Speed (Thomas Shepherd)

• Core Identity: Thomas “Tommy” Shepherd is the superhuman speedster known as Speed, a founding member of the Young Avengers and one of the twin sons of the Scarlet Witch, reincarnated through the power of Chaos Magic.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Speed serves as the impulsive, quick-witted speedster of the young_avengers, acting as a counterpart to his more magically-inclined twin brother, wiccan. He represents the complex legacy of the scarlet_witch and vision, grappling with a fragmented origin tied to magic, cosmic entities, and the very nature of reality.
• Primary Impact: Tommy's existence, along with his brother's, was the central catalyst for some of the most universe-altering events, including the “Avengers Disassembled” and “House of M” storylines. His search for his mother in The Children's Crusade further reshaped the landscape for mutants, Avengers, and his own family.
• Key Incarnations: In the Earth-616 comics, Tommy Shepherd is a teenager who discovers he is the reincarnation of a magical soul fragment, later confirmed to be a true mutant. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is “Tommy Maximoff,” a magical construct created by Wanda within the Westview Hex, who ceases to exist outside it but whose consciousness may persist across the multiverse.

Speed first appeared as Thomas Shepherd in Young Avengers #10 (March 2006) and officially took on the codename Speed in Young Avengers #12 (August 2006). He was co-created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung. The character's conceptual origin is deeply rooted in the convoluted history of the Scarlet Witch's children. These children, Thomas and William, originally appeared in Vision and the Scarlet Witch Vol. 2 #12 (September 1986), created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Richard Howell. Their story took a dark turn when writer/artist John Byrne revealed they were magical constructs made from fragments of the demon mephisto's soul in the “Darker than Scarlet” storyline in Avengers West Coast. Heinberg and Cheung's creation of Speed and Wiccan was a masterful retcon, designed to bring these lost children back into the Marvel Universe in a new, compelling way. They were introduced as teenagers who were not magical constructs but reincarnated souls who had been born to different families, destined to find each other and their shared legacy. Speed's design and power set are a clear homage to his “uncle,” quicksilver, while his rebellious personality was crafted to be a dramatic foil to his more thoughtful twin brother, Wiccan.

The origin of Thomas Shepherd is one of the most complex in modern Marvel comics, involving magic, demonic soul-shards, and reincarnation. His MCU counterpart has a more direct, yet equally magical, genesis.

The story of Thomas Shepherd begins with the Scarlet Witch and the Vision. Desperate for a family, Wanda Maximoff used her reality-warping hex powers to magically conceive twin sons, Thomas and William. For a time, they lived happily as a family in Leonia, New Jersey. However, it was later revealed that Wanda had unconsciously used fragments of the soul of the demon lord Mephisto to give her children life. When Mephisto reabsorbed these fragments, the infant twins ceased to exist, an event that shattered Wanda's psyche and was magically suppressed from her memory by agatha_harkness. The souls of the twins, however, were not destroyed. They were eventually reincarnated into two different children, born to separate families: William “Billy” Kaplan (wiccan) and Thomas “Tommy” Shepherd. Tommy was born to Frank and Mary Shepherd in Springfield, New Jersey. He grew up as a troubled and delinquent youth, possessing a volatile temper and a penchant for using his burgeoning super-speed for petty theft and vandalism. He was in and out of juvenile detention facilities, his powers manifesting as uncontrollable bursts of acceleration that often resulted in property damage, including accidentally vaporizing his own school. The young_avengers, having learned of the Scarlet Witch's lost children from the super-skrull, sought out Tommy Shepherd. They theorized that if Billy Kaplan's reality-warping powers mirrored the Scarlet Witch, a potential twin might mirror her brother, Quicksilver. They located Tommy in a high-tech juvenile facility. Initially skeptical and hostile, Tommy's powers were fully triggered during a breakout attempt. He effortlessly showcased his super-speed, confirming the Young Avengers' suspicions. After being freed, Tommy joined the team, adopting the codename Speed. He and Billy quickly established a classic sibling dynamic—bickering and competitive, yet fiercely protective of one another. The visual similarity and mirrored power sets left little doubt they were the reincarnated Thomas and William. Their journey became central to the team's mission, evolving from a group of teen heroes into a family searching for their true mother, leading directly into the events of The Children's Crusade, which would ultimately see them find Wanda and have their biological connection to her confirmed. More recently, during the Krakoan era, both Speed and Wiccan were officially confirmed as mutants, with their powers being a natural genetic expression activated by their unique magical conception, solidifying their place as the biological children of Wanda Maximoff.

