Northwind

NORTHWIND

Real Name: Norda Cantrell

Class: Human/Feitheran hybrid

Occupation: High priest

Group Affiliation: Infinity, Inc.

Known Relatives: Ed Cantrell (grandfather, deceased), Emma Cantrell (grandmother, deceased), Fred Cantrell (father), Carter Hall (Hawkman I, godfather), Shiera Hall (Hawkgirl I, godmother), Osoro (mother), Worlda (grandfather)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Khandaq, formerly Gotham City

First Appearance: All-Star Squadron #25 (September, 1983)

Powers: Northwind had enhanced strength and stamina, and could fly. He was skilled in aerial combat, but an inept ground-fighter. Northwind could communicate with bird life and enlist their help as needed.

History: Norda Cantrell is the hybrid child of human Dr. Fred Cantrell and Feitheran Osoro. Dr. Cantrell is one of the only living humans aware of Feithera's existence, and a friend of Hawkman I. At Norda's birth Hawkman and Hawkgirl I became his godparents, and his Feittheran grandfather Worla blessed him with the magic of the god Thoth. Growing up Norda felt unaccepted in Feithera as a half-breed and sought human civilization. He soon found his human grandmother on her death bed, and she mistook him for an angel. He next attempted to contact his godparents, but was accidentally shot. Hawkman and Hawkgirl nursed him back to health, which led to resentment from their son Hector Hall, who thought they favored Norda over himself. Nevertheless, when Hector became the Silver Scarab and formed Infinity, Inc. he accepted Norda as a charter member dubbed Northwind.

During the Crisis Feithera was destroyed and most of the inhabitants killed. Northwind returned to the survivors to help them relocate. Since helping to establish New Feithera, Northwind has rarely left his people. When Silver Scarab turned against the Infinitors, Northwind helped defeat him, but returned to New Feithera soon after to serve as its' permanent protector.

(Green Arrow III #16 (fb)) - Northwind attended Oliver Queen's funeral.

(JSA #56 (fb, BTS))- Northwind and the Feitherans came under a number of attacks by humanity, so they left their home, relocating time and againto keep as far away as they could from mankind. Northwind and his brethren underwent rapid evolution to survive. Northwind, like the other Feitherans, became more bird than man, and lost the ability to speak. Northwind and the Feitherans were looking for a home when Black Adam found them and took in Northwind, who became a member of Adam’s superteam.

(JSA #40) - Northwind, Black Adam, Atom-Smasher and Brainwave, Jr. watched news coverage of Captain Marvel and the JSA’s rescue of elementary school students from the clutches of the Shadower. They were disgusted by the light-handed approach Captain Marvel used to make Shadower give up to the authorities.

(JSA #51) - In the wake of a series of terrorist attacks carried out by Kobra cultists, Northwind, Black Adam, Atom-Smasher, and Brainwave, Jr. stormed Kobra’s temple in the Himalayas and slaughtered the Kobra cultists. They confronted Kobra and told him they were sick of villains like him never facing justice, always being briefly imprisoned then escaping to do more harm. Black Adam then ripped out Kobra’s heart, killing him.

(JSA #56) - Northwind and the rest of Black Adam’s team arrived in Adam’s homeland of Kahndaq with the intention of reclaiming it for Adam. They freed the workers of a slave labor camp and slaughtered the soldiers guarding the camp. They went to Kahndaq’s capital of Shiruta and confronted dictator Asim Muhunnad. After Black Adam ordered Atom-Smasher to execute Muhunnad Adam proclaimed himself ruler of Kahndaq.

(JSA #57, Hawkman IV #24, JSA #58, Hawkman IV #25)- Northwind and his teammates made Muhunnad’s palace their hq, and addressed the population of Kahndaq, who welcomed them as triumphant heroes. The JSA came to Kahndaq to take Northwind and their other former allies home, but Adam, who destroyed their plane, scattering the JSA across Kahndaq. Northwind and the Feitherians attacked some of the JSAers, and Hawkman appealed to Northwind as his godfather to call a truce. Northwind responded to the plea by slicing Hawkman with his talons. The fight ended when Dr. Fate transformed Northwind and the Feitherians into hawks. Nabu took control of Dr. Fate, and turned Northwind and his fellows back to normal, enabling them to resume fighting. Hawkman ripped off one of Northwind’s wings during the fight, and the Feitherians scrambled to carry their leader to safety. Atom-Smasher and Captain Marvel brokered a peace pact between Black Adam and the JSA. The JSA promised not to interfere further in Kahndaq as long as Black Adam and his team remained within the country’s orders and didn’t try conquering any surrounding nations.

(JSA #66) - At Black Adam’s order Northwind and Atom-Smasher killed a group of Khandaqi insurgents.

(JSA #74, 75) - Northwind and the Feitherians defended Khandaq from an attack by the Spectre-Force and Jean Loring/Eclipso. Northwind was no match for the Spectre, who killed a number of the Feitherians. The Spectre was convinced to leave after Atom-Smasher nearly sacrificed his life to stop him.

Comments: Created by Jerry Ordway & Roy Thomas

In the pre-Crisis DC Universe Northwind lived on Earth-2.

Northwind received profiles in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #17 and Who’s Who in the DC Universe #6. He received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #11 under the Infinity, Inc. entry

A photo of Northwind and the rest of Infinity, Inc. was shown in Fury II’s home in Sandman Presents: The Furies #1.

JSA All-Stars #7 showed a photo of Northwind and other members of Infinity, Inc. hanging in the office of Director Bones.

A statue of Northwind was seen in theJSA Museum in JSA #63.