Icy Receptions (Blackhawk 232)

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Are you ready? Yeah. [00:00:01] Speaker B: Are you with it? [00:00:02] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:00:02] Speaker B: Okay, let's go. You know what to do. The whole world's watching and counting on you. And all you people listening out there. Everybody everywhere. [00:00:13] Speaker C: Hang on, hang on, hang on. [00:00:17] Speaker B: Welcome to Checkered Past. A loving postmodern examination of the. Go. Go. Check. Branded comic magazines published by DC Comics between February 1966 and August 1967. I'm Dr. Bob and each week I'll be your guide on this trippy tour through 535 mid century masterpieces of graphic noveldom. This week, Blackhawk 232 cover date May 1967 cover price $0.12. Cover artists Dick Dillon and Charles Khudera. Edited by George Cashdan Featuring with these rings I thee kill. Written by Bob Haney Art by Dick Dillon and Charles Quidera. Are you ready? Are you with it? Then away we go Go. [00:01:10] Speaker C: Open up your eyes Take a look at the world around you don't you want to lend a helping hand? Try it on your sides if you like the feeling about you Come along and join in with the. [00:01:28] Speaker B: The Supreme Overlord of the International Crime Combine launches a missile at Blackhawk before the other Blackhawks can stop it. Blackhawk manages to disarm the missile using a weapon supplied by Hendrickson. However, the Supreme Overlord himself was aboard the missile and boards Black Hawk's plane. Confused. Don't worry, I'll be right back with doctor Husband to explain everything. We are the Black Hawks. Hawk call, swift as the wind Big eyes watching from the skies. Listener, here's your secret lies. Leaper strikes, Pen centurion dives in. Hawk calls follow the Black Hawks Honk off, break every chain Weapons master plots the plane. Dr. Hands and machines save the day. We are the Blackhawks. Remember our name. My goodness, yes. It's been ever such a long time since I've seen you. Yes, well, in this context, yes, of course. [00:02:39] Speaker A: We see each other every day. [00:02:40] Speaker B: Multiple times. [00:02:41] Speaker A: Yes, usually. Well, we started in the middle of October with a very, very busy. About three weeks for us. [00:02:51] Speaker B: Yes, well, mostly Hugh. [00:02:53] Speaker A: Mostly me. To be age tbh. Yes. So we're in the. Not in the middle of that. Almost in the middle of that. [00:03:03] Speaker B: Close to the end. [00:03:04] Speaker A: Just sort of. Yeah. Let's say we're two thirds of the way through of that really busy period. So I went away for a conference. [00:03:10] Speaker B: Yes, you did. [00:03:11] Speaker A: Spoke and presented at a conference. And that was good. [00:03:13] Speaker B: Exciting. [00:03:13] Speaker A: Yes. [00:03:15] Speaker B: Was it in a beautiful place? [00:03:17] Speaker A: No, no, no. [00:03:19] Speaker B: Sorry. [00:03:19] Speaker A: I wish. Although I did enjoy the drive there. [00:03:23] Speaker B: Okay. [00:03:23] Speaker A: It was In Atlantic City. [00:03:25] Speaker B: That's in New Jersey. [00:03:26] Speaker A: Yes. And I have to tell you that Atlantic City reminds me a lot of 1985 Daytona Beach, Florida. [00:03:33] Speaker B: Okay. [00:03:33] Speaker A: And if anyone was in Daytona Beach, Florida, before the speedway really sort of took over and the motorcycle races, that sort of commercialized kind of family destination sort of dominated the. The. The scene down in. In Daytona Beach. Let me back up a little bit, may I? [00:03:57] Speaker B: Yes, certainly. [00:03:58] Speaker A: Okay. So I grew up in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. I was born in Miami. Right. So we moved to New Smyrna beach in 1976, I think it was. Daytona beach had always been a vacation destination for people, historically, especially in the 1960s and 70s and early 80s, especially because you can drive on the beaches, which was a very novel feature for that. For that area. But. But in the 80s, it really fell into this kind of like, sad economic situation where they really weren't sure what to do with Daytona Beach. And then around the 90s, and specifically the late. The mid to late 90s, they put in the LPGA pro golf course down there. And I believe the LPGA was headquartered in Daytona Beach. Is that right? [00:04:34] Speaker B: I think so, yes. [00:04:36] Speaker A: And then they put extensive development around the Daytona Speedway and. And built up an entire sort of entertainment culture other than the actual races themselves in and around the speedway. So to create. And they also expanded their events in October to Biketoberfest, and then there's Bike Week and such. So that idea of racing and motorcycles and such really grew substantially in the Daytona beach area. So it doesn't look like it did when I was growing up. Now in. In. In the sort of the. The beach side and the mainland side of Daytona Beach. [00:05:17] Speaker B: Right, right. [00:05:20] Speaker A: But it went through a really sad, depressive period before that revival. That is exactly the vibe that you get when you drive to the beach side in Atlantic City. Sorry, the shore. They call it the shore. [00:05:30] Speaker B: Sure. Right. [00:05:32] Speaker A: Yeah. So what? Didn't I send you a text when I got there? I was like, oh, my God. [00:05:35] Speaker B: It's like. [00:05:35] Speaker A: It's like somebody took late 1980s Daytona beach and transplanted on the coast. [00:05:40] Speaker B: But what a hopeful outlook they may have ahead of them. [00:05:43] Speaker A: Well, the problem is, I think they've got a lot of casinos there and you can now gamble. It used to be a destination to travel, to gamble. Only gambling has opened up in many places throughout the country, so you don't need to go to Atlantic City. So there are still a lot of casinos there. It is a very strange culture to walk in. I got it to my hotel and I threw the parking garage, but I could not easily find my way out. It is a sprawling mega level casino resort with multiple casinos with mirrors and lights and sounds and giant screens and smoking indoors and all these different things. And it was