Comic Title: Detective Comics #442
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Cover Date: Aug/Sep 1974
On Sale Date: May 30, 1974 Newsstand Date May 30, 1974
Source: Comic Reader, #106

Copyright Date May 30, 1974
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1974

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.60
Page Count: 96
Editor: Archie Goodwin

See Also: The Guide to DC Giants

Title: "The Magic Mirror Mystery"
Pages: 11

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

Writer: Gardner F. Fox
Artist: Murphy Anderson

Reprinted From:
Hawkman #10 (1965)

Feature Character(s)

• Hawkman (last appearance in Hawkman #10; next appearance in Justice League of America #40)

Supporting Character(s)

• Hawkgirl (last appearance in Hawkman #10; next appearance in Hawkman #11)
• George Emmett (last appearance in Hawkman #9; next appearance in Hawkman #13)

Villain(s)

• Robert Sorel (nephew of the late Ephriam Sorel; no further appearances)
• Sorel's henchmen (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• "Scoops" Handley (a reporter for the Midway City Courier; no further appearances)
• Harry Windsor (a jewel expert; no further appearances)
• An unnamed district attorney (no further appearances)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Cagliostro (a magician)

Synopsis:
Hawkman aids Commissioner Emmett in unsealing a room containing the estate treasures of his old friend Ephriam Sorel, witnessed by Sorel's nephew Robert, heir to the treasure, "Scoops" Handley, reporter for the Midway City Courier, and jewel expert Harry Windsor, who has offered one million dollars for the emeralds in the room. Though sealed and untampered with, the chest that held the emerald is found empty. Hawkman then announces that the case will be easily solved, as one of the room's other treasures is the Magic Mirror of Cagliostro, which, he says, will reveal all it has seen later that night.

He and Hawkgirl then lie in wait for those who would try to smash the mirror, and prevent a quartet of thugs from doing so. However, these are unable to identify their employer, so Katar, Shayera, and Emmett film a false "flashback" for the bogus mirror. At the moment of truth, Sorel smashes the mirror, and is arrested.

At the trial, Hawkman surmises the solution to the mystery. Sorel had stolen and replaced the emeralds with chemical fakes before the sealing, and the bogus emeralds were destroyed with a planted incendiary capsule. This would allow Sorel to collect the insurance when the loss was discovered. He confesses, but maintains that the three-year statute of limitations had expired. However, the D.A. explains that the three years begin when the theft is discovered, not when it actually occurs.