Topspin (G1)

Topspin is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Flies like a brick! A brick with wings!

Facing off against Decepticons isn't nearly enough of a challenge for Topspin. He'd rather pit himself against Nature itself. No mountain is tall enough, no river treacherous enough to give him pause. Alone against rough terrain, be it on land or in the sea, is where this Wrecker's fuel pump really gets going. Though he loves the challenge he's not fixated on conquering new terrain, he simply enjoys pitting himself against it. As he says, "The thrill is in the journey."

As Jumpstarters, Topspin and his brother Twin Twist can transform between modes in a fraction of an instant, significantly faster than most Transformers.

Sometimes he is partnered with the Titan Master Freezeout.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Topspin was a member of the elite Autobot force the Wreckers. Along with his teammates he threw himself into preparations for Operation: Volcano practising against facsimile constructs based on their Decepticon targets. Impactor classified him as their 'resident glory-hog' as he tended to take on too many foes at once. Topspin was easily able to take care of two constructs based on Bombshell and Blitzwing but had to be rescued from the advancing Dirge and Ramjet by Twin Twist. After the practice session it was obvious that without Ultra Magnus the operation would be a suicide mission and along with the other Wreckers Topspin agreed to abandon it. Despite the unanimous decision Emirate Xaaron was able to convince Impactor to resume preparations for Operation: Volcano. When the Wreckers leader asked for volunteers Topspin and the rest of the unit did not hesitate to come forward and threw themselves back into their training. Unfortunately the operation to trap the Decepticons' deadliest killers was unsuccessful as Megatron recalled them to Polyhex before the trap could be sprung. Target: 2006

Topspin was next seen being led into battle by Optimus Prime attacking a Decepticon Energon distribution facility. Inspired by the return of the Autobot leader Topspin threw himself into battle leaping through the air and firing wildly. This raid was one in a series, and Topspin was sent on a final one orchestrated by Optimus to distract the Decepticon rank and file the Autobot leader went after Megatron personally. Resurrection!

Once Prime was transported back to Earth things returned to normal on Cybertron. Autobase was moved to Kalis and was soon rocked by a huge explosion. Believing the explosion to be caused by an underground reactor, Topspin and the other Wreckers searched in vain for the chamber. Upon their return to headquarters, the Autobots were overcome by a legion of zombies! Springer, still ill-at-ease in his role as leader, floundered when the shambling horde burst through the floor, and without anyone to coordinate them, the Wreckers were easily vanquished. They were captured by the undead horde's controller, Flame, fitted with inhibitor bands, and detained within an underground cell. Though things seemed grim, Springer regained his senses following a pep-talk from Xaaron and managed to escape. Legion of the Lost!

Topspin and the rest of the Wreckers managed to break out of their cell as well, reacquired their weapons, and once more took up the fight against the zombies patrolling Flame's headquarters. They then bumped into a returning Springer, now accompanied by Ultra Magnus, Fizzle, Sizzle, and Guzzle. Unfortunately, any further progress towards Flame's inner sanctum was blocked off by a massive blast door. Though their weapons proved completely ineffective against it, the Autobots managed to get through when Trypticon arrived, repaying a favor that fellow Decepticon Flywheels owed Ultra Magnus. Unfortunately, they came to confront Flame too late; his machines had already destabilized, and the countdown to Cybertron's destruction had already begun. Springer tasked Topspin with going through Flame's computers to find a solution, but Xaaron already knew that only one presented itself; one of them had to go into a control room, bathed in deadly radiation, to put an end to the chain reaction.

Springer, Ultra Magnus, and Xaaron argued between themselves over which one would make a heroic sacrifice for all their sakes, while Topspin urged them to hurry up and make up their minds. The argument distracted him from keeping an eye on Flame, allowing the madbot from releasing more zombies upon the Autobots. Topspin helped cut down the horde and headed for the surface. There, he learned that it had been a zombified Impactor who ended up sacrificing himself to put an end to Flame's scheme. Topspin joined his fellows in honoring the Wrecker's sacrifice in solemn silence. Meltdown!

Topspin was in the top two or three in his class...

The Wreckers' next mission was to deal with Galvatron. Topspin attended the mission briefing and, along with his teammates, was able to correctly identify their foe and his primary weapon. They then warped themselves down to Earth to face him... and appeared right into the middle of a heavily populated Earth city. Though Springer worried that this had totally compromised their mission, as they didn't want to inflict any casualties on the innocent humans, the Wreckers nonetheless threw themselves at Galvatron. Topspin and his Jumpstarter partner Twin Twist focused their efforts on Galvatron's equally time-tossed Targetmaster brethren, Cyclonus and Scourge. Topspin was shot by Scourge but was not seriously injured. Eventually, to stave off further collateral damage, Springer lured the two Decepticon cronies out of town, leaving the rest of his crew with the opportunity to gang-up on Galvatron. However, they were unwilling to leave Springer to the Decepticons' mercies, and instead pursued him, allowing Galvatron to escape them. The Wreckers' mission ended as a total failure, and they returned to Cybertron to plan anew. Wrecking Havoc

Blah blah Titan Master joke blah.