In the MCU, the origin of “Tommy Maximoff” is tied directly to the events of the Disney+ series WandaVision. He is not a reincarnated soul but a magical construct. Following the death of Vision at the hands of thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, a grief-stricken Wanda Maximoff unleashes an immense wave of Chaos Magic in Westview, New Jersey. This creates a massive hexagonal energy field, known as the “Hex,” inside which she warps reality to create an idyllic sitcom-inspired life. Within this fabricated world, she manifests a new version of Vision and, shortly after, miraculously gives birth to twin boys, Billy and Tommy. Tommy, along with his brother, exhibits an accelerated growth rate, aging from infants to ten-year-olds in a matter of days. His personality is energetic, mischievous, and occasionally hyperactive. His powers manifest as super-speed, a direct parallel to his uncle, Pietro Maximoff, who briefly appears in a “recast” form within the Hex. Tommy's abilities allow him to run at supersonic speeds, outpace bullets, and phase through solid objects. Crucially, Tommy and Billy are living manifestations of the Hex's magic; they are extensions of Wanda's power and cannot exist outside the magical barrier. When Wanda is forced to dismantle the Hex to free the citizens of Westview, both Vision and her sons begin to disintegrate. In a heartbreaking farewell, Wanda tells her boys, “Thanks for choosing me to be your mom,” before they fade away as the Hex recedes. However, in the post-credits scene, as Wanda studies the darkhold, she hears the spectral cries of her sons calling out for help from somewhere across the multiverse. This is further explored in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where it's revealed that versions of Billy and Tommy exist in other realities, such as Earth-838, living with their mother. The MCU's Wanda becomes obsessed with crossing the multiverse to be with a version of her children, suggesting that while the Westview constructs are gone, their consciousness or a connection to them remains, a dangling plot thread for the future of the franchise.

Tommy Shepherd's powers are primarily based on superhuman speed and molecular manipulation, stemming from his unique genetic and magical heritage as a mutant son of the Scarlet Witch.

• Superhuman Speed: Speed's primary ability is to move and think at vast superhuman speeds. While his top speed has not been definitively calculated, he is shown to be comparable to his uncle, Quicksilver, and is capable of breaking the sound barrier with ease. He can run across water, up the sides of buildings, and generate powerful cyclone-like winds by running in circles.
• Accelerated Perception: To operate at high speeds, his brain processes information at a rate corresponding to his movement, allowing him to perceive the world in slow motion and react to events that are a blur to normal humans.
• Molecular Acceleration: This is Speed's most dangerous and unique ability, setting him apart from most other Marvel speedsters. By touching an object, he can accelerate its molecules, causing it to vibrate until it violently explodes. This power is highly unstable and requires concentration to control. He has used it to destroy sentinels, disintegrate restraints, and threaten opponents. It is theorized this is a subconscious application of the same Chaos Magic his mother and brother wield, focused through a kinetic lens.
• Superhuman Durability & Metabolism: His body is adapted to the rigors of high-speed movement. His joints, bones, and soft tissues are more durable than a normal human's. He possesses an accelerated metabolism, requiring him to consume large amounts of calories to maintain his energy levels. He also heals and processes toxins faster than a normal person.
• Phasing/Vibration: While not an ability he uses as frequently as others, he has the potential to vibrate his own molecules at a high frequency, allowing him to phase through solid objects.

