Several years after the Squadron Sinister disbands, James Sanders decides to return to crime in a new costume as the Speed Demon and battles the hero Spider-Man. [7] Soon after this Speed Demon encounters Spider-Man once again, and also battles the Human Torch. It is on this occasion that Speed Demon suffers a humiliating defeat at the hands of Frog-Man, who accidentally lands on him. [8]

Speed Demon later joins the supervillain team the Sinister Syndicate, led by the supervillain the Beetle. Although the team's principal goal is the defeat of Spider-Man, their constant squabbling always leads to defeat. [9] Speed Demon leaves the team and eventually travels to Madripoor, where he participates in a "sudden death" tournament called Bloodsport. Speed Demon's first opponent is the disguised hero Wolverine, but in a mishap Speed Demon is critically injured by his own weapon. Despite the crowd's wishes, Wolverine spares Speed Demon's life. [10]

Some time after recovering from his injuries, Speed Demon is recruited to join the Thunderbolts, a team consisting of reformed supervillains. Speed Demon accepts when he learns that the team is led by the Beetle, who is now known as Mach-IV. [11]

Soon after this the cosmic entity the Grandmaster reappears and reforms the Squadron Sinister. An apparently resurrected Hyperion and new Dr. Spectrum find and try to coerce Speed Demon and fellow member Nighthawk into joining, but both are initially reluctant. Ironically, the New Thunderbolts become responsible for Speed Demon rejoining the Squadron Sinister as he is ejected from the New Thunderbolts for committing robberies - even though Speed Demon had been doing this to finance the team. Courtesy of a phenomenon known as the Wellspring of Power - an interdimensional source of superhuman abilities - the Grandmaster increases the Squadron Sinister's powers and they then battle the New Thunderbolts, as Baron Zemo also wishes to have control of the Wellspring. At one point Thunderbolt member Joystick breaks Speed Demon's legs, but he is later healed and in revenge beats her mercilessly. Zemo manages to defeat the Grandmaster, but in the ensuing chaos the Squadron Sinister scatter and escape. Speed Demon has yet to reappear. [12]


[edit] Powers and abilities
Speed Demon's primary superhuman power is the ability to move and react at superhuman speed. His body has adapted to the rigors of running at great speed and developed superior strength, stamina, agility, reflexes and durability