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. His name is also sometimes parsed Side Swipe.

I've never done anything important, but people love me anyway! Sweet!

Sideswipe is not nearly as much of a sociopath 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 most craves a glorious fight to the finish as 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. Over time, his reckless attitude has not changed; however, his cause has—once in it solely for the glory, now he's driven by the desire to defend freedom and the innocent.

His Action Master partner is Vanguard.

Japanese name: Lambor (ランボル Ranboru)

French-Canadian name: Frérot (Bro)

Hungarian name: Csatár ("Striker")

Italian name: Freccia ("Arrow")

Portuguese name (Portugal comic): Esgalhador

Chinese name (Taiwan): Tsè Sǎu (側掃, "Side Swipe")

Chinese name (China): Heng Pao (横炮, "Horizontal Cannon")

Cantonese name: Swipe (斯韋伯 Si Wai Baak, literally "This Soft-leather Elder")

Portuguese name (Brazil comic): Surrupio

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 1

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

Sideswipe, along with his brother Sunstreaker, was part of the original crew of Optimus Prime's Ark. When the Decepticons attacked the ship it crashed on Earth and Sideswipe, along with the rest of the combatants, lay dormant for 4 million years. When the volcano that housed the Ark erupted, the Ark's internal mechanisms revived all Transformers, making no distinction between Autobot and Decepticon. Sideswipe was alive again. The Transformers

When the Autobots went to retrieve their fallen comrade Bumblebee from Sparkplug Witwicky's garage, they were attacked by Decepticons. Against his brother's better judgment, Sideswipe employed his energon-gobbling rocket pack to take the fight right to the Decepticon jets. The 'Cons were driven off, but without a source of fuel to recharge on, several Autobots, including Sideswipe, were left virtually empty after the battle, and were sidelined. Power Play! Though he could not go on missions, Sideswipe was still able to defend the Ark from invasion when the Decepticons came right to his doorstep. He was confronted by that junk-punk Rumble's earthquake-making ability and turned the tables on him, overpowering Rumble with his pile-driver punches. Raiders of the Last Ark

Sideswipe's inactivity continued even longer after Shockwave took over the Ark and deactivated all the Autobots in the ship. After Ratchet regained control of the Ark for the Autobots, he was able to revive Sideswipe to full functionality in short order, and their new deal for fuel with G.B. Blackrock kept them energized. During the Dinobot Hunt, Sideswipe traveled to Doonstown with Huffer and Bluestreak on a mission to capture the feral Grimlock. It... didn't go so well, and the various gnawed-upon pieces of Sideswipe were not seen again for some time. Dinobot Hunt!

Sideswipe would eventually be seen again at the feud fight between Blaster and Grimlock on Earth's Moon. Totaled!

Generation 2

Sideswipe was part of Grimlock's firestormers, a group of Autobots unable to stand the peace and who searched for new wars to fight. With them, he worked as a raider against territories controlled by Jhiaxus's Cybertronians and operation to cyberform inhabited worlds. He now sported a black paintjob, and stated happily that he loved his job (i.e. gunning people down by the dozen). War Without End!

He had a more prominent role in subsequent events than he had had in the past. Sideswipe was present for the last battle against the Swarm, but his final fate is uncertain. A Rage in Heaven!

Generation 2 (UK)

Sideswipe was part of Jazz's Special Commando Unit, summoned to Earth along with Optimus Prime by Grimlock when Bludgeon began open war on the humans. Generation 2 (Fleetway comic)

Classics

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe joined Optimus Prime's crew on Earth after Megatron resurfaced. They braved the Ark's defenses in order to break inside and recover their lost comrade, Ratchet. Sideswipe unsealed him from the CR Chamber Megatron had left the medic in, and together the twins carried him away to safety. At Fight's End

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Michael Bell (English), Kōki Kataoka (Japanese)

"Oh, you want my rocket pack? The one that I've never had until just now?"

Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the Ark when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. He awoke along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and his brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

More than Meets the Eye, Part 2

Sideswipe loaned Optimus Prime the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of Energon. More than Meets the Eye, Part 3

Maybe someday there will be a Sideswipe toy redeco with Breakdown's color scheme.

Transport to Oblivion

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". Roll for It

Divide and Conquer

When investigating tremors that were shaking the Autobot base, Ironhide's scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helped Brawn remove the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones, the discovery of which would lead to the development of the Dinobots. S.O.S. Dinobots

Sideswipe helped Wheeljack by recovering their frozen comrade Skyfire, and came with the rest of the group to Peru, where he assisted in shooting a rock slide into rubble. After Wheeljack captured the fire stream with one of his new inventions, Sideswipe flashed his lights on with the other Autobots to celebrate. Fire on the Mountain Sideswipe was chosen by Wheeljack to test the two new Dinobots. Though he smashed Swoop out of the air, Snarl was able to get in a counterattack. War of the Dinobots

The Ultimate Doom, Part 1 The Ultimate Doom, Part 2 Countdown to Extinction A Plague of Insecticons Heavy Metal War Autobot Spike Changing Gears City of Steel Attack of the Autobots

Sideswipe seemed to have a penchant for wrestling jets to the ground. City of SteelThe Immobilizer When Optimus Prime took the Autobots to test Wheeljack's latest invention, the Immobilizer, Sideswipe came with them. Decepticons attacked soon after, with Sideswipe leaping at Starscream in midflight. When the Decepticons retreated, Sideswipe returned to Autobot headquarters with his comrades while Wheeljack recovered from his immobilization. Once Wheeljack was back to normal, Sideswipe was part of Optimus Prime's team to recover the Immobilizer. Rumble began immobilizing various Autobots, and Sideswipe decided that he was going to defeat Rumble shortly before being immobilized himself. When Carly was able to reroute the Immobilizer, Sideswipe and the other Autobots were freed. The Immobilizer

The Autobot Run Atlantis, Arise! Day of the Machines A Prime Problem The Core Dinobot Island, Part 1 Dinobot Island, Part 2 Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2 Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2 Blaster Blues The Golden Lagoon Make Tracks Child's Play The Secret of Omega Supreme Kremzeek! Trans-Europe Express Cosmic Rust The Revenge of Bruticus

Sideswipe once disguised himself as Breakdown in order to stop Megatron's evil plan, along with four other Autobots. Masquerade

Japanese cartoon continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

When Megatron sent Starscream, the Seekers and Menasor to raid Tokyo for energy, Sideswipe accompanied Optimus Prime and a unit of Autobot vehicles to defend the city. Sideswipe didn't perform very well, immediately getting slugged in the face by Menasor's humongous fist. Luckily, his pummelling made the perfect distraction for Optimus Prime, Wheeljack and Smokescreen, who drove up a ramp and slammed Menasor and the Seekers directly in their faces, sending them into retreat. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1

Later, during an attack on Autobot Headquarters in Arizona, Sideswipe yet again failed to perform very well in battle. Attempting to confront the Decepticons in the sky on his jetpack, he wound up instead getting bombed by Blitzwing and damaged badly in the resulting explosion. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2

Maintaining his image as a punching bag, Sideswipe was once again trounced in battle, this time at Yokohama against Starscream, Blitzwing and the Super Megatron Gun (Megatron in gun-mode but not shrunken down). Unable to stand up to the might of the Decepticon attack, Sideswipe was blasted many, many times before Ultra Magnus arrived to save the day. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4

Full Throttle Scramble Power!

After the Decepticons' Omega Whip base was demolished, Sideswipe assembled with the Autobot cars to prevent their foes from escaping. They were soon joined by the might of Metroplex, and a full Autobot battalion. Full Throttle Scramble Power!

