Nazi-Punchers MILITARY COMICS "The Coming of...Blackhawk!"

Before He Became the Ultimate Russkie-Smasher...

...he was the premier Nazi-Puncher!
Now witness his first bombshell appearance in Quality's Military Comics #1 (1941)

Written by Will (The Spirit) Eisner & Bob Powell and illustrated by Chuck Cuidera, the initial appearance of Blackhawk and his crew is slightly-different from all later stories!

• No trademark Grumman XF5F Skyrockets...which will premiere in the next issue! The planes we do see are rather...generic!
• The uniforms are different. Blackhawk doesn't have his distinctive hawk-head insignia on his chest, and all the Blackhawk uniforms are almost solid black, rather than blue.
• The Blackhawks themselves are not yet identified, and the only one who speaks has a British accent!

But all-in-all, a well thought-out first story, setting up the basis for the ongoing series!
We'll be rotating Blackhawk's Russkie-Smashing tales with his earlier Nazi-Punching adventures, so watch for them!

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Blackhawk

by William Rotsler

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "His First Case" Conclusion

When Last We Left Our Hero...

Despite a rough upbringing in the slums, including the death of his mother during an epidemic, Dan Garret becomes a scholarship student at State University, not only making Honor Roll, but becoming a letterman at several sports as well.

During his senior year, he receives word that his policeman father has been shot and badly-wounded...

This tale from Fox's Blue Beetle #1 (1939) was written and laid-out by Will Eisner (yes, that Will Eisner) and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name "Charles Nicholas" for his comic work until he retired.
You'll note there's no explanation of how or when Dan developed the Blue Beetle identity or costume.
And, following this tale in the first issue of his own book, are reprints of Blue Beetle's first few appearances from Mystery Men Comics, including his premiere, which featured him in a radically-different costume!

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "His First Case" Part 1

Several months after debuting in Mystery Men Comics, the Blue Beetle got his own book...

...and, finally, the story (at least some of it) behind his first appearance!

Who wounded Dan's father?

Will he get away with it?

How does this event cause the birth of the Blue Beetle?

For the answers to these and numerous other questions...

...be here tomorrow!

Same Beetle time!

Same Beetle blog!

You'll note we don't call this untitled story an origin.
That's because, you learn some aspects of how Dan Garret became the Blue Beetle, but you won't learn all of them (including the most important one)!
This tale from Fox's Blue Beetle #1 (1939) was written and laid-out by Will Eisner (yes, that Will Eisner) and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name "Charles Nicholas" for his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Trap for the Blue Beetle"

The Blue Beetle was a beat cop without much pocket money...

...so, unlike Batman and the other millionaire heroes, Dan Garret had to depend on his local pharmacy for gimmicks and disguises!

Dan's partner, Mike Mannigan survived for the entire Golden Age run of the Blue Beetle, but when Dan Garret was revamped by Charlton in the Silver Age and became Dan Garrett (note the extra "t"): archeologist, Mike was nowhere to be found.
A different version of him did pop up in DC's CountDown mini-series in 2007!

This story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #5 (1939) is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the "Charles Nicholas" name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Protection Insurance for Newsboys"

At last, the Blue Beetle hits his stride...

...as he finally appears in the armored costume that will (with minor variations) strike fear into the hearts of evildoers for the next decade or so!

This story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #4 (1939) is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the "Charles Nicholas" name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Loan Shark Racket"

In the early Golden Age, superheroes helped the "little guy"...

...when sleazeballs took advantage of honest citizens' dire financial straits!

The Blue Beetle finally gains his mask in his story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #3 (1939) which is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the "Charles Nicholas" name for all his comic work until he retired.

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Reading Room: BLUE BEETLE "Armored Car Robbery"

The Blue Beetle dons his blue chain-mail costume for the first time...

...and displays the BeetleMobile in it's only appearance, ever!

You'll note Blue Beetle now wears distinctive chain-mail armor, but with short sleeves and no domino mask!
(Lucky for him no one recognized him as policeman Dan Garret!)
Next issue he gains the mask, and by his fourth appearance the long-sleeved look he was to keep for the remainder of his career.
This story from Fox's Mystery Men Comics #2 is credited to the the pen-name "Charles Nicholas", but was written by Will Eisner and illustrated by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski, who later used the name for all his comic work until he retired.

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