Challengers Of The Unknown #2

Recap
Spinning out of Absolute Power and the DC All In Special, the terror of the Darkseid shockwave has cascaded across the DC Universe... tearing open the very fabric of time and space itself! Only one band of super-scientists have the right stuff to challenge the fate of a universe... enter: THE CHALLENGERS OF THE UKNOWN. Alongside the Justice League —where the Challengers run day-to-day operations for the massive Watchtower base in orbit above Earth — Ace Morgan, June Robbins, Prof Haley, Red Ryan, and Rocky Davis must team with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the League to seal the rifts that threaten the galaxy. But a mysterious foe from the Challengers' past lurks in the shadows, and its connection to the godshock will put the DCU on borrowed time!
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Bracing under the strict oversight of Mister Terrific in their investigation into the Godshock and still reeling from something Unknown rattling them all internally, it’s June’s turn to be shaken to the core when a strange rupture in the deepest part of the ocean draws the League’s scrutiny… and awakens the most difficult creation of her Challenger past.
Review
Challengers of the Unknown #2 continues the team investigating the anomalies affecting the DCU as a result of Darkseid’s disappearance, an event that seems to have left the concept of Death in flux. This issue digs deep into the Challengers’ past and collides with the present as Ultivac, the robot with a mind, and whose storied past has seen him as a compatriot and adversary.
Cantwell, first sets the stage for the story by retelling Ultivac’s origin and his relationship to Challenger June Robbins, who Ultravac refers to as “Mother” due to her being in charge of the lab that created him. Instead this introduction, June also reveals how she had to be the one to put him down, which felt like losing a child.
In the present, Mister Terrific, the teams handler, informs June that Anomaly-B is broadcasting a message in the language developed by June’s company, which simply is “Mother.” June accompanied by Batman as her “chaperone” meet up with Aquaman and The Sea Devils to investigate the source of the message, coming from the deep part of the ocean. Here, Cantwell not only infuses humor but also shows there is a sense of conflict between the superheroes and the Challengers that continues to be a persistent theme.
The second part of the mission sees Batman once again accompanying June and eventually encountering Ultravac who is feeling the effects of Darkseid’s absence when it comes to Death and the sense that something important is missing. June also has some good and meaningful discussions with Batman as she reminds him that while he is considered a “superhero,” he like The Challengers is human and living on borrowed time.
The B-story involving Mister Terrific thoughts on The Challengers role in the bigger storyline continues to build the larger mystery. Cantwell also continues to a superb job tying this story into other series The Question and the new ongoing Aquaman series.
The artwork in the issue is great, especially the use of different styles and artists for the flashback and present timelines. By doing this it creates a nice dichotomy between the two time periods and makes the story flow well.
Final Thoughts
Challengers of the Unknown #2 continues to build the mystery surrounding the team by exploring the past and present of the teams storied history.
Challengers Of The Unknown #2
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10