Set Description:
Synopsis: Our set contains all 34 books in this set, with 32 of our books 9.6s and 9.8s and 31 of our books highest graded examples. The highlights of this set are highest graded copies of B&B #35, #36, #42, #43, #44 and #51, with our #36 and #42 being single highest graded examples. We also have the single highest graded copies of Issues #2, #7 and #8.
Background: Hawkman is a winged vigilante who fights crime using a flight harness made from Nth metal and a mace. Hawkman was created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, first appearing in Flash Comics #1 (1940). He co-starred in that title with the Flash through the end of its initial run in 1949, and he was a founding member of the Justice Society of America, the world's first super-team introduced in the pages of All-Star Comics #3. Hawkman was revamped for the Silver Age and reintroduced in the pages of this issue of Brave and the Bold in 1961. Hawkman received his own series in 1964 and the same year became an early addition to the Justice League of America roster. Hawkman remains an active member of the JLA to this day. Hawkman and Hawkgirl were both featured in the popular DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series.
There have been several different versions of the character, along with love interests and partners such as Hawkgirl. The Silver Age version of Hawkman is Katar Hol, an alien policeman from the planet Thanagar with access to advanced technology.
This set commences with the first Hawkman try-out issue in Brave & Bold #34, which was published in 1961, and runs through his final solo appearance in Issue #27. But unlike some DC characters, it is clear DC was not sure what to do with Hawkman, as there were initially three try-out issues (B&B #34-36), then a break of about a year until three more issues (B&B #42-44), followed by another lengthy break until B&B #51. In Issue #51, DC teamed Hawkman with Aquaman, which was just a one-issue combo. DC also tried Hawkman in Mystery in Space prior to Hawkman #1 in issues #87-90 of that title. Those books are not included in this set, perhaps because Hawkman only appears on the cover twice. But in light of the brevity of this set, I think inclusion might be warranted-of course, I don’t personally own any of them, which would make completing this one that more challenging.
With the breaks noted above and the fact that these books were only published bi-monthly through the entire run, there are just 34 books in the set. After this run ended, Hawkman teamed up with Atom is Atom and Hawkman #39-45, which were publish in 1968-1969. It is certainly arguable that CGC should also include those books in both the Atom and Hawkman sets, but I guess alphabetical order and the fact that those books continue the Atom numbering won out.
Hawkman has been adapted into other media numerous times, with significant appearances in the animated Justice League Unlimited cartoon, which featured Hawkgirl as a main character, as well as several DC Universe Original Animated Movies.
In live action, the character first appeared onscreen in the two-part 1979 TV special Legends of the Superheroes by Bill Nuckols appearing alongside Adam West and Burt Ward as allies to Batman and Robin. Hawkman was later portrayed by Michael Shanks in Smallville and by Falk Hentschel in The CW's Arrowverse family of shows. Hawkman made his cinematic debut in 2022 when he was portrayed by Aldis Hodge in 2022's Black Adam set in the DC Extended Universe.
Hawkman in the Registry and the Marketplace: This is another DC title that IMHO is under appreciated by the Registry, although by no means as much as Aquaman and Atom. Still, the Registry has clearly not keep up with the prices on certain specific issues like #4 and #9.
Our Collection: While we completed this set in November 2023, the three slots not filled with highest graded examples are the three keys, one of which in just a third highest graded example, relegating this set below most of our other JLA related sets. But, on the plus side, we have highest graded copies of the next six B&B Hawkman issues, including two that are single highest graded.
Current Stats:
34/34 Books
21 9.8s-All Highest Graded
11 9.6s-9 Highest Graded
1 9.4-Highest Graded
1 9.0
14 WP
18 OW/W
2 OW
8 Single Highest Graded
31 Highest Graded
2 Second Highest Graded
1 Third Highest Graded
11 Pedigrees (7 Pacific Coasts)
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