Sidetrack (G1)

This article is about the American Micromaster. For his Japanese counterpart, see Sidetrack (Zone).

Sidetrack is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Formerly partnered with Quickmix, Distractor, and ADHDatron.

Sidetrack of the Battle Patrol is, ironically, very difficult to sidetrack. (Apparently, he's called "Sidetrack" because his tracks tend to fall off...) His battle strategy is to hit one target until it's slag, then move on to the next... a focus which makes him a favorite to patrol commander Big Shot. His single-mindedness in battle translates equally well into other matters. In Sidetrack's mind, the Autobots are "right" and the Decepticons are "wrong". It's that simple. Although this devotion to duty makes him valued as a soldier, it often creates friction between Sidetrack and many of the more free-thinking Micromasters alongside whom he fights. Fortunately for Sidetrack, he doesn't give a lugnut.

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Sidetrack appeared exclusively in the UK portion of the Marvel Comics continuity.

Sidetrack and the Battle Patrol were among the first Micromasters created on Cybertron, under a new tactical program instigated by Emirate Xaaron and his scientists. The Micromaster technology was so secret that Xaaron even had the Patrol leaders installed with a suicide switch, which they were instructed to press and destroy their teams if capture ever seemed at hand. The Battle Patrol were sent out to infiltrate a Decepticon base, following leaked information that Thunderwing was developing a new secret weapon. As they bypassed all security measures, Sidetrack gloated that such things as pressure-sensitive pads, built to detect hundred ton mechanoids, were completely useless against them. Little did the Autobots realize they were walking into a trap; the Decepticons needed to lure some Micromasters to them in order to duplicate the technology housed within their bodies. Despite his instructions to self-destruct his team when compromised as such, Patrol leader Big Shot chose to go down fighting instead of just giving up. Sidetrack and his teammates were captured by Lord Thunderwing and vivisected. The Battle Patrol was eventually rescued by other Autobot Micromasters, but not before Thunderwing's scientists had a chance to reverse-engineer the Micromaster process for the Decepticons. A Small War!

Marvel UK future timelines

In 2009, Sidetrack and the Battle Patrol were on an Autobot ship en route from Cybertron to Earth when a saboteur began compromising their voyage. The Battle Patrol was unable to locate Rodimus Prime at Kup's request... probably because the Autobot leader was off sabotaging the ship at the time. The Void! As the shuttle began its haphazard descent into Earth's atmosphere, the diminutive Sidetrack was seen flying through the air on the bridge as Red Alert attempted to guide them in for a landing. Edge of Impact

Transformers Comic-Magazin

When the Autobots and Decepticons arrived on Earth, Sidetrack and the Battle Patrol were said to be on the side of the Decepticons. New York — A City Sinking in Terror They later assisted the Decepticons in trying to captured a damaged oil tanker. The Transformers' Grand Hour: Headmaster of the Dimensions

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Sidetrack was one of the first Micromasters to step up and tow the line in the Autobot army. He and his comrades under Big Shot became known as the Battle Patrol, or the "Rank-'N'-File Brigade" to their detractors. When Roadbuster of the Wreckers was injured in battle, Sidetrack decided to take it out on his Micromaster back-up: Big Daddy and the Hot Rod Patrol. A scuffle followed, and it ended with the Hot Rods breaking ranks with the Autobot cause. Destined for Nothing

When the Hot Rods came back later, Sidetrack and his buddies took petty revenge for the previous fight by refusing to let the Micros past the front gate without a new "passcode". His antics kept the Autobot forces from learning about a Decepticon incursion into Little Iacon, and the rising threat of Skystalker. Recipe for Hate Once the Autobots did acknowledge the threat, Sidetrack came with the troops and the rest of the Battle Patrol to save the Hot Rods and free the other Micromasters from imprisonment. Unfortunately, he suffered serious injuries in the battle, and there was nothing Fixit could do to save him. As his spark faded, he cursed Big Daddy with his last words, saying that they had come to save him and "it wasn't worth it." Victims of the Revolution

2005 IDW continuity

Sidetrack was one of the legions of Dead Universe Micromasters who pursued Hardhead and Nightbeat on Gorlam Prime. Spotlight: Hardhead

Beast Wars: Uprising

Sidetrack and Bombshock were part of the Temple Guard at the High Pavilion of Iacon. They defended the Pavilion during the siege of the Resistance at the end of the Grand Uprising. The duo used deadly zirconium gas pumped through the vents to guide the Resistance invaders into a trap. Those fleeing the gas ran straight into the two tanks' cannon fire. They were killed in the last act of Psycho-Orb, Resistance general, who psychically directed a pulse grenade underneath the duo before detonating it. Derailment

2019 IDW continuity

• First appearance: Transformers #25

When the Decepticons took over the Senate building, Hound and Kup recruited Sidetrack along with Sunrunner, Topshot, and Flak to reclaim it. Sidetrack bombarded the building with his team and helped destroy Clench after Sunrunner pinpointed his location on the roof. Prime

After the Autobots retreated to Crystal City, it eventually came under siege by Strika and the Decepticon army. Kup organized the Battle Patrol for long range bombardment before the Decepticons got any closer. Strika used Storm Cloud to spot their position, though, and deployed her own artillery, forcing them to scatter. Once the Decepticons began to breach the walls, Sidetrack blew Wingstun's head off but was eviscerated in a counter-attack by Obsidian. Kup carried his shredded remains away as the Battle Patrol fled from further bombardment. A Dust of Crystals

Games

Transformers: Earth Wars

Toys

The Transformers

We keep meaning to add a caption to this picture, but we keep getting distracted...

• Battle Patrol (Micromaster Patrol, 1989)

Released in the sixth year of the original The Transformers toyline (fifth year in European markets), Micromaster Sidetrack transforms into a tan Roland anti-aircraft missile launcher mounted on a Marder IFV hull, as used by the German Army at that time. Though the brown turret structure is a separate piece from the tank hull, it cannot rotate due to it being part of his torso. The grey guns and missile tubes can pivot up and down, however.

He was only available as part of the Battle Patrol, along with his teammates Big Shot, Flak, and Sunrunner. Sidetrack is gang-molded with his teammate Big Shot, thus the two toys share the same plastic colors.

Sidetrack was redecoed in Japan to make the other Sidetrack.

• More information on Sidetrack at TFU.info

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Private Sidetrack, Battle Patrol-Demolitions (2019)
  • Wave 4: War for Cybertron: Siege II
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T23/T52
  • Stars: 4

Private Sidetrack, Battle Patrol-Demolitions is one of forty-eight double-sided character cards available in Wave 3 of the Transformers Trading Card Game, War for Cybertron: Siege II. In order to represent Sidetrack's size as a Micromaster, Private Sidetrack, Battle Patrol-Demolitions is the size of a battle card, about half the size of a normal character card.

The card features original artwork for both modes, with line-art by Ken Christiansen and colors by Harvey Bunda.

Notes

Foreign names

• French: Dévieur (Canada)
• Italian: Tritone