Sideswipe (G1)
| The name or term "Sideswipe" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Sideswipe (disambiguation). |
- Sideswipe is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Sideswipe is not nearly as sociopathic as his brother Sunstreaker, but he is every bit as skillful. He's more into battle for the sport of it. A bit of a jock, Sideswipe craves most a glorious fight to the finish, 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. However, Sideswipe is not without his humor. It's long accepted that Sideswipe is the resident prankster of the Ark, along with the occasional prank from Jazz.
Italian name: Freccia
Frnech-Canadian name: Frérot
Japanese name: Lambor (ra-n-bo-ru, ランボル)
Fiction
Generation 1 Cartoon
Voice Actor: Michael Bell (US), Kōki Kataoka (Japan) Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the Ark when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. He awakened along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and brother being reformatted into Lambourghini sports cars. Sideswipe loaned Optimus Prime the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of Energon.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together. When antimatter-fueled Decepticons attacked the Ark on one occasion, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker took to the air to battle with the incoming seeker jets, in a rambunctious -- if ultimately ineffective -- display of "jet judo."
When investigating tremors that were shaking the Autobot base, Wheeljack's scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe and Brawn removed the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones.
Marvel Comics continuity
Generation 1
Sideswipe along with his brother Sunstreaker was part of the original crew of Optimus Prime Ark. When the Decepticons attacked the ship it crashed in Earth and Sideswipe along the rest lay dormant for 4 million years. When the volcano that housed the Ark erupted, The Ark internal mechanisms revived all Transformers, making no distinction between Autobot and Decepticon (the ship`s memory banks forgot about the great war). Sideswipe was alive again.
(Note:Sideswipe appeared several times up until issue 50 when the Underbase-powered Starscream decimated Autobot and Decepticon armies. Sideswipe was not seen deactivated in the saga but he did not appear again until G2.)
Generation 2
Sideswipe was part of Grimlock's Commando Unit. That unit formed a raiding party facing the Cybertronians. He had a more prominent role in subsequent events then he has had in the past. Sideswipe is in the last battle against the swarm, and his fate is uncertain.
Generation Two Comics (UK)
Sideswipe was part of Jazz's Special Commando Unit.
3H Universe comics
Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Roulette and Shadow Striker returned to the technorganic Cybertron after a prolonged journey and were welcomed by the Maximals. 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 Generation 1 Comics
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 alomg with the Autobots and a human crew departed Earth en route to Cybertron in the Ark II. The ship, however, was sabotaged and crashed into Earth.
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 Ark II and the resurrection of several Transformers (who were under his control by technological tampering).
The army contacted Spike Witwicky to ask him if he could do something to help them reactivate Optimus Prime, whom they had in stasis. Spike managed to reactivate Optimus with a portion of the Matrix that Optimus had given him prior the ill-fated journey of the Ark II. Optimus subsequently went to the Artic and used the Matrix to reactivate several Transformers, including Sideswipe.
Sideswipe accepted the new task at hand and fought up until the last battle against Megatron and his decepticons in San Francisco.
Sideswipe remained on Earth as part of Jazz's unit, while Optimus Prime returned to Shockwave's united Cybertron.
Toys
Generation 1
- Sideswipe (Autobot Car, 1984/1985/2001/2002/2003)
- Japanese ID number: 04, TFC-07
- Originally a Diaclone "New Countach LP500S", Sideswipe transforms... well, into that. The original 1984 US release did not have the rubsign found on later releases.
- In 2001, Sideswipe was re-released as a show-exclusive item, 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 set, with several factory-applied decals replaced with 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 (with its spring-loaded launcher de-sprung for US safety reasons) was released in the US as part of the Comemmorative Series line, one of the last pieces. (In fact, Sideswipe ended up at Kay-Bee stores at heavy discount, rather than Toys "R" Us like almost all the others).
- This mold was also used to make Clamp Down, Deep Cover and Tigertrack.
- Sideswipe w/ Vanguard (Action Master, 1991)
- A non-transforming action figure, Action Master Sideswipe is compatible with any other Action Master weapon of vehicle. His partner-unit Vanguard forms a backpack and battle helmet.
Generation 2
- Sideswipe (Autobot Heroic, 1993)
- 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. His original rocket launcher was removed, and replaced with a large spring-loaded launcher that could be hand-held or mounted on his retooled car-mode roof.
- His new spring-loaded missile launcher originally came from a G.I. Joe action figure.
- Sideswipe (Go-Bot, 1995)
- A redeco of Go-Bot Firecracker, Sideswipe transforms into a blue Lamborghini Diablo with through-axle construction for super-fast rolling in car mode.
- This mold was also used to make Go-Bot Optimus Prime and R.E.V.
Universe
- Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2003)
- One of several exclusives to OTFCC 2003, Universe Side Swipe is a redeco of the Robots in Disguise Prowl mold, transforming into a Lamborghini. 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. The police lights from the original mold were removed, leaving this area bare.
- This mold was also used to make Universe Inferno and Sunstreaker.
Smallest Transformers
- Lambor (2003)
- Japanese ID number: GTF-02
- Smallest Transformer 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.
Alternators
- Side Swipe (2003, 2004)
- Japanese ID number: BT-02
- The second Alternators toy released, Side Swipe transforms into a licensed 1:24-scale Dodge Viper with opening doors featuring a detailed interior, and an opening hood to reveal an engine bay. The vehicle mode also features steering and rubber tires with vacuum-metalized wheels. His removable engine becomes a blaster.
- The Dodge Viper mold was originally designed to be a new body for Tracks after the first attempt to secure the Corvette license fell through. However, it was quickly changed to Side Swipe once the licensing with Chevy went forward. This is why Side Swipe's robot mode looks very little like his G1 self, which was unusual for the early Alternators toys.
- 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 shells (except the rear end), and the entire red exterior of the car is fully painted, unlike the Alternator's flat red plastic.
- This mold was retooled to make Dead End and Sunstreaker.
Titanium Series
- Side Swipe (Robot Master, 2006)
- Titanium 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.
Merchandise
Trivia
- Sideswipe's Japanese name, "Lambor" is derived from the name of his vehicle mode, a Lamborghini.
- Sideswipe's TFU bio text describes features of Sunstreaker's toy, leading many to believe Sideswipe original toy was originally to be created from Sunstreaker's mold (in red,) and vice-versa. The Diaclone Sunstreaker toy was available in red and police versions, but not yellow.
External links