For the return bout the Wreckers teamed up with the Mayhems. The teams argued as they entered the Decepticon base only to discover that Galvatron had now teamed up with Megatron (or at least, a clone thereof). This proved a deadly combination and Topspin's overconfidence lead to an angered Megatron blasting his head off before he could even get a shot in. The Wreckers and Mayhems were soon forced to retreat leaving Topspin's corpse where it had fallen. To add insult to injury Megatron gave it a good kick before he and Galvatron followed the survivors to brutally massacre them too. Time Wars

Transformers Annual 1985

When Prowl and Bumblebee detected Decepticon activity in the Amazon, the pair brought Topspin and Twin Twist along to investigate. Prowl was hesitant throughout the mission, and suggested the group turn back upon encountering a road block. But Topspin wouldn't hear it, as he and Twin Twist were eager for some action. The group soon picked up Ravage's trail, and headed through a nearby swamp. Bumblebee was attacked by a boa constrictor in its waters, forcing Topspin to shoo off the creature with his electric blaster.

The Autobots continued their trek for days until they found the Decepticons' headquarters. There, the enemy was excavating crystals that could bring new Decepticons to life. Prowl suggested that they hold their position and contact the Ark for reinforcements, prompting a debate within the group. While the others were distracted by their argument, Bumblebee took it upon himself push on alone, only to be caught in Thrust and Starscream's cross-hairs. Prowl and the Jumpstarters were forced into action, only to find themselves paralyzed with fear partway in their descent; Dirge had also been posted as a guard, and was using his fear-inducing engines on the Autobots. Prowl managed to neutralize Dirge, and the Jumpstarters resumed their rescue attempt. Together, they blasted Starscream out of the sky, and sending him plummeting into the mining operation, destroying it utterly. Thrust retaliated by burying the Autobots in an avalanche, and by the time Topspin clawed his way out, the Decepticons had already fled. Hunted!

Marvel UK future timelines

In the year 2510, Topspin witnessed the end of the old war and the start of a new one. With the last Decepticon destroyed, the Autobots began arguing among themselves as to whether Springer or Ultra Magnus should be Rodimus Prime's chosen successor. A scuffle broke out and casualties happened on both sides, leading to a new Autobot Civil War between the Technobots and the Wreckers, with Rodimus sitting in the middle of the war zone, emotionally crushed by the resuming conflict. Peace

Regeneration One

He's that one... Yeah, that guy with the label "Topspin" next to him...

Topspin took part in taking down a bunch of Neo-Decepticons who were holding up a bomb depot. He later volunteered to come with Kup and the rest of the Wreckers to go to Earth. Once they reached Earth's orbit, they dispatched drones to survey the planet, finding it in ruins, and Megatron at the head of it all. Megatron then launched a string of missiles, destroying their ship. Loose Ends, Part 1

After the Wreckers escaped the ship using its escape pods, they regrouped to try to think of a plan. Broadside and Topspin were both left injured, and, in Broadside's case, seeing double. When Rack 'n' Ruin accidentally scared a handful of humans, Topspin tried to talk him down, explaining that the humans would naturally be scared of them after 21 years of Megatron's tyranny. They were then attacked by an enraged, cybernetically enhanced human calling himself Circuit Smasher. Loose Ends, Part 2 The man blasted Rack 'n' Ruin, disabling the robot. Topspin identified the super human as the Autobots former ally, Spike Witwicky, and stated his confusion at the fact that Spike would attack his former allies and hate Cybertronians, when he, being binary bonded to Fortress Maximus meant that he was also part Cybertronian. He then had to talk Springer and the others out of attacking Spike. He, and the other humans led the Autobots back to their base, which was led by G.B. Blackrock. Together, the Wreckers and the humans made a plan to take down the Ark, which Megatron had taken over. Loose Ends, Part 3

Despite his injuries, Topspin was part of the team sent to disable the Ark and its supercomputer Auntie. He transformed and began shooting out the Ark's defenses from the air along with Broadside. Loose Ends, Part 4 Once they were through the Ark's outer defenses, he helped the Wreckers battle Guardian units while Circuit Smasher disarmed Auntie. Loose Ends, Part 5

