Sideswipe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the tricking move, see Sideswipe (trick).
Sideswipe is the name of three different characters in the Transformers universes. Currently, the name is spelled "Side Swipe" with a space, possibly because Hasbro wants to use a trademark that's easier to legally defend.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Sideswipe | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Japanese name | Lambor |
| Sub-Group | Action Masters Autobot Cars Go-Bots Deluxe Vehicles |
| Function | Warrior |
| Partner | Vanguard (Action Master) Sunstreaker (Universe) |
| Motto | "I don't break rules, I just bend them - a lot." |
| Alternate Modes | Cybertronian Car 1977 Lamborghini Countach 1997 Lamborghini Diablo 1999 Dodge Viper Cobra Stinger |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Generation 2 Transformers: Universe Transformers: Alternators Transformers: Titanium |
| Voiced by | Michael Bell (English) |
Sideswipe (Lambor in Japan, Frérot in France, Freccia in Italy) is described as a brave but often rash warrior. He is almost as skilled as his twin brother Sunstreaker in combat, but is less ruthless. He enjoys a good fight, but his impetuousness can often lead to his being injured.
[edit] Animated series
Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the Ark when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. He awakened along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. Sideswipe loaned Optimus Prime the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of energon.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together. When antimatter-fueled Decepticons attacked the Ark on one occasion in episode "Roll for It", Sideswipe and Sunstreaker took to the air to battle with the incoming seeker jets, in a rambunctious, if ultimately ineffective, display of "jet judo."
When investigating tremors that were shaking the Autobot base, Wheeljack's scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helped Brawn removed the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones, the discovery of which would lead to the development of the Dinobots.
Towards the end of 1985, Sideswipe was a semi-regular in the series, and is among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the Stunticons. Penetrating the Decepticons' camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming Menasor. With a combination of Windcharger's magnetic powers and Mirage's illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too, but the deception was soon revealed, though they were still able to thwart the Decepticons' plans.
In The Transformers: The Movie, the dead body of a robot many fans believe to be Sideswipe appears in the left corner of the frame as Springer attempts to move a torpedo launcher into place during the Battle of Autobot City. However, this is incorrect; the robot in question is actually Wheeljack (whose body appears next to Windcharger's a few seconds later into the scene), mistakenly colored like Sideswipe (The storyboards in this scene show Smokescreen's body and not Wheeljack's). In fact, Sideswipe does not appear at all in the movie, nor does he appear in any post-movie episodes of the Transformers television series.
However, there was a scene planned where he, Red Alert and Tracks hop off Ultra Magnus to attack Devastator, but they all flee and Red Alert is shot in the back and killed. Whether or not Sideswipe was intended to be killed himself is unknown.
Sideswipe appears in the first two episodes of the Japanese series Transformers: Headmasters, participating with Ultra Magnus, the Trainbots, and Prowl on a shootout against the Triple Changers, Soundwave and Sixshot. During a segment of this intense shootout, Sideswipe manages to hit Frenzy and later, after foiling a new Decepticon assault, has also a line. So, Japanese transformers guides report that Sideswipe survived in someway the movie.
[edit] Marvel Comics
In the original Marvel Transformers comics, Sideswipe's role was largely similar to that of the animated series, serving as a loyal warrior under Optimus Prime.
Sideswipe joined the list of the long-term injured during the Dinobot Hunt. He was charged, along with Bluestreak and Huffer, with bringing in the powerful Dinobot, Grimlock. Unfortunately, the party found the mentally ill Grimlock locked in vicious combat with Sludge, who had been planted there by the Decepticons. Sideswipe was seriously injured while trying to contain the situation, but managed at least to put out a distress call, alerting Prowl and Optimus Prime.
He appeared to avoid deactivation by the Underbase powered Starscream, he was not seen again after issue #50 of the U.S. comic.
He appeared again in the Generation 2 comics as part of a raiding party under Grimlock that was outthought and captured by the forces of Jhiaxus. He was freed by Prime, and later appeared battlng the Swarm. His fate is unknown.
[edit] Books
Sideswipe was featured in the 1985 Transformers audio book Autobots' Lightning Strike.
Sideswipe appeared in the 1986 story and coloring book The Lost Treasure of Cybertron by Marvel Books.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Before the civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Sideswipe was a merchant. After the war broke out he joined the Autobots. When Optimus Prime disappeared in an accident with a space bridge, the Autobots splintered into smaller factions. Sideswipe stayed with the main Autobot force, now under the leadership of Prowl.
With the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were testing a new mobile command base at the Praetorus Wharf, Sideswipe was part of a small investigation team led by Prowl. They discovered the mobile command base to be Trypticon and were forced to battle with little chance of success until the giant Decepticon was ordered to leave.
Some time after being reawakened on Earth four million years later, Sideswipe was aboard a ship named 'The Ark II' created by the Autobots and their human allies to end the war on Earth and return to Cybertron. However, the ship was sabotaged and exploded shortly after take-off. The human allies were killed, but Sideswipe and other Autobots were lost in the ocean. Sideswipe and the other lost Autobots were later found by Optimus Prime who used the Matrix to revive them. Sideswipe fought in the battle against the Decepticons in San Francisco, attacking Soundwave with Sunstreaker.
When Ultra Magnus came to Earth claiming that the Earth-based Autobots were Cybertonian criminals; Optimus Prime surrendered and returned to Cybertron with half of his force. Sideswipe was amongst those ordered to stay behind, now under the command of Jazz.
Sideswipe and the other Autobots who remained on Earth were attacked by Starscream and Bruticus. Sideswipe fell in this battle and was later repaired by the Earth Defense Command.
As part of a small group led by Jazz and Marissa Faireborn of the Earth Defense Command to search for missing soldiers and solve the mystery of the deserted city, Sideswipe found and battled the Insecticons along with his twin brother Sunstreaker. After defeating the Insecticons, the Autobots rejoined the other Autobots and were led by Prowl to the site of the future Autobot City: Earth.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
In this reimagining of the Generation One story, the Ark was discovered by the terrorist Cobra organization, and all the Transformers inside were reformatted into Cobra vehicles remotely controlled by the Televipers. In this storyline Sideswipe and Sunstreaker both turned into Cobra Stingers. [1] Destro attempted to use them in a battle against G.I. Joe, but the two of them were temporarily put out of commission by Wheeljack. They were later seen fighting the Decepticons on Cobra Island.
Sideswipe reappeared in the third crossover series as part of the combined Autobot/G.I. Joe force trying to rescue Optimus Prime. Sideswipe returned in the fourth crossover as part of a group led by Prowl working with former G.I. Joe leader Hawk to stop the spread of Cybertronian technology on Earth. After failing to apprehend Destro, the group relaxed on their ship - only to be attacked by the Monster Pretenders, with Sideswipe being incapacitated. He was later shown being repaired.
[edit] 3H Enterprises
Sideswipe returned in the pages of the BotCon exclusive Transformers: Universe comics. He was amongst the Autobot heroes of the Great War welcomed back to Cybertron. However, all of them were transported away by Unicron. Reformatted into a new body, he was forced to fight for Unicron's amusement (and unbeknownst to all, so that the Spark energy from fallen combatants could revitalize his own shattered frame), Sideswipe duelled his own brother. All were subsequently freed by the resurrected Optimus Primal, and Sideswipe went on to serve him as part of the new Autobot faction.
Although Universe ended at issue #3, the flashback of Optimus Prime would reveal what happened. In the final battle between the forces of Optimus Primal and Unicron, the Chaos-Bringer had disappeared (due to the events of Transformers: Energon), with Primal's forces barely making it out. Sideswipe was among those seen escaping.
