Texas Twister

Texas Twister is a very minor hero in the Marvel Universe, who has the power to generate and control tornadoes. As a Western-themed character he is a personal favorite of mine, so I wanted to make him part of my customized Eaglemoss collection. 

Created by Roy Thomas and George Perez in 1976, Texas Twister first appeared as a potential Fantastic Four villain, but over the years he shifted into more heroic territory alongside a team of western-themed heroes called the Rangers. The character has not changed much at all in over 40 years of continuity.

Drew Daniels was a Texas cowboy who had the misfortune of running into a typical Marvel-style catastrophe: when a sudden tornado violently collided with a nearby power plant, Daniels was bathed by radioactive particles. He soon discovered that this accident gave him the power to generate and control powerful cyclones, which he can use to propel himself through the air or launch concussive blasts of wind.

But Daniels was no hero, at least at first. Seeking fame and fortune, he took the name Texas Twister, designed a flashy costume for himself, and set out for New York to sell his services to the highest bidder. He refused an offer to join the Wizard’s Frightful Four because there was no pay involved, and eventually turned up as a SHIELD operative since they offered an income. When that gig fell apart he worked the rodeo circuit and eventually found his niche as a part-time member of the Rangers, alongside his girlfriend and fellow rodeo celebrity, Shooting Star.

Founding of the Rangers (Incredible Hulk #265, November 1981). 

Twister is neither particularly altruistic nor especially competent (he has far more defeats than victories under his big brass Texas belt), and he found himself on the wrong side of the law when he accidentally destroyed several buildings in Texas while drunk one day. In exchange for a pardon, he joined the government-sponsored Thunderbolts team and later, after the events of Civil War, he and the other Rangers became the official government-sponsored champions of Texas.

Akkk! Blap! Slam! Zrakk! A few of the Twister's less successful outings.

Texas Twister was a relatively straightforward figurine to create. The DC Atom figure, a broad-shouldered fellow with his arms outstretched and his head thrown back, was the perfect base figure for Texas Twister. Also, like most of the DC figurines, he is a slightly larger scale than the Marvel ones, which can be annoying sometimes but in this case it works perfectly, since Texas Twister is supposed to be very tall at 6’5’’.

Very few additions were needed to convert him into Texas Twister. Most obviously I had to add his reddish-blonde moustache and the big white Stetson. Molding a realistic-looking cowboy hat out of Milliput was definitely the most challenging part! 

I adhered to his classic costume and colors, though I simplified his chest-plate (in most appearances there are two gold T’s to either side of the central tornado design, although some recent artists also drop them). In retrospect I should have used gold paint for his wristbands and belt! As with every figure the minute details of the face were difficult to paint and probably could have been done better. 

Still, at least he's finished. Ultimately I plan to make the rest of the (original) Rangers as well, to help Texas Twister watch over the broad, hot plains of the great southwest! The cover mockup utilizes art from Scarlet Spider #7 (Sep. 2012) by Khoi Pham. 

* ESSENTIAL READING *

1. Fantastic Four #192 (Mar. 1978). Picks a fight with the Human Torch at the command of a mysterious, unnamed employer!

2. Incredible Hulk #265 (Nov. 1981). Unites with other Western heroes to form the Rangers, in order to take on a mind-controlled Hulk!

3. Scarlet Spider #9 (Nov. 2012). With a new squad of Rangers, teams up with the Scarlet Spider to destroy a massive energy-monster unleashed in Texas by Roxxon Oil!

Thunderation! See yuh next time, pardner!

Next up: Eternal, Avenger, sorceress, party girl - it's Sersi the Terrible!