Whizzer (Robert Frank)

Whizzer
The Whizzer (Robert Frank), from USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941). Art by Al Avison & Al Gabriele.
Publication information
Publisher	Timely Comics, Marvel Comics
First appearance	USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941)
Created by	Al Avison (penciller; writer unknown)
In-story information
Alter ego	Robert L. Frank
Team affiliations	Liberty Legion Invaders All-Winners Squad Avengers
Abilities	Self-taught hand to hand combatant Superhuman speed and reflexes

The Whizzer is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared during the period during the 1930s and 1940s that fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.

The first Whizzer (Robert Frank) debuted in USA Comics #1 (Aug. 1941), published by Timely Comics. The character was created by penciller Al Avison and an unnamed writer. One source credits Stan Lee as that writer, but there are no other sources to support the credit. Timely published solo adventures of the Whizzer throughout the first half of the 1940s, then, in 1946, made the character part of the superhero team the All-Winners Squad in the final two issues of All Winners Comics. These were the character's last appearances during the 1940s.

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.