Hot Spot (G1)

Hot Spot is an Autobot Protectobot from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Unfortunately, for a serious primus apotheosis subject, an Optimus Prime-like head isn't enough. Fake windscreens on the chest are common.

Hot Spot (aka Hot Zone) leads by example. Whether it's a raging battle or a raging fire, he's right in the thick of things—and that's where he's happiest. While many Autobots get into trouble by not thinking in combat, Hot Spot is a natural warrior who excels at fighting on instinct alone. His fellow Protectobots find his endless energy inspiring (though a bit exhausting), letting Hot Spot command even the most philosophically different of robots like Blades and First Aid as a tight and effective unit. He's a tough fighter to boot—strong, well-armed and well-armored.

Hot Spot can combine with his fellow Protectobots to form Defensor or God Guardian.

Fiction

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Voice actor: Dan Gilvezan (English), Kenyū Horiuchi (Japanese), Takurō Kitagawa (Japanese, "The Ultimate Weapon", "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"), Roberto Alexander (American Spanish), Gerhard Acktun (German, "Carnage in C-Minor"), Reinhard Brock (German, "Ghost in the Machine"), Imo Heite (German, "The Ultimate Weapon"), Hans-Rainer Müller (German, "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"), Claus Brockmeyer (German, Generation 2 "The Revenge of Bruticus"), François Leccia (European French, "Carnage in C-Minor"), Georges Atlas (European French, "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1"), Hélio Ribeiro (Portuguese), Orlando Prado (Portuguese, "The Ultimate Weapon")

It's one of 'em newfangled drivin' by 'emselves fire trucks, huyuck!

When the Insecticons attacked an inhabited city on Earth, Optimus Prime called upon the Protectobots to evacuate the civilians caught in the crossfire. Later, as Earth's orbit was diverted to the sun by the Combaticons, Hot Spot extinguished the flames engulfing the bone-dry crops of a farmer before quickly driving off to the next fire. The Revenge of Bruticus

He fights fire with firearms.

Hot Spot, as part of Defensor, totally blew up Bruticus. Afterwards, he was with the Protectobots when they saved some window-washers from a burning skyscraper, helping Groove extinguish the flames with liquid nitrogen. Later still, Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were ordered to help defend Autobot Headquarters from a Decepticon attack. They merged into Defensor and activated his useless force field, which almost immediately deactivated, allowing the Decepticons to blast Defensor back into his component parts. B.O.T.

By 2006, the Protectobots had risen to become a major presence in the Autobot army. Hot Spot participated in the liberation of Paradron. Fight or Flee He, Perceptor and Defensor were among a group of Autobots who battled the Decepticons on Eurythma. You read that right. Carnage in C-Minor On Cybertron, Hot Spot and Groove manned the Autobots' defensive laser batteries when Starscream's ghost launched Astrotrain into their range. Realizing that this "invasion" and the recent assault on Metroplex were connected with Unicron getting his eyes back, Rodimus Prime sent Hot Spot, Groove, Ultra Magnus and Springer up to Unicron to investigate. They were repulsed, violently, by Unicron's internal defenses. When Unicron and Starscream enlisted Trypticon to move the Planet-Eater's head to Cybertron to make it his new body, though, Hot Spot and his team were ready with energon explosives to blast Unicron back out into space. Ghost in the Machine

He regrets the moments he got his arm extensions.

One day, the Autobots were asked to help the Dutch authorities deal with French rebels. After dispersing the human aggressors, Hot Spot was concerned about how they could protect the human civilians from the Decepticons and cover First Aid, who was helping the downed Blades. Later, as it turned out the battle was only a diversion to allow Swindle to steal Metroplex's transformation cog, Hot Spot, Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus tried to reassure First Aid of his value to the Autobots when the pacifist medic failed to stop Swindle. Unfortunately, just as First Aid left, the Autobots were called upon to deal with a rampaging Trypticon. Hot Spot ordered the remaining Protectobots to combine into Defensor even without First Aid to save a train full of civilians. After successfully saving them, Hot Spot tracked down First Aid to a junk yard and convinced the latter of his value to the Autobots. The Ultimate Weapon

Later in 2006, the Protectobots arrived at the aftermath of the battle between the Technobots and Terrorcons at Mark Morgan's laboratory. They transported the injured Jessica Morgan to county general hospital and watched over her as the doctors restored her ability to walk with an exo-skeletal structure, enraging the robo-phobic senior Morgan. When Hot Spot tried to explain that they only wanted to help, Morgan shot back that they were only turning her into one of them. This had negative consequences. What a jerkface. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1

Hot Spot, under Ultra Magnus’ command, joined the other Protectobots in a surprise attack on Galvatron. They would have destroyed him if not for the sudden arrival of Scorponok. The Rebirth, Part 3

Japanese cartoon continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers story pages

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it.

