Comic Title: Hawkman #17
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Dec/Jan 1966
On Sale Date: October 13, 1966 Newsstand Date October 13, 1966
Source: House Ad, Adventures of Bob Hope #102, Page 9

Newsstand Date October 13, 1966
Source: Direct Currents, Adventures of Bob Hope #102

Copyright Date October 13, 1966
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1966

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Editor: Julius Schwartz

Title: "Enigma of the Escape-Happy Jewel Thieves"
Pages: 12

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

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Hawkman Vol. 2 TPB (2008)

Feature Character(s)

• Hawkman (last appearance in Hawkman #17; next appearance in Justice League of America #52)

Supporting Character(s)

• Hawkgirl (last appearance in Hawkman #16; next appearance in Justice League of America #52)
• George Emmett (on the phone only; last appearance in Hawkman #15; next appearance in Hawkman #21)
• Big Red (last appearance in Hawkman #13; next appearance in Detective Comics #452)

Villain(s)

• A motorcycle-riding gang (Pete, Spike, and Jim named; no further appearances)
• The Laser-Gun Bandit (in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Two unnamed drifters and four members of the City Cycle Pub (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Hawkman and Hawkgirl encounter jewel thieves, while carrying damaged museum relics they have been unable to take to their ship to duplicate because of the weather. During the fight Hawkgirl drops a jeweled pistol called the Sultan's Sidearm, which is picked up by one of the thieves, who have separated. The crimefighters knock two out and go after the others, unaware that as they do so, they snared crooks are being picked up with their loot, and identically dressed drifters are substituted, so that they have nothing to show for their efforts.

Knowing that the pistol had been irradiated when the Laser-Gun Bandit attempted to take it the previous week, the Winged Wonders build an oscillator to track it. Big Red also seemingly spots the crooks, but this is only another decoy group, and the real gang hits another museum. Next, the gang carries fake loot bags (actually that will explode on inspection) when they raid the Diamond Mart. However, Hawkman suddenly breaks off the fight, and he and Shayera flee - to later capture them all in their hideout.

The loot is recovered, and the couple never know how close they came to being bomb-victims.