Blackhawk #243

Blackhawk #243 (On Sale: August 8, 1968) is the end of a long run that began with Blackhawk #9 in 1944 at Quality Comics. This final issue has an odd cover by Pat Boyette. Of course Blackhawk would return in 1976 for a seven-issue run and 1982 for a 23-issue run, bringing the final numbering up to 273.

This swansong is "Mission Incredible" by Bob Haney and Pat Boyette. As the Blackhawks attempt to rebuild Blackhawk Island after the attack by the Black Mask, they receive a mission to rescue Anya, the daughter of Professor Keroff from the clutches of an assassin, Strogoff. The assassin has killed Keroff and wants Anya because she possesses knowledge of the professor research and formulas. The Blackhawks break her out of Strogoff's facility in Asia, then make their way back to friendly territory, doing battle with Strogoff's men along the way. They eventually convince the assassin that Anya has perished in an explosion, so he calls off the pursuit.

When Anya is safe, she mistrusts Blackhawk because he made her throw away her beloved doll, to convince Strogoff that the girl was dead. Olaf is able to charm the girl and get her to pass along Keroff's research by inviting her to the circus.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Blackhawk #242

Blackhawk #242 (On Sale: June 11, 1968) has Pat Boyette's first cover and first artwork for DC. It features a new Blackhawk logo, good for this one issue only and the return of the original Blackhawk uniforms.

This book tells you everything you ever should need to know about what kind a editor was Dick Giordano. When Dick was given the Blackhawk book he was told there were only three issues left before cancellation. Last issue featured the inventory work he was given from previous editor George Kashdan; it is in these final two issues that we see Giordano's take on Blackhawk.

In Dick Giordano: Changing Comics, One Day At A Time by Michael Eury, Giordano relates, "Blackhawk was one of my favorite comics when I was a kid." As such Giordano hoped to resuscitate the series or at least send the book off in a style he felt it deserved. Dick found a way to do that by perusing Kashdan's unopened mail.

From Dick Giordano: Changing Comics, One Day At A Time...

Recalls Marv Wolfman, who was then in his late teens and active in comics fandom: "I had sent in a spec script for Blackhawk, which was being edited by George Kashdan at the time. I didn't like the direction of the series. They had changed the Blackhawks into something called the 'Junk Heap Heroes'--which they where." Wolfman's treatment restored the Blackhawks to their former glory, and Giordano, having met Marv at several conventions, called the teen and offered to print the story (although it was dialogued by Bob Haney). "The was my first published work for DC," says Wolfman.

Giordano was not satisfied to just return the book to its former direction, he also wanted something special for the last two issues, so he phoned long-time golden-age Blackhawk artist Reed Crandall and offered the last two issues to him. Crandall was hesitant to accept the assignment, but was finally won over by Giordano's enthusiasm for the project. This was one of those times that Dick's "hands-off" style of editing almost proved fatal.

He called Crandall two weeks before the art was due for a status and Crandall confessed that he hadn't started and the aged Crandall admitted he "couldn't do this anymore." Really in a tight deadline bind, Giordano called on his old Charlton friend Pat Boyette to knock out the last issues of Blackhawk.

"My Brother – My Enemy" is plotted by Marv Wolfman, scripted by Bob Haney and drawn by Pat Boyette. The Blackhawks learn that G.E.O.R.G.E. has been wiped out by a villain known as the Black Mask. Without their special equipment, the Blackhawks are forced to return to their original uniforms and tactics to track down their foe. Blackhawk soon learns that the Black Mask is secretly his brother Jack, whom Blackhawk thought to be long dead.

During the early days of World War II before the Blackhawks were formed, Bart Hawk (Blackhawk's real name is revealed for the first time) and his brother were pilots flying a mission against the Nazis. Jack's plane was used as a decoy and shot down. Bart believed his brother dead and left his unit to become Blackhawk. However, Jack survived and was found by the Nazis. His damaged body was molded into a weapon and his mind was turned against his former allies and brother. Before the newly created Black Mask could seek vengeance, the Blackhawks bombed the Nazi camp. The Nazis were killed and Jack fell into a sleep of suspended animation.

