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All Hail Megatron issue 2

2012-03-18T15:13:10Z

BorisjeNL: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]'' #2
|prev=All Hail Megatron issue 1
|next=All Hail Megatron issue 3
|seriesissue2=
|prev2=
|next2=
|image=AHM 02 CoverA.jpg
|caption=Here's lookin at you kid!!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 20]], [[2008]]
|coverdate=August 2008
|written by=[[Shane McCarthy]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]] & [[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|All Hail Megatron]]
}}

'''The Decepticons cause massive destruction and the army is unable to oppose them.'''

==Synopsis==
At a huge mansion, [[Chad Wells|a man]] brags to [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Colonel Daniel Witwicky]] about the hybrid car he just purchased. Daniel retorts with his 1968, gas-guzzling muscle car. Daniel's wife interrupts and worries that her husband is being looked down upon by the snobs at the party, but he tells her not to worry, that it's her day... when they are interrupted by a military helicopter landing. Daniel has been ordered by the [[President of the United States|President]] to deal with an emergency in [[New York City]]—it's being trashed by [[Decepticon]]s!

Commander [[Andy Reid]] runs through the streets of New York and saves a woman named [[Sarah]] from being mowed down by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. He tells her that he was shot down and is trying to escape from a large "mechanical dog". Unfortunately, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] catches up to them quickly, and Reid unloads his pistol into the '''jaguar''', which only seems to piss Ravage off. Ravage is about to strike when he's blindsided by a molotov cocktail thrown by a man named [[Bridge]]. He takes the two into a nearby garage and closes the door. Reid hates dogs.

Meanwhile, Colonel Witwicky is en route to New York and arguing with Agent [[Grant (G1)|Grant]] of the [[CIA]]; it seems he doesn't take kindly to the agent's pleas that the information about the [[Transformer]]s be withheld from his troops, even threatening to have the agent pistol whipped by his subordinate. After the team touches down in New York, he's informed that ground forces are preparing to engage the enemy in [[Central Park]], and wants the other senior officers gathered immediately.

[[Image:Frenzysolidgone.JPG|left|150px|thumb|[[A Rage in Heaven!|I'M GONE! SOLID GONE!]]]]

In [[Central Park]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] informs [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] that large ground forces are gathering nearby. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] notes that they will not be able to interfere with the guidance systems on their weapons, and recommends sending in the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] to clean up. Megatron disagrees, and orders Soundwave to deploy [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]. In the park, the gathered troops see Soundwave approaching with a small group of bots, and laugh that they have them well in hand. [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] seems to agree, not seeing how one little Decepticon can take on so many troops. Astrotrain and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] quickly haze the rookie, telling him to just watch. No sooner is Frenzy released when the troops start to scream and convulse, the [[Mini-Cassette|cassette]] emitting an intense infrasonic frequency which immobilizes the troops with terrible delusions. Only Soundwave is immune to the frequency, and watches quietly as Frenzy tears them all to pieces.

Reid and company run through the streets towards the [[Holland Tunnel]], and Bridge is disgusted at the sight of hundreds of people looting the stores. Reid tries to explain to him how the machines are actually alive, but is stopped as he sees the tunnel blocked with people trying to escape the carnage. Meanwhile, Colonel Witwicky meets with the military brass to assess the situation. The [[Machination]] is mentioned, but said to be shut down and have been a cover-up. The meeting is interrupted with a report that the entire platoon of troops in Central Park has been wiped out. As the brass runs outside the tent, they see [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] blow up the [[Brooklyn Bridge]]. They then see a broadcast from [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] merging into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], unable to do anything as it wades into the water and starts to collapse the tunnels...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (4)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (6)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (9)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (12)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (13)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (14)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (15)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (16)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (23)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (19)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (20)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (21)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (22)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (23)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (24)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (25)
|c3=
* [[Chad Wells]] (1)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (2)
* [[Manning]] (3)
* [[Andy Reid]] (7)
* [[Sarah]] (8)
* [[Grant (G1)|Grant]] (10)
* [[Bridge]] (11)
* [[Hawke]] (17)
* [[Stevens]] (18)
}}

==Notes==
* Soundwave is back to talking like his cartoon self, a la ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]''.
* Frenzy's arms become drills, perhaps as a variation of his [[Rumble (G1)|brother]]'s piledrivers.
* The Transformers are public knowledge, but a government cover-up means everyone (even the military) believes they were simply weapons for the Machination. This doesn't quite work with how people reacted to them last issue, but on the plus side, it's more convincing than [[Donny Finkleberg|the last cover-up]].
* Colonel Witwicky had a CIA agent assaulted by a sergeant. We're pretty sure the military doesn't work that way.
* In a truly shocking twist, it turns out Colonel Hawke ''isn't'' an homage to [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]!<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=137503&sid=ef5501e4377430811614e89280d24d99#137503 IDW Forums post by McCarthy]</ref>
* The final scene of an extremely large Devastator expressing [[Dull surprise|dull rage]] in the river is very reminiscent of the first [[Prime Directive|Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' miniseries]]. The fact that Devastator is [[Scale|obscenely large]] helps the comparison.
* The Decepticons suddenly possess gestalt technology, proven by the constructicons merging to form Devastator. This dispite the fact that Omega Supreme warned Optimus Prime to keep the technology from them {{storylink|Spotlight:_Optimus_Prime|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}. When and how the Decepticons got this technology and implemented it on the constructicons goes unexplained.

===Errors===
* Hook doesn't know who Frenzy is, despite having met him back in ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' and both of them being two of the earliest Decepticons.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Soundwave staring at Frenzy; art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover B:''' Communist propaganda style of Megatron silhouette behind a human army; art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]]
* '''Cover RI:''' Soundwave study sketch; art by Guido Guidi.
<gallery>
Image:AHM_02_CoverA.jpg|Shiny!
Image:AHM_02_CoverB.jpg|"Ignore him guys, maybe he'll go away."
Image:AHM_02_RI.jpg|The black-and-white guy with the cool speech bubbles.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[All Hail Megatron issue 3|''All Hail Megatron'' #3]]
* ''Epilogue'' series (also in [[IDWords]] section)
* ''Galaxy Quest'' comic
* ''Doctor Who: The Forgotten''
* ''New Classics of the Fantastic: Nightwing''
* ''Star Trek: Romulans''
* [[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|''The Reign of Starscream'' #5]]
* ''Igor Movie Prequel''
* CGC grading
* ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2009]] — ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron Volume 1]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]''
*[[2011]] — ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|The Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron]]''
*[[2011]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Five]]''

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:All Hail Megatron 02}}
[[Category:All Hail Megatron issues]]

File:MaximumDinobots 2ri.jpg

2012-03-16T23:12:37Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover for Maximum Dinobots 2

RI cover for Maximum Dinobots 2

Maximum Dinobots issue 2

2012-03-16T23:12:11Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots]]'' #2
|prev=Maximum Dinobots issue 1
|next=Maximum Dinobots issue 3
|image=MaximumDinobots 2b.jpg
|caption=It is now believed ''Triceratops'' saw more action against other members of its kind than against ''T. rex''. Slag clearly disagrees.
|publisher=IDW Publishing
|date=[[January 7]], [[2009]]
|coverdate=January 2009
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]
}}
'''Hot Rod joins Grimlock in finding out just how much worse it can get.'''

==Synopsis==
A badly battered [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] is hurled against a wall by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who gloats that he is merely playing with the young warrior as he wants him alive to witness his plan unfold. After crippling Hot Rod, Scorponok has his clones take him to an observation room showing him the situation in [[Fallon]], [[Nevada]]. The police have opened fire on [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] but all they've done is enrage him. After demolishing the immediate area, Grimlock calls out to Scorponok, letting him know he's fully aware of exactly what's going on. Transforming, he tells Scorponok to bring it! Scorponok muses, reminding himself of the mind lurking beneath Grimlock's bestial nature. After a brief bit of explanation to Hot Rod, Scorponok sits back to enjoy the show as the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] are released onto the field.

Near [[Nashville]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] is flooring it, heading for [[Dallas]], [[Texas]]. [[Hunter O'Nion]] thinks they should head for Fallon instead, but Sunstreaker points out that by retrieving his head, they disable the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], which makes everything else just collateral damage.

Grimlock is ready for a fight. What he isn't ready for is the Dynobots bursting through some nearby buildings. Scorponok loosens his hold on them slightly to let a bit of their savage nature shine through, as Grimlock realizes they are no longer in control of their own actions. Meanwhile, police are prevented from calling in help thanks to [[Skywatch]]'s blockade. [[Joshua Red|Agent Red]] is updated on the fight, including the drop in the efficiency of the neural net. Understanding that something more is going on, he boards a chopper, ready to do something he should have done the moment they lost Grimlock.

Back in Fallon, Grimlock is trying to get through to his team as they slam him into a nearby building. Breaking free, he quickly takes out [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]], and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], but when he tries to get to [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], he is blasted straight into [[Dark Stone|a petrol station]], which promptly explodes, knocking all five Dynobots flying. As the police check to make sure everyone is evacuated, Scorponok revels in the destruction, to Hot Rod's disappointment. Scorponok however, thinks it is a ploy to get him to tell all, a wasted one as he meant to, anyway. He plans to place the blame on Skywatch, while using the Dynobots to take out Grimlock, and then using the Headmasters to take out the Dynobots. His team will be regarded as heroes, he will get government contracts in order to protect against aliens, and from there on, there's no stopping him.

In [[New Zealand]], a ship touches down near the ''[[Skyfire (ship)|Skyfire]]''. The [[Monsterbot|occupants]] are looking for Grimlock, and intend to track him down.

Scorponok is intrigued by Grimlock's admittance of guilt and reduces his hold on the Dynobots enough for their personalities to surface. Meanwhile, Grimlock has recovered from the blast and detects a [[human]] caught in the fire. Transforming, he grudgingly goes to help, when Slag and company, now transformed, reappear and demand the truth. Grimlock tells them of his endgame move, but says it was something any of them would have done—Dynobots may be down, but never out. Slag agrees but says that by going behind their backs, Grimlock assured they ceased to be a team. Grimlock points out that Slag usually went out of his way to stress they were never a real team, that they followed no one's rules or conventions but their own, and that what Grimlock had done had been "them", all over. He proceeds to rip the rail car diner with the human trapped inside from the ground and takes it to safety. Amused, Scorponok sends in his Headmasters.

At [[Salt Lake City]], Agent Red decides to have a heart to heart with the last of the [[Eureka]] Six: [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (1)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (5)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (6)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (8)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (9)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (10)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (13)
* [[Doublecross]] (14)
* [[Grotusque]] (15)

|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (2)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (16)
|c3=
* [[Hunter O'Nion]] (7)
*[[Donnelly]] (11)
* [[Joshua Red]] (12)
|c4=
* [[Sunstreaker clone]]s (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's easy to forget that behind Grimlock's angry white noise lurks a brain. '''He understands'''." 
"Which is more than '''I''' can say. What '''is''' the Machination?" 
"It is the culmination of a plan conceived long ago and far away. On a planet called [[Nebulos]], if you're interested." 
"I'm not." 
"Hn."
:—'''Scorponok''' gets cruelly denied the chance to Bad Guy Monologue by '''Hot Rod'''

"Tell me something. If all hell's about to break loose in Fallon, why are we headed to '''Dallas'''? Shouldn't we be '''doing''' something about these Dinobots?" 
"It's Dynobots. D-Y-" 
"Dinobots. Like dinosaurs. You see that, right? Work with me here, Sunstreaker."
:—'''Hunter''' and '''Sunstreaker''' discuss the finer points of helping the audience keep all of the alternate spellings straight

"Remember when we first hit on the idea of the Dynobots, you and I? You said there's only one rule: there ''are'' no rules! No conventions, no precedents, no company line. What [[Spotlight: Shockwave|I ''did'']], in the final analysis, was so completely and utterly "us"." 
:—'''Grimlock''' justifies orbit-nuking his mates

"Now if you'll ''excuse'' me, I feel curiously ''obligated'' to put this lackluster lifeform out of harm's way." 
:—'''Grimlock''', not quite feeling like himself.

==Notes==
* The Dinobots' more realistic dinosaur forms, and the resulting look of their robot modes, is a deliberate attempt by Nick Roche to give them a [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] aesthetic.<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5196&start=237#117726 Nick Roche: "Back when they reformatted themselves for Earth combat in Spotlight: Shockwave, the script that Simon left on my doorsteo ''[sic]'' (aflame, and smeared in what I hope was animal excrement) said to reimagine the Dinobots as if they were Beast Wars characters. So rather than just apply this aesthetic to their alt-modes, I utilised it across the board, and gave them robot modes that were less G1, and more Beast Era."</ref>
* Based on Joshua Red's dialogue, Shockwave has been online for some time.
* Hunter's conversation with Sunstreaker about the spelling of "Dinobots" (quoted above) would make no sense spoken aloud, unless "Dynobots" is pronounced 'Deenobots' or something similarly outlandish. Perhaps their mental link accounts for this, but that would mean that Hunter spells his words as he says them. He ''is'' a strange guy.
* This issue was delayed in many markets, finally arriving on February 25, a week ''after'' issue 3.

===Errors===
* A Fallon resident on Furman's blog has said that the real town looks nothing like it does here. But he also encourages Furman to smash the town up more because it's a "craphole", so never mind!<ref>http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/max-load/#comment-4062 "WeeklyHero": "...but being a citizen of Fallon, NV, I gotta say it looks nothing liek ''[sic]'' the comic does. Which is a shame because I’d rather have the big parks there. So destroy the town, I’m glad to see it get the recognition that craphole deserves."</ref>
* Grimlock and Slag met in a brig during the war... while being team-mates years before in illegal gladiatorial matches, as shown in ''[[Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin'' #3]].

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' The Dynobots walking away from a dejected-looking Grimlock, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover B:''' Grimlock fighting with Slag, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Cover RI:''' Inks-only and text-free version of cover A
<gallery>
Image:Maximum_Dinobots_2a.jpg|Me, Grimlock am lonely
Image:MaximumDinobots_2b.jpg|Slag warms Grimlock's heart
Image:MaximumDinobots 2ri.jpg|RI cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[Maximum Dinobots issue 3|''Maximum Dinobots'' #3]]
* ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' comic
* ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' TPB
* ''Astounding Space Thrills: Argosy Smith and the Codex Reckoning''
* ''Angel: Smile Time''
* ''Classic G.I. Joe'' Volume One
* ''Ghost Whisperer: The Muse''
* ''Angora Napkin''
* ''Star Trek: Countdown''
* ''[[Alliance issue 1|Transformers: Alliance #1]]''
* ''[[Defiance issue 1|Transformers: Defiance #1]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2009]] — ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots]]''
*[[2011]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External Links==
* [http://gs100.photobucket.com/groups/m26/GU5E99BGYG/ Nick Roche's gallery of the inks-only pages]

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Ride-Along

2012-03-16T22:08:36Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers: Spotlight |''The Transformers Spotlight'']]: Prowl
|prev=Spotlight: Metroplex
|next=
|title="Ride-Along"
|image=SpotlightProwl CoverA.jpg
|caption=Get your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty [[Mike Costa|Costa]]!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 21]], [[2010]]
|coverdate= April 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[E. J. Su]]
|colors by=[[Andrew Dalhouse]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=Pre-[[...For All Mankind|''Transformers'' #1]]
}}
'''What happened to Prowl after ''All Hail Megatron''.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|Passages in italics are set in flashback.}}

[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] sits in vehicle mode with two similar police cruisers in the parking lot of a [[Los Angeles]] liquor store. His narration explains that the store has just been robbed. The cops are inside, trying to talk to the clerk, whose English is mostly limited to curses. But they manage to learn that the thieves were two tattooed punks with a shotgun and a [[Wikipedia:Nitrous|tricked-out]] [[Wikipedia:Toyota Celica|Celica]]. So when Prowl and his driver get a call about a Celica that ran a red light and struck a bicyclist, they hit the lights and sirens and rush down the road. Prowl ruminates on how even a major cataclysm just three years earlier couldn't change some things...

''Two years ago, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and Prowl walked through the ruins of [[New York City]], surveying the aftermath of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s reign of terror and the massive battle that ended it. Prime asked how they could have let the devastation happen, and Prowl answered that there were a lot of reasons, none of them necessarily the [[Autobot]]s' fault, but what mattered was that they had stopped it and won. Prime didn't see it as a victory, given the cost to the [[Earth]]; he thought the Autobots were obligated to help the [[human]]s rebuild. Prowl advised against getting involved in the humans' affairs, since they were unlikely to trust any [[Transformer]]s after having spent [[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|more than a year being attacked and subjugated by the Decepticons]].

''Optimus Prime agreed, but rather than abandon the humans, he simply ordered Prowl to help them in disguise. Prowl obeyed, spending eight months in silent observation as a police officer unknowingly drove him around. Prowl saw how the city behaved with virtually no infrastructure, a condition he thought of as "humanity's lowest point". He valued his time spent "doing nothing", even while others like [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] were berating Prime for the same. Prowl saw it as an opportunity to learn things, such as humanity's capacity for quick adaptation (manifested in the creation the [[Skywatch]] [[crash suit]]s). He also learned that the less people have, the more fearful they are of losing what remains—a tendency exacerbated by how very little the alien war had left them with. And he learned that they would never forgive the Transformers, nor let them repeat the offense.''

''As a case in point, Prowl witnessed several policemen discussing what to do about [[Thrust (G1)|an incapacitated Decepticon]] holed up in an abandoned building. With the army an hour away, the cops decided to take matters into their own hands by setting the building on fire and letting it collapse on the fugitive. Prowl sat silently as the execution was carried out.''

''Back at headquarters, Prowl saw [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetifre]] talking with [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and he remarked to Optimus Prime about the stream of new arrivals. Prime explained that the [[Decepticon]]s were disorganized and had lost control of most of the conquered Autobot outposts, but there were still many refugees in need of asylum. Earth was in a conveniently central location and was a suitable place to reinforce in any case. Prowl argued that reinforcement was unnecessary due to the lack of Decepticon resistance on the planet, and Prime replied that it would therefore be a good place for the battle-weary to rest. Prowl objected, since the repopulation and reclamation of New York would force the Autobots to find a new base soon, but there was nowhere to go, and the execution of Thrust demonstrated the humans' bloodthirsty mood. Prime expressed sympathy for the humans' point of view, then announced that he was calling everyone but Prowl in from their missions; Prowl, meanwhile, would continue his incognito assignment. Prowl asked what the point of his assignment was, and Prime answered with a platitude about everyone being on their own journey. That reminded Prowl about Bumblebee, who had been out of contact for a while. Prime told him that [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] had sent [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] on a mission to [[Detroit]] to scout for a new base. While Prowl acknowledged the value of the location, he worried about the chain-of-command breakdown that had kept him out of the loop. Prime suggested that a chain of command is only proper for a military unit, but with Megatron out of commission and the Decepticons scattered, perhaps the Autobots should change to something more democratic.''

''Prowl went back to work, again allowing his unsuspecting driver to facilitate his observations of the humans. Prowl's logical mind worked the mathematics of human existence, how there were billions of them in contrast to the less than ten thousand Transformers, but each human life occupied only a fraction of a century—a "shutterclick". Their crimes and creations were petty and ill-conceived, the sum total amounting to nothing more than a swarm. The unavoidable mathematical conclusion was that one human life could not be worth one Transformer. He didn't fear or resent them, but there was danger in maintaining cover; the only logical strategy was avoidance.

''Then one day, as he pondered this line of thought, Prowl was shocked into action by a simple accident. His driver had parked him by a reconstruction site as a cleanup crew hauled a Transformer gun (with a hand still attached) across a street. One of the workers put his hand on the trigger, asking his partner how many pounds of pressure he thought it would take to activate it. His partner told him not to touch it, but the worker pressed it anyway, sending an energy beam into the top of a nearby building. As rubble fell down towards a little girl, Prowl ran through the earlier population math and ended with, "One of me."