just like, you know, and. And there were prostitutes walking around. There was a prostitute asleep in my hallway. Did I tell you about that? [00:06:30] Speaker B: No. [00:06:30] Speaker A: Yes. I don't know why I didn't tell you about that. [00:06:32] Speaker B: I don't either. [00:06:33] Speaker A: She was charging her phone and she was sleeping sort of crumpled up on the floor. And when I walked off the. I got up really early to get some coffee and when I walked off the elevator, she looked at me and she just went. And she went back. She had her phone plugged in. She was charging her phone. [00:06:47] Speaker B: Well, now how do you know she was a prostitute? Maybe she was just. [00:06:50] Speaker A: Well, she was a scantily dressed. [00:06:53] Speaker B: That's what I'm saying. How can you tell these days? [00:06:56] Speaker A: Okay. [00:06:56] Speaker B: The way gals dress. Well, anyway, some gals. I'm not talking to any of our listeners, I'm sure. [00:07:02] Speaker A: No, the conference itself was held at a great facility, great school, a lot of fun, met a lot of people there. It was wonderful. It was just that. That part was just kind of sad. So anyway, did that came home preparing for that conference. Tons of teaching, you know, sort of getting prepared to leave. Gone for a really important part of my week, which is where the bulk of my teaching takes place. Made that up as soon as I got back. And then you and I are getting ready to leave again. [00:07:30] Speaker B: Speaking of casinos and scantily clad women. [00:07:34] Speaker A: Yes. [00:07:34] Speaker B: You know that what I'm about to talk about is because it's broken my heart forever. [00:07:40] Speaker A: Oh, yes. [00:07:42] Speaker B: Dr. Husband and I are going to be performing in Montana the weekend of Halloween. [00:07:50] Speaker A: Yes. [00:07:51] Speaker B: And guess who is performing? One and only show listener in our area that same weekend that we are out of town. [00:08:01] Speaker A: If you can't fill this in based upon what he's the message he's giving you, then you may not know him as well as some people do. Who is it? Who is the artist? Who's coming here to play? Who you would absolutely give your left arm to see live? [00:08:16] Speaker B: I'll give you one hint. Third best flamenco guitarist in the world. Charo. [00:08:24] Speaker A: Charo. Yeah. [00:08:30] Speaker B: I don't know if I can go on. [00:08:32] Speaker A: I know now that I've put that thought. I got the email. Yes. Yesterday. How the day before. [00:08:37] Speaker B: How are we not tracking this forever? [00:08:39] Speaker A: I don't even know how I got it. Like I don't Even know why. I mean, I get an email from this presenting organization quite frequently. I don't know why it wasn't on my radar. If I had known months ago, I never would have committed to going to Montana. I would have been like, oh, I can't. [00:08:56] Speaker B: I'm busy that weekend. [00:08:58] Speaker A: We're going to see Charo. And it's so close. [00:09:00] Speaker B: The concert is so close. [00:09:01] Speaker C: I know. [00:09:02] Speaker A: It's just like, what, 70 minutes away? 90 minutes away. Yeah, A really easy. I mean, honestly, this is like. Considering her advanced age, there aren't gonna be many opportunities to see her perform. [00:09:15] Speaker B: I'm sorry to tell you, but she performs a lot in Palm Springs, California, and it might come to that. We're just gonna have to plan a trip. [00:09:21] Speaker A: All right. We have a friend in Palm Springs. [00:09:25] Speaker B: Oh, that's right. Anyway, she is legally. She had a birth certificate changed, so she's not as old as she actually is. [00:09:34] Speaker A: Yes. She doesn't appear on paper to be as old as she actually is. [00:09:37] Speaker B: Correct. [00:09:37] Speaker A: Yes. [00:09:38] Speaker B: And I follow her on Instagram, and she's insane, but does all kinds of things to keep herself young. So, yes, I have hope. [00:09:48] Speaker A: Yes. [00:09:48] Speaker B: That she'll outlive me. I can see her. [00:09:53] Speaker A: I forwarded that to you in a text. And I said, I'm so sorry to tell you this, but look. And you were. [00:09:59] Speaker B: I screamed aloud at cursed. [00:10:01] Speaker A: Yes, you did. You were in the other part of the house, and I heard you scream. [00:10:06] Speaker B: Anyway, where were we? All right, well, hey, it's the new Blackhawk era. Have you heard? [00:10:12] Speaker A: Oh, you know, it's kind of interesting. [00:10:14] Speaker B: It's switched on. Really? They sure are throwing a lot at the wall in this issue. [00:10:20] Speaker A: Well, this is published before Fonzie jumped the shark. Yes, but when I was reading this, this is actually jumping the shark. Oh, this really is jumping the shark. [00:10:31] Speaker B: Yes. I just realized something inside the story. [00:10:34] Speaker A: This really is jumping the shark. [00:10:37] Speaker B: This is Blackhawk number 232. You may recall from previous coverage of this title that the Blackhawks were deemed washed up by the US Government and members of the Justice League. And in an effort to redeem themselves, they have agreed to go work for the the secretive organization george. Which stands for Group for Extermination of Organizations of Revenge, Greed and Evil. [00:11:11] Speaker A: What a stupid acronym. [00:11:13] Speaker B: And they have adopted new superheroic adjacent identities with various gadgets and gizmos and special costumes and whatnot. Blackhawk himself, the leader, floats around in space. Kite watches everything happened. His new name is Big Eye. [00:11:34] Speaker A: Big Eye? I thought it was the Chief Black Hawk. [00:11:38] Speaker B: They might call him Chief sometimes. [00:11:40] Speaker A: I've got a list. [00:11:41] Speaker B: Okay, good. [00:11:43] Speaker A: Well, there are seven of them. [00:11:45] Speaker B: Yes. [00:11:47] Speaker A: And since I don't really care for them very much, I haven't committed them all to memory, so I had to make a list, didn't I? [00:11:53] Speaker B: Yeah. So we've got. [00:11:55] Speaker A: Okay, so you want me to black on the bird. [00:11:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:11:57] Speaker