Blackhawk Squadron, some say,
was the Best Comic Book
Team Ever Created!

Blackhawk Squadron or the Blackhawks, as they were called, began in 1941. They have had various renditions that have lasted into the 1980’s. Although I was never a fan boy of the Blackhawks and they have been somewhat obscure in their history, they have endured.

I have also been in contact with a real fan of this group who is writing a series of books or serial stories based on the original Blackhawk heroes. His writings can be found at Angels of Vengeance .

The original Blackhawk Squadron team first appeared in Military Comics #1 (August 1941) and last appeared in Blackhawk #273 (November 1984). The Blackhawks debuted in Quality Comics' Military Comics #1 and was featured here for several years. Military Comics was renamed "Modern Comics" and eventually cancelled with #102 (October 1950). Their self-named book (which debuted in 1944) continued to be published by Quality until #107 in 1956.

Quality itself had folded by then, but the title was integrated with the DC Universe and published continuously until #243 (November 1968), by which time its genre had become too anachronistic to compete with the rising superhero books.

Blackhawk Squadron, as stated before, was a long-running comic book series. But it was also a film serial, a radio series and a novel. The series was created by Will Eisner, Chuck Cuidera, and Bob Powell, but the artist most associated with the feature is Reed Crandall. Future Justice League of America artist Dick Dillin succeeded him in the 1950s, continuing on through DC's acquisition of the series.

The original characters included:

1.Blackhawk the group’s leader, was originally identified as Polish, but later issues referred to him as American. His actual name was unknown until Blackhawk #242 (Aug.-Sep. 1968) revealed that his name was Bart Hawk, an American of Polish extraction.

2.Andre (last name unknown) is French.

3.Olaf Bjornson is from Norway.

4.Chuck Wilson is a Texas-born American.

5.Hans Hendrickson is Dutch.

6.Stanislaus (last name unknown) is Polish.

7.Chop-Chop (named Liu Huang in Blackhawk #203; Mark Evanier named him Wu Cheng in Blackhawk #251 to 273), is Chinese.

8.Zinda Blake (Lady Blackhawk) is American.

For the most part, the Blackhawk Squadron was a group of real definable WW II heroes. But as an attempt to stay competitive, there was a disastrous attempt to turn them into superheroes under the so-called New Blackhawk Era (#228-241).

They were later restored to their original roots for two issues before the 1968 cancellation. A short 1970s run (#244 to #250) attempted an update, but since then nearly all Blackhawk sightings (few and far between) are of a flashback nature.

Due to the popularity of my comic book site, a real fan of the Blackhawks came to my attention and we have been in contact ever since. Kevin is quite a writer in his own right and continues to create his own rendition of the Blackhawk Squadron. I would like to keep his and every other Squadron fan’s interest alive. So I have created a download page so you can have accesses to his creations at the Angels of Vengeance . Download and read to your heart’s content. And there is also a form there for your comments.

Well, I have only touched on the interesting and varied history of the Blackhawks. But, for your reading enjoyment, I have found an excellent site that goes into real depth on The Blackhawk Squadron . Reminisce on!!

Dave Gieber