Blackhawk

Debuting during World War II, Blackhawk is a skilled pilot and leader of an elite international squadron of aviators who battle Axis forces across the globe. His personal vendetta against the enemies who devastated his homeland drives him to organize and command the legendary Blackhawks from their base on a secret island.

Few characters can claim a lineage stretching all the way back to 1941, but Blackhawk burst onto the scene in the very first issue of Military Comics — a Golden Age debut forged by a legendary creative trio in Will Eisner, Bob Powell, and Chuck Cuidera. Over more than eight decades of publication, this iconic figure has proven remarkably enduring, appearing across Military Comics, a long-running self-titled series, and Gwandanaland Comics reprints, with three key issues among their appearances that any serious collector will want to track down. Along the way, Blackhawk shares adventures with a vivid cast of recurring companions — Olaf, Hendrickson, Chuck, Stanislaus, and Andre — giving the series a rich ensemble energy that sets it apart from solo-hero fare. Whether you're a Golden Age devotee or simply a fan of comics history with real staying power, Blackhawk is exactly the kind of foundational character worth knowing.