Bubble Man

Bubble Man (バブルマン) is the first aquatic Robot Master created by Dr. Wily for underwater combat. However, a defect in his system makes him unable to walk underwater, being only able to move by jumping. After seeing this, Wily couldn't help but laugh at his way of moving. Despite this flaw, Bubble Man is able to swim. This problem has been fixed in Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters.

Bubble Man attacks with normal shots from his arm cannon, and can shoot Bubble Lead shots from his arm cannon and the gun on the top of his head. Bubble Lead are durable bubbles mixed with sulfuric acid that can be used for several purposes, like hitting opponents with small bubbles, wrapping opponents inside large bubbles, or protecting Bubble Man himself.

Mega Man 2
Bubble Man's battle takes place underwater, so Mega Man will be able to jump much higher than usual. The player must be careful not to jump too high, as there are instant-death spikes on the ceiling. When the battle begins, Bubble Man will shoot three Bubble Leads, then jump over to the other side of the room. The bubbles are avoided by passing under them when they are bouncing. He'll repeat this strategy several times. If Mega Man tries to jump, Bubble Man will shoot him down with his arm cannon. He is vulnerable to attacks when he shoots his bubbles or when he lands.

His weakness, the Metal Blade, eliminates the need of jumping to attack and deals considerable damage to him. It defeats him in four hits in Normal Mode and seven in Difficult.

An alternate weapon to this is the Quick Boomerang, but the player should be careful using it, as it is a close range weapon. It defeats him in seven boomerangs and fourteen in Difficult setting.

Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters data
Dr. Light: You can't move once you're caught in Bubble Man's bubble. Attack with a sharp weapon that can cut through the bubble!

Rockman Battle & Fighters data
はつのすいちゅうせんようひとがたロボットであったがじつはぼうすいしょりのかんけいじょう、ほこうすることができず、すいちゅうないでのいどうはすべてジャンプによっておこなわれていた. ながいきょりをいどうするときは、ワイリーでさえわらってしまうほどかわいいとくしゅぶきは、バブルリードじゃ.

Stage enemies
Enemies in Bubble Man's stage:
 * Crabbot
 * Croaker
 * Lantern Fish
 * M-445
 * Snapper
 * Shrink

Damage Data Chart
Amount of damage in units that Bubble Man receives from each Special Weapon in Mega Man 2.


 * *Any data with a "+" represents the weapon actually restoring the boss's health.

Captain N: The Game Master
Bubble Man appeared in episode 20 of Captain N: The Game Master, where he and other robots play soccer against the main characters. This version has a round blue body and a tank of water on his head.

Mega Man Megamix
In the manga Mega Man Megamix, Bubble Man has his arm cannon on his right arm instead of his left arm; his arm cannon is also equipped with a harpoon and he has a "W" on his knees and belt. Bubble Man made a very short appearance in the story "Orders to Destroy R", where he's in the sea near the Wily Castle. He attacks Mega Man while he was approaching. Heat Man, who was pursuing Mega Man, was kicked into the water, making the water boil with his heat. Bubble Man had to swim away to avoid damage in the overheated water.

Archie Comics
Bubble Man appears in Archie Comics' Mega Man #9 as the second of Wily's Robot Masters Mega Man has to fight. He becomes angry at the Blue Bomber for destroying the waste-management robots around his area that were weaponized to fight him. Feeling mocked, Bubble Man declares that he wait and prepare to destroy him. At that moment, Mega Man appears and asks Bubble Man if he's seen a dangerous Robot Master. Angered even more, Bubble Man shoots a Bubble Lead at him. Mega Man reacts by shooting a Leaf Shield at Bubble Man, destroying him.

Bubble Man and the rest of Wily's Robot Masters were reconstructed by Ra Moon in the Lanfront Ruins.

Other appearances
Bubble Man also appeared in the mangas, Rockman: Dr. Wily's Plot, Rockman World, and Rockman 4Koma Great March.

Trivia

 * His dislike for oil slicks could be a reference of how oil doesn't mix with water. This could also make a reference that he and Oil Man are rivals.


 * Bubble Man and Flash Man were the only two Robot Masters from Mega Man 2 not to appear in the Ruby Spears cartoon series.


 * In his sprite from Mega Man 2 and Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge, his arm cannon appears on his left arm when he is looking to the right side of the screen. In Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, his cannon is on his left arm when looking to the left.


 * Two of Bubble Man's names from his early designs were Water Man and Pump Man. The name Pump Man would then go-on to be used in Mega Man 10.


 * Bubble Man's appearance in Captain N: The Game Master bears a small resemblance to Aqua Man from Mega Man 8.


 * Due to limitations of the systems, in many of the games, the blue parts of Bubble Man's head instead appears as green.


 * Despite being defeated by the Leaf Shield in the Archie comics, Bubble Man doesn't take any damage from it in the games.


 * Bubble Man, Heat Man and Wood Man are the only three robot Masters in Mega Man 2 to be healed by their own weapon.