Chop Shop (G1)

The name or term "Chop Shop" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Chop Shop (disambiguation).

Chop Shop is a Decepticon Insecticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

There's a good chance he stole his body parts.

Are you missing a few energon chips? Wasn't there a photon rectifier on that table a minute ago? Hey, has anyone seen my Action Master partner recently? And where the heck did our new transwarp cruiser go?!

If it's not nailed, screwed, bolted, and nano-fused to the ground, chances are good Chop Shop stole it while you were reading this. The other Decepticons and his fellow Insecticons are well aware of Chop Shop's skill as a master thief, but they have no idea just how deep the compulsion goes. Chop Shop is a closet kleptomaniac, compelled to steal—not just from the Autobots, but also from his allies and even from himself! The more difficult it is to steal something, the more Chop Shop feels compelled to rise to the challenge. No piece of equipment or valuable item in Decepticon headquarters is safe when he's around. So far, he's been quick-witted enough to cover his own tracks, but how long his luck holds out, and what his comrades will do when they realize just who's been robbing them blind, is anyone's guess.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Chop Shop appeared exclusively in the UK portion of the Marvel Comics continuity.

There's a very good chance he stole his spot on the Mayhem Attack Squad.

Chop Shop was part of the Decepticons' elite Mayhem Attack Squad. The Mayhems were sent from Cybertron to help the Wreckers defeat Megatron and Galvatron, the latter's presence in his own past causing a time storm that threatened all of reality. However, the sheer power possessed by their targets overwhelmed not only the Mayhems and Wreckers, but a number of other Transformers pulled into the fight as well. Chop Shop was destroyed during this battle, his death convincing Carnivac to retreat from the enemy base. Time Wars

Regeneration One

Regeneration One continues from the Marvel US series, and does not include the UK stories or any subsequently published stories.

There's a good chance he stole Barrage.

Soundwave ordered Chop Shop, Venom, and Ransack to ensure that the Skyscorchers, under siege in the Pax Cybertronia Decommissioning Depot in Kalis, would be "martyrs" to the Neo-Decepticon cause. The three Insecticons infiltrated the depot and eliminated their targets, with Chop Shop taking out Windrazor and Afterburner. However, they were then surprised in turn by the appearance of the Wreckers, who blew in and captured them inside a detention-sphere. Loose Ends #1

Transformers '84

In the early days of the war on Cybertron, Chop Shop was part of a Decepticon assault alongside Barrage, Ransack, Blitzwing, Octane, Runabout, Runamuck, Venom, and the Autobot double agent Counterpunch. Secrets & Lies #1 Later, he was seen as part of a force attacking a fort in the Border Regions, on the orders of Straxus. Secrets & Lies #2

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Chop Shop really wants to steal the spotlight from Ratbat right now.

8.2 million years ago, Chop Shop participated in Shockwave's assault on Iacon. The War Within #3 During the offensive, he and a few other Decepticons attacked the Guardian robots acting as the last line of defense for the Decagon. The War Within #4 He presumably retreated with the rest of the Decepticons when Starscream activated the planetary engines, devastating the city. The War Within #5

7.4 million years ago, Chop Shop joined Ratbat's Ultracons after the disappearance of Megatron splintered the Decepticons. Along with Ratbat, Venom, and Ransack, Chop Shop ambushed and captured Springer in the Tagan Heights. He suggested that Ratbat kill Springer's Wreckers before killing him, to increase his suffering, but Ratbat opted for the more expedient option. The fuel auditor was prevented from carrying that out, however, when a battle between Devastator and Defensor raged out of control, Escalation allowing Springer to escape. Chop Shop and his allies in turn fled the scene, leaving Devastator behind. Devastation

Some time later, Chop Shop was involved in a battle against the now-unified Autobot forces, commanded by Ultra Magnus. When the Ultracons were reabsorbed into the Decepticons 6 million years ago, Chop Shop presumably went with them. The Age of Wrath #1

Later, after the launch of the Ark and the Nemesis, Chop Shop and a number of his fellow Insecticons were reduced to a vampiric existence, capturing Micromasters in the Wastelands and drinking their energon. Attacking a group of arguing Micros, Destined for Nothing he and his comrades devoured Falcon, but were prevented from capturing the Hot Rod Patrol and the Race Track Patrol by the arrivals of Groundshaker and Shockwave, respectively — although the latter did toss them Flanker to snack on. The Gray Race

As ordered by Shockwave, Chop Shop and his mates attacked Little Iacon, searching for the Hot Rod Patrol—Chop Shop accidentally snagged Road Hugger, but was ordered by Venom to throw him back. They eventually landed in the city and recruited the Race Track Patrol to aid them in their search. In the course of the search, Chop Shop stole Barrage's sonic rifle. Recipe for Hate Taking their charges (and a number of captive Micromasters) back to Decepticon HQ, Chop Shop was deactivated when the Hot Rod Patrol infiltrated the base and opened fire on him. Victims of the Revolution

The Battle of the Star Gate

When Megatron confronted the two Starscreams on the Trigger, Chop Shop was part of his forces. When the Autobots arrived, the Decepticons battled them, till the Starscream of the future interrupted the battle by merging with the Trigger. In the ensuing conflict, the Trigger was destroyed and the Transformers were sent falling to the Earth, becoming lost. The Battle of the Star Gate

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Spotlight: Thundercracker

Chop Shop needs to steal Trailbreaker's hiding spot.

