Whirlwind (comics)

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Whirlwind

Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Tales to Astonish #50 (December 1963)
Created by Stan Lee (writer), Jack Kirby (artist)
Characteristics
Alter ego David Cannon
Species Human Mutant
Affiliations Thunderbolts, Masters of Evil
Notable aliases Human Top
Abilities Superhuman strength, balance, agility and speed

Whirlwind is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. Usually a nemesis of the Avengers, he is a mutant with superhuman strength, speed, and balance.

Contents

[edit] History

From X-Men: The 198 Files, covering mutants who retained their powers after the Decimation of the mutant population:

"David Cannon began his criminal career under the alias the Human Top. Born a mutant, Cannon discovered at an early age that he could cause his body to move at great speeds. Cannon used his abilities early on in support of a life of crime and was later recruited into several incarnations of the Masters of Evil which has seen him opposed by the Avengers, primarily Hank Pym and the Wasp, numerous times. During this period, Cannon added a vicious new element to his costume in the form of ten-inch saw blades crafted by the Tinkerer. Other past associations have seen Cannon working for the likes of Count Nefaria and the Red Skull. Recently, Cannon's obsession with the Wasp of the Avengers led to his brutally murdering several prostitutes, indicating that his mental state may now be cause for concern."

The government classifies him as a mid-level, or 'Significant,' security threat in these files, the same ranking applied to characters like Colossus, Beast, and Lady Mastermind.

Recently, in Daughters of the Dragon #3, Whirlwind was caught in a deluge of paste from the gun of the criminal Trapster and ripped his own spine apart in horrific fashion. However, in Thunderbolts #104 he was seen to have survived, having been forced to join Baron Zemo's team.

[edit] Powers

Superspeed, normally used to spin rapidly, so as to create a whirlwind (hence the name). However, he has demonstrated ground speed sufficient to outrace Quicksilver. While whirling, he is hard to grapple with or hold on to, and the air moving around him creates a cushion-like effect which protects him from conventional physical attacks.

After some time Whirlwind had updated his abilities by the use of wrist-mounted buzzsaws and throwing stars. When Whirlwind uses his power, the blades will attain a deadly velocity, making them more dangerous than when being used by normal humans.

[edit] Trivia

For most of Whirlwind's early history in the Marvel Universe, his costume included a very large, domed green helmet (shaped like an upside down top). During Marvel's Heroes Reborn event, the alternate reality version of Whirlwind wore a much more streamlined costume featuring multiple bladed edges. Curiously, when the story ended and the missing heroes all returned to the 616 Marvel Universe, the "normal" Whirlwind had retained the redesign and has ever since.

[edit] In Other Media

In the 1994 Iron Man animated series, Whirlwind served as one of the minions of the Mandarin. He also appears in episode six of The Avengers: United They Stand as a member of the Masters of Evil. He was also one of the bosses in the video game Captain America and the Avengers.

[edit] External links