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Showdown! The Fortress vs the Victory Unification

2011-12-06T23:43:16Z

219.89.150.247: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=Victory
|ep=37
|image=Fortressvsunification.jpg
|title="Showdown! The Fortress vs the Victory Unification"
|japanese=激突! 要塞VSビクトリー合体
|romaji=Gekitotsu! Yōsai VS Victory Gattai
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=12 December 1989
|writer=[[Hiroyuki Hoshiyama]]
|director=[[Hiromichi Matano]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Star Saber and Deathsaurus engage in their greatest battle yet, and everything rests on Jean's shoulders as Earth hovers on the brink of destruction!'''

:''Omni Productions dub name:'' "'''Seek and Destroy the Space City'''"
:''Also known as:'' "'''Charge! The Fortress Against the Victory Combination'''"

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Victory37 goryudefects.jpg|left|180px|thumb|]]
With [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]] active and raining meteors down upon the [[Earth]] and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] missing in action, the [[Multiforce]] and [[Rescue Patrol Team|Rescue Team]] are left to protect the planet on their own. The Multiforce merge into [[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]] to stop a meteor from crashing on top of the [[Shuttle Base]], but are caught in the explosion and badly injured themselves. As the Rescue Team hurry to and fro tending to the wounded, the injured [[Gōryū]] comes to in the medical bay and requests an audience with any [[Autobot]]. [[Jean Minakaze|Jean]] comes to his side, and Gōryū gives him the plans to the power source of Deathsaurus's fortress as a means of paying back the Decepticon leader for abandoning them. With all the other Autobots occupied, Jean realizes that he is the only one who can perform this task, but as he boards the [[Galaxy Shuttle]] with the ''[[Illumina II]]'', [[Holi]] spots him and follows him aboard. Jean explains his plan to Holi, and the pair resolve to see it through to the end.

[[Image:Victory37 destroyermode.jpg|right|180px|thumb|]]
Out in space, Deathsaurus's fortress looms ever nearer to the Earth, and at the villain's instruction, [[Liokaiser]] initiates its transformation into its even-more-powerful Destroyer Mode. As the fortress shifts and changes, the inert form of Victory Saber, lying atop its hull where he crash-landed, is jarred back into the waking world. Realization dawns upon the horrified Victory Saber that Deathsaurus plans to eliminate the Earth with one shot of the fortress's main cannon, and he flies into action once more, attempting to destroy the cannon. Although his blasts have no effect, Deathsaurus dispatches Liokaiser to occupy Victory Saber as the minutes tick by until the cannon fully charges. Jean and Holi arrive just as the two combatants clash, and Star Saber disconnects from [[Victory Leo]], leaving him to fight Liokaiser while Star Saber covers his son's entrance into the fortress. Victory Leo and Liokaiser's battle is a brutal one, but in the end, the Autobot succeeds in blasting the combiner into the fortress's cannon barrel, which, still charging, drains his energy dry. With his consciousness fading and his body unable to move, Liokaiser can only utter a fading scream for help as he drifts off into the depths of space.

[[Image:Victory37 finalblow.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Leakin' Lubricant!]]
Meanwhile, Jean successfully pilots the ''Illumina II'' into the heart of the fortress, where he wires his vessel to explode and take out the power core. Ejecting from the mech, Jean beats a retreat in his spacesuit, and the ''Illumina II'' goes up in flames just seconds before Deathsaurus fires his cannon. As the power core is torn to pieces, the fortress's weapons deactivate, and Star Saber swoops into the fortress to find Jean. Before he can locate his son, however, he is confronted by the enraged Deathsaurus himself, and the two leaders engage in a ferocious final battle that stretches across the fortress. Every weapon in the two warriors' arsenals is unleashed until Star Saber blasts out one of Deathsaurus's eyes with his head-cannons, then takes advantage of the villain's hampered sight to stab him through the chest and break his sword off in the wound. Deathsaurus rips out the blade but collapses, gushing oil.

[[Image:Victory37 deadsaurus.jpg|right|180px|thumb|]]
Victory Leo and Holi venture inside the fortress to search for Jean and come across the boy just as he wakes up from a nightmare vision of [[Illumina]] dying in the fortress's attack on Earth. Holi takes Jean to safety outside as Victory Leo heads off to look for Star Saber, but just as the young pair exit the fortress, a huge door slams shut behind them. The same occurs all throughout the fortress, trapping Star Saber in the control room, where Deathsaurus communicates with him through a holographic projection. Refusing to lose, Deathsaurus has set the fortress on a collision course with Earth, intending to destroy the
planet and Star Saber with it! Deathsaurus, however, will not accept defeat, and blows himself out of an airlock...but as his shattered body floats off through space, the light dims from his eyes, and no signs of life remain in the body of the once-great [[Emperor of Destruction]].

[[Image:Victory37 saberfireguts.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Kaiō-ken!]]
In the control room, Star Saber desperately opens fire on the door, but cannot break through. Victory Leo and Jean contact him over his communicator, and Victory Leo is able to home in on his position and break into the room through the glass viewscreen. Now knowing that Jean is safely out of the fortress, Star Saber resolves to destroy it even at the cost of his own life, and Victory Leo agrees. The pair merge into jet-mode Victory Saber, and with their enhanced power, smash through the walls of the fortress, unleashing an unbelievable stream of missiles, bombs, cannons, lasers, machine guns and more, tearing the deadly craft apart from within. Bursting through the hull and out into space, the duo disconnect and recombine as robot-mode Victory Saber, concentrating all their energy for one final charge at the fortress's main cannon. Blazing with flaming energy, Victory Saber crashes into the fortress's cannon and releases all his power, vanishing in a burst of light as he finally destroys the fortress in a silent cosmic firestorm.

[[Image:Victory37 happyend.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Awww, bunnies!]]
Down on the surface of the Earth, the flare of light from the fortress's destruction catches the attention of Illumina, who stands amongst a group of injured refugees. As they all watch the sky, Galaxy Shuttle descends, and a short time later, Illumina and Jean have a happy reunion. As she praises him for his heroic deed, Jean tells her that he did it to save her. Holi chimes in that really, it was to save the Earth, but as the Shuttle Base comes rolling over the horizon, the disembodied voice of Star Saber wistfully declares that striving to save the ones you love is the emotion that will truly save the world.

Time passes...

[[Image:Victory37 starsaberlives.jpg|left|180px|thumb|]]
With the Earth saved, Jean reports on the fates of all their allies. The [[Brainmaster|Brainmasters]] are appointed commanders of the Sector One defense force. The Multiforce are assigned to the [[Vega Sector]] and collectively promoted to governor. The Rescue Team have returned to planet [[Micro]]. [[Greatshot]] returned to being a mercenary and has not been seen since the [[Silvart War]], but Jean is sure he's okay. Gōryū has become a construction foreman on Earth, with most of the [[Dinoforce]] working with him—except for [[Kakuryū]], who has started working at an amusement park and is very popular with the children there. Jean himself is in the next grade at school and is still in the same class as Illumina.

But...what of Star Saber...?

Why, he's more active than ever as Supreme Commander of the Autobots!

LET'S SAY GO!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Galaxy Shuttle]] (1)
*[[Machtackle]] (2)
*[[Dashtacker]] (3)
*[[Fire]] (4)
*[[Wingwaver]] (5)
*[[Gōryū]] (6)
*[[Gairyū]] (7)
*[[Kakuryū]] (8)
*[[Rairyū]] (9)
*[[Yokuryū]] (10)
*[[Doryū]] (11)
*[[Tacker]] (12)
*[[Dash (Victory)|Dash]] (13)
*[[Tackle]] (14)
*[[Mach]] (15)
*[[Waver]] (16)
*[[Wing (Victory)|Wing]] (17)
*[[Landcross (Victory)|Landcross]] (18)
*[[Pīpō]] (20)
*[[Blacker]] (21)
*[[Braver]] (22)
*[[Laster]] (23)
*[[Holi]] (24)
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (27)
*[[Victory Leo]] (28)
*[[Boater]] (37)
*[[Clipper (Victory)|Clipper]] (38)
|c2=
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (25)
*[[Liokaiser]] (26)
|c3=
*[[Jean Minakaze]] (19)
*[[Illumina]] (31)
*[[Joyce]] (32)
*[[Jean's other classmate]] (33)
*[[Clump]] (34)
*[[Mabel (Victory)|Headmistress Mabel]] (35)
*[[Rami]] (36)
|h4=[[Breast Animal]]s|c4=
*[[Tigerbreast]] (29)
*[[Eaglebreast]] (30)
}}

==Quotes==
"Your attempt to wipe out the Earth was defeated by just one boy!"
:—'''Star Saber'''

"Your ambitions end here!" 
"My "ambition" is to ''possess your head!''"
:—'''Star Saber''' and '''Deathsaurus''' get about as worked up as anyone ever does in ''Victory''.

{{Note|The following quotes are from the Omni Productions dub.}}

"Maybe we should try it and see if it works or not."
:—'''Holi''' on the disk Gōryū gave Jean.

"Nobody can beat me! Nobody in the Universe, for I am Deathsanraaaaaargh" ''(falls over)''
:—'''Deathsaurus'''

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
Among the changes made by the [[Omni Productions]] dub:
* Machtackle suggests destroying the incoming meteor instead of moving Shuttle Base.
* According to Jean's voiceover at the end, Landcross is now in charge of training new recruits, and Greatshot has returned to his duties on planet Micro - the image of devastation is left unexplained. The Dinoforce are in charge of garbage collection instead of construction.

===Animation and technical errors===
* A switch Jean flicks lights up a display reading "Autocluse".
* As Deathsaurus is drifting into space, his Decepticon symbol is misdrawn.

===Continuity errors===
*Tigerbreast and Eaglebreast appeared to be disabled by Star Saber's "Psycho Missiles", but a brief moment later, Deathsaurus was wearing them again as a breastplate.
*Deezaras appeared to be dead at the end and yet he didn't turn grey. [[Ultra Magnus Dies!!|Much like another time]]

===Transformers references===
* Deathsaurus's fortress was reactivated and the Brainmasters and Victory Saber were injured in the [[The Wrath of the Resurrected Giant Fortress!|previous episode]].

* The Dinoforce were abandoned on Earth by Deathsaurus in "[[The Terror of the Giant Tidal Waves]]".

===Real world references===
* When Deathsaurus engages Star Saber within the fortress, he accuses Star Saber of "entering my castle with your shoes on," referring, of course, to the Japanese custom of taking one's shoes off upon entering someone's home.

===Trivia===
* Although this episode is the final installment of the ongoing ''Victory'' storyline, it is not the final episode of the series. [[Autobots Forever|One further clip show]] was aired the following week as the final broadcast episode of the series, and a further six were released directly to video.
* For the first time since the [[The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber|first installment]] of the series, this episode does not feature a preview of its content before the title card, instead including the first half-minute of the story.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Victory'' — DVD Box 02 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 3 — ''Transformers: Victory'' ([[Metrodome]]) — Optional commentary by [[Chris McFeely]]. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) — Optional commentary by Chris McFeely. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Victory'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) — Optional [[Omni Productions|Omni]] dub. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) — Optional Omni dub.

[[Category:Victory episodes]]

Energon-axe

2011-12-06T23:33:09Z

219.89.150.247: /* Dark of the Moon */

{{disambig2|Optimus Prime's melee weapon|the Andalite Animorph|Ax}}

[[Image:G1 Prime energon-axe.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Prime's got an axe to grind...right into Megatron.]]
The '''energon-axe''' is an iconic weapon used by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] whenever he needs a melee weapon. He retracts his hand, and an emitter for the energy axe projects the blade. Despite only using it when he and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] are fighting on [[Sherman Dam|a particular dam]], it was a very memorable ability, so much so that recent rereleases and redesigns of Prime's toy have actually included the axe as an accessory, either replacing or covering a hand.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:Shermandam.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
When duelling [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] on top of [[Sherman Dam]], Optimus Prime used his energon-axe against the [[Decepticon]]'s [[energon mace]]. Prime lost the fight when he was distracted by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] calling for help. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}
{{-}}

====''The Battle of the Star Gate''====
[[Image:Stargatebattles prime cx slice.jpg|right|thumb]]
In the mid-1990s, Optimus Prime helped [[Adle|Professor Adle]] test-drive his new [[C-X]] drone in a mock combat session. When C-X ran out of control thanks to the interference of the time-travelling ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (yes, really), Prime was forced to unleash his energon-axe and chop the drone's head off. {{storylink|Divided Views|Divided Views}}

A little later, while investigating Decepticon-made earthquakes that were striking [[Japan]], Prime engaged Megatron in combat on the bed of the Sea of Japan, and they battled with their axe and mace. {{storylink|Activation}}
{{-}}
====''Robot Masters'' online comic====
[[Image:Robotmasters prime vs megses.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
While in a battle with Megatron and his [[Megatron (BW)|time-displaced namesake]], Prime's right hand was severed by the latter. Luckily, this didn't affect his ability to summon his axe, which he used to take down both Decepticons in one powerful swing. {{storylink|And Then}}

{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Boulderdamfight.jpg|right||thumb|]]
{{Noteukonly}}
''As they made their way to the ''Ark'', Ratchet described the energon-weapon battle at Sherman Dam to the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] as a way to illustrate the difficulties the Autobots had in relaying their peaceful intentions to the humans.'' {{storylink|Decepticon Dam-Busters!|Decepticon Dam-Busters!}}

{{--}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun'' manga===
[[Image:Henkei chpt 06 Optimus sword.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
While battling [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Megatron]] to save the life of his human ally [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Optimus Prime]] busted out his energon-axe, but was bested by Megatron's [[energon mace]]. An energy boost courtesy of Wataru's [[energon]]-manipulating powers got him back on his feet, powering up his axe into a mighty sword that he used to cleave open Megatron's chest, winning the fight. {{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}}

Prime got his sword out again for a rematch with Megatron when the Decepticon leader was recuperating from his wounds in a bath of molten energon. Prime went so far as to stab him through the chest and break the sword's blade off inside him, but this only drove Megatron into a frenzy, leading him to use the energon to transform himself into [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}} Galvatron proved virtually undefeatable, until a well-placed shot from [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Starscream]] re-opened his chest wound, allowing Prime to drive his sword into the gash and tear his opponent wide open. {{storylink|Revenge (issue)|Revenge}}
{{-}}
===''Universe'' cartoon===
[[Image:FfE Optimus Prime Cyclonus.JPG|right|thumb|250px]]
In a skirmish with [[Decepticon]]s, Optimus Prime used his energon-axe to knock out [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}
{{--}}
===''Prime'' continuity===
[[Image:WarforCybertron-OptimusPrime.jpg||left|200px|thumb|]]
[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] used a double-headed axe since his days at the [[Hall of Records]], learning to transform it from his body while learning to fight. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} He could charge it to blow open walls, and would leap into the air with it for finishing moves against [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] and [[Trypticon (Prime)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)}}

{{--}}

===''Dark of the Moon''===
[[Image:DOTM you taught me.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] used an energon axe in his fight with [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]. However it was knocked out of his hand by his former teacher just before losing his right arm. After he was saved by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] he used it to destroy his foes after reusing his offer of a truce. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

{{--}}

==Toys==
===The Transformers Collection===
[[Image:Tf collection 0 convoy.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
* '''Convoy''' (2003)
** Japanese ID Number: 0
:The ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'' reissue of the original [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime toy]] comes with a new energon-axe accessory that plugs into either of Prime's wrist holes after you remove his hands.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Transformers Collection Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===20th Anniversary/Masterpiece===
[[Image:Optimus_Axe_Masterpieces.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Masterpiece Optimus Primes (MP-10 and MP-1, back) and Hybrid Style Optimus (front)]]
* '''Optimus Prime''' (2003/2004)

:The energon-axe is again a hand-replacing accessory for ''20th Anniversary'' Optimus Prime, cast in transparent orange plastic.

* '''Convoy Complete Edition''' (2006)

:Same as above.

*'''Convoy''' (2011)
:This transparent orange plastic axe slips over Optimus' fist.

===Robot Masters===
* '''G1 Convoy''' (2004)

:Another clear orange axe that replaces Prime's hand.

* '''G1 Convoy Limited Black Version''' (2005)

:For this [[black repaint]], the energon-axe was decoed in silver.

===Classics===
* '''Optimus Prime''' (20th Anniversary DVD Edition, 2006)

:In this redeco of ''20th Anniversary'' Optimus Prime, the energon-axe remains the same.

===Hybrid Style===
* '''Convoy''' (2006)

:An energon-axe that plugs into the ball-joint socket intended for Convoys many hands.

===Dark of the Moon===
*'''Optimus Prime''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
:Deluxe class Optimus Prime's MechTech weapon is a Blaster that converts into an Energon Axe.

==Merchandise==
[[Image:HOCPrime axe.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]
===Heroes of Cybertron===
* '''Optimus Prime with Plasma Weapon''' (2002)

: A modification of the first ''Heroes of Cybertron'' Optimus Prime, with the energon-axe replacing his right hand.

* '''Convoy Vs Megatron''' (2002)

: A Tokyo Toy Show exclusive that includes both energon weapons and normal hands for Optimus Prime and Megatron.

{{-}}
==Notes==

*Generation 1 Prime's energon-axe served as the inspiration for the arm-mounted [[Dual Energon Swords]] sported by live-action movie [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]].

*A redeco of ''Dark of the Moon'' Voyager class Optimus Prime comes with a new mold MechTech rifle that converts into a more [[Show-accuracy|movie-accurate]] Battle axe, but is instead made of ''[[Cybertanium]]''.

[[Category:Blades]]
[[Category:Energon|Axe]]
[[Category:Generation 1 weapons]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon weapons]]

Bumblebee (G1)

2011-12-06T23:30:41Z

219.89.150.247: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Bumblebee}}
{{suite}}
:''Bumblebee is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]. He was known as '''Goldbug''' for a time in some continuities.''
[[Image:BumblebeeRIC.jpg|right|275px|thumb|Ahoy-hoy!]]
'''Bumblebee''' is one of the smallest and physically weakest Autobots. While his stature allows him to do his job better than most Autobots could manage, he is self-conscious about his size. Maybe this is why he makes fast friends among the humans. He looks up (so to speak) to the other Autobots, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], but what he doesn't realize is that ''they'' look up to ''him''. He may be small, but he's brave, and he's one of the most well-liked Autobots around. Bumblebee already has the respect he craves.

As '''Goldbug'''—his [[Renaming|rebuilt]] and "matured" form—Bumblebee retains most of his earlier strengths and weaknesses, but without his crippling need for approval. (This is true of some "matured" versions of Bumblebee without new names or bodies, as well, but is quite markedly associated with the change to Goldbug).

His nicknames are '''Bee''' and '''Beeper'''.<ref>According to [[Jim Sorenson]], Bumblebee had Bee and Beeper listed as his nicknames in [[Bob Budiansky]]'s personal Transformers comic bible. Nicknames for other characters could be found in early ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Universe]]''-style profiles published in [[The Transformers Comic Magazine]]. In the Marvel Comics, Blackrock referred to him as Bum.</ref>

{{quote|Some of my best friends are humans.|Bumblebee, on his kid-friendly nature|"[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Bumblebeeplight.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This iteration's not too fond of freelance peacekeeping agents.]]
{{Main|Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}

Bumblebee was one of the several [[Autobot]]s who were carving a path through space for their planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked their spacecraft, the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], forcing them to crash-land on [[Earth]] 4 million years ago. When Bumblebee and the others were awoken in 1984, Bumblebee quickly befriended the [[human]] teenager [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]].

A few years later, Bumblebee was destroyed either by [[G.I. Joe]] or [[Death's Head]] and rebuilt into a more formidable form, Goldbug. In this form he joined [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s and exiled the Autobots while they were under the rule of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. After being destroyed by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and the [[Underbase]], Goldbug was rebuilt by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] into a [[Pretender]] form and was restored as Bumblebee. He participated in the [[Matrix Quest]] and survived their race's united battle against the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]].
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[Image:PlagueOfInsecticons Bumblebee and Spike hide.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I wonder if he wanted a job as a mechanic?]]
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}

Bumblebee was one of the several [[Autobot]]s who were searching for energy when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked their [[Ark (G1)|spacecraft]], forcing them to crash-land on [[Earth]] 4 million years ago. When Bumblebee and the others were awoken in 1984, Bumblebee quickly befriended the [[human]] teenager [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]].

Bumblebee and Spike would remain friends up through Spike's adulthood, and were stationed on one of Cybertron's moons in 2005 after the Decepticons conquered Cybertron. Bumblebee survived [[Unicron]]'s attack on Cybertron, and remained in action during the leadership of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]].

When Bumblebee was damaged badly during the [[Hate Plague]] outbreak in 2006, he had to be rebuilt into a new form, Goldbug. Goldbug would live to see the next Cybertronian Golden Age.
{{-}}

===''Legends'' anthology===
Bumblebee, Spike, and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] happened upon a badly damaged [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] while out racing. Bumblebee convinced the others to bring Starscream back to the Ark for repairs, under the rationale that while Starscream wouldn't have done the same for them, they weren't Decepticons. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Hey, remember that time in the comics when a couple of guys stole Bumblebee? What if they were kind of jerks? What if Bumblebee decided to make them pee themselves? {{storylink|Joyride (story)|Joyride}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
At the death of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], Bumblebee was part of an Autobot unit defending [[Altihex]] from the Decepticons, but it was ultimately declared a lost cause. [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had to pull him aboard the shuttle once they realized there was nothing left to do. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] ordered him, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and others to the ruins of [[Praxus]], where Grimlock declared that if the new [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] was unable to lead successfully, they would take control of the war's leadership... and take out the Prime. Bumblebee was among the group that was present for the Matrix transfer ceremony, where Optronix became [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. When a Decepticon assassination squad arrived and Optimus kicked some exhaust port, Bumblebee declared that he was "awesome". However, Prime then ordered the Autobots to prepare an evacuation of Cybertron. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} When Prime went underground looking for Megatron, Bumblebee was surprised he'd gone alone, but the Autobots suddenly had bigger problems, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] attacked [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] with a host of Decepticons. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} During the attack, Bumblebee manned a turret in the [[Decagon]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} Eventually, Prowl ordered the Autobots to take them on individually, and Bumblebee went out carrying a cannon that was as [[Scale|big]] as him. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Bumblebee survived the destruction of Iacon, and Prime reversed his order of evacuation. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}} During the Dark Ages and the disappearance of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee remained with Prowl's faction of Autobots, huddled in the ruins of Iacon. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective2 Bumblebee destruction.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Someone has to pay for the little things.]]
Bumblebee was one of the Ark crew that crashed on Earth and awoke in 1984. During that time, he met Spike Witwicky, becoming close friends with the human. In 1999, the Autobots and humans allied and managed to capture the Decepticons, taking them in the ''[[Ark II]]'' back to Cybertron, along with [[Magnificent Seven|seven humans]], including [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], Spike's father. However, the ''Ark II'' was sabotaged by rogue elements of the United States military (apparently as part of a plan by Shockwave). {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} The humans were all killed, but a number of Transformers, including Bumblebee, survived, but in [[stasis lock]]. Bumblebee's body was recovered by [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], but Rook stole Bumblebee and a number of other Transformers, selling them to various terrorists. Megatron broke free, and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], being dicks, disassembled and played with Bumblebee's various components. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

Optimus Prime's team later rescued him and the remaining Autobots, and they were all put to work in combating Megatron's techno-virus. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} Unfortunately, the [[Canada|Canadian]] military, skittish over the recent Transformer violence, attacked the Autobots. Despite this, Bumblebee tried to save as many of the soldiers as he could before the virus could kill them. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''In the following weeks, the Autobots tried their best to re-establish good relations with the people of Earth, but had little luck. After Optimus Prime, Megatron, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] vanished from the streets of Tokyo with roughly 200 human civilians, the public was understandably critical of the Transformers and their war. Bumblebee didn't help any when [[Chris Killah]], a reporter for MNT, interviewed him on the scene while he and Prowl were looking for clues to the disappearance. Bumblebee's knowledge of Earth idioms and slang normally worked to the Autobots' benefit, but he got "stage fright" in front of the TV cameras and referred to the massive property damage and loss of human life as a "bummer". Duuuuude...no. ''

''With both sides effectively leaderless at first, Bumblebee and Prowl did their best to contain the fallout of Megatron and Prime's disappearance. Acting on a tip, they tracked [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to an airport in [[Mesa Verde]], [[Mexico]], where he was running guns with some human terrorists. The battle was memorable, but brief, thanks largely to the arrival of the renegade Autobot known as Grimlock. Having heard the Starscream had taken over the human city of [[Las Vegas]], Grimlock had commissioned a human black ops army and invited Bumblebee and Prowl to join him in assaulting the Decepticon position. Already frustrated at the [[United Nations]]' orders to stay out of Vegas, for fear of civilian casualties, Bumblebee and Prowl accepted the offer. After fighting their way through [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] and the other [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] on the outskirts of town, the Autobots managed to make it to the center of the Strip to confront Soundwave. Fortunately, the Autobots had long since developed internal jammers to prevent Soundwave from reading their thoughts during a battle, but that didn't make things easy. Fighting their way around the casinos, Bumblebee finally collapsed a massive neon sign on top of Soundwave, temporarily ending the fight. Bumblebee and Prowl's luck turned sour, though, with the arrival of Starscream and the mighty Devastator. The sudden appearance of a spatial gateway depositing Optimus and the other lost Transformers, along with their captors the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]], was just one set of complications on top of another. {{storylink|Hardwired}}''

Sometime later, the Autobots received visitors from Cybertron. Representing a united Cybertronian government of both Autobots and Decepticons, they claimed the Transformers on Earth were a throwback to darker days, and wanted to take them into custody to prevent their "anachronistic" feud from upsetting Cybertron's populace. The Autobots under Optimus Prime split into two groups, with Bumblebee and several others joining their leader in surrendering to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s forces, while Jazz led a small group away from the Ark to continue monitoring activities on Earth. Once they arrived on Cybertron, it became clear that there was a rotten core to the new government, namely [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. Bumblebee and the other Autobots from Earth joined up with a resistance movement and helped overthrow Shockwave's reign, reinstating Autobot rule over Cybertron. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

[[Image:Bumblebeebattlemask.jpg|right|200px|thumb|25 years before someone realized his toy has no face.]]
After Cybertron settled down, Bumblebee commanded the Autobot Shuttle ''[[Orion]]'' and a small crew, travelling back to Earth with supplies for Jazz's team at the Ark. Starscream and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were in the midst of an attack on the Ark when the ''Orion'' arrived. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} The little ship managed to damage [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] significantly before the super-powerful zealot [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] shorted out its engines and it crashed. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sacrificed himself to stop Sunstorm, Bumblebee deserted the Autobot army (for no stated reason). {{storylink|Atonement}} He headed to Spike's house, but Spike, resentful of the death of Sparkplug, lashed out at him. Afterward, Spike finally realized he was being harsh on his old friend, and the two went for a night on the town, where they stopped a mugging. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}
{{-}}
{{note|The closure of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] means we will never know if Bumblebee returned to the Autobots or if he and Spike formed a crime-fighting duo.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
Bumblebee was aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crashed on Earth millions of years in the past, leaving its passengers deactivated. Along with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], he was sealed off from the rest of the crew in the crash, and therefore avoided capture when [[Cobra]] broke into the ship and stole the dormant Transformers therein. Bumblebee and Wheeljack were eventually revived by [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletran-One]], only to find their friends missing. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

Attempting to find the missing Transformers, Bumblebee disguised himself as a Volkswagen Beetle, an altmode that really got on his nerves after months of fruitless searching. Eventually, Wheeljack came up with some leads on Cobra's next target, while Bumblebee just grumbled that Wheeljack got all the good [[Hologram|holographic]] drivers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} When Cobra attacked the [[SPS Research Facility]], the Autobots were waiting for them, and Bumblebee punched out a brainwashed [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] before helping [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'s [[Laser Squad]] get out of some rubble. Unfortunately, the humans didn't quite trust the giant robots, and [[Cover Girl]] fired a missile at 'Bee, who ''grabbed the projectile in mid-air'' and threw it at Rumble instead. He and Wheeljack eventually convinced G.I. Joe they were good guys, and the humans provided them with the information needed to undo Cobra's reprogramming of the other Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

As G.I. Joe prepared to attack [[Cobra Island]], Bumblebee and Wheeljack came with them. However, the United States government preferred nuke the island and dissect the two aliens at [[Area 51]], and Bumblebee was struck with a magnetic pulse and incapacitated. Luckily, Wheeljack convinced [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] that a nuclear strike on Cobra's [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] stockpile would lead to worldwide devastation, so G.I. Joe broke orders and took the Autobots with them to attack Cobra Island anyway. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Upon arrival, Bumblebee watched as the [[SPS Satellite]]'s energy beam struck an energy-gathering dish on the island, then helped G.I. Joe take down [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] after the giant Decepticon killed [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

It soon transpired that the United States government were sending the nukes regardless of G.I. Joe's presence on the island, so the Autobots and humans made their way to the SPS Satellite's controls, where Bumblebee found a cowering [[Doctor Mindbender]]. While Mindbender was forced to calibrate the satellite's beams to shoot down the approaching nuclear warheads, the facility came under attack by [[Storm Shadow]], [[Firefly]] and various Cobra troopers. During the battle, Bumblebee defeated Storm Shadow and his heavily damaged [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suit. He then cheered as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] defeated Megatron and shot down the SPS Satellite, and he later returned to Cybertron aboard a new ''Ark''. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Two years later, Bumblebee was sent back through time to [[1970]]'s [[San Francisco]] by a malfunctioning [[Teletran 3]], and was left dormant in the form of a Ford Pinto. He was found and reactivated by several G.I. Joes and Cobra members sent to get him back to the future, but both Bumblebee and [[Zartan]] were disappointed with his altmode compared to the much fancier car his fellow time-lost Autobot [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] turned into. After hunting down [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in the same era, the team returned to their own time. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} Back on present-day Cybertron, Bumblebee and the others had no choice but to wait inside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s force field until the three other teams returned with more lost Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}} When the whole affair was over, Bumblebee curiously inspected Teletran 3. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

An agreement was made between the Autobots and G.I. Joe to decommission any Cybertronian technology left on Earth, and Bumblebee was sent back to Earth along with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], the last of whom he was very flirty with. When [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] came under attack from Cobra, Bumblebee noticed that [[Cobra Commander]] was using the attack as a diversion to infiltrate the facility's lower levels. He pursued the Commander, but was rendered unconscious when Zartan planted an electromagnetic scrambler on him. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} Just when Cobra Commander was about to smash the robot's face in with a lead pipe, the other Autobots and G.I. Joes arrived and saved him. While Arcee was worried about his low energy levels, Bumblebee assured her that seeing her was all the recharge he needed. However, it was soon revealed what Cobra Commander had come for: [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], a biotechnological weapon created from Megatron's remains. He was also just as power-hungry as Megatron, and took control of [[G.I. Joe battle mech|G.I. Joe's battle suits]] and pitted them against the four Autobots to distract them while he warped to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

[[Image:GIJoevsTFArtofwar3_BumblebeeDeath.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Crossovers are not kind to Bumblebee.]]

