First off, let me say I really love Bumblebee. Whenever I get hooked on an action show or a sci-fi series I usually tend to gravitate towards the badass warrior characters and they usually become my favorites. I’m not really into the weaker, more family-friendly characters but Bumblebee has always been the exception. He was always one of my favorite Transformers and he probably always will be.

I always loved Bumblebee’s classic robot look so I was pretty angry and letdown when I saw the face designs for the movie. I thought he looked stupid and buglike and I really wished they would have stuck with the classic design. I have to say my opinion really changed after I saw the new movie. The new designs grew on me and I have to say I really like the new look as much as the classic look and I’m sure most of the other “Transfans” out there feel the same way.

If you’re like me and you want an incredibly detailed Bumblebee figure with the new movie designs I highly recommend Ultimate Bumblebee. This has to be one of the most beautifully detailed Transformers figures since Masterpiece Megatron. He’s really not articulated but he makes a fantastic display piece and he’s worth the $79.99.

Not all Transfans feel the same way that I do about the figure though. Ultimate Bumblebee, unfortunately, is getting a lot of heat at the various Transformers boards because of the lack of articulation, diecast metal and the high price. He’s also getting flack for being a “gimmick toy.”

I can defend UB for not being articulated and for not being a diecast piece but I can’t argue against the fact that he is indeed a “gimmick toy.” But is that really such an awful thing to be these days? Most toys have some kind of gimmick if you really think about it. These days you can’t find a toy that doesn’t have some kind of action feature or gimmick. “Not Marvel Legends” you might counter. “They don’t have spring-loaded weapons or electronics or spring-loaded gimmicks.”
I’m afraid I’d have to disagree with that argument. You don’t call the whole “Build a Figure” thing a gimmick?
But anyway, I digress. Ultimate Bumblebee is a gimmick toy (an electronic gimmick toy to be more specific) but he’s one of the best gimmick toys I’ve ever played around with.
Ultimate Bumblebee, you see, is an “interactive” toy. He responds to sounds and he has motion sensors so he will “talk back” if you yell at him or clap your hands and whatnot. He also moves and poses and he fires a missile from a cannon in his arm. And that’s when the articulation comes into play. Ultimate Bumblebee is an incredibly articulated figure after all. It’s just…he does the articulating. That’s not to say that you can’t move him around a little yourself. You can. You can move the fingers on his left hand (he has finger joints) and his left arm moves at the elbow as well.
Now I know what you’re thinking. “I want to pose him myself!” You’re probably saying. “I want to play with him!”
As a collector and toyfan myself I can understand your anger to an extent but I have to say that he will actually stand in some pretty cool poses if you activate his electronics so it’s not like you can’t get him to look cool while he’s on your shelf or whatever. And I think the incredible detail more than makes up for the fact that you can’t play around with him very much. If you just want a Bumblebee to play around with and pose and detail’s not an issue I say buy a standard Bumblebee figure and stop knocking UB.

Ultimate Bumblebee isn’t as I’ve stated above, “Mr. Articulation” but that doesn’t mean he’s not a fun toy. He might, as I’ve also stated above, be a gimmick toy but he’s one of the funnest gimmick toys I’ve ever owned.
So just what does he do?  I’ll try to give you a detailed account of all the stuff he does when his electronics are activated:

If you turn him on his eyes will light up and he’ll move his head and arms and do different poses. If you say something or move around he’ll light up and speak. He also plays portions of Devo’s “Whip It” (and that seems strange to me because I don’t remember that song being in the new movie at all). He plays portions of a country western song and a rap song as well. He also has different phrases. He says:
“Megatron will stop at nothing!”
“You’re my first human friend.”
“We must protect the Allspark!”
“Be Careful, Decepticons could be anywhere!”
“Eat Plasma!” (He says this when his “action feature” is activated)
“Permission to speak sir”
And…
“That will teach them to mess with an Autobot!”
If you press and hold down the button on Bumblebee’s chest he’ll play portions of the Transformers theme song. He plays the “Transformers! more than meets the eye!” portion of the song as well as “Transformers! Robots in disguise!” portion. If you leave him on and you ignore him he’ll say “Hello?” or “Anyone there?” or “Hellooooooo?”
He also says “This completes our radio broadcast,” before he shuts himself off after periods of inactivity. This feature (the auto shutoff) is cool because it conserves the battery.

