657 – The Fifth Challenger

A panel from Challengers of the Unknown #1, February 1958
A panel from Challengers of the Unknown #1, February 1958

In February 1958, the Challengers gain their own book with Challengers of the Unknown #1. In it, they take on a mad scientist who invents a teleporting ray to steal technology. He ends up kidnapping June Walker, who is called both an honorary member of the Challengers and “one of our most highly-regarded young scientists”. She would later be renamed to “June Robbins” in later adventures, maybe she got a divorce.

Another panel from Challengers of the Unknown #1, February 1958
Another panel from Challengers of the Unknown #1, February 1958

The mad scientists ends up creating a dimensional breach and the Challs have to figure out a way to close it and kick the creatures back to their own dimension. Definitely very Fantastic Four!