Insecticon (G1)
| The name or term "Insecticon" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Insecticon (disambiguation). |
- The Insecticons are a Decepticon subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Insecticons are a group of insectoid troublemakers that Megatron trusts as far as he can throw Devastator. The Insecticons also display a wide array of unique abilities including eating both organic and inorganic matter for energy, creating clones of themselves, weather control, and cerebro-shells.
- The most commonly-seen group of Insecticons includes:
- Another group of Insecticons includes:
A failed batch of Insecticons became known as the Swarm.
- Hungarian group name: Álcarovarok (literally "Decepticon-insects")
- Portuguese group name (Brazil comic): Insecticus / Inseticons
- Japanese group name: Insectron
- Italian group name: Mini-Insectors
- Hebrew group name: Harakrikim
Fiction
Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Individualistic, greedy, and arrogant, the Insecticons consider themselves a species unto themselves and have only a tentative on-again/off-again alliance with the main Decepticon forces, mainly when Megatron can bribe them with the Energon they need to maintain their clone hordes.
Shrapnel, Kickback, and Bombshell arrived on Earth in an escape pod millions of years ago. Landing in a swamp, their idento-computers gave them new alternate modes based on local insects. Eventually their food-raiding activities attracted the attention of both the Autobots and Decepticons, the latter approaching them with offers of alliance and shared purpose.
Reunited with their Decepticon comrades, the three warriors happily accepted an alliance, driving off the Autobots and participating in a raid on an oil refinery. They displayed the full range of their powers... as well as their willingness to clear out as soon as the tide of battle turned against the Decepticons. Devouring a batch of energon cubes, they abandoned the fight, prompting Megatron to pursue them into the distance, swearing vengeance. A Plague of Insecticons
The Insecticons somehow survived, and were in the area when Megatron decided to pursue the electro-cells. The Insecticons aided the Decepticons in battle... and received a measly three energon cubes as a reward. The Autobot Mirage took advantage of their discontent, stealing the cubes and leaving a Decepticon insignia in their place. Soon, the Insecticons attacked the Decepticons in retribution. Mirage was injured in the battle, and cerebro-shelled into being an Insecticon slave. Megatron and Bombshell eventually worked out Mirage's deception, and used him to lure several Autobots into a trap. When the battle turned against them, Megatron destroyed the electro-cells, resulting in massive explosions which convinced the Insecticons to flee into the distance. Traitor
In an unusual instance of an Insecticon working solo, Bombshell joined Megatron's forces after they had captured the human-made Nightbird robot. He performed brain work on the robot to turn it into a Decepticon ally, and was quite impressed with its abilities. He later participated in a battle with the Autobots over the World Energy Chip. When Starscream disabled Nightbird with an energy blast to the back, Bombshell joined Megatron and the Decepticons in pursuing Starscream into the distance. Enter the Nightbird
The Insecticons had been devouring trees in a National Park, prompting the Autobots to investigate. Megatron and his troops arrived in time to observe as the trio defeated Bumblebee, Hound and Beachcomber. Megatron approached them and proposed a temporary alliance to capture the data storage facility at Iron Mountain. As a reward, the Insecticons were first allowed to feast on the Nova Power Core, which allowed them to grow to great size and power. Quickly seizing the initiative, they cerebro-shelled Soundwave, taking control of him. Through him they learned of Megatron's plan to dispose of them after Iron Mountain's data was secure. Thus they covertly cerebro-shelled the rest of the Decepticons; when Megatron emerged from Iron Mountain, he found himself facing the guns of his own troops. The Autobots, meanwhile, had discovered that the Nova Power Core was unstable and would eventually cause the Insecticons to explode. They developed an antidote, and allied with Megatron to deliver it into the Insecticons. Bombshell and Kickback were cured and returned to their normal size, but Shrapnel exploded before the antidote could take full effect. The explosion also released the Decepticons from Bombshell's control. Bombshell was able to instantly reconstruct Shrapnel's shattered pieces. With an infuriated Megatron in hot pursuit, the Insecticons fled into the distance. The Insecticon Syndrome
The Insecticons went on a cloning spree, creating thousands of clones and raiding farmland to harvest energy. After driving off an Autobot attack led by Smokescreen, the Insecticons and their clone hordes flew to Decepticon Headquarters for energy processing. Megatron gave them their cut, consisting of three tiny energon cubes, while privately processing scads of full-sized cubes behind the scenes.
