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  1. #1
    Boisterously Confused
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    Default When did the word "speedster" become a thing?

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

  2. #2
    Ultimate Member Phoenixx9's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrNewGod View Post
    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.

  3. #3
    Ultimate Member Riv86672's Avatar
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    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?

  4. #4
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by Tzigone; 07-09-2020 at 04:49 PM.

  5. #5
    Extraordinary Member Güicho's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Riv86672 View Post

    Now, when was the word first used in comics?


    Quote Originally Posted by Tzigone View Post

    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.
    Last edited by Güicho; 07-10-2020 at 07:10 AM.

  6. #6
    Uncanny Member Digifiend's Avatar
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    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.
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  7. #7
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Digifiend View Post
    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.
    They called Batgirl the "Dominoed Daredoll" when she didn't wear a domino mask. Just have to roll with it, I guess.

  8. #8
    Ultimate Member Riv86672's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tzigone View Post
    They called Batgirl the "Dominoed Daredoll" when she didn't wear a domino mask. Just have to roll with it, I guess.
    So true.

    I mean, it’s no worse than...THE BIG RED CHEESE!

  9. #9
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    nevermind, off topic
    Last edited by Tzigone; 07-10-2020 at 06:45 AM.

  10. #10
    Moderator Frontier's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tzigone View Post
    They called Batgirl the "Dominoed Daredoll" when she didn't wear a domino mask. Just have to roll with it, I guess.
    Well, I guess the "mask" part of her cowl is a bit of a domino mask...and she wears one now, so ...

  11. #11
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frontier View Post
    Well, I guess the "mask" part of her cowl is a bit of a domino mask...and she wears one now, so ...
    I have an unreasonable degree of dislike for her wearing a domino instead of a cowl.

  12. #12
    Mighty Member SixSpeedSamurai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tzigone View Post
    I have an unreasonable degree of dislike for her wearing a domino instead of a cowl.
    It's pretty dumb, nearly as dumb as glasses being Supermans diguise.
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  13. #13
    Astonishing Member Tzigone's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SixSpeedSamurai View Post
    It's pretty dumb, nearly as dumb as glasses being Supermans diguise.
    I have no problem with Clark's glasses. :P She's just supposed to wear a cowl.

    Also, I'll admit to some annoyance that, as a general rule, it's much more important for female heroes to look "pretty" - giant eyeholes that show their eyes instead of fuller face coverings or white lenses that hide their eyes, as so many men have. Obviously that doesn't apply to Clark (or to Jay and Barry, as is more relevant to thread), but it's still irksome.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by SixSpeedSamurai View Post
    It's pretty dumb, nearly as dumb as glasses being Supermans diguise.
    I've always head-cannoned that away as Superman having the kind of face-muscle control S&S gave him in a couple of the first issues of Action Comics that let him significantly alter his appearance.

    As for Batgirl, yes, she's a cowl-gal. Not a domino-trix.

  15. #15
    DC/Collected Editions Mod The Darknight Detective's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Phoenixx9 View Post
    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.
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