Story of Binaltech

Sideswipe was one of many Autobots who suffered from the Cosmic Rust virus when Swindle unleashed it upon them. Working together with the humans, the Autobots created the Binaltech Project as a means of transferring the injured Autobots' sparks into super-powered new bodies created from human technology. Along with Smokescreen, Bluestreak, Hound and Tracks, Sideswipe was part of the first wave of Binaltech warriors, who assembled on Earth under the command of Ultra Magnus. Story of Binaltech, Chapter 1

The Headmasters cartoon

When the Decepticons found a way to reactivate their old Space Bridge on Cybertron, the Autobots found themselves under siege from within. Sideswipe was on Earth with Ultra Magnus, and was one of the soldiers gathered to the Autobot Space Bridge to reinforce their allies on Cybertron. On their way to the Space Bridge, however, Sideswipe and the others were attacked by the new Decepticon lieutenant, Sixshot, and a battle was joined. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky

3H 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 comics continuity

Events from The Transformers Trilogy novels are in italics.

Sideswipe was one of the few Autobots to continue operating under that title during the Dark Ages of Cybertron. Sideswipe was one of the elite warriors serving under Prowl and as such was chosen for the mission that sent him against the newly constructed Decepticon battle station, Trypticon. Of course the mission was a failure, but that isn't likely to have discouraged Sideswipe. War Within: The Dark Ages

"This is what Skyfire was whining about? Pansy."

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 along with the Autobots and a human crew departed Earth en route to Cybertron in the Ark II. The ship, however, was sabotaged and exploded upon liftoff.

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 ship and the resurrection of several Transformers under his control via technological tampering. Prime Directive issue 1

General Hallo of the US military contacted Spike Witwicky to ask him if he could do something to help them reactivate Optimus Prime, whom they had recovered locked in a state of 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 Arctic and used the Matrix to reactivate several Transformers, including Sideswipe. Prime Directive issue 2

We're trying to look dynamic, but all these puffy proportions are putting a stop to that.

Sideswipe accepted the new task at hand and fought alongside his brother when the Autobots faced the Decepticons at Lazarus' ruined base (punching Starscream in the face for attacking Wheeljack) before Hallo betrayed the Autobots by attempting to destroy both factions with a nuclear weapon. Prime Directive issue 3 The Autobots survived when Megatron's technovirus absorbed the blast, and Sideswipe helped his comrades recover the captive Autobots imprisoned inside the base. Prime Directive issue 4

As Jazz's unit worked on Megatron's virus, Sideswipe followed Optimus Prime to San Francisco for the last battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. When Superion was taken down, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker heroically (though foolishly) charged at Devastator, and they were smashed between the giant Constructicon's palms for their trouble. After Optimus Prime brought Devastator down with a blast to the head, Sideswipe was restrained by the surviving Decepticons. Prime Directive issue 5 However, through human intervention, Optimus Prime freed his Autobots and the battle was rejoined. Sideswipe tag-teamed with his brother to pummel Soundwave, though the Decepticons eventually escaped when Superion sacrificed his life to save the city from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear missile launch. Prime Directive issue 6

Months later, after Optimus Prime, Megatron, and an assortment of other Transformers and humans vanished in a flash of light from Tokyo, Japan, the world went on high alert. When the U.S. military detected Starscream in the Nevada canyons, Sideswipe accompanied a flight of jets in confronting the Decepticon. Their battle led down a tight box canyon, and Sideswipe had some difficulty chasing Starscream while also coordinating with his military wingmen, as he tried to limit the human casualties. Eventually, Sideswipe was led straight into Devastator, who had been hiding in the canyon on Starscream's order. The combined surprise firepower of Starscream's arsenal and a near-pointblank blast from Devastator's solar energy rifle left Sideswipe in several charred pieces. Hardwired

Sideswipe was eventually repaired by Ratchet, and returned to duty just in time to fight in Nevada once more. This time, the Autobots and Decepticons had joined forces against an ambush arranged by the President of the United States, who hoped to rid his country of the Transformers. Sideswipe waded through General Michelle Grajkowski's troops, heavily routing her Delta Team, but the deconstructionite weapons being used by the U.S. Armed Forces were too much of a surprise for the Cybertronians—they were clearly on the losing end of the battle as many of their number fell before the severity of the weaponized nanites became evident. Sideswipe and Prowl helped load the injured Autobots into Prime's trailer as they made their getaway. Fusion

Hi, I'm a jock.

When agents from the united Cybertron arrived on Earth, Optimus Prime split his forces in order to ensure Earth would not be left undefended. As Prime and many other Autobots travelled back to Cybertron with Shockwave, Ultra Magnus and their crew, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker remained on Earth with several other Autobots under Jazz's command. Brothers' Burden Sideswipe was deactivated in battle with Bruticus when Starscream and his followers returned to Earth, and was left to rust at the bottom of a lake. Night of the Combaticons Warpath and Bumper later dredged him and the others up, only to be taken into custody by Earth Defense Command. Jazz, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker were reactivated to help Marissa Faireborn and her team in investigating an outbreak of Insecticons in small-town America. Infestation After routing and capturing the Decepticons, Sideswipe and the other Autobots joined up with the returning team from Cybertron under Prowl's command, and began construction of Autobot City. The Route of All Evil

Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers comics

Along with several other Transformers, the dormant Sideswipe was found on the crashed Ark by Cobra, a human terrorist organization who soon reprogrammed the alien robots to serve them. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rebuilt into Cobra Stingers and sent to assault the SPS Research Facility alongside Soundwave and his minions. The two brothers didn't succeed in their mission, though, as they were rammed aside by Wheeljack while charging at the building and were eventually ordered to retreat. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3 Wheeljack later freed Sideswipe and the others from Cobra's control, and he helped Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper fight back against the similarly freed Decepticons and their former captors. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5

Two years later, Serpent O.R. took control of the Decepticon forces on Cybertron and captured Optimus Prime. Sideswipe joined a team of Autobots led by Hot Rod who were planning on charging in and rescuing their leader as soon as the opportunity came up. The Art of War issue 4 After reinforcements arrived in the form of G.I. Joe, the Autobots made their move and attacked Serpent O.R.'s Decepticon army, ultimately defeating it. The Art of War issue 5

Sideswipe returned to Earth a few months later, where he worked to keep Cybertronian technology from being misused by humans. During one mission to Cuba, he helped stop Destro from selling S.N.A.K.E.s to one Mr. Calandero, but failed to capture the arms dealer and returned to the Autobots' base, the Arc II. When the ship was attacked by the Pretender Monsters, Sideswipe was the first to fall. Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2 The crew later received medical attention at the Pit, where they'd eventually recover from their injures. Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2

IDW comics continuity

This section covers fiction that is ongoing. It will be added to as the story progresses. If it isn't current, you can help by updating it.

Sideswipe's feeling small standing under Nova Prime's crotch. Sunstreaker, on the other hand, seems strangely excited.

Sunstreaker was Sideswipe's P-3 Training Officer and strike partner, and constantly looked down on him as the rookie. Nothing Sideswipe did was seen as good enough, and he was left under Sunstreaker's shadow, something that left a deep mark on him. He's forever been resentful and wanting to be seen by others as a skilled, notable warrior. Spotlight: Sideswipe

Before the war, the two of them attended illegal underground arena deathmatches and witnessed Megatron's 54th victory. Megatron Origin #2 When Sunstreaker wanted to join Megatron's underground fighting team, Sideswipe went along to try and talk him out of it. Whether they stuck around and were caught up in the Autobot security raid is unknown. Megatron Origin #3

Later, as war engulfed Cybertron, Sideswipe was one of the many Autobots trained by Kup. Spotlight: Kup

In more recent times, Sideswipe was part of an Autobot squad lead by Sunstreaker, and helped liberate an unnamed planet from the Decepticons. Replay

This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!

