Stinger (AOE)

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

Stinger is a Decepticon from the Age of Extinction portion of the live-action film series continuity family.

"Who are you calling Cliffjumper?"

Innovation. Efficiency. Style. KSI rolls them out as you've never before experienced with Stinger, the all-new transformable drone produced on and exclusively for the Earth market. Improving on our competitor's efforts, Stinger specialises in serving all your sabotage needs. A combination of years of KSI's intensive engineering research with the cutting-edge styling of their partners at Pagani Automobili, Stinger is as beautiful as it is functional.

Inspired by Bumblebee, but better in every way.KSI promotional video on Stinger, Transformers: Age of Extinction

Fiction

Age of Extinction film

"I've heard of partsforming, but this is ridiculous."

The Stinger prototype was being displayed in KSI headquarters when Cade, Shane, and Bumblebee snuck in. A nearby display promoting Stinger claimed that it was "Inspired by Bumblebee, but better in every way!". In the promotional video, the lead engineers claimed that Bumblebee's design was antique and ugly, and that Stinger improved on Bumblebee's design flaws. An offended Bumblebee knocked over the prototype, but hid when KSI staff arrived to investigate the disturbance, leaving Shane to take the heat.

In its first field trial, Stinger was deployed alongside Galvatron to chase down and apprehend the Autobots. During the battle, Stinger fired one missile at the Autobots, which missed. He pursued the other Autobots, but his role was mostly overshadowed by Galvatron's free will and relentless pursuit of Optimus Prime. He was later recalled once Prime was incapacitated and shipped to China, to avoid the feds discovering KSI's prototypes.

When Galvatron revealed his true nature and commandeered KSI's man-made Transformer army, Stinger was among the many drones deployed in Hong Kong to seize the Seed. Stinger pursued Bumblebee and the other Autobots, and eventually engaged his yellow doppelganger and Strafe in the ensuing battle. Both he and Bumblebee fought on the Dinobot's back as Strafe flew through Hong Kong's cityscape, but Bumblebee eventually defeated him by impaling his head with his gun's blade, before shooting him, blowing his head and upper body apart, while the remains flew into a bus, or onto the ground. Strafe happily gnawed on Stinger's decapitated head, while a smug Bumblebee remarked he "hates cheap knock-offs". Age of Extinction

Titan Age of Extinction comic

"Hey, Hasbro, it won't contradict the film if we have Stinger show up early will it?"
"Piss off, Titan, we're counting money."

Following a breakout at KSI's laboratories, Stinger disguised himself as Bumblebee and attacked a power plant, hoping to draw out the Autobot. He subsequently headed into a nearby forest, and set fire to an occupied house to attract Bumblebee's attention. As the Autobot attempted to rescue the house's occupant, Stinger punched him into a tree, and welded Bumblebee's battle mask down to render the two of them identical. A brief battle ensued, ending when Optimus Prime arrived. Stinger mimicked Bumblebee's beeping to confuse the Autobot leader, but he was able to identify his real comrade when the scout dived to save the human from a fall. His cover blown, Stinger pulled a gun on Optimus, but had it knocked from his hand, and quickly fled the scene. Accept No Substitutes!

Swindle's Spiel

Swindle of Swindle, Swindle and Swindle had several Stinger units for sale, and considered them to be his best-selling drone model. Swindle's Spiel, 2015/10/05

Games

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

Console

Stinger is not a playable character in the campaign of Rise of the Dark Spark, but is available to use in Escalation if the game is purchased from Walmart, and subsequently via DLC. He shares his default ability with Bumblebee – the Ammo Supply Core.

Part of Lockdown's crew, Stinger was present for Drift's interrogation. He then followed Lockdown away, presumably to assist in his objective of retrieving the "amplifier". Rise of the Dark Spark

Toys

Age of Extinction

Doc Stinger in the house.

• Decepticon Stinger (Legion Class, 2014)

A repaint of the Cyberverse Series 2 Legion Class Knock Out toy, superficially changed to resemble Stinger. A Walmart exclusive in the United States (also available at Asda stores in the United Kingdom and at Müller drug stores in Germany), Stinger came in multi-lingual packaging, with no bio, as well as no weapons of any kind. The stock photography on the back of his packaging depicts the differently decoed "Scene Pack" version of Stinger (see below).

For some reason the back of his card has a GM logo despite his vehicle mode not being a real car design.

