Swindle (G1)

2012-01-22T00:53:48Z

95.148.9.119: /* Generation 1 */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{picsneeded|fiction appearance}}
{{disambig3|Swindle}}
:''Swindle is a [[Decepticon]] [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] from the [[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]].

{{quote|It's... it's not my fault, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]! This greed is built into my [[personality component]]!|Swindle, after selling the other Combaticons's remains|"[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Johnny Haymer]] (English), [[Osamu Saka]] (Japanese), [[Héctor Vieyra]] (Latin American), [[Bernd Simon]] (German, ''Five Faces of Darknes, Part 2 - 4'' & ''The Rebirth, Part 3''), [[Gerhard Acktun]] (German, ''Webworld''), [[Imo Heite]] (German, ''The Ultimate Weapon''), [[Ulf-Jürgen Wagner]] (German, Generation 2 Dub of ''Starscreams Brigade''), [[Peter Zilles]] (German, Generation 2 Dub of ''The Ultimate Weapon'')
[[Image:StarscreamsBrigade CombaticonsMegs.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Step right up! Step right up! Everyone's a winner; bargains galore!]]
Swindle was one of the five [[renegade Decepticon]]s liberated by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] in the Air Commander's latest attempt to unseat [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. As an element of their imprisonment, they had been reduced to mere [[personality component]]s, so Starscream installed them into abandoned [[World War II]] military vehicles. Swindle in particular was put in a [[wikipedia:Willys MP|Willys Jeep]],<ref>"Starscream's Brigade" shooting script</ref> and unlike his teammates, he didn't immediately reconfigure himself into a different vehicle form. Starscream called them "Combaticons" and announced their names as they transformed, but they didn't recognize him. Nor did they feel particularly indebted to him for their release; in the end, Starscream only guaranteed their loyalty though having given them bodies bereft of [[energy absorber]]s, so they would be dependent upon him to refuel. While their first missions for Starscream were initially successful, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]' intervention meant the brigade's defeat, and Megatron exiled all six to a remote asteroid. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[Image:AerialAssault Swindle Ali.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It picks up the kids from school; it gets rid of unwanted facial hair; it gets rid of embarrassing ink spots; it delivers a pizza!]]

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 (Sunbow)|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|Act now! Act now! And receive as your gift to you, they come in all colors, one size fits all!]]

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}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{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 (G1)|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|You got it buddy; the large print giveth, and the small print taketh away!]]

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 [[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}}
{{--}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
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|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

Megatron later ordered the Combaticons to capture an escaped [[Murdered puppy|puppy]] which he had imbued with [[Decepticon super science]]. [[Powerglide (G1)|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|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

====Scramble City: Mobilization====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were held up by the Aerialbots, so the Combaticons were sent to aid them. Swindle combined with the others to form Bruticus, who teamed up with Menasor to defeat Superion. Unfortunately, Scramble City was finished in the meantime, and soon arrived on the scene and defeated Bruticus. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''Story of 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. {{storylink|Story of Binaltech, Chapter 1}} 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. {{storylink|Arise! Evil Binaltechs}}

Thanks to the Decepticons' efforts, 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). {{storylink|Expose All of Evil's Designs!}}
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
Swindle and the Combaticons were among Galvatron's troops when he ordered an all-out Decepticon invasion of Cybertron {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}, but even the power of Bruticus couldn't stand up to the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} The Combaticons were subsequently sent to Earth to stop [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] from bringing the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to Optimus Prime, but were ambushed by the Protectobots and buried in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} They were next seen defending [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s city mode from [[Blaster (G1)|an Autobot spy]], but were distracted by the Aerialbots. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