Topspin was out of action for a time after returning to Cybertron, presumably to finish treatment of his injuries. When the Neo-Decepticons' civil disobedience stepped up to outright insurrection, however, Topspin and the Wreckers raided Soundwave's headquarters in Fort Scyk, only to find it empty. Destiny, Part Three The Neo-Decepticons were soon backed up by Bludgeon's space-based faction, who invaded Cybertron with their Warworld and Blitz Engines. Topspin and the Wreckers were assigned a surgical strike mission by Prowl to infiltrate the Warworld and cancel out the broadcast signal powering the Engines. They ran afoul of Bludgeon himself, but the divine intervention of Rodimus Prime and Starscream's arrival in the stolen Ark led to a successful mission. Destiny, Part Five

After Rodimus Prime declared war on the genocidal tyrant Jhiaxus, Kup kept the Wreckers in reserve in case things went south. When they did, Topspin and the others staged a chaotic series of guerrilla sabotage attacks on Jhiaxus's Hub, providing the advantage for Rodimus to free the other Autobots. The War to End All Wars, Part 4 Back on Cybertron, the Dark Matrix entity had consumed most of the world, and was using the space bridge network to extend its grasp to Nebulos and Earth. Topspin joined Ultra Magnus on a mission to Nebulos where they battled the possessed Galvatron and Fortress Maximus. The War to End All Wars, Part 5

Transformers '84

When Impactor and Roadbuster walked in on Punch informing Ultra Magnus that he needed a "wrecking crew" to deal with Straxus restarting Megatron's planetary turbines, they recruited Topspin, Whirl, Twin Twist, and Rack'n'Ruin to form a new unit called the "Wreckers". Secrets & Lies #3

Arriving at the nerve centre of Project Dreadnought, the newly formed Wreckers assumed their designated holding positions until their fearless leader Impactor could think of an appropriate signal; upon a surprise attack by Abominus he spontaneously ordered them to "wreck and rule" and Topspin followed Twin Twist as he began tunnelling towards the control centre. While their fellow Wreckers battled the Terrorcons above, the Jumpstarters held off a squad of generic Decepticons while laying enough explosives to destroy the base for good. When the job was done, they gave Impactor the signal to pull out and the Wreckers withdrew from their first mission victorious. Secrets & Lies #4

Find Your Fate Junior

Dinobots Strike Back

In one micro-continuity-nexus path, Skids came back to the Ark with a report about a Decepticon base in Mount Lomas where black coral from nearby Dolphin's Bay was being converted into a superfuel. The Autobots stationed Seaspray and Topspin in the water nearby, as they were apparently the only Autobots with seafaring alt-modes. That evening, either Prowl's or Windcharger's attack plan would ensure an Autobot victory, but the latter course of action led to a battle in which Skywarp dropped a heat-seeking missile on the Jumpstarter. It's unclear if Topspin survived, but he didn't really do anything else regardless. Dinobots Strike Back

Autobot Alert!

Topspin was present at the Autobot city of Metroplex when an Autobot Alert sounded.

He and the other Autobots learned of two Decepticon plots simultaneously occurring. One of which was the theft of a coded message meant for Ultra Magnus's eyes only. If Ultra Magnus decided to prioritize theft of the coded message, Topspin was part of the captive audience that listened to Kup divulge information about an ancient Autobot formula. Topspin took off towards the Autobots’ desert research centre along with a number of other Autobots. Once there, they learned from Springer that the Cybertite sphere containing the formula was discovered by humans during the 16th century. If the Decepticons had decoded Springer's message, they would be searching off the coast of California, where the ship containing the sphere had sunk. If they hadn't decoded the message, the Decepticons would still be digging in the nearby crater.

If Ultra Magnus decided to assume that the Decepticons had already decrypted the message, he ordered his forces to split up to more efficiently address the situation. Topspin was part of the main group of Autobot forces led by Ultra Magnus towards the California coast. Arriving at the scene, Ultra Magnus's troops were informed by Powerglide (who had flown ahead of the land-bound group) that he had discovered the location of the sunken ship containing the cybertite sphere. Simultaneously, Blurr caught up with the group to inform them that the Decepticons were quickly approaching. The Autobots then needed to decide whether they would raise the ship themselves, or try and ambush the Decepticons after they had done so.

If Ultra Magnus decided to have his Autobots hide while the Decepticons raised the ship, Topspin found himself in a cave with Seaspray and Springer. The three Autobots spied Devastator retrieving the sunken ship from the water, and decided that the three of them would snatch the sphere away from the Decepticons.