''Leaping into robot mode, Prowl pushed the girl out of the way as the rubble fell on him instead. Prowl's driver told everyone to stay back, and Prowl asked him if the girl was okay. He said she was, which pleased Prowl, and the cop expressed his shock that Prowl had stayed incognito for so long, only to break cover just to save the girl—especially since the people would kill him if given the chance. Prowl explained that he had seen too many things happen and done nothing for the sake of maintaining cover. He didn't know who was in charge anymore or where things were going; all he knew was that "the numbers are accurate... but they're not right." In that moment when he could save the girl's life, he decided to stop worrying about what might happen and just do the right thing. The cop understood and identified with the sentiment, but he said he was obligated to call the incident in. However, given the fact that Prowl was trapped and the situation wasn't an emergency, the cop thought they had about an hour before Skywatch would arrive. In that time, Prowl managed to escape.

''Prowl and the other Autobots moved west as planned, and after hiding in plain sight for another year, he [[...For All Mankind|again broke cover, this time being captured by Skywatch as a result]]. But in the end he considered it worthwhile, because [[Earthworks|things changed]].''

And now, Prowl has struck out on his own, seeking to transcend the "binary tactics" that proved useless against evolving threats with undefined goals. As he and the other two police cars form a barricade around the runaway Celica, Prowl considers that, with five billion humans and ten thousand [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]ians, he would put his own life on the line for any one of them.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (1)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (7)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (8)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (9)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (10)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (11)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (12)
|c3=
* Prowl's cop driver (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sarge! We got one in there." 
"How big?" 
"Big one. Red-and-black. Looks like it was a jet. Incapacitated, but it's still kicking." 
"How incapacitated?" 
"Well, it told us it wanted to kill us, and then it didn't, so I'd say pretty incapacitated."
:—A human '''police officer''' gives a nice, professional report to his '''Sergeant'''.

"The chain of command has been steadily breaking down here." 
"Chain of command is for a military unit." 
"Well, what do you call this?!" 
"I don't know. Our main objective is accomplished. Megatron is neutralized, and the Decepticons are scattered. Perhaps we should become something more... democratic."
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Optimus Prime''' discuss the Autobots' future.

"I don't fear them, but keeping this up is dangerous. I don't resent them, but the only strategy is one of avoidance. I don't hate them, but—five billion of them. Ten thousand of us. One of me."
:—'''Prowl''' calculates his thoughts on the humans.

==Notes==
* According to IDW story editor [[Andy Schmidt]], this story was originally going to be told in [[The Transformers (IDW)|the ongoing series]] (as is perhaps indicated by the fact that it is the only ''Spotlight'' with a title). But when fans reacted badly to Prowl's characterization in [[...For All Mankind|the first issue of that series]], IDW decided to jump the gun and publish the story early as a ''Spotlight''.<ref>[http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1002/19/schmidt.htm Comics Continuum video interview with Andy Schmidt]</ref> It is intended to reconcile his new, rashly self-sacrificial portrayal with the methodical, vehemently anti-hotheaded-maverick personality he [[The Transformers: Infiltration|had]] [[The Transformers: Escalation|exhibited]] [[All Hail Megatron issue 15|previously]]. But that reconciliation doesn't actually address the core concern of many of those upset fans, who wanted not just explanation, but ''reversion'' to the subversive schemer that Prowl had recently developed into.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=7345 IDW forum thread practically begging for Prowl's new characterization to be undone.]</ref>
* A note on the inside cover states, "The events in this story take place prior to TRANSFORMERS #1." This is true for most of the story, which is explicitly set in flashback, but in the L.A.-based framing sequences of the first and last few pages, Prowl's narration looks back on events from as late as [[Earthworks|''The Transformers'' #6]].
* This issue establishes the Transformer population of the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDWverse]] to be around 10,000.
* It also explains why Autobots that were not seen during ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' have since shown up in the ongoing on Earth.
* The "to protect and to serve" seen on Prowl's door is the motto of the real-life [[wikipedia:Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles Police Department]], occasionally shortened to "to protect and serve."
* A law enforcement member is seen drawing a chalk outline around a corpse, but this rarely if ever occurs anymore in real life: it can be interpreted in court as contamination of the crime scene and render some evidence inadmissible.<ref>[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2300/do-crime-scene-investigators-really-draw-a-chalk-line-around-the-body The Straight Dope on crime-scene chalk outlines]</ref>
* Includes some concept sketches of Prowl by [[E. J. Su]].

===Errors===
* The chronology established in narration and dialogue is questionable. The present-day bits are said to be "three years after a major cataclysm," but the Autobots are seen walking around the ruins of New York unmolested "two years ago," and at that point Prowl says the humans have "been attacked and subjugated by Decepticons for over a year." Given that these statements occur within two consecutive pages, it seems likely that they're purposeful and meant to fit together. This would make the events of ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' span an entire year, which is true to its real-life publication but is much, much longer than its in-fiction timespan appears to be.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Prowl standing in the ruins of the [[Statue of Liberty]], by [[E. J. Su]].
* '''Cover B:''' Noir-style cover of Prowl standing in a rainy alleyway with the [[Hollywood]] Sign in the background, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Text-free sketch variant of Cover A.
<gallery>
Image:SpotlightProwl CoverA.jpg| Call me "[[wikipedia:Snake Plissken|Snake]]."
Image:SpotlightProwl CoverB.jpg| ''Baby you'll be famous Chase you down until you love me Papa-Paparazzi''
Image:SpotlightProwl CoverRI.jpg.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Transformers Movie Collection Volume 2]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' comics on the iPhone and iPod touch
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* ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''
* Peter S. Beagle's ''The Last Unicorn''
* ''The Golden Collection of Klassic Krazy Kool Kids Komics''
* ''Nanovor: Game Day''
* ''The Adventures of Digger and Friends''

