Goldbug (SG)

This article is about the evil Autobot Seeker. For his heroic Throttlebot counterpart, see Bumblebee (G1). For a list of other meanings, see Goldbug (disambiguation).

Goldbug is an evil Autobot Seeker from the Shattered Glass continuity family.

Grrrr. Arg.

Goldbug, the evil Seeker commander, was once a shiftless drifter named Bumblebee. Survival on the streets of Polyhex meant learning to become a sneak, a pickpocket, and blackmailer, and at these things Bumblebee excelled. When he joined Optimus Prime's brutal Autobot forces, his bravery put him on the fast track to power, and when Drench was "removed" by Prime, Bumblebee was rebuilt as Goldbug and took his place. Though he holds a high position in the Autobot hierarchy, he is extremely paranoid that he is not appreciated by his peers and will be summarily replaced.

Fiction

Shattered Expectations

Goldbug led Jazz and Grimlock in a search for the ancient Pretender technology, intending to use it to give them the edge against the Decepticon insurgency. He appeared to be the leader of the trio (barely). However, their plan was foiled by the arrival of Starscream and the Mayhem Suppression Squad. Shattered Expectations

Fun Publications Shattered Glass continuity

"Sorry sir, I spaced out after 'along with'. What do I need to understand?"

Goldbug was present at the execution of Rumble when Optimus Prime brought their "old friend" Cliffjumper in to view the festivities. Later on, he was discussing the launch of the Ark with Prime and Blurr in the combat training room. Goldbug mentioned that the Old One wouldn't have approved of the current plan, but Optimus quickly shot down his objections. Goldbug and the other Seekers defended the Ark's launch platform from Decepticon attack, but failed to stop Cliffjumper from scuttling the liftoff. Shattered Glass

When Wheeljack's new creations, the Dinobots, ran amok, both Autobot and Decepticon alike were forced to chase them down before the other side could modify their A.I.s. Gotta catch 'em all. Goldbug and Jazz located Swoop atop an observation tower. Unfortunately, he could fly and neither of them could. Goldbug volunteered Jazz to climb up and fetch the Dinobot, but J wasn't having none of that. Rodimus and Blurr arrived and made a consensus (with laser rifles) that Jazz would be climbing. In a move that surprised no one except Jazz, Swoop took off flying the moment Prime's bodyguard laid a hand on him. Goldbug got the creature in his sights and shot it down, bringing Swoop and Jazz crashing to Earth. When Blurr inquired why Goldbug didn't just shoot the Dinobot in the first place, Goldbug shrugged and said that now they didn't have to climb up and fetch it. Dungeons & Dinobots

The Ark was finally repaired and ready for launch when Optimus Prime ran off to deal with Megatron. Goldbug and Blurr caught Rodimus fiddling with a communications console, preventing Prime from calling in. Blurr started to bluster at the insubordination, but Goldbug was willing to hear Rodimus' explanation. Rodimus argued that Optimus' obsession with Megatron was holding them all back. Cybertron was a dead world now, and with Prime out of the picture, Earth would be ripe for their taking. Goldbug agreed, and Blurr was thrown off the ship for remaining loyal to Prime.

Later, when the Ark and the Nemesis were locked in battle above Earth, Goldbug manned the Ark's sensor station. Astrotrain succeeded in severely damaging the Ark. Goldbug had time to curse the coward Rodimus, who fled in an escape pod, before calling for all hands to brace for impact. Do Over

After the crash, Goldbug initially hooked up with Big Daddy, Brawn and Beachcomber as they went searching for their "valiant leader". It was fortuitous, wonderful, outstanding when they finally crossed paths with the opportunist, and had the opportunity for revenge. Rodimus did some fast talking, though, and his stories of human allies and the Decepticons getting vaped led Goldbug to hold his fire long enough to hear the Seeker leader out. They returned to the Ark in order to make a proper assessment of the state of the planet. Goldbug and the Autobots had quite a bit of difficulty understanding the concept of "renewable resources" their human allies the Witwickys tried to explain.

