Boomer Kuwanger (ブーメル・クワンガー),[4] also translated as Boomerang Kuwanger,[1][5] is a Maverick from the X era, first appearing as one of the main bosses in Mega Man X. He is a cutter-themed Reploid based on a stag beetle (クワガタ), with the ability to phase in and out of reality and throw the curved blade from his head. He was a Maverick Hunter serving in the 7th Elite Unit until he joined Sigma's rebellion.
Boomer Kuwanger debuted in Mega Man X as one of the eight Mavericks on the Stage Select screen. He serves as the boss of Tower Stage. The Japanese game manual states he is a former Maverick Hunter of the 17th Elite Unit, the same as X, who was interested in Sigma's rebellion and joined out of curiosity. He has converted a city's iconic tower into his personal stronghold.[6]
Boomer Kuwanger's fast footwork can make him difficult for an inexperienced player to avoid, but his high recoil from the X-Buster is one of his biggest weaknesses. Defeating Boomer Kuwanger grants X the Boomerang Cutter. His weakness is the Homing Torpedo, from Launch Octopus, which is also useful for its ability to home in on Kuwanger despite his speed. A boss attack rematch with Boomer Kuwanger later occurs in Sigma Stage 1, being the very first.
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X
Render from Mega Man Maverick Hunter X.
In the remake Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, Boomerang Kuwanger's name is retranslated and he receives a redesign, but he plays largely the same role as in Mega Man X, being the boss of Fortress Tower. He is one of the few Mavericks besides Sigma to recognize X's potential, but only cares about fighting him. In battle, for X he is still weak to Homing Torpedo and yields Boomerang Cutter upon his defeat, while for Vile he is weak to weapons obtained from Launch Octopus (Humerus Crush, Popcorn Demon, Banzai Beetle, Lost Lamb, Serotinal Bullet) and yields the Cutter weapon system. Kuwanger's boss attack rematch later occurs in Sigma Palace 1.
Mega Man X DiVE
In Mega Man X DiVE, Maverick Data of Boomerang Kuwanger appears as the boss of the event Space-Time Jumper. His defeat unlocks the Chip for Boomerang Cutter. He also reappeared as a boss in Co-op and Jakob.
Other Game Appearances
In Rockman ✕over, Boomer Kuwanger is one of the four bosses from World 2.
In TEPPEN, Boomer Kuwanger appears in multiple cards.
Other Media
In the Rockman X manga, Boomer Kuwanger reprises his role from Mega Man X.
In Rockman X Mega Mission, Boomer Kuwanger is revived as Boomer Kuwanger L by the Limited. Upon his defeat, Curtiss appears for the first time to salvage his Limited.
In the manga Irregular Hunter Rockman X, Boomer Kuwanger starts as an ally to X, assigned to stop Spark Mandrill together. When Chill Penguin arrives to back up Mandrill, Kuwanger is defeated, only for X to stop them both. When Kuwanger later returns, he reveals himself as a double-agent, so X destroys him.
In the Archie Mega Man comic, Boomer Kuwanger appears with his Maverick Hunter X redesign in the "Worlds Unite" arc, as one of the Mavericks resurrected in Sigma's army.
A fellow member of the 17th Unit, the beetle-like Kuwanger fought alongside X and Zero many times. He doesn't agree or disagree with Sigma's motives; he simply joined the uprising because it looked like more fun. The high-rise tower he has taken over should have been a shining symbol of the city's progress, but instead it has become an oppressive fortress. Within, Kuwanger sits plotting, sneering at the despair in the city below.[2]
He has a Special Weapon called Boomerang Cutter, which he throws using the horns on his head as a boomerang. His horns are a fearsome weapon that can pinch and capture enemies. He is a Reploid who specializes in disappearing and reappearing, and teleportation, making it impossible for enemies to track him. Before joining the rebellion, he was in the same Maverick Hunter unit as X. He has taken over an iconic tower and turned it into a fortress.[JP]
A member of the 17th Unit, and a colleague of X. He joined the rebellion because he thought "isn't this more interesting?" He takes over a tower and converts it into a fortified stronghold that repels all intruders.[JP]
Comes from the same 17th Battalion as X. Excels in collecting and analyzing combat data with an extremely cool logic. With no sense of justice or evil, joining Sigma's rebellion is a decision he arrived at after analyzing the case rationally. He has taken over the tower that was to be the symbol of the city, and is working to convert it into a base.
It is previously the member of Irregular Hunters of the Seventeenth Elite Squad. Its rapid movement makes it hard to locate. Its horns can serve as a boomerang and can pierce through enemies. [sic]
"Inafune did Eagle and Penguin, Kaji designed Mandrill, Octopus, and Chameleon. Mammoth, Armadillo, and Kuwanger were Tazaki's. Even as I watched them work, I could really see each of their distinct flavors coming out in their illustrations." - (Tatsuya Yoshikawa)[3]
Nomenclature
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
Boomer Kuwanger (ブーメル・クワンガー)
"Boomer" is derived from boomerang, and "Kuwanger" is a portmanteau of "kuwagata" (クワガタ), meaning stag beetle, and boomerang.
English
Boomer Kuwanger Boomerang Kuwanger
Maintains his Japanese name. In later translations, "Boomer" was sometimes extended to "Boomerang", likely to make his weapon theme more evident.
