Some heroes are born with their powers, some gain them from a mishap, and other make their own. Bumblebee is in that third category. Building her own tech to help her boyfriend would lead Karen Beecher down the path of heroism. How does a an act of love lead to being a Titan? Let’s find out!
Karen Beecher was a young research engineer whose boyfriend, Mal Duncan had been invited to join the Teen Titans due to saving them in a time of need. Mal had voiced concern with Karen over the fact that he had no powers or gadgets like other members. To help build Mal’s confidence and show him and the team he was worthy of his position, Karen began to build and design a bee-themed costume. The plan was simple, attack Mal and the rest of the Titans to show off his abilities, ensuring no one gets harmed and escaping before things got too heated.
Bumblebee debuts by attacking the Teen Titans and proves to be a successful mission, Mal is able to keep up with his super-powered companions and Karen is able to get away. Knowing she can’t keep this a secret for long, Karen comes clean to Mal and the other Titans, who aren’t even mad, they’re impressed. So impressed, they invite Karen to join the team as well, and she happily accepts.
Now a member of the team alongside her boyfriend, Karen lives a dream of helping people while being around the ones she loves. She and Mal would move with the Titans to San Francisco and stay with them until they called it quits as a team. While the team might have ended, Karen and Mal would get married and she would begin work at S.T.A.R. Labs. While the two enjoyed their retirement from heroics, it wasn’t long until they were called back in for help with the Titans once more, this time in Los Angeles.
Eventually the time of the Infinite Crisis would come and Karen would be teaming up with all kinds of heroes to help save all of reality. During this adventure an accident would occur, leaving Karen stuck at roughly six inches in height. Unable to turn back to her original height, she and Mal would join the Doom Patrol to better help her with her new health concerns.
Suggested Reading
Teen Titans #45
Doom Patrol
Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
