Silverbolt

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Silverbolt is the name of six different fictional characters from the Transformers series. The first character named Silvebolt was introduced in 1986 and was leader of the Aerialbots, a team of heroic robots who turned into jets. He used his devotion to his troops to overcome his personal fear of heights. This character was voiced by Charlie Adler in the animated Transformers series. The second Silverbolt was introduced in the Transformers sequel Beast Wars, as somewhat comedic hero who turned into a combination of wolf and eagle. He was voiced by Scott McNeil in the Beast Wars TV series. Other minor characters in Transformers have also been given the name Silverbolt, all of them heroic Autobot jets.

Transformers: Generation 1

Silverbolt
Transformers character
Silverbolt-combinerwars-box.jpg
Generations Combiner Wars Voyager Silverbolt in box
Created by

Hasbro
Voiced by

Charlie Adler (English)
Tomomichi Nishimura (Japanese)
Information
Species Transformer
Abilities

Affiliation

Autobot, Maximal
Alternate mode

Concorde supersonic transport/Launch Ramp, Sukhoi Su-37, giant bald eagle, XB-70 Valkyrie
Function

Aerialbot Commander
Motto

"Don’t look down, look straight ahead!"
"On a wing and a prayer."
Partner

Air Raid, Airazor, Fireflight, Hot Zone, Ironhide, Prowl, Scattorshot, Skydive, Slingshot
Series

Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Generation 2
Beast Wars
Transformers: Universe
Transformers: Henkei
Transformers: Generations
Unite Warriors
Sub-group

Aerialbots, Basic Beasts, Deluxe Vehicles, Micro Vehicles, Ultra Vehicles, Voyagers
Tech specs

ST06 IN08 SP09 EN08

RN08 CO08 FB08 SK05

Silverbolt is the largest of the five Autobot-allied Aerialbots. Often portrayed as a combiner, he usually forms the head and torso of Superion. [1] Silverbolt has been know to form part of Magnaboss.

Fictional biography

Profile: Silverbolt is scared of heights. It is this one trait, above all else, that determines the rest of his behavior. He projects the image of a brave, grimly determined warrior, befitting his role as Aerialbot Commander. In truth, he is just that. But it is a constant struggle for him to maintain this persona, to never falter or show any sign of emotional weakness to those he leads. Helped by the sleek, aerodynamic jet form that makes him appear to be a natural-born flyer, Silverbolt knows that everything about him belies even a hint of the existence of his phobia. And, in fact, no one is aware he has this problem, except Optimus Prime. It is for that reason the Autobot Commander selected Silverbolt to lead the Aerialbots - Optimus figured if Silverbolt felt responsible for the welfare of others, he'd have less time to worry about himself. Given that Silverbolt is an excellent leader, Optimus was right.

Abilities: In jet mode, Silverbolt can reach Mach 1.9 and has a range of 4500 miles. He carries on his underside an electrostatic battery, which allows him to strip electrons from air molecules as he's flying and store them. He can then direct this stored charge through his nose cone as a powerful bolt of electricity. He's capable of storing and releasing up to 150,000 volts at a time. He's especially effective in lightning storms, due to their abundance of charged particles. He carries an electrostatic discharger rifle in robot mode that has the same capability. He combines with the other Aerialbots to form the giant robot known as Superion.

Weaknesses: As long as Silverbolt is busy leading or fighting, he's fine, but when he's simply flying, particularly by himself, his fear of heights begins to manifest itself. The effect can be devastating; he might start flying wildly, go into a tailspin or even crash.

Animated series

Silverbolt

In The Transformers series Silverbolt was recreated from a "low-flying transport" (which is ironic because the Concorde was designed for high-altitude travel), which is believed to be the cause of his fear of heights. He was given life by Vector Sigma and Alpha Trion with the other Aerialbots to combat their Decepticon counterparts, the Stunticons. However, after defeating Menasor, Megatron escaped with the Decepticons' latest superweapon, forcing Silverbolt to confront his fear of heights to chase him down. He is a very level-headed robot that uses common sense and compassion to make his decisions, which later led Optimus Prime to name him the Aerialbots' leader.

Despite his fear of flight and being less adventurous then the other Aerialbots, he proved to be a great leader. He was able to lead the Aerialbots to many victories against the Decepticons and other combiners, like defeating Menasor again ("Cosmic Rust"), stopping the Combaticons from controlling the eastern oil fields ("Aerial Assault"), saving Rodimus Prime and the others from Quintessa ("Five Faces of Darkness"), fought with Scourge and Cyclonus ("Fight or Flee"), blast Trypticon from the inside ("The Ultimate Weapon"), and was badly damage while spying on the Junkions.