Much to his dismay, Sideswipe was later stationed at Thunderhead Pass on Cybertron to guard Thunderwing's remains. Sideswipe wanted action, something he wasn't going to get standing guard over comatose Decepticons. His desire to "bust some heads" became even stronger after Sunstreaker was apparently kidnapped during his duties on Earth, and Sideswipe began actively disregarding his squadron leader, Hound, to routinely contact High Command and demand a transfer; unknown to everyone else, this wasn't down to brothers-in-arms loyalty, this was down to him wanting to save Sunstreaker so his former strike partner would have to recognise his skills. Spotlight: Sideswipe

His need for action was alleviated, however, when a mysterious and powerful Transformer attacked Cybertron. Sideswipe blew off part of the being's head, but he recovered almost immediately and knocked Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots offline, then stole Thunderwing away. Spotlight: Galvatron

Soon after, Optimus Prime apparently caved in to Sideswipe's pleading and put Jetfire in charge of Thunderhead Pass, transferring Hound's entire team, including Sideswipe, to Earth once Megatron began breaking Infiltration protocol. Devastation #1 However, once word of the break-in at Garrus-9 reached his audio sensors, Prime directed his team and Hound's to head there instead of Earth. Devastation #6

He can punch and angst at the same time!

Sideswipe took the reassignment pretty harshly, and had pushed Hound well to the edge of his tolerance. He got a minor diversion from worrying about Sunstreaker when another mysterious and powerful Transformer, Cyclonus attacked their ship.

Surprisingly, he wanted to find out who Cyclonus was, but Hound felt that time was a factor and hit Cyclonus with a full volley. It was enough to slow him down, but not enough to stop him. Ultra Magnus' arrival forced a retreat, and the two Autobot ships followed. When they caught up to Cyclonus, Sideswipe goaded him into battle, and made no apologies for it. Spotlight: Cyclonus

When his unit finally reached Earth, he personally took on both Grindcore and Straxus so the others could reach the Space Bridge. This earned him recognition and an apology from Hound, and the battle against superior foes gave Sideswipe the chance to prove to himself that he was better than Sunstreaker thought. This exorcised, he realised he didn't actually care if Sunstreaker was alive or dead, and turned away from his obsession without looking back. Spotlight: Sideswipe

One year later, the Decepticons ambushed the Autobots in a crippling assault, during which Skywarp ripped off Sideswipe's arm. The Autobots were subsequently tossed through a space bridge to the lifeless shell of Cybertron, where they would be finished off by the Insecticon swarm. All Hail Megatron #7 Along with the others, Sideswipe stood around brooding about the situation, All Hail Megatron #1 occasionally staring at the similarly one-armed Trailbreaker. All Hail Megatron #4 When the crew of the Trion ended up on Cybertron, Sideswipe listened to Hot Rod explain what had happened. All Hail Megatron #5

Later, Sideswipe tried to talk to Sunstreaker and tell him to stop picking on Mirage, only to learn of the horrible things the Machination had done to him. All Hail Megatron #7 Later, after Sunstreaker sacrificed himself, Sideswipe declared that all the Autobots deserved to die for carrying on the senseless war. His speech was interrupted by the return of Optimus Prime. All Hail Megatron #9 Sideswipe later defended the Autobot base against a massive swarm attack, but the Autobots were overrun and only saved by the arrival of Omega Supreme, who took them all back to Earth. All Hail Megatron #10

As the Autobots confronted the Decepticons in New York City, Sideswipe beat up Kickback with a street light and was jumped by Bombshell, who gleefully told the Autobot how he had dissected Hunter O'Nion, Sunstreaker's Headmaster partner, and used his knowledge to toy with Sunstreaker's mind. Following the defeat of the Decepticons, Sideswipe found Hunter, strung up and mutilated in Bombshell's lab. Horrified at the sight, he decided to end the human's tortured existence by shutting off the machines keeping him alive. All Hail Megatron #12

Hearts of Steel

Sideswipe participated in the pursuit of Astrotrain, and partially transformed from artillery boxcar mode to robot mode in order to shoot down Scourge. He stated, "The name is Sideswipe." Hearts of Steel issue 4

For unclear reasons, in the original comic book issue, the Autobot who shoots down Scourge identifies himself as Ironhide, not Sideswipe. Sideswipe only appears in the trade paperback collection.

Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comic

Henkei! Henkei! #6

Commercial appearances

Sideswipe appeared in the following commercials:

• The very first Transformers animation, advertising the Marvel comic book. He drives out of a base alongside Jazz and Prowl; the three arrive at a power plant and counter-attack the Decepticons.

• Again alongside Jazz and Prowl, he transforms and takes off, on what appears to be Cybertron, in a commercial for Soundwave.

• He can be glimpsed trying to stop Astrotrain from escaping, in a 1985 commercial for the Decepticon Triple Changers.

• He is briefly visible driving alongside Jazz in a CGI Generation 2 commercial for the Decepticon jets and Autobot cars.

Toys

Generation 1

He had the look before it was trendy.

• Sideswipe (Autobot Car, 1984/1985, 1991, 2001/2002/2003)
  • Japanese ID number: 04, TFC-07
  • Accessories: "Laser gun", rocket launcher, 3 rockets

Originally a Diaclone "New Countach LP500S", Sideswipe transforms... well, into that. In robot mode he is armed with a white rifle and a missile launcher that can clip onto either of his shoulders. The launcher can fire one of three included white missiles, in theory, as the springs were weakened for the US release for safety reasons. The original 1984 US release did not have the rubsign found on later releases.

He was rereleased in Europe in 1990 as part of the Classics line.

In 2001, Sideswipe was re-released by Takara, bundled with the mold-sharing Red Alert, as a show-exclusive set, 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 "New Year" 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, albeit with its spring-loaded launcher de-sprung for safety reasons, was released in the US as part of Hasbro's Commemorative Series VIII line, one of the last American reissues. In fact, despite the Commemorative Series' exclusivity to Toys "R" Us stores, Commemorative Series Sideswipe ultimately ended up at Kay-Bee stores, and at heavy discount.

This mold was also used to make Clamp Down, Deep Cover and Tigertrack.

I have a hat!

• Sideswipe w/ Vanguard (Action Master, 1991)
  • Accessories: "Photon laser" rifle

A non-transforming action figure that combines elements form both his original toy and his animation model, Action Master Sideswipe is compatible with any other Action Master weapon or vehicle. His partner-unit Vanguard forms a backpack and battle helmet, and complements Sideswipe's color scheme quite well.

Action Master Sideswipe was only available in European (and certain Australian) markets.

Generation 2

File:G2Sideswipe toy.jpg

He got dressed in the dark and accidentally put his colors on backwards.

• Sideswipe (Autobot Heroic, 1993)
  • Accessories: Gun, missile launcher, 1 missile

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, plus new neon green "racing" decals were added to the mix. 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 was taken from Snow Serpent from the G.I. Joe toyline.

File:G2GobotSideswipe.jpg

Then he shrank and faded in the wash.

• Sideswipe (Go-Bot, 1995)
  • Accessories: Gun

A redeco of Go-Bot Firecracker, Sideswipe transforms into a blue Lamborghini Diablo with through-axle construction for super-fast rolling on smooth surfaces in car mode. He is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox"-brand racetrack sets.

This mold was also used to make Go-Bot Optimus Prime and Robots in Disguise R.E.V..

Universe

File:UniverseSideswipe toy.jpg

I should've had a Wheeljack retool!

• Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2003)
  • Accessories: 2 launchers (left & right), 2 flame missiles

One of several exclusives to OTFCC 2003, Universe Side Swipe is a redeco of the Robots in Disguise Prowl mold, once again transforming into a Lamborghini Diablo. 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.

While the toy's name was spelled "Sideswipe" (one word) on its own packaging, the cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 Shadow Striker/Roulette two-pack spelled it "Side Swipe" (two words) instead. See Trivia for more.

Smallest Transforming Transformers

Yet another release Sunstreaker just wasn't cool enough for.

• Lambor (2003)
  • Japanese ID number: GTF-02

Smallest Transforming Transformers 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.

This mold was retooled to make Smallest Transforming Transformers Alert.

