The original toy that became Cliffjumper was originally released by Takara in 1983 as part of the Micro Change subset of the Japanese Microman line. He was released in the US in 1984. Because Hasbro used toy stock bought from the Microman line, some Cliffjumper toys were yellow instead of red. In addition occasionally a different, but similar, mold was put in the box instead of the Cliffjumper mold, one based on a Mazda Familia 1500 XG. Because this toy was sometimes found in the box for BUMBLEbee and sometimes in the box for CliffJUMPER, fans started to refer to this toy as Bumblejumper - later shortened to simply Bumper.
Cliffjumper was released as Carrera in some countries and was released in a variety of other colors as well - including red, yellow, green and white.
Bio: "Let me at 'em," is Cliffjumper's motto. His eagerness and daring have no equal. He's driven by a desire to win the battle against the Decepticons. Finds Earth terrain a hindrance. One of the fastest Autobots. Often uses his speed to draw fire away from others. Shoots 'glass gas' which makes metal as brittle as glass. His recklessness often leads to actual blow-outs and situations too dangerous for him to handle.
According to original tech spec notes written by Bob Budiansky found at Iacon One in 2006 the original name for Cliffjumper was Blow-Out.
Television Series
Cliffjumper and Ratchet.
Cliffjumper was part of the original Autobot crew of the Ark.
Dreamwave Comics
Cliffjumper from Dreamwave comics.
When civil war broke out on the planet Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticons, Cliffjumper joined the Autobot cause.
When Decepticon Military Operations Commander Shockwave lead a force of Decepticons against the Autobot capitol of Iacon, Cliffjumper was among the Autobots who defended the capitol (Transformers: War Within #3).
When Decepticon leader Megatron and Autobot leader Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a space bridge, the Autobot and Decepticon forces splintered into smaller factions. Cliffjumper stayed with the Autobots under the leadership of Prowl.
Learning that the Decepticons were testing a new mobile command base at the Praetorus Wharf, Prowl lead Cliffjumper, Gears, Jazz, Skids and Sideswipe to investigate. What they discovered was Trypticon (Transformers: The War Within - The Dark Ages #3).
Six million years ago, Ultra Magnus united the Autobot factions and lead them to victory over Decepticons and Ultracons. Megatron returned to Cybertron in command of the clone forces of the Aerospace Extermination Squadron and took over Cybertron. Cliffjumper was among the Autobots enslaved and forced to labor tunneling into Cybertron's core (Transformers: War Within - The Age of Wrath #2).
Eventually Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and helped free the enslaved Autobots.
Cliffjumper was among the Autobots who followed Optimus Prime on his mission on board the Ark and crash landed on Earth.
In 1984, when the Ark's computer re-activated, it reformatted Cliffjumper as in the form of an Earth car.
Eventually the combined forces of the Autobots on Earth, and their human allies were able to capture the Decepticons. A ship called the Ark II was built to take the Cybertronians back to Cybertron, along with some human companions, but the ship exploded shortly after takeoff. The human allies were killed, but the Cybertronians were lost in the ocean, again in statis lock.
Cliffjumper traveled to Cybertron along with Optimus Prime and a number of Autobots when arrested by Ultra Magnus.
Bumblebee was placed in command of the Autobot supply shuttle Orion, with Powerglide, Warpath, Seaspray, Cosmos, Cliffjumper, Bumper and the Powerdashers assigned to him. Their mission was to aid the Autobots on Earth. Upon arriving in the Earth system from transwarp space, they witnessed the arrival of Sunstorm (Transformers: Generation One III #1).
Armada Mini-Con Cliffjumper toy.
A recolor of fellow Mini-Con Ransack, Cliffjumper is a female Mini-Con that comes with Armada Cheetor. She does not appear in any cartoon or comic-book series, although she did receive a biography in the Dreamwave More Than Meets The Eye comics.
Biography:
Motto: "Reading is more of a thrill than punching."
Bio: Rarely has a Mini-Con been so mismatched with an Autobot partner. While Cheetor is a sleek, arrogant thrillseeker, Cliffjumper is a withdrawn, quiet type who craves an end to the war so she can return to a life of scientific research. Not blind to the irony of her name, Cheetor often teased Cliffjumper about her deceptively exciting-sounding moniker. This joking only served to make Cliffjumper, a faithful but combatphobic Autobot, feel worse about her role. Once Cheetor was taken by Unicron, Cliffjumper couldn't help but feel relieved; this relief was followed by guilt about the situation and her reaction to it.
Abilities: Cliffjumper is highly intelligent and specializes in geological sciences. However, she is not particularly strong or coordinated. In vehicle mode, Cliffjumper can reach speeds of up to 65 mph, and her tow cable can be used to tow objects or vehicles
Weaknesses: Cliffjumper's towing ability is limited by her low strength; she is susceptible to mechanical breakdowns if forced to drive too roughly.
The name Cliffjumper (Overdrive in Japan) was used again in the Transformers: Energon line.
Bio: Cliffjumper is an Autobot that endures in hi-risk situations. He has been known to engage in stunt maneuvers considered unnecessary and dangerous to both himself and his Autobot comrades. In vehicle mode, he is a sleek dune racer. His speed is impressive and he is one of the few Autobots that can keep up with Prowl on the open road. Cliffjumper's skill and endurance in battle have impressed Optimus Prime on many occasions but his unnecessary risk-taking has earned him many a reprimand by the Autobot Commander.
Translation of Japanese Tech Spec: With the crisis perceived by Grand Convoy, Overdrive joins his companions with Wheeljack. He can travel over rough terrain, making battles easy to win in the Polar Regions. He rapidly increases his defensiveness in a superlink union, making him indispensable in every new battle.
The toy of Energon Cliffjumper was recolored into Energon Beachcomber.
Transformers: Universe
Although no toy named Cliffjumper was released in the Transformers: Universe line, the keychain version of Generation 1 Cliffjumper was recolored into Tap-Out.
Energon Perceptor (Cliffjumper in Japan) was repackaged for the Universe line in late 2005.