Galvatron eventually managed to invade Cybertron once more, and Swindle and the others were again part of the attack. They soon encountered those pesky Protectobots again, {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} and were taken out of action by Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} As Galvatron was thought lost in the battle, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] took control of the Decepticon forces and ordered the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to protect a giant carnivorous plant he had planted in [[San Francisco]]. When the Autobots arrived to kill it, Bruticus dueled with the [[Trainbot]] combiner [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} The Combaticons later fell under [[Sixshot]]'s command, and he ordered them, along with the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon]]s, to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Miami]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}} They unleashed Bruticus as Sixshot continued his reign of terror over the Autobots on Earth. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

Swindle was later present at Scorponok's inauguration as [[Decepticon leader]] after Galvatron had died for real. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} The Combaticons were then stationed at the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], where they failed to lure Fortress Maximus away from their base. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} As Scorponok's plan to destroy Earth came close to fruition, Swindle was part of Bruticus as the combiner sunk the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' and defended a [[Death Tower]] in [[Australia]] from Defensor. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}} As Bruticus, the Combaticons participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the [[North Pole]], and retreated into space when Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

====''Zone'' cartoon, comic and story pages====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. Swindle was of those summoned, but only as part of Bruticus. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: 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 (G1)|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 (G1)|Combaticons]] merge into [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|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 (G1)|Stunticons]] 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 Stunticons were. (It is possible that they were recruited from Cybertron. See the article on the comic issue [[Afterdeath!]] for more.)}}

The Combaticons joined [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|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 [[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)/Marvel Comics continuity|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!}}

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!}}
{{--}}

Swindle and the Combaticons then vanished completely from the remainder of the comic without explanation until Generation 2.

====Generation 2====
Swindle gave [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|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 [[Bludgeon's new army|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 (body-type)|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 (polity)|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|Megatron Origin #3}}

{{spoiler|Law and Disorder|February 11, 2012}}

Later, Swindle was the target of a Autobot group let by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] in the streets of [[Nyon]], where he was selling stolen Autobots materials to some sleepers. He fought againt Orion Pax, who quickly overpowered him and ordered him to give more details about Megatron. However, Swindle prefered to explain how the Decepticons were about to bring Cybertron to a new era, freed from opression and corruption, and how, by using uncontrolled violence, Orion Pax was proving him right. The latter, about to shoot Swindle in the head, was stopped by Bumblebee, allowing Swindle to escape. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}}

In modern times, Swindle was an arms dealer being hunted down by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] for violating the [[Tyrest Accord]]. After failing to hide from Magnus on the planet [[Zull]] 29 solar cycles in the past, he managed to deal for his freedom by selling Magnus information on the whereabouts of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Magnus later caught Swindle again, but it would seem he managed to bargain for his freedom once again. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}}

Quite some time later, Swindle was one several Decepticons who were stranded on Earth after Megatron's defeat in [[New York City]]. Ever the opportunist, he saw a market open to him in the chaos that had followed, and made contact with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] of [[Skywatch]] to secretly supply the human organization with Cybertronian weaponry. When he needed energon, he struck a deal with [[North Korea]]n ruler [[Kim Jong Du]], offering him the Combaticons as an invasion force in return, but left as soon as he got what he needed. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden}}

[[Image:TF_Ongoing_issue_3_Swindle.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Cool story, bro.]]
Back in America, Swindle joined a small band of lost Decepticons. At first, the group tried to follow the high-ranking [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], but his disenchantment with the Decepticons and the war led them to fall in behind Swindle, the fast-talking cheat, the one who could always survive against all odds. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}} For three months Swindle led them into a canyon where they stalked the mighty Autobot [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], waiting for a chance to strike. However, when they observed a group of Autobots led by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] in discussions with Omega, Swindle realized he could fool the hot-headed and naive Autobot for his own designs. Launching a seemingly ill-conceived attack on the Autobots, Swindle quickly manipulated Hot Rod by asking the very question that had been on the Autobot's mind: What were they fighting about? What reason was there to continue fighting? Posing these questions to all the assembled transformers, Swindle proposed an alliance between the two groups with the aim of getting off-planet. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} After the alliance was made, while Hot Rod tried to enlist the assistance of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to help them build their starship, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] had their doubts about working with the Decepticons, and Swindle grinning at them didn't improve their mood any. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}}

