Spy-Roaches (2012 TV series)

"Cockroach?! WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE A COCKROACH!?"

- Raphael

Spy-Roaches are special cockroaches with a tiny spy-gear backpack created by Donatello for spying on the Kraang, but the first spy-roach turned into a villain character that debuted in the 2012 TV series episode Cockroach Terminator, where he got mutated by the mutagen into a hostile creature, and enemy of the Turtles. His character goes by multiple names like Cockroach Terminator, but especially the name Chong is commonly used out of the series to refer to the mutant, as in official concept documents.

1st Spy-Roach
Spy-Roach started out as a normal cockroach. He was both found and trained by Donatello to spy on the Kraang with special micro-equipment on him that Donatello created...However, Raphael has a paralyzing fear of cockroaches and tries to kill the Spy-Roach, until Donatello stops him. During Spy-Roach 's first spy mission, he falls into a large vat of ooze. He subsequently 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.

Imaginary Cockroaches
In Fungus Hummungous Raph's hallucinations turned everyone around him into giant cockroaches due to his fear and first experience with the Spy-Roach. And also Mikey's head popped off and thousands of cockroaches came out of his neck.

2nd Spy-Roach
He later makes his second appearance in the episode Metalhead Rewired, as one of the many detained mutants in the Kraang prison. He can be seen in the background as the mutants make their escape. He is also in his final form during this episode.

3rd Spy-Roach
In Newtralized! Donatello uses another spy-roach to spy on Slash and Newtralizer.

Powers & Abilities
When Chong was merged with machinery, he become one of the most indomitable of opponents. Along with Chong's invunerability, he has a retractible saw blade hidden inside his body and also, due to Donatello's micro-camera, has X-Ray, Infrared and Night Vision.

In his third form, he's able to fly and throw slimy explosives out his chest.

Personality
As a regular roach, Spy-Roach was curious, loyal, and very affectionate to Donnie...As a mutant, Spy-Roach is rather psychotic, evil, and vengefully attempting to kill Raph, who once tried to squish him. Spy-Roach's ability to endure attacks in his first form (and second) proved to be quite a problem for all four Turtles.

While he was probably mad when he was hit by the Shellraiser accidentally, all of Spy-Roach's rage is directed towards Raphael because of the way he almost killed him once. 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 going as far as to take Mikey hostage just in hopes of luring Raph out...Spy-Roach's desire to get revenge on Raph made him even turn against his creator/owner Donnie.

Spy-Roach might be a tiny bit sensitive, because he hit Mikey when Mikey called him 'gross'. Spy-Roach could also be the impatient type (despite being an insect), because, instead of grabbing Raphael when he invaded the Shellraiser, he took Mikey instead, hoping to get Raph out from hiding, and then discarding Mikey when Raph appeared....

Appearance
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 third and final stage was a disgusting-looking molted roach that could fly. His wings have green veins that resemble technology. He has four wings.

Gallery
See Spy-Roach/Gallery

Trivia

 * The name used in the series' production, Chong, 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 referred to as "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 has a black shape on his back that resembles his second form.
 * Chong is an homage to the T-800 from the Terminator's movie franchise.