When did the word "speedster" become a thing?

[DrNewGod]

I checked Merriam-Webster, "speedster" ain't a word. When did comics make it so?

[Phoenixx9]

I checked Merriam-Webster, "speedster" ain't a word. When did comics make it so?

I don't know. But I am sure it is a term only superhero fans are aware, not the general population.

[Riv86672]

According to this...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.col...lish/speedster

...the word speedster’s been around about a hundred years.

Word origin
[1915–20; speed + -ster]
This word is first recorded in the period 1915–20.

Now, when was the word first used in comics?

[Tzigone]

Now, when was the word first used in comics?

I'd be interested if it was used before "Scarlet Speedster" or not.

Edit: BTW, just glanced and "the super-speedster" was used in Flash 109 (Nov. 1959 cover date). Don't know if used before or consistently used after.

[Güicho]

Now, when was the word first used in comics?

Edit: BTW, just glanced and "the super-speedster" was used in Flash 109 (Nov. 1959 cover date). Don't know if used before or consistently used after.

Yeah Scarlet Speedster and Startling Speedster were already used in Showcase # 4 (Sep 1956) Barry's first appearance.



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Re: Edit:

although it was already being used for Jay
randomly looking around (haven't checked them all LOL!) finding examples of Scarlet Speedster already being used at least as far back as https://i.imgur.com/pdXoBbE.jpg Flash #40 April 1940 - #48 Dec 1943

(lol pic quality)


likely even further back. (there is also All-Flash, All-Star and Cavalcade where he was appearing)

As Riv86672 sites above, the word was already well in use.

[Digifiend]

Huh. It's odd that Jay has any colour related nicknames, since he wears blue pants and thus isn't mostly scarlet like Barry. Hell, golden age Green Lantern wore just as much red. The TV show calls Jay the Crimson Comet, which I assume was also used in Jay's original comics run, but equally doesn't make a lot of sense.

[The Darknight Detective]

I don't know. But I am sure it is a term only superhero fans are aware, not the general population.

It actually goes back a little over a hundred years ago as a term for that era's fast cars, FWIW.

[Jim Kelly]

Yeah, I wondered about this myself some time ago and found that it was a name for fast cars. I may have even posted that on the message board. It's a lot like roadster--do people still use that for sports cars?

[The Darknight Detective]

Yeah, I wondered about this myself some time ago and found that it was a name for fast cars. I may have even posted that on the message board. It's a lot like roadster--do people still use that for sports cars?

That's a good question, Jim. It was kind of passe when I was kid back in the '70s.

[Phoenixx9]

That's a good question, Jim. It was kind of passe when I was kid back in the '70s.

Back when I was a kid, I used the term "speedster" for Quicksilver (with whom my friend was not familiar).

Later, when we were playing he called me a speed-er!!

[achilles]

Yeah, I wondered about this myself some time ago and found that it was a name for fast cars. I may have even posted that on the message board. It's a lot like roadster--do people still use that for sports cars?

Yes, they still do. Porsche, McLaren, and others all use the name on various models.

[DrNewGod]

Yeah, I wondered about this myself some time ago and found that it was a name for fast cars. I may have even posted that on the message board. It's a lot like roadster--do people still use that for sports cars?

That's a good question, Jim. It was kind of passe when I was kid back in the '70s.

Yes, they still do. Porsche, McLaren, and others all use the name on various models.

I get what TDD is saying though. Seems like "roadster" as a popular name for a car type went out of style somewhere in the 1940s or 1960s. Terms like hotrod and sportscar took over.

[achilles]

It actually goes back a little over a hundred years ago as a term for that era's fast cars, FWIW.

Good man! I thought reading through this I'd have to jump in and point that out. Beautiful machines BTW. Deadly, but beautiful.

[Phoenixx9]

Good man! I thought reading through this I'd have to jump in and point that out. Beautiful machines BTW. Deadly, but beautiful.

Speedsters? Or the cars? Or speedsters in those speedsters?

[DrNewGod]

Good man! I thought reading through this I'd have to jump in and point that out. Beautiful machines BTW. Deadly, but beautiful.

There was some discussion of the loss of elegance in auto design on Kirby's car thread. Fuel and manufacturing efficient designs murdered those old beauties.