A: Okay, so we got Olaf, whose character is the Leaper. Now. His character, his hero is called the Leaper, Stan, who flies around in a suit of gold. He's called the Golden Centurion. Yep. [00:12:10] Speaker B: Which. He stole that suit from an evil villain. [00:12:13] Speaker A: Okay, Chop chop. Who has metallic hands now. So he's called Dr. Hands. Andre the Frenchman. He's a whiz with gadgetry. [00:12:24] Speaker B: Right? Yeah. [00:12:24] Speaker A: So he's now called Monsieur Machine. Black Hawk, of course, is the Big Eye or the Chief. He floats around in the sky and basically sort of keeps a watch on everything, but doesn't do anything. Right. But yet he's still in charge. I don't understand that. Okay, Hendy, who is the weapons master? [00:12:40] Speaker B: Hendrickson. [00:12:41] Speaker A: Hendrickson. Hendrickson. And finally, Chuck. And Chuck has the most embarrassing costume of all. He's called the Listener. He basically tracks and reports information. And he wears pajamas, actual pajamas with ears with. No, with. With graphics of ears printed on the pajamas. That is a little too crazy. And then there's a new character that we have been introduced to recently called Zinda. Yeah, Zinda is Blackhawk's love interest, who Blackhawk is going to slap unconscious with one hand in this issue, which I agree with. [00:13:19] Speaker B: Now, she's so new. She's Lady Blackhawk. She first appeared in the 50s, I believe. [00:13:23] Speaker A: Oh, okay. So she. We haven't seen her in a long time, though. Well, yes, in the reboot, and we just did. But, like, we haven't seen Zenda in previous issues. [00:13:32] Speaker B: Yes, we did, because she was turned evil. She was Queen Killer Shark for a while. [00:13:37] Speaker A: Oh, that's right. [00:13:38] Speaker B: In the first issue of the new swinging New Blackhawk era, she got also punched out or something and hit her head and got her original memory back, and now she's good again. [00:13:48] Speaker A: Well, she gets hit a lot. [00:13:51] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:13:51] Speaker A: Or this woman. She must have incredible constitution because I was very, very upset when Black Hawk slapped her. [00:14:04] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:14:04] Speaker A: Which he did to save her life. But still, I mean, sure. [00:14:07] Speaker B: Well, that's right out of the Thin man, you know. [00:14:09] Speaker A: Yes. Yeah. I was thinking when I read that, that's like, oh, yes, this is what they used to do. And then, of course, we have a. An Evil character in here called Supreme Overlord. [00:14:21] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:14:22] Speaker A: And I don't know if he's a new guy to the story. Had he been here before. He calls himself Supreme Overlord. [00:14:29] Speaker B: Let me consult my notes. [00:14:30] Speaker A: Look at this pen I have. You see, look, it has a fidget spinner on it. Listen, listen, listen, listen, listener. Listen as I spin it. [00:14:38] Speaker B: Why do you have that? [00:14:39] Speaker A: I don't know where I got it. It says on the side, division of Community Engagement. I don't know where I got it, but it is so cool. And it writes really well. Like, it's got a gel. A black gel cartridge inside. It's got a really good weight to it, and it has this awesome fidget spinner. [00:14:59] Speaker B: Which community and who are they engaging? [00:15:01] Speaker A: I'm telling you, I don't know where I got it. I might have picked it up at the conference. I'm not quite sure. And when I clicked it, it still had the protective cap on the ink cartridge because it's that, you know, it's that gel liquid ink sort of thing. So it won't dry out. And, boy, I'm just having so much fun with this. I can just spin and spin the top. And it's pretty and has a great weight to it. It's very satisfying to write with. [00:15:36] Speaker B: So, according to my notes. [00:15:37] Speaker A: Yes. [00:15:38] Speaker B: In the previous issue, number 231, the emperor who was the head of the International Crime Corporation, International Crime Combine, he was defeated. And that's how Stan got his Gold Centurion suit. [00:15:55] Speaker A: Okay. [00:15:56] Speaker B: And then the. I remember that criminals met to choose a new leader. [00:16:01] Speaker A: Yes. [00:16:01] Speaker B: And that Supreme Overlord is the new leader. [00:16:04] Speaker A: And was that done in some sort of, like, Romanesque kind of theater? [00:16:09] Speaker B: Yes. [00:16:09] Speaker A: Yes. Okay. Yes, Okay. I do remember that. [00:16:12] Speaker B: Okay. [00:16:13] Speaker A: All right. So we open in media race, do we not? [00:16:17] Speaker B: Yes. Yes. [00:16:20] Speaker A: Black Hawk 8, 7, 6, 5. Inside a giant iceberg off the northern Norway coast, a fantastic countdown continues. While atop the iceberg, four desperate Blackhawks battle to stop the clock. Olaf the Leaper, Stan the Golden Centurion. [00:16:39] Speaker B: Chop, chop. [00:16:40] Speaker A: Alias Dr. Hands and Andre, alias M Machine, all fighting to save the one man in the world who makes the new Black Hawk era tick. But right now, something else is tick. [00:16:55] Speaker B: What could it be? [00:16:57] Speaker A: It's a rocket that's taking off from the iceberg. Iceberg. [00:17:02] Speaker B: Yes. [00:17:03] Speaker A: Pallas. [00:17:04] Speaker B: Not even the new Blackhawks can stop the enemy who vows with these rings I. V. Kill. That was our wedding vow, coincidentally. [00:17:20] Speaker A: Our wedding. That was last day, wasn't it? [00:17:22] Speaker B: I was lovely. Awfully hot. [00:17:25] Speaker A: It was the hottest Day of that year. I'll say it was. [00:17:29] Speaker B: I do recall that when that part of them being deemed washed up was a determination they should not use these foreign accents anymore, I remember that. They seem to have abandoned that idea entirely. [00:17:44] Speaker A: Ban. [00:17:45] Speaker B: Yes, Yumpin Yeminy. The rocket hit Bond on the way. Blackhawk is doomed. [00:17:51] Speaker A: What? Did we ever figure out what Bond stood for? Like? [00:17:57] Speaker B: Well, it has to be. Some is form of. Yes. Some. Well, not