Scramble City

Hot Spot and the Protectobots participated in the Scramble City project under Ultra Magnus's direction, working towards the construction of Metroplex. After the Decepticons uncovered their secret building site, the Protectobots rode into battle alongside the newly completed Metroplex. Hot Spot and his comrades arrived and formed Defensor just in time to act as the harbinger of Metroplex and his really big gun. Scramble City: Mobilization

The Headmasters cartoon

Voice actor: Kōji Totani (Japanese), Hōchū Ōtsuka (ep 12), Kazuo Oka (ep 25), Ken Yamaguchi (ep 27), Hirohiko Kakegawa (ep 34)

In 2011, Galvatron attacked Cybertron looking to take control of Vector Sigma. Hot Spot and Blades were on the front lines defending Cybertron against the Combaticons. Four Warriors Come out of the Sky As Defensor, Hot Spot's team continued battling on Cybertron for some time. The Mystery of Planet Master Later, Hot Spot and the Protectobots assembled on Earth at Ultra Magnus's command. Their mission was to stop the Decepticons from interfering with Hot Rod and the Headmasters, who were searching for the hidden location of the Matrix of Leadership. On a security sweep, the Protectobots ran across their old foes, the Combaticons, and went into battle. The two teams quickly assumed their combined forms as Bruticus and Defensor, as the fighting escalated. Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime

When Galvatron made another strike on Cybertron, this time to steal the super-metal Cybertonuron, Hot Spot and the Protectobots assembled before the space bridge on Earth to be transported into battle. Seeking out the Combaticons on the battlefield, the Protectobots soon formed Defensor and fought once more with Bruticus. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1 Defensor and Bruticus's battle continued as Defensor delivered a devastating smash to Bruticus's back. For at least part of the battle, the two teams disassembled again, as Hot Spot and Blades were seen firing upon the aerial Combaticons again. Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2

Hot Spot and the Protectobots were dispatched to Peru with the Trainbots when a volcano erupted, leaving a mountainside village in dire peril. Their rescue mission was blocked by the Predacons. Hot Spot was ready to tear into the enemy, but Shouki insisted the Protectobots proceed on to the village to protect the innocent lives. Hot Spot relented, but the Protectobots nevertheless failed to reach the village. They were intercepted by the Decepticons' second wave, the Headmasters. Although they formed Defensor, the Protectobots were taken out of action by Mindwipe's paralysis ray, which was strong enough to leave them completely immobilized. The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts

Hot Spot and the Protectobots were part of a strike team that flew to the moon to disrupt Scorponok's gathering of Decepticons. They immediately formed Defensor upon entering the battle. Return of the Immortal Emperor When the planet Sandra sent out a distress call asking for energy, the Autobots of Earth responded. While they were loading the Trainbots full of supplies, however, Galvatron and the Decepticons arrived to take the energy for themselves. Hot Spot and the Protectobots fought back against the enemy, and formed Defensor to counter Devastator on the battlefield. SOS from Planet Sandra

After the death of Ultra Magnus, the Autobots were desperately trying to pick up the slack during Sixshot's campaign of destruction around the globe. Hot Spot and the Protectobots assembled as Defensor to go out and confront Sixshot at one of the attack sites, but they apparently didn't fare too well. The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg When the Decepticons seemingly abandoned Earth, Hot Spot and the Protectobots assisted Spike in rebuilding the planet after the enemy's departure. On one occasion, they located Sixshot's old command base. By combining into Defensor, the Protectobots helped Raiden and Computron obliterate the base, wiping out all trace of the Decepticons' presence. Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)

Following a lengthy period of inactivity, the Decepticons renewed their attacks on Earth. With Fortress still off in space, Spike Witwicky dispatched Hot Spot and the Protectobots to attend to the threats. In Canberra, Australia, the Protectobots confronted Bruticus at one of Scorponok's new Death Towers. As Defensor, the Protectobots were beaten severely by Bruticus. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1) As part of Defensor, Hot Spot participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' Head Formation to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)

Unite Warriors

Hot Spot and the other Protectobots played a game of baseball in celebration of First Aid's friend NUL-A's birthday. Today Is First Aid's Close Friend NUL-A's Birthday!

I want to tell you about the Transformers! This character article is a stub and is missing information on their fictional appearances. You can help Transformers Wiki by expanding it. Invitation to the Dress Rehearsal!

TV Magazine comic continuity

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers comic

When the Stunticons went on a rampage, attacking a human baseball stadium, the Autobots' human friend Kenji radioed for help. Hot Spot and the other combiner warriors answered his summons. After Hot Spot extinguished the blaze caused by the Decepticon attack, he joined his fellow warriors in forming Defensor and Superion. The sides evened up with the arrival of Bruticus, however, and a critical blow to Defensor's chest damaged Hot Spot, forcing the Protectobots to disengage. Through sheer cunning, the other Protectobots managed to drive off the Decepticons, and Hot Spot survived long enough to receive the proper repairs. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5

Later, the Decepticons tried to drive a rift between the humans and Autobots by using their ground-bound members to pose as crazed Autobot attackers. Hot Spot and Inferno arrived on the scene and used their water sprays to wash off the fake Autobot symbols, revealing the Decepticons underneath. Not beaten yet, Onslaught and Motormaster unleashed a combiner whirlwind attack, but Hot Spot and Inferno whipped their ladders around, sending the Decepticon sub-commanders flying straight into a double kick by Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus. Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7

The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers

On the planet Feminia, the Autobots had constructed a massive energy tower, so naturally the Decepticons wanted to plunder it. Hot Spot and the Protectobots were present to defend the tower as Defensor, but were easily taken down by Predaking. They had to be rescued by the mysterious and powerful Omnibots. The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5

The Great Transformer War

When Galvatron kidnapped the famous scientist, Doctor Dalton, Hot Spot and the Protectobots joined the Aerialbots in speeding to his rescue. They were harshly rebuffed at Trypticon's gate, however, by the Combaticons and Stunticons. Superion was torn to shreds, and Hot Spot converted to repair bay mode in order to bring the fallen Aerialbots back on line. His teammates held the line, fending off Bruticus and Menasor while Hot Spot hurried to finish his work, and Blades snuck inside Trypticon to retrieve Dalton. With the Aerialbots repaired and Dalton freed, the Autobots retreated back to Metroplex. The Great Transformer War #1

Ask Vector Prime

The Protectobots once lived on the colony world of Archon, but as the colony slowly began to fail they succumbed to stasis lock. They remained that way until Omega Supreme chanced across the ruins of the planet and brought them back to Earth. The only way to revive them was through an energon infusion; the Aerialbots volunteered for the process. The Protectobots made a complete recovery and then some: the transfusion had given them the ability to combine! Optimus Prime gave them their own headquarters in Central City, hoping that city life would help them acclimatize to life on Earth while also providing the metropolis with an extra degree of protection. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/21

Marvel Comics continuity

Marvel The Transformers comics

Hot Spot's coming was first foretold in a Matrix-induced vision shared between Optimus Prime and Buster Witwicky. In this prophetic vision, the Protectobots were tasked by Optimus Prime to look after the Pullen Power Plant, only for it to come under attack from both the Combaticons and the Stunticons. By merging into Defensor, and with the help of Superion, the Protectobots were able to safeguard the plant. The Special Teams Have Arrived Second Generation!

Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were then created on Earth by Wheeljack and the Autobots after they stole a recording of Devastator's combiner transformation sequence and modified it. Command Performances!

Hot Spot accompanied Optimus Prime and his fellow Protectobots to Energy Futures Industries, where they squared off against Megatron and the Combaticons to prevent them from stealing the hydrothermocline, a potentially limitless supply of energy. To prevent property damage and potential civilian casualties, the Autobots agreed to be uploaded into a virtual fantasy world in EFI's computer systems by Ethan Zachary, a human programmer on site. Similarly, the Decepticons agreed so that the hydrothermocline would remain intact. The game scenario was arranged so that the "death" of either Optimus or Megatron would end the game. Once inside "Multi-World", Hot Spot convinced Optimus Prime to remain behind while the Protectobots eliminated the potential threats. Hot Spot himself did battle with his opposite number, Onslaught, in the region known as the Slimepit. Despite the hindrance the bog caused, Hot Spot still held true to Autobot ideals and threw himself in harm's way to protect the virtual inhabitants of Multi-World. In turn, they carried him to safety away from Onslaught, giving him the advantage he needed to defeat the Combaticon. Despite their efforts, though, Optimus Prime ended up dying on this mission, and the Protectobots brought his body back to the Ark. Afterdeath! Back at the Wyoming base, the increasingly insane Megatron would obsessively relive these events, Gone but Not Forgotten! as would the time travelling Dicet Alpha-zero. The Quest!

Hot Spot lets the others know how he feels about these meetings with his "wanking" gesture.

Hot Spot was one of the several Autobots who watched through a window as Ratchet futilely tried to repair Optimus Prime's body. Funeral for a Friend! After the funeral, Hot Spot and other high-ranking Autobots assembled to nominate a new leader. Hot Spot suggested their nominee possess wisdom just like Optimus Prime, since their late leader knew how and how not to fight. After the Autobots were rescued by the Dinobots from an attack by Trypticon, Hot Spot and the others chose Grimlock to be their new leader. King of the Hill!

"Now I've set the timer to ten seconds, so I'll just get in between you guys and—dammit! Not again!"

Under Grimlock's leadership, Hot Spot and the Protectobots were ordered to hunt down and apprehend the AWOL Autobots Blaster and Goldbug. They caught up with the deserters at a used car lot run by Big Steve, but a four-way skirmish developed between Blaster, the Protectobots, the Combaticons, and the human-led robot hunters, RAAT. In the end, Hot Spot and his crew only managed to capture Blaster. Used Autobots When a second encounter with the Combaticons endangered the lives of several young humans, Blaster not only saved the children and defeated Bruticus where Defensor failed, but then willingly resubmitted himself to Protectobot custody rather than trying to escape. Impressed with Blaster's actions, Hot Spot decided to defy Grimlock's orders and let him go free along with the children aboard a mode locked Blast Off. Child's Play Grimlock subsequently captured the Decepticon shuttle and brought it on board the Ark. Finding that Blaster had escaped, he nevertheless tried the human children before an Autobot Multi-Circuit Court and sentenced them to death as Hot Spot and the other Autobots looked on. Spacehikers!

At Alternate Reality, Inc. back on Earth, the human Ethan Zachary replayed some of Optimus Prime's memories of Hot Spot in an attempt to convince the former Autobot leader that he was more than just a computer program. Pretender to the Throne!

Following Optimus Prime's return to life, Hot Spot and the Protectobots were assigned to guard the backup copy of the floppy disk that had enabled his resurrection, stored at an Alternate Reality, Inc. warehouse. Alerted to Combaticon activity at Rutter U.S. Military Base, the team was relieved by the Autobot Powermasters so they could go and deal with their old rivals. Unfortunately, they were too late to stop the Combaticons' theft of military technology; worse yet, upon their return to the warehouse, they discovered that the Decepticon Powermasters had stolen the disk in their absence. Combining into Defensor, they tried to stop the villains from escaping, but a barrage of fire from the underhanded Combaticons knocked the giant over. Prime Bomb!

