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Topspin (DOTM)

2011-07-19T23:37:43Z

76.226.48.106: /* Deluxe Class toys */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Topspin}}

:''Topspin is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Topspin-dotm-nizzi-production.jpg|right|thumb|400px|YOU DON'T DESERVE TO KNOW MY NAME!]]

If it doesn't result in at least a few dings and scraped paint, '''Topspin''' isn't interested. To him, buckled and burnt armor are signs of a life well-led. He's proud of being one tough bot, and is more than happy to wear the scars to prove it.

He's one of the [[Wrecker]]s.<ref>http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2107707&id=1319780046</ref>

==Fiction==
===''Dark of the Moon'' (film)===
{{spoiler|Dark of the Moon (film)|when=July 29, 2011}}

[[Image:TopspinDaytona500trailer.jpg|thumb|left||300px|"Talkin'boutthattheredangol'"Wreck'nRule!"man..."]]

Topspin, Leadfoot, and Roadbuster, collectively known as [[Wrecker|the Wreckers]], by [[Charlotte Mearing]], had arrived with the second wave of Autobots aboard the Autobot ship, the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]''. When [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] announced that the current occupation force of Autobots was to be exiled, the three prepared the ship for launch and accompanied Optimus Prime and the others aboard, sending the ship into the atmosphere- where it was then targeted and blown to smithereens by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], seemingly killing all the Autobots aboard. Undaunted by this, the Autobot's human allies nonetheless tried to launch an incursion into Decepticon-held [[Chicago]]. Fortunately for them, the Autobots were not actually aboard the ship, and had only feigned their deaths in order to test the character of their human allies. Topspin and the other Wreckers swung into action immediately, executing a downed Decepticon pilot and running distraction against the Decepticons in their armored racecar forms, to great success. They later attempted to rescue [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] from the crane cables in which he had been snared. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
[[Image:DOTM_Cyberverse_Topspin_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|Transforms from NASCAR racer to bemulleted, Razorblade-sporting NASCAR fan.]]
* '''Autobot Topspin''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2011)
**''Series:'' '''1'''
**''Number:'' '''004'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''CV10'''

: Part of the first wave of [[Cyberverse]] toys, Topspin is a [[Legends Class|Legion-scale]] figure that transforms into a [[NASCAR]] [[wikipedia:Chevrolet_Impala#NASCAR_Sprint_Cup|Sprint Cup Chevy Impala]] stock car, specifically [[Wikipedia:Jimmie_Johnson|Jimmie Johnson's]] Lowes and Kobalt sponsored #48 car. Like the other NASCAR-based ''DOTM'' toys, both versions of Topspin lack the multiple small "contingency" sponsor decals found on a full-sized NASCAR racer.

{{-}}{{anchor|Deluxe}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:DOTM_Deluxe_Topspin.jpg|thumb|300px|Well no wonder he's won five championships in a row. Look at that thing.]]
* '''Autobot Topspin''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''DA10'''
**''Accessories:'' MechTech blaster/combat claw, two small guns, two large guns

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Deluxes, Topspin transforms into a heavily modified version of the same #48 Sprint Cup car as the Cyberverse Legion toy, with two sets of two differently-sized removable guns mounted onto [[5mm post|5mm post holes]] on the roof and sides of the vehicle. As part of the [[MechTech]] series, he has a blaster converts into a "combat claw", and this weapon, as well as his four removable guns, can be used by other ''Dark of the Moon'' MechTech toys or any other ''Transformers'' toy with 5mm post holes.

:Though he has prominent claws on his arms, Topspin does have fists sculpted onto his forearms.

:The Japanese release comes packed with a character card and an accompanying transparent plastic card of his MechTech weapon for the MechTech Wars online game.

{{-}}

* '''Autobot Armor Topspin''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID Number:''
**''Acessories:''
: A [[redeco]] of the Deluxe Topspin, "Armor Topspin" now is painted silver and black and has Kobalt Tools as his primary sponsor, instead of Lowe's.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Robo Power====
=====Activators=====
{{anchor|DOTMActivators}}
*'''Autobot Topspin''' (2011)

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Speed Stars===
====Mini-Vehicles====
*'''Autobot Topspin''' (2011)
**''Series:'' '''Stealth Force'''
**''Number:'' '''3 of 5'''

:Topspin's ''[[Speed Stars]]'' toy and packaging art is strange. It uses [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]]'s vehicle mode for the most part, with the minor alteration of Topspin's hood armour and of course, the Jimmie Johnson Lowes sponsored #48 car deco.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Stealth Force====
[[Image:DOTM_StealthForce_Topspin.jpg|thumb|300px|Of course it's stealthy, he's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage dazzle-painting]!]]
*'''Autobot Topspin''' (Basic, 2011)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* Topspin's robot mode features "sunglasses", a bushy "beard" and a "[[wikipedia:mullet (haircut)|mullet]]", making him resemble a stereotypical NASCAR fan.
* According to a profile during FOX's coverage of the 2011 Daytona 500, the real-world Topspin prop car has 510 horsepower and a 11:1 compression ratio, making it a good bit more powerful than even the real NASCAR #48 it is based on!
* As part of the promotions for ''[[Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', the film prop versions of Topspin, [[Roadbuster (DOTM)|Roadbuster]], and [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] made appearances at the [[2011]] Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on [[February 20]]th. They appeared both off the track as display cars, and on the track, participating in the ceremonial first lap.
* He's not the first [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] to be a Wrecker.
* Early working names for him included '''Tempest''' and '''Warpath'''.<ref name="nizzi">[http://www.joshnizzi.com/TF3.htm Josh Nizzi DOTM concepts.]</ref>
* Topspin is the only one of the three Wreckers (and for that matter, the only new Autobot in the third film) not to have any spoken lines.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Topspin''' (トップスピン ''Toppusupin'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category: Cyberverse]]
[[Category: Dark of the Moon Autobots]]
[[Category: Wreckers]]

Drift (G1)

2011-07-15T22:41:05Z

76.226.48.106: /* Generations */

{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Drift}}
{{featured}}

:''Drift is an [[Autobot]] from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AHM 06 CoverA.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Oh Drift-chan, you smell awesome, and not at all like feet!"]]

'''Drift''' (ドリフト ''Dorifuto'') was not always an Autobot. In fact, he slaughtered quite a few when he was known as the Decepticon '''Deadlock'''. But Deadlock's eyes were opened to what the Transformers' war had become when he stumbled across a lost faction of neutral Transformers long since forgotten. He discarded his ruthless ways, abandoned his guns for swords, and changed his name and appearance. When Drift returned to the Transformer war to make right what he put wrong, he was a bot of few words and disciplined action.

These days, Drift is a member of a ragtag team of rebels under the command of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], working alongside many members of the disbanded [[Wrecker|Wreckers]]. Because of his brutal past, Drift isn't well-liked or trusted by [[Bumblebee (G1)|a few]] of the Autobots. The rest don't seem to care, so long as his skills are used against the other side!

In addition to the two swords kept in his hip scabbards, Drift carries a legendary [[Great Sword]]. An ancient weapon that predates modern civilization, the Great Sword draws upon the [[spark]] energy of its bearer, and as such must only be used in the most dire of circumstances.

{{quote|We're going about this the wrong way, '''all''' of us! After countless centuries of fighting ... the Autobots are a '''step''' away from what we were when all this '''started.''' And us—the Decepticons have become something '''worse''' than any of us could have '''imagined'''.|Drift explains his new perception of the war to his [[Turmoil|former commander]]|"[[Spotlight: Drift]]"}}

==Fiction==
===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}

[[Image:Drift2-renamed.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Eh....Inferno, tell to Death Blade that if he calling me that again, his name will become DEATH BOT!"]]

Drift was originally a homeless Cybertronian, living on the streets and stealing energon to survive. The hopeless 'bot was befriended by [[Gasket (IDW)|Gasket]], but when Gasket was killed by Autobot law enforcement after trying to stop them from executing a thief, Drift exploded with rage, grabbed the nearest gun and killed them all. Drift's knack for violence attracted the attention of the Cybertronian underground, who trained Drift as a killer. Amongst this group, Drift realized the level of corruption in the [[Senate]], and a recruitment rally held by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] drew Drift in with his talk of equality. Megatron singled Drift out of the crowd, claiming to have heard great things of him, and asked him to join the Decepticons to fight for a better Cybertron. Drift agreed and, after being was hailed by the crowd, was renamed Deadlock by Megatron. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} Drift rose to become the second-in-command of [[Turmoil]], garnering a reputation as a vicious and merciless fighter.

[[Image:Drift1-Deadlock.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Deadlock prefers to pose so his legs don't block any of the action.]]
Much later, on an unknown planet, Deadlock led a battalion against an Autobot squadron. The [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Autobots' leader]] called a retreat, and Deadlock's team celebrated. This was spoiled when one of the soldiers pointed out that Deadlock had been ordered to merely observe, and once again had disobeyed orders. When the soldier threatened to inform Turmoil of Deadlock's disobedience, Deadlock killed him. Claiming Turmoil was too cautious and that it was time for new leadership, he called for the other soldiers to follow him, but they summarily captured him and brought him to Turmoil. Turmoil used a stasis lock to trap him in robot mode and attempted to execute him. Deadlock managed to escape, and after initiating an emergency protocol to cover his escape, stole an escape pod and departed the ship.

Deadlock crashed on an unknown planet. After scaling some, he found a massive structure, but before he could explore, a mysterious cloaked figure appeared, named [[Wing (G1)|Wing]]. Wing offered a deal: help him free the slaves, and he would find Deadlock a ship. Deadlock, introducing himself as "Drift," agreed, but first Drift said he needed guns. Together, they jumped some guards and stole their weapons, however a stray blast stripped Wing of his cloak, revealing him to be Cybertronian. Once they jumped into the complex, Drift automatically fled for the ship, abandoning Wing. Despite this betrayal, when Drift was attacked and nearly killed by one the slavers, Wing brought Drift back with him to a new [[Crystal City]], where he was repaired. {{storylink|Drift issue 1|Drift #1}}

[[Image:Drift1-rebuilt.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"We were okay with your old legs. Rest had to go."]]

Wing explained that they were the [[Circle of Light]], a group of Cybertronian scholars and scientists who abandoned the planet during the early days of the war in order to find peace and preserve Cybertron's culture. Wing and Drift were taken to a meeting with Crystal City's leader, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]. While Drift waited outside, Wing was admonished for bringing a corrupting influence to the city. He was ordered to keep Drift with him at all times. Afterward, Wing brought Drift to an empty room, discarded his swords and asked him what the Decepticon symbol stood for. Drift replied it meant strength, power and conviction, and the belief in the survival of the strongest. Wing offered Drift a chance to earn his freedom by defeating him without guns in combat, but Drift never succeeded. Drift grumbled that he'd never learned to fight without projectile weaponry.

Weeks later, Wing was still dominating Drift. Over time, Drift admitted that Crystal City held everything Drift had ever wanted, while the Decepticons had lost sight of this goal some time ago. Their sparring was interrupted by a summons from Dai Atlas. When they arrived in the control room, he informed them that they had received a coded signal and he thought Drift might be able to translate. Though Drift claimed he could not understand it, that night he snuck out of the city and drove far into the desert. There he met with the slavers, who had used a Decepticon code to offer Drift a deal. The code had been obtained from [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]], a Decepticon sent by Megatron. The deal was simple: hand over the location of the Circle of Light or die. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}}

[[Image:Drift4-notdoneyet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Man, I bet those dumb G2 guys wish they had this kind of endurance.]]

Lockdown reminded "Deadlock" of his high-standing in the Decepticon army. Megatron held Deadlock in high esteem, and by guarding these Transformers Drift stood to lose that. Meanwhile, the head slaver, [[Braid]], required Cybertronian bodies to experiment on, and were willing to take captives from the neutral camp in lieu of Deadlock, in payment for the property he'd damaged earlier. After agreeing to lead the neutral Transformers into an ambush, Drift stumbled back to Crystal City, where he informed the Circle of Light about the pact he'd made with Lockdown and the slavers. Drift argued that they should fight their attackers to preserve their freedom and their way of life, but Dai Atlas sharply disagreed. He would have no fighting at all, even to preserve his own life, and blamed Drift for ruining their civilization. The others did not agree, and supported Drift. A small number of them offered to help fight the slavers while keeping the true number of their population unknown. As they reached the surface with a hastily constructed craft to make it appear as if the Circle of Light had recently crashed there, Drift revealed himself to have been rebuilt head-to-toe to match his new colleagues. With a sword mounted on each hip, Drift announced he was ready. {{storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}}

Soon, Lockdown and the slavers were upon them. After slaying a few of the slavers, Drift realized that he was past the point of no return. Lockdown realized this as well, and asked the former Decepticon why he'd given it all away so easily. "What I've always wanted... the promise of a better Cybertron." But their sparring was interrupted by the death of Wing. Enraged, Drift jumped Braid, Wing's murderer, but he did not accomplish much. He was not as agile a fighter as his late friend, and Braid easily defeated him.

Before the killing blow could be delivered, Crystal City in its entirety rose from the ground, as Wing's death had spurred Dai Atlas into action. With the entirety of the population now fighting the slavers, the tide was quickly turned. Despite his injuries, Drift slew Braid with his Great Sword, while Lockdown, startled at Drift's transformation, cut his losses and left. Though the Circle of Light asked Drift to stay with them, Drift reminded them that he'd promised Wing to return the freed slaves to their homes. Drift was given Wing's Great Sword and given their blessing. {{storylink|Drift issue 4|Drift #4}}

[[Image:SpotlightDrift Deadlockisdead.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He's your horrible fancharacter.]]

Some time after leaving Crystal City and returning the slaves, Drift set off to make a difference in the Autobot/Decepticon Civil War. First, he attempted to free a group of Autobots held captive on the ship he'd previously served aboard. Upon entering Turmoil's ship, his attempt at stealth was successful until the [[Wrecker]]s arrived and blasted their way aboard. Jumping into the battle to assist them, he piqued the interest of a few Autobots. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] was injured as Turmoil entered the battle and, recognizing Drift's voice as that of his former lieutenant, attempted to destroy him. However, his attack only resulted in knocking Drift and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] to another room. The two quickly worked together to program the ship to overload. In his final confrontation with Turmoil, Drift stated his intention was to help, not kill, and left to rescue Perceptor before the ship blew up.

After his arrival on the Autobot ship, Kup invited Drift to join his new unit as an Autobot. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

[[Image:SpotlightDrift-car.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He thinks he's turning Japanese, he thinks he's turning Japanese, he really thinks so.]]

Now a crew member of the spacecraft ''[[Trion]]'', Drift got to know his new teammate [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] over many friendly games of [[Go]]. Perceptor felt he owed a debt to Drift for saving his life, and so devoted much of his time to upgrading himself for more combat-oriented tasks. While Kup discouraged this, Drift stoically accepted Perceptor's new ambitions. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15#"Lost & Found"|Lost & Found}}

They were soon baited into a Decepticon ambush over [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The ''Trion'''s command codes were hacked due to their being sold to the Decepticons by an Autobot traitor, and, left defenseless, it was forced to crash-land on the desolate landscape of the planet. Eventually, the crew were found by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s unit, who unfortunately proved to be ''also'' stranded. When [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] was revealed by [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] to have been standing invisibly among them, Drift was the only one who didn't appear surprised. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[Image:Allhailmegatron6-omgdriftomg.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Seriously, you made this guy up when you were eight.]]

When an advance scout of the [[Insecticon swarm|Insecticon Swarm]] discovered the Autobots' base camp, Drift was dispatched to take care of it. Drift stood stock-still as the creature walked up to him, greeting it with a simple, smirking "hello" as the monstrous beast snarled in his face. Finally, he beheaded the scout with a single wave of his sword. A second creature tried to attack Drift from behind, but the smirking Autobot merely tilted his head slightly, allowing [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] to kill the beast with some precision sniping. [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] thought the incident was the coolest thing ever. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

After [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] revealed to [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] that he was the traitor, an army of the Swarm came after them. Drift saved Ironhide while Sunstreaker blew up a bridge, killing himself and the Swarm army. Later, Drift visited Ironhide and claimed that the Decepticons had access to the Autobots' systems in a way that Sunstreaker couldn't possibly have. Ironhide asked if this meant there was a second traitor, but Drift replied that there was simply more to the situation than they knew. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

When Mirage was showing some doubt in the Autobot cause, it was Drift who said that, now more than ever, the Autobots should continue being who they are. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] insinuated that Drift had no right to say something like that, which started an argument that was only stopped by the return of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

[[Image:Thundercracker Drift.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Drift-slap! 'Cracker don't take crap!]]

Drift took part in the battle against the Swarm and joined the others in escaping Cybertron in Omega Supreme. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}. On Earth, he battled the Decepticons, and when [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] volunteered to divert the humans' nuclear bomb, Drift attempted to congratulate his former comrade on seeing the light. Thundercracker called him a traitor, slapping Drift's hand away and claiming he was merely following the Decepticons' ''true'' ideal.{{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Two years later, Drift was still with the Autobots, hiding on Earth. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} After Optimus Prime left the Autobots, Drift decided to stay with the larger group, rather than leave with Rodimus and his fellow defectors. Drift celebrated Bumblebee's election with numerous other Autobots. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}}

At some point Drift traveled to [[Japan]] and did some drift racing all by himself. {{storylink|Drift issue 4|Drift #4}}

Drift was among the Autobots who confronted [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and his troops when they crashed their ship in [[Las Vegas]], bringing with them a [[zombie]] invasion. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infestation issue 1}} The Autobots and Decepticons worked together to banish the zombies to the [[Dead Universe]], though Drift himself really just stood silently in the background the whole time. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infestation issue 2}}

Drift listened to [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] tell tales of, presumably, his time in space and accompanied Optimus Prime and many others to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme's]] rocket form. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix}}
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:IAmOptimusPrime-Drift.jpg|left|thumb|200px|He makes it so hard to like him and then he does this. So confused!]]
Drift was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s friend and always let his actions speak louder than words. When the Autobots arrived on Earth, he hid himself in a lake. Upon Optimus's order, he transformed into his car mode to roll out. Later, when the Decepticons attacked, he pushed [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] over a tripwire held by some of the Autobots' [[human allies]]. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generations===
[[Image:Generations Drift toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Comes with a gun that shoots swords.]]
*'''Autobot Drift''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories'': Two "dual swords", one large sword

:''[[Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Drift transforms into a cross between an [[Wikipedia:Nissan Silvia#S15|Nissan Silvia S15]] and the [[Wikipedia:Mitsubishi FTO|Mitsubishi FTO]]. In vehicle mode, Drift's two shorter "dual swords" store inside his doors (which double as his hip sheaths during robot mode), while the larger sword stores in a set of grooves on the underside of his vehicle (also used in robot mode). It can also be stored (in robot mode) in the doors where the windows fold up. Behind his windshield kibble is his pre-Earth chest design, in a nod to the form Drift had been seen in almost exclusively at the time of the toy's unveiling. Due to his ball jointed wrists, Drift is one of the few Transformers figures that can hold a sword with a two-handed grip. Left unmentioned in the instructions is that the clip that holds his large sword is on a small concealed arm that allows the sword to move away from his back and out of the way of his legs and shoulders. Drift's swords are made from a kid-friendly flexible material, and therefore care must be taken to avoid warping. His hand holes are slightly larger than 5mm, but taper toward the bottom.

:While Drift's Earth mode designs showed him sporting the katakana ドリフト (''Dorifuto'') on his car doors, the toy instead sports the kanji 侍 (''samurai''). The large sword sports the kanji 天下無双 (''tenka musō'', "peerless under heaven", or just "peerless" if you're not feeling idiomatic.)

: Drift's mold was [[retool]]ed into ''Generations'' [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and will be [[redeco]]ed into [[Drift (SG)| Shattered Glass Drift]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Autobot/Drift/drift.htm More information on Autobot Drift at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===United===
[[Image:United_AutobotDrift_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|I am the white void, I am the cold steel, I am the just sword, with blade in hand I shall reap the sins of this world and cleanse it in the fires of destruction! I am Drift, the end has come!]]
*'''Autobot Drift''' (Deluxe, [[December 25|12-25]]-2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''UN-08'''
**''Accessories'': Two "dual swords", one large sword

: Part of the first wave of ''[[United (toyline)|Transformers United]]'' toys, the [[TakaraTomy]] release of "Autobot Drift" is cast in a brighter white plastic, a cooler gray, and features more paint applications in vehicle mode, and on his head, arms and chest to make him more accurate to his comic book appearances. The light red of the Hasbro version is now more crimson in color and the sword's gray is slightly altered from the Hasbro release.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_DoubleSiders_Drift.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Drift''' (Mini-Vehicle, 2011?)
**''Series:'' '''Double Siders'''
**''Number:'' ?

: ''[[Speed Stars]]'' Drift is a small, non-transforming, [[die-cast]] car based on his ''Generations'' toy's vehicle mode. His robot mode is sculpted on the bottom of the vehicle. As part of the "Double Siders" series, Drift features oversized tires that allow him roll upside down.

: This mold was also used to make ''Speed Stars'' [[Breakdown (Speed Stars)|Breakdown]].

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* Commenting on what inspired him to create Drift, writer/creator [[Shane McCarthy]] said that "I wanted a character in AHM that had a particular element to him that I didn't see readily available elsewhere and secondly because, frankly, I thought it would be a great idea for Hasbro to have an Autobot Drift racer."<ref>[http://www.smactalk.com.au/?p=101 Shane McCarthy blogs about Spotlight: Drift.]</ref> He later said he wanted to show what'd happen [[:Category:Turncoats|if a former Decepticon became an Autobot]].<ref>[http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=11723 Podcast interview with Shane McCarthy]</ref> Drift's Japanese overtones are meant to be a tip of the hat "to the country that gave birth to [''Transformers'']."<ref>[http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18585 Comic Book Resources October 27th, 2008 interview with Shane McCarthy]</ref>

* Drift's name is derived from the Japanese driving technique of "[[wikipedia:Drifting_(motorsport)|drifting]]," rendered in Japanese as ドリフト走行 (''dorifuto sōkō''). This is also the source of the Japanese katakana writing on his car mode doors and in Chris Ryall's announcement;<ref>[http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post.html "ドリフト走行*" entry in Chris Ryall's blog]</ref> it is a transliteration of his English name and is not from Japanese fiction.

* Discarded [http://guidoarts.deviantart.com/art/DRIFT-early-sketches-93573360 body designs] and [http://guidoarts.deviantart.com/art/DRIFT-early-head-sketches-93574266 head designs] for Drift can be found on [http://guidoarts.deviantart.com Guido Guidi's DeviantArt page.]

* [[IDW Publishing]] initially claimed that Drift had been solicited by [[Hasbro]] to receive a toy in the ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' line. This may have been premature, as it was followed several months later with a denial, albeit from Hasbro's Australian offices.<ref>[http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=3438 Ozformers Q&A with Hasbro Australia]</ref> This was rebutted by IDW editor [[Chris Ryall]] at New York Comic-Con 2009, denied again in the March 2009 Hasbro Q&A for Seibertron.com,<ref>[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/hasbro-answers-seibertrons-questions/15360 Hasbro March 2009 Q&A on Seibertron.com]</ref> and finally acknowledged by Hasbro at [[BotCon 2009]] when early design sketches were unveiled for Drift's toy. The toy itself was first shown at [[Toy Fair 2010]].

* As you might have guessed from some of the captions on this page, Drift is a fairly unpopular character among certain parts of the [[fandom]]. Basically, he's frequently viewed as a stereotypical "badass" fan-created "character" with Japanese samurai/ninja stereotypes added in for maximum "awesomeness". The main reason for the criticism, however, is the initial hype the character was given by its creator and IDW, resulting in massive [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HypeBacklash hype backlash] for the reasons listed above. Many fans think that while Drift's actual fictional appearances aren't nearly as bad as the most vocal critics make him out to be, he certainly fails to live up to the hype.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]