Comic Title: Blackhawk #9
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: December 1989
On Sale Date: October 31, 1989 Shipping Date October 31, 1989
Source: Previews, #8

Shipping Date November 2, 1989
Source: Advance Comics, #10

Copyright Date October 31, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Cover Price: $1.50
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mike Gold

Title: "The Needle Hand"
Pages: 24

Feature(s):
Blackhawk (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Martin Pasko
Artist: Rick Burchett
Letterer: John E. Workman, Jr.
Colorist: Julianna Ferriter

Feature Character(s)

• Blackhawk (in flashback to February 1949; last appearance in Blackhawk #8; next appearance in Blackhawk #10)

Supporting Character(s)

• The Blackhawks (in flashback to June 1948; last appearance in Blackhawk #7; next appearance in Blackhawk #7)
• Chuck (in flashback to June 1948; last appearance in Blackhawk #7; next appearance in Blackhawk #7)
• Weng Chan (in flashback to February 1949; last appearance in Blackhawk #8; next appearance in Blackhawk #10)
• Pomeroy (in flashback to June 1948; last appearance in Blackhawk #7; next appearance in Blackhawk #7)

Villain(s)

• Kermit Geisendorf (aka Dr. Grundfest; true identity revealed; dies in this story; last appearance in Blackhawk #8; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Jacob I. Robinson (aka Jake Rosenberg; a tattoo artist; no further appearances)
• Dublowski (a reporter from View Magazine; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Blackhawk (in flashback to 1947; last appearance in Action Comics Weekly #634; next appearance in Blackhawk #1)
• Blackhawk (in flashback to June 1948; last appearance in Blackhawk #7; next appearance in Blackhawk #7)
• Chop Chop (in flashback to 1947; last appearance in Action Comics Weekly #634; next appearance in Blackhawk #1)

Comments:
This story takes place in September 1949 and contains three flashbacks to prior events. The first flashback takes place in June 1948 between pages 7 and 11 of Blackhawk #7. It features Blackhawk, Chuck, and Pomeroy. The second flashback featuring Blackhawk and Weng Chan takes place in 1947. The third and final flashback takes place in February 1949 and shows Blackhawk's escape from "The Circus".

Synopsis:
A reporter visits convict Jacob Robinson in prison. Robinson is believed to be the last man to see Blackhawk alive. Robinson, a tattoo artist, explains that he met Blackhawk on multiple occasions prior to his disappearance. Blackhawk wanted to make sure his men did not get tattoo's which would make them identifiable during their clandestine work.

One night in February 1949, an injured Blackhawk showed up at Robinson's shop. He had been captured and imprisoned in a comatose state for months and had recently awakened. He escaped and came to Robinson for help. Grundfest, his captor followed. Blackhawk shot Grundfest, then fled.

Robinson recognized Grundfest as a doctor at one of the Nazi concentration camps. Robinson, had been an inmate there during the war. Prior to the liberation of the camp, Grundfest fled and cut a deal with the American government to escape retribution for his war crimes. Grundfest, now shot and injured, but still alive becomes finally gets his punishment, as Robinson flays him. The police then arrest Robinson. He now resides in prison.