• More information on Legion Stinger at TFU.info

When in doubt, redeco from Sideways.

• Decepticon Stinger & Dinobot Slug (Legion two-pack, 2014)

Stinger is a minor redeco (possibly even a mere repaint) of Cyberverse Series 2 Mirage, itself a retool of Revenge of the Fallen Legends Class Sideways with standard Cyberverse hands sporting 3mm peg holes. While the deco somewhat resembles the on-screen Pagani Huayra that Stinger transforms into, the alternate mode is a modified Audi R8, the alternate mode used for Sideways in the Revenge of the Fallen film. Stinger is packaged with a redeco of Beast Wars Neo Guiledart as Slug. This two-pack was exclusively available at Walmart stores in the United States and at Asda stores in the United Kingdom.

The original version of this sculpt was also redecoed to make 2010 Transformers Override.

• More information on two-pack Stinger at TFU.info

Inspired by Stinger, but mostly the same in every way.

• Bumblebee vs. Decepticon Stinger with Strafe (Scene Pack, 2014)
  • Accessories: Sword

Available only in a "Scene Pack" with a Cyberverse Series 1 Bumblebee redeco and an unchanged Age of Extinction Deluxe Class Strafe, Stinger is again made from the Cyberverse Knock Out mold, but has slightly different paint operations compared to his single carded release. Stinger also comes with the Cyberverse Series 2 accessory based on Prime Ratchet's scalpel in clear purple.

This three-pack was available exclusively at Walmart stores in the United States, at Asda stores in the United Kingdom, at Müller drug stores in Germany, and at Auchan stores in Italy.

• More information on Scene Pack Stinger at TFU.info

• Mega 1-Step Bumblebee with Bonus Value Decepticon Stinger (bonus pack, 2014)

A Walmart exclusive version of the Mega 1-Step Bumblebee figure that includes a "bonus value" Legion Class Stinger figure. Both figures are unchanged from their original single releases.

Robots in Disguise

Looks like Side Burn has some new eyecandy to drool over.

• Decepticon Stinger (One-Step Changers, 2014)
  • Japanese ID number: LA12
  • Japanese release date: 2014-08-02

Stinger transforms from a licensed Pagani Huayra into a robot in a single step at the push of a button on his windshield. So far, this toy is the only version of Stinger that is a mold unique to the character as well as being the only one that sports his on-screen vehicle form. After transforming into robot mode, Hot Rod needs to transform back into vehicle in both steps: Push down the button again while clamping the vehicle parts together by hand to make it secure. Many figures feature a defect or a design flaw where the left ankle assembly cannot support the weight of the figure and therefore does not fully extend resulting in a slightly lopsided stance in robot mode.

Stinger was originally solicited as a mass retail release assortment before it was revealed at BotCon 2014 that at least some of Stinger's toys —including this one— would be released as Walmart exclusives. Oddly, despite sporting a "Walmart exclusive" sticker on its packaging, One-Step Changer Stinger was found at multiple Target stores as well as online stores like Entertainment Earth. The packaging also still sports the mass retail assortment number, implying a last-minute change in its release, and the factory simply went by the product code/assortment numbers on the packaging and shipped the figure with the other mass retail figures, despite the sticker.

In Canada, Stinger was also available as a Walmart exclusive. Meanwhile, in Germany, Stinger was originally believed to be exclusive to Müller drug stores (like various other Age of Extinction figures and multi-packs that are exclusive to Walmart in the US), but later turned out to be a general retail release.

The TakaraTomy Lost Age Series release of Stinger (a normal retail release) features darker red plastic, and that's about it for changes.

• More information on One-Step Changer Stinger at TFU.info

Movie Advanced Series

Well, it's better than what happened to the other red sports car...

• Decepticon Stinger (Deluxe, 2015-01-31)
  • Japanese ID number: AD32
  • Accessories: 2 throwing stars

Released as part of TakaraTomy's Movie Advanced Series line, Decepticon Stinger is a redeco of Age of Extinction Generations Bumblebee, and transforms from a robot with flip-out battle mask and arm cannon to a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro concept car, rather than the Pagani Huayra as seen in the film. Like the deluxe Bumblebee, he includes two 'fake kibble' hubcaps, which can be screen-accurately mounted on his back or removed and held as throwing star weapons.

Construct-Bots

Cliffjumper is a traitor, I knew it!