Tommy is defined by his impulsive, impatient, and often arrogant personality. He is the archetypal “act first, think later” hero. With his white hair and quick wit, he embodies a rebellious spirit, often chafing under authority, including that of team leaders like Patriot or Kate Bishop. His difficult upbringing in the foster care and juvenile justice systems left him with a cynical worldview and a defensive exterior. Despite this brash facade, Tommy is fiercely loyal to his family and friends, especially his twin brother, Wiccan. He is often the first to jump to Billy's defense, and their bond is the emotional core of his character. He provides a grounded, if sometimes reckless, counterpoint to Billy's more esoteric and anxiety-prone nature. Underneath the swagger lies a deep-seated insecurity about his origins and his place in the world, a vulnerability he rarely shows.

As a magical construct within the Westview Hex, Tommy Maximoff's powers were rapidly developing.

• Superhuman Speed: Tommy's primary power was super-speed, which manifested shortly after he aged himself up to ten years old. He was fast enough to instantly change into his Halloween costume, circumnavigate the town of Westview in seconds to collect candy, and outrun gunfire from S.W.O.R.D. agents. His speed was accompanied by a blue energy signature, similar to his uncle Pietro's in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
• Intangibility: During the final battle in Westview, Tommy discovered he could phase through solid objects by vibrating his molecules, allowing a S.W.O.R.D. agent's bullet to pass harmlessly through him. This suggests his powers were still evolving and he was mastering them instinctively.

The MCU's Tommy is portrayed as a ten-year-old boy. As such, his personality is that of a hyperactive, fun-loving, and mischievous child. He is shown to be more of a troublemaker than his brother Billy, eagerly embracing the chaos of Halloween and delighting in using his newfound speed. He has a close and loving relationship with his parents, Wanda and Vision, and his twin brother. His personality is simpler and less world-weary than his comic book counterpart, lacking the baggage of a troubled youth, as his entire existence was contained within Wanda's manufactured reality.

• Wiccan (Billy Kaplan): Billy is Tommy's twin brother and the most important person in his life. Their relationship is the bedrock of his character. While they frequently bicker, their dynamic is one of deep, unconditional love and support. Tommy's impulsiveness is balanced by Billy's thoughtfulness, and Tommy's cynicism is often challenged by Billy's idealism. Together, they are two halves of a whole, sharing a psychic connection and a common destiny tied to their mother.
• Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff): The search for their mother defined a significant portion of Tommy and Billy's lives. Their reunion was fraught with the cosmic implications of Wanda's past actions. Despite the fear and chaos surrounding her, Tommy never wavered in his belief that she was their mother and deserved a chance at redemption. He is fiercely protective of her, willing to stand against both the avengers and the x-men to ensure her safety.
• Kate Bishop (Hawkeye): As a fellow member of the Young Avengers, Kate is one of Tommy's closest friends. They share a snarky, witty rapport and often a leadership dynamic, with Tommy sometimes challenging her authority but always respecting her capabilities. There have been hints of romantic attraction between them at various points, though it has never developed into a full-fledged relationship.
• Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff): As his uncle and the template for his powers and appearance, Tommy has a complex relationship with Pietro. He initially looked up to him, but Pietro's often selfish and arrogant behavior has led to conflict. Pietro sees a reflection of his own youthful recklessness in Tommy, creating a dynamic of both mentorship and rivalry.

• Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom): Doom was the primary antagonist of The Children's Crusade. He manipulated Wanda, stealing a portion of her reality-warping power for himself, and in the ensuing battle, he was responsible for the apparent death of Scott Lang (ant-man) and for blasting Tommy with a magical attack that seemingly killed him, scattering his essence across time and space. Tommy's eventual return solidified Doom as a deeply personal enemy of his family.
• The Skrull Empire: During the Secret Invasion, Speed played a crucial role in the defense of New York City. He fought alongside the other Young Avengers against the Skrull forces and their Super-Skrulls, most notably Kl'rt, who had previously impersonated a member of their team. This conflict was a baptism by fire that solidified his role as a frontline hero.

