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Superman and Challengers of the Unknown

Superman with guest-stars Challengers of the Unknown.  This was one of Jack Kirby's very last DC works.

In a voiceover, Jimmy Olsen wonders about Kryptonian criminals who were shot into space before the invention of the Phantom Zone.  Superman "doesn't lose any sleep over it."  Yet he should, for Zo-Mar, a villain, has just come out of suspended animation...  At the Daily Planet, the Challengers of the Unknown plead with Miss Bernstein, receptionist of steel, to help contact Superman.  Last week they tried to rescue a jumper (see "Jumpy Mister Jenkins"), but failed.  The man was terrified by a strange card with a Kryptonian letter.  Hmmm...  Superman flies to the Fortress of Solitude, sits under the mind-prober ray, and recalls Zo-Mar and his evil card of mind-slaving.  Zo-Mar was shot into space as punishment...  Superman and the Challs find Zo-Mar, but he enslaves them all with his card.  Zo-Mar demands the secret of Superman's super-powers, which he lacks.  He orders Super-Puppet to destroy property.  Superman signals the Challs to rush Zo-Mar.  They snatch the card.  Except, without the card, Zo-Mar gains superpowers and flies off!  The card - treated with mutated Kryptonite - inhibits superpowers.  Superman, with more super-practice, sucks the card into the air.  Zo-Mar grabs it - losing superpowers - and Superman belts him.  Zo-Mar goes to the Phantom Zone.  Yet the Challengers still can't get past Miss Bernstein to learn the story's outcome.  Clark just teases, "Consider it a challenge."

Letterer: John Costanza; Penciller: Jack Kirby; Writer: Bob Rozakis; Colorer: Greg Theakston; Inker: Greg Theakston; Penciller: Alex Toth;

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This story - Chapter 2 of the "Give Me Power.. Give Me Your World" - was originally intended for Adventure Comics Digest 498, where the Challs had a short run of new adventures.  They were bumped out by Legion of Super-Heroes reprints, so Bob Rozakis used the finished art in this book. An unpublished cover was drawn by Gil Kane. The story was named in consultation with Bob Rozakis.

A bank exec named Jenkins refuses to come off the ledge, terrified by something in his office. The Challs pull him in, but he dives out the window to his death. What terrified him? A card with a Kryptonian letter...

Letterer: John Costanza; Writer: Bob Rozakis; Colorer: Greg Theakston; Inker: Greg Theakston; Penciller: Alex Toth;