Comic Title: Challengers of the Unknown #31
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Apr/May 1963
On Sale Date: February 14, 1963 Newsstand Date February 14, 1963
Source: House Ad, My Greatest Adventure #78, Page 9

Copyright Date February 14, 1963
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1963

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Murray Boltinoff

Title: "The Man Who Saved the Challenger's Lives"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Challengers of the Unknown (of Earth-1)

Artist: Bob Brown

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Challengers of the Unknown Vol. 2 TPB (2008)

Feature Character(s)

• Challengers of the Unknown (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #30; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #32)
• Ace Morgan (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #30; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #32)
• Rocky Davis (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #30; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #32)
• Red Ryan (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #30; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #32)
• Prof. Haley (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #30; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #32)

Villain(s)

• Wilfred Clayton (an oil tycoon; no further appearances)
• Barton (a wrestler; appears in flashback; no further appearances)
• Senor Domingo and a hired killer (appear in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Dr. Steuben (no further appearances)
• Sir Lawrence Revere (a marine expert; appears in flashback; no further appearances)
• A young boy (appears in flashback; dies in this story; no further appearances)
• Mr. Staley and his men (appear in flashback; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Ace Morgan (last appearance in New Adventures of Superboy #1; next appearance in Showcase #6)
• Red Ryan (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Showcase #6)
• Rocky Davis (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Showcase #6)
• Prof. Haley (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Showcase #6)

Comments:
Chap. 2: "The Secret from the Challengers’ Past"
Chap. 3: "The Warrior from 1,000 A.D."

The origin of the Challengers is retold in this story including new facts about how each team member was chosen to appear on the "Heroes" television program.

Synopsis:
Oil tycoon Wilfred Clayton contacts the Challengers and informs them that he was responsible for pulling them free from Ace’s plane in the fateful crash from which the team was formed. The Challs feel they owe their lives to Clayton and agree to help him assemble a statue which has been uncovered in Central America.

The Challs attempt to assemble the statue which is missing its arms, but Prof discovers it is a robot. Clayton turns on Prof and Red, intending to use the robot for personal gain. Rocky and Ace pretend to continue repairing the statue, but instead they destroy it. Ace has discovered that Clayton has lied about his involvement with the team’s origin and is using the Challs for his own purposes.