Blackhawk #43 is an issue of the series Blackhawk (Volume 1) with a cover date of August, 1951.
Synopsis for "Terror from the Catacombs"
In an eastern city, an election is being help in which candidates for the reform party promise to destroy a Catacomb Society which has plundered the city for a thousand years. The Blackhawks stop members of the society from stealing ballots and replace them with fakes, but Chop Chop is shot in the arm in the process. The reform party mayor is elected, but as he is being sworn in, a trap door in the floor opens and assassins crawl out from the catacombs. Police Chief Marzan kills them before the Blackhawks can subdue them. Marzan recognizes one of them to be his assistant Orlando. Just then word arrives that catacomb forces have captured the arsenal. The Blackhawks retake the arsenal, but on returning to City Hall discover that the Catacomb Society has attacked there, killing everyone except Marzan who had a bullet crease his skull, but quickly regains consciousness. Marzan has some knowledge of the catacombs, so he agrees to lead the Blackhawks underground to confront the society. With Chop Chop still recovering, Blackhawk has him stand at the entrance to the catacombs holding on end of a spool of wire so they can find their way back out. One by one, the society captures Chuck, Stanislaus, and Hendrickson. Marzan leads Blackhawk, Andre, and Olaf into a trap. The woman leading the society has the three Blackhawks tied to a pillar, but Blackhawk tells her that he gave Chop Chop instructions that if the wire stopped unreeling, to blast a hole in Lake Riomo, flooding the catacombs. Hearing an explosion, the catacomb leader and Marzan run for the surface. Blackhawk, Andre, and Olaf break the ropes and follow. Blackhawk captures the leader and Marzan. Chop Chop and another Blackhawk have a hose running water into a manhole to make people think the catacombs are flooding. The leader states that she sounded an alarm to get her people out of the water. Blackhawk says that they have vigilante committees rounding them up.
Appearing in "Terror from the Catacombs"
Featured Characters:
- Andre
- Blackhawk
- Chop-Chop
- Chuck
- Hendrickson
- Olaf
- Stanislaus
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Police Chief Marzan
- Catacomb Society
Other Characters:
Locations:
- old European eastern city, near Lake Riomo
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Mr. President Blackhawk"
In Fusang, where the economy is based on the government-run mines, the people, led by Mirranos, are revolting against the tyrant, Trolo. The bandit Zorillo doesn’t trust either side, but has great respect for Blackhawk, who is fighting with the rebels. One day, one of Mirranos’ officers attempts to bribe Chop Chop to spy on Blackhawk. The following evening, Zorillo comes to Blackhawk’s camp. His spies have discovered that Trolo has bribed Mirranos and offered him a place in his administration in exchange for ending the war. Because the Blackhawks can’t be bribed, Mirranos has made plans to kill them during the night. The rebels’ best force, the Mountain Regiment is camped next to the Blackhawks and their colonel is a friend of Blackhawk’s. The colonel tells Blackhawk that they have been ordered to march away. Together, they go to see Mirranos. They catch him in a meeting with Trolo. They overpower Mirranos’ guards, but he and Trolo escape. The next morning, the Blackhawks, the Mountain Regiment, and Zorillo’s bandits arrive in the capital. Blackhawk asks the colonel to oversee establishing a provisional government, but he insists he is a soldier, not a politician. Blackhawk addresses the citizens from the steps of the capitol, telling them of the need for a new government. Zorillo nominates Blackhawk as provisional president, and the people agree. Blackhawk then tries to get Zorillo to be an advisor, but Zorillo insists he is still a criminal and it is now Blackhawk’s job to try to capture him. Blackhawk drafts his men to assist him: Andre as Vice-President and Secretary of Defense, Hendrickson as Secretary of Commerce, Olaf as Secretary of Labor, Stanislaus as Attorney General, Chuck as Treasury Secretary, and Chop Chop as Blackhawk’s personal secretary. He then draws up a pardon for Zorillo and begins work on a new constitution. A woman named Orpha insists on seeing Blackhawk. She reveals that she actually runs the mines and pays off the government. Blackhawk refuses to make a deal with her and throws her man out of the building. Orpha begins spreading rumors that Blackhawk drove Mirranos off so he could seize power. Mirranos returns and gathers an army. They send an assassin after Blackhawk. When they hear him fire his shot the army will march on the capitol building. The Blackhawks stop the assassin, but not before he fires. They show him proof of Mirranos’ treachery and he reveals the plan to them, but by this time the Blackhawks are surrounded. Fortunately Zorillo has heard the plans and leads an army of his men, peasants, and country people against Mirranos. Mirranos and Orpha are captured. Once again, Blackhawk and Zorillo address the people from the steps of the capitol, but this time it is Zorillo’s name the people are shouting. Blackhawk informs him that he has been pardoned and nominates him to be president.
Appearing in "Mr. President Blackhawk"
Featured Characters:
- Andre
- Blackhawk
- Chop-Chop
- Chuck
- Hendrickson
- Olaf
- Stanislaus
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Mirranos
- Orpha
- Trolo
Other Characters:
- Zorillo
- Colonel of the Mountain Regiment
Locations:
- Fusang
Items: Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Captain Ravage"
The Blackhawks have been pursuing a smuggler, Captain Ravage. They catch up with him as he hiding hashish on an island in the Mediterranean. His men are captured, but Ravage escapes in Chuck’s plane. While Chuck guards the prisoners until either the Turkish or Syrian Coast Guard arrive, the others pursue Ravage using their radar. Realizing that the Blackhawks are tracking him, but cannot see him yet, Ravage sets the autopilot to land in 200 miles then bails out over Lebanon. The Blackhawks retrieve the plane, then return to the island with Chop Chop piloting Chuck’s plane. Several weeks later in Alexandria, and Asian man calling himself Ah Fong sits at a table with another man. Ah Fong says that he did business with Captain Ravage for many years in the opium trade. He is willing to pay the other man to lead him to Ravage. When he does, Ah Fong tells Ravage that Valshazar, priest of Baal, has captured the Blackhawks and is willing to allow Ravage the privilege of killing them for a price. Ah Fong leads Ravage to Valshazar’s temple on the Street Called Straight in Damascus. There they find Andre, Chuck, Hendrickson, Olaf, and Stanislaus, all apparently drugged, along with Valshazar and several women. Valshazar explains that Blackhawk is in another room, so that they can save him for last. Ravage pays Valshazar then pulls a gun, but Valshazar gives him a scimitar, suggesting that it will be quieter and more satisfying. Ravage stabs Hendrickson, but the scimitar is rubber. Valshazar suggests that Blackhawk must have switched it. Valshazar hands Ravage his gun back, but it has no ammunition. Valshazar then reveals that he is Blackhawk and Ah Fong is Chop Chop. Captain Ravage is captured.
Appearing in "Captain Ravage"
Featured Characters:
- Andre
- Blackhawk
- Chop-Chop
- Chuck
- Hendrickson
- Olaf
- Stanislaus
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Captain Ravage
Other Characters:
- Valshazar (fake identity)
Locations:
- Captain Ravage's island in the Mediterranean Sea, between Turkey and Syria
- Lebanon
- Egypt
- Damascus
- Street Called Straight
- Temple of Baal (fake)
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for Chop Chop: "Cooking is More Fun"
Chop Chop buys a cookbook, Cooking is More Fun than Anything to find some new recipes. As he is reading by the docks, he is shanghaied by a ship bound for India whose cook just quit. Chop Chop decides to make the food as bad as possible, so he puts soap in the soup. When the crew threatens to mutiny, the captain lets Chop Chop go in a rowboat.
Appearing in Chop Chop: "Cooking is More Fun"
Featured Characters:
- Chop-Chop
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items: Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Duty Makes a Capture"
A Mountie, Constable Angus Allen, is trying to bring in Big Gar Benoit for murdering five trappers. Allen has not been able to feed his sled dogs for two days and with a blizzard coming, Allen makes camp. During the night, Benoit takes the sled and escapes. When the constable wakes, he follows his trail on foot for six hours before meeting his Eskimo friend Innuit. Innuit gives Allen food, a knife, and a lift to the cabin Benoit is at. Allen climbs onto the roof and stuffs his coat in the chimney. When the smoke causes Benoit to run out of the cabin, Allen jumps on him and recaptures him.
Appearing in "Duty Makes a Capture"
Featured Characters:
- Constable Angus Allen
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Big Gar Benoit
Other Characters:
- Innuit
Locations:
Items: Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Izmar’s Invasion of Earth"
The Blackhawks spot a strange structure on a mountain top and land to investigate. Inside the structure, aliens from the planet Ur, led by Izmar, have built a machine to remove oxygen from the atmosphere. Once the humans have died, Izmar will rule the Earth. On the way up the mountain, the Blackhawks defeat alien guards, but they manage to warn Izmar. The aliens cause an avalanche, but the Blackhawks find shelter in a cave. The Blackhawks arrive at the building three minutes before all oxygen will be gone. Despite the lack of oxygen, they defeat the aliens, reverse the machine, then turn the aliens over to world authorities.
Appearing in "Izmar’s Invasion of Earth"
Featured Characters:
- Andre
- Blackhawk
- Chop-Chop
- Chuck
- Hendrickson
- Olaf
- Stanislaus
Supporting Characters:
Villains:
- Izmar
- aliens from Ur
- aliens from Ur
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Planet Ur (Behind the scenes)
Items: Vehicles:
Notes
- "Duty Makes a Capture" is a text story.
See Also