Sideswipe (WFC)

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 War for Cybertron portion of the Aligned continuity family.

The next master of Hatenko's Fist of the Key.

Rebel, bad-boy, competitive; these are all things that describe Sideswipe, who is always happy to show off his prowess in the heat of battle, and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Sideswipe is, at his core, a lone wolf who tends to look out for himself, but when push come to shove, he heeds the call to action, jumping into the fight with guns blazing. Sideswipe is always quick with his words, and quicker with his hands, and is all about getting the drop on his enemies. And he always makes sure to look cool while doing it!

He's also a bit of a smart-aleck, and this tends to cheese off his comrades, and holds a disdain for authority. He sometimes wishes that some would cut him some slack when it comes to rules and regulations.

“	Finally! I hate sneaking around!	”
—Sideswipe, War for Cybertron

Fiction

Toy bios

Sideswipe was once a promising racer who was wanted in half of Cybertron's racing circuits, but his reckless nature cost him his career. He eventually joined the Autobots to try and redeem himself. Deluxe Class Sideswipe

Aligned novels

Sideswipe made his name at the Autobot victory of Kalis, bringing down Bruticus Maximus with Optimus Prime and Jazz. Sideswipe boasted that he tore off Bruticus' head, a claim Alpha Trion considered hyperbole. Optimus did not consider Sideswipe one of his closest comrades but he was often present at their meetings. He concurred with Jazz that fighting Darkened Decepticons was better than fleeing, and he did so when Megatron invaded Teletraan-1 and took the Plasma Energy Chamber. Afterwards he aided in extracting Optimus when he rescued Sentinel Prime from Kaon, and guarded over Jazz and Prowl as they recovered from that adventure. When Optimus returned from Cybertron's core with the Matrix of Leadership, he began Project Generation One, a plan to leave Cybertron as it purged itself of Megatron's poison. Though he understood why Optimus was doing it, it still felt to Sideswipe like they were quitting the war. He continued to accompany Optimus in sabotaging Trypticon and was appointed the Ark's pilot, ensuring it journeyed through the last space bridge, to a spiral galaxy—where the AllSpark was detected nearby. Exodus

Sideswipe was the Ark's pilot when it left Cybertron.

Exiles

2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon

Voice actor: Darren Criss (English), Daiki Hamano (Japanese), Ruggero Andreozzi (Italian)

Sideswipe was tearing up the pavement in a park on Cybertron when he was apprehended by Strongarm. Handcuffed to her, he was basically forced to accompany her as she followed Bumblebee, and was put to work getting a space bridge functional so the trio could go to Earth. Once there, Sideswipe wasted no time in making himself scarce, and swiftly encountered both Russell Clay and the Decepticon Underbite. Pilot (Part 1) Basically forced to choose between helping Bumblebee or listen to Fixit chatter, Sideswipe picked the former option, and ended up being instrumental in stopping Underbite by luring the Decepticon to a quarry. Pilot (Part 2)

Strongarm and Sideswipe continued having trouble working together, inadvertently resulting in Strongarm's comms being damaged. When the pair went sent on a mission to investigate fugitive signals, they split up, and Sideswipe later returned to base to discover Strongarm had gone missing. When he and Russell found Strongarm had been taken captive by Steeljaw, Sideswipe masqueraded as the Decepticon "Grimbee" as a distraction, and Strongarm was successfully freed. Trust Exercises Sideswipe took part in the capturing of Bisk. He and the team later found themselves tangling with Chop Shop, and were unprepared for the Decepticon's ability to split into component parts. Though impressed with the rocket Chop Shop had constructed, Sideswipe and the rest of the team captured him. More than Meets the Eye

Sideswipe and Strongarm continued to squabble even as they went to a museum to investigate a Decepticon signal. Splitting up, the team was unable to capture Terrashock until Bumblebee came up with a way to hunt the Decepticon on his own terms. W.W.O.D.? When Sideswipe's slacking off resulted in Grimlock being demolished by Thunderhoof, he ended up being forced to help Bumblebee track down the Decepticon. Sideswipe appeared to be enthusiastic about helping Thunderhoof use the space bridge he'd built to return to Cybertron but ended up helping Bumblebee destroy the space bridge when it threatened to create a black hole and destroy Earth. As the Kospego Commands!

