Written by Andrew Fontana
New Challengers is definitely one of those books that takes a few issues to fully come together. Issue #1 was a fun if unnecessary reboot of a quirky DC property. Issue #2 built on that foundation a bit further even as it struggled to find it’s own identity.
It was as if this new Challengers of The Unknown couldn’t find a balance between its gritty tone and the cheesier aspects of the original Challengers. Aaron Gillespie and Scott Snyder finally strike that balance in issue #3 by giving this book a clear hook and sense of purpose that makes New Challengers #3 genuinely original.
New Challengers #3 leans heavily on the status quo established through Dark Nights: Metal. Gillespie uses that event to deliver some great twists that definitely enlivens the plot. We also get a much better sense of where this book is headed long-term. The first two issues were mostly one and done despite despite the hints of a larger story being set. Issue #3 begins piecing that larger story together.
Adam Kubert’s art continues to be New Challengers’ best feature. His work here has a pulpy sensibility that carries the entire script. His style calls back to the original Challengers while maintaining the modern sleekness of modern comic book art. Whether it’s Vikings riding on dinosaurs or the slums of Metropolis, Kubert shows a remarkable range that’s hard to beat.
Rating: 7.5
