| Whizzer | |
|---|---|
 The Whizzer (inblack andyellow) appears with theSquadron Supreme on the cover ofAvengers vol. 3, #5 (June 1998). Art byGeorge Pérez. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Frank (I):USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941);Sanders (II):The Avengers #69 (Oct. 1969);Stewart (III):The Avengers #85 (Mar. 1971) |
| Created by | (I):Al Avison (penciller; writer unknown); II & III:Roy Thomas andJohn Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | (I) Robert Frank; (II) James Sanders; (III) Stanley Stewart |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Squadron Supreme |
| Abilities | Superhuman speed |
| Marvel Comics alternate universes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel stories take place primarily in a mainstream continuity called theMarvel Universe. Some stories are set in various parallel, or alternate, realities, called theMarvel Multiverse. | |||
| The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 designates the mainstream continuity as "Earth-616", and assigns other Earth numbers to each specific alternate reality. | |||
In this article the following characters, or teams, and realities are referred to: | |||
| Character/team | Universe | ||
| Robert Frank | Earth-616 | ||
| James Sanders | Earth-616 | ||
| Stanley Stewart | Earth-712 | ||
| Stanley Stewart | Earth-31916 | ||
Whizzer is the name of several fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The first character debuted during theGolden Age inUSA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941),[1] and was reintroduced inGiant-Size Avengers #1 (Aug. 1974). A second villainous version debuts during theSilver Age inThe Avengers #69 (Oct. 1969), and a second heroic version debuting inThe Avengers #85 (Feb. 1971).
The Whizzer appeared in thesecond season of theMarvel Cinematic Universe television seriesJessica Jones, portrayed by Jay Klaitz.
The first character named the Whizzer first appeared during the Golden Age of comics, and later appeared briefly during the Silver Age.[2]
The second, villainous version appears in the final panel ofThe Avengers #69 (Oct. 1969), the first chapter of a three-issue storyline by writerRoy Thomas and pencillerSal Buscema.[3] The story arc introduced thesupervillain team theSquadron Sinister, whose four members were loosely based on heroes inDC Comics'Justice League of America, with the Whizzer based on theFlash.[4]
The Squadron Sinister are created by the cosmic entity theGrandmaster to battle theAvengers, who are the champions of the time-travelingKang the Conqueror. The Whizzer, James Sanders, battles AvengerGoliath, but the fight is interrupted by theBlack Knight. The Avengers eventually defeat the Squadron, who are abandoned by the Grandmaster.[5] The Squadron reappear in the titleThe Defenders, reunited by thealienNebulon. The villains receive greater power in exchange for the planet Earth, and create a giant laser cannon in theArctic to melt thepolar ice caps, thereby covering the entirety of the Earth's surface in water. TheDefenders prevent the scheme and defeat the villains (and Nebulon);Namor the Sub-Mariner humiliates the Whizzer.[6]
Afterward the Whizzer and his two remaining teammates are teleported off world by Nebulon, returning with an energy-draining weapon. The Squadron Sinister plan to threaten the Earth again but are defeated once more by the Defenders and the AvengerYellowjacket.[7] The character has another brief encounter with several members of the Avengers, who seek a way to separate the Power Prism ofDoctor Spectrum from fellow Avenger theWasp.[8] The Whizzer disassociates himself from the Squadron Sinister and adopts a new costume and alias,Speed Demon.
Roy Thomas and pencillerJohn Buscema created analternate-universe team of heroes called theSquadron Supreme, who debut inAvengers #85 (Feb. 1971). After an initial skirmish with four Avengers, the teams unite to stop a common threat.[9] The characters including the Whizzer, whose name is Stanley Stewart, were identical in name and appearance to the Squadron Sinister, which caused confusion in Marvel's production department, as the covers ofThe Avengers #85 and #141 (Nov. 1975) "cover-blurbed" appearances by the Squadron Sinister, when in fact it was the Squadron Supreme that appeared in both issues.
As a result of exposure to themutagenic effects of a fogbank of unknown nature, Stanley Stewart possesses superhuman speed, stamina, and reflexes. When moving at subsonic speed, the Stewart Whizzer can create cyclones (by running in circles); run up walls and across water. The character has limited immunity to the effects of friction (Stewart wearsgoggles to protect his eyes), although still generates normal fatigue poisons. As a result, Stewart must consume large amounts ofcalories and rest after using his superhuman speed powers extensively.
The heroic Whizzer and the Squadron Supreme have another series of skirmishes with the Avengers engineered by the group theSerpent Cartel, but eventually team together and prevent the use of theartifact theSerpent Crown.[10] The character and his teammates briefly feature in the titleThor, when the evil version ofHyperion attacks the Earth-712 version and then Thunder God Thor.[11] The Squadron are mind-controlled by the entities theOvermind andNull the Living Darkness, but are freed by the Defenders and aid the heroes in defeating the villains.[12]
The character features with the Squadron Supreme in a self-titled 12-issueminiseries (Sept. 1985 – Aug. 1986) by writerMark Gruenwald.[13] The series also explains why there are the Squadrons Sinister and Supreme are similar: the Grandmaster creates the Squadron Sinister modelled on the already-existing Squadron Supreme of theEarth-712 universe.[14] Gruenwald, Ryan, andinkerAl Williamson created agraphic-novel sequel[15] which strands the team in the mainstream Marvel universe. The Whizzer and teammates encounter the heroQuasar, and relocate to the government facilityProject Pegasus. After another encounter with the Overmind and a visit to thelaboratory world of theStranger;[16] the Whizzer participates in a "speedster" race organized byElder of the Universe theRunner[17] attempts (with the Squadron) to return to their universe[18] and with fellow membersHyperion andDoctor Spectrum battle the entityDeathurge.[19]
The entire Squadron Supreme appear in a two-part story with the Avengers that finally returns them to their home universe, where they disband for a time.[20] The Whizzer rejoins his teammates to aid the interdimensional team theExiles.[21]
The mature-audienceMarvel MAX imprint showcases the adventures of the Earth-31916 version of the Whizzer,the Atlanta Blur. Also named Stanley Stewart, the character is a youngAfrican-American man who develops super-speed as a result of exposure to an alienretrovirus.[22] He initially hides his ability, with the "Atlanta Blur" regarded as anurban legend,[23] but when Hyperion is publicly revealed Stewart also goes public,[24] becoming a celebrity with numerous endorsements. As the Blur, he reluctantly fights crime at the request ofNighthawk.[22]
A variation of the Stanley Stewart version of Blur appears as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America.[25] This version is asimulacrum created byMephisto and programmed by the Power Elite. Stanley was programmed to forcefully watch endless loops to keep up his brain speed while watching numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. files and unscrupulous videos. As a civilian, Stanley works as a computer programmer at an office building in Washington DC.[26]
In the team's first mission, Whizzer and the Squadron Supreme of America foughtNamor and the Defenders of the Deep, when they targeted a Roxxon oil platform off the coast of Alaska.[27]
Soon after, the Squadron Supreme visited another oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The Squadron Supreme then made short work of Namor and the Defenders of the Deep.[28]
During theWar of the Realms storyline, Stanley was working at his desk until he and the other members of the Squadron Supreme of America were summoned to Washington D.C., wherePhil Coulson brought them up to speed withMalekith the Accursed's invasion. Blur and the Squadron Supreme of America fight an army ofRock Trolls andFrost Giants. After the Squadron Supreme caused the Frost Giants to retreat, Coulson sends them to Ohio, which has become a battleground.[26]
Blur was with the Squadron Supreme when they attempted to apprehendBlack Panther after he infiltrated the Pentagon to confront Coulson.[29]
Each of the Whizzers possess superhuman speed.
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