[[Image:JoeTF_ArtofWar5_BumblebeeMemorial.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Here Lies 'Bee / Only Time He Had A Girl In Any Continui-ty]]

Along with a group of Joes, the Autobots followed Serpent O.R. to their home planet, and ended up getting attacked by [[cannibalizer]]s in a junkyard. As they retreated to avoid human casualties, Bumblebee tried to extort a kiss from Arcee if he could outrace her, but she upped the bet by offering to rotate his tires if he could pull it off. Bumblebee accelerated in anticipation... and drove straight into [[Predaking]], who stomped him unconscious. Serpent O.R., who had recruited Predaking alongside various other Decepticons, complimented the little Autobot's courage and resilience, noting that he could probably survive with the proper medical attention. Then he crushed Bumblebee to death with his tentacles. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Following the defeat of Serpent O.R., a funeral was held for Bumblebee and a statue was built in his honor. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

Bumblebee's death had a large impact on Optimus Prime, who blamed himself for his friend's death. Unwilling to send anyone else to their death, he went on a dangerous mission on Earth all by himself. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|Black Horizon, Part 1}}
HE LIVESSSSS!!

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
After laying dormant among the [[Fera Islands]] for three million years, Bumblebee and his friends were reactivated in [[1939]] when [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] attacked [[Cobra]]'s headquarters in the archipelago. He was reformatted into a [[World War II]]-era motorcycle, complete with sidecar, and thought Optimus Prime was a bit pessimistic when he worried that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] might no longer exist. {{storylink|Transformed}} The Autobots subsequently joined G.I. Joe on their mission to eliminate Cobra and their Decepticon allies. Bumblebee overheard [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] discussing that [[Snake-Eyes]] had vanished, and tried to reassure [[Scarlett]] that the missing Joe would show up eventually. Before long, the group came under attack from Cobra paratroopers, but the bullets merely bounced off Bumblebee, who happily suggested that the Autobots should try out their new bodies in action. {{storylink|Trial by Fire (issue)|Trial by Fire}}

Upon entering combat, the Autobots were faced with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who was easily taking out the larger tank Autobots with his earthquakes. While Bumblebee was busy explaining who Rumble was, Scarlett commandeered him (noting how "sweet" it was that he had never been driven before) and drove into action, jumping above the Decepticon and destroying him with a grenade. Bumblebee felt that he and Scarlett made a nice team, and sheepishly told her that she could drive him anytime. How cheeky! {{storylink|Wolves}} When they reached Cobra's fortress, the [[Terrordrome]], the Autobots were attacked by a raging [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], whom Bumblebee noted that he had never seen before. In the end, the [[Matrix of Leadership]] had to be destroyed in order to stop Bruticus, which killed Bumblebee and all the other Transformers in the process. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{note|For information pertaining to Goldbug, a separate individual in the IDW continuity, see [[Goldbug (IDW)]].}}
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Bumblebeeidw.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Bumblebee finally passed the gun exam.]]

Bumblebee was part of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl's]] secret counter-infiltration unit on [[Earth]]. When [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] broke cover by rescuing a [[Hunter O'Nion|trio]] [[Verity Carlo|of]] [[Jimmy Pink|humans]], {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0}} Bumblebee was the one Autobot who supported his efforts. He was true to his role as an espionage agent and ferreted out their plans to continue joint operations against orders and joined in. Verity thought his alternate form and his [[holomatter]] avatar was "coool!" {{storylink|Infiltration issue 3|Infiltration #3}} He accompanied Ratchet and the humans to investigate an abandoned [[Decepticon]] bunker in [[Nebraska]]. When Ratchet mentioned how he hated putting their humans at risk, Bumblebee pragmatically commented that, given the need for evidence of unusual Decepticon activity and the consequences of Decepticon Siege Mode, the humans would be "acceptable losses". While the humans were exploring the bunker, two Decepticons attacked, and Bumblebee managed to take down [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], but not before Ratchet was shot and run over by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}}

As the bombardment by the Decepticons caused the bunker to collapse, Verity had trouble climbing out of the shaft through which they entered. Bumblebee leapt into action when the tree the rope was attached to buckled under the crumbling terrain. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}} He left the humans with Ratchet and traveled to [[Oregon]], the location of the second Decepticon command bunker, observing the situation until the rest of the Autobot unit could arrive. After witnessing Megatron "disciplining" Starscream and subsequently downgrading the infiltration unit's status to [[Infiltration protocol|Phase Two]], Bumblebee departed Oregon with the rest of the unit. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

[[Image:Bumblebee blasts LukeCage.jpg|left|thumb|180px|Oldest trick in the book.]]

Bumblebee went with the Autobots to investigate Decepticon activity in the country of [[Latveria]]. There they discovered a heavily shielded "array" that the Decepticons were using as a base. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One|Man and Machine #1}} There they skirmished with the humans that were assembled outside who were under the influence of the Decepticons' mind-altering [[Psycho-Prism]]. Bumblebee used his holomatter avatar in a "damsel in distress" ruse that distracted [[Luke Cage]] long enough for Bumblebee to get a clear shot. Ratchet was able to attach an inhibitor device to [[Captain America]] which nullified the effects of the Psycho-Prism. He gave Captain America enough devices for everyone on his team. Now calmed down, the two groups teamed up to destroy the Psycho-Prism. They began attacking the array's defenses which caused the Decepticons to attack. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two|Man and Machine #2}}

As they fought, Ratchet, Prowl, and Luke Cage were able to slip into the array. Outside, Bumblebee, Jazz, and Prime gave a power-boost to [[Iron Man]] in his Transformer-sized armor. After the battle quieted down, Megatron communicated via hologram from inside the array with his new ally [[Doctor Doom]]. They showed their captives, Ratchet, Prowl, Luke Cage, and [[Spider-Man]]. Megatron ordered their surrender or the captives would die. Optimus Prime ordered the quick destruction of the array. [[Falcon (superhero)|The Falcon]] objected because their teammates were still inside. Bumblebee argued that those few humans were expendable. There was a brief discussion, but Optimus Prime's orders won out and they all attacked the array. Megatron turned on Doctor Doom for being incorrect about them surrendering. Megatron didn't go through with his threat to kill his captives, instead he went outside to face his opponents and carrying Luke Cage. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three|Man and Machine #3}}

While Megatron was attacking, Bumblebee, Jazz, and [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]] [[orbital jump|orbital bounced]] into the array. They found that Doctor Doom switched sides and freed Spider-Man, so they went to find the Psycho-Prism. They found it guarded by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], who wasn't in the mood to fight for Megatron's cause and left. Wolverine destroyed the Prism. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four|Man and Machine #4}}

Bumblebee was tasked by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to check the area surrounding their base for surveillance. He found a great deal of it, prompting the decision to relocate the ''[[Ark-19]]''. He was aboard when the ship was shot down by [[Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} He survived but was injured in the subsequent battle with the living Decepticon weapon of mass destruction. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} He was presumably on the ''[[Ark-32]]'' when it left Earth. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

A year later, Bumblebee was hiding out with other Autobots on Cybertron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

[[Image:AHM4BumblebeeWheeljack.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Slag it, Bumblebee, stop making our jokes for us!]]
Bumblebee and Wheeljack were sent to search for energon by Jazz, but found the going rough in their Earth modes. Wheeljack suggested he whip up a polymer, but 'Bee very quickly pointed out the fact they hadn't the equipment. To make matters worse, the pair were being followed and their only hope of signaling for help was a million to one shot! Not willing to wait for back-up that wasn't coming, Bumblebee dragged Wheeljack along in an attempt to track the stranger down... when Hot Rod was knocked through a wall by Ironhide. Bumblebee was surprised to see Hot Rod, but more surprised to hear the other bot thought they were a rescue party! {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

Later, while being chased by the [[Insecticon swarm]], Bumblebee made a disparaging comment about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] quickly put him in his place. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} As tensions rose, he almost had a throw-down with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} Along with the other Autobots, Bumblebee was rescued and transported back to Earth by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Together with the rest of the Autobots, he fought the Decepticons and drove them off the planet. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

After the departure of the Decepticons, the human military hunted down any remaining Transformer. Somehow Bumblebee got separated from his team in the ruins of New York. He managed to avoid detection until he was forced to reveal his location when a toppling building threatened the families inside. Bumblebee used his body to support the building, even as the nearby military fired into his body. Thankfully, Bumblebee was able to hold out until the humans inside had evacuated, and the timely arrival of Optimus Prime and the others kept the military from finishing him off. Once Bumblebee had been restored to working order, he asked Ratchet if they had heard his radio distress calls. No, Ratchet responded, Bumblebee's radio had been busted, but they heard about his plight on the humans' frequencies. Ratchet laughed, noting that was Optimus Prime's idea, who felt that it was only a matter of time before Bumblebee would have to save somebody and out himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|Hidden}}

Following the resignation of Optimus Prime and his surrender to the human organization [[Skywatch]], Bumblebee was elected to the position of Autobot commander despite not putting himself forward for the role. Ratchet posited his trustworthiness and dependability as factors in his being chosen. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

[[Image:Bumblebee 1 Leader.jpg|thumb|200px|left|And there was much rejoicing.]]
Though at first there was jubilation at Bumblebee's rise to leadership, his diplomatic nature and desire to be nice to everybody eventually led to problems. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} The first of many challenges in Bumblebee's new command was [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who had arrived to investigate the death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. Magnus questioned Bumblebee's suitability for command in light of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] leading his own group of Autobots away, and was not interested in helping Bumblebee with their current woes. Unfortunately, it was then that [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] decided to lead yet another exodus of Autobots (consisting of [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]) away from the main group. {{Storylink|A Rude Awakening}}

Wheeljack had little time or respect for Bumblebee's moping or his perceived lack of leadership ability, leading to several cutting remarks, much to the annoyance of Ratchet. Through some interference from Wheeljack, Bumblebee met with Skywatch rogue Colonel [[Gordon Horiuchi]] who gave them protection from Skywatch if the Autobots helped capture Decepticons. Unfortunately this "protection" could also lock them into vehicle mode if they misbehaved, which Horiuchi did when Cliffjumper refused to capture Blurr. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}}

Tracking down Blurr, Bumblebee attempted to talk the fugitive Autobot over, to convince him to come quietly. Blurr was shocked that Bumblebee would agree to work with the humans, the people who had imprisoned others of their kind. When Bumblebee revealed that Blurr didn't have much of a choice, the latter decided to take his chances and shot Bumblebee at point blank range, which shorted out his kill-switch badge. Back at base, when Bumblebee refused to turn over Blurr, Horiuchi decided the Autobot needed a reminder of who was holding the leash and attempted to activate his kill-switch. Naturally, it didn't work, but Ratchet convinced Bumblebee to play along and pretend he was locked into vehicle mode. Seeing an opportunity, the Bumblebee concocted a plan where the reluctant Blurr would find a Volkswagen to take his place, allowing him to find a way to free the rest of the Autobots. Before leaving, Bumblebee gave the Autobots an inspiring speech that actually caused [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to break character, surprising the Skywatch operatives who were listening in on those Autobots with functional kill-switch badges. Later, communicating with Ratchet via a text-only comm channel, Bumblebee located a large shipment of darmstadtium, the rare metal used in the kill-switches at a shipping port. As he was skulking around, he discovered the Constructicon [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], who had repainted himself to disguise his identity from the humans, as well as the hope that he sneak onto one of the container ships. Bumblebee tried to convince him that they had to earn the respect of the humans, but Scavenger angrily scoffed at this, stating he would rather hide than work with them. Bumblebee left him in peace. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}}

[[Image:TheGiftHorse_Bumblebee_Serena.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]

When Skywatch arrived to repair "Bumblebee's" kill-switch badge, they inadvertently revealed the identity of [[Sanjay Bharwaney]], a Skywatch researcher who was responsible for the secondary master control board for all of the badges. Bumblebee followed Bharwaney home, following Wheeljack's advice that altering the control board would short out the badges. Obviously unable to retrieve the control board directly, Bumblebee befriended Bharwaney's daughter, [[Serena Bharwaney|Serena]], in the hopes she could help him. Much to his distaste, Bumblebee had to lie to Serena, claiming that the control board would harm her father if he didn't "fix" it. He felt so bad about the whole thing that he believed doing this all but confirmed Humanity's opinion of the Transformers, a position that [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] did not tolerate. Unfortunately, it was discovered the control board contained tracking devices, meaning Bumblebee would be unable to get it back to their hideout before Colonel Horiuchi would notice and disable all the Autobots. This forced Bumblebee to make the modifications himself, a task he scarcely completed before Bharwaney returned home. As his friend Serena took the item back into her house, Bumblebee hoped that one day, he could repay her for his betrayal of her trust. {{Storylink|The Gift Horse}}

However, as he was making his way back to the Autobot hideout, Bumblebee detected [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] heading towards the Bharwaney house. Arriving just in time to save Bharwaney and his daughter, Bumblebee discovered the scientist to be an embittered man whose wife had died during the Decepticon invasion, and who now saw all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike, as the same destructive aliens. During their flight, Bharwaney decided to use the control board to destroy both Bumblebee and Skywarp, seeing Bumblebee as a traitor to Horiuchi. When Serena appealed to her father, Bharwaney forced Bumblebee to admit that he did use Serena to get to the control board, and 'Bee apologised to the young girl. Letting them both out, Bumblebee asked Bharwaney for the control board so he could free his fellow Autobots. As they argued, Skywatch lieutenant [[Daniel Klonowski]] appeared and saved the trio from Skywarp, but despite his interference, Skywarp cut off Bumblebee's escape. Declaring that, unlike Skywarp, he had friends who would fix him, Bumblebee activated the control board, which simultaneously destroyed the kill-switch badges on the Autobots and seriously damaged himself and Skywarp. Sometime later, after Klonowski paid a visit to the Autobot hideout, Bumblebee emerged with a brand new, more powerful body and a new confidence befitting his command of the Autobots. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

Bumblebee's new confidence was tested when Ultra Magnus barged back into the Autobot caves, requisitioning a strike force to arrest Hot Rod for colluding with the enemy. Magnus forced Bumblebee and the others to go along with him almost by sheer force of personality, and they soon arrived at the launch site where Hot Rod and his Autobot & Decepticon allies were planning to leave the planet. Bumblebee and Hot Rod tried to debate the situation, but Ultra Magnus soon grew tired of listening to their concerns and laid down the line: "Right, wrong, I'm the guy with the badge." Any dissention in the Autobots ranks came to a sudden stop when [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] turned on his "friend" Hot Rod, unleashing the new Stunticon combiner named [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

Most of the Decepticons joined Swindle and the Stunticons in turning against their Autobot comrades. [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] in particular took great joy in showing the Constructicons could still hack it in light of the new combiner robot, and tried to strangle Bumblebee one-handed. Bumblebee was saved by the timely but unexpected intervention of [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], who had grown just as tired of the war as many Autobots.

