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Whirlwind
Real
Name: David Cannon Occupation: Professional criminal Identity:
Publicly known Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with a criminal
record Former Aliases: The Human Top, Charles Matthews Place of
Birth: Kansas City, Missouri Marital Status: Single Known
Relatives: None Group Affiliation: Member of the Masters of Evil
II, III, IV, former agent of Count Nefaria, partner of Batroc, the Porcupine,
the Trapster, and Tiger Shark First Appearance: (as Human Top) TALES
TO ASTONISH #50, (as Whirlwind) AVENGERS #46
History: David Cannon was
born a mutant with the ability to move his body at great speeds. As a child, he
learned that he never became dizzy, and could make himself nearly untouchable
by spinning in a tight circle like a top. He used his natural abilities first
as a bully, and during his teens, as a petty criminal. He later found legitimate
employment as a circus performer, a professional wrestler, and finally an ice-skating
competitor. His talents were noticed by small-time criminals operating a betting
syndicate, and soon he was fixing races for them. When the criminals warned him
of possible police investigation, Cannon scoffed and decided to use his talent
for crime flamboyantly. Designing himself a costume, Cannon dubbed himself the
Human Top and embarked upon a series of heists of jewelry and department stores.
Dr. Henry Pym, then known as Giant-Man read of
the Human Top's exploits and decided to bring him to justice. With the aid of
his partner the Wasp, Pym tracked down and captured the
Human Top.
On three other occasions the Human Top clashed with Pym as Giant-Man.
The third time, he redesigned his costume to enable him to fly for short distances
and kidnapped the Wasp in order to lure Pym into a trap. Pym still managed to
thwart him and turned him over to the authorities.
After serving a prison
term, Cannon settled in lower Manhattan and refrained from criminal activity for
a time, practicing new fighting techniques using his spinning ability. Hoping
to make a fresh start in his criminal career, he devised himself a new costume
and renamed himself Whirlwind. He sought revenge upon Pym and the Wasp for the
humiliating defeats he suffered at their hands, but decided to proceed patiently.
Creating the false identity of Charles Matthews, he acquired a portfolio of false
credentials and was hired by Janet van Dyne, the Wasp, as her chauffeur. Thus
gaining access to the Avengers Mansion
garage, he broke into the mansion and trapped Pym and the Wasp inside an ant colony
Pym was studying, then planted a time bomb nearby. Pym managed to escape however
and warn the Avengers about the bomb. Whirlwind
fled the mansion, managing to elude the grasp of Quicksilver,
also a superhumanly fast mutant.
Whirlwind accepted the invitation of the
Crimson Cowl (revealed to be Ultron-5) to join Klaw,
the Radioactive Man, and the Melter in the second Masters
of Evil . The Masters ambushed and took the Avengers hostage, but the Avengers
escaped. All the Masters were apprehended except Ultron and Whirlwind. He remained
undercover as Janet van Dyne's chauffeur for several years, trying to devise a
foolproof scheme to steal the van Dyne fortune. He avoided taking unnecessary
risks, preferring to join with other criminals in their capers, rather than initiate
any of his own. Whirlwind teamed with Batroc and
Porcupine on a mission for the Red
Skull, and then rejoined with some of the Masters of Evil for a minor skirmish
with the Avengers in Vermont. He finally got another chance at revenge upon Pym
when Pym was trapped at ant size, but he did not succeed in killing his old enemy.
After
that, Whirlwind restricted himself to group efforts once more. He joined with
the Living Laser and the original Power
Man to work as Count Nefaria's henchmen,
and was sent to jail after a clash with the Avengers. He was freed from jail by
Egghead, who wanted Whirlwind to join his Masters
of Evil. Somewhat stir crazy from the confinement, Whirlwind disobeyed Egghead
and prematurely attacked the Avengers, leading the Masters to an early defeat.
He managed to escape, however, and months later, at his high school reunion, encountered
Iron Fist and managed to leave the scene unscathed.
When
Baron Helmut Zemo was organizing his Masters
of Evil, Whirlwind petitioned to join. But Zemo, perhaps hearing of how he
was a deficit to the previous Masters, assigned Whirlwind the task of detaining
Captain America, rather than joining in
the main force that was going to take over Avengers Mansion. Whirlwind realized
the slight, however, and was determined to prove his worth to the group. He contacted
the Tinkerer, one of the underworld's major armorers, and had him create some
weaponry for Whirlwind to use; whirling wrist-mounted saw blades. Whirlwind then
joined forces with the Trapster, who also hoped to better his reputation, and
the two set a road trap for Captain America. Unfortunately, Captain America outsmarted
them, and they were both taken into custody. Whirlwind escaped shortly thereafter
and traveled to San Francisco to rendezvous with Tiger Shark, who had learned
of a valuable piece of technology located there, while he was with the Masters
of Evil at Avengers Mansion. Both Tiger Shark and Whirlwind were apprehended by
Tigra, Hellcat, and Henry Pym while trying to procure
it. His current where abouts is unknown.
Height: 6 ft. 1 in. Weight:
220 lbs. Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown
Strength Levels:
Whirlwind possesses superhuman strength, particularly in his legs. While he can
lift (press) approximately 1000 pounds, he can leg-press approximately 2000 pounds
under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Whirlwind is a
mutant who possesses the ability to rotate his body around its lengthwise axis
at superhuman speeds. He can spin as fast as 400 revolutions per minute, and still
speak, hear, and see his environment while spinning. His spinning ability makes
it possible for him to move along the ground in any direction at superhuman speeds.
He can travel at up to 50 miles per hour in a straight line for 30 minutes without
tiring appreciably. While spinning, the Whirlwind cannot be touched or caught
due to the tremendous angular momentum created by his rotation. Whirlwind's sense
of balance is no longer determined by his inner ears' semi-circular canals, but
seems to be derived from his sight. All the fluids in his body appear to become
as thick as heavy oil presumably as a result of his spinning abilities.
Whirlwind
has taught himself several applications of his spinning ability for combat. He
can focus the air currents created by his spinning into a jet stream powerful
enough to blast a hole through a brick wall. He can create a windscreen to deflect
matter as massive as a falling boulder. He can create a small tornado capable
of throwing cars and attackers. Furthermore, his reflexes are fast enough that
he can, while spinning, pick up objects, change his clothes, or punch an attacker.
He has also taught himself, through concentration, to fly like a helicopter for
up to 10 minutes of up to 120 miles per hours.
Paraphernalia: Whirlwind
employs two 10 inch diameter saw blades mounted on metal bracelets and driven
by two DC servomotors each. Activated by switches on the palm, the twin blades
spin at approximately 1600 revolutions per minute. Their hardened tool steel composition
enables them to saw through virtually any substance softer than steel. When employed
while Whirlwind spins, they are extremely deadly weapons. Whirlwind also employs
shurikens (throwing stars) which he can propel at high velocities.