Robbie Baldwin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Robert "Robbie" Baldwin | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Robert "Robbie" Baldwin is a fictional superhero character that appears in Marvel Comics. Originally known as Speedball and later as Penance, the character was created by artist Steve Ditko and writer Tom DeFalco, initially as a candidate for Marvel's separate New Universe imprint.[1] Baldwin first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22 (1988). In that story he meets and helps Spider-Man and Daredevil. Baldwin's origin and early exploits as Speedball were depicted soon after in a solo series. Baldwin has spent most of his time as a member of the superhero team the New Warriors. In the Marvel Comics crossover "Civil War", Baldwin's powers change, and he changes his name and appearance to Penance. Following this change Baldwin becomes a member of the Thunderbolts.
Contents |
[edit] Publication history
Marvel Comics published ten issues of the monthly comic book series Speedball from 1988 to 1989. The series was primarily plotted and written by Steve Ditko, who also supplied the covers. It was co-written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by several different artists.
After the series' cancellation, the Speedball character primarily appeared in New Warriors and its related comics, written primarily by Fabian Nicieza. Speedball continued to be the most consistent character through the second and third volumes of the New Warriors.
Baldwin became a featured character in Civil War: Front Line, after it was revealed that he was the only New Warrior to survive the Stamford disaster. Baldwin's character underwent a drastic change in this series, in which his powers alter and he takes the name Penance, joining the Thunderbolts.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Robbie Baldwin is a high school student who becomes a costumed crimefighter after an accident at the Hammond Research Laboratory where he works part-time. When Hammond scientists try to tap into a mysterious other-dimensional energy source, the energy bombards Baldwin. Baldwin survives the experience but finds himself surrounded by energy bubbles and clad in an odd costume. During a battle with some thieves minutes later, Baldwin discovers that his body now generates a kinetic energy field that protects him from impact and makes him a bouncing dynamo of kinetic energy. Calling himself Speedball, Baldwin becomes a crimefighter in his hometown of Springdale, Connecticut.[2] Baldwin's father, a successful District Attorney, and his mother, a former soap opera star-turned teacher, have marital problems while Baldwin secretly leads his double life. This situation leads to domestic stress that escalates over time, driven partly by the conflict between Robbie and his father , who as District Attorney is expected to uphold Springdale's ordinance against costumed superheros.
[edit] The New Warriors
When Baldwin is shopping in New York City with his mother, he joins a battle between Terrax and a number of superheroes. The heroes become the founding members of the New Warriors, and Baldwin agrees to join the team. The commute from Connecticut to New York City is difficult — he is depicted jumping in front of a speeding train to get enough of a kinetic charge to bounce into the city — and Baldwin is frequently late for Night Thrasher's formal meetings. After Baldwin's mother discovers his secret identity, his parents' marriage ends and Baldwin moves permanently to New York City. Baldwin finds friendship with fellow New Warriors Nova and Rage. After Baldwin is transported to the dimension his powers derive from,[3] Darrion Grobe joins the New Warriors as Speedball, although the other members think he is Baldwin. Baldwin returns from the kinetic dimension and begins a brief relationship with Timeslip.
[edit] Civil War
- See also: Civil War (comics)
In the 2006 multi-title crossover "Civil War", the New Warriors attempt to apprehend a group of supervillains in Stamford, Connecticut for their television reality show. Nitro, one of the criminals, creates an explosive blast that kills about 600 civilians, including 60 children, as well as the New Warriors with the exception of Baldwin. This event triggers the push for superhero registration at the heart of "Civil War".[4] Baldwin is presumed dead after the incident, but he is found alive after the blast launches him over 500 miles.[5] Baldwin's kinetic field keeps him alive, but it "burns out" as a result.
After awakening from a coma, Baldwin is arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. and placed in federal prison. After he discovers his powers are still functional, Baldwin is taken to the new penitentiary called Negative Zone Prison Alpha. Reed Richards, the facility's creator, offers Baldwin the chance to testify before the U.S. Congress. On the Capitol steps, Baldwin is shot by an assailant and taken away in an ambulance. Baldwin recovers from the wound (under Baldwin's request, the bullet remains lodged in his spine), and Richards determines that Baldwin's powers are evolving. Baldwin thwarts an escape from the prison and says that he will comply with the Superhuman Registration Act. Baldwin orders a new suit of armor that features 612 internal spikes that cause him constant pain, symbolic of the 612 deaths he feels responsible for.
