Comic Title: Challengers of the Unknown #42
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Feb/Mar 1965
On Sale Date: December 3, 1964 Copyright Date December 3, 1964
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1964

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

Title: "The Secret of the Masked Challenger"
Pages: 12

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

Writer: France E. Herron
Artist: Bob Brown

Feature Character(s)

• Challengers of the Unknown (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #42; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #43)
• Ace Morgan (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #42; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #43)
• Rocky Davis (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #42; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #43)
• Red Ryan (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #42; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #43)
• Prof. Haley (last appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #42; next appearance in Challengers of the Unknown #43)

Villain(s)

• The Mandroid and his creator (no further appearances)

Comments:
Red gains powers similar to Cyclops of the X-Men in this story.

Synopsis:
A giant monster called the Mandroid raids a gold reserve from underground. The Challengers investigate. Red follows the underground tunnel used by the Mandroid and is exposed to a strange gem. The radiation of the jewel causes Red's eyes to shoot powerful laser beams. He is forced to wear protective googles to prevent himself from harming others.

Red and the other Challs track down the Mandroid. Red uses his laser beams to protect his friends, but the Mandroid captures them to prevent him from using the beams directly. Instead, Red throws the jewel at the Mandroid. The gem's radiation destroys the giant, then the Challs apprehend the Mandroid's creator. Red's condition eventually reverses, restoring him to normal.