Sideswipe was teamed with Strongarm to search for the Decepticon Filch, and became increasingly annoyed with her sticking to the rulebook. After Sideswipe helped hold up a bridge, and saved Denny from atop a huge statue, he was able to render Filch unconscious by throwing a bridge beam at her head. Collect 'Em All

Plot details for True Colors follow. Spoilers have expired, you may remove this tag

When Grimlock appeared to turn on the other Autobots and stole a stasis pod, Sideswipe believed he was being coerced into it. After they tracked Grimlock to the Crown River dam, it turned out Sideswipe was correct and Grimlock was under the control of the Decepticon Minitron. True Colors

Plot details for Rumble in the Jungle follow. Spoilers have expired, you may remove this tag

While Bumblebee and Strongarm were away on a mission, Sideswipe and Grimlock got to be spectators for a feud between Fixit and Denny. Rumble in the Jungle

Games

Transformers: War for Cybertron (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)

Voice actor: Travis Willingham (English), Luca Sandri (Italian)

It's like Sideswipe and Smokescreen rolled into one package.

As part of Optimus's plan to rescue Zeta Prime, Sideswipe was imprisoned in Kaon with the other Autobots. Soundwave sent the prisoners for "recycling", but Air Raid rescued them just in time. Optimus, Sideswipe, and Bumblebee then fought their way in and out of the prison in order to save Zeta, to Sideswipe's enjoyment. Despite being teleported into prison again, courtesy of Megatron, Optimus used his energon axe to get them out, leaving Sideswipe impressed. The squad of Autobots freed the captured Air Raid and all the other prisoners, and then, after blasting through more Decepticons and barely making it over a floor under assault, intended to free Zeta Prime as well... but found him being guarded and tortured by Soundwave and his minions. After defeating them, Sideswipe accompanied Optimus and Bumblebee as they brought the deceased Zeta to the Autobot High Council, and witnessed Optimus's promotion to Autobot leader. Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)

Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)

Sideswipe is an unlockable character for the Nintendo DS version of War for Cybertron and can replace any of the other characters on the Autobot team. Sideswipe can be unlocked by obtaining a data disk in "Rescuing Zeta Prime".

War for Cybertron - Autobots/Decepticons

Transformers: Cybertron Adventures

After Trypticon attacked Iacon from orbit, Sideswipe was one of the first Autobots able to run recon on the damage and look for survivors. While traveling through the debris he was contacted by Ratchet, who was nearby and in need of help. Sideswipe quickly changed course to chase after the medic, finally finding him damaged from a brief confrontation with Megatron. Later, as Barricade infiltrated Iacon, Sideswipe gave the Decepticon a brief chance to surrender before opening fire. Sideswipe was badly damaged before Barricade fled the scene. Transformers: Cybertron Adventures

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Voice actor: Travis Willingham (English)

Sideswipe was on the evaluation team for the Autobots' massive starship Ark. When Grimlock went missing during the final preparations for the ship's launch, Sideswipe was repairing Autobot dropships at Autobot headquarters. After reporting to Optimus Prime that he would be able to get the dropship he was working on up and running, Prime sent him to pilot a dropship carrying Cliffjumper and Jazz to the Sea of Rust to go look for Grimlock. He dropped the pair off over some ruins. When they later blew the place up, he was on hand to pick them up in the drop ship. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

Voice actor: Travis Willingham (English)

Sideswipe was tasked, alongside Ironhide, with retrieving the Dark Spark before the Decepticons. He and Ironhide followed Shockwave, Soundwave, and Starscream to the Dark Spark's chamber, and, once the Decepticons had unlocked the chamber the Dark Spark was being held in, stole it and locked the Decepticons in the chamber.

