The Top

Real Name: Bruce Bravelle

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Unknown

Affiliations: Professor Raymore Davis

Enemies: Red Terror

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: The Human Top

Base of Operations: U.S.A.

First Appearance: Red Raven #1 (Timely, May 1940)

Powers/Abilities: Able to conduct electricity. Able to spin at superspeed when doing this, or when he crosses his wrists.  Able to fly while spinning, to drill through walls, and even deflect bullets.

History: (Red Raven Comics #1, Tough Kid Squad #1, ga) Bruce Bravelle had agreed to be a test subject for Professor Davis, who was trying to find a way to "nourish the human body" using electrical currents as a substitute for food. In the middle of one of the tests, a bolt of lightning strikes the castle, causing an opposing magnetic flow. Afterwards Bruce finds he can spin around "like a top" when he crosses his wrists (or is exposed to electricity). Davis dubbed Bruce "The Top", and told him he should use his powers to fight crime and help the innocent.

Comments: Though the strip was named The Human Top, the character was only called "the Top" within the story. The Professor who empowered him also suffered a few naming problems - in the first appearance, he is Professor Davis, but by the second he is Professor Raymore - the Marvel Mystery Handbook confirms his full name to be Raymore Davis.

Thanks to Jess Nevins for allowing me to use information from his excellent Golden Age Heroes Directory and his Guide to Golden Age Marvel Characters. Thanks also to Richard Boucher & Darrin Wiltshire @ PR-Publications for permission to use information from their equally brilliant collection of Golden Age Sites, PR Publications. Their knowledge of Golden Age characters far outstrips my own.

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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