Swoop (WFC)
| The name or term "Swoop" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Swoop (disambiguation). |
- Swoop is an Autobot from the War for Cybertron portion of the Aligned continuity family.
Like Grimlock, Swoop was a member of the brutal Lightning Strike Coalition- that is, until he was taken captive by Shockwave and forcibly changed into a Dinobot. And, like Grimlock, he is a powerful warrior, and though the other Autobots undoubtedly think of him as dim, he's at least enthusiastic about fighting Decepticons. But unlike Grimlock, Swoop enjoys his new form, revelling in the power and speed of his new pterosaur alternate mode. Then, Backbite captured him and Shockwave turned him into a Predacon. Swoop can't get a break.
Fiction
Fall of Cybertron comic
Sent by Grimlock to investigate the Decepticons' seemingly neverending supply of energon, Swoop found and infiltrated an enemy base where he overheard Shockwave discussing with Starscream that he was not only responsible for the energon situation, but had also uncovered an army of Insecticon warriors for the Decepticons to use. He was discovered before long and set upon by the Insecticon swarm, which proved too much for him. Secrets Before he went down, Swoop sent an emergency message to Grimlock telling him about his discovery. Good Intentions He was strung up to a harness to serve as bait for the rest of the Lightning Strike Coalition, who were themselves attacked by Insecticons when they came to save him. Siege Mentality
Rage of the Dinobots comic
Swoop and the Dinobots aided in helping Impactor's convoy of ships to escape Cybertron's atmosphere. Swoop covered Snarl's back by dealing with the Decepticon ground troops led by Blast Off. When Ultra Magnus ordered the Dinobots to get to their own craft, another squadron of Decepticons draws Swoop into a solo attempt to take them out. Magnus ordered Swoop away and fought the Decepticons off, but his ship was shot down. While some of the other Dinobots were considering leaving Magnus behind, Grimlock refused to do so and commences a rescue mission. Ser-Ket, however, listened to their conversation.
A Predacon beat the Dinobots to Magnus' ship, and Swoop is taken out. After Grimlock transformed into dinosaur mode to save his comrade, he loses control of himself and turns on his own men. The Predacon flies off with an unconscious Swoop.
Swoop had awakened in prison-base of The Forged. His first sight was of Ser-Ket, who called him "Brother." Upon realizing where he was, Swoop accused her of being a Decepticon. Ser-Ket scoffed at this, saying factions were meaningless now that Megatron and Optimus Prime were gone. Swoop asked of the fate of Ultra Magnus. Ser-Ket said not to worry, he'd be reunited after the Master arrived. Staging a rescue, the Dinobots failed to find Swoop among the prisoners. Reasoning that he too was moving to the roof to escape, they did likewise. Encountering Ser-Ket, Grimlock demanded that she hand over Swoop, but she revealed that he had been re-forged. Hailing his new master Shockwave, Swoop attacked! Rage of the Dinobots issue #2
Games
Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)
- Voice actor: Eric Artell
Grimlock and Swoop were neutral Transformers who met with the Autobots to discuss joining. Grimlock was keen to have the Autobots test their mettle, however while he was talking, Swoop was kidnapped by a group of Decepticons led by Cyclonus for their Dark Energon experiments. In a lab on the outskirts of Iacon, Swoop was infused with the dark substance, and by the time the Autobots found him, he felt strange and had the urge to eat heads. He began flying around in his vehicle mode but the Autobots discovered that by zapping him with the equipment in the lab, they could purge him of the Dark Energon. Though Swoop resisted violently, they managed to purge him completely and he announced he felt better.
Swoop promised to lead the Autobots out of the labyrinth of tunnels, however unfortunately Cyclonus had started the self-destruct sequence on the laboratory. Swoop and his rescuers were forced to race through hostile tunnels, taking down force-fields blocking their path, until they finally got out before the detonation. Grimlock was so impressed with their work that he let Swoop join the Autobots. Transformers: War for Cybertron
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (Xbox/PS3/PC)
- Voice actor: Mark Allan Stewart
Six days before the launch of the Ark, Swoop and the rest of the Lightning Strike Coalition deserted their post protecting the ship to investigate strange energy readings in the Sea of Rust. Said readings were caused by Shockwave's space bridge experiments at the energon lake, and when they arrived they were set upon by one of Shockwave's other experiments, the Insecticons. Shockwave took the opportunity experiment on them, giving them dinosaur forms and testing the results. Grimlock found and freed Swoop first out of the team, and they went searching for Slug. They first encountered Hardshell, and Swoop used the technology in the room to supply Grimlock with fuel pods for his leader to throw at the bug. Their search for Slug led them to a trashed lab with a hole in the floor, and they split up to continue their search.
Grimlock found Slug first, and they joined Swoop in searching for Snarl. They found Snarl being protected by Sharpshot, and once the Insecticon was defeated, they looked for a place to rest and repair Snarl. They located an observation deck which had logs of Shockwave's experiments on them and the space bridge project. Though Optimus ordered them back to base when they contacted him, Grimlock insisted on trying to take the space bridge tower himself, and had Swoop fly him to the top of the tower. Unfortunately the winds became too much for them and they separated. Swoop later watched from afar as the tower exploded. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
Notes
- Swoop's beast-mode head is available in Fall of Cybertron multiplayer as a Hunter-type component for Scientist-class characters.
- Swoop's alternate mode is a treaded, tank-like ground vehicle in the Fall of Cybertron prequel comic, following suit due to the fact that the other members of the Lightning Strike Coalition have pretty much the same alternate modes. While this may seem like a poor creative choice or outright error, he did seem pretty surprised and elated by his new pterosaur mode upon being freed by Grimlock, so perhaps John Barber just ran with it.