In the three part season 4 episode, "The Rebirth", the Aerialbots were among those who tried to stop the Decepticons on Cybertron. However, Galvatron ordered Sixshot to take them out. He did so, using each of his alternate modes to defeat the entire team. The Decepticons then scavenged their parts to construct a super engine to move the planet Cybertron. It is unknown if they survived or not, though one does appear jumping up and down with Bumblebee indicating that they might have survived.

Books

The Aerialbots appeared in the 1986 story book Galvatron's Air Attack by Ladybird Books. [2]

Comics

3H Enterprises

The first Beast Wars Silverbolt made appearance in Transformers: Universe #3 as part of Magnaboss. In this comic Optimus Primal pleads with Magnaboss and the Maximal High council (which oddly includes Bantor, Air Hammer, Corahda, Torca and Battle Unicorn) to take the threat of Unicron seriously, but they doubt his claims. Optimus Primal is detained, but Snarl breaks him out of the detention center.

Dreamwave Productions

Unlike previous interpretations of Generation 1 Silverbolt, 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 mini-series of the original cartoon universe, 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.

Fun Publications

Classicverse Silverbolt appears in "Beast Wars Shattered Glass Chapter One: Shattered Time" by Fun Publications. In this story Ultra Magnus and the Autobots aboard the Graviton battle Megatron and the Decepticons aboard the Talon. Both ships are pulled through a vortex into the past of Shattered Glass Earth. Crashing they discover that dangerous energon readings outside the ship will place them in stasis lock. The Autobots devise organic alternate modes to protect them from the energon. The Decepticons create energon-absorbing armor for protection. Silverbolt takes on the alternate form of a bald eagle (his Beast Wars toy).[3]

Silverbolt appears in the story Beast Wars Shattered Glass by Fun Publications. Ultra Magnus and his Autobots discover that their ship's high security storage rooms were damaged in the crash and the Autobot bodies in stasis pods were lost. They head out to recover the pods when they are attacked by Dirge and Seawing. They find the pods, but also discover that Megatron has gotten to them first. He's converted the three Autobots into Autojetter, Autolauncher and Scylla, who are loyal to him. The Decepticons attack the Autobots, who are only saved thanks to the intervention of Depth Charge. Ultra Magnus orders the retreat, as there is nothing left for them to recover. Depth Charge informs the Autobots of his mission to save the multiverse.[4]

IDW Publishing

In the IDW Publishing stories Silverbolt is on the Autobot Orbital Command Hub in Spotlight: Blaster. He is present when Blaster was recovered and returned to the Autobots.

In The Transformers #51 Silverbolt and other Aerialbots participated in a mission ordered by Optimus Prime to drop containers in West Africa which caused plants to grow in the desert.[5]

The Autobot Primal Council in Transformers: Dawn of the Predacus

Silverbolt appeared the IDW Publishing BotCon 2016 story Transformers: Dawn of the Predacus. In this story Silverbolt served as a member of the Primal Council after the death of Optimus Prime. He attempted ton contact Perceptor, only learn of his friend's demise form Unit-3. In the final battle with the Decepticons he helped form Magnaboss.[6]

Silverbolt was shown in the second volume of the Beast Wars: The Ascending miniseries to be part of the Maximal Imperium along with Ironhide and Prowl. With civil unrest on Cybertron reaching a peak they called in Big Convoy to find out why.

Silverbolt had a biography printed in the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW Publishing. This biography confirms that this is the Generation 1 character, now much older and upgraded into a Maximal body. [7]

1984 Marvel Comics

Silverbolt in Marvel Comics

In the Marvel Comics Transformers story Silverbolt and the other Aerialbots were created on Earth by Wheeljack and given life by Optimus Prime using the Matrix. After their initial mission was deemed a failure due to only Silverbolt's personality being stabilized (with Superion nearly killing a human), Optimus Prime had their minds wiped clean and all five Aerialbots given life once again. Unbeknownst to Prime, the Insecticon Bombshell piggy-backed aboard Silverbolt, and attempted to inject a cerebro-shell into an open wound Prime incurred earlier. The shell allowed Bombshell to transmit Prime's thoughts—and the Matrix's creation process—to Megatron and Soundwave, allowing them to bring life to the Stunticons. (Transformers #21-22.)

The Aerialbots were subsequently captured by Circuit Breaker and her Rapid Anti-Robot Attack Team and taken to her laboratory and dismantled for study. However, to combat the threat of the rampaging Decepticon Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck a deal was struck - if they cooperated in stopping the Decepticons she would let them go. Circuit Breaker then created a massive robot out of their parts, piloted by herself. After defeating the Decepticons, Circuit Breaker released the Autobots.

