Cyclone!

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Cyclone! is an Australian superhero anthology comic that first came out in 1985. It published several ongoing stories in one issue and showcased a mix of heroes and teams.

The four main stories
- The Dark Nebula: A cosmic-powered hero who gains abilities from the souls inside the body of Colonel Mark Medula and the alien Cerellus. The host’s battle for control is a key element, giving him psionic powers and a dark mystical fire.
- The Golden Age Southern Cross: A young, stylish designer from Sydney named Bertram Davis with telekinetic powers, boosted by an implant that helps him fly and move heavy objects.
- The Jackaroo: Jack Keegan, a tough, adaptable bare-knuckles fighter. He first appeared in Cyclone! #5 (1989) and later got his own title in May 1989. It was briefly a three-issue miniseries in Australia and a later miniseries in America by Eternity Comics; he also appeared in Ninja High School.
- The Southern Squadron: Australia’s first published superhero team. Led by Christine Smith, a former SAS officer who fights with resourceful tactics and non-weapon combat. The team operates from Canberra and works with New Zealand’s Waitangi Rangers. The roster includes other notable members and occasional guest characters.

Publication history in brief
- The original run consisted of eight issues, after which Cyclone! stopped using the anthology format and the title was renamed The Southern Squadron.
- In 1989, Cyclone Comics Australia published a limited run titled G.I. Joe Australia, reprinting Marvel stories with Australian material.
- In 1992, Gary Chaloner launched Cyclone Comics Quarterly, a four-issue series introducing new characters.
- The Cyclone! characters saw a revival with a Dark Nebula webcomic launched in 2006, and later graphic novels for The Dark Nebula, The Southern Cross, and The Southern Squadron were made available online through Web Comics Nation.

In summary, Cyclone! brought together several Australian superhero stories in the mid-1980s, highlighting four main ongoing features and spawning later revivals and international miniseries.