Strategy wasn't the only thing on Goldbug's mind, however — using Rodimus's bail-out during the crash as an excuse, he challenged Rodimus for leadership of the Autobots. The two Seekers battled on the bridge of the Ark, with the fully-reenergized Goldbug soon gaining the upper hand. Rodimus was far more crafty, though — he voice-activated Teletraan-X and deleted the ID-recognition file for Goldbug, causing the ship to identify him as an enemy combatant. Goldbug was quickly restrained by the internal security systems, and held helpless before Rodimus Prime. Despite his precarious position, Goldbug agreed to yield only if Rodimus left him as second-in-command. Showing the sort of logic and reasoning positive-matter Decepticon leaders have displayed for eons, Rodimus laughingly agreed to keep the ambitious Goldbug as his right-hand bot. After all, no way Goldbug would let anyone else in the Autobots kill Rodimus before him.

As the Autobots prepared for their strike on the control base for America's GODS space weapon, Goldbug and Wheeljack joined Rodimus for the infiltration mission. Like the Trojan horse, they got captured and taken inside the base along with their "drivers", the Witwickys, just before the rest of the Autobots launched an assault from outside. Striking from both in and outside the base, the Autobots soon controlled the satellite station and its deadly particle beam weapon. Their assault soon drew the attention of the surviving Decepticons, however, and the Cybertronian Civil War officially took up residence on Earth. Goldbug was attacked by the diminutive Frenzy and his two human friends, who used a fire extinguisher to temporarily blind the Seeker and steal his weapon. To add injury to insult, the weaponless Goldbug was then forced to deal with the Incredible fury of Frenzy unleashed. The Decepticons were able to reclaim the military base, and the Autobots were driven off. Eye in the Sky

Still working for his own advancement, Goldbug commissioned Side Burn and Wheeljack to create a stellar spanner out in the desert without Rodimus Prime's knowledge. They were nearly finished when the Decepticons Blitzwing and Heatwave stumbled upon their location. Seizing the opportunity, Goldbug planned to launch Heatwave through the untested machine to make sure it worked. Blitzwing attempted to stop them by hooking directly into the spanner's digital landscape, but failed due to Wheeljack's electro-shells. The feedback had a side-effect, however, of sending out a cacophony of fleshling music on the Autobots' communications frequency. Unable to even think straight, Goldbug blasted the Spanner to keep the Decepticons from using it and ordered a retreat.

Back at the Ark, Goldbug was forced to answer to Rodimus Prime for his antics. Fearing another clash with Teletraan-X's servo, Goldbug babbled off whatever he could think of to stay Rodimus's fury. Luckily, his only punishment ended up being salvage duty with Seaspray, as the Agonizing Rehabilitation Chambers were conveniently broken. Blitzwing Bop

Goldbug took part in the raid on Blackrock's Mega-Rig, warning everyone to stick to hand-to-hand combat to avoid damaging their prize. He, Side Burn and Beachcomber later joined Rodimus when their leader met with Blackrock to listen to an offer he had for them. Despite Goldbug's strenuous objections, Rodimus accepted the offer. Soon after, the Autobots captured two of the Decepticons' human friends, Sephie Beller and Rick Ottman. Goldbug held Rick at gunpoint when the Decepticons turned up, and the Decepticons were soon bound prisoners. When Soundwave revealed that he wasn't the one who'd put up the jamming field, Goldbug wondered aloud who was doing the jamming. His answer came moments later when the Autobots were attacked by Blackrock in his Centurion mech. Goldbug and Swoop initially managed to restrain the robot, but the Centurion's defenses were too formidable, and the Autobots were eventually forced to retreat. Transhuman

At some unspecified point in time, Goldbug and a team of Autobots somehow under the command of both Rodimus Prime and Optimus Prime fought Thundercracker and Ravage in the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth, "Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction." According to Ravage, anyway. Recordicons #3

Goldbug was among the evil Autobots captured after Optimus Prime became Nova Prime and overthrew Rodimus. The Future Buried...

