Hotlink (G1)

This article is about the Generation 1 Decepticon. For the Exodus Decepticon, see Hotlink (WFC).

Hotlink is a Decepticon from the Generation 1 continuity family.

But can it do smoke rings? (Hotlink is the purple one in front.)

Hotlink is a "Mechatronic Engineer" by trade but a gadget geek at heart. You'll never find him without his tool kit, and he's always ready to tinker up a new device to fit the needs of the moment. It's an affinity that transcends even Autobot or Decepticon factions for him. He'll be just as quick to geek out over an awesome Autobot weapon as one from his own team. And just as quick to "improve" it for his own enjoyment.

His favorite creation of his own is the pyropathic flamethrower. The kids love that one.

Fiction

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: N/A (English), Masashi Ebara (Japanese)

Hotlink was one of the Decepticon jets on Cybertron four million years ago. He used a flamethrower to enclose the Autobots Wheeljack and Bumblebee in a circle of fire. They were nevertheless able to escape and plowed through the Decepticon patrol that included Hotlink. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

Wings Universe

Hotlink was part of the joint Autobot/Decepticon resistance on Cybertron against Jhiaxus's Cybertronian clone army. He joined in an all-out assault on the Cybertronians, where he set at least two clones ablaze with his flamethrower. Termination

Toys

Machine Wars

Now you can recreate my awesome flamethrower scene! Flamethrower not included.

• Rainmakers (Convention 3-pack, 2013)
  • Accessories: Left & right missile launchers, 2 missiles

A redeco of the Classics Starscream mold, Hotlink transforms into a F-15 Eagle, but has the nose of an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. His missile launchers can mount under his wings, on his shoulders, or in his fists, and fire spring-loaded projectiles. The large size of his launchers (necessary for safety reasons) restricts his arm movement somewhat in robot mode, as they bump into his wings. All three Rainmakers have slight tolerance issues with the white parts, basically making key joints juuuuuust a bit too tight.

He was only available in a BotCon 2013 exclusive souvenir set with Bitstream and Sunstorm, limited to 2500 pieces. All three toys use the exact same paint operations and plastic layouts, with the only difference between the three being their primary plastic color.

This mold was also redecoed to make Skywarp, Thundercracker and Acid Storm, and retooled to make Dirge, Ramjet and Thrust.

Notes

• Hotlink was a nameless walk-on in his first appearance in the original Generation 1 cartoon. He was given his name with his first toy in 2013; it comes from a Seeker from a more recent continuity. Incidentally, "hotlink" didn't exist as a word when he made his original fictional appearance! Maybe, back then, he just loved andouille.
• In the Japanese dub of The Transformers cartoon, Hotlink actually shouts out an anime-esque name for his special move involving the ring of fire: "Fire Attack!"
• Confusion arose during BotCon 2013, when figures of Sunstorm and his newly named companions from 'More than Meets the Eye, Part 1', Bitstream and Hotlink, were released in a exclusive three pack titled 'Rainmakers'. However, Fun Publications employees subsequently confirmed that the pack's title was in error, and that there was no intention to link the "welcoming committee" to the trio from 'Divide and Conquer'.