Editing Sideswipe (G1)

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{{disambig3|Sideswipe}}
:''Sideswipe is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Continuity family|continuity family]]. His name is also sometimes parsed '''Side Swipe'''.''

[[Image:NYSideswipeCardart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I've never done anything important, but people love me anyway! Sweet!]]
'''Sideswipe''' is not nearly as much of a sociopath as his [[Relatives|brother]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], but he is every bit as skillful. He's more into battle for the sport of it. A bit of a jock, Sideswipe most craves a glorious fight to the finish as a test of his mettle.

There is a reckless edge to Sideswipe's tactics. He makes rash decisions that may endanger him, all in the name of possible victory. Cheating is also not out of the question. When everything is on the line, for Sideswipe, nothing is out of the question. Over time, his reckless attitude has not changed; however, his cause has—once in it solely for the glory, now he's driven by the desire to defend freedom and the innocent.

His [[Action Master partner]] is [[Vanguard]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''[[Wikipedia:Lamborghini|Lambor]]''' (ランボル ''Ranboru'')
:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Frérot''' (Bro)
:''Hungarian name'': '''Csatár''' ("Striker")
:''Italian name:'' '''Freccia''' ("Arrow")
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comic):'' '''Esgalhador'''
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Tsè Sǎu''' (側掃, "Side Swipe")
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Heng Pao''' (横炮, "Horizontal Cannon")
:''Cantonese name:'' '''Swipe''' (斯韋伯 ''Si Wai Baak'', literally "This Soft-leather Elder<!--/Count/Uncle(Father's elder brother)-->")
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comic):'' '''Surrupio'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
Sideswipe, along with his brother Sunstreaker, was part of the original crew of Optimus Prime's Ark. When the Decepticons attacked the ship it crashed on Earth and Sideswipe, along with the rest of the combatants, lay dormant for 4 million years. When the volcano that housed the Ark erupted, the Ark's internal mechanisms revived all Transformers, making no distinction between [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]]. Sideswipe was alive again. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

When the Autobots went to retrieve their fallen comrade [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] from [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'s garage, they were attacked by Decepticons. Against his brother's better judgment, Sideswipe employed his energon-gobbling rocket pack to take the fight right to the Decepticon jets. The 'Cons were driven off, but without a source of fuel to recharge on, several Autobots, including Sideswipe, were left virtually empty after the battle, and were sidelined. {{storylink|Power Play!}} ''Though he could not go on missions, Sideswipe was still able to defend the Ark from invasion when the Decepticons came right to his doorstep. He was confronted by that junk-punk [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquake-making ability and turned the tables on him, overpowering Rumble with his pile-driver punches. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}''

Sideswipe's inactivity continued even longer after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] took over the Ark and deactivated all the Autobots in the ship. After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] regained control of the Ark for the Autobots, he was able to revive Sideswipe to full functionality in short order, and their new deal for fuel with [[G.B. Blackrock]] kept them energized. ''During the Dinobot Hunt, Sideswipe traveled to [[Doonstown]] with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Bluestreak]] on a mission to capture the feral [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. It... didn't go so well, and the various gnawed-upon pieces of Sideswipe were not seen again for some time. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}'' 

Sideswipe would eventually be seen again at the feud fight between [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and Grimlock on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

====''Generation 2''====
Sideswipe was part of Grimlock's firestormers, a group of Autobots unable to stand the peace and who searched for new wars to fight. With them, he worked as a raider against territories controlled by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] and operation to cyberform inhabited worlds. He now sported a black paintjob, and stated happily that he loved his job (i.e. gunning people down by the dozen). {{storylink|War Without End!}} 

He had a more prominent role in subsequent events than he had had in the past. Sideswipe was present for the last battle against the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], but his final fate is uncertain. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

====''Generation 2'' (UK)====
Sideswipe was part of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s Special Commando Unit, summoned to Earth along with Optimus Prime by Grimlock when [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] began open war on the humans. {{storylink|Generation 2 (Fleetway comic)}}

====''Classics''====

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe joined Optimus Prime's crew on Earth after Megatron resurfaced. They braved the Ark's defenses in order to break inside and recover their lost comrade, Ratchet. Sideswipe unsealed him from the [[CR Chamber]] Megatron had left the medic in, and together the twins carried him away to safety. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Michael Bell]] (English), [[Kōki Kataoka]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Sideswipejetpack.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"Oh, you want my rocket pack? The one that I've never had until just now?"]]
Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on [[Earth]] four million years ago. He awoke along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and his brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. He volunteered for an unsuccessful mission to foil a Decepticon attack on an oil rig. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} After [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] were discovered snooping around headquarters, he was one of the Autobots who attempted to shoot Ravage before he could escape. He also took part in the rescue mission to [[Sherman Dam]] when the Decepticons attacked it.

He and Sunstreaker came to [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s aid when the Autobot was attacked by [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s, and had to console Sunstreaker after his brother's paint job was damaged. Sideswipe was part of the Autobot team which went to the [[Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma]] to foil yet another Decepticon attack, and watched in horror as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was caught in an explosion. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}} He took part in the last ditch effort to stop the Decepticons blasting off in their [[Victory (ship)|space cruiser]]. The Decepticons managed to blast off anyway, and Sideswipe loaned Optimus Prime the use of his rocket pack so that the Autobot leader could go after them. Though Prime failed, [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] disabled the cruiser, causing it to plung into the sea, and the Autobots celebrated. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

[[Image:DivideandConquer Sideswipe's jetjudo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Weeeeee!]]
Sideswipe was among the Autobots who were trapped in a cave after [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] used [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to lead them there. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} When [[antimatter]]-fueled [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] attacked the Ark on one occasion, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker took to the air to battle with the incoming [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] jets, in a rambunctious, if ultimately ineffective, display of "[[jet judo]]". {{storylink|Roll for It}} He also defended Autobot Headquarters against the Decepticons, while Optimus Prime was out of action. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

