Who Is Speed Saunders? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

Speed Saunders is a DC Comics comic book character, the alter ego of Cyril Saunders, with over 99 comic issue appearances. Speed Saunders was an adventurer and detective who was revealed to be a private investigator and later a member of the OSS. He is the grandfather of the current Hawkgirl, Kendra Saunders, and first cousin to the original Hawkgirl, Shiera Hall.

Who is Speed Saunders?

Cyril "Speed" Saunders was introduced in Detective Comics #1 (1937) as a two-fisted "ace investigator" who seems to have some weird, unspecified occupation that allows him to operate independently of the police, as a private eye would, and yet order them around. He was presumed to be Federal agent. His first adventure had him called in to investigate the appearance of several bodies found floating in the bay, and credit for the story is given to E.C. Stoner (text) and Creig Flessel (art). Saunders made his final appearance in Detective Comics in issue #58 (1941), Of some note, Speed Saunders is the first continuing original character to appear on the cover of Detective Comic with issue # 4. In 1999, 58 years later, he was sprung from comic book limbo, popping up a DC Comics one-shot called Sensation Comics , where he was revealed to be Hawkgirl's (Shiera Saunders) cousin. Kendra Saunders, the current Hawkgirl, is his granddaughter. According to his modern history, "during the 1930s, Cyril was an ace police investigator for the River Patrol and in New York City, and was one of the best officers of his time.

Key facts

Speed Saunders is of human origin. The character is published by DC Comics. With 99 recorded issue appearances, Speed Saunders ranks among the most featured characters in comics.