==Reprints==
*[[2012]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Spotlight issues]]

Ride-Along

2012-03-16T22:01:24Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers: Spotlight |''The Transformers Spotlight'']]: Prowl
|prev=Spotlight: Metroplex
|next=
|title="Ride-Along"
|image=SpotlightProwl CoverA.jpg
|caption=Get your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty [[Mike Costa|Costa]]!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 21]], [[2010]]
|coverdate= April 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[E. J. Su]]
|colors by=[[Andrew Dalhouse]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=Pre-[[...For All Mankind|''Transformers'' #1]]
}}
'''What happened to Prowl after ''All Hail Megatron''.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|Passages in italics are set in flashback.}}

[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] sits in vehicle mode with two similar police cruisers in the parking lot of a [[Los Angeles]] liquor store. His narration explains that the store has just been robbed. The cops are inside, trying to talk to the clerk, whose English is mostly limited to curses. But they manage to learn that the thieves were two tattooed punks with a shotgun and a [[Wikipedia:Nitrous|tricked-out]] [[Wikipedia:Toyota Celica|Celica]]. So when Prowl and his driver get a call about a Celica that ran a red light and struck a bicyclist, they hit the lights and sirens and rush down the road. Prowl ruminates on how even a major cataclysm just three years earlier couldn't change some things...

''Two years ago, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and Prowl walked through the ruins of [[New York City]], surveying the aftermath of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s reign of terror and the massive battle that ended it. Prime asked how they could have let the devastation happen, and Prowl answered that there were a lot of reasons, none of them necessarily the [[Autobot]]s' fault, but what mattered was that they had stopped it and won. Prime didn't see it as a victory, given the cost to the [[Earth]]; he thought the Autobots were obligated to help the [[human]]s rebuild. Prowl advised against getting involved in the humans' affairs, since they were unlikely to trust any [[Transformer]]s after having spent [[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|more than a year being attacked and subjugated by the Decepticons]].

''Optimus Prime agreed, but rather than abandon the humans, he simply ordered Prowl to help them in disguise. Prowl obeyed, spending eight months in silent observation as a police officer unknowingly drove him around. Prowl saw how the city behaved with virtually no infrastructure, a condition he thought of as "humanity's lowest point". He valued his time spent "doing nothing", even while others like [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] were berating Prime for the same. Prowl saw it as an opportunity to learn things, such as humanity's capacity for quick adaptation (manifested in the creation the [[Skywatch]] [[crash suit]]s). He also learned that the less people have, the more fearful they are of losing what remains—a tendency exacerbated by how very little the alien war had left them with. And he learned that they would never forgive the Transformers, nor let them repeat the offense.''

''As a case in point, Prowl witnessed several policemen discussing what to do about [[Thrust (G1)|an incapacitated Decepticon]] holed up in an abandoned building. With the army an hour away, the cops decided to take matters into their own hands by setting the building on fire and letting it collapse on the fugitive. Prowl sat silently as the execution was carried out.''

''Back at headquarters, Prowl saw [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetifre]] talking with [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and he remarked to Optimus Prime about the stream of new arrivals. Prime explained that the [[Decepticon]]s were disorganized and had lost control of most of the conquered Autobot outposts, but there were still many refugees in need of asylum. Earth was in a conveniently central location and was a suitable place to reinforce in any case. Prowl argued that reinforcement was unnecessary due to the lack of Decepticon resistance on the planet, and Prime replied that it would therefore be a good place for the battle-weary to rest. Prowl objected, since the repopulation and reclamation of New York would force the Autobots to find a new base soon, but there was nowhere to go, and the execution of Thrust demonstrated the humans' bloodthirsty mood. Prime expressed sympathy for the humans' point of view, then announced that he was calling everyone but Prowl in from their missions; Prowl, meanwhile, would continue his incognito assignment. Prowl asked what the point of his assignment was, and Prime answered with a platitude about everyone being on their own journey. That reminded Prowl about Bumblebee, who had been out of contact for a while. Prime told him that [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] had sent [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] on a mission to [[Detroit]] to scout for a new base. While Prowl acknowledged the value of the location, he worried about the chain-of-command breakdown that had kept him out of the loop. Prime suggested that a chain of command is only proper for a military unit, but with Megatron out of commission and the Decepticons scattered, perhaps the Autobots should change to something more democratic.''

''Prowl went back to work, again allowing his unsuspecting driver to facilitate his observations of the humans. Prowl's logical mind worked the mathematics of human existence, how there were billions of them in contrast to the less than ten thousand Transformers, but each human life occupied only a fraction of a century—a "shutterclick". Their crimes and creations were petty and ill-conceived, the sum total amounting to nothing more than a swarm. The unavoidable mathematical conclusion was that one human life could not be worth one Transformer. He didn't fear or resent them, but there was danger in maintaining cover; the only logical strategy was avoidance.

