Sideswipe (Transformers)


Sideswipe is a fictional robot superhero character in the Transformers franchise. Because of trademark restrictions, toys of the character are sometimes marketed as Side Swipe.

Transformers: Generation 1

Sideswipe is described in his tech file as a brave but often brash 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.

Reception

In 1984 CBC's The Journal did a report on how some people considered Transformers like Sideswipe and other war toys too violent for children. Dreamwave comics artist Pat Lee says his favorite Transformer is Sideswipe.

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 his 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. Throughout Seasons 1 and 2, Sideswipe was voiced by Michael Bell.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together. When antimatter-fueled Decepticons attacked the Ark on one occasion in the 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, 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 Seapray battling the Decepticons in Switzerland and gained new powers and color like his G2 self by the power of Forestonite.
In an early script for ' there was a scene planned where Sideswipe, Red Alert and Tracks hop off Ultra Magnus to attack Devastator, but they are pushed back and Red Alert is shot in the back and killed.
Sideswipe appears in the first two episodes of the Japanese series ', 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.

Books

Sideswipe appeared in the 1984 sticker and story book Return to Cybertron written by Suzanne Weyn and published by Marvel 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.
Sideswipe was featured in the 1993 Transformers: Generation 2 coloring book "Decepticon Madness" by Bud Simpson.

Comics

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. 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, with Primal's forces barely making it out. Sideswipe was among those seen escaping.

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. 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.

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.

Fun Publications

Classicverse

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.
Wing of Honor
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.
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.
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.

IDW Publishing

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 ' 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, 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 ', 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. He now appears to have a form based on the Universe Classics Series Sideswipe toy.

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 US 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 battling the Swarm.

Toys

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.

Toys

Originally called Stepper in the Japanese series "Micron Legend", he was renamed Sideswipe 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 Sideswipe 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 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.

Animated series

Sideswipe first appears in the Armada episode "Past" 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 Sideswipe. 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, Sideswipe does his best to defend his trainer. And when Sideswipe 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 Sideswipe, successfully getting him out just in time. Since this moment Sideswipe 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.
Sideswipe 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. Later, Sideswipe served as Hot Shot's most loyal soldier when that one briefly took command of the Autobots after Optimus Prime's death.

Dreamwave Productions

Sideswipe 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. Sideswipe survived relatively unscathed - unlike Blurr and Dropshot - and helped to eventually destroy the samurai Decepticon.
Sideswipe was last seen in issue #18 of the Armada series and did not make any appearances in the Transformers: Energon comic series.

Toys

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 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."

Fun Publications

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.
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 and for the Decepticons. Cliffjumper and Sideswipe then track 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 and, 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. They escape, but their memories of the event are suppressed by the Terminus.
In "Do Over", Sideswipe is present when 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 to make attack drones from human cars by implanting control devices in the cars in a car wash.

Toys

Sideswipe appears in the and 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 like Bonecrusher from the first film. Sideswipe is armed with guns, a back-mounted machine gun and detachable Cybertanium blades. 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 has 4 lines and first appears in the chase in Shanghai, China, pursuing the Decepticon Sideways. Using his wheeled feet to maneuver, Sideswipe somersaulted over him while shooting at him, then threw one of his arm blades into the front of Sideways' vehicle mode. As he landed, Sideswipe reattached the blade and forced it lengthwise down Sideways' body, cutting him 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 as one of the main Autobots. He accompanies Bumblebee, Que/Wheeljack, and Dino/Mirage when they investigated a nuclear facility in the Middle East. Later he joined Dino and Bumblebee in accompanying the humans to find out more about the Space Race. Sideswipe 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. Sideswipe was expelled from Earth along with the other Autobots and was thought to have perished when Starscream destroyed the Xanthium. 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.
In Age of Extinction, Sideswipe does not appear. It is unknown what exactly happened to him. It was said that all remaining Autobots were hunted down and killed by Cemetary Wind before the events of the film, but there was no actual on-screen confirmation of this happening to Sideswipe, as well as some of the other Autobots.

Related film media

IDW Publishing

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, chased after his nemesis without care for any innocent in the crossfire. 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. steals an RV in Seattle and is chased by 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.

Cyber Missions

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

Video games

Sideswipe is playable character in the PSP version of , 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 among the characters who appear in the TRANSFORMERS CYBERVERSE Battle Builder Game.
Sideswipe is a playable 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.

Live-action film-related toys

All toys of this character are officially licensed from General Motors.

Books

Sideswipe appears in the novels ', ', and .

Games

Sideswipe is one of the playable Autobots in the 2010 video game '. He, along with and, 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 and his minions on their way to rescuing Zeta Prime.
Sideswipe also appears in its sequel ' where he helps get Jazz and Cliffjumper to the Sea of Rust to search for Grimlock.
Sideswipe appears in 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.

Animated series

Sideswipe appears as one of the main characters in the , the sequel series to Transformers: Prime, voiced by Darren Criss. Originally a rebellious Autobot on Cybertron who delights in vandalism, Sideswipe is captured by Lieutenant Bumblebee and Female 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.

Toys

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

Fun Publications

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.
His tech spec appeared on a lithograph sold at Botcon 2011.

Toys

Sideswipe is an Autobot who turns into a car.

Animated series

Kreon Sideswipe appeared in the animated short "Last Bot Standing."
Kreon Sideswipe appeared in the animated short "Bot Stars."
Kreon Sideswipe appeared in the animated short "The Big Race."
Kreon Sideswipe appeared in the animated short "A Gift For Megatron."

Toys