Marvel UK future timelines

In 2008, Hot Spot was seen beating the stuffing out of a Decepticon during a major offensive on Cybertron. The Legacy of Unicron!

Marvel Generation 2 comic

He's a Fahrenheit 451 truck: his job is to start fires.

Hot Spot led a team of Autobots sent to Earth by Optimus Prime to counter the threat of a Cobra-rebuilt Megatron. Megatron's new form was more than a match for them, however, and nearly all of his team were destroyed. Only Hot Spot and Skydive survived the encounter. Final Transformations

As the last survivor still on Earth, Hot Spot observed Cobra hauling a trailer of Transformers technology salvaged from the Ark, and noted that his orders included keeping Autobot tech out of the humans' hands. He single-handedly attacked the convoy, drawing fire from numerous Cobra tanks, until he managed to destroy the trailer by ramming it off the side of an embankment. Weary and on the brink of shut-down, Hot Spot self-destructed to keep Cobra from using his own body as a replacement source of technology. All or Nothing!

Transformers Comic-Magazin

Hot Spot and the Protectobots formed Defensor, battling Menasor in defense of Earth's energy resources. Transformers in Action: He Who Laughs Last ...

Regeneration One

Following the assault of Bludgeon's Blitz Engines on Cybertron, Hot Spot was seen clearing up the mess, putting out fires alongside Hosehead and Blades. The War to End All Wars, Part 1

The Special Teams

Hot Spot and the rest of the Protectobots were posted at the Pullen Power Plant to defend it while its human workers had been evacuated due to the possibility of a landslide in the area. Blades soon spotted the Stunticons heading towards their position. Racing to meet their incoming foes, Hot Spot was surprised to witness these newcomers combine into Menasor.To combat this new threat, the Protectobots merged once more into Defensor. The Decepticons soon found himself losing the battle and disperse, though the storm around them had gotten too bad for the Autobots to give chase. Hot Spot admittedly felt he had too much work to do at the plant to bother going after the Decepticons. The Special Teams

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

After the signing of the Crisis Intervention Accord, many of the special teams went into hiding or broke up to continue fighting on different factions. Hot Spot maintained the Protectobots, one of the late model specials teams, in secret. The group watched the battles rage around them, continuing to help when possible, intervening to uphold CIA where necessary, and trying to overcome the shortcomings of the combination process.

Upon learning that Ratbat had persuaded the Constructicons to join his Ultracons, Hot Spot led his team to the Tagan Heights to counter the threat of Devastator by using Defensor. Escalation Unfortunately the plan backfired as Defensor became too focus on beating Devastator and not enough on safeguarding his surroundings. After being talked down by Springer, the team divided and quickly concocted a plan to defeated Devastator; Hot Spot lifted First Aid to reach a port on Devastator's leg and plug a cable into it, while the other end of the line was plugged into Tagan Heights' power grid by Groove and Streetwise. The overload of electricity fried Devastator, knocking him unconscious and forcing him to separate into his component 'bots. Devastation

My invisible partner already has this dance—

Hot Spot subsequently became obsessed with overcoming the problem with their combined form. The team's analysis was interrupted by an attack by the Chaos Trinity, as Hot Spot was one of the Four Angles of Dissolution The Fallen needed to awaken Primus and draw Unicron to Cybertron. After the previous failure against Devastator, Hot Spot was unwilling to risk using Defensor again, and his team was defeated by the enhanced powers of Bludgeon and his allies, Mindwipe and Bugly. Confrontation Hot Spot was taken to a subterranean chamber, where energy from his and three others' Sparks served to unlock the seal of Primus. Grimlock, another of the Four, eventually freed himself and rescued Hot Spot in what might have been an embarrassing role reversal... if he'd been awake for it. Conflagration

During Shockwave's reign over Cybertron, he was sent to stop Menasor's rampage. Despite merging with his fellow Protectobots into Defensor, he was defeated even with the aid of the Omnibots. Passive Aggression

Once they had recovered, Hot Spot and the Protectobots followed an anomalous energy signal to the remains of Shockwave's lab, where they found the offline Runabout and Runamuck. They called it in to Prowl, who asked to be kept notified of any developments. Black Sunshine

3H comics

Leave it to a fan to actually show, for the first time ever, his weapons doing what they're supposed to do.

In the not-too-distant future, Hot Spot led a team of Targetmasters aboard Sky Garry to back up Arcee, Wheelie, and Daniel during an outbreak of crazed female cyber ninjas. Fighting a losing battle, Hot Spot personally had to drag Arcee to safety, leaving Wheelie and Daniel behind to grenade themselves to death. Fortunately, their murder-suicide pact also took out the remaining Nightbirds. Departure

2005 IDW continuity

First appearance: Spotlight: Wheelie; The Transformers vol. 1 #2 (modern era)

Because Browning wasn't available.

Early in the war, Hot Spot battled on Junkion during the Battle of Junkion. A Lonely Pillar on the Plain

Sometime before Cybertron was abandoned, Hot Spot was a dispatch officer, searching for viable soldiers to fill out the ranks. When he needed a volunteer for a deep space exploration mission, he reluctantly chose the tiny supply-bot known as Wheelie for the assignment. Spotlight: Wheelie

That's him back there, trust us.

