Part 6/10:
One of the core issues with speedsters lies in audience perceptions of power imbalances. If viewers perceive a significant gap in power between the speedster and their foes, any defeat will likely feel unjustified. A notable illustration of this can be found in Quicksilver's encounter with Apocalypse in X-Men: Apocalypse. Here, the perception that Apocalypse's abilities were suddenly greater than previously established ultimately led to dissatisfaction among fans. If the story had alluded earlier to Apocalypse’s powers, perhaps by showcasing something akin to adaptive reaction time, the defeat would have seemed more plausible.