Jolt (G2)

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

Jolt is a Decepticon Laser Rod from the Generation 2 portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Give me your purse.

If ever there were an eager little flunky, it's Jolt. Under Megatron's approving eye, he will leap into battle and carve his name into the nearest Autobot. Jolt will joyfully confront his enemies in combat... so long as his massive commander's shadow is on him. Left alone, Jolt's courage quickly runs low on fuel. He's fled more than one battle when the odds turned against him. Megatron appreciates Jolt's talent for malice, but it remains to be seen whether that appreciation will keep him turning a blind eye to his subordinate's cowardice forever.

French-Canadian name: Secousse ("Jolt")

Japanese name: Hot Row (ホットロウ, ho-tto-ro-u)

European name: Hotrod

Fiction

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 2

First person to insert a "Don't lose your head" gag gets summarily banned.

Jolt and his Laser Rod compatriots were designed and constructed by Bludgeon's Decepticons as the next wave of warriors. Bludgeon returned to Earth to cause enough chaos and destruction to draw Optimus Prime back and steal the Creation Matrix from his chest, in order to bring life to his new soldiers. Bludgeon got all blowed up and decapitated by Megatron, but his plan was still sound, and the new (old) Decepticon leader carried it through and brought Jolt and the others to life with the stolen Matrix.

Their first mission was to raid the moon of Tykos for a supply of the metal-reinforcing gas, rheanimum. New Dawn After a severe beating at the hands of the second generation Cybertronians, the Decepticons joined forces with the Autobots against their common foe. Jolt fought alongside friend and foe alike against the Cybertronians and the fearsome Swarm. A Rage in Heaven!

Japanese G2 minicomics and story pages

The Japanese Generation 2 story pages and mini-manga followed the continuity of the animated series, as opposed to the Marvel US Generation 2 comics, which followed the continuity of the Marvel comic series.

Jolt initially confronted the Autobots with the might of Megatron at his back, but was quickly blasted away by Optimus Prime. G-2 #1

Later, he and Sizzle attempted to double-team Electro, making clear their intent to reduce him to Autobot scrap. The Autobot countered with his knee-flash kick, then made clear his intent to turn them into Decepticon scrap. G-2 #3

Jolt lives up to the name that he doesn't have in Japan!

Jolt would eventually get his payback, however. At the sight of Electro and Volt fleeing combat, Megatron ordered Jolt to follow them and find Optimus Prime's whereabouts. Jolt followed and took them both out with a powered-up jump-kick. G-2 #5

Not long after, he and Sizzle joined the Cyberjets in surrounding the Autobot Laser Rods. Road Rocket managed to catch him off-guard with a smokescreen, then sliced his sword in half. G-2 #11

He would later get his chance at a rematch with Road Rocket, when the lone Autobot attempted to infiltrate Decepticon headquarters and was spotted. Along with Sizzle and Road Pig, he chased the Autobot to a dead end. Luckily for Road Rocket, Aero Raid arrived through an airvent and to his rescue. G-2 #14

Some time afterward, when Electro was taken prisoner by Megatron, Jolt was beaten to a pulp by Jetfire, who had stormed the Decepticon base to rescue his comrade. G-2 #16

Jolt joined the Decepticons in their final assault on the Autobot base. When Megatron was defeated, all the Decepticons were banished to deep space. G-2 Part 6

Comic Bom Bom manga

During a space battle, Jolt chased Electro all the way to Earth's moon. Confronting Electro in a swordfight, Jolt was nearly crippled when the Autobot's shaft saber was plunged straight through his chest. Jolt only survived by turning on his afterburners and frying his opponent off before he could finish the killing blow. Still, Electro recovered and very nearly sliced Jolt in two. He died cursing the Autobot Laser Rod with his last breath. The New Battle!!

Toys

Generation 2

File:G2 Jolt toy.jpg

The most faaabulous Decepticon ever.

• Jolt (Laser Rod, 1994)
  • Japanese ID number: TRF-5
  • Accessories: Sword

Jolt transforms into a Ford "Deuce Coupe" hot rod with flame detailing. As a Laser Rod, pressing a button on his hood causes a red LED to light up, making his clear plastic engine glow red. In robot mode, this LED could be moved around at the end of a wire, and could plug into the bottom of either of his fists, allowing his light saber to be similarly illuminated. Also like other Laser Rods, he had a number of different hinges in his limbs and a rubber band waist similar to those of G.I. Joe figures, giving him an unusually large amount of articulation for the time.

• More information on Jolt at TFU.info

Notes

• Jolt's instructions actually transform him the wrong way, ending literally ass-backwards, with his face concealed partially behind the tab that locks the front portion of the car in place. All this done despite the correctly transformed version shown in the very first panel. Considering Jolt has never appeared like this elsewhere, it is probably not a preproduction issue, just a goofy mistake.