Bumblebee also lights up and makes different sounds when he’s in his alt mode as well. And that brings us to…

So the alt mode looks pretty awesome. The toy is not, as I have stated above, diecast metal but it still looks really detailed and sweet. Ultimate Bumblebee is made of a highly durable rubbery kind of plastic that really shines in certain lights. This gives the toy a really nice shine and it makes it look really detailed in certain lights. And the transformation process? The transformation process is difficult and it’s quite a challenge the first time around but its not a nightmarish and frustrating kind of challenge like a Masterpiece Megatron or a Movie Starscream is. You’ll notice I had a hard time getting the driver’s side door to lock into place the first time around.

Alt Mode Gimmicks
The car mode, as I previously stated, also has it fair share of electric gimmicks. If you roll it across the floor it will make driving sounds and it will play different songs. The horn will occasionally honk as well. The car also makes braking noises if you abruptly stop the car so that’s really cool as well.
Now, I normally don’t really make a big deal about the “light up” gimmicks on toys but I have to say the feature really works well here. Check out these pics of UB with his head and tail lights on.

The Inevitable Action Feature Gimmick
These days you just can’t buy a toy that doesn’t have some kind of “action feature.” That’s okay though here though because UB’s action feature is pretty cool. If you press a button on his battery case he’ll raise his “gun arm,” aim and then fire a spring-loaded missile. If you hold the button down his eyes will light up and a little red light inside his head will light up as well and you’ll hear gun noises. If you press the button while you’re holding it down you’ll hear laster blast sounds. This all might not sound like much but it actually looks really awesome and it will almost make you feel like you’re re-watching the scene at the end of the movie when Bumblebee starts unloading on the Decepticreeps.

Closing Statements
Ultimate Bumblebee is a really detailed, highly interactive toy and it’s truly an innovative Transformers toy. It’s not very articulated and it’s definitely not a “play piece” but it really makes for one hell of a display piece. Stand him up next to a Masterpiece figure and you’ll just have something that other fans will marvel at once they see it on your shelves.

While it’s not the most articulated Transformer figure in the world it has a really awesome transformation process and it’s still a lot of fun to play around with. The electronic features that would seem cheesy and annoying on another figure really work for Ultimate Bumblebee and the randomness of what he’ll say and what he’ll do is really cool as well (he hardly ever says his phrases in a particular order so you really don’t know what he’s going to do next). I normally don’t recommend high-priced figures that lack articulation but I really make the exception for Ultimate Bumblebee because he really does look THAT GOOD next to the other high-end display pieces on your shelves. Now that I’ve voiced my opinions…On to more pictures!!!

Hidden among us, alien machines of incredible power fight their ancient battle for the AllSpark. They are. . .THE TRANSFORMERS! Frozen in Antarctic ice for hundreds of years, MEGATRON is finally free, and his might will make the Earth quake, the stars fall from the sky, and the very pillars of heaven shake. As the most dangerous TRANSFORMERS robot ever to stalk the galaxy, he has no known weaknesses and only one purpose – to capture the AllSpark and rule the Universe. Nothing – neither the humans’ armies or his ancient enemy OPTIMUS PRIME can stand in his way!

Get ready to rule the universe with this awesome MEGATRON figure that features Advanced AUTOMORPH Technology! This TRANSFORMERS technology is designed to enhance vehicle-to-robot conversion with partially animated mechanical triggers that activate the final shift to battle mode. See armor slide to protect vital points! This automatic conversion triggers lights and sounds. Robot mode also features a launching rocket claw that becomes a chain whip, and arms that combine to create a fusion cannon! CYBERTRON jet vehicle mode has electronic horn sounds and lights that add to the excitement!

