History Characters / TopGun

TheProtagonist of the first movie, Maverick is an AcePilot who's a bit too hot-headed and routinely defies orders to pull some wild heroics.

-> '''Played by:''' Anthony Edwards

-> '''Played by:''' Val Kilmer

-> '''Played by:''' Tim Robbins

* GracefulLoser: Due to Goose's death and [[HeroicBSOD his resulting diminished performance]], he ends up losing out to Iceman for the trophy after a close race throughout the course. Mav then shows up at the graduation after doing some soul-searching and sincerely congratulates Iceman for the win.

* PosthumousCharacter: He's been dead for years before the events of the film. How he was killed -- more specifically, whether he died fighting or in cowardice -- is classified information that Maverick seeks to know about so that he can reassure himself that his old man didn't die a coward.

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: In the opening skirmish, he defies orders to land his low-on-fuel plane to assist Cougar's landing, as Cougar had become too traumatized by the missile lock the enemy got on him to keep his head in reality.

* MilitaryMaverick: [[Meaningfulname True to his callsign]], he likes to perform ridiculous stunts and other feats of unparalleled flying, even when it upsets his commanding officers, his wingmen, and his R.I.O.

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* BuzzingTheDeck: On-screen, he swoops the tower twice much to the protests of his GuyInBack and the tower personnel: First after beating Jester in his first hop, and again after the final battle. Off-screen, Stinger mentions that Mav's done this repeatedly in the past over five other [=ATCs=] and "one admiral's daughter", although it's implied that that last case was [[TheGeneralsDaughter figurative]].

* PosthumousCharacter: He had been dead for years prior to the events of the film. How he was killed -- more specifically, whether he died heroically or in cowardice -- is classified information that Maverick seeks to know about so that he can reassure himself that his old man didn't die as a cowardly failure.

* BuzzingTheDeck: On-screen, he swoops the tower twice much to the protests of his GuyInBack: First after beating Jester in his first hop, and again after the final battle. Off-screen, Stinger mentions that Mav's done this repeatedly in the past over five other [=ATCs=] and "one admiral's daughter", although it's implied that that last case was [[TheGeneralsDaughter figurative]].

''All spoilers are unmarked.'''

* IronicEcho: During the TOPGUN program, he calls out Maverick for being [[MilitaryMaverick dangerous]] in the air, not just to enemies but his wingmen too. At the end of the film, during a post-skirmish celebration, he tells Mav he's still dangerous...and that "[[SoProudOfYou you can be my wingman any time]]."

* IronicEcho: During the TOPGUN program, he calls out Maverick for being [[MilitaryMaverick dangerous]] in the air, not just to enemies but his wingmen too. At the end of the film, during a post-skirmish celebration, he tells Mav he's still dangerous...and that "[[SoProudOfYou you can be my wingman any time]]."

* AcePilot: It's demonstrated repeatedly that he's damn good at flying, surprising even his instructor Viper at one point. The problem is that he often does aerial antics [[MilitaryMaverick against orders]].

* BuzzingTheDeck: On-screen, he buzzes the tower twice: First after beating Jester in his first hop, and again after the final battle. Off-screen, Stinger mentions that Mav's done this repeatedly in the past over five other [=ATCs=] and "one admiral's daughter", although it's implied that that last case was [[TheGeneralsDaughter figurative]].

* GuyInBack: Becomes Maverick's new R.I.O. when they have to intercept some enemy [=MiGs=] in real combat.

!!! LTJG Nick Bradshaw -- "Goose