Watching the Stunticons at work as Menasor, Bumblebee noticed how poorly integrated their consciousnesses were, and devised a plan to break them apart. By directing the Autobots to focus their firepower first on [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], then [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], he successfully led the group in dismantling Menasor. Even Optimus Prime and the latecomers from Skywatch looked to him for direction. Afterwards, Prime blessed Bumblebee's leadership, and 'Bee decreed it was time for the Autobots to stop running. He faced [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] head on and made arrangements for a true peace with Skywatch. Bumblebee still had to deal with Ultra Magnus, however, who was insisting on arresting Rodimus for treason. Bumblebee finally told Magnus where he could stuff his statutes. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

Bumblebee and the Autobots then entered into a formal arrangement with Skywatch, and took up residence inside the organization's bunkers. {{storylink|All His Engines}} Despite his decision, some like [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] continued to question the idea of living among those who had hunted them for the last three years. Bumblebee earnestly defended his choice, however, stating essentially that trust had to begin somewhere or else they'd never survive on Earth. Spike soon alerted Bumblebee that [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and the Combaticons had made their presence known in North Korea along the demilitarized zone. Bumblebee quickly determined that, despite appearances, the Combaticons were not loyal mercenaries to the North Koreans, but were playing a larger game. With the President of the United States declaring all Transformers "illegal weapons of mass destruction", though, Spike and Bumblebee decided they would have to intervene...in disguise. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"}}

{{note|The events of "Spotlight: Mirage" possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
Bumblebee was part of a unit heading towards the Pegasus Star Cluster to link up with the last remnants of the Autobots under Optimus Prime's command. He never made it, as the unit was ambushed as soon as it entered the cluster. The self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] took his form to fool the remaining Autobots to allow him to enter their base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}

{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
In an alternate universe, the Transformers landed on Earth before the Ice Age, taking on the forms of dinosaurs and giant insects. When the climate became too cold for the war to continue, Bumblebee and the other Autobots entered into [[stasis lock]] to prevent further damage. Thousands of years later, Bumblebee awoke to the age of humans from the noise of John Henry's hammering. Bumblebee was impressed by the humans' industriousness, and disguised himself as a small steam locomotive with no control cab, and a built in steam-hammer for driving spikes. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Initially, 'Bee directly competed with steel-driving legend [[John Henry]]. After Bumblebee revealed himself in robot form to Henry, Henry set aside his mistrust of automation after realizing that Bumblebee was a living being (not just a machine) who wanted to put in a fair day's work. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

Bumblebee woke several of his fellow Autobots, who soon discovered that the Decepticons were also active in this era. After taking on locomotive alt modes themselves, {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}} Bumblebee, the Autobots, and their new human friends worked together to prevent the Decepticons' mighty [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] from reaching [[New York City]]. With the Decepticons defeated, Bumblebee and the Autobots returned to their slumber. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4|Hearts of Steel #4}}

{{note|Bumblebee's pre-locomotive "Ice Age Wars" [[Alternate mode|altmode]] appears to be a spiky dinosaur, possibly a [[Wikipedia:Gastonia (dinosaur)|Gastonia]]. He also has a transitional body, while he is preparing to take on his locomotive form, which is similar to his dinosaur body, but with no spikes.}}

===Descent into Evil===
[[Image:Timelines-Bumblebee.jpg|right|180px|thumb|You know you want me, baby.]]
Having been on the trail of the Decepticon agent [[Flamewar]] for a long, long time, now-[[espionage director]] Bumblebee made his move, interrupting a supposedly-secure secret communication between Flamewar and the [[Tripredacus Council]]. He revealed that his agent, [[Ricochet (Timelines)|Ricochet]] had installed a degenerating virus into [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Virulent Clone|clone army]]. Oh, and that since the Autobots now ''knew'' Flamewar's whereabouts and who she was working for, the Tripredacus Council would certainly consider her a liability. Which they did. So they blew [[Flamewar's ship|her ship]] up. {{storylink|Descent into Evil}}

That's cold, Bee. Real cold.

{{note|Bumblebee appears in his unreleased [[Alternators]] body.}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comics===

[[Image:Henkei bumblebee pack in.jpg|left|thumb]]

When [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Megatron]] and the Decepticons attacked Earth in the 21st century, Bumblebee and the Autobots were there to stop them. During a battle in Tokyo, Bumblebee got the drop on [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Starscream]], dousing him with a fire engine's hose and leaving him open for a thrashing from [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1}}

Later, Bumblebee helped shield human bystanders from injury when [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Astrotrain]] went on a rampage, {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} and cheered when they were joined in their fight by [[Hot Rod (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Rodimus]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}}

Bumblebee was last seen helping to once more project humans when the Decepticons attacked a power plant with their newest member, the reluctant [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Skyfire]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===

[[Image:Henkei chpt 01 first meeting.jpg|right|thumb|During Autobot gymnastics tryouts for the 2012 Olympics: DISQUALIFIED.]]

Bumblebee was part of a small Autobot team led by Optimus Prime who left Cybertron to pursue the [[Energon Cube]] through space. When the giant energy source crashed on Earth, in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], it shattered into fragments that were scattered far and wide. Bumblebee and the other Autobots set up a subterranean base below the Cube's impact crater, and began their search for the shards, taking the forms of local vehicles to hide their activities. Despite their attempts at remaining unseen, glimpses of the Autobots only magnified the reputation the crash of the Cube (believed by humans to be a meteor) had given Hoshinochō: that of a hotbed of rumored alien and UFO activity, Japan's answer to [[United States of America|America]]'s Roswell.

[[Image:Henkei bumblebee and wataru.jpg|left|thumb|20 years later, Wataru still has this hanging on his wall.]]

Eleven years later, the driverless vehicle-mode Bumblebee was spotted by a schoolchild in the vicinity of the [[Star Dome]], a building since constructed over the Cube crater. Hearing the story from this witness, fame-seeking schoolboy [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]] ditched school to investigate the Star Dome, only for coincidence to lead him to step right in front of the speeding Bumblebee! Bumblebee was forced to transform and vault over the boy to prevent injuring him, but was able to make his escape before Wataru got a good look at him. Bumblebee hastily continued on his way to the Star Dome, and arrived to find it under attack by [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Ramjet]]. Wataru, too, had made it to the Dome, and Bumblebee saved him from Starscream before realizing with surprise that he was the same boy from earlier. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} The other Autobots soon arrived to join the fight, and Bumblebee tried to protect Wataru from injury by scooping him up and tossing him to the relative safety of the stands. For his trouble, the small Autobot was pinned by Starscream, but Wataru returned the favor by blinding the Decepticon with a fire extinguisher. The battle was then joined by the Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Megatron]], who attempted to make an example of Bumblebee and Wataru by blasting them with his fusion cannon, but at the last second, Optimus Prime was apparently able to deflect Megatron's shot with one of his own. Megatron covered the Decepticons' subsequent retreat by collapsing a part of the Star Dome, but Bumblebee protected Wataru from the rubble by shielding him with his own body. The pair then properly introduced themselves to one another, and Wataru was invited into the Autobots' base for an explanation. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}}

[[Image:Henkei_bumblebee_medical_treatment.jpg|right|thumb|Who knew alien-robots can be [[Wikipedia:Trypanophobia|trypanophobic]].]]

Bumblebee and Prime showed Wataru through their base on their way to the medical bay, where Bumblebee was to be treated for repairs. Bumblebee did not relish Optimus's medical ministrations, and the two Autobots were so busy trying to get through the process that they did not notice Wataru touching the large shard of the Energon Cube that they had recovered in their time on Earth. A bizarre energy discharge resulted that not only showed the Autobots images of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|another time and place]], but also healed all of Bumblebee's wounds. Prime pulled Wataru away from the shard and things returned to normal, leaving Bumblebee and the boy to marvel over what had occurred, and Prime to ponder what it might mean. Bumblebee then took Wataru back to school, but when he nearly blabbed everything that had happened to him to the assembled teachers, students and police, Bumblebee was forced to bump into him from behind shut him up. Unfortunately for 'Bee, he then had to beat a hast retreat as the police came chasing after him for his "hit and run" offense! {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

Bumblebee was next called into action when Starscream attacked a hydro-electric power plant with the help of his brainwashed comrade, [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Skyfire]]. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} Once again, Bumblebee tried to save Wataru from the Decepticons and was blasted as a result. This time, however, the pair were both saved by Skyfire, who was struggling against the mind-controlling influence of the helmet Starscream had placed on his head. All the combatants were shocked when a surge of familiar surge of energy erupted from Wataru's body; again, Bumblebee's wounds were healed, and Skyfire was empowered to overcome the helmet. Skyfire helped fend the Decepticons off and joined the Autobots, returning with them to their base where Prime explained to Bumblebee what he had come to understand about Wataru: he was a being known as a "[[Booster]]", born with the ability to control the energies of the Energon Cube. Both Bumblebee and Wataru were very excited at the idea that Wataru would now be able to help the Autobots in their fight. {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}} {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}} {{storylink|The Threat of Galvatron}} {{storylink|Revenge (issue)|Revenge}} {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}
{{-}}

==="Universe" cartoon===
[[Image:FfE Bumblebee.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Is he Schwarzebee… or Bumblenegger?]]
Bumblebee and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] were out for a drive when they discovered [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] mining fuel near an abandoned [[Rock-It Fuel|gas station]]. Bumblebee wanted to rush in but Optimus Prime suggested they create a diversion. They caused an explosion which distracted Cyclonus. Bumblebee attacked and kept him busy while Optimus Prime snuck up and hit him over the head with his [[energon-axe]]. Megatron chose to blow up the mining operation and retreat with Cyclonus. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee drove off leaving the flaming wreckage of the mining operation behind. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}
{{--}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Goldbug arrived with reinforcements from Autobot City to help [[Pyro|Spark]]’s team fight [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]'s [[Decepticon Syndicate]] which had taken over the [[Large Hadron Collider]] in [[Switzerland]]. After being exposed to the [[forestonite]] gas, he became a gold version of his original Bumblebee body, though now with the added ability to float and generate electrical stings from his fists. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
Bumblebee was amongst the Autobots abducted and held captive by the Decepticons, prompting Optimus Prime to enter the Decepticons' maze-like base in a rescue operation. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}
===The Transformers (1985)===
Bumblebee was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

===The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth===
[[Image:C64Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|250px|]]

Along with his fellow Autobots, Bumblebee protected Earth from the menace of the Decepticons. He was ostensibly under the command of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth}}
{{-}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Bumblebee was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon army. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor'': [[Jack Merluzzi]]

Bumblebee was one of the Autobots present on [[Zel Samine]] during the Decepticon attacks. He joined up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s party after they secured the wind power plant from the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Sector Seven'' game===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Sector Seven (game)}}

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
* The original Bumblebee toy was taken from the Japanese ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where it was available in yellow, red, and blue versions.

* Bumblebee appeared in one of five [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[public service announcement]]s, informing children that they shouldn't run away from home because it's "mean". This from the guy who ditched the Autobots for no real reason.

[[Image:PretenderBumblebeeModel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Bumblebee's rarely-seen Classic Pretenders character model. (Optimus Prime wants Goldbug back.)]]
* When Bumblebee reappeared in the Marvel Comics as a [[Classic Pretender]], he returned to his original toy's [[character model]], rather than one based on his new form. A new character model did appear in various toy commercials, however. These included one which introduced him and the other Classic Pretenders, and one where he and Jazz stupidly drag [[Micromaster]] bases into Autobot headquarters, causing everyone to flee when they transform and attack.

* According to [[Battle for Cybertron]], Bumblebee is a code-name.

* Bumblebee/Goldbug was clearly a "top-tier" character in the first decade of ''Transformers'': he was the only 1984 Autobot still shipping in 1986; he received more toys during Generation 1 than any other character; he had a toy shipping during seven of Generation 1's eight-year run. However, [[Hasbro]] lost the right to use "Bumblebee" as a toy [[trademark]] during the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' years, when Generation 1 names were in disuse. That's right, the name "Bumblebee" was lost during the years everyone turned into animals.

* The ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]], [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] is pretty clearly an [[homage]] to Bumblebee, from the coloration, placement of car-parts in robot mode, segmented-pipe biceps and even the head design.

[[Image:Hotbumblebee.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Hey! Look at that hot brunette! No... not [[Mikaela Banes|that one]]!]]

* A robot using Bumblebee's character model is shown in a still-shot flashback as a member of the Autobot group led by [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Whether this robot is an alternate-universe incarnation of Bumblebee or simply a similar-looking robot is—like all [[Unicron Trilogy]] character-model cameos—left to conjecture.

* According to EJ Su, Bumblebee's [[Holomatter|Holomatter avatar]] is modeled after [[wikipedia:Lindsay_Lohan|Lindsay Lohan]], an actress who plays a girl that drives [[wikipedia:Herbie|Herbie]], a sentient Beetle. ''Um, well''.<ref>[http://www.protodepot.com/archive/2007_11_01_archive.html Idea: Holomatter Projection]</ref>

*Goldbug was actually a preliminary name for Bumblebee during early treatments for the Marvel Comics!<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2010-bob-budiansky-panel-coverage-170041/ Bob Budiansky BotCon Panel Coverage]</ref>

* In the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity]], [[Goldbug (IDW)|Goldbug]] is a separate character who co-exists with Bumblebee. Yeah, it's slightly crazy.

