Swindle (G1)
| The name or term "Swindle" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Swindle (disambiguation). |
- Swindle is a Decepticon Combaticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.
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.
Fiction
Animated continuity
- Voice Actor: Johnny Haymer (US), Saka Osamu (Japan)
Swindle once sold the rest of the Combaticons to a scrapyard after they got wrecked by Defensor.
Swindle is plainly a team-player.
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
Marvel Comics continuity
Generation 1
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 on a mission to invade the company 'Energy Futures Industries' in order to steal a hydrothermocline, which the Decepticons wanted to steal 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.
Swindle soon accompanied his fellow Decepticons to a new base in Carribean, at which time Megatron disappeared and Shockwave assumed command of the Earth-bound Decepticon.
Swindle (and the other Combaticons) battled 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 specifically attacked Brawn with his Scatter Blaster, and 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.
Swindle also served as part of the 'friendly' staff on the beach of the Decepticons Carribean island, when the Decepticons used the base as a human vacation resort. Swindle was there to serve every need that the humans might require.
Generation 2
Swindle gave Megatron a tour of the Warworld when the Decpeticon leader forcibly took command of the Decepticons back from Bludgeon. This ultimately led to a chamber where many new Decepticon bodies awaited, needing the Matrix to give them life.
He is later seen briefly as part of the first wave of defenders when the Warworld was attacked by the next-generation Cybertronians commanded by Jhiaxus after the Autobots and Decepticons had forged an alliance of necessity against said forces. Swindle's fate is not revealed, but considering the Cybertronian troops --led by the traitor Starscream-- killed several Decepticons and ultimately overtook the battleship, it doesn't look too good for Swindle.
Dreamwave comics continuity
IDW comics continuity
Swindle was an arms dealer being hunted down by Ultra Magnus. Spotlight: Ultra Magnus
Legends anthology
Binaltech
The jerk stole Trailbreaker's body.
Toys
Generation 1
- Swindle (Combaticon, 1986)
- Japanese ID number: D-68
- Swindle transforms into a tan FMC XR311 combat support vehicle. He features a large, back mounted anti-tank missile launcher with a small laser pistol attached to its side.
- In robot mode, he is armed with both the smaller pistol and the large missile launcher. Swindle normally operates as Bruticus' right leg, but as a Scramble City-style combiner toy, he can also be used in any other available limb slot.
- This mold was later redecoed into Operation Combination Leyland, Robots in Disguise Rollbar and Universe Rollbar.
Generation 2
- Swindle (1994)
- For the Generation 2 toyline, Swindle had all of his tan parts redecoed red with purple camoflage paint.
Alternators
- Swindle (2004)
- Alternators Swindle transformers into a yellow Jeep Wrangler Sport. He is a retool of Alternators 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 an opening tailgate. 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 colour.
- Swindle's headsculpt, as well as the rest of this tooling, was originally intended to be used for an Alternators version of Trailbreaker, who was cancelled due to trademark issues.
- The same mold, with the Swindle retoolings, is used by Rollbar.
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