Whirlwind Gust

Lore & Background

David Cannon was born in Kansas City, Missouri. After discovering his mutant power to move at great speeds at an early age, he turns to a life of crime. This eventually brings Cannon, using his first alias as the Human Top and pursuing his career as a jewel thief, into conflict with Giant-Man and the Wasp on several occasions. Defeated each time, Cannon then redesigns his costume and adopts the alias of 'Whirlwind', and adopts the identity of Charles Matthews, chauffeur of Janet van Dyne. Whirlwind joined the supervillain group the second Masters of Evil, and participated in a plot to destroy the Avengers. He joined the third Masters of Evil, and participated in a Vermont battle against the Avengers. With Batroc the Leaper and Porcupine, he went on a mission for the Red Skull. Cannon continues with the Charles Matthews identity, first with the intent of robbing van Dyne, later with the intent of hitting on van Dyne. In the role of Charles, he pines for Janet, making advances when Hank Pym is presumed to be dead during the run in Marvel Feature. Charles is later fired for trying to embezzle Janet's money, and Hank finally discovers that Charles is Whirlwind later on in the series, forcing Whirlwind to abandon the identity.

Reader's Guide

David Cannon is a mutant with the ability to rapidly spin his body. This enables him to fly and generate powerful gusts of wind, and gives him superhuman speed and agility. He can create powerful air blasts which enable him to punch through brick walls, or aerial force screens capable of stopping firearm slugs. His physiology is adapted to resist the rotatory inertia created by his powers, which incidentally also bestows him with heightened resistance to physical damage. Whirlwind habitually wears an aerodynamic costume of his own design to improve his spinning abilities. He was later outfitted by the Tinkerer with a chainmail suit for additional protection, a pair of wrist-mounted steel buzzsaw blades which, combined with his power, enable him to cut cleanly through steel plating with one swipe, and saw-like throwing blades.

Did You Know?

• He once broke his own spine when the Trapster glued him to the floor mid-spin.
• Whirlwind was resurrected after being possessed by the artificial intelligence Victor Shade.
• He forced prostitutes to dress in the Wasp's past costumes and then assaulted them.
• Whirlwind was transformed into a teenager named Scotty by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Kobik during the 'Avengers: Standoff!' storyline.