Sideswipe (Transformers)

Sideswipe is a robot character in the Transformers series.

Sideswipe (Agujero in Mexico, Lambor in Japan, Frérot Québec, Freccia (meaning "arrow") in Italy, Csatár (meaning "striker") in Hungary) is described in his tech file as a brave but often rash warrior. He is almost as skilled as his twin brother Sunstreaker in combat, but is less ruthless. Sideswipe transformed into a red Lamborghini Countach, while his brother, Sunstreaker, transformed into a yellow Lamborghini Countach. Because of his jetpack, Sideswipe was one of few G1 Autobots with the ability to fly and capacity for space flight.^[1]

Dreamwave comics artist Pat Lee said that Sideswipe is his favorite Transformer.^[2]

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 his brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together.

When investigating tremors that were shaking the Autobot base, Ironhide's scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helped Brawn remove 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, impersonating himself as the Stunticon Breakdown, 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. Another major role for Sideswipe was stopping the Combaticons' plot to pull the Earth into the sun, in which he and other Autobots team up with Decepticons to travel to Cybertron. Sideswipe himself reversed the effects of the plot, saving the Earth. Sideswipe reappears in Generation 2: Redux, a Botcon magazine which is set after the events of the final episode where he, along with Goldbug, Jazz, Beachcomber and Seaspray battling the Decepticons in Switzerland and gained new powers and color like his G2 self by the power of Forestonite.

Sideswipe appears in the first two episodes of the 1988 Japanese series Transformers: The Headmasters, participating in a shootout against several Decepticons.

Sideswipe appears in the 1984 sticker and story book Return to Cybertron written by Suzanne Weyn and published by Marvel Books.^[3]

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.

Sideswipe was featured in the 1993 Transformers: Generation 2 coloring book "Decepticon Madness" by Bud Simpson.^[4]

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). He ends up fighting 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.

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. 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.

Before the civil war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, Sideswipe was a merchant. After the war broke out he joined the Autobots. 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 while Sideswipe and other Autobots could be revived by means of the Matrix.

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. 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.

In Transformers Invasion Sideswipe is among the Autobots in Canada who help get people to safety from an Earthquake caused by Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus using the Terminus Blade.^[5]

Long Haul appears in "A Flash Forward" by Fun Publications. In the year 2005 Devastator attacks Autobot City. He is opposed by Ultra Magnus, Sideswipe, Red Alert and Tracks. Firing every weapon they have, the Autobots are able to force Devastator to break apart into the individual Constructicons. Now outnumbered the Autobots retreated. Red Alert is killed covering the withdrawal, as Megatron watches. These events and others are related to Jhaixus by Runabout and Runamuck in 2013.^[6]

Sideswipe appears in the story Generation 2: Redux where he is among the reinforcements from Autobot City to respond to the Decepticon attack at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. Once there the Autobots are able to defeat the Decepticons, but during the fight the Autobots are exposed to refined Forestonite, which enhances and mutates Cybertronian systems. He gets enhanced to his Generation 2 form.^[7]

Spark commands an Autobot shuttle crewed by Blaze, Hubcap, Sideswipe, Streetstar and Windbreaker into space where they intercept a distress call from Spike Witwicky on the planet Nebulos. When the Autobots arrive on Nebulos they meet Spike and Carly Witwicky, Chip Chase and the Autobots Brainstorm, Chromedome, Crosshairs and Highbrow who inform them that the Nebulan scientist Hi-Q is missing. They learn from Hi-Q's assistant Hi-Test that Hi-Q had security monitors and through them discover the scientist was kidnapped by the Decepticons Runabout and Runamuck.^[8]

Long ago, before the war, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were law enforcers working under the Senate, and were involved with the arrest of Impactor.

Sideswipe made his first IDW Publishing appearance 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. 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.

Sideswipe has appeared among the Autobots on Cybertron in All Hail Megatron.

Sideswipe joined the list of the long-term injured during the Dinobot Hunt. He was charged, along with Bluestreak and Huffer, with bringing in Grimlock. Sideswipe was seriously injured during the arrest, but managed at least to put out a distress call, alerting Prowl and Optimus Prime.

