Bomb-Burst (G1)

Bomb-Burst is a Decepticon Pretender from the Generation 1 continuity family.

I never drink... oil.

There are legends on many worlds of unnatural predators, monsters who hunt in the darkness, sucking the life from any unfortunate victims to cross their path. Bomb-Burst is that dark legend given life. A figure of Cybertronian myth, Bomb-Burst is all too real and all too terrifying. He hunts Autobots alone and in perfect silence, picking them off one at a time, snatching them away to the shadows and then draining all the energy from their bodies through his specially designed fangs. Sometimes the victim is found, drained, dead, and mangled the next morning; sometimes they simply vanish, never to be seen again.

Bomb-Burst's hovercraft mode can move in near silence and features dual lasers that he can also wield as a robot, but he is at his most deadly inside his monstrous Pretender shell. The shell's touch causes a rust-rash on contact and it features serrated fangs to punch through a victim's armor. The more energon Bomb-Burst drains, the stronger he becomes. His shell wields a corrosive slime shooter and a dual-bladed energo-battle axe.^[1]

Bomb-Burst cannot relate socially to most other Decepticons. He is at heart not a soldier in a war, after all, but a lone predator in the night. Powerful and intelligent, he excels at this. He is not invulnerable, however; his shell is highly energy-inefficient, requiring him to drain large numbers of victims, and his optics are very sensitive to light. Yet as a creature of the night, Bomb-Burst is unsurpassed.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Bomb-Burst is the one labeled "Bomb-Burst".

After commandeering a genetics research lab on Earth, Scorponok was able to recreate and perfect the science of Pretender shells using synthoplasmic chambers constructed by him and Vorath. Bomb-Burst was one of six Decepticon volunteers transformed by the process into new Pretenders. But soon after the process was completed, the Decepticons took notice of someone infiltrating their computer systems. After tracing the intruder to Alternate Reality, Inc., Scorponok sent out his newly recreated troops to test their might against the spies. But, having gained access to the Pretender process themselves, the Autobots were able to manufacture heroic counterparts to Scorponok's goons. The Autobots' tactician proved too cunning for the Decepticons, and Bomb-Burst and his kin were soon driven back. Pretender to the Throne!

Bomb-Burst once accompanied Iguanus and Skullgrin to an offshore oil rig, hoping to steal fuel from the fleshlings and change it into energon using their converter device. They were interrupted by three Autobot Pretenders, and a battle erupted. When an observing human radio plane was clipped by a laser blast, Cloudburst convinced Bomb-Burst to help him bring it into a safe landing, otherwise it would crash into the rig and ignite the oil, destroying them all. While they were busy, though, Landmine and Splashdown defeated the other Decepticons, leaving Bomb-Burst alone to face the Autobot trio. Grudgingly, he surrendered. The Chain Gang!

Bomb-Burst continued making regular appearances with Scorponok's army. In the Decepticon Civil War, he feasted on Soundwave's internal fuel pump before moving on to bigger fish like the other Decepticons' leader, Ratbat. Unfortunately for Bomb-Burst's meal, actual "bigger fish" arrived just then, as the Seacons broke through the ice in order to save their commander from his fangs. Despite the interference, Bomb-Burst continued attacking Ratbat. He ceased when Ratbat noticed Starscream flying off to steal Scorponok's ship. Cold War! Soon after, Bomb-Burst and his fellow Pretenders proved to be the first Transformers to encounter the Underbase-empowered Starscream and survive, protected by their syntho-plasmic outer shells. Dark Star

After Scorponok's troops established a new base, Scorponok tasked the Pretenders with specific duties in his plot to gather energy. Bomb-Burst and Bugly were to fly Iguanus to safety after he installed the electrostator. When the appointed time came, Iguanus failed to secure the electrostator's location, instead being struck by lightning and falling to the ground. Bomb-Burst and Bugly wrote him off, electing to retreat instead of saving their comrade. King Con!

Bomb-Burst tried to fight out of his price grouping.

Bomb-Burst was among the Decepticons that accompanied Scorponok to the MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, in response to a distress call from the Air Strike Patrol. Optimus Prime punched him into a building near some fleeing humans, prompting Bomb-Burst to wonder, hey, what happened to the Autobots being all like "We don't harm humans"? Optimus Prime reflected that he was right, and resolved to end the battle peacefully. The Resurrection Gambit!

