Warning: Spoilers for Superman #16
Summary
- The Justice League faces android enemies who stole their powers, leading to tensions and accusations towards Red Tornado.
- Red Tornado’s loyalty is questioned, but history shows he’s an essential, heroic member of the Justice League.
- Red Tornado’s human consciousness, mentoring role, and allegiance to fighting for humans prove his trustworthiness.
In the wake of Absolute Power, the Justice League is at its very breaking point. The heroes of DC are scrambling for any semblance of control as the world is being taken over by androids who have stolen their superpowers. In this dystopian world, an old ally of the Justice League, Red Tornado, is now being seen in a new light in a classic debate of man versus machine.
Superman #16 by Joshua Williamson and Jamal Campbell shows the aftermath of Amanda Waller unleashing her evil Justice League replacements upon the world, and as the remnants of a scattered Justice League gather in a de-powered Superman’s Fortress of Solitude, tensions are high. Blue Beetle is the first to point a finger at Red Tornado, the android friend of the League.
Detailing that robots are attacking their family and friends, Ted Kord assaults Red Tornado, a sentient android himself, and his allegiance, fracturing the League even further while they are at their lowest. His humanity is suddenly put on trial, because, truthfully, he is the same breed as the very enemies the Justice League is battling — and losing — against.
Related
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Green Arrow has confirmed that the Justice League has officially and permanently lost their powers, forever changing the status quo of the DCU.
Red Tornado Is a Long-Time Member of the Justice League
But Can the Android Be Trusted?
It is curious that Red Tornado’s integrity is being questioned, especially because his first appearance wasn’t in his own comic title but in 1968’s Justice League of America #64 by Gardner Fox and Dick Dillin. However, this is not the first time his character has been investigated, considering his android form was created by supervillain and mad genius T.O. Morrow. Yet, the difference between Red Tornado and the mindless Amazo is that Red Tornado has a human consciousness inside his robotic body. He’s not the only one either, considering even Lois Lane has used a Red Tornado body.
The Red Tornado moniker was first used in 1940 for the human superhero Ma Hunkel, as introduced in
All-American Comics!
Red Tornado is more than just his android form. Not only is this underrated hero able to experience romance, but he was the sole mentor for the original Young Justice team from 1998-2003. There is no better way to prove allegiance than to be trusted with training the children and sidekicks of all the League members. In a chilling moment, Red Tornado even chose to fight for humans against his “family,” the similarly built element androids. Red Tornado has had more than enough time through the years to prove himself not only completely in control of his own body but as an essential member of the Justice League.
Is Red Tornado Loyal to the Justice League?
Red Tornado Always Chooses His Hero Allies
But Blue Beetle’s concerns are justified. When the enemy looks like a friend, the friend looks like the enemy. In this fractured world, not even the strength of the Justice League can stand upright. But Red Tornado has been an essential DC superhero for a long time, and even the fact that he is still in charge of his own body and its powers after the Amazo takeover shows that his mind is fully his own. The Justice League may be breaking, but maybe Red Tornado can stand firm and hold them together.
Superman #16 is available now from DC Comics!
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SUPERMAN #16 (2024) |
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