conjugation of to be. [00:18:05] Speaker A: To be. Okay, so. Except that he says black Hawk is doomed. Okay, let's just assume that it does mean that it's a conjugation of the verb to be. Okay. [00:18:14] Speaker B: Yes. [00:18:15] Speaker A: So that every time we see it, we just ask, is that really the proper use of that term? [00:18:20] Speaker B: Just a minute. I'm consulting Google Translate. [00:18:23] Speaker A: Well, what is. What is. Who is saying that? Henriksen? [00:18:26] Speaker B: No, that's Olaf. [00:18:27] Speaker A: Olaf. And is he Swedish? Swedish. Okay, [00:18:32] Speaker B: English to Swedish. We have a friend in Sweden. We should just ask. [00:18:43] Speaker A: Probably faster for me to message her than for you to look it up on whatever it is you're looking it up on. [00:18:52] Speaker B: Nope. I typed the rocket is on the way and the translation is Rakuten er par wech. Okay, so there's nothing about bon in there. [00:19:02] Speaker A: Well, you could type in. What does the word quote bonn mean in Swedish? Put a quote over ban and before it and after it. I would do that, but I don't have my keyboard in here with me. [00:19:17] Speaker B: Don't you? Oh, the English word. No, Sorry. It thought I wanted to know how to say ban. The word bana can mean several different things depending on whether it is used as a noun or a verb. As a verb. To clear, pave, or open up a path. [00:19:53] Speaker A: As a noun. [00:19:55] Speaker B: As a noun, a track, course or pathway, such as a running track, golf course, a bowling alley, or a tennis court, or a career or life path. [00:20:05] Speaker A: Well, it doesn't make any sense. [00:20:07] Speaker B: Bana is a separate Swedish verb meaning to scold, chide, or rebuke. Okay, we're not going to get anywhere with that. All right, well, anyway, this missile's taken off and the fellas can't stop it. [00:20:23] Speaker A: No. [00:20:23] Speaker B: Chop, chop. Well, no, let's use their actual names. Leaper, Golden Centurion, Dr. Hands, and Messiah Machine helpless to stop this giant phallic missile shooting out of an iceberg. [00:20:36] Speaker A: Right. So they try to. So they go into the iceberg. [00:20:38] Speaker B: Yep. [00:20:40] Speaker A: Golden Centurion, The Leaper and Dr. Hands and Mission Machine go into the iceberg to fight the team inside. See, listener, there's a Whole fortress inside the iceberg. [00:20:49] Speaker B: Yep. [00:20:49] Speaker A: Yes. Which is floating around in the North Atlantic. [00:20:52] Speaker B: Yes. Off north of Norway. [00:20:54] Speaker A: North of Norway. [00:20:56] Speaker B: Well, they make quick work even though these gentlemen have flamethrowers. [00:21:03] Speaker A: Yes. And what? The strange thing is that the Golden Centurion aims his golden beam at the enemies and apparently turns them to solid gold. [00:21:14] Speaker B: Is that what he does? I think it's some kind of spray that covers them in gold. [00:21:21] Speaker A: Okay. And then they just fall down because they've been covered in gold. [00:21:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:27] Speaker A: Is it like a. Some sort of disco thing? [00:21:31] Speaker B: Well, if you're covered with gold, that's how like Goldfinger and James Bond, you know, cover them in gold. And then they couldn't breathe. They collapsed. [00:21:40] Speaker A: Okay. [00:21:40] Speaker B: Couldn't sweat or breathe or do anything. [00:21:43] Speaker A: So they failed to get the rocket. [00:21:48] Speaker B: Yes. [00:21:50] Speaker A: Back to ground. So the rocket heads up toward the stratosphere. [00:21:56] Speaker B: Yes. [00:21:57] Speaker A: Toward the floating station orbiting the earth. [00:22:01] Speaker B: The Hawk kite. [00:22:02] Speaker A: The Hawk Kite. [00:22:04] Speaker B: Where Black Hawk and Azynda are hanging out. Black Hawk says his detection devices show that the rocket is on the way. And the only hope is. Is this anti missile missile that Hendy set up. [00:22:20] Speaker A: Mm. [00:22:22] Speaker C: No. [00:22:23] Speaker B: We're doomed if we stay here. [00:22:25] Speaker A: Blackhawk. So then he grabs her and shakes her. [00:22:28] Speaker B: He grabs her and shakes her. [00:22:29] Speaker A: Maybe I'm doomed by staying. But you're not. You're leaving. Get out now. We've got about four minutes. Enough time to drop the time capsule. [00:22:35] Speaker B: No, no, I won't leave you. Smack. He smacks her across the face. Hard enough to knock her unconscious. [00:22:43] Speaker A: Hard enough to knock her unconscious. Not okay with this. [00:22:49] Speaker B: Now, my first exposure to Lady Blackhawk was in the pages of Birds of Prey where she was fucking badass and she wouldn't put up with this nonsense. No, she would have needed him out. [00:23:04] Speaker A: Yeah, knead him in the groin or something. Just got knocked him out. Used her powerful kick action to knock him unconscious. [00:23:12] Speaker B: Sure. Anyway, he puts her in some kind of escape capsule and shoots her out into space. But unfortunately something's gone awry. [00:23:23] Speaker A: She starts orbiting. [00:23:24] Speaker B: Orbiting the Hawk Kite. [00:23:25] Speaker A: Hawk Kite. Yeah. [00:23:27] Speaker B: All right. There's nothing left to do except for Black Hawk to fire Hendy's anti missile [00:23:33] Speaker A: missile at the missile. [00:23:35] Speaker B: At the missile. But it doesn't work. [00:23:38] Speaker A: No. Because the missile separates into several segments and those segments start orbiting the station itself. What's also has Lady Black Hawk in there. [00:23:48] Speaker B: Now Black Hawk finally figures out what's going on. The Hendy's anti missile missile is not a missile at all. It doesn't fire or hit anything. It just creates A force field around the Hawk Kite and makes things orbit around it. We should mention that the Hawk kite is shaped like an actual Black Hawk. [00:24:10] Speaker A: With two heads. [00:24:11] Speaker B: With two heads. With antennas coming out of the heads. Now, also, it's equipped with some kind of grappling arm. So he grabs Zinda's capsule and gets her back inside. But he's still got those two missiles floating around. [00:24:30] Speaker A: Yes, yes. [00:24:31] Speaker B: He assumes that only one of them is armed with a warhead. Now he's just got to determine which one. [00:24:41] Speaker A: And how does he do that? He uses a radiation counter. [00:24:44] Speaker B: Yes. [00:24:44] Speaker A: On a long arm. [00:24:45] Speaker B: In the grappling arm. [00:24:46] Speaker A: In the grappling arm. And he uses it to detect which of these missiles has the radiation inside it. Well, the radioactive material. [00:24:55] Speaker B: Right. The smaller section of missile is clean, no radiation. But the bigger section is loaded with juice. So he sets the Hawk Kite to revolve at the same speed as the orbiting missiles. And tensely, he begins a delicate dismantling job on the orbiting section of the rocket containing the warhead, Pulls out the radioactive element and is going to bring it inside the Hawk kite, seal it in a lead container and then drop it into the sea. For his final move, he turns off Hendy's anti missile missile defense system. [00:25:43] Speaker A: Which is a mistake because the smaller portion that was deemed not radioactive of the missile then is magnetically attracted to the Black Kite. [00:25:55] Speaker B: Hawk Kite. [00:25:56] Speaker A: Black Hawk Kite. [00:26:00] Speaker B: A laser torch begins cutting open the hull of the Hawk Kite. [00:26:04] Speaker A: And what? Bursts through but the Supreme Overlord. [00:26:08] Speaker B: Yes. Oh, wait. He's got a full face mask. Yes. Black Hawk. [00:26:14] Speaker A: Shall I get the cup? No. Okay. [00:26:16] Speaker B: Your nemesis. Not even my own cohorts knew I was part of the rocket cargo. Since the rocket failed to destroy you, I am the insurance that you die. [00:26:26] Speaker A: Anyway, I never did like windy speeches, pal. So about. How's about a.45 caliber request to shut up? I. He shoots. My slugs ricocheting off that crazy outfit. You'd think after the first one ricocheted, he'd stop because he's in a spaceship [00:26:44] Speaker B: which is presumably pressurized. [00:26:47] Speaker A: Pressurized? Yes. And shaped like a giant Black hawk. Yes, yes. Replete with feathers or decorative things that look like metal. [00:26:57] Speaker C: Metal? [00:26:57] Speaker B: Well, you can't just put anything up in the sky. [00:27:00] Speaker A: No. [00:27:02] Speaker B: So, the Supreme Overlord. We should mention that he looks like a cross between [00:27:14] Speaker A: the Michelin robot. Yeah. [00:27:16] Speaker B: And the Batman who laughs. [00:27:19] Speaker A: The Batman? What? [00:27:20] Speaker B: The Batman who laughs. Listeners will know what I'm talking about. [00:27:22] Speaker A: He's got like a. What is that? Soldier? World War II. World War I soldier's cap on his head, but spikes sticking out of it. [00:27:34] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So this one man is important because he can shoot rings off of this [00:27:42] Speaker A: outfit from his arms. [00:27:44] Speaker B: From his arms, which then also. Blackhawk all of a sudden is talking like Sergeant Rock. My own slugs ricocheting back at me like mayflies in a swamp. [00:27:55] Speaker A: Yeah, the metaphors. Like this. Like that. [00:27:58] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:27:58] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:28:01] Speaker B: So he shoots a ring out which encircles Blackhawk's wrist, makes him drop his gun because it's squeezing and squeezing on his wrist. A second ring goes around his other wrist and then around his ankles and around his legs. [00:28:20] Speaker A: Listeners think of blood pressure cuffs, but made of metal, and they tighten. And the idea is that they knock you unconscious. I was wondering if he's gonna lose his hands and feet. [00:28:30] Speaker B: Well, he's about to choke to death because it's about his. Around his neck. And he passes out. [00:28:35] Speaker A: But then as the Supreme Overlord stands over him laughing, Ha ha ha. Thus does the new black era end in total shame and defeat. Well, the Supreme Overlord gets hit in the back of the head with a. What is that called? [00:28:50] Speaker B: Yeah, what do you call those? [00:28:51] Speaker A: Hook and. [00:28:52] Speaker B: Like a hook and tackle. [00:28:54] Speaker A: Hook and tackle. You use them to lift heavy things. It's. It's a. Gosh, I might have known what this is called at some point. [00:29:02] Speaker B: I'm sure I did too, but I sure can't remember. It's like what you use when you [00:29:06] Speaker A: lift giant cargo off ships. Lever systems and stuff like that. [00:29:11] Speaker B: Yeah. Somebody's going to write in angrily, tell [00:29:13] Speaker A: us what it is. Oh, please, write it angrily. I love a good, angry, a sternly worded letter. [00:29:17] Speaker B: So with a mighty crawng. Mm. Supreme Overlord's knocked unconscious. It's Zenda. [00:29:25] Speaker A: And Zenda then takes giant pliers and cuts through the metal bands that have been choking Black Hawk. He is unconscious, which he deserves because he knocked her unconscious. [00:29:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:29:36] Speaker A: This is not a very healthy relationship they have here. [00:29:39] Speaker C: Right. [00:29:39] Speaker B: In fact, I didn't even know that they were lovers. [00:29:42] Speaker A: I know, but he does call her lover. She calls him lover. I didn't know they were lovers either. As a matter of fact, that's the last thing I wrote here. When I wrote by her, I said, zinda Blackhawk slaps her out with a cold hand as. As he puts her in a skate pod. Exclamation point. His lover, exclamation point, question mark. I wrote in my little notes. [00:30:01] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, up until three issues ago, he was sleeping in the same room with six other Men. [00:30:08] Speaker A: Well, so I. You know, I don't know what to say. [00:30:14] Speaker B: I don't either. Oh, she knows what to say, though. Please wake up. [00:30:20] Speaker A: Love her. [00:30:21] Speaker B: Don't leave me, please. [00:30:23] Speaker A: Then she starts crying. [00:30:25] Speaker B: He's gone. I was too late. [00:30:28] Speaker A: Darling. [00:30:29] Speaker B: I'll never forgive