Later, Bomb-Burst was present at the New Jersey base as the Autobots surrendered themselves to Scorponok's Decepticons, as a prelude to talks and an alliance against the coming of Unicron. Bomb-Burst was pretty happy about the whole situation, gleefully relieving Highbrow of his gun while his shell took away Cloudburst's Pretender shell. Later, he came to Scorponok's aid when Optimus Prime broke out of his holding cell. He glared rather unhappily as his leader prepared to shake hands with the Autobot leader in agreement to an alliance. The onset of an attack by Shockwave and Starscream interrupted the moment. Surrender!

Bomb-Burst was among the many Earth-bound Transformers teleported from Earth to Cybertron by the newly awakened Primus, and heard the Primus-possessed Emirate Xaaron give a grand speech about the Transformers' destiny. The Void! During the subsequent planet-wide battle against Unicron, Bomb-Burst met his own personal destiny. Bomb-Burst's Pretender shell was repositioning some artillery with the Autobot Hardhead when Unicron's foot came down on them, crushing the two flat. On the Edge of Extinction! Bomb-Burst's jet mode was crashed and wrecked among the various deactivated warriors. So he was doubly dead. Still Life!

Transformers Comic-Magazin

Bombursi^[2] was present when the Decepticons unleashed a robotic hell-beast known as 'King Con' on New York; however Optimus Prime rented a helicopter to fly a banner announcing huge raw oil deposit finds in the Rocky Mountains. After a short hesitation, the Decepticons retreated to pursue these findings. New York — A City Sinking in Terror

When the Decepticons stole nuclear missiles, the Autobots sent their Classic Pretenders to infiltrate the Decepticon base. The aftermath of the ensuing battle had Bombursi, Dreadwind, and Darkwing take their fallen teammates and retreat. Megatron's Ultimatum

At another point, Bombursi, Skullgrin, and Submarauder attempted to stop the Race Car Patrol and the Off Road Patrol from joining a mission to stop Decepticons from gathering spilled oil in Alaska, but they failed in this task. Headmaster of the Dimensions The trio were also part of a wave of Decepticon attacks on oil refineries, but their raid was cut short when the Autobot Pretenders chased them into an ambush by other Autobots. He Who Laughs Last ...

When the Decepticons sought to steal plutonium rods from a human submarine, Bombursi attempted to attack the freighter ship that was receiving the radioactive cargo. A defense from the Autobots got the Decepticons to surrender. The Energon Trap Bombursi, among others, was discussed as part of simulation accidentally triggered by Goldbug. Memories of Bumblebee

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Stormbringer #1

Not the first time they've tangled.

Bomb-Burst was a member of a cult-like group, led by Bludgeon, that worshipped the lifeless chassis of Thunderwing on the ruined planet of Cybertron, and planned to revive him as a harbinger of purifying apocalypse. To do this, Bludgeon, Bomb-Burst and Iguanus traveled to Earth to recover some of the Regenesis ore located there. When the group was confronted by the spying Soundwave, Bomb-Burst joined in the counter-attack, but got a stomach full of mini-missiles from Soundwave's shoulder cannon. He survived to join the others as they escaped by orbital jump. Spotlight: Soundwave

Keep him out of bright light.

Twenty years later, the team continued their efforts to revive Thunderwing and to construct their own Pretender shells. They ambushed Jetfire, Scattershot, Lightspeed, and Strafe, capturing them and taking them to their subterranean base. They used the three Technobots as "raw materials" to construct their Pretender shells. Stormbringer #1

At Bludgeon's urging, Bomb-Burst and Iguanus activated Thunderwing's remote-controlled carcass, sending him to Nebulos. Stormbringer #2 However, before their plans could be realized, Optimus Prime and the Wreckers invaded their base. In the brief battle that ensued, Bomb-Burst and Skullgrin were blown away by one of Springer's grenades. Stormbringer #3

Bomb-Burst survived the battle and was taken to Garrus-9. After Overlord took control of the prison, he freed Shockwave, who selected certain Decepticons to take with him. Like the rest of Shockwave's companions, he was on The List, and had been intended to be handed over to the Decepticon Justice Division in exchange for the former Senator being allowed to go free, a deal Tarn rejected. The Ties That Bind

Power of the Primes marketing material

Bomb-Burst was a Prime Master who housed the spark energy of Megatronus, able to grant dark warrior abilities to other Transformers. Power of the Primes Bomb-Burst / Megatronus online bio

Games

Transformers: Earth Wars

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Transformers: Earth Wars

Commercial appearances

Shortly after the Autobots developed Pretenders, the Decepticons learned to duplicate the process. Their own foray into this technology yielded Bomb-Burst, Skullgrin and Submarauder. The Decepticon Pretenders forced their way into the Autobot research lab that birthed their heroic counterparts, where they proved just as capable of splitting from the shells to fight on two fronts each. Bomb-Burst faced off against Cloudburst in the ensuing fight. Pretenders commercial

Toys

The Transformers

No, I'm the other guy.

