Bean the Dynamite

Bean the Dynamite is a particularly goofy and wacky mercenary who is partners with Bark the Polar Bear, who's almost his exact opposite. He's a deserter of the Battlebird Armada who took up a life as a bounty hunter for hire. He previously worked with Fiona Fox and Nic the Weasel and participated in an illegal fighting tournament along with the latter and Bark but lost to Rouge the Bat. He and Bark later ended up working for Dr. Eggman twice, once to trash Sonic the Hedgehog's birthday party and the other to try and steal the Master Emerald from Rouge. The latter mission proved to be a sting operation that landed Bean and Bark in jail along with Nack the Weasel, Ixis Naugus and Mammoth Mogul. After being saved from the Egg Grape Chambers by being transported to New Mobotropolis only to be put in jail again, Mogul managed to get his hands of the Chaos Emerald Sonic had collected from the Special Zone and freed himself and his fellow in-mates by taking control of Sonic's friends. Bean and Bark then took up a job to get Sonic's shoes under Mogul, only to temporarily switch sides when Sally Acorn offered to shorten their sentences and, as per Bean's wishes, give them cupcakes. When Nack managed to subdue Sonic, however, they switched back over and Bean later ended up thoroughly creeping out Sonic with his questions, only for the Hedgehog to slide him along a nearby table in the Bottom of the Barrel Bar 'n' Grill.

Past
Like others, Bean's past is almost completely unknown. However, he has been hinted to have been a member of some sort of armada (as revealed by his accusations of betrayal against Predator Hawk, another possible member), as well as Nic the Weasel's gang, which also included Bark the Polar Bear and Fiona Fox. He also competed alongside Fiona and Bark in an illegal fighting tournament which they lost to Rouge the Bat. Although he may no longer work with Nic and Fiona, he's still partners with Bark. (StH: #160, #165, #173)

First Battle With Freedom Fighters
Bean and Bark's first encounter with Sonic the Hedgehog was when Dr. Eggman hired them to attack Sonic on his birthday. Sonic assumed the two had mistaken Evil Sonic for him, but Bean dismissed the idea. The two attacked the recently rebuilt Freedom HQ and everyone inside. However, Fiona used Bean's weakness of shiny things and threw a set of keys out a window, forcing Bean to jump after them and leave the fight. While playing with the keys in the grass, he was found by and promptly knocked unconscious by Shadow the Hedgehog. Bean was brought back to Freedom HQ by the black hedgehog, but while everyone was dealing with Bark and Shadow's entrance, he woke up, managed to sneak into the Brain Trust's room and contacted Eggman to nonchalantly report that he and Bark had failed. The doctor got angry and fired Bean, although the green duck didn't seem too distressed about it. When Eggman's newest creation, Croctobot, attacked Freedom HQ, Bean and Bark used this opprotunity to escape, although Fiona tried to stop them. Bean suggested she rejoin them but she said she couldn't, as she was now a Freedom Fighter. Bean playfully doubted this and left. (StH: #160, #161)

Later Encounters
Bean and Bark were later hired by Dr. Eggman once more to find out if the rumours of Rouge having the Master Emerald were true (and in the end, they weren't). Nack the Weasel was also hired to investigate the rumours, although he didn't actually work with the duo. Bean and Bark, now sporting Extreme Gear, ran into Sonic and Antoine and Bean and said he got the boards from an armada. Sonic fought Bean, who called the names of boarding tricks while the Gear spun in the air before Sonic managed to knock him out while Antoine subdued Bark. Having been defeated, they were finally sent to Knothole Prison along with Nack, Mammoth Mogul, and Ixis Naugus. (StH: #173)

