Swoop (G1)
| The name or term "Swoop" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Swoop (disambiguation). |
- Swoop is a Dinobot and Autobot in Generation 1 continuity. He used to go by the name Divebomb.
Swoop is the friendliest and most outgoing of the Dinobots. He's surprisingly good natured, kind, and upbeat. Few of his comrades realize this however, as his team's reputation and his alt-form, considered (for some reason) particularly "horrifying" to Transformer aesthetics, makes others wary of getting close enought to learn about the bot himself. Swoop is an excellent aerial combatant and bombardier, and has become skilled at using the fear his alt-mode creates in battle. He considers it his greatest weapon. Like all the Dinobots, Swoop tends to be arrogant, disobedient, and generally disagree with Optimus Prime's leadership style. He's also a bit of a show-off.
Italian name: Reptilo
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
On Cybertron Swoop was once named Divebomb. After disobeying orders from Optimus Prime he came into battle with the Predacon now called Divebomb, who defeated him and stole his name. What's in a Name? This began a continuing rivalry between the two. Millions of years later on Earth they clashed again intending to finish things between them once and for all, but their respective team mates interfered and the battle went unresolved. Grudge Match!
Swoop was one of the original crew of the Ark. After it crashed Shockwave came to Earth in pursuit and landed in the Savage Land. The Ark rebuilt Swoop along with Grimlock, Slag, Sludge and Snarl into the Dinobots and sent them to the Savage Land to defeat Shockwave. The Last Stand The battle ended with the Dinobots submerged in a tar pit where they remained until they were dug out by Ratchet millions of years later. Swoop along with the other Dinobots then helped Ratchet defeat Megatron and reclaim the Ark and free the deactivated Autobots within. Repeat Performance!
Upon their return to the Ark however Swoop was badly damaged and thought destroyed when he attempted to fly the booby trapped battle droid Guardian away from the Ark to prevent the explosion from destroying Mount St. Hilary. The Wrath of Grimlock!
In reality he was blown clear and crashed into a nearby lake where he was later found by Professor Morris. The professor had developed a machine capable of transferring his consciousness to a robot allowing him to take control of it. He recovered Swoop’s body and used the machine to take control of him. He used Swoop to attack the Autobots who he had mistakenly assumed were under the control of his company’s competitor G.B. Blackrock. Swoop’s personality eventually broke free of the professor’s control however. The Icarus Theory
Not long after this he went mad due to the burning out of his cybodendrons after being submerged in the tar pit for millions of years. He was subdued and went into a coma like state. This alerted the Autobots the danger that the other Dinobots were in and they set out to find them.
Swoop later recovered from his coma along with the other Dinobots and shortly afterwards left the Ark with the other Dinobots and did not return until Grimlock became Autobot leader. Second Generation!
Following the return of Optimus Prime as Autobot leader, Swoop and the other Dinobots were critically damaged by the Underbase-powered Starscream. After being repaired by Ratchet using Pretender technology, Grimlock took Swoop and the Dinobots to Hydrus Four and restored them using Nucleon. This ultimately caused Grimlock to lose the ability to transform but it is not know if Swoop suffered any similar side effects. The Price of Life!
At some point Swoop was sent to Earth to become part of the Earthforce team under the command of Grimlock. He later returned to Cybertron and took part in the battle against Unicron which he survived. On the Edge of Extinction!
He also took part in the war against Jhiaxus and his second generation forces.
Animated continuity
- Voice actor: Michael Bell (US), Yoku Shioya (Japan)
Toys
Generation 1
- Swoop (1985)
- Japanese ID number: 30
- Swoop's Generation 1 toy had a few changes from the Diaclone version, as the beak and tail were rounded for safety reasons. However, the remolding of the tail kept the tail sticker from fitting correctly.
Generation 2
- The original Swoop mold was considered to be repainted in a blue and green color scheme, and art was even made for it. However, it was never anywhere close to release.
Universe
- The Swoop toy released in Energon was originally created by Hasbro for release as a special new-mold addition for the Universe toyline and was intended to represent Generation 1 Swoop. However, it wasn't and it didn't.
Trivia
Thanks to the Robo-Capers strip in the UK Comic, Swoop became the first and possibly only Transformer to defecate in a licenced and approved presentation.
Whoever made Swoop's animation model got sent the Diaclone version, as Swoop has the Diaclone toy's blue chest, and gold chrome missiles, sword, and lower beak.