* Bumblebee is the only member of the Transformers Hall of Fame who has not been killed in any of the Transformers cartoons.

* Bumblebee is also the only Autobot to go from start to finish of the cartoon without being killed or simply failing to [[Hound (G1)|a]][[Sunstreaker (G1)|p]][[Sideswipe (G1)|p]][[Mirage (G1)|e]][[Trailbreaker (G1)|a]][[Tracks (G1)|r]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|or resurrected]] after being killed.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Bumble''' (バンブル ''Banburu''), '''Goldback''' (Goldbug, ゴールドバック ''Gōrudobakku'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Daai Wong Fung''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Czech:'' '''Čmelák''' ("Bumblebee")
*''French:'' '''Bourdon''' (Canada, "Bumblebee"), '''Coccinelle''' (Canada, "Ladybug" or "Beetle")<ref>The Volkswagen Beetle was called "Coccinelle" in French areas, which is the French word for ladybug.</ref>
*''Hungarian:'' '''Űrdongó''' ("Space-bumblebee"), '''Dongó''' (''The Movie'', "Bumblebee"), '''Aranybogár''' ("Goldbug")
*''Italian:'' '''Maggiolino''' ("Beetle"), '''Wagenbot''' (Goldbug)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Dà Huáng-fēng''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Polish:'' '''Trzmiel''' ("Bumblebee")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Moscardo''' (Portugal comics, "Hornet"), '''Furão''' (Brazil comics, "Ferret")
*''Russian:'' '''Shershen'''' (dub, Шершень, "Hornet")
*''South American:'' '''Volks'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Dzhmil"''' (ICTV, Джміль, "Bumblebee")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Bumblebee/bumblebee.htm Bumblebee at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Bumblebee Bumblebee's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Goldbug Goldbug's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/mini_frame.php?art=whitemexbee White Mexican Bumblebee gallery at TF-1.com]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternity Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance specialists]]
[[Category:Robo-Capers characters]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Throttlebots]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Undersea specialists]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Bumblebee (G1)

2011-12-06T23:30:07Z

219.89.150.247: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Bumblebee}}
{{suite}}
:''Bumblebee is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]. He was known as '''Goldbug''' for a time in some continuities.''
[[Image:BumblebeeRIC.jpg|right|275px|thumb|Ahoy-hoy!]]
'''Bumblebee''' is one of the smallest and physically weakest Autobots. While his stature allows him to do his job better than most Autobots could manage, he is self-conscious about his size. Maybe this is why he makes fast friends among the humans. He looks up (so to speak) to the other Autobots, especially [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], but what he doesn't realize is that ''they'' look up to ''him''. He may be small, but he's brave, and he's one of the most well-liked Autobots around. Bumblebee already has the respect he craves.

As '''Goldbug'''—his [[Renaming|rebuilt]] and "matured" form—Bumblebee retains most of his earlier strengths and weaknesses, but without his crippling need for approval. (This is true of some "matured" versions of Bumblebee without new names or bodies, as well, but is quite markedly associated with the change to Goldbug).

His nicknames are '''Bee''' and '''Beeper'''.<ref>According to [[Jim Sorenson]], Bumblebee had Bee and Beeper listed as his nicknames in [[Bob Budiansky]]'s personal Transformers comic bible. Nicknames for other characters could be found in early ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Universe]]''-style profiles published in [[The Transformers Comic Magazine]]. In the Marvel Comics, Blackrock referred to him as Bum.</ref>

{{quote|Some of my best friends are humans.|Bumblebee, on his kid-friendly nature|"[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Bumblebeeplight.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This iteration's not too fond of freelance peacekeeping agents.]]
{{Main|Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}

Bumblebee was one of the several [[Autobot]]s who were carving a path through space for their planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked their spacecraft, the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], forcing them to crash-land on [[Earth]] 4 million years ago. When Bumblebee and the others were awoken in 1984, Bumblebee quickly befriended the [[human]] teenager [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]].

A few years later, Bumblebee was destroyed either by [[G.I. Joe]] or [[Death's Head]] and rebuilt into a more formidable form, Goldbug. In this form he joined [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s and exiled the Autobots while they were under the rule of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. After being destroyed by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and the [[Underbase]], Goldbug was rebuilt by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] into a [[Pretender]] form and was restored as Bumblebee. He participated in the [[Matrix Quest]] and survived their race's united battle against the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]].
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[Image:PlagueOfInsecticons Bumblebee and Spike hide.jpg|left|thumb|250px|I wonder if he wanted a job as a mechanic?]]
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}

Bumblebee was one of the several [[Autobot]]s who were searching for energy when the [[Decepticon]]s attacked their [[Ark (G1)|spacecraft]], forcing them to crash-land on [[Earth]] 4 million years ago. When Bumblebee and the others were awoken in 1984, Bumblebee quickly befriended the [[human]] teenager [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]].

Bumblebee and Spike would remain friends up through Spike's adulthood, and were stationed on one of Cybertron's moons in 2005 after the Decepticons conquered Cybertron. Bumblebee survived [[Unicron]]'s attack on Cybertron, and remained in action during the leadership of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]].

When Bumblebee was damaged badly during the [[Hate Plague]] outbreak in 2006, he had to be rebuilt into a new form, Goldbug. Goldbug would live to see the next Cybertronian Golden Age.
{{-}}

===''Legends'' anthology===
Bumblebee, Spike, and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] happened upon a badly damaged [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] while out racing. Bumblebee convinced the others to bring Starscream back to the Ark for repairs, under the rationale that while Starscream wouldn't have done the same for them, they weren't Decepticons. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Hey, remember that time in the comics when a couple of guys stole Bumblebee? What if they were kind of jerks? What if Bumblebee decided to make them pee themselves? {{storylink|Joyride (story)|Joyride}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
At the death of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], Bumblebee was part of an Autobot unit defending [[Altihex]] from the Decepticons, but it was ultimately declared a lost cause. [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] had to pull him aboard the shuttle once they realized there was nothing left to do. [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] ordered him, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and others to the ruins of [[Praxus]], where Grimlock declared that if the new [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] was unable to lead successfully, they would take control of the war's leadership... and take out the Prime. Bumblebee was among the group that was present for the Matrix transfer ceremony, where Optronix became [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. When a Decepticon assassination squad arrived and Optimus kicked some exhaust port, Bumblebee declared that he was "awesome". However, Prime then ordered the Autobots to prepare an evacuation of Cybertron. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}} When Prime went underground looking for Megatron, Bumblebee was surprised he'd gone alone, but the Autobots suddenly had bigger problems, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] attacked [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] with a host of Decepticons. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} During the attack, Bumblebee manned a turret in the [[Decagon]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} Eventually, Prowl ordered the Autobots to take them on individually, and Bumblebee went out carrying a cannon that was as [[Scale|big]] as him. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} Bumblebee survived the destruction of Iacon, and Prime reversed his order of evacuation. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}} During the Dark Ages and the disappearance of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee remained with Prowl's faction of Autobots, huddled in the ruins of Iacon. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective2 Bumblebee destruction.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Someone has to pay for the little things.]]
Bumblebee was one of the Ark crew that crashed on Earth and awoke in 1984. During that time, he met Spike Witwicky, becoming close friends with the human. In 1999, the Autobots and humans allied and managed to capture the Decepticons, taking them in the ''[[Ark II]]'' back to Cybertron, along with [[Magnificent Seven|seven humans]], including [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], Spike's father. However, the ''Ark II'' was sabotaged by rogue elements of the United States military (apparently as part of a plan by Shockwave). {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} The humans were all killed, but a number of Transformers, including Bumblebee, survived, but in [[stasis lock]]. Bumblebee's body was recovered by [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], but Rook stole Bumblebee and a number of other Transformers, selling them to various terrorists. Megatron broke free, and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], being dicks, disassembled and played with Bumblebee's various components. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}}

Optimus Prime's team later rescued him and the remaining Autobots, and they were all put to work in combating Megatron's techno-virus. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} Unfortunately, the [[Canada|Canadian]] military, skittish over the recent Transformer violence, attacked the Autobots. Despite this, Bumblebee tried to save as many of the soldiers as he could before the virus could kill them. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''In the following weeks, the Autobots tried their best to re-establish good relations with the people of Earth, but had little luck. After Optimus Prime, Megatron, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] vanished from the streets of Tokyo with roughly 200 human civilians, the public was understandably critical of the Transformers and their war. Bumblebee didn't help any when [[Chris Killah]], a reporter for MNT, interviewed him on the scene while he and Prowl were looking for clues to the disappearance. Bumblebee's knowledge of Earth idioms and slang normally worked to the Autobots' benefit, but he got "stage fright" in front of the TV cameras and referred to the massive property damage and loss of human life as a "bummer". Duuuuude...no. ''

''With both sides effectively leaderless at first, Bumblebee and Prowl did their best to contain the fallout of Megatron and Prime's disappearance. Acting on a tip, they tracked [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to an airport in [[Mesa Verde]], [[Mexico]], where he was running guns with some human terrorists. The battle was memorable, but brief, thanks largely to the arrival of the renegade Autobot known as Grimlock. Having heard the Starscream had taken over the human city of [[Las Vegas]], Grimlock had commissioned a human black ops army and invited Bumblebee and Prowl to join him in assaulting the Decepticon position. Already frustrated at the [[United Nations]]' orders to stay out of Vegas, for fear of civilian casualties, Bumblebee and Prowl accepted the offer. After fighting their way through [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] and the other [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] on the outskirts of town, the Autobots managed to make it to the center of the Strip to confront Soundwave. Fortunately, the Autobots had long since developed internal jammers to prevent Soundwave from reading their thoughts during a battle, but that didn't make things easy. Fighting their way around the casinos, Bumblebee finally collapsed a massive neon sign on top of Soundwave, temporarily ending the fight. Bumblebee and Prowl's luck turned sour, though, with the arrival of Starscream and the mighty Devastator. The sudden appearance of a spatial gateway depositing Optimus and the other lost Transformers, along with their captors the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]], was just one set of complications on top of another. {{storylink|Hardwired}}''

Sometime later, the Autobots received visitors from Cybertron. Representing a united Cybertronian government of both Autobots and Decepticons, they claimed the Transformers on Earth were a throwback to darker days, and wanted to take them into custody to prevent their "anachronistic" feud from upsetting Cybertron's populace. The Autobots under Optimus Prime split into two groups, with Bumblebee and several others joining their leader in surrendering to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s forces, while Jazz led a small group away from the Ark to continue monitoring activities on Earth. Once they arrived on Cybertron, it became clear that there was a rotten core to the new government, namely [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. Bumblebee and the other Autobots from Earth joined up with a resistance movement and helped overthrow Shockwave's reign, reinstating Autobot rule over Cybertron. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

[[Image:Bumblebeebattlemask.jpg|right|200px|thumb|25 years before someone realized his toy has no face.]]
After Cybertron settled down, Bumblebee commanded the Autobot Shuttle ''[[Orion]]'' and a small crew, travelling back to Earth with supplies for Jazz's team at the Ark. Starscream and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were in the midst of an attack on the Ark when the ''Orion'' arrived. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} The little ship managed to damage [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] significantly before the super-powerful zealot [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] shorted out its engines and it crashed. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sacrificed himself to stop Sunstorm, Bumblebee deserted the Autobot army (for no stated reason). {{storylink|Atonement}} He headed to Spike's house, but Spike, resentful of the death of Sparkplug, lashed out at him. Afterward, Spike finally realized he was being harsh on his old friend, and the two went for a night on the town, where they stopped a mugging. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}
{{-}}
{{note|The closure of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] means we will never know if Bumblebee returned to the Autobots or if he and Spike formed a crime-fighting duo.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
Bumblebee was aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crashed on Earth millions of years in the past, leaving its passengers deactivated. Along with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], he was sealed off from the rest of the crew in the crash, and therefore avoided capture when [[Cobra]] broke into the ship and stole the dormant Transformers therein. Bumblebee and Wheeljack were eventually revived by [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletran-One]], only to find their friends missing. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}}

Attempting to find the missing Transformers, Bumblebee disguised himself as a Volkswagen Beetle, an altmode that really got on his nerves after months of fruitless searching. Eventually, Wheeljack came up with some leads on Cobra's next target, while Bumblebee just grumbled that Wheeljack got all the good [[Hologram|holographic]] drivers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} When Cobra attacked the [[SPS Research Facility]], the Autobots were waiting for them, and Bumblebee punched out a brainwashed [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] before helping [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'s [[Laser Squad]] get out of some rubble. Unfortunately, the humans didn't quite trust the giant robots, and [[Cover Girl]] fired a missile at 'Bee, who ''grabbed the projectile in mid-air'' and threw it at Rumble instead. He and Wheeljack eventually convinced G.I. Joe they were good guys, and the humans provided them with the information needed to undo Cobra's reprogramming of the other Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

As G.I. Joe prepared to attack [[Cobra Island]], Bumblebee and Wheeljack came with them. However, the United States government preferred nuke the island and dissect the two aliens at [[Area 51]], and Bumblebee was struck with a magnetic pulse and incapacitated. Luckily, Wheeljack convinced [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] that a nuclear strike on Cobra's [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] stockpile would lead to worldwide devastation, so G.I. Joe broke orders and took the Autobots with them to attack Cobra Island anyway. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Upon arrival, Bumblebee watched as the [[SPS Satellite]]'s energy beam struck an energy-gathering dish on the island, then helped G.I. Joe take down [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] after the giant Decepticon killed [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

It soon transpired that the United States government were sending the nukes regardless of G.I. Joe's presence on the island, so the Autobots and humans made their way to the SPS Satellite's controls, where Bumblebee found a cowering [[Doctor Mindbender]]. While Mindbender was forced to calibrate the satellite's beams to shoot down the approaching nuclear warheads, the facility came under attack by [[Storm Shadow]], [[Firefly]] and various Cobra troopers. During the battle, Bumblebee defeated Storm Shadow and his heavily damaged [[S.N.A.K.E.]] suit. He then cheered as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] defeated Megatron and shot down the SPS Satellite, and he later returned to Cybertron aboard a new ''Ark''. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Two years later, Bumblebee was sent back through time to [[1970]]'s [[San Francisco]] by a malfunctioning [[Teletran 3]], and was left dormant in the form of a Ford Pinto. He was found and reactivated by several G.I. Joes and Cobra members sent to get him back to the future, but both Bumblebee and [[Zartan]] were disappointed with his altmode compared to the much fancier car his fellow time-lost Autobot [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] turned into. After hunting down [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] in the same era, the team returned to their own time. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} Back on present-day Cybertron, Bumblebee and the others had no choice but to wait inside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s force field until the three other teams returned with more lost Transformers. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}} When the whole affair was over, Bumblebee curiously inspected Teletran 3. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #4}}

An agreement was made between the Autobots and G.I. Joe to decommission any Cybertronian technology left on Earth, and Bumblebee was sent back to Earth along with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], the last of whom he was very flirty with. When [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] came under attack from Cobra, Bumblebee noticed that [[Cobra Commander]] was using the attack as a diversion to infiltrate the facility's lower levels. He pursued the Commander, but was rendered unconscious when Zartan planted an electromagnetic scrambler on him. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} Just when Cobra Commander was about to smash the robot's face in with a lead pipe, the other Autobots and G.I. Joes arrived and saved him. While Arcee was worried about his low energy levels, Bumblebee assured her that seeing her was all the recharge he needed. However, it was soon revealed what Cobra Commander had come for: [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], a biotechnological weapon created from Megatron's remains. He was also just as power-hungry as Megatron, and took control of [[G.I. Joe battle mech|G.I. Joe's battle suits]] and pitted them against the four Autobots to distract them while he warped to Cybertron. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

[[Image:GIJoevsTFArtofwar3_BumblebeeDeath.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Crossovers are not kind to Bumblebee.]]

