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Bumblebee and Spike Witwicky, once close friends, have drifted apart and now walk different paths in life—Spike has become an interplanetary diplomat while Bumblebee is now Goldbug, leader of the Throttlebots. In the current day, the person posing as Spike declares Goldbug a traitor to the Galactic Peace Alliance and orders the other Throttlebots to eliminate him, when in truth, the kill order exists because Goldbug has already seen through his facade and is out there protecting the real Spike.

Heavily injured by his assailants, Goldbug takes Spike and flees to the Legends World, where he seeks out Fortress and tells him what he knows before collapsing. Perceptor uses the Axalon facilities to perform major repairs on him, but rebuilds him not as Goldbug but as Bumblebee, believing his old form suits him again now that he's Spike's protector once more. Meanwhile, Fortress recognizes the exosuit Spike is wearing as an experimental Headmaster suit developed on Master that the human previously helped test pilot. He explains that the suit was developed as a way to help Headmaster Juniors wield their Masterforce, and paved the way for the Master-Brace technology currently used by them and Godmasters.

While Spike and Bumblebee are reaffirming that being apart will never diminish their friendship, the fake Spike arrives in the Legends World with the Throttlebots, claiming to be the real deal. Forming the head of Fortress's transtector, Spike promises to pay back his impostor back for endangering his best friend and attacks alongside Bumblebee. The fake orders the Throttlebots into battle, but they're reluctant to fight their former leader and stand back instead, allowing Bumblebee to blast the impostor. He retreats with his mask coming loose, and Bumblebee taunts him that he knows better than anyone how difficult it is to get the self-absorbed Throttlebots to follow orders. Following their victory, Spike and Bumblebee set out to find Daniel, who they know is also hiding out in the Legends World, and ask Fortress to lend a hand when the time comes to make their move against the fake Spike. They then drive off into the night, happy to be working together again.

Sabrblade wrote:Bumblebee & Excelsuit Spike comic summary:

Bumblebee and Spike Witwicky, once close friends, have drifted apart and now walk different paths in life—Spike has become an interplanetary diplomat while Bumblebee is now Goldbug, leader of the Throttlebots. In the current day, the person posing as Spike declares Goldbug a traitor to the Galactic Peace Alliance and orders the other Throttlebots to eliminate him, when in truth, the kill order exists because Goldbug has already seen through his facade and is out there protecting the real Spike.

Heavily injured by his assailants, Goldbug takes Spike and flees to the Legends World, where he seeks out Fortress and tells him what he knows before collapsing. Perceptor uses the Axalon facilities to perform major repairs on him, but rebuilds him not as Goldbug but as Bumblebee, believing his old form suits him again now that he's Spike's protector once more. Meanwhile, Fortress recognizes the exosuit Spike is wearing as an experimental Headmaster suit developed on Master that the human previously helped test pilot. He explains that the suit was developed as a way to help Headmaster Juniors wield their Masterforce, and paved the way for the Master-Brace technology currently used by them and Godmasters.

While Spike and Bumblebee are reaffirming that being apart will never diminish their friendship, the fake Spike arrives in the Legends World with the Throttlebots, claiming to be the real deal. Forming the head of Fortress's transtector, Spike promises to pay back his impostor back for endangering his best friend and attacks alongside Bumblebee. The fake orders the Throttlebots into battle, but they're reluctant to fight their former leader and stand back instead, allowing Bumblebee to blast the impostor. He retreats with his mask coming loose, and Bumblebee taunts him that he knows better than anyone how difficult it is to get the self-absorbed Throttlebots to follow orders. Following their victory, Spike and Bumblebee set out to find Daniel, who they know is also hiding out in the Legends World, and ask Fortress to lend a hand when the time comes to make their move against the fake Spike. They then drive off into the night, happy to be working together again.

william-james88 wrote:What I don't understand is how we have comics showing this content (and NSFW stuff in the Octone comic) and yet these are retail toys in japan with a target market still being 7-9 year old kids (boys mostly). I get stuck in what I find ridiculous arguments where people say transformers toys in japan are not aimed at kids (unlike everywhere else in the world) and while that doesnt make a lick of sense for a kids toy company, I then have these damn comics that really dont help that point.

Really, what would a 7-9 year old boy think looking at the Octone comic?

Randomhero wrote:Because it’s not that big of a deal?

Seriously it’s not a big deal. I don’t think it is. I binged Dragon Ball last year and the stuff in these comics is tame compared to the stuff that goes on with Goku, Master Roshi and Bulma in the first arc.

It’s Japan’s comedy. People are too sensitive now.

william-james88 wrote:What I don't understand is how we have comics showing this content (and NSFW stuff in the Octone comic) and yet these are retail toys in japan with a target market still being 7-9 year old kids (boys mostly). I get stuck in what I find ridiculous arguments where people say transformers toys in japan are not aimed at kids (unlike everywhere else in the world) and while that doesnt make a lick of sense for a kids toy company, I then have these damn comics that really dont help that point.

Really, what would a 7-9 year old boy think looking at the Octone comic?

Va'al wrote:Seibertron.com is a US-based family friendly website.

Whatever argument anyone wants to make to defend borderline pornography kinda stops at that point.

primalxconvoy wrote:There seems to be some misconceptions about "Japan". Firstly, naked, seemingly underaged girls in a kids' comic is just as weird over here in Japan as it is outside it. However, as repugnant as Sikomofo's work is, it's included with toys that did not see a mass retail release (unless it was in Toys R Us Japan), and, according to Takara's site, the toys were aimed at customers aged 15 years and over.

This seems to be a loophole, allowing content that definitely WOULDN'T be allowed in kids' comics, or TFs aimed at kids proper (like "TF Adventure" in Japan), which seems to be aimed at what some (misguided, IMO) Takara execs think adult collectors in Japan want.

Although there will always be slight differences between certain values regarding nudity, violence, etc, most places (especially in this digital, global age) have fairly similar views when it comes to children, especially Japan.

The stereotype of Japanese (males) being pervy, tiny emasculated misogynists simply isn't true. In Japan, it's usually reserved for "otaku", but then again, most nerdy Japanese aren't really that way, either. In fact, most TF fans I've met in Japan were either indifferent to Sikomofo's "fan service", or in agreement that it wasn't really appropriate. Basically, there was no real desire for such content, and it was the toys themselves that were the hook.

My theory is that Sikomofo was given the same carte blanche freedom with the pack-in comics, as IDW was with MASK, Visionaries, etc and probably for the same reason; they are not mainstream or considered important enough so "taboo" or political content can be included as the comic staff wish.

However, doesn't Seibertron have rules about nudity? I know TFW2005 has, which is why I've not seen any mention of this comic recently at that site.

steals_your_goats wrote:Why don't we just stop newsing the comics? Obviously this site isn't mature enough to handle them based on both the news staff refusing to post two of the comics and a particular user throwing a **** fit every time they're posted.

Just take it off the front page so no one gets their precious feelings hurt, and let us who actually enjoy the comics and want to discuss them do so in peace here.

steals_your_goats wrote:Why don't we just stop newsing the comics? Obviously this site isn't mature enough to handle them based on both the news staff refusing to post two of the comics and a particular user throwing a **** fit every time they're posted.

Just take it off the front page so no one gets their precious feelings hurt, and let us who actually enjoy the comics and want to discuss them do so in peace here.

william-james88 wrote:

steals_your_goats wrote:Why don't we just stop newsing the comics? Obviously this site isn't mature enough to handle them based on both the news staff refusing to post two of the comics and a particular user throwing a **** fit every time they're posted.

Just take it off the front page so no one gets their precious feelings hurt, and let us who actually enjoy the comics and want to discuss them do so in peace here.

For the record, Val decided not to news the Octone comic which was by far the closest to softcore porn. We Don't want to deny fans official transformers material as long as it is within the bounds of the site.

Also, most of these toys did see retail release at the both toys r us and bic camera.

william-james88 wrote:

steals_your_goats wrote:Why don't we just stop newsing the comics? Obviously this site isn't mature enough to handle them based on both the news staff refusing to post two of the comics and a particular user throwing a **** fit every time they're posted.

Just take it off the front page so no one gets their precious feelings hurt, and let us who actually enjoy the comics and want to discuss them do so in peace here.

For the record, Val decided not to news the Octone comic which was by far the closest to softcore porn. We Don't want to deny fans official transformers material as long as it is within the bounds of the site.

Also, most of these toys did see retail release at the both toys r us and bic camera.