Having recently awakened from his long slumber, Jack, now the Black Mask is eager to destroy his brother. The Blackhawks return to Blackhawk Island where Black Mask unleashes the War Wheel against them. The Blackhawks prevail in the fight. Black Mask is able to elude capture following the battle when Blackhawk is unable to fire upon his own brother.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Blackhawk #241

Blackhawk #241 (On Sale: April 9, 1968) has the last of the Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera covers as new editor Dick Giordano burns through inventory from George Kashdan's run.

"A Blackhawk a Day" is by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. The Blackhawks receive letters inviting them to various meetings around the world. When they arrive at the individual meetings, they discover traps have been set to capture them. For each of six days one of the Blackhawks is caught by Baron Booby-Trap who intends to turn them over to the Crime Combine. However, Chuck, the Listener, is able to get a message to Blackhawk. He then helps the others escape and together they trap the Crime Combine and Baron Booby-Trap.

The back-up story, "The Phantom Spy," is a reprint from Blackhawk #160 by Jack Miller, Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff.

Edited by Dick Giordano.

Blackhawk #240

Blackhawk #240 On Sale: February 8, 1968) has a cover by Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. Dig that 60's free-form lettering!

"He Who Must Die" is by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. Andre, backed up by the other Blackhawks, approaches female spy Natasha Zero to gain a deadly nerve gas and prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Natasha leads Andre into a trap set by her buyer, Le Croc. The other Blackhawks appear to fall victim to the nerve gas, but they are protected with the aid of nose filters. The Blackhawks then apprehend Le Croc and Natasha, exposing the female spy as a man.

I'll never forget that last panel when Blackhawk proclaims, "She's a man, baby!" OK, maybe that panel never happened.

The back-up story "The Perils of Blackie, the Wonder Bird," is a reprint from Blackhawk #111 drawn by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff. Undercover aboard a smuggling ship, government agent Roger Vance intends to deliver a message to the Blackhawks using Blackie, the Blackhawk bird, as a messenger. The smugglers intercept Blackie, but they can't find the message. Blackie is able to signal the Blackhawks who find the smugglers and capture them. They also retrieve the message hidden inside a hollow feather. No wonder they can't find anyone to claim credit for the writing!

Edited by George Kashdan.

Blackhawk #239

Blackhawk #239 (On Sale: December 12, 1967) has another Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera cover. Two questions: 1. Why does the "killer that Time Forgot" remind me of Ma Hunkle? 2). Damn, the old Blackhawk uniforms sure look great! OK, that last on wasn't really a question.

"The Killer That Time Forgot" is by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. In a snow bank atop the alps, a man who has been frozen in the ice awakens and frees himself. The man walks to a nearby town where a museum is being robbed by a group of Blackhawk impostors. The man attacks them, then walks away.

When the real Blackhawks are called to the town, they recognize the man as the Iron Hammer, a Nazi they fought during World War II. The Nazi was thought to have been killed under an avalanche, but now the Blackhawks know he survived.

The back-up story is "End of the Line" reprinted from Our Army at War #12 and created by John Reed, Gene Colan and Bernard Sachs.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Blackhawk #238

Blackhawk #238 (On Sale: October 12, 1967) sports an unusual cover by the usual team of Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera.

Inside we have "The Walking Booby-Traps" by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera, a continuation of last issue's story. The Blackhawks are captured by the international criminal Barbarossa and the traitorous android G.E.O.R.G.E. agent, Johnny Vak. The team is knocked unconscious, then mysteriously released. When they return to G.E.O.R.G.E. headquarters they each discover powerful explosive implanted into the skulls. Though Mr. Delta places them under arrest for going off on their own while suspended, the team escapes in order to prevent the explosives from hurting others.

Edited by George Kashdan.

Blackhawk #237

Blackhawk #237 (On Sale: August 15, 1967) sports a pretty dramatic cover by the usual team of Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera.

Inside we have "The Magnificent Assassins" by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera, a continuation of last issue's story. The Blackhawks are forced to answer for the death of G.E.O.R.G.E. agent Johnny Vak after a mission goes bad. Each Blackhawks gives his own account of the mission to Mr. Delta who accuses the team of intentionally trying to sabotage the mission and kill Johnny. Following their testimony, the Blackhawks are suspended.

Johnny Vak, really an android agent, is repaired and sent to complete the botched mission alone. Seeking to restore their good names, the Blackhawks go against orders and follow Johnny to help him. When they find the location of Barbarossa, the enemy agent Johnny was sent to kill, the Blackhawks discover that Johnny Vak is really working with the criminal.

Edited by George Kashdan