Read: Flash Comics #11

Issue: Flash Comics #11 (Reprinted in The Golden Age Hawkman Archives v.1)
Title: "Trouble In Suburbia" (Suggested Title)
Published Date: Nov 1940
Generation: Golden Age Carter
Retcon Status: In Continuity

Summary: One of Carter and Shiera's friends is buying a big house in Suburbia, but when he goes to sign the papers, the real estate agent busts out a clause which doubles the price.  What's worse, the neighborhood is out of sorts: children play recklessly in the streets because the playground promised by the developers, Real Buys Corporation, never happened.  When Carter's friend accidently hits a boy diving after a football, Hawkman decides it is time to investigate... as does Shiera!  Hawkman breaks into the Real Buys office and finds the safe.  He is accosted by a guard, whom he knocks out.  In the process, he accidently throws him into the recently-arrived Shiera, knocking her out!  

As Hawkman interrogates the guard by dropping him from a high altitude, Shiera revives and finds the incriminating files, only to be captured and tied up when the Big Boss, Northrup, arrives.  Hawkman returns and takes out the guards, once again accidently knocking Shiera out when she is in the path of a goon he throws!  Northrup beats a path to his private jet, but cannot escape Hawkman.  Meanwhile, Shiera manages to avoid getting hit with flying thugs long enough to get the files to the police, right as Hawkman deposits Northrup on the precinct steps.  Later, Shiera boasts about shutting down Real Buys all by herself, which amuses Carter greatly.

Review: A fun adventure, with a change of pace for the setting (how often do you see superheroes deal with the 'burbs?  Besides the X-Men?).  Hawkman fighting against a corrupt real estate developer is the not the kind of plot one expects from a comic published in 1940, but obviously it remains very timely.  Shiera makes a great show of herself here, despite getting knocked out after getting hit with a thrown thug not once but twice!  Sheldon Moldoff turns in another quality job, especially in his handling of Shiera's capture by the thugs.  It's subtle, but when she is tied up, her dress is off her shoulder, as if the goons were pawing at her.  Once she escapes, it's back to normal.  A nice touch.

Sadly, the great Moldoff cover has nothing to do with the story.

Image: Flash Comics #11, 1940, Sheldon Moldoff.