Set Description:
Synopsis: This is complete set of 34 books, which has topped the registry for seven years. Thirty-two of our books are 9.6s and 9.8s and 31 of our books are 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. The set also contains single highest graded copies of Issues #2, #7, #11, #13 and #27.
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 in Atom and Hawkman #39-45, which were published 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 several years ago, and it has topped the registry for six years now, the three slots not filled with highest graded examples are the three keys, relegating this set probably a step or two below our best JLA related sets. But, on the plus side, we have highest graded copies of six of the B&B Hawkman issues, including two that are single highest graded.
I am sure that sooner or later we will get another shot at a B&B #34 9.4 as there are a half dozen in the census. That is one we would pay up to upgrade since it would raise the floor on this set to 9.4. On the sole #1 9.8, my understanding is that book is the Curator copy and has been in Josh Nathanson’s private collection for decades, so we may never see it again. As to the three #4 9.8s, those have been available with the Pacific Coast copy being listed on the CL Exchange for the bargain price of I think $75,000 as recently as last year. For us, it just does not make sense to spend that much for a one-step upgrade.
All-in-all, we are pretty happy with this set. While it is not our best DC set by any means, I do think it presents pretty well. An oddity here is that the set in second place, which has less than half the registry points of this one, and is owned by a friend, won the best Silver Age set a couple of years ago. While I’m happy for my friend, it’s also another example of how arbitrary and capricious those awards have become. After all, how is a set not the best in the title, but best in the Silver Age? I have zero issue with not giving out awards every year to the same sets, and I would never argue this set deserves one, as we own a number of better ones that have never won anything, but at a minimum I think a set should top the registry to win that award, unless the first place set has already won it.
It’s stuff like that which really makes a mockery out of the whole registry point and award system. I have no issue with doing away with registry points and awards altogether, but if we are going to have them, CGC needs to do a much better job in that area with both the points system and the awards, otherwise, neither means much.
Current Stats:
34/34 Books
21 9.8s-All Highest Graded
11 9.6s-9 Highest Graded
1 9.4-Highest Graded
1 9.2
14 WP
18 OW/W
2 OW
7 Single Highest Graded
31 Highest Graded
3 Second Highest Graded
12 Pedigrees (7 Pacific Coasts)
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| The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 34 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 34 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4389138003
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Owner Comments
B&B #34 features the Origin and first appearance of the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl, as well as the first appearance of Mavis Trent and Byth. Our 9.2 is tied for second highest graded trailing a half dozen 9.4s. We acquired the book in the 11/28/2023 CL Auction.*
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| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 35 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 35 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2006981010
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Owner Comments
Second Hawkman try-out issue, this copy is one of four 9.4s with none higher. Acquired in November 21, 2019 Heritage auction.
2023 Update: The population of this issue in 9.4 keeps expanding, as there are now five examples in the census, but still nothing higher.
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| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 36 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 36 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3930473003
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Owner Comments
Issue #36 marks the third appearance of SA Hawkman and features the Origin and first appearance of the Shadow Thief. Our WP 9.6 is the single highest graded example, which is followed by a single 9.4, a single 9.2 and a single 9.0, which is undoubtedly one of the strangest census I have seen. We acquired the book from the 12/7/2021 CL Auction.
2923 Update: There are now two 9.0s, with single copies at 9.2, 9.4 and 9.6 atop the census.
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| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 42 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 42 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3776844006
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Owner Comments
B&B #42 is the fourth Hawkman try-out issue. Our 9.6 is the single highest graded copy of this issue. We acquired the book in the June 18, 2021 Heritage Auction.
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| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 43 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 43 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2122464001
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Owner Comments
As most collectors undoubtedly know, the White Mountain Pedigree is distinguished a handwritten date on the cover. Our 9.6 White Mountain Pedigree copy of this 1962 issue is the highest graded copy (1/2) as of June 2020. We acquired the book in the September 2019 ComicConnect auction.*
This White Mountain Collection came to prominence in the early '90s when a large portion of them sold through the first Sotheby's comic book auctions in 1991 and 1992, although the original owner had been selling books from it as early as 1984. These books are known for their whiteness and freshness and covered much of the '50s and '60s, particularly horror and science fiction, and contained full runs of early Silver Age titles. It was one of the first major pedigrees to represent the Silver Age, laying the foundation for other prominent Silver Age pedigrees such as Pacific Coast, Curator, Western Penn, Northford and Mohawk Valley. Copies from the '50s contain a date stamp on the first page, while later issues exhibit a small two-digit year penned on the front cover. With our book, you can see the small 65 right under the 43 issue number on the front cover.
2021 Update: There are now three 9.6s in the census, with one of the others being auctioned off by Heritage in June 2021. Still, this seems to be the finest copy in existence, as it’s the only white page pedigree example.
2023 Update: Wow, grade inflation continues on this one, as there are now four 9.6s topping the census. I still believe ours is the only WP pedigreed example.
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| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 44 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 44 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3953470006
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Owner Comments
Issue #44 is the last solo SA Hawkman debut appearance in the Brave and Bold title. There are two 9.6s on this one topping the census. We lost the first 9.6 copy of this issue to a friend and fellow collector at auction, but then, lo and behold, a second 9.6 emerged, which we won at a significant discount to the first. We acquired our book from the 12/7/21 CL Auction. Unfortunately, more times than not we have been on the other side of situations like this, as it’s always better to buy the second book. But then again, you never know whether there will be one.
