Hot Spot (G1)

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

Hot Spot is an Autobot Protectobot from the Generation 1 continuity family. He is also known as Hot Zone.

File:Hotspot-transformersuniverse.jpg

Apparently, the Optimus Prime-like head wasn't enough. He had to have fake windshields on his chest, too.

Hot Spot leads by example. Whether it's a raging battle or a raging fire, he's right in the thick of things—and that's where he's happiest. While many Autobots get into trouble by not thinking in combat, Hot Spot is a natural warrior who excels at fighting on instinct alone. His fellow Protectobots find his endless energy inspiring (though a bit exhausting), letting Hot Spot command even the most philosophically different of robots like Blades and First Aid as a tight and effective unit. He's a tough fighter to boot—strong, well-armed and well-armored.

Hot Spot can combine with his fellow Protectobots to form Defensor.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Dan Gilvezan (English), Kenyū Horiuchi (Japanese), Roberto Alexander (Latin American), Gerhard Acktun (German, Carnage in C-Minor), Reinhard Brock (German, Ghost in the Machine), Imo Heite (German, The Ultimate Weapon), Hans-Rainer Müller (German, The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1), Claus Brockmeyer (German, Generation 2 Dub of The Revenge of Bruticus)

It's one of 'em newfangled drivin' by 'emselves fire trucks, huyuck!

When the Insecticons attacked an inhabited city on Earth, Optimus Prime called upon the Protectobots to evacuate the civilians caught in the crossfire. Later, as Earth's orbit was diverted to the sun by the Combaticons, Hot Spot extinguished the flames engulfing the bone-dry crops of a farmer before quickly driving off to the next fire. The Revenge of Bruticus

Hot Spot, as part of Defensor, totally blew up Bruticus. Afterwards, he was with the Protectobots when they saved some window-washers from a burning skyscraper, helping Groove extinguish the flames with liquid nitrogen. Later still, Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were ordered to help defend Autobot Headquarters from a Decepticon attack. They merged into Defensor and activated his useless force field, which almost immediately deactivated, allowing the Decepticons to blast Defensor back into his component parts. B.O.T.

By 2006, the Protectobots had risen to become a major presence in the Autobot army. Hot Spot participated in the liberation of Paradron. Fight or Flee He and Perceptor were among a group of Autobots who battled the Decepticons on Eurythma. Carnage in C-Minor On Cybertron, Hot Spot and Groove manned the Autobots' defensive laser batteries when Starscream's ghost launched Astrotrain into their range. Realizing that this "invasion" and the recent assault on Metroplex were connected with Unicron getting his eyes back, Rodimus Prime sent Hot Spot, Groove, Ultra Magnus and Springer up to Unicron to investigate. They were repulsed, violently, by Unicron's internal defenses. When Unicron and Starscream enlisted Trypticon to move the Planet-Eater's head to Cybertron to make it his new body, though, Hot Spot and his team were ready with energon explosives to blast Unicron back out into space. Ghost in the Machine

He regrets the moments he got his arm extensions.

One day, the Autobots were asked to help the Dutch authorities deal with French rebels. After dispersing the human aggressors, Hot Spot was concerned about how they could protect the human civilians from the Decepticons and cover First Aid, who was helping the downed Blades. Later, as it turned out the battle was only a diversion to allow Swindle to steal Metroplex's transformation cog, Hot Spot, Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus tried to reassure First Aid of his value to the Autobots when the pacifist medic failed to stop Swindle. Unfortunately, just as First Aid left, the Autobots were called upon to deal with a rampaging Trypticon. Hot Spot ordered the remaining Protectobots to combine into Defensor even without First Aid to save a train full of civilians. After successfully saving them, Hot Spot tracked down First Aid to a junk yard and convinced the latter of his value to the Autobots. The Ultimate Weapon

Later in 2006, the Protectobots arrived at the aftermath of the battle between the Technobots and Terrorcons at Mark Morgan's laboratory. They transported the injured Jessica Morgan to county general hospital and watched over her as the doctors restored her ability to walk with an exo-skeletal structure, enraging the robo-phobic senior Morgan. When Hot Spot tried to explain that they only wanted to help, Morgan shot back that they were only turning her into one of them. This had negative consequences. What a jerkface. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

When the Stunticons went on a rampage, attacking a human baseball stadium, the Autobots' human friend Kenji radioed for help. Hot Spot and the other combiner warriors answered his summons. After Hot Spot extinguished the blaze caused by the Decepticon attack, he joined his fellow warriors in forming Defensor and Superion. The sides evened up with the arrival of Bruticus, however, and a critical blow to Defensor's chest damaged Hot Spot, forcing the Protectobots to disengage. Through sheer cunning, the other Protectobots managed to drive off the Decepticons, and Hot Spot survived long enough to receive the proper repairs. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5

Later, the Decepticons tried to drive a rift between the humans and Autobots by using their ground-bound members to pose as crazed Autobot attackers. Hot Spot and Inferno arrived on the scene and used their water sprays to wash off the fake Autobot symbols, revealing the Decepticons underneath. Not beaten yet, Onslaught and Motormaster unleashed a combiner whirlwind attack, but Hot Spot and Inferno whipped their ladders around, sending the Decepticon sub-commanders flying straight into a double kick by Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7

Scramble City

Hot Spot and the Protectobots participated in the Scramble City project under Ultra Magnus's direction, working towards the construction of Metroplex. After the Decepticons uncovered their secret building site, the Protectobots rode into battle alongside the newly completed Metroplex. Hot Spot and his comrades arrived and formed Defensor just in time to act as the harbinger of Metroplex and his really big gun. Scramble City: Mobilization

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers

On the planet Feminia, the Autobots had constructed a massive energy tower, so naturally the Decepticons wanted to plunder it. Hot Spot and the Protectobots were present to defend the tower as Defensor, but were easily taken down by Predaking. They had to be rescued by the mysterious and powerful Omnibots. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

The Great Transformer War

When Galvatron kidnapped the famous scientist, Doctor Dalton, Hot Spot and the Protectobots joined the Aerialbots in speeding to his rescue. They were harshly rebuffed at Trypticon's gate, however, by the Combaticons and Stunticons. Superion was torn to shreds, and Hot Spot converted to repair bay mode in order to bring the fallen Aerialbots back on line. His teammates held the line, fending off Bruticus and Menasor while Hot Spot hurried to finish his work, and Blades snuck inside Trypticon to retrieve Dalton. With the Aerialbots repaired and Dalton freed, the Autobots retreated back to Metroplex. The Great Transformer War #1

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Kazuo Oka (Japanese)

In 2011, Galvatron attacked Cybertron looking to take control of Vector Sigma. Hot Spot and Blades were on the front lines defending Cybertron against the Combaticons. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky As Defensor, Hot Spot's team continued battling on Cybertron for some time. The Mystery of Planet Master Later, Hot Spot and the Protectobots assembled on Earth at Ultra Magnus's command. Their mission was to stop the Decepticons from interfering with Hot Rod and the Headmasters, who were searching for the hidden location of the Matrix of Leadership. On a security sweep, the Protectobots ran across their old foes, the Combaticons, and went into battle. The two teams quickly assumed their combined forms as Bruticus and Defensor, as the fighting escalated. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime

When Galvatron made another strike on Cybertron, this time to steal the super-metal Cybertonuron, Hot Spot and the Protectobots assembled before the Space Bridge on Earth to be transported into battle. Seeking out the Combaticons on the battlefield, the Protectobots soon formed Defensor and fought once more with Bruticus. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Defensor and Bruticus's battle continued as Defensor delivered a devastating smash to Bruticus's back. For at least part of the battle, the two teams disassembled again, as Hot Spot and Blades were seen firing upon the aerial Combaticons again. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

Hot Spot and the Protectobots were dispatched to Peru with the Trainbots when a volcano erupted, leaving a mountainside village in dire peril. Their rescue mission was blocked by the Predacons. Hot Spot was ready to tear into the enemy, but Shōki insisted the Protectobots proceed on to the village to protect the innocent lives. Hot Spot relented, but the Protectobots nevertheless failed to reach the village. They were intercepted by the Decepticons' second wave, the Headmasters. Although they formed Defensor, the Protectobots were taken out of action by Mindwipe's paralysis ray, which was strong enough to leave them completely immobilized. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts

Hot Spot and the Protectobots were part of a strike team that flew to the moon to disrupt Scorponok's gathering of Decepticons. They immediately formed Defensor upon entering the battle. Return of the Immortal Emperor When the planet Sandra sent out a distress call asking for energy, the Autobots of Earth responded. While they were loading the Trainbots full of supplies, however, Galvatron and the Decepticons arrived to take the energy for themselves. Hot Spot and the Protectobots fought back against the enemy, and formed Defensor to counter Devastator on the battlefield. SOS from Planet Sandra