In issue #27, "King of the Hill!", Perceptor summoned his fellow Autobots Blaster, Hot Spot, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, Ratchet and Silverbolt in order to decide who should take leadership of the Autobots. After an attack by the giant Decepticon Trypticon the leader was chosen - Grimlock.

When Starscream returned to Earth after absorbing the powers of the Underbase, Silverbolt and his Aerialbots were amongst those in New York first to attack... and also amongst the first to fall in battle. Later when Optimus Prime was deciding which one Autobot to restore life to, he considered Silverbolt but imagined that after a while, he would resent being chosen over others.

Silverbolt was finally restored to take part in the battle against Unicron thanks to Grimlock's supply of nucleon.

He subsequently appeared in the Generation 2 comic as the Aerialbots were attacked from all sides by Jhiaxus' fliers - until Thundercracker and Skywarp unexpectedly bailed them out, leading a Decepticon armada into the fray.

Although Silverbolt did make a short background appearance in the Transformers: Generation 2 comic, he was portrayed in his original colors rather than his new Generation 2 toy colors.

TFcon comics

Silverbolt appears in the TFcon 2009 convention poster by Alex Milne in the form of his Universe Ultra toy.[8]

Depth Charge addresses Ironhide, Prowl and Silverbolt on Cybertron in Days of Wreckening

Silverbolt appears in the TFcon 2012 live script reading prelude comic Days of Wreckening. In this story he appears on future Cybertron as a Maximal leader and refuses to let Depth Charge go after Protoform X.[9]

Toys

  • Generation 1 Aerialbot Silverbolt (1986)
A Scramble City style combiner torso, Silverbolt had a third launching pad mode. He was available by himself or as part of an Aerialbot gift set.[10]
  • Generation 2 Aerialbot Silverbolt (1994)
Released in the last year of the series, the Aerialbots made their second appearance in the Transformers series.[11] As before, each were individually sold but this time Silverbolt was sold on a card rather than being boxed. Silverbolt was recolored blue.[12]
Beast Wars Magnaboss in box
  • Kenner Beast Wars Transformers Magnaboss (1997)
A 3-pack of figures that form Magnaboss.
Silverbolt is a Basic sized Maximal who turns into a bald eagle. This toy was recolored into Beast Wars Second Skywarp.
  • Universe Classic Series Ultra Silverbolt (2008)
An Ultra Class toy designed to resemble the Generation 1 Aerialbot leader, featuring light and sound effects. He turns into a 1:222 scale XB-70 Valkyrie jet. With this scale his robot mode would stand 178 feet 5 inches tall.
The mold for the figure was also used for the Toys "R" Us exclusive Decepticon Darkwind and the Walmart exclusive Decepticon Skyfall. This version of Silverbolt appeared in the 2009 TFcon poster.[13]
  • Universe Classic Series Ultra Silverbolt (Takara Tomy) (2008)
The Japanese version of the Universe Ultra figure by Takara Tomy retains the Hasbro packaging and is marketed as a "USA Edition" toy, but sports more Generation 1 accurate colors.
  • Universe Legends Silverbolt (2008)
This toy is a recolor of Cybertron Legends Thundercracker. A Target store exclusive sold in a 5-pack with other Special Team leaders.
  • Universe Classic Series Deluxe Silverbolt (2009)
Leaked pictures have made it to the internet of a redeco of the Energon Air Team done in the colors of the Generation 1 Aerialbots.
  • Generations Combiner Wars Voyager Silverbolt (2015)
A new mold in the Combiner Wars line; has since been remolded into Cyclonus, Scattershot, and Sea Clamp.
  • Combiner Wars Generation 2 Superion (2015)
Repaints of the Aerialbots in homage to their unreleased G2 figures.
  • Unite Warriors UW-01 Superion (2015)
A Takara exclusive 5-pack of the Aerialbots that combine into Superion.

Gallery


Beast Wars

Transformers: Universe

Transformers character
Silverbolt-universemicromaster.jpg
Universe Micromaster toy
Name Silverbolt
Autobot
Series Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Universe
Transformers: Cybertron
Information
Alternate modes F-16 Fighting Falcon
Sub-group Aerialbots, Micromasters

A second Silverbolt later appeared in the Universe toyline in 2006, this time a Micromaster.

He forms the left leg of Micromaster Superion.

Fun Publications

According to the Fun Publications Ask Vector Prime stories this Silverbolt comes from Aurex 1104.30-DB Zeta, part of the Unicron Trilogy series. Superion was born from Doctor Brian Jones's attempts at reverse-engineering Maximus combiner technology and applying it to Mini-Con anatomy. Superion, Defensor, and Rail Racer fought Devastator in the Combiner Wars during the Unicron Singularity crisis.