If Springer, Topspin and Seaspray executed their plan to retrieve the sphere from Decepticon clutches, Topspin and Seaspray headed out to sea, then doubled back in order to distract the Decepticons. With the evil robots preoccupied, Springer snatched the cybertite sphere and headed back to Metroplex. Seeing their ally had succeeded in his part of the plan, Seaspray and Topspin retreated out to sea. Autobot Alert!

Frito-Lay posters

Topspin was on the battlefield alongside Optimus Prime and Grimlock, surrounded by Decepticons. The Power Struggle

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Soon after Optimus Prime had newly been selected as leader of the Autobots, the Decepticons launched an all-out assault on the Autobot stronghold in Iacon. Topspin may or may not helped in extracting essential hardware and artifacts from the city while the aggressors were kept at bay by the bulk of the Autobots' forces. The War Within #4

In the Dark Ages, Topspin split off from the Autobots with his fellow Wreckers to act as an independent faction. Under Springer's command, they frequently clashed with Ratbat's Ultracons for territorial control, especially in the manufacturing area known as the Tagan Heights. During one such clash, Topspin helped his fellow Wreckers in battling Devastator until Defensor turned up to take on the Decepticon combiner. Escalation

After the creation of the Micromasters in fuel-starved times, Topspin came to work for a unified Autobot faction once more. He was guarding Autobot HQ when Countdown and Groundshaker returned from an interplanetary mission. He asked the little 'bots where Optimus Prime was, only to learn that the Micromasters had failed to locate the lost Autobot leader. Destined for Nothing Later, due to the machinations of the Decepticon-allied Micromaster Skystalker, the Autobots and Decepticons were tricked into an all-out brawl, despite resources being at an all-time low for both sides. Topspin was battered in the conflict that came about, but the Autobots were spared total defeat when a cross-faction group of Micromasters revealed the scheme that had brought the fight about. The Autobots and Decepticons abandoned the battlefield in response, allowing the war to prolong itself further. Victims of the Revolution

In the modern era, Topspin continued serving with the Wreckers in the new Unified Cybertronian forces. The Wreckers now operated under Ultra Magnus as his personal guard, though neither Topspin or Twin Twist were confident that the planet's new ruler, Shockwave, had their race's best interests at heart. Brothers' Burden When the Stunticons were unleashed on Cybertron as Menasor, the Wreckers took arms to bring him down. Cold War After Twin Twist drilled the combiner in the foot and brought him down to ground level, Topspin shot Menasor right in the face with his electro-blasters. Passive Aggression The Jumpstarters remained in Magnus's command after Shockwave's deposing, and later attended a meeting where the Autobots' forces were divided up to better defend their planet against future threats. The Route of All Evil

2005 IDW continuity

• First Appearance: Transformers: Stormbringer #2

The Jumpstarters have a branched spark: a rare condition that means the two of them can share each other's pain and feelings, and sometimes perceive each other's circumstances. Twin Twist went into the Wreckers first. Topspin was happy to just be a cartographer, but it was impossible to stay in such a role when his 'other half' was running around chasing down Squadron X. Last Stand of the Wreckers #3

Don't mind me, guys, I'm just passing through!

Topspin was serving with the Wreckers when they came up against a squad of Decepticons that included Krok, Gatoraider and Radar. During the battle, Roadbuster ripped out Radar's spine and ate it while high on Syk—leaving Krok as the only survivor. Animals

Topspin is the one on the right with the distractingly Photoshopped-in Autobot insignia.

Topspin fired heavy artillery at the Decepticon siege mode armature on Varas Centralus. Stormbringer #2 He medically treated Nosecone on Cybertron after the Wreckers rescued him and Afterburner from Centurion droids. He then voiced the Wreckers' PR campaign to the Technobots. ("Leave it to the professionals".) Stormbringer #3

He also led the hit and run against Thunderwing. He is a true Robot of All Trades. Stormbringer #4

When the Wreckers were again called upon to battle Thunderwing on Corata-Vaz, Topspin was there, trying alongside his comrades to get past the massive Pretender to a Nega-Core it was guarding; a device essential for bringing forth the Expansion. Spotlight: Hardhead Spotlight: Doubledealer

Jetfire managed to remotely override Thunderwing's predetermined directives for a brief time, so the Wreckers got by and found the Nega-Core. Topspin and Twin Twist then began attempting to decommission it, ultimately prepping it for transport through a space bridge portal. Once Autobot teams on different planets had reached the other Nega-Cores, it was Topspin who carefully explained to everyone the process by which to properly unlatch and move them. Jetfire lost control of Thunderwing by this point and it turned back to resume attacking the Wreckers, but they survived. Spotlight: Sideswipe

After a battle with the Decepticons, Topspin was taken prisoner by Turmoil alongside several other Autobots. Kup and Springer sprung them from the detention block on Turmoil's cruiser, but the Wreckers apparently went their separate ways after this mission. Spotlight: Drift

Topspin's favorite song is "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".