Not long after, Eggman's Egg Fleet attacked Knothole Village and captured nearly everyone, including Bean and his fellow prisoners. Sonic, Knuckles, Tails, and Amy Rose freed all of Eggman's prisoners, including Bean and the other criminals, who fled. When everyone was sent to New Mobotropolis, Bean, Bark, and Nack sided with Mammoth Mogul, who was attempting to rally the city under his command, though Bean most likely doesn't take the alliance seriously. Fortunately, NICOLE teleported all of the criminals to the new city's prison, an experience Bean declared "awesome." While in the prison, Bean mocked Prince Elias, demanding his shiny crown, made jokes and watched Sonic's fight with Tails. (StH: #175, #176, #177, #178, #179)

Bean was later seen asleep when Sonic came to the prison to talk to Mammoth Mogul, who claimed that they were at a stalemate and if he was not freed, he would unleash a new Fearsome Foursome. Sonic merely laughed at Mogul's warning and left. That night, however, Mogul was able to get Sonic to change his mind when he threatened to have Mina Mongoose, Mighty the Armadillo, and Tails (who were all under his control) kill themselves via mind control. Sonic and Ash Mongoose stole the Gray Chaos Emerald from Castle Acorn and gave it to Mogul, giving him back his Chaos-based powers. Free from his cell, Bean then tried to steal Ash's sunglasses while Mogul told Sonic how he would wait for the hedgehog to die of old age before trying to take over Mobius again, though he would not let Sonic live in peace. Mogul then teleported himself and his fellow prisoners, including Bean and Bark, out of the prison, Bean promising to write to Sonic every day. (StH: #185, #186)



Bean and Bark would find themselves going back into conflict with Sonic and the Freedom Fighters not long after, however, as Mogul hired them along with Nack and the Destructix to "steal" Sonic's shoes (with or without Sonic's feet still in them, he added). Outside of Freedom HQ, Bean and Bark ambushed Sonic and Sally Acorn. Sally was able to distract Bean by getting him to notice how shiny one of his bombs was, causing him to clutch it in awe until it exploded. Bark then punched Sonic, knocking him into an area where the Destructix were waiting. The six then started fighting him while Bean and Bark watched, Bean cheering on the Destructix. Sally quickly told the two she would pay them double whatever Mogul offered to help Sonic (Bean was intrigued, thinking the payment could possibly include cupcakes). The duo accepted and started helping Sonic fight against their former allies. During the battle, Bean revealed that Predator Hawk was also a former member of the armada. Nack, who had been hiding in some nearby bushes, suddenly blasted Sonic with an energy rifle, knocking him out. The Destructix then chained him up and put him into a truck. Bean and Bark, having failed to protect Sonic, decided to go back to Mogul's side and went back to the Casino Night Zone with the Destructix while Nack stayed behind to finish off Sally. While at the casino's new kitchen, the Bottom of the Barrel Bar 'n' Grill, Bean kept pestering Sonic with odd questions, disturbing him. However, Sally, Amy, and Geoffrey St. John all showed up and freed Sonic, who then took down Bean and Bark. Although the duo were not seen again during afterwards, it is assumed they came to, were paid by Mogul, and left the casino. (StH: #187, #188)

Personality
Bean may be the goofiest villain of them all, with Flying Frog as a close second. He rarely takes anything seriously and often makes random, nonsensical or borderline inappropriate comments. He also has a thing for "shinies". Although he may be crazy, he's still potentially dangerous.

Weapons & Abilities
Bean primarily attacks via bombs, though it's unknown where they come from as he seems to produce them whenever needed. He also has access to Extreme Gear thanks to being a former member of the Battlebird Armada. It is currently unknown if Bean has any real abilities whatsoever.

Background Information

 * Bean has had quite a few cameos on numerous covers, mostly non-canon, though someone resembling him appeared in a flashback shown in StH issue #50, as a soldier during the Great War, along with Bark (or someone looking like him), an unidentified panda, and a few lesser Sega characters, including Astal, and Ristar. The canonicity is still debatable, given recent developments, and the fact that the scene was in Dr. Ivo Robotnik's dream.
 * Bean also appeared on the cover of Sonic X #34 in the form of a toy water ring with the Sonic the Fighters logo on it.
 * Bean has shoes that are identical to Sonic's.