Comic Title: Blackhawk #252
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: November 1982
On Sale Date: August 5, 1982 Newsstand Date August 5, 1982
Source: House Ad, All-Star Squadron #14, Page 32

Newsstand Date August 5, 1982
Source: Comic Reader, #203

Newsstand Date August 5, 1982
Source: Comics Journal, #75

Newsstand Date August 5, 1982
Source: Amazing Heroes, #13

Copyright Date July 13, 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: Marv Wolfman

Title: "The War Wheel"
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 #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)

Supporting Character(s)

• The Blackhawks (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)
• Andre (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)
• Chuck (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)
• Hendrickson (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)
• Olaf (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)
• Stanislaus (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)
• Chop Chop (last appearance in Blackhawk #251; next appearance in Blackhawk #253)

Villain(s)

• Domino (Helga; first appearance; last appearance in Blackhawk #261; next appearance in Blackhawk #254)
• Professor Merson (next appearance in Blackhawk #256)
• A Nazi captain and several soldiers (no further appearances)
• Two Gestapo guards (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Survivors of a War Wheel attack (no further appearances)

Comments:
This story takes place on May 12, 1940.

First chronological appearance of the War Wheel.

Synopsis:
The Blackhawks are tasked with the recovery of Professor Merson, a scientist and inventor who has been taken by the Nazis. They receive intelligence which places the professor at a casino in Beldorf. As they fly over South Belgium, the Blackhawks are delayed when they spot a town that has been destroyed. Survivors claim that a giant War Wheel was responsible. The Blackhawks suspect that this is one of Merson's inventions.

While half the team takes the survivors to a hospital, Blackhawk leads the others on to Beldorf. At the casino, Blackhawk meets Domino, a female assassin tasked with killing the team. She gets the drop on Blackhawk, then departs. The other Blackhawks have located Merson and separated him from the Gestapo guards. However, Merson proves that he is not a prisoner, but he is willingly helping the Nazis. He shocks Stanislaus and escapes in his plane.

The other Blackhawks arrive on the scene with a code key that allows the team to learn the Nazi plans. They follow Merson to an aircraft factory and have their first ever encounter with the War Wheel. Blackhawk captures Merson, but before he can get airborne, Domino knocks him out and leaves with the professor.