Sideways (Transformers)

Sideways is the name of two or three Transformers characters, featured in Robots in Disguise, Armada and Cybertron.

Sideways is a gleeful troublemaker, for whom chaos is its own reward. Though he has a deeper agenda than most suspect, that never stops him from having a little fun now and again, usually at the expense of some hapless Autobot. Catching someone as unimaginative and artless as Red Alert in his schemes is a bit of luck for the nefarious trickster

Transformers: Robots in Disguise
The Transformers: Robots in Disguise character known as Sideways was an Autobot scout who transforms into a motorcycle. He never appeared on the television show. His Tech specs described him as a mysterious ninja who wishes to defeat the Decepticons quickly.

Transformers: Armada


In Transformers: Armada, Sideways arrived on Earth claiming to be a drifter. Taking the form of a motorcycle, he initially sided with the Autobots. However, Sideways showed his true colours by siding with Megatron and the Decepticons, and in the process allowed the villains to claim the Star Saber. An enigmatic figure, he was allied with two Mini-Cons named Crosswise and Rook, who in reality, were extensions of himself and became his two individual heads.

Overtime, it became apparent that Sideways served a higher power, as he surreptitiously manipulated and sabotaged battles, creating dissent in the Decepticon ranks, and always ensuring that the balance of power between the two factions was perpetually shifting.

When Megatron learned of his treachery, he and the other Decepticons attacked him, resulting in Megatron slicing him to pieces with the Star Saber. All were stunned when Sideways' body dissolved into energy and reformed, cackling that he could never be destroyed. Sideways proceeded to form a deal with Thrust, Megatron's lieutenant, and alerted the Autobots' human allies to the existence of the Requiem Blaster, setting in motion a chain of events which eventually culminated with the Decepticons in possession of all three Mini-con weapons, heading back to Cybertron. Before long, Thrust absconded with the Requiem Blaster and the Skyboom Shield, delivering them to Sideways within Cybertron's moon, which was in actuality the disguised form of Sideways' master, the monstrous Unicron. Sideways proceeded to steal the Star Saber, the third key needed to reactivate Unicron, and the behemoth was brought to life.

Unicron turned on Cybertron, cutting a swathe of destruction through the combined Autobot/Decepticon armada as Megatron (now Galvatron) and Optimus Prime confronted Sideways within his body and learned the truth - that Sideways was one of Unicron's creations. Unicron, speaking through Sideways' body, attempted to coerce Optimus to his side, while Unicron's body absorbed the others. However, When Rad was able to reawaken the Mini-Cons (who Unicron had regained control of), they managed to break free, deactivating Unicron in the process. Enraged, Sideways attempted to kill his 'siblings' for doing this, only to be fatally wounded by Optimus Prime, wielding the Requiem Blaster.

Sideways would return, under his Japanese name of Doubleface, in the Japanese Transformers line, Transformers: Robot Masters.

The Energon toyline used this same character as a re-deco under the name of Rapid Run.

Transformers: Cybertron


In Transformers: Cybertron, Sideways is a Transformer who hails from the mysterious world known as Planet X. Arriving in the midst of a battle over the starship Atlantis, he turned on both the Autobots and Decepticons. When next he appeared, he had allied himself with the Decepticons, and manipulated both factions into coming to Jungle Planet. Despite erratic behavior where he turned both sides against each other, he had an interest in the four Cyber Planet Keys, and seemed to be working towards getting one group to possess them.

When he calls out to his Cyber Key, not only does it activate his weapons, but change his allegiance as well (like back in Armada)!

He found his opportunity, and sided with the traitorous Starscream, who, after two Planet Keys were found, conspired against Megatron. Trapping his former commander, Starscream unleased an army of ancient Decepticons sealed away on Earth, beginning a campaign to find the Autobots, as well as Earth's Planet Key. Sideways would aid him, but it would ultimately be Starscream who stole the Omega Lock and the 3 keys, using their power to grow to gigantic size.

Sideways would remain Starscream's partner, all the while trying to desperately work towards an objective.

In later episodes, this objective would be revealed - he was working with another Transformer from his home planet, Soundwave. The two wanted to collect the Planet Keys so that they would be able to get revenge on the Transformers of the planet Gigantion. Planet X's populace attempted to conquer Gigantion, but instead, their ultimate weapon overloaded and destroyed Planet X and its inhabitants.

Once on Gigantion and reunited with Soundwave, Sideways left Starscream's circle, and joined up with his comrade. They would try and steal the Planet Keys, but found their effort compromised when the Omega Lock and all four Keys were stolen by Galvatron (formerly Megatron). They attempted to take it for themselves, in order to keep them from being destroyed, but ended up being caught up in the battle's climax, which drew them into a warp with Starscream, sealing them away in another reality.

Sideways and Soundwave would be seen when Starscream contacted Galvatron across the dimensional divide, taunting him for his weakness. Curiously, the ending credits of Galaxy Force show them, freed from their dimensional exile and with their restored planet, but this may not have actually happened.

According to the Official Transformers Web-Site's "Ask Vector Prime" segment, this version of Sideways is supposed to be a resurrection of the Armada character. The Club Comic and Planet X package bio further add details to the concept of Planet X, citing that they were originally from a planet that was destroyed by Gigantion and now use the codename "Planet X" to refer to their alligience to Unicron. Sideways and Soundwave are cited as having made a pact with Unicron millions of years ago for enough power to avenge the death of their civilization. Although their agenda is to collect the keys and avenge their world, they can never stray far from their task of reviving Unicron. In the animated series, Sideways seems to go unnoticed by most, but the club comic has explained this away as memory issues due to the time stream being affected by the black hole. In the club comic, Soundwave succeeds in reviving Unicron by tossing Nemesis Prime's Dead Matrix into the black hole. In conclusion, despite obstinate fans feeling entitled to control the continuity recognized in a series, Sideways is officially the same character as featured in Armada, and his agenda for actually being in Armada is explained in the Planet X packaging bio.

Critical Path Pack
In 2006 a Target store exclusive 2 pack called the Critical Path Pack included Cybertron Sideways and Red Alert.

Sideways is a gleeful troublemaker, for whom chaos is its own reward. Though he has a deeper agenda than most suspect, that never stops him from having a little fun now and again, usually at the expense of some hapless AUTOBOT. Catching someone as unimaginative and artless as RED ALERT in his schemes is a bit of luck for the nefarious trickster.