Man, this is just the ultimate combination of suck in one character. I mean, LOOK AT THIS- his name is "THE WHIZZER" for one, which is just absolutely hilarious given even semi-modern slang. Then his costume is PISS-YELLOW. And then you add in that he's a DERIVATIVE CHARACTER, being a Flash knock-off (right down to the head-wings). Then there's the plain "W" on his chest, and blue underpants on the outside of his costume. Who combines THAT MUCH SUCK this way?
THE WHIZZER I (Robert L. Frank)
Created By: Al Avison (unknown writer)
First Appearance: USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)
Role: Flash Rip-Off, Forgotten Golden Age Character
Group Affiliation: The Invaders, The All-Winners Squad, The Liberty Legion
PL 9 (137)
STRENGTH 2
STAMINA 3
AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8/10
DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 3
AWARENESS 3
PRESENCE 2
Skills:
Acrobatics 5 (+9)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+10/+12)
Deception 6 (+7)
Expertise (Nuclear Power Plant Technician) 2 (+5)
Intimidation 4 (+5)
Expertise (Science) 4 (+7)
Expertise (Criminal) 3 (+6)
Ranged Combat (Thrown Objects) 4 (+10)
Stealth 1 (+5)
Advantages:
Great Endurance, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 4
Powers:
"Super-Speed"
Enhanced Fighting 2 [4]
Enhanced Advantages 13: Agile Feint, Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll, Evasion, Fast Grab, Improved Defense, Improved Initiative 3, Move-By Action, Takedown 2, Uncanny Dodge [13]
Enhanced Dodge 4 [4]
Enhanced Parry 3 [3]
"Mongoose Speed" Speed 7 (250 mph) [7]
Quickness 4 [4]
"Super-Speed Feats"
"Wall & Water Run" Movement 2 (Wall-Crawling, Water-Walking) (Flaws: Limited to While Running) [2]
Immunity 1 (Friction Heat) [1]
"Hit Everyone in Range" Strength-Damage +3 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Burst 5, Selective 5) (13) -- [15]
- AE: "Jetstream" Move Object 6 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Cone) (Flaws: Touch Range) (12)
- AE: "Rapid-Punches" Strength-Damage +3 (Extras: Multiattack 5) (8)
Offense:
Unarmed +12 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Rapid-Punches +12 (+5 Damage, DC 20)
Hit Everyone +5 Area (+5 Damage, DC 20)
Initiative +16
Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +9 (DC 19), Toughness +3, Fortitude +5, Will +6
"Top Speed" Dodge +12 (DC 22), Parry +14 (DC 24), Toughness +3 (+4 D.Roll), Fortitude +5, Will +6
Complications:
Addiction (Alcohol)- Frank was a drunk for years, rendering him homeless at least once.
Disabled (Depression)
Relationship (Miss America)- The two were married for years, but she died in childbirth.
Total: Abilities: 54 / Skills: 34--17 / Advantages: 6 / Powers: 50 / Defenses: 10 (137)
-The Whizzer is one of those knock-off Golden Age characters who ended up being used a bit more than he maybe should have, largely because he was one of the FIRST big Flash knock-offs to come down the pike. His origin is suitably insane- he was given an injection of MONGOOSE BLOOD, and this ended up giving him Super-Speed. The Whizzer (God what a name) actually lasted for five years (WAY longer than most Golden Agers- longer than half the JSA, as a matter of fact). A later retcon made him a "latent Mutant".
-The Whizzer was used in modern times (circa the 1970s, which at the time didn't make him THAT old) allying with the newer heroes once or twice, and being shown in the
Invaders series as an occasional member of the team, and he ended up married to Miss America. During the War, he also founded The Liberty Legion, a band of homeland defenders. He was also made the possible father of Quicksilver & The Scarlet Witch (before Magneto was finalized as their father in the 1970s by Steve Englehart). Unfortunately, his goofy-ass name and costume probably held him back, and he retired repeatedly, had a few heart attacks (including one against his own SON, now the insane Nuklo), and was given an embarrassing beating at the hands of Count Nefaria. He later dies while fighting his old wartime foe, Isbisa. This was so long ago that he still thought he was Wanda & Pietro's father.
-Honestly, it's a bit bizarre to look back at the sheer amount of CRAP this guy had to deal with- his wife dies in childbirth, he's turned into a drunk, he loses against villains constantly, his son turns into a radiation monster, and then he dies. And Geoff Johns wasn't even writing comics yet!
-The Whizzer was apparently quite good in his prime, but is oddly capable of only running at ONE-HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR, which is below most automobiles' peak speed. Despite this, he can still run up walls and across water, and create cyclones of air. So I'm assuming that's a typo that's reprinted in various sites, because I have yet to see the Prius capable of driving up the side of a building. I figure him for a PL 9 solid fighter, which is pretty good for a Golden Age Hero.