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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
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