Air Raid (Transformers)

Air Raid is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series. Hasbro has registered the name Air Raid for Trademark in the U.S.[1]

Transformers: Generation 1

Air Raid
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Aerialbots, Cyberjets, Legends, Scouts
Function Warrior
Rank 5
Partner Silverbolt, Skydive, Fireflight, Slingshot, Blades
Motto "If you look first, you may not leap."
Alternate modes F-15 Eagle, F-117 Nighthawk, Antonov An-225, F-22 Raptor
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Generation 2
Transformers: Universe
English voice actor Rob Paulsen

Air Raid is the most fearless of the Aerialbots and likes having fun. He carries air-to-air heat-seeking missiles and uses a torque rifle He combines with his fellow Aerialbots to form Superion.[2] Can has been known to form part of Cybertron Super Scramble, Galvatronus and Super Strong Metroplex.

Hasbro registered the name Air Raid for U.S. Trademark in October 2003.[3]

Animated series

The Aerialbots were created on Cybertron around the same time as the Stunticons as a countermeasure to the new Decepticon car team. They are the Autobots' first combiner team, and when merged to form Superion, also considered their strongest combiner. Unlike the Decepticons' combiner team the Constructicons, their configuration consists of five transformers instead of six, known as Scramble City in Japan.

Their first appearance comes in the two-parter Key to Vector Sigma, pts. 1 & 2. They were created to combat the Stunticons. During the fight, the Autobots were badly overpowered by the Stunticons when the newly formed Aerialbots arrived and battled them. The Stunticons were no match for the Aerialbots and their aeroplane alternate-modes, but once they merged and formed the Decepticon Menasor, things got out of hand. However, the Aerialbots had their own combination, soon they too formed their own combiner, Superion, to combat Menasor. The two battled, but Menasor began to take the upper hand. Menasor was about to land a fatal blow to the Autobot when Omega Supreme arrived, and helped Superion to defeat him, forcing the Stunticons and the Decepticons to retreat.

The Aerialbots and Stunticons squared-off again, later in the episode Cosmic Rust, where Superion defeated Menasor in a Combiner vs. Combiner rivalry.

Later on, in the episode War Dawn, they were sent back in time 9 million years ago by the Decepticons in an attempt to lose the Aerialbots forever in the dawn of time. At first, they question the motives of the Autobots. But after a series of events, and seeing Megatron's cruelty in the past, they witnessed death of a young Autobot named Orion Pax, who was rebuilt by Alpha Trion as their leader, Optimus Prime. They become convinced, and finally accept the ways of the Autobots.

In the episode The Rebirth Part 1, the Aerialbots are put into stasis lock by the Decepticon Sixshot. As the Decepticons arrive and invade Cybertron, they encounter the Aerialbots, who are patrolling the planet. Galvatron orders Sixshot to deal with them, and he easily takes down each of the five Autobots using a different alternate mode. Using the Aerialbots' parts and components, the Decepticons were then able to construct a super engine to move the planet Cybertron.

Air Raid also appeared in several episodes of the Japanese exclusive Headmasters series. He first appeared in episode #1, "Four Warriors Come Out of the Sky", and last appeared in episode 13, "Head On, Fortress Maximus". This was his last animated appearance.

Books

The Aerialbots appeared in the 1986 story book Galvatron's Air Attack by Ladybird Books.[4]

Comics

Dreamwave Productions

Unlike previous interpretations of the Generation 1 Air Raid, Dreamwave comics had all the Aerialbots being made on Cybertron before the Autobots came to Earth. They were one of several teams that used the combiner technology first used to create Devastator to make their own combined form.

The Aerialbots came to be among the Autobots on Earth in the 1980s and gained the forms of Earth-style jets.

Upon the awakening of Optimus Prime in Dreamwave's first Generation 1 mini-series, the Aerialbots were among the Autobots summoned by Optimus to rescue the remaining Autobots, who had been turned into mind-controlled weapons of mass destruction by a human arms dealer. During a subsequent battle with the Decepticons in San Francisco, the Aerialbots, merged into Superion, sacrificed themselves to stop an incoming nuclear missile, launched by rogue elements in the US military to eradicate both factions of Cybertronians in one fell swoop.

Later, it was revealed that parts of Superion, including his head, were recovered by the faction of the US government that also recovered Scourge. Hinting that they were possibly trying to rebuild him.

Marvel Comics

Air Raid and the other Aerialbots were created on Earth by Wheeljack and given life by Optimus Prime using the Matrix.

