Kickback belongs to the group called Insecticons.  He is an Decepticon with the function of Espionage.  Kickback is “charming, but cruelly clever” and makes friends only to have them “do his bidding” (according to his Tech Spec).  This is accomplished by using facts he digs up to blackmail them.

Kickback transforms between his robot mode and his grasshopper mode.  When in the latter mode he can jump great heights and distances.

The Generation 1 Kickback was released in 1985 and was based on a figure from the Diaclone toyline (which were made by Takara in 1984).