Speedfreek

Origin

Joss Sharpe wears a suit of armor that he appropriated off of its prior owner and wearer. As a hitman, he goes by the name Speedfreek. Speedfreek is a drug addict assassin who was paid to kill a man at an AIDS benefit concert being put on by Jim Wilson. The man had infected the son of a wealthy business man with AIDS and the father blamed him for his son’s failing health so he hired Speedfreek to kill him. The concert had Rick Jones headlining and Hulk for security. When Speedfreek showed up he stabbed Jim before being beaten by the Hulk.

Creation

Speedfreek is a Marvel Comics character created by Peter David and Dale Keown in 1991 and first appeared in The Incredible Hulk # 388.

Story Arcs

He later reappeared in his secret identity as the grieving father of a young woman who was shot and killed fleeing an abortion clinic during a violent protest. Hulk and Betty had attempted to help the homeless girl after she was nearly killed by a speeding vehicle. He tried to pay the Hulk money to kill whoever shot his daughter but he refused and instead offered his help in finding the shooter. They found out that it was just a kid who accidentally fired the gun when he was pushed by someone in the crowd. Speedfreek revealed who he really was and attempted to kill the child, he told Hulk how his daughter had gotten to where she was. She had somehow found out her father’s job as a hired killer and ran away from home, somewhere along the line she became pregnant and found her way to Florida where she met Hulk. Speedfreek thought that the only way to ease his guilt was to avenge his daughter by killing the kid. He was stopped by the Hulk when a car battery was hurled at him and he slashed through it causing the chemicals inside to burn most of the skin off his face. In Crazy Eight’s profile in OHotMU 2006 A-Z#2 it states that she was Speedfreek’s sister.

Civil War

Years later he was in a hideout along with Cobalt Man, Coldheart and Nitro after escaping Riker’s , when the New Warriors discovered them. Nitro exploded killing them all, along with 600 innocent people. This event led to the Civil War beginning.

Weapons and Abilities

Speedfreek derives his powers from the combination of a powered battle armor suit, and the drug Snap. Speedfreek uses twin jets attached to his feet in fights. He also uses adamantium weapons including two swords and a spear

.

Speedfreek can travel up to and in excess of 300 mph. His adamantium swords are attached sheathed within his forearms. Speedfreek also utilizes a rocket powered whip with an adamantium tip.

Physical Characteristics

Height: 6’2″

weight: 234 lbs

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Purple