Swerve (Transformers)
Encyclopedia
Swerve is the name given to several fictional characters in the Transformers universes
. Swerve is always depicted as an Autobot land vehicle with red color. Up until 2008, there has never been a Transformer named Swerve with his own original mold - he has only been a repaint or remold from someone else but the running theme of him being red in color continues. The only original Transformer figure given the name Swerve was a Chevrolet Aveo given away as a promotional item for General Motors
.
Swerve's (Japanese name: Wave) first appearance was during 1986 where he was a Mini-Bot with an SUV mode - a remold of Gears
. His bio characterized him as a typical absent minded scientist and one of the strongest characters.
Trypticon
but unfortunately gets stepped on.
His second and last appearance in the cartoon was during episode #76 "Thief In The Night".
's defeat.
. He is now partnered to the Mini-Con
Roadhandler. It is not known if he is an original character, or possibly related to Generation 1 Swerve or Armada Blurr.
Early information about this character out of China in April 2004 referred to this character as Blurr.
and freed in a massive prison break by Optimus Primal
and his allies.
television series, but he's never been named, and he's not an exact match for color.
, Excellion
, Longrack
, and Swerve appear among Override's troops in the Transformers Collectors Club exclusive story The Dark Heart of Sandokan by Benson Yee. This story is set years after the events of the Transformers: Cybertron animated series. Override (now in her GTS form) is commanding the Autobot ship Star Arrow when it crashes on the planet Sandokan
while transporting a Force Chip.
Swerve is a minor background character appearing in Fun Publications
fiction Gone Too Far a text-based story set on Transtech
Cybertron
. During a rally held by the Decepticon Gutcruncher, Swerve is briefly address when Gutcruncher says "Swerve! You were a champion of Velocitron’s most dangerous races, but here you’re a freak in a cage!"
.
sedan. Hasbro produced the figure at cost for General Motors
as thanks for their successful partnership with the movie franchise. It was designed for a promotional campaign in European markets, with the figures given away to people who test-drove a real Aveo. The figures were never meant to be sold; a handful were left after the promotion had ended, and so they were shunted onto the website where these last few remainders very quickly sold out. This information was revealed by Hasbro executives at BotCon
2008.
However, this figure is currently being given away at malls across the Greater Toronto Area as a promotion for GM's new contest. Upon entering, this is one of the items given as a free thank you gift.
Transformers universes
is an entertainment franchise. It began with the Hasbro Transformers toy line, centered on two factions of warring alien robots which are called the Autobots and the Decepticons...
. Swerve is always depicted as an Autobot land vehicle with red color. Up until 2008, there has never been a Transformer named Swerve with his own original mold - he has only been a repaint or remold from someone else but the running theme of him being red in color continues. The only original Transformer figure given the name Swerve was a Chevrolet Aveo given away as a promotional item for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
Transformers: Generation 1
| Transformers character | |
| Swerve | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Autobot. |
| Sub-Group | Mini-Bot Alternators |
| Rank | 5 |
| Function | scientist,fighter |
| Partner | Tailgate, Pipes, Bumblebee, and Outback |
| Motto | "You don't want to me to out-think or fight you do you?." |
| Alternate mode | Truck Car |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Alternators |
Swerve's (Japanese name: Wave) first appearance was during 1986 where he was a Mini-Bot with an SUV mode - a remold of Gears
Gears (Transformers)
-Transformers: Generation 1:Gears is anti-social, a self-proclaimed misfit. His tech spec indicated he acted this way to cheer others up as they attempted to cheer him up. However, his portrayal in the animated series indicated he tended to annoy his comrades with his constant complaining...
. His bio characterized him as a typical absent minded scientist and one of the strongest characters.
Animated series
As with most Mini-Bots released during that year, Swerve's first appearance in the original cartoon was during the fifth part of "Five Faces of Darkness" (episode #70) where he helped his fellow Mini-Bots defend the Ark against the gigantic DecepticonDecepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
Trypticon
Trypticon
Trypticon is a fictional character in the Transformers toyline.-Transformers: Generation 1:Trypticon is the Decepticons' principal command base. He has three modes: a city, a mobile battle station, and a Tyrannosaurus rex. In each mode, he has a variety of weapons...
but unfortunately gets stepped on.