[[Image:JoeTF_ArtofWar5_BumblebeeMemorial.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Here Lies 'Bee / Only Time He Had A Girl In Any Continui-ty]]

Along with a group of Joes, the Autobots followed Serpent O.R. to their home planet, and ended up getting attacked by [[cannibalizer]]s in a junkyard. As they retreated to avoid human casualties, Bumblebee tried to extort a kiss from Arcee if he could outrace her, but she upped the bet by offering to rotate his tires if he could pull it off. Bumblebee accelerated in anticipation... and drove straight into [[Predaking]], who stomped him unconscious. Serpent O.R., who had recruited Predaking alongside various other Decepticons, complimented the little Autobot's courage and resilience, noting that he could probably survive with the proper medical attention. Then he crushed Bumblebee to death with his tentacles. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Following the defeat of Serpent O.R., a funeral was held for Bumblebee and a statue was built in his honor. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

Bumblebee's death had a large impact on Optimus Prime, who blamed himself for his friend's death. Unwilling to send anyone else to their death, he went on a dangerous mission on Earth all by himself. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|Black Horizon, Part 1}}
HE LIVESSSSS!!

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
After laying dormant among the [[Fera Islands]] for three million years, Bumblebee and his friends were reactivated in [[1939]] when [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] attacked [[Cobra]]'s headquarters in the archipelago. He was reformatted into a [[World War II]]-era motorcycle, complete with sidecar, and thought Optimus Prime was a bit pessimistic when he worried that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] might no longer exist. {{storylink|Transformed}} The Autobots subsequently joined G.I. Joe on their mission to eliminate Cobra and their Decepticon allies. Bumblebee overheard [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] discussing that [[Snake-Eyes]] had vanished, and tried to reassure [[Scarlett]] that the missing Joe would show up eventually. Before long, the group came under attack from Cobra paratroopers, but the bullets merely bounced off Bumblebee, who happily suggested that the Autobots should try out their new bodies in action. {{storylink|Trial by Fire (issue)|Trial by Fire}}

Upon entering combat, the Autobots were faced with [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], who was easily taking out the larger tank Autobots with his earthquakes. While Bumblebee was busy explaining who Rumble was, Scarlett commandeered him (noting how "sweet" it was that he had never been driven before) and drove into action, jumping above the Decepticon and destroying him with a grenade. Bumblebee felt that he and Scarlett made a nice team, and sheepishly told her that she could drive him anytime. How cheeky! {{storylink|Wolves}} When they reached Cobra's fortress, the [[Terrordrome]], the Autobots were attacked by a raging [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], whom Bumblebee noted that he had never seen before. In the end, the [[Matrix of Leadership]] had to be destroyed in order to stop Bruticus, which killed Bumblebee and all the other Transformers in the process. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{note|For information pertaining to Goldbug, a separate individual in the IDW continuity, see [[Goldbug (IDW)]].}}
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Bumblebeeidw.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Bumblebee finally passed the gun exam.]]

Bumblebee was part of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl's]] secret counter-infiltration unit on [[Earth]]. When [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] broke cover by rescuing a [[Hunter O'Nion|trio]] [[Verity Carlo|of]] [[Jimmy Pink|humans]], {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0}} Bumblebee was the one Autobot who supported his efforts. He was true to his role as an espionage agent and ferreted out their plans to continue joint operations against orders and joined in. Verity thought his alternate form and his [[holomatter]] avatar was "coool!" {{storylink|Infiltration issue 3|Infiltration #3}} He accompanied Ratchet and the humans to investigate an abandoned [[Decepticon]] bunker in [[Nebraska]]. When Ratchet mentioned how he hated putting their humans at risk, Bumblebee pragmatically commented that, given the need for evidence of unusual Decepticon activity and the consequences of Decepticon Siege Mode, the humans would be "acceptable losses". While the humans were exploring the bunker, two Decepticons attacked, and Bumblebee managed to take down [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], but not before Ratchet was shot and run over by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}}

As the bombardment by the Decepticons caused the bunker to collapse, Verity had trouble climbing out of the shaft through which they entered. Bumblebee leapt into action when the tree the rope was attached to buckled under the crumbling terrain. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}} He left the humans with Ratchet and traveled to [[Oregon]], the location of the second Decepticon command bunker, observing the situation until the rest of the Autobot unit could arrive. After witnessing Megatron "disciplining" Starscream and subsequently downgrading the infiltration unit's status to [[Infiltration protocol|Phase Two]], Bumblebee departed Oregon with the rest of the unit. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

[[Image:Bumblebee blasts LukeCage.jpg|left|thumb|180px|Oldest trick in the book.]]

Bumblebee went with the Autobots to investigate Decepticon activity in the country of [[Latveria]]. There they discovered a heavily shielded "array" that the Decepticons were using as a base. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One|Man and Machine #1}} There they skirmished with the humans that were assembled outside who were under the influence of the Decepticons' mind-altering [[Psycho-Prism]]. Bumblebee used his holomatter avatar in a "damsel in distress" ruse that distracted [[Luke Cage]] long enough for Bumblebee to get a clear shot. Ratchet was able to attach an inhibitor device to [[Captain America]] which nullified the effects of the Psycho-Prism. He gave Captain America enough devices for everyone on his team. Now calmed down, the two groups teamed up to destroy the Psycho-Prism. They began attacking the array's defenses which caused the Decepticons to attack. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two|Man and Machine #2}}

As they fought, Ratchet, Prowl, and Luke Cage were able to slip into the array. Outside, Bumblebee, Jazz, and Prime gave a power-boost to [[Iron Man]] in his Transformer-sized armor. After the battle quieted down, Megatron communicated via hologram from inside the array with his new ally [[Doctor Doom]]. They showed their captives, Ratchet, Prowl, Luke Cage, and [[Spider-Man]]. Megatron ordered their surrender or the captives would die. Optimus Prime ordered the quick destruction of the array. [[Falcon (superhero)|The Falcon]] objected because their teammates were still inside. Bumblebee argued that those few humans were expendable. There was a brief discussion, but Optimus Prime's orders won out and they all attacked the array. Megatron turned on Doctor Doom for being incorrect about them surrendering. Megatron didn't go through with his threat to kill his captives, instead he went outside to face his opponents and carrying Luke Cage. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three|Man and Machine #3}}

While Megatron was attacking, Bumblebee, Jazz, and [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]] [[orbital jump|orbital bounced]] into the array. They found that Doctor Doom switched sides and freed Spider-Man, so they went to find the Psycho-Prism. They found it guarded by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], who wasn't in the mood to fight for Megatron's cause and left. Wolverine destroyed the Prism. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four|Man and Machine #4}}

Bumblebee was tasked by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to check the area surrounding their base for surveillance. He found a great deal of it, prompting the decision to relocate the ''[[Ark-19]]''. He was aboard when the ship was shot down by [[Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} He survived but was injured in the subsequent battle with the living Decepticon weapon of mass destruction. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} He was presumably on the ''[[Ark-32]]'' when it left Earth. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

A year later, Bumblebee was hiding out with other Autobots on Cybertron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

[[Image:AHM4BumblebeeWheeljack.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Slag it, Bumblebee, stop making our jokes for us!]]
Bumblebee and Wheeljack were sent to search for energon by Jazz, but found the going rough in their Earth modes. Wheeljack suggested he whip up a polymer, but 'Bee very quickly pointed out the fact they hadn't the equipment. To make matters worse, the pair were being followed and their only hope of signaling for help was a million to one shot! Not willing to wait for back-up that wasn't coming, Bumblebee dragged Wheeljack along in an attempt to track the stranger down... when Hot Rod was knocked through a wall by Ironhide. Bumblebee was surprised to see Hot Rod, but more surprised to hear the other bot thought they were a rescue party! {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

Later, while being chased by the [[Insecticon swarm]], Bumblebee made a disparaging comment about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] quickly put him in his place. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} As tensions rose, he almost had a throw-down with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} Along with the other Autobots, Bumblebee was rescued and transported back to Earth by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Together with the rest of the Autobots, he fought the Decepticons and drove them off the planet. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

After the departure of the Decepticons, the human military hunted down any remaining Transformer. Somehow Bumblebee got separated from his team in the ruins of New York. He managed to avoid detection until he was forced to reveal his location when a toppling building threatened the families inside. Bumblebee used his body to support the building, even as the nearby military fired into his body. Thankfully, Bumblebee was able to hold out until the humans inside had evacuated, and the timely arrival of Optimus Prime and the others kept the military from finishing him off. Once Bumblebee had been restored to working order, he asked Ratchet if they had heard his radio distress calls. No, Ratchet responded, Bumblebee's radio had been busted, but they heard about his plight on the humans' frequencies. Ratchet laughed, noting that was Optimus Prime's idea, who felt that it was only a matter of time before Bumblebee would have to save somebody and out himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 16|Hidden}}

Following the resignation of Optimus Prime and his surrender to the human organization [[Skywatch]], Bumblebee was elected to the position of Autobot commander despite not putting himself forward for the role. Ratchet posited his trustworthiness and dependability as factors in his being chosen. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}

[[Image:Bumblebee 1 Leader.jpg|thumb|200px|left|And there was much rejoicing.]]
Though at first there was jubilation at Bumblebee's rise to leadership, his diplomatic nature and desire to be nice to everybody eventually led to problems. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} The first of many challenges in Bumblebee's new command was [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who had arrived to investigate the death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. Magnus questioned Bumblebee's suitability for command in light of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] leading his own group of Autobots away, and was not interested in helping Bumblebee with their current woes. Unfortunately, it was then that [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] decided to lead yet another exodus of Autobots (consisting of [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]) away from the main group. {{Storylink|A Rude Awakening}}

Wheeljack had little time or respect for Bumblebee's moping or his perceived lack of leadership ability, leading to several cutting remarks, much to the annoyance of Ratchet. Through some interference from Wheeljack, Bumblebee met with Skywatch rogue Colonel [[Gordon Horiuchi]] who gave them protection from Skywatch if the Autobots helped capture Decepticons. Unfortunately this "protection" could also lock them into vehicle mode if they misbehaved, which Horiuchi did when Cliffjumper refused to capture Blurr. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}}

Tracking down Blurr, Bumblebee attempted to talk the fugitive Autobot over, to convince him to come quietly. Blurr was shocked that Bumblebee would agree to work with the humans, the people who had imprisoned others of their kind. When Bumblebee revealed that Blurr didn't have much of a choice, the latter decided to take his chances and shot Bumblebee at point blank range, which shorted out his kill-switch badge. Back at base, when Bumblebee refused to turn over Blurr, Horiuchi decided the Autobot needed a reminder of who was holding the leash and attempted to activate his kill-switch. Naturally, it didn't work, but Ratchet convinced Bumblebee to play along and pretend he was locked into vehicle mode. Seeing an opportunity, the Bumblebee concocted a plan where the reluctant Blurr would find a Volkswagen to take his place, allowing him to find a way to free the rest of the Autobots. Before leaving, Bumblebee gave the Autobots an inspiring speech that actually caused [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to break character, surprising the Skywatch operatives who were listening in on those Autobots with functional kill-switch badges. Later, communicating with Ratchet via a text-only comm channel, Bumblebee located a large shipment of darmstadtium, the rare metal used in the kill-switches at a shipping port. As he was skulking around, he discovered the Constructicon [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], who had repainted himself to disguise his identity from the humans, as well as the hope that he sneak onto one of the container ships. Bumblebee tried to convince him that they had to earn the respect of the humans, but Scavenger angrily scoffed at this, stating he would rather hide than work with them. Bumblebee left him in peace. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}}

[[Image:TheGiftHorse_Bumblebee_Serena.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]

When Skywatch arrived to repair "Bumblebee's" kill-switch badge, they inadvertently revealed the identity of [[Sanjay Bharwaney]], a Skywatch researcher who was responsible for the secondary master control board for all of the badges. Bumblebee followed Bharwaney home, following Wheeljack's advice that altering the control board would short out the badges. Obviously unable to retrieve the control board directly, Bumblebee befriended Bharwaney's daughter, [[Serena Bharwaney|Serena]], in the hopes she could help him. Much to his distaste, Bumblebee had to lie to Serena, claiming that the control board would harm her father if he didn't "fix" it. He felt so bad about the whole thing that he believed doing this all but confirmed Humanity's opinion of the Transformers, a position that [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] did not tolerate. Unfortunately, it was discovered the control board contained tracking devices, meaning Bumblebee would be unable to get it back to their hideout before Colonel Horiuchi would notice and disable all the Autobots. This forced Bumblebee to make the modifications himself, a task he scarcely completed before Bharwaney returned home. As his friend Serena took the item back into her house, Bumblebee hoped that one day, he could repay her for his betrayal of her trust. {{Storylink|The Gift Horse}}

However, as he was making his way back to the Autobot hideout, Bumblebee detected [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] heading towards the Bharwaney house. Arriving just in time to save Bharwaney and his daughter, Bumblebee discovered the scientist to be an embittered man whose wife had died during the Decepticon invasion, and who now saw all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike, as the same destructive aliens. During their flight, Bharwaney decided to use the control board to destroy both Bumblebee and Skywarp, seeing Bumblebee as a traitor to Horiuchi. When Serena appealed to her father, Bharwaney forced Bumblebee to admit that he did use Serena to get to the control board, and 'Bee apologised to the young girl. Letting them both out, Bumblebee asked Bharwaney for the control board so he could free his fellow Autobots. As they argued, Skywatch lieutenant [[Daniel Klonowski]] appeared and saved the trio from Skywarp, but despite his interference, Skywarp cut off Bumblebee's escape. Declaring that, unlike Skywarp, he had friends who would fix him, Bumblebee activated the control board, which simultaneously destroyed the kill-switch badges on the Autobots and seriously damaged himself and Skywarp. Sometime later, after Klonowski paid a visit to the Autobot hideout, Bumblebee emerged with a brand new, more powerful body and a new confidence befitting his command of the Autobots. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

Bumblebee's new confidence was tested when Ultra Magnus barged back into the Autobot caves, requisitioning a strike force to arrest Hot Rod for colluding with the enemy. Magnus forced Bumblebee and the others to go along with him almost by sheer force of personality, and they soon arrived at the launch site where Hot Rod and his Autobot & Decepticon allies were planning to leave the planet. Bumblebee and Hot Rod tried to debate the situation, but Ultra Magnus soon grew tired of listening to their concerns and laid down the line: "Right, wrong, I'm the guy with the badge." Any dissention in the Autobots ranks came to a sudden stop when [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] turned on his "friend" Hot Rod, unleashing the new Stunticon combiner named [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

Most of the Decepticons joined Swindle and the Stunticons in turning against their Autobot comrades. [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] in particular took great joy in showing the Constructicons could still hack it in light of the new combiner robot, and tried to strangle Bumblebee one-handed. Bumblebee was saved by the timely but unexpected intervention of [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], who had grown just as tired of the war as many Autobots.

