This is going to be the year of Transformers Combiners. In addition to the much-anticipated Studio Series 86 Devastator, Hasbro is rebooting the Aerialbot combiner to take on the Decepticons. However, the Autobots’ first combiner introduced in the 80s cartoon series isn’t a Studio Series toy; it falls under the new Age of the Primes toy line. To be honest, I’m not as thrilled about the prospect because the Transformers Age of the Primes Superion has taken a page out of the Legacy Menasor combiner’s playbook.
It’s based on a frame system where the leader, Silverbolt, together with a combiner section, transforms into a large robot—complete with arms and legs—even without the other members. The other four team members simply attach to the arms and legs. Lazy, to say the least.
We know Menasor turned out the way it did because that’s how the cartoon portrayed it (well, almost). Unlike Menasor, Motormaster’s trailer wasn’t an awkward piece; it transformed into the frame of the combiner. This new Superion, though, really stretches it.
The extra section, known as the “jet thruster piece”—which isn’t small by any means—can attach to Silverbolt’s supersonic aircraft alt mode, which feels like a stretch, in my opinion. And yes, it can convert into a battle station (of course it does!).
As a standalone bot, Silverbolt stands 17.5 cm (7 inches) tall. It takes a grueling 44 steps to convert it from robot to jet mode. In combined mode, Silverbolt forms the head and chest of Aerialbot Superion, while the Jet Thruster converts into the skeleton structure.
The Transformers Age of the Primes Commander Class Aerialbot Silverbolt is the first of the five Autobot Aerialbots to be released. It’s up for pre-order at US$89.99, along with two other members: Transformers Age of the Primes Deluxe Class Aerialbot Slingshot (aka the left arm of Superion, US$24.99) and Transformers Age of the Primes Deluxe Class Aerialbot Air Raid (aka the left leg of Superion, US$24.99).
Both Slingshot and Air Raid convert from robot to jet mode in just 17 steps, standing 14 cm (5.5 inches) tall. Slingshot and Air Raid are expected to hit shelves starting May 1, 2025, while Silverbolt will follow on November 1, 2025. Of course, those dates are estimates. Based on experience, it’s probably going to be earlier—but let’s be honest, sometimes experience lets us down.
As for the remaining two members, Fireflight and Skydive, there’s no announcement yet.
Images: Hasbro.
