TRANSFORMERS: Revisiting the Characters of Generation 1 - SHRAPNEL

 TRANSFORMERS:  Revisiting the Characters of Generation 1

    "Control electricity and you control the world." - Shrapnel, 1985.

DECEPTICON

Name - SHRAPNEL

Function - Electronic Warfare

Series Debut - 1985 / Wave 2

Sub-Group - Insecticon

BACKGROUND...

    Shrapnel and his Insecticon brothers, Bombshell and Kickback, crash-landed in the swamps of South America long ago.  Their Idento-Computers adapted them to life on Earth as giant insects.  This way they could survive by eating nearly anything and processing the "food" into energy.  The reports of 3 giant bugs harassing local villages and farmers for their crops eventually caught the attention of the Autobots and Decepticons.

    Shrapnel often acted as leader of the trio.  He entered battle with a loud battle cry that could be heard from 8 miles away.  His antennas could allow him control practically any electrical device or could harness lightning as a weapon.  Shrapnel's name is derived from his grenade launcher.  This weapon could fire 30 pound balls that burst into razor-sharp shards!

    Working together, the three Insecticons could replicate clones of themselves.  Combining the burst of Bombshell's "Insecto-shell" into scrap metal, the Insecticons form a swarm of Insecticons using their electronic clone beams.  These robot insects were not free-thinking and would be strictly obedient to the original three.  

    The Insecticons had a shaky alliance with Megatron and his Decepticons, often teaming up to simply use one another.  When the ruse was over, both groups would separate.  The two teams apparently set their differences aside when the Decepticons finally conquered Cybertron.  Shrapnel and the Insecticons resided on their home planet until they joined Megatron for an assault on Autobot City on Earth in 2005.  Shrapnel was critically wounded during the battle.  As the Decepticons fled the planet, Shrapnel was tossed into space with other damaged warriors to ensure the survival of the stronger Decepticons.

    Deactivated and floating through space, Shrapnel was found by the planet-eater Unicron.  As Megatron bartered a deal, Shrapnel's wreckage was converted into one of Scourge's huntsmen - the Sweeps.

MY THOUGHTS...

    Shrapnel was an awesome character and the first Insecticon I bought back in 1985!  He had a cool insect mode, great yellow/black/purple color scheme and that creepy voice where he repeats his last word.  I think, however, it was the ability to attract lightning and use it as a weapon was what really got me.  How fun was that to use in your battles?

    Standing in for the G1 Shrapnel is Generations "Skrapnel" from 2014.  Hasbro must have lost the rights to the Shrapnel name.  This is a rare occasion where I would have to say I prefer the original figure over this newer one.  I miss the chrome antennae, opening compartment on the chest, and the more accurate face.  Still a cool figure, but just not up to par with the 1985 version!

The Insecticons from the original 1985 G1 catalog!

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    (Information on the character's lore was taken from the Sunbow Transformers cartoon series, including the Movie and the figure's original Tech-Spec.)