Blackhawk Squadron

The Blackhawk Squadron (also known as the Blackhawks) is the name of a fictional team published by Quality Comics and later by DC Comics. Primarily created by Chuck Cuidera with input from both Bob Powell and Will Eisner, the team first appeared in Military Comics #1 (August 1941) and regularly starred in the eponymous Blackhawk comic book series. Originally a small team of World War II-era ace pilots of varied nationalities, both its membership and overall purpose has changed over time. The team originally operated from a hidden base known as Blackhawk Island, flying Grumman XF5F Skyrocket fighter aircraft, were known to shout their battle cry of "Hawk-a-a-a!" while battling foes, and were typically clad in matching blue and black uniforms with the a hawk or hawk-inspired insignia. While early stories pitted them against Axis powers, they also battled their own foes which included recurring foes such as King Condor and Killer Shark, femme fatales, or battled against fantastical war machines. Later versions have also alternatively operated as an elite military unit affiliated with the United Nations and a special anti-apocalypse response team. The team would usually be led by a male individual codenamed "Blackhawk", with Lady Blackhawk given to noted women who aided the team as honorary members despite not being formally allowed to be enlisted. Later versions of the team altered this dynamic, with Lady Blackhawk being a codename for a female of high-ranking or leading status. At the height of his popularity in the early 1940s, Blackhawk titles routinely outsold every other comic book but Superman. Blackhawk also shares the distinction of being just one of five comic book characters to be published continuously in their own titles from the 1940s up to the 1960s (the others being Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Phantom). The comic...