Swindle (Movie)
| 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 from the 2007 movie franchise in the live-action film continuity family and ALSO a bunch of mass-produced drones on both sides.
Swindle is one of many Decepticons ordered to Earth by Megatron to cause havoc for the Autobot forces there. He's well suited to the task. Swindle is not a great fighter, and more, he's dumb as a post, but he takes great glee in blowing things (any "things") to pieces, and that's worth something, right? Generally he leaps and hops around the battlefield like a madman, blasting explosives out of his chest cannon and laughing uncontrollably. Havoc is a given when he's around. He's also an enthusiastic but unfortunately ineffectual interrogator.
Sometimes there are lots of him.
On both sides.
Fiction
IDW Transformers movie comics
Many years ago, Swindle was a member of Cybertron's defense forces, under the command of Protector Megatron. After the discovery of a mysterious relic and an alien attack Defiance issue 1, Megatron changed significantly, altering the military's mission from one of protection of their homeworld to the new aim of making war upon the hostile aliens and anybody who would stand in their way. Swindle was present at Megatron's war rally in Trypticon, where the military leader demanded the control of all of Cybertron's forces in his vengeful attack on the aliens from the Eshems Nebula. Defiance issue 2
When Megatron consulted with the relic and decided to capture science division leader Optimus and eliminate his associated "traitors", Swindle was awaiting orders with Starscream's group. He survived the botched ambush on Optimus and joined Megatron's new "Decepticon" faction. Defiance issue 3
During the subsequent civil war, Swindle (or a Swindle, one could argue the apparent intelligence displayed as evidence for either, really) was in charge of torturing the location of the All Spark out of Bumblebee's team after their capture at Tyger Pax. Even though he killed one of the team, he failed to extract any information from them, but succeeded at pissing off Megatron, who dismissed all of his underlings...then promised the relieved Swindle a slow and torturous death.
Luckily for Swindle, Megatron took off into space and was lost before he was able to follow through on his threats. Prime Directive #1
Later, Swindle was part of the crew of Starscream's ship, which pursued the All Spark and Megatron to the Eshems Nebula. They were forced to turn back for repairs when the ship was damaged by an Autobot concussion chain. The Reign of Starscream issue 1
After Megatron's death and the destruction of the All Spark, Autobots attacked the Decepticons' ship on Mars as Starscream recuperated. Numerous drones, including Swindle units, Payload units and Dreadwing units were deployed to fight off Arcee's team. The Reign of Starscream issue 3 Later, Swindle units were among those in Dreadwing's army that helped build Starscream's new All Spark Cube The Reign of Starscream issue 4 and were subsequently involved in Dreadwing's failed coup. The Reign of Starscream issue 5
The main Swindle, meanwhile, had become a member of Soundwave's crew, and was sent down to San Francisco on Earth to blow stuff up as a diversionary tactic. He was sent with Dead End, who he hates. Alliance issue 3 Their actions attracted the attention of the newly-formed N.E.S.T. military alliance between the Autobots and humans, though they didn't distract their enemies for long. Dead End was almost immediately destroyed by Optimus Prime, while Swindle was defeated by a tag team consisting of his old nemesis Bumblebee and Major Lennox. Before he died, Swindle delivered an ominous warning that none of them were safe, and the Decepticons would find "it". Alliance issue 4
Titan Magazines Transformers comics
A lone Swindle manned a Decepticon outpost that Ironhide and his cadets stormed. Faced with Ironhide's bigger-than-Texas cannon, the lone Swindle silently surrendered. Lost In Space 3: Ironhide
Swindles were part of the occupation force on Earth. One guarded the Denver tunnel entrance to a facility where Optimus Prime's body was being held (until Bumblebee beat him up). Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1 A large platoon of Swindles guard the All Spark, under the command of Bonecrusher - who won't let them do their job, as that would prevent him from hurting any intruders. Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3 They got so fed up that they all turned into Payload drones. Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3
Later, after Starscream had taken power, a Swindle and Crankcase were confused by Starscream talking to himself and fondly remembered their old boss Megatron... right before Optimus landed on their heads. Swindle drones swarmed him, but were massacred for their troubles. The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself
Transformers Mix & Match book
Swindle appeared as an Autobot drone that had been captured by Sector Seven. It defended Maggie Madsen and Glen Whitmann from Frenzy as they signaled for reinforcements. Transformers Mix & Match
The Veiled Threat prequel novel
As part of Starscream's plan in Italy, Swindle joined Deadend in causing chaos in the streets of Rome to draw the Autobots out. The Veiled Threat
Games
Battle for the Allspark online game
Swindle units had excellent speed and fair attack power, but very weak defense. They were differentiated primarily by their heads; Autobot versions had a faceplate with separate eyes, while the Decepticon versions had a lens-head. Battle for the Allspark
Transformers The Game (console)
Swindles were very common foes sent against both sides, though the largest concentration of them was in Tranquility. The Decepticon ones were particularly fond of lying in wait in their car modes and springing sneak attacks on any passerby Autobot. They were stronger than the Scrapper units, but not by a lot, and were generally easily disposed of.
Aside from the head design differences, Decepticon Swindles were a deep wine color, while Autobots versions were green. Transformers The Game (console)
Transformers: Autobots/Decepticons
Swindles appeared as common enemies throughout the quest for the Allspark, mainly in Tranquility and Hoover Dam, and appeared as adversaries in both Autobot and Decepticon campaigns. The Swindle body type appeared as several automobile forms, including the Beater, Sportster, Notchback, Import, Longhorn (Autobot Exclusive), Gunner (Autobots Exclusive), Stunt Car (Decepticons Exclusive), Lightning Rider, Tricked Out Car, Racer, Hot Rodder, Speedster, & Scout (Decepticons Exclusive). All forms use the Autobot visor version of the head. Transformers Autobots/Decepticons
Toys
Transformers (2007)
- Swindle (Deluxe, 2007)
- Swindle transforms into a Chevrolet Cobalt. He's the Decepticon version, with the lens-head, and is remarkably accurate to his IDW comic book design. As with most of the Movie road vehicle toys, he replicates the car on which he's based realistically, even if the sculpt design is slightly genericized and has no official licensing.
- During transformation, his Automorphing gimmick flips out his head/chest section on its own from his upper torso. His torso also features a spring-loaded cannon that extends when a button on his back is pressed, and the cannon structure itself can be extended from the torso to give a more impressive appearance. This cannon gimmick can also be used in car mode, where it looks like a super-turbo-nitro exhaust pipe.
- As is the standard in the Movie toyline, Swindle features reasonable articulation in robot mode, with ball-jointed shoulders, hips and wrists, and swivels at the elbows and knees. His head can barely move, but a modification may be done by the owner to increase its range of motion.
- This mold was later redecoed into Camshaft.
Trivia
- A squad of toy-like bright red Swindles appear at Hoover Dam during a cutscene of the console game... but as Autobots. Also, they were blown to smithereens by Blackout. Hm.
- Promotional renders for the console game also reveal a blue Swindle, though they never appear in this color in the game proper.
- Swindle's toy has a chest cannon, which technically appears in the video game, if only as a design. His main weapon on the game is an arm-mounted missile launcher.
- As mentioned above, Swindle's toy has a chest cannon, which was homaged by another Swindle.