When the Autobots acquired a robotic insecticide to deal with the swarm, Megatron sent Thrust to warn his erstwhile allies, but the Insecticons suspected that they were being deceived, and instead flew directly to the valley where the insecticide (along with the Autobot Cosmos), lay stranded. They gleefully ignored Megatron's Decepticons, who were being overwhelmed by the Autobots, and instead turned their attention to a delicious-looking forest, which Megatron was clearly trying to hoard for himself. Flying into the "forest", the Insecticons quickly discovered that it consisted of ravenous Morphobots, which promptly devoured the entire Insecticon army. Only the three originals escaped unharmed, though just barely; they fled, flying away into the distance. Quest for Survival
Another horde of Insecticon clones was ravaging a city when the Autobots rolled into town. After the Protectobots evacuated the city, the Autobots blasted the clones to scrap. When the Autobots attempted to seize control of the space bridge, Megatron had the Insecticons steal the bridge's control module. Later, faced with an Earth-destroying crisis that required cooperation with the Autobots as well as a trip to Cybertron, the Autobots and Decepticons tracked the Insecticons down to a parking garage. Shrapnel panicked at the sight of Megatron; the trio transformed and burrowed into the ground, leaving the control module behind and fleeing into the... ground. The Revenge of Bruticus
At some point, the Insecticons appeared to have joined Megatron's regular forces; they were on Cybertron after he conquered the planet, and joined in the raid on Autobot City, where they ate a lot of doors and armor, and got bashed around and run over quite a bit.
After the Battle of Autobot City, the three Insecticons found themselves battered and broken, and on the wrong end of the "weight" jettisoned from Astrotrain. All three appeared to be reformatted by Unicron into new bodies, though Shrapnel later menaced Daniel on the planet Junkion. The Transformers: The Movie
Kickback and Shrapnel were among the Decepticons seen struggling for energon on Chaar after the destruction of Unicron. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 Later, all three Insecticons were among the Decepticons on Earth who assisted Trypticon in his assault on Metroplex. They got flattened by Sky Lynx. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
Marvel Comics continuity
The Decepticon warriors Bombshell, Shrapnel, Kickback, Dirge, Thrust, and Ramjet were seemingly high-ranking officers under the command of Lord Straxus, Lord High Governor of Polyhex. Shrapnel served as Straxus's Executive Officer, and was presented as a cruel, sadistic being, with no notable sign of a speech impediment. It was he that supervised the technicians who received—and eventually decoded—a transmission from Soundwave on Earth, and later he who was given the distinctly thankless task of assisting Straxus in the management of the Space Bridge project.
The six appeared to serve as Darkmount's security in some fashion, since Shrapnel personally captured the Autobot Scrounge and brought him to Straxus—and, later, after Blaster had been deliberately taken prisoner, it was Shrapnel who brought him before the tyrant in the Space Bridge construction hangar—only to be assaulted by a less-than-grateful Decepticon leader. Later, all six were observed flying into battle against Autobot intruders. The Smelting Pool! The Bridge to Nowhere!
At this point, the Insecticon trio transformed into forms which appeared to very closely resemble their later Earthen modes—albeit without any visible shifting of mass (i.e. Shrapnel is still the same size as in his robotic mode, as evidenced when he seizes hold of Scrounge). Later, during the attempt to assassinate Emirate Xaaron (itself in reality bait for the Wreckers' Operation: Volcano), Kickback does apparently reduce in size, so it's possible that the Insecticons already have this ability, but that it is optional, in the same way that Soundwave appears able to decide on a whim what size he wishes his alt-mode to be on any given day.
After the fall of Darkmount and the crippling of Straxus, the trio continued to be influential figures in the Cybertronian Decepticon Army, and were part of a battle unit regarded by the Autobots as being some of the Decepticons' deadliest killers—specifically, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Kickback, Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet, Blitzwing, Octane, and Macabre—so much so, in fact, that Emirate Xaaron planned the dangerous Operation: Volcano to lure them into a deadly trap, believing that the extermination of this group would deliver a great psychological blow for the Resistance.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's allegiance, after Roadbuster had tricked a doomed traitor Autobot into passing on fake information to a typically murderous Shrapnel, Operation: Volcano began to fall apart as a result of events on Earth. First, Ultra Magnus was removed from the Wreckers' strike force to travel to Earth, and second, after Kickback had completed reconnaissance, Megatron himself contacted the Decepticon attack group and ordered the Insecticons to report to Earth—immediately. Unwilling to risk disobeying Megatron, everyone but Macabre returned to Polyhex. Target 2006
Significantly, during these events, the trio are twice referred to as Insecticons by name, suggesting both that Cybertron does possess insect life, and that their forms are indeed already based upon it—an implication absent in the US strip.
The three Insecticons were sent to Earth via a repaired or rebuilt Space Bridge, where they fell under the command of Megatron, who altered them making minor modifications in order to allow them to transform into the likenesses of Earthside insects. Megatron intended to make use of the Space Bridge to revitalise Cybertron, by connecting a vast drilling pipe transdimensionally between Earth and a massive turbine and generator complex constructed on Cybertron, and drilling through Hoover Dam to do it. To this end, he utilised the Insecticons' unique talents—Bombshell used one of his Cerebro-shells to take the mind of one of the Dam's technical staff, Ricky Vasquez, Shrapnel's electrical powers were used to remote-operate the Dam's electrical machinery, and Kickback... kicked a door down.
When the Aerialbots on their first mission intervened, both the Insecticons and their three Strike Plane comrades, also having travelled to Earth, fared badly against them. Shrapnel's antennae were twisted, courtesy of Air Raid's torque rifle, and ultimately Ricky Vasquez's free will and love of his daughter were enough to allow him to overcome Bombshell's cerebro-shell entirely, pulling Megatron's trigger and destroying the drill. Battered, Shrapnel and Kickback somewhat unceremoniously carried a still fulminating Megatron off into the distance. Meanwhile, however, Bombshell, having seen an opportunity in his small insect-size, attached himself to the Aerialbot leader Silverbolt, and returned with him to the Ark in secret. Aerialbots over America!
Bombshell planted a cerebro-shell in the head of Optimus Prime, current head of the Earthbound Autobots. The shell failed to take full effect for unknown reasons, but did permit Megatron and Soundwave to tap into and monitor Optimus' thoughts—including the Creation Matrix. Thus, Bombshell was indirectly responsible for Megatron being able to give life to the Stunticons, and presumably (though it is never stated) the Combaticons as well. Heavy Traffic!
The point at which he left the Ark is unknown, but the trio continued to make sporadic appearances amongst the Decepticon forces until the Underbase Saga. Shrapnel notably used his electrical powers to remote-control the bridge of a cargo ship at one point, but beyond that, the trio seem to have faded into the background. Although not shown being deactivated or destroyed by Starscream during this conflict, they were still never seen again. They may have been taken out of action at this point, or possibly during the preceding inter-faction fighting. It is also possible that they simply chose to lie low for a while.
The Insecticons Chop Shop and Venom, although not specifically identified as Insecticons at any point in this continuity, were part of the Decepticons' original Mayhem Attack Squad, which was sent to Earth in fragile alliance with the Wreckers to hunt down and destroy Galvatron in late 1988-early 1989. Predictably, few of either group survived the encounter with the future Decepticon, and these Insecticons were apparently slaughtered—either by Galvatron or by the clone of Megatron with whom he had formed an alliance. As the story never presents a full roster of the Mayhem Attack Squad, it is possible that Ransack and Barrage were also members, but the numbers given make it impossible for them to have been also present and killed off-panel. Time Wars
During one alternate future, Shrapnel and Scavenger attempted to kill Daniel Witwicky on the planet of Junk in the year 2006, but this particular timeline was rewritten when Galvatron time-travelled back to 1987 to escape Rodimus Prime.
Earthforce
The three original Insecticons were among the Decepticons recruited—and possibly reactivated—by Megatron on Earth during the Decepticon Civil War there, while Optimus Prime was focused on the approaching threat of Unicron. Although initially loyal to Megatron, they were bested in combat by Starscream—then theoretically under Shockwave's command—when he infiltrated Megatron's base. Starscream subdued the trio using an electrically charged flyswat known as a Rustbug Hoop—thereby proving the existence of Cybertronian insect life—and more or less blackmailed them into joining forces with himself and Soundwave in their plans to reunite both Earthbound Decepticon factions by disposing of Megatron and Shockwave and taking their place. Bugged!
Bombshell's cerebro-shells, now apparently grown somewhat more reliable, were used at least twice during this period—once to drive the Aerialbot gestalt Superion into running amok, Inside Story! and later to rewrite the memories of journalist Irwin Spoon, ensuring the continued success of Soundwave and Starscream's smear campaign against the Autobots. End of the Road!
Dreamwave comics continuity
Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback, along with Soundwave and Ravage, were sent by Megatron to assassinate the new Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. They failed when Optimus royally kicked their asses. In their Cybertronian modes, Shrapnel transformed into a jet, and while the others were not seen to transform, Bombshell appeared to have the parts to become a tank while Kickback looked to possibly transform into a type of dragster. The remaining Insecticons caused terror throughout Cybertron and joined Shockwave's attack on Iacon. Chop Shop was seen to transform into a wheeled vehicle (with pincers) while Venom became a jet. The War Within
During the Dark Ages, the Insecticons split among the Decepticon splinter groups. Venom, Chop Shop, Ransack and Barrage joined the Ultracons, while Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback remained with the Decepticons under Shockwave. War Within: The Dark Ages Although the Decepticon forces were eventually reunited, War Within: The Age of Wrath the former Ultracon Insecticons were reduced to vampirism, capturing Micromasters and draining them of Energon. By this point, they looked to transform into their Earthen modes somehow. Micromasters
Meanwhile, Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback went to Earth by Shockwave after the Ark crash-landed on the planet. They were to guide Earth's development and prepare it for conquest (real logical choice there, Shockwave) but were followed by the Dynobots. We're not entirely sure of the sequence of events, but it appears that the Insecticons played dead until Grimlock and Slag got bored and wandered off. It's assumed they gained their insect forms around this time. Extermination
In the present day, after the fall of Shockwave's regime on Cybertron, War and Peace the Earthen Insecticons resurfaced in San Desto, taking control of the town and growing an army of Insecticon clones. Infestation A team of Autobots assisted by the Earth Defense Command managed to defeat them. Extermination
Timelines: Descent into Evil continuity
By the time of the events of Descent into Evil, the remnants of the Insecticons had been widely dispersed, apparently lacking access to their cloning abilities. The Decepticon general Deathsaurus, seeking to provide the Decepticon/Predacon Alliance with the means to return the balance of power to their favor, established a research facility on Ceti Alpha Seven. In this lab, the surviving Insecticons Buzzclaw and Dirge were analyzed, and their genetic cloning ability unlocked once more. The resultant Virulent Clones fought against an Autobot team sent to destroy the base, but were ultimately destroyed along with their base, and possibly Buzzclaw. Descent into Evil
Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers comics
Kickback was seen among Shockwave's troops as they waited for Ultra Magnus's force field to run out of power so they could capture the Autobots. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2
When a team of G.I. Joes and Cobra members were sent to a dark future where the Decepticons had conquered Earth, they were attacked by a swarm of Insecticon clones. Torch managed to deactivate them using an EMP grenade. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 3
Later in the normal timeline, Shrapnel, Venom, Ransack and Barrage were seen under Serpent O.R.'s command, fighting back against a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe assault. The Art of War issue 5
IDW Continuity
Kickback was around at the dawn of the Decepticon movement. Megatron Origin issue 4
A thing called Bombshell was used years and years ago by Soundwave to brainwash Beachcomber. The Autobots do not appear to have been familiar with Bombshell's existence. Spotlight: Blaster
Years and years later, Insecticons were created on Cybertron in great numbers. However, the vast majority of them were failures, with only three fully functional individuals; Shrapnel and... Kickback and Bombshell. Er. All Hail Megatron issue 7
The rest, dubbed "The Swarm" were left on the planet when it was abandoned. All Hail Megatron issue 6
The Insecticons were part of the Decepticon force on Earth, taking part in both the defeat of the Autobot forces there, All Hail Megatron issue 7 the conquest of New York, All Hail Megatron issue 1 and having to listen to Megatron waffle. All Hail Megatron issue 4 Traveling to Beijing with Skywarp and Thundercracker, they quickly agitated Skywarp by telling him the Seekers were no longer the elite warriors of the Decepticons, replaced by newer warriors, like the Constructicons. This nearly caused Skywarp, and by proxy Thundercracker, to attack them. All Hail Megatron issue 6
IDW Hearts of Steel continuity
On Starscream's orders, Kickback, Bombshell and Shrapnel robbed a train carrying cash and bullion from the Denver Mint, although they didn't see the value in weak metal and sheets of paper. They delivered the stolen property to Starscream and Tobias Muldoon the following morning. Hearts of Steel issue 2
In vehicle mode, the three Insecticons combine to form a single fanciful locomotive, called the "Insectrain" in the concept art section of the trade paperback collection. Whether Insectrain is a true gestalt combiner like Devastator, a Micromaster Combiner-like combination (combined altmodes with no emergent personality), or just three robots hooked up in a train, is unknown.
Toys
Generation 1
- The Insecticons were sold in small boxed packages at the $6 price point in 1985 and 1986. They are Diaclone-origin toys, retaining the vestigial "cockpits" common to such toys. They are decorated in a standard color scheme dominated by black, with purple, yellow, and silver chrome hightlights.
- The four Deluxe Insecticons were originally designed by Takatoku Toys for the Armored Insect Battalion Beetras (機甲虫隊ビートラス) toyline, likely explaining their near-total absence from vintage Generation 1 fiction. They feature larger size and greater complexity than the standard Insecticons. Their color scheme is not unified.
- Decoys (1987)
- Bombshell
- Kickback
- Shrapnel
- Action Masters (1990)
- Bombshell
Timelines
- Convention attendee bonus toys (2005)
- All the Timelines Insecticons are redecos of the Beast Wars Buzzclaw mold, manufactured for BotCon 2005.
Universe (2008)
G1 Series
- Insecticons (Commemorative Edition three pack, 2009)
- Includes the Insecticons Hardshell, Kickback, and Sharpshot. These are reissues of the original Insecticons Bombshell, Kickback, and Shrapnel.
Merchandise
Robot Heroes
- Rodimus vs. Insecticon (Shrapnel, renamed due to trademark issues) (2007)
- Ironhide vs. Kickback (2008)
- Perceptor vs. Hardshell (Bombshell, renamed due to trademark issues) (2008)
Notes
- According to the data unlocked with their Cyber Planet Key, the Terrorcon Scrapmetal have a connection to the Insecticons. What this connection is, however, is unknown.
- A fifth transforming robot insect, called Beet Papal, was featured in the fiction surrounding Takatoku's Beetras toyline. Whether Takatoku ever meant to make Beet Papal as a toy is uncertain, particularly since the line came out shortly before the company's demise. It's possible that, if Beet Papal had been made as a toy, it would have been picked up by Hasbro for use as a Deluxe Insecticon, which would have made it the first female Transformer toy. Of course, that's a whole lot of "ifs".
- The command structure of the Insecticons is a little...difficult to work out. Venom is considered the overall leader, yet has never appeared fictionally in charge of the group. Shrapnel seemed in charge in early appearances, and is confirmed as the leader of the trio in the Dreamwave continuity. However, Bombshell seemed to take over the role as the show progressed (he was easily given the most focus, a trait usually reserved for sub-group commanders), in Dreamwave it is suggested he is trying to take control off of Shrapnel and he is clearly the spokesperson for the team in the IDW continuity.
- Yet Kickback, who's rank score is higher than both Bombshell and Shrapnel, never gets to command anywhere in the fiction.