Over two years later, the Wreckers were reformed and were taking on new recruits; Topspin and Twin Twist were still part of the team. While meeting the new guys, they saw Ironfist briefly fall unconscious. Topspin was concerned, but Ironfist claimed he was fine... while Guzzle revealed that Ironfist was the secret identity of "Fisitron", the historian behind the Wreckers: Declassified datalogs. They were amused to find their official files were top secret, with Topspin joking (badly) he should call himself Top Secret. When Ironfist raised the idea of finding out what was in their files, Topspin remarked there was nothing special: they were just two normal guys. Last Stand of the Wreckers #1

After adding their old commander Impactor to the team, the Wreckers prepared for their mission: to infiltrate Garrus-9, which had been taken over by Overlord, rescue the Autobot prisoners there and find Aequitas. Topspin was teamed with Perceptor, Ironfist, Rotorstorm and Pyro, and to his chagrin, he soon learned that Verity Carlo had stowed aboard their pod as well. They successfully crashlanded on Garrus-9, only to find themselves face-to-face with Overlord himself. Last Stand of the Wreckers #2

"If you die, Twin Twist dies, and the Dragon Balls will turn to stone!!"
"Uh...sure, Pyro. Sure."

Topspin felt a sting of pain as Twin Twist was injured on the other team, but that was the least of his worries: Rotorstorm was killed, and he and the others failed to even dent Overlord. They opted to make a run for it, but were tied down by Ironfist, who had gone into shock after witnessing Rotorstorm's death. Annoyed, Topspin slammed Ironfist against a wall and questioned why someone like him was even part of the Wreckers: they certainly hadn't voted him in. He went to tell the fanboy "People die in stupid, pointless ways. Deal with it.", which at least snapped him out of it and allowed them to keep going. As the team made their way toward Aequitas, Topspin told Pyro about his branched spark with Twin Twist and voiced his opinion on the late Rotorstorm, whom he hadn't been too fond of, but respected anyway because he had been a Wrecker. After Perceptor opened Aequitas's chamber, Topspin helped carry the comatose Fortress Maximus inside. Last Stand of the Wreckers #3

"Oh my God, we killed Kenny."
"We killed Kenny?!"
"We killed Kenny. We're bastards."

Topspin was unimpressed to learn that Aequitas was just a big computer, and that their important mission was to download its contents. Suddenly, he was struck with intense pain as Twin Twist began to be tortured by the Decepticons. After a few minutes of agony, he recovered in time to learn that Aequitas was password-protected and demanded a spark donation in order to boot up. He suggested that they force-feed the computer a Decepticon, but was told that the victim had to be willing to do it. The other Wreckers agreed that Topspin could not be sacrificed, as that would kill Twin Twist as well, which would be a waste of a life. However, Topspin began perceiving his brother's feelings as he pleaded for the torture to stop, and eventually got up and volunteered to take his life for both of their sakes. After explaining that since the two of them would die anyway, they could at least go out with some dignity, Topspin plugged himself into Aequitas and exclaimed "Wreck and rule!" as he let it take his spark. Last Stand of the Wreckers #4

After the liberation of G-9, Topspin's remains, as well as that of the other fallen Wreckers, were transported to Earth along with the survivors. Last Stand of the Wreckers #5 They were later interred in the Zone of Remembrance at Debris, the Wreckers' headquarters. Zero Point

Legends comic

Topspin and Twin Twist were Powered Masters and space pioneers. Bonus Edition Vol. 65 In the late 1980s, they entered the scene to protect the Transform Super Cog from falling into Decepticon hands, and they managed to defeat the Battlechargers who were attempting to steal it from within the Ark. When the Jumpstarters joined the battle outside, they attacked who they thought was Megatron, but it turned out to be the decoy, Megaplex, and they were left open to attacks from Sunstorm and Enemy, but Nightstalker was able to protect them from Enemy's finishing blow. That didn't stop them from losing the Super Cog to Slugslinger, but the other Autobots were able to end his threat. Slugslinger's Ambition

