Alpha Bravo

Alpha Bravo is an Autobot Aerialbot from the Combiner Wars portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Whoa mama!

Alpha Bravo is the newest member of the Aerialbots, bringing some variety to the team in the form of his assault helicopter mode. However, this also leaves him the slowest member of the group, and the new recruit consequently feels like he has something to prove to his comrades. Alpha Bravo is equipped with tracker missiles, which can lock on to the very spark of a target. He typically forms the right leg of Superion, but sometimes he forms the left arm of Ultra Prime or the left leg of Wreckage.

Fiction

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Robots in Disguise #33

More like...Beta Replace-o.

When it was unclear whether all of the damaged Superion's component robots could be saved, Alpha Bravo volunteered as a potential replacement. He coldly informed Wheeljack that protecting Cybertron was more important than matters of affiliation, prompting the more laid-back Powerglide to good-naturedly tell him off. The World of Tomorrow He was present when Wheeljack received the Enigma of Combination from Scoop. Alpha Bravo and Powerglide were both exposed to the energies of the artifact, granting them the power to combine with the other Aerialbots as part of the new Superion. First Contact

As part of Starscream's political maneuvers, Silverbolt and the new Aerialbots were deployed to Caminus to stop Menasor. Alpha Bravo was keen on the idea of combining, although Silverbolt wasn't quite as enthused. Even so, Superion was able to dispatch the Stunticon combiner. The Sum and Its Parts Following a clash with Devastator, Superion was briefly reduced to his components, although Starscream thought otherwise and forcibly reintegrated the Aerialbots back into Superion. Mistakes and Mayhem

Also takes on Slingshot's share of abuse.

Much to Optimus Prime's concern, Superion hadn't separated since the fight with Devastator; Prowl commented that for all intents and purposes Superion was the new default form for the Aerialbots. You, Me, and the Universe

As Superion joined Optimus Prime's Autobots on Earth, he disassembled into his individual Aerialbot components from time to time. Alpha Bravo and the Aerialbots performed a "bombing" run in the arid desert, releasing payloads that caused dramatic botanical growth where they fell, providing food to support the local humans. Alpha Bravo and the Aerialbots then fled the air resistance they faced, reluctantly holding to Prime's orders to not engage any human counter-strikes. Edge of the Earth He was later seen on a raft recuperating with the rest of the Aerialbots while the remaining Decepticons were being taken into custody. White Light

Alpha Bravo and the Aerialbots returned to Cybertron and took to the skies when Onyx Prime descended on their homeworld in his personal vessel. Another Mine During the battle with Unicron, he combined with his fellow Aerialbots into Superion to help defeat the planet-eater for good. Ceremony

Prime Wars Trilogy marketing material

Unfortunately Quickslinger died at some point, and Alpha Bravo was subsequently recruited to replace him. Rung considered it likely that due to his need to prove himself, Alpha Bravo would take greater risks in combat not only as an individual but potentially influence Superion to do so as well. Alpha Bravo's bio

The Aerialbots were involved in the fight on Cybertron. Skydive's bioFirefly's bioAlpha Bravo's bioAir Raid's bio

Of Masters and Mayhem

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Alpha Bravo was still in training when Thunder Mayhem ravaged Cybertron, and was spared the gruesome fate of the other Aerialbots when they fell victim to Thunder Mayhem. He fled Cybertron shortly afterwards and travelled to Abraxas. There, he adopted a local vehicle mode as a disguise, and hid out in the motor pool of an urban rescue force. The pilot assigned to him, Lieutenant Feenliess, had no idea that her vehicle was in fact a Transformer in hiding.

Alpha Bravo spent several years alone on the planet until a strange "meteor" crash-landed on the planet. Alpha Bravo investigated and discovered Offroad, another refugee from Cybertron. Alpha Bravo was momentarily put off by the fact that Offroad was a Decepticon, but promised to help him integrate into Abraxan society anyway. Alpha Bravo helped Offroad find a local disguise based on some of the local vehicles, and Offroad soon joined Alpha Bravo's rescue team.

