Shrapnel (Transformers)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Transformers character | |
 Shrapnel |
|
| Shrapnel | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Decepticon  |
| Sub-Group | Insecticons |
| Function | Electronic Warfare |
| Motto | "Control electricity and you control the world." |
| Alternate Modes | Mechanical Stag Beetle |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 |
| English voice actor | Hal Rayle |
Shrapnel (Estilhaço in Portugal) is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers universes, as a member of the Insecticons, a sub-faction of the Decepticons.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
Shrapnel's original toy tech spec and Marvel Universe bio both painted the picture of a dedicated sadist. He enjoys the screams of his enemies: even better is listerning to them short circuit.
[edit] Animated series
Shrapnel debuted with the rest of the Insecticons in the first season episode, A Plague of Insecticons. The Insecticons were a group of Decepticons, who fled the Nemesis four million years ago in an escape ship. The ship landed in Indonesia where the Insecticons reformatted themselves to resemble insects. The Insecticons' stomachs could absorb most forms of energy and matter and use it to fuel the robots.
Shrapnel, who always repeated the last word in a sentence, was often seen in a leadership capacity with the Insecticons. He had the ability to create and control an unlimited number of clones using just small pieces of scrap metal. He also had the ability to control lightning when storms were present. While an effective weapon, this ability was seen as ineffective against the Autobots while they were in vehicular mode, due to their rubber tires. At first, Megatron was very pleased with the Insecticons. However, once the tide of battle turned in the Autobots' favor, the Insecticons consumed the Decepticons' Energon. This began a feud between the Insecticons and the Decepticons.
Later on, in The Insecticon Syndrome, Shrapnel and the Insecticons were asked to help the Decepticons raid Iron Mountain, a fictional U.S. military installation which contained information regarding the world's energy. In return, Megatron would allow the Insecticons to consume the energy produced by the Nova Power Plant prior to engaging Iron Mountain. The Nova power caused the Insecticons to grow in strength and size.
With their new power, the Insecticons plot to betray the Decepticons at Iron Mountain, which Soundwave overhears. However, before Soundwave could get away, Shrapnel captures him and instructs Bombshell to implant a cerebro shell.
The Autobots attack the plant, but are succesfully repelled by the Insecticons. Later, the Autobots dicover that the nova energy, which is incompatible with their stomachs will cause them to explode, potentially destroying Iron Mountain with them.
Meanwhile, Shrapnel and the Decepticons begin their raid on Iron Mountain. Shrapnel takes control of the human's defense batteries and uses them to break through the security. Soundwave manages to download the data and thus Megatron's use for the Insecticons had ended. He orders them destroyed only to discover that Bombshell had injected cerebro shells into the Decepticons taking over their minds. Optimus Prime arrives and tackles Megatron before he could fire at the Insecticons. After learning of the imminent explosion, Megatron agrees to assist the Autobots.
Wheeljack and Ratchet arrive on the scene with a cure for the Insecticons. Optimus Prime teams up with Megatron to deliver the antidote via Megatron's alt mode. They manage to cure all the Insecticons, except Shrapnel, who manages to knock Prime away with his bolt attack. After this, Shrapnel's condition turns critical, and he doubles over in pain. Spike Witwicky approaches Shrapnel and dumps the antidote into his chest. His is unsuccesful as Shrapnel explodes. Iron Mountain is undamaged, but the same could not be said of Shrapnel. Bombshell reassembles Shrapnel and the Insecticons flee with the Decepticons in pursuit.
The Decepticon/Insecticon feud continued throughout the second season. In Transformers: The Movie, Shrapnel and the Insecticons were involved in the battle of Autobot City. Shrapnel suffers major injuries as he get blasted by Blitzwing's cannon, knocked into the Autobot City moat by Hot Rod and run down by Optimus Prime. As a result, he becomes one of the Decepticons to be ejected into space. He is reformatted into one of the Sweeps by Unicron. After his reformation, Shrapnel pops up during the attack on Planet Junkion.
[edit] Marvel Comics
In the comics, Shrapnel was a lieutenant under the command of Lord Straxus. Unlike his cartoon persona this one could shape shift, becoming the actual size of an insect.
[edit] Beast Wars
Although Shrapnel himself does not appear in Beast Wars, he gets an honorable mention. When Rhinox (turned into a Predacon by a shell program), attempted to seize leadership of the Predacons from Megatron, he set about dispatching those loyal to Megatron. One of his first acts was to crush Waspinator beneath a crate. The Predacon survived, but began referring to himself as Shrapnel ("I am Shrapnel, Decepticon Hero!") and talking with Shrapnel's familiar speech impediment. This lasted until an annoyed Cheetor blew him out of the air during an attempt to rescue Rhinox.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Shrapnel also appeared in Dreamwave Productions' Generation One comics. He chronologically appeared first in the War Within comics hunting Optimus Prime alongside Soundwave and Ravage. He was shown to transform into a Cybertronian jet. Their failure forced Megatron to step in personally. He and the other Insecticons later stayed with the Decepticons after Megatron's disappearance.
Shrapnel and the other future Insecticons later came to Earth, encountering the Dynobots. The two teams battled and knocked each other into stasis. The Insecticons were later revived, receiving their familiar insect alternate modes. Bombshell later used his cerebro shells to take over the population of a town, only to be defeated by the Autobots, with Sideswipe dropping a building on Shrapnel. The closure of Dreamwave prevented any more stories of Shrapnel from being told.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
Shrapnel would also make a brief appearance in the third crossover between G.I. Joe and the Transformers. He was seen prominently trying to hold back the combined Autobot/G.I. Joe rescue force trying to recover Optimus Prime.
[edit] Trivia
Shrapnel is perhaps the only Transformer indirectly named for a real person, Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the exploding shell, who lent his name to the by-product of his invention, from which the Transformer took his name.