Get ready to rule the universe with this awesome OPTIMUS PRIME figure that features Advanced AUTOMORPH Technology! This TRANSFORMERS technology is designed to enhance vehicle-to-robot conversion with partially animated mechanical triggers that activate the final shift to battle mode. See armor slide to protect vital points! Flip down the Ion Blaster in robot mode to launch the projectile! And press the button in vehicle mode for electronic horn sounds and lights!

2 AA Batteries Included

Chris McFeely has provided some new screenshots of the new master beeing used by Metrodome for their upcoming Transformers: The Movie Ultimate Edition DVD release in June. The screens show comparisons between the original master, Sony BMG’s new release last November and Metrodome’s prevous “Reconstructed” release.

Look out for more details soon.

Latest Images

The Transformers comic by Marvel was the first and arguably the best known Transformers comic. Although it was originally intended to be a 4-issue limited series, it expanded into an ongoing series, which ran for 80 issues before being cancelled.

Marvel UK

The sister title in the UK, which ran for 332 issues, was weekly and thus spliced in original stories into the continuity of the reprinted US issues, was mostly written by Simon Furman . At the start, it had a more serious science fiction approach. Because of the weekly approach, the UK comic was able to flesh out characters and ideas more. One example of this, in the US comic, The Aerialbots and Stunticons are first shown having just been built and being given life by the creation Matrix program. In the UK comic, this is more fleshed out. This is a new technology, much more complex than the Constructicon combination, that Soundwave saw while Scanning Buster Witwicky’s brain, the effects of having the Creation Matrix downloaded into his brain for a time. Also, Furman tried to maintain continuity with The Transformers: The Movie , and wrote several stories set in the future after the movie’s ending, as well as bringing charcters from the future (ie Galvatron) into the present-day. Due to his epic and mythological approach, he was highly praised and succeeded Bob Budiansky on the US title at issue 56. The mythic tone continues to influence the Dreamwave and IDW comics.

Directed by Michael Bay Writing credits Alex Kurtzman (screenplay) & Roberto Orci (screenplay) … (more)

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi (more)

Plot Outline: Dueling alien races, the Autobots and the Decepticons, bring their battle to Earth, leaving the future of humankind hanging in the balance. (view trailer)

Production Notes/Status:

Also Known As:
Prime Directive (USA) (working title)
The Transformers (USA) (working title)
Transformers: The Movie 2 (USA) (working title)
Country: USA
Language: English

Directed by Nelson Shin Writing credits Ron Friedman

Tagline: Beyond good. Beyond evil. Beyond your wildest imagination.

Plot Outline: The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who is after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. (more) (view trailer)

User Comments: Stan Bush, the best Steve Perry in rock and roll (more)

Also Known As:
Transformers the Movie: Apocalypse! Matrix Forever (Japan: English title) (working title)
Transformers the Movie: Mokushiroku - Matrix yo eien ni (Japan) (working title)
Transformers: Matrix yo eien ni (Japan)
Runtime: 84 min / Argentina:85 min
Country: USA / Japan
Language: English / Japanese
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Dolby
Certification: UK:PG (Reconstructed Edition) / Argentina:Atp / Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Québec) / UK:U / USA:PG / West Germany:12 / Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) / Australia:PG

Trivia: This film is considered the “bridge” between the second and third cartoon series, as several second-series characters are introduced here and several first-series characters are killed or altered (e.g. Megatron to Galvatron). (more)

Goofs: Continuity: When the Constructicons form Devastor for the first time, his chest plate is the same color as the rest of his body but then switches back to its regular color, purple, in the next shot. (more)

Quotes:
Cyclonus : You want me to gut Ultra Magnus?
Galvatron : There are plenty of Autobots for you. Ultra Magnus is mine!

