Number 2590: Super Blackhawks in the secret dimension

In the '60s I had disdain for the Blackhawks. Jack Schiff, editor, had changed the characters into one of those teams challenged by some science fiction creatures. Going back over a batch of coverless and poor condition comics I got years ago for a couple of dollars, including early '60s issues of Blackhawk, I have a different attitude. The stories are wild and oftentimes just silly, but nowadays, with my brain burned out by what seems like a million comic books that are wild and silly, I have at least decided to recognize Schiff by giving him something of a pat on the back. (Schiff is deceased, so it's symbolic at best.)

In this story four of the Blackhawks end up in the “Secret Dimension,” but I must’ve missed the reason it is secret. Those Blackhawks are given super powers. The Blackhawk crew  would later get themselves some super powers, but this story came out a few years before that happened.

Story by Dave Wood, art by the team of Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera. From Blackhawk #186 (1963):

 

Number 2338: Steel Colossus

Looking through a copy of Blackhawk #91 (1955), an early Comics Code-approved issue, I counted three stories involving the Blackhawks and communists. There is only one other story in the issue, and that is of the racist character, Chop-Chop.

I am showing this story because I like mechanical giants like the Steel Colossus. What a delight to read on the Grand Comics Database that Batman co-creator and scriptor, Bill Finger, is the author. I probably got my love for those types of huge villainous devices in the fifties from reading Batman.

Artists are the regulars, Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera.

Number 1788: Favorite Females Week: Zinda, Lady Blackhawk

Second in our theme week, Favorite Females, is Lady Blackhawk. This is the second appearance of Zinda, who dresses up in a female version of the Blackhawk uniform, and longs to be a full-fledged member of the Blackhawk team.

Well, I would think so. After all, Zinda, described on page two as a “young secretary” can afford a jet plane (and by extension fuel and hangar facilities), with which to track down the missing Blackhawk team. I have not read the first Lady Blackhawk story, but unless she is working for fun because she is an heiress with millions of dollars to use as disposable income, if I were her boss I would closely examine my books. Maybe Zinda is siphoning money to pay for her desire to be one of the team.

And even in the last panel, despite the big smile on her face, she is disappointed. Look at what Blackhawk says, then imagine what is swirling through Zinda’s head as those sexist and condescending words come out of his mouth. I’ll bet she can just picture herself making a swift and deadly kick to Blackhawk’s you-know-whats.

Drawn by the team of Dick Dillon and Chuck Cuidera. From Blackhawk #140 (1959):

Number 1756: Lady Blackhawk shows her stuff!

Zinda, the only female with those testosterone troopers, the Blackhawks, stumbles into a mystery while on vacation in France. She changes into her Lady Blackhawk costume (tunic with mini-skirt and boots), just in time to dive into the water, chasing some crooks. After presenting the mystery to the Blackhawks, she basically disappears for a few pages, just in time to reappear, parachuting into the finale.

I am sorry that the writer could not think of more for Zinda to do than be a bit player in the story. It is of its time, 1963. Other female superheroines and plucky non-super females appearing in DC Comics notwithstanding, girls usually didn’t do the rough stuff, not when they had a gaggle of guys to do it for them.

From Blackhawk #186. Drawn by Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera.

Meet me after the story, okay?

When I scanned this from my copy of the comic I picked up on this. Even though I have owned the comic since it was new, I had not noticed this. Dillon and Cuidera got away with something in this Comics Code approved issue. As Zinda parachutes down she flashes an unidentified member of the Blackhawk team. I call it as I see it. What would you call it?

There is a similar situation in this posting from last fall. Click on the thumbnail to see what I mean.

Number 1640: Zinda, super Lady Blackhawk

I know I just recently showed an early Blackhawk story from World War II. The war is over for the Blackhawks here, unless you consider the war of the sexes. The reason for showing the story isn’t for the male Blackhawks, but for Zinda, the Lady Blackhawk, considered “one of the boys” by this testosterone troop.

Zinda, who was introduced in Blackhawk #133, was the sole female member of the gang, but did not appear in every story. Just when they figured a little leggy cheesecake might be useful. Zinda, as you can see, has a well-filled out Blackhawk tunic, long legs and a mini-skirt with high boots.

Artists Dick Dillin and Chuck Cuidera got away with some tease (a crotch shot in panel 1, page 6, and the Blackhawks on the same page hanging off Super Zinda, including at least one looking up her skirt.) All of it approved by the Comics Code.

From Blackhawk #151 (1960):