myself. Never. [00:30:30] Speaker A: Of course, you're not seeing. Her left eye is completely swollen from where he slapped her. Unconscious. Right. [00:30:38] Speaker B: Well, he wakes up. He's alive. Everybody, don't panic. She assumes he was just. This is maddening and indicative of their relationship. She assumes he was pretending. Yeah, to make her say embarrassing things. [00:30:54] Speaker A: That's a very, very good, healthy, communicative relationship they have there, isn't it? [00:31:00] Speaker B: Well, in fairness, she was Queen Killer Shark. Probably a lot of hurt feelings. I don't. I think they should break up. She should go with Andre. Except he's probably a womanizer. [00:31:16] Speaker A: Well, they just decide to kiss Stan. [00:31:19] Speaker B: Stan's a good, solid, dependable fella. [00:31:22] Speaker A: Stan. [00:31:22] Speaker B: She should date Stan. [00:31:23] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:31:25] Speaker B: All right. They dissolve into a tight kiss. Meanwhile, Supreme Overlord wakes up. [00:31:37] Speaker A: Yeah, the very man that tried to kill him, that tried to kill Black Hawk. They start kissing, and they just ignore the fact that the man they took down is standing up, getting into an escape pod and leaves. [00:31:50] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:31:51] Speaker A: Hello. How stupid is that? [00:31:55] Speaker B: Well, I mean, a kiss is a kiss. Maybe it's moved on to something more [00:32:00] Speaker A: serious at this point. Sometimes when you kiss me, my world stops completely. [00:32:04] Speaker B: Does it? [00:32:05] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:32:08] Speaker B: Neat. All right. The capsule plummets to the earth into the ocean. The Supreme Overlord is going to summon new transportation by a remote control device concealed in his costume. And suddenly, a submarine appears. [00:32:25] Speaker A: Very convenient. [00:32:26] Speaker B: He's got to return quickly to Supreme Headquarters to plan the total defeat of Black Hawk and his entire team. Yes, I seem to recall that their headquarters is under the ocean. [00:32:38] Speaker A: Their headquarters is inside the iceberg. [00:32:40] Speaker B: No, that wasn't their head. That wasn't the headquarters. Also, that was just the rocket missile base. [00:32:45] Speaker A: Oh, the floating fortress, I think. [00:32:47] Speaker B: I don't know. [00:32:48] Speaker A: Well, they're going to in the end. The Black Hawks are going to die. [00:32:52] Speaker B: Don't spoil it. We're not there yet. [00:32:55] Speaker A: Well, I have a problem with that, so go ahead. [00:32:59] Speaker B: All right. So Blackhawk and Zinder realize that he's gotten away while they were banging it. And meanwhile, back at the floating iceberg, Chuck has appeared in his ear pajamas to report that he's been trying to contact Blackhawk for hours. And if I can't raise him as the Listener, since I know the sound of crime, then there's big trouble. And you guys goofed. Yeah. Now these other guys assume he's dead. They assume the rocket destroyed the Hawk kite and the Blackhawk's dead. They don't care about Zinn. [00:33:41] Speaker A: In this one panel where he's behind the red donut. Yeah. Has ears on his legs too. But then on the lower panel, they are not on his legs. [00:33:52] Speaker B: Right. That's just. I don't know how to explain it. [00:33:56] Speaker A: It's an error. [00:33:57] Speaker B: If it was Marvel Comics, you could get a no prize. A no prize? [00:34:02] Speaker A: If you knew. [00:34:04] Speaker B: No, no. [00:34:05] Speaker A: Oh. [00:34:05] Speaker B: If you identify a mistake and then come up with an explanation for it. Oh, you would win a no prize. Chuck's berating these other fellows for falling down on the job. And Olaf is not having any of it. PI Yimini. All you bon did was sit in your crazy capsule and used to take messages. At least we were fighting to save Blackhawk. [00:34:32] Speaker A: We? You bet. [00:34:34] Speaker B: Truly. [00:34:36] Speaker A: So Olaf just picks him up and starts swinging him around. [00:34:40] Speaker B: Swinging him around like a rag doll. Rag. Well, now that ears are back and they actually look like. Not that. It's print. A print of ears. Look at this panel. [00:34:51] Speaker A: They look like. [00:34:52] Speaker B: They look like applique. [00:34:53] Speaker A: Applique ears? Yeah. I would be so upset if that was my costume. [00:35:01] Speaker B: He picked it. He can wear anything he wants. I'm more upset that this is not widely available for me to purchase on the Internet. Then I have to design it and make it myself. [00:35:14] Speaker A: That your costume? [00:35:15] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:35:16] Speaker A: Do you want or me to do this for you? [00:35:19] Speaker B: Or available in action figure form. [00:35:23] Speaker A: I would 100 make you a costume like this with the ears. No one. Only one of our friends would ever know what this was. Yeah. Everybody else would look at you and say, what? What? What is that? [00:35:38] Speaker B: Well, they'd have to be pajamas. Not something I'd wear out in public. [00:35:41] Speaker A: Well, I'm not putting appliques on pajamas. That would make them so uncomfortable to wear. [00:35:45] Speaker B: Well, then just. I'm not asking you to put appliques of human ears. [00:35:51] Speaker A: This isn't Silence of the Lambs. [00:35:56] Speaker B: All right. Just then, in the nick of time, Blackhawk and Zinda appears. [00:36:03] Speaker A: God, this is getting slow. Go faster. [00:36:05] Speaker B: Sorry. Story go explains that the rocket turned into a wet firecracker when it was met by the gizmo cooked up by the weapon smasher. Nice work, Hendy. [00:36:14] Speaker A: Ah, it was nothing. [00:36:15] Speaker B: Black Hawk now. And he tells them their new identities are great. Thank you for capturing this missile base. In fact, it's so cool. I vote we make it the new Blackhawk headquarters. [00:36:32] Speaker A: It's always moving with the northern tide. So it's basically a fortress inside an iceberg. Yeah, it's always moving with the northern tides, so no one can track it down. We'll keep tabs