TARGETMASTER
HOT ROD
WITH  FIREBOLD

Allegiance: Autobot
Sub-Group: Targetmaster
Function: Cavalier

First Cartoon Appearance:
Transformers: The Movie  (pre-Targetmaster)
The Rebirth, Part 3 as a Targetmaster
First Comic Appearance:
TF: The Movie, #1 (pre-Targetmaster)
The Headmasters #4, as a Targetmaster

"My actions speak louder than words."

Profile: Hot Rod is the all-American boy Autobot.  Not too sweet, not too sharp, not too snotty... not a goodie-goodie, but basically a typical adolescent who has dreams of doing great stuff and being as heroic and important as Optimus Prime and other famous and revered top Autobots.  He tends to follow rules until they bug him and he sometime learns, to his regret, that disobeying wasn't exactly smart.  And he often acts without thinking in an effort to do the right thing and this gets him and sometimes his friends in trouble.  But he's not afraid when trouble does arrive and is a brave an honorable fighter and friend.  He is especially close to Kup, the grizzled ole mentor of an Autobot, although he sometimes resents hearing hiw 'wise-ole' advise.  He also likes Spike's son Daniel a lot.  In a way, Hot Rod is big brother to Daniel -a role model and Hot Rod knows it and takes the responsibility seriously.  In robot or automotive mode, Hot Rod is sometimes hot-headed, but always a well meaning, admirable 'lad' and popular with all who know him.

Firebolt led a quiet life on Nebulous.  As he conducted experiments in atomic physics in his laboratory and led a team of researchers in the scholarly pursuits of wisdom and education he always yearned for more.  Excitement and adventure were right around the corner and when presented the opportunity to become a Targetmaster with the Autobot Hero HotRod, Firebolt, jumped at the opportunity and never looked back!

Abilities: He carries two photon lasers that temoorarily electromagnetize an enemy  robot's microcircuits.  In auto mode, he is capable of maximum speeds o f over 300 mph with a 150 mile range.  In weapon mode, Firebolt becomes an electrostatic discharger capable of shorting out most robotic forms to and leaving them immobilized for a period of up to mega-cycle.

Weaknesses: Hot Rod is brash and impulsive and his actions often get him into trouble.

Other Appearances:  It's absolutely amazing to me that Hot Rod hasn't made any other major appearances in the TF Universe besides his Targetmaster and original form released in 1986.  There was in japan a 'micro-master' form as a companion to Star Convoy in the Japanese Transformers line Battlestars: Return of Convoy.