Beachcomber, Blaster, Cosmos, Perceptor, Powerglide, Seaspray and Warpath were part of an Autobot team on Cybertron in the Earth year 1986. They battled the Decepticons led by Straxus over the Space Bridge and the Autobots were stranded on Earth (Transformers #18).

They were then captured by Circuit Breaker and her Rapid Anti-Robot Attack Team, She then took them to her laboratory and dismantled them for study. (Transformers #21-22).

Circuit Breaker leads a giant Autobot she created from parts of other Autobots against the Decepticon Battlechargers in Marvel's Transformers comics.Circuit Breaker then captured Autobots Air Raid, Fireflight, Silverbolt, Skids, Skydive and Slingshot. Using the parts from all the captured Autobots she created a giant Autobot with herself in control, striking a deal with them that if they would cooperate she would let them go. Circuit Breaker then used them to attack the Decepticon Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck who were attacking the Statue of Liberty. After defeating the Decepticons with Circuit Breaker the Autobots were released (Transformers #23).

When Starscream returns to Earth after absorbing the powers of the Underbase, the Aerialbots were amongst those in New York first to attack... and also amongst the first to fall in battle.

Toys

Turns from robot to plane. Comes with a handgun for robot mode.[5]
The original toy is repainted as Air Raid again in 1994. He is now mainly blue and white.[6] He retains his original function, motto and bio. Although Air Raid did appear in the Marvel Generation 2 comic, he appeared in his original colors.
In 1995 Hasbro seemed to realize that classic characters sold better than new ones, so they repainted the Decepticon Cyberjet Skyjack slightly making it new for the Autobot Air Raid, giving it nearly the same bio, mottos and function as the original Generation 1 character. This version of Air Raid turned into a stealth bomber. This toy was redecoed into Robot Masters Delta Seeker.
In 2004 Air Raid made his way into Transformers: Universe line for the first time, a blue repaint of his Generation 2 Cyberjet form. He came packaged with Universe Windsheer, a Decepticon Cyberjet. Although no bio or fiction was ever presented for his Air Raid, most fans assume it is the same as the Generation 2 Cyberjet because he has the same name and mold.
Air Raid is a redeco of Cybertron Legends Jetfire. Packed in a 5-pack, a Target store exclusive with the Autobots Blades and Skydive.
Leaked pictures first made it to the internet of a recolor of the Energon Air Team done in the colors of the Generation 1 Aerialbots.[7] Although initially sold as a Universe toy in other countries, in the U.S. it was repackaged a Revenge of the Fallen toy.

Transformers: Energon

Although released under the name Treadshot by Hasbro, this member of the Energon Aerialbot team was called Air Raider in Japan, and his black colors seemed to make him a clear homage to Generation 1 Air Raid. Treadshot combines with his fellow Aerialbots to form Superion Maximus.

Energon Treadshot was repackaged for Universe, with no changes to the toy.

Transformers: Universe

Air Raid
Autobot/Decepticon
Information
Sub-group Aerialbots, Micromasters
Function Tactical Officer
Alternate modes B-1 Lancer
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Cybertron
Transformers: Universe

The name Air Raid was used on a Micromaster combiner as part of the Aerialbot group. This toy is a repaint of the Japanese exclusive Micromaster Missile Run, and somes with the waist of Superion.

However, because of a lack of a bio on the card packaging or from Hasbro themselves, it is not known whether this Air Raid is a previous character or a new character. The original Air Raid was part of the Aerialbots however there is already an Air Raid in this toyline. Air Raid did not appear in any fiction.

Missile Run's Japanese tech spec says he's a schemer and the team's tactical officer. He has high-performance stealth abilities. With his strategical instructions he can provide more precise orders than the team leader, Chaingun. Harbors a strong rivalry with Diego of the Six-Liner Team.

According to the story for Berserker Sixwing, a computer virus briefly turned the Sixwing team into Decepticons.

Toys

A reissue of Missile Run as a Decepticon.
A white redeco of Missile Run as a Decepticon.
Micromaster Air Raid was released in Cybertron packaging in European countries, as they didn't have the Universe line.

Transformers

Air Raid
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Scouts, Deluxe Vehicles, Science Division
Function Scout, Criminal Hunter, Warrior, Air Warrior
Alternate modes Cybertronian Jet, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, Boeing E-767
Series Transformers
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
English voice actor Rick D. Wasserman (2011 video game)

Air Raid's 2007 biography paints him as a criminal hunter who tracks Decepticons. The same name was then given to another Autobot jet in the 2009 movie toy line. It is unknown if this is supposed to be the same character. This new version of Air Raid turns into a more Earth-style jet and combined with his fellow Aerialbots to form Superion.