During the early days of the war, Chop Shop served under Bludgeon as part of a team sent to find the lost Titan Metroplex. On the two-hundred-and-thirty-eighth day of this grueling campaign, Chop Shop and his colleagues destroyed a Nibarian outpost because they believed it was between them and their quarry. A hunch from Thundercracker led them further to a planet inhabited by Urtuskians. As Chop Shop and the other Decepticons started obliterating the primitive outpost, believing Metroplex was underneath (and also because it was fun), their team was caught up to by a team of Autobots who had been trailing them. Chop Shop and the other the Decepticons retreated without accomplishing their goal. The Hunting Party

After the war was over, Chop Shop joined Lockdown's team of Titan Hunters. They boarded the Lost Light in search of the sloughed-off portion of Metroplex its crew had salvaged, where Venom and Chop Shop found that the only operational crewman was the newly christened Trailcutter. Pursuing him into the medibay, Chop Shop was caught off guard and, ironically, knocked unconscious with the resuscitation pads. Trailcutter then dumped his body at Lockdown's feet in shuttle bay 3 before talking the Decepticons into retreating. The Reluctant Specialist

Chop Shop was still working under Lockdown on the supposedly lost Luna 1, where they discovered a small landing party from the Lost Light attempting to extract a Point One Percenter spark from a giant hot spot. Accusing the interlopers of "trespassing", Lockdown's crew opened fire. The Fecund Moon They chased the "trespassers" into a huge graveyard of deactivated Titans where the Decepticons were easily able to round them all up, then delivered them into the custody of their "crazy boss" Chief Justice Tyrest. House of Ambus

My Little Pony/Transformers

He can steal the colour schemes of his more popular cousins, but he can't steal back his dignity.

Chop Shop was among the Insecticon clones who besieged Sweet Apple Acres. In the ensuing battle against Applejack's extended family, Babs Seed and Apple Bumpkin drove Chop Shop into the ground, where Big McIntosh kicked him in the face until he fled. Strength in Numbers

Games

Transformers Legends

When it was discovered that Bumblebee had formed the Bee Team to strike at Decepticon bases worldwide, Chop Shop and his fellow Insecticons managed to keep the Autobots at bay. The Bee Team

Transformers Roleplaying Game

The kleptomaniacal Chop Shop was a spark-relative of Shrapnel. Decepticon Directive

Toys

The Transformers

There's a good chance he'll steal this toy from you.

• Chop Shop (Deluxe Insecticon, 1985)

• Accessories: "Photon cannon", "vibro-spear"
• Known designers: Shinji Aramaki (concept artist)

Released in the second year of the Hasbro The Transformers line, Chop Shop transforms into a predominantly brown robotic stag beetle. His robot mode carries many of the insect bits over, with the beetle horns rising from each shoulder and insect legs upon both arms. Rather impressively, Chop Shop has a rarity among "Generation 1" toys: all six insect legs use ball joints in one way or another, making him the first Transformers toy to utilize them. Less impressively, his robot arms have no useful articulation at all.

He is a redeco of Beet-Gugal, from the Japanese toyline Armored Insect Corps Beetras, in a colour scheme new for Transformers. As this mold was owned by Bandai, it was not included in Takara's version of Transformers.

• Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Chop Shop at Transformerland.com
• More information on Chop Shop at TFU.info

Generations

"Look at this tank I stole—oh, whoopsie."

• Megatron & Chop Shop (Legends Class, 2013)

• Series / Number: 02 / #004
• Known designers: Joe Kyde (Hasbro)

Part of the fourth wave of 2012-onwards Generations Legends Class toys, Thrilling 30 Chop Shop transforms into a stag beetle, a robot, a weapon with a 5 mm handle, and a "mine plow". The mine plow mode is designed to attach to his pack-in partner Legends Class Megatron's tank mode. He features gearing that opens his pinchers when his legs are moved outward.

He is admittedly simple, as his transformation from robot to beetle is just placing him flat on his chest.

This mold was also used to make Movie Advanced Series Beet-Chop and BotCon 2015's Beet-Chit.

• More information on Generations Chop Shop at TFU.info

Generations (Japan)

Dressed in black so he is harder to notice while stealing.

• Megatron & Starscream (Multi-pack, 2013)

• ID number: TG28
• Release date: December 28, 2013

Released in the twelfth wave of TakaraTomy's Generations line, Chop Shop is a redeco of the Hasbro Generations mold, now in dark brown to closer resemble his original toy, and features a more visibly-painted eye-visor.

Megatron and Chop Shop were only available in a two-pack with Starscream and Waspinator.

Combiner Wars

"Kickback who? I've always had this wave spot."

• Decepticon Chop Shop (Legends Class, 2016)

Part of the fifth wave of the Combiner Wars subline imprint of Generations, Legends Class Chop Shop is a new-head retooling of Thrilling 30 Skrapnel, transforming once again into a robotic stag beetle.

The promotional renders give this toy a much darker reddish-brown base plastic, more in keeping with the original Chop Shop toy, than the final product ended up with. It also shows some extra paint on the legs and chest that the toy does not have. Additionally, Chop Shop uses the movie-style Decepticon insignia, a fairly common screw-up for toys since the beginning of the live-action movie toylines.

• More information on Combiner Wars Chop Shop at TFU.info

Legacy

Rattle big black bones, in the danger zone
There's a rumblin' groan down below
There's a big dark town, it's a place I've found
There's a world going on, underground

• Wrecker Malleus Minotaurus / Chop Shop / Barrage (Multi-pack, 2024)

• Accessories: Back insect legs/blasters, 2 insect-leg sets, rifle
• Known designers: Mark Maher (Hasbro), Ittoku Kuwazu (TakaraTomy), Amy Bence (packaging)

Legacy Chop Shop is a retooling of Legacy Shrapnel with a new head, pincers and insect hindlegs, transforming into a rather compact robotic Stag Beetle. He comes with a pair of blasters that formed the rear insect legs on Shrapnel, but their position is taken by the new hindleg pieces on Chop Shop. These now-extra blasters can also combine with his rifle to form... well, a bigger rifle. The rifle can be attached to the underside of his stag beetle mode for a more symmetrical appearance than storing it on his beetle abdomen as depicted in his instructions.

He was only available in a multi-pack with Barrage (himself a retooling of the base mold that would eventually become Chop Shop) and Malleus Minotaurus, as part of the Mayhem Attack Squad-themed "Doom ‘n Destruction Collection". These sets are an Amazon exclusive in the US, with a small number sold through Hasbro Pulse. This set was revealed and set up for preorder on February 29, 2024.

• Designer commentary on the Doom 'n Destruction Collection from Mark Maher on Instagram

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Chop Shop, Sneaky Insecticon (2018)
  • Wave 1
  • Rarity: UT
  • Card Number: T10/T40
  • Stars: 6

Chop Shop, Sneaky Insecticon is one of forty double-sided character cards available in Wave 1 of the Transformers Trading Card Game.

The artwork on the card is reused from the Transformers Legends mobile card game, with line-art for both Bot and Alt-mode by Dan Khanna.

• Raider Chop Shop, Infantry-Soldier (2019)
  • Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T31/T52
  • Stars: 7

Raider Chop Shop, Infantry-Soldier is one of 52 character cards released in Wave 4 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, War for Cybertron: Siege II.

The card features original artwork based on the Combiner Wars Chop Shop toy, with line-art for both modes by Sara Pitre-Durocher and colors by Cara Burns.

Notes

• Chop Shop, like all of the Deluxe Insecticons, was designed by Artmic and originally produced by Takatoku Toys for inclusion in their Armored Insect Corps Beetras toyline (機甲虫隊ビートラス). Decoed in black and grey, the mold first saw release as the protagonist mecha Beet-Gugal (ビート・グガル Bīto Gugaru)—based on the Japanese word for "stag beetle", kuwagatamushi (クワガタムシ). Takatoku Toys went out of business a short while later in 1984, and their assets were purchased by fellow Japanese toymaker Bandai. At that time, Bandai was not very active in the U.S. market, making Bandai a competitor of Takara, but not of Hasbro. Due to this, the company had no objection to licensing various Takatoku molds to Hasbro in 1985 for sale primarily in the American market as part of their version of the The Transformers toyline. Nowadays, Bandai has a worthwhile interest in every market and since it only once licensed the molds, there is little likelihood that Chop Shop and company will ever be reissued.
• Since Hasbro and Takara shared the original The Transformers cartoon as promotional material for their respective versions of the toyline, Chop Shop and the other Deluxe Insecticons were not included in its cast to avoid giving Japanese market-competitor Bandai free publicity. The group was also omitted from the U.S. Marvel comic and barely appeared in the UK Marvel comics, making them the least "successful" of the Takatoku molds.
• Barrage, Chop Shop, and Venom (though not Ransack) all appeared in their Beetras color schemes on Hasbro's 1985 packaging mural, along with several other toys in early or unused color schemes.
• Ironically, Chop Shop was robbed of having a Transformers Universe bio! Bob Budiansky did write one, though, and Jim Sorenson finally revealed it to the fans on the Disciples of Boltax blog in 2010.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Chop Shop (チョップショップ Choppu Shoppu)
• French: Trancheur (Canada, "Slicer")
• Mandarin: Túfū (Taiwan, 屠夫, "Butcher")

External links

• Beet-Gugal at Diaclone.net (Japanese)