[edit] Thunderbolts
- See also: Thunderbolts (comics)
After his psychological and physical transformation into Penance, Baldwin joined Norman Osborn's new government sponsored Thunderbolts team. This team is comprised mostly of super villains who are being forced to reform, or at least give the appearance that they have in public. Penance believes he fits in with the rest of his new teammates as a reforming super villain. Future solicitations for Nova feature Penance battling his former best friend and fellow New Warrior because he has yet to register since his return to Earth after eliminating the threat of the Annihilation Wave.
[edit] Powers and abilities
[edit] As Speedball
Baldwin's body becomes surrounded by a repulsive force field after coming into contact with kinetic energy. Early in his career, the slightest touch, such as snapping his fingers, would turn on this field, but he eventually gained conscious control over it. The field repels all energy that strikes it, especially kinetic energy. As such, bullets, punches, and all other physical attacks will bounce off of him. A side effect of this, though, is that he, too, will bounce in the opposite direction. Baldwin often uses this to his advantage, such as purposefully running into a wall in order to gain momentum and thus hit an opponent with twice the force.
While with the Warriors, Baldwin gained far greater control over his powers via a combination of experience in battle and Night Thrasher's mentorship off the battlefield. Whereas previously Baldwin could barely bounce in the direction he wanted, he eventually became more proficient at controlling his leaps and using his powers in various ways, such as to deliver impressive blows, and even to project a stream of kinetic energy from his bubble field at a distance. He eventually learned to mentally "throw" the bubbles that surrounded his field to use as concussive force attacks.
[edit] As Penance
After the events of Stamford, Baldwin believed his powers to be burned out. However, they still exist, but now only manifest when he feels pain. While his powers are still kinetically based, they no longer appear to manifest as a "bubble field." Rather, his powers seem far more explosive in nature. In order to stimulate his powers, his Penance suit constantly rakes his flesh.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Marvel Team-Up: League of Losers
Speedball features in an arc of Robert Kirkman's Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3), featuring a group of C-list heroes dubbed "The League of Losers". A group of heroes including Gravity, Darkhawk, Dagger, Araña, X-23, Sleepwalker and Terror (although Araña dies along the way) go to the future to prevent the villain Chronok from stealing Reed Richards' time machine, Chronok having come to the present and already having killed all of Marvel's major heroes.
It's revealed Chronok is from the same time period as Kirkman's Mutant 2099; the group stays with him and his mentor Reed Richards to wait for Chronok. The team defeats Chronok, but at the end of the story, Richards reveals they can't go back to their present, due to time-travel and alternate timelines. The group decides to stay in the future, satisfied with the impact they made, however unnoticed. Mutant 2099 suggests reforming the Avengers or the "Fantastic Nine".
Due to the Marvel Universe's method for resolving time travel paradoxes, the League of Losers' actions created an alternate universe.
[edit] MC2
- An older version of Speedball exists in the MC2 universe, and appears sporadically in the Spider-Girl series and related miniseries. At some point he became a member of the Avengers, but has since left the team
[edit] Ultimate Speedball
- An Ultimate Marvel version of Speedball is mentioned in Ultimate Spider-Man #81. In Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 (2006), a man in a Speedball costume is depicted in police custody.
[edit] Appearances in other media
[edit] Video games
- In the Lethal Foes of Spider-man videogame (which was only released in Japan), Speedball makes a brief appearance between levels to talk with Spider-man.
- Speedball is mentioned in the Ultimate Spider-Man video game. While racing the Human Torch, Spider-Man jibes: "Speedball is faster than you!" Also mentioned in the game while Peter researches himself on a website on mutants. One article is noticed by Peter with Speedball claiming "He's the coolest guy since the Ultimates."
[edit] Trivia
- Baldwin's religious affiliation is Presbyterian[6]
- Baldwin's mother co-starred in a soap opera with Mary Jane Watson-Parker, the wife of Spider-man.[7]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed (column of Nov. 3, 2005
- ^ Speedball #1
- ^ New Warriors, vol. 1 #50
- ^ Civil War #1
- ^ Civil War: Front Line #1 (Aug. 2006)
- ^ The Religion of Speedball
- ^ New Warriors, vol. 1 #32