After the death of Ultra Magnus, the Autobots were desperately trying to pick up the slack during Sixshot's campaign of destruction around the globe. Hot Spot and the Protectobots assembled as Defensor to go out and confront Sixshot at one of the attack sites, but they apparently didn't fare too well. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg When the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Hot Spot and the Protectobots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Defensor, the Protectobots helped Raiden and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)

Following a lengthy period of inactivity, the Decepticons renewed their attacks on Earth. With Fortress still off in space, Spike Witwicky dispatched Hot Spot and the Protectobots to attend to the threats. In Canberra, Australia, the Protectobots confronted Bruticus at one of Scorponok's new Death Towers. As Defensor, the Protectobots were beaten severely by Bruticus. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) As part of Defensor, Hot Spot participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' Head Formation to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Marvel Comics continuity

Generation 1

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were created on Earth by Wheeljack and the Autobots after they stole a recording of Devastator's combiner transformation sequence and modified it. Command Performances! After, Optimus Prime and Buster Witwicky shared a Matrix-induced vision of the future with the Special Teams in it. Second Generation!

Hot Spot accompanied Optimus Prime and his fellow Protectobots to Energy Futures Industries, where they squared off against Megatron and the Combaticons to prevent them from stealing the hydrothermocline, a potentially limitless supply of energy. To prevent property damage and potential civilian casualties, the Autobots agreed to be uploaded into a virtual fantasy world in EFI's computer systems by Ethan Zachary, a human programmer on site. Similarly, the Decepticons agreed so that the hydrothermocline would remain intact. The game scenario was arranged so that the "death" of either Optimus or Megatron would end the game. Once inside "Multi-World", Hot Spot convinced Optimus Prime to remain behind while the Protectobots eliminated the potential threats. Hot Spot himself did battle with his opposite number, Onslaught, in the region known as the Slimepit. Despite the hindrance the bog caused, Hot Spot still held true to Autobot ideals and threw himself in harm's way to protect the virtual inhabitants of Multi-World. In turn, they carried him to safety away from Onslaught, giving him the advantage he needed to defeat the Combaticon. Despite their efforts, though, Optimus Prime ended up dying on this mission, and the Protectobots brought his body back to the Ark. Afterdeath!

Hot Spot lets the others know how he feels about these meetings with his "wanking" gesture.

Hot Spot was one of the several Autobots who watched through a window as Ratchet futilely tried to repair Optimus Prime's body. Funeral for a Friend! After the funeral, Hot Spot and other high-ranking Autobots assembled to nominate a new leader. Hot Spot suggested their nominee possess wisdom just like Optimus Prime, since their late leader knew how and how not to fight. After the Autobots were rescued by the Dinobots from an attack by Trypticon, Hot Spot and the others chose Grimlock to be their new leader. King of the Hill!

"Now I've set the timer to ten seconds, so I'll just get in between you guys and—dammit! Not again!"

Under Grimlock's leadership, Hot Spot and the Protectobots were ordered to hunt down and apprehend the AWOL Autobots Blaster and Goldbug. They caught up with the deserters at a used car lot run by Big Steve, but a four-way skirmish developed between Blaster, the Protectobots, the Combaticons, and the human-led robot hunters, RAAT. In the end, Hot Spot and his crew only managed to capture Blaster. Used Autobots When a second encounter with the Combaticons endangered the lives of several young humans, Blaster not only saved the children and defeated Bruticus where Defensor failed, but then willingly resubmitted himself to Protectobot custody rather than trying to escape. Impressed with Blaster's actions, Hot Spot decided to defy Grimlock's orders and let him go free. Child's Play

Marvel UK future timelines

In 2008, Hot Spot was seen beating the stuffing out of a Decepticon during a major offensive on Cybertron. The Legacy of Unicron!

Generation 2

He's a Fahrenheit 451 truck: his job is to start fires.

Hot Spot led a team of Autobots sent to Earth by Optimus Prime to counter the threat of a Cobra-rebuilt Megatron. Megatron's new form was more than a match for them, however, and nearly all of his team were destroyed. Only Hot Spot and Skydive survived the encounter. Final Transformations

As the last survivor still on Earth, Hot Spot observed Cobra hauling a trailer of Transformers technology salvaged from the Ark, and noted that his orders included keeping Autobot tech out of the humans' hands. He single handedly attacked the convoy, drawing fire from numerous Cobra tanks, until he managed to destroy the trailer by ramming it off the side of an embankment. Weary and on the brink of shut-down, Hot Spot self-destructed to keep Cobra from using his own body as a replacement source of technology. All or Nothing!

