HTML tutorial

Black Superhero: Bumblebee


Despite Karen Beecher being around since 1976, there really isn't a lot of information on her childhood at all. What we know is that she's been in a relationship with Mal Duncan better known as Herald or Vox or Guardian since at least high school. We also know that she has a genius level intellect and despite being an accomplished scientist already, she still took night classes to learn more. She currently holds advanced degrees in political science, computer technology and physics.

Karen's life as a hero has a strange beginning. While she's become a much more famous and recognizable hero than her husband Mal, he actually started in the game a lot earlier than she did. In fact he was already a member of the Teen Titans before she started. Karen felt that Mal wasn't being given enough credit on the Titans and his contributions to the team were being overlooked. So she created a bumblebee themed costume and attacked the Teen Titans at their hideout. She managed to make them look foolish and escape, after making sure Mal was the one to stop her, before any of the others could piece together what happened. 

Eventually Karen revealed what happened to the members of the Titans and they welcomed her to the team. Eventually she saw that the team actually did have a lot of trust in Mal. The two were chose to go to San Francisco and become part of the founding Titans West. However, the team didn't get along well so Karen and Mal soon left to retire and get married, leaving the heroic life behind.
Karen took up a job at STAR Labs where she worked to create non lethal weapons. Because she felt that lethal force was used far too often and in situations where it was unnecessary. How's that for some 1978 story telling. Occasionally the two were pulled back into crime fighting despite trying to stay retired.

That came to an end during the first Justice League vs Teen Titans crossover. During this event the two teams were trying to figure out how to handle Cyborg after learning the extent of his connections to Apokolips with him essentially being a motherbox. Karen teamed up with Supergirl to take on the JLA member Zauriel. The two of them were beaten easily.

I'd like to take this moment to say that fight wasn't fair on any level. Zauriel is an angel that ran away from heaven to become a superhero on Earth and joined the JLA. He's literally wiped people's existence from time and space before as well as taken people's souls with ease. He might be more over powered than Superman.


Despite the defeat she realized heroics is for her. Karen and Mal returned to Titans West soon after when a powered up Doctor Light is on a crime spree. Despite this they don't live at the base with the other Titans and keep a low profile because they did enjoy that part of being retired.

During Infinite Crisis Bumblebee gets a first place in the struggle olympics. Adam Strange screws up and accidentally makes Hawgirl 25 feet tall and Bumblebee six inches. That's right, she's not the same size as your standard number two pencil. But, this doesn't hold her back. Karen, Mal and Beast Boy join Doom Patrol shortly afterwards.

On the team Karen is provided with medication that keeps her from going into cardiac arrest and lives inside a dollhouse made just for her. She also joins the Birds of Prey led by Barbara Gordon, but the group breaks up shortly after so she never really got to fight with them all. Karen's super small size started putting stress on her marriage so her and Malcolm divorced. Karen remained part of Doom Patrol and became one of the field leaders alongside Beast Boy.

Bumblebee helps the Titans take on the Secret Six and is almost kidnapped. It's revealed Rag Doll had captured her and placed her in one of his pockets hoping to keep her as a souvenir. Both heroes and villains were saddened with his actions.

When New 52 rolled around her story remains mostly untouched. Somehow she managed to return to her full size and no longer needs her suit to fire energy blasts. She's also pregnant with a child after her and Mal reconciled. After a Titans reunion she gives birth and that's where her story ends for now.

You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet. You can also check out his playthrough of Sleeping Dogs or Skyrim

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post

Facebook

Ultra Black History