Firebolt (G1)
- Firebolt is a Nebulan Targetmaster partnered with the Autobot Hot Rod.
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 armour 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.
He is also known as Sparks and Offshoot.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Nebulon minds were duplicated and installed into transformable Nebulon-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. Ultimately, Sparks left Nebulos with the Autobots to 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 Ocean, but were quickly defeated. The Desert Island of Space!
Sadly, at some point before Hot Rod became Rodimus Prime in the alternate future of Earth-120185, Firebolt was killed on Earth while battling their Decepticon foes. Headhunt
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
Ladybird Books continuity
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 and is partnered with the Nebulan Targetmaster Sparks. At one point, they prevented the Decepticons causing Nebulos' destruction via cosmic radiation. Decepticons at the Pole
Dreamwave comics 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 #4
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)
- Masterpiece Rodimus Prime (2011, Toys"R"Us exclusive)
- 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!
