Hawkman battles not only an enigmatic new villain, but anti-alien bigotry in this unfortunately still-all-too-relevant Silver Age tale.
As our story begins, a sudden wave of anti-alien hysteria is mysteriously sweeping through Midway City. As a renowned anthropologist, Carter Hall is invited to a panel program to discuss the supposed alien threat. However, during the panel, Hall's face strangely distorts, leading the audience to accuse him of being an alien himself. (Which is true, but not for those reasons.) Realizing he's been set up, Hall exiles himself from Midway City, fearing that his unknown enemy responsible for the anti-alien hysteria has also learned he's Hawkman. Said villain, a masked crook called the Falcon, begins a crime wave throughout the city, using trained birds to commit a series of brazen thefts. When informed of the threat of the city, Hawkman's determination to protect innocent people overrides concern for his secret identity. Surprisingly, part of his plan involves admitting to the world that Carter Hall is indeed an alien.