• young_avengers: Speed is a founding and core member of the Young Avengers. The team is his true family, the group with whom he discovered his identity and purpose. He serves as their primary speedster and scout, and his kinetic powers offer a significant offensive capability.
• strikeforce: For a time, Tommy was a member of Blade's Strikeforce, a black-ops team dedicated to hunting monstrous threats. This period showcased a more mature and grim side of his character, forcing him to operate in morally grey areas far from the youthful idealism of the Young Avengers.
• The Mutant Nation of krakoa: Following his resurrection during The Trial of Magneto, Tommy accepted his status as a mutant and became a citizen of Krakoa. This officially integrated him and his brother into the X-Men's world and acknowledged their place as the children of Wanda Maximoff, the so-called “Great Pretender” who was later redeemed in Krakoan society.

This inaugural storyline introduced Tommy Shepherd to the Marvel Universe. The Young Avengers, acting on information that the Scarlet Witch had twin sons, tracked him to a juvenile prison. The arc detailed their “rescue” of Tommy, the full manifestation of his powers, and his immediate, instinctual connection to Billy Kaplan. It established his core personality as the team's reckless “bad boy” and set up the central mystery of his and Wiccan's true parentage, a question that would drive the team's narrative for years.

During the Skrull invasion of Earth, the Young Avengers were on the front lines in Times Square. Speed's role was critical; he used his velocity to save civilians, act as a scout, and run interference against Skrull shock troops. His belief in his team and his commitment to protecting the innocent were on full display, marking a key moment in his transition from a troubled kid to a genuine hero. He fought valiantly until he was incapacitated by a Skrull weapon, but his efforts helped turn the tide in the battle for Manhattan.

This is arguably the most important storyline for Speed and his family. The 9-issue series follows the Young Avengers, joined by magneto, as they embark on a quest to find the amnesiac Scarlet Witch. Their journey puts them in direct conflict with the Avengers, the X-Men, and Doctor Doom. For Tommy, the stakes were deeply personal. He fought his “uncle” Quicksilver and stood against Wolverine's attempts to kill Wanda. The climax saw Doctor Doom steal Wanda's power, and in the ensuing battle, Doom seemingly murdered Tommy by causing him to molecularly disperse. His “death” was a devastating blow to Wiccan and Wanda. However, he was later shown to have survived, re-materializing after Wiccan's powers evolved, proving their bond could transcend even death and reality. The event ended with the validation of their status as Wanda's sons and Tommy's establishment as a major hero in his own right.

• MCU (Tommy Maximoff / Earth-199999 & Earth-838): As detailed above, the primary variant of Speed is the MCU's Tommy Maximoff. He was a magical construct in the main timeline (Earth-199999, now designated Earth-616 in the MCU) who existed only within the Westview Hex. A fully human version of him exists on Earth-838, living with his mother Wanda and brother Billy, who were tragically orphaned when their universe's Wanda sacrificed herself to destroy the Darkhold.
• Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610): In the Ultimate Universe, Tommy is not a separate character. The children of the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver (who had an incestuous relationship in this reality) were not named Tommy or Billy. This universe's speedster legacy was carried solely by Quicksilver.
• The Last Avengers Story (Earth-9511): In this alternate future timeline, the children of the Vision and Scarlet Witch were named Billy and Tommy. However, they were captured by Kang the Conqueror and used as pawns in a final, devastating battle against the last remaining Avengers, a tragic fate compared to their heroic 616 counterparts.
• House of M (Earth-58163): The reality created by the Scarlet Witch featured her children, Thomas and William Maximoff, living happily with her in Genosha. It was the desire to have this perfect life, with her children alive and well, that drove Wanda to reshape the world. The existence of these children in the House of M reality directly inspired the Young Avengers to seek out their 616 reincarnations.

• wiccan
• scarlet_witch
• young_avengers
• quicksilver
• avengers_the_childrens_crusade

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