Topspin would keep watch when Twin Twist fell prey to his uncontrollable urge to drill holes in the Autobot base, simply because he enjoyed the thrilling feeling of possibly getting caught. G1 Warrior Twin Twist One time they were caught by Red Alert and fled using Topspin's jet mode, though he had to talk his brother out of drilling holes in his wings. G1 Warrior Topspin Optimus Prime eventually put a stop to their vandalism by appointing both Topspin and Twin Twist leader of the Jumpstarters, leaving them too busy arguing about who was in charge to have time for drilling. The Commander's Good Idea In 2004, the Jumpstarters were recruited by Springer into his new Wreckers unit. Bonus Edition Vol. 7 LG-07 Jetfire Sequel When the team was charged with the decidedly un-thrilling job of cleaning up around Mount St. Hilary, a disappointed Springer left for Autobot City, leaving Topspin jealous. G1 Wreckers Birth Story During this time, he and Twin Twist learned that their fellow Wreckers Whirl and Roadbuster had come from a peaceful dimension known as the Legends World and hoped to help found such a place themselves someday. Bonus Edition Vol. 66

Decades later in the 2030s, the Jumpstarters were approached by Katsu Don and asked for their help in creating a dimension called Legends, causing them to realize their friends were from the future. Concluding that they had to accept or else their friends would never be born, they stole the Zodiac from fellow Powered Master Dai Atlas and used it to create the Legends World, leaving it in the care of the Zamojin. Bonus Edition Vol. 66 Topspin was later present when his teammates raised concern about Springer's's increasing girth. LG19 Sprung Prologue When their commander return from a trip to the Legends World with a new body, Topspin thought it was cool and, assuming he was now ready to ask Arcee out, pushed him towards her. LG19 Springer Sequel Upon learning that the Zamojin were attempting to destroy their creation through Windblade, the Jumpstarters explained the circumstances to the other Wreckers before traveling there to stop Katsu Don. LG65 Twin Twist Prologue During the battle, Topspin grabbed the Targetmaster Peacemaker after Twin Twist cut Windblade's control over him, Bonus Edition Vol. 65 then used the Zodiac to become a Headmaster, declaring himself a Triplemaster. Determined to defend the world he'd helped create, he then had the Zodiac repair all that Windblade had destroyed before combining with Twin Twist into their Attack Powered form and defeating both Windblade and Katsu Don. Bonus Edition Vol. 66

When Majin Zarak was released on the Legends World, the Jumpstarters worked with many other parties to defeat him. Twin Twist's Drill Base mode, linked to his Powered Engine, was used to funnel power into Alpha Trion's ultra-drill, a device for transporting between dimensions. It was hoped that the ultra-drill could remove Majin Zarak to a safe pocket dimension without destroying (due to a time paradox involving his presence in this time period). Together, the defenders of the Legends World used their combined firepower to force Majin Zarak through the breach. However, the Targetmaster partners were also modified by Scorponok and Devil Z into plasma energy bombs which threatened to destroy the Legends World. Unable to disarm the Targetmasters without killing them, Mayor Megatron ordered the population evacuated through portals created by Twin Twist's Drill Base. The Jumpstarters theorized it might still be possible to one day recreate the Legends World if it were destroyed, with the help of their Powered Master leader, Dai Atlas. Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two

Getting aid from the Powered Masters would not be easy, however. Back in 2038 of the OG World, the Jumpstarters discovered the Powered Masters had been possessed by the malevolent entity Violengiguar. Although Dai Atlas, Sonic Bomber, and Roadfire still lived on in new Headmaster bodies, their Powered Engines remained in their original forms. Having stolen the Zodiac, Vion (in the body of Dai Atlas) attempted to use its power. Luckily, Topspin and Twin Twist were able to combine with the real Dai Atlas, allowing him access to their Powered Engines to counter Vion's efforts and temporarily deplete the Zodiac's power. The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2

The battle progressed to the Zone Base on Planet Micro, where Violengiguar and his master Dark Nova intended to steal energon to recharge the Zodiac. Dark Nova forcibly merged with Mayor Megatron to recreate the powerful Star Giant colossus. Roadfire focused on reclaiming the Powered Engines from the Powered Masters' original bodies, and rallied Topspin and Twin Twist to do it. Topspin and Roadfire merged into Wing Powered while Twin Twist and Dai Atlas formed Drill Powered. Their combined firepower destroyed Lenger and Iguarn in the bodies of Sonic Bomber and Road Fire. Roadfire Chapter

As Vion was destroyed as well and the last Powered Engine recovered, however, the Jumpstarters received surprising resistance from the other Powered Masters. Dai Atlas's hatred of Megatron was such that he not only had no compunctions about striking down Star Giant (with the innocently possessed Megatron inside), but he would also refuse to restore the Legends World if Megatron was the one who wished it. Having seen the benevolent Mayor Megatron and the peaceful Legends World, Topspin and Twin Twist tried to convince the Powered Masters otherwise, but to no avail. When they tried to prevent Dai Atlas from killing Star Giant, he mercilessly cut off their heads and forcibly incorporated their Powered Engines and Transtectors into the Ultra Powered combination. Only as he prepared for his final strike did Dai Atlas realize Star Giant wasn't fighting back. Megatron held Star Giant at bay inside the creature, and accepted his death while imploring Dai Atlas to recreate the Legends World as his final wish. Dai Atlas killed Star Giant and begrudgingly agreed to help the Jumpstarters restore the Legends World afterwards. Dai Atlas Chapter

