Beachcomber (G1)

The name or term "Beachcomber" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Beachcomber (disambiguation).

Beachcomber is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Hippies. They're everywhere. They wanna save the earth, but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad.

Beachcomber has a hard time reconciling his love of peace and freedom for all creatures with the need to combat those who threaten it. Furthermore, however just the cause for which it was fought, the gruesome and destructive aftermath of any battle sickens him to the spark.

Sometimes, when the internal struggle gets too heavy, he simply has to wander into the wilderness and cleanse his soul. Even there, far from civilization, he sometimes finds strange substances to aid the Autobot cause, for Beachcomber is a skilled naturalist, and geology is his specialty, man. He often tries to preserve or even to hide these discoveries, but he has seen too much evil done by the ruthless Decepticons to conceal any possible source of aid completely from his allies.

Beachcomber's geology tools include a wide array of sensors (magnetic, seismic, sonic, infrared) and a 'sonic pick' which can cut through rock. Beachcomber can use his magnetic sensors to navigate like a compass, but local magnetic disturbances can cause this to lead him astray. His sonic probes possess only limited range.

Beachcomber is neither very fast nor very strong, and his antiwar sentiments gain him little respect from the more martial of the Autobots, yet he is agile and skilled in a fight, and his courage is beyond all reproach.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Alan Oppenheimer (English), Osamu Saka (Japanese), Vladimiro Conti (Italian, second dub), Jorge García (Latin American)

He talks to the animals. Especially after a good hit of Kalis Mountain High.

Beachcomber showed up out of nowhere one day, helping Hound, Inferno and Bumblebee investigate some Insecticon attacks on an old growth forest. This unit proved to be sufficiently under-powered when it came to confronting freshly fed Insecticons, and their battle strategy amounted to hiding behind Hound's holograms until the bad robots went away. The Insecticon Syndrome He was next seen on Dinobot Island, worrying that the battle with the Decepticons would destroy the environment before it could be properly studied, but at least he was still fighting while complaining. Dinobot Island, Part 2

Beachcomber, along with the other Autobots, were exiled from Earth after Megatron allied with greedy businessman Shawn Berger to create anti-Autobot propaganda. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1 He and the other Autobots managed to return to Earth thanks to Trailbreaker's force field and Cosmos's navigation. Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2

Seriously, he hangs out with a lot of birds.

Unlike the next time. On a geology expedition with Perceptor and several other Autobots, Beachcomber abandoned them in the middle of a firefight to explore a cave in the nearby cliffside. While his friends were dodging laser fire and trading blows, Beachcomber was learning to speak parakeet and communing with nature. He also found a golden lagoon full of electrum, a naturally-occurring element which would make any Transformer impervious to harm. He dipped his hand into the lagoon, and it turned completely gold in color. Beachcomber hid this information from his fellow Autobots, and even kept his silence after Thrust arrived coated in electrum and drove the Autobots into retreat, capturing two of their number in the process. Valuing the scenic beauty surrounding the electrum pool, Beachcomber still refused to warn his comrades after the entire Decepticon army arrived coated with invincible golden armor. He went solo to check on the lagoon, and was captured by the Decepticons. Some of the dumber Seekers acted as his prison guards at the Decepticon sunken base, though, and Beachcomber managed to escape alongside his fellow prisoners Perceptor and Seaspray.

Reaching the electrum pool, the trio was met by Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots, who had independently uncovered the pool's location thanks to Powerglide. Realizing his golden hand would give him away, Beachcomber quickly dove into the electrum to disguise his prior knowledge of the substance. In the final battle with the Decepticons, Megatron ordered the electrum pool destroyed rather than sharing it with the Autobots. In the aftermath of the explosion, the wilderness was totally decimated. Beachcomber never told the Autobots that he had known about the Decepticons' secret weapon and had kept silent, and instead sat around mourning the loss of the grass and trees.The Golden Lagoon

Beachcomber briefly maintained a position at the Autobots' New York City base inside Sparkplug's garage. Make Tracks He was also seen attending Teletraan I when the Autobots were engaged with the Insecticons and Morphobots. Quest for Survival Beachcomber was next seen protecting San Francisco from an alien bird-dragon unleashed on Earth by the Constructicons. He tried appealing to the creature, thinking that we're all one with the same universe. Yeah... that didn't work well. The Secret of Omega Supreme When the energy creature called Kremzeek assaulted the Ark, Beachcomber was one of the first Autobots short-circuited by the little creep. Kremzeek!

