Fastback (comics)

Superherobox|

comic_color=background:#8080ff
character_name=Fastback
real_name=Timmy Joe Terrapin
publisher=DC Comics
debut="New Teen Titans" #16 (February 1982)
creators=Roy Thomas
Scott Shaw!
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
status=Active
alliances=The Zoo Crew
previous_alliances=
aliases=The Terrapin Torpedo, the Reptilian Rocket
powers=Various superspeed powers.|

Fastback (real name Timmy Joe Terrapin) is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, an anthropomorphic turtle. Fastback is a superhero who lived on the otherdimensional world of Earth-C (now Earth-26), an alternate Earth populated by sentient animals. His first appearance was in "The New Teen Titans" #16 (February 1982).

Biography

While trying to catch a bus to Kornsas City (a parody of Kansas City, Missouri), Timmy Joe Terrapin, a resident of the "Okey-Dokey" swamp (a parody of the Okefenoke Swamp) in the American south, found a meteor fragment lodged in his shell, said fragment launched by Starro the Conqueror. Ironically, the fragment gave the notoriously slow (both in mind and body) Timmy Joe superspeed powers. Upon hearing of other animals across the country endowned with similar powers from other meteor fragments, Timmy joined them as the superhero "Fastback," and helped to defeat Starro. Afterwards, Fastback joined the others in creating the superhero team the Zoo Crew.

Despite his increase in physical speed, Timmy Joe Terrapin was still quite laid-back in personality and slow-witted. He was a somewhat stereotypical depiction of an ignorant country bumpkin, but often his ignorance was more naïveté than stupidity. Furthermore, he is inventive using his speed to defeat his enemies.

During a time-travel storyline, Fastback was sent back in time to the Second Weird War, where he discovered his uncle Merton McSnurtle was in realty the Terrific Whatzit, a Golden Age DC Comics funny-animal superhero.

In "Teen Titans" #30-31 (December 2005-January 2006), Fastback is mentioned in a series of pages purporting to be a Zoo Crew comic published in the mainstream DC Universe, and follows the adventures of the Zoo Crew teammates in a grimmer, darker version of Earth-C, parodying the recent trend toward "grim and gritty" superhero comics. In these pages, Fastback is shown to have been sent to the future unwillingly by an evil feline magician, "Dark Alley," who impersonated his teammate Alley-Kat-Abra.

Powers and abilities

Fastback possesses various superspeed powers, similar to those of DC Comics superhero the Flash, however, it is unknown if his powers are derived from the Speed Force, including the ability to make superspeed-generated afterimages of himself and (when retracting his body parts inside his shell) launch himself at foes like a torpedo. His shell is highly resistant to damage, and Fastback will instinctively draw his head and limbs into his shell when endangered (though his small tail will often be left exposed). If necessary, Fastback can remove the shell from his body, and his costume has an inner section that covers his inner body that are usually contained by the shell. It is unknown if the unusual strength of Fastback's shell is a result of his powers or a feature of all turtles native to Earth-C.

Bibliography

*"New Teen Titans" #16 (February 1982)
*"Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew" #1-20 (March 1982-November 1983)
*"The Oz-Wonderland War" #1-3 (January-March 1986)
*"Captain Carrot and the Final Ark" #1-3 (October-December 2007)

External links

* [http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/fastback.html Biography on Fastback]