Cyclone Is The Granddaughter Of An Original JSA Member
Indeed, Cyclone is actually a legacy superhero who, like a few other modern members of the Justice Society of America, followed in the footsteps of a family member by joining the legendary team. In this case, it was Maxine Hunkel’s grandmother, Abigail Hunkel – who was also known among friends as “Ma” and even better known among superheroes as Red Tornado.
First debuting in All-American Comics in June 1939 and created by Sheldon Mayer, Ma was originally an average New York housewife who, despite her clumsiness, was skilled enough in hand-to-hand combat to earn a spot as a founding member of the JSA and, later in life, the team’s caretaker. Red Tornado also had a pair of young sidekicks (much like Robin to Batman) known as the Cyclone Kids, which inspired the alias of Maxine Hunkel who, unlike her grandmother, actually is a hero with superhuman abilities.