on it by electronic homing gadgets on a secret frequency. Why, it's even a better base than old Black Hawk Island. This is my problem. It is a floating iceberg with a fortress built into. Will melt. That's what icebergs do. They float around in the northern sea and they melt. And then they repack when. When it gets cold and they do melt. That's how the Titanic sank. From icebergs that were floating around loose in the northern sea. We know from the Gulf Stream that it goes up the coast of the United States and up to Canada, circles around and goes down the coast of Europe, the west coast of Europe. It is a warm current. So it. So this. Like, this is such a stupid thing. [00:37:30] Speaker B: Well, do we think it's an actual real iceberg, or is it an artificial construct made to look like an iceberg? [00:37:39] Speaker A: I guess we can just assume that it's not a real iceberg. [00:37:44] Speaker B: Anyway, anybody can find it now because there's a giant hawk kite parked on the top of it. [00:37:49] Speaker A: Well, but, folks, the story's not over. [00:37:53] Speaker B: No. [00:37:53] Speaker A: That's why I said, khan, could we move this thing along? Because we got a whole nother story inside. The same story. It continues on from here. [00:38:00] Speaker B: All right. We see secretive individuals delivering a canister of some kind to another individual. We then see later that night, presumably the recipient of the canister appearing at an embassy, knocking out the doorman, sneaking inside and putting the canister inside a satchel. [00:38:21] Speaker A: Satchel carrier. Satchel with a lock on it. [00:38:24] Speaker B: Some time afterward, as the new Blackhawk secret HQ drifts majestic. [00:38:31] Speaker A: Majestically on the satiny seas. [00:38:33] Speaker B: That's not how you spell majestic. Magestically. M, A, G, E, S, T, I, C A L, L, Y. It's a J. Majestic. [00:38:43] Speaker A: You're absolutely right. Majestic. [00:38:45] Speaker B: I am. I have a degree in English. Of course I'm right. [00:38:48] Speaker A: It says majestically. [00:38:49] Speaker B: Majestically, it drifts satiny seas. They receive a message from George coming through in code. All right. There's no time for Blackhawk to tell them what the message says. He just orders them to get into the plane. They're going to take off, and he'll [00:39:08] Speaker A: explain it on the way. [00:39:09] Speaker B: They're a big rush. [00:39:10] Speaker A: Right. [00:39:11] Speaker B: He gives the course to Andre. And now he tells them an ambassador of a powerful foreign nation boarded a ship heading for New York. He is unaware that inside his diplomatic pouch, sealed until he reaches Washington, is a canister of deadly nerve gas. That canister, crammed under high pressure with enough gas to wipe out a city, Was put there by international terrorists. Tried to cause a big shooting war. Uncle Sam can't demand that diplomatic pouch to be opened at customs. It might cause a war all by itself. The Ambassador even sleeps with it handcuffed to him. So all we have to do is get that canister without the Ambassador or his government ever knowing we even touched the pouch. Got it? [00:39:58] Speaker A: So they say. Oh, sure. Simple. No, it's crazy. So the plane appears to come upon the cruise ship holding the Ambassador and other passengers. [00:40:09] Speaker B: Yes. [00:40:10] Speaker A: So Black Hawk orders. Who. Who's flying? [00:40:14] Speaker B: Andre. [00:40:15] Speaker A: Andre. To crash the plane. But don't kill them. He said, don't worry. George will buy us a new plane. [00:40:23] Speaker B: So the plane crashes. The Blackhawks come out. They're now wearing ordinary civilian unit business suits. [00:40:29] Speaker A: Suits. [00:40:31] Speaker B: They are going to pretend that they are businessmen who have just happened to crash in the ocean. [00:40:38] Speaker A: Right. [00:40:39] Speaker B: They are rescued by the cruise ship and welcomed aboard. [00:40:45] Speaker A: Yes. [00:40:49] Speaker B: Black Hawk introduces himself as Mr. Black. [00:40:53] Speaker A: And there are businessmen on their way to close a big international deal. [00:40:58] Speaker B: Well, I'm afraid, Mr. Black, you'll miss that deal. We won't reach New York for two more days. [00:41:04] Speaker A: So Black Hawk says to. I don't know who that is. [00:41:09] Speaker B: Olaf. [00:41:10] Speaker A: Olaf. There's the Ambassador, guys. And there's the pouch with the gas canister in it. Blazes. [00:41:16] Speaker B: Blackhawk. Maybe that's Chuck. [00:41:19] Speaker A: It'll be gas trying to get it. That thing's as close to him as a bride to a can opener. Nice little sexist remark about how brides can't cook. New new newlyweds. Can't cook. I'm sorry. A newlywed bride is. Can't cook. So she uses canned foods. [00:41:32] Speaker B: Nice. [00:41:33] Speaker A: So then there's a little girl who has a doll. [00:41:35] Speaker B: And it's the Ambassador's daughter. [00:41:36] Speaker A: The Ambassador's daughter's doll falls into the ocean. In which Andre jumps in after the doll. [00:41:44] Speaker B: Right? [00:41:45] Speaker A: This comes thus the reference jumping the shark. Because immediately, Immediately, easily. Andre's feet sticking out of the water as he's diving in. A shark finish coming out of the water. And of course, the doll. And someone screams, shark. [00:42:01] Speaker B: Yimini. Andre is used smorgasbord for that big buster. [00:42:06] Speaker A: But next, Sohindi pulls out of his pocket a what appears to be a pipe. Right? [00:42:11] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:42:12] Speaker A: And he shoots the shark and apparently kills the shark. [00:42:17] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:42:17] Speaker A: I hope he remembers. It's A pipe. Because if he were to draw upon that pipe, I mean, I hope he remembers it's a gun. If he were to draw upon that pipe. [00:42:25] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:42:25] Speaker A: He would blast himself out of the back of the head. All right. [00:42:29] Speaker B: The doll is rescued behind. He has drawn suspicion with his pipe gun. And he says, yeah, I. I'm in dur weapons business. You