SPEEDFREEK

Real Name: Joss Shappe

Identity/Class: Human technology user (possible mutate)

Occupation: Assassin for hire

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Cobalt Man, Coldheart, Paul Lang, Nitro

Enemies: Ralph Baldone, Max Christiansen, Hulk, Rick Jones, Tyler Lang, New Warriors (Microbe, Namorita, Night Thrasher, Speedball), Larry Richards, Jim Wilson, Jefferson Wolfe

Known Relatives: Crazy Eight (sister), Kate (daughter)

Aliases: None

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California

Base of Operations: Mobile

First Appearance: Incredible Hulk II#388 (December, 1991)

Powers/Abilities: Speedfreek had a heavily armored metal suit, the feet of which were propelled by rockets, allowing him to fly at super human speeds (see comments). He had two long adamantium blades that he used to cut his opponents. He was heavily addicted to drugs, one drug in particular called "snap." He was a ruthless killer who felt no remorse for his victims and was never hesitant to kill, actually having fun while killing his victims. 

Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Incredible Hulk II#388 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, the man who would become known as Speedfreek became addicted to a drug called "snap." The addiction was dangerous and he was willing to do anything to obtain snap.

(Incredible Hulk II#388 (fb) - BTS) - The man who would come to be known as Speedfreek stole his suit from its previous owner and then killed him. He used the suit's powers to become a hired assassin in order to make money to buy more snap.

(Incredible Hulk II#430 (fb) - BTS) - Speedfreek's daughter, Kate, discovered what Speedfreek did for a living and ran away from home, unable to deal with her father's line of work.

(Incredible Hulk II#388) - Speedfreek was hired by a criminal named Mr. Lang to kill a rival gangster, Ralph Baldone. Speedfreek gleefully killed Baldone and his body guards. Mr. Lang was pleased with Speedfreek's performance and paid him in money and snap to go on another mission for him. Mr. Lang's son Tyler had contracted AIDS, and Mr. Lang ordered Speedfreek to kill the man who had given his son the disease. 

Speedfreek found Tyler Lang and his companion, Jefferson Wolfe, at an AIDS benefit concert, and attacked them, injuring both Rick Jones and Jim Wilson in the process when they tried to protect Jefferson. Before he could kill Jefferson, the Hulk arrived. Speedfreek shot a barb through Hulk's leg and pulled him along behind him as he ran outside. Speedfreek and the Hulk fought briefly before the Hulk managed to connect with a solid punch and sent Speedfreek flying away.

(Incredible Hulk II#429) - When Speedfreek's daughter Kate was killed in Florida by a young boy protesting abortion, Speedfreek went to Florida to take revenge on his daughter's killer. In his civilian guise of Mr. Shappe, he contacted the Hulk to help him find the killer. The Hulk, unaware that Mr. Shappe was actually Speedfreek, agreed to help.

 

 

 

(Incredible Hulk II#430) - After locating the killer, who turned out to be a boy named Larry Richards, Speedfreek revealed himself and tried to kill Larry, but was stopped by the Hulk. Speedfreek fought with the Hulk, momentarily incapacitating him by impaling him on one of his adamantium blades. Speedfreek then went to find Larry again, but was again opposed by the Hulk. Hulk, realizing he could not get near Speedfreek without being slashed again, threw a car battery at Speedfreek. Speedfreek slashed the car battery in two and the acid poured all over his face, causing Speedfreek immeasurable pain, and causing him to retreat.

(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update#1 - BTS) - Speedfreek was caught and imprisoned at the Raft, but he escaped during a mass breakout. (see comments)

(Civil War#1) - Speedfreek hid out in Stamford, Connecticut together with Coldheart, Nitro and Cobalt Man. They were found by the New Warriors, who were filming the second season of their reality show. In the fight Speedfreek was quickly knocked out by Speedball. Speedfreek was seemingly killed moments later when Nitro exploded.

Comments: Created by Peter David, Dale Keown, and Mark Farmer

It's also possible that the drugs gave Speedfreek his powers and his suit just acts as a weapon.

Speedfreek's last name, Shappe, was also Crazy Eight's last name, and they were both created by Peter David. I think he once hinted that they were siblings, but nothing solid, so for now, it's only a possibility.

I assume the mass breakout was the one from New Avengers#1-4.

In Crazy Eight's profile in OHotMU 2006 A-Z#2 it was confirmed that Speedfreek was her brother.

Speedfreek has a profile in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update#1 wherein his first name was revealed. The first name for Lang and Larry's last name were revealed in Speedfreek's updated profile in OHotMU A-Z HC#10.

Profile by Stunner

Clarifications: Not to be confused with

Paul Lang

Mr. Lang was a prominent gangster on the west coast. His son Tyler was gay, and his partner, Jefferson Wolfe, had given him HIV (AIDS). He sent some of his men to kill Jefferson for giving Mr. Lang's son the disease, but the Falcon was in town and saved him. Mr. Lang hired Speedfreek to take out his rival, Ralph Baldone, and after he had successfully did so, Mr. Lang paid Speedfreek to kill Jefferson Wolfe. After his son died, Mr. Lang threatened to kill Jefferson after the funeral, but was caught confessing by Hulk and Rick Jones. He presumably was arrested.

-- Incredible Hulk II#388

 

 

Tyler Lang and Jefferson Wolfe

Tyler Lang and Jefferson Wolfe were a gay couple. Jefferson had HIV and transferred it to Tyler, whose condition deteriorated faster than Jefferson's own, rapidly turning into full blown AIDS. Tyler's criminal father took exception to that and hired Speedfreek to kill Jefferson Wolfe. While Tyler and Jefferson were attending an AIDS benefit concert by Rick Jones, Speedfreek attacked, but Jefferson and Tyler were saved by timely intervention by the Hulk. However, the debilitated Tyler died him during the excitement. After Tyler's funeral, Jefferson tried to make peace with Tyler's father, who then threatened to kill Jefferson, but was caught in the act by the Hulk and Rick Jones.

-- Incredible Hulk II#388

 

 

 

Kate Shappe


Kate was Speedfreek's teenage daughter, who ran away from home when she found out what he did for a living. While wandering homelessly she got involved with a boy who might have impregnated her. She wandered, homeless, into the small town in Florida where the Hulk and his wife were living. After the Hulk saved her from getting hit by a car, his wife Betty took Kate to a hospital to get a pregnancy test and then decide whether or not to have an abortion. However, angry abortion protesters were in a mob outside the hospital and a young boy trying to scare the abortion doctor accidentally shot Kate in the stomach and killed her.

-- Incredible Hulk II#429

 

 

images: 
Incredible Hulk II#430 page 7 (full page)
Incredible Hulk II#430 page 3, panel 2
Incredible Hulk II#388 page 17, panel 5
(Mr. Lang) Incredible Hulk II#388 page 12, panel 3
(Lang and Wolfe) Incredible Hulk II#388 page 22, panel 2
(Kate Shappe) Incredible Hulk II#429 page 7, panel 5

Appearances:
Incredible Hulk II#388 (December, 1991) - Peter David (writer), Dale Keown (pencils), Josef Rubinstein (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Incredible Hulk II#429-430 (May-June, 1995) - Peter David (writer), Liam Sharp (pencils), Robin Riggs (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Civil War#1 (July, 2006) - Mark Millar (writer), Steve McNiven (pencils), Dexter Vines (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)

Last updated: 03/16/05

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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