IDW Publishing

Air Raid appeared in Transformers: Defiance #2 as a member of the science division under Optimus. When Optimus was pronounced a traitor by Megatron Air Raid sided with Optimus.

In Reign of Starscream issue #2 the Decepticon Starscream barely made it to the Nemesis on Mars before he ran out of power. His return was noted by the Autobot Cosmos, who alerted Arcee, Cliffjumper, Smokescreen, Camshaft and Air Raid. Aided by Thundercracker on the Nemesis Starscream recovered and sent the information Frenzy had gathered back to Cybertron just as Hardtop spotted the Autobots closing on the Nemesis. In issue #4 he was shot down by Thundercracker. When Smokescreen attempted to rescue Air Raid they were both shot by Starscream.

Toys

A redeco of Energon Skyblast. Oddly the picture of Air Raid used for promotions for the toy box was of a prototype of the toy with different feet. This toy was a Target store exclusive.[8]
A redeco of the Energon toy of the same name. Packaged together with his fellow Aerialbots. Together they form Superion. This toy is identical to the Universe version of the toy, also released in 2009.
A Takara Tomy Japan exclusive[9] silver/red redeco of Deluxe Breakaway from the Revenge of the Fallen toy line with a different head sculpt.[10]
An all-new mold, this incarnation of Air Raid transforms into a green AWACS plane. His transforming Mech Tech weapon is a radar dish that serves as a shield in robot mode, and can morph into a blaster.[11]

Transformers: Prime

Air Raid
Autobot
Information
Sub-group Autobots, Aerialbots, Scouts
Function Scout, Air Warrior, Warrior
Rank 5
Partner Silverbolt, Jetfire, Sideswipe, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee
Alternate modes Cybertronian jet, Cybertronian mobile artillery
Series Transformers: Generations
English voice actor Liam O'Brien

Fictional biography

Not even the long war for Cybertron has robbed Air Raid of the joy he takes in simply hovering around, enjoying the scenery. He's a terrible gunner - distracted as he is by the natural beauty of the world around him - but he makes up for it by filling the air with flak, making it impossible for enemy aircraft to advance.

Games

Air Raid is one of the playable Autobots in the 2010 video game Transformers: War for Cybertron. In the Autobot campaign, he helps Optimus and his team escape execution in the Decepticon prison of Kaon as part of their plan to free Zeta Prime and all imprisoned Autobots. Later, he joins Jetfire and Silverbolt in flying over Cybertron's orbit to take down the Decepticon satellite Trypticon, which is preventing Autobot transport ships from leaving the dying planet. The aerial trio enter Trypticon and destroy his cooling systems and pulse regulator, disabling his main weapon. Unfortunately, the attacks are not enough to disable Trypticon, so they enter his core and destroy his transformation cog, forcing him to revert into his true form. Forced to transform into dinosaur mode, Trypticon sets a course toward the Autobot city of Iacon with the intent of decimating it, but the Autobot trio destroy his flight pack, sending him crashing into the planet. This leaves Optimus Prime and his ground-based team with the task of finishing off Trypticon before he lays further waste on Iacon.

Air Raid later appears in Transformers: Fall of Cybertron assisting Jetfire and Silverbolt in defending the Ark in the final chapter of the game.

Toys

A remold of Generations Deluxe Shockwave. Comes with two swords and a gun.
This toy was originally solicited as Fireflight, and while the name changed, he is still molded and has a biography similar to Generation 1 Fireflight.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tfarchive.com/toys/trademarks/g1_trademarks_part_4.php#air_raid
  2. ↑ Air Raid (Autobot Aerialbots, Transformers G1)
  3. ↑ Seibertron.com - Hasbro Registers Names
  4. ↑ Galvatron's Air Attack. Ladybird Books. 1986. ISBN 0-7214-0988-1.
  5. ↑ Aerialbot: Air Raid
  6. ↑ Brereton, Erin (2006). Transformers: The Fantasy, The Fun, The Future. Triumph Books. p. 22. ISBN 1-57243-983-1.
  7. ↑ http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/universe-superion-maximus-repaint-/13817/
  8. ↑ Air Raid (Scout-class) | CollectionDX
  9. ↑ TFW2005.com - Dark of the Moon Air Raid In-Hand Images
  10. ↑ TFW2005.com - Deluxe Air Raid
  11. ↑ Hasbro.com - Dark of the Moon Mech Tech Deluxe Class Air Raid
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