Moto Bug

The Motobug (モトラ) in Japan, is a ladybug-type badnik created by Doctor Robotnik. It makes its first appearance in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, as these badniks travel everywhere in Green Hill Zone.

Motobugs are usually slow-paced robots that move around are very basic enemies. Motobug is known being the first enemy that Sonic has encountered in his first appearance and thus being the first enemy encountered in the entire series.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The first appearance of the Motobug happens in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, as these badniks only move back and forth in the zone. Motobugs are relatively harmless and could only hurt you if you ran into them. The player can easily destroy Motobugs with Spin Jumping or doing Spin Attack on them.

Motobug appears only at Green Hill Zone in both 16-bit and 8-bit versions. In the 8-bit version, these badniks can only be found at first act of the zone and are shown to be incredibly small but act same way like in 16-bit counterpart. Motobugs in the 8-bit version don't have an animal friend inside of them; this then goes on to be a tradition in Game Gear and Master System titles.

Sonic Drift 2
Motobug make brief appearance in Sonic Drift 2, as the badnik tries to come to the racers' way at Hill Top track. Motobug is really small in the game like in their appearance of 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Much like the first game, Motobug poses no real threat in its return appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Motobugs can only found of Splash Hill Zone and only way the player can sustain damage is by running right into them. They also follow the player, but move very slowly.

Sonic 4 Website Info

 * The very first Badnik that Sonic ever encountered, this metal beetle returns to try and take down Sonic one last time. Watch out - he will turn around to chase Sonic if he misses.

Sonic Colors
Motobugs make a surprising reappearance in Sonic Colors, as these badniks have been enhanced with extreme speed capabilities, rivaling Sonic himself. They can only be found on the Wii version of Starlight Carnival and Terminal Velocity, during the Quick Step sections.

However, Sonic can still take them out pretty easily by Quick Stepping into them. The Motobug comes in two sizes in Sonic Colors, and if Sonic destroys a large Motobug, all the smaller ones are destroyed with it. From this game onward, Motobug was given more of a ladybug look.

Sonic Generations
Motobug also returns in Sonic Generations; it appears at Green Hill, the remake of the zone with same name from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. The game features a gigantic version in Motobug in one challenge. It can't be destroyed, only stunned, along with gigantic variation of a Buzz Bomber.

Physical Appearance
The Motobug resembles more or less a robotic version of a real-life ladybug. Its body armor is red and its face is painted dark blue. Its source of locomotion is reliant on the simple wheel mechanism located in its undercarriage. A small engine on the rear of the Badnik propels its wheel across the ground. Small pincers located below its head are its only source of defense. In certain games, its torso is decorated with black circles.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 features a more detailed appearance of Motobug and Sonic Colors makes Motobugs more closely resemble a real-life ladybug. Later appearances also introduced bigger variations of Motobugs, although these variations are only more bulky and little bit slower than normal, but they still act like normal Motobugs.

Abilities
The Motobug is most likely the weakest Badnik created by Robotnik. It simply coasts along the ground in an attempt to hurt enemies with its pincers. Merely jumping on top of it will destroy it. In Sonic the Hedgehog 4, its arms look more scythe-like and it tries to chase Sonic, but apart from that, it still trundles around as usual.

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Motobug appears briefly in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic manga. At the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 3' story Sonic Rampage!!, Motobug and Burrobot were sent by Dr. Eggman to beat down Sonic, but despite the their fierce nature, they got easily defeated.

Sonic the Comic
Motobugs appeared frequently in early issues of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic as part of Doctor Robotnik's badnik army. Depending on artist, Motobug's appearance has slightly altered various times. It first appeared in issue 1' story Enter: Sonic, as getting destroyed by Sonic.

In issue 3's story Mayhem in the Marble Zone, Motobug along with others have lead Tufftee's friends to pit in Marble Zone, who would later threat to drop Tufftee to the lava pool instead of crushing him. Because of Tufftee's strong nature, badniks instead send in Badnik Processing Badnik to deal with him until Sonic spins to the action and destroys all badniks, but the Motobug attempts to not get destroyed by Sonic and tries to run to the lava along burning animal friend inside of it. However Sonic manages to get in front of him and defeats it releasing animal friend in it and saves Tufftee and his friends.

