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

Contents 1 Transformers: Energon 1.1 Animated series 1.2 Dreamwave Productions 1.3 Fun Publications 1.4 Toys 2 Transformers Animated 2.1 Animated series 2.2 IDW Publishing 2.3 Toys 3 References

[edit] Transformers: Energon

Bulkhead

Energon Bulkhead toy
Autobot
Japanese name	Sprung
Sub-group	Mega Vehicles
Rank	8
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)
Alternate Modes	Cybertronian Helicopter
Series	Transformers: Energon
English voice actor	French Tickner
Japanese voice actor	Nobuo Tobita

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.

[edit] 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".

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Transformers Animated

Bulkhead

Autobot
Sub-group	Activators, Voyagers, Leaders
Function	One Robot Wrecking Crew (Voyagers) Super Tough Strong Bot (Leaders)
Rank	6
Partner	Bumblebee
Motto	"I kinda broke this thing. And those things. And that pile of stuff over there. Sorry." (Voyagers) "Oops. My Bad." (Leaders)
Alternate Modes	Cybertronian Bulldozer SWAT Assault Truck
Series	Transformers Animated
English voice actor	Bill Fagerbakke

Bulkhead is a main character in the Transformers Animated 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. ^[1]

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^[2], 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.

[edit] Animated series

Flashbacks in the episode "Autoboot Camp" reveal that Bulkhead was originally an energon farmer, who became a Space Bridge technician. He was given his name by Sentinel Prime, who referred to him as "all bulk and no brains." In boot camp, he met and befriended fellow recruit Bumblebee.

As stated by Shockwave in "A Bridge too Close" Pt 1, it is revealed that Bulkhead scored higher than any other Autobot in a space bridge aptitude test, despite a seemingly discernible talent.

In the episode, "Blast from the Past", Prowl takes Bulkhead to a remote island in order to train him in hopes that Bulkhead will control his clumsy self. But when the newly-created Dinobots go on a rampage, he falls back on his demolition skills to defeat them.^[3]

In the episode "Along Came a Spider", Bulkhead 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 to see 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 for ransom. Even though Bulkhead gets his body back, Headmaster gets away, but not before removing some dampening rods from the core of the city's power generator. To thwart Headmaster's plan, Bulkhead makes a robot out of scrap, then Sari uses her key to activate it. The robot succeeds in stopping the core from reaching critical mass, but is melted beyond repair. As a memorial, the robot becomes part of Bulkhead's gallery show.

During "Velocity", he finds out that Sari has been watching pirated T.V. and wants himself and especially Bumblebee to "set a better example" for her, simply because she looks up to them. He also finds out that Bumblebee is headed for the next underground race just to beat the blue racer and hold on to the title of the "fastest thing on wheels". He follows Sari and Bumblebee to a race but is frozen by Blitzwing.

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 side with the Decepticons for the better oil. They then invade the Autobots' hideout, attempting to steal the Allspark. Bulkhead hands it over, but also gives them contaminated oil, which causes them to go haywire and lose their memory banks.

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 Cybertron's top Space Bridge technician, having scored higher than any other Autobot, but is determined to have no other skills.

In "Human Error", the Autobots are trapped in a virtual world where they become humans. Bulkhead takes the form of a heavy-set male caucasian with brown hair and wearing a green football jersey. This turns out to be an elaborate scheme by Soundwave to brainwash the Autobots and make them his pawns.

In "Endgame", Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Ratchet transwarp to the Moon, where they must rescue Arcee and regain control of Omega Supreme. During the battle, Bulkhead and Bumblebee defeat Shockwave, who attempts to ask for their mercy by transforming into his Autobot alter-ego Longarm.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Toys

• Animated Activators Bulkhead (2008)

A Scout class toy with a one-touch transformation.

• Animated Bumper Battlers Bulkhead (2008)

A Deluxe-sized toy car designed for younger children. Emits sound effects at the push of a button and when the front bumper hits an object, the upper portion opens to reveal Bulkhead's robot mode. ^[4]

• Animated Voyager Bulkhead (2008)

A Voyager Class figure that transforms from armored truck to robot. Gimmicks consist of a right arm that automatically flips forward at the push of a lever and a left arm that launches his wrecking ball. Despite being a Voyager Class figure, Bulkhead is shorter than the Optimus Prime figure of the same class and is more in scale with the Legends Class figures.^[5]

• Animated Leader Bulkhead (2008)

A larger-sized version of the Bulkhead figure. Aside from the addition of a turret and missile launchers, this version features light and sound effects. When the Autobot symbol button is pressed in vehicle mode, it emits police siren noises. The transformation sound is played when the turret is flipped open or closed during transformation. In robot mode, the Autobot symbol button plays three phrases, as voiced by Bill Fagerbakke ("Time for the big guns!", "You can do it, buddy," and "Sorry, my bad."). Other gimmicks include a gripping left hand and a spinning saw blade on the right arm. Size-wise, Leader Bulkhead is in scale with Activators Bumblebee and most of the Deluxe Class figures in the series.^[6]

The figure also comes with a Headmaster unit that snaps over the head and plays a voice clip ("Ownage! Total Ownage!") as performed by Alexander Polinsky, the voice of Henry Masterson. The Headmaster unit also fits on Leader Class Ultra Magnus and Megatron, but does not change their voice clips.

A special Toys "R" Us value pack of Leader Bulkhead comes with Animated Activators Bumblebee as a bonus.

• Animated Voyager Bulkhead Redeco (2009/unreleased)

A metallic green/black repaint of Voyager Bulkhead.^[7]

[edit] References