Hot Shot (RID)

The name or term "Hot Shot" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Hot Shot (disambiguation).

Hot Shot is the leader of the Autobot Spy Changers in the Robots in Disguise continuity family.

File:RID Artfire HotShot biocard.jpg

The heat is on. It's on the street.

Hot Shot has served with Optimus Prime for many years. His gruff exterior hides the tender heart of a pretty girly-man that wants to prance through wildflowers.

Hot Shot's special jutsu is manipulating fire.

Japanese Name: Artfire (アートファイヤー Ātofaiyā)

Fiction

Robots in Disguise cartoon

Voice actor: Michael McConnohie (English), Eiji Takemoto (Japanese)

He did come out as a burn-out technohippie

When the Predacons stole a plutonium energy generator, T-AI called in the Spy Changers. Hot Shot, Crosswise and R.E.V. responded first, pursuing the Predacons onto the beach where they were joined by the other three Spy Changers. Hot Shot suggested a spot of "cyber-jousting", and climbed onto W.A.R.S.. The Predacons eventually escaped with a fake generator which the Spy Changers had swapped for the real one. Spychangers to the Rescue

After Optimus was captured and tortured by Megatron, the Spy Changers joined the Autobot Brothers in rescuing their leader and seeing off the Predacons. Sideburn's Obsession

This Hot Shot prefers a different flavor of JaAm.

Later, the team tried to protect a ruby from Predacon theft, Hot Shot ordering Mirage onto a nearby roof to shoot the Predacons if all else failed. Mirage failed to take the shot and the Predacons got away. Though Hot Shot personally felt responsible, he was disturbed by Mirage's actions, especially when the Autobot failed to explain why he hadn't fired and even moreso when he appeared to have joined the Predacons. As it turned out, Mirage was undertaking a deception as he'd been bugged by Sky-Byte, and Hot Shot welcomed him back to the team. Mirage's Betrayal

The Spy Changers also took part in the Great Race in an attempt to find Skid-Z. Hot Shot was saved from Megatron's blinding blast by a warning from Optimus Prime, and attempted to tackle Megatron on his own, but failed. Skid Z's Choice On another occasion, the Spy Changers were called back to base to watch footage of various battles, but had to wrap up a fight with the Predacons first. Hope for the Future

Hey, my toy can do that!

The Spy Changers accompanied Optimus Prime to Montrose Island where Predacon activity was causing the volcano to become violent. They attempted to keep Scourge and Sky-Byte busy while Optimus went to use his blizzard storm on the volcano. When the volcano was ruptured and lava threatened the nearby resort, the Spy Changers used their Inferno Blast to divert its path. Volcano

Sent to stop the Decepticons from finding Fortress Maximus, the Spy Changers jumped out in front of the foe and were soundly trounced by Armorhide and Rollbar. Fortress Maximus

The Spy Changers took part in the ambush of the Decepticons after the Autobot base was discovered. Surprise Attack! After Galvatron's defeat, they celebrated by racing with Skid-Z. The Final Battle

Super Spy Changers catalog

With Ultra Magnus having departed Earth aboard Fortress Maximus, the Autobots were unable to call upon his power when a new menace suddenly arose to challenge them. In order to combat this threat, a plan was put into motion to upgrade the Spy Changers with Spark Engines, granting them Super Modes.

Super Artfire gained the ability to manipulate blue, high-temperature flames and carried a more dignified presence of leaderhip.

Toys

Robots in Disguise

• Artfire (Spy Changer, 2000)
  • Japanese ID number: C-005
  • Accessories: Rifle

A redeco of the Generation 2 Go-Bots Blowout mold, Artfire transforms into a Porsche 959 sports car. He features a through-axle construction that allows him to zip quickly along smooth surfaces in car mode, and is compatible with many "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" racetracks. His silver windshield has heat-sensitive paint that reveals an Autobot insignia, in a method similar to the original rubsigns.

This mold was also used to make the Generation 2 Go-Bot versions of Frenzy and Megatron.

• More information on Artfire at TFU.info

• Spy Changer DX6 (Multi-pack, 2000)
  • Japanese ID number: C-011
  • Accessories: Rifle

All six Spy Changers were not only sold as individuals in Japan, but in a six-piece gift set as well.

• Artfire clear version (Spy Changer, 2000)
  • Accessories: Rifle

An exclusive redeco of Artfire in clear-red and clear-green plastics, this version was only available from JUSCO stores in Japan as a direct-mail premium to members of their "Peppy Kids Republic" (元気キッズ共和国, Genki Kidzu Kyōwakoku), a sort of subsidiary/offshoot for selling baby goods and children's clothing. Since membership was open only to kids 12 and under and this version was shipped blind-packed, getting the entire set of six was extremely difficult.

• More information on JUSCO clear Artfire at TFU.info

Ability to stick to any surface not included.

• Hot Shot & R.E.V. (Basic, 2001)
  • Accessories: Rifle

Available only in a two-pack with R.E.V., the Hasbro version of Hot Shot replaces the heat-sensitive insignia with a normal Autobot insignia tampograph on the roof of the car. The window-paint changed to metallic blue, plus the toy was slighty retooled to have a locking tab on the windshield bottom to keep the car front end in place.

• More information on Hot Shot at TFU.info

But does he crave JaAm?

• Hot Shot (Spy Changer, 2002)
  • Accessories: Rifle

All six original Spy Changers were redecoed using clear versions of their normal plastic colors (keeping their normal paint applications, though), and released on individual cards through KB Toys chains as exclusives. This packaging was the first to identify the team as "Spy Changers" in Hasbro markets.

• More information on KB Toys clear Hot Shot at TFU.info

• Hot Shot (Tiny Tins, 2002)
  • Accessories: Rifle, carrying tin

The normal Hasbro version of Hot Shot was released as part of the first assortment of Tiny Tins Transformers, coming with a carrying tin.

File:RIDHotShot-Super.jpg

Not negative universe Artfire.

• Super Artfire (Spy Changer, 2003)
  • Accessories: Rifle

Long after the Car Robots line ended in Japan, Takara put out individually-boxed redecoes of the Spy Changers. Artfire was given a reversed white and black deco, with clear-green inner robot parts. His flames are painted a shiny metallic blue.

In each case of twelve Super Spy changers, two were all-clear-plastic versions (but keeping their paint applications). All six Spy Changers had a clear variant.

• More information on Super Artfire at TFU.info
• More information on clear Super Artfire at TFU.info

Would be invisible if not for the fact that he's on fire.

• Hot Shot (Spy Changer, 2003)
  • Accessories: Rifle

A second round of clear-plastic KB Toys exclusive Spy Changers was released on individual cards. This time around, he was done in colorless, blue and red clear-plastics.

• More information on KB Toys clear white Hot Shot at TFU.info

Notes

• The color scheme and deco of the original Spychanger toy is an homage to Stepper, an originally Japanese exclusive Targetmaster redeco of the 1984 Jazz toy that's now better known as "Ricochet" outside Japan. Oddly enough, however, the original Japanese version of the Car Robots Spychanger used the name of Stepper's fellow Targetmaster, Artfire.
• In Japan, Artfire is a relative of Fire Convoy.