Bombshell (Transformers)

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Bombshell
Transformers character
Bombshell
Affiliation	Decepticon
Sub-Group	Action Masters Insecticons
Function	Psychological Warfare
Motto	"The mind is my playpen."
Alternate Modes	Mechanical Weevil
Series	Transformers: Generation 1
English voice actor	Michael Bell

Bombshell (Granada in Portugal) is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers universes, as a member of the Insecticons, a sub-faction of the Decepticons.

1 Transformers: Generation 1 (1985)

[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1985)

Bombshell's toy bio described him as having a vicious sense of humor. Using his cerebro-shells, he can take control of his victim's minds, after which he amuses himself by having them humiliate themselves for his enjoyment.

[edit] Animated series

Bombshell debuted with the rest of the Insecticons in the first season episode, A Plague of Insecticons. The Insecticons were a group of Decepticons, who fled the Nemesis four million years ago in an escape ship. The ship landed in Indonesia where the Insecticons reformatted themselves to resemble insects. The Insecticons stomachs could absorb most forms of energy and matter and use it to fuel the robots. At first, Megatron was very pleased with the Insecticons. However, once the tide of battle turned in the Autobots' favor, the Insecticons consumed the Decepticons' Energon. This began a feud between the Insecticons and the Decepticons.

Later on, in The Insecticon Syndrome, Bombshell and the Insecticons were asked to help the Decepticons raid Iron Mountain, a fictional U.S. military installation which contained information regarding the world's energy. In return, Megatron would allow the Insecticons to consume the energy produced by the Nova Power Plant prior to engaging Iron Mountain. The Nova power caused the Insecticons to grow in strength and size.

With their new power, the Insecticons plot to betray the Decepticons at Iron Mountain, which Soundwave overhears. However, before Soundwave could get away, Shrapnel captures him and instructs Bombshell to implant a cerebro shell. The Autobots attack the plant, but are succesfully repelled by the Insecticons. Later, the Autobots discover that the nova energy, which is incompatible with their stomachs will cause them to explode, potentially destroying Iron Mountain with them.

As Soundwave attempts to download the data, Bombshell takes the opportunity to inject cerebro shells into the other Decepticons taking over their minds. Once Soundwave is finished, Megatron terminates the alliance with the Insecticons. Bombshell fires two more shells at Megatron and Starscream. Starscream becomes infected, but Megatron manages to intercept the shell before it infects him. Optimus Prime arrives and tackles Megatron before he could fire at the Insecticons. After learning of the imminent explosion, Megatron agrees to assist the Autobots.

Wheeljack and Ratchet arrive on the scene with a cure for the Insecticons. Optimus Prime teams up with Megatron to deliver the antidote via Megatron's alt mode. They manage to cure Kickback and Bombshell, thus weakening his hold on the Decepticons. After knocking Prime away, Shrapnel's condition turns critical, and he doubles over in pain. Spike Witwicky approaches Shrapnel and dumps the antidote into his chest. His is unsuccesful as Shrapnel explodes. Bombshell reassembles Shrapnel and the Insecticons flee with the Decepticons in pursuit.

Bombshell has made other appearances in the series, usually called upon to use his cerebro shells. In the episode Enter the Nightbird, Bombshell assisted the Decepticons in stealing a human-built robot ninja named Nightbird. Bombshell reprograms the robot as a Decepticon. Megatron then sends the robot to infiltrate The Ark and steal a disk with a list of all the world's energy sources. In the episode, Traitor, the Autobot Mirage attempts to trick the Insecticons and Decepticons into a civil conflict. The Decepticons find out and capture Mirage. Megatron orders Bombshell to inject a cerebro shell into Mirage, thus turning him against the Autobots.

The Decepticon/Insecticon feud continued throughout the second season. In The Transformers: The Movie, Bombshell and the Insecticons were involved in the battle of Autobot City, where he sustains major injuries. As a result, he becomes one of the Decepticons to be ejected into space. Bombshell encounters Unicron and is reformatted into one of Galvatron's new troops, possibly becoming Cyclonus, Galvatron's loyal second-in-command.

[edit] Marvel Comics

In the comics, Bombshell was a soldier under the command of Lord Straxus. Unlike his cartoon persona this one could shape shift, becoming the actual size of an insect. He eventually came to Earth, where his cerebro-shells came in useful when tapping the power of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership in creating the Stunticons and Combaticons.

[edit] Dreamwave Production

Bombshell also appeared in Dreamwave Productions' Generation One comics. He chronologically appeared first in the War Within comics hunting Optimus Prime alongside Soundwave and Ravage. Their failure forced Megatron to step in personally. He later stayed with the Decepticons after Megatron's disappearance. His Cybertronian alternate mode appeared to be that of a tank.

He and the other future Insecticons later came to Earth, encountering the Dynobots. The two teams battled and knocked each other into stasis. The Insecticons were later revived, receiving their familiar insect alternate modes. Bombshell later used his cerebro shells to take over the population of a town, only to be defeated by the Autobots. The closure of Dreamwave prevented any more stories of Bombshell from being told.