While their ship was under construction, Swindle attempted to pressure Hot Rod into allowing the Decepticons to retrieve the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] who had been imprisoned by [[Skywatch]], but Hot Rod wisely refused. Seeing this path going nowhere, Swindle instead suggested the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] rescue [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]], and before Hot Rod was able to voice opposition, Swindle smoothly massaged Hot Rod's ego, claiming the Autobot was the "architect of a new age", that the others admired him and, and that these "followers" had given him a new moniker: "Rodimus Prime". With Hot Rod distracted by these praised and accolades, Swindle was given the go-ahead to rescue Breakdown. Unfortunately, as he was discussing his plans with the Stunticons, Ultra Magnus showed up, forcing Swindle to hide. When Magnus discovered and tried to arrest the Decepticon criminal, "Rodimus Prime" stepped in and refused to allow his fellow Autobot to capture Swindle. The Decepticon was seemingly grateful to Rodimus, but Thundercracker knew he was up to something, but wasn't sure what. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}}

Soon afterwards, the Stunticons successfully rescued Breakdown from the clutches of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], an officer in Skywatch. Bringing him back to base, Swindle worked on Breakdown for over three hours, under the pretense that the battered Decepticon needed significant repairs, much to the ire of the Autobots, bar the ever-naive Hot Rod. Ultra Magnus returned, this time with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and several of his Autobots. When the Autobots started arguing, Swindle stepped in, revealing that the Decepticons had always planned to steal the space ship after killing as many Autobots as they could. When Ultra Magnus countered that the Autobots had them outnumbered, Swindle unveiled his latest creation—the Stunticons [[combiner|combined]] into the powerful gestalt [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. As the Autobots gaped, Swindle ordered Menasor to kill Magnus first. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

Swindle gloated in triumph as Menasor tore through the assembled Autobots. He was so enamored with this that he failed to notice Optimus Prime being air-dropped by Skywatch until he had landed on him. Heavily damaged, Swindle climbed from the impact crater and watched in horror as Prime led the Autobots against Menasor, resulting in the destruction of the escape ship. Despite his damages, Swindle was able to slip away before Skywatch seized control of the area, much to Ultra Magnus's chagrin. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

In the months that followed, Swindle created [[Ben Simpson]], a [[facsimile construct]] who would act as a spokesman of the anti-Transformer group [[Earth's Children]]. Using Simpson, he fanned the flames of human hatred against Autobots, allowing him to sell them powerful and mind-corrupting weapons built from Megatron's parts. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden}} When [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] began investigating Spike Witwicky, Swindle had [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] try to kill him, but the attempt failed. He had, however, planted a failsafe in Brawl's body that shut him down when Prowl tried to find out who sent him. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward}} Soon afterwards, Ultra Magnus decided that the Autobots had had enough of Ben Simpson's campaign against them, and went with Skywatch to his home to detain him. Swindle, based nearby, tried to make his escape, but was beaten down by Ultra Magnus, had his arm ripped off and was dragged back to Autobot HQ. During interrogation he revealed everything about his schemes, including the fact that Witwicky had been playing both sides, causing the Autobots to sever their connections with Skywatch. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden}}

When the Autobots returned to Cybertron, they brought Swindle with them and imprisoned him alongside the other Decepticons. He tried to strike a deal with Optimus Prime to get out, but was unsuccessful. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime}}
{{--}}

===Two for the Price of One===
Swindle stumbled onto a goldmine—selling off the Decepticon arsenal to the [[human]]s. Unfortunately one of his clients, [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Faghadi]], was pushy and demanded his weapons ''now'', at length, while Swindle was trying to work. Swindle realized there was a way he could turn even this to his advantage. With the help of one of his [[Sato Noriko|other clients]], he was able to set Faghadi up to be captured by [[NATO]], demonstrating the weapons in the process, and making an even bigger sale to the Japanese into the bargain. Everything went perfectly, except Megatron found out where the Decepticon weapons had been disappearing to, and dispatched [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] to bring Swindle in. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===''TransTech''===
{{charstubfiction}}
There are three Swindles running the pawn shop "[[Swindle, Swindle & 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 Purple-chested ([[die-cast]] version) Swindle.
*Swindle the third: Generation 1 Grey-chested (all plastic) Swindle.

Ask [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]], [[Bulletbike (G2)|Bulletbike]], and [[Treds]] about the Triple-S sometimes. {{storylink|Withered Hope}} {{storylink|I, Lowtech}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Swindle was part of a [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}} During introductions, Swindle admired [[Dion]]'s [[Nitronium launcher]]s and offered him a [[Ajax P-9000 Grade-B Jump Launch Accelerator]] (Swindle had named his own "[[Thunderblast (Timelines)|Thunderblast]]" after an old flame). The Combaticons were teamed with [[Metalhawk]]'s Strike Team for a mission to an archeological dig in [[Median]]. The dig had uncovered the [[Heart of the Dragon]], a powerful artifact coveted by the Decepticon [[Rage]] and his [[Stormtrooper (G1)|Stormtrooper]]s. When the teams arrived and discovered that the archaeologists were all females, he announced the odds were high that they would all score.

They began to fortify the site, though Onslaught had to remind Swindle that he wasn't there to sell them the fortifications. He still managed to organize a trade with [[Over-Run (G1)|Over-Run]], providing the Autobot with a drone. He also lent [[Lancer]] his [[Gyro-Gun]] and a dose of sexual harassment. The Decepticons still managed to break in to steal the urn, and even Swindle's idea of having the autoturrets shoot anyone trying to escape the city failed when the autoturrets apparently malfunctioned.

Tracking the Stormtroopers back to their mobile base, the [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], Swindle and the others were confronted by Rage's bizarre creations, the [[Minotoron]]s. Dion suggested that Swindle use a device he'd removed from Over-Run's drone to produce a high-pitched noise and subdue the beasts. Seeing an opportunity to sneak inside, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], Swindle and Dion mounted the creatures when they were summoned back inside the Metrotitan.

The teams reassembled inside the base, only to be confronted by [[Brimstone (G1)|Brimstone]], a small but powerful Transformer with atom-smashing breath, brought to life by the Heart of the Dragon. In the face of this new threat, they were forced to retreat while attempting to find a way to destroy it. Even [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s explosives weren't enough to stop the creature, but the small frame proved to be insufficient to contain Brimstone's energies, and it soon exploded, destroying the Metrotitan. Swindle and the Elite Guard managed to escape the blast radius, and reported back to Magnum about a job well done. Swindle's report apparently read like a romance holo-pulp. {{storylink|Flames of Yesterday}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 3}}
{{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 4}}
{{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 5}}
Bruticus managed to slaughter pretty much all of the Guard before Dion blinded the giant, forcing them to separate. They headed back to Deathsaurus's base for repairs. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 6}}

Repairs proceeded, but the Combaticons were startled to learn that Deathsaurus could force them to combine into Bruticus at will. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} They still turned out to help defend the base against the remnants of the Elite Guard. In mid battle, Swindle tried to interest Dion in a supply of quasar weapons, much to the Autobot's surprise. As the Combaticons gained the upper hand, they attempted to merge, only to be blasted mid-combination. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 3}} They picked themselves up only to find that Blast Off was missing, so they couldn't make another try at forming Bruticus. Swindle was almost attacked by Dion, but another Decepticon surprised the Autobot from behind. At the end of the fight, the Combaticons failed to retreat fast enough and were subsequently taken into Elite Guard custody. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 4}}

