Red Tornado is a codename for different characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics that appear in the mainstream and other realities. The most common of them is Ma Hunkel and the android version.
Created by Sheldon Mayer, she first appeared in her civilian identity as Abigail Mathilda "Ma" Hunkel in All-American Publications' All-American Comics #3 (June 1939), and became the Red Tornado in All-American Comics #20 (Nov. 1940). As the Red Tornado, she was one of the first superhero parodies, as well as one of the first female superheroes (possibly the first[1]), and, when occasionally disguised as a man, comics' first cross-dressing heroine.
In 2011 DC rebooted its continuity as part of the New 52. In the series Earth 2, set on the world of that title, Red Tornado's body is said to be under construction[3] in Tokyo and is a gynoid.[4] On Earth 2 Red Tornado appears similar to the pre-reboot version, except for its being a feminine robot inhabited by the consciousness of Superman's wife Lois Lane. Lois's father Sam transfers his daughter's mind into the robot's body, who must contend with her existence as a robot and the reappearance of her now-evil ex-lover. After Red Tornado removes Superman from Darkseid's control, Superman and Lois leave for the Kent family's farm.[5] Later, Lois bands together with Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Batman (Thomas Wayne), Accountable (Jimmy Olsen) and the other gathered heroes to fight against the forces of Apokolips. After a protracted battle with what was thought to be a surviving brainwashed Superman, Lois realizes he is, in fact, a Bizarro, and takes advantage of his deteriorating form to disintegrate him with a cyclone blast.[6]
Other versions
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Besides the versions above, the following characters that went by the name Red Tornado are listed below:
On the genderbent Earth-11, there is an unnamed Red Tornado that is a female.[7]
Different versions of Red Tornado were featured in the Elseworlds stories:
In the series Justice, an unnamed Red Tornado is a member of the Justice League.[8]
In the series Nightwing: The New Order, an unnamed Red Tornado is a member of the Crusaders.[9]
On Earth 10 where World War II was not won by the Allied Forces, there is an unnamed Red Tornado who is a member of the New Reichsmen.[11]
On Earth 23, there is an unnamed Red Tornado who is a member of its Justice League led by Superman (the superhero identity of President Calvin Ellis).[12]
On Earth -22 of the Dark Multiverse, there is an unnamed Red Tornado who was a part of its Justice League until he was among those killed by a plot carried out by The Batman Who Laughs.[13]
^Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 247. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.