Dreamwave comics continuity

My invisible partner already has this dance—

After the signing of the Crisis Intervention Accord, many of the special teams went into hiding or broke up to continue fighting on different factions. Hot Spot maintained the Protectobots, one of the late model specials teams, in secret. The group watched the battles rage around them, continuing to help when possible, intervening to uphold CIA where necessary, and trying to overcome the shortcomings of the combination process.

Upon learning that Ratbat had persuaded the Constructicons to join his Ultracons, Hot Spot led his team to the Tagan Heights to counter the threat of Devastator by using Defensor. Escalation Unfortunately the plan backfired and the battle between the two titans only increased the damage. Proving that five minds are better than one, the team divided and defeated Devastator with an overload of electricity. Devastation

Hot Spot was obsessed with overcoming the problem with their combined form. The team's analysis was interrupted by an attack by the Chaos Trinity, as Hot Spot was one of the Four Angles of Dissolution The Fallen needed to awaken Primus and draw Unicron to Cybertron. After the previous failure against Devastator, Hot Spot was unwilling to risk using Defensor again, and his team was defeated by the enhanced powers of Bludgeon and his allies, Mindwipe and Bugly. Confrontation Hot Spot was taken to a subterranean chamber, where energy from his and three others' Sparks served to unlock the seal of Primus. Grimlock, another of the Four, eventually freed himself and rescued Hot Spot in what might have been an embarrassing role reversal... if he'd been awake for it. Conflagration

During Shockwave's reign over Cybertron, he was sent to stop Menasor's rampage. Despite merging with his fellow Protectobots into Defensor, he was defeated even with the aid of the Omnibots. Passive Aggression

Universe: The Wreckers

Leave it to a fan to actually show, for the first time ever, his weapons doing what they're supposed to do.

In the not-too-distant future, Hot Spot led a team of Targetmasters aboard Sky Garry to back up Arcee, Wheelie, and Daniel during an outbreak of crazed female cyber ninjas. Fighting a losing battle, Hot Spot personally had to drag Arcee to safety, leaving Wheelie and Daniel behind to grenade themselves to death. Fortunately, their murder-suicide pact also took out the remaining Nightbirds. Departure

IDW comics continuity

This section covers fiction that is ongoing. It will be added to as the story progresses. If it isn't current, you can help by updating it.

Sometime before Cybertron was abandoned, Hot Spot was a dispatch officer, searching for viable soldiers to fill out the ranks. When he needed a volunteer for a deep space exploration mission, he reluctantly chose the tiny supply-bot known as Wheelie for the assignment. Spotlight: Wheelie

Two years after the fall of Megatron in New York City, Hot Spot was seen among the surviving Autobots stranded on Earth. New Arrivals, Old Encounters He was present when Rodimus returned from space and told them Cybertron was restored. Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix

While most Autobots returned to Cybertron, Hot Spot was among those chosen by Bumblebee to remain on Earth. He and Kyle Pennington agreed that the Autobots, despised by humanity as they were, really needed better PR. Pennington suggested that he and fellow fire truck Inferno do stuff like extinguish fires and save cats from trees, which Hot Spot thought was a great idea. Nobody else did. Police Action: Part 1 After returning to Cybertron, Hot Spot helped extinguish fires and look for survivors in the wakes of several mysterious explosions. Stick Together

Toys

Generation 1

• Hot Spot (Protectobot, 1986)
  • Team ID number: P5
  • Japanese ID number: C-71
  • Accessories: 2 "Fireball Cannons", 2 mechanical arms, left & right "blast shields", Defensor hip shield, left & right Defensor fists, left & right Defensor footplates

Hot Spot transforms into a blue Mitsubishi Fuso Great fire engine. As a Scramble City-style combiner torso, he has a third mode as a "repair bay", somewhat remeniscent of Powermaster Optimus Prime's combat deck. In this form, he is equipped with waldo arms to "repair" other vehicles. Hot Spot can connect with Metroplex's city mode in this form as well. Another alternate mode allows him to function as an armored car carrier, by extending his legs in vehicle mode and attaching his guns and Defensor's chest plates; he has deck space to carry a single small vehicle in this form.

Hot Spot's chest plate was initially made of painted die-cast metal. However, later runs replaced this with colored plastic and some paint application changes on his headlights. A plastic-chest yellow-eyed version (as opposed to the red eyes on the other releases) has been reported but not confirmed. Subsequent releases of him in the "Classics" line omitted the rub sign gimmick.

