Comic Title: Blackhawk #251
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: October 1982
On Sale Date: July 1, 1982 Newsstand Date July 1, 1982
Source: House Ad, Justice League of America #207, Page 32

Newsstand Date July 1, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #203

Newsstand Date July 1, 1982
Source: Comics Journal, #74

Newsstand Date July 1, 1982
Source: Amazing Heroes, #13

Copyright Date June 8, 1982
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1982
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 32
Editor: Len Wein

Title: "A Time to Fight... a Time to Die"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Blackhawk (of Earth-1)

Writer: Mark Evanier
Artist: Dan Spiegle
Letterer: Carrie Spiegle (McCarthy)
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Feature Character(s)

• Blackhawk (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)

Supporting Character(s)

• The Blackhawks (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)
• Andre (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)
• Chuck (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)
• Hendrickson (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)
• Olaf (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)
• Stanislaus (last appearance in Blackhawk #198; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)
• Chop Chop (Wu Cheng; first appearance; real name revealed in the second story of Blackhawk #259; see comment below; last appearance in Blackhawk #259; next appearance in Blackhawk #252)

Villain(s)

• Ernst Von Tepp (a Nazi general; first name not revealed in this story; next appearance in Blackhawk #256)
• A Nazi interrogator (no further appearances)
• Various Nazi soldiers and officers (Klaus named; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Winston Chruchill (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Blackhawk #259)

Other Character(s)

• Leuuen (the leader of a small Dutch town; no further appearances)
• Several Dutchmen (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Adolf Hitler (in flashback)
• Jack Hawk (in flashback; see comment below)
• Captain Streicher (in flashback; see comment below)

Comments:
This story takes place on May 11, 1940.

This story presents multiple continuity problems concerning the history of the Blackhawks.

First Blackhawk gives a personal history while under hypnosis by the Nazis. In his account he mentions the death of his brother Jack Hawk and his sister Connie. However, Jack's death is inaccurately depicted with Blackhawk burying him. Blackhawk #242 revealed that Jack was shot down in a plane and did not die. Instead he became the Nazi known as Black Mask. This can be explained in that on the final page of this story it is revealed that Blackhawk has been trained to give false information while under hypnosis. Therefore his detailing of his own origin and that of the Blackhawks in this story should be considered false.

The second continuity problem presented in this story is that it occurs in May, 1940. Blackhawk #198 establishes that the team was put together just prior to the D-Day invasion of Europe. This inconsistency can be explained if the origin of the team in Blackhawk #198 took place years earlier, while this and other stories took place between pages of that story.

However, that presents a final continuity conundrum in that this story features Chop Chop as a member of the team. Chop Chop did not join the team until at least a year after the team was formed as shown in the first story of Blackhawk #203. It therefore must be assumed that the first story of Blackhawk #203 takes place before this story. After some time with the team, he must have left temporarily in order for the team to have had several adventures without him during the later stages of the war.

Another possible explanation is that there were two different men named Chop Chop. This is confirmed in the second story of Blackhawk #259 when the 1940 Chop Chop's name is revealed to be Wu Cheng. The first story of Blackhawk #203 had previously established that Chop Chop's name was Liu Huang. Additionally, the origins of the two are different. So for the purposes of this index, Wu Cheng and Liu Huang will be treated as separate characters.

Synopsis:
During the Nazi invasion of Holland, the Blackhawks help to fight the invaders. They try to assist the people of a small town whom the Nazis have told to vote. The vote will determine whether the people will willing accept Nazi occupation. Should they accept, the Nazis will use it as a sign for the world that their presence is wanted. Should the town refuse to accept occupation, the Nazis will destroy them. Leuuen, the leader of the town wants to vote in favor of the Nazis.

Meanwhile Blackhawk is captured and questioned under hypnosis by Von Tepp, a Nazi captain. He tells the Nazis a version of his origin as well as resistance plans. The other Blackhawks trick the Germans into revealing the location where their leader is held. They then mount a rescue. Blackhawk supplied the Nazis with false information, so the Allied defenses are safe.

When the Blackhawks return to the Dutch village they find that it is partially destroyed. Leuuen has changed his mind and chosen the difficult path of resistance.