Hot Shot (RID)
| This subject of this article goes by multiple names that apply to other articles as well. See Hot Shot (disambiguation), Artfire. |
- Hot Shot is the leader of the Autobot Spy Changers from the 2001 Robots in Disguise continuity family.
Hot Shot has served with Optimus Prime for many years. The leader of the ninja-like Spy Changers, Hot Shot lives up to his name by using his special pyrokinetic abilities to make fire dance at his will. Though he puts on a show of being a gruff, no-nonsense duty-first sort, in the end it's the safety of those under his command that push him in his fight against the Predacons.
Fiction
2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon
- Voice actor: Michael McConnohie (English), Eiji Takemoto (Japanese),Mikhail Tihonov (Russian),
When the Predacons stole the 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
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 International Grand Prix 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
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
In between all their adventures, the Autobots still had to perform some of the more menial tasks, such as regularly testing out the global space bridge. Lessons of the Past
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
Japanese cartoon continuity
Super Spy Changers catalog
With God Magnus having departed Earth aboard Brave 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 leadership.[1][2]
Ask Vector Prime
The threat was Chainsaw and his Mutants. Artfire used his pyrokinesis to thwart Meathook on Kilimanjaro, then used his enhanced leadership when Chainsaw and the rest of his Mutants attempted to overrun the Autobot base. Using the power of teamwork, the Super Spy Changers defeated and captured the villains. Though the Go-Brillium which powered them was used up and they were no longer Super, they retained new color schemes. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/01
Transformers Legends comic
When Black Convoy and his Combatrons attacked the Dimensional Patrol's Neo Brave Maximus to rescue Devil Gigatron, the Super Spy Changers were sent out to the front lines. Their damage to the Combatrons' ship led to it crashing into the base. LGEX Black Convoy Prologue
Prevenge
- Voice actor: Michael McConnohie (English)
Hot Shot and Ironhide fought against Wind Sheer, who was attempting to take hold of an O-part hidden away within a breakfast cereal box at a packing-plant. During the fight, a storage tank was ruptured, and thirty tons of Shredded Wheat poured out over the two Autobots. Ironhide was sucked away into a trans-dimensional portal during the confusion, and he yelled out to Hot Shot to avenge him, should he not return in time for the "third act". Prevenge
Toys
Car Robots / Robots in Disguise (2001)
- Artfire (Spy Changer, 2000)
- 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 roof has heat-sensitive paint that reveals an Autobot insignia, in a method similar to the original rubsigns.
- Spy Changer Deluxe 6 Piece Set (Multi-pack, 2000)
- 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. All of the toys within are identical to their individual releases.
- 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.
- 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.
- The initial releases of this set have Hot Shot packaged in robot mode with R.E.V. in vehicle mode, pointed straight upward. Later releases have both toys in vehicle mode, tilted to a 1 o'clock position.
- 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.
- 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. There are no notable changes to the actual toy from the normal Hasbro release.
- 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.
- 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.
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. The exact nature of the relation is unknown, though. Hasbro sources have made no such connections between Hot Shot and Optimus Prime.
Foreign names
- Japanese: Artfire (アートファイヤー Ātofaiyā)
- Korean: Artfire (아트파이어 Ateupaieo)
- Russian: Sorvigolova (Сорвиголова, "Daredevil")
