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Speedball
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Creation & Design

Speedball was created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Ron Frenz, designed to be a light-hearted character in the Marvel Universe.

Early Years

Robbie Baldwin was a teenager who gained his powers after an accident involving a kinetic energy experiment. He initially used his abilities to fight crime as Speedball.

Character Development

Over the years, Speedball has evolved from a light-hearted character to a more complex figure, dealing with themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of heroism.

Cultural Reception

Speedball has received mixed reviews, with some fans enjoying his light-hearted nature while others prefer his darker transformation into Penance.

Character Details

Real Name:
Robbie Baldwin
First Appearance:
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22
Aliases:
Speedball, Penance
Species:
Human
Gender:
Male
Affiliations:
New Warriors, Avengers, Thunderbolts
Abilities:
Kinetic energy absorption, Enhanced agility, Superhuman reflexes
Equipment:
Speedball suit
Weight:
150lbs
Height:
6' 8"
Eye Color:
blue
Hair Color:
brown

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Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22
Marvel ⋅ 1988
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Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Speedball

First artwork on Spider-Man by Mark Bagley

Origin of Chthon in a back-up story, how his essence was locked away in Wundagore Mountain - story continues in X-Men Annual #12 (1988)

Thor #412
Marvel ⋅ 1989
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Thor #412
 
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Key Facts

1st full team appearance of the New Warriors: Firestar, Kid Nova, Marvel Boy, Namorita, Night Thrasher and Speedball

1st full appearance of Night Thrasher

Thor #411
Marvel ⋅ 1989
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Thor #411
 
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Key Facts

1st cameo team appearance of The New Warriors: Nova, Night Thrasher, Namorita, Speedball, Firestar and Marvel Boy, later becomes Justice

1st cameo appearance of Night Thrasher

The character Marvel Boy shares no relation to other characters who also used the name Marvel Boy but he does share his real name, Vance Astrovik with the character known as Major Victory from Guardians of the Galaxy

Major Victory and Marvel Boy are the same person from two separate dimensions and exist in stories as mostly unrelated individuals

New Warriors #1
Marvel ⋅ 1990
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New Warriors #1
 
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Key Facts

Origin of the New Warriors

Civil War: Front Line #10
Marvel ⋅ 2007
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Civil War: Front Line #10
 
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Key Facts

1st appearance of Penance, formerly Speedball who now wears a suit lined with internal spikes to punish himself for the tragedy at Stamford

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