Speedster (fiction)

Aspeedsteris a character, primarily insuperhero comics,whose powers primarily relate tosuperhuman speed(also known assuperspeed). 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 of such velocities (air resistance, inability to breathe, dynamic shock resulting from contact with objects at high speed, etc.). In almost all cases, speedsters can physically attack opponents by striking them at high speed, imparting greatkinetic energywithout themselves being harmed or at times even affected at all. 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.

Cover toThe Flash#750 (March 2020), showing thetitle characterwith fellow speedsters

Plausibility and artistic license

The use of speedsters in fiction requiresartistic licensedue to the laws ofphysicsthat would prohibit such abilities. Moving at thespeed of sound,for example, would createsonic boomsthat 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.

TheOfficial Handbook of the Marvel Universestates that the characterNovamaintains speeds which can be considered "modest", especially when carrying a passenger. It also concedes that a solid object moving in the Earth's atmosphere at several times the speed of sound or faster would wreak havoc on the planet, and that moving at such speeds would prohibitNorthstarfrom breathing, while the generated wind/friction would ravage his body. On the other hand, it states that the characterQuicksilverwas born with adaptations that make high speeds possible, such as enhancedcardiovascular,respiratory,musculature,anddigestivesystems, a more efficientmetabolism,better lubricated joints,tendonswith thetensile strengthof spring steel, unidentified bone composition that can withstand the dynamic shock of his touching the ground at speeds over 100 miles an hour, and a brain that can process information fast enough for him to react to his surroundings at high speed.

WriterJohn Byrnemaintained modest abilities for the speedster character Danny Hilltop in his seriesJohn Byrne's Next Men.Although Danny can keep pace with a race car, the friction generated by his speed melts any foot wear he wears, burning his feet. Thus he runs bare foot, having toughened the soles of his feet through a regimen of pounding increasingly harder materials.

Speed Force

InDC Comics,theFlashfamily of speedsters derive their abilities from anextradimensionalenergy source known as theSpeed Force,which grants them superspeed and various other abilities required to use it, such as durability.The Speed Force is a cosmic force based around velocity and movement and is the in-universe representation of reality in motion, being the very cosmic force that pushes space and time forward. However, the Speed Force is not the source from which all DC characters with superspeed get their powers. For example,Supermanruns and flies quickly owing to his alien physiology, whileCaptain Marvel/ShazamandWonder Womanare empowered by the gods. Other writers choose not to offer any scientific explanations for the questions raised by the actual use of such abilities.Peter David,whose run on the seriesYoung Justiceincluded the junior speedsterImpulse,has opined that speedsters are inherently difficult to write: "Speedsters make me nervous, because if you play them accurately, they're impossible to beat... I could deal with Impulse because he was easily distracted."

Additionally, there are alternative velocity-based power sources for speedsters: theNegative Speed Forcewas created byEobard Thawneto manipulate time as the Reverse-Flash and additionally corruptedFast Trackas the Negative Flash,and theForever Forcehas the power to manipulate time whichHunter Zolomonused to control the flow of time while appearing as the speedster Zoom.

In other media

Speedster characters appear in other media such asfilm,video games,animeandmanga,the most notable being the video game characterSonic the Hedgehogandsupporting characters,andLooney TunescharactersSpeedy Gonzalesand theRoad Runner.

Others include:

• Characters in theMy Hero Academiafranchise,Deku,All Might,andTenya Ida/Ingeniumhave been noted to have super speed thanks to their "quirks" or genetic mutation powers that grant them super human abilities.
• Characters in theDragon Ballfranchise includingGokuandFrieza.
• Daphne Millbrookfrom theNBCtelevisionsuperherodramaHeroes.
• Characters in the mangaOne-Punch Man,includingSaitama,Flashy Flash,andSpeed o' Sound Sonic.
• Dash Parrfrom thePixarmotion pictureThe Incredibles.
• Bree Davenport,the bionic hero from theDisney XDtelevision seriesLab Rats.
• Mr. Quick,a recurring character from the Disney XD television seriesMighty Med.
• Billy "Kid Quick" Thunderman,a main character from theNickelodeontelevision seriesThe Thundermans.
• Characters in the comic bookThe Boysand itstelevision adaptation,includingA-Train,Shockwave,andMister Marathon.
• Race Noblefrom the comic bookNoble Causes.
• Josef/Red Rushfrom the comic bookInvincibleand itstelevision adaptation.

Speed Force in other media

Two versions of the Speed Force appear inThe Flash(2014).

• The "positive" version appears as a supporting figure, portrayed byMichelle Harrison,Jesse L. MartinandRick Cosnett.The Speed Force assumed the likeness ofNora Allen,Joe West,andEddie Thawne.
• The Negative Speed Force appears as an opposite version.It acts on negative emotions while possessing individuals, such asXSandCobalt Blue.