Golden Age Idol--The Challenger!!

Friends, sometimes I miss the boat on reviving old Golden Age heroes for fun and profit. Sometimes, modern creators beat me to the punch!!

Case in point:

So wait, what's the premise here?

You have to admit, that's a pretty cool concept.

When we first meet The Challenger, he's protecting a nice young woman from a thug!

Yes, his mask looks like a Starro is controlling him.

But, as the splash blurb told us, Challenger is a master of all weapons, and he can beat you at your choice!

OK, that's at least one weapon he's mastered.

But who is this guy?

Hey--you're breaking the fourth wall--with thought balloons!! I knew I liked this guy...

Anyway, young Bill Waring is, well, kind of the before panel in the Charles Atlas ads:

In a bit of really over-complicated plotting, his father is killed and he is wounded by crooks working with the corrupt district attorney!

And then Bill begins what I've always imagined young Bruce Wayne's journeys must have been like:

Let's face it--that's a killer concept!!

Once he finds Joe Chill his father's killer, it's time once again to prove his mastery of all combat!

Seriously, I love this concept to death!!!

Like many other Timely heroes, The Challenger faded away, and was never heard from again--until Dan Slott brought him back in an issue of She-Hulk!!

It was a throwaway little bit, and they never explained what the hell this "time bounce" was. Post-Civil War, he turned up in Montana's team in the Fifty State Initiative. And that was it--he's been missing in action again for nearly a decade.

But man, this is such an insanely wonderful concept. This guy could be Marvel's Batman--he's already got the origin. A man who sees his father killed, who has no powers but pushes himself to master every weapon and form of combat there is!! Throw in the ludicrous but brilliant gimmick: he'll let his opponent chose any weapon they want--and he'll beat them with it!!

And now you can add in the "found himself in an era not his own" spin. Think of how outdated his knowledge and mastery must be now. He'll have to relearn everything, and master new skills from tasers to computers to paste guns to krav maga to...because you damn well know that he's going to continue his crusade against crime.

So, OK, Marvel, you beat me to resurrecting this guy. But take the next step!! You're sitting on a gold mine here!!! This could be the sensational character (re)find of 2017!! And he fits in swell with the Legacy theme!! Bring back The Challenger!!

From Daring Mystery Comics #7 (1941) and She-Hulk #11 (2005)