His second and last appearance in the cartoon was during episode #76 "Thief In The Night".
Dreamwave Productions
Swerve later made a cameo appearance in Dreamwave's War and Peace #3 - "Cold War" and later G1 #2 - "Black Sunshine" as one of the Mini-Bots being trained after ShockwaveShockwave (Transformers)
Shockwave is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Throughout his incarnations, he is usually distinguished by a laser cannon in lieu of one of his hands and his distinctive face, which is featureless save a single robotic eye...
's defeat.
Toys
- Generation 1 Swerve (1986)
- A remold of the Autobot Gears.
- Alternators Swerve (Chevrolet Corvette Z06) (2005)
- Swerve made another appearance as the fifteenth AlternatorTransformers: Alternatorsis a toyline of the Transformers series produced by Hasbro in North America, Europe and Takara in Japan, the primary selling point of which is the use of 1:24 scale, accurate real-world vehicle modes officially licensed from car manufacturers...
, where he was a red redeco of the Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06The Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 is a high-performance version of the C5 Corvette sports car. Introduced by Chevrolet as their corporate and performance flagship, production began in 2001 and ended with the 2004 model year.-General:...
TracksTracks (Transformers)Tracks is a character in the Transformers Universes. The name is now too generic to license in recent times; so the toys creator, Hasbro had to add a "modifier" - a prefix to the name in order to use it on their product, in this case the name became "Autobot Tracks" or "Turbo...
with a new head sculpt. Unlike most Alternators, Swerve did not make an appearance in the Japanese equivalent, Binaltech. Again, thanks to HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
's lack of characterization, it is not known how this upgrade has affected Swerve or even why he became an Alternator in the storyline. - Because Swerve is a red redeco of Tracks, he bears a resemblance to Road Rage, the name of a Japanese exclusive red repaint of Generation 1 Tracks.
Transformers: Universe (2004)
Swerve reappeared with great surprise to many during 2004 as a red repaint of the Armada Autobot BlurrBlurr
Blurr is the name given to five different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He frequently appears as a blue Autobot who transforms into a swift car...
. He is now partnered to the Mini-Con
Mini-Con
Mini-Cons are a human-sized race and faction of power-enhancing transforming robots in the Transformers: Armada universe and its sequels, one of the assorted universes in Transformers fiction...
Roadhandler. It is not known if he is an original character, or possibly related to Generation 1 Swerve or Armada Blurr.
Early information about this character out of China in April 2004 referred to this character as Blurr.
3H Enterprises
Swerve single appearance in any fiction was in Transformers: Universe #2 by 3H Enterprises. He was among the Transformers captured by UnicronUnicron
Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universe and toyline. Created by Floro Dery, he was introduced in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie as the film's main antagonist. Unicron is a prodigiously large robot whose scale reaches planetary proportions, and he is also...
and freed in a massive prison break by Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal
Optimus Primal is a fictional character from the Transformers toyline, and the leader of the Maximal forces and the main protagonist in the Beast Wars television series. He is sometimes called Optimal Optimus...
and his allies.
Animated series
Oddly enough, a car similar to Universe Swerve has made cameos in the Transformers: CybertronTransformers: Cybertron
Transformers: Cybertron, known in Japan originally as , is the 2005-2007 Transformers toy line and animated series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara...
television series, but he's never been named, and he's not an exact match for color.
Toys
- Universe Swerve with Roadhandler (2004)
- A redeco of Armada BlurrBlurrBlurr is the name given to five different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He frequently appears as a blue Autobot who transforms into a swift car...
with Incinerator.
Transformers: Cybertron
This Swerve is nothing like the original as his biography describes him as a highly competitive racing robot. Unfortunately he is too competitive. After being banned, he got involved in underground street racing, where he feels right at home.Fun Publications
BlurrBlurr
Blurr is the name given to five different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He frequently appears as a blue Autobot who transforms into a swift car...
, Excellion
Excellion
Excellion is a fictional character from the Transformers: Cybertron series.-Transformers: Cybertron:An outsider among the Autobots because of his brooding attitude, Excellion is one of the very few Autobot warriors who the Decepticons think of with any respect, but that respect is earned...
