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Bumblebee (DC Comics)

Comics character From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bumblebee (DC Comics)
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For the Transformers character, see Bumblebee (Transformers).

Bumblebee (Karen Beecher-Duncan) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics and other related media, commonly as a member of the Teen Titans.[1] She first appeared as Karen in December 1976's Teen Titans #45, and adopted the Bumblebee identity three issues later. Historically, Bumblebee is sometimes considered DC Comics' first Black woman superhero character, though this distinction is also accorded to Nubia,[2] a less traditional costumed crimefighter than Bumblebee, who debuted three years earlier in 1973.

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Bumblebee has been substantially adapted into media outside comics, primarily in association with the Teen Titans. T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Ozioma Akagha, Masasa Moyo, Kimberly Brooks, and Teala Dunn have voiced the character in animated television series and films.

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Publication history

Karen Beecher first appeared in Teen Titans #45 and was created by writer Bob Rozakis and artist Irv Novick.[3] Her Bumblebee alias first appeared in Teen Titans #48.

Fictional character biography

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Teen Titans

Karen Beecher is a scientist and the girlfriend of Teen Titans member Mal Duncan, also known as Herald. Karen secretly builds a bumblebee-themed supersuit and attacks the Teen Titans in an attempt to bolster Mal's reputation. She escapes without her true identity being revealed.[1]

When Karen explains her actions to the Titans, they are impressed and allow her into the team. After the Titans disband, Karen and Mal marry and retire from heroics, with the former being employed at S.T.A.R. Labs. The two briefly join Titans West, which soon disbands.

Infinite Crisis and One Year Later

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Bumblebee's current Doom Patrol costume, art by Matthew Clark.

Bumblebee and her husband are among the heroes recruited by Donna Troy to help avert a crisis that threatened the existence of the universe. After a battle in space, most of the heroes are trapped by a Zeta Beam that Adam Strange intended to use for teleport the heroes away from a rift in space. The combined effects of the rift and the Zeta Beam shrinks Bumblebee to six inches tall. Bumblebee joins the Doom Patrol alongside Mal Duncan along with her husband (now known as Vox) and Beast Boy. She takes medicine developed by Doom Patrol leader Niles Caulder to sustain her shrunken body and prevent her from going into cardiac arrest.[1][4][5]

DC Rebirth

In the DC Rebirth continuity, Karen Beecher is the pregnant wife of Mal Duncan.[6] Following a battle with Mister Twister, Karen goes into labor and eventually gives birth to a daughter.[7] Mal takes Karen to Meta Solutions to evaluate her powers, as it was the same company that took his powers away. Unbeknownst to them, Meta Solutions is run by Psimon and the Fearsome Five, which Mal realizes after spotting Mammoth in the lobby. Though the Fearsome Five claims to have changed, the Titans investigate their headquarters and come under attack. Karen suits up using a special suit designed for her by Meta Solutions and discovers she has the ability to fly and shrink. She manages to rescue the Titans, but Psimon takes her memories of Mal and her child.[8] Karen later regains her memories and retires to be with her family.[9]

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Powers and abilities

Bumblebee originally had no true superpowers and her unique abilities were derived from her high-tech battle suit. The suit greatly increased her strength, speed, stamina, endurance, agility, reflexes and acted as body armor. It also allowed her to fly and generate electricity and yellow honey-like adhesives. Bumblebee was later given the ability to shrink to the size of a bee, a power inspired by her animated counterpart.

Other versions

In other media

Television

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Bumblebee as she appears in the Teen Titans animated series.
  • A young Bumblebee appears in Teen Titans (2003), voiced by T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh.[10] This version is an honorary member of the Teen Titans and a founding member of Titans East who later becomes their leader following Brother Blood's attempt to seek revenge on them and Cyborg.
  • Bumblebee appears in Teen Titans Go! (2013), voiced by Ozioma Akagha.[10] This version was formerly a member of the Teen Titans and Titans East before leaving them both to become a solo hero. The DC Super Hero Girls incarnation of the character also appears, voiced again by Kimberly Brooks.[10]
  • Karen Beecher appears in Young Justice, voiced by Masasa Moyo.[10] Introduced in "Targets", she is initially a high school student and head of the "Bumblebees" cheerleading team at Happy Harbor High School. As of the second season, Young Justice: Invasion, Beecher has become Bumblebee, joined the Team, and became a protégé and lab assistant to Ray Palmer. As of the third season, Young Justice: Outsiders, Beecher retired to focus on her relationship with Mal Duncan, scientific studies, and pregnancy, eventually giving birth to a baby girl named Rhea. Due to Rhea being born with a congenital heart defect and no surgeon being available, Beecher uses her abilities to perform the surgery herself. In the process, she contemplates activating Rhea's metagene.
  • Bumblebee appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2019), voiced by Kimberly Brooks.[10] This version is technologically minded yet shy and nervous.

Film

Video games

Miscellaneous

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References

External links

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