This mold was also used to make Fire Chief.

• More information on Hot Spot at TFU.info

• Defensor (Gift set, 1986)
  • Japanese ID number: C-76

All five Protectobots were also available in a gift set. It is currently unknown which construction variants came in the set.

Generation 2

That's right, the only photo of this Hot Spot mold on this page is a fuzzy, super-rare unreleased one.

• Hot Spot (1994)
  • Team ID number: P1
  • Accessories: 2 "Fireball Cannons", 2 mechanical arms, left & right "blast shields", Defensor hip shield, left & right Defensor fists, left & right Defensor footplates

Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were to be redecoed for Generation 2, but were ultimately canceled. No packaged samples of Hot Spot (or his similarly-unreleased Decepticon counterpart Motormaster) have surfaced, and only a handful of test-shots are known to exist. He would have been red and orange with a teal chestplate. If you've seen this, you may in fact be glowing with an inner light. Or you're Shortround.

Your bargaining posture is highly dubious. Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Universe (2008)

Classic Series

• Special Team Leaders (Legends multi-pack, 2008)

"Hot Zone" (renamed for trademark reasons) is a redeco of the Legends-class Cybertron Optimus Prime, transforming into a futuristic fire truck cab. He was only available in a Target-exclusive box set with Hun-Grrr, Razorclaw, Silverbolt, and Scattorshot.

This mold was also used to make Classics Menasor.

• More information on Hot Zone at TFU.info

Titanium Series

No, I don't fight Megazarak. Or do I???

• Hot Zone (6-inch Cybertron Heroes, 2009)

Titanium Series Hot Zone is a redeco of the 6-inch Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime, an idea which thematically calls back to the unreleased OTFCC Universe Defensor, but otherwise doesn't resemble its deco. (Hot Zone is the super robot decoed like Hot Spot, while OTFCC Defensor's super robot was decoed like Defensor.) Like other Titanium Series toys, Hot Zone is partially constructed of die-cast metal. His vehicle mode has a ladder which rotates at its base, and two nozzles flip out of the end of the ladder.

Unlike previous Titanium Series toys which were subtitled by the fictional universe/continuity they came from, Hot Zone and the other 2009 Titanium Series redecos are marketed under the 2008-2009 Universe line. Hot Zone also lacks the display stand that previous Titanium Series toys included.

• More information on Titanium Hot Zone at tfu.info.

Generations

I finally gave up on that whole combiner thing

• Protectobot Hot Spot (Voyager, 2012)
  • Accessories: Projectile

Generations Hot Spot is a retool of Universe Inferno with a new head, transforming into a fictional firetruck based on the 2002-2007 Pierce Contender series of trucks. He is armed with a non-removable water cannon with a spring-loaded projectile.

Hot Spot is available exclusively in Asian markets and Toys"R"Us stores in North America.

The original version of this mold was also used to make BotCon 2010's Spark, and it was seperately retooled to make the 2010 series Solar Storm Grappel.

Merchandise

Transformers Gum

• Hot Spot (Candy toy, 2012)

Part of Kabaya's revived Transformers Gum series, Hot Spot is a model kit that comes with a piece of gum. He can combine with various members of Kabaya's G Guardian series to form either Gaia Guardian or God Guardian.

Hot Spot is packaged with Tigerbreast, who interacts with Hot Spot's wave-mate, Deszaras.

Notes

Sometimes you feel like a mouth. Sometimes you don't.

• Like Devastator's ever disappearing-and-reappearing visor, Hot Spot would occasionally switch between having a mouthplate or having a mouth drawn on his faceplate in his appearances on the original Transformers cartoon. The two most prominent instances of him having a mouth occur in "Ghost in the Machine" and "The Ultimate Weapon"—episodes that seem to have been animated by two different animation companies, suggesting that Hot Spot's mouth may have come from an alternate character model. Or, at least, a recurring artist mistake.
• Hot Spot was given an homage in the Armada line; Firebot (a crash-response truck) was redecoed in light blue with red-and-white warning stripes.
• Hot Spot's vehicle mode is rendered quite differently in both the animated and comic book from his toy. Whereas the Mitsubishi Fuso has four front wheels and two in the rear, the opposite is in effect in the other media.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Hot Spot (ホットスポット Hotto Supotto)
• French: Calorifêro (Canada)
• Italian: Drago
• Russian: Compote (Компот Kompot)

External links

• Hot Spot's Universe profile at NTFA.net