Stinger (AOE)

Stinger is a Decepticon from the Age of Extinction portion of the movie continuity family.

"Who are you calling Cliffjumper? He's already dead."

Innovation. Efficiency. Style. KSI rolls them out as you've never before experienced with Stinger, the all-new transformable drone produced on and exclusively for the Earth market. Improving on our competitor's efforts, Stinger specializes in serving all your sabotage needs.^[1] A combination of years of KSI's intensive engineering research with the cutting-edge styling of their partners at Pagani Automobili, Stinger is as beautiful as it is functional.

Fiction

Age of Extinction film

"I've heard of partsforming, but this is ridiculous."

Stinger was one of a number of drones created by KSI, using salvaged supplies of transformium from the remains of deceased Transformers and recycled into raw materials. Stinger was deliberately designed to evoke Bumblebee; the engineers who supervised the creation of Stinger noted that their model supposedly "improved" on the many design flaws that the "antique" Bumblebee possessed.

A prototype of Stinger was displayed in KSI's headquarters when Cade, Shane, and Bumblebee infiltrated the building. Infuriated by KSI's claims, Bumblebee wound up knocking over the prototype, leaving Shane to take the heat when KSI staff arrived to investigate.

This one's for all the fans who'd prefer Cliffjumper over this guy.

Shortly afterwards, the working Stinger unit was deployed alongside Galvatron to chase down and apprehend the Autobots as they fled Chicago, firing a missile at the fleeing Autobots. Though Stinger pursued his targets relentlessly, the arrival of Lockdown and the subsequent capture of Optimus Prime led KSI to recall both Galvatron and Stinger before the government could discover them.

When Galvatron revealed his true nature and commandeered KSI's man-made Transformer army, Stinger was among the many drones deployed in Hong Kong to seize the Seed; he pursued Bumblebee and the other Autobots, and eventually engaged his yellow doppelganger atop Strafe. The pair grappled as Strafe flew through Hong Kong, but Bumblebee emerging triumphant after impaling him in the head and then shooting him, blowing his body apart. Strafe happily gnawed on Stinger's decapitated head, while a smug Bumblebee remarked he hated "cheap knock-offs". Age of Extinction

Titan Age of Extinction comic

"Hey, Hasbro, it won't contradict the film if we have Stinger show up early will it?"
"Piss off, Titan, we're counting money."

Following a breakout at KSI's laboratories, Stinger disguised himself as Bumblebee and attacked a power plant, hoping to draw out the Autobot. He subsequently headed into a nearby forest, and set fire to an occupied house to attract Bumblebee's attention. As the Autobot attempted to rescue the house's occupant, Stinger punched him into a tree, and welded Bumblebee's battle mask down to render the two of them identical. A brief battle ensued, ending when Optimus Prime arrived. Stinger mimicked Bumblebee's beeping to confuse the Autobot leader, but he was able to identify his real comrade when the scout dived to save the human from a fall. His cover blown, Stinger pulled a gun on Optimus, but had it knocked from his hand, and quickly fled the scene. Accept No Substitutes!

Swindle's Spiel

Swindle of Swindle, Swindle and Swindle had several Stinger units for sale, and considered them to be his best-selling drone model. Swindle's Spiel, 2015/10/05

Games

Age of Extinction mobile game

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Age of Extinction

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

Console

Part of Lockdown's crew, Stinger was present for Drift's interrogation. He then followed Lockdown away, presumably to assist in his objective of retrieving the "amplifier". Rise of the Dark Spark

3DS

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Rise of the Dark Spark

Transformers Ultimate Allstars

The Game Full of Death and Suffering...! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their video game appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Lost Age Lost Age II

Toys

Age of Extinction

Doc Stinger in the house.

• Decepticon Stinger (Legion Class, 2014)

• Known designers: Ramon Campos (Hasbro)

A repaint of the Cyberverse Series 2 Legion Class Knock Out toy, superficially changed to resemble Stinger. A Walmart exclusive in the United States (also available at Asda stores in the United Kingdom and at Müller drug stores in Germany), Stinger came in multi-lingual packaging, with no bio, as well as no weapons of any kind. The stock photography on the back of his packaging depicts the differently decoed "Scene Pack" version of Stinger (see below).

In vehicle mode, Stinger's front hood/chest and his front windshield/back panel can slightly pop out by accident if one rolls his vehicle mode by gripping/pressing his side doors/arms. The chest also slightly pops out if one pushes his vehicle mode down with a touch of a finger.

For some reason the back of his card has a GM logo despite his vehicle mode not being a real car design.

• More information on Legion Stinger at TFU.info

When in doubt, redeco from Sideways.

• Decepticon Stinger & Dinobot Slug (Two-pack, 2014)

• Known designers: Ramon Campos (Hasbro)

Stinger is a minor redeco (possibly even a mere repaint) of Cyberverse Series 2 Mirage, itself a retool of Revenge of the Fallen Legends Class Sideways with standard Cyberverse hands sporting 3mm peg holes. While the deco somewhat resembles the on-screen Pagani Huayra that Stinger transforms into, the alternate mode is a modified Audi R8, the alternate mode used for Sideways in the Revenge of the Fallen film. Stinger is packaged with a redeco of Beast Wars Neo Guiledart as Slug. This two-pack was exclusively available at Walmart stores in the United States and at Asda stores in the United Kingdom.

The original version of this sculpt was also redecoed to make 2010 Transformers Override.

• More information on two-pack Stinger at TFU.info

Inspired by Stinger, but mostly the same in every way.

• Bumblebee vs. Decepticon Stinger with Strafe (Scene Pack, 2014)

• Accessories: Sword
• Known designers: Ramon Campos (Hasbro)

Available only in a "Scene Pack" with a Cyberverse Series 1 Bumblebee redeco and an unchanged Age of Extinction Deluxe Class Strafe, Stinger is again made from the Cyberverse Knock Out mold, but has slightly different paint operations compared to his single carded release. Stinger also comes with the Cyberverse Series 2 accessory based on Prime Ratchet's scalpel in clear purple.

This three-pack was available exclusively at Walmart stores in the United States, at Asda stores in the United Kingdom, at Müller drug stores in Germany, and at Auchan stores in Italy. Along with Bumblebee, a number of loose Stingers (often without his weapon, and his enemy Strafe) is later dumped at several Hobby Shops in Asia.

• More information on Scene Pack Stinger at TFU.info

• Mega 1-Step Bumblebee with Bonus Value Decepticon Stinger (Bonus pack, 2014)

A Walmart exclusive version of the Mega 1-Step Bumblebee figure that includes a "bonus value" Legion Class Stinger figure. Both figures are unchanged from their original single releases.

Robots in Disguise

Looks like Side Burn has some new eyecandy to drool over.

• Decepticon Stinger (One-Step Changers, 2014)

• TakaraTomy ID number: LA12
• TakaraTomy release date: 2014-08-02
• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

Stinger transforms from a licensed Pagani Huayra into a robot in a single step at the push of a button on his windshield. After transforming into robot mode, Stinger needs to transform back into vehicle in both steps: Push down the button again while clamping the vehicle parts together by hand to make it secure. Many figures feature a defect or a design flaw where the left ankle assembly cannot support the weight of the figure and therefore does not fully extend resulting in a slightly lopsided stance in robot mode.

Stinger was originally solicited as a mass retail release before it was revealed at BotCon 2014 that at least some of Stinger's toys —including this one— would be released as Walmart exclusives.^[2] Oddly, despite sporting a "Walmart exclusive" sticker on its packaging, One-Step Changer Stinger was found at multiple Target stores as well as online stores like Entertainment Earth.^[3][4][5] The packaging also still sports the mass retail assortment number, implying a last-minute change in its release, and the factory simply went by the product code/assortment numbers on the packaging and shipped the figure with the other mass retail figures, despite the sticker.

In Canada, Stinger was also available as a Walmart exclusive. Meanwhile, in Germany, Stinger was originally believed to be exclusive to Müller drug stores (like various other Age of Extinction figures and multi-packs that are exclusive to Walmart in the US), but later turned out to be a general retail release.

The TakaraTomy Lost Age Series release of Stinger (a normal retail release) features darker red plastic, and that's about it for changes.

• More information on One-Step Changer Stinger at TFU.info

Movie Advanced Series

Well, it's better than what happened to the other red sports car...

• Decepticon Stinger (Deluxe Class, 2015-01-31)

• ID number: AD32
• Accessories: 2 throwing stars
• Known designers: Hironori Kobayashi (deco artist)

Released as part of TakaraTomy's Movie Advanced Series line, Decepticon Stinger is a redeco of Age of Extinction Generations Bumblebee, and transforms from a robot with flip-out arm cannon and a battle mask with green paint details to resemble his "visors", to a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro concept car with a detail of his on-screen vehicle mode, rather than the actual Pagani Huayra as seen in the film. Like the deluxe Bumblebee, he includes two 'fake kibble' hubcaps, which can be screen-accurately mounted on his back, removed and held as throwing star weapons, or store underneath his vehicle mode. Stinger cannot transform into vehicle mode with the Shurikens pegged on his back.

As with the original mold, Stinger's rear vehicle kibble and shoulder armor are mistransformed in order to fit in the package.

Construct-Bots

Cliffjumper is a traitor, I knew it!

• Bumblebee vs. Decepticon Stinger with Strafe (Walmart exclusive, 2014)

• Pieces: 44
• Known designers: Ramon Campos (Hasbro)

Stinger is a Dinobot Rider comprising Drift and Bumblebee Dinobot Rider parts. This is done to evoke a car mode very similar but not identical to Bumblebee's just as his in-film incarnation. He comes into a Walmart exclusive three-pack with Bumblebee and Strafe. He uses a sword and has battle damage in the vehicle mode.

Like most Construct Bots figures, Stinger's rubber ball joints can harden over time, which prevents smooth posing.

Kre-O

"You're comparing yourself to me...ha! You're not even good enough to be my fake."

• Decepticon Replicator (2014)

• Set number: A8601
• Pieces: 77
• Kreons: Bumblebee, Nemesis Prime, Optimus Prime, "Scientist", Stinger
• Accessories: Blaster

Available only in the "Decepticon Replicator" set, Kreon Stinger is (naturally) based on the Bumblebee that comes in the same set. He has the same helmet and gun, the same chest and leg tampographs (just with red details instead of yellow and gunmetal instead of silver), but a different, smirking face with pupil-less eyes. He is meant to fit inside the set's cylindrical display case/replicator tube, which has a (barely) rotating base to spin him around on.

This set was not made available in U.S. or Canadian markets, seemingly only hitting stores in Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, and China, continuing the tradition of making Stinger merchandise bizarrely hard to find in Hasbro's markets.

Studio Series

Better in every way.

• Decepticon Stinger (Deluxe Class, 2018)

• Movie: Age of Extinction
• Hasbro ID number: 02
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS-02
• TakaraTomy release date: April 28, 2018
• Accessories: 4 shuriken, "Hong Kong Pursuit" backdrop

Released in the first wave of Studio Series Deluxe class figures, "Decepticon Stinger" transforms from robot to licensed Pagani Huayra and back in 21 steps. He includes 4 shuriken, as well as a cardboard backdrop display depicting the Hong Kong battle in Age of Extinction. The shuriken can either be placed on his back or his forearm. They store underneath his car mode but stick out somewhat. The roof of the car transforms into the stinger he used in the film. Care should be taken when transforming the figure, since part of the stinger weapon is prone to snapping off at the hinge.

Depending on the quality control between each sample, some units might be missing one or both of their rear view mirror pieces (this even extended to the TakaraTomy stock photo, seen in the comparison on the left), which can be identified in-package by looking at the shoulder "pylons".

Stinger, along with the rest of Wave 1 Deluxes, was made available at Hasbro Toy Shop following New York Toy Fair 2018, two months ahead of the scheduled brick and mortar release date. This mold was retooled to make a KSI Sentry.

Buzzworthy Bumblebee

• High Octane Bumblebee VS Decepticon Stinger (Battle Pack, 2021)

• Series: Studio Series
• Movie: Age of Extinction
• ID number: 02BB
• Accessories: 4 shuriken, "Duel of the Dopplegangers [sic]" backdrop

Buzzworthy Bumblebee "Decepticon Stinger" is a reissue of the above Studio Series figure, released in a battle pack with High Octane Bumblebee. Though the backdrop included depicts their Hong Kong showdown in Age of Extinction, the pack itself better reflects their first encounter at KSI's headquarters, when Bumblebee was still in his "High Octane" design.

It is unknown whether this release of Stinger still suffers from missing 1 of the side view mirrors.

Merchandise

Pop!

Inspired by Stinger, but morbidly deformed.

• Stinger (2014)

• ID number: 135

Released as part of the Pop! Movies segment and exclusive to Walmart, Funko's Pop! Stinger is a super deformed vinyl figure based on his...well, not exactly his screen-accurate appearance in Age of Extinction, but more of a Cliffjumper-ish look since this is just the red version of Bumblebee's body, given the mask-less look.

Battle Brigade

• Stinger (2014)

This plush version of Stinger was exclusive to Walmart.

Collect them all! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their toys & merchandise. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Prime 1 Studio

• Stinger (201?)

• Movie: Age of Extinction
• ID Number: MMTFM-??

Prime 1 Studio Museum Masterline Stinger was going to be a huge statue probably featuring light-up LED eyes and some swappable parts. A single prototype image was revealed in late 2015, but the statue never came to fruition.

There is a chance that this statue was actually going to be Age of Extinction Bumblebee, but given how it was grouped with other villainous characters for the announcement and was revealed with the battle mask deployed, it leans a little more to it being Stinger. Or, you know, maybe they would've released it as both characters anyway, so we'll just leave it at that.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Hot Wheels

• Pagani Huayra (Transformers, 2024)

• Transformers ID number: 5/5

Made in collaboration with Mattel, this redeco of the Hot Wheels Pagani Huayra casting is made to resemble the color scheme of Stinger. The packaging makes use of stock images of evergreen Megatron and Starscream.

Notes

• The Pagani Huayra was at one point intended as the alternate mode of a female robot with the working name Widow Maker.^[6][7]
• The Legends/Legion Class Stinger toy from the two-pack with Slug marks the third time this sculpt is used to represent an on-screen movie character, even though all three of them used different alternate modes in the films themselves: Revenge of the Fallen Sideways, the original release of the sculpt, transformed into an Audi R8 (the toy is modified to avoid having to acquire a license), Dark of the Moon Mirage/"Dino" into a Ferrari 458 Italia, and Stinger into a Pagani Huayra.
• Hasbro representatives at BotCon 2014 noted that a full retool of the 2014 Camaro Deluxe Class Bumblebee toy as Stinger was planned, but ultimately did not get beyond the prototype stage.^[8] This is corroborated by toy listings "leaked" to the public in late 2013, which included a 'Decepticon Stinger' toy in the mass-retail Deluxe assortment.^[9]
• "Stinger" was previously an early working name for Revenge of the Fallen Sideswipe.
• Prior to the release of the 2018 Studio Series figure, literally every toy and piece of merchandise made of the character that was available in the US was exclusive to Walmart. Even his appearance in the console version of Rise of the Dark Spark was initially a pre-order bonus specific to Walmart. Not even Leadfoot, who has Target logos on him, was as thoroughly associated with a single retailer as Stinger.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Stinger (スティンガー Sutingā)
• Mandarin: Shìcì (Taiwan, 螫刺, "Sting")

References