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| Slot: |
Brave and the Bold 51 |
| Item: |
Brave and the Bold 51 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0607668008
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Owner Comments
Brave and Bold #51 predates Hawkman #1 and features a Hawkman and Aquaman team-up. Our 9.6 is tied for highest graded with one other copy. We acquired the book from a friend and fellow collector in June 2023.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 1 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 1 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1492311002
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Owner Comments
I always liked this cover with Hawkeye battling what looks like some kind of Aztec mystic. It is obviously the first Hawkman issue in his own name and also features the origin of Chac. Our copy is tied for second highest graded trailing a single 9.8. Rumor is that Josh Nathanson, President of CL, has the sole 9.8 stashed away in his personal collection. We acquired our 9.6 off the Metropolis Exchange in 2022.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 2 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 2 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1042684012
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Owner Comments
Our 9.8 copy of the second appearance of Hawkman in his own book comes from the Twin Cities Collection. That collection was assembled by Gary Dahlberg, who spent his life carefully buying, reading and storing comic books away throughout the '60s and '70s, with aspirations to become a cartoonist one day. Sadly, he died in a fire in 2010, but to the astonishment of his family his collection was appraised at more than $1 million by Heritage, who auctioned the books in 2011. Consisting of mainly Marvel and DC, this accumulation has no identifying marks but yielded some of the highest grades of the early Marvel period with considerably high page quality. The collection ultimately brought over $2.4 million at auction. Usually the books are accompanied by a certificate of authentically from Heritage,
Our book is the single best copy ever certified by CGC. It replaced the Pacific Coast 9.6 in this set, which we bought with our Issue #1 from Metropolis Comics. We acquired the book from a friend and fellow collector in June 2023. .
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 3 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 3 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0104535025
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Owner Comments
issue #3 features a cool colorful cover with Hawkman and his mate trapped in a gilded cage. Our 9.6 comes from the Western Penn Collection, books from which first surfaced in the 1990’s. Much of that collection's history is shrouded in mystery. We know that both a father and his son accumulated the collection from the '60s to '80s, and there was allegedly a cache of Golden Age comics as well that may have been sold earlier (to date only a handful of Tarzans prior to 1961 have been CGC graded). Stuart Friedlander brought the collection to market, and several Silver Age publishers were represented, although Marvel was the predominant company. These books are renown for very high grades and exceptional page quality. Starting in 1961, the Western Penn copies have been well documented, but do not exhibit any identifying marks.
Our book is tied with one other copy for highest graded. We acquired the book from a friend in a private transaction in 2021.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 4 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 4 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1968809008
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Owner Comments
Issue #4 is undoubtedly the most valuable book in the entire Hawkman run reaching prices well in excess of those for Issue #1 because of the first appearance of Zantanna Zayara, even though she does not appear on the cover. Our book is tied for second highest graded trailing three 9.8s in the census. We acquired the book in the 2/21/2019 Heritage auction.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 5 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 5 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1494118006
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Owner Comments
issue #5 features an appearance by Shadow Thief. Our WP 9.8 is tied with five other examples for highest graded, which makes this issue the most common in high grade is any early Hawkmans. We acquired our book from the 12/21/2018 CL auction.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 6 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 6 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0089658017
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Owner Comments
Our 9.8 comes from the Pacific Coast Collection and is one of two highest graded copies.
The Pacific Coast Collection is generally considered to be the greatest Silver Age collection to ever surface. It was brought to market by Robert Roter after he discovered portions of it for sale on E-Bay in 1999. The books were marketed through PCE over the next several years and contained over 7,000 comics and magazines that included Marvel, DC, and Gold Key among others, covering a time span between 1961 and 1977. Many of the highest graded Marvel and DC issues from the early '60s hail from this collection with exceptional page quality. The books do not exhibit any distinguishing markings.
We acquired the book from a friend and fellow collector in June 2023.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 7 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 7 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0089658018
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Owner Comments
I remember as a kid thinking the Crocodile-Men from Issue #7 were exceedingly cool. The issue also features an appearance by the IQ Gang. Our WP 9.8 comes from the Pacific Coast Collection and is the single copy highest graded copy in the Census. The Pacific Coast Collection is generally considered to be the greatest Silver Age collection to ever surface. It was brought to market by Robert Roter after he discovered portions of it for sale on E-Bay in 1999. The books were marketed through PCE over the next several years and contained over 7,000 comics and magazines that included Marvel, DC, and Gold Key among others, covering a time span between 1961 and 1977. Many of the highest graded Marvel and DC issues from the early '60s hail from this collection with exceptional page quality. The books do not exhibit any distinguishing markings.
We acquired the book from a friend and fellow collector in June 2023.
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| Slot: |
Hawkman 8 |
| Item: |
Hawkman 8 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0089658019
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Owner Comments
Cool cover and another book from the Pacific Coast Collection, which sits alone atop the census. The Pacific Coast Collection is generally considered to be the greatest Silver Age collection to ever surface. It was brought to market by Robert Roter after he discovered portions of it for sale on E-Bay in 1999. The books were marketed through PCE over the next several years and contained over 7,000 comics and magazines that included Marvel, DC, and Gold Key among others, covering a time span between 1961 and 1977. Many of the highest graded Marvel and DC issues from the early '60s hail from this collection with exceptional page quality. The books do not exhibit any distinguishing markings.
We just recently acquired this book in June 2023 from a friend and fellow collector.
November 2023 Update: It appears there are now two 9.8s in the census, but at least ours is the Pacific Coast copy.
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