know, trick guns. [00:42:44] Speaker A: So Blackhawk screams at the guys, you clam heads. Andre, I know you always make a play for the girls, but that was a screen. Stupid stunt. Diving after a doll. [00:42:52] Speaker B: Does Andre always make play for prepubescent girls? That's troubling. [00:42:58] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I wasn't going to go there, but yeah. [00:43:01] Speaker B: Okay. [00:43:03] Speaker A: And you, Hendy, somebody might suspect you're really the weapons master now, because you have a pipe that acts, that also doubles as a gun. [00:43:09] Speaker B: And the weapons master is a well known crime fighting figure in the world. In the whole world. All right, now, Blackhawk's entirely correct, because nearby there's some mobsters. We know they're mobsters because they have long cigarette holders and trench coats and top. [00:43:29] Speaker A: And what are those hats called? A sort of fedoras. Fedoras, yes. [00:43:33] Speaker B: And a monocle and a diamond tie clip. All right, so the big man here. Oh, fat man. That's literally his name. Says he's got a task for one of his lackeys. Meanwhile, I guess the Blackhawks are all sharing one cabin on the ship because they're in the process of undressing, getting into their costumes. That night, Andre is tasked with stealing the canister while Olaf. Stan's watch. [00:44:09] Speaker A: Mm. [00:44:12] Speaker B: So Andre goes down one of those big ventilator funnels that are always on ships, which luckily, this one goes right to the ambassador's stateroom. Andre vanishes down the tunnel, but then Olaf's attacked by a swinging mobster and knocked almost into the ocean. But he leaps. [00:44:32] Speaker A: Yeah. How does he do that? He's falling into the water and he leaps. He pushes himself off the ship and immediately rights himself and goes right back up on the ship. [00:44:39] Speaker B: Yeah, well, his costume has bouncing powers as I recall. He's used to. Got to keep bouncing before another creep bond take a cheap shot at him. He knocks out the guy that's tried to fire at him, and he knocks out the guy that tackled him earlier. Meanwhile, below in the ambassador's cabin, Andre gets the satchel, but the canister is gone. [00:45:08] Speaker A: Yeah, it's been taken. [00:45:09] Speaker B: Sakre blue. [00:45:10] Speaker A: Yeah. He quietly uses his own key that he's created to unlock the shackle that has Been keeping the pouch on the Ambassador's arm. Opens it up and sees nothing inside. [00:45:27] Speaker B: Empty. So, back in the Blackhawk's cabin, Black Hawk theorizes that they were identified. That the terror group has agents aboard. And we've been spotted. And they have moved the gas. Canada ma foi. [00:45:44] Speaker A: You mean they have switched the gas to somewhere else? [00:45:46] Speaker B: That's right, Andre. They figured we'd be looking for it, so they've probably hidden it somewhere on their ship. They'll stash it back in the Ambassador's pouch before we dock, since, as a diplomat, he is never checked by customs. [00:46:00] Speaker A: Non du non. But it is a very big ship. And the canister could be anywhere. Like the needle in the haystack. But we must find it. Start Operation Haystack now. Soon a way out, stem to stern search gets underway. [00:46:14] Speaker B: This would be comical if it was in a movie. Be a searching montage. But the criminals notice them searching, and so they know that they know that the canister that has been hidden. And they will never find it. Never. Even if they search a million years. [00:46:35] Speaker A: And the interesting thing is, the writers of this comic say a million years. But the Blackhawks have only one day to find that deadly canister. It's hidden in the panel above. It's in one of those places right there, right? [00:46:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:46:50] Speaker A: Can you guess where? If you can or can't, we'll reveal all when the next champion chapter of the new Blackhawk era blasts your way. If you're not with it now, get with it then. So we have how many more Black Hawk issues before we are you and I reach the end? [00:47:06] Speaker B: Two more. [00:47:07] Speaker A: So we will find out where that canister is? [00:47:09] Speaker B: Yes. [00:47:10] Speaker A: I think it's in the doll. [00:47:13] Speaker B: Okay. I guess we'll see in another four months when we get back to the next issue of Blackhawk. [00:47:19] Speaker A: Yeah. Or it could be in one of the hats of the men. [00:47:24] Speaker B: It's in the doll. I read ahead. Oh. [00:47:27] Speaker A: What? [00:47:28] Speaker B: Okay, well, I don't need to put that in. [00:47:30] Speaker A: Okay. No, that's okay. No, it's fine. If it's in. I don't care. [00:47:33] Speaker B: Good, because I don't edit. Anything else to add? [00:47:37] Speaker A: Nothing from Irene Vartanov in this issue? [00:47:39] Speaker B: Nothing. [00:47:40] Speaker A: I looked. [00:47:43] Speaker B: Well, she's so busy with college nowadays. [00:47:45] Speaker A: Are you gonna do a new theme song? [00:47:48] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:47:49] Speaker A: Cool. [00:47:51] Speaker B: But I have to do it right now. As soon as we're done. [00:47:53] Speaker A: Okay. [00:47:55] Speaker B: You can find us on social media at GoGoCheckPod. You can rate and review us wherever you get your podcast from. You can find us on our sister podcast, Nerd Orchestra. You can hear us sing live and in person Halloween weekend at Helen M. Montana Episcopal Cathedral Requiem. Check the newspaper. I'm sure will be highly publicized. [00:48:19] Speaker A: Yes. Or the next night. [00:48:20] Speaker B: Or the next night. We have a little solo recital that we're performing in. And you can find us right back here next week, right? Yes. With Justice League of America. Bye. [00:48:40] Speaker C: Good night. We've been living in the dark? Can't help wondering why? Wondering why? So we're kicking out the hedge? Looking for where you might have been? Giving you a chance to looking like your mind you being thrown up in misery? Might not the way it used to be? Looking at you like thinking it all? Be. It. Out the hate? Looking for the world.