Topher (comics)

Topher
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Runaways #7 (December, 2003)
Created by	Brian K. Vaughan ; Adrian Alphona
In-story information
Species	Vampire
Team affiliations	Runaways
Notable aliases	The One Who Fathered Us; Toph
Abilities	Vampirism; Immortality; Longevity; Siphon Lifeforce; Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and reflexes; Regeneration; Vampiric weakness resistance; Progeny tracking;

Last updated April 01, 2019

Topher is a fictional villain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character appeared in the series Runaways ^[1]. He is a Vampire who infiltrates and joins the Runaways and is the leader of a small criminal group operating in Los Angeles.

A villain (masculine) and villainess (feminine) is an evil fictional character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines villain as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot". The purpose of the villain is to be the opposition of the hero character and their motives or evil actions drive the plot along. In contrast to the hero, who is defined by their feats of ingenuity and bravery and their pursuit of justice and the greater good, a villain is often defined by their acts of cruelty, cunning and displays immoral behavior that can oppose or perverse justice. The antonym of a villain is a hero.

An American comic book is a thin periodical, typically 32 pages, containing comics content. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics, which included the debut of the superhero Superman. This was followed by a superhero boom that lasted until the end of World War II. After the war, while superheroes were marginalized, the comic book industry rapidly expanded, and genres such as horror, crime, science fiction, and romance became popular. The 1950s saw a gradual decline, due to a shift away from print media in the wake of television and the impact of the Comics Code Authority. The late 1950s and the 1960s saw a superhero revival, and superheroes remain the dominant character archetype in the 21st century.

Marvel Comics company that publishes comic books and related media

Marvel Comics is the brand name and primary imprint of Marvel Worldwide Inc., formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, a publisher of American comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide's parent company.

Marvel's Runaways, or simply Runaways, is an American web television series created for Hulu by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films and other television series of the franchise. The series is produced by ABC Signature Studios, Marvel Television and Fake Empire Productions, with Schwartz and Savage serving as showrunners.

Publication history

Topher first appeared in Runaways #7 and was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. Initially, he appears as a sympathetic character and joins the Runaways as a provisional member for the story arc 'Teenage Wasteland'. He later betrays the team, revealing his vampirism and his criminal past before defeating the Runaways in combat.

Runaways (comics) Marvel comic book series

Runaways is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series features a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are part of an evil crime organization known as "The Pride". Created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, the series debuted in July 2003 as part of Marvel Comics' "Tsunami" imprint. The series was canceled in September 2004 at issue eighteen, but due to high numbers of trade collection sales, Marvel revived the series in February 2005.

Brian K. Vaughan American screenwriter, comic book creator

Brian Keller Vaughan is an American comic book and television writer, best known for the comic book series Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, Pride of Baghdad, Saga, and, most recently, Paper Girls.

Adrian Alphona is a Canadian comic book artist best known for his work on Marvel Comics' Runaways, which he co-created with writer Brian K. Vaughan.

He died in Runaways #10 after attempting to turn Karolina Dean into a vampire, as ingesting her sunlight-infused blood was unknowingly fatal to vampires ^[2].

Karolina Dean character from Marvel Comics

Karolina Dean, also briefly known as Lucy in the Sky, or L.S.D., is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in the series Runaways. Like every member of the original Runaways, she is the daughter of evil super-powered criminals; while searching through her parents' home, Karolina inadvertently discovers that her parents were Majesdanian invaders. Majesdanians are an alien race that absorbs solar energy and re-radiates it in the form of the colors of the rainbow. She is often called "Kar," “Karo,” or "K" for short, and is known for her free spirit and kind nature.

Several years later, Topher had a posthumous appearance as an entry in the guidebook Vampires: The Marvel Undead^[3].

Fictional character biography

Origins

Topher was originally born at some point before the year 1900 before being turned into a vampire at the age of sixteen. At some point after 1939, after the great depression had ended, he was able to amass a large amount of wealth by cleverly playing the stock market. During this time period, he turned at least one individual into a vampiric minion and later consumed at least one Mutant in 1979^[2].

In American comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is a human being that possesses a genetic trait called the X-gene. It causes the mutant to develop superhuman powers that manifest at puberty. Human mutants are sometimes referred to as a human subspecies Homo sapiens superior, or simply Homo superior. Mutants are the evolutionary progeny of Homo sapiens, and are generally assumed to be the next stage in human evolution. The accuracy of this is the subject of much debate in the Marvel Universe.

Topher laid low with his earned affluence for the rest of the twentieth century, preferring to keep out of the spotlight and keep his vampiric nature secret.

During the Dot-com bubble burst and subsequent economic turmoil, Topher lost his entire wealth and turned to a life of crime, creating at least one more vampiric minion to do his bidding.

Joining the Runaways

Topher first encountered the Runaways while robbing a convenience store in Los Feliz with his two vampiric minions. The Runaways intervened in the robbery attempt, causing Topher to flee and leaving him with the six teenagers. Playing the victim, Topher convinced the Runaways that the two minions (who were conveniently an adult man and woman) were his parents. He fabricated a lie that the super strength and speed the minions had displayed in the fight were, in fact, super powers imbued from an accident at a power plant that had also left them psychologically unstable, leading them both to a life of crime which they forced their helpless son into^[1].

