The Transformers franchise is set to be rebooted later this year, but one major character is missing so far. The new series from Skybound Entertainment has confirmed Cliffjumper will be one of the first five Autobots introduced to the new Energon Universe - a genius move if Bumblebee is being consciously held back. The Energon Universe will combine new comic continuities for Transformers and G.I. Joe, as well as new series Void Rivals.

When it was announced that there would be an all-new Transformers series from writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson, there was much fan anticipation as to which bots would be featured. Yet many fans were surprised when the Autobot line-up was revealed, primarily due to the absence of Bumblebee, with the line-up instead including Cliffjumper. While unexpected, this is actually a genius move on Johnson and Skybound’s part. Given Bumblebee’s popularity, it makes sense to hold back on him and let Cliffjumper shine, only to make a big deal of bringing Bumblebee in later and trading off existing fan interest in the name.

Transformers Can Make Cliffjumper AND Bumblebee Matter

Bumblebee and Cliffjumper have been closely tied together since the release of their original toys. Both were a part of the original Generation 1 launch of the line - the smallest characters whose toys featured the same transformation scheme. While not identical, they had very similar designs, leading to Cliffjumper often being seen as a repaint of Bumblebee. Perhaps linked to this, Cliffjumper rarely got the focus in tie-in media, with Bumblebee taking the spotlight as the team's diminutive but beloved member. With Bumblebee's larger fame, it would have made sense to launch the series with him in the initial line-up, however with fans already fond of the character, Skybound is making the smart call to build interest in Cliffjumper by making him one of the core five characters, and the group's sole smaller Autobot.

Including Cliffjumper instead of Bumblebee also leads to some interesting story possibilities. Whereas Bumblebee is a dedicated friend to Optimus and the others, Cliffjumper’s relationship with his fellow Autobots can be rather contentious. Cliff’s loyalty to the Autobot cause and his hatred of Decepticons is so great that it often leads him to question others in the Autobot ranks. Cliffjumper is quick to cry, "Traitor!", often leading to tension with his fellow Autobots. Having a contentious character like this leads to numerous story possibilities, especially as the Autobots acclimatize to life on Earth.

This also means that Transformers can bring Bumblebee into the Energon Universe later, perhaps building a comic event or larger storyline around one of the franchise's most iconic heroes returning to the fold. For those hoping that Transformers would nail the sweet spot behind classic themes and new stories, Cliffjumper's inclusion is a very good sign indeed.

Transformers #1 is on sale October 4 from Skybound Entertainment.