Goldbug (IDW)
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| This article is about the Throttlebots leader who was never Bumblebee. For the Throttlebot member who was once Bumblebee, see Bumblebee (G1). |
| The name or term "Goldbug" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Goldbug (disambiguation). |
- Goldbug is an Autobot Throttlebot from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Goldbug[1] is a proven courier officer[2][3], neither heat nor cold nor extremes of pressure[4][5] will stay him from the swift delivery of sealed data packets[6][7] to their appointed destination. Privately his work leaves Goldbug feeling gloomy[8]—even fatalistic[9][10]—but as nominal[11] commander of the Throttlebots what he thinks of himself isn't nearly as important as what the others think[12], so he projects a buoyant can-do attitude[13]; always ready with a joke[14] or uplifting word of encouragement.[10]
In the gloom of night[5] when things are at their bleakest his doubts come to the surface.[15] He fears that the war they have fought for so long may not be winnable.[16] Still, he knows well enough to keep that sort of thinking to himself.[17][12] Hope springs eternal, carry on mates! Better to fight and die than live with the knowledge that we ran![18]
Goldbug is by far the most fuel efficient Throttlebot, allowing him to travel more than twice as far between refueling.[19] Like most of his unit Goldbug is equipped with short-burst booster jets[20] for high-speed evasion[3] under fire.
Let's not kid ourselves. We're scared but we're not gutless.Goldbug, "Spotlight: Metroplex"
In most continuities Goldbug is a rebuilt form of the Autobot Bumblebee. Information about that Goldbug can be found at "Bumblebee (G1)".
Fiction
IDW comics continuity
Notes
- This version of Goldbug is, of course, based off of the original Throttlebot Goldbug, only this time he is not a rebuilt Bumblebee.
Toys
Generation 1
- Goldbug (Throttlebot, 1987/1991)
- Japanese ID number: C-97
- The Goldbug toy transforms into a Volkswagon Beetle. Like all Throttlebots, it features a pull-back motor that zips him forward in both vehicle and robot modes. In 1991, the Throttlebots were re-released in European markets as part of the "Classics" sub-line. Goldbug was retooled to remove the rubsign indent on his roof/chest, and the rubsign decal itself was replaced with a glossy-paper Autobot sigil.
- The toy, which predates this incarnation of the character, is an Earth mode body that differs from the body depicted in Goldbug's sole IDW appearance to date.
Footnotes
- ↑ 'And me. I'm Goldbug.' Goldbug's internal monologue, Spotlight: Metroplex p1
- ↑ 'I knew the lab's work was important because the other Throttlebots and I were there as couriers to keep the work from falling into enemy's hands.' Goldbug's internal narration, Spotlight: Metroplex p1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 'There's no one faster or better at evading the enemy than us [...]' Goldbug's internal narration, Spotlight: Metroplex p1
- ↑ 'Adaptable to underwater, cold and hot environments. Can withstand temperatures from -150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.' Goldbug's 1987 tech-spec
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Herodotus on the Persian system of military couriers ~2500 years ago, The Histories
- ↑ "We were never in the command center, kept separate to keep the work secret." Goldbug's internal narration, Spotlight: Metroplex p1
- ↑ "...we're the only survivors of a mission I never even have clearance to know about." Goldbug's internal narration, Spotlight: Metroplex p1
- ↑ "I try to keep my optimism on max, but this is Sixshot." Goldbug's internal narration, Spotlight: Metroplex p3
- ↑ "We should be dead. All of us..." Goldbug's internal narration, Spotlight: Metroplex p1
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Goldbug delivers a pep talk to the Throttlebots telling them to go into battle with their heads held high because Sixshot was about to slaughter them, and it was important to make a good showing "Spotlight: Metroplex" p10
- ↑ The only order Goldbug gives in "Spotlight: Metroplex" is to "hold [the shuttle] steady" as it's crashing and "roll for it" when the Throttlebots scramble to escape Sixshot. (Besides, what use does a unit of couriers have for a commander? It's not like they work in teams.)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Inversion of 'Realizes what others think of him isn't nearly as important as what he thinks of himself.' from Goldbug's 1987 tech-spec.
- ↑ "Do you believe that Freeway?" Goldbug eagerly grasps ontoFreeway's not-very-plausible idea that Sixshot isn't pursuing them, Spotlight: Metroplex p4
- ↑ "Lay off. Your whining—*kaf*—is killing me. Heh heh heh." The badly injured Goldbug attempts to lighten the mood for his comrades, Spotlight: Metroplex p22
- ↑ "You're leaving us to die? What kind of Autobot are you?" Goldbug's outraged response to Metroplex abandoning them, Spotlight: Metroplex p19
- ↑ "...I hope it's worth it. Because if the reports we're getting are to be believed... ...we've already lost the war." Goldbug's internal monologue, Spotlight: Metroplex p20
- ↑ Goldbug's despairing internal monologue is a sharp contrast to what his resolute spoken dialog throughout "Spotlight: Metroplex."
- ↑ A fair paraphrasing of the sentiment behind "We're Autobots. Not built for war, but warriors just the same. We'll go down fighting.", Spotlight: Metroplex p10
- ↑ Inversion of Excellent fuel efficiency; 2 1/2 times better than the next best Throttlebot. from Goldbug's 1987 tech-spec.
- ↑ All of the Throttlebots except the notably slow Wideload display these jets on pages 4+7 of "Spotlight: Metroplex"