The two Cybertronians helped out when they could, developing a deep friendship as they did so. Their friendship was paralleled by that of Feenliess and Captain Jorrval, the rescue workers who regularly operated them. A string of mysterious fires led the Abraxan security forces to realize that a gang of local arsonists had provoked the blazes. Offroad broke cover to try and rescue four of their hostages, but neither he nor Alpha Bravo were able to extricate the hostages before the building went down, killing all the Abraxans. In the aftermath of this disastrous operation, Alpha Bravo fell into a deep depression, feigning engine trouble to discourage his human pilots from taking him out into the field. Offroad managed to comfort him and talk him out of his depression, and Alpha Bravo soon returned to active duty.

The two Transformers were later discovered by Impactor, who recruited them into his new makeshift team of Wreckers, a team en route to Cybertron to confront Thunder Mayhem. Fractyl filled them in on Impactor's plan: to create a new combiner of their own to counter Thunder Mayhem. Both Offroad and Alpha Bravo had already been prepped with combiner technology. After Fractyl augmented Toxitron with a sample of Greenergon, the Wreckers headed out to test their strength against a nest of Mecannibals. Their combined form, Wreckage, easily trounced the metal-eaters, but then quickly spiraled out of control.

After separating and regaining consciousness in the medbay, Alpha Bravo came to the conclusion that he had to stop Wreckage from re-forming by any means necessary. Though he considered committing suicide, he reasoned that another bot needed to die as well, lest Impactor simply take Alpha Bravo's place. The other members of the team were far too difficult to kill, so with a heavy Spark, Alpha Bravo took advantage of a candid moment and murdered Offroad. Cradling his best friend's body, Alpha Bravo subsequently allowed himself to be slain by Toxitron. Deadly Aim

Precursor World

A Warrior of the Seven Lights resembling Alpha Bravo was a member of the White Order of the Primus Vanguard. He could be observed flying about his business above the White Planet as his commander White Gallant Convoy and his retinue drove by below. God Neptune comic 2

Commercial appearances

Alpha Bravo and the Aerialbots received a message from Optimus Prime alerting them that Menasor was wreaking havoc in a human city, and that the threat was "bigger than ever." The Aerialbots combined into Superion to better combat the Decepticon. Transformers Generations: Combiner Wars commercials

Games

Transformers Legends

When the Autobots learned that the Decepticons were planning to create a new batch of Decepticons, the Autobots responded by returning to Cybertron and building the Aerialbots. Both they and the Stunticons were brought to life at the same time before Vector Sigma, and Alpha Bravo and the Aerialbots fought to defend the supercomputer from the Decepticons. Though it seemed that the Decepticons might win thanks to the power of Menasor, the Aerialbots managed to rout the Decepticons and chase them away. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1 Alpha Bravo and the rest of the Aerialbots clashed against the Stunticons once more on Earth, when the Decepticons attempted to use the power of the Key to Vector Sigma to transform the planet into a new Cybertron. He and his teammates merged into Superion, and they were ultimately victorious. Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Did anybody call for backup?

Alpha Bravo participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Uncommon character that could be recruited by collecting 105 units of Cybermetal, and 48 units of Transmetal. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Transformers: Earth Wars

Rockets for everyone!

Forget speed—that's for others. Alpha Bravo is all about precision and maneuverability—his helicopter alt-mode tailor-made for getting into tight spots no other flyer can reach.

Nevertheless, Alpha Bravo has the tiniest bit of an inferiority complex when in the company of his fellow Aerialbots, and sometimes takes unnecessary risks to prove he's every bit as good as them. Alpha Bravo Bio

• Class: Gunner
• Weapons Alpha Bravo provides ground support and coverage using a standard issue grenade launcher.
• Ability: Rocket Barrage Fire off 4 homing rockets from long range dealing damage from afar! Useful for taking out those pesky Mortars.
  • **Cost: 6 ability points +2 for reuses.

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Alpha Bravo was a substitute Aerialbot, who sometimes filled in for Slingshot as Superion's left arm. The Enigma of Combination

Toys

Combiner Wars

Blades? Vortex? Never heard of 'em.