When investigating tremors that were shaking the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'s scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helped [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] remove the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones, the discovery of which would lead to the development of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. Unfortunately at their unveiling, the Dinobots ran wild, and the Autobots had to subdue them. During a subsequent battle at the [[Great Falls]], Sideswipe and the other Autobots were taken prisoner by the Decepticons, and were only saved from destruction by the reactivated Dinobots. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

[[Image:G1 FireontheMountain Sideswipe piledriving.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I can dig it!]]
Sideswipe helped Wheeljack by recovering their frozen comrade [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], and came with the rest of the group to [[Peru]], where he assisted in shooting a rock slide into rubble. After Wheeljack captured the fire stream with one of his new inventions, Sideswipe flashed his lights on with the other Autobots to celebrate. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}} Sideswipe was chosen by Wheeljack to test [[Snarl (G1)|the two]] [[Swoop (G1)|new Dinobots]]. Though he smashed Swoop out of the air, Snarl was able to get in a counterattack and shoot Sideswipe down. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} 

When [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s cassettes infiltrated Autobot Headquarters, Sideswipe went to take a shot at [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], only to be attacked by Ravage. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} The presence of Cybertron in Earth's orbit caused the [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]] Headquarters was located at to become active, forcing Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots to evacuate. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} After Cybertron was blasted out of orbit, the Autobots tracked the Decepticons to [[Doctor Arkeville]]'s secret laboratory where they fought to prevent the [[Exponential Generator]] from destroying Earth. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

[[Image:Plagueofinsecticons Sideswipe drilling.jpg|thumb|right|240px]]
Heading to [[Bali]] to investigate reports of giant robotic insects, the Autobots found their way blocked by some sort of parade. Sideswipe lead the other Autobots down a "short cut" which turned out to be a dead end. He totally meant to do that. He put his pistons and drills to work, and in no time at all, he and Sunstreaker were charging recklessly into battle against the Decepticons. Megatron picked him up and ''threw'' him at the rest of the Autobots. As they pursued the Decepticons across the island, [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] used his override waves on Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, forcing them to try and ram their fellows. Trailbreaker disrupted the control signal, and the brothers were able to take part in the battle against the Decepticons and [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s at the oil refinery. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}

Sideswipe turned out to cheer on Optimus Prime during the Autobot leader's one-on-one fight against Megatron. 
To the shock of all of the Autobots, Prime lost, and they were legally obligated to vacate the planet. Once they returned to base, they discovered that Megatron had cheated, and they were legally allowed to blast the Decepticons into a crevasse filled with lava. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

[[Image:CityOfSteel Sideswipe being shot at.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
When Spike was badly injured in a Decepticon attack, and his mind transferred into [[Autobot X]], the stress affected his mind and he ran rampant. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker attempted unsuccessfully to subdue him and were knocked aside. Though Spike was restrained by Optimus, he later fell in with the Decepticons, and a group of Autobots including Sideswipe went to try and talk some sense into him. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Bumblebee faced [[battle taxi]]s and [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s in [[New York City]], during a Decepticon plan to recreate Cybertron on Earth. As the Seekers attacked Optimus, who was scaling the Decepticon tower, Sideswipe launched himself into the air, grabbed Starscream, and managed to wrestle te Decepticon air commander into crashing into the Hudson. {{storylink|City of Steel}} Sideswipe was one of the Autobots affected by Megatron's [[personality destabilizer device]], turning him evil. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}} 

When Optimus Prime took the Autobots to test [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s latest invention, the Immobilizer, Sideswipe came with them. Decepticons attacked soon after, with Sideswipe leaping at Starscream in midflight and forcing him to fire on his own comrades. When the Decepticons retreated, Sideswipe returned to Autobot headquarters with his comrades while Wheeljack recovered from his immobilization. Once Wheeljack was back to normal, Sideswipe was part of Optimus Prime's team to recover the Immobilizer. [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] began immobilizing various Autobots, and Sideswipe decided that he was going to defeat Rumble shortly before being immobilized himself. When [[Carly]] was able to reroute the Immobilizer, Sideswipe and the other Autobots were freed. {{storylink|The Immobilizer}}

[[Image:DOTM Sideswipe disarmed.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
Sideswipe took part in a charity Autobot race which was hijacked by the Decepticons when they used a Transfixatron on the racers. The Autobots were taken to a ghost town to be destroyed, but rescued by a small group who had escaped the ray's effects. Sideswipe joined the others in lining up to be fixed by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} He rolled out to [[Quantum Laboratories]] to investigate a Decepticon incursion and found himself battling [[TORQ III]]-controlled machinery, at one point getting his gun shot out of his hand, and being caught in a machine's robot arms. Having overcome that, Sideswipe took part in the attack on the oil refinery which the Decepticons had set up to steal the world's oil supplies. {{storylink|Day of the Machines}}

Sideswipe was present when the Autobots were confronted by the fact that they had two Optimus Primes, but didn't offer any suggestions or solutions. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}} He took part in a mission to place [[dominator disc]]s on the Constructicons. Though he didn't place any discs himself, he ended up battling Devastator until [[Chip Chase]] could activate the discs and bring the giant under control. He also took part in an attempt to destroy the drill which the Decepticons were using to reach Earth's core, and was one of the first Autobots to be zapped by Devastator after Megatron counteracted the dominator discs. {{storylink|The Core}}

