gestapo type” in a ragged
uniform and crown, a mind-slave of the Sunset Lords. Rip’s crew is
also enslaved. Swamp Thing can see in Rip’s eyes, “his deeply-burined pain – the agony
of living a helpless nightmare!” Even Rocky can see he’s hypnotized.
So can Deadman. “Get movin’ before you become ghosts, too!” As Rip’s crew fires, Swamp Thing blocks the blasts with his body. Swampy goes down. |
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Deadman
dives into the body of a mutant-man and attacks Rip. Jeff and
Bonnie headlock the guy, and Deadman leaves. (Why not possess Rip
Hunter?) The Challengers run for the Time Sphere. But a giant called The Persuader lifts it “as if it were a bubble-gum machine!” Rocky jumps in. “I’ve
wrestled crocodiles and tigers – and I’ve stayed in the ring with three
guys at once. . . He’s asking for a mouthful of loose teeth!” |
But Rocky only hurts his hand and is “persuaded” as he’s bowled over.
Ace, June, and Swamp Thing attack
and are beaten flat. Deadman tries to possess The Persuaders, but
he’s more machine than man. The chief Sunset Lord orders them
“to the pit”. Rip Hunter is a disappointment. The puppet
mumbles, “Forgive this ignorant slave, Sunset Lord.” The Sunset Lord thinks they might
“use their amazing abilities to crush the accursed Lucas Lawspeaker and
his pandering rebel friends!” Only Deadman is left, and feels
helpless “havin’ to just float while that man-robot makes mincemeat of
the Challs.” So he possesses a citizen to find this alleged rebel
Lawspeaker. (OK, I'll ask. Why is Corky Baxter still 15 if he's been missing for 10 years?) |
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Chapter 3 Time Times Terror Back in Challenger Mountain, Prof
(still weak from his fungal infection) dons a “combination spacesuit
and battle armor” with motorized muscles “to operate under high
gravity”. It’s never been properly tested, but he wades into
battle. If it fails, “there won’t be enough left of me to stick a
postage stamp on!” He wishes his pals were here: Rocky, June, Ace.
(Oddly, no mention of Red, who walked out.) |
Meanwhile,
Red, in civvies, wonders what he’s doing in a Metropolis hotel “when my
buddies are in Colorado”. Hundreds of boxes are popping up.
One, in fact, in the street. Red runs out as the box cracks to
reveal a giant purple worm. He dashes to a WGBS-TV truck and
grabs some equipment. “Who do you think you are?” “The
name’s Red Ryan, kiddo – and I’m a Challenger of the Unknown!” In moments, “the world’s greatest
electronics expert” (Huh?) has rigged a mini-cam as a makeshift
laser. If it doesn’t explode - It doesn’t. The purple
worm does.
Then he looks for a plane to Colorado. |
In the future, Deadman learns about
the Sunset Lord’s tyrannical rule. They grow people for specific
jobs in “gene vats” like “human yeast”. The monsters were a bad
batch. When Rip showed up, the chief used his “Sun Staff” to take
over Rip’s mind. They sent the rejects into the past like
garbage. Now they plan to take over all of time, including the
20th Century. |
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Chapter 4 A Pit By Any Other Name In
the Pits, the Challengers are prisoners of a light beam. Rocky is
miserable. “Fine mess I’ve gotten us into. . .” Ace says,
“Nobody blames you.” June adds, “You were rather brave – for a
punch-drunk fighter.” Rocky strains mightily to “tear
loose of this light beam.” A wrestler gets used to pain. He
struggles until – he blacks out.
While a Sunset Lord watches, testing their limits. |
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Deadman floats to “Black Alley” and finds a crowd. He possesses a husky guy to mingle – - But a princely rogue calls out, “Boston Brand, welcome to the rebellion!” He’s Lucas Lawspeaker! Next issue: “Twelve Million Years to Twilight!” |
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Challenger Mountain Mail Room Dave Blanchard only bought the book
because of the guest stars, congratulating Gerry Conway. Now he
finds the stories “terrific” and “splendid”. Sammuel Herskovitz
(no address) likes the guest stars, but wants more Challengers.
And how come the letters are four months old? Ye Editor speaks: “We hope the
Challengers are doing there (sic) part by now. . .” and “this is Swamp
Thing’s home for now. . . Next to impossible” to process letters
faster, but isn’t it worth the wait to finally see your name?’ |
Comments This issue got a teaser ad in another Daily Planet.
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At
the Daily Planet, “More Secret Origins" of Dr. Fate, Lightray, and
Black Canary. And “Gravedigger Faces Choice of Deaths!”
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DC also had a mailer version of Direct Currents? Wonder how long that lasted?
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DC also debuted their Dollar Comics, which were a terrific bargain if you could afford it.
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