Hot Spot (Transformers)

Hot Spot is the name of two fictional characters in the Transformers series. The original Hot Spot was introduced in 1986 as leader of the Protectobots and was voiced by Dan Gilvezan in the Transformers animated series. The second Hot Spot was a Micromaster who was sold in Japan under the name Neo-Wheel. For trademark reasons some Hot Spot toys have been named "Autobot Hot Zone."

Transformers: Generation 1

Transformers character
Box art of the original Hot Spot toy
Name	Hot Spot/ Hot Zone
Autobot
Series	Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Universe
English voice actor	Dan Gilvezan
Information
Alternate modes	Mitsubishi Fuso Fire Truck/repair bay/emergency car carrier, Cybertronian Fire Truck (War Within)
Function	Protectobot Leader
Motto	"Rust never sleeps and neither do I."
Partner	Streetwise, Groove, First Aid, Scattorshot, Blades, and Silverbolt
Rank	7
Sub-group	Protectobots, Legends

Hot Spot is the leader of the Protectobots. An energetic warrior and leader who leads by example. Always active and wants his troops to be active too.

Hot Spot combines with the other Protectobots to form Defensor.

Reception

The WTF@TFW podcast for March 12th, 2009 selected the Titanium Hot Zone toy as one of the New Picture Picks.

Fictional biography

Profile: Hot Spot likes to be where the action is. Whether he's trying to put out a fire or win a war, as long as he's surrounded by a swirl of movement he's happy. He fights with a fluid instinctiveness that seemingly overrides any carefully measured analysis within his logic circuitry. His leadership is charismatic and inspiring; the other Protectobots can't help but perform beyond their abilities when in his company. However, sometimes they have difficulty keeping up with his non-stop pace. His philosophy is to be maximally operational every moment of his life. Or, as he likes to phrase it, "There are always junkyards for those who rust!"

Abilities: In his fire truck mode, Hot Spot can travel at 90 mph and has a range of 600 miles. His hose line can shoot streams of high-pressure water (and other non-corrosive fluids, such as oil and alcohol) an effective distance of 1200 feet. In robot mode, he possesses incredible strength: he can press 60,000 pounds. He uses a fireball cannon, which can shoot bursts of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit blue flame a distance of 1.5 miles. A special vanadium-steel alloy shields him from temperatures of up to 5000 degrees Fahrenheit. He combines with his fellow Protectobots to form the giant robot known as Defensor.

Weaknesses: Hot Spot's ladder sometimes jams, locking into position when extended. His fireball cannon often backfires, releasing large amounts of the flammable liquid that powers it. Hot Spot himself is invulnerable to the liquid's effects, but the liquid can cause considerable fire-damage to anything around him.

Animated series

The Transformers

Hot Spot first appeared in the US Transformers television series in episode #63, "The Revenge of Bruticus" with no explanation as to where he or the other Protectobots came from.

Interestingly, they were the only group of Autobots to have a base away from the Ark, they resided in a converted building in a nearby city. Throughout the second and third season, the Protectobots were utilized mainly for assisting human civilians during battles or crisis caused by the war between the Autobots and Decepticons.

They often were engaged in battle as well both on Cybertron and Earth, including a trip to Unicron's severed head to investigate its reactivation by the ghost of Starscream.

The Protectobots were last seen supporting Ultra Magnus in a last ditch effort to stop Galvatron in the fourth season. They failed and were gunned down in "The Rebirth Part 3".

Hot Spot appears in episode #27 of the Japanese Headmasters series, called "The Miracle Warriors - The Targetmasters (Part 1)." Spike orders the Protectabots, Technobots and Trainbots to destroy the abandoned Decepticon headquarters on Earth. Combined into Defensor, Computron and Raiden the Autobots quickly demolish the building.

Transformers: The Headmasters

Hot Spot would appear several more time in the Japanese exclusive Headmasters television series, last appearing in episode #34, "The Final Showdown on Earth Part 1".

Comics

3H Enterprises

Generation 1 Hot Spot appeared in a flashback sequence in the Transformers: Universe - Wreckers comic series. He worked with the Autobot Targetmasters against an army of Nightbird robots.

Dreamwave Productions

Around 6.5 million years ago, a test of the experimental space bridge matter-transport system on Cybertron (the metallic world that housed the essence of Primus) liberated the Fallen from his prison, and he materialised on Cybertron, where he quickly recruited the Chaos Trinity, three mystically-inclined Decepticons - Bludgeon, Mindwipe and Bugly - into his employ. Abducting Transformers that he identified as possessing "genetical potential" within their sparks - Grimlock, Blitzwing, Jetfire and Hot Spot - the Fallen planned to use their energies to awaken Primus from his self-imposed slumber, thereby alerting Unicron to his location, allowing the world-eater to renew hostilities with his old enemy. An attack from combined Autobot and Decepticon forces led by Shockwave and Prowl disrupted his plans.

