Swindle (G1)
Swindle originally appeared as a group of five Decepticons known as the Combaticons who were able to combine together to form a larger robot known as Bruticus. As a basic sized combiner limb, Swindle could become the arm or leg to any similar combiner Transformers, he was usually found to be the right leg of Bruticus as he was in the cartoon.
Bio
(From Dreamwave's More Than Meets The Eye guidebook)
Swindle is a greedy hustler. He's a charming fast-talker whose optic sensors are always scanning the crowd for the next mark to scam. Unlike his fellow Combaticons, Swindle isn't a devotee of war par se; he just loves all the oppurtunities it presents to him for making a profit. Swindle is dedicated to the Decepticon cause because he knows their aggressive ways will keep him going indefinitely, which means more chances for him to get a kickback from selling weapons. A ruthless capitalist out for number one, he'd even sell to the Autobots... if he thought he could get away with it.
Swindle is an expert on most known forms of weaponry and their current pricing. Also an experienced salesman. In vehicle and robot modes, wields a small gyro gun that disrupts targets' balance and a scatter blaster that fires bursts of explosive pellets. Joins with Combaticons to form Bruticus.
Swindle's only weakness is that he is prone to flipping over when making sharp turns.
Marvel Comics
U.S. #24: Afterdeath
The Combaticons first U.S. appearance was unexplained in the American comic, however it is assumed that they were created in the same way as the Stunticons were. The fictional company 'Energy Futures Industries' was a hydrothermocline plant which the Decepticons wanted to steal for their own energy resources.
One night after Vortex had scouted the plant, Megatron and the Combaticons raided the plant but instead of Human guards as they expected, they confronted the Autobots Optimus Prime and his newly created Protectobots. When both special teams combined, Optimus Prime stated that the battle between the two giants would destroy the plant resulting in both sides failing their goals. The Human Ethan Zachary, suggested that both the Autobots and Decepticons insert their minds into Ethan's computer and battle within the game.
Once within the game, the Combaticons went on ahead of Megatron to destroy the Protectobots. Brawl and Swindle ambushed Streetwise and First Aid in an area of the game called Vineland. As the two Protectobots were seemingly trapped by vines, the two Combaticons ambushed them and intended to blast through the vines to pass. But the vines were sentient beings and trapped the Combaticons to repay the Protectobots who wished them no harm. This gave First Aid a chance to blast the Combaticons with his Decrystallizer Cannon and for Streetwise to shatter them with a gust of compressed air. Swindle and Brawl were both completely destroyed within the game.
Once the game was over, Swindle watched with glee as Optimus Prime was destroyed. The Combaticons departed with the Hydrothermocline.
U.S. #25: Gone But Not Forgotten
Swindle was with his fellow Combaticons and Megatron in a cave inside a coal mining pit which serves as the Decepticons base. Rushing into the cave to inform Megatron of an army attack, Shockwave knocks Swindle out of the way. When Megatron was convinced by Shockwave that Optimus Prime may yet still live, Swindle and the other Decepticons present could only watch as Megatron went on a rampage within their own base destroying various machinery. Swindle was also one of the Decepticons that Megatron had chosen to search for Optimus Prime. Soon after leaving their base, Swindle was amongst those Decepticons who were seperated from Megatron.
U.S. #32: Used Autobots
U.S. #35: Child's Play
U.S. #41: Totaled
Swindle was among those aboard the Decepticons space shuttle who disembarked to ambush the Autobots on the Moon. As Swindle fired at Brawn with his Scatter Blaster, he commented that Brawn was not a great Autobot warrior but he would have a bright future as spare parts. When the combined forces of Blaster and Grimlock managed to pierce the ship's protective force field, Ratbat commanded all Decepticons on the surface of the Moon to return to the ship and retreat.
U.S. #47: The Underbase Saga Part 1 - Club 'Con
Swindle was on the beach of the Decepticons Carribean island where he was part of the 'friendly' staff who awaits to serve every need for the Humans on vacation there.
Although he doesn't make another appearance in the comic itself until the Generation 2 comic, Swindle will have remained with the Decepticon group when their ship was relocated to an iceberg (#49) and then to outer space in the attempt to stop Starscream from reaching the Underbase (#50). The Combaticons aren't shown to be present on Earth when the Underbase-powered Starscream destroyed many Transformers nor were they shown to be present when Primus calls all the Transformers back to Cybertron to battle Unicron and when Swindle returned in the Generation 2 comic, he isn't shown to be damaged or deactivated. It is possible that he managed to escape complete harm during those events or that his death and rebirth was not shown.
Cartoon
Swindle is most notable for recieving a new look for his animated appearance. Unlike his toy, the front of the jeep and its windscreen becomes Swindle's chest. Because of his alternate form, he was the smallest Combaticon despite his toy being the same size as the others aside from team-leader Onslaught.
Aerial Assault
Starscream's Brigade
The Revenge of Bruticus
B.O.T.
Scramble City
The Five Faces of Darkness
Surprise Party
Fight or Flee
Webworld
The Ultimate Weapon
The Burden Hardest to Bear
The Rebirth
Dreamwave Comics
For once, Swindle appeared in fiction with a toy accurate appearance.
Transformers - The War Within #4
Transformers - Generation One#1: "The Night of the Combaticons"
Transformers - Generation One#2: "Black Sunshine"
Transformers - Generation One#10: "The Route of all Evil"
===Transformers - Generation 2 (1994)===
I.D. Number
- C2
The original Swindle toy was released again for G2, now with a red jeep mode with purple camoflage and a purple robot chest and is still able to combine with his fellow Combaticons to form Bruticus. G2 Swindle retained the same tech specs as his original release.
Marvel Comics
Although Swindle did appear in the Transformers Generation 2 comic, he appeared in his original colors and not his new colors.
U.S. #6: "Tales of Earth (part 3)"'
U.S. #10: "Total War!"'
Serial Number
- Binaltech - BT-09 (2004)
- Alternators - #8 (2005)
Swindle is the remold of Hound. The major differences between Swindle and Hound was Swindle's new head, a grill guard and larger wheels. Although the toy was announced to be Swindle first, this mold was originally intended to be used for Trailbreaker before it was decided to introduce Decepticons into the line, evident by the head which resembles Trailbreaker's. Swindle was the second and also the last Decepticon to use a mold originally intended to be used by an Autobot.
For more detailed information, see Swindle.
