About ten years ago I was in Mesa Arizona at an excellent used bookstore called The Book Maze. I was perusing the action shelf when I came upon one of the greatest covers I had ever seen. Hawk number 13, The Hawaiian Takeover by Dan Streib. The cover had a guy with a savage look on his face. He was holding a giant gun. All around him were scenes of action straight out of an 80s B-movie. I was intrigued!
At the time I had never read a Men’s Adventure novel. I hadn’t even heard the term before.
I read it right away. I was surprised to see that all of that exciting adventure from the cover was actually in the book. Yes, he stabs a shark with a knife. Yes, he drops a man from a helicopter into lava. Yes, there are lots of sexy naked ladies. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. The book was packed full of visceral entertainment. Real cave man shit. It was fun and exciting, ridiculous and hilarious. This was the kind of fantasy I’ve been looking for. Sure, we enjoy the exploits of Frodo and his magical ring, but did Frodo ever get attacked by a female assassin with a gun hidden in her vagina?? Hell no. Frodo is probably a virgin. As soon as those pants came down, he’d be passing that ring over willingly in his excitement, hoping to get a taste. But our pal Michael Hawk has seen them all and let me tell you, he isn’t falling for no banana in the tailpipe, if you know what I mean.
As of a few weeks ago I had every book in the series except one. I talk about it all the time on my YouTube channel and one of the pals we made there, Stiv Nagen/Max Dackron wrote me an email and said he has the book I am looking for. He graciously sent it to me and finally the collection was complete. Big hearty shout out for my man, Stiv!
Now that the series was finally complete I wanted to write up this entry and make a video about it. In the video I closely examine the cover art and read off the back synopsis. Here in the blog I will just post pictures of the covers. Check out the video if you’d like more:
The Hawk Series was a Men’s Adventure paperback original series published by Jove that ran from 1980 to 1981 and had 14 entries.
Four in 1980
Ten in 1981
So, as you can imagine, the Hawk Books probably didn't have a lot of thought put into them, but you know, they're action-adventure books. How much thought do you need put into it?
The star of the show is Michael Hawk. He is a freelance reporter though that profession is abandoned pretty quickly in the series. In book one he half-heartedly tries to save the daughter of a South American dictator/drug cartel Patron. He fails and with her dying breath she curses him with “more wealth than a small nation,” as she gives him the numbers to a secret bank account called, Crusaders International. Which is what gives him the tagline, The Deadly Crusader.
And now with nothing but his extremely good looks, his ability to be the best at everything he does and an endless supply of money, he travels the world, getting into vigilante adventures to take down communists, sadistical human traffickers, organized crime groups, nazis and your random evil mastermind. But don’t worry he still finds time to bag some ladies and live that good life. Unfortunately, he must keep on the move as all the baddies are after his money including the United States Government who simply want him to pay his rich guy taxes which he doesn’t think he should have to pay. I mean, he did earned that money with hard work and perseverance… wait, no he didn’t, it was bloody drug money given to him for failing to save a woman’s life.
Hawk is the man ladies love and the man you wish you were. His name says it all; Michael Hawk. AKA Mike Hawk.
And you are probably wondering what author would have the cojones…the vision to name their leading Men’s Adventure character Mike Hawk??
Well, that man is…
Dan Streib (1928-1996)
There isn’t a lot of info out there about ol’ Dan Streib but I found this obituary from the LA times which I think sums him up perfectly.
Daniel T. Streib, 67, author of children’s stories and action, adventure and romance novels. Born in Rockfield, Ill., Streib earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Iowa and was a combat officer in the Korean War. Originally a reporter and photographer in Iowa, he based his first book, “Code Name: Countdown,” on knowledge about spacecraft he acquired as a communications specialist for General Dynamics in San Diego. 
Pseudonym of Dan Streib: (thank you Paperback Warrior)
Paul Ross- Chopper Cop (first two entries of three)
Frank Colter- Death Squad (two entries)
Mark Cruz- Kill Squad (five entries)
And he wrote one Nick Carter- The Night of the Avenger
-Grant Fowler (two entries)
-Counter Force (nine entries)
All of the beautiful cover art for the Hawk books was done by seasoned Men’s Adventure artist Samson Pollen. And honestly, that’s what made me pick up the book in the first place. It totally encompasses that 80s b-movie action level of excitement. If you are looking for more artwork like this, I would suggest checking out The Men’s Adventure Library series of Samson Pollen’s artwork that originally appeared in the Men’s Adventure Magazines of the 50s,60s and 70s.
The model on the cover of every Hawk book is male model Chad Deal.
Streib might have thought he was Michael Hawk but it turns out it was no coincidence the universe gave us Chad Deal’s face as the face of Hawk. Could you imagine randomly bumping into the real-world Hawk? My mind would be blown. Anyway. If you are looking to buy a house on the island of Kauai from Michael Hawk go hit up Chad Deal at Kauai Tropical Properties.
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