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"Murder By Starlight!": Returning to the present from his forced jaunt back into past during World War II, Superman would return to the award ceremony in Paris where he was given a prize rigged with a bomb. He would apologize and explain for his abrupt departure and then begin looking for the pe

DC Comics Presents #11 is an issue of the series DC Comics Presents (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 1979.

Synopsis for "Murder By Starlight!"

Returning to the present from his forced jaunt back into past during World War II, Superman would return to the award ceremony in Paris where he was given a prize rigged with a bomb. He would apologize and explain for his abrupt departure and then begin looking for the person responsible. Superman would scan the crowd to see if there are any suspicious characters and be surprised to see Carter Hall among the crowd. As he would fly away wondering why Hall didn't come to help him with the bomb he is suddenly attacked by Carter in his Hawkman identity. Much to Superman's surprise, Hawkman appears to have enhanced speed and strength that are almost as strong as his own. Knocking his ally away, Superman is forced to stop his pursuit when Hawkman orders an army of birds to attack the crowd, forcing him to save them from the attack and allow Hawkman to escape.

When news of the attack reaches the Daily Planet, Perry, Jimmy and Lois all begin to consider why Hawkman would suddenly attack his friend. Things end up taking a lighter tone when Marc Teichman, the winner of a Daily Planet lottery to spend the day with Superman, arrives to claim his prize. Superman arrives shortly thereafter and takes Marc out to perform super feats for him to photograph. As they fly through Metropolis, Superman recalls how he went to Midway City and contacted Hawkgirl who told him that Hawkman went missing for over two days. Realizing that Hawkman's wife had no clues, Superman would vow to free him from whatever spell he is under and return her husband to her. As Superman performs super feats for Marc he is unaware that a bird is trying desperately to contact him.

Meanwhile, Hawkman returns to the observatory hideout of Frank Rayles, a down-and-out crook who inherited his rich scientist brothers fortune and resources. He would gloat how his brother was researching into the effect of that star Polaris would have on Hawkman. Deducing that closer proximity to Polaris would endow Hawkman with super-powers similar to Superman, Frank would device a device that would not only enslave Hawkman, but concentrate enough power from Polaris to endow Hawkman with greater strength and abilities than before. Although not as strong as Superman, Frank would find the Thanagarian warrior suitable for his desire to eliminate Superman once and for all.

While back at the Daily Planet, Marc is developing his photographs of Superman and notices that there are strange bursts in each of the shots and turns the photos over to Clark Kent who agrees to take them and examine them. When Marc notices a bird trying to get into the building, he opens the window and what Clark hears the bird say surprises him. Changing back into Superman later, he clashes with Hawkman once, and the two are swallowed up by a burst of Polaris energy. A short time after, Hawkman returns to Rayles observatory. Much to Frank's surprise, Hawkman is free from his control and punches the criminal out.

Later they would explain that Hawkman informed the bird to warn Superman shortly before he was enslaved. Realizing that Hawkman would be free when Frank would take off his Polaris helmet he made it look like both he and Hawkman were killed in an explosion. With Hawkman free from the crooks control, it was easy work for the two heroes to race to his hideout and capture him. With the caper over with, both Hawkman and Superman fly Marc back to his home on Staten Island.

Appearing in "Murder By Starlight!"

Featured Characters:

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Supporting Characters:

Villains:

  • Frank Rayles

Other Characters:

  • Marc Teichman

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Items:


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Notes



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