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Transformers Spotlight: Hot Rod
If there's a line, he'll cross it; if there's a knot, he'll cut it; if there's a risk, he'll take it…smiling. In his solitary world, there's no room for second thoughts, no margin for error. "Out there" is a permanent state of mind, and the more impossible, downright insane the mission, the better this daredevil AUTOBOT likes it. His name...is HOT ROD.
24 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2008
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25 people want to read
About the author
Simon Furman
943 books56 followersSimon Christopher Francis Furman is a British comic book writer who is best known for his work on Hasbro/Tomy's Transformers franchise, starting with writing Marvel's initial comic book to promote the toyline worldwide, as well as foundations for both Dreamwave Production's and IDW Publishing's takes on the Generation 1 minifranchise.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 9, 2016
Not a stand-alone piece, this "one-shot" only works in the context of the overall "Devastation" etc ongoing story arc...And even then I only sought it out to get the gist of the back story between Hot Rod and Dealer.
However, after reading, I was pleased that I'd found it in the local library and didn't fork out $30 odd for it...
However, after reading, I was pleased that I'd found it in the local library and didn't fork out $30 odd for it...
February 23, 2019
IDW had a really cool run of Transformers comics about ten years back, and I haven't read all of the spotlights. Hot Rod is one of my favorites, this story gives his character a little more depth than the cartoon.
June 23, 2025
Of the Transformers Spotlights this is one of the better ones. There are a few spotlights that completely stand on their own. Unfortunately and ironically these spotlights fall very short due to how hard it is to truly spotlight any of these insanely complex characters in less than 30 pages. Other spotlights place you in the dead center of a story (Shockwave for example) which could go either way of good or bad. This spotlight ends up taking my favorite spotlight format which is "begins a story arc". This type is particularly good in my opinion because it creates an investment in the story. A good number of people reading the IDW spotlights are fans of that character that stumble across it and go "Oh, I love [X] character!" and read the comic. If it ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger such as this one and Nightbeat do then it makes the reader want to know what comes next.
I have very little to say on the subject matter of this comic. I'm a huge Roddy fan. I love this comic and seeing the little ways that Hot Rod is unlike Rodimus and how he has changed (which is half the fun of these spotlights. A good number are early war or origin stories so you get to see who these guys were once upon a time and why they do what they do). This comic is so perfectly Roddy too. You have him "failing a mission" (he completed it to a letter he just feels guilty for it, even though no one is placing blame on him), and then going on a secret mission to redeem himself which in turn will backfire and haunt him (Man has no luck whatsoever). I could not think of a better story to highlight his character and how it functions. Bonus points for Nick Roche because he is such a star artist. I love seeing him draw Roddy.
Beyond that I recently read an analysis someone did of Rodimus as a character and they stated that this was the only comic they've read of Rodimus that felt out of character because he was risked himself and not others. I didn't remember this comic being out of character so I was excited to read it again and see how I felt. Honestly? Could not disagree more. I think this is SO WILDLY in character for Roddy. The big distinction I think the analyst forgot is that this is Hot Rod not Rodimus. Rodimus to an extent can not sacrifice himself because his is a Prime. He has taken up a mantel of an icon and now even just his body stand for something. He isn't allowed to be self sacrificial anymore. Hot Rod is still completely capable and allowed to.
I have very little to say on the subject matter of this comic. I'm a huge Roddy fan. I love this comic and seeing the little ways that Hot Rod is unlike Rodimus and how he has changed (which is half the fun of these spotlights. A good number are early war or origin stories so you get to see who these guys were once upon a time and why they do what they do). This comic is so perfectly Roddy too. You have him "failing a mission" (he completed it to a letter he just feels guilty for it, even though no one is placing blame on him), and then going on a secret mission to redeem himself which in turn will backfire and haunt him (Man has no luck whatsoever). I could not think of a better story to highlight his character and how it functions. Bonus points for Nick Roche because he is such a star artist. I love seeing him draw Roddy.
Beyond that I recently read an analysis someone did of Rodimus as a character and they stated that this was the only comic they've read of Rodimus that felt out of character because he was risked himself and not others. I didn't remember this comic being out of character so I was excited to read it again and see how I felt. Honestly? Could not disagree more. I think this is SO WILDLY in character for Roddy. The big distinction I think the analyst forgot is that this is Hot Rod not Rodimus. Rodimus to an extent can not sacrifice himself because his is a Prime. He has taken up a mantel of an icon and now even just his body stand for something. He isn't allowed to be self sacrificial anymore. Hot Rod is still completely capable and allowed to.
July 30, 2024
One of the better Spotlight comics Ive read so far.
Hotrods personal conflict and guilt, The origins (or somewhat) of Doubledealer, and the emotional depth of it all really flowed quite well for such a short story.
IDW clearly still setting up their Transformers continuum, this time with more of a connection to our followed character.
I loved it. Only thing knocking it down a little is the dialogue on some pages being a little jumpy.
Hotrods personal conflict and guilt, The origins (or somewhat) of Doubledealer, and the emotional depth of it all really flowed quite well for such a short story.
IDW clearly still setting up their Transformers continuum, this time with more of a connection to our followed character.
I loved it. Only thing knocking it down a little is the dialogue on some pages being a little jumpy.
June 14, 2018
3,5. Read it finally - sort of a prequel to the Lost Light #18. Good Hot Rod characterization (Hot Rod hotheadedness! Guilt! Going solo and why!).
December 24, 2023
This Spotlight issue aims to be a bit more ambitious than its predecessors, but I’m not sure the execution quite works out.
I am aware that Furman has a very specific style as a writer, wordy and emphatic, but that doesn’t suit every character or situation, especially in first person.
I also thought the structure of this issue became muddled. The fact that both the main story-line (present time) and the secondary story-line (flashback) are attempts by Hot Rod to break into dangerous, secretive locations and secure a target means the two strands are very similar. In theory, this would be interesting paralleling, but there is little in the art or dialogue that serves to separate these two time periods, which makes things blurry - and not in a purposeful way. The issue is effective at establishing Hot Rod’s feelings of guilt, however, even if the character is let off the hook (at least partially, in the reader’s eyes) because of later revelations.
Ultimately, I think this issue has stronger character exploration than the previous issues, but has a weaker structure.
I am aware that Furman has a very specific style as a writer, wordy and emphatic, but that doesn’t suit every character or situation, especially in first person.
I also thought the structure of this issue became muddled. The fact that both the main story-line (present time) and the secondary story-line (flashback) are attempts by Hot Rod to break into dangerous, secretive locations and secure a target means the two strands are very similar. In theory, this would be interesting paralleling, but there is little in the art or dialogue that serves to separate these two time periods, which makes things blurry - and not in a purposeful way. The issue is effective at establishing Hot Rod’s feelings of guilt, however, even if the character is let off the hook (at least partially, in the reader’s eyes) because of later revelations.
Ultimately, I think this issue has stronger character exploration than the previous issues, but has a weaker structure.
July 9, 2008
Hot Rod is young and very reckless Autobot. He lives for now not for past or future. He is not yet Rodimus Prime and he can be devoured by his personality during the dangerous missions. However one of his mission went very wrong and he decided to make it right again and he went to save of of his captured team mate Dealer. But...his mission was about something different and his friendship with Dealer was also little bit complicated. Dealer is simply doubledealer.
October 12, 2009
I did not like this book. I was confused the whole time with what was going on. It made no sense to me at all. I did not learn anything or than how bad the book was.
August 14, 2013
I hated this book, at points you couldn't even follow the story because of the time shifts and the crappy dialogue.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews