THE DESERT HAWK

Real Name: Ben Ali Mussim

Identity/Class: Human (World War II Era)

Occupation: Rebel leader

Group Membership: Leader of his own raiders (Hashim, others)

Affiliations: The Howling Commandos (Izzy Cohen, "Dum Dum" Dugan, Nick Fury, Gabe Jones, Eric Koenig, "Pinky" Pinkerton, "Reb" Ralston), Sheila Mussim

Enemies: The Nazis (Colonel Otto Frick, others)

Known Relatives: Sheila Mussim (daughter), unidentified wife (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: An unidentified nation in North Africa

First Appearance: Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37 (December, 1966)

Powers/Abilities: The Desert Hawk was an accomplished leader and horse rider. He carried a rifle and a sword.

Having lived in the deserts of North Africa, he was an expert at surviving desert conditions and hiding from his foes.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: White

History:
(Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37 (fb)) - The Desert Hawk was the leader of various nomadic desert tribes in North Africa. He married a woman from England who bore him a daughter, Sheila. As Sheila was his only child, he treated her like a son, teaching her how to ride a horse and how to fight so that his followers would respect her as a leader. When World War II erupted on their land, Mussim maintained neutrality until his wife was killed while Mussim was leading a caravan. Nazi officer Colonel Frick claimed that the British army had killed his wife, hoping he would lead his forces against the Allies. At first Mussim led raids, adding a swastika to his appearance. However, after a few raids, Mussim realized he had been fooled and refused to help the Nazis any further. Instead, Colonel Frick took Mussim prisoner then told Sheila that, to save his life, she would have to assume the guise of the Desert Hawk and carry out attacks in his name. Frick ordered Sheila to tell her father's people that the British had captured him.

(Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37) - After Sheila was captured by the Howling Commandos while in the field, Colonel Frick confronted Mussim and told him of his daughter's fate, hoping that it would inspire him to serve the Nazis again. However, Mussim refused to do Frick's bidding regardless of what happened to Sheila, as he now saw the Nazis for who they truly were. Frick promised to find other ways to make Mussim's men follow his orders.

However, Frick made the error of imprisoning "Dum Dum" Dugan of the Howling Commandos nearby Mussim. Dugan quickly escaped his captors and set Mussim free. The two men were soon reunited with Sheila and "Reb" Ralston of the Howlers. Mussim told Sgt. Nick Fury that, from then on, his people would not remain neutral but aid the Allies against the Nazis. As Colonel Frick had been wounded and captured by Mussim's men, Fury suggested that Mussim turn Frick over to the Allies as a show of good faith. Mussim agreed.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, Dick Ayers and John Tartaglione.

    It's most likely the Desert Hawk was based in Libya but it's also possible he was in Egypt, Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia.

    The only time we saw him in his masked attire was the flashback from Fury's briefing to the Howlers.

    This profile was completed 12/15/2022 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Desert Hawk should not be confused with:

Colonel Otto Frick

Colonel Otto Frick was the ranking Nazi officer in the area of North Africa where the Desert Hawk operated. When the Desert Hawk's wife was killed, Frick claimed to the Hawk that the British were responsible so that he would turn his people's wrath against the Allied Powers. At first, Mussim was fooled and began attacks garbed in a mask and wearing a swastika on his forehead. However, Mussim quickly realized he had been fooled and refused to cooperate with the Nazis so Frick took him prisoner and forced his daughter Sheila to carry out the attacks in the guise of the Desert Hawk.

When the Desert Hawk's men (including Hashim) captured "Dum Dum" Dugan of the Howling Commandos, Frick had him imprisoned nearby Mussim. With news that Sheila had been caught by the Howlers, Frick tried to use her capture as a means to force Mussim's compliance but Mussim refused to aid him. When the rest of the Howling Commandos invaded Frick's camp to tell them Mussim was Frick's prisoner, Frick claimed Fury was a liar. To settle the question, the raiders insisted Fury and Frick face each other in armed combat on horseback, each bearing a rifle with only one bullet. However, Frick loaded at least one extra bullet into his rifle. As the two men dueled, Frick missed on his first shot so fired a second at Fury which also missed but when Hashim saw Frick had cheated, he shot him. Frick fell from his horse, wounded but alive. Sgt. Fury suggested that Mussim's men turn him over to the Allies as a show of good faith.



--Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37

Strangely, he introduced himself as a colonel but everyone else called him a major.

Hashim

Hashim was one of the Desert Hawk's raiders. He believed the Desert Hawk had been kidnapped by the British and thereafter followed Sheila Mussim as she adopted the guise of the Desert Hawk. When the raiders fought with the Howling Commandos, Hashim took "Dum-Dum" Dugan prisoner and brought him Colonel Frick. He was disappointed when Frick claimed Dugan as a German prisoner because he wanted to exchange Dugan for the Desert Hawk. Hashim began to grow suspicious of Colonel Frick's accounts of the fate of the Desert Hawk and when Sgt. Nick Fury claimed the Hawk was a prisoner of the Nazis, he agreed to see the dispute settled by a duel between Frick and Fury. However, when Frick proved to have loaded more than one bullet into his rifle, contrary to the rules of the duel, Hassim shot Frick, wounding him. When the real Desert Hawk was freed, Hassim returned to his leadership and turned against the Nazis.



--Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37

Sheila Mussim

Sheila Mussim was the daughter of the Desert Hawk and an unidentified woman from England. As her father's only child, she was treated like a son, given lessons in horseriding and fighting so that his followers would respect her. After Sheila's mother was killed, Colonel Frick claimed the British army was responsible. In grief, at first her father raided British camps as the Desert Hawk but when he questioned Frick's story, Frick had him imprisoned. Frick told Sheila that, to save her father's life, she would have to assume the guise of the Desert Hawk and fight the British in his stead. Frick made Sheila tell her father's men that he had been captured by the British.

As the Desert Hawk, Sheila led her men against the Howling Commandos. Hashim captured "Dum Dum" Dugan of the Howlers but Sheila herself was taken captive by the Howlers when "Reb" Ralston lassoed her horse. Surrendering to the Americans, Sheila revealed her true identity and explained how her father was being held by Colonel Frick. The Howlers entered Frick's camp to tell the Desert Hawk's people the truth while "Reb" Ralston guarded Sheila. When the Howlers were discovered, Ralston told Sheila he intended to go their aid and even rescue her father. Realizing then that the Howlers were not her enemies, Sheila helped Ralston enter the camp and discovered a secret passage in Frick's tent which led to an underground prison. Inside, they found Dugan and Sheila's father had already begun a breakout. Mussim thereafter stood against the Nazis and became affiliated with the Allies. Sheila kissed Sgt. Fury as thanks for the Howling Commandos' actions.



--Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37

images: (without ads)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 3, panel 3 (Desert Hawk, main)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 7, panel 1 (Desert Hawk, unmasked face)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 3, panel 2 (Desert Hawk, masked face)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 7, panel 1 (Frick)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 10, panel 1 (Hashim)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 7, panel 4 (Sheila)
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37, page 4, panel 4 (Sheila masked)

Appearances:
Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos I#37 (December, 1966) - Roy Thomas (writer), Dick Ayers (penciler), John Tartaglione (inker), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 09/01/2026
Last updated: 12/15/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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