Shrapnel (Transformers)

Shrapnel is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. 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.

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
name =Shrapnel


caption =Shrapnel
affiliation =Decepticon
subgroup =Insecticons
rank =6
function =Electronic Warfare
partner =
motto ="Control electricity and you control the world, world."
alternatemodes =Mechanical Stag Beetle
series =
engvoice =Hal Rayle

Shrapnel (Estilhaço in Portugal) is a member of the Insecticons, a sub-faction of the Decepticons.

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 listening to them short circuit.

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 (however as seen in "Traitor", Bombshell often has periods where he is more of the leader). Shrapnel 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 successfully repelled by the Insecticons. Later, the Autobots discover 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 unsuccessful as Shrapnel explodes. Iron Mountain is undamaged, but the same could not be said of Shrapnel. Bombshell reassembles Shrapnel (complete with the corny line, "We Insecticons know how to GET IT TOGETHER!!") and the Insecticons flee with the Decepticons in pursuit.

The Decepticon/Insecticon feud continued throughout the second season.

In "", Shrapnel and the Insecticons were involved in the battle of Autobot City. Shrapnel suffered major injuries after getting blasted by Blitzwing's cannon, smacked by vehicle-mode Hot Rod, knocked into the Autobot city moat by Kup and run down by Optimus Prime. As a result, he was among the Decepticons who were ejected into space on their return trip to Cybertron, and was transformed into one of the Sweeps by Unicron. Despite this, Shrapnel still pops up later in the movie at Starscream's coronation and during the Decepticon attack on the planet of Junk, most likely due to animation error.

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.

Marvel Transformers U.K. Annual 1985 contained a story called "Plague of the Insecticons". Optimus Prime lead Prowl and Warpath to a meeting with President Ronald Reagan in Washington D.C. to open a dialog between the Autobots and the U.S. government. However Soundwave had intercepted word of the talks and informed Megatron, who decided send the Ravage and the Insecticons. The Insecticons did not attack the Autobots, but instead attacked the U.S. military in the name of the Autobots. Prowl was badly damaged by one of Shrapnel's grenades during the battle. Although the Autobots managed to chase off the Insecticons Optimus Prime gave up on explaining the misunderstanding to Reagan, thinking he would never be believed. Reagan had been ready to hear what Optimus had to say and was disappointed they gave up so easily.

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. His second acts was to throw a crate at Waspinator. 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. It should also be noted when Waspinator crashlands and shuts down, he speaks the first lyric from the original theme song for the G1 series: "More than meets the eye."

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.

In the third "War Within" series Shrapnel appeared among the Decepticon troops under the command of Shockwave.

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.

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.

Toys

*Generation 1 Shrapnel (1985):Shrapnel is originally from the Japanese Diaclone line. He was lated redecoed into the ehobby exclusive Zaptrap.

*Robot Heroes (2006 Hasbro):Part of a Non Transforming cartoon style line that includes many of your favorite characters, he is labeled as an Insecticon, but it is clearly Shrapnel, comes in a two pack with Rodimus (Hot Rod).

Transformers: Cybertron

Although not seen as a toy or in the animated series, the cyber key information for Cybertron Undermine mentions how he framed and replaced a Transformer named Shrapnel as Scourge's bodyguard.