Kickback is a either a locust or a grasshopper. Unlike the other two Diaclone originated Insecticons (Kickback's Diaclone name was Battas) he doesn't look like a tank with added animal parts. Kickback genuinely looks like an insect. He's mainly black with purple lower legs, yellow antennae and chromed silver wings. His back is formed from clear yellow plastic which open to allow a Diaclone driver to ride insde him. Front and rear legs end in wheels which allow him to roll along. All 6 legs move at the hip and knee, but the front pairs share a hip on each side which forms the base of the wings which move backwards & forwards. The head moves to each side and the antennae move independantly.
Transformation: Fold the lower rear legs forward into the upper rear legs and stand with the top of the insect facing you. Bring the fore limbs together to form the arms and fold down to the robot's side. Rotate the head forward and fold the wings back. Slide both sides of his gun handle over his hand.
Kickback's robot mode is an insect winged robot and looks fabulous. Te wings can be stored at his side, unfurled behind him or even pointed forward as blades. His hips turn a little forwards & backwards, his shoulders turn, his elbows bend, albeit at the cost of separating the arms, the head turns stiffly and the antennae rotate on the side of his head. His has an interesting looking asymmetric chest formed from the clear cover to cockpit.
Decent toy, but those wings feel oh so fragile!
Kickback was released in the west in 1985 and was available as Transformer #40 in Japan in the same year.
He was reissued as part of Transformers Collection #16 with Bombshell & Shrapnel in 2004. This set also included Energon cubes that could be stored in the Insect/Vehicle cockpits.
In 2009 Kickback was reissued as part of a Toys R Us Insecticon giftset with Hardshell (a renamed Bombshell) & Sharpshot (a renamed Shrapnel).
Like the other Insecticons there's a Robot Heroes version of Kickback. Kickback is the only Diaclone originated Insecticon to have the same name in all his appearances!
Doesn't do it for me, I prefer the Insecticon colours. Try not to laugh at the name!
Shothole was sold with Salvo, a repaint of Bombshell, and Zaptrap, a repaint of Shrapnel. Like the TFC 16 pack these Insecticons also come with Energon cubes.