Sideswipe and Ironhide then began to make their way to the city's old subway system, where they would meet up with Optimus Prime. Along the way, they were set upon by Insecticons, and eventually separated, before finally meeting Optimus and Bumblebee in the subway. As the others held off the Insecticons, Sideswipe activated the subway system and hailed a train to take them back to Iacon. However, it was revealed that the trains were on a timer, when the train departed after only Bumblebee had boards. As they waited for the next train to arrive, the Autobots were forced to hold off the Insecticons and Starscream (though luckily for them he was also attacked by the Insecticons).

Sideswipe and his comrades successfully boarded the second train once it arrived, and were nearly home free, but unbeknownst to them, Shockwave had rigged the second train and as they were departing, it exploded. Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)

Toys

Generations

He peers into your soul.

• Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2012)
  • Series / number: 1 / 011
  • Japanese ID number: TG10
  • Accessories: "Battle cannon"

Part of the third wave of 2012 Generations Deluxe Class toys, Fall of Cybertron Sideswipe is an extensive retool of Fall of Cybertron Jazz, featuring a mostly new vehicle shell, as well as having a new robot head and weapon. His massive "battle cannon" is modeled after a Path Blaster from Fall of Cybertron, features 5mm posts for the handle and on its side, has a spinning, ratcheting drum, and can extend its barrel. In an undocumented feature, the blaster can mount at an angle onto his vehicle rear, with the back of the blaster sliding into the spoiler. He features 5mm ports for his hands, on his forearms/rear vehicle sides, and on his vehicle roof.

In robot mode, he features a case of faux parts: The centers of his feet are fake wheels (attached to the legs via ratchet joints) that are hidden in the rear section of his vehicle mode, while his real vehicle mode wheels end up on the sides of his chest (partially obscured by panels) and on his forearms.

His stock photography depicts him with blue eyes, but the final product leaves his eyes the same black/dark gray color as his head. Creepy.

The TakaraTomy version of the figure features a metallic red paint job on the entirety of the car and several other extensive detailing. Most notable changes include the metallic red paint, War for Cybertron style Autobot lighting effects all throughout the figure, maroon paint surrounding his striping, silver striping instead of white in car mode, metallic gray legs instead of white, and blue painted eyes instead of cold dead unpainted clear gray eyes. The TakaraTomy version also features the smaller pistol included with Jazz that was omitted with the Hasbro release.

The new shell parts involved in the conversion from Jazz have a design flaw. Similar to Jazz, Sideswipe's back consists of two parts connected via hinge joint that are intended to lock into place by pegging into the pelvis. Unlike Jazz however, Sideswipe's back parts do not swivel far enough to be capable of latching onto the pelvis, leaving the instructions impossible and his robot mode unstable.

• More information on Sideswipe at TFU.info

Robots in Disguise (2015)

File:2015 RID Cyberverse Sideswipe.jpg

• Sideswipe (Legion, 2015)

• Sideswipe (One-Step Changer, 2015)

Part of the first wave of the Transformers: Robots in Disguise One-Step Changers, Sideswipe is a simplified toy that transforms in one step. He features articulation in the shoulders, which can swivel outward, forward, and backward. His hands are sculpted to fit 5mm weapons into his hands.

His scannable Autobot insignia is on his robot mode left chestplate. Scanning this in the Robots in Disguise mobile game temporarily unlocks the One-Step Changer Sideswipe figure as a playable character if the player has not permanently unlocked them already. As he's packaged in vehicle mode, there is no way to scan the badge while he's still in-package.

• Sideswipe (Warrior, 2015)

Part of the third wave of Transformers: Robots in Disguise Warrior Class figures.

Merchandise

Tiny Titans

• Sideswipe (Tiny Titans, 2015)
  • Series: 1
  • Number: 5/12

Part of the initial assortment of Tiny Titans, this version of Sideswipe is a very small, soft-plastic figure of him in robot mode. Sold in a blindpacked baggie, he comes with a collectible card with a scan-badge for the mobile game, which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.

Notes

• Sideswipe's model is usable in War for Cybertron multiplayer as the Speedster-type chassis for Scout-class characters. His parts are also available in Fall of Cybertron, now classified as Rogue-type components for the Infiltrator class (although his wheels can also be used by Destroyers).

Foreign names

• Russian: Uppercut (Апперкот Apperkot)