The brave and yellow (in color scheme, not in spirit) Bumblebee is the most famous Transformer besides Optimus Prime. OP and ‘Bee have appeared in every “Transformers” movie, for example, and Bumblebee is the only Transformer so far to have a solo movie.
So “Transformers” fans got a shock in October 2023, when they opened the first issue of Skybound’s “Transformers” comic and the Decepticon Starscream blew Bumblebee’s head off. One of the franchise’s most famous characters had now been killed before he even had the chance to speak.
Skybound Entertainment
Skybound Entertainment
Daniel Warren Johnson, who wrote and drew the first six issues of “Transformers” (then continued to write the next 18 while other artists drew them) explained why Bumblebee died in a “Director’s Commentary” video for “Transformers” #1.
“I like Bumblebee. I don’t like drawing Bumblebee,” Johnson explained, specifically citing Bee’s locked arms. “That’s not the only reason he had to leave. Honestly, I just wanted to make a change. […] I had seen a lot of Bumblebee, I think we all saw him, in a lot of ‘Transformers’ media, and I thought it would just be a fun little deviation.”
The most dedicated fans of “Transformers” expected this “deviation”. In June 2023, Skybound revealed the main cast of the comic book one by one on social media, with upcoming surprises kept in the shadows. The little Autobot with the horns must have been Bumblebee, right? No, it’s Cliffjumper, Bee’s red twin, who in this story took on Bumblebee’s usual lead role.
Oddly enough, Hasbro, owner of “Transformers”, gave Johnson and Skybound their full support for Bumblebee’s demise. In his comment, Johnson noted that a Hasbro representative even asked to exclude Bumblebee from the main cast of the comic, unaware that Johnson already wanted to do so.
How Bumblebee became a Transformers icon
You’d think Hasbro would want one of its franchise mascots to headline the comic, but, like Johnson and many other “Transformers” fans, apparently even the company was a little tired of Bumblebee being in everything.
Now, Bumblebee has been there from the very beginning. In the original “Transformers” cartoon pilot, “More Than Meets The Eye,” Autobot inventor Wheeljack (Christopher Collins) and Bumblebee (Dan Gilvezan) are the first characters to appear, leaving an instant impression on young viewers.
As the Autobots’ fun little brother, Bumblebee naturally appealed to children. The show paired him with the Autobots’ human sidekick, Spike Witwicky, who became Bumblebee’s best friend like the kids watching wanted to be. When “The Transformers: The Movie” killed off the Season 1 cast to make way for new toys, Bumblebee was spared alongside fellow fan favorites Jazz, Cliffjumper and Soundwave.
The character Bumblebee inspired similar characters in later “Transformers” cartoons; Cheetor in “Beast Wars” and Hot Shot in “Transformers: Armada” were, like Bumblebee, yellow recruits and the youngest of the good guys. In 2007, “Transformers: Animated” reintroduced Bumblebee to “Transformers” television. Voiced by Bumper Robinson, he was fast-talking, impulsive and proud.
The most important Bumblebee that debuted that year, however, was the live-action one. Michael Bay’s “Transformers” made Bumblebee a mainstay of the “Transformers” and the second most important Autobot. The film took Bee from a Volkswagen Beetle to a sleek Chevrolet Camaro, while adding a new detail to his character: His voice box was damaged, so he communicated via radio signals. The cartoon “Transformers: Prime”, which used a Bumblebee inspired by the film version, revealed that Bumblebee’s voice box was ripped out by the leader of the Decepticons, Megatron himself. The series finale, “Deadlock”, delivered an epic climax where Bumblebee’s (Will Friedle) voice was restored as he killed Megatron.
Transformers #27 Confirms Bumblebee Is Really Gone
Spoilers for the upcoming “Transformers” issue #27.
This “Transformers” takes the same starting point as the original cartoon. The Autobots left Cybertron, their war-torn homeworld, aboard a starship, the Ark. The Decepticons stormed the Ark, the ship crashed on Earth, and the deactivated Transformers remained dormant until the present day.
Bumblebee’s death set the tone for Johnson’s “Transformers,” which didn’t shy away from killing off characters. Skybound founder Robert Kirkman, who took over writing “Transformers” starting with issue #25, brought back some of Johnson’s victims. Transformers are robots, so death can sometimes be undone with the right focus. Kirkman’s last issue, #27, revealed that the Decepticon Shockwave (last seen in #12 having his head crushed by Optimus) is out for revenge.
Johnson’s run only introduced new Autobots gradually, which added to the Autobots’ desperation. They had few resources, tenacious Decepticons were pursuing them, and many of their deactivated comrades were waiting to be restored but lacked the means to bring them back. Johnson’s climax #24 saw the Decepticons routed, and as of Kirkman’s debut issue #25, the Autobots have an alliance with the US military. So, they finally have the time and resources to resuscitate all their brothers. Welcome to the party Brawn, Bulkhead, Mirage, Blaster, Sideswipe and anyone else Kirkman wants to include. The ‘Bots also have another new soldier: Thundercracker has replaced the purple Decepticon insignia on his wings with red Autobot insignia.
However, issue #27 also clarifies that two Autobots are truly dead: Bumblebee and the Autobot Doctor Ratchet (exploded by Shockwave in issue #9). These are the big deaths of Johnson’s run, so it appears Kirkman is honoring them. This issue expanding the main cast highlights that there are plenty more Autobots besides Bumblebee to shine the spotlight.
“Transformers” #1-27 are now available.
