Hoist

Allegiance: Autobot

Function: Maintenance

First Comic Appearance: Transformers #14

"You have to be rolling before you can be fighting."

Profile: Everybody must submit to his maintenance schedule, even Optimus Prime, and no excuse is ever good enough for Hoist. And he has a good reason for being so strict: even though his job usually keeps him away from the front lines, he knows how important it is that all the Autobot warriors are operating at peak eflficiency when they engage in battle. He genuinely enjoys his job, as indicated by the jovial manner in which he performs it. And he's good at his job, too; whether the problem is a full engine overhaul or the smallest leaky gasket, his comrades are confident that Hoist will find it.

Abilities: As a tow truck, Hoist can haul up to 400,000 pounds. In robot mode, he is one of the strongest of the Autobots. From his wrist sockets, he can launch heat-seeking missiles up to 4.5 miles. The full spectrum multi-sensor module he wears behind his head can determine an object's composition, density, tensile strength, energy properties and often even its function with a mere sweep of its triple beams. The beams have an operating range of 1200 yards, making Hoist an effective and valued scout at times.

Weaknesses: Hoist's dedication to his job sometimes blinds him to the precedence that armed conflict often takes over it. He lacks speed in vehicular mode, and has a high fuel consumption rate.