Kickback (Energon)

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

Kickback is a Decepticon from the Energon portion of the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

A member of the Destruction Team, Kickback combines with his teammates to form the powerful Bruticus Maximus. Had he not been overly close to his exploding team leader, we might know more about his flipper-footed majesty.

Fiction

Energon cartoon

Shortly after awakening from their long slumber, Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus were ordered by Galvatron to pursue the fleeing Superion Maximus after the Autobot attempted to attack the Decepticon leader. Both combiners separated into their individual components and gave chase. They later pledged their allegiance to Galvatron, believing him to be the future of Cybertron. Wishes

When Six Shot pinpointed an Autobot signal on the planet's surface, Galvatron sent Constructicon Maximus and Bruticus Maximus out to investigate. The two combiners came upon Autobot refugees looking about the crashed Miranda II for survivors, and decided to have some fun by beating them up. Arcee and Kicker sped by to allow the Autobots to escape, and Bruticus Maximus split into Kickback and his other components to give them chase. They were unable to catch the pair, but came upon them again after the Omnicons had managed to clog up an energon pipeline, hindering the Decepticons' planetary defense grid. Bruticus Maximus assumed his combined form to gun them down, but was countered by the arrival of Optimus Prime and other Autobot reinforcements. Break Through

During a virtual training match between the Autobots and Decepticons, Kickback was part of Barricade's Destruction Team, fighting the Air Team alongside the Construction Team. They combined into Bruticus Maximus to defeat Superion Maximus, only to be defeated in turn by Optimus Supreme. Distribution

Kickback and the other Destruction Team members eventually paid for their treachery during a final show down with the Air Team. Bruticus Maximus and Constructicon Maximus double teamed Superion Maximus, who held his own and destroyed Constructicon's spark before the Autobot was reduced to Storm Jet. However, the ghost of Superion's brother appeared, destroying Blackout, giving Storm Jet the chance to procure Constructicons's dead limbs and recombine into Superion. Before Bruticus could recover, the Autobot pierced his spark causing an explosion which engulfed them all. Spark

Kickback was never referred to by name, nor was he ever presented as a sentient, individual being. Most of his appearances were as the left leg of Bruticus Maximus.

Toys

Energon

• Bruticus (Multi-pack, 2004)
  • ID number: SD-21
  • Accessories: Dual cannon/radar (combiner foot/hand), Decepticon-style energon star

In Japan, Brawl (Takara's name for Kickback) was only available as part of a complete set of all five Destruction Team members, never as an individual. There are several small deco differences between the Hasbro and Takara releases: the Takara version uses a darker clear blue plastic, the Hasbro version's orange paint operations on the sides of the tank mode are lime on the Takara version, and the Takara version has the number "16" tampographed on the sides of his tank mode instead of the Hasbro version's "B/12".

• Comparison between Kickback and his Japanese counterpart Brawl at Autobase Aichi.

Alas, his elaborate backstory as part of the Knights Tankor and doomed romance with Sky Shadow shall never be revealed.

• Kickback (Energon Class, 2005)
  • Team ID number: D4
  • Accessories: Dual cannon/radar (combiner foot/hand), Decepticon-style energon star

Kickback shares a sculpt with his teammate Blight, transforming into an anti-aircraft tank similar to a Gepard. He comes with a clear-blue Energon chip that can attach to most Energon-series toy molds. He can also form the arm or leg to any combination of Energon combiner team super robot, though his "standard" position is as the left leg of Bruticus Maximus, with his Energon weapon forming the foot. His Energon weapon has a Mini-Con port on it.

His stock photos depict a misassembled Energon weapon, with the rear part facing the wrong way (so it would cause trouble if one were to use Kickback as one of Bruticus Maximus's legs, with the weapon piece forming the foot). The toy itself comes with a correctly assembled weapon, and the instructions also depict it the correct way.

This sculpt was also used to make Fun Publications Transformers Collectors' Club-exclusive Timelines Landquake and Universe (2008) Bruticus Maximus team members Blast Off and Brawl, who double as Revenge of the Fallen Blast Off and Brawl. Another planned redeco, movie Gunbarrel, was canceled, but later popped up in the aftermarket in unusually large quantities.

• More information on Kickback at TFU.info

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Brawl (ブロウル Burōru)