Swindle (G1)


 * Swindle is a Decepticon Combaticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.



Capitalist first, Decepticon second, Swindle is a con-man, an opportunist, a hustler -- or as he would put it, an entrepreneur. Unlike his fellow Combaticons, the Autobot-Decepticon war is to him merely an opportunity for networking, cutting deals, and making profit. He's an expert on all manner of weaponry and their market prices, and he prides himself on being able to sell anything to pretty much anybody. All he needs is a smile.

Swindle can combine with the other Combaticons to form Bruticus.


 * Italian name: Crasher
 * French-Canadian name: Filou
 * Hungarian name: Svindli

Generation 1
The Combaticons first U.S. appearance was unexplained in the American comic, however it may be assumed that they were created in the same way as the Stunticons were (it is possible that they were recruited from Cybertron. See the article on the comic issue Afterdeath for more). The Combaticons joined Megatron on a mission to invade the company 'Energy Futures Industries' in order to steal a hydrothermocline, which the Decepticons wanted to steal for their own energy resources. This mission resulted not only in success for the Decepticons, but also in the death of Autobot leader Optimus Prime, despite Swindle's individual failure in his part of the mission.

Swindle soon accompanied his fellow Decepticons to a new base in Carribean, at which time Megatron disappeared and Shockwave assumed command of the Earth-bound Decepticon.

Swindle (and the other Combaticons) battled Defensor on several occasions, though without great success. He had better success during the Decepticon ambush of the Autobots on the Moon, where the Autobots had gathered to resolve a leadership dispute. Swindle specifically attacked Brawn with his Scatter Blaster, and commented that Brawn was not a great Autobot warrior but he would have a bright future as spare parts. When the combined forces of Blaster and Grimlock managed to pierce the ship's protective force field, Ratbat commanded all Decepticons on the surface of the Moon to return to the ship and retreat.

Swindle also served as part of the 'friendly' staff on the beach of the Decepticons Carribean island, when the Decepticons used the base as a human vacation resort. Swindle was there to serve every need that the humans might require.

Generation 2
Swindle gave Megatron a tour of the Warworld when the Decepticon leader forcibly took command of the Decepticons back from Bludgeon. This ultimately led to a chamber where many new Decepticon bodies awaited, needing the Matrix to give them life.

He is later seen briefly as part of the first wave of defenders when the Warworld was attacked by the next-generation Cybertronians commanded by Jhiaxus after the Autobots and Decepticons had forged an alliance of necessity against said forces. Swindle's fate is not revealed, but considering the Cybertronian troops --led by the traitor Starscream-- killed several Decepticons and ultimately overtook the battleship, it doesn't look too good for Swindle.

Animated continuity

 * Voice Actor: Johnny Haymer (US), Saka Osamu (Japan)

Swindle was originally a Decepticon criminal on Cybertron, who apparently got caught and had his personality component locked in a detention center, where he was stuck for millions of years. He was eventually liberated along with five other prisoners by Starscream, who installed Swindle into an old military jeep found at Guadalcanal on Earth. Starscream dubbed the Decepticons "Combaticons" and ordered them to help him defeat Megatron. While Swindle and the others were not too happy with this, Starscream blackmailed them to do it anyway. The plan eventually failed, and Swindle and the Combaticons were banished to an asteroid along with Starscream.

The Combaticons later escaped the asteroid and attacked Cybertron together as Bruticus. After being defeated again, Swindle and the Combaticons were reprogrammed to be loyal to Megatron.

Megatron next ordered the Combaticons to steal fighter planes by using Middle-Eastern criminals. Swindle was the personal ride of Ali, the thief leader, and led the caravans with parts to Megatron. He later merged with the others to form Bruticus, who was defeated by the Aerialbots.



Bruticus was next defeated by Defensor, and Swindle was the sole survivor of the team. He proceeded to sell the parts of his comrades to various people. Megatron forced him to locate the parts and rebuild the Combaticons, which he eventually did. They then turned into Bruticus, who was defeated and blown away.

Swindle is plainly a team-player.

Late in the year 2006, Swindle was one of several Autobot visitors to the general hospital where Jessica Morgan was being treated for her spine injury (that the Decepticons caused in battle with the Autobots).