Together, the five Powered Masters used their Zone Base modes, the Zodiac, and many other energy sources and ingredients to spark the resurrection of the Legends World, allowing the inhabitants to return to New Akihibara City and their homes. Epiloge

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe

Topspin stood with a united Autobot/G.I. Joe force opposing the Decepticon/Cobra alliance before the final battle. Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12

2019 IDW continuity

Thunderclash considered Topspin to be a trusted ally and included him in a list of potential recruits for a new team of Wreckers. Tread & Circuits Part 4

Games

Transformers Legends

Topspin and Roadbuster were enlisted to assist Nova Prime in battle against Nemesis Prime, an evil future version of Nova. They were unable to prevail against this future threat. Prime Evil

Transformers: Earth Wars

Given Topspin and Twin Twist's absence from Earth, Springer recruited Nosecone to be the Wreckers' new resident driller. Nosecone arrival

Toys

The Transformers

Flip, jump, and... yeah, that's it

• Topspin (Jumpstarter, 1985)

• Accessories: "Particle beam rifle"
• Known designers: Takashi Matsuda (TakaraTomy)

Released in the second year of the original US Transformers toyline (first in non-US markets), Jumpstarter Topspin transforms into some kind of Cybertronic pontoon-fronted air-skiff vehicle. He features a pull-back motor in vehicle mode that propels him forward on smooth surfaces; after a short run the latch that keeps his spring-loaded legs releases, causing him to flip forward and into upright robot mode. He has a little adjustable switch on the back of his head that affects the efficacy of the jumping gimmick (see the Jumpstarter article's "Toys" section for a full breakdown of what it actually does).

Early versions of Topspin contain the letters "D.A.R." on the wings. These are a holdover from the original pre-Transformers Diaclone release, and evidently stand for "Diaclone Attack Robo". The Mexican IGA variant presents him with his face painted red.

Despite being Takara-owned mold, the Jumpstarters were not sold in Takara's version of the Transformers toyline.

This mold was used to make Salt-Man X and Robot-Man X.

• More information on Topspin at TFU.info

Kre-O

• Kreon Class of '85 (Kreon figure set, 2015)

• Set number: B5152
• Voted: Most Likely to Make Like a Tree And Get Out of Here
• Accessories: Small pistol

Kre-O Topspin is a small brick-built Kreon figure, using the 2015-style construction with raised hands and the sturdier "peg-in-peg" torso/waist connection. He uses the new-for-that-year maskless version of the Optimus Prime helmet.

He was only available as part of the San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive "Kreon Class of '85" 30-Kreon set. This set was also sold online through Hasbro Toy Shop after the show.

• More information on Class of '85 Topspin at TFU.info

Titans Return

You actually have to spend time with me.

• Freezeout & Autobot Topspin (Deluxe Class, 2017)

• Accessories: "Freezeout" Titan Master, blaster
• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

"Autobot Topspin" is part of the fourth wave of Titans Return Deluxe Class toys. No longer featuring an autotransformation, Topspin now transforms traditionally using multiple steps from a space ship to a robot and back. Like Triggerhappy from the same line, Topspin's transformation is surprisingly complex for a Deluxe figure, involving multiple swiveling sections. He's also noticeably taller and bulkier than a standard Deluxe figure, though still smaller than a Voyager Class figure. His legs collapse into themselves for transformation, and the hinges tab into the legs for robot mode. If this tab is not clipped in, it can be hard to get him to stand because his legs aren't secure.

His partner Freezeout transforms into his head, plus Freezeout can either pilot Topspin's vehicle mode inside his opening cockpit compartment or sit within the combined form of his two weapons.

Some Autobot Topspin figures came with a misprinted collector's card calling him "Autbot Topspin".

He was later retooled into Twin Twist, who was also retooled into Roadfire.

Topspin was first released at retail in the Philippines, and subsequently the United States, in early 2017, with Perceptor and Sergeant Kup being the only figures that from his wave had been officially announced by Hasbro by that point. Hasbro didn't acknowledge the existence of Topspin, Quake and Krok until Toy Fair, over a month after their release in the Philippines and two weeks after the first sighting at US retail.

Legends

Oh man, bro! I found this Targetmaster all alone too! Let's keep them!

