Sweeps (Transformers)

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The Sweeps were a group of Transformers created by Unicron from several damaged Decepticons. Scourge, one of Galvatron's aides, was the leader of the Sweeps. The Sweeps and Scourge transformed into futuristic hovercraft, and were capable of travel in space. (The Sweeps have no visible cockpit and, excluding Starscream's ghost, have only been seen carrying a passenger once - Wingspan in part 1 of "The Rebirth" in the original Transformers cartoon series.) Due to Scourge's location on 1986 & 1987 American Transformers product catalogs, the Sweeps are alternatively called "Decepticon Planes" (despite not resembling any known aircraft) and "Seekers" (a fan-created term used to describe the original Decepticon jets--Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Dirge, Ramjet, and Thrust), despite not having the F-15 fuselage/body common to the previous jets.

[edit] Number of Sweeps

In The Transformers: The Movie, Unicron transforms one Decepticon jet, (Thundercracker), and two Insecticons (Kickback and Shrapnel) into Scourge and his Sweeps. Cyclonus, on the other hand, was created from either the Insecticon Bombshell, or the Decepticon jet Skywarp, with the other becoming a duplicate Cyclonus robot that was never seen again. As the group transforms to vehicle mode, the two Cyclonus robots, Scourge, and five Sweeps can be seen. In the animation following Galvatron's speech to Unicron, he is then escorted by Scourge, three Sweeps, and only one Cyclonus. The number of Sweeps remains fairly consistent throughout the rest of the film. It is possible that only the jets (Skywarp and Thundercracker) were meant to become the real Cyclonus and Scourge, with the Insecticons becoming the Sweeps. (This assumption answers why Scourge and Cyclonus seemingly replace Thundercracker and Skywarp as "Decepticon Planes" on 1986 Transformers product catalogs.)

It can be said with certainty that Thundercracker became Scourge, but Cyclonus' original identity is still hotly debated. It is generally assumed by many fans that Scourge and Cyclonus maintained their original base colors (Thundercracker/Scourge being blue, and Skywarp/Cyclonus having purple detailing) after their transformation. The number of Sweeps in the post-movie episodes varied dramatically (with many Sweeps being destroyed on-camera), and the Sweeps were voiced by a number of different actors. In The Rebirth, the Sweeps are not seen, and their roles have been replaced by the individual Decepticons Misfire, Slugslinger, and Triggerhappy. It is unknown whether or not they are still active.

[edit] Dreamwave Comics

The Sweeps would make their first comics appearance in Dreamwave Productions Generation One Series. Here they were also created by Unicron, but were not recreated Decepticons, but original creations of Unicron created from the raw materials of the worlds he had destroyed. A massive armada of Sweeps, with Scourge at their head, were dispatched to all over the galaxy to locate Unicron's nemesis Primus, and by extension, Cybertron. Dreamwave's closure prevented this plot thread from coming to fruitition.

[edit] Devil's Due Comics

The Sweeps would also appear in the G.I Joe/Transformers crossovers from Devil's Due Publishing. When a team of G.I Joes trying to fix a space-time tear arrived in a nightmare future where Shockwave had conquered Earth, they encountered an armada of Sweeps acting as patrol craft and Hunter-Killers.

In the third crossover (this time with IDW Publishing) several Sweeps are seen amongst the Decepticon troops trying to hold back the Autobot/G.I Joe force trying to rescue Optimus Prime.