Airazor

Airazor is the name of two characters in the various Transformers series. The original Airazor figure has the honor of being the first mass-produced, US released female Transformer figure. All female figures made before her were either convention exclusives like Nightracer, or only released in foreign markets like Minerva.

Beast Wars
Airazor was one of the protoforms from the Maximal ship called the Axalon commanded by Optimus Primal, which chased the Predacon criminal Megatron through transwarp space after the theft of the Golden Disk. The Maximals and Predacons crashed on prehistoric Earth, where high energon levels threatened to destroy the crew unless they adopted organic alternate modes (Beast Wars Part 1).

The Axalon's cargo of Maximal protoforms in stasis pods had been launched into orbit before the crash, but eventually Airazor's pod fell to Earth. Falling inside Predacon controlled terratory, the pod was spotted by the Tarantulas and Megatron, as well as by Rhinox and Cheetor. Cheetor told Tigatron to contact base with the news. Blackarachnia and Scorponok were sent by Megatron to retrieve the pod. Rhinox was the first to arrive at the crash site and discovered the pod was damaged and the protoform was dying. Cheetor then arrived to help Rhinox save the protoform. On his way back to base, Tigatron discovered Scorponok and disabled him, but was in turn ambushed by Blackarachnia. Rhinox replaced the damaged locking chip in the protoform with one donated by Cheetor. Cheetor confronted Blackarachnia, keeping her from getting to Rhinox and the protoform. Cheetor then tried to lure Waspinator and Terrorsaur away from the pod, but Terrorsaur got the best of him. Rhinox had to run the sequencer program for the protoform through his own processor to keep it alive. This knocked Rhinox into stasis lock, but started the DNA scanners for the stasis pod. The protoform was formatted to the form of a falcon which was flying overhead just as Terrorsaur arrived. The newly born Airazor was able to defeat Terrorsaur. Rhinox took her back to the Axalon, introducing her to Optimus Primal and Rattrap (The Spark).

Airazor is very fast and efficient in battle. Her wrist mounted missile blasters once tore Predacon warrior Terrorsaur to pieces and she is never one to back down from a challenge.

Airazor shares a special bond with Cheetor, who allowed some of his circuitry to be used in keeping Airazor's protoform alive. This bond is a unique sibling relationship among the Maximals on Earth. Airazor also feels a special relationship to Rhinox who is sort of an "uncle" to her, due mostly in part to his large role in her birth.

Airazor sees Earth as her birth world and feels more comfortable in her falcon mode. Fellow Maximal Tigatron shares this love, and together they have formed a bond to the planet and each other.

Airazor, along with Tigatron mysteriously disappeared when an alien device transported them both into the depths of space. It would be later discovered that they were captured by the alien race known as the Vok, who used the bodies and Sparks of Tigatron and Airazor to form the powerful Vok emissary: Tigerhawk.

She died when Tigerhawk was destroyed by the Nemesis.

Fan reactions to her character have been mixed. Some consider her to be an under-developed character with much potential as well as the best female Transformer in existence, while others decry her as boring and uninspired, but by large, most view her with a mixture of both thoughts in that they see her as solid background character who was not given much screen-time.

She was voiced by Pauline Newstone (English) and Tetsuya Iwanaga (Japanese, wherein Airazor was a male character).

Convention Comics
Airazor was one of the stars of the 1997 Botcon Convention Comics, a story set near the end of season one of the Beast Wars television series.

In the Convention Comics plot, Inferno and Blackarachnia watched as the Predacon scientist Fractyl attempted to invent energon armor capable of protecting them from energon build up. Although seemingly successful, the armor was stolen by the Maximal thief Packrat. Blackarachinia and Fractyl realized the energon armor was flawed and could destroy the planet if it came in contact with large amounts of energon. Inferno pursued Packrat, but since Packrat didn't need to assume beast mode with the armor on, he got the upper hand in the fight with Inferno. Hearing the battle, Airazor, Cheetor and Rhinox joined Packrat. Fractyl convinced Rhinox that the armor was a threat to them all. Rhinox was able to talk Packrat into giving up the armor, which Fractyl aided them in doing. When Blackarachnia arrived with Megatron, Packrat suggested that Fractyl pretend to be attacking the Maximals, who fled. Megatron was impressed with Fractyl's new found battle prowess. 

Transformers: Universe
Airazor returned from the dead in the pages of the Transformers: Universe Wreckers comic book series, as a Transmetal, although the Transmetal toy was released in the Beast Wars toy line.

Airazor's function is Aerial Recon. A quantum surge has completely rearranged Airazor's structure to include a metal-armor coating and a pontoon plane substructure to provide the advantage of sea reconnaissance. Already quick as lightning, her jets furnish extra high-level acceleration and agility. Her optical matrix scanners can detect Predacon ground movement from 30,000 feet while her armor-ripping talons send fearful sparks through the Predacon army. 

Manga
Much like the TV series, except that Airazor was transmetalized herself. She searched for Tigatron while helping the others like the confrontation with Rampage. But when she found him, she was devatasted to see him under Tarantulas' control. Airazor sacrificed herself to break Tigatron out of it, with her spark entering his body and merging onto Tigatron's spark, which had him evolve to Tigerhawk as a result. But in this way, Airazor would remain with Tigerhawk.

Transformers: Armada
In the later Transformers: Armada toyline, the Transmetal Airazor toy was recolored and released as an Autobot. She was partnered with the Mini-Con Nightscream. In the Dreamwave Productions Armada comic book series, this Airazor (who had once been an undercover spy in the Decepticon ranks) became one of the Four Horsemen of Unicron.

Motto: "Only conviction can defeat corruption." Bio: Airazor is a professional in every sense of the word. She doesn't waste words or time, always opting to demonstrate her beliefs with action. Airazor's action-oriented behavior and work focused attitude may make her seem cold to some, but that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, Airazor is merely taking the steps she feels are necessary to fight the evil she sees in the Decepticons; nothing could be more important to her than battling to save innocents from suffering. Airazor uses her professionalism as her shield, protecting the deep well of compassion within. After her tragic demise and resurrection as one of Unicron's Heralds, it remains to be seen how much of Airazor's true nature lingers.

Weapons and Abilities: In robot mode and alternate mode, Subject is capable of jet-propelled flight. In robot mode, Subject's top speed is 250 mph; alternate mode top speed is 500 mph. Subject has excellent visual acuity for targeting her multiple laser cannons.

Weaknesses: Subject has below-average strength, and her wings are easily damaged.

Transformers: Energon
Armada Airazor appeared as a minion of Unicron in the Transformers: Energon comic book series.