Spy-Roaches (2012 TV series)

Spy-Roach is a character that debuted in the 2012 TV series episode Cockroach Terminator. He has been described as Donatello's former pet, and has more than one mutation. His character goes by multiple names, however Chong is used in official concept documents.

History
Spy-Roach started out as a normal cockroach. He was trained by Donatello to spy on the Kraang with special micro-equipment on him that Donatello created. Raphael has a fear of cockroaches and tries to kill the Spy-Roach before Donatello stops him. During Spy-Roach 's first spy mission, he fell into a vat of ooze. He mutated, and his spy equipment fused with his body. After escaping from the Kraang base, Spy-Roach went after the Turtles and attacked them. Raphael was able to knock him out with the Shellraiser's sewer lid launcher, yet it managed to sneak away behind the Turtles backs. When the Turtles try to thwart the Kraang's plot to steal a diamond lens, Spy-Roach catches up to them. He defeats the Kraang and attacks a terrified Raphael, forcing his brothers to save him. Unfortunately, thanks to Raphael's fear of the Spy-Roach, the Kraang get away with the stolen diamond lens.

Eventually, Donatello discovers that Spy-Roach is targeting Raphael for trying to kill him before his mutation. When Spy-Roach returns and slices through Shellraiser's floor, Leonardo and Michelangelo use Raphael as bait to lure the Spy-Roach away from the van so that Donatello can fix it. Spy-Roach gets stuck in some wet cement, but frees himself by molting his skin and emerges in a much larger, uglier form with the ability to fly. As Spy-Roach flies after Raphael again, the Turtles race to stop the Kraang from using the stolen lens to power their giant laser drill. When Spy-Roach grabs Michelangelo, Raphael is forced to face his fear to save his brother. Using the Stealth Bike, he lures the Spy-Roach away so that the other three Turtles can stop the Kraang. Raphael's fight with Spy-Roach ends up disrupting the Kraang's laser drill. Raphael then turns the laser drill on Spy-Roach, blowing him to pieces. However, a new Spy-Roach starts to form from one of the fragments of the old, foreshadowing his return.

Powers & Abilities
Being a mutant cockroach he is the most resilient of opponents. Because he fused with machines at a sub-atomic level, he can grow weapons from his body. He can also fly at incredible speeds and has X-Ray, Infrared and Night Vision.

Personality
As a regular roach, Spy-Roach was curious, loyal, and very affectionate to Donnie. As a mutant, Spy-Roach is psychotic, evil, and vengeful attempting to kill Raph, who tried to squish him. Spy-Roach's ability to endure attacks proved to be a problem for the turtles.

While he was probably mad when he was hit by the Shell Raiser accidentally, all of Spy-Roach's rage is directed towards Raphael because of the way he almost killed him. Spy-Roach is very persistent, and would stop at nothing to get to him, using methods such as using the homing signal Donnie planted on him to find his way back to the van to his advantage, and even taking Mikey hostage just to lure Raph out. Spy-Roach's desire to get revenge on Raph made him even turn against his creator/owner Donnie.

Spy-Roach might be sensitive, because he hit Mikey when Mikey called him gross. Spy-Roach could also be the impatient type because instead of grabbing Raphael when he invaded the Shell Raiser, he takes Mikey instead hoping to get Raph out from hiding, and then discarding Mikey when Raph appeared.

Appearances
His first appearance was a normal roach that wore a tiny suit designed to track The Kraang. When he mutated, the machinery merged with Spy-Roach's body parts, which provided him with indestructible armor and useful equipment that Spy-Roach took advantage of to retaliate on Raph. Spy-Roach's final stage was a disgusting-looking molted roach that could fly.

Gallery
See Spy-roach / Gallery

Trivia

 * The name used in the series' production, Shong, is shared with with storyboard artist Chong Suk Lee, whose episode credits include "New Friend, Old Enemy", "Metalhead", "The Gauntlet", and "It Came From The Depths".
 * Chong is never referred to by name in his debut episode. Instead he is simply called "Spy-Roach".
 * He is one of a few mutants that was not human when mutated (and the first one of these mutants to be a villain).
 * Chong shares some similarities with Metalhead. They were both created by Donetello, both are shorter than all the turtles (Until his second form),  both are very powerful and difficult to defeat, and both were turned into villans by the Kraang at one point (But he was against both the Turtles and the Kraang).
 * Chong is the third mutant to be one of Raphael's archenemies / rivals, with the others Spider Bytez and Fishface.