Sideswipe stopped appearing after issue #50 of the US comic. He returned in the Generation 2 comics as part of a raiding party under Grimlock that was captured by the forces of Jhiaxus. He was freed by Prime, and later appeared battling the Swarm.

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 characterization and did not appear in the show or any other fiction.

Originally called Stepper in the Japanese series "Micron Legend", he was renamed Side Swipe when Hasbro released the series in America. He transforms into a blue Nissan Skyline.

Note: Early packaging of Side Swipe spelled his name as "Sideswipe", but a space was later added. According to online posts by Hasbro employees there was a mixup in the naming of Sideswipe 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.

Side Swipe first appears in the Transformers: Armada episode "Past"(Part 1) as a rookie in Optimus Prime's squad. He is rather ridiculous and awkward youth. In the animated series it is revealed that once he had been saved from Decepticon execution by Blurr, and has travelled to Earth to join him at last. But Blurr is not too glad to have such a subordinate. So, by Prime's consent, he charges Hot Shot to take care of Side Swipe. Initially Hot Shot is displeased very much that he has to fuss over such a misfit, but he begins to train him, however. When Hot Shot's former friend Wheeljack arrives and attacks him, Side Swipe does his best to defend his trainer. And when Side Swipe himself is taken a prisoner by Wheeljack, Hot Shot immediately races to his rescue. Though the conflagration threatens to consume them all, Hot Shot abandons the fight to save Side Swipe, successfully getting him out just in time. Since this moment Side Swipe hero-worships his new friend, much to Hot Shot's amusement, though the latter sometimes feels annoyed with such enthusiastic displays of friendship and even tries to get away from his admirer.

Side Swipe always did everything to prove his fighting skill to everyone in practice, but he never had become a great warrior, however. Nevertheless, he proved to be a real boon for the Autobots because of his good understanding of the computers (for example, he succeeded in deciphering the secret access code of the Decepticon Base revealed by Starscream). Later, Sideswipe served as Hot Shot's most loyal soldier when that one briefly took command of the Autobots after Optimus Prime's death.

Side Swipe also appeared in Dreamwave's Transformers: Armada comic, from issue #14 to issue #18. 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. Sideswipe survived relatively unscathed - unlike Blurr and Dropshot - and helped to eventually destroy the samurai Decepticon.

This Sideswipe is an alternate universe version of the Generation 1 character from the BotCon exclusive Shattered Glass comic, in which the Decepticons are on the side of good and the Autobots are evil.

Although initially an evil Autobot, Sideswipe was betrayed by Optimus Prime - who killed Sideswipe's mentor and best friend, Drench. Sideswipe repainted himself in Drench's colors while bearing a scar across his chest, and joined the Decepticons to avenge his mentor's death. He is partnered with the Decepticon Micromaster Whisper, who he refers to as his "Mini-Con." He was later befriend with Cliffjumper from another reality.

Sideswipe appears as a member of Megatron's forces in the Transformers: Timelines story "Shattered Glass" by Fun Publications. He befriends a lost Autobot named Cliffjumper, a traveler from another dimension where the Autobots are heroic, and helps the Decepticons in the attack on the Ark launch site.^[9]

Sideswipe appears in the fiction "Dungeons & Dinobots", a text based story. He defends the Arch-Ayr fuel dump from an Autobot attack and later helps capture the Dinobots Slugfest and Goryu for the Decepticons. Cliffjumper and Sideswipe then track Grimlock to an ancient crypt, which ends up being the home of the life-creating computer known as the Omega Terminus. They are joined by the Autobots Rodimus and Blurr, who are also hunting Grimlock. The enemies end up joining forces to fight Grimlock, the Terminus and a host of zombie transformers, including Drench and this world's Cliffjumper. They escape, but their memories of the event are suppressed by the Terminus.

In "Do Over", Sideswipe is present when Megatron announces the impending launch of the Nemesis, designed to stop the Autobot warship known as the Ark. The Nemesis launches after the Ark, and after a brief battle the Nemesis is shot down and crashes on Earth, with the crew escaping in stasis pods. Although not directly depicted, Sideswipe is a member of the crew of the Nemesis.

In Blitzwing Bop, Sideswipe, Bombshell and Blitzwing stop a scheme by Elita One and Brawn to make attack drones from human cars by implanting control devices in the cars in a car wash.

Sideswipe appears in the second and third of the live action film series. He transforms into a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept in 2009 and a Chevrolet Centennial Corvette convertible in 2011. He has two wheeled feet and is armed with Cybertanium blades, a powerful blades that can cut through any metals. Early concept art of Sideswipe portrayed him as being red, but he ended up silver, presumably due to director Michael Bay's notion that the color red does not photograph well on film. His Hasbro battle bio states that he is 15 ft. tall and that he is a master in almost every form of martial arts on Cybertron.

In Revenge of the Fallen, Sideswipe first appears in the chase in Shanghai, China, pursuing the Decepticon Sideways, whom he cut in half. He was also seen in the fight against the Decepticons after Optimus Prime was killed by Megatron as Bumblebee and the twins escaped with Sam. Sideswipe was surrounded by the human military and forced to go back to the Autobot base alongside Ironhide, Ratchet, Arcee, Chromia, Elita One and Jolt. They arrived in Egypt and fought against many Decepticons. Sideswipe was the first to spot Sam and watched as Optimus Prime was resurrected. Sideswipe was brushed aside by The Fallen when he teleported in front of them.

Sideswipe returns in Transformers: Dark of the Moon as one of the main Autobots. He joined Dino and Bumblebee in accompanying the humans to find out more about the Space Rac and helped Bumblebee and Dino fight the three Dreads on the highway, who are after Sentinel Prime, using his stealth force weapons to shoot at Hatchet. He then helped Ironhide finish off Crowbar and Crankcase in a Mexican Standoff, as Sideswipe called it. Due to Ironhide's demise at the hands of Sentinel Prime, Sideswipe was promoted as second-in-command of Autobots. Sideswipe was expelled from Earth along with the other Autobots and was thought to have perished, when Starscream destroyed the Xanthium Ship. He participated in the final battle in Chicago. He was captured by the Decepticons and witnessed the death of Que. He almost shared Que's fate, but escaped after Wheelie and Brains crashed a Decepticon carrier ship. He helped Bumblebee and Ratchet fire at incoming Decepticons, and briefly battled Sentinel Prime alongside them, but he was knocked backwards by the treacherous Prime. Sideswipe was among the surviving Autobots at the end of the film.

Sideswipe doesn't appear in Age of Extinction, but in an Age of Extinction Topps Europe collector card, in which Optimus is described as mourning his, Ratchet's, and Flash (Leadfoot)'s deaths at the hands of Cemetery Wind and Lockdown. In the film, Five years after the Battle of Chicago, Sideswipe was not listed as "deceased" by Cemetery Wind, indicating that he survived the organization's Autobot hunt, and is currently in hiding, Leaving his fate unknown.

Despite presumed deceased absent in fourth and fifth movies, Sideswipe was alive in the novelizations and IDW movie comic adaptations. He is also alive in Transformers: Shadows Rising, which set place after third movie but disregarded the events of fourth and fifth movies.

Sideswipe first appeared in Transformers: Alliance #4 as one of the Autobots who responded to Optimus Prime's call to Earth. He joined with Optimus' team as part of NEST.

Sideswipe was spotlighted in Tales of the Fallen #2, which revealed the Autobot trained under Ironhide, and was charged with protecting an Autobot colony from the Decepticons. The Decepticon Demolishor attacked and killed all but Sideswipe, laying waste to the colony. Sideswipe vowed revenge, and upon arriving on Earth, single-mindedly chased after his nemesis. Ironhide arrived and tried to stop Sideswipe, but it was only when Ironhide called Sideswipe "no better than the enemy" did Sideswipe stand down, and Demolishor escaped.

Sideswipe appears in Transformers: Nefarious #1, set months after the events of the 2009 film. Alice steals an RV in Seattle and is chased by Skids and Mudflap, who keep her occupied until Sideswipe arrives and defeats her. She is taken to N.E.S.T. headquarters on Diego Garcia to be examined by Ratchet. Sideswipe was disgusted by her decision to disguise herself as a human.

Sideswipe is shown to be helping Optimus Prime against Megatron. Later he fights against Barricade and Frenzy. Afterwards he helps Ratchet against Lockdown. Sideswipe is later seen with Ratchet transporting energon when they are attacked by Starscream and Mindwipe.

