Red Tornado is a hero and a member of the Justice League. He is also an ally and good friend of Batman.
History
Origin
The Red Tornado is a robot and a superhero built by the evil scientist T.O.Morrow, the Red Tornado was originally supposed to infiltrate the Justice Society of America in order to destroy them for his master. But T.O. Morrow didn't count on two things: First, after completing his construction of the android. Turning on his master, the Red Tornado settled down in a small neighborhood, adopting the alias of professor John Ulthoon, using his powers to help the people of his new home. Red Tornado settled down in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island as a professor of archaeology at a local community college. Red Tornado was eventually found out by Batman and the two routinely teamed up. Red Tornado saw Batman as a worthy teacher of humanity, the very thing he desires to understand and become a part of.
Invasion of the Secret Santas!
During the Christmas season, Red Tornado sought to discover and feel the Christmas spirit. In the most logical manner, he decorated his home inside out, wore festive sweaters, and engaged in Christmas caroling. However, he couldn't find it. Upon glimpsing a newsflash of invading aliens and Batman, Red Tornado hurried to the scene and once the fight was over, gave a gift to Batman. When the duo found out that Fun Haus was behind the incident. The two of them spend the rest of the night in a fight against robotic Santas and on a mystery solving case. All these events bring Red Tornado up against a giant robot. Unable to destroy it with his conventional powers, Red Tornado rerouted all his energy to boosting himself. Fun Haus was defeated but the stress was too much for Red Tornado's body. He exploded but thanks to quick thinking, Batman assembled a S.T.A.R. Labs team to recover and rebuild him. Red Tornado happily pronounced he finally felt the tingling sensation he was after since the begining of his journey, which he interprets it as the Christmas spirit.
Game Over for Owlman!
In case any of his allies were compromised, Batman devised methods to defeat them. After Owlman escaped his prison in the Batcave, he stole Batman's files and implemented the weapons. Owlman used a device that bound Red Tornado in reinforced titanium alloy. Unable to generate wind, Red Tornado was helpless. Owlman then placed him in a cross section of powerful magnets. Later, Batman comes to the rescue alongside the Batmen of the Multiverse and Tornado is freed by Captain Leatherwing and defeats the Clock King with ease.
Hail the Tornado Tyrant!
In his quest to understand humanity, for several months Red Tornado worked on a project, a son. Based off of his fundamental designs, Tornado also added several upgrades, including an EM protocol which can give his son something he lacks, emotions. Tornado called on Batman to help verify his results when the activation protocols were initiated. As a precaution, a fail safe switch was installed, as well. Together as a team, Red Tornado planned for he and his son, Tornado Champion, to serve and protect mankind. Champion's emotional protocol is activated in a run-in with Major Disaster. However, after different encounters with humans, Champion develops a cynical view of humankind, calling it a desiese. After Tornado sees that his son is far gone he activates the fail safe switch, but Champion remove it prior. After upgrading his body, his son declares war on humanity and on him. Then he goes by the name Tornado Tyrant. After Batman manages to scramble his abilities, Red relunctantly destroys his body. Back to his lab, Red Tornado says that he is a simple machine and that he can't grasp humanity. He destroys his son's remains. Alone, he sheds a tear. Downplaying it as a malfunction, Red Tornado doesn't realize that he came closer than ever to feel emotions and understand humanity at a deeper level.
The Fate of Equinox!
In a time of crisis, the villain Equinox has acquired unimaginable power, therefore Doctor Fate summons many allies in order to unite their powers into a single host. Red Tornado is one of the selected heroes. He is seen alongside Green Arrow after they defeated the Clock King and Gorilla Grodd before getting teleported to the battlefield. Like the other heroes he agrees to give his abilities to Batman. After good prevails once again, Red Tornado gets his powers back and is seen rejoicing the victory alongside his allies.
Aquaman's Outrageous Adventure!
Months later, Red Tornado fought the Top in Smallville, Kansas and defeated him. Aquaman watched the fight from his RV as he drove his family across the States.
Sidekicks Assemble!
In a flashback, inside the Justice League Watchtower, Red Tornado is seen participating in the designing of a plan in order to save Earth from a meteor that is approaching with the rest of the Justice League.
The Power of Shazam!
Amid the list of heroes Faceless Hunter set out to implant with Starro clones, there were several who were resistant to mind control. They were to be destroyed. Red Tornado was one such hero to fall to Faceless Hunter.
Chill of the Night!
On Phantom Stranger's scale, Red Tornado makes an appearance on the justice tally among Batman and other heroes.
Mitefall!
Red Tornado appears in a poster alongside Batman in Bat-Mite's bedroom. He is seen chatting with Platinum, Tin, Skeets, Proto Bat-Bot, Robot Batman and Metallo during the party for the end of the show. He also appears in the final shot with Batman and the rest of the heroes.
In other media
Batman the Brave and the Bold - Issue #13
After Batman is incapacitated, many of his friends desguise themselves as him trying to protect Gotham City in his place. Red Tornado is one of heroes who had the same idea.
All New Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Issue #4
Batman and Wonder Woman's weeding is crashed by a group of villains, Red Tornado is one of the superhero guests and together fight against them. Red Tornado defeats Kite-Man with ease.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold - The Videogame! (DS)
After detecting anomalies on Dinosaur Island, Red Tornado stumbles upon Batman. Both discover that this is the work of the Clock King and they tag team and defeat him, Morgaine Le Fay and a couple of dinosaurs together.
Personality
Red Tornado is a stoic and ready for action hero. He believes that his purpose is to serve and protect humanity, something which he cherishes and considers fascinating. Despide the fact that he doesn't have emotions, he is able to have thoughts on different people, situations and also believe in philosophical concepts such as justice. His robotical, highly analytical nature is shown in his verbal tics and ways of seeing things, which can make some interactions a bit awkward.
Powers and Abilities
Red Tornado is a highly intelligent android possessing superior strength and durability, and capable of creating bursts of cyclone-force winds that enable flight, enhanced speed and the creation of storms. The character can also access information from any foreign computer system.
Weaknesses
For the Red Tornado's wind manipulation powers to work, he must be surrounded by oxygen.
His robotic nature can be his greatest asset, but also a weakness. An external force powerful enough can put him offline for a while, imobilize, damage or even destroy his body.
He can also push himself too far by using his own abilities, putting his body under too much stress.
Gallery
Appearances
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Season 1
- Invasion of the Secret Santas!
- Game Over for Owlman!
- Hail the Tornado Tyrant!
- The Fate of Equinox! (cameo)
Season 2
- Aquaman's Outrageous Adventure! (cameo)
- Sidekicks Assemble! (cameo)
- The Power of Shazam! (cameo)
- Chill of the Night! (cameo)
Season 3
- Mitefall! (cameo)
Trivia
- Even though his last name across other comics and TV shows is Smith, in this continuity is Ulthoon.
- This being very likely a reference to the wind elemental with the same name T.O. Morrow put in his body in his origin story shown in "Eye of the Storm!", the third issue of the Red Tornado limited comic series from 1985. [1]
- Red Tornado has an evil counterpart on Earth-3 called Silver Cyclone.
- After his defeat at the hands of the Faceless Hunter, Tornado never had an appearance in an episode since then, letting fans to speculate that he is dead. Due to him being repaired in previous episodes, there's still a possibility that he got put back together offscreen. But without a confirmation from the main writers, his status remains unclear to this day.