TOPAZ
Real Name: Cynthia Topaz Rossini
Identity/Class: Human mutant
Occupation: Assassin
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Adelbert Greywing, Prototype
(Desmond Phineas Tarketon)
Enemies: Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), Domino
(Neena Thurman), Outlaw (Inez Temple), Shang-Chi
Known Relatives: Dr. Rossini (father)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Internationally mobile
First Appearance: Domino III#1 (June, 2018)
Powers/Abilities: Topaz can alter the mutant
power (possibly any super power) of an individual within a certain
radius (approximately 100' when focused in eyeview), this can range
from
temporarily switching the powers off or amplifying them, or even
causing intense pain whenever the mutant power is used. Topaz has
superhuman strength and superhuman durability; however, she can be
concussed by grenades and multiple intense injuries may prove lethal.
She has enhanced agility and reflexes, and is a master of several
fighting techniques, making her a formidable opponent. She does not
rely on weapons, just her fists and rage.
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Eyes: Turquoise
Hair: Red
History:
(Domino III#4 (fb)) - Topaz was the daughter of the mutant-phobic chief scientist, Dr. Rossini, who experimented on mutants in the US Government's secret facility Project Armageddon in Florida. As a 10-year-old, she was allowed to roam the corridors and befriended frightened child Desmond Tarketon, who was (unknown to all) symbiotically linked to fellow mutant Neena Thurman (both born at the same time); Tarketon would experience severe physical trauma when Thurman unwittingly enjoyed moments of 'good luck." Unbeknown to her father, Topaz was secretly a mutant too with the power to affect another mutant's power.
(Domino III#5 (fb)) - Once Dr. Rossini discovered the
connection between Thurman and Tarketon, Dr. Rossini increased his
experimentation on the boy. But Topaz's empathy and love for Tarketon
left her deeply upset. When Thurman was
rescued, Dr. Rossini was ready to dispose of Tarketon, but instead the
two children ran off and became homeless runaways until their powers revealed
themselves; then they took what they needed.
(Domino III#4 (fb) - BTS) - Much later, Topaz and
Tarketon set up a plan for revenge against Thurman (who had since
become the adventurer Domino), with Tarketon
intending to siphon Domino's "good luck" power by causing her great turmoil and thereby heal himself.
They set up base at the old Project Armageddon facility, where Dr.
Rossini was kept captive and unable to leave.
(Domino III#1 (fb) - BTS) - Mysterious to all mercenaries except by name, Topaz paid the monstrous
mutant Greywing to kill Domino and put a
bounty on Diamondback.
(Domino III#1) - Greywing's assassination attempt was
unsuccessful and he told her who had hired him. Later, Topaz played the
role of an anonymous nurse alongside the infirm Desmond
Tarketon, who passed Domino the odd present of a broken domino tile
for her birthday during a brief respite from her surprise birthday
party. With hate-filled eyes, Topaz attacked Domino, also neutralizing her
"good luck" power, and Domino was thrown through her San Francisco penthouse
window to fall to the street below.
(Domino III#2) - Tarketon told Topaz to restore
Domino's luck power and she was saved by Spider-Man just before hitting the street. Meanwhile, Topaz
and Tarketon were apprehended by party guests, but Tarketon, now a little healthier after
successfully absorbing some of Domino's power, teleported himself and Topaz away. Later, during Domino's mercenary job
on a casino paddle steamer, Topaz caused Domino's luck power to affect
others, resulting in many gamblers winning and chaos ensuing. With the
boat evacuated, Tarketon and Topaz confronted Domino. They teleported
away as they detonated part of the steamboat to kill Domino's friends
in an effort to hurt Domino and thereby gain more power from her.
(Domino III#3) - Topaz and Tarketon had teleported to
the other side of the paddle steamer. Domino found them and the two
women fiercely fought until Topaz turned Domino's "good luck" power against
her, but also revealing that Domino had hurt people with her powers.
Topaz then threatened to go after Domino's brother Lazarus next before
teleporting away again. Meanwhile, Domino's friends had survived the
explosion.
(Domino III#4) - Domino traveled to Hong Kong to
train with Shang-Chi to learn to control her "good luck" powers for her next
confrontation with Topaz and Tarketon. However, the villains had set a
trap with mercenaries paid to attack. Elsewhere, Outlaw and Diamondback
tracked down Project Armageddon, but Topaz and Tarketon (now calling
himself Prototype and much healthier) were ready for them. Topaz's
super-strength and near invulnerability matched Outlaw's, and her
ruthless fighting skills enabled her to knock out Outlaw while
Prototype threatened Diamondback.
(Domino III#5) - Diamondback's concussive diamond grenades knocked out Topaz and Prototype cradled her unconscious body. Outlaw and Diamondback showed compassion when they heard Prototype tell his history, but he was just delaying until Topaz recovered. Topaz knocked away Outlaw while Prototype eliminated Diamondback. The villains teleported after Domino just as Outlaw viciously punched Prototype. However, in Hong Kong, Shang-Chi had helped Domino gain control of her "good luck" powers and this in turn impacted Prototype even more, shocking Topaz as they arrived in Hong Kong.
(Domino III#6 (fb) - BTS) - Prototype died moments later from
his injuries, apologizing to Topaz with his last breath.
(Domino III#6) - Topaz found Domino with Shang-Chi
and struck. Domino saw the rage in Topaz's eyes that she would never
stop. Domino knocked out Shang-Chi from behind to keep him out of the
fight and she clashed fiercely with Topaz. Despite Topaz linking her
"good luck" powers to her pain receptors, Domino focused and kept brutally
fighting until Outlaw and Diamondback hit Topaz with a stolen
Quinjet, ramming her into the ground. Topaz survived and declared that
she would never stop. Domino took Outlaw's gun and emptied 12 bullets
at point-blank range into Topaz's darkly smiling face, apparently killing her.
Afterward, Shang-Chi refused to train her any further and no longer welcomed her.
Comments: Created by Gail Simone & David Baldeon.
Despite point-blank shots at the end, with her power set, I think there's a reasonable chance Topaz survived...
This profile was completed 8/23/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Topaz (Cynthia Rossini) has no known connections to:
images:
(without ads)
Domino III#3, p8, pan4 (main image)
Domino III#6, p8, pan2 (headshot)
Domino III#4, p1, pan4 (as child)
Domino III#5, p16, pan3 (thud action)
Appearances:
Domino III#1 (June, 2018) - Gail Simone (writer), David Baldeon
(pencils & inks), Chris Robinson (editor)
Domino III#2 (July, 2018) - Gail Simone (writer), David Baldeon
(pencils & inks), Chris Robinson (editor)
Domino III#3 (August, 2018) - Gail Simone (writer), David Baldeon &
Anthony Piper (pencils & inks), Chris Robinson (editor)
Domino III#4 (September, 2018) - Gail Simone (writer), David Baldeon
(pencils & inks), Chris Robinson (editor)
Domino III#5 (October, 2018) - Gail Simone (writer), David Baldeon
(layouts), Michael Shelfer (pencils & inks), Chris Robinson (editor)
Domino III#6 (November, 2018) - Gail Simone (writer), David Baldeon
(pencils & inks), Chris Robinson (editor)
First posted: 09/27/2021
Last updated:
09/26/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
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Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix!