Comic Title: Challengers of the Unknown #82
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: Aug/Sep 1977
On Sale Date: May 24, 1977 Newsstand Date May 24, 1977
Source: House Ad, Challengers of the Unknown #81, Page 29

Newsstand Date May 24, 1977
Source: Comic Reader, #143

Copyright Date May 24, 1977
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1977

Newsstand Date May 23, 1977
Source: Daily Planet, Vol. 77 #20
Listed as on sale the week of May 23rd

Shipping Date May 3, 1977
Source: DC Coming Attractions, #6

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.35
Page Count: 32
Editor: Jack C. Harris

Title: "The Lurker Below"
Pages: 17

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

Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Michael Netzer
Inker: Josef Rubinstein

Reprinted In:
Swamp Thing:The Bronze Age Vol. 2 TPB (2020)

Feature Character(s)

• Challengers of the Unknown (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• Ace Morgan (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• Red Ryan (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• Rocky Davis (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• Prof. Haley (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)

Supporting Character(s)

• June Robbins (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• F. Gaylord Clayburn III (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)

Villain(s)

• Heathcliff Monroe (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• M'Nagalah (name spelled M'Nagala in this story; last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)
• Residents of Perdition (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #81; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #83)

Other Character(s)

• A tractor salesman (no further appearances)
• Jason Monroe (in flashback; last name revealed; last appearance in Swamp Thing #8; no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Swamp Thing (in flashback to Swamp Thing #8)
• Abraham (in flashback to Swamp Thing #8)

Comments:
Chapter 2:"Legacy of the Damned"
Chapter 3:"The Soul Predator"
Chapter 4:"The Lurker Rises"

Borotavia was last seen in Action Comics #467.

This story is continued in part from Challengers of the Unknown #81 and continues in Challengers of the Unknown #83.

Synopsis:
Following the discovery of Prof.'s illness, the Challengers take him to the town of Perdition. They seek out Dr. Heathcliff Monroe for help, but they are attacked by the townspeople. Monroe stops the fight, then offers to help. He sends Ace and Red to retrieve vital equipment from the country of Borotavia, while Rocky and June stay behind. While, Ace and Red complete their mission, Rocky and June discover a demon worshiping cult in town and are captured.

While bound, Rocky is told that Monroe is the host for the demon M'Nagala, who was thought to have been destroyed by Swamp Thing. The townspeople have also been infected, and Prof.'s condition is linked to the demon too. Rocky escapes just as Ace and Red are returning. The three prepare to confront Monroe who is about to sacrifice June to the demon.