Bumblebee (EarthSpark/Deluxe)

EarthSpark is a generally pleasant Transformers series that I have hardly anything to complain about. Of course Bumblebee is one of the stars of the series, so he's getting plenty of toys. Fortunately I'm a Bumblebee fan and enjoy his design in EarthSpark, so you'll hear no complaints from me. Today we'll be looking at his deluxe class toy from the toy line. I said I like his design, and I do. The yellow doesn't match on his various parts. I suspect that has to do with the yellow on different plastics used on the toy. It's not a deal breaker for me, just an inconvenience.

Another thing I don't like is that I find his robot mode arms just a little too short. The car fenders look really cool as shoulder pads... but I could have used a little extra arm length. Once again, not a deal breaker. I get accused some times of being too positive, so i thought I'd lead with the things I don't like about the toy. Honestly they're just some minor quibbles as I actually like this toy a lot. It's really cool looking. His gun/stinger turns into a car thingy that fits on the car roof. I'd like to think it's Tupperware that was forgotten up there. Grandma sent some lasagna home and somehow it just didn't fall off.

Bumblebee is very well articulated and his transformation is pleasant. I really like the car mode. While I prefer Bumblebee to be his traditional Volkswagen form or a sporty small car when they have to go another route... I don't mind his sports car forms. In EarthSpark they actually give an in story reason for it and it works pretty well in story. Seeing as that episode was pretty recent, I won't spoil, but found it pretty sensible. This time they got a little more creative with his sports car and it's a pretty sharp ride. I'd like to see this mold repainted into other characters (maybe with a different head) and I keep picturing this car in black. It'd make a great Drench.

Good Ideas

You just can't keep a good idea down. Drench from Transformers Generation 2 has just a great look. That green striped into black, the yellow spoiler with that 'TURBO' graphic. It's just a super sharp deco that makes for a really good looking toy. So good looking that...

It was planned for a Universe update around 2004, made from the Armada Wheeljack mold, which was a really good figure with a pretty similar car mode. Sadly the toy was never made, but you just can't keep a good idea down.

As you can tell from the test shot, and might remember from the time, Wheeljack wasn't the best name for the mold as Sideswipe would have been a better choice. It looks like Sideswipe and the name would better suit the 'traitor' character. Such an obvious oversight that...

In 2008, Shattered Glass Sideswipe was inspired by the idea. Shattered Glass being a mirror universe with evil Autobots and heroic Decepticons. Characters had different colors and looks than they traditionally had, with Sideswipe jumping to the Decepticons, it just worked. Making for a great looking toy, with a great deco that payed homage to past Transformers. Perfect for a Transformers convention exclusive. I mean look at that car mode. It's a perfect homage to G2 Drench, a nod to the unreleased toy, and a good use of the mold.

But we're not done here. Nope, not at all. Surprisingly 10 years later, in the anime SSSS. Gridman, the deco popped back up. Many of the human characters were designed to pay homage to various Transformers (not to mention other random homages) and...

Well... you just can't keep a good idea down.

Drench

Give me more action! It's no fun unless I can see the whites of their eyes.

He's young and impetuous with a love for excitement that hides his serious, intelligent side. He has amazing skill in devising hair-raising new defense methods. As a vehicle, aqua-power makes him a formidable opponent. As a robot, he uses it to defend with courage and accuracy.