In issue 12 story Hidden Danger!, as Sonic and company runs away from Robotnik's badnik army (Sonic lost his memory during the story), Motobug as a army's leader taunts Sonic and expected more of a fight from him. As the badnik mentions Sonic's name in his line, Sonic's memory suddenly returns and at that time badniks notices this, they try to escape but got destroyed by Sonic.

Issue 26 of the comic features two different versions of Motobugs which actually are about to become badniks themselves. Later Sonic notices that one of Motobugs actually has Johnny Lightfoot being its organic battery. Issue 32's story No More Mr. Nice Bug involves Porker Lewis inventing a virus to turning "Motobugs" into a Nicenik variety of robots, which temporarily works on Bim and Bom.

Later in the comics, Motobugs were also basics to the Seven Badniks, including Metamoto and Motobotnik. Motobug also appeared at pin-up of Sonic the Poster Mag 2007.

Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)
A specific purple and yellow Motobug made many appearances in the early issues of Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics, as he was just one of Robotnik's many badnik henchmen. In issue 18 he worked as a messenger who would spy on the Freedom Fighters, then report back to Robotnik. In issue 40 Motobug was present with the other decommissioned badniks at Robo Hobo Jungle. He was later relocated with the others to Island of Misfit Badniks in issue 170, where he helped repair Pseudo Sonic, but was unfortunately crushed by Bivalve.

Other Motobugs made appearances in issues 185 and 187, working as butlers for Mammoth Mogul in Casino Night Zone. In the 2010 "Free Comic Book Day" Issue a monster in old Robotropolis has a Motobug face as part of his many badnik appendages.

During the Genesis arc. at issue 226, Motobug returned as the first badnik Sonic encountered in Green Hill Zone. It was given a look similar to its game design of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 rather than its comic design. Because of resetting time and space, Sonic could not know what they are, which gives him the idea to call them Motobugs during the encounter, although he thinks the name being oddly appropriate.

Sonic X Comic Series
In comic issue 11 of Sonic X, a destroyed Motobug makes a cameo on the front cover, but does not appear in the actual story. Also in the wreckage are Crabmeat, EggRobo, Caterkiller, Decoe and Bocoe.

Merchandise
The toy company TOMY has released Motobug action figurine during the release of Sonic & Knuckles as it also includes a series of 21 Sonic figurines and these figurines came in packs of four under the Sonic & Knuckles label and were also released individually under a Sonic the Hedgehog label.

For the 20th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, Jazwares decided to make figures of the characters and enemies from the series. A Classic Sonic was released and included a little Motobug figure.

Related Badniks
Later in the series, many badniks appear to be based on strongly of Motobug due their appearance, acting or even setting.
 * New Motora
 * Snail (Scrapped enemy from Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
 * Stego (Scrapped enemy from Sonic the Hedgehog 2)
 * Anton
 * Kamemusi
 * Bane Motora
 * Great Bane Motora Gold
 * Unnamed Badnik of Great Turquoise Zone
 * Unnamed Badnik of Sunset Park Zone
 * Tentou
 * Akatento

Trivia

 * In several of its designs, the Motobug carries blades similar to the ones carried by the Slicer badnik, except they are permanently attached to the Motobug chassis.
 * It is interesting to note that in Sonic the Comic Issue 32's story No More Mr. Nice Bug, Motobugs actually appear to be dark blue colored Buzz Bombers.
 * Motobug appears in Sonic and the Black Knight in winning fan art.
 * The top speed of Motobugs has been changed regularly during the series as the badnik has appears more and more times. In its appearances in Green Hill Zone and Splash Hill Zone, these badniks have been really slow, but later in Sonic Colors, Motobugs have shown to have enough speed to reach even Sonic himself. Because of the setting, Motobugs returned to its slow pattern in Green Hill of Sonic Generations.
 * Their design and general concept seem somewhat similar to that of Roaders in Mega Man.