The Terrific Whatzit
The Terrific Whatzit (left) and his "conscience" (right). FromFunny Stuff #6 (Fall 1945). Art by Martin Naydel.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Funny Stuff #1 (Summer 1944)
Created by	Martin Naydel
In-story information
Alter ego	Merton McSnurtle
Team affiliations	Flash Family Legion of Super-Pets
Notable aliases	McSnurtle the Turtle
Abilities	Super-speed Super-strength Flight "Automatic conscience"

The Terrific Whatzit (real name:Merton McSnurtle, also known asMcSnurtle the Turtle) is asuperheroturtle appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. DC's firsttalking animal superhero, the Terrific Whatzit first appeared inFunny Stuff #1 (Summer 1944) and was created by writer-artist Martin Naydel.^[1]

Natasha Lyonne voices the character in the animated filmDC League of Super-Pets (2022).

McSnurtle is aturtle and shopkeeper who lives in the town of Zooville and is famed for his honesty and laziness. Wishing to see how such a person would handle receiving superpowers, otherworldly entitles called Prince Highness and Prince Lowness grant him super-speed, among other abilities.^[2] Dubbing himself the "Terrific Whatzit",^[3][4] he would go on to aid theAllies during the "Second Weird War". Additionally, his nephew Timmy Joe Terrapin / Fastback would acquire similar powers and join theZoo Crew.^[5]

McSnurtle possesses super-speed, super-strength,^[6] and the ability to fly. Additionally, he is haunted by a ghostly "automaticconscience" that berates him unless he takes action against danger and can remove his shell.^[7][8]

• McSnurtle the Turtle appears inThe Flash in two different forms. The first version appears in the episode "Revenge of the Rogues" as the childhood stuffed animal ofIris West. The second appears in the episode "Borrowing Problems from the Future" as a regular turtle thatHarrison "HR" Wells gives toBarry Allen as a housewarming gift.
• The Terrific Whatzit appears in theDC Super Hero Girls episode "All Pets Are Off".

Merton the Turtle / Terrific Whatzit appears inDC League of Super-Pets, voiced byNatasha Lyonne.^[9][10] This version is a non-anthropomorphic female turtle who acquires super-speed after being exposed to orangeKryptonite and goes on to become theFlash's pet and a founding member of the titularLeague of Super-Pets.

• An unnamed turtle wearing the original Terrific Whatzit costume appears inDC Super Friends #14 (June 2009) as the adopted pet ofWally West / Flash.
• The Terrific Whatzit appears in the DC Super-Pets children's bookSalamander Smackdown. This version is the pet ofBarry Allen / Flash who wears a similar costume as him.

• Toonopedia entry on the Terrific Whatzit
• Biographical summaries on the Terrific Whatzit, Fastback and the Crash
• Capstone's DC Super-Pets bookSalamander Smackdown

• Animal superheroes
• Anthropomorphic turtles
• Comics about anthropomorphic turtles
• Golden Age superheroes
• Comics about talking animals
• Comics characters introduced in 1944
• DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
• Fictional turtles
• DC Comics superheroes
• DC Comics male superheroes
• DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
• DC Comics animals
• Flash (comics) characters
• Legion of Super-Pets

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• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Converting comics character infoboxes