In the hands of the compromised [[Gyronian Sentry|Gyronian Sentry Team]], the Combaticons were whisked away to Deathsaurus's fortress, now under Megatron's control. Though Megatron gave them the option, none of them cared to help Deathsaurus, and they were imprisoned and their personality components subsequently interred in the Decepticon Detention Center. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Swindle toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Eh, I'd rather have elbows than shoulders anyway.]]
*'''Swindle''' (Combaticon, 1986, 1987, 1991, 2008)
**''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 [[Wikipedia:FMC XR311|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 (toyline)|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 (Europe)|Classics]]" line. This version (which uses the plastic chestplate) was [[retool]]ed 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 ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Leyland]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Rollbar (RID)|Rollbar]] and ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Rollbar.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Swindle/swindle.htm More information on Swindle at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Bruticus}}
*'''Bruticus''' (Gift set, 1985, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''D-69'''

:Swindle, along with the other Combaticons, were included in a [[giftset]] that was only available in [[Japan]] and [[Italy]].

:In 2009, this set was reissued under the ''[[Encore|Transformers Encore]]'' line, using the [[retool]]ed molds from the ''[[Car Robots]]'' and ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' lines.

===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)|''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.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1994/Decepticon/Swindle/swindle.htm More information on ''Generation 2'' Swindle at TFU.info]''
{{--}}
===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]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/AltSwindle/swindle.htm More information on ''Alternators'' Swindle at TFU.info]''
{{--}}
===Universe (2008)===
====G1 Series====
[[Image:Universe-ROTF-toy_Swindle.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)
**''Accessories:'' Quad blaster (hand/foot), Decepticon-type [[energon star]]

:''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Swindle is a [[redeco]] of the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Blackout (combiner)|Blackout]]/[[Stormcloud (Energon)|Stormcloud]] mold, transforming into a tan assault helicopter somewhat similar to an AH-1 Cobra. 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 dollar signs ($) on the air intake housings 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]]. ''Universe'' Swindle and Vortex were later sold as ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Swindle (ROTF)|Swindle]] and [[Vortex (ROTF)|Vortex]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:EuroClassicsCombaticons.jpg|thumb|200px|Beware the (neon) green<strike>-eyed</strike>-hued monster.]]
* The [[character model|character models]] of the Combaticons are kinda... okay, heavily made-up. Swindle is particularly glaring, as his original 1986 toy was based on an [[wikipedia:FMC_XR311|XR311]] combat vehicle (a predecessor to the [[wikipedia:High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle|AM General Humvee]]), whereas his character model was a much smaller Jeep, including a Jeep front on his robot chest, which the fiction has stuck with ever since. [[:Image:G1OddCombat.jpg|Early models of the team]] which were a bit more accurate to the toys — except for the heads, oddly enough — have shown up in various sourcebooks, though Swindle's is still off in some very odd ways.
* Swindle is the only Combaticon that doesn't have a faceplate or visor.
* The packaging of the 1990 European [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] release of the original [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] toy depicted the Combaticons in new color schemes, despite the fact that the actual toys looked identical to their original releases. While it may never be known for certain, it has been theorized that these colors originated from a packaging printing error rather than a legitimate attempt to [[redeco]] the Combaticons.
* In the Wings of Honor continuity the Combaticons are swayed to the Decepticon side by Deathsaurus appealing to their darker natures, represented by one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Swindle's vice is, predictably enough, his Greed.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Swindle''' (スィンドル ''Swindoru'')
*''French:'' '''Filou''' (Canada, "Swindler")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Svindli''' ("Spoof")
*''Italian:'' '''Crasher'''
*''Russian:'' '''Fingal''' (Фингал, "Black Eye")
*''Chinese:'' '''诈骗''' (Chinese, "swindle")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Vígaro'''

==References==
<references />

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

[[Category:Alternators Decepticons]]
[[Category:Combaticons]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Merchants]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category:TransTech Decepticons]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Decepticons]]

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