Who's Who:
The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe 4
June 1985

Writer/Editor: Len Wein
Contributing Writer/Consulting Editor: Marv Wolfman
Associate Editor/Researcher: Robert Greenberger
Researchers: Peter Sanderson & E. Nelson Bridwell
Consulting Writers: Paul Levitz & Mike W. Barr
Production: Todd Klein
Colorists: Len Wein, Tom Ziuko, Tatjana Wood
Proofreader: Brenda Pope
Design Director: Neal Pozner
Cover Artist: George Perez & Dick Giordano
Interior Artists:
Main Challenger entry: Jack Kirby & Karl Kesel
Challenger Mountain entry: Keith Giffen & John Celardo
32 pages
$1.00

The Challengers get two entries in the pre-Crisis Who's Who. Challengers Mountain comes first, then the guys.

Here's a blowup of them from the back cover.

Funny that, with all the busy activity, the Challs just stand there!

That's Cave Carson in the red jacket. The Challengers have worked with Cave a few times (Untold Tales and JLA Year One among others).

Their splash page gets a whopping new picture by Jack Kirby and his acolyte, Karl Kesel.

The entry tells the origin (no surprises) "and thus was born the greatest group of adventurers the world has ever known!"

"Initially, the four accepted assignments on commission", using the money to build Challenger Mountain. It lists Tino Manarry as a temporary member, and the "exotic and enigmatic Corinna Stark", but assures us only June is considered the official "fifth Challenger".

The entry finishes, "their dedication to their work has never weakened. Wherever the unexplainable threatens the innocent, there you'll find the Challengers."

The Challengers Mountain entry (note it's plural, ChallengerS) says the complex was designed by Prof, Red, and June. "The mountan serves as home and stronghold to the four fear-fighters." It rightly notes the first appearance (COTU 12).

Click here to see the schematic of Challenger Mountain.

The original drawing and vellum turned up on eBay with this description.

""Jack Kirby and Karl Kesel - Who's Who #4 "Challengers of the Unknown" Splash Page Original Art (DC, 1985).

When it came to creating heroic super-groups, Jack Kirby truly was the "King."  The prototypical Sliver Age team, The Challengers of the Unknown, star in this sensational splash page.  Ace Morgan, Prof. Haley, Red Ryan, Rocky Davis, and Dr. June Roberts [sic] helped blaze the path for another famous Kirby group -- the Fantastic Four!

This thrilling splash page also has a vellum overlay that was inked for a special blue ink-only effect in the printing process.  The page has an image area of 10" x 11.5", and both pieces average Excellent condition.

Jack Kirby signed the page in ink at the lower right.  From the Fantastic Frank Collection."