Red Tornado I

RED TORNADO I

Real Name: Abigail Mathilda "Ma" Hunkel

Class: Human

Occupation: Mysterywoman, housewife, grocer, newspaperwoman

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Felix Hunkel (nephew), Gus Hunkel (brother-in-law), Herman Hukel (brother-i-law), Huey Hunkel (son), "Hunk" Hunkel (husband) Sisty Hunkel (daughter), unnamed son-in-law

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York, 1940s' era to present, formerly Londonderry, New Hampshire

First Appearance: (Ma Hunkel) All-American Comics I #3 (June, 1939), (Red Tornado I) All-American Comics #20 (November, 1940)

Powers: Red Tornado was quite strong and a skilled brawler, ready to use any nearby object as a weapon.

History: Housewife Ma Hunkel bought a grocery store after her brother-in-law made a killing at the track. Ma was bullied by gangsters who wanted protection money, but she fought them off. While fleeing the thugs stole her car, not realizing Ma's daughter Sisty and her playmate Dinky were in the car. Inspired by her favorite mysteryman Green Lantern, Ma decided to take on the identity of Red Tornado and confront the gangsters. As Red Tornado she defeated the gangsters and saved her kids. The Red Tornado was a neighborhood favorite, cleaning up any crime and making the streets safe, although everyone believed the masked Red Tornado was a man.

(DCU Holiday Bash #2) - <December 24, 1944> The Justice Society put on the Justice Society Canteen for troops home for the holidays, with Ma Hunkel acting as cook. Nazi saboteurs tried to blow up the canteen, but were foiled thanks to the help of Ensign James Gordon.

(JSA #55 (fb, BTS)) <53 years ago> Red Tornado was forced to reveal her secret identity so she could testify against the Yellow Mask Mob, who were taking over her neighborhood. She got numerous death threats after they were convicted, so fearing for the safety of her family she faked her death with the help of the feds and moved to New Hampshire. Pat Dugan got her a job as Santa Claus for Dugan’s Department Store, and Christmas Eve became the one day she looked forward to.

(JSA #55) - Flash, Wildcat, Green Lantern and Hawkman made their annual Christmas Eve visit to Londonderry, New Hampshire to see Ma Hunkle, the former hero Red Tornado. She was playing Santa Claus at Dugan’s Department Store, and they helped her apprehend some robbers dressed in Santa masks. Back at Ma’s home they told Ma her children were finally retired from the superhero game, and the last man connected to the Yellow Mask Mob recently died. Ma didn't have to worry about the Mob hurting her family, and she could come out of hiding. They invited Ma to be the new JSA Museum curator, and she accepted.

(JSA #60) - Ma gave a tour of the JSA Museum to some school children, telling them it was her job to make sure the past wasn’t forgotten.

(JSA #76) - Ma and Stargirl watched the protestors outside JSA hq. They were protesting the JSA’s association with Atom-Smasher, who was on trial for breaking international law in invading Khandaq. Ma knew things would be worse if Atom hadn't disavowed the JSA’s involvement in Khandaq.

(JSA #82) - Power Girl returned to JSA hq to show Ma Hunkle a diary the Lois Lane of Earth-2 gave her. Ma could read shorthand, and read Power Girl an entry dealing with the pre-Crisis Batman and Superman of Earth-2 battling the Gentleman Ghost. The idea of a multiverse that was erased from existence baffled Ma.

(JSA #83-87) - <one year later> The JSA had their first get-together in many months, and Ma provided home cooking for them. Gentleman Ghost appeared to the JSA and told them that they would all soon die by his hand. After hospitalizing Green Lantern the Ghost returned to the JSA hq, demanding Ma tell him where Wonder Woman was, but was beaten off by Power Girl, who found she could physically affect him. The Ghost hospitalized Green Lantern, and the team reconvened at hq to plan their defense, while Ma served them food. When the JSA went to London to find the Ghost, he made one last attack on the JSA hq, but Ma and Stargirl fought him off. An army of ghosts loyal to the Gentleman Ghost attacked JSA hq and leveled it, but when the JSAers in England destroyed the Gentleman Ghost his army faded. Ma started cleaning up the rubble of the ruined JSA hq, and told the others to start pitching in.

(Nightwing II #142) - Ma welcomed Nightwing to JSA hq when he made a business visit. She told him she knew he was Dick Grayson, and she’d been tosee the Flying Graysons with her granddaughter Maxine years ago.

Comments: Created by Sheldon Mayer

In the pre-Crisis DCU Red Tornado I lived on Earth-2.

Red Tornado I received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #19.

Resurrection Man #8 showed a citizen of Lonesome, VA dressed up as Red Tornado for a Halloween festival.

A portrait of Red Tornado was seen in JSA hq in JSA #54 and JSA #75.