# DC Challenge

DC Challenge was a 12-issue comic book limited series produced by DC Comics from November 1985 to October 1986, as a round robin experiment in narrative. The series' tagline was "Can You Solve It Before We Do?"

## Publication history

The DC Challenge series was conceived during a rooftop party at the 1983 San Diego Comic-Con. The premise of the series was that each chapter would be made by a different author and artist. No consultation between authors was permitted. Additionally, each chapter would end in a cliffhanger from which that chapter's author had to have planned a viable escape, and the name of the next chapter would be provided. Authors were free to use any DC character, with the exception of those whose appearances they were currently writing. Dick Giordano had been the original editor of the series, but turned the job over to Robert Greenberger before the first issue was published. The last issue of DC Challenge was a collaborative effort by six of the twelve writers.

## The issues

| Issue | Date | Story title | Writers | Artists | Featured characters |
| 1 | November 1985 | "Outbreak!" | Mark Evanier | Gene Colan and Bob Smith | Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Adam Strange, Riddler |
| 2 | December 1985 | "Blinded By the Light" | Len Wein | Chuck Patton and Mike DeCarlo | Superman, Batman, B'wana Beast, Jonah Hex, Congorilla |
| 3 | January 1986 | "Viking Vengeance" | Doug Moench | Carmine Infantino and Bob Smith | Superman, Hawkwoman, Jonah Hex, Batman, Aquaman, Adam Strange, Viking Prince, Hawkman, Alanna |
| 4 | February 1986 | "Atomic Nights" | Paul Levitz | Gil Kane and Klaus Janson | Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, Detective Chimp, Superman, Aquaman, Jimmy Olsen |
| 5 | March 1986 | "If There's a Hole in Reality, is Life a Cosmic Donut? or Thunderbolts and Lightning" | Mike W. Barr | Dave Gibbons and Mark Farmer | Adam Strange, Doctor Fate, Captain Comet, Captain Marvel, Uncle Sam, Blackhawks |
| 6 | April 1986 | "A Matter of Anti Matter" | Elliot S. Maggin | Dan Jurgens and Larry Mahlstedt | Silent Knight, Batman, Adam Strange, Deadman, Albert Einstein |
| 7 | May 1986 | "Don't Bogart That Grape ... Hand Me the Gas Pump!" | Paul Kupperberg | Joe Staton and Steve Mitchell | Mister Mxyzptlk, Plastic Man, Batman, Blackhawks, Woozy Winks |
| 8 | June 1986 | "If This Is Love, Why Do My Teeth Hurt?" | Gerry Conway | Rick Hoberg, Dick Giordano, and Arne Starr | Batman, Orion, Blackhawk, Enemy Ace, Lightray, Joker |
| 9 | July 1986 | "All This and World War, Too!" | Roy Thomas | Don Heck | Geo-Force, Metron, Son of Vulcan, Guardians of the Universe, Wonder Woman |
| 10 | August 1986 | "Jules Verne Was Right!" | Dan Mishkin | Curt Swan and Terry Austin | Deadman, Superman, Tomar-Re, Arisia Rrab, Vigilante, Adam Strange, Hawkman |
| 11 | September 1986 | "How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?" | Marv Wolfman and Cary Bates | Keith Giffen and Dave Hunt | Doctor Fate, Batman |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Prologue" | Mark Evanier | Dan Spiegle | Phantom Stranger, Bork, Mordorh, Darkseid, DeSaad, Adam Strange, Guardians of the Universe, Floyd Perkins, Superman, Kaz, Batman, Detective Chimp, Darwin Jones, Jimmy Olsen, Vigilante, Uncle Sam |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Phase 12.1: Fathers Against Suns" | Mark Evanier | Denys Cowan and Rodin Rodriguez | Superman, Manticore, Aquaman, Adam Strange, Mordorh, Anti-Matter Man, Joker, Orion, Lightray, Metron, Doctor Fate, Spectre |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Phase 12.2" | Dan Mishkin | Luke McDonnell and Rick Magyar | Batman, Joker, Kaz, Guardians of the Universe |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Phase 12.3" | Roy Thomas | Stan Woch and Jan Duursema | Viking Prince, Batman, Hawkman, Hawkwoman |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Phase 12.4" | Gerry Conway | Steve Lightle and Gary Martin | Wonder Woman, Woozy Winks, Deadman, Blackhawks, Metron |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Phase 12.5" | Len Wein | Ross Andru and Frank McLaughlin | Superman |
| 12 | October 1986 | "Phase 12.6 Final Phase" | Mark Evanier and Marv Wolfman | Tom Mandrake | Green Lantern, Flash, Superman, Batman, Elongated Man, Vixen, Hawkman, Wonder Woman, Vibe, Firestorm, Aquaman, Doctor Fate, Spectre, Eli Ellis, Darkseid, Martian Manhunter, Metron, Jimmy Olsen, Floyd Perkins, Perry White |