, Longrack
Longrack
Longrack is the name of several fictional characters from Transformers series.-Beast Wars Neo:Longrack is the gabby, annoying class committee member of the group. He is quite serious about following rules to the letter, and will butt in and aggressively complain to others about it. His Arm Shot...
, and Swerve appear among Override's troops in the Transformers Collectors Club exclusive story The Dark Heart of Sandokan by Benson Yee. This story is set years after the events of the Transformers: Cybertron animated series. Override (now in her GTS form) is commanding the Autobot ship Star Arrow when it crashes on the planet Sandokan
Sandokan
Sandokan is a fictional pirate of the late 19th century, who first appeared in publication in 1883, created by Italian author Emilio Salgari. He is the protagonist of eleven adventure novels and is known throughout the South China Sea as "The Tiger of Malaysia".-Sandokan novels:Emilio Salgari...
while transporting a Force Chip.
Swerve is a minor background character appearing in Fun Publications
Fun Publications
Fun Publications is a publishing company that runs the Transformers Collectors Club and G.I. Joe Collectors Club under licensefrom Hasbro. Besides releasing comics, Fun Publications releases exclusive toys and runs conventions for their clubs....
fiction Gone Too Far a text-based story set on Transtech
Transtech
Transtech is an unreleased line of toys under the Transformers umbrella.-History:After the Beast Machines line ended, Hasbro planned a follow-up series called Transtech. The Transtech concept was a line intended to take Transformers to their most futuristic looking bodies and more plausible designs...
Cybertron
Cybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
. During a rally held by the Decepticon Gutcruncher, Swerve is briefly address when Gutcruncher says "Swerve! You were a champion of Velocitron’s most dangerous races, but here you’re a freak in a cage!"
Toys
- Cybertron Scout Swerve (2006)
- In 2006, a new character with the name Swerve was released as a Hasbro-only redeco of the Scout class toy Clocker.
- In 2006 a special edition of Swerve was available in Walmart stores which contained a DVD with the episode "Cybertron" as a promotional item - despite the fact that he wasn't in that episode. His color scheme, combinded with Clocker's design resemble the original WindchargerWindchargerWindcharger is a fictional character and was one of the original toys in the Transformers line when Hasbro started producing them in 1984.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
character.
Transformers
Swerve was released in the Transformers movie card game and Revenge of the Fallen toy line.Toys
All toys of this character are officially licensed from General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
- Transformers 3D Battle Card Swerve (2007)
- Swerve is among the characters which appeared in the Transformers 3D Battle card game by Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
. He is a red redeco of movie Sideswipe, much like the toy of Sideswipe in the movie toy line. Oddly, there is a card for Sideswipe that greatly resembles the Alternators Swerve toy. It is possible the images of the two character somehow were swapped.- Revenge of the Fallen Legends Swerve (2009)
- A red redeco of Legends Sideswipe. Bundled in the TargetTarget CorporationTarget Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
exclusive Legends Class "Straightaway Shootout" gift set.- Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Swerve (2009)
- A red redeco of Deluxe Sideswipe with a different head sculpt. Like Sideswipe, Swerve features retractable blades on his forearms. MechAlive feature consists of moving hydraulics on his legs.
Transformers: Universe (2008)
A new mold that transforms into a Chevrolet AveoDaewoo Kalos
The Chevrolet Aveo is the first generation of the Chevrolet Aveo, a subcompact automobile manufactured since 2002 by GM Daewoo, the South Korean subsidiary of General Motors — originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos and prominently marketed as the Aveo...
sedan. Hasbro produced the figure at cost for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
as thanks for their successful partnership with the movie franchise. It was designed for a promotional campaign in European markets, with the figures given away to people who test-drove a real Aveo. The figures were never meant to be sold; a handful were left after the promotion had ended, and so they were shunted onto the website where these last few remainders very quickly sold out. This information was revealed by Hasbro executives at BotCon
BotCon
BotCon, briefly known as "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention" , is an annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. BotCon has been held annually since 1994...
2008.
However, this figure is currently being given away at malls across the Greater Toronto Area as a promotion for GM's new contest. Upon entering, this is one of the items given as a free thank you gift.
Toys
- Universe Deluxe Swerve (2008)
- This toy was initially given away in Europe to people who test-drove the real Chevrolet Aveo, then the leftover stock was sold at European Chevy dealers online.