DC Challenge – DC Comics – 1985–1986 – Volume 1 – #1–12

DC Challenge – DC Comics – 1985–1986 – #1–12

📘 Series Summary

In 1985, DC Comics embarked on a unique creative experiment titled DC Challenge. This 12-issue limited series functioned as a high-stakes "round-robin" game: each issue was created by a different writer/artist team who was required to end the story on a cliffhanger. The following month's team then had to resolve that predicament before creating their own impossible scenario for the next group. The only rule? No writer was allowed to talk to the others about where the plot was going.

The result is a wild, unpredictable romp through the DC Universe that features nearly every major and obscure character available at the time. From Batman and Superman to Jonah Hex, Adam Strange, and even Albert Einstein, the series spans space, time, and alternate dimensions. This meta-narrative experiment features a "Who's Who" of 80s talent, including Mark Evanier, Len Wein, Doug Moench, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane, Dave Gibbons, and Dan Jurgens. It remains a fascinating time capsule of Bronze Age creativity and a testament to the improvisational skills of the industry's greatest legends.

⭐ Why This Series Stands Out

  • A unique creative format where each team had to solve the previous issue's cliffhanger with no prior coordination.
  • Features hall-of-fame talent across all 12 issues, making it a masterpiece of collaborative (and competitive) storytelling.
  • Includes a massive roster of characters, perfect for fans of DC's deeper lore and obscure guest stars.
  • Contains text pieces and interviews in the back of most issues where writers explain their thought processes and struggles.
  • Showcases Carmine Infantino returning to the characters he helped define, alongside modern masters like Dave Gibbons.
  • The 38-page series finale (#12) features a massive collaborative effort to tie all the chaotic loose ends into a single conclusion.

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