''Then one day, as he pondered this line of thought, Prowl was shocked into action by a simple accident. His driver had parked him by a reconstruction site as a cleanup crew hauled a Transformer gun (with a hand still attached) across a street. One of the workers put his hand on the trigger, asking his partner how many pounds of pressure he thought it would take to activate it. His partner told him not to touch it, but the worker pressed it anyway, sending an energy beam into the top of a nearby building. As rubble fell down towards a little girl, Prowl ran through the earlier population math and ended with, "One of me."

''Leaping into robot mode, Prowl pushed the girl out of the way as the rubble fell on him instead. Prowl's driver told everyone to stay back, and Prowl asked him if the girl was okay. He said she was, which pleased Prowl, and the cop expressed his shock that Prowl had stayed incognito for so long, only to break cover just to save the girl—especially since the people would kill him if given the chance. Prowl explained that he had seen too many things happen and done nothing for the sake of maintaining cover. He didn't know who was in charge anymore or where things were going; all he knew was that "the numbers are accurate... but they're not right." In that moment when he could save the girl's life, he decided to stop worrying about what might happen and just do the right thing. The cop understood and identified with the sentiment, but he said he was obligated to call the incident in. However, given the fact that Prowl was trapped and the situation wasn't an emergency, the cop thought they had about an hour before Skywatch would arrive. In that time, Prowl managed to escape.

''Prowl and the other Autobots moved west as planned, and after hiding in plain sight for another year, he [[...For All Mankind|again broke cover, this time being captured by Skywatch as a result]]. But in the end he considered it worthwhile, because [[Earthworks|things changed]].''

And now, Prowl has struck out on his own, seeking to transcend the "binary tactics" that proved useless against evolving threats with undefined goals. As he and the other two police cars form a barricade around the runaway Celica, Prowl considers that, with five billion humans and ten thousand [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]ians, he would put his own life on the line for any one of them.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (1)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (7)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (8)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (9)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (10)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (11)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (12)
|c3=
* Prowl's cop driver (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sarge! We got one in there." 
"How big?" 
"Big one. Red-and-black. Looks like it was a jet. Incapacitated, but it's still kicking." 
"How incapacitated?" 
"Well, it told us it wanted to kill us, and then it didn't, so I'd say pretty incapacitated."
:—A human '''police officer''' gives a nice, professional report to his '''Sergeant'''.

"The chain of command has been steadily breaking down here." 
"Chain of command is for a military unit." 
"Well, what do you call this?!" 
"I don't know. Our main objective is accomplished. Megatron is neutralized, and the Decepticons are scattered. Perhaps we should become something more... democratic."
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Optimus Prime''' discuss the Autobots' future.

"I don't fear them, but keeping this up is dangerous. I don't resent them, but the only strategy is one of avoidance. I don't hate them, but—five billion of them. Ten thousand of us. One of me."
:—'''Prowl''' calculates his thoughts on the humans.

==Notes==
* According to IDW story editor [[Andy Schmidt]], this story was originally going to be told in [[The Transformers (IDW)|the ongoing series]] (as is perhaps indicated by the fact that it is the only ''Spotlight'' with a title). But when fans reacted badly to Prowl's characterization in [[...For All Mankind|the first issue of that series]], IDW decided to jump the gun and publish the story early as a ''Spotlight''.<ref>[http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1002/19/schmidt.htm Comics Continuum video interview with Andy Schmidt]</ref> It is intended to reconcile his new, rashly self-sacrificial portrayal with the methodical, vehemently anti-hotheaded-maverick personality he [[The Transformers: Infiltration|had]] [[The Transformers: Escalation|exhibited]] [[All Hail Megatron issue 15|previously]]. But that reconciliation doesn't actually address the core concern of many of those upset fans, who wanted not just explanation, but ''reversion'' to the subversive schemer that Prowl had recently developed into.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=7345 IDW forum thread practically begging for Prowl's new characterization to be undone.]</ref>
* A note on the inside cover states, "The events in this story take place prior to TRANSFORMERS #1." This is true for most of the story, which is explicitly set in flashback, but in the L.A.-based framing sequences of the first and last few pages, Prowl's narration looks back on events from as late as [[Earthworks|''The Transformers'' #6]].
* This issue establishes the Transformer population of the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDWverse]] to be around 10,000.
* It also explains why Autobots that were not seen during ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' have since shown up in the ongoing on Earth.
* The "to protect and to serve" seen on Prowl's door is the motto of the real-life [[wikipedia:Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles Police Department]], occasionally shortened to "to protect and serve."
* A law enforcement member is seen drawing a chalk outline around a corpse, but this rarely if ever occurs anymore in real life: it can be interpreted in court as contamination of the crime scene and render some evidence inadmissible.<ref>[http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2300/do-crime-scene-investigators-really-draw-a-chalk-line-around-the-body The Straight Dope on crime-scene chalk outlines]</ref>
* Includes some concept sketches of Prowl by [[E. J. Su]].

===Errors===
* The chronology established in narration and dialogue is questionable. The present-day bits are said to be "three years after a major cataclysm," but the Autobots are seen walking around the ruins of New York unmolested "two years ago," and at that point Prowl says the humans have "been attacked and subjugated by Decepticons for over a year." Given that these statements occur within two consecutive pages, it seems likely that they're purposeful and meant to fit together. This would make the events of ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' span an entire year, which is true to its real-life publication but is much, much longer than its in-fiction timespan appears to be.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Prowl standing in the ruins of the [[Statue of Liberty]], by [[E. J. Su]].
* '''Cover B:''' Noir-style cover of Prowl standing in a rainy alleyway with the [[Hollywood]] Sign in the background, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Text-free sketch variant of Cover A.
<gallery>
Image:SpotlightProwl CoverA.jpg| Call me "[[wikipedia:Snake Plissken|Snake]]."
Image:SpotlightProwl CoverB.jpg| ''Baby you'll be famous Chase you down until you love me Papa-Paparazzi''
Image:SpotlightProwl CoverRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Transformers Movie Collection Volume 2]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' comics on the iPhone and iPod touch
* ''Star Trek: Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor''
* ''Star Trek: Captain's Log: Harriman''
* ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''
* Peter S. Beagle's ''The Last Unicorn''
* ''The Golden Collection of Klassic Krazy Kool Kids Komics''
* ''Nanovor: Game Day''
* ''The Adventures of Digger and Friends''

==Reprints==
*[[2012]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Spotlight issues]]

File:Spotlight Galvatron cvrRIB.jpg

2012-03-16T21:41:17Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron

RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron

File:Spotlight Galvatron cvrRIA.jpg

2012-03-16T21:40:49Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron

RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Galvatron

Spotlight: Galvatron

2012-03-16T21:39:36Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' #8
|prev=Spotlight: Kup
|next=Spotlight: Optimus Prime
|image=Spotlight_Galvatron_b.jpg
|caption=The first non-Megatron Galvatron... who ruins it by using the [[Energon mace|most Megatron weapon ever]].
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight Galvatron"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 5]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=July 2007
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[Eric Burns]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Escalation|Escalation]]
}}

'''Galvatron has returned to Cybertron... and [[Furmanism|you won't believe the things he can do now!]]'''

==Synopsis==
In the [[Benzuli Expanse]], a group of aliens monitors an anomaly that threatens the nearby system. Suddenly, their sensors detect something emerging from the anomaly, despite the fact that nothing can possibly survive in it. The something is [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who assaults their ship directly; they turn their comet-destroying weapons on him, shutting him down. They drag his body into their ship for study, but he suddenly comes back online and proceeds to slaughter the crew and destroy the ship. Galvatron speaks of being the harbinger of unlife, and doing the bidding of [[Nova Prime|a dark master]]. Though Galvatron is his herald for the time being, he is not content to remain so. With his secondary objective—the destruction of the probe ship—complete, Galvatron continues to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for his primary objective.

At [[Thunderhead Pass]] on Cybertron, [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] gripes to [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] about how much he hates his posting, and marches off to make a transmission to [[Earth]] to see about getting reassigned. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] answers and tells Sideswipe that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] is currently away on personal business. Sideswipe tells Ratchet to ask Prime if he's considered his relocation. Sideswipe feels that guarding Thunderhead Pass is a dead-end job and he should be on Earth helping to find [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. His transmission is cut short, however, when [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] arrives and demands him to sign off. [[Verity Carlo]] and [[Jimmy Pink]] were listening over Ratchet's shoulder, and tell him that Sideswipe's right: They're not doing anything to find Sunstreaker or [[Hunter O'Nion]], and that it may already be too late. They walk away telling Ratchet that they've failed their friends through their inaction.

On Cybertron, Hound reprimands Sideswipe for his transmission. He had ordered a total block on all unauthorized outgoing transmissions, and reminds Sideswipe that he's the one in charge. Sideswipe tells him that he's in charge of nothing: while the area might have been important a while ago when [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] was active, with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and his team having packed up and left, the area's essentially a dead zone. He tells Hound that he's in the mood to bust heads and can't think of a better place to do it than Earth. Hound gives him a formal warning and assigns him to sentry duty. Sideswipe marches off to do it, but grumbles that he's still going to do everything he can to get reassigned.

Meanwhile, Galvatron reminisces about the past. Before the chaos of Thunderwing and the [[Great War (G1)|war]], before the factions, Galvatron was a crew member on the first ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Though the citizens were told that it was about exploration and opening trade routes, the truth was that they had discovered a mysterious anomaly: a door to somewhere else, [[Dead Universe|some dark, parallel universe]], and they were going to examine it. Galvatron had been chosen for the mission due to his willingness to recklessly throw himself in the unknown, but none of the other crew realized just how far he was willing to go...

[[Image:SpotlightGalvatron Leadfoot.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Galvatron hates G2.]]

At Thunderhead Pass, Leadfoot hears a sound, but barely has time to say anything before Galvatron kills him with his bare hands. Sideswipe hears the disturbance and attacks Galvatron, and gets blasted for his troubles. Hound, [[Skram (G2)|Skram]], [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] also hear the fighting and show up, and Hound orders them to take Galvatron alive for questioning. As they pummel him with weapons fire, