Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.
Today we look at the slowest man alive: Turtle
Appearances in Heroclix: Flash
First Appearance: All-Flash Quarterly #21
Team Affiliations: Secret Society of Super-Villains
Created by: Gardner Fox · Martin Naydel
The original Turtle was a slow-talking, slow moving criminal who believed that the Flash (Jay Garrick) could not slow down, turn or stop quickly while moving at super-speed. So, the Turtle believed that moving slow would allow him to avoid capture by the Flash. This was amazingly wrong headed and Jay easily dispatched Turtle. The villain, however, did not learn his lesson and began wearing a turtle suit while committing crimes.
The original Turtle inspired an inventor successor who, at first, called himself “Turtle-Man.” He ended up creating a suit that looked much like the original Turtle and when the original returned, the two teamed up to try and take over Keystone city.
During one of Flash and Superman’s races, they pass Iron Heights which inadvertently gives Turtle a “jump start” that allows him to steal kinetic energy. He uses this to escape Iron Heights and go on a rampage through Central City, making it appear as though time has stopped. When the Flash (Wally West) intervenes, the Turtle gives him the stolen kinetic energy which speeds Flash up uncontrollably. Wally perseveres, however, trapping Turtle in tar and returning him to Iron Heights.
Unfortunately, later Wally West helps destroy the Turtles’ headquarters during an attempt to bring the two villains in, which seems to kill the original Turtle and results in the apprehension of the now crippled second Turtle.