Beachcomber was later kidnapped by a greedy toll booth and forced to drive in a circle while hopping over spike-traps.Prime Target

Next, after Megatron kidnapped Perceptor and then voluntarily let him go, Beachcomber joined the entire Autobot team in riding out a few miles from the base to retrieve their friend. Why several dozen Autobots were needed for such a simple mission... is unknown. Cosmic Rust

In 2006, Beachcomber was stationed at the Ark with Warpath, Pipes and several others when Trypticon came to destroy it. Their feeble efforts to defend the spacecraft were barely noted by the dinosaur robot. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

As a member of the 4-Wheel-Drive Brigade, Beachcomber confronted the Insecticons out in the desert, only to be caught in an explosive mine trap and fall into a pit. Working together, Beachcomber and the others combined their Scramble Power and worked their way free of the pit. A concentrated Scrumbuster attack drove off the Decepticons, and the Autobots won the day. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3

Later, Beachcomber was part of a group who arrived to back up Powerglide, who was defending a dog that had been cruelly experimented on by the Decepticons from being hunted and captured by the Combaticons. He and the other Minibots combined with Powerglide in their vehicle modes thanks to the experimental energies within the dog, and spinning furiously, smashed through Bruticus's chest and out the other side in a flying drill attack.

No, seriously. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8

The Headmasters cartoon

Beachcomber fought alongside the Dinobots and Throttlebots on Cybertron in 2011. Mindwipe's hypnotic wave forced him and his allies to fall asleep. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky

Marvel Comics continuity

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

On Cybertron, Beachcomber basically transformed into whatever Kup does.

Beachcomber was a member of Perceptor's resistance cell on Cybertron who disobeyed orders along with most of the cell to help Blaster recover Scrounge from the smelting pool. He actually demonstrated some uncharacteristic strength and gusto, tearing down a laser sentinel tower with his bare hands. The rescue mission failed, but they did recover Scrounge's stolen data, and learned that Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark were alive and fighting on Earth. The Smelting Pool!

Beachcomber's bloodthirstiest moment.

Soon after, Perceptor's crew began a mission to destroy the Space Bridge before the Decepticons on Earth and Cybertron could begin trading resources. Beachcomber used his geological skills to map out a safe path underneath the planet's surface to bomb the underlying support structures of Darkmount, bringing down Straxus's whole fortress. The unit failed to destroy the Space Bridge, however, and were ultimately forced to retreat across the Bridge to Earth. The Bridge to Nowhere!

Beachcomber and his fellows were taken captive by RAAT and their commanding officer, the robot-hater Circuit Breaker, and their heads were mounted on the wall of their headquarters. Aerialbots over America! Circuit Breaker showed footage of their defeat to fellow RAAT operative Walter Barnett. Meanwhile, Skids and the shifty human Donny Finkleberg were sent on a mission to determine their whereabouts, but Finkleberg sold out Skids to RAAT as well. Heavy Traffic! Ultimately, Finkleberg redeemed himself by forcing the captured Autobots' release as part of a deal. If the combined bodies of Beachcomber and the other captives could successfully aid in the defeat of the vandalizing Battlechargers, they would be set free. And so it was. Beachcomber and the others headed home, directed by Skids, when the time-traveling Galvatron took their guide's place. Galvatron tore his way through the group, one by one, with Beachcomber one of his casualties. Resurrection!

They're about to crash through Bruce Wayne's window.

Beachcomber managed to avoid virtually all kinds of fighting for the rest of his time on Earth, doing nothing more strenuous than getting shot at by the Ark's own defense systems. Funeral for a Friend! While he did champion Blaster for replacing Grimlock as the Autobots' commander, this didn't stop Beachcomber from whining about senseless violence throughout their duel on the moon. Luckily, a Decepticon strike force arrived to drown out his voice with some lasers and explosives. Totaled!

