In pre-Crisis terms, if Quality Comics adventures were all on Earth-X, when DC began publishing Blackhawk, does that make those adventures technically Earth-Two?

At DC, the Blackhawks continued under the same art team as at Quality: Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera. Over the years, they began transitioned from fighting big machines to more super-villains (the Killer Shark recurred often), and sci-fi menaces that mirrored the types of stories being produced in DC’s other superhero titles. Regardless of the quality, something was working, and the title kept going into the mid-1960s. (#108-196)

In 1958, they were joined by Lady Blackhawk, Zinda Blake. (Blackhawk #133) In her first adventure, she failed to make the cut. She appeared off-and-on for some time, and eventually disappeared amid the time fluctuations caused by DC’s Zero Hour mini-series. She emerged decades in the future. (Guy Gardner #24). She was invited by Oracle to join the Birds of Prey as their pilot. (Birds of Prey #75) 

In Blackhawk #197 (June 1964), their uniforms were updated to a red-and-green scheme that was less military and more akin to contemporary adventurers like the Challengers of the Unknown. (#196-227) Lady Blackhawk came under the thrall of the Killer Shark, as Queen Killer Shark. (#200)

In order to keep the Blackhawks hip to the times, an embarrassingly bizarre move was made beginning with issue #228 (Jan. 1967) to recast the Blackhawks as true super-heroes! That issue featured the Justice League on the cover, and on the next, Blackhawk rather desperately cried to the reader, “Don’t quit on us! Everyone says the Blackhawks are washed up… but you be the judge!” (#228-241) Just before it was canceled, DC attempted to return Blackhawk to its traditional setting (and uniforms). (#242-243)

Their next DC stint began at the dawn of the disco era, 1976, and the members were reintroduced wearing sexy new deep v-necked uniforms, again blue-and-black, with red. The writers attempted to create another new setting for the characters, whose lives had moved on since readers last saw them. This version was canceled just before the “DC Implosion,” in 1977. (#244–250) 

When Blackhawk was revived in 1982, writer Mark Evanier and artist Dan Spiegle returned the team to the World War II era (and Blackhawk again became Polish). These stories were more true to the flavor of the originals, making appropriate updates like the depiction of Chop Chop. (#251-273)

Super-Blackhawks

In order to keep the Blackhawks hip to the times, an embarrasingly bizarre move was made beginning with issue #228 (Jan. 1967) to recast the Blackhawks as true superheroes! That issue featured the Justice League on the cover, and on the next, Blackhawk rather desperately cried to the reader, “Don’t quit on us! Everyone says the Blackhawks are washed up… but you be the judge!” They were now known as the Leaper (Olaf), Dr. Hands (Chop Chop), the Weapons Master (Hendrickson), the Big Eye (Blackhawk), the Listener (Chuck), M’Sieu Machine (Andre), and the Golden Centurion (Stan). (#228-241) Just before it was canceled, DC attempted to return the Blackhawk to its traditional setting (and uniforms). (#242-243)

Appearances + References

» FEATURED APPEARANCES:

•   Justice League of America #

Lady Blackhawk:

• Blackhawk v.1 #140, 143, 147, 151, 155, 161, 163, 166, 170, 182, 186, 188, 191
• As Queen Killer Shark: Blackhawk vol. 1 #200, 204, 216, 225, 228

 

» SERIES:

• Blackhawk #108–243 (1957–1968)

» SEE ALSO:

• Nolan, Michelle. "Better Read Than Dead." (Blackhawk's transition to DC Comics). Alter Ego #34, March 2004.