The Energon Pub

by **Gee-atron** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:19 pm

Hi, can some one tell me how many Insecticons in the original line there were? I have the reisuue of Kickback, Shrapnel and Bombshell. Is that all of them (I thought it was)

by **Iron Prime** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:25 pm

Gee-atron wrote:Hi, can some one tell me how many Insecticons in the original line there were? I have the reisuue of Kickback, Shrapnel and Bombshell. Is that all of them (I thought it was)

Technically there are six in G1 I think. The other 3 are deluxes. But most people are only referring to the 3 you mentioned above when discussing Insecticons.

by **Gee-atron** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:26 pm

Many thanks!

News Credits: 5 · by **Sledge** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:28 pm

Four Deluxe Insecticons: Barrage, Venom, Chopshop and Ransack. Had to look the last one up. :oops:

by **Iron Prime** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:28 pm

Sledge wrote:Four Deluxe Insecticons: Barrage, Venom, Chopshop and Ransack. Had to look the last one up.

Ditto.

Here's what wikipedia says:
Deluxe Insecticons

The Deluxe Insecticons were built by Bandai as part of a short-lived toyline called Beetras, and imported to America via Hasbro. Due to an arrangement with Takara (the Japanese toy company who built the toys originally intended to be Transformers), they never appeared on TV in anything more than animated commercials. They first appeared in print in the Marvel UK comics then later in Dreamwave comics. In the Marvel comics, they were part of the Decepticon Mayhem Attack Squad, counterpart to the Autobot Wreckers. They were sent to Earth to stop the time-travelling Galvatron, forming an uneasy alliance with their rivals. However, they faced not only Galvatron, but a clone of Megatron (at the time believed to be the real thing). Both elite squads were decimated, with at least Venom and Chop Shop being killed. In Dreamwave's The War Within series, Venom and Chop Shop participated in Shockwave's attack on Iacon. They and the other Deluxe Insecticons were members of Ratbat's Ultracons faction, and would also be the primary antagonists of the Micromasters miniseries.
Ratbat and his Ultracons Chopshop and Venom.
Ratbat and his Ultracons Chopshop and Venom.

* Venom: Cicada
* Barrage: Rhinoceros Beetle
* Chopshop: Stag Beetle
* Ransack: Grasshopper

by **Auto Bot** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:46 pm

I don't remember seeing the Deluxes in any cartoon.

by **Iron Prime** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:51 pm

Auto Bot wrote:I don't remember seeing the Deluxes in any cartoon.

They weren't.

by **DorkimusPrime** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:51 pm

Auto Bot wrote:I don't remember seeing the Deluxes in any cartoon.

nope, and the post directly above yours explains why. They were made by Bandai.

by **Dagon** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:39 pm

Over the summer I eBayed the deluxe Insecticons, and except for Chop Shop they're pretty nice figures. Chop Shop just doens't do much for me, his bot mode is kinda dumb but his bug mode is probably the best out of all 7 Insecticons.

by **Iron Prime** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:54 pm

http://www.unicron.us/tf1985/figures/chopshop.htm
http://www.unicron.us/tf1985/figures/barrage.htm
http://www.unicron.us/tf1985/figures/venom.htm
http://www.unicron.us/tf1985/figures/ransack.htm

by **AntBot** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:52 pm

I would love to see these guys redone for the Universe/Classics 2.0 line. I like bugs, I really do. See: name; avatar

by **mechajol** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:09 pm

it would have been cooler if these deluxe insecticons had the same color scheme as the other three...

News Credits: 1 · by **sto_vo_kor_2000** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:46 pm

Auto Bot wrote:I don't remember seeing the Deluxes in any cartoon.

There not the only G1 toys that never got on the toon.

by **Bumblebee-otch** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:49 pm

what insecticon is the robot-heroes one?

by **Izanami** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:51 pm

Bumblebee-otch wrote:what insecticon is the robot-heroes one?

That was Shrapnel. I think they couldn't use his name because they lost the copyright to it or something. If so, what a shame.

by **Auto Bot** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:52 pm

I got one of the Deluxe Insecticons. But it was not Transformers. It's an original Japanese toy. I got it back then, not knowing it became part of Transformers. It's the one that looks like a fly, with a sting.

News Credits: 1 · by **sto_vo_kor_2000** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:57 pm

Auto Bot wrote:I got one of the Deluxe Insecticons. But it was not Transformers. It's an original Japanese toy. I got it back then, not knowing it became part of Transformers. It's the one that looks like a fly, with a sting.

Are you sure about that????????I dont think any of them looked like a fly???????

News Credits: 1 · by **sto_vo_kor_2000** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:03 am

Witch one of these was it that you got?

by **Auto Bot** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:23 am

The first picture, "Venom".

Except the green part is gray, and the pattern on the chest is yellow.

I describe it as a "fly" because of the body and wings, and also the 2 big eyes. Although a real fly's eyes should be much bigger, occupying the whole head.

So what insect is it?

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:09 am

I loved the Deluxe Insecticons. They had great transformations and detail and paint jobs for their time.

The drawback was that the plastic wasn't as strong as other Transformers, and they lacked die-cast, except for their internal frames.

Auto Bot wrote:The first picture, "Venom".

Except the green part is gray, and the pattern on the chest is yellow.

I describe it as a "fly" because of the body and wings, and also the 2 big eyes. Although a real fly's eyes should be much bigger, occupying the whole head.

So what insect is it?

Venom is a cicadae. Cicadaes are really popular in Japan. Thousands of them make the buzzing/whirring noise during the summer.

News Credits: 7 · by **waaaaghlord** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 3:22 am

For the sake of completeness there has also been the ehobby release of the original 3 Insecticons in their Diaclone colours as a 'Clone Army' set. Different names and bios, so depending on how you're counting that's as many as 10 G1 Insecticons.

by **Auto Bot** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:44 am

Stormrider wrote:I loved the Deluxe Insecticons. They had great transformations and detail and paint jobs for their time.

The drawback was that the plastic wasn't as strong as other Transformers, and they lacked die-cast, except for their internal frames.

Auto Bot wrote:The first picture, "Venom".

Except the green part is gray, and the pattern on the chest is yellow.

I describe it as a "fly" because of the body and wings, and also the 2 big eyes. Although a real fly's eyes should be much bigger, occupying the whole head.

So what insect is it?

Venom is a cicadae. Cicadaes are really popular in Japan. Thousands of them make the buzzing/whirring noise during the summer.

What's a Cicadae? In layman's term. :grin:

News Credits: 7 · by **waaaaghlord** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:23 am

Auto Bot wrote:What's a Cicadae? In layman's term.

http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/aol/redir?sr ... WebResults

by **Auto Bot** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:16 am

looks like some sort of cricket thing.

Do they have this "stinger" thing like the toy?

by **Auto Bot** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:46 am

I had this in the mid 80s. During the time when Transformers are quite new. But i didn't know he was part of the Deluxe Insecticons until many many years later.

Notice the decent amount of articulation even during those times when articulation is not even dreamed of. Bendable knees and toes. Thighs can twist. Head can move up and down. Arms can rotate. Only the elbows are fixed. Otherwise, it will be almost complete. Notice also that the spike thing on the head is missing. He should have some sort of a single horn up the middle. (Picture 3)

Nice stash of weapons. These are original, comes with the box. (Picture 4)

I even made a very tiny Decepticon symbol on the chest. Not knowing back then that he is actually a Decepticon! (Picture 5)

These guys are so cute. I just got to post them. (Picture 6)

HEhe :lol: