| Bumblebee | |
|---|---|
.png) Bumblebee as depicted inThe Other History of the DC Universe #2 (January 2021). Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils), Andrea Cucchi (inks), and Jose Vallarrubia (colors). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | As Karen Beecher: Teen Titans #45 (December 1976) As Bumblebee: Teen Titans #48 (June 1977) |
| Created by | Karen Beecher: Bob Rozakis Irv Novick Bumblebee: Bob Rozakis José Delbo |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Karen Beecher-Duncan |
| Species | Human ormetahuman (depending on the continuity) |
| Team affiliations | Teen Titans Doom Patrol |
| Partnerships | Lilith Clay Dick Grayson Roy Harper Cyborg Garth Wally West Donna Troy |
| Abilities | |
Bumblebee (Karen Beecher-Duncan) is asuperheroine appearing inAmerican comic books published byDC Comics and other related media, commonly as a member of theTeen Titans.[1] She first appeared as Karen in December 1976'sTeen 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 toNubia,[2] a less traditional costumed crimefighter than Bumblebee, who debuted three years earlier in 1973.
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, andTeala Dunn have voiced the character in animated television series and films.
Karen Beecher first appeared inTeen Titans #45 and was created by writerBob Rozakis and artistIrv Novick.[3] Her Bumblebee alias first appeared inTeen Titans #48.
Karen Beecher is a scientist and the girlfriend of Teen Titans memberMal Duncan, also known as Herald. Karen secretly builds abumblebee-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 atS.T.A.R. Labs. The two briefly joinTitans West, which soon disbands.
Bumblebee and her husband are among the heroes recruited byDonna Troy to help avert acrisis that threatened the existence of the universe. After a battle in space, most of the heroes are trapped by a Zeta Beam thatAdam 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 theDoom Patrol alongside Mal Duncan along with her husband (now known as Vox) andBeast Boy. She takes medicine developed by Doom Patrol leaderNiles Caulder to sustain her shrunken body and prevent her from going intocardiac arrest.[1][4][5]
In theDC Rebirth continuity, Karen Beecher is the pregnant wife of Mal Duncan.[6] Following a battle withMister 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 byPsimon and theFearsome Five, which Mal realizes after spottingMammoth 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]
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 heranimated counterpart.
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