Flipping thought the pages of R20 Rockman And Rockman X Complete Works, it is interesting to note that Quickman started his life as "Boomerangman". Considering the boomerang shaped marker on his helmet and body, it is not hard to see the early relationship to the Aboriginal throwing weapon. But while these origins makes perfect sense, it begs the question; how in the world did "Boomerangman" transformed into a velocity themed robot?
While boomerangs can travel fairly fast, they are not noteworthy for any sort of amazing speed. If any sort of exceptional property is to be associated with the boomerang, it would be it's ability to sustain flight via it's air foil shape, man's first invention to heavier than air flight. So if the boomerang does not at all relate, there must be SOMETHING ELSE that the design concept hangs on to justify the speedster moniker. But as it turns out there might be another attribute that allowed "Boomerangman" to make his transition to Quickman, and it relates to the forefather of fictional cyborg heroes in Japan.
Introduced in 1963, 8マン or エイトマン (8man; Eightman) made his debut on the Japanese Manga scene, a creation by the joint effort of 平井 和正 (Hirai Kazumasa) and 桑田次郎 Kuwata Jiro. While his colors do not have the same crimson flare, the hero suit and swoosh design on the helmet are strikingly similar to the point of homage. And while Eightman is a character credited for a variety of special abilities, his most iconic one would is his ability to run at breakneck speeds, something Our "World's fastest Robot" shares. It is not hard to see how the "Boomerang" theming be replaced by something more fundamental like acceleration.
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