Blackhawk #240

Blackhawk #240 On Sale: February 8, 1968) has a cover by Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. Dig that 60's free-form lettering!

"He Who Must Die" is by Bob Haney, Dick Dillin and Charles Cuidera. Andre, backed up by the other Blackhawks, approaches female spy Natasha Zero to gain a deadly nerve gas and prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Natasha leads Andre into a trap set by her buyer, Le Croc. The other Blackhawks appear to fall victim to the nerve gas, but they are protected with the aid of nose filters. The Blackhawks then apprehend Le Croc and Natasha, exposing the female spy as a man.

I'll never forget that last panel when Blackhawk proclaims, "She's a man, baby!" OK, maybe that panel never happened.

The back-up story "The Perils of Blackie, the Wonder Bird," is a reprint from Blackhawk #111 drawn by Dick Dillin and Sheldon Moldoff. Undercover aboard a smuggling ship, government agent Roger Vance intends to deliver a message to the Blackhawks using Blackie, the Blackhawk bird, as a messenger. The smugglers intercept Blackie, but they can't find the message. Blackie is able to signal the Blackhawks who find the smugglers and capture them. They also retrieve the message hidden inside a hollow feather. No wonder they can't find anyone to claim credit for the writing!

Edited by George Kashdan.