Kickback is a recurring Decepticon character in the 2015 Transformers: Robots in Disguise animated series. His background begins on Cybertron, where he was a prisoner aboard the Alchemor, an Autobot prison ship transporting numerous captured Decepticons. When the Alchemor crashed on Earth, Kickback was freed from his stasis cell and became one of many escaped criminals loose on the planet.

In terms of personality, Kickback is defined by his sycophantic and opportunistic nature. He is a manipulative individual who tends to cozy up to others, hoping to gain favor and protection, but this very trait makes him vulnerable to being used as a pawn by more intelligent or stronger Decepticons. He has a tendency to repeat words at the end of his sentences, which comes across as a psychotic verbal tic rather than the echo-like habit of his original Generation 1 counterpart. Despite his attempts to appear useful and loyal, he is ultimately self-serving, and his primary motivation appears to be survival and finding a group that will accept him, largely because he lacks the strength or cunning to operate successfully on his own.

Kickback's role in the story is that of a minor antagonist and a recurring pawn for other villains. He first appears trying to join Steeljaw's pack, but Steeljaw and his gang instead tie him up and use him as bait to lure the Autobots away from their scrapyard base. After the Autobots free him, Kickback immediately asks if they need a new sidekick, and when they refuse, he uses his powerful leg to kick them and escape, transforming into his vehicle mode and speeding away. He later encounters a different group of Decepticons led by Scorponok and Glowstrike, who are using a section of the crashed Alchemor as their base. Kickback joins this group and is sent on scavenging missions to find parts to repair the ship. While scavenging, he meets Steeljaw again, who tries to recruit him once more, but Kickback refuses and kicks him aside before fleeing, though he unwittingly leads Steeljaw back to the Decepticon hideout. Within Scorponok's group, Kickback is treated with little respect and is eventually fired upon by Glowstrike when he asks for a reward for his efforts.

Key relationships for Kickback include his interactions with Steeljaw, who manipulates him without hesitation, and with Scorponok and Glowstrike, who show him no appreciation. His desire for approval and belonging is consistently exploited by others, and he never finds a leader who genuinely values him. Kickback does not undergo significant character development throughout the series, remaining a pathetic and opportunistic sycophant from his first appearance to his last. His ultimate fate occurs when the Autobots activate a stasis bomb aboard the Alchemor, freezing all the escaped Decepticon prisoners, including Kickback. His stasis pod is then taken back to Cybertron by Optimus Prime, Windblade, and Ratchet.

Regarding his notable abilities, Kickback has a distinctive alternate mode. On Cybertron, he had an insectoid form, but after being imprisoned on the Alchemor and arriving on Earth, he acquired a new racecar mode, specifically resembling a Formula One-style dragster. In robot mode, he retains a grasshopper-like appearance, and his most notable physical ability is his powerful side kick, which he uses effectively to escape from opponents. He has not been shown engaging in direct combat with Autobots beyond using this kick to make his getaway. His vehicle mode gives him considerable speed, which he uses primarily for fleeing when situations become dangerous.