[[Image:DinobotIsland Sideswipe digging friends out.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Have we run out of digging jokes already?]]
During yet another Dinobot rampage at Headquarters, Sideswipe was ready to fight them to the end, but Optimus persuaded Grimlock to get things under control, and the Dinobots were sent to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] for more training. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Sideswipe took part in repair efforts, but was part of the team of Autobots who responded to strange time warp readings near the city library. After using his pistons to dig out Bumblebee and Spike, Sideswipe and the other Autobots found themselves tangling with barbarians on woolly mammoths. They took some rounding up, but soon the anachronisms were sent back through the time warp to their own time. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

As a result of another of Megatron's plots, the Autobots were framed and forced to leave Earth in a rocket provided by [[Shawn Berger]]. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} Trickery on Megatron's part further put the ship on a collision course with the [[Sun]]. Utilising the abilities of Trailbreaker and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], and the unwitting help of [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], the Autobots were able to make it back to Earth, where the Decepticons had already shown their true colors, and free the humans. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

Disabled by [[Cybertonium]] depletion, Sideswipe was as helpless as the other Autobots until Spike, [[Carly]] and the Dinobots managed to procure some more from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}} Sideswipe was part of the team that transformed to respond to a distress call when the Decepticons stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], but didn't actually roll out, so it's a mystery where he actually went. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He also coated himself with [[Electrum]], along with most of the other Autobots, in order to fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}}

[[Image:MakeTracks Sideswipe grabs Ravage.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
When [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Raoul]] were discovered spying on a Decepticon operation, Sideswipe came to their aid, grabbing Ravage mid-leap and slamming the cassette to the ground. He also took part in the battle against Decepticon [[drone]]s in downtown New York, and attacked the Decepticon base in the [[Pine Barrens]]. {{storylink|Make Tracks}} After the disappearance of a group of Autobots through the [[space bridge]], Sideswipe watched Chip Chase unsuccessfully attempt to track them down using [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}}

{{Note|Sideswipe appears in "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]", but only in a rather blatant animation error, standing next to Megatron while the Decepticon leader communicates with [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]. Eeesh!}}

Sideswipe was one of [[Kremzeek]]'s casualties when the energy critter invaded Autobot Headquarters. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}} He and Sunstreaker took part in the [[Europa 2000]] in order to protect [[Auggie Cahnay (G1)|Auggie Cahnay]]'s car from possible Decepticon abduction. Sideswipe forced Sunstreaker to take a detour in [[Italy]], and a short time later they were ambushed by [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]]s, who boxed them in so [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] could shoot them. Both brothers were knocked out of the race. {{storylink|Trans-Europe Express}}

Like [[:Image:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|every other Autobot]], Sideswipe turned out to rescue [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] from the Decepticons, and was subsequently infected by [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} He and the others attempted to stop Megatron and the Insecticon army. When the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s attempted to send Earth into the Sun, Sideswipe joined in the search for the Insecticons, who had stolen the space bridge control panel. They were eventually located, allowing a combined Autobot/Decepticon force, including Sideswipe, to travel to Cybertron and defeat the Combaticons. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[Image:Sideswipe FakeBreakdown.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Maybe someday [[E-Hobby|there]] will be a Sideswipe toy [[Redeco|redeco]] with [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s color scheme.]]
{{quote|We're wastin' good ammo on these creeps! I'd like to just squash a few of 'em!|Sideswipe|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

When the Stunticons stole a collection of components and were captured by the Autobots, Optimus Prime hatched a scheme to disguise some of the Autobots as the Stunticons in order to learn Megatron's latest plan. Sideswipe was sprayed with [[camouflage paint]] to make him look like [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]], though he sincerely hoped the paint would come off. He and the other four Autobots drove to the Stunticons' destination to discover that Megatron was building yet another cannon.  Menasor arrived at the construction site, having escaped Autobot containment, and Optimus and the others were forced to improvise their own version of the combiner. Luckily the rest of their comrades arrived before things could get too out of hand. {{storylink|Masquerade}}
{{--}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====

When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] sent [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] to raid [[Tokyo]] for energy, Sideswipe accompanied [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Sideswipe didn't perform very well, immediately getting slugged in the face by Menasor's humongous fist. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1}}

Later, during an attack on [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]] in [[Arizona]], Sideswipe yet again failed to perform very well in battle.  Attempting to confront the Decepticons in the sky on his jetpack, he wound up instead getting bombed by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and damaged badly in the resulting explosion. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2}}

Maintaining his image as a punching bag, Sideswipe was once again trounced in battle, this time at Yokohama against Starscream, Blitzwing and the Super Megatron Gun (Megatron in gun-mode but not shrunken down).  Unable to stand up to the might of the Decepticon attack, Sideswipe was blasted many, ''many'' times before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived to save the day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4}}

=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====

After the Decepticons' [[Omega Whip]] base was demolished, Sideswipe assembled with the Autobot cars to prevent their foes from escaping. They were soon joined by the might of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and a full Autobot battalion. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Sideswipe was one of many Autobots who suffered from the [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] virus when [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] unleashed it upon them. Working together with the humans, the Autobots created the [[Binaltech|Binaltech Project]] as a means of transferring the injured Autobots' sparks into super-powered new bodies created from human technology. Along with [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Bluestreak]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], Sideswipe was part of the first wave of Binaltech warriors, who assembled on Earth under the command of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Story of Binaltech, Chapter 1}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
When the Decepticons found a way to reactivate their old [[Space Bridge]] on Cybertron, the Autobots found themselves under siege from within. Sideswipe was on Earth with Ultra Magnus, and was one of the soldiers gathered to the Autobot Space Bridge to reinforce their allies on Cybertron. On their way to the Space Bridge, however, Sideswipe and the others were attacked by the new Decepticon lieutenant, [[Sixshot]], and a battle was joined. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

