Hot Rod (G1)
| This article is about the Generation 1 Autobot. For the Energon Autobot, see Rodimus (UT). |
Hot Rod is an Autobot in the Generation 1 continuity. He has also been known as Rodimus Prime, Rodimus, and Rodimus Major.
His Targetmaster partner is Firebolt.
Japanese names: Hot Rodimus, Rodimus Convoy
French-Canadian name: Météorite
Fiction
Animated continuity
Voice actors: Judd Nelson, Dick Gautier; ? (Japan)
Marvel Comics continuity
Generation 1
Generation 2
Dreamwave Comics continuity
Hot Rod joined an underground Autobot cell led by Kup after Shockwave's takeover of Cybertron. Among the members of the cell was Arcee, who Hot Rod became attached to.
From the Wastelands, Hot Rod, Blurr, and Springer observed an incoming Decepticon shuttle carrying the Dinobots. Shortly afterwards, the cell rescued Optimus Prime from Runamuck and Runabout, and took him to their base. After awakening, Prime attacked Gnaw, Blurr, and Wheelie, forcing Hot Rod (who didn't recognize him) to hold him at gunpoint. After being admonished by Kup, Hot Rod apologized.
After Shockwave unleashed the Guardian Robots on Iacon, Prime organized the resistance cell and other Autobot forces on the planet in an assault on Shockwave's citadel. Fighting alongside the Autobot leader, Hot Rod was amazed that the stories Kup had told him about Prime's courage and heroism had all been true. As an injured Prime breached the citadel, Hot Rod, Ironhide and Springer provided cover fire, taking down a number of Guardians in the process. Along with the rest of Iacon, they witnessed the divine light of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership when Shockwave activated it.
As Prime and Ultra Magnus battled Shockwave within the citadel, Hot Rod and Grimlock took down Astrotrain and Blitzwing. Immediately afterwards, they were confronted with the looming threat of a remaining Guardian Robot - a threat that was soon neutralized by the arrival of the Wreckers, the Autobot High Council, and Defensor. The unified Autobot group soon breached the citadel.
Some time later, Hot Rod ran a simulation combat scenario against Kup, and won using tactics that, in Kup's opinion, would have killed them both had it been real. Only after his victory did Hot Rod remember that he'd promised to take Arcee to see an Earth-bound shuttle launch - a duty Springer was happy to relieve him of. Soon afterwards, he was assigned to perimeter guard duty at Autobase with Gnaw and Wheelie, separating him from Arcee.
Universe: The Wreckers
Teletraan Go! Go! Mini-Comics
Hot Rod (in his Micromaster form) rescued Teletraan-15 from a strange mechanical monster, a Novaroid. Teletraan-15 noted that Hot Rod was considerably smaller than she remembered him. Irked, Hot Rod laid the blame for the transwarp holes in space-time on 15. It was through these holes that this future/alternate version of Hot Rod and the Novaroid had arrived in Teletraan-15's time.
Toys
Generation 1
- Hot Rod (Autobot Car, 1986/2000/2002)
- Japanese ID number: C-78
- Hot Rod was one of the first toys designed specifically for the Transformers toyline, versus being an imported pre-existing toy. Designer Floro Dery created Hot Rod for the animated film and then the toy was created from his model sheet. (The model sheet would be altered further after the toy was completed.) Hot Rod transforms from a robot into a "futuristic" hot rod sportscar. The toy comes with two rifles. There are two versions of this toy; initial releases have die-cast (unpainted) metal feet, while later shipments use black plastic.
- In 2000, Takara re-released the Hot Rod toy, having had to retro-retool it from the Targetmaster release. In 2002, Hasbro released it as part of the Toys 'R' Us exclusive Commemorative Series line as Rodimus Major. Both versions use die-cast metal for his feet.
- The same mold is used by Black Rodimus.
- Rodimus Prime (Autobot Hero, 1986/2004)
- Japanese ID number: C-77
- Rodimus Prime was designed in much the same way as Hot Rod. Rodimus transforms from a robot and battle platform into a futuristicky Winnebago camper. The toy comes with a "Photon eliminator" rifle and two blast shields to attach to either side of his battle platform's cannon. (The yellow spoiler was also to be removed and replaced during transformation.) Like Hot Rod, there are materials variations; initial releases have metal toes with rubber tires, while latter shipments replaced both with black plastic.
- The metal-toes/rubber-ties version of the toy saw re-release in both Japan and the US in 2004.
- This mold is also used by Primus.
- Hot Rod w/ Firebolt (Targetmaster, 1987/2004)
- Japanese ID number: C-110, TFC-13
- Hot Rod was re-released with his new Nebulan Targetmaster partner Firebolt a year after the original release. The toy was retooled to have larger pegholes in his fists and his engine block so the Targetmaster gun would fit. Latter versions of this toy retooled his lower legs to minimize the scraping of his thigh decals.
- Takara reissued Targetmaster Hot Rod in 2004 as sort of an "ultimate" version, with metal toes (the original versions all used plastic) and the twin rifles from the non-Targetmaster version.
- Crystal Rodimus (Autobot Car, 2001)
- Japanese ID number: C-78C
- One of the earliest e-Hobby exclusives, "Crystal" Rodimus uses the reissue Hot Rod mold, but cast almost entirely in transparent plastics. He was availbale only in a set with the evil clone Black Rodimus.
Battlestars
- Star Convoy w/ Hot Rodimus (Autobot, 1991/2005)
- Japanese ID number: C-372
- Available only with Star Convoy, Hot Rod's Micromaster form is a simplified version of his oriignal toy, still transforming into a Cybertronic race car. In 2005, Star Convoy was re-released with several deco changes; among them, the decals used on Hot Rod were changed to paint applications.
Classics
- Rodimus (Deluxe, 2006)
- Rodimus comes out in fall 2006. This toy is a sleeker, more streamlined version of the original, transforming (again) into a Cybertronic race car. His rear-mounted truster engine becomes a hand-held weapon in robot mode, launching a spring-loaded missile.
Merchandise
External Links