Toys

  • Universe Micromaster Silverbolt
Silverbolt is a recolor of the Sixwing component, Falcon originally released during 1992 in Japan. He comes with the left foot of Superion.
Micromaster Silverbolt was released in Cybertron packaging in European countries, as they didn't have the Universe line.


TransTech

Transformers character
Name Silverbolt
Autobot
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian Jet

TransTech's form is based on concept art by Draxall Jump.[14]

Silverbolt is New Arrivals Coordinator in the city of Axiom Nexus on Transtech Cybertron.

Fun Publications

Silverbolt appeared in "Withered Hope", where he oversaw the arrival of two intertwined groups of arriving dimensional travelers, one of which was a 6 GoBots, the other 4 Transformers. Once the GoBots arrived he welcoming Path Finder and her group.

In "Transcendent" Breakaway, Landquake and Skyfall arrive on a parallel Transtech Cybertron, in the city of Axiom Nexus. They are greeted by that world's Cheetor and Silverbolt, and are worried that Cliffjumper has gone missing. The arrivals are told that they are among many to arrive on this world and are brought to "processing." Among those waiting in processing are Autoceptor, Bad Boy, Charger with Fire Beast, Cosmos, Cy-Kill, Path Finder, Universe Repugnus, Sky-Byte, Small Foot and Treds. After processing the three Autobots are greeted by the ancient Autobot Alpha Trion and taught in the ways of outworlders in Axiom Nexus. Breakaway is then abducted by Transtech Shockwave.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers character
Silverbolt-rotf.jpg
Revenge of the Fallen Silverbolt
Name Silverbolt
Autobot
Series Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Information
Alternate modes Jet
Gender Male
Partner Air Raid, Airazor, Fireflight and Skydive
Sub-group Deluxe Vehicles

In the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen toy line, Silverbolt is the leader of the Aerialbots, forming the head and torso of Superion.

Toys

  • Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Silverbolt (2009)
This toy is identical to the Universe version of the toy, also released in 2009, which in turn was a redeco of the Energon Storm Jet toy. Packaged together with his fellow Aerialbots as a Target store exclusive in the U.S. Together they form Superion.


Transformers: Prime

Transformers character
Silverbolt-wfc.jpg
War for Cybertron Silverbolt
Name Silverbolt
Autobot
English voice actor Patrick Seitz
Information
Alternate modes Cybertronian jet

Silverbolt is one of the playable Autobots in the 2010 video game Transformers: War for Cybertron. [15] In the Autobot campaign, he joins Jetfire and Air Raid 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 plasma reactor, 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.

References

  1. Hasbro commemorates 30th anniversary of G.I. Joe figures. (Hasbro Inc.) (Focus '94) Playthings; February 1, 1994
  2. Grant, John (1986). Galvatron's Air Attack. Ladybird Books. ISBN 0721409881. 
  3. Benson Yee, Pete Sinclair & Matt Frank (w), Matt Frank (p), Matt Frank (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "Beast Wars Shattered Glass Chapter One: Shattered Time" The Transformers Collectors Club 49 (February/March 2013), Fun Publications
  4. Benson Yee, Pete Sinclair & Matt Frank (w), Matt Frank (p), Matt Frank (i), Thomas Deer (col), Jesse Wittenrich (let), Pete Sinclair (ed). "Beast Wars Shattered Glass Part 2" The Transformers Collectors Club (April/May 2013), Fun Publications
  5. http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/03/11/idw-transformers-51-full-preview-311243
  6. John-Paul Bove (w), Corin Howell (a). Transformers: Dawn of the Predacus (March 2016), IDW Publishing
  7. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/comics/news/article_1343405.php/Creators_of_Transformers_Beast_Wars_The_Gathering_are_back
  8. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/TFcon-2009-poster-colors-120130232
  9. Phillip M. Gervais (w), Ninjatron (p). "Days of Wreckening" TFcon Live Script Reading Prelude Comic (July 25th, 2012), TFcon
  10. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 41. ISBN 0764313649. 
  11. Brereton, Erin (2006). Transformers: The Fantasy, The Fun, The Future. Triumph Books. p. 22. ISBN 1572439831. 
  12. Alvarez, J.E. (2001). The Unofficial Guide to Transformers 1980s Through 1990s Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition. Schiffer Publishing Ltd.. p. 111. ISBN 0764313649. 
  13. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/TFcon-2009-poster-colors-120130232
  14. http://www.behindthetoys.com/images/archive/rob/SILVERBOLTdone.JPG
  15. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Silverbolt-And-Brawl-Join-Transformers-War-For-Cybertron-Cast-24461.html

External links