Comic Title: Mystery in Space #87
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: November 1963
On Sale Date: September 5, 1963 Newsstand Date September 5, 1963
Source: House Ad, Flash Annual #1, Page 66

Copyright Date September 5, 1963
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1963

Frequency: Monthly, with the exception of Jan., April, July and Oct.
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "Amazing Thefts of the I.Q. Gang"
Pages: 14

Feature(s):
Hawkman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted In:
Action Comics #443 (1975)
Hawkman Archives Vol. 1 HC (2000)
Showcase Presents Hawkman Vol. 1 TPB (2007)

Feature Character(s)

• Hawkman (last appearance in Atom #7; next appearance in Mystery in Space #88)

Supporting Character(s)

• Hawkgirl (last appearance in Atom #7; next appearance in Mystery in Space #88)

Villain(s)

• I. Q. (Ira Quimby; a petty crook turned genius; next appearance in Hawkman #7)
• The I.Q. Gang (Ira Quimby’s gang of four crooks; Eddie named in this story; next appearance in Hawkman #7)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Adam Strange (last appearance in Mystery in Space #87; next appearance in Justice League of America #24)

Other Character(s)

• A Metropolitan Museum night watchman (no further appearances)

Comments:
Hawkman and Hawkgirl get expanding costumes in this story, housed in their hawk medallions, and Hawkgirl’s medallion replaces her belt buckle.

This story is continued in part from the first story of Mystery in Space #87.

Synopsis:
An attempt by Rann scientist Sardath to irradiate Adam Strange in order to keep him on the planet (instead of returning to Earth when the Zeta radiation which transports him across space wears off) backfired; it mutated Adam and irradiated the sky through his super-genius mind. When the Zeta radiation wore off, Adam was returned to Earth in his normal state, but he carried a rock which had been irradiated, and put this curio on display in New York’s Metropolitan Museum.

Soon after, a small-time gang member named Ira Quimby is exposed to this rock’s radiation, and thus gains genius-level planning ability. This he uses to invent a lifting ray and aero-shoes to travel through the sky, and he and his new gang hijack and armored truck. Although Hawkman and Hawkgirl attempt to prevent it, the robbery is successful, but a similar attempt to spirit away an entire jewelry store is not, and only when I.Q. again accidentally exposes himself to the stone is he able to come up with new plans.

Meanwhile, Carter and Shiera are visiting the museum and meet Adam Strange, unaware of any connection. Hawkman has instructed birds to be on the lookout for the gang, and thus he is warned when they attempt another large theft. The gang members are captured, but I.Q. escapes. Figuring out that the Rann rock is the reason for his inspirations, Quimby steals it from the museum, breaking off pieces in the act, which Katar analyzes and uses to track down the larger piece. I.Q. and his new gang are no more successful than their predecessors.

The case ends without Hawkman and Hawkgirl discovering Adam Strange’s interplanetary-traveler status.