Firebolt (G1)
| This subject of this article goes by multiple names that apply to other articles as well. See Firebolt (disambiguation), Spark (disambiguation), Offshoot (disambiguation), Firedrive. |
- Firebolt is an Autobot-allied Nebulan Targetmaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.
Firebolt was once a quiet scholar on the pacifistic planet of Nebulos, where he was renowned as one of its top atomic physicists. Beneath his meek and reserved exterior, however, young Firebolt yearned for a life of action and excitement. His dreams of adventure might never have come true, if not for the intervention of the Decepticons. When the call went out for Nebulans who would be willing to take up arms in defense of their planet, Firebolt was amongst the first to volunteer. Undergoing the extensive and painful procedure known as binary bonding, Firebolt was given a special suit of black and grey armor and granted the power to transform himself into a powerful double-barreled weapon called an "electrostatic discharge rifle".
Although eager for the chance to make a difference and have some fun, Firebolt soon found that his own exuberance paled in comparison to his Targetmaster partner: a young Autobot named Hot Rod. Firebolt's opinion of this situation is what could be described as cautiously optimistic. He is excited by all the action and adventure of being a Targetmaster, but he is also very nervous at some of the risks that Hot Rod insists on taking at times.
Firebolt's nature varies. In some universes he is an organic Nebulan; in others he is a robotic Cybertronian.
He is also known as Sparks, Offshoot, or Firedrive. Other times Offshoot and Firedrive are separate beings.
Fiction
Marvel The Transformers comics
Nebulan minds were duplicated and installed into transformable Nebulan-sized robots, creating the Targetmasters. The Final Conflict
Sparks was one of six Nebulan dissidents who were ostracized by the political tides of their home planet for sympathizing with the Autobots. He believed so strongly in the righteousness of these alien invaders that he allowed himself to be bio-engineered into a transforming humanoid that could become an Autobots' weapon. He was partnered with Hot Rod. News reached the Autobots that The Nursery was under threat from the Decepticons, and so the newly binary bonded group went ahead to secure the facility.
Sparks and fellow Nebulans were getting a guided tour of the place from head botanist Selani when Scorponok arrived with the Terrorcons in tow. The six Nebulans transformed to their new weapon forms, and the Autobot Targetmasters unleashed their new firepower. Though the group fared well enough, the Autobots ended up retreating to spare the Nursery utter destruction from the battle. In time, the Autobots realized that their war could only bring more destruction to the Nebulons' homeworld, and left the planet behind for Earth. Brothers in Armor!!Worlds Apart!
The Targetmasters' first mission on Earth was aiding Fortress Maximus and his Headmaster partner Spike Witwicky find the latter's brother, who had recently been kidnapped by the Decepticons. Sparks and the others introduced themselves to Spike's father, Sparkplug Witwicky, but he was a little too shellshocked to be very friendly. Fortress Maximus and the Targetmasters traced the Decepticons to their island base in the Caribbean Sea, but were quickly defeated by its automated defences. The Desert Island of Space!