The Transformers

For a list of episodes, see List of The Transformers episodes

Debuting in 1984, The Transformers began with a three-episode miniseries (later titled More Than Meets the Eye ) that introduced audiences to Optimus Prime , Megatron and their armies, as they travelled from the metal world of Cybertron to Earth in search of new sources of energy. The final episode ended on an open note, should the series prove popular enough to continue. And continue it did - a standard season’s worth of 13 more episodes were commissioned, expanding the Transformers universe and debuting the Dinobots , Constructicons and Jetfire . With popularity rising, the second season soon followed in 1985 at a mammoth 49 episodes (in order to bring the total up to 65, for syndication ). Dozens of new characters were introduced throughout the season, including the combining teams the Aerialbots , Stunticons , Combaticons and Protectobots , the Triple Changers and more new Autobot cars and Decepticon jets, while many new ideas and concepts began to establish the history of the cartoon universe.

These 65 episodes were exported to Japan in the same year, where their airing order was restricted and the series was broadcast under the title of Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers . An OVA exclusive to Japan entitled Scramble City was released which cast focus on the combining teams and introduced Ultra Magnus , Metroplex and Trypticon , although it does not perfectly fit into the continuity of the American series due to its different origin story for Trypticon (known as Dinosaurer in the Japanese version).

1986 marked a huge change for The Transformers with the summer screening of Transformers: The Movie , which jumped the action forward in time twenty years to the then-future of 2005 and pitted both the Autobots and Decepticons against the menace of the giant planet-eating robot, Unicron . Optimus Prime met his end at Megatron’s hands, and Ultra Magnus briefly replaced him as a leader before being succeeded by Rodimus Prime , while Megatron himself was recreated by Unicron as Galvatron . Many more of the old guard fell in battle as their toys departed store shelves to make room for a new cast of characters created for the movie.

1986 also saw the start of the third season of the animated series, which took its cue from the movie, picking up precisely where it had left off with Rodimus in command and the Decepticons in exile with Galvatron missing. The season opened with a five-part mini-series entitled Five Faces of Darkness which saw Galvatron return and brought to prominence the Quintessons , multi-faced aliens introduced in the movie who were revealed to be the creators of the Transformer race, and who became a recurring third factor as the season continued through its setting of 2006. The addition of Flint Dille as story editor saw a strong sci-fi aspect infect the season as the Transformers’ battles spanned many alien planets, while continuity between episode was tighter than ever before as plot concepts were revisited and expanded to truly flesh out the show’s history. Running to 30 episodes, the third season ended with the two-part Return of Optimus Prime , bringing the legendary Autobot leader back to life. Broadcast in Japan once again, the series was retitled Transformers 2010 , advancing its setting to the eponymous year.

1987 marked the end of the original American series, mirroring its beginning with a three-part mini-series entitled The Rebirth . Penned by regular series writer David Wise (who had previously written several of the series’s mythology-building episodes), this finale story introduced the Headmasters and Targetmasters , as well as several other characters. Concluding with the restoration of Cybertron’s Golden Age, the Decepticons stole the final scene of the series to prove that their threat still lingered.

Additionally, a fifth season of sorts was aired in 1988, serving as a kind of “best of” collection of the series. The most notable feature of this twenty-episode run was the new intro and outro segments added to the episodes, which consisted of Powermaster Optimus Prime (rendered in a mixture of puppetry and stop motion animation) relating the events of the episodes to a human boy named Tommy Kennedy. The opening sequence comprised animation taken from contemporary toy adverts, and Prime occasionally referenced new toy characters like Cloudburst . Apparently never re-run after its original airing, the series aired More Than Meets the Eye Parts 1-3, The Ultimate Doom Parts 1-3, Five Faces of Darkness Parts 1-5, Dark Awakening , the out-of-place Surprise Party , The Return of Optimus Prime Parts 1-2, and most notably, Transformers: The Movie , split up and aired in five segments, with Stan Bush ’s music video for The Touch included in the final part.