===3H comics===
Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]] returned to the [[technorganic]] [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after a prolonged journey and were welcomed by the [[Maximal]]s. [[Unicron]] abducted these newly-returned Transformers, in addition to many others from different times and universes, to start a final confrontation against [[Primus]]. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rebuilt into new forms, corrupted by Unicron's influence, and set against one another in the [[Cauldron]]. Before either brother could land a killing blow, however, the fight was broken up by [[Optimus Primal]]. Sideswipe then fought his way out of Unicron alongside many other Transformers rescued by Primal and returned to Cybertron.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Sideswipe was one of the few Autobots to continue operating under that title during the [[Dreamwave timeline#The Dark Ages|Dark Ages]] of Cybertron. Sideswipe was one of the elite warriors serving under [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and as such was chosen for the mission that sent him against the newly constructed Decepticon battle station, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Of course the mission was a failure, but that isn't likely to have discouraged Sideswipe. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective2 SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"This is what [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] was whining about? Pansy."]]
Sideswipe was part of Operation Liberation in 1998, a joint human-Autobot effort to defeat the Earth-bounded Decepticons. At the end it was a success, and the captured Decepticons along with the Autobots and a human crew departed Earth en route to Cybertron in the ''[[Ark II]]''. The ship, however, was sabotaged and exploded upon liftoff.

A few years later, Megatron and other Transformers, including Autobots, were seen causing havoc. It was discovered that [[Lazarus]], a scientist who participated in the ''Ark II'' project, was responsible for the sabotage of the ship and the resurrection of several Transformers under his control via technological tampering. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1}}

[[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] of the [[United States military|US military]] contacted [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to ask him if he could do something to help them reactivate Optimus Prime, whom they had recovered locked in a state of stasis. Spike managed to reactivate Optimus with a portion of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] that Optimus had given him prior the ill-fated journey of the ''Ark II''. Optimus subsequently went to the Arctic and used the Matrix to reactivate several Transformers, including Sideswipe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2}}

[[Image:DWPrimeDirective5 SideswipeSunstreaker Devastator.jpg|right|250px|thumb|We're trying to look dynamic, but all these [[Pat Lee|puffy proportions]] are putting a stop to that.]]
Sideswipe accepted the new task at hand and fought alongside his brother when the Autobots faced the Decepticons at Lazarus' ruined base (punching Starscream in the face for attacking Wheeljack) before Hallo betrayed the Autobots by attempting to destroy both factions with a nuclear weapon. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3}} The Autobots survived when Megatron's technovirus absorbed the blast, and Sideswipe helped his comrades recover the captive Autobots imprisoned inside the base. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4}}

As Jazz's unit worked on Megatron's virus, Sideswipe followed Optimus Prime to [[San Francisco]] for the last battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. When [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was taken down, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker heroically (though foolishly) charged at [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and they were smashed between the giant Constructicon's palms for their trouble. After Optimus Prime brought Devastator down with a blast to the head, Sideswipe was restrained by the surviving Decepticons. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5}} However, through [[human]] intervention, Optimus Prime freed his Autobots and the battle was rejoined. Sideswipe tag-teamed with his brother to pummel [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], though the Decepticons eventually escaped when Superion sacrificed his life to save the city from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear missile launch. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6}}

''Months later, after Optimus Prime, Megatron, and an assortment of other Transformers and humans vanished in a flash of light from Tokyo, Japan, the world went on high alert. When the U.S. military detected [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in the Nevada canyons, Sideswipe accompanied a flight of jets in confronting the Decepticon. Their battle led down a tight box canyon, and Sideswipe had some difficulty chasing Starscream while also coordinating with his military wingmen, as he tried to limit the human casualties. Eventually, Sideswipe was led straight into Devastator, who had been hiding in the canyon on Starscream's order. The combined surprise firepower of Starscream's arsenal and a near-pointblank blast from Devastator's solar energy rifle left Sideswipe in several charred pieces. {{storylink|Hardwired}}''

''Sideswipe was eventually repaired by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and returned to duty just in time to fight in Nevada once more. This time, the Autobots and Decepticons had joined forces against an ambush arranged by the President of the United States, who hoped to rid his country of the Transformers. Sideswipe waded through General [[Michelle Grajkowski]]'s troops, heavily routing her Delta Team, but the [[deconstructionite]] weapons being used by the U.S. Armed Forces were too much of a surprise for the Cybertronians—they were clearly on the losing end of the battle as many of their number fell before the severity of the weaponized nanites became evident. Sideswipe and Prowl helped load the injured Autobots into Prime's trailer as they made their getaway. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

[[Image:G1 Sideswipe Sunstreaker DWissue7.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Hi, I'm a jock.]]
When agents from the united Cybertron arrived on Earth, Optimus Prime split his forces in order to ensure Earth would not be left undefended. As Prime and many other Autobots travelled back to Cybertron with Shockwave, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and their crew, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker remained on Earth with several other Autobots under Jazz's command. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} Sideswipe was deactivated in battle with [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] when Starscream and his followers returned to Earth, and was left to rust at the bottom of a lake. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] later dredged him and the others up, only to be taken into custody by [[Earth Defense Command]]. Jazz, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker were reactivated to help [[Marissa Faireborn]] and [[EDC Night Force Unit|her team]] in investigating an outbreak of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] in small-town America. {{storylink|Infestation}} After routing and capturing the Decepticons, Sideswipe and the other Autobots joined up with the returning team from Cybertron under Prowl's command, and began construction of [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