• Alpha Bravo (Deluxe Class, 2015)
  • 4 OF 5: Superion
  • Accessories: Rifle, Weapon/Combiner extremity

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro)

Released as part of the first wave of Combiner Wars Deluxes, Alpha Bravo transforms from a white helicopter that resembles an Aérospatiale Dauphin into a robot that resembles Vortex. He includes a large cannon sculpted to resemble a pair of chain guns and a smaller rifle designed after an M230 chain gun, plus a collector card featuring his packaging artwork. His tail rotor is on a swivel that is not used for any of his modes, but is there to help the figure fit into the packaging.

He is also able to form either an arm or leg for any Voyager Class toys from the Combiner Wars line or other compatible toys, but is of course intended to combine with his fellow Deluxe Aerialbots (Air Raid, Firefly, and Skydive) and Voyager Class Silverbolt to form Superion. He is also officially associated with Ultra Prime and Wreckage.

Alpha Bravo lost blue paint operations on his shoulders between initial stock photos and the final product (likely because of the shoulders being molded with unpaintable plastic). In addition, some stock photos that depict a near-final sample feature yellow paint operations for his missiles, which is different from all his other stock photos as well as the final figure, but explains that particular coloring choice for his package art.

Alpha Bravo was intended to be packed in with an issue of the Combiner Wars comic in the U.S., Australian, and Asian markets, and a collector card in other markets. However, due to production schedule problems, the entire first wave of Deluxes shipped with collector cards worldwide. The comics eventually surfaced at an unidentified comic convention in Taipei, Taiwan. Additionally, as part of a first and second wave promotion in Hasbro's Asian markets, a free sticker sheet for the Aerialbots and Stunticons was given out when purchasing any four Deluxe Class toys from those waves. As such, Alpha Bravo was given Generation 1 toy-esque stickers for the owner to apply if they wanted.

He was redecoed and retooled various times throughout the Combiner Wars line, being the basis for Blades and Vortex among many others. Alpha Bravo himself however did not receive a Unite Warriors release, and was replaced by Quickslinger in all Superion gift set releases.

• More information on Alpha Bravo at TFU.info

Combiner Wars mold: Alpha Bravo
Version 1: Hasbro: Combiner Wars Alpha Bravo Protectobot Blades Decepticon Vortex Decepticon Vortex (Generation 2) Fun Publications: Combiner Wars Spinister TakaraTomy: Unite Warriors UW-03 Graze Version 2: Hasbro: Combiner Wars Skyburst Stormclash TakaraTomy: Unite Warriors UW-EX Lunaclub UW-EX Moonheart Version 3: TakaraTomy: Unite Warriors UW-07 Vorter UW-EX Hepter

Merchandise

Transformers Trading Card Game

• Alpha Bravo, Airborne Special Ops (2019)
  • Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners
  • Rarity: CT
  • Card Number: T03/T46
  • Stars: 5

Alpha Bravo, Airborne Special Ops was released as part of the Transformers Trading Card Game Wave 2: Rise of the Combiners. Like all other members of combiner teams released in the set, Alpha Bravo, Airborne Special Ops is a folding card, with the Bot and Alt modes being depicted when the card is folded in half, and a holofoil portion of the the combined mode depicted when unfolded. The reverse of Alpha Bravo, Airborne Special Ops depicts Superion's right leg, which is formed by Alpha Bravo in the artwork.

The artwork for Bot Mode is reused from the Combiner Wars Air Raid toy's packaging art, and is based on said figure.

Alpha Bravo, Airborne Special Ops can be used to form Superion, Sky Protector with the use of the Action card Aerialbot Enigma while he and the other Wave 2 Aerialbots are in Bot mode on the battlefield or KO area.

Notes

• "Alfa Bravo" ("AB") are the first two letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet, "alfa" being a deliberate misspelling to avoid mispronunciation.
• Like most Scramble-City related Transformers, Alpha Bravo's nominal position in Superion's combination is not concrete, although he is most often seen acting as a leg for the Combiner.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Alpha Bravo (アルファブラボー Arufa Burabō)
• Mandarin: Líng Yún (凌云, "Rising Cloud")