Shrapnel (G1)

This article is about the Generation 1 Insecticon. For the Cybertron character, see Shrapnel (Cybertron).

Shrapnel is a Decepticon Insecticon in the Generation 1 continuity family.

My kingdom for better electrical insulation... insulation.

The eccentric way in which Shrapnel parses his dialogue may seem endearing at first. Others are soon to discover that his seemingly benign tic is merely the gateway to a frighteningly twisted and perverse mind. A master of electricity, his dark desires put this skill to use on his victims. Nothing delights him more than to see how they squirm from his touch.

Italian name: Rantrox

Fiction

Animated continuity

Taste the LIGHTNING! Lightning.

Voice actor: Hal Rayle (US), Masashi Ebara (Japan)

The mercenary Insecticons landed on earth in their own space pod before the Ark crashed to Earth. (It is unclear whether this pod was launched from the Nemesis or not, as the dialogue seems to suggest maybe it was, but the Insecticons and Megatron's Decepticons do not seem to know each other.) Their pod crashed into the region that would become known as "Demon Swamp" and their computers adapted them to transform into insects and eat organic food to survive. The "Insecticons" apparently lived in the swamp for millions of year until discovered by Megatron's Decepticons. They form an uneasy alliance with Megatron, never coming fully under his command but working with the Decepticons when they could be convinced there was something (usually food) in it for them.

The Insecticons in the Cartoon were able to create vast clone armies of themselves at will, a formidable ability that my have been the reason they were able to maintain their autonomy from Megatron.

Beast Wars

While temporarily out of his mind, the Predacon Waspinator believed himself to actually be Shrapnel, and adopted his mannerisms and speech pattern, pattern.

Dreamwave comics continuity

Shrapnel was part of a unit sent to Earth by Shockwave to guide the planet's development and prepare it for invasion. They were beaten up by the Dinobots on arrival, then played dead until Grimlock got bored and wandered off. Millions of years later, they were discovered by both the EDC and Autobots after kidnapping an entire town. Shrapnel was last seen getting a building dropped on him by Sideswipe.

Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs the Transformers comics continuity

As part of Serpent O.R.'s forces, Shrapnel defended the New Decepticon Army's base against a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe strike force. The Art of War, Part 5

Toys

Generation 1

• Shrapnel (Insecticon, 1985)

Japanese ID number: 42

External links

• Shrapnel at TFU.info
• Shrapnel's Universe profile at NTFA.net

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.