Bumblebee (Transformers)
| Transformers Character | |
| Bumblebee | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Subgroup | Mini-bots |
| Function | Espionage |
| Alternate mode(s) | Volkswagen Beetle |
| Series | G1 cartoon, Marvel Comics, Dreamwave Comics |
| Voiced by | Dan Gilvesan (US) Yoko Shioya (Jap) |
Bumblebee (Bumble in Japan) is the smallest and weakest of the Autobots in the American Transformers series. His vehicle mode is a Volkswagen Beetle. Because of his small size, Bumblebee is gifted with exceptional stealth, making him an expert at espionage. He also has the best visual acuity of all the Autobots. Bumblebee remains one of the more popular and well remembered characters from the original series, although there has not been a mass market release toy for several years.
"The least likely can be the most dangerous."
He is described as "small, eager, and brave" acting as the Autobot's foremost messenger and spy. Bumblebee's exceptional courage stems from his desire to gain the admiration and respect of the larger Autobots, especially Optimus Prime. While he is the physically weakest of all the autobots, Bumblebee's small size and stealth act as an appropriate counterbalance. He boats the title of "most energy efficient" among the Autobot ranks and specializes in underwater reconnaissance and salvage missions.
Animated Series
The Transformers (US Cartoon Continuity)
Bumblebee was one of the Autobots on the Ark when it crashed into Earth over 65 Million years ago. He featured heavily and was involved in many of the Autobot Decepticon conflicts spanning the first two seasons of the Transformers television series. He quickly established a strong friendship with Spike and Sparkplug Witwicky.
Fight! Super Robot Life (JAP Cartoon Continuity)
[See US Cartoon Continuity]
Marvel Comics (US Marvel Continuity)
Bumblebee was one of the original Autobot Transformers, making his first appearance in Issue #1 of the original Marvel Comics Transformers series. In the initial four issue limited series produced by Marvel, Bumblebee was part of Prime’s elite crew that crash landed on Earth. Bumblebee makes first contact with Buster Witwicky and his father, “Sparkplug” Witwicky after being damaged in a previous battle. [See Issue #1 of “The Transformers”] He arranged their first encounter with Optimus Prime.
Throughout most of the series, Bumblebee remains more of a background character after the initial four issue arc and taking the spotlight again in Issue #16. Bumblebee also was instrumental with the friendly initial encounters with G.B. Blackrock which eventually led to the millionaire's support of the Autobots that included fuel, a much needed commodity for the robotic creatures. His last appearance as Bumblebee in the main Transformers series is Issue #21. At this point, there is a crossover with The Transformers and GI Joe, two popular Marvel Comics properties at the time, and is destroyed by G.I. Joe forces. [See Issue #1 of “G.I. Joe and The Transformers”]
The G.I. Joe team realizes that they have made a mistake after making contact with the Autobots and Bumblebee is revived as Goldbug. As Goldbug, Bumblebee was the driving force behind the return of Optimus Prime in Issue #42. After the aftermath of the Underbase saga, Bumblebee is resurrected again as a Pretender
When Bumblebee made his final resurrection as a Pretender, he was larger and more powerful, more resistant to damage and physically stronger than he had been in his original form or as Goldbug. Brought back to life by longtime friend and fellow original Autobot Ratchet, and along with the other "Pretender Classics" - Jazz and Grimlock - Bumblebee was instrumental in the final days of the Transformers sage, which lasted a total of 80 issues.
Marvel Comics (UK Marvel Continuity)
Bumlebee's character roughly flowed the same progression in the U.K. Marvel Continuity except for his first death and rebirth into Goldbug. The mercenary Death's Head travels back in time and blasts Bumblebee in 1987 so that his presence will go unnoticed. Bumblebee is rebuilt into Goldbug by Wreck-Gar.
Dreamwave Comics (Dreamwave Continuity)
Generation One Vol.1 – “The Prime Directive” (Issues #1-#6)
In the frozen Arctic, a man named Lazarus began resurrecting the lost Transformers after their shuttle was destroyed in what is referenced as the Ark II tragedy. Lazarus planned to control these giant metal warriors and sell their services in war to the highest bidder. Bumblebee was originally one of the Autobots discovered and reprogrammed by Lazarus to act as a functioning war machine. Bumblebee and several others were later rescued by Optimus Prime and Wheeljack. He was part of a small task force lead by Jazz assigned to stop the spread of Megatron’s deadly metal liquid in the Canadian Northwest territories.
Generation One Vol.2 – “War and Peace” (Issues #1-#6)
As the Autobot and Decepticon war continued on earth, an escape pod beacon drew their conflict to the Arctic. The pod contained the rogue Decepticon Scourge. The Battle between the Autobots and Decepticons ceased long enough to find the new Cybertronian commander, Shockwave, had arrived in pursuit of Scourge and to arrest Optimus Prime and Megatron. Bumblebee was part of the forces captured by Shockwave and later part of Prowl’s forces brought to the Autobot underground resistance on Cybertron.
Generation One Vol.3 – “Ongoing Series”
Devil’s Due Comics
Bumblebee and other Transformers characters participated in several crossover series with GI JOE under Devil’s Due Publishing. These crossovers are not part of either respective continuity and exist in an “elseworlds” style universe.
IDW Comics (IDW Continuity)
Modern Universe
Currently, the Bumblebee character does not exist in the modern Transformers universe established by the Armada, Energon and Cybertron continuity.
Bumblebee Toys
The Bumblebee character was originally released in 1984 as part of the first wave of Transformers toys. Bumblebee has had several incarnations as part of the original Generation One and Generation 2 toy lines.
Hasbro
Generation 1
Bumblebee has enjoyed several Generatoion One toy releases since 1984. The last Generation One toy release for his character was in 1990 as an Actionmaster. The 1984 Bumblebee toy was also was released in a red variation, although in the television series and comics he was always yellow. Bumblebee's original toy was a mold similar to that of Cliffjumper and an unnamed Microchange mold that transformed into a Mazda coupe and was often packaged in Bumblebee or Cliffjumper's packaging. The Mazda has since been dubbed as "Bumblejumper" or "Bumper" by fans.
Generation 2
In 1993, the original Bumblebee mold was re-released with a gold paint application. Later, he was released as a Go-Bot sports car.
Fun4All
A collectable keychain version of Bumblebee was released in later years. In Japan this keychain was also released in black.
Takara
e-Hobby Edition
The toy of Bumblebee was released as Volks in some countries, in several different colors. The Autobot Glyph, released as a collectors item at a Botcon convention, was a recolored blue and grey Bumblebee. The Decepticon Bug-Bite was a recolored black and white version of Bumblebee.