| Whizzer | |
|---|---|
 The Whizzer and the Squadron Supreme as depicted on the cover ofAvengers (vol. 3) #5 (June 1998). Art byGeorge Pérez. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Frank:USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941) Sanders:The Avengers #69 (Oct. 1969) Stewart:The Avengers #85 (Mar. 1971) |
| Created by | Frank:Al Avison (penciller; writer unknown) Sanders and Stewart:Roy Thomas andJohn Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Robert Frank James Sanders 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 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 the alienNebulon. 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 Earth in water. TheDefenders prevent the scheme and defeat the villains and Nebulon;Namor the Sub-Mariner humiliates the Whizzer.[6]
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 thwarted by the Defenders and the AvengerYellowjacket.[7] The Whizzer separates 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.[8] The characters including the Whizzer, whose name is Stanley Stewart, were identical in name and appearance to the Squadron Sinister. This 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, Stewart can create cyclones (by running in circles); run up walls and across water. The character has limited immunity to the effects of friction (Stewart wears goggles to protect his eyes), although still generates normal fatigue poisons. As a result, Stewart must consume large amounts of calories 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 theSerpent Crown.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]
Whizzer and the Squadron Supreme starred in a self-titled 12-issueminiseries (Sept. 1985 – Aug. 1986) by writerMark Gruenwald.[12] The series explains that Grandmaster deliberately modeled the Squadron Sinister after the preexisting Squadron Supreme ofEarth-712.[13] Gruenwald, Ryan, andinkerAl Williamson created agraphic-novel sequel,[14] which stranded the team in the mainstream Marvel universe. The Squadron Supreme encounter the heroQuasar, and relocate to the government facilityProject Pegasus.
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.[15] The Whizzer rejoins his teammates to aid the interdimensional team theExiles.[16]
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.[17] He initially hides his ability, with the "Atlanta Blur" regarded as anurban legend,[18] but when Hyperion is publicly revealed Stewart also goes public,[19] becoming a celebrity with numerous endorsements. As the Blur, he reluctantly fights crime at the request ofNighthawk.[17]
A variation of the Stanley Stewart version of Blur appears as a member of the Squadron Supreme of America.[20] This version is asimulacrum created byMephisto and programmed by the Power Elite. Stewart 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, Stewart works as a computer programmer at an office building in Washington DC.[21]
During theWar of the Realms storyline, Stewart and the Squadron Supreme are summoned to Washington D.C., wherePhil Coulson informs the ofMalekith the Accursed's invasion. Blur and the Squadron Supreme fight an army ofRock Trolls andFrost Giants. After the Frost Giants retreat, Coulson sends the Squadron to assist in an ongoing battle in Ohio.[21]
Each of the Whizzers possess superhuman speed.
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