Marvel UK future timelines
At some point before Hot Rod became Rodimus Prime, Firebolt was killed on Earth while battling their Decepticon foes. Headhunt
Classics
At some point, Hot Rod (now calling himself "Rodimus") lost contact with Sparks. The loss of his Targetmaster partner greatly affected his offensive capabilities. The Autobot's new weapon, a photon laser blaster, was modelled after Spark's weapon mode. Classics Rodimus profile
The Transformers cartoon
- Voice actor: Dick Gautier (English), Eiji Yanagisawa (Japanese)
Firebolt was one of a group of Nebulan rebels who captured a team of Autobots, and was the one who selected the magnetic bombs with which they'd do away with the suspected Hive machines. He bluntly told Highbrow to shut up when the Autobot complained about the Nebulans jumping to conclusions. Fortunately before the executions could be carried out, the Decepticons attacked, and the Nebulan rebels realised that the Autobots weren't so bad. Firebolt helped Arcana to treat Daniel Witwicky, who'd been injured seriously by Snapdragon during the attack, and the pair managed to stabilise the boy's condition. The Rebirth, Part 1
When the Autobots stole Targetmaster technology from the Decepticons, Firebolt was partnered with Hot Rod. He and the other Nebulans greeted Optimus Prime on his arrival to their planet, proudly demonstrating his abilities and introducing Prime to the Targetmasters. The Rebirth, Part 2 He was still partnered with Hot Rod during their battles with the Hive, and participated in the battle against Scorponok which eventually earned Cybertron a new lease on life. The Rebirth, Part 3
Toy pack-in material
When Optimus became stranded on Cybertron's hemisphere of darkness with his memory damaged, Firebolt joined a small strike force of Autobots called H.O.P.E. (Help Optimus Prime Escape) to retrieve him. Optimus Prime Is Back
Desert of Danger
Working out of his laboratory on Nebulos, the mechanical Professor Sparks suspected the Decepticons were attempting reinforce their position in spite of a local treaty in place to limit their numbers so he had Hot Rod delivered by freight to help him investigate. With your help they traced the Decepticons to the Wolf at the Door nightclub, an oil bar for Nebulan miners run by Monzo, and discovered that Weirdwolf, Skullcruncher, and Mindwipe were importing Attack Squad robots from Cybertron and awakening them from cryogenic suspension with a catalytic stimulant disguised as Sirian brandy.
You and Professor Sparks managed to take Mindwipe out of action and the Decepticons were ultimately defeated. Though the Headmasters had to be released under the terms of the treaty, the Attack Squad robots were destroyed. Desert of Danger
Ladybird Books continuity
While partnered with Sparks, Hot Rod grew out of his immaturity and became a sensible warrior and a team leader. During the early stages of the war on Nebulos, Hot Rod was Autobot commander against Cyclonus's Decepticons before the return of Optimus Prime. At one point, they prevented the Decepticons causing Nebulos' destruction via cosmic radiation. Decepticons at the Pole
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
8.2 million years before the war on Earth, a young Optimus Prime and Megatron were shown several glimpses into a number of potential futures. Amongst the many possible timelines they viewed was one in which Hot Rod battled the Decepticons, with Firebolt fighting proudly by his side (or in his hand, as the case may be). The War Within #5
Toys
Generation 1
- Hot Rod (Targetmaster, 1987)
- Firebolt was first released in 1987, boxed with the Targetmaster version of Hot Rod. Like most Targetmaster weapons, his transformation is simple: simply fold his legs up and the barrels of his gun form are revealed. Firebolt could be placed in either of Hot Rod's hands or on top of his engine mount in vehicle mode. This resulted in a noticeable difference between Hot Rod's Targetmaster mold and his earlier release: both his hands and his engine needed to be retooled to have the pegholes made larger to accommodate Firebolt.
The Transformers Collection
- Hot Rodimus (2004)
- Japanese ID number: 13
- Firebolt was re-released in 2004 along with Targetmaster Hot Rod by Takara as part of an "ultimate" version of the toy. This was the first time the Targetmaster version of Hot Rod and Firebolt had been normally available in Japan.
Transformers (2010)
- Unique to the North American release, Masterpiece Rodimus Prime comes with a "Limited Edition" Targetmaster partner, though named "Offshoot" for trademark reasons. Offshoot transforms from robot to gun and back, and he can either be held in Rodimus Prime's hand or plugged into a hidden port in his hot rod engine. Offshoot isn't the largest Targetmaster partner, though he is the most articulated! Offshoot can also accommodate with the second Masterpiece Hot Rod figure.
- This toy also doubles as the independent Beast Wars: Uprising character Offshoot.
Generations
- Firedrive & Autobot Hot Rod (Deluxe Class, 2016)
- Packaged with Titans Return Autobot Hot Rod, "Firedrive" (again, renamed for trademark reasons.) Firedrive transforms from a robot based on Firebolt's "Rebirth" animation model into Roddy's head. He can similarly be used as the head of any other Titans Return Deluxe, Voyager, or Leader Class figure.
- This toy also doubles as the independent Beast Wars: Uprising character Firedrive.
Legends
- Legends Firebolt is a new mold included with Targetmaster Hot Rodimus, transforming into a double-barreled gun based on his original toy.
Notes
Foreign names
- Japanese: Firebolt (ファイアーボルト Faiāboruto)
