Jack Kirby reinvented the superhero genre with his sprawling saga of the Fourth World—a bold storytelling vision that was decades ahead of its time. In honor of this extraordinary talent’s centennial, DC Comics is proud to re-present the groundbreaking work of the King of Comics in a brand-new series collecting his classic DC titles in all their four-color glory! After walking away from a seemingly un-survivable plane crash, test pilot Ace Morgan, mountain climber Red Ryan, heavyweight boxing champ Rocky Davis and underwater explorer Prof Haley make a pact to continue defying death and seeking out mystery around the world. Their motto is “Dare Anything,” and their assignments are the most unusual and incredible tasks ever encountered! There is no danger that they fear, or risk that they will not accept! They call themselves…the Challengers of the Unknown! Discover some of comics’ most daring writing and dynamic art—and thrill to the imaginative power of one of the medium’s greatest masters—in CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN BY JACK KIRBY, collecting all of the King’s stories from SHOWCASE #6-7 and 11-12 and CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #1-8, accompanied by illuminating essays from former DC editor Paul Kupperberg and acclaimed Kirby historian John Morrow.

"Originally published in single magazine form in Challengers of the Unknown 1-8"--Copyright page.

Once considered heroes, the Challengers of the Unknown are now treated like relics, but that all changes when their mountaintop headquarters are blown up and they are placed on trial for their lives.

Spinning out of the best-selling DARK NIGHTS: METAL epic comes NEW CHALLENGERS, a group of fearless explorers who will uncover the worst--and weirdest--the DC Universe has to offer. A new team of misfits are given a second chance at life by the mysterious figure "The Professor"...but only if they're willing to explore the most unknown reaches of the universe. Seeking a set of powerful artifacts, the team must defeat a rival group of explorers to combine them...or the world as we know it could end. From legendary artist Andy Kubert (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT: MASTER RACE) and writer Scott Snyder (DARK NIGHTS: METAL, BATMAN), NEW CHALLENEGERS emerges as one of the flagship titles of The New Age of Heroes! Collects NEW CHALLENEGERS #1-6. The DC Universe just got bigger! In the New Age of Heroes, DC introduces a bold new line of comics starring a thrilling array of heroes--some you know, some you may have glimpsed in the pages of Dark Nights: Metal. They embody a spirit of epic, adventurous bravery--the kind you may remember from another era, but updated in an exciting way for today. Illustrated by DC's Master Class of artists, including legendary names like Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, John Romita Jr., Ivan Reis, Tony S. Daniel and others, these new series are great entry points for new readers and a welcome addition for longtime fans of the DC library.

Four years before Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created Marvel's Fantastic Four, there was another adventurous foursome co-created by Kirby that set forth to challenge the unknown.

Ghostly hero Deadman inhabits those who need his help in order to achieve salvation himself, and after the cast and crew of a reality television series survive a near-death experience, they gain entry to a world of magic and mysticism.