Watching the Stunticons at work as Menasor, Bumblebee noticed how poorly integrated their consciousnesses were, and devised a plan to break them apart. By directing the Autobots to focus their firepower first on [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], then [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], he successfully led the group in dismantling Menasor. Even Optimus Prime and the latecomers from Skywatch looked to him for direction. Afterwards, Prime blessed Bumblebee's leadership, and 'Bee decreed it was time for the Autobots to stop running. He faced [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] head on and made arrangements for a true peace with Skywatch. Bumblebee still had to deal with Ultra Magnus, however, who was insisting on arresting Rodimus for treason. Bumblebee finally told Magnus where he could stuff his statutes. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

Bumblebee and the Autobots then entered into a formal arrangement with Skywatch, and took up residence inside the organization's bunkers. {{storylink|All His Engines}} Despite his decision, some like [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] continued to question the idea of living among those who had hunted them for the last three years. Bumblebee earnestly defended his choice, however, stating essentially that trust had to begin somewhere or else they'd never survive on Earth. Spike soon alerted Bumblebee that [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and the Combaticons had made their presence known in North Korea along the demilitarized zone. Bumblebee quickly determined that, despite appearances, the Combaticons were not loyal mercenaries to the North Koreans, but were playing a larger game. With the President of the United States declaring all Transformers "illegal weapons of mass destruction", though, Spike and Bumblebee decided they would have to intervene...in disguise. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"}}

{{note|The events of "Spotlight: Mirage" possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
Bumblebee was part of a unit heading towards the Pegasus Star Cluster to link up with the last remnants of the Autobots under Optimus Prime's command. He never made it, as the unit was ambushed as soon as it entered the cluster. The self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] took his form to fool the remaining Autobots to allow him to enter their base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}

{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
In an alternate universe, the Transformers landed on Earth before the Ice Age, taking on the forms of dinosaurs and giant insects. When the climate became too cold for the war to continue, Bumblebee and the other Autobots entered into [[stasis lock]] to prevent further damage. Thousands of years later, Bumblebee awoke to the age of humans from the noise of John Henry's hammering. Bumblebee was impressed by the humans' industriousness, and disguised himself as a small steam locomotive with no control cab, and a built in steam-hammer for driving spikes. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Initially, 'Bee directly competed with steel-driving legend [[John Henry]]. After Bumblebee revealed himself in robot form to Henry, Henry set aside his mistrust of automation after realizing that Bumblebee was a living being (not just a machine) who wanted to put in a fair day's work. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

Bumblebee woke several of his fellow Autobots, who soon discovered that the Decepticons were also active in this era. After taking on locomotive alt modes themselves, {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3|Hearts of Steel #3}} Bumblebee, the Autobots, and their new human friends worked together to prevent the Decepticons' mighty [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] from reaching [[New York City]]. With the Decepticons defeated, Bumblebee and the Autobots returned to their slumber. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4|Hearts of Steel #4}}

{{note|Bumblebee's pre-locomotive "Ice Age Wars" [[Alternate mode|altmode]] appears to be a spiky dinosaur, possibly a [[Wikipedia:Gastonia (dinosaur)|Gastonia]]. He also has a transitional body, while he is preparing to take on his locomotive form, which is similar to his dinosaur body, but with no spikes.}}

===Descent into Evil===
[[Image:Timelines-Bumblebee.jpg|right|180px|thumb|You know you want me, baby.]]
Having been on the trail of the Decepticon agent [[Flamewar]] for a long, long time, now-[[espionage director]] Bumblebee made his move, interrupting a supposedly-secure secret communication between Flamewar and the [[Tripredacus Council]]. He revealed that his agent, [[Ricochet (Timelines)|Ricochet]] had installed a degenerating virus into [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Virulent Clone|clone army]]. Oh, and that since the Autobots now ''knew'' Flamewar's whereabouts and who she was working for, the Tripredacus Council would certainly consider her a liability. Which they did. So they blew [[Flamewar's ship|her ship]] up. {{storylink|Descent into Evil}}

That's cold, Bee. Real cold.

{{note|Bumblebee appears in his unreleased [[Alternators]] body.}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comics===

[[Image:Henkei bumblebee pack in.jpg|left|thumb]]

When [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Megatron]] and the Decepticons attacked Earth in the 21st century, Bumblebee and the Autobots were there to stop them. During a battle in Tokyo, Bumblebee got the drop on [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Starscream]], dousing him with a fire engine's hose and leaving him open for a thrashing from [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 1}}

Later, Bumblebee helped shield human bystanders from injury when [[Astrotrain (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Astrotrain]] went on a rampage, {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} and cheered when they were joined in their fight by [[Hot Rod (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Rodimus]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}}

Bumblebee was last seen helping to once more project humans when the Decepticons attacked a power plant with their newest member, the reluctant [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Skyfire]]. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 4}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===

[[Image:Henkei chpt 01 first meeting.jpg|right|thumb|During Autobot gymnastics tryouts for the 2012 Olympics: DISQUALIFIED.]]

Bumblebee was part of a small Autobot team led by Optimus Prime who left Cybertron to pursue the [[Energon Cube]] through space. When the giant energy source crashed on Earth, in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], it shattered into fragments that were scattered far and wide. Bumblebee and the other Autobots set up a subterranean base below the Cube's impact crater, and began their search for the shards, taking the forms of local vehicles to hide their activities. Despite their attempts at remaining unseen, glimpses of the Autobots only magnified the reputation the crash of the Cube (believed by humans to be a meteor) had given Hoshinochō: that of a hotbed of rumored alien and UFO activity, Japan's answer to [[United States of America|America]]'s Roswell.

[[Image:Henkei bumblebee and wataru.jpg|left|thumb|20 years later, Wataru still has this hanging on his wall.]]

Eleven years later, the driverless vehicle-mode Bumblebee was spotted by a schoolchild in the vicinity of the [[Star Dome]], a building since constructed over the Cube crater. Hearing the story from this witness, fame-seeking schoolboy [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]] ditched school to investigate the Star Dome, only for coincidence to lead him to step right in front of the speeding Bumblebee! Bumblebee was forced to transform and vault over the boy to prevent injuring him, but was able to make his escape before Wataru got a good look at him. Bumblebee hastily continued on his way to the Star Dome, and arrived to find it under attack by [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Starscream]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Ramjet]]. Wataru, too, had made it to the Dome, and Bumblebee saved him from Starscream before realizing with surprise that he was the same boy from earlier. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} The other Autobots soon arrived to join the fight, and Bumblebee tried to protect Wataru from injury by scooping him up and tossing him to the relative safety of the stands. For his trouble, the small Autobot was pinned by Starscream, but Wataru returned the favor by blinding the Decepticon with a fire extinguisher. The battle was then joined by the Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Megatron]], who attempted to make an example of Bumblebee and Wataru by blasting them with his fusion cannon, but at the last second, Optimus Prime was apparently able to deflect Megatron's shot with one of his own. Megatron covered the Decepticons' subsequent retreat by collapsing a part of the Star Dome, but Bumblebee protected Wataru from the rubble by shielding him with his own body. The pair then properly introduced themselves to one another, and Wataru was invited into the Autobots' base for an explanation. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}}

[[Image:Henkei_bumblebee_medical_treatment.jpg|right|thumb|Who knew alien-robots can be [[Wikipedia:Trypanophobia|trypanophobic]].]]

Bumblebee and Prime showed Wataru through their base on their way to the medical bay, where Bumblebee was to be treated for repairs. Bumblebee did not relish Optimus's medical ministrations, and the two Autobots were so busy trying to get through the process that they did not notice Wataru touching the large shard of the Energon Cube that they had recovered in their time on Earth. A bizarre energy discharge resulted that not only showed the Autobots images of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|another time and place]], but also healed all of Bumblebee's wounds. Prime pulled Wataru away from the shard and things returned to normal, leaving Bumblebee and the boy to marvel over what had occurred, and Prime to ponder what it might mean. Bumblebee then took Wataru back to school, but when he nearly blabbed everything that had happened to him to the assembled teachers, students and police, Bumblebee was forced to bump into him from behind shut him up. Unfortunately for 'Bee, he then had to beat a hast retreat as the police came chasing after him for his "hit and run" offense! {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}}

Bumblebee was next called into action when Starscream attacked a hydro-electric power plant with the help of his brainwashed comrade, [[Jetfire (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Skyfire]]. {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} Once again, Bumblebee tried to save Wataru from the Decepticons and was blasted as a result. This time, however, the pair were both saved by Skyfire, who was struggling against the mind-controlling influence of the helmet Starscream had placed on his head. All the combatants were shocked when a surge of familiar surge of energy erupted from Wataru's body; again, Bumblebee's wounds were healed, and Skyfire was empowered to overcome the helmet. Skyfire helped fend the Decepticons off and joined the Autobots, returning with them to their base where Prime explained to Bumblebee what he had come to understand about Wataru: he was a being known as a "[[Booster]]", born with the ability to control the energies of the Energon Cube. Both Bumblebee and Wataru were very excited at the idea that Wataru would now be able to help the Autobots in their fight. {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|Optimus Prime's Secret}} {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} {{storylink|Creation! The New Emperor of Destruction!!}} {{storylink|The Threat of Galvatron}} {{storylink|Revenge (issue)|Revenge}} {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}
{{-}}

==="Universe" cartoon===
[[Image:FfE Bumblebee.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Is he Schwarzebee… or Bumblenegger?]]
Bumblebee and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] were out for a drive when they discovered [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] mining fuel near an abandoned [[Rock-It Fuel|gas station]]. Bumblebee wanted to rush in but Optimus Prime suggested they create a diversion. They caused an explosion which distracted Cyclonus. Bumblebee attacked and kept him busy while Optimus Prime snuck up and hit him over the head with his [[energon-axe]]. Megatron chose to blow up the mining operation and retreat with Cyclonus. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee drove off leaving the flaming wreckage of the mining operation behind. {{storylink|Fight for Energon}}
{{--}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Goldbug arrived with reinforcements from Autobot City to help [[Pyro|Spark]]’s team fight [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]'s [[Decepticon Syndicate]] which had taken over the [[Large Hadron Collider]] in [[Switzerland]]. After being exposed to the [[forestonite]] gas, he became a gold version of his original Bumblebee body, though now with the added ability to float and generate electrical stings from his fists. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
Bumblebee was amongst the Autobots abducted and held captive by the Decepticons, prompting Optimus Prime to enter the Decepticons' maze-like base in a rescue operation. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}
===The Transformers (1985)===
Bumblebee was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

===The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth===
[[Image:C64Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|250px|]]

Along with his fellow Autobots, Bumblebee protected Earth from the menace of the Decepticons. He was ostensibly under the command of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Battle to Save the Earth}}
{{-}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Bumblebee was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon army. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
:''Voice actor'': [[Jack Merluzzi]]

Bumblebee was one of the Autobots present on [[Zel Samine]] during the Decepticon attacks. He joined up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s party after they secured the wind power plant from the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

===''Sector Seven'' game===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Sector Seven (game)}}

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
* The original Bumblebee toy was taken from the Japanese ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' line, where it was available in yellow, red, and blue versions.

* Bumblebee appeared in one of five [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[public service announcement]]s, informing children that they shouldn't run away from home because it's "mean". This from the guy who ditched the Autobots for no real reason.

[[Image:PretenderBumblebeeModel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Bumblebee's rarely-seen Classic Pretenders character model. (Optimus Prime wants Goldbug back.)]]
* When Bumblebee reappeared in the Marvel Comics as a [[Classic Pretender]], he returned to his original toy's [[character model]], rather than one based on his new form. A new character model did appear in various toy commercials, however. These included one which introduced him and the other Classic Pretenders, and one where he and Jazz stupidly drag [[Micromaster]] bases into Autobot headquarters, causing everyone to flee when they transform and attack.

* According to [[Battle for Cybertron]], Bumblebee is a code-name.

* Bumblebee/Goldbug was clearly a "top-tier" character in the first decade of ''Transformers'': he was the only 1984 Autobot still shipping in 1986; he received more toys during Generation 1 than any other character; he had a toy shipping during seven of Generation 1's eight-year run. However, [[Hasbro]] lost the right to use "Bumblebee" as a toy [[trademark]] during the ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' years, when Generation 1 names were in disuse. That's right, the name "Bumblebee" was lost during the years everyone turned into animals.

* The ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]], [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] is pretty clearly an [[homage]] to Bumblebee, from the coloration, placement of car-parts in robot mode, segmented-pipe biceps and even the head design.

[[Image:Hotbumblebee.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Hey! Look at that hot brunette! No... not [[Mikaela Banes|that one]]!]]

* A robot using Bumblebee's character model is shown in a still-shot flashback as a member of the Autobot group led by [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]]. Whether this robot is an alternate-universe incarnation of Bumblebee or simply a similar-looking robot is—like all [[Unicron Trilogy]] character-model cameos—left to conjecture.

* According to EJ Su, Bumblebee's [[Holomatter|Holomatter avatar]] is modeled after [[wikipedia:Lindsay_Lohan|Lindsay Lohan]], an actress who plays a girl that drives [[wikipedia:Herbie|Herbie]], a sentient Beetle. ''Um, well''.<ref>[http://www.protodepot.com/archive/2007_11_01_archive.html Idea: Holomatter Projection]</ref>

*Goldbug was actually a preliminary name for Bumblebee during early treatments for the Marvel Comics!<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/conventions-15/botcon-2010-bob-budiansky-panel-coverage-170041/ Bob Budiansky BotCon Panel Coverage]</ref>

* In the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity]], [[Goldbug (IDW)|Goldbug]] is a separate character who co-exists with Bumblebee. Yeah, it's slightly crazy.