Two years after the fall of Megatron in New York City, Hot Spot was among the surviving Autobots stranded on Earth. New Arrivals, Old Encounters He was present when Rodimus returned from space and told them Cybertron was restored. Orphans of the Helix While most Autobots returned to Cybertron, Hot Spot was one of those chosen by Bumblebee to remain on Earth. He and Kyle Pennington agreed that the Autobots, despised by humanity as they were, really needed better PR. Pennington suggested that he and fellow fire truck Inferno do stuff like extinguish fires and save cats from trees, which Hot Spot thought was a great idea. Nobody else did. Police Action: Part 1 He went on to aid in the search for the Decepticon forces hiding on Earth, but their lack of success and the fact that nobody really saw him as a leader got Bumblebee down. Hot Spot tried to cheer him back up, but was left behind when Bumblebee chose to deal with things on his own. The Question

Always a pallbearer, never a pall.

After returning to Cybertron, Hot Spot helped extinguish fires and look for survivors in the wakes of several mysterious explosions. Stick Together He later brought an injured Prowl to Fixit's medbay for treatment. City on Fire

Hot Spot joined the crew of the Lost Light following its return to Cybertron. When the ship encountered a coffin floating in outer space, Hot Spot, Mirage, Broadside and Grotusque carried it in, under the command of Megatron. Words Hang in the Air After the coffin was opened and the Lost Light began vanishing, Hot Spot fled with the rest of the ship's crew to an escape craft. Predestination: A Beginner's Guide

Despite having transferred to the Lost Light's crew, Hot Spot and Streetwise were seen extinguishing a fire at Gutcruncher's bar back on Cybertron. Quest for Fire

After the Lost Light was restored, its crew attended Thunderclash's "pre-wake" on board the Vis Vitalis. Hot Spot, Streetwise, Blades, and Groove all busted a serious move on the dance floor. The Sensuous Frame

So in sync with each other that they keep calling Mainframe and Grotusque "Blades" and "Streetwise."

Hot Spot was one of four other crewmembers chosen to escort Mirage back to Cybertron after he started seeing apocalyptic visions. Streetwise joked that the five of them were "Protectobots." The Possible Light Once they arrived, Mirage led them hurriedly to Optimus Prime to tell them about his vision, when suddenly Prowl's Devastator attacked, who was hoping to destroy the space bridge to Cybertronian colonies. Superion countered him, but Starscream feared the Autobot combiner wouldn't be enough, so he used the Enigma of Combination to create another. Hot Spot, the other four "Protectobots," and Rook, who had wandered into the group, were all combined into the mighty Defensor, who managed to defeat Devastator. Mistakes and Mayhem With the Constructicons temporarily contained, Optimus Prime worried that none of Defensor's components had reverted to their normal forms since becoming a combiner; Prowl noted that it was difficult for combiner teams to stay separate for long. You, Me, and the Universe

Hot Spot and the Protectobots later departed Cybertron, apparently intending to return to the Lost Light. The Transgressors It took several months, but they finally caught up with the Lost Light on its quest for Cyberutopia. Much had changed. Getaway was now captain of the ship, and held strict rules about socializing and helping other races on their journey full-pace towards Cyberutopia. Asking around, the Protectobots learned most of the senior staff, including co-captains Rodimus and Megatron, had apparently abandoned the Light in order to make faster progress on their own. In fact, the regretful Riptide informed them Getaway had led a mutiny against the captains, abandoning them on Necroworld to the Galactic Council and Decepticon Justice Division, then used mnemosurgery to reprogram the crew into believing otherwise. Hot Spot and the others attempted to flee before Getaway did the same to them, but were captured by the security team and placed in an infinite memory loop by Sunder. Full Circle

Riptide managed to survive Getaway's attempt to dispose of him, hiding away in the ship until he could rescue the Protectobots. Rook had been killed by Getaway and Atomizer while they slept, so First Aid suggested they un-entomb Ambulon's corpse as a replacement leg for Defensor. At the shuttle bay, Defensor and Thunderclash tried to fight their way through the security team, but Getaway had hired Star Saber as the new head of security. He blasted Thunderclash and broke apart the unstable combiner with a single swipe of his blade. Hot Spot, Blades, Groove, and Streetwise were dazed enough for Getaway and the others to bring them down with a hail of gunfire. Only First Aid, Riptide, and the seriously injured Thunderclash managed to escape the ship. Journey's End

Apparently their injuries weren't as bad as they seemed, as all five Protectobots were perfectly fine as they attended Ultra Magnus' parting toast as the Lost Light completed its victory lap. How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2

Kre-O online manga

After being injured in a fight while protecting humans, First Aid doubted his effectiveness in combat. Hot Spot tried to cheer him up by insisting on how valuable First Aid was to the Protectobots. Sure enough, First Aid soon had the opportunity to lead the Protectobots in a search for Swindle and Metroplex's stolen transforming cog. Bad at Fighting? Rescue Team Protectobots, Dispatch!

Ask Vector Prime

Hot Spot was presumably present as part of Defensor during the Battle for Sherman Dam in Primax 096.0 Beta. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/06

2006 IDW Beast Wars continuity

By the tail-end of the Great War, Hot Spot had earned himself a place on the Autobot High Council. He was away from their base of operation when news came in that both Optimus Prime and Galvatron had fallen in combat, and so attended a meeting via holographic-projection. After rebranding themselves the "Primal Council", the group discussed their intent to broker an armistice with their enemies in the hopes of ending the war without further bloodshed. Dawn of the Predacus

Combiner Wars cartoon

Hot Spot was among the Autobot troops who bore witness to a pivotal duel between Optimus Prime and Megatron, one meant to end the war before the never-ending arms race between the two factions spiralled further out of control. Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars - Optimus Prime

2019 IDW continuity

First appearance: Transformers #17

He meant to mentor under Inferno, not Grapple.

