Video review of the Toys R Us Exclusive Commemorative Edition; Insecticons

The three original Insecticon toys were based on Diaclone toys made by Takara in 1984.

Shrapnel: Stag Beetle
Abilities: Shrapnel can control other robots (as well as almost any electrically run device) by remote with his antennas. In robot mode, his antennae can, in the proper weather conditions, attract massive bolts of lightning from the sky to augment his own electrical generating capacity, and then release that power through his hands. In insect mode, Shrapnel can use his twin antennae to generate an electric burst of up to 40,000 volts.
Weapons: Grenade launcher

Bombshell: Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Abilities: Mind control (see Cerebro-shells below)
Weapons: Cerebro-shells (humans) - In his insect form, Bombshell uses his stinger to inject a micro-circuited device into a humans head. It travels through the blood until it reaches the brain, whereupon it opens up and releases tens of thousands of connecting wires. The wires coil around nearby neural dendrites until the brains conscious functions are effectively rerouted through the cerebro-shell, which puts the mind of the victim under the remote control of Bombshell.
Weapons: Cerebro-shells (Transformers) - Bombshells stinger is used in much the same way against other robots high-function mental circuitry. The major difference is that once the stinger is pressed against the metal casing of the victims head, the small laser torches on the sides of the stinger rotate rapidly to carve a small hole in the casing, allowing the stinger to inject a cerebro-shell.
Weapons: Head-mounted mortar cannon

Kickback: Grasshopper
Abilities: Kickback is adept at controlling others through blackmail. In his insect mode, Kickback can use his legs to leap up to heights of 40 feet and over distances of a tenth of a mile. Although small in this form, he can punch a hole in a one-quarter-inch steel plate with a single kick.
Weapons: Submachine gun

Originally, the Insecticons were three Decepticons that Megatron had left onboard his ship, the Nemesis, which was pursuing the Ark, as back-up. When the Nemesis crashed on Earth, the trio evacuated in an escape pod, which crashed in an Indonesian swamp. In order to survive, they scanned the forms of the surrounding area's insects. The insect forms they adopted enabled them to extract energon from organic life and metals, though they still ingest fossil fuels and energy-based matter (electricity, energon cubes, etc.) as well. Because they took on the forms of insects the size of Transformers, the three Insecticons caused terror for any humans living nearby. They even developed the ability to make clones of themselves out of any metal.

They were eventually found by Megatron centuries later and were re-recruited back to the Decepticons. But they became more independent as a result of their long absence, making them loose cannons: their relationship with the Decepticons proper was one of betrayals and counter-betrayals. Originally appearing in "A Plague of Insecticons", they were discovered raiding human crops. They quickly joined up with the main Decepticons: unfortunately, the Insecticons swiftly decided this wasn't to their advantage and devoured Megatron's store of Energon instead, resulting in a battle breaking out between the two sides. After this, the Insecticons entered into a free-lancing relationship with the Decepticons, helping Megatron if they had something to gain from it. They were tricked by Mirage into attacking the Decepticons, later using Bombshell's cerebro-shells to control him and lure the Autobots into a trap. Another deal, with Decepticons and Insecticons working together to raid a military power plant, went awry when they overheard Megatron planning to betray them. Munching on a nova power core, they grew in size and strength. They then controlled all the Decepticons bar Megatron with cerebro-shells, forcing the Decepticon leader to team up with the Autobots to stop his mind-controlled troops. Using Megatron in gun mode, Optimus fired the antidote needed to restore the Insecticons size and prevent the nova core they ingested from overloading. However, even the Insecticons' rebellious streak was overlooked by Megatron, as the Insecticons could create clones of themselves, thus creating an instant army.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• transformers
• g1
• insecticons
• shrapnel
• kickback
• bombshell
• insects
• decepticon

[miguelandoniez]

theyr expensive

[optibotimus]

35 bucks for 3 figures?

[AllHailUnicron]

This may be a dumb question, but do you recommend these guys? for $35.00?

[optibotimus]

well as i said in the video...which you either didn't watch all of or werent' paying attention.....for 35 bucks...getting 3 g1 figures...i think it's worth it

[big2chamber]

can the insecticons join together like devestator

[optibotimus]

lol no

[ivannanto]

They were firstly founded in Indonesia :D

[cybertronkidz1996]

@YambidiBlamBlam i think its couse of copyright laws

[YambidiBlamBlam]

Why did they change the names of Bombshell and Shrapnel? Lemme guess? CENSORESHIP.

[hotshot12797]

Are these figs compatible size wise to the universe lines?

[sundaedu]

both

[MrXyrip]

actually bombshell mind control the autobot mirage in an episode of G1

[vultwaz]

*guessing before i watched the entire video*

kickback:grasshopper

shrapnel: stag beetle

bombshell: kabuto beetle

[LesserZ]

I'm not the most hardcore Insecticon collector, but I do have 10 of each figure. All originals with diecast metal. I had a seller on ebay who sold them to me in lots of three for 35 bucks a few years ago. So the price sounds good.

[SnyperMac]

the mind control victim is mirage

[MinimunWage]

Instead of finding a diaclone driver on Ebay how bout' the Dr. Arkevile from the Masterpiece Starscream toy? If it could fit, and it makes sense because he's an villain in the show.