Speedster (fiction)
A speedster is a character, primarily in superhero comics, whose powers primarily relate to superhuman speed (also known as superspeed). Primary abilities shared by all speedsters include running at speeds far in excess of human capability (to varying degrees) and resistance to the side effects (air resistance, inability to breathe, dynamic shock resulting from contact with objects at high speed, etc.) that result from such velocity. 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.
Plausibility and artistic license
The use of speedsters in fiction requires artistic license due to the laws of physics that would prohibit such abilities. Moving at the speed of sound, for example, would create sonic booms that are usually not heard in such stories, and generate substantial heat. An enormous amount of energy would also be required to achieve such speeds, and Speedsters would need to consume massive amounts of calories to sustain their energy.
The
In
Writer
Other writers choose not to offer any scientific explanations for the questions raised by the actual use of such abilities.
In other media
Speedster characters appear in other media such as
Others include:
- Characters in the My Hero Academia franchise Deku, All Might and Tenya Ida/Ingenium have been noted to have super speed thanks to their "quirks" or genetic mutation powers that grant them super human abilities.
- Characters in the Dragon Ball franchise including Goku and Frieza.[6][7]
- Characters in the manga One-Punch Man, including Saitama,[10] Flashy Flash,[11][12] and Speed o' Sound Sonic.[13][14]
- Mr. Quick, a recurring character from the Disney XD television series Mighty Med.[20]
- Billy "Kid Quick" Thunderman, a main character from the Nickelodeon television series The Thundermans.[21]
- Characters in the comic book The Boys and its television adaptation, including A-Train,[22] Shockwave,[23] and Mister Marathon.[24]
- Race Noble from the comic book Noble Causes.[25][26]
- Invincible and its television adaptation.[27]
References
- The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, no. 5, p. 55 & 128 (February 1992). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Jacobs, Eammon (January 5, 2018). "15 Things You Didn't Know The Speed Force Can Do". CBR.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018.
- John Byrne’s Next Men, no. 7 (September 1992). Dark Horse Comics.
- David, Peter (October 21, 2003). "WHAT'CHA WANNA KNOW". Peterdavid.net. Archived from the originalon June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ David, Peter (August 26, 2003). "ANY QUESTIONS?". Peterdavid.net. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon March 28, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Godino, Edward (August 30, 2020). "Dragon Ball Z: Does Goku also Have Super SPEED?". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ The character is referred to as a "speedster" on Page 3 of the August 25, 2008 TV Guide, and refers to herself as such in "The Second Coming".
- ^ "Characters & Cast: The Speedster: Brea Grant". BBC. 2014. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon May 24, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon June 16, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Angulo Chen, Sandie (June 19, 2018). "'Incredibles 2' is a super first acting job for 10-year-old". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ "The Incredibles: Characters". The Walt Disney Company. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (February 24, 2012). "Better Child-Rearing Through Chemistry and Genetics". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ "Disney XD Set to Premiere "Lab Rats," A Comedy About a Teenager and His Three Super-Human Siblings, on Monday, February 27". Disney XD. January 9, 2012. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ "Fastest Girl in the World". Disney XD. October 19, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved January 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Mighty Med: The Mother of All Villains". Screener. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Jennifer Maldonado (July 28, 2017). "Time to Say Goodbye: The Thundermans Is Officially Coming to an End". J-14. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- CBR.com. Archived from the originalon October 4, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Elvy, Craig (December 24, 2020). "The Boys: Every Speedster Known (So Far)". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ McGuire, Liam (November 23, 2020). "The Boys: Homelander Accidentally Killed Their Version of The Flash". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
- ^ Sullivan, Michael Patrick. "Faerber Concludes "Noble Causes". Comic Book Resources. August 19, 2008
- ^ Arrant, Chris. "The Other Family of Superheroes: Retiring NOBLE CAUSES". Newsarama. August 3, 2010
- ^ Stewart, Brenton (March 27, 2021). "Invincible Reveals Its Version of the Justice League – and Then Destroys It". CBR.com. Retrieved March 27, 2021.