Whizzer | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941) |
Created by | Al Avison (penciller; writer unknown) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Robert L. Frank [1] |
Species | Human mutate |
Team affiliations | Liberty Legion Invaders All-Winners Squad Avengers |
Abilities | Self-taught hand to hand combatant Superhuman speed and reflexes |
The Whizzer (Robert L. Frank) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared during the period called the Golden Age of Comic Books.
The Whizzer has super-speed powers, which (in his original origin story) he acquired from an infusion of mongoose blood. He appeared in both USA Comics and All Winners Comics from 1941 to 1946, and was revived by Marvel in the 1970s.
Robert Frank's incarnation of the Whizzer debuted in U.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941), published by Timely Comics. The character was created by penciller Al Avison and an unnamed writer. [2] One source credits Stan Lee as that writer, [3] but there are no other sources to support the credit. (Lee and artist Paul Reinman did sign the Whizzer story in All-Winners Comics #2, and in #3 as "Neel Nats," which is illustrated by Mike Sekowsky. [4] ) The Whizzer appeared regularly in U.S.A. Comics through issue #17 (Sept 1945). [5]
At the same time, he was also appearing regularly in All Winners Comics , from issue #2 (Sept 1941) through #21 (Dec 1946). In issues #19 and #21, he was part of the All Winners Squad, a superteam that also included Captain America, Bucky Barnes, the Human Torch, Toro, the Sub-Mariner and Miss America. These were the character's last appearances during the 1940s. [6]
Writer Roy Thomas reintroduced the Golden Age Whizzer in Giant-Size Avengers #1 (Aug. 1974). Two years later, in The Avengers Annual #6 (Nov. 1976), writer Gerry Conway reinterpreted the character's origin and history so that the "transfusion of mongoose blood" was not the source of the power, but the factor that "triggered a latent mutant ability". Thomas, in the World War II flashback series The Invaders #5–6 (March–May 1976), expanded on the character's wartime career as a sometime-member of the retroactively created superhero team the Invaders. Thomas later additionally made the Whizzer a full-time member of the home-front heroes the Liberty Legion, in Marvel Premiere #29–30 (April–June 1976). Neither team had existed in Timely Comics.
Robert L. Frank was born in St. Louis, Missouri. The origin of the Golden Age character begins while Bob Frank and his father, Dr. Emil Frank, are framed for murder of a man named Jennings by Granno, who brought the shot Jennings with his lackey, Spike, who will serve as witness, so they flee to Africa where Bob gets sick from fever and in need of a blood transfusion. While Bob is unconscious, he is approached by a cobra, but is saved by the sudden attack of a mongoose. Dr. Frank saves Robert by a transfusion of the mongoose's blood, and soon discovers that his son has developed super-speed, but the stress kills Dr. Frank. [7] [8] [9] After beating Granno and his lackeys unconscious and reporting them to the D.A., Frank then decides to fight crime and eventually accepts the offer of Invaders member Bucky, who forms the superhero team the Liberty Legion to rescue the other Invaders, who have been brainwashed by the villain the Red Skull. [10] When the Liberty Legion and Invaders eventually disband after World War II, the Whizzer joins the newly formed All-Winners Squad. [11] [12]
The Whizzer afterward spent some years battling alcoholism and depression and was, for some time, homeless in the Bowery section of Manhattan. [13] He also works as a nuclear laboratory technician.
In 1942, the Whizzer acquired a new sidekick, a stereotyped African-American friend named Slow-Motion Jones. [14]
In the modern age, the Whizzer reappears as an aging hero who had married fellow superhero Miss America. The Whizzer encounters and briefly serves with the Avengers, who aid him in controlling his son Nuklo. He is reunited with Nuklo, but suffers a heart attack. At the end of this adventure, the Whizzer erroneously believes himself to be the father of the mutant twins Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch. [15]
The Whizzer was later duped by the Living Laser into battling the Avengers, [16] and suffers a second heart attack. [17] He then battled the Atlanteans and Namor alongside the Avengers. [18] After a humbling defeat at the hands of the supervillain Count Nefaria [19] the Whizzer retires. [20]
He later returns to fight a final battle against an old war-time foe called Isbisa. The Whizzer dies after suffering a fatal heart attack while fighting Isbisa, but his sacrifice enables his son Nuklo to be cured of his excessive radiation level and begin a normal life. The Whizzer learned of the still birth of his actual twin babies on Wundagore, and learned he did not father The Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, shortly before he died. [21]
Arnim Zola later created a proto-husk of Whizzer from his DNA. The Whizzer clone has no lines and is killed by Deadpool who mocks him as "a legend to make mercs laugh at night". [22]
Due to a reaction between his latent genetic mutation and an injection of mongoose blood, Robert Frank has the ability to move at superhuman speed and has superhuman reflexes. He can create cyclones by running in circles, and can run up walls and across water. In his prime, he could attain speeds faster than he could in middle age, running at approximately 100 mph.
The Whizzer has learned a unique, self-taught fighting style that exploits the ability to move at superhuman speeds.
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Whizzer has had his own group of enemies during his superhero career:
In the DC Comics/Marvel Comics jointly published Amalgam Comics miniseries, the Whiz is an amalgamation of the Robert Frank Whizzer and the Golden Age Flash,[ citation needed ] and is a member of the All Star Winners Squad. [32] His sole appearance was in Super Soldier: Man of War #1 (June 1997).
In Marvel Zombies 3, the zombified Whizzer appears alongside fellow speedsters Speed Demon and Quicksilver chasing down Machine Man before being killed after diving under Ghost Rider's bike, causing all four of the zombies to explode. [33]
Whizzer is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first character debuted during the Golden Age in USA Comics #1, and was reintroduced in Giant-Size Avengers #1. A second villainous version debuts during the Silver Age in The Avengers #69, and a second heroic version debuting in The Avengers #85.
Quicksilver is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in the comic book The Uncanny X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character has since starred in two self-titled limited series and has historically been depicted as a regular team member in superhero title The Avengers.
The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Miss America is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Gabriele, the character first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 in the Golden Age of Comic Books. Madeline Joyce is the first incarnation of Miss America. The character has also been a member of the Invaders, Liberty Legion, and All-Winners Squad at various points in her history.
Speed Demon is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema, the character made his first appearance in The Avengers #69 as a member of the Squadron Sinister known as the Whizzer.
All Select Comics is a 1943–1945 American comic book series published by Timely Comics, the 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. An omnibus series with several different superhero and other features each issue, it primarily starred Captain America and the original Human Torch, two of Timely's most popular characters, as well as fellow Timely star the Sub-Mariner in several.
The All-Winners Squad is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The company's first such team, it first appeared in All Winners Comics #19, published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.
Alfred Dean Avison was an American comic book artist known for his work on the Marvel Comics characters the Whizzer, which he co-created, and Captain America during the 1930–1940s period known to fans and historians as the Golden Age of comic books.
The Liberty Legion is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team was first created in 1976 and set during World War II. Composed of existing heroes from Marvel's 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books predecessor, Timely Comics, the team was assembled and named by writer Roy Thomas in a story arc running through The Invaders #5–6 and Marvel Premiere #29–30. Inspired by the Liberty Legion, a second fictional team called the Liberteens was published in 2007 as part of the Avengers Initiative.
Speed is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a member of the Young Avengers, a team of teenaged superheroes in the Marvel Universe. His powers are based on those of his uncle Quicksilver. Created by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung, Speed first appeared in the comic book Young Avengers #10. In the 12th issue, he adopts the costumed identity Speed and joins the Young Avengers.
A speedster is a character, primarily in superhero comics, whose powers primarily relate to superhuman speed. Primary abilities shared by all speedsters include running at speeds far in excess of human capability and resistance to the side effects of such velocities. In almost all cases, speedsters can physically attack opponents by striking them at high speed, imparting great kinetic energy without themselves being harmed. A variety of other powers have been attributed to speedsters, depending on the story, their power's origin, and their universe's established continuity and rules.
Nuklo is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the son of two characters featured in the Golden Age of Comic Books, the Whizzer and Miss America.
Makkari, formerly known as Hurricane and Mercury, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created Jack Kirby, the character first appeared as Makkari in The Eternals #5, but through retroactive continuity was later established as also having been Mercury in Red Raven Comics #1, created by Martin A. Bursten and Kirby.
Jack Frost is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in 1941 in U.S.A. Comics published by Marvel's 1940s forerunner Timely Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books.
Isbisa is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in All Winners Comics vol. 1, #19, published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. He was created by writer Bill Finger and one or more of the five artists who contributed one or more chapters to his 44-page debut story.
All Winners Comics was the name of two American comic book series of the 1940s, both published by Marvel Comics' predecessor, Timely Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. A superhero anthology comic in both cases, they variously featured such star characters as Captain America, the original Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner. All Winners Comics was also the venue for two full-length stories of Marvel's first superhero team, the (hyphenated) All-Winners Squad.
Alfred J. Gabriele was an American comic book artist during the 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. He was known for his work on some of Marvel Comics' earliest Captain America and Sub-Mariner stories, and for co-creating the company's superheroes Black Marvel, Miss America, and possibly, the Whizzer.
U.S.A. Comics was an American comic-book series published by Marvel Comics' 1930–1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books.
The Destroyer is the name of three fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original incarnation was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Binder and first appeared in Mystic Comics #6, being one of Lee's earliest creations during the Golden Age of Comic Books.