| Issue | #85 |
| Published | February-March 1978 |
| Frequency | bi-monthly |
| Cover Price | 0.35 USD |
| Pages | 36 |
| Editing | Jack C. Harris |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown [Ace Morgan; Prof Haley; Red Ryan; Rocky Davis; June Robbins] |
| Genre | adventure |
| Pencils | Rich Buckler (signed) |
| Inks | Jack Abel (signed) |
| Characters | Challengers of the Unknown [Red Ryan; Ace Morgan; Rocky Davis; Prof Haley; June Robbins]; Deadman; Swamp Thing; Rip Hunter, Time Master; citizens; police; monsters; degenerate future-men; Jeff Johnson; Bonnie Baxter; Corky Baxter (flashback) |
| Synopsis | Continued from last issue. In Challenger Mountain, Swamp Thing and Deadman (unseen) hang around. Red, jealous over June, punches Rocky and storms out. While a giant box pops up in Toronto giving off radiation. Prof is wheelchair-bound from recent fungal infection. The Challs fly. Rocky moons over June. Deadman tries to penetrate the box, bounces off, and it cracks open to spill a rampaging monster. The Challs fire rocket-guns without effect, but Swamp Thing's blows and Deadman's-possessing-June rockets finally kill the monster. They haul the box and carcass to Challenger Mountain. A "negative number" from carbon-dating means it's from the future. Rip Hunter, Time Master, might know what's going on, but he's been missing for "at least three years" (since RIP HUNTER, TIME MASTER 29). The Challs fly to Rip's desert lab, which is dusty. Swamp Thing pushes a button and Rip's Time Sphere appears. With a skeleton of a degenerated future-man. Rip must be dead, but if the monsters come from the future. The Challs supply the time sphere and take off. Deadman stows away inside Swamp Thing. They arrive in 12,000,000 AD in fantastic crumbling ruins. They're surrounded by future-men and Rip Hunter in rags and a crown. "For trespassing on our sacred city, you must die!" Continued. |
| Genre | adventure |
| Script | Gerry Conway |
| Pencils | Keith Giffen |
| Inks | John Celardo |
| Colors | Jerry Serpe |
| Letters | Milt Snapinn |
| Editing | Jack C. Harris |
| Notes | Rip Hunter, Time Master also guest-stars in 86 and 87. |
| Synopsis | Fans like the new Challenger series and the guest-star revivals, which have been touted in teasers and the DC Hot Line (phone announcements). The editor (JCH) says they'll "experiment". There's a contest on to name the letters page. "Send us YOUR comments." |
| Letters | typeset |
| Characters | Legion of Super-Heroes [Karate Kid; Superboy; Cosmic Boy; Colossal Boy; Chameleon Boy]; Major Disaster |
| Synopsis | "Karate Kid Battles Legion!" "Joker's Laughing Fish Are Loaded!" "Ask the Answer Man", "Direct Currents" and other news. |
| Letters | typeset |
| Editing | Bob Rozakis |