Comic Title: Hawkman #20
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Jun/Jul 1967
On Sale Date: April 11, 1967 Newsstand Date April 11, 1967
Source: Direct Currents, Sea Devils #35, Page 32

Copyright Date April 11, 1967
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1967

Newsstand Date April 11, 1967
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V22 #2

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

Title: "Lion-Mane -- the Tabu Menace"
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 #20; next appearance in Hawkman #21)

Villain(s)

• Lion-Mane (Ed Dawson; next appearance in Hawkman #21)
• The original Lion-Mane (an unnamed Iranian lion-hunter; dies in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Unnamed Iranian lion-hunters (no further appearances)

Comments:
This story continues in Hawkman #21.

Synopsis:
On his way to meet archaeologist Ed Dawson in Iran, Hawkman saves a native lion-hunter from a lion attack, and also learns of Mithra, a meteor "god" that changed the lions in the valley to tame, domesticated beasts. It was forbidden to gaze upon Mithra, but a brave warrior did so. Immediately, the lions became wild again, and the warrior was transformed into a lion-man called Lion-Mane, who killed many men and women of the valley. When he died, the warrior warned that nobody should look at the meteor again. The lions would remain tame until someone broke the taboo and became the new Lion-Mane.

When Lion-Mane does attack, a birthmark allows Hawkman to recognize him as Ed Dawson, so he holds back his attack on his friend. When their battle brings them to the vicinity of Mithra, Katar glimpses it but isn't transformed, and he smashes the meteor.

Touching the stone had caused Dawson's change, and had the rock not been smashed its pulsations would have caused his death. Now he is normal, the lions are tame, and the valley is peaceful, but Katar suspects that the curse on his friend isn't over.