Who's This? A Blackhawk villain (apolitical).
The facts: My commentary from last week stands. It's confusing, but the "second Killer Shark" appeared first, in Blackhawk #50 (March 1952), while #1 would only appear in the 1980s, EXCEPT that the stories were set earlier, during the War. Got that? He fought Blackhawk five times in the Quality era, making him the hero's most enduring nemesis. A Killer Shark that looks very much like this one and could be accounted the same (though there's likely a nerdy Earth-X/Earth-1 distinction) fought DC's version of the Blackhawks more than a dozen times between Blackhawk #108 and 250 (1957-1977).
How you could have heard of him: Perhaps unlikely, but he's the grandfather of the modern Killer Shark who tangled with the Birds of Prey for 3 issues in 2008 (#114-116).
Example story: Blackhawk #70 (November 1953) "The Return of Killer Shark" by Dick Dillin, Chuck Cuidera, and uncredited writer
The original version of Killer Shark commits water-related crimes in the post-war era, like blowing up a dam somewhere in Europe, forcing mass evacuations, no doubt to loot the area. The Blackhawks are on hand to help, and just before the flood waters are about to strike the doomed city, the Killer Shark Squadron shows up.
So they have their own planes! Now we've got a foe worthy of the Blackhawks. The costumed looters then brawl with our guys in the streets and the actual Killer Shark, thought dead (punched into a shark tank previously), is there too.
I'm afraid that if any of the Sharks had been knocked out by a Blackhawk, they'd have drowned, but we don't dwell on that. Or even mention it. Killer Shark hasn't fitted them with the same air tank he obviously has on his back. Those that survived have gotten back to their planes and strafe the area, but no hits. KS promises more "water-crimes". Indeed, it's not long before a town's water mains explode and the Sharks rob a bank in the ensuing chaos. This time, it's a dogfight, but the enemy squadron can dive under water, and the Blackhawks can't pursue!
Blackhawk's own plane broke a wing getting too close to the waves, and he wakes up Killer Shark's craft. But is KS making a mistake by bringing Blackhawk to his secret lair? (Spoiler: Probably, yes.) For the squadron's amusement, our hero is forced to fight one of his men on a plank over a shark tank, but when he wins, he goes into the water to save the henchman, mystifying Killer Shark. The sharks don't come near Blackhawk because he'd previously smeared himself with shark repellent (did Batman read this story as a kid?), just as Killer Shark probably did to escape death that last time. And since the villain had promised to bring Blackhawk home if he won the duel, fair is fair. But little does BH know that Killer Shark put a time bomb in his belt buckle, one powerful enough to blow up a building. But of course, Blackhawk noticed the substitution and took it off, still let a piece of Blackhawk Island explode (commit to the bit!), and brought his men back Killer Shark's cavern HQ. The Blackhawks make short work of the gang using nothing but their fists, and BH pulls a gun on his archenemy. Killer Shark surrenders, and...
Very droll.
Regardless, this Killer Shark has a lot more teeth than the other model (filed them down and everything - COMMIT. TO. THE. BIT!), with cool vehicles, nasty plans, and an army of like-minded stooges. A reverse-Blackhawk in almost every way. Keep fighting in the war between the sky and the sea, Blackhawks!
Who's Next? DC's superspy.
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