Speed

2009-06-05T13:09:48Z

211.30.255.16: /* Animation and/or technical glitches */

{{picsneeded}}
{{epstub}}
{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=7
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=8
|title="Speed"
|japanese=激闘! スタースクリーム
|romaji=Gekitō! Starscream
|translation=Fierce Fighting! Starscream
|image=
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[we've|We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Genki Yoshimura]]
|director=
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[February 26|26 February]] 2005 (Japanese)
|continuity=
}}

==Synopsis==
==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
|c3=
}}

==Quotes==
==Other notes==
===Animation and/or technical glitches===
* Optimus says Cyber key power even though he didn't use it. Worse was the japanese version didn't even mention about this. It just went into super mode.

===Continuity errors===
===Miscellaneous trivia===

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Swindle (G1)

2009-04-30T07:43:29Z

211.30.255.16: /* External links */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2}}
{{picsneeded|fiction appearance}}
{{disambig3|Swindle}}
:''Swindle is a [[Decepticon]] [[Combaticon]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Swindleg1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He'd sell you for a nickel, that schemer.]]
Capitalist first, Decepticon second, '''Swindle''' is a con-man, an opportunist, a hustler—or as he would put it, an entrepreneur. Unlike his fellow Combaticons, the Autobot-Decepticon war is to him merely an opportunity for networking, cutting deals, and making profit. He's an expert on all manner of weaponry and their market prices, and he prides himself on being able to sell anything to pretty much anybody. All he needs is a smile.

Swindle can combine with the other Combaticons to form [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{bigquote|It's...it's not my fault, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]! This greed is built into my [[personality component]]!|—Swindle, after selling the other Combaticons's remains, "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]"}}

:''Italian name'': '''Crasher'''<br />
:''French-Canadian name'': '''Filou''' (Swindler)
:''Hungarian name'': '''Svindli'''

==Fiction==
===American cartoon continuity===
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Johnny Haymer]] (US), [[Osamu Saka]] (Japan)

[[Image:StarscreamsBrigade CombaticonsMegs.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"With you gone, I'LL have the nicest arm-cannon!"]]
Swindle was originally a Decepticon criminal on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] who apparently got caught and had his [[personality component]] locked in a detention center, where he was stuck for millions of years. He was eventually liberated along with four other prisoners by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], who installed Swindle into an old military jeep found at [[Guadalcanal]] on [[Earth]]. Starscream dubbed the Decepticons "Combaticons" and ordered them to help him defeat [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. While Swindle and the others were not too happy with this, Starscream blackmailed them into it anyway. The plan eventually failed, and Swindle and the Combaticons were banished to an asteroid along with Starscream. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[Image:AerialAssault Swindle Ali.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Can I interest you in an exclusive society membership?"]]
The Combaticons later escaped the asteroid and attacked Cybertron together as Bruticus. After being defeated again, Swindle and the Combaticons were reprogrammed to be loyal to Megatron. It's debatable how well that reprogramming took with Swindle. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

Megatron next ordered the Combaticons to steal fighter planes by using Middle-Eastern criminals as go-betweens. Swindle was the personal ride of [[Ali]], the thief leader, and led the caravans with parts to Megatron. He later merged with the others to form Bruticus, who was defeated by the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] as [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

[[Image:BOT Swindle grabbed.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The Air Warriors? You guys weren't still using them, were you?"]]
Bruticus was next defeated by [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and Swindle was the sole survivor of the team. He proceeded to sell the parts of his comrades to various [[El Presidente|people]] for a sweet finder's fee. Megatron was less than happy with this, however, as he had just constructed a giant death-ray for Bruticus to wield for him. No Combaticons, no Bruticus. Swindle tried to plead off his greed as a programming flaw, but Megatron wasn't having any of it. He installed a bomb in Swindle's head and gave him 15 hours to rebuild his fellow Combaticons or suffer their fate. The most elusive piece was [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]'s personality component, which had been raided from a junkyard by [[Elise Presser|some]] [[Martin and Roland|high school kids]] building a [[B.O.T. (robot)|homemade robot]]. Swindle had to fight through a trio of Autobots in order to recover the personality component, but succeeded in time to have the bomb removed. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

Swindle is plainly a team player.

After the Decepticons were exiled to a burnt-out husk of a planet called [[Chaar]] in 2006, they dropped dangerously low on energon. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} When the [[Quintesson]]s arrived to make a deal, [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] went out to meet them, then deferred to Swindle's skills to bargain a reasonable price for their services. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}

{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

{{storylink|Fight or Flee}} {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

Later, Swindle, along with [[Motormaster]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], finally became so dissatisfied with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron's]] leadership that he openly grumbled that the Autobots would be doing the Decepticons a favor by killing Galvatron. [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] interpreted this as treason, but Swindle brushed him off. Both he and Motormaster warned Cyclonus that if Galvatron's madness wasn't cured, the Unicron-forged pair would face rebellion. {{storylink|Webworld}}

[[Image:UltimateWeapon FirstAid Swindle.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Damnit, Swindle, Groove's supposed to be the pacifist. Now give me back my bearings!"]]
On another occasion, Swindle singlehandedly infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] for Galvatron and miraculously managed to fend off a lone Autobot pacifist like [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] to steal the [[city-bot]]'s [[transformation cog]]. After returning from his mission, though, Swindle's greed got the best of him, and he attempted to make Galvatron bid for the cog. After Megatron put a bomb in his head, why Swindle thought bargaining with the even less stable Galvatron was a good idea is anyone's guess. Lucky for Swindle, Galvatron was in one of his less manic phases at the time and only blasted the greedy Combaticon a few times instead of ripping out his primary fuel pump with his [[Andrew Wildman|teeth]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

{{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

As part of Bruticus, Swindle was one of the victims of the [[Hate Plague]]. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

{{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{-}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' manga====
Swindle and the rest of the Combaticon team came to assist [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] when he got into trouble with [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. As Bruticus, the team broke Defensor apart easily enough, but fell victims to Superion's [[electrostatic discharger rifle]]. The weapon hit Swindle and [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]], who disconnected from Bruticus, allowing two [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to steal their positions as Bruticus's legs. Swindle was left chasing after Bruticus as the Autobots took control of the combiner's flight systems and flew away with him. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5}}

Megatron later ordered the Combaticons to capture an escaped [[Murdered puppy|puppy]] which he had imbued with [[Decepticon super science]]. [[Powerglide]] eventually arrived to stop them, leading to the dog using its super science to give the Autobot [[Scramble Power]]. Swindle combined with his teammates to destroy Powerglide, but he and his [[Mini Vehicle|Minibot]] friends used Scramble Power to [[Minibot combiner|combine]] and drill a hole straight through Bruticus, forcing him to retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8}}

====''Scramble City'' OVA====
{{storylink|Scramble City}}

{{charstub}}

====''Binaltech''====
[[Image:Swindleart.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Nice to meet you! Please disregard the gun.]]
In 2003, Swindle used his contacts to reverse-engineer the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus and ensure a large percentage of the Autobot force on Earth was incapacitated. When the Autobots joined forces with Earth's manufacturing industries to create the Binaltech project, Swindle worked with Starscream and his Decepticon faction to infiltrate the project for their own ends. Using modified [[cerebro-shell]] technology to turn human workers into sleeper agents, the Decepticons managed to sneak some of their own personality components into the facilities and replace them with those of the Autobots planned for the new bodies. Therefore, the Central City Institute of Technology thought they were upgrading the Autobot [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], only to have Swindle come online instead.

Swindle's bait-and-switch wasn't totally effective, though—the Binaltech warriors only had their weaponry fully equipped and activated after coming online and arriving at Autobot City, so Swindle was not equipped with functioning versions of Trailbreaker's [[force field]] and other abilities, having to instead outfit himself with armaments from his own munitions depots. He was also banned from the Binaltech [[electro-cell]] recharging centers after his ruse was uncovered, and therefore had to rely on the [[Exponential Generator]] technology provided by Starscream's human ally, [[Doctor Arkeville]]. Though upgraded since its inception, the generators were historically unstable (like, "might blow up an entire planet" unstable).
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{charstub}}

====''Zone'' OVA====
Whilst neither Swindle nor the other Combaticons appeared as separate individuals, their combined form Bruticus worked as one of [[Violen Jiger]]'s 9 Decepticon Demon-Generals. He joined [[Abominus]], Menasor and [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] on a raid for [[Energon Z]] on planet [[Zone (planet)|Zone]]. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''Thanks to his brief time housing the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] in his mind, [[Buster Witwicky]] experienced a series of dreams outlining the future of Cybertronian technology: the [[Special Teams]]. These dreams were random and chaotic at first, as he was chased through his dreamscape by [[Combiner]] robots and witnessed the [[Combaticon|Combaticons]] merge into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] joined Buster in his dreams, the information became more linear, and the Autobot and human beheld a future scenario in which Swindle and the Combaticons joined forces with the [[Stunticon]]s against the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. Working off this information, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] began to conceive a way to reverse-engineer and improve upon [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'s combination technology. Unfortunately for the Autobots, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] had managed to tap into Buster's dream frequency, and the Decepticons received the same information to build their own Special Teams. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