When the Autobots rescued Buster Witwicky from the Arctic and were ambushed by the Decepticons, Beachcomber was among the first to be attacked, set upon and mauled by Mindwipe. Dark Star

Presumably, this rendered him non-functional, as Beachcomber was last seen laying deactivated aboard The Ark as Ratchet attempted to repair him. Deathbringer

Marvel UK future timelines

When the Quintessons raided Autobot City in 2008, Beachcomber and Air Raid rushed to defend their home with a team of fellow Autobots. Unfortunately, the Quintesson shock troops were too much for them, and quickly overran the defenders. Beachcomber and his Aerialbot buddy made a run for back-up, but were jumped from behind and taken out with the rest. Space Pirates!

Find Your Fate Junior

Beachcomber had to find a path to the surface from the cave system the Autobots were trapped in. He explored the system of underground lakes, marveling at the many strange things that lived there. While recharging the Sun-Pak on the surface, he was attacked by Kickback, and had to be saved by Sparkplug. How humiliating. Attack of the Insecticons

In the 'unsuccessful' ending to this multipath adventure, Beachcomber became lost when his magnetic sensors erroneously led him directly to Megatron. He did not regret this error for long.

Beachcomber discovered Rumble practicing his earthquakes near a concealed base and learned of a Decepticon plan to destroy nearby Center City.

Optimus Prime decided that such grave news required a pinpoint response with utmost secrecy... so he sent the recklessly impulsive Windcharger, the bombastic Powerglide, and Beachcomber to babysit the other two. Earthquake

Dreamwave comics continuity

File:Csbeachcomber.jpg

"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. Bonnnngggg!!!"

Beachcomber was spurred into action against Shockwave's regime on Cybertron when Optimus Prime returned to the planet and rallied the Autobots into action. His actual contribution to the insurrection is undocumented, but it's entirely possible he may have even picked up a weapon. Really. Countdown to Extinction

Afterwards, Beachcomber was assigned to a mission suitable for his pacifism, as part of Bumblebee's supply crew on the Orion, bringing news and fuel to their comrades on Earth. Night of the Combaticons Little did they know they would be caught up in heavy combat with Sunstorm. Beachcomber was supposed to be guarding Sunstorm's primary target, the Decepticon Starscream, in an Alaskan bunker. Now, of course, the question isn't whether Starscream betrayed them at the first opportunity; It's whether Beachcomber even bothered to pick up his gun and try to stop Starscream, or just passively let the 'Con gun him down. The Omega Effect

IDW comics continuity

Early in the war, Beachcomber, along with Brawn and Cosmos, met with the damaged Jazz and Tracks when their transport ship returned to HQ. Spotlight: Jazz

Four million years ago, Beachcomber was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy. The Iron Age

Later, Beachcomber was captured by Soundwave, who used Bombshell to inject him with a cerebro-shell. Under its control, Beachcomber attempted on three occasions to assassinate Blaster. Ultimately, Blaster confronted him about it and forced him to fight against his Decepticon control. Though his mental resistance shorted out the shell, his neural processors were severely damaged as well. Spotlight: Blaster

After eventually recovering, Beachcomber ended up among the Autobot forces on Earth. When Ultra Magnus visited to investigate Optimus Prime's surrender, Beachcomber feared that they might all get arrested, and decided to leave the team. Alongside Blurr, Hoist and Tracks, he attempted to find and join Hot Rod, who was trying to get off the planet, only to drive straight into a Skywatch ambush. Beachcomber was the first to be deactivated when a human named Campologno zapped him using a hi-tech suit. The captured Autobots were brought into the hangar where Optimus Prime was imprisoned by Major Witwicky in an attempt to get the Autobot leader to cooperate. A Rude Awakening

After Bumblebee became Autobot leader and formed an alliance with Skywatch, Beachcomber was freed. He would later completely ignore Bumblebee's leadership once Rodimus returned from space with the Matrix and demanded to see Optimus Prime. Beachcomber was also amongst those (meaning everyone) who volunteered to return to a restored Cybertron and fight Galvatron's army. Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix

Wings Universe

In 2010, Beachcomber was stationed at Autobot City. He was led into battle by Jazz as the Autobots came to the rescue of Pyro's forces at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. In the aftermath of the battle, they were exposed to the mutating properties of forestonite, developing new color schemes and abilities. Beachcomber became a real flower-child, taking on an environmentally-friendly green paint scheme and causing plantlife to grow wherever he walked. Generation 2: Redux

Toys

Generation 1

File:G1Beachcomber toy.jpg

My other alternate mode is a bong.