The Runaways are sympathetic to his plight due to the similarity between his supposed situation and their own and invite him back to their hideout at the sunken hostel. After connecting with the members, they offer him a provisional membership to the Runaways and show him around their home. Topher begins to pursue a faux-romantic relationship with Nico after bonding about their current predicament, ending with the two of them kissing. Nico stops things from progressing any further after feeling guilty about her current romantic interest in Alex.

The next day, Topher sets his sights on pursuing Karolina in addition to Nico, leading to Topher and Karolina also kissing. Nico catches the two together and this causes Nico and Karolina to have an emotional fight. The fight is stopped by the intervention of Gert, which leads to Topher following an emotional Nico leaving the hostel.

Reveal and demise

Now outside and alone with her, Topher reveals his true nature to Nico, he details his deception including his supposed parent's identities as his minions and his past as an affluent recluse. Nico tricks Topher into drawing her blood, which causes the wooden Staff of One to emerge from her chest and puncture his heart. However, this does not kill Topher as it would a normal vampire and he heals quickly from the wound. Alex appears and attempts to fight off Topher with a flaming torch, which only delays him long enough for Alex and Nico to retreat and join with the rest of the Runaways.

Topher uses his array of vampire abilities to quickly defeat the majority of the Runaways with ease. Leaving Karolina standing, he reveals his intention to turn her into a vampiric servant, a fate which she willingly accepts due to being disheartened after her parent's betrayal and her fight with Nico. Topher sinks his fangs into her neck, but stumbles back almost immediately before exploding before their eyes. Karolina's Majesdanian physiology caused her blood to be filled with solar energy that was highly toxic to vampires.

It is later revealed that The Pride killed his two minions after interrogating them for the Runaways' location.

Powers and abilities

Vampire

Topher is a Vampire that is over 100 years old and as a result, has many powers associated with being a vampire of his age. He is functionally immortal and immune to aging and disease and will forever have the appearance of a sixteen year old boy. He is impervious to most forms of harm and will rapidly heal and regenerate from attacks that are not lethal to vampires.

As with other Vampires, Topher's physical attributes are greatly superior to those of a regular human, with his body capable of feats of superhuman strength, speed, and stamina. His senses are heightened allowing for night vision and feats of tracking far beyond both humans and animals.

His mouth contains protractile fangs and claws which are able to easily pierce skin and allow him to quickly drain a human of blood completely. He has the ability to sire other vampires by injecting an enzyme while feeding upon a victim, before his demise he had created at least two other known vampires - both of which have since been destroyed.

Though not utilized in his appearances, he has the potential to display any of the following powers: hypnotism, animal summoning and control, and the ability to transform into a blood mist or certain animals^[3].

Other abilities

Topher displayed a number of abilities which had not been seen before in other vampires in the Marvel Universe. He was resistant to a number of attacks that would usually prove fatal or damaging to a vampire; he displayed enhanced healing and regenerative capabilities and was able to completely heal within seconds after being penetrated by a wooden stake through the heart^[2].

Topher displayed resistance to fire attacks and was also able to sense the condition of vampires that he had created over distances up to several miles away.

Reception

During Topher's short run of appearances, his characterization and reveal in the series was positively received. Jason Cornwell of Comics Bulletin praised the reveal of Topher's Vampiric nature, doubting that "anyone would've guessed this secret before the final page arrived."^[4] In another review, Cornwall also mentioned that "The book also does a nice job of making Topher into a cold, calculating villain who is able to easily manipulate the emotions of the young team."^[5]

Topher's arrival and induction into the group was not entirely well received, with reviewer Paul Brian McCoy mentioning "I don’t think we really needed to introduce new characters yet since we still don’t really know who these kids and their parents are."^[6]

In other media

Television

Topher appears in the second season of the Hulu television series, Runaways portrayed by Jan Luis Castellanos.^[7] Rather than being a vampire, Topher is a regular man who becomes addicted to applying a grounded up powder, made from strange rocks from an alien drill site, to his wrist. This grants him super strength, reduced aging (making him still look like a teenager) and glowing eyes similar to Molly Hernandez. He is also latino and becomes attached to Molly as if they were family. Topher had witnessed Molly's parents' deaths and became addicted to the rocks they were studying. He became violent and was kicked out by his family for his behavior.^[8]

He first appears at the end of "Double Zeroes" where he takes an interest in Molly's similar abilities and follows her back to the Runaways' hostel.^[9] The group (sans Molly) do not trust him, especially Nico, but they keep him as a test. Even when he brings them food that he claims he did not steal, they still have trouble with him. He ends up aiding them in stealing a computer hard drive from their old school and seems to earn their respect, but Nico snags a vial of the crushed alien powder and demands an explanation from him.^[10] He claimed that he was kicked out by his disapproving parents and found the rocks in an alley way somewhere. Despite this, Molly still insists that Topher can be trusted. She tells him where the rocks came from and he flees to go get more, resulting in him hurting innocents just to get them. He makes it back to his house where he pleads with his family to take him back. When they refuse, he lashes out and battles the Runaways. Ultimately, he tosses a dumpster at the group, but Chase uses his fistigons to blast it back. When it nearly crushes Gert, a remorseful Topher shoves her out of the way and he is killed.^[8]

