Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Asgardian (talk | contribs) at 03:57, 18 October 2007 (Go to Talk for further discussion.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Speed Demon (James Sanders) is a fictional comic-book character in the Marvel Universe. Capable of running at superspeed, he first appeared as the Whizzer, a member of the villainous team the Squadron Sinister in The Avengers vol. 1, #70 (Nov. 1969). Created by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Sal Buscema, the character is not to be confused with the 1940s superhero the Whizzer (Robert Frank), published by Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics.

Publication history

James Sanders debuts in Marvel Comics' The Avengers vol. 1, #70 (Nov. 1969) as part of the Squadron Sinister - a team of alternate-universe supervillains loosely based on four characters in rival DC Comics' Justice League of America, with the Whizzer being a version of the Flash.

In 1971, an identical character called the Whizzer was introduced, who belonged to a group called Squadron Supreme and originated in an alternate universe. This caused confusion in Marvel's production department, as evidenced by the fact that Avengers vol. 1, issues #85 (the second Whizzer's debut appearance) and #141 featured the Squadron Supreme, but the covers erroneously promoted the reappearance of the Squadron Sinister.

The villainous Whizzer then appears with the Squadron Sinister in The Defenders vol. 1 #13 - 14 (May & July 1974) and in Giant-Size Defenders #4 (April 1975). In 1978, James Sanders made a final brief appearance as the Whizzer in Avengers Annual #8.

In 1981, Spider-Man writer Bill Mantlo revamped the character, and James Sanders became a solo villain with a new costume and alias - Speed Demon. He appears in The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1, #222 (Oct) and later in Marvel Team-Up vol. 1, #121 (Sept. 1982). Speed Demon later joins the Sinister Syndicate in The Amazing Spider-Man #280 (Sept. 1986) and appears in the miniseries The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #1 - 4 (May-Aug. 1991).

In 2001, the character makes a brief appearance in in Wolverine #167 (Oct) and in 2006 reappears in the New Thunderbolts #15-16 (Jan.-Feb. 2006). This is followed by appearances in Thunderbolts #102-108 (July 2006 - Jan. 2007), a numerical continuation of the same series, for which New Thunderbolts had served as de facto issues #82-99.

Fictional character biography

Whizzer

James Sanders first appears under the codename Whizzer, as a member of the Squadron Sinister, a group of supervillains assembled by the cosmic entity the Grandmaster to battle the champions of the time-traveling Kang - the superhero team the Avengers. It was revealed years later that the Grandmaster created the Squadron Sinister based on the already existing Squadron Supreme. The Avengers simply met the "copies" first. The Whizzer battles the Avenger Goliath until their fight is interrupted by the adventurer the Black Knight.

Whizzer later assists the original members of the Squadron Sinister, who together with the alien Nebulon attempt to flood the Earth, but are stopped by the superhero team the Defenders. After this defeat the Squadron Sinister are teleported off world by Nebulon, but are later returned to Earth. Having acquired an energy-draining weapon, the Squadron Sinister plan to threaten the Earth once more but are defeated by the Defenders and the Avenger Yellowjacket.

The Whizzer later has another brief encounter with several members of the Avengers, who at the time were seeking a way to separate the Power Prism of Dr. Spectrum from fellow Avenger the Wasp.

Speed Demon

Several years after the Squadron Sinister disbands, James Sanders decides to return to crime in a new costume as the Speed Demon and battles the hero Spider-Man. Soon after this Speed Demon encounters Spider-Man once again, and also battles the Human Torch. It is on this occasion that Speed Demon suffers a humiliating defeat at the hands of Frog-Man, who accidentally lands on him.

Speed Demon later joins the supervillain team the Sinister Syndicate, led by the supervillain the Beetle. Although the team's principal goal is the defeat of Spider-Man, their constant squabbling always leads to defeat. Speed Demon leaves the team and eventually travels to Madripoor, where he participates in a "sudden death" tournament called Bloodsport. Speed Demon's first opponent is the disguised hero Wolverine, but in a mishap Speed Demon is critically injured by his own weapon. Despite the crowd's wishes, Wolverine spares Speed Demon's life.

Some time after recovering from his injuries, Speed Demon is recruited to join the Thunderbolts, a team consisting of reformed supervillains. Speed Demon accepts when he learns that the team is led by the Beetle, who is now known as Mach-IV.

Soon after this the cosmic entity the Grandmaster reappears and reforms the Squadron Sinister. An apparently resurrected Hyperion and new Dr. Spectrum find and try to coerce Speed Demon and fellow member Nighthawk into joining, but both are initially reluctant. Ironically, the New Thunderbolts become responsible for Speed Demon rejoining the Squadron Sinister as he is ejected from the New Thunderbolts for committing robberies - even though Speed Demon had been doing this to finance the team. Courtesy of a phenomenon known as the Wellspring of Power - an interdimensional source of superhuman abilities - the Grandmaster increases the Squadron Sinister's powers and they then battle the New Thunderbolts, as Baron Zemo also wishes to have control of the Wellspring. At one point Thunderbolt member Joystick breaks Speed Demon's legs, but he is later healed and in revenge beats her mercilessly. Zemo manages to defeat the Grandmaster, but in the ensuing chaos the Squadron Sinister scatter and escape. Speed Demon has yet to reappear.

Powers and abilities

Speed Demon's primary superhuman power is the ability to move and react at superhuman speed. His body has adapted to the rigors of running at great speed and developed superior strength, stamina, agility, reflexes and durability.

References

1. The Justice League Companion (2003): "Interview with Roy Thomas and Jerry Bails", pp.72 – 73
2. Squadron Supreme #8 (of 12) (1986)
3. Avengers vol. 1, #85 & #141
4. Defenders vol. 1, #13 - 14
5. Giant-Size Defenders #4 (1974)
6. Avengers Annual #8 (1978)
7. Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1, #222
8. Marvel Team-Up vol. 1, #12
9. Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1, #280
10. Wolverine #167 (2001)
11. New Thunderbolts vol. 2, #1
12. New Thunderbolts #15-16 and Thunderbolts vol. 1, #102-108

External links

• Marvel Universe
• Spiderfan.org

• Characters introduced in 1969
• Fictional characters from New York City
• Fictional pharmacists
• Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
• Marvel Comics mutates
• Marvel Comics supervillains