Posted in: Comics, Heritage Sponsored, Vintage Paper | Tagged: Blackhawk, lady blackhawk

The Elusive Silver Age Saga of Lady Blackhawk Up for Auction

Published Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:30:24 -0600

Last updated Sun, 14 Mar 2021 16:39:41 -0500

In early 1959, DC Comics introduced Supergirl in Action Comics #252 — a part of further expanding the mythology of the Superman franchise near the dawn of the Silver Age. At the time, the Superman family had recently launched a solo series for Lois Lane to significant success. But three months prior to the release of Action Comics #252, another popular DC Comics franchise also added a prominent female hero. Blackhawk's counterpart to Supergirl's Linda Lee was named Zinda Blake — Lady Blackhawk. Her first appearance in Blackhawk #133 was cover-dated February 1959, penciled by Dick Dillin and inked by Charles Cuidera. There is a complete set of Lady Blackhawk's Silver Age appearances available in today's session of the Sunday & Monday Comics, Animation & Art Weekly Online Auction #122110 from Heritage Auctions: Blackhawk #133 CGC 4.5, Blackhawk #140 CGC 7.5, Blackhawk #151 CGC 8.5, Blackhawk #155 CGC 7.5, and Blackhawk #166 CGC 7.5.

Blackhawk #151 featuring Lady Blackhawk, DC Comics.

Blackhawk was a very logical choice to attempt to add a semi-regular female cast member to at this point in DC Comics history. Launched at publisher Quality Comics in 1941, the franchise had earned both a movie serial and a radio drama in the early 1950s, before eventually being acquired by DC Comics in 1957. By 1960, the Blackhawk title briefly became the best-selling DC Comics series that was not related to Superman of Batman.

Despite this, census numbers on these issues are tiny, and this Silver Age set is far more difficult to get in grade than one might imagine. There is a complete set of Lady Blackhawk's Silver Age appearances available in today's session of the Sunday & Monday Comics, Animation & Art Weekly Online Auction #122110 from Heritage Auctions: Blackhawk #133 CGC 4.5, Blackhawk #140 CGC 7.5, Blackhawk #151 CGC 8.5, Blackhawk #155 CGC 7.5, and Blackhawk #166 CGC 7.5.

Blackhawk #133, the first appearance of Lady Blackhawk, DC Comics.

Blackhawk #133 (DC, 1959) CGC VG+ 4.5 Off-white to white pages. The first appearance of Lady Blackhawk. Chuck Cuidera cover. Overstreet 2020 VG 4.0 value = $258. CGC census 2/21: 17 in 4.5, 48 higher.

Blackhawk #140 (DC, 1959) CGC VF- 7.5 Off-white pages. Dick Dillin cover and art. Overstreet 2020 VF 8.0 value = $66. CGC census 2/21: 3 in 7.5, 3 higher.

Blackhawk #151 (DC, 1960) CGC VF+ 8.5 Off-white to white pages. Overstreet 2020 VF 8.0 value = $56; VF/NM 9.0 value = $108. CGC census 2/21: 4 in 8.5, 2 higher.

Blackhawk #155 (DC, 1960) CGC VF- 7.5 Off-white to white pages. Overstreet 2020 VF 8.0 value = $54. CGC census 2/21: 1 in 7.5, 5 higher.

Blackhawk #166 (DC, 1961) CGC VF- 7.5 Off-white to white pages. Dick Dillin cover and art. Overstreet 2020 VF 8.0 value = $54. CGC census 2/21: 2 in 7.5, 5 higher.