• Beachcomber (Mini Vehicle, 1985)
  • Japanese ID number: C-63

Beachcomber transforms into a blue and gray dune buggy of probably made-up model. The figure came in several variants, one with "Hasbro" stamped across the left arm (removing half the "mesh" pattern), and one without (leaving the full mesh there).

Later on, Beachcomber (along with all of the then-current Mini Vehicles) came packaged with a bonus Mini-spy as well.

Although not documented in his instructions Beachcomber's legs are extendable, adding several precious millimetres to his height.

Generation 2

File:G2 Beachcomber photo.jpg

Beachcomber went green before it was in vogue.

• Beachcomber (Mini Vehicle, 1993)

Generation 2 Beachcomber uses the exact same mold as his Generation 1 counterpart. However, this time around, the blue was replaced with a chrome green and the grey of the upper legs and lamps was replaced with neon red. This version removed the "half-mesh" on the left arm and simply replaced it with a large Hasbro copyright stamp.

A rare variant exists that may have been a testshot run with grey legs. These figures were apparently given out internally by Hasbro as Christmas ornaments, as they have been found bagged with a string attached and a card reading "Transformers Christmas ornament" on one side and "Merry Christmas from the Boys' Toys Marketing" on the other. The same treatment has been seen with a Generation 2 Seaspray.

Universe (2008)

File:Universe2008 Legends Beachcomber.jpg

Has a fireblast of 1, yet is the only Legends Mini-Vehicle with a weapon.

• Beachcomber (Legends, 2008)
  • Series: G1 Series

Released in wave 4 of Universe (2008) Legends, Beachcomber is a new-mold toy of the original Beachcomber with a robot mode inspired by his character model; his alternate mode appears to be inspired by the Warthog vehicle from the Halo game series. He is labeled as being part of Universe's "G1 Series." Amusingly, the pacifist Beachcomber has a top-mounted machine gun in vehicle mode. Maybe it's a paintball gun?

This mold is the basis for the 2010 Transformers toyline's Sandstorm.

Henkei! Henkei!

File:HenkeiMinibotBeachcomber.jpg

I'm the one in the pack you don't care about.

• Minibot Attack Team (Multi-pack, 2009)
  • Japanese ID number: C-18

The Henkei! Henkei! release of Universe Beachcomber has more cartoon-accurate colours and paint applications, his blue paint finish is flat and less vibrant than Hasbro's release. He comes in a set with Brawn and Cliffjumper.

Notes

See kids? This is what happens to hippies.

• A robot with a color scheme approximating Beachcomber's could be seen ahead of Spike Witwicky in line for Unicron's smelting pool in The Transformers: The Movie. Being ahead of Spike means he would have been destroyed before Daniel shot down the lid, and he wasn't seen afterwards in the escape from Unicron. But, while "Five Faces of Darkness" is well known for its errors, Beachcomber's presence in those episodes means it probably was not him inside Unicron.
• Beachcomber's character model shows up during a flashback in the Armada episode, "Prehistory".

Foreign names

• Japanese: Beachcomber (ビーチコンバー Bīchikonbā)
• French: Déferlo (Canada), Pacifico (Canada Generation 2)
• Greek: Aggeliofόros (Αγγελιοφόρος, "Messenger")
• Hungarian: Guberáló ("Scavenger")
• Italian: Pulce
• Portuguese: Onda (Portugal comics), Pacífico (Brazil comics)
• Russian: Shezlong (Шезлонг, "Lounge")

External links

• Beachcomber at TFU.info
• Beachcomber's Universe profile at NTFA.net
• Christmas Ornament Variant