When America goes to war, Tommy Tomahawk’s friends at Haskell College, “the far-famed university for American Indians,” decide to enlist in the Air Force and form their own Indian squadron. Tommy is initially reluctant.
“Count me out!” Tommy exclaims. “I’ve got nothing against the Japs or anybody else! I’m staying here at Haskell until they draft me!”. The reluctant warrior only joins up to watch over his impetuous pal, Red Wing. Even though he’s the best pilot, Tommy’s the only one in his squadron never to have downed an enemy plane. His pacifistic tendencies are wiped clean when a merciless squadron of Japanese planes attempt to shoot and kill Red Wing even as he is trying to parachute safely.
Thinking Red Wing dead, Tomahawk shoots down all three Jap planes. It turns out Red Wing was only using an “old Indian trick” and playing dead. From then on, Tomahawk is a formidable warrior, an expert pilot and fighter.
Tomahawk wears a brown military uniform and a full feathered headdress while flying for no apparent reason. His feathers are in a wide range of rainbow colors. Tomahawk gathered a group of Cherokee pilots together to fight in World War II. After the war, they are enlisted to join “the newly organized International Air Patrol.” As described in Contact Comics #8, the purpose of this group is covert in nature. “Officially our job is to enforce the decision of the world court,” the head of global organization explains. Unofficially, we’re to root out and destroy fascist-minded troublemakers before they get started.”
Tommy Tomahawk’s “Fighting Redskin Squadron”
Organized by Tomahawk, the squadron has approximately six pilots, each of whom wears a colored headband and a single colored feather. Before going into battle, the squadron always shouts its triumphant battle cry, “Cherokee-e-e!” Besides Tomahawk, the two of his comrades most often named are Little Black Bear and Red Wing. Little Black Bear is far from little and exceptionally strong. Red Wing, Tomahawk’s “young pal,” is an expert at interrogation. Other squadron members include Little White Eagle, Jim Running Dear, White Cloud, Thunder Sky, Joe Big Riber, John Sly Fox, Gray Wolf and Laughing Water.
Tommy Tomahawk as a feature is a mix of contemporary elements and stereotypical tropes. Yet, given the scarcity of Indian characters of the era, his inclusion in a starring character is still notable. Johnny Fox and the Bronze Terror, however, are more nuanced portrayals and shows that forties writers and artists were capable of more.
Appearances of Tommy Tomahawk
Contact Comics 1-11 HOLYOKE (1944-46).
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