Hotwire (G1)

Hotwire is an Autobot-allied Nebulan Powermaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Let's see what you can see... This article is in need of images. Specifics: toy, fiction in armor

Hotwire is in the red shirt.

Hotwire is a reformed thief and skilled mechanic. He uses his skills to help keep his Powermaster partner, Joyride, running smoothly.

The old Hotwire had a lot in common with thrill-seeking Joyride, and the similarity has not escaped the Nebulan. Much like Hi-Q saw the good in him, Hotwire strives to temper some Joyride's excesses and make him a better bot. He grudgingly accepts that Joyride tends to ignore much of his efforts, but he has to believe that if he turned out all right then everybody has a chance to make good.^[1]

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

Early in life, Hotwire had many run-ins with Nebulon law enforcement for car theft. His life changed when Hi-Q saw potential in him an put him to work in the Hi-Q Industrial Research Complex. Joyride's Universe profile

After the first group of Transformer visitors left Nebulos, Hi-Q (working at the request of the Council of Peers) irradiated the planet's fuel supply so that it was poisonous to robots. Hotwire was at Hi-Q's side when this process was implemented.

Later, Hotwire was helping fix an electrostatic oscillator, gloating that he could do it blindfolded, much to Lube's annoyance. Their task was interrupted when Goldbug, Getaway, Joyride, and Slapdash arrived to ask Hi-Q for help rebuilding Optimus Prime. The Autobots were warned that if they used Nebulon fuel they would freeze up and eventually die. Eventually Optimus Prime was rebuilt and Hi-Q decided to become his Powermaster partner in order to save his life and to defend Nebulos against Darkwing and Dreadwind (who were already Powermasters). Following his example, Hotwire quickly volunteered to be partnered to Joyride.

The new Autobot Powermasters defeated Darkwing and Dreadwind. Hi-Test and Throttle were banished from Nebulos, so they took off with their partners.

The Powermaster process altered the circuitry of the Autobots to the point where they could not be separated from their partners. They had to stick together, but, for the sake of Nebulon peace, the Autobots could not remain there. So they all left on the Steelhaven to meet up with the other Autobots, leaving their friend Kari behind. People Power!

In transit to the Moon Optimus Prime filled the Nebulons in on the Autobot/Decepticon war. The history lesson was interrupted by a transmission advertising the "Cosmic Carnival." Optimus and Goldbug investigated the show upon learning that their fellow Autobot Sky Lynx was part of the line-up, though the rest of the crew did not join them; the Cosmic Carnival had a very steep entrance fee, and they didn't have the currency to spare. The Cosmic Carnival

Shortly after the group arrived on Earth, Hotwire was present during a brief skirmish with the Autobots' Advance Surveillance Unit; after the latter three had accidentally trampled the town of Border Flats while trying to join in a Christmas celebration, the Powermasters had headed out to retaliate against what they had assumed to be a Decepticon attack. The misunderstanding was quickly cleared up. Cold Comfort and Joy!

On another occasion, the Powermasters attempted to retrieve a vital power cell from Dreadwing, who had crashed into the ocean. The power cell was necessary in order to save the life of a human injured during the Transformers' war. While their binary-bonded partners kept the Seacons at bay, Hotwire and his fellow Nebulans pried open Dreadwing's cockpit and stole back the power cell from Hi-Test and Throttle. Dreadwing Down!

Hotwire accompanied Joyride and the other Autobot Powermasters on a mission to guard an Alternate Reality, Inc. warehouse, where Optimus Prime has left behind a floppy disk containing a copy of his mind. Shortly after they had taken up the task, Darkwing and Dreadwind attacked. The Autobots were forced into scrambling for cover, allowing Darkwing access to the building while Dreadwind remained on the offensive. Realizing that they were failing at their task, the three Autobots made a mad dash for the building, in the hopes that at least one of them would make it inside before Dreadwind took them out. Despite Hotwire's best efforts as his partner's engine, Joyride was unable to outpace Dreadwind, and wound up getting roasted by the jet's thermal melters. Ultimately, the team was unable to prevent the Decepticons from taking off with the disk. Prime Bomb!

Beast Wars: Uprising

Hotwire was a Cyberdroid businesswoman working out of Iacon. Her shop, Hotwire's, provided services of body work, body art, and more exotic modifications to a select clientele. Relatively legit (sort of), Hotwire still served the various crews of the criminal underground often enough that the Maximal Command Security Force had her name in numerous files.

While investigating the death of the Builder named Twirl, Wolfang noted her altered paint job and paid a visit to Hotwire's for more information. After being pressed, Hotwire allowed Wolfang to interview the bodywork specialist Lube about the victim. After Lube tipped Wolfang that Twirl had been on her way to The Way Of All Things, Hotwire politely ended the interrogation of her employee.

Only much later in the investigation did Wolfang learn Twirl was a Targetmaster in hiding after the Extirpation, and Hotwire was responsible for the flying body-mod disguise she used to hide her true alt-form. Trigger Warnings

Commercial appearances

Hotwire accompanied Joyride as the Autobot Powermasters went out for a drive. They were shocked to encounter the Decepticon Powermasters, and Hotwire assumed his engine mode to allow Joyride to transform and fight back against their aggressors. Powermasters commercial

Toys

The Transformers

Hotwire is the tiny, barely-visible dude next to the Baja buggy.

• Joyride (Autobot Powermaster, 1988)

Released in the fifth year of the The Transformers toyline (fourth year in the European line), Hotwire is an blue-limbed armored humanoid figure that converts into an engine block. In this form, he can fit into the engine socket of any Autobot Powermaster mold, unlocking its transformation from vehicle to robot mode. (He can fit into Decepticon sockets, but will not unlock their transformation.)

He was only available packed in with his partner, Joyride.

This mold was used to make the human form of the Godmaster Ranger, and Masterforce Warrior Aquastar.

• Hotwire at TFU.info

References