Alternators

Just think, he was almost Tracks.

• Side Swipe (2003, 2004)
  • Alternator ID number: 2
  • Japanese ID number: BT-02
  • Accessories: Dodge Viper Engine/gun

The second Alternators toy released, Side Swipe transforms into a licensed 1:24 scale Dodge Viper featuring opening doors, a detailed interior, and a hood that opens to reveal an engine bay holding a replica Viper V-10 engine. The vehicle mode also features movable steering and rubber tires with vacuum-metalized wheels. His removable engine becomes a blaster.

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 shell, with the exception of 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.

Universe (2008)

This is the best we could find in terms of stock photography for this guy. Seriously.

• Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2008)
  • Accessories: "Flare Launcher", engine supercharger intakes

Sideswipe is a retool of Universe Sunstreaker. He not only features a new head sculpt, but he has a slightly altered transformation scheme and assembly; his upper body, from the neck to the hips, is rotated 180 degrees from Sunstreaker's, giving him the "classic" hood-chest. His fists are also "backwards" from Sunstreaker's to keep them in the right places in robot mode. He transforms into a modified Lamborghini Gallardo. Though the car is mostly based upon the Gallardo, to avoid legal problems, it also features modified headlights and elements taken from other cars—most of them are taken from other Lamborghini models, such as a front bumper that appears to be based on a 2004 Murciélago R-GT and a rear end that is basically a cross between a Murciélago and a Diablo; however, the split side windows and the ridges on the door vents are based on a McLaren F1. Sideswipe also comes with the same roof-mounted engine assembly as Sunstreaker.

His Flare Launcher (essentially just a redeco of Sunstreaker's Electron Pulse Blaster) can be combined with the removable engine assembly and mounted in either of the holes on his shoulders to simulate Sideswipe's Generation 1 missile launcher. Of course, this leaves him without a hand-held weapon. The engine can also be mounted on Sideswipe's back as his jet pack.

Sideswipe's online PDF instructions as well as the final printed instructions incorrectly give him Sunstreaker's transformation and head, despite the picture above the instructions showing him with the hood as the chest and a new head. Unfortunately, Hasbro's own stock photography for distribution to websites retains this incorrect transformation, and throws in some additional mistakes as well. Oy.

Henkei! Henkei!

Whoever does Takara's photography seriously needs to be outsourced to Hasbro.

• Lambor (Deluxe, 2008)
  • Japanese ID number: C-09
  • Accessories: "Flare Launcher"

The Japanese version of Universe Sideswipe has vacuum metallized silver on his flare launcher and his spoiler, but does not come with the dual-engine backpack that Henkei Sunstreaker and Universe Sunstreaker/Sideswipe included. He also has correct, personalised instructions that aren't just Sunstreaker's. Like Sunstreaker, the Japanese version's hood is a much closer match to the red colored plastic. The Japanese version also features a glossier black paint and the white has yellow tint compared the white plastic used for Hasbro version. His license plate says "LAMBOR" rather than "SWIPE".

Merchandise

Titanium Series

Sideswipe turns small a lot.

• Side Swipe (Robot Master, 2006)
  • Accessories: Engine blaster

Titanium Series 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.

This mold was going to be redecoed to be Titanium Sunstreaker, but that release was canceled.

Attacktix

• Sideswipe (2007)

Attacktix Sideswipe was to be a missile-firing "blaster" style playing piece, presumably part of a third wave of "Booster" packs. He was revealed at the Star Wars "Celebration IV" convention alongside many other Attacktix pieces that would ultimately never see release.

Your bargaining posture is highly dubious. Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Notes

• Sideswipe's TFU bio text describes features of Sunstreaker's toy, leading many to believe Sideswipe's original toy was supposed to be created from Sunstreaker's mold and vice-versa, with the colors swapped between the molds. The Diaclone Sunstreaker toy was available in red and police versions, but not yellow (hence the red shoulder stickers on an otherwise yellow car). The mold used for Sideswipe, on the other hand, was released in Diaclone in police, yellow and red decos.

• Sideswipe's Japanese name, "Lambor" is derived from the name of his vehicle mode, a Lamborghini. It may also be a word play on the Japanese word "Ranbō", which means "reckless, violent, rough". Wouldn't be the last time Takara's done such word puns. By the way, it's Lambor, not Rambo.

• According to a story page in the October 1985 issue of TV Magazine, Sideswipe and Red Alert are brothers, with Sideswipe being slightly older than Red Alert. This connection may have been invented because, aside from Sideswipe and Red Alert sharing the same mold, Sunstreaker was not sold on the Japanese market outside of a special "versus" set with Skids and Buzzsaw. However, the familial dynamic between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker was not changed in the Japanese dub of the original Transformers cartoon, leading some Japanese fans to consider the three Lamborghini characters as triplets.

• During the 1990s, another company held the "Sideswipe" trademark in the "toys" field, even though Hasbro still released two toys using that name as part of the Generation 2 line (it's unclear if this resulted in any legal repercussions for Hasbro). When Hasbro finally managed to reclaim the name for the Robots in Disguise line, the name was now parsed as "Side Swipe", in two words, for whatever reason. The only two toys since then to spell "Sideswipe" as one word again were the OTFCC 2003 exclusive and the Armada Super-Con. However, the former was referred to as "Side Swipe" when featured as a cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 Shadow Striker/Roulette two-pack, whereas a packaging variant for the latter released as part of the "Unicron Battles" refresh of the Armada line also saw the name changed to "Side Swipe". Hasbro finally decided to re-file the name "Sideswipe" (as one word) as a trademark in 2008, presumably because a character in the upcoming movie Revenge of the Fallen and the accompanying toy line was going to sport that name, and Hasbro were using that as an opportunity to re-introduce the spelling of the name as one word. As a result, the Universe Deluxe Class toy was the first toy to "properly" sport the name "Sideswipe" as one word.

• The Alternators Dodge Viper mold was originally designed to be a new body for Tracks after the first attempt to secure the Corvette license had fallen through. Eventually, though, Chevrolet had a change of mind and granted Hasbro and Takara the license for the Corvette design after all. As a result, the Viper mold was slightly redesigned, was given a new head sculpt and released as Sideswipe (or "Side Swipe") instead. This explains why, unlike most of the early Alternators toys, Side Swipe's robot mode bears little resemblance to his G1 self. The most noticeable redesign from the "Tracks" design was the vehicle mode's doors being moved from the "backpack" kibble (where they would have resembled the G1 Tracks toy's wings) to the sides of the arms, thus being the most obvious visual cue taken from the G1 Sideswipe toy. The doors are, however, still splayed out to the sides in the Alternators box art and can be moved to match Tracks' wing configuration, which implies that the redesign may have been done before the switch from Tracks to Sideswipe was made.

Universe Tigertrack. Fortunately, ths didn't happen.

• Sideswipe has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the European Autobot Classic Heroes range not to feature in Marvel UK's Earthforce stories, not even making a late appearance like fellow 1991 addition Tracks.

• Hasbro's early plans for Universe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had the two as straight redecos of each other, only differing in their head sculpts besides their colors—namely, Sunstreaker would have just been Sideswipe in yellow with a different head. It was TakaraTomy designer Hisashi Yuki who suggested an alternate transformation by turning the upper body by 180 degrees, thus providing more individual robot mode looks for the two characters that resemble their respective Generation 1 designs more. In addition, Hasbro originally intended the alternate mode's supercharger to split into two halves which would then become the handgun and a spring-loaded shoulder launcher for the robot mode.
• Along the same vein, Takara also made the willful decision to omit the supercharger from their Henkei! Henkei! version of Lambor (Universe Sideswipe) to differentiate further between him and Sunstreaker. That's right: Takara deliberately omitted an optional piece of accessory to make the toy more "G1-accurate".

External links

• Sideswipe at TFU.info
• Sideswipe's Universe profile at NTFA.net