Bulkhead (Transformers)

Bulkhead is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.

Transformers: Energon

Transformers character
name =Bulkhead
japanname =Sprung


caption =Energon Bulkhead toy
japanname =Sprung
affiliation =Autobot
subgroup =Mega Vehicles
rank =8
function =
partner =
motto ="If I don't blast you out of the sky, I'll knock you into the ground." (Hasbro)
"No young gun's gonna outshoot me!!" (Takara)
alternatemodes =Cybertronian Helicopter
series =
engvoice =French Tickner
japanvoice =Bulkhead (Sprung in Japan) is the name of an Autobot helicopter who is a homage to Generation 1 Springer.

According to Quickstrike's bio, he and Bulkhead are cousins.

According to Aaron Archer, Bulkhead's goggles-and-mustache look was inspired by Paul Teutul Sr. from American Chopper.

Animated series

Bulkhead first appeared in episode 30 of the "Transformers: Energon" animated series, "Jungle Planet".

Bulkhead commands the team of Cliffjumper and Downshift. He could also enter a 'brute mode' by combining with a section of his helicopter mode, seen only fleetingly in a few episodes.

He last appeared in episode 51, "The Sun".

Dreamwave Productions

Bulkhead first appeared in issue 27 of the Dreamwave Productions "Transformers: Energon" comic.

He originally appeared as part of the Autobot reinforcements under Jetfire who headed to Earth to fend off the Terrorcon invasion. Bulkhead was part of the team who travelled to Los Angeles to battle the Insecticon clones, alongside Perceptor, Cliffjumper, Landquake and Tow-Line. They were in danger of being overwhelmed by the sheer number of clones until they were rescued by a surprising source - Megatron, resurrected in a new body by Optimus Prime. Megatron decimated the Insecticon clones, leaving the Autobots to help with the devastation.

Fun Publications

Bulkhead appeared in the text story from Fun Publications called "Force of Habit." This story explained where he was during the events of the "Cybertron" story. Ultra Magnus was the commander of various Autobot ships sent to other planets in search for the Cyber Planet Keys. Bulkhead served as captain of the Eclipse which was sent to Gamma Kreuger.

Toys

*Energon Bulkhead:The Japanese release of Bulkhead has a variety of minor plastic-color differences, mainly making him a little more primary-colored and turning his legs a more blueish-gray. This has the effect of making him very dimly look like Springer, who the Japanese version is named after. :Bulkhead was later redecoed into the Autobot Quickstrike.

*Eagle of Desert (2007):An unofficial Chinese remake of Energon Bulkhead produced by MYM. This figure is redecoed in brown and tan.

Transformers: Animated

Transformers character
name =Bulkhead


caption =
affiliation =Autobot
subgroup =Activators, Voyagers, Leaders
rank =
function =One Robot Wrecking Crew (Voyagers)
Super Tough Strong Bot (Leaders)
partner =Bumblebee
motto = "I kinda broke this thing. And those things. And that pile of stuff over there. Sorry." (Voyagers)
"Oops. My Bad." (Leaders)
alternatemodes =Cybertronian Bulldozer
SWAT Assault Truck
series =
engvoice =Bill Fagerbakke
japanvoice =Bulkhead is a main character in the "" series that debuted in 2007 on the Cartoon Network. He is the only Autobot among the main 5 character cast whose name does not originate from a Generation 1 character. [ [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/animated/default.cfm?page=Bio&character=bulkhead Character bios for Transformers Animated characters ] ]

Bulkhead's original vehicle mode was a Cybertronian bulldozer. After coming to Earth he was given the vehicle form of a green SWAT truck. He has a retractable line and wrecking ball in both hands. He is easily one of the strongest of the Autobots, but he isn't very smart, and though he's a natural builder who loves to make things [ [http://www.transformersanimated.com/transformers-animated-bulkhead-character.php Bulkhead Character Infomation And Resources At TransformersAnimated.com ] ] , he can also be very clumsy. That combined with battering ram arms make him the ultimate "Demolition Bot." Bulkhead has extending telescopic eyes and a storage compartment in his stomach. Since arriving on earth, Bulkhead has gained a keen interest in art.

According to the show creators Bulkhead is inspired by the Marvel Comics hero The Thing.

Animated series

Flashbacks in the episode "Autoboot Camp" reveal that Bulkhead was originally an energon farmer, who came to Autobot training in hopes of becoming a Space Bridge technician. He was given his name by Sentinel Minor, who referred to him as "all bulk and no brains." In boot camp he met and became best friends with fellow recruit Bumblebee.

Bulkhead scored higher than any other Autobot in space bridge aptitude, despite seemingly lacking any other discernible talent.

In episode, "Blast from the past", Prowl takes Bulkhead to a remote island in order to train him in the hope that this will instill more self-control and co-ordination in the large Autobot, but when the newly-created Dinobots go on a rampage, he falls back on his demolition skills to defeat them. [ [http://www.transformersanimated.com/reviews/278/episode-6-blast-from-the-past Transformers Animated Reviews: Episode-6-blast-from-the-past At TransformersAnimated.com ] ]

In the episode "Along Came a Spider", Bulkhead's is attacked by the Decepticon Blackarachnia, who duplicates his strength for a short time.

In the episode "Sound & Fury", Sari Sumdac's new toy musical robot, Soundwave, seems to have an evil streak - and the ability to control other machines - but Bulkhead is the only one who sees it. Under Megatron's command, Soundwave upgrades himself and kidnaps Sari, but is seemingly destroyed by Bulkhead.

In the episode "Survival of the Fittest", Sari is seemingly kidnapped by the Dinobots. So Prowl and Bulkhead head to a mysterious island to investigate - with a highly suspicious Captain Fanzone on their tail. The orchestrator of these events is revealed to be Meltdown, who Bulkhead is severely damaged by.

In the episode "Headmaster", Henry Masterson, a disgruntled ex-Sumdac Industries employee, uses his new technology to hijack Bulkhead's body and hold the city to ransom. Even though Bulkhead got his body back, Headmaster got away, but not before removing some dampening rods from some kind of unstable core. To do thwart Headmaster's plan, Bulkhead made a weird robot, then Sari used her key to activate it. The robot succeeded and ended in Bulkhead's gallery show. In "Megatron Rising Pt.1", Bulkhead accidentally blurted out something about the Dinobots helping, claiming they owe the Autobots, and assuming that Prowl told Optimus Prime. He, Optimus, and Prowl went to Dinobot Island to ask for their help. Bulkhead didn't do any talking except for telling Prime "Don't ask" after hearing Meltdown's name. When Megatron was resurrected, Bulkhead boldly faced the Decepticon head-on, only to be soundly defeated. When the Decepticons attempted to take the Allspark from the Autobot ship, Bulkhead would take on Lugnut, defeating the burly Decepticon by using his wrecking ball to set off his "bomb fist" attack early, and sending him flying.

In the episode, "Rise of the Constructicons", Bulkhead befriends Scrapper and Mixmaster, a pair of construction vehicles brought to life by Allspark energy, but the Decepticons have their scanners set on the duo for their latest construction project. The two go along with the Decepticons purely because they have the better oil. They then invade the Autobot base, attempting to steal the Allspark. Bulkhead hands it over, but also gives them contaminated oil, which wipes their memories shortly after. Bulkhead then lashes out at them for their betrayal, scaring them off.

In "A Bridge Too Close", Bulkhead is captured by Megatron, and threatened with a Headmaster unit into helping the Decepticons complete their Space Bridge. Apparently, Bulkhead was Cybetron's top Space Bridge technician, having scored higher than any other Autobot but is determined to have no other skills. Bulkhead was confident that the Decepticons can't get to Cybertron without a receiving code at the other end. But on Cybertron was Megatron's double agent, Shockwave, or better known as Bulkhead and Bumblebee's old "friend", Longarm Prime.

IDW Publishing

Set shortly after the events of "Total Meltdown" was the "Transformers: Animated" comic issue #2 by IDW Publishing. In it Bumblebee and Prowl apprehended the Angry Archer as the villain attempted to steal money from a used car salesman. In doing so they revealed the holographic trickery of the Detroit super hero known as The Wraith. With the secret of his power revealed The Wraith lost much of the respect he used to command in Detroit. The Wraith attempted to stop Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes from escaping prison, but was unable to fool the villain now that the secret was public, forcing the Autobots to stop the Rhodes and making The Wraith look foolish. The Wraith then attempted to discredit Bumblebee at a college football game by trapping the Autobot with a car boot and using his holograms to make a fake Bumblebee attack the stadium. Bumblebee eventually escaped and the other Autobots helped capture The Wraith and he was placed in a mental institution.

Toys

*Animated Activators Bulkhead (2008/unreleased):A Scout class toy with a one-touch transformation.

*Animated Bumper Battles Bulkhead (2008/not released yet):A simple childrens toy of Jazz that pulls back and pops up. [ [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=182269 Bumper Battle Jazz and Ratchet in Package pics - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards ] ]

*Animated Deluxe Bulkhead (2008/unreleased):A Deluxe sized version of Bulkhead was announced at the UK Toyfair in 2008, but since then no word has come of it. [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-news/story/6101/EXCLUSIVE+British+Toy+Fair+Report.++Animated,+Classics,+Marvel+TFs+and+more+on+display.html Transformers - More Than Meets The Eye, Robots In Disguise - Transformers @ The Moon - www.transformertoys.co.uk ] ]

*Animated Voyager Bulkhead (2008):The toy for "Animated" Bulkhead was first displayed by Hasbro at SDCC 2007. This Bulkhead is a Voyager class toy. [ [http://picasaweb.google.com/Unicron.com/AnimatedBulkhead Picasa Web Albums - Unicron.com - Animated Bulk ] ]

*Animated Leader Bulkhead (2008):A Leader sized version of Bulkhead was announced at the UK Toyfair in 2008. This version comes with electronics that allow it to speak and a Headmaster unit which can cover the robot's regular head, changing the speech. A special Toys-R-Us value pack of Leader Buckhead comes with Animated Activators Bumblebee as a bonus.

References