Rocket Racer first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #172 (Sept 1977) as a super-villain . He was created by writer Len Wein and artist Ross Andru. Robert Farrell was the eldest of seven children who became responsible for his younger siblings when his mother died. He was a scientific prodigy, but he turned to a life of crime as Rocket Racer to support his family. He used a rocket-powered skateboard that he designed himself, and a costume equipped with rockets, magnets, and other weapons. He snatched a courier’s briefcase, but was stopped by Spider-Man when a car pulled out in front of him .
Farrell hired the Tinkerer, a genius inventor who often works for criminals, to redesign his skateboard after his first defeat by Spider-Man. He also blackmailed Jackson Weele, a businessman who hired him to steal evidence that might incriminate him. Weele hired the Tinkerer himself to construct the Big Wheel, a giant metal wheel with weapons, to chase Rocket Racer around town. Spider-Man intervened and Big Wheel seemingly fell to his death in the Hudson River .
Rocket Racer was saved by Spider-Man from the Bounty Hunter, a hired thug who worked for an unknown benefactor who paid Farrell’s bail and forced him to commit crimes again. Spider-Man helped Rocket Racer put an end to his criminal ways and testified on his behalf in court. Farrell received a light sentence and a scholarship to Empire State University after scoring perfect on a high school equivalence test .
At the university, Rocket Racer fought another student named Eddie Cross, who was a white supremacist. During a fight in the science laboratory, Rocket Racer fired a rocket at a jar that contained Spider-Man’s new web formula. The formula spilled over Eddie and turned him into Skinhead, a villain with super-strength and durability. Rocket Racer teamed up with Spider-Man to stop Skinhead .
Rocket Racer became a member of the Outlaws, a group of reformed criminals who occasionally helped Spider-Man or worked for Silver Sable International, a mercenary organization. The other members of the Outlaws were Puma, Sandman, Will-O’-The-Wisp, and Prowler . Together they fought against various threats such as Speed Demon, Hammerhead, Hydra, and Doctor Doom .
Rocket Racer also participated in the Civil War storyline, where he opposed the Superhuman Registration Act that required all super-powered individuals to register with the government. He joined Captain America’s Secret Avengers and fought against Iron Man’s Pro-Registration forces .
Rocket Racer was later recruited by M.O.D.O.K., a super-intelligent villain with a giant head and tiny body, to join his team of 11 criminals for a heist. The team included other obscure characters such as Armadillo, Chameleon, Deadly Nightshade, Mentallo, Puma, Spot, Living Laser, Nightshade and Monica Rappaccini. However, M.O.D.O.K.’s plan was actually to betray them and use their powers for his own benefit. Rocket Racer managed to escape with Puma and Spot .
Rocket Racer also battled the New Avengers when they tried to stop him from robbing an armored car. He was defeated by Luke Cage and Iron Fist . He later joined the Avengers Academy as an instructor for young heroes .
Rocket Racer also became part of Briggs Chemical LLC, a company that employed former super-villains as security guards. He worked alongside Big Wheel, Boomerang, Grizzly, Hypno-Hustler, Shocker and others. They clashed with Spider-Man several times .
Rocket Racer has also appeared in other media besides comics. He was featured in the Spider-Man animated series in 1995 . He also appeared in several video games such as Spider-Man: Friend or Foe (2007), Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009), Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (2011), Lego Marvel Super Heroes (2013), Marvel Heroes (2013), Marvel Puzzle Quest (2013), Marvel Avengers Academy (2016), Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 (2017), and Marvel Strike Force (2018) .
