Sideswipe
Sideswipe is a master of nearly every martial arts form on Cybertron! Command this Autobot by clicking your Flag or Closest to you!
Sideswipe is a name used for several Transformers characters. It is sometimes spelled “Side Swipe”, as well. The main character Sideswipe is an Autobot, a member of the “good guys” in the Transformers series, and has been known to transform into a Cobra Stinger, a Dodge Viper and a Lamborghini.
Sideswipe is brave and strong, but often reacts hastily in combat situations. He is nearly as skilled in combat as his twin Sunstreaker, but Sunstreaker is more ruthless. Sideswipe is frequently injured, since he has that impetuous side.
In Marvel Comics’ original Transformers, his role was similar to the one he plays in the animated series, which is an ultra-loyal warrior on the side of Optimus Prime.
Sideswipe was added to the injured list during the hunt for Dinobots. He and Huffer and Bluestreak were assigned to bring in Grimlock the Dinobot. But the party found him mentally ill, and locked in combat with Sludge. Sludge had been sent by the Decepticons. Sideswipe was injured seriously, but he did manage to send out a distress call, to alert Optimus Prime and Prowl.
Sideswipe also appeared in the second generation of comics. He was working under Grimlock and was captured by
Jhiaxus forces. Prime freed him.
In the animated series, Sideswipe was on the first crew on the Ark, as it crash-landed to Earth about four million long years ago. He was awakened in 1984, and often worked together with Sunstreaker.
In 1985, Sideswipe was on a team of Autobots who took the disguise of Stunticons, to penetrate the Decepticon camp. They all were in trouble when the actual Stunticons showed up. Their deception was revealed, but they still managed to thwart the plans of the Decepticons.
In the Transformers movie, you can see the lifeless body of a robot on-screen while Springer tries to maneuver a torpedo launcher in the Battle for Autobot City. Many fans believed this was Sideswipe. But it was not. That was actually Wheeljack, and the character had been colored like Sideswipe by mistake. Sideswipe was not actually in the 2007 movie, and he also does not appear in any TV episodes of Transformers after the movie.
There was originally a scene planned for the movie wherein Sideswipe, along with Tracks and Red Alert, leave Ultra Magnus in order to attack Devastator, but as it turned out, they all fled. Red Alert died after being shot in the back. Fans don’t know if Sideswipe was supposed to be killed in that scene as well.
Sideswipe also appeared in the original two Japanese Transformers: Headmasters episodes, in a shootout with Prowl, the Trainbots and Ultra Magnus against Sixshot and Soundwave. During the ensuing shootout, Sideswipe shoots Frenzy, and foils another Decepticon assault. The Transformers guides that appear in Japanese thus report that the character did indeed survive beyond the 2007 movie.
Sideswipe does appear in the 2009 Transformers movie, and he transforms into a concept Corvette, with two wheeled feet. He has two retractable arm blades when he is in robot mode, and double-barreled machine guns on his wrists, as well as a gun on his back. He was going to be colored red in that movie, but he actually ended up being silver. Hasbro lists in his bio that he is about fifteen feet tall, and a master of nearly every martial arts form on Cybertron.
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