In issue #2 of the third Generation One series, titled "Black Sunshine", the Protectabots were ordered by Prowl to investigate the energy anomaly created by Sunstorm escaping Shockwave's abandoned secret lab. When they arrived they discovered the hole left in the roof by Sunstorm and the deactivated Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck. Streetwise reported back to Prowl as First Aid repaired the Decepticons.

Marvel Comics

Hotspot and the Protectobots first appeared in issue #63/64 of the Marvel UK Transformers comics, as a dream message from the Creation Matrix to Buster Witwicky observed by Optimus Prime, Shockwave and Soundwave. This issue also saw the introduction of the Stunticons, Comabaticons and Aerialbots.

Hot Spot and the Protectobots appeared in issue #24 of the Marvel Transformers comics, where it is assumed they were built on Earth by the Autobots and given life by Optimus Prime using the Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

In issue #27, "King of the Hill!", Perceptor summoned his fellow Autobots Blaster, Hot Spot, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, Ratchet and Silverbolt in order to decide who should take leadership of the Autobots. After an attack by the giant Decepticon Trypticon the leader was chosen - Grimlock.

He last appeared in issue #47 of the regular comic series, but then turned up in the prelude to the Generation 2 comic series by Marvel, as part of a strike team formed to stop Megatron. Hot Spot would be one of two survivors from that battle.

Hot Spot would later appear in the Generation 2 series, attacked by COBRA, who were after the technology inside him after learning the technology Megatron gave them in exchange for his new body had been rendered useless. Badly hurt by their assault, Hot Spot took the ultimate measure to ensure his technology would not be used by evil hands; he self-destructed.

Although the Protectobots did appear in the Marvel's short-lived Transformers: Generation 2 series, they appeared in their original colors, since the comics were published before the Generation 2 Protectobot action figures had been released.

TFcon comics

Hot Spot, voiced by Dan Gilvezan, appeared in the TFcon 2009 voice actor play Bee for, Bee now.

Toys

Licensed

• Generation 1 Protectobot Hot Spot (1986)

Hot Spot was sold by himself as well as in a gift set with the four other Protectobots.

Hot Spot was repainted as Fire Chief, a Japanese exclusive and part of the Guard City set in 1992.

• Generation 2 Protectobot Hot Spot (unreleased)

Although there were plans for Generation Two recolors of the Protectobots, they were never released, although a few prototypes were made. These rare figures are highly collectable.

• Universe Classic Series Legends Autobot Hot Zone (2008)

This toy is a redeco of Cybertron Legends Optimus Prime. He is renamed Hot Zone for trademark reasons. Part of a Target store exclusize 5-pack of Legends.

• Universe Titanium Series 6 inch Hot Zone (2009)

A redeco of the 6 inch Titanium Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime. A Target store exclusive. Pictures of this toy first appeared on the internet in March of 2009.

• Transformers Voyager Hot Spot (not released yet)

A remold and recolor of Reveal the Shield Inferno. An Asia exclusive.

Unlicensed

• Diarycon Spot (unreleased)

An unproduced Dairycon exclusive collectable figure was Robots In Disguise Spy Changer Optimus Prime repainted as a homage to Generation 1 Hot Spot. His tech spec describes he is Hot Spot after being upgraded into a Maximal. Only a prototype figure was produced.

See also: Gear of War

Transformers: Universe

Transformers character
Universe Hot Spot
Name	Hot Spot
Autobot
Japanese name	Neo Wheel
Series	Transformers: Generation 1 Transformers: Universe
Information
Alternate modes	Lamborghini Diablo
Sub-group	Micromasters, Protectobots

Hot Spot is a member of the Protectobots (Six Turbo in Japan) He is the team warrior turns into a yellow car.

Japanese tech spec: An aloof, nature-loving warrior, Neo-Wheel has little taste for following and participating in strategies with the rest of his team, save for those that require combining. If anything, he is often found in the wild amongst animals. He won't say for sure himself, but he appears to have the special ability to communicate with the animals. Neo-Wheel is indeed a warrior of many mysteries.

3H Enterprises

This version of Hot Spot appeared only in his combined form of Defensor in issue #2 of the Transformers: Universe comic as one of the Transformers escaping Unicron's captivity.

Toys

• Generation 1 Micromaster Neo-Wheel (1992)

He came package with the Sixturbo team. A Takara exclusive.

• Generation 1 Micromaster Neo-Wheel reissue (2002)

Blind packaged reissue, with stickers changed to paint applications. A Takara exclusive.

• Generation 1 Micromaster Reverse Evolution Neo-Wheel (2002)

A black redeco of Neo-Wheel as a Decepticon. A blind packaged chase figure. A Takara exclusive.

• Universe Micromaster Hot Spot (2004)

Hot Spot is the US name of former Japanese exclusive toy Neo-Wheel. A Kaybee toy store exclusive. He comes with a fist and the gun of Defensor.

External links

• Hero 4th Edition role playing game character sheet for Generation 1 Hot Spot