Post-Poland Update Post

Due to delays we got back from Poland later than I was expecting, and consequently, I was unable to put up a post yesterday.  (My apologies.)

Further, despite searching at multiple book stores, I was unable to find any copies of Bialy Orzhel in the country.  There were a fair number of comic books, but most of them were either Polish translations of the Big Two, or else historic/narrative comics (e.g., comics relating tales of the Teutonic Knights or other events from Polish history).

I did, however, spot a couple down on the Sopot square that you might recognize.

THE Blackhawk

For this second installment in Polish superheroes, I'm kind of having to stretch my typical definition of "superhero."  The hero Blackhawk more clearly fits into the military hero type.  (Think Nick Fury if you're a MCU person). As an interesting aside, when I first got into comics (back in 1988 or so) and began asking my dad about what comics he read as a kid, one of the very few that he could remember was...The Blackhawks!

His name and nationality are a bit convoluted.  When I first learned of Blackhawk he was consistently referred to as being a Pole named Janos Prohaska.  Thanks to Comicvine, however, I have learned that:

Blackhawk was originally identified as Polish, but later issues referred to him as American. His actual name was unknown until Blackhawk #242 (AUG-SEP 1968) revealed that his name was Bart Hawk, an American of Polish extraction. Secret Origins #45 gives October 31, 1912 as Janos Prohaska's birthday.

While I'm not 100% positive on his civilian name, I'm inclined to go with Janos Prohaska as that's the one I've heard more often AND if the initial depiction of the character was as a Pole, then I think we go with that one.

Janos was depicted as a Polish aviator who after the Nazi conquest of his homeland formed a paramilitary outfit of pilots named the Blackhawks.  There was a Blackhawk to represent virtually every occupied country of Europe.

As you would expect, Blackhawk didn't have powers...or even a mask.  I suppose he did have some fancy gadgetry--but not in the Iron Man sense.  Rather, Blackhawk always worked as part of an organized unit that displayed advanced weaponry.  (Essentially, they were a kind of S.H.I.E.L.D. before there was a S.H.I.E.L.D.)    

Initially published by Quality Comics, Blackhawk (and his entourage) were part of the bevy of characters acquired and given a new lease on life by DC.  Unlike many of the old Quality properties, Blackhawk has even made appearances in DC's Animated Universe.

If you'd like to know more about this classic hero, the goods news is that a WHOLE LOT of his adventures are now in the public domain and freely available.  To get started, here's his inaugural appearance in Military Comics #1 (AUG 1941).

Bialy Orzhel (White Eagle)

Beginning today, our series on the Wanderers is going on hold.  I'm out of the country on a mission trip with my fam, so I thought it would be nice to fill in these weeks with posts on superheroes from my temporary host country:  Poland!

Today's post covers the relatively new superhero Bialy Orzhel (White Eagle)

Alex Poniatowski follows in the mold of wealthy powerful men who become superheroes (e.g., Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark, etc.)  In this case, however, it's more of a Tony Stark meets Steve Rogers (or Bruce Wayne meets Victor Stone) experience.  Alex falls out of an office building, suffers tremendous injuries and goes into a three year coma.

When he finally wakes up, it takes experimental interventions by his scientist father Karol to help Alex's body overcome paralysis.  In the process, Alex gets several other abilities as well (thought I'm not clear on how many of these result from a serum and how many are the effects of external tech (a la Iron Man).

From one source or another, the White Eagle ends up with super stamina, strength, flight, and apparently some special gadgetry.

Honestly, dear reader, I know next to nothing about the White Eagle.  What I do know, is that I'm a fan of independent comic creators...and I'm a fan of seeing superhero culture spread around the world and pop up in other places.  I have a lot of respect for the Polish people, and I'm reflexively very interested in their first home-grown superhero.

If you are as well, and you'd like to purchase a copy of White Eagle for yourself, you can do so at the Wizuale company website: http://www.wizuale.com/

Dartalg Misses the Mark

Originally, Dartalg was--if I'm honest--the corniest member of the Wanderers. Like Celebrand, in his original incarnation Dartalg lacked superpowers, but where Celebrand at least boasted a massive Han Solo-esque blaster, Dartalg was the mighy master of....the blow gun.

That's right friends, a weapon principally utilized and associated with colonized native terran societies in 15th - 19th centuries, was the weapon-of-choice for a cosmic adventurer in the 30th century.

The only thing sadder than Dartalg's armory, was his inability to defeat
a guy whose super-power was blowing up like a balloon.  This really makes Dartalg's trash-talk all the more pathetic.

If my speculation that the Wanderers were inspired by The Magnificent Seven, then just as Celebrand was the cosmic version of Chris Adams, Dartalg might've been inspired by the knife master Britt.

Like a latter day, Green Arrow (well, at least one version of him) Dartalg attempted to off-set the inherent limitations of his weapon with high-tech, specialty darts (e.g., explosive darts, poison darts, etc.). Unfortunately, no writer was ever able to pull this off in a way that seemed even remotely plausible for a 30th century setting. 

Adventure Comics #376 (JAN 1969)
Though technically considered the second appearance of the Wanderers, in truth their role in this story is even less impressive than their debut.  Indeed, only two of the Wanderers seem to have made an appearance in this issue (Celebrand and Psyche) and then, only in flashbacks to the previous issue.




I'll be out of the country for the next two weeks, so I'm not sure I'll be able to make posts.  I'm trying to prepare a couple of interludes, but we'll see if I can get them done before departure time.  After I return, we'll continue this foray through the original Wanderers by looking at the winged hero Ornitho!

Dartalg in the deck
Jim Gallagher artwork