13 COVERS: A Soaring SHELDON MOLDOFF Birthday Celebration

From the Golden Age of Hawkman…

As I wrote for Irv Novick’s birthday earlier this week, my Bat-myopia is so acute that when it’s time to celebrate a particular creator, I tend to spotlight their Batman work. Not always, of course, but it’s frequently the case if said writer or artist is especially well known for their time on the Caped Crusader.

Such is the situation with the late Sheldon Moldoff, who was born 102 years ago on April 14, 1920. He was one of Bob Kane’s primary ghosts from the mid ’50s to the late ’60s and is best remembered for being the main illustrator of Batman’s wacky years battling aliens, interdimensional beings and wonderfully silly villains such as Polka-Dot Man and the Zodiac Master.

But Moldoff had a solid career before he ever stepped foot in Gotham, particularly as a cover artist and illustrator of Hawkman’s adventures.

With that in mind, here are 13 COVERS by Moldoff from Flash Comics — all starring the Winged Wonder.

Killer diller.

MORE

— 13 COVERS: A SHELDON MOLDOFF Birthday Celebration — 2021 EDITION. Click here.

— 13 COVERS: A SHELDON MOLDOFF Birthday Celebration — 2020 EDITION. Click here.

Author: Dan Greenfield

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7 Comments

  1. Did Hawkman have a hawk mascot? Or is that for effect on the covers? Was it like Dr. Mid-Nite and was his/her/their name “Screechie”? BTW, Moldoff’s damsels in distress (Shiera or…?) are very impressively done. Thanks for these.

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  2. It’s sometimes hard for me to fathom that the Sheldon Moldoff who toiled anoymously in Bob Kane’s limited style for all of those years is the same Sheldon Moldoff who drew these lush, illustrative Hawkman covers. As much as I love his Batman work, it’s almost like only using Alex Ross to create paint-by-number kits for kids. Obviously Mr. Moldoff was a versatile artist, but I often wonder if he ever considered drawing Batman “HIS” way. I guess we got a bit of that in “The New Look” era, but even then, the work was trying to mimic Bob Kane “upgrading” his style to somewhat match Carmine Infantino.

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  3. Dear DC,

    Please reprint all of these wonderful Golden Age Hawkman covers and stories.

    Thank you.

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  4. As much as I enjoyed Mr. Moldoff’s Batman artwork, I am BLOWN AWAY by His Hawkman art!!!!!!!!!!!!! If He hadn’t had to play by B.K.’s rules, perhaps Hawkman would be having a TV show and movies about him. instead!

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