History Series / Beetleborgs

* ConspicuousCG: Noticeable with the [=AVs=] in the first season and the [=BVs=] in the second - the US stock footage has them rendered in CGI, sized just a bit bigger than normal cars. The stock footage ''B-Fighter''/''B-Fighter Kabuto'' used had practical props that were far larger for their footage. To a lesser extent, this also occurred whenever the hangar bases rise out of the ground, the bases themselves were Japanese footage digitally composited into American surroundings, as their original locations wouldn't fit the plot here.

* HitFlash: Of the ''Series/{{Batman}}'' variety; {{justified|Trope}} in that the heroes are based on comic book characters. They were very prominent early in the first season, but gradually appeared less and less until completely disappearing in the second season.

* CelestialBureaucracy: The Beetleborgs version of vampirism is somewhere between this and a pyramid scheme.

''Beetleborgs'' was a live-action series produced by Creator/SabanEntertainment and aired on Creator/FoxKids. Called ''Big Bad Beetleborgs'' in the first season and changed to ''Beetleborgs Metallix'' in the second. A ''Franchise/PowerRangers''-like {{Sentai}} show, it incorporated footage from a Japanese show (in this case, the ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' shows, ''Series/JuukouBFighter'' and ''Series/BFighterKabuto'') with new footage created in the United States. The show lasted from September 1996 to March 1998.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Originally Saban planned to adapt ''B-Fighter'' into a third season of ''Series/VRTroopers'', but they decided to start from scratch instead with a new Americanized adaptation of the ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' franchise.

The second season had an exchange of villains and subsequently an exchange of costumes, with a new ally in the artist who created the comics and his evil brother working for the new bad guys. Slightly DarkerAndEdgier, but nothing too shocking. The show remained relatively popular, but like ''Power Rangers'' the source footage eventually ran out. Unlike ''Rangers'', there was no follow-up series to adapt (well [[Series/BRoboKabutack technically there was]], but it was drastically different from the previous ''B-Fighter'' shows and was bizarrely even ''more'' kid-friendly than ''Beetleborgs'').

* ConspicuousCG: Noticeable with the [=AVs=] in the first season and the [=BVs=] in the second - the US stock footage has them rendered in CGI, sized just a bit bigger than normal cars. The stock footage ''B-Fighter''/''B-Fighter Kabuto'' used had practical props that were far larger for their footage. To a lesser extent, this also occurred whenever the hangar bases rise out of the ground, the bases themselves were Japanese footage digitally composited into American surroundings, as their original locations wouldn't make sense with the plot here.

* CampGay: Never an overtly stated preference, but Flabber IS patterned partly on Liberace.

* CousinOliver: Parodied. Drew and Jo have a cousin named Oliver who they, and the Magnavores, find incredibly annoying.

* EvilCounterpart: The Magnavores, the villains of the first season, spring into existence from the same comic book that the Beetleborg powers originated from, to serve as a counter-balance to the kids having the powers of the book's heroes; whereas the Shadowborg is a direct counterpart to the Beetleborgs.
** Inverted with Josh/the White Beetleborg - his powers were solely dependent on the existence of the Shadowborg, and faded shortly after the destruction of the Shadowborg.

* ExpositoryThemeTune: Both of them explain how the story began.

It starred three typical all-American kids: Drew [=McCormick=], his sister Jo, and their [[BlackBestFriend best friend]] Roland Williams, whose family owns the local comic shop, where they spend most of their time. On a dare from some bullies, they go inside the local "HauntedHouse." Once inside, they free Flabber, a wacky ghost with Elvis Presley's hair, Jay Leno's chin, Liberace's wardrobe, and all just generally filtered through [[WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine a Blue Meanie]], who had been imprisoned in the pipe organ. Flabber cannot thank the kids enough, so he offers to grant a wish for them. The three young comic book fans know what they want, and that is to be able to transform into their favorite superheroes, ''The Big Bad Beetleborgs''. Flabber grants their wish, and the children are given the power to turn into the heroes, but now that the heroes exist in the real world, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor the villains from the comic book likewise come to life]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero to spread chaos]] (via the MonsterOfTheWeek).

The second season had an exchange of villains and subsequently an exchange of costumes, with a new ally in the artist who created the comics and his evil brother working for the new bad guys. Slightly DarkerAndEdgier but nothing too shocking. The show remained relatively popular, but like ''Power Rangers'' the source footage eventually ran out. Unlike ''Rangers'', there was no follow-up series to adapt (well [[Series/BRoboKabutack technically there was]], but it was drastically different from the previous ''B-Fighter'' shows and was somehow even ''more'' kid-friendly than ''Beetleborgs'').

** Things from the comic book world seem to run on this, as when Flabber gave the kids their powers, it brought the Magnavores into the real world too and when they're defeated the heroes have to give up their powers because one cannot exist without the other. However, this also works ''against'' the Magnavores, as when they bring out villains from ''other'' comics, Flabber is able to counter it by bringing the corresponding heroes out as well. This also happens with the White Blaster Beetleborg and Shadowborg, as the former was created for the express purpose of defeating the latter and lost his powers when Shadowborg was beaten, and the Astralborgs, who were the Mantrons' balancing force. Flabber nearly name drops the trope when informing them the defeat of the Magnavores means they have to give up their powers, describing it as a 'yin and yang' thing.
** Subverted with Nukus, who was simply a concept artwork with no comic basis, and all the Crustaceans were random creations of Les Fortunes, as a result they have no heroes to directly counter them. Art creates the Metallix powers similarly (being just artwork without any given backstory), meaning this trope doesn't apply for season 2.

* [[SixthRanger Fourth Beetleborgs]]: Josh Baldwin in season 1, Astral Borgs in season 2.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: In one episode, a "personal trainer" for the monsters looks more like an S&M leatherdaddy, complete with flail.
** Fangula: "Are we paying extra for the abuse?"

* HenshinHero: Very much.

* ImAHumanitarian: The monsters, played for laughs. If it wasn't for "Blood Light", Fangula would probably starve to death.

* NeverSayDie: This show is even more lighthearted than its parent show ''Power Rangers'' in this regard, as monsters aren't simply destroyed, but "send back to the comics".

It starred three typical all-American kids: Drew [=McCormick=], his sister Jo, and their [[BlackBestFriend best friend]] Roland Williams, whose family owns the local comic shop, where they spend most of their time. On a dare from some bullies, they go inside the local "HauntedHouse." Once inside, they free Flabber, a wacky ghost with Elvis Presley's hair, Jay Leno's chin, Liberace's wardrobe, and all just generally filtered through [[YellowSubmarine a Blue Meanie]], who had been imprisoned in the pipe organ. Flabber cannot thank the kids enough, so he offers to grant a wish for them. The three young comic book fans know what they want, and that is to be able to transform into their favorite superheroes, ''The Big Bad Beetleborgs''. Flabber grants their wish, and the children are given the power to turn into the heroes, but now that the heroes exist in the real world, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor the villains from the comic book likewise come to life]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero to spread chaos]] (via the MonsterOfTheWeek).

It starred three typical all-American kids: Drew [=McCormick=], his sister Jo, and their [[BlackBestFriend best friend]] Roland Williams, whose family owns the local comic shop, where they spend most of their time. On a dare from some bullies, they go inside the local "HauntedHouse." Once inside, they free Flabber, a wacky ghost with Elvis Presley's hair, Jay Leno's chin, Liberace's wardrobe, and all just generally filtered through [[WesternAnimation/Yellowsubmarine a Blue Meanie]], who had been imprisoned in the pipe organ. Flabber cannot thank the kids enough, so he offers to grant a wish for them. The three young comic book fans know what they want, and that is to be able to transform into their favorite superheroes, ''The Big Bad Beetleborgs''. Flabber grants their wish, and the children are given the power to turn into the heroes, but now that the heroes exist in the real world, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor the villains from the comic book likewise come to life]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero to spread chaos]] (via the MonsterOfTheWeek).

It starred three typical all-American kids: Drew [=McCormick=], his sister Jo, and their [[BlackBestFriend best friend]] Roland Williams, whose family owns the local comic shop, where they spend most of their time. On a dare from some bullies, they go inside the local "HauntedHouse." Once inside, they free Flabber, a wacky ghost with Elvis Presley's hair, Jay Leno's chin, Liberace's wardrobe, and all just generally filtered through ComicBook/TheJoker, who had been imprisoned in the pipe organ. Flabber cannot thank the kids enough, so he offers to grant a wish for them. The three young comic book fans know what they want, and that is to be able to transform into their favorite superheroes, ''The Big Bad Beetleborgs''. Flabber grants their wish, and the children are given the power to turn into the heroes, but now that the heroes exist in the real world, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor the villains from the comic book likewise come to life]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero to spread chaos]] (via the MonsterOfTheWeek).

* VillainousTeleportation: Every villain is capable of teleporting, normally with a unique effect.

** The trope's name itself is averted with the [[NonindicativeName first season's title]], ''Big Bad Beetleborgs'' ([[IThoughtItMeant "Bad" as in "cool", not "evil"]]). None of the Beetleborgs would ever qualify as the primary villain, [[spoiler:though Shadowborg is so far the only ''evil'' Beetleborg.]]

* CurbStompBattle: Several, but most striking was when [[spoiler: Nukus easily thrashed the Beetleborgs and destroyed their powers like it was nothing. Even after they get an upgrade, their first fight with him didn't go well.]]

* EyeBeams: Nukus has them, and uses them to destroy any copies of his drawing to make it harder for him to be sent back to the two-dimensional world.

** Things from the comic book world seem to run on this, as when Flabber gave the kids their powers, it brought the Magnavores into the real world too and when they're defeated the heroes have to give up their powers because one cannot exist without the other. However, this also works ''against'' the Magnavores, as when they bring out villains from ''other'' comics, Flabber is able to counter it by bringing the corresponding heroes out as well. This also happens with the White Blaster Beetleborg and Shadowborg, as the former was created for the express purpose of defeating the latter and lost his powers when Shadowborg was beaten, and the Astralborgs, who were the Mantrons' balancing force.

** Vexor gets fed up with the TerribleTrio being incompetent idiots and at least twice tries to create or recruit a far more competent replacement for them.

* MoreThanThreeDimensions: Flabber is mentioned as being from the 7th dimension.

* RealityEnsues: At the convention, the kids try to get in [[ForHalloweenIAmGoingAsMyself as the Beetleborgs]] since Art Fortunes is a special guest. While it works, the staff gets suspicious at the presence of a second set of 'actors' running around.

* [[FirstInstallmentWeirdness First Episode Weirdness]]: The one of the two rich kids who is later established as "the Jock" boasts of becoming captain of the Chess Club. The Pipettes seem to be set up for a much more pivotal role. Mums also spends almost all his screen time unraveled to a MonsterOfTheWeek esque skeleton monster, able to generate red bolts of electricity, which he, of course, never did again.