• Bumblebee vs. Decepticon Stinger with Strafe (Walmart exclusive, 2014)
  • Pieces: 44

Stinger is a Dinobot Rider comprising Drift and Bumblebee Dinobot Rider parts. This is done to evoke a car mode very similar but not identical to Bumblebee's just as his in-film incarnation. He comes into a Walmart exclusive three-pack with Bumblebee and Strafe. He uses a sword and has battle damage in the vehicle mode.

Like most Construct Bots figures, Stinger's rubber ball joints can harden over time, which prevents smooth posing.

Kre-O

"I FOUND YOU, FAKER!" "Faker? I think you're the fake around here. You're comparing yourself to me? Ha. You're not even good enough to be m-" "I'LL MAKE YOU EAT THOSE WORDS!"

...]]

• Decepticon Replicator (2014)
  • Set number: A8601
  • Pieces: 77
  • Kreons: Bumblebee, Nemesis Prime, Optimus Prime, "Scientist", Stinger
  • Accessories: Blaster

Available only in the "Decepticon Replicator" set, Kreon Stinger is (naturally) based on the Bumblebee that comes in the same set. He has the same helmet and gun, the same chest and leg tampographs (just with red details instead of yellow and gunmetal instead of silver), but a different, smirking face with pupil-less eyes. He is meant to fit inside the set's cylindrical display case/replicator tube, which has a (barely) rotating base to spin him around in.

This set was not made available in U.S. or Canadian markets, seemingly only hitting stores in Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, and China, continuing the tradition of making Stinger merchandise bizarrely hard to find in Hasbro's markets.

Generations

File:StudioSeries-02-MV4-Deluxe-Stinger.jpg

Better in every way.

• Decepticon Stinger (Deluxe Class, 2018)
  • Number: 02
  • Japanese ID number: SS-02
  • Accessories: 4 shuriken, Hong Kong Pursuit backdrop

Studio Series "Decepticon Stinger" is an entirely new mold, transforming from robot to licensed Pagani Huayra and back in 21 steps. He includes 4 shuriken, based off the two that we situated on his back in the film, as well as a cardboard backdrop display depicting the Hong Kong battle in Age of Extinction. The shuriken can either be placed on his back or his forearm. They store underneath his car mode, but stick out somewhat. The roof of the car transforms into his stinger he used in the film. Unlike the film, however, it is mounted on his arm instead of his hand transforming into it.

Stinger, along with the rest of Wave 1 Deluxes, was made available at Hasbro Toy Shop following New York Toy Fair 2018, two months ahead of the scheduled brick and mortar release date.

Merchandise

Pop!

Inspired by Stinger, but morbidly deformed.

...]]

• Stinger (2014)

Released as part of the Pop! Movies segment, Funko's Pop! Stinger is a super deformed vinyl figure based on his appearance in Age of Extinction.

Battle Brigade

• Stinger (2014)

This plush version of Stinger was exclusive to Walmart.

Notes

• The Pagani Huayra was at one point intended as the alternate mode of a female robot with the working name Widow Maker.
• The Legends/Legion Class Stinger toy from the two-pack with Slug marks the third time this sculpt is used to represent an on-screen movie character, even though all three of them used different alternate modes in the films themselves: Revenge of the Fallen Sideways, the original release of the sculpt, transformed into an Audi R8 (the toy is modified to avoid having to acquire a license), Dark of the Moon Mirage/"Dino" into a Ferrari 458 Italia, and Stinger into a Pagani Huayra.
• Hasbro representatives at BotCon 2014 noted that a full retool of the 2014 Camaro Deluxe Class Bumblebee toy as Stinger was planned, but ultimately did not get beyond the prototype stage. This is corroborated by toy listings "leaked" to the public in late 2013, which included a 'Decepticon Stinger' toy in the mass-retail Deluxe assortment.
• "Stinger" was previously an early working name for Revenge of the Fallen Sideswipe.
• Literally every toy and piece of merchandise made of the character that was available in the US was exclusive to Walmart. Even his appearance in the console version of Rise of the Dark Spark was initially a pre-order bonus specific to Walmart. Not even Leadfoot, who has Target logos on him, was as thoroughly associated with a single retailer as Stinger.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Stinger (スティンガー Sutingā)
• Mandarin: Shìcì (Taiwan, 螫刺, "Sting")