Marvel Comics has introduced a new speedster named Rapid, who is comparable to DCâs resident speedster, The Flash. They have also given the character a unique backstory. As a result, fans have become curious about this new character, his powers, and his origins. Over the years, Marvel has had several speedsters like Quicksilver and Speed Demon grace comic books and related media.
So, who is Rapid, Marvelâs new speedster, and how does he compare to DCâs The Flash? Here are both queries explored.
Marvelâs new speedster, Rapid, explained
Rapid debuts in Marvel Comicsâ Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man 1 story âRapid Advancements,â developed by Chip Zdarsky, Cafu, David Curiel, and VCâs Joe Caramagna. His real identity is Roger, a married man whose father, Earl, works for an investment group called Blackcourt.
Roger gets a frantic call from his father and hurries to his aid. Arriving at Earlâs office, Roger finds him and his partner, Dana, injured. He soon finds Electro in the vicinity and subdues him. Electro shoots Earl, causing the pink rectangular object the latter was holding â which he calls a sample â to explode.
Roger soon realizes that time is moving slowly for him. He also learns that he can control the flow of time and takes his father to safety.
Roger contacts Spider-Man while in the frozen explosion field and asks him to find Dana. After Spider-Man meets Dana, she tells the webslinger that she and Earl were working on an experiment to slow down cancer cells by targeting them with von chronal energy via a serum. Dana further reveals that Blackcourt, who is revealed to be funding Electro to find Dana and Earl, made plans to sell the latter twoâs technology to weapons manufacturers after realizing that their research was capable of accelerating time.
It is later revealed that Roger had been using his powers to steal medical equipment and help his father, who was diagnosed with cancer. Roger has also been using his powers to stall Earlâs cancer progression.
Roger and Spider-Man later save Electroâs life after he gets a piece of shrapnel impaled in his chest. Tony Stark later meets Roger and Dana and offers his help to them.
How Rapid compares to DCâs The Flash
Rapid is a speedster like The Flash.
However, they each have different costumes. Rapidâs costume consists of a pink-and-black color scheme, while Flashâs outfit bears a red-and-yellow color scheme.
Moreover, their sources of power are different. Rapid gets his powers from an experiment, while Flash derives his abilities from the Speed Force.