• Targetmaster Topspin (Deluxe, 2018)

• ID number: LG66
• Release date: March 24, 2018
• Accessories: Headmaster, Peaceman Targetmaster

Legends "Targetmaster Topspin" is a redeco of Titans Return Topspin. The Headmaster, appendages, and wings are a vibrant blue, rather than his mold-mate's turquoise.

He is inexplicably packaged with Peaceman; the new pairing is presumably due to the lack of a contemporary Pointblank/Blanker mold being available for use.

Merchandise

Tiny Titans

• Autobot Topspin (Tiny Titans, 2015)
  • Series: 2
  • Number: 2/12

Part of the second assortment of Tiny Titans blindpacks, this version of Topspin is a very small, soft-plastic figure of him in robot mode... though his actual resemblance to his original form is... dubious.

He includes a collectible card that renders him in the 2015 Robots in Disguise styling. The card includes a scan-badge for the Robots in Disguise mobile game, which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.

This wave saw fairly minimal release at "big box" retailers, but unlike other waves, was not picked up by drug stores and the like later, making them particularly hard to find.

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Topspin, Air & Space Assault (2020)
  • Wave 5: Titan Masters Attack
  • Rarity: UT
  • Card Number: T39/T46
  • Stars: 9

Topspin, Air & Space Assault is one of forty-six double sided character cards released as part of Wave 5 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, Titans Masters Attack. As a character with a body mode, Topspin begins the game with a Titan Master attached in head mode. Once Topspin is KO'd, said Titan Master is deployed.

The card's artwork is based on the Titans Return Topspin toy, with the body mode artwork being reused from the toy's packaging art (minus the Freezeout Titan Master). The card features original Alt Mode artwork, with lines by Dan Khanna.

This card's set was originally set for an April 2020 release, however due to the global COVID-19 pandemic the release was pushed back to May 29, 2020.

The original stock art does not show the card's star count. It was later clarified by the official Transformers Trading Card Game Twitter account that the card has 9 stars. When the set was released the error remained in the final product.^[1] With the cancellation of the game shortly after Wave 5's release it is unlikely that a corrected version will be printed.

Notes

• The Jumpstarters were originally Diaclone "Baku-ten Attack Robo" (爆転アタックロボ, roughly "Explosive Flip Attack Robo") toys. The "Jet Type" (ジェットタイプ) that would become Topspin was available in two different color schemes: both had dark blue torsos, but one had red limbs while the other had light blue limbs.
• According to early Hasbro production materials obtained from the collection of Ron Friedman, Topspin was at one point going to be the "red pop-up vehicle". This notation presumably stems from his red-limbed Diaclone colors. Then again, a red-limbed and -headed version of Topspin (i.e. one of Salt-Man X's color schemes) appears on the cover of a French Prisunic toy catalog from 1985,^[2] which depicts the standard blue and white Transformers version on the inside (partially covered up by the page number), so maybe that is what the figure was initially supposed to look like?
• A pair of Topspins appear on the 1985 packaging mural that do not match the colors of the released toy. They appear to be either in Topspin's light and dark blue Diaclone scheme or an inversion of his final blue and white scheme. The tininess of the images makes accurate color assessment difficult.
• The portraits of Topspin and Twin Twist on their packaging bios next to their Tech Specs were originally reversed, causing some children a bit of confusion. This was eventually fixed. In addition, both of their weapons were named as a twin ion impulse blaster, most likely a placeholder name that otherwise only appears in Bombshell's instructions.
• Animation models were created for both Topspin and Twin Twist back in the '80s, but they were never animated, not even in a commercial.^[3]
• In Dreamwave's The War Within #3, a yellow and black Autobot with Topspin's body-type appears. Whether this is a miscolored Topspin or an original cameo character is unclear.
• Topspin met Godzilla! ...sort of. The 1986 Commodore 64 Godzilla game The Movie Monster Game used Topspin's likeness (adding a visor) for Mechatron, a city-destroying giant robot. The game's monsters (save Godzilla) are all thinly-veiled copies of better-known movie monsters such as the Blob or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. While the game manual attempts to imply the inclusion of a giant robot is a reference to Moguera in The Mysterians, the name, likeness and dating all suggest it was a deliberate salute to all things Transformers. Topspin's likeness was only used for the game manual; Mechatron's in-game appearance utilized blobby blocks of color that do not match that design.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Topspin (トップスピン Toppusupin)
• French: Virevolteur (Canada)

Gallery

• 

  Pre-Transformer Diaclone decoes

• 

  Color schemes in the 1985 packaging mural

• 

  Generation 1 cartoon character model (unused)

References

External links

• Baku-Ten Attack Robot Jet Type at Diaclone.net