| Ma Hunkel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | As Ma Hunkel:: All-American Comics #3 (June 1939) As Red Tornado:: All-American Comics #20 (November 1940) |
| Created by | Sheldon Mayer |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Abigail Mathilda "Ma" Hunkel |
| Team affiliations | Justice Society of America Justice League All-Star Squadron |
| Notable aliases | Red Tornado |
| Abilities | Great cook Surprising physical strength |
Abigail Mathilda "Ma" Hunkel is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Debuting during the Golden Age of Comic Books, she first appeared in her civilian identity in All-American Publications' All-American Comics #3 (June 1939), created by Sheldon Mayer, and became the first character to be known as the Red Tornado in All-American Comics #20 (November 1940). As the Red Tornado, she was one of the first superhero parodies, as well as one of the first female superheroes and (when occasionally disguised as a man) the first cross-dressing heroine, debuting months after Madame Fatal, the first cross-dressing male hero.[1][2]
She was commonly associated with humor title character Scribbly the Boy Cartoonist, debuting as a supporting character of him, then sharing titles alongside Scribbly with the Red Tornado alias occasionally. She then was more recurringly affiliated with the Justice Society of America during the debut of the team and consistently still is in modern interpretation within DC Comics publications. She is also depicted as the grandmother of Maxine Hunkel.
- ^ Senepati, Akash (6 November 2020). "Black Adam To Re-Invent Ma Hunkel As DCEU's First Transgender Superhero". FandomWire. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Coogan, Peter (2006). Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre. Austin, Texas: MonkeyBrain Books. pp. 26–27. ISBN 9781932265187.