Topspin (Transformers)

Topspin is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. Due to legal issues, later incarnations of the character are called Autobot Topspin.

Transformers: Generation 1

The portraits of Topspin and Twin Twist on their techspecs were originally reversed, causing some children a bit of confusion. This was eventually fixed.^[1]

For Topspin no mountain high enough, no river wide enough to stop this one robot wrecking crew.

Topspin's bio indicated that he was something of a glory seeker, leading him to pursue individual battles at the expense of the bigger picture.^[2]

Reception

X-Entertainment considered the Jumpstarters the first Transformers that were not cool.^[3]

Marvel Comics

While Topspin only appeared as a single page biography in the US Marvel comic series, he appeared in several issues of the Marvel U.K. comics. He was part of the Wreckers for many of the Marvel stories, taking part in such missions as Operation: Volcano, a trip to Earth to apprehend the future Decepticon Galvatron (which was foiled by the presence of Cyclonus and Scourge) and stopping the mad scientist Flame's plan to turn Cybertron into a warworld. It was during a later mission to stop Galvatron (at the centre of a rift in time and space) that the Wreckers encountered Galvatron and his ally - a clone of Megatron, who literally blew Topspin's head off.

Books

Topspin was featured in the 1985 Find Your Fate Junior books called Dinobots Strike Back by Casey Todd and Battle Drive by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel.^[4]

Dreamwave Productions

Topspin is the brother of Twin Twist. When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticons, Topspin joined the Autobot cause.

When Decepticon leader Megatron and Autobot leader Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a space bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Topspin joined up with the Wreckers under the leadership of Springer. Springer led the Wreckers to a mission in the Tagan Heights, suspecting that Ratbat's Ultracons were attempting to secure the Heights. His team discovered that Devastator had joined the Ultracons. The Wreckers faced Devastator in combat, but were defeated. The battle was then joined by the Protectobots, who formed Defensor (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #2). After Devastator was defeated, the Wreckers retreated.

Eventually Ultra Magnus was able to reunite the Autobot factions, and Topspin rejoined the Autobots.

Topspin in as a character in Dreamwave Productions Micromasters mini-series. In issue #1, "Destined For Nothing", Countdown and Groundshaker return from space to find the Autobot base largely abandoned. The first Autobots they encounter, Topspin and Twin Twist seem surprised to see them, and more surprised that Optimus Prime isn't with them.^[5]

After the Great Shutdown Topspin and Twin Twist served as bodyguards for Shockwave, but were secretly loyal to Ultra Magnus. They later battled a rampaging Menasor alongside Defensor, the Omnibots, Roadbuster and Whirl. Topspin later joined Grimlock in battling Shockwave's troops.

IDW Publishing

Topspin appeared in issue #2 of IDW Publishing's The Transformers: Stormbringer mini-series. Topspin and the other Wreckers fought on the planet Varas Centralus in the Kol system when Optimus Prime redeployed the Wreckers for a mission on Cybertron. He fought the cultists under Bludgeon and later fought Thunderwing himself (in defiance of Springer's orders), blasting Thunderwing's leg and narrowly avoiding being crushed. He was later seen inspecting Thunderwing's inert corpse.

Topspin appeared in Spotlight: Doubledealer where he was among the Autobots fighting Thunderwing on the planet Corata-Vaz.

Topspin later appeared in "The Last Stand of the Wreckers," where it was revealed that he had a "branched spark" with his brother Twin Twist which resulted in "vicarious perception," meaning that when one brother felt pain, the other could feel it, too. When the Wreckers went to try and liberate Garrus-9 from the sadistic rule of the rogue "Phase 6" Decepticon named Overlord, Twin Twist was captured and tortured and Topspin felt it. Topspin was on the side mission to download the information contained in the massive supercomputer/tribunal Aequitas, which required the voluntary donation of one's spark to access. In an effort to spare his brother any further suffering, he sacrificed his spark to Aequitas, saying "If we're gonna die, bro, let's at least do so with some semblance of dignity." This resulted in both brothers dying at the same time, providing the needed Aequitas access and depriving the Decepticon torturer of further sick delight.

Toys

• Generation 1 Topspin (1985)

Topspin is a Jumpstarter, an Autobot from the second year of the Transformers toy line whose gimmick was a pull back motor and the ability to transform himself.^[6] He transforms by releasing his spring-loaded legs, which flips him over, landing on his oversized feet. The toy that became Topspin is from the Diaclone toy line in Japan made by Takara. Some versions of Topspin sport the letters D.A.R. on the decals, indicating his original name, Diaclone Attack Robo. Topspin was recolored into the Generation 2 Decepticon Robot-Man X, made by Hasbro partner Antex.

The Transformers Jumpstarters toys were the subject of a lawsuit by Hasbro in 1985 where they sued a toy manufacturer for selling toys based on their design. Hasbro won the suit.^[7]

Transformers: Timelines

The Transformers Collectors Club 2008 member exclusive figure is named Topspin.^[8]

Topspin has the unusual ability to manipulate sparks, and can move them from one body to another. He combines with the other 4 Transformers Collectors Club membership combiner exclusives to form Nexus Prime.

He had a biography printed in issue #25 of the Transformers Collectors Club magazine.^[9]

Fun Publications

Topspin first appeared in the Transformers Collectors Club comic story Transcendent part 3 as a Decepticon who works for Alpha Trion as a lab technician. He followed Alpha Trion when the old Autobot lead his followers to rescue Breakaway from the Transtech authorities and escaped with them to Alpha Trion's homeworld, Shattered Glass Cybertron.^[10]

In Reunification the escapees returned to Alpha Trion's lab, where they were joined by several Autobots and Decepticons from his home world that were loyal to him. Alpha Trion killed the Autobot Downshift, who discovered their lair. Although Alpha Trion claimed that Skyfall was shot in the escape by the Transtechs, Breakaway noticed that the wound was cause by a blade like Alpha Trion's. Alpha Trion then ordered his forces to restrain Breakaway, Landquake and Topspin.

Toys

• Timelines Scout Topspin (2008)

Topspin is a redeco of Energon Blackout and Storm Cloud. According to the Transformers Collectors Club this figure was limited to 3000 pieces.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Topspin

Jimmie Johnson's #48 car, the basis for Topspin's design
Autobot
Information
Sub-group	Wreckers, Deluxe Vehicles, Cyberverse Legion
Rank	7
Motto	"If it isn't difficult, I'm not interested."
Alternate Modes	NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Impala #48 Lowe's/Kobalt stock car
Series	Transformers: Dark of the Moon

In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Topspin is one of the Autobot Wrecker trio. All three Wreckers transform into NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chevrolet Impala stock cars; Topspin's alternate mode uses the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Chevrolet Impala of Hendrick Motorsports (driven by Jimmie Johnson).^[11]

Topspin likes hard jobs that leave him dented. He is very tough, but has below-average intelligence. Unlike his partners, Topspin has no speaking lines in the film. His weapons are two mechanical claws and two guns on his shoulders.

Movie plot

Topspin, Leadfoot and Roadbuster are a team of Autobot engineers called the Wreckers, who came to Earth in their ship the Xantium which carried other Autobots, including Sideswipe. NASA took possession of their ship and Director Mearing mentioned they were rarely let off base due to their behavior. When Sentinel expelled the Autobots, the Wreckers prepared the Xantium for launch, but Starscream destroyed their ship as it was leaving. In the battle in Chicago, Topspin and the other Wreckers killed the pilot of a Decepticons fighter, and revealed to Sam that they had hid in a booster rocket which detached before Starscream attacked. When Shockwave attacked their convoy and Optimus lost his trailer, they created a diversion so that Optimus could retrieve it. Later they helped Optimus untangle himself and were among the surviving Autobots at the end of the film.

Toys

All toys of this character are officially licensed from General Motors and feature a NASCAR holographic seal, making them official NASCAR merchandise.

• Dark of the Moon Robo Power Activators Autobot Topspin (2011)

A small transforming toy of Topspin aimed at younger children. This toy automatically transforms from race car to robot when placed upright, as a button on the rear end deploys the robot parts when pressed against a flat surface.

• Dark of the Moon Cyberverse Legion Autobot Topspin (2011)

A new Legion (formerly Legends) mold of Topspin. Due to licensing and size limitations, only the Lowe's logo on the hood, the Sprint Cup Series logo on the sides and the #48 decals on the roof and sides appear on the car mode.^[12]

• Dark of the Moon Mech Tech Deluxe Autobot Topspin (2011)

A new mold of Topspin. His Mech Tech weapon is a blaster with a retractable claw. The head sculpt is designed to resemble a stereotypical Redneck NASCAR fan, sporting a Mullet. Unlike the Cyberverse Legion figure, Topspin's car mode is depicted as fully armored, with robot parts and weapons sticking out of the car body.^[13]

• Dark of the Moon Mech Tech Deluxe Autobot Armor Topspin (2011)

A gray/black redeco of the Deluxe figure.^[14]

Transformers: Prime

Topspin is a member of the Wreckers who turns into a Cybertronian space shuttle.

Toys

• Generations Topspin (not yet released)

A gray redeco of Generations Deluxe Blast Off with a different head sculpt.

Combines with Impactor, Roadbuster, Twin Twist and Whirl to form Ruination.^[15]

References