Sideswipe appears in the novels Transformers: Exodus, Transformers: Exiles, and Transformers: Retribution.

Sideswipe appears as one of the main characters in the Transformers: Robots in Disguise, voiced by Darren Criss. Originally a rebellious Autobot on Cybertron who delights in vandalism, Sideswipe is captured by Lieutenant Bumblebee and Cadet Strongarm and ends up traveling with them to Earth. He ends up an unlikely member of Bumblebee's new team along with Grimlock and the Mini-Con Fixit, attempting to recapture fugitive Decepticons.

Sideswipe is one of the BotCon 2011 exclusive figures, painted in his Generation 2 black and red colors.

After the events of Transformers: Animated the Stunticons set up a Stunt Convoy show in the city of Kaon and used it as a cover to attempt to break Megatron out of his detention at Trypticon. Their efforts were thwarted thanks to the efforts of Cheetor, Optimus Prime and Sideswipe. The Stunticons were placed in detention with Megatron and an attempt to rescue them was made by the Decepticons Blot, Mindwipe, Oil Slick, Scalpel, Sky-Byte and Strika.^[11]

His tech spec appeared on a lithograph sold at Botcon 2011.^[12]

Sideswipe appeared in the animated shorts "Last Bot Standing", "Bot Stars", "The Big Race", and "A Gift For Megatron".

• Sideswipe is playable character in the PSP version of Transformers: The Game, the video game tie-in to the 2007 live-action Transformers film. He is a part of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Character and Map Pack Plus DLC pack that was released on August 27 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This pack also includes a version of Sideswipe painted in red. He is a playable character in the PSP version and the Autobot Nintendo DS version, which is during Challenge Modes only.
• Sideswipe is one of the playable Autobots in the 2010 video game Transformers: War for Cybertron. He, along with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, are captured by the Decepticons and taken to Kaon prison as part of an elaborate plan to free Zeta Prime and other imprisoned Autobots. The trio battle Soundwave and his minions on their way to rescuing Zeta Prime.
• Sideswipe appears in Transformers: Fall of Cybertron where he helps get Jazz and Cliffjumper to the Sea of Rust to search for Grimlock.
• Sideswipe appears in Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark as a playable character in Single Player mode and an unlockable character in the new Escalation mode. In the game, he helps Ironhide retrieve the Dark Spark before the Decepticons do, and deliver it to Optimus Prime.
• Sideswipe is among the characters who appear in the TRANSFORMERS CYBERVERSE Battle Builder Game.^[13]
• Sideswipe is a playable DLC character in some single-player missions and in the multiplayer section of the PS3 and Xbox 360 game Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. In Transformers: Dark of the Moon for PS3 and Xbox 360, he is only playable in multiplayer.

Sideswipe's original 1984 toy was originally part of a Takara toyline called Diaclone before Hasbro took some of the toys to use for Transformers.^[14] Sideswipe was one of the first Transformers to be released.^[15] In 1991, Sideswipe was one of the handful of pre-existing characters that were included in the Action Master line-up in Europe.^[16]

In the early 2000s, Hasbro temporarily had no access to the "Sideswipe" trademark and used the alternative spelling of "Side Swipe", which is the name the Robots in Disguise and Alternators were released under respectively in 2001 and 2003. Alternators Side Swipe's alternate mode is a Dodge Viper SRT 10.^[17][18][19] By 2008, the name "Sideswipe" was available again and used for the Transformers: Universe Classic Series line. This figure is an updated redesign of the 1984 toy, keeping his form as a Lamborghini while incorporating the detail and articulation technology standard at the time.^[20] He is a red redeco of Sunstreaker with a different head sculpt and the upper torso reversed to have the car's front end as his chest. On the back of his car mode, his license plate reads, "SWIPE".^[21]

Most toys of Sideswipe related to the Transformers film series are officially licensed from General Motors, those being the ones that transform into a Corvette Stingray concept car.

• Bellemo, Mark (2007). Transformers Identification and Price Guide. Krause Publications. p. 23. ISBN 9780896894457.

• Sideswipe galleries at Seibertron.com
• Sideswipe at TFU.info