{{-}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
Along with several other Transformers, the dormant Sideswipe was found on the crashed ''Ark'' by [[Cobra]], a human terrorist organization who soon reprogrammed the alien robots to serve them. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rebuilt into Cobra [[Stinger (G.I. Joe)|Stingers]] and sent to assault the [[SPS Research Facility]] alongside [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|minions]]. The two brothers didn't succeed in their mission, though, as they were rammed aside by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] while charging at the building and were eventually ordered to retreat. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3}} Wheeljack later freed Sideswipe and the others from Cobra's control, and he helped Sunstreaker and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] fight back against the similarly freed Decepticons and their former captors. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5}}

Two years later, [[Serpent O.R.]] took control of the Decepticon forces on Cybertron and captured Optimus Prime. Sideswipe joined a team of Autobots led by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] who were planning on charging in and rescuing their leader as soon as the opportunity came up. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4}} After reinforcements arrived in the form of [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], the Autobots made their move and attacked Serpent O.R.'s Decepticon army, ultimately defeating it. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5}}

Sideswipe returned to Earth a few months later, where he worked to keep Cybertronian technology from being misused by humans. During one mission to [[Cuba]], he helped stop [[Destro]] from selling [[S.N.A.K.E.]]s to one Mr. [[Calandero]], but failed to capture the arms dealer and returned to the Autobots' base, the ''[[Arc II]]''. When the ship was attacked by the [[Pretender Monster]]s, Sideswipe was the first to fall. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}} The crew later received medical attention at [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|the Pit]], where they'd eventually recover from their injures. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegsOrigin3 Sunstreak Sideswipe glory.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Sideswipe's feeling small standing under [[Nova Prime]]'s crotch. [[Sunstreaker (G1)#Dreamwave_comics_continuity|Sunstreaker, on the other hand, seems strangely excited]].]]
[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was Sideswipe's P-3 Training Officer and strike partner, and constantly looked down on him as the rookie. Nothing Sideswipe did was seen as good enough, and he was left under Sunstreaker's shadow, something that left a deep mark on him. He's forever been resentful and wanting to be seen by others as a skilled, notable warrior. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Before the war, the two of them attended illegal underground arena [[Gladiatorial combat|deathmatches]] and witnessed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s 54th victory. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} When Sunstreaker wanted to join Megatron's underground fighting team, Sideswipe went along to try and talk him out of it. Whether they stuck around and were caught up in the Autobot security raid is unknown. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Later, as war engulfed [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Sideswipe was one of the many Autobots trained by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

In more recent times, Sideswipe was part of an Autobot squad lead by Sunstreaker, and helped liberate an unnamed planet from the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|Replay}}

[[Image:SpotlightGalvatron Sideswipe rocketfist.jpg|left|300px|thumb|This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!]]
Much to his dismay, Sideswipe was later stationed at [[Thunderhead Pass]] on Cybertron to guard [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s remains. Sideswipe wanted action, something he wasn't going to get standing guard over comatose Decepticons. His desire to "bust some heads" became even stronger after Sunstreaker was apparently kidnapped during his duties on [[Earth]], and Sideswipe began actively disregarding his squadron leader, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], to routinely contact High Command and demand a transfer; unknown to everyone else, this wasn't down to brothers-in-arms loyalty, this was down to him wanting to save Sunstreaker so his former strike partner would have to recognise his skills. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}} 

His need for action was alleviated, however, when [[Galvatron (G1)|a mysterious and powerful Transformer]] attacked Cybertron. Sideswipe blew off part of the being's head, but he recovered almost immediately and knocked Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots offline, then stole Thunderwing away. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}

Soon after, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] apparently caved in to Sideswipe's pleading and put [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in charge of Thunderhead Pass, transferring Hound's entire team, including Sideswipe, to Earth once Megatron began breaking [[Infiltration protocol]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} However, once word of the break-in at [[Garrus-9]] reached his audio sensors, Prime directed his team and Hound's to head there instead of Earth. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[Image:SpotlightSideswipe_Sideswipe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He can punch ''and'' angst at the same time!]]

Sideswipe took the reassignment pretty harshly, and had pushed Hound well to the edge of his tolerance. He got a minor diversion from worrying about Sunstreaker when another mysterious and powerful Transformer, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] attacked their ship. 

Surprisingly, he wanted to find out who Cyclonus was, but Hound felt that time was a factor and hit Cyclonus with a full volley. It was enough to slow him down, but not enough to stop him. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]' arrival forced a retreat, and the two Autobot ships followed. When they caught up to Cyclonus, Sideswipe goaded him into battle, and made no apologies for it. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

When his unit finally reached Earth, he personally took on both [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] ''and'' [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] so the others could reach the Space Bridge. This earned him recognition and an apology from Hound, and the battle against superior foes gave Sideswipe the chance to prove to ''himself'' that he was better than Sunstreaker thought. This exorcised, he realised he didn't actually care if Sunstreaker was alive or dead, and turned away from his obsession without looking back. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

One year later, the Decepticons ambushed the Autobots in a crippling assault, during which Skywarp ripped off Sideswipe's arm. The Autobots were subsequently tossed through a [[space bridge]] to the lifeless shell of Cybertron, where they would be finished off by the [[Insecticon swarm]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Along with the others, Sideswipe stood around brooding about the situation, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} occasionally staring at the similarly one-armed [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When the crew of the ''[[Trion]]'' ended up on Cybertron, Sideswipe listened to [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] explain what had happened. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

Later, Sideswipe tried to talk to Sunstreaker and tell him to stop picking on [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], only to learn of the horrible things the [[Machination]] had done to him. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Later, after Sunstreaker sacrificed himself, Sideswipe declared that all the Autobots deserved to die for carrying on the senseless war. His speech was interrupted by the return of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} Sideswipe later defended the Autobot base against a massive swarm attack, but the Autobots were overrun and only saved by the arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who took them all back to Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

As the Autobots confronted the Decepticons in [[New York City]], Sideswipe beat up [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] with a street light and was jumped by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who gleefully told the Autobot how he had dissected [[Hunter O'Nion]], Sunstreaker's [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]], and used his knowledge to toy with Sunstreaker's mind. Following the defeat of the Decepticons, Sideswipe found Hunter, strung up and mutilated in Bombshell's lab. Horrified at the sight, he decided to end the human's tortured existence by shutting off the machines keeping him alive. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Three years later, Sideswipe was still serving with the Autobots on Earth under Optimus Prime's command. He was present when Prime abdicated leadership of the Autobots and surrendered to [[Skywatch]]. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] left the Autobots to form a splinter faction, Sideswipe chose to remain in the desert caverns with the majority of Autobots under [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s new leadership. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} He was seen standing at strict attention when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived to address the Earth troops, although he was confused by Magnus's over-use of Earth idioms and "lingo". {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}}

Under Bumblebee, Sideswipe was part of the Transformer hunters clandestinely employed by [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. He was present when Bumblebee announced the Autobots' intention to break free from Horiuchi's unyielding directives. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} Later, Sideswipe was one of the Autobots assembled by Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee to confront Hot Rod's faction about collaborating with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Enemies of the System}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
Sideswipe participated in the pursuit of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and partially transformed from artillery boxcar mode to robot mode in order to shoot down [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. He stated, "The name is Sideswipe." {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4}}

{{note|For unclear reasons, in the original comic book issue, the Autobot who shoots down Scourge identifies himself as [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], not Sideswipe.  Sideswipe only appears in the trade paperback collection.}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===

{{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 6|Henkei! Henkei! #6}}

==Commercial appearances==
Sideswipe appeared in the following [[commercial]]s:
* The very first Transformers animation, advertising the Marvel comic book.  He drives out of a base alongside Jazz and Prowl; the three arrive at a power plant and counter-attack the Decepticons.

* Again alongside Jazz and Prowl, he transforms and takes off, on what appears to be Cybertron, in a commercial for Soundwave.

* He can be glimpsed trying to stop Astrotrain from escaping, in a 1985 commercial for the Decepticon Triple Changers.

* He is briefly visible driving alongside Jazz in a CGI ''Generation 2'' commercial for the Decepticon jets and Autobot cars.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1sideswipe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He had the look before it was [[Spy Changer|trendy]].]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1985, 1991, 2001/2002/2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''04''', '''TFC-07'''
**''Accessories:'' "Laser gun", rocket launcher, 3 rockets

: Originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "New [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Lamborghini_Countach|Countach LP500S]]", Sideswipe transforms... well, into that. In robot mode he is armed with a white rifle and a missile launcher that can clip onto either of his shoulders. The launcher can fire one of three included white missiles, in theory, as the springs were weakened for the US release [[for safety reasons]]. The original 1984 US release did not have the [[Rubsign|rubsign]] found on later releases.

: He was rereleased in Europe in 1990 as part of the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] line.

: In 2001, Sideswipe was re-released by [[Takara]], bundled with the mold-sharing [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], as a show-[[exclusive]] set, but his license plate decal was changed from the infringing "COUNTACH" to "CAR MACHINE".  Sideswipe and Red Alert were re-re-released together in 2002 as an [[E-Hobby|e-Hobby]] "New Year" set, with several factory-applied decals replaced with [[Paint operation|paint applications]], the "CAR MACHINE" plate-decal now blank, plus an additional recolored alternate sticker sheet for each one.  This version, minus the extra decal sheet, was re-re-''re''-released as part of the [[Transformers Collection]] "book-box series".  Finally, this version, albeit with its spring-loaded launcher de-sprung [[for safety reasons]], was released in the US as part of [[Hasbro]]'s [[Commemorative Series]] VIII line, one of the last American reissues. In fact, despite the Commemorative Series' exclusivity to Toys "R" Us stores, Commemorative Series Sideswipe ultimately ended up at Kay-Bee stores, and at heavy discount.

: This mold was also used to make [[Clamp Down]], [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]].


<span id="ActionMaster"></span>
[[Image:ActionmasterSideswipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I have a hat!]]
*'''Sideswipe w/ Vanguard''' (Action Master, 1991)
**''Accessories:'' "Photon laser" rifle

: A non-transforming action figure that combines elements form both his original toy and his [[Character model|animation model]], [[Action Master]] Sideswipe is compatible with any other Action Master weapon or vehicle. His [[Action Master partner|partner]]-unit [[Vanguard]] forms a backpack and battle helmet, and complements Sideswipe's color scheme quite well.

:Action Master Sideswipe was only available in [[Generation 1 Europe (toyline)|European]] (and certain Australian) markets.


{{-}}

===Generation 2===
[[Image:G2Sideswipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He got dressed in the dark and accidentally put his colors on backwards.]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Autobot Heroic, 1993)
**''Accessories:'' Gun, missile launcher, 1 missile

: Part of the first assortment of Autobot cars, Sideswipe's original toy had his colors re-arranged to a black car mode with red and white robot parts, plus new [[Neon|neon]] green "racing" decals were added to the mix.  His original rocket launcher was removed, and replaced with a large spring-loaded launcher that could be hand-held or mounted on his [[Retool|retooled]] car-mode roof.

:His new spring-loaded missile launcher was taken from [http://www.yojoe.com/action/91/snowserpent2.shtml Snow Serpent] from the ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' toyline.


<span id="Go-Bot"></span>
[[Image:G2GobotSideswipe.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Then he shrank and faded in the wash.]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: A redeco of [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[Firecracker]], Sideswipe transforms into a blue [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Lamborghini_Diablo|Lamborghini Diablo]] with through-axle construction for super-fast rolling on smooth surfaces in car mode. He is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox"-brand racetrack sets.

: This mold was also used to make Go-Bot Optimus Prime and ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[R.E.V.]].


{{-}}
===Universe===
[[Image:UniverseSideswipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I should've had a [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]] retool!]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Deluxe, 2003)
**''Accessories:'' 2 launchers (left & right), 2 flame missiles

: One of several [[Exclusive|exclusives]] to [[OTFCC 2003]], ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Side Swipe is a redeco of the ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] mold, once again transforming into a Lamborghini Diablo. A pair of add-on thrusters become arm-mounted launchers for robot mode; each one being a pressure-launch missile launcher.

: It is notable that the part that connects the toy's windshield to the main body uses a red decal rather than paint, as that part is made out of [[Unpaintable plastic|unpaintable plastic]].  The police lights from the original mold were removed, leaving this area bare.

: This mold was also used to make ''Universe'' [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] and Sunstreaker.

{{note|While the toy's name was spelled "Sideswipe" (one word) on its own packaging, the cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]/[[Roulette]] two-pack spelled it "Side Swipe" (two words) instead. See Trivia for more.}}

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
[[Image:STFLambor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yet another release Sunstreaker just wasn't cool enough for.]]
*'''Lambor''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''GTF-02'''

: ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' Lambor is a very small-scale, extensively simplified replica of the original Sideswipe toy. He has very little articulation, he has no weapons, and his vehicle mode wheels cannot roll.

: This mold was [[Retool|retooled]] to make ''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' [[Red Alert (G1)|Alert]].

{{-}}
===Alternators===
[[Image:AlternatorsSide Swipe toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Just think, he was [[#Trivia|almost Tracks]].]]
*'''Side Swipe''' (2003, 2004)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''2'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Dodge Viper Engine/gun 

: The second ''[[Alternators]]'' toy released, Side Swipe transforms into a licensed 1:24 scale [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Dodge_Viper_.28Chrysler.29|Dodge Viper]] featuring opening doors, a detailed interior, and a hood that opens to reveal an engine bay holding a replica Viper V-10 engine. The vehicle mode also features movable steering and rubber tires with vacuum-metalized wheels. His removable engine becomes a blaster.

: The main difference between the American ''Alternators'' and the Japanese ''Binaltech'' releases is that the Japanese version has die-cast metal parts for most of the car's outer body shell, with the exception of the rear end, and the entire red exterior of the car is fully painted, unlike the ''Alternator's'' flat red plastic.

: This mold was [[Retool|retooled]] to make [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]].

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Universe2008 SideSwipe toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Better red than...]]
*'''Sideswipe''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' "Flare Launcher", engine supercharger intakes

:Sideswipe is a [[Retool|retool]] of ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Sunstreaker. He not only features a new head sculpt, but he has a slightly altered transformation scheme and assembly; his upper body, from the neck to the hips, is rotated 180 degrees from Sunstreaker's, giving him the "classic" hood-chest. His fists are also "backwards" from Sunstreaker's to keep them in the right places in robot mode. He transforms into a modified [[wikipedia:Lamborghini_Gallardo|Lamborghini Gallardo]]. Though the car is mostly based upon the Gallardo, to avoid legal problems, it also features modified headlights and elements taken from other cars—most of them are taken from other Lamborghini models, such as a front bumper that appears to be based on a 2004 [[wikipedia:Lamborghini Murciélago|Murciélago]] R-GT and a rear end that is basically a cross between a Murciélago and a [[wikipedia:Lamborghini_Diablo|Diablo]]; however, the split side windows and the ridges on the door vents are based on a [[wikipedia:McLaren F1|McLaren F1]].  Sideswipe also comes with the same roof-mounted engine assembly as Sunstreaker.

: His Flare Launcher (essentially just a redeco of Sunstreaker's Electron Pulse Blaster) can be combined with the removable engine assembly and mounted in either of the holes on his shoulders to simulate Sideswipe's ''Generation 1'' missile launcher. Of course, this leaves him without a hand-held weapon.  The engine can also be mounted on Sideswipe's back as his jet pack.

: Sideswipe's online PDF instructions as well as the final printed instructions incorrectly give him Sunstreaker's transformation and head, despite the picture above the instructions showing him with the hood as the chest and a new head.<ref>[http://hasbro.com/common/instruct/83685.pdf Official Universe Sideswipe instructions PDF file on Hasbro.com]</ref> Unfortunately, Hasbro's own stock photography for distribution to websites retains this incorrect transformation, and throws in some additional mistakes as well. Oy.

: The Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold was also retooled into ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Punch (G1)|Punch]] and [[BotCon 2010]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]].

{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Lambor toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Whoever does Takara's photography seriously needs to be outsourced to Hasbro.]]
*'''Lambor''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-09'''
**''Accessories:'' "Flare Launcher"

:The Japanese version of ''Universe'' Sideswipe has [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum metallized]] silver on his flare launcher and his spoiler, but does not come with the dual-engine backpack that Henkei Sunstreaker and ''Universe'' Sunstreaker/Sideswipe included.  He also has correct, personalised instructions that aren't just Sunstreaker's.  Like Sunstreaker, the Japanese version's hood is a much closer match to the red colored plastic.  The Japanese version also features a glossier black paint and the white has yellow tint compared the white plastic used for Hasbro version.  His license plate says "LAMBOR" rather than "SWIPE".


{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Titanium Series===
[[Image:TitaniumRM Side Swipe.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Sideswipe turns small a lot.]]
*'''Side Swipe''' (Robot Master, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Engine blaster

:''[[Titanium Series]]'' Side Swipe is based upon Sideswipe's ''Alternators'' toy. Constructed partially of die cast metal, Side Swipe has limited articulation located in his shoulders and neck. He comes with a removable engine blaster and an Autobot symbol display stand.

: This mold was going to be redecoed to be ''Titanium'' Sunstreaker, but that release was canceled.


{{-}}
===Attacktix===
*'''Sideswipe''' (2007)

: ''[[Attacktix]]'' Sideswipe was to be a missile-firing "blaster" style playing piece, presumably part of a third wave of "Booster" packs. He was revealed at the [[Star Wars]] "Celebration IV" convention alongside many other ''Attacktix'' pieces that would ultimately never see release.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
==Notes==
* Sideswipe's [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|TFU]] bio text describes features of Sunstreaker's toy, leading many to believe Sideswipe's original toy was supposed to be created from Sunstreaker's mold and vice-versa, with the colors swapped between the molds.  The [[Diaclone]] Sunstreaker toy was available in red<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia036/index.html "Countach-LP500S/Super Tuning" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref> and police<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia038/index.html "Countach-LP500S/Super Tuning Policecar Type" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref> versions, but not yellow (hence the red shoulder stickers on an otherwise yellow car). The mold used for Sideswipe, on the other hand, was released in ''Diaclone'' in police, yellow and red decos.<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia050/index.html " New Countach-LP500S" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref>

* Sideswipe's Japanese name, "Lambor" is derived from the name of his vehicle mode, a Lamborghini. It may also be a word play on the Japanese word "Ranbō", which means "reckless, violent, rough". Wouldn't be the [[Autorooper|last]] [[Nine Great Demon Generals|time]] Takara's done such [[Romanization|word puns]]. <small>By the way, it's ''Lambor'', not ''[[wikipedia:Rambo|Rambo]]''.</small>

* According to a [[story page]] in the October 1985 issue of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', Sideswipe and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] are brothers, with Sideswipe being slightly older than Red Alert. This connection may have been invented because, aside from Sideswipe and Red Alert sharing the same mold, Sunstreaker was not sold on the Japanese market outside of a special "versus" set with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. However, the familial dynamic between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker was '''not''' changed in the Japanese dub of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, leading some Japanese fans to consider the three Lamborghini characters as triplets.

* During the 1990s, another company held the "Sideswipe" trademark in the "toys" field, even though Hasbro still released two toys using that name as part of the [[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]] line (it's unclear if this resulted in any legal repercussions for Hasbro). When Hasbro finally managed to reclaim the name for the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|''Robots in Disguise'' line]], the name was now parsed as "[[Side Swipe (RID)|Side Swipe]]", in two words, for whatever reason. The only two toys since then to spell "Sideswipe" as one word again were the [[OTFCC 2003]] [[Exclusive|exclusive]] and the [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Armada Super-Con]]. However, the former was referred to as "Side Swipe" when featured as a cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]/[[Roulette]] two-pack, whereas a packaging variant for the latter released as part of the "[[The Unicron Battles|Unicron Battles]]" refresh of the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'']] line also saw the name changed to "Side Swipe". Hasbro ''finally'' decided to re-file the name "Sideswipe" (as one word) as a trademark in 2008, presumably because a [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|character]] in the upcoming movie ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and the accompanying [[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|toy line]] was going to sport that name, and Hasbro were using that as an opportunity to re-introduce the spelling of the name as one word. As a result, the ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Deluxe Class toy was the first toy to "properly" sport the name "Sideswipe" as one word.

* The ''Alternators'' Dodge Viper mold was originally designed to be a new body for [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] after the first attempt to secure the Corvette license had fallen through. Eventually, though, Chevrolet had a change of mind and granted Hasbro and Takara the license for the Corvette design after all. As a result, the Viper mold was slightly redesigned, was given a new head sculpt and released as Sideswipe (or "Side Swipe") instead. This explains why, unlike most of the early Alternators toys, Side Swipe's robot mode bears little resemblance to his G1 self. The most noticeable redesign from the "Tracks" design was the vehicle mode's doors being moved from the "backpack" [[Kibble|kibble]] (where they would have resembled the G1 Tracks toy's wings) to the sides of the arms, thus being the most obvious visual cue taken from the G1 Sideswipe toy.  The doors are, however, still splayed out to the sides in the Alternators box art and can be moved to match Tracks' wing configuration, which implies that the redesign may have been done before the switch from Tracks to Sideswipe was made.

[[Image:SunstreakerSideswipeSDCC2007.jpg|thumb|250px|Universe [[Tigertrack]]. Fortunately, this didn't happen.]]
*Sideswipe has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the European Autobot Classic Heroes range not to feature in Marvel UK's [[Earthforce]] stories, not even making a late appearance like fellow 1991 addition Tracks.

* Hasbro's early plans for ''Universe'' Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had the two as straight [[redeco]]s of each other, only differing in their head sculpts besides their colors—namely, Sunstreaker would have just been Sideswipe in yellow with a different head. It was [[TakaraTomy]] designer [[Hisashi Yuki]] who suggested an alternate transformation by turning the upper body by 180 degrees, thus providing more individual robot mode looks for the two characters that resemble their respective ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' designs more.<ref name="generations2009">Interview with Hisashi Yuki in [[Transformers Generations 2009|''Transformers Generations 2009'' vol. 1]], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html English translation] at TFW2005.</ref> In addition, Hasbro originally intended the [[alternate mode]]'s supercharger to split into two halves which would then become the handgun and a spring-loaded shoulder launcher for the robot mode.
* Along the same vein, Takara also made the willful decision to omit the supercharger from their ''Henkei! Henkei!'' version of Lambor (Universe Sideswipe) to differentiate further between him and Sunstreaker. That's right: Takara ''deliberately omitted an optional piece of accessory'' to make the toy more "G1-accurate".<ref name="generations2009"/>
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Sideswipe/sideswipe.htm Sideswipe at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Sideswipe Sideswipe's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

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