New Challengers Vol. 1 is a fast-paced introduction to DC’s rebooted hero team.
DC Comic’s New Challengers team is an interesting smorgasbord of conflicting personalities forced to work as one team. Conflict is what drives a compelling narrative, and New Challengers Vol. 1 has it in spades. With the arrival of this newly collected trade, fans can relive the introduction of DC’s rebooted team.
The New Challengers are anything but new. This rebooted team is based on Challengers of the Unknown—created by Jack Kirby in 1957. The original Challengers were composed of Kyle “Ace” Morgan, Matthew “Red” Ryan, Walter Mark “Prof” Haley, and June Robbins. This new series doesn’t discount the old. In fact, it takes into account all the history from the past and passes the baton to a new generation.
And this hand-off isn’t without it quarrels either. The New Challengers—instead of suffering the same “deaths” all in one swoop like the originals—arrive in Challenger Mountain after experiencing individual fatalities. Here in lies what makes this series introduction so well-structured.
Issues #1 through #6 explore not only the team’s dynamics but the past histories of each new member. The information is presented in a very slick and just-in-time manner—making their individual stories that much more compelling. For instance, Krunch is initially presented as an impatient, typical brute. However, we soon learn why he has this disposition, which humanizes him and makes him all the more sympathetic.
While we’re at it, we might as well go through this new team roster: Krunch, who we just talked about, was raised by a loving single father in a rough neighborhood. As an adult, Krunch is released after serving time for working with Intergang to steal an Apokolips-origin weapon. Even though he’s paid his debt to society, Intergang doesn’t see it that way. While Krunch was in prison, the criminal group kills his friends as revenge for not giving them the weapon. Krunch later lays waste to the group as payback. Krunch may be brutish, but he’s loyal.
Bethany Hopkins is a former tough-as-nails soldier. How tough? Let’s just say she single-handedly escaped from a terrorist prison camp in the Middle East and massacred her takers. This is someone you want on your side when things go sideways.
Trina Alvarez is a Gotham City herbalist whose only other family is an elderly grandmother. She tries her best to serve her community by providing medicine to the less fortunate. Though she’s a “healer,” one should not underestimate her ability to defend herself and the community she loves—of which is demonstrated early in the story.
Moses Barber, a reclusive tech geek, is definitely an interesting fellow. Most always say you should be careful of the quiet ones, and Moses is no exception. Though he’s the most nervous of the bunch, he’s also shown to be one of the most resourceful.
As you can see, these new Challengers are perfect for our modern times. They’re complex characters with interesting backstories. However, it can be appreciated that the writers didn’t force any unneeded drama to bring about that authenticity. Everything is quite organic, which elevates the characters that much more.
For those who were fans of the original Challengers of the Unknown, you will be treated to the old team in issue #2, but it’s no friendly cameo. The New Challengers must prove their mettle to the original team. The conflict comes at the characters from both ends—learning how to work with each other, and showing their worth as one cohesive team.
The artwork in all six issues is clean, but there were times when character designs contributed to some confusion. Due to both Trina and Bethany being brunettes, it was sometimes difficult when trying to discern them. That’s the only complaint we have about the artwork. Readers who are fans of large splash pages will get a kick out of issue #6 when the New Challengers wage battle in the Dark Multiverse. It’s an entertaining mix of epic battles, sci-fi, magic, and body horror.
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New Challengers Vol. 1 is a definite recommend, and it’s a great reboot of an existing team with the added incentive of retaining an established history. This leaves the door open for the Challengers of the Unknown to continue to have their adventures. Who knows? Maybe aside from this introduction, we’ll see another crossover of both teams in the near future.
New Challengers Vol. 1 is currently available for $16.99 wherever comics are sold.
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