Sideswipe (G1)


 * Sideswipe is an Autobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.



Sideswipe is not nearly as sociopathic 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. However, Sideswipe is not without his humor. It's long accepted that Sideswipe is the resident prankster of the Ark, along with the occasional prank from Jazz.

Italian name: Freccia Frnech-Canadian name: Frérot Japanese name: Lambor (ra-n-bo-ru, ランボル)

Generation 1 Cartoon
Voice Actor: Michael Bell (US), Kōki Kataoka (Japan)

Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the Ark when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. He awakened along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. Sideswipe loaned Optimus Prime the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of Energon.

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."

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

Generation 1
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.

(Note:Sideswipe appeared several times up until issue 50, when the Underbase-powered Starscream decimated the Autobot and Decepticon armies. Sideswipe was not seen deactivated in the saga but he did not appear again until G2.)

Generation 2
Sideswipe was part of Grimlock's Commando Unit. That unit formed a raiding party facing the Cybertronians. He had a more prominent role in subsequent events then he has had in the past. Sideswipe is present for the last battle against the Swarm, but his final fate is uncertain.

Generation Two Comics (UK)
Sideswipe was part of Jazz's Special Commando Unit.

3H Universe 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 Generation 1 Comics
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 sent against the newly constructed Decepticon battlestation Trypticon. Of course the mission was a failure, but that isn't likely to have discouraged Sideswipe.



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 Ark II and the resurrection of several Transformers under his control via technological tampering.

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.

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. The Autobots survived when Megatron's technovirus absorbed the blast, and Sideswipe helped his comrades recover the captive Autobots imprisoned inside the base.

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, they where smashed between the giant Constructicon's palms for their trouble. After Optimus Prime destroys Devastator's head, the Sideswipe was restrained by the surviving Decepticons. 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 unauthorised nuclear missile launch.

Sideswipe remained on Earth as part of Jazz's unit, while Optimus Prime returned to Shockwave's united Cybertron.

IDW comics continuity
Sideswipe was one of the many Autobots trained by Kup.

Before the war, he appears to have attended illegal underground arena deathmatches alongside Sunstreaker, witnessing Megatron's 54th victory. When Sunstreaker wants to join Megatron's underground fighting team Sideswipe goes along to try and talk him out of it. Whether they stuck around and were caught up in the Autobot Security raid is unknown.

Much to his dismay, he was stationed at Thunderhead Pass guarding Thunderwing's remains instead of on Earth looking for Sunstreaker. His desire to "bust some heads" was granted, however, when Galvatron attacked. Sideswipe blew off part of Galvatron's head, but he recovered almost immediately and knocked Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots offline.

IDW Hearts of Steel continuity
Sideswipe participated in the pursuit of Astrotrain in part 4, and partially transformed from artillery boxcar mode to robot mode in order to shoot down Scourge. He is the only Autobot other than Bumblebee, Prowl, and Ratchet to speak in the whole story, and he only gets one line: "The name is Sideswipe."

Generation 1

 * Sideswipe (Autobot Car, 1984/1985, 2001/2002/2003)
 * Japanese ID number: 04, TFC-07




 * Originally a Diaclone "New Countach LP500S", Sideswipe transforms...well, into that. The original 1984 US release did not have the rubsign found on later releases.


 * 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, CS Sideswipe ended up at Kay-Bee stores, and at heavy discount.


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


 * Sideswipe w/ Vanguard (Action Master, 1991)


 * A non-transforming action figure, Action Master Sideswipe is compatible with any other Action Master weapon or vehicle. His partner-unit Vanguard forms a backpack and battle helmet.

Generation 2

 * Sideswipe (Autobot Heroic, 1993)


 * 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. 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 originally came from a G.I. Joe action figure.


 * Sideswipe (Go-Bot, 1995)


 * A redeco of Go-Bot Firecracker, Sideswipe transforms into a blue Lamborghini Diablo with through-axle construction for super-fast rolling in car mode.


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

Universe

 * Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2003)


 * 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.

Smallest Transformers

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




 * Smallest 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 Transfomers Alert

Alternators

 * Side Swipe (2003, 2004)
 * Alternator ID number: 2
 * Japanese ID number: BT-02




 * 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.

Titanium Series

 * Side Swipe (Robot Master, 2006)


 * Titanium 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.

Attacktix

 * Sideswipe

Trivia

 * 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 "Rambo", which means "reckless, violent, rough". Wouldn't be the last time Takara's done such word puns.


 * 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. The mold used for Sideswipe, on the other hand, was released in Diaclone in both red and yellow decos.


 * The Alternators Dodge Viper mold was originally designed to be a new body for Tracks after the first attempt to secure the Corvette license fell through. However, it was quickly changed to Side Swipe once the licensing with Chevrolet was secured. This explains why, unlike most of the early Alternators toys, Side Swipe's robot mode bears little resemblance his G1 self.