Speed Demon
Real Name: James Sanders
First Appearance: As the Whizzer, Avengers 69; as Speed Demon, Amazing Spider-Man 222.
What's His Problem? A pharmaceutical chemist gifted with a super-speed formula by the alien Grandmaster, Sanders joined the Grandmaster's Squadron Sinister as the super-villainous Whizzer. A vainglorious power-tripper at heart, the Whizzer enjoyed outracing the law and continued his criminal career after leaving the Grandmaster's service. Desirous of a more uniquely formidable costumed persona, Sanders later concocted an improved version of the speed formula and continued his criminal career as the super-swift Speed Demon.
Powers: Regular ingestion of his chemical formula has given Sanders the ability to move at superhuman rates of speed. He can run hundreds of miles per hour, race up walls or across water, and create cyclones by spinning part or all of his body in a tight circle. His reflexes and reaction time are near-instantaneous, and he can perform a variety of complex tasks while in motion.
Favorite Quote: "Arrgh! How can there be so many persons faster than me?" (Quasar 17. The usually smug Sanders gets a humbling taste of his own medicine when Quicksilver, Whizzer II and Makkari easily outrace him in the Runner's super-speedster marathon.)
Heroes He Keeps Running Into: As the Whizzer, Sanders repeatedly battled the Avengers and the Defenders. As Speed Demon, he often runs into Spider-Man but has also fought The Fabulous Frog Man, Human Torch II, Silver Sable, Sandman and his old Avengers foes.
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: Sanders was pretty chummy with his old Squadron Sinister teammates, but they're all either dead or inactive now. He was also a member of the Beetle's Sinister Syndicate, but that group broke up on an acrimonious note.
Most Despicable Act: During his Whizzer days, Sanders once conspired with the alien Nebulon to melt the polar ice caps and flood the Earth for profit. Amazing what some crooks will do to make a fast buck...
The Who-zzer? James Sanders was the third costumed speedster known as the Whizzer, albeit the second to actually appear in the comics. The first was 1940s hero Bob Frank, who gained super-speed powers from a mongoose blood transfusion (honest!) and returned to occasional crime-fighting in recent years as an honorary member of the Avengers. Meanwhile, on the alternate world "Earth S", a younger Whizzer (Stanley Stewart) of different origin fought crime as a member of the Squadron Supreme. The Grandmaster empowered and costumed Sanders in imitation of Stewart, whom he'd once employed as a pawn. Sanders eventually abandoned his Whizzer guise to avoid confusion with the heroic original Whizzer, who is now deceased. Stewart, the second and current Whizzer, remains active.
by Sean McQuaid
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