Note: The above appearance of Swindle is actually an animation error, unless he was there to steal some medical equipment.

Dreamwave comics continuity
Swindle sided with Starscream when the Seeker tried to usurp command of the Decepticon's from Megatron (what a surprise) shortly after the onset of the Cybertronian civil war. He assisted in the interrogation of Laserbeak instead of joining Shockwave in the assault upon Iacon.

Millions of years later, Swindle, along with his fellow Combaticons, was imprisoned by Shockwave, presumably as war criminals under the terms of the new peace treaty with the Autobots. He was sprung by Starscream after the Nemesis's crew returned to Cybertron, though. Wonder what that cost him. Starscream then brought the inactive Combaticons with him to Earth, and gave them new modes based on deactivated vehicles from a nearby abandoned military testing ground.

When Sunstorm appeared on Earth, the battered Combaticons were ordered by Starscream to combine into Bruticus and deal with the crazed zealot. It did not end well.



The repaired Combaticons were brought to the Guadalcanal where they could hone their somewhat lackluster combat skills and listen to Starscream's long-winded aspirations of glory. When Swindle commented on Starscream's mental state, Brawl agreed, stating that he'd like to pull the Air Commander's Cerebro circuits straight out of his faceplate so they could get a better look at them, to which Swindle suggested a 'deal' for this to happen. Starscream overheard their conversation, and informed the smaller Decepticont that the only 'deal' he needed to worry about was how Starscream would deal with Swindle for his scheming. Starscream nevertheless lets it pass for the moment in order for the Combaticons to test themselves against the magnificent Autobot Sky Lynx. Unfortunately, the Combaticons do not fare well when the crafty Autobot splits into his two forms, with Swindle, Brawl and Onslaught nearly crushed by the Lynx's right paw.

This was the least of their troubles, however, as Predaking showed up as soon as Sky Lynx was deactivated. As the Combaticons closed in on the Predacon combiner, Swindle had trouble keeping up with the rest of the group before they formed Bruticus. This encounter also did not end well.

IDW comics continuity
Shortly prior to the formation of the Decepticons, Swindle was working as a lackey for Megatron during the height of his gladiator period.

In modern times, Swindle was an arms dealer being hunted down by Ultra Magnus. He managed to deal for his freedom 29 stellar cycles ago by selling Magnus information on the whereabouts of Scorponok. Magnus recently caught him again, but it's so far unknown if Swindle managed to bargain for his freedom once again.

Binaltech


The jerk stole Trailbreaker's body.

Generation 1

 * Swindle (Combaticon, 1986)
 * Japanese ID number: D-68




 * Swindle transforms into a tan FMC XR311 combat support vehicle. He features a large, back mounted anti-tank missile launcher with a small laser pistol attached to its side.


 * In robot mode, he is armed with both the smaller pistol and the large missile launcher. Swindle normally operates as Bruticus' right leg, but as a Scramble City-style combiner toy, he can also be used in any other available limb slot.


 * This mold was later redecoed into Operation Combination Leyland, Robots in Disguise Rollbar and Universe Rollbar.

Generation 2

 * Swindle (1994)


 * For the Generation 2 toyline, Swindle had all of his tan parts redecoed red with purple camoflage paint.

Alternators

 * Swindle (2004)
 * Alternator ID number: 8
 * Japanese ID number: BT-09




 * Alternators Swindle transformers into a yellow Jeep Wrangler Sport. He is a retool of Alternators Hound, with a new head, new tires and a new bumper with bullbar. In vehicle mode, his doors open to reveal a realistic interior, his hood opens to reveal a fake (and inaccurate) engine bay, and an opening tailgate. As with Hound, he lacks the steering feature common in other Alternators, but has spring-loaded suspension.


 * In robot mode, Swindle is armed with a small laser pistol stored in his spare tire. He is otherwise mostly identical to Hound except for the changed parts and colour.


 * Swindle's headsculpt, as well as the rest of this tooling, was originally intended to be used for an Alternators version of Trailbreaker, who was cancelled due to trademark issues.


 * The same mold, with the Swindle retoolings, is used by Rollbar.