SD SG

Goldbug was forced to listen to Optimus Prime complain about new body designs and upgrades. SD SG #1

Games

Transformers Legends

During an Autobot attempt to launch from Cybertron in a battleship, Grimlock, Ricochet, and Goldbug were distracted from reaching the launch site and ended up chasing Ravage instead. Shattered Glass

Toys

Timelines

Started a "Bad Bugs" club with Bug Bite.

• Shattered Glass (BotCon box set, 2008)
  • Accessories: Launcher, missile, key

Part of BotCon 2008's exclusive box set of five figures, Timelines Goldbug is a retool of Cybertron Hot Shot with a new head sculpt based on "Generation 1" Goldbug and a new black, yellow, and blue color scheme, bearing a little resemblance to Stealth Bumblebee. He transforms into a modified Chrysler ME Four-Twelve concept car. Plugging a Cyber Key into his trunk (his is a clear-orange Velocitron-style key with a black border) deploys transparent blue wings from his spoiler. The toy also comes with a spring-loaded missile-launching gun that can be carried in robot mode or pegged into the roof of the car mode.

The original version of this mold was also used to make Cybertron Excellion and the 2007 Transformers Breakaway.

Goldbug is only available as part of a set of six toys, along with Optimus Prime, Autobot Jazz, Grimlock, Razorclaw, and Starscream.

• More information on Goldbug at TFU.info

Generations

Ah yes, Bumblebee rebuilt into a bigger, badder body, that's definitely what this is.

• Autobot Goldbug (Deluxe Class, 2021)
  • Accessories: Three-piece bazooka, 2 skis, car trunk

Released as part of the Shattered Glass Collection subline, "Autobot Goldbug" is a new-head retool of Earthrise Cliffjumper. Unusually small for a Deluxe Class figure, Goldbug transforms into a custom 1980s sports coupe; hybridizing the Porsche 924 Turbo and Mitsubishi Starion models. Goldbug's vehicle mode possesses molded high-performance brake discs, carried over from a mainline Transformers figure. As can be expected of a figure based on a War for Cybertron Trilogy release, Goldbug includes numerous 3 mm posts and 5 mm ports for attaching weapons, Fire Blast effects, and other accessories as part of the C.O.M.B.A.T. System/F.O.S.S.I.L. Technology. However, attaching a Weaponizer/Modulator/Fossilizer figure can be challenging due to Goldbug's small size.

Goldbug features a redeco of Cliffjumper's bazooka. It can split into two smaller blasters and a pair of skis that can attach under his wheels. The backend of the cannon can fold out to fit in his car mode's underside to help balance when skis are deployed, while also being used as a melee weapon. It can also be mounted on either his thigh or on the side or top of his shoulder meaning you can put the entire cannon in these spots. Similarly, his detaching car trunk can either be put into the robot mode's back or be used as a shield with the help of a flip-out peg. This peg and the backend of the cannon use a unique post and port to connect to each other. Goldbug appears to use the updated taller "collar" assembly introduced on Bumblebee.

Goldbug also includes the fourth issue of IDW Publishing's Shattered Glass "Shards" mini-series, with an exclusive cover featuring spot UV.

Much like the rest of the subline, Goldbug is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. His existence was spilled by Hasbro Pulse prematurely when Shattered Glass Collection Starscream's front page advertisement named Goldbug instead of Starscream, much like the accidental reveal of Siege Red Wing and Earthrise Thrust.

This mold was also used for War for Cybertron Trilogy Selects Hubcap and Bug Bite, and was extensively retooled into War for Cybertron Trilogy Bumblebee.

See also

You look familiar...

---

Versions of Shattered Glass Bumblebee have appeared in other continuity families, including:

• Bumblebee, the evil counterpart to Animated Bumblebee.
• Bumblebee, the evil counterpart to "Movie series" Bumblebee.

For more information, see Bumblebee (disambiguation).