[edit] IDW Publishing
Sideswipe made his first IDW Publishing appaearance in the Spotlight issue on Galvatron. Assigned to Hound's unit on Cybertron guarding Thunderwing's body. Chafing under Hound's command due to Sunstreaker going missing on Earth (in The Transformers: Escalation), Sideswipe clashed with his superior, even going over his head to call Optimus Prime on Earth, being reprimanded as a result. However, the matter was rendered moot when the mysterious Galvatron appeared, killing Leadfoot. An enraged Sideswipe blasted him, and was blasted aside as a result. While the rest of Hound's unit engaged Galvatron, Sideswipe recovered and blew apart Galvatron's head with a single full-powered shot. As Hound chastised him, the undead Galvatron recovered and rendered the whole unit unconscious with one blast, before leaving with Thunderwing. Sideswipe and his unit were redeployed to Earth under Optimus Prime's orders in issue #1 of The Transformers: Devastation, but were rediverted to Garrus-9 following the Decepticons' abduction of the Monstructor components.
[edit] Toys
- Generation 1 Deluxe Car Sideswipe (1984)
- Sideswipe's toy was originally part of a Takara toyline called Diaclone before Hasbro took some of the toys to use for Transformers. Sideswipe was one of the first Transformers to be released. [2] Because they were both Lamborghinis, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were characterized as fraternal twins.
- Oddly, the Tech Specs and TF: Universe profiles for Sideswipe describe the Sunstreaker toy. The rocket backpack describes Sunstreaker's engine, which is on his upper back in robot mode, and the shoulder mounted flares refer to the two yellow pods that mount on Sunstreaker's shoulders. The mix-up may have been due to the Diaclone toy decos. The toy used for Sideswipe had three Diaclone versions: red, yellow, and police, while the Sunstreaker mold was released only in red and police decos. This might also explain the red stickers behind Sunstreaker's rear wheels.
- The mold used for the original Sideswipe also used for the first Generation 2 Sideswipe, and the Japanese-exclusive Autobots Tigertrack, Clampdown and Deep Cover. The Japanese variants are based on original variants used in the Diaclone line. The police car that became Clampdown was the basis for the fire escort Red Alert.
- Generation 1 Action Master Sideswipe (1991)
- As part of Europe's continuing exclusive Transformer toys, Sideswipe returned as an Action Master, along with his new partner - the battle droid Vanguard. Vanguard transformed into a backpack for Sideswipe to wear which came equipped with a protective double-barreled helmet.
- Generation 2 Autobot Car Sideswipe (1993)
- Slightly remolded and recolored black, Sideswipe was re-released in the Transformers: Generation Two toy line.
- Generation 2 Go-Bot Sideswipe (1995)
- Sideswipe was released a second time in Generation Two as a blue Lamborghini Diablo, a recolor of an Autobot named Firecracker as part of the Go-Bots line. This toy was later recolored as Robots in Disguise R.E.V.
- Spy Changer Sideswipe (unreleased)
- First announced in Previews magazine for December 2002 were a set of 5 Autobot Spy Changers - Wheeljack, Sideswipe, Trailbreaker, Prowl and Mirage.
- Smallest Transformers Sideswipe (2003)
- In Japan a miniature version of Sideswipe was released as part of the Worlds Smallest Transformers line.
- BotCon Sideswipe (2003)
- After a long absence, the original Sideswipe returns with a new toy. This time it is a BotCon exclusive, a remold of the Robots in Disguise toy Prowl. He came packaged with his now identical twin Sunstreaker. Both turned into Lamborghini Diablos.
- Transformers: Alternators Sideswipe (2003)
- Side Swipe (with a space for trademark reasons) was the second Transformer to be released in the Alternators/Binaltech toyline by Hasbro/Takara. In the Binaltech line, Side Swipe is named Lambor, for simplicity's sake he is referred to as Side Swipe for this article. Side Swipe's alternate mode is a Dodge Viper SRT-10. [3] [4] [5]
- Side Swipe has been remolded as Dead End, and Sunstreaker
- Reissue Sideswipe
- The original Sideswipe toy was reissued in 2005. Originally planned to be a Toys R Us exclusive, the line was canceled before Sideswipe was released. With the toys having already been made, they were instead sold through Kaybee stores as a discount price.
- Titanium Sideswipe
- A three inch tall non-transforming toy based on his Alternators form.
- Transformers: Universe Sideswipe (2008)
- Hasbro was announced at BotCon 2007 that both Sideswipe and Sunstreaker will be released in 2008 as part of the Transformers: Universe/Classics 2.0 line as Deluxe sized toys. Sunstreaker is the considered the original toy, while Sideswipe will be a remold of him with a new head and weapons, with the body being rotated from Sunstreaker's robot mode so the car's hood (on Sunstreaker's back) becomes Sideswipe's chest. Concept art of both was displayed by Hasbro at SDCC 2007.
[edit] Transformers: Robots in Disguise
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Side Swipe | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Sub-Group | Spy Changers |
| Alternate Modes | Car (psuedo 1993 Chevrolet Camaro) |
| Series | Transformers: Robots in Disguise |
As a release of an unused Generation 2 Go-Bots mold, the name Side Swipe is reused for the first time on an unrelated toy to the original. This toy did not receive any characterisation and did not appear in the show or any other fiction.
[edit] Toys
- Robots in Disguise Side Swipe (2001)
- This toy was later redecoed as Transformers: Universe Silverstreak.
[edit] Transformers: Armada
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Side Swipe | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Japanese name | Stepper |
| Sub-Group | Deluxe Vehicles |
| Function | Intelligence Agent |
| Partner | Nightbeat (Char) |
| Motto | "Race fast towards victory!" |
| Alternate Modes | 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R BNR32 |
| Series | Transformers: Armada |
| Voiced by | Samuel Vincent (English) Nobuyuki Kobushi (Japanese) |
Originally called Stepper in the Japanese series "Micron Legend", he was renamed Side Swipe (with a space) when Hasbro released the series in America. Transforming into a blue Nissan Skyline, Sideswipe's alternate mode is as realistic as an Armada toy can get to an actual vehicle. However, his robot mode is considered by many to be very poorly designed and is the subject of much ridicule.
Note: Early packaging of Side Swipe spelled his name without a space, but it was later added. According to online posts by Hasbro employees there was a mixup in the naming of Side Swipe and Mini-Con Nightbeat, and the original intention was for them to have each other's name, making this toy a true homage to the original Nightbeat.
[edit] Animated series
Side Swipe first appeared in the Armada episode "Past". In the animated series it was revealed that he had been saved from Decepticon execution by Blurr, and had travelled to Earth to join him. Instead, he ended up linking up with Hot Shot. Initially unwilling to put up with him, Hot Shot soon had little choice when his former friend Wheeljack arrived and took Side Swipe prisoner. Hot Shot immediately raced to his rescue, starting a fire that threatened to consume all three. Hot Shot abandoned the fight to save Side Swipe, successfully getting him out in time. After this Side Swipe hero worshipped his new friend, much to Hot Shot's amusement, and served as his most loyal soldier when Hot Shot briefly took command of the Autobots after Optimus Prime's death.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Side Swipe also appeared in Dreamwave's Transformers: Armada comic, with a much lesser role. He first appeared in issue #14. He was one of a team of Autobots under Jetfire who investigated odd Space Bridge activity at the Decepticon HQ - unaware it had been taken over by the Heralds of Unicron. Bludgeon was still present, and stalked Jetfire's team. Side Swipe survived relatively unscathed - unlike Blurr and Dropshot - and helped to eventually destroy the samurai Decepticon.
Side Swipe was last seen in issue #18 of the Armada series and did not make any appearances in the Transformers: Energon comic series.
[edit] Toys
- Transformers: Armada Sideswipe (2003)
- Armada Side Swipe is a homage to Generation 1 Nightbeat, the character his Mini-Con is named after.
- Armada Side Swipe was remolded into Universe Treadshot, Universe Oil Slick and used in the Transformers: Cybertron line as the Decepticon Runamuck (Runabout in Japan).
[edit] Transformers: The Game
[edit] PSP Version
Sideswipe is playable character. He transforms in to a sports car similar to a Lamborghini Murciélago
[edit] References
- ^ YOJOE.COM | Cobra Night Attack 4-WD Stinger
- ^ Transformers Sideswipe Robot - ToyBin
- ^ transformers-fr_FR - default
- ^ Remy's Transformers - TFkenkon.com
- ^ Remy's Transformers - TFkenkon.com