{{note|The Combaticons' first U.S. appearance was unexplained in the American comic. However, it may be assumed that they were created in the same way as the [[Stunticon]]s were. (It is possible that they were recruited from Cybertron. See the article on the comic issue [[Afterdeath!]] for more.)}}
The Combaticons joined Megatron on a mission to invade the company Energy Futures Industries in order to steal a hydrothermocline, which the Decepticons wanted to take for their own energy resources. This mission resulted not only in success for the Decepticons, but also in the death of Autobot leader Optimus Prime, despite Swindle's individual failure in his part of the mission. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}

[[Image:Swindle marvel uk 137.jpg|left|140px|thumb|This is all kinds of wrong.]]
Swindle soon accompanied his fellow Decepticons to a new base in the Caribbean, at which time Megatron disappeared and Shockwave assumed command of the Earth-bound Decepticons. ''Shortly afterwards, Shockwave dispatched Swindle and the other Combaticons to assassinate [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who was buried under lava at [[Mount Verona]], but they were defeated by a [[Joy Meadows|trio]] of [[Dr. Susan Hoffman|human]] [[Cindy Newell|women]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night}}

[[Image:Swindle marvel uk 138.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Lamb bhuna last night?]]
Swindle (and the other Combaticons) battled [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on several occasions, though without great success. He had better success during the Decepticon ambush of the Autobots on the Moon, where the Autobots had gathered to resolve a leadership dispute. Swindle attacked [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] with his Scatter Blaster and commented that although Brawn was not a great Autobot warrior, he would have a bright future as spare parts (presumably to be sold at a premium by Swindle himself). When the combined forces of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] managed to pierce the ship's protective force field, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] commanded all Decepticons on the surface of the Moon to return to the ship and retreat. {{storylink|Totaled!|Totaled!}}

Swindle also served as part of the "friendly" staff on the beach of the Decepticons' Caribbean island when the Decepticons used the base as a human vacation resort. Swindle was there to serve every need that the humans might require. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

====Generation 2====
Swindle gave Megatron a tour of the [[Warworld]] when the Decepticon leader forcibly took command of the Decepticons back from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]. This ultimately led to a chamber where many new Decepticon bodies awaited, needing the Matrix to give them life. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}}

He was later seen briefly as part of the first wave of defenders when the Warworld was attacked by the next-generation Cybertronians commanded by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] after the Autobots and Decepticons had forged an alliance of necessity against said forces. Swindle's fate was not revealed, but considering the Cybertronian troops—led by the traitor [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]—killed several Decepticons and ultimately overtook the battleship, it didn't look too good for Swindle. {{storylink|Total War}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
Swindle sided with Starscream when the [[Seeker]] tried to usurp command of the Decepticons from Megatron (what a surprise) shortly after the onset of the Cybertronian civil war. He assisted in the interrogation of [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] instead of joining [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in the assault upon [[Iacon]].

Millions of years later, Swindle, along with his fellow Combaticons, was imprisoned by Shockwave, presumably as war criminals under the terms of the new peace treaty with the Autobots. He was sprung by Starscream after the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'''s crew returned to Cybertron, though. Wonder what that cost him. Starscream then brought the inactive Combaticons with him to Earth and gave them new modes based on deactivated vehicles from a nearby abandoned military testing ground.

When [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] appeared on Earth, the battered Combaticons were ordered by Starscream to combine into Bruticus and deal with the crazed zealot. It did not end well. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

[[Image:G1 DWSwindle deal routetoallevil.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Who wouldn't trust a bot named "Swindle"?]]
The repaired Combaticons were brought to Guadalcanal, where they could hone their somewhat lackluster combat skills and listen to Starscream's long-winded aspirations of glory. When Swindle commented on Starscream's mental state, Brawl agreed, stating that he'd like to pull the Air Commander's cerebro circuits straight out of his faceplate so they could get a better look at them, to which Swindle suggested a "deal" for this to happen. Starscream overheard their conversation and informed the smaller Decepticon that the only "deal" he needed to worry about was how Starscream would deal with Swindle for his scheming. Starscream nevertheless let it pass for the moment in order for the Combaticons to test themselves against the magnificent Autobot [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Unfortunately, the Combaticons did not fare well when the crafty Autobot split into his two forms, with Swindle, Brawl and Onslaught nearly getting crushed by the Lynx's right paw.

This was the least of their troubles, however, as [[Predaking]] showed up as soon as Sky Lynx was deactivated. As the Combaticons closed in on the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]] [[combiner]], Swindle had trouble keeping up with the rest of the group before they formed Bruticus. This encounter also did not end well. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:SpotlightUltraMagnusSwindle.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Swindle: Master salespitcher.]]
Shortly prior to the formation of the Decepticons, Swindle was working as a lackey for [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] during the height of his gladiator period. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}}

In modern times, Swindle was an arms dealer being hunted down by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] for violating the [[Tyrest Accord]]. He managed to deal for his freedom 29 stellar cycles ago by selling Magnus information on the whereabouts of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Magnus recently caught him again, but it's so far unknown if Swindle managed to bargain for his freedom once again. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}}

===''Legends'' anthology===
===Timelines===
{{charstubfiction}}

There are three Swindles running the pawn shop "Swindle, Swindle, and Swindle." The jingle says it all. As does the image of three grinning Swindle heads on their sign.

<blockquote>"Three times the Swindle means three times the deal.
Come on down, it's a total steal!"</blockquote>
To distinguish the Swindles, they have the following designs:

*Swindle the first: Generation 2 Swindle.
*Swindle the second: Generation 1 (all plastic) Swindle.
*Swindle the third: Generation 1 ([[die-cast]] version) Swindle.

Ask [[Bug Bite]], [[Bulletbike (G2)|Bulletbike]], and [[Treds]] about the Triple-S sometimes.
{{storylink|Withered Hope}} {{storylink|I, Lowtech}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Swindle toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Eh, I'd rather have elbows than shoulders anyway.]]
*'''Swindle''' (Combaticon, 1986, 1987, 1991)
*''Team ID number'': '''C2'''
*''Japanese ID number'': '''D-68'''
*''Accessories'': Large "[[Scatter blaster]]" gun, small "Gyro-Gun" pistol, decal sheet

: Swindle transforms into a tan FMC XR311 combat support vehicle. He features a large, back-mounted cannon with a small pistol attached to its side. In robot mode, he is armed with both weapons, which are used as hand-held artillery. Swindle normally operates as Bruticus's right leg, but as a [[Scramble City]]-style combiner toy, he can also be used in any other available limb slot with any torso-robot.

: There are two different versions of the original release. The initial version uses purple-painted [[die-cast]] metal for his chestplate. This was later replaced with gray plastic.

: The Combaticons were re-released in 1991 as part of the European-market "[[Classics (Euro)|Classics]]" line. This version (which uses the plastic chestplate) was [[Retool|retooled]] to remove the [[rubsign]] indent from his vehicle mode hood, a change made to a lot of the toys in this series.

:This mold was later [[Redeco|redecoed]] into ''[[Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Leyland]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Rollbar (RID)|Rollbar]] and ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Rollbar.

===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2Swindle toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|WhY mY ShOuLdErS—oh wait, never mind.]]
*'''Swindle''' (1994)
*''Team ID number'': '''C2'''
*''Accessories'': Large "[[Scatter blaster]]" gun, small "Gyro-Gun" pistol

: For the ''[[Generation 2]]'' toyline, Swindle had all of his tan parts redecoed bright red with purple camouflage paint and his windshield painted black. (This latter color was a sticker on the original release.) In robot mode, he has a bright purple torso, making this release quite garish.

{{-}}

===Alternators===
[[Image:Alternators Swindle toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|If you buy from this Jeep, it won't be cheap.]]
*'''Swindle''' (2004)
*''Alternator ID number'': '''8'''
*''Japanese ID number'': '''BT-09'''
*''Accessories'': Handgun

: ''[[Alternators]]'' Swindle transforms into a yellow Jeep Wrangler Sport. He is a [[retool]] of ''Alternators'' [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] with a new head, new tires and a new bumper with bullbar. In vehicle mode, his doors open to reveal a realistic interior, his hood opens to reveal a fake (and inaccurate) engine bay, and his tailgate opens by hinging up at one end. As with Hound, he lacks the steering feature common in other ''Alternators'' but has spring-loaded suspension.

: In robot mode, Swindle is armed with a small laser pistol stored in his spare tire. He is otherwise mostly identical to Hound except for the changed parts and color.

: Swindle's head sculpt, as well as the rest of this tooling, was originally intended to be used for an ''Alternators'' version of [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], who was canceled due to [[trademark]] issues.

: The same mold, with the Swindle retoolings, is used by [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]].

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
====G1 Series====
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)
*''Accessories:'' Quad blaster (hand/foot), Decepticon-type [[energon star]]

:''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Swindle is a [[redeco]] of the ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'' [[Blackout (Combiner)|Blackout]]/[[Stormcloud (Energon)|Stormcloud]] mold, transforming into a tan assault helicopter somewhat similar to an Apache. He was only available with ''Universe'' Bruticus Maximus giftset. When combined with the other Combaticons, Swindle is nominally Bruticus Maximus' right leg, though he can be used in any other limb position. Appropriately enough, his markings include a dollar sign ($) on the air intake housing flanking his cockpit.

:This mold was also used to make [[Fun Publications]] [[Transformers Collectors' Club]]-[[exclusive]] [[Topspin (Classics)|Topspin]] and ''Universe'' (2008) [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]].

== Triva ==
*Swindle doesn't have a mouthplate. Very unusual

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Swindle/swindle.htm Swindle at TFU.info]

*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Swindle Swindle's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:Merchants]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Speed

Swindle (G1)