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''Blackhawk'' is a long-running Comic Book series published first by Quality Comics and later by National Periodical Publications , the primary company of those that evolved to become DC Comics . The series was created by Will Eisner , Chuck Cuidera (a.k.a. Charles Nicholas ), 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 Blackhawks are a small team of World War II -era Ace Pilots of varied nationalities:
Chop-Chop is both the youngest member of the team and the most stereotypical. His initial portrait, although offensive, was not atypical of World War II-era depictions of Asians. The character has been developed in a more respectful way since, and some latter-day stories have referenced the fact that for decades he was not given enough respect even to wear the same uniform as his teammates. After DC Comics' company-wide crossover event '' Crisis On Infinite Earths '', which streamlined and revamped many of DC's properties, the old depiction of Chop-Chop was explained as that of a comic-book-within-the comic-book that featured the team's adventures and which Chop-Chop, now a more realistically drawn man in a standard uniform, found profoundly insulting. Supporting cast included Zinda Blake a.k.a. Lady Blackhawk , who was since time-displaced due to another DC event, " Zero Hour ", and who became a regular character in comics starring the character Guy Gardner . As of 2006 she is the supporting-character pilot for the costumed crimefighters Birds Of Prey . PUBLICATION HISTORY The Blackhawks debuted in Quality Comics' ''Military Comics'' #1 (August 1941), and were published in that title as well as in their own book for a long while. ''Military Comics'' was renamed "Modern Comics" and eventually cancelled with #102 (October 1950), but their self-named book (which debuted in 1944) continued to be published by Quality up until #107 in 1956. Quality itself had folded by then, but the title kept being published by DC Comics, with little or no disruption at all. It 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. Time itself also played a role in the cancellation. The Blackhawks as a concept were heavily tied to World War II, and as the years passed by it became more and more difficult to Suspend Disbelief about their continuous adventuring up to present days. There was a disastious attempt to turn them into superheroes (#230-241), before they were restored to the original roots for 2 issues before they were cancelled in 1968. A short run from #244 to #250 was published in the 1970s tried to update them, but since then nearly all Blackhawk sightings (few and far between) are of a flashback nature. A well received series in the 80s (#251-273) were set in World War II. In the '80s a mini-series by Howard Chaykin reimagined the WWII team (notably in reinventing the title character as a Pole rather than American), with their adventures continuing in post-war stories in '' Action Comics Weekly'' and then their own short-lived ongoing series in the early '90s. Since then, only modern hints of the team have appeared, usually with 'Blackhawk Express' or the time-displaced Lady Blackhawk . One of the best examples of this is the 1990s appearance of Chop-Chop in a few issues of DC's " Hawkworld " series, which naturally enough depict him as an aged, resourceful and respectable man, long rid of his racial stereotype trappings. However, other Blackhawk air pilot groups have been shown during present time or alternate future events such as " Our Worlds At War " and " Kingdom Come ". It is unknown which connection beyond homage and inspiration, if any, those groups have to the classic Blackhawks. INTERNATIONAL INCARNATIONS The Blackhawk concept and characters proved to be popular on the international market as well as in the United States. Quality licensed the rights to Blackhawk, as well as many of their other characters, to London's Boardman Books which used them in a a series of three-color reprints from 1948 to 1954. Boardman also reprinted Blackhawk stories in their ''Adventure Annual'' series of hardcover Christmas publications. Many of the British Blackhawk reprints were repackaged by Boardman's art director, Denis McLoughlin . McLoughlin created at least one British original Blackhawk story as well as the illustrations for several Blackhawk text stories. After Boardman's contract lapsed, Strato Publications launched a square-bound 68-page Blackhawk series which ran for 36 issues between 1956 and 1958. TRIVIA Blackhawk was involved in one of the very earliest examples of Fictional Crossover s, when Kid Eternity summoned him in his very second appearance (1942's ''Hit Comics'' #26). OTHER MEDIA
AWARDS The 1989 series of comics was nominated for the Squiddy Award for New Continuing Series in 1989. SEE ALSO
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