* Bumblebee is the only member of the Transformers Hall of Fame who has not been killed in any of the Transformers cartoons.

* Bumblebee is also the only Autobot to go from start to finish of the cartoon without being killed or simply failing to [[Hound (G1)|a]][[Sunstreaker (G1)|p]][[Sideswipe (G1)p]][[Mirage (G1)|e]][[Trailbreaker (G1)|a]][[Tracks (G1)|r]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|or resurrected]] after being killed.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Bumble''' (バンブル ''Banburu''), '''Goldback''' (Goldbug, ゴールドバック ''Gōrudobakku'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Daai Wong Fung''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Czech:'' '''Čmelák''' ("Bumblebee")
*''French:'' '''Bourdon''' (Canada, "Bumblebee"), '''Coccinelle''' (Canada, "Ladybug" or "Beetle")<ref>The Volkswagen Beetle was called "Coccinelle" in French areas, which is the French word for ladybug.</ref>
*''Hungarian:'' '''Űrdongó''' ("Space-bumblebee"), '''Dongó''' (''The Movie'', "Bumblebee"), '''Aranybogár''' ("Goldbug")
*''Italian:'' '''Maggiolino''' ("Beetle"), '''Wagenbot''' (Goldbug)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Dà Huáng-fēng''' (大黃蜂, "Bumblebee")
*''Polish:'' '''Trzmiel''' ("Bumblebee")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Moscardo''' (Portugal comics, "Hornet"), '''Furão''' (Brazil comics, "Ferret")
*''Russian:'' '''Shershen'''' (dub, Шершень, "Hornet")
*''South American:'' '''Volks'''
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Dzhmil"''' (ICTV, Джміль, "Bumblebee")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Bumblebee/bumblebee.htm Bumblebee at TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Bumblebee Bumblebee's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Goldbug Goldbug's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/mini_frame.php?art=whitemexbee White Mexican Bumblebee gallery at TF-1.com]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternity Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance specialists]]
[[Category:Robo-Capers characters]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Throttlebots]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Undersea specialists]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)

2011-12-06T21:37:47Z

219.89.150.247: /* Reception */

{{disambigr|Battle for the Spark|the online game in the [[Live-action film series|live action film]] continuity|Battle for the Allspark}}

{{nav-BM}}

'''''Beast Machines: Transformers''''' is a 26-episode cartoon that aired in the US from 1999 to 2000, in support of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|toyline]] of the same name. It is a direct follow-up to ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', set in the same G1 continuity and featuring many of the same characters. Like ''Beast Wars'', its [[CGI|computer animation]] was created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]].

==Overview==
[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Maximals, in a rare moment of Not Running Away.]]
The show follows the adventures of the core ''Beast Wars'' cast upon their return home to Cybertron; there, Optimus Primal and his crew find that the whole planet is abandoned, and the streets are patrolled by mindless [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] serving [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who somehow escaped his captivity.

Worse still, they learn that they are infected with a deadly [[Transformation virus|virus]] that will kill them in a matter of hours. Salvation comes from the mysterious supercomputer known as the Oracle, who sees them fit to complete its mission of a planetwide "reformatting", and turns them into [[technorganic]] warriors, a perfect blend of organic and technological matter.

As the show progresses, Primal and his fellow Maximals learn to balance their technological side with their newly introduced organic aspects, mastery coming in slow stages. Unlike the previous [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|conflict]], where sides had been roughly equal, the four original Maximals were quite outnumbered by their Vehicon enemies, and the battles took on a "guerilla warfare" feel, with the Maximals using sewers and underground levels to their advantage and avoiding surface levels unless for combat purposes. As the show progresses, two brand-new Maximals and a returning face boost their numbers.

Initially, Optimus is driven by a crusade to restore the organic above the technological and to right his failure to stop Megatron. Over time, it becomes increasingly clear that he's becoming obsessed and overzealous. At the midpoint, after Cybertron is almost destroyed, he realises that the point should be to create a ''balance'' of organic and technological, not a supremacy. Under this new, saner cause, the Maximals eventually turn Cybertron into an [[technorganic]] paradise, though at the cost of their [[Optimus Primal|leader]]'s life.

===Reception===
Controversial even by the standards of other ''Transformers'' reinventions, ''Beast Machines'' is remembered by some as a series which tried to tackle heavy philosophical concepts, discussing such issues like what it meant to live in an increasingly technological society, the dichotomy between the desires of the individual and the needs of the whole, the inevitability of conflict and inequality in a free society, the ugly consequences of fanaticism, and the paradox of a living technological world. Story editor [[Bob Skir]] describes the series as a "religious epic novel for television".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAkRF4QBKew Bob Skir interview at youtube.com]</ref> Most of the Transformers [[franchise]] lore about [[spark]]s, their abilities, and the mechanism of their life cycle, was introduced or developed in this series.

The series amassed many detractors early on, who complained that core cast portrayals were inconsistent with how these personalities had been established over the years of the preceding ''Beast Wars'' series. Examples include Megatron being a far grimmer villain with a completely different agenda from before; Rattrap appearing to be too cowardly; Rhinox apparently ''choosing'' to become a villain (though it sounded like he was no longer in his right mind) <ref>[http://www.bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Fri_03_Dec_1999.html Bob Skir Q&A]</ref>; and, later on, Silverbolt being a grim, vengeance-driven soldier with none of his former goofy-noble personality. Critics also alleged a "hippie" agenda behind ''Beast Machines'', with Optimus Primal becoming an anti-technology guru (though Season 2 would reveal Optimus had been mistaken), and criticised Bob Skir's decision that the Maximals would not use guns (though big swords and highly destructive laser blasts were okay).

The show's "epic novel" storytelling structure meant that at times it was forced to tread water, relying on repetitive chase scenes and expository speeches. It was also, at that point in time, by far the most serialized American ''Transformers'' cartoon, making it difficult for new viewers to join at some random episode and be hooked in. It didn't help that the series began "in medias res" and with the characters suffering amnesia, with many foundational issues deliberately left vague until at last resolution was established in flashbacks in episodes 7-9. By then, [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] executive [[Asaph Fipke]] had become somewhat notorious for repeatedly assuring fans that "all will be revealed". ''Why'' the series opened with the Maximals having amnesia and being in their Season 1 organic bodies is not obvious, as (aside from explaining why they're not immediately looking for Rhinox and Silverbolt) it wouldn't have affected the plot either way. It ''may'' have been because ''Beast Wars'' repeats were airing on [[Fox Kids]] at the same time ''Beast Machines'' had started.

The show was the darkest ''Transformers'' animated series—even its fans will grant that it almost entirely lacks the humorous, occasionally zany approach of ''Beast Wars'', though this was a deliberate artistic choice—and the most thought-provoking. [[Transformers: Prime]] took it's place as the darkest cartoon. It is also the final animated entry into the Generation 1 story canon, bringing the events in that continuity family to a rather conclusive ending (which ''also'' didn't win it many popularity points). If nothing else, the creators had ambitions to do more than [[to sell toys|sell toys]].

Despite all the criticisms, the show continued and improved on the high production values of ''Beast Wars'', with solid scripting and excellent voice acting. The CGI varied from competent to gorgeous. A step up in quality from ''Beast Wars,'' it dramatically overshadows the later semi-CGI shows ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].'' Mainframe's animators showed their considerable talents in giving highly emotive expression to such alien characters as the [[Vehicon general]]s and even the [[Diagnostic Drone]], who ''didn't have a face''. As with ''Beast Wars'', [[Robert Buckley]] provided the series background music, this time creating a stylized electronic music in keeping with the mechanical environment of Cybertron.

With ''Beast Machines'' perhaps not quite living up to Hasbro's hopes, the [[Transtech|followup line]] to ''Beast Machines'' was subsequently scrapped. Hasbro's next foray into animation would be to bring over a [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|year-old Japanese show]] for consumption in the United States, till a [[Unicron Trilogy|new story]] could be concocted. In [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|light]] [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|of the]] [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|results]], and with the passage of time, some fans have re-evaluated ''Beast Machines'' more favorably, though the newfound positive reception is still not universal by any means.

==Episodes==
{{note|For a detailed list including airdates and production stats, see [[List of Beast Machines episodes]].}}
===Season 1===
[[Image:Tankor flames.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Tankor, YOU'RE FIRED!]]
Season 1 largely centers on the Maximals' efforts to find out what has happened to them, as they arrive on Cybertron with no memories. In addition to Megatron and the core Maximal cast, three new Vehicon generals are introduced, as well as the new Maximal Nightscream. By the end of the season, Optimus Primal has been driven down a road of extremism, and an apocalyptic confrontation marks the season finale...

#[[The Reformatting]]
#[[Master of the House]]
#[[Fires of the Past]]
#[[Mercenary Pursuits]]
#[[Forbidden Fruit]]
#[[The Weak Component]]
#[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]
#[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
#[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]
#[[Survivor]]
#[[The Key]]
#[[The Catalyst]]
#[[End of the Line]]

===Season 2: Battle for the Spark===
[[Image:Botanica5.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This freakish, tentacled, multi-limbed creature is one of the kid-friendly good guys!]]
The ultimate face-off at the end of Season 1 is resolved in a most unusual and cerebral manner, setting the tone for Season 2 as Primal realizes his mission is one of balance, not extremism. Silverbolt rejoins the Maximal ranks, a new Maximal arrives from off-world, and two dangerous new generals join Megatron's side as the Maximals search for the lost Sparks of their brethren and battle to regain control of Cybertron.

#[[Fallout]]
#[[Savage Noble]]
#[[Prometheus Unbound]]
#[[In Darkest Knight]]
#[[A Wolf in the Fold]]
#[[Home Soil]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]
#[[Spark of Darkness]]
#[[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral]]
#[[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall]]
#[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]

==Characters==
[[Image:Rattrap bm robotmode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|There's a caption under me?!]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of named on-screen characters in ''Beast Machines'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (Most drones are not listed, and neither are incidental flashback characters.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged Beast Machines characters, having appeared in other media.

{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett|Ian Corlett]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] ([[Alessandro Juliani]])
*[[Noble|Savage/Noble]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] ([[Kathleen Barr]])
|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] ([[Christopher Gaze]]/[[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] ([[Brian Drummond]])
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
**[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
**[[Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] ([[Patricia Drake]])
|c4=
*[[Oracle (BM)|The Oracle]] ([[Carol Savenkoff]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

==Japanese release==
[[Image:BeastWarsReturnsLogo01.jpg|center|300px|thumb|]]

The ''Beast Machines'' franchise was not initially released in Japan. As such, the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon did not reach Japan's shores until late 2004, where it was retitled '''''Beast Wars Returns'''''. The series was initially broadcast on the satellite-only network MobaHO! - TAKARAND from [[November 6]], 2004, to [[January 30]], 2005. In February of 2005, it was reaired on [[Cartoon Network|Cartoon Network Japan]] and, following that, other networks including Gifu Terebi.

The editing was headed up by [[Iwanami Yoshikazu]], the man responsible for the dubbing of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', and thus ''Beast Wars Returns'' was reworked to the same extent as the previous series had been in Japan. The overblown jovial character quirks exclusive to the Japanese version of the series were retained, and a complete cast reunion from ''Beast Wars'' was achieved, while new quirks were created for the newer characters.

Megatron's various drone forces all had individual chants that they would repeat ad nauseum for every second of screen time, while an excess of adlibbing was enforced just as with the dub of ''Beast Wars''. Major plot twists were also ruined, such as Thrust and Jetstorm retaining not only the voice actors for Waspinator and Silverbolt, but all of the unique vocal and personality quirks belonging to those characters, eliminating any ambiguity to their previous identities.

Given the low-key release of the series, a new theme song was not recorded. Instead, "[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]] was retained. Characters from the series would proceed to talk over the entire length of the [[title sequence]], having "amusing" conversations (likewise, they talked over the ending credits). Only one original piece of music was recorded for the series, "[[Megatron Ondo]]" by [[Yukio Hibariya]] and partly performed by [[Shigeru Chiba]], created exclusively for Volume 7 of the ''Beast Wars Returns'' DVD release.

Also exclusive to the final DVD release of the series was an additional, goofy clip show akin to the silly ones created for the Japanese release of the ''Beast Wars'':

*[[Shock! Of Course We're Doing It! Remix!!]]

==Home video releases==
===Japan===
[[Image:Geneon BWReturns Volume7 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px|]]
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 1 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 2 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 3 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 4 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 5 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 6 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 7 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[Image:Rhino Beast Machines DVD.jpg|thumb|125px|]]
{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (2006)

===Australia / New Zealand===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume Two (2007)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
[[Image:UK Beast Machines Season1 DVD.jpg|150px|thumb|[[Transformers (2007)|Their]] tagline. [[Optimus Primal|His]] head.]]
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One — Reformatting (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two — Revelations (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season Two (2007)

===France===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 1 (2009)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (2009)
{{-}}

===Germany===

{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Die komplette Season 1 (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Die komplette Season 2 (2007)
{{-}}

===Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro}}

*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — [[The Reformatting]] & [[Master of the House]] (1999)
*''Beast Machines: Transformers: Battle for the Spark'' — [[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike|Sparkwar Part I: The Strike]] (2000)

==Notes==
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] executive [[Dan DiDio]] explicitly told Bob Skir and [[Marty Isenberg]] to ignore all previous Transformers cartoons when writing ''Beast Machines'', because "''Beast Wars'' was too continuity-heavy". It clearly did not work out that way.
*In the May 2008 "DC Nation" editorial appearing in [[wikipedia:DC Comics|DC Comics]] publications, Dan DiDio recounted that writer [[Steve Gerber]] had once pitched a "wildly original take on ''Transformers''" as part of the development of ''Beast Machines''.
*The theme tune for the show was Leftfield's "Phat Planet". This was also used for a famous Guinness advert. The latter proved a more popular TV slot.
*Apart from flashbacks, visions and such, ''Beast Machines'' takes place entirely on (or in orbit of) Cybertron, thus making it the only television series ''not'' to feature any [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|annoying]] [[Kicker Jones|human]] [[Bud Hansen|companions]].
*[[Simon Furman]] thinks Beast Machines was too dark and serious for being a cartoon show for kids.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=705 SIMON FURMAN Transformers Q&A! It's here! at the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> And trust us: the guy who wrote ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' is something of an expert on 'too dark and serious for kids'.
* [[Vector Prime]], in contrast, thinks it was an awesome show.<ref>[[Ask Vector Prime/src|Ask Vector Prime]]</ref>
*This is the only Transformers cartoon that had a complete German dub.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Returns''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズリターンズ, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Returns")
*''French:'' '''''Mécanimaux''''' (Canada, "Mechanimals")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery: Zvero-Roboty''''' (Трансформеры: Зверо-Роботы, "Transformers: Beast Robots")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Transformers: Bestias y Máquinas''''' (America, "Transformers: Beasts and Machines")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Machines media]]
[[Category:Television series]]