Related Research Articles

The Pride are a fictional supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters are depicted as a criminal organization that controlled the Los Angeles area of the Marvel Universe. As they are the parents and the initial and most prominent foes the Runaways have faced, they are perhaps the team's greatest enemy to date. The Pride consists of six couples—the mafia-controlling Wilders, the time-traveling Yorkes, the telepathic mutants Hayeses, the alien invaders Deans, the mad scientists Steins and the dark wizards Minorus.

Nico Minoru, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appeared in the Marvel Comics Runaways. Created in 2003 by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, the character debuted in Runaways vol. 1 #1. Like every member of the original Runaways, Nico is the daughter of the super-powered villains calling themselves "the Pride"; in her case, she is the daughter of dark wizards. Upon finding out, Nico runs away with the rest of the runaways but later discovers that she inherited her parents' magical aptitude. Whenever Nico bleeds, a powerful staff emerges from her chest, called the Staff of One, allowing Nico to bend magic.

Molly Hayes is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character debuted in the award-winning series Runaways. Like every member of the original Runaways, she is the daughter of evil villains with special abilities; after the other older Runaways learn more about themselves, they raid Molly's home to find out her mutant abilities had already manifested. Often called "Mol" for short, Molly is the youngest Runaway and her innocence often serves as humor in the series, but she has demonstrated great insight at critical moments.

Gertrude Yorkes, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She was created by author Brian K. Vaughan & artist Adrian Alphona, and debuted in Runaways #1 with most of the other main characters. Like every member of the original Runaways, she is the daughter of evil villains with special abilities; in Gert's case, time-travellers. Gertrude, often called "Gert" for short, is often regarded as the most "book-smart" of the Runaways yet also the most sarcastic and cynical. She has socialist leanings and is ethnically Jewish but spiritually agnostic. Gert is known for her sarcastic one-liners, glasses, and purple-dyed hair. She stands at a rough height of 5'1" and weighs 125 lb (57 kg).

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Victor Mancha character from Marvel Comics

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Alex Wilder is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is introduced in the series Runaways.

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References

1 2 Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland"Runaways 7(December 2003), Marvel Comics
1 2 3 Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland"Runaways 10(March 2004), Marvel Comics
1 2 Jeff Christiansen (w). Vampires: The Marvel Undead(October 2011), Marvel Comics
↑ Cornwell, Jason (2003-12-29). "Runaways #09". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
↑ Cornwell, Jason (2004-01-29). "Runaways #10". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
↑ McCoy, Paul Brian (2003-11-25). "Runaways #08". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
↑ Dinh, Christine (October 6, 2018). "'First Look: Meet Topher from 'Marvel's Runaways'". Marvel.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
1 2 Peters, Scott (director); Jake Fogelnest (writer) (December 21, 2018). "Rock Bottom". Marvel's Runaways. Season 2. Episode 5. Hulu.
↑ Teng, Larry (director); Kirk A. Moore (writer) (December 21, 2018). "Double Zeroes". Marvel's Runaways. Season 2. Episode 3. Hulu.
↑ Norris, Patrick (director); Tracy McMillan (writer) (December 21, 2018). "Old School". Marvel's Runaways. Season 2. Episode 4. Hulu.

External links

Topher at Marvel Wiki
Topher at Comic Vine

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[TeenageWasteland-1] 1 2 Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland"Runaways 7(December 2003), Marvel Comics

[IssueTen-2] 1 2 3 Brian K. Vaughan (w), Adrian Alphona (p), David Newbold and Craig Yeung (i). "Teenage Wasteland"Runaways 10(March 2004), Marvel Comics

[VampiresGuidebook-3] 1 2 Jeff Christiansen (w). Vampires: The Marvel Undead(October 2011), Marvel Comics

[runaways09review-4] Cornwell, Jason (2003-12-29). "Runaways #09". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-07-31.

[runaways10review-5] Cornwell, Jason (2004-01-29). "Runaways #10". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-07-31.

[McCoy08review-6] McCoy, Paul Brian (2003-11-25). "Runaways #08". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-07-31.

[CastAnnounce-7] Dinh, Christine (October 6, 2018). "'First Look: Meet Topher from 'Marvel's Runaways'". Marvel.com. Retrieved October 8, 2018.

[RockBottom-8] 1 2 Peters, Scott (director); Jake Fogelnest (writer) (December 21, 2018). "Rock Bottom". Marvel's Runaways. Season 2. Episode 5. Hulu.

[9] Teng, Larry (director); Kirk A. Moore (writer) (December 21, 2018). "Double Zeroes". Marvel's Runaways. Season 2. Episode 3. Hulu.

[10] Norris, Patrick (director); Tracy McMillan (writer) (December 21, 2018). "Old School". Marvel's Runaways. Season 2. Episode 4. Hulu.