• Bomb-Burst (Pretender, 1988)

• Accessories: Pretender shell, left & right shoulder pads, belt, 2 wing/lasers, armor-piercing battle axe
• Known designers: Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)

Released in the fifth year of the original Transformers toyline, Bomb-Burst transforms into a Cybertronic jet with VTOL turbines. His twin rifles form "wings" in this mode. In robot mode, like many other Pretender inner robots, he is a fairly generic robot with decent articulation for the period. In this mode, his rifles are arm-mounted blasters.

His outer Pretender Shell is a vampiric bat-humanoid with enlarged ears. It is also equipped with a belt and bat-winged shoulder pads. It can hold the inner robot's guns using the larger (5mm) pegs on the rifle-butts. The two guns can also combine to form a corrosive slime shooter for the shell's use.

This toy was released in Japan without changes as Blood.

• More information on Bomb-Burst at TFU.info

Power of the Primes

I'm also another guy.

• Megatronus (Prime Master, 2018)

• TakaraTomy ID number: PP-37
• TakaraTomy release date: November 24, 2018
• Accessories: Bomb-Burst decoy armor, claw
• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

Released in the third and final wave of Power of the Primes Prime Masters, Megatronus comes with Bomb-Burst decoy armor, visually based on the original Pretender's shell. Megatronus/Bomb-Burst is a retool of Liege Maximo/Skullgrin, with a new Prime Master sigil and decoy armor front.

This toy has identical features to the other Prime Masters in the line. The decoy armor has a weapon piece which can fold out to create a weapon mode, or detach and be held in the armor's 3 mm-compatible hand. The Titan Master-like robot can store inside the decoy armor or ride Legends Class figures in vehicle mode, and is fully compatible with toys from the previous Titans Return line. The "Power Swap" gimmick means its spark form can plug onto any decoy armor's weapon form (which has a 5 mm post to be held by larger figures), Deluxe Class figures' chest armor, Voyager Class figures' bucklers, Leader Class figures' Matrix (in place of their Matrix core), combiners' torsos (in place of their Enigma of Combination), or the Scepter of Sparks. With the power of your imagination, this bestows the Prime Master's unique power on the larger figure.

Legacy

I'm the guy you've been looking for. Perhaps since October.

• Bomb-Burst (Core Class, 2022, 2023)

• Accessories: 2 wing guns, battle axe
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro), Shogo Hasui (TakaraTomy)|Hirofumi Ichikawa (detailing)

Part of the third wave of Legacy Core Class toys, Bomb-Burst transforms from a VTOL jet fighter to a hybrid between his organic Pretender shell and inner robot. Like his original figure, he comes with twin guns that form his alternate mode's wing pieces as well as a battle axe. The wing guns have 5mm ports, allowing larger figures to use them, and are sculpted to look mechanical on one side and like organic bat wings on the other. These accessories can be mounted onto his backpack to resemble his original Pretender shell.

Bomb-Burst was re-released in 2023 as a package refresh in the second wave of Legacy: Evolution Core Class figures. Despite no official acknowledgement from Hasbro, Bomb-Burst appeared on US shelves less than a week after Wave 2's announcement.

Notes

"Shirtless Bomb-Burst" was not a popular variant.

• Bomb-Burst's character model in the Marvel comics is based on Takara concept art by Masakatsu Saito, rather than a Marvel Productions/Toei-original model.
• The 1988 North American catalog depicts Bomb-Burst's shell with alternate paint deco, coloring his torso armor as his pectorals and stomach. He is also wielding a grey version of Submarauder's sword instead of his axe.
• One of Meltdown's experiments bears a remarkable (if somewhat more twisted) resemblance to Bomb-Burst's Pretender shell and appears in the Animated episodes "Survival of the Fittest" and "Black Friday".
• Bomb-Burst initially appears in the 2005-2018 IDW comics in a new mechanical design mostly based on the classic Pretender shell before dying in Stormbringer #3. This leaves a separate Cybertronian in Punishment #2 inspired by the inner robot design alone to be Bomb-Burst's Japanese counterpart, Blood. Skullgrin and Dauros share a similar pattern in this continuity.. However, Bomb-Burst reappears in Lost Light #14 while drawn according to the inner robot design.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Bomb-Burst (ボム・バースト Bomu-Bāsuto)
• French: Explosion (Canada)
• Italian: Lobos

Gallery

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  Power of the Primes art

References