ROCKET RACER
Earth-57780
Real Name: Unrevealed (presumably Robert
Farrell - see comments)
Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-57780) human technology user
Occupation: Unrevealed
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Jimmy (see
comments)
Enemies: Hawkeye
(Clint Barton), Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Known Relatives: None (see
comments)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A workshop in an
unrevealed location
First Appearance: Spidey
Super Stories I#49 (November, 1980)
Powers/Abilities: The Rocket Racer is very athletic and is a talented, if reckless, skateboarder. He also has the intellect required to design and construct a rocket-propelled skateboard.
The modified skateboard could move incredibly
fast and was capable
of flight and carrying its rider up vertical surfaces thanks to a
magnetic effect that also helped keep the rider attached to the board.
The board's rockets were
designed to activate on their own when a rider got on so the rider was
not required to kick to get the board moving.
At no point did the Rocket Racer
display the offensive
capabilities used by his Earth-616 counterpart, such as his minirockets
or rocket-powered punch. Given that this version's goal was less
overtly
criminal and more a childish desire to show-off, he may not have
possessed those at all.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Spidey Super Stories I#49/1 (fb)) - As
a child, the man who would become Rocket Racer was always the fastest
kid around and enjoyed competing to prove it. When he got a skateboard,
that competitive nature continued. He created a skateboard powered by
rockets and, wearing colorful protective gear, created the identity of
the Rocket Racer.
(Spidey Super Stories I#49/5) - The Rocket Racer arrived on the scene of a skateboard contest, skating through the finish line just before guest judge Spider-Man could award the trophy to Jimmy, the child who was winning. Grabbing the trophy and skating off, the Racer taunted Spider-Man and bragged about his skills while endangering pedestrians and traffic around him. Jimmy thought the Rocket Racer looked cool and followed in the hopes that he could meet him.
As his chaotic grandstanding continued, the Racer bumped into Clint Barton, the hero known as Hawkeye, who put on his costume to join Spider-Man in pursuing the Racer. The heroes managed to stop the Racer and separate him from his board. They then chastised him for setting a bad example for children. While they were talking, Jimmy caught up to the scene and found the Racer's skateboard unattended. The child got on the board causing it to activate, which meant he was unable to get off while it began speeding down the street. The Racer, Spider-Man and Hawkeye chased Jimmy to prevent the child from being hurt. They were successful, though the rocket-powered skateboard was crushed under the wheels of an oncoming truck.
Lamenting the destruction of his
board, the Racer
assured Spider-Man and Hawkeye that he had learned his lesson and would
never be a show-off again.
This universe's Rocket Racer is
never explicitly
identified as Robert Farrell but given his appearance, he pretty
clearly was intended as this world's equivalent of that character. With
that in mind, I've used the physical stats from the original version of
the character to fill out those here. I have not, however, assumed this
version has the same siblings as the Earth-616 version.
The appearance of this Rocket Racer in a 1980 comic comes after the Amazing Spider-Man stories that revealed that Rocket Racer was motivated by paying his mother's medical expenses but before the 1985 Spectacular Spider-Man story that revealed he was also trying to help care for six younger siblings. With no mention of his mother in this universe, he seems to be motivated entirely by seeking thrills and a desire to show off. If he has family, they are evidently not a factor in his motivations.
I've put the kid Jimmy
under "Affiliations" because even though Bob steals the trophy that is
rightfully Jimmy's, the kid admires him. They never actually have any
direct interaction in the story. I guess "Enemies" is almost as valid a
choice but Bob seems to have had no ill will toward the kid and is
concerned when he's in danger. I dunno.
This profile was completed on 12/3/2025 but its
publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th
anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Patrick D Ryall.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Rocket Racer of Earth-57780 has no known connections to:
Images: (without ads)
Spidey Super Stories I#49,
p23, pan3 (main image)
Spidey Super Stories I#49,
inside cover, pan3 (out of costume)
Appearances:
Spidey Super Stories I#49
(November, 1980) - Jim Salicrup, Steven Grant (writers), Winslow
Mortimer (penciler), Mike Esposito, Richardo Villamonte (inkers),
Deborah
November, Carline Barnes (editors)
First Posted: 09/03/2026
Last Updated: 12/04/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All
other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099
Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff,
you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com