Hot Spot led a search-and-rescue unit on Cybertron. His team was tasked to operate as a clean-up crew at the site of the Memorial Crater, after The Rise destroyed the memorial to hide their underground base. Hot Spot checked on Cyclonus, who was lingering in the ruins and gave him some information on who was responsible. The Change In Your Nature Part Five

Hot Spot was part of a crowd watching Optimus Prime deliver his first speech as Prime. Awakenings He and a group of volunteers tried to defend the Iacon energon stores from Decepticon occupation, but they were driven off by Senator Ratbat and superior numbers. Hunt

Commercial appearances

• Hot Spot and the rest of the Protectobots rushed the Decepticon fortress Trypticon, undaunted by its enormous size. When Trypticon assumed its battle station mode, the Protectobots merged into Defensor to better fight back. Defensor and Trypticon commercial
• Hot Spot and the Protectobots received a message from Optimus Prime alerting them that Menasor was wreaking havoc in a human city, and that the threat was "bigger than ever." The Protectobots combined into Defensor to better combat the Decepticon. Transformers Generations: Combiner Wars commercials

Games

Transformers Legends

During a Decepticon attack on a major human city, Ratchet, Inferno, and the Protectobots launched rescue operations. Unfortunately their efforts were hampered by Thundercracker and Dirge, who unleashed all manner of sonic attacks on them. To the Rescue

Hot Spot, alongside Blades, Groove, and Streetwise, responded to an emergency call that was in actuality a trap set by the Decepticons Skullcruncher and Snapdragon. Despite the duo's schemes, the Autobots were able to send the Decepticons packing. False Alarm

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Hot Spot participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character available as a reward in the "Defensor Safeguard" event. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Transformers: Earth Wars

Yes! Rise, my Protectobots!

Hot Spot came to Earth in response to an endeavor by Cyclonus to set all of Earth's jungles on fire to fuel the Decepticon cause with energon.

When Hot Spot came to Earth, he immediately got on with Pyra Magna as they realized they had similar body styles and thinking. Transformers: Earth Wars

• Class: Warrior
• Lowest star rating: 2 stars
• Weapons: He uses a pistol to shoot at the designated target, and then closes in and smashes it with his fists.
• Ability: Reflective Shield: Put on a protective shield that reflects 50% damage back to the attackers for several seconds, then charge the target. Attracts defenses!
  • Cost: 4 ability points +2 for every reuse.

Hot Spot at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki

Transformers Roleplaying Game

Hot Spot was the lively leader of the Protectobots. The Enigma of Combination

Toys

The Transformers

Finally we see the G1 Hotspot mold in all his... well, glory works for me.

• Hot Spot (Protectobot, 1986)
  • Team ID number: P5
  • Japanese ID number: C-71
  • Accessories: 2 fireball cannons, 2 mechanical arms, left & right blast shields, Defensor hip shield, left & right Defensor fists, left & right Defensor footplates

Originally designed for the aborted Diaclone line Jizai Gattai (自在合体 "Limitless Combination") and then brought over to the Transformers toyline, The Transformers Hot Spot transforms into a blue Mitsubishi Fuso Great fire engine. As a Scramble City-style combiner torso, he has a third mode as a "repair bay", somewhat reminiscent of Powermaster Optimus Prime's combat deck. In this form, he is equipped with waldo arms to "repair" other vehicles. Hot Spot can connect with Metroplex's city mode in this form as well. Another alternate mode allows him to function as an armored car carrier, by extending his legs in vehicle mode and attaching his guns and Defensor's chest plates; he has deck space to carry a single small vehicle in this form. Unusually for G1, Defensor's head is an integrated part of Hot Spot rather than separate combiner kibble.

Hot Spot's chest plate was initially made of painted die-cast metal. However, later runs replaced this with colored plastic and also had some paint application changes on his headlights. A plastic-chest yellow-eyed version (as opposed to the red eyes on the other releases) has been reported but not confirmed.

This mold was also used to make Fire Chief.

• More information on Hot Spot at TFU.info

GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!

• Defensor (giftset, 1986)
  • Japanese ID number: C-76
  • Accessories: 2 fireball cannons, 2 mechanical arms, left & right blast shields, Defensor hip shield, left & right Defensor fists, left & right Defensor footplates

All five Protectobots were made available in many markets as a complete giftset as well as on individual cards/boxes. It is unknown which versions of the toys are in the multipack, metal parts or plastic.

In 1988, GiG also re-released the Defensor set in Italy, with five random "Exogini Transformers" (Decoys) added.

• More information on Defensor at TFU.info

• Hot Spot (1991)
  • Accessories: 2 fireball cannons, 2 mechanical arms, left & right blast shields, Defensor hip shield, left & right Defensor fists, left & right Defensor footplates

Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were re-released in 1991 as part of the European-market Classics line. This version uses the plastic chest, and his rubsign indent has been filled in for this release.

Generation 2

Outferyes?

• Hot Spot (1994)
  • Team ID number: P1
  • Accessories: 2 fireball cannons, 2 mechanical arms, left & right blast shields, Defensor hip shield, left & right Defensor fists, left & right Defensor footplates

Hot Spot and the other Protectobots were to be redecoed for Generation 2, but were ultimately canceled. No packaged samples of Hot Spot (or his similarly-unreleased Decepticon counterpart Motormaster) have surfaced, and only a handful of test-shots are known to exist. He would have been red and orange with a teal chestplate. If you've seen this, you may in fact be glowing with an inner light. Or you're Shortround.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Universe (2008)

Classic Series

• Special Team Leaders (Legends multi-pack, 2008)
  • Series: Classic Series

• Known designers: Joe Kyde (deco artist)

"Autobot Hot Zone" (renamed for trademark reasons) is a redeco of the Legends-class Cybertron Optimus Prime, transforming into a futuristic fire truck cab. He was only available in a Target-exclusive box set with Hun-Grrr, Razorclaw, Silverbolt, and Scattorshot.

This mold was also used to make Classics Menasor.

• More information on Hot Zone at TFU.info

Titanium Series

No, I don't fight Megazarak. Or do I???

• Hot Zone (6-inch Cybertron Heroes, 2009)

Titanium Series Hot Zone (now lacking the "Autobot" prefix) is a redeco of the 6-inch 2001 Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime, an idea which thematically calls back to the unreleased OTFCC Universe Defensor,^[1] but otherwise doesn't resemble its deco (Hot Zone is the super robot decoed like Hot Spot, while OTFCC Defensor's super robot was decoed like Defensor). Like other Titanium Series toys, Hot Zone is partially constructed of die-cast metal. His vehicle mode has a ladder which rotates at its base, and two nozzles flip out of the end of the ladder. Panels on his forearms pop up and reveal small, non-firing sculpted guns.

Unlike previous Titanium Series toys which were subtitled by the fictional universe/continuity they came from, Hot Zone and the other 2009 Titanium Series redecos are marketed under the 2008-2009 Universe line. Hot Zone also lacks the display stand that previous Titanium Series toys included.

• More information on Titanium Hot Zone at TFU.info.

Generations

The Universe Inferno mold: perfect for every fire truck Transformer. Ever.

• Protectobot Hot Spot (Voyager Class, 2012)
  • Accessories: "Water Blast" projectile

Generations Hot Spot is an Asian market and Toys"R"Us-exclusive redeco and retool of Universe Inferno with a new head, transforming into a fictional firetruck based on the 2002–2007 Pierce Contender series of trucks. He is armed with a non-removable arm cannon with a spring-loaded "water blast" projectile. As with Solar Storm Grappel, the bars on top of his shoulders have been enlarged so that they work with 3mm clips. The vehicle panels on Hot Spot's forearms can rotate 180° in order to get them more out of the way. This is a feature not documented in the instructions or shown in the image to the right, but it is shown in the package stock photography.

This figure was the model for the non-toy Shattered Glass incarnation of Hosehead. The original version of this sculpt was also used to make Timelines Spark, and it was separately retooled to make Reveal the Shield Solar Storm Grappel. It was then redecoed into United Artfire, using tooling from both the original Inferno version and the newer Grappel version of this sculpt.

• More information on Generations Hot Spot at TFU.info

Bot Shots

Bot Shot Hot Spot? Bot Shot Protectobot Hot Spot.

• Protectobots (Multi-pack, 2013?)
  • Number: T0??

• Known designers: Andrew Scribner (deco artist)

• • • Fist strength: 296
    • Blaster strength:
    • Sword strength:

A redeco of Bot Shots Sentinel Prime, "Protectobot Hot Spot" automatically transforms from fire engine to robot when a sharp impact is applied to his front end. He was to be sold in a five-pack with Protectobot Blades, Protectobot First Aid, Protectobot Groove, and Protectobot Streetsmart, but this never saw release.

This mold also served as the main body for BeCool Ganoh.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Kre-O

Hey, guys! Get over here! He's got free wi-fi!

• Defensor (Micro-Changer Combiner, 2013)
  • Set number: A4474
  • Pieces: 85
  • Accessories: 2 guns

• Known designers: Ed Masiello (Hasbro)

Kre-O Hot Spot comes as part of the Defensor Micro-Changer combiner set, and can be rebuilt from his robot mode into a fire engine. He comes with fellow Kreons Blades, First Aid and Streetsmart and can contribute his bricks to form Defensor with them. His helmet was originally used for Sentinel Prime.

• More information on Hot Spot at TFU.info

Transformers (2014)

Looks like Hot Spot is going to have a very hard time at saving people without his fire hose.

• Protectobots Evac Squad (two-pack, 2014)

"Protectobot Hot Spot" is a predominantly red redeco of Reveal the Shield Solar Storm Grappel, but retains the original Inferno mold's forearms and fists. His colors might be vaguely based on Fire Chief or the unreleased Generation 2 Hot Spot, but in the end, he simply looks like Grapple in Inferno's colors.

Similar to every use of the mold aside from the original Inferno version, all of Hot Spot's non-ratcheted swivel joints are incredibly loose. Most instances of the figure have remarkably poor quality control as well, featuring noticeably deep cuts into the plastic where the parts were removed from the sprue and loose plastic tags hanging off the parts or joints.

Hot Spot was only available in a two-pack with Protectobot Blades, which was released as a Toys"R"Us exclusive in Hasbro's Asian markets, while in the United States, it was officially an Amazon exclusive that was later also flipped by other online retailers such as BigBadToyStore for a hefty markup.

• More information on Evac Squad Hot Spot on TFU.info

Combiner Wars

29 years later, he can finally combine again!

• Protectobot Hot Spot (Voyager, 2015)
  • 3 of 5: Defensor
  • Accessories: Two rifles

• Known designers: John Warden (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy)

Part of the third wave of Combiner Wars Voyager Class toys, Generations Hot Spot transforms from a firetruck resembling a modified Rosenbauer Panther 8x8 to a robot resembling his original design. He can combine with the Deluxe Class Blades, First Aid, Streetwise, and Rook (or Deluxe Groove) and Legends Class Groove to form Defensor. Like the original toy and other Combiner Wars Voyagers, Defensor's head and torso kibble is incorporated into the toy itself rather than being add-on parts, although the head now resides at the top of the ladder instead of inside the assembly as with the original. Hot Spot's two rifles combine into a longer rifle for Defensor. In an undocumented feature, Defensor's head can be opened while Hot Spot is in Firetruck mode, revealing a bucket with molded diamond plating. As a bonus feature, the bucket can seat a Titan Master or a Prime Master, a play feature advertised on the Inferno retool of the mold. Hot Spot is notably articulated for a Combiner Wars Voyager, featuring double elbow joints and over 90 bends in his knees, though waist and ankle joints are omitted.

Contrary to his instructions, stock photography, and even how he is packaged, Hot Spot is not intended to have double knee joints. Each knee link should be rotated back 90° at its lower hinge and snapped forward into the lower leg behind the siren, making the legs far more stable. Officially this toy omits the G1 repair bay mode, though there are many fan modes to correct this official oversight.

As a part of the third and fourth wave promotion in Hasbro's Asian markets, a free sticker sheet for the Protectobots and Optimus Maximus was given out when purchasing any four Deluxe Class toys from those waves. As such, Hot Spot was given Generation 1 toy-esque stickers for the owner to apply if they wanted.^[2]

Hot Spot's pack-in card reuses art from the Transformers Legends game, which, due to being based on his original Generations figure, bears little resemblance to the toy it's packaged with.

Hot Spot's thighs, hips and biceps were later reused for Collaborative Ectotron.

• More information on Combiner Wars Hot Spot at TFU.info

Unite Warriors

But where's his third mode?

• Guardian (giftset, December 12, 2015)
  • ID number: UW-03
  • English name: Defensor
  • Accessories: Two rifles

Takara's Unite Warriors iteration of "Guardian" is sold in a gift set including the five original Protectobots, with Groove (as a new Deluxe-sized mold) included instead of Rook. He features some differences in deco that make him closer to his cartoon character model, such as a blue line down his chest and a black pelvis, the majority of his elbow joints being cast in blue plastic, and more white present on the ladder.

Unite Warriors Guardian was released as a TakaraTomy Mall exclusive, rather than being a regular release. Preorders were open from May 25 to July 6, and it was shipped December 2015.

Merchandise

Transformers Gum

Hot Spot, PARTSFORM!

• Hot Spot (2012)
  • Accessories: 2 fireball cannons, 2 hoses

Part of the fifth series of Kabaya's revived Transformers Gum series, Hot Spot is a model kit that can transform from robot to fire truck, though his lower legs need to be removed and reattached. He can combine with various members of Kabaya's G Guardian series to form God Guardian. He comes with a stick of gum.

Hot Spot is packaged with Eaglebreast, who interacts with Hot Spot's wave-mate, Deathsaurus.

Notes

Sometimes you feel like a mouth. Sometimes you don't.

• Like Devastator's ever disappearing-and-reappearing visor, Hot Spot would occasionally switch between having a mouthplate or having a mouth drawn on his faceplate in his appearances on the original Transformers cartoon. The two most prominent instances of him having a mouth occur in "Ghost in the Machine" and "The Ultimate Weapon"—episodes that seem to have been animated by two different animation companies, suggesting that Hot Spot's mouth may have come from an alternate character model. Or, at least, a recurring artist mistake.
• One thing that is consistent about his appearance in the G1 cartoon is that he was one of the few Autobots (like Metroplex) to have red eyes instead of blue.
• Hot Spot's original vehicle mode is rendered quite differently from his toy in his media depictions. While the Mitsubishi Fuso has four front wheels and two in the rear, the opposite is typically true in his animation and comic book appearances.
• Hot Spot's original toy bio gives him the quote/motto of "Rust never sleeps, and neither do I." His Universe entry gives him the completely different quote of "The hotter things get, the better I like it." – a phrase that had first appeared in the profile of fellow Autobot fire truck Inferno. Maybe the writer just liked the phrase?
• The Armada toy Firebot received a redeco in light blue with red-and-white warning stripes as an homage to Hot Spot.
• Despite having his own robot mode stock photography on the box of his first Generations toy, the instructions use the stock photograph of Inferno with Hot Spot's newly sculpted head photoshopped (and over-sized) over the top.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Hot Spot (ホットスポット Hotto Supotto)
• French: Calorifêro (Canada)
• Italian: Drago
• Mandarin: Rèdiǎn (热点, "Hot Spot")
• Russian: Compote (Компот Kompot)

Gallery

• 

  Unused Generation 2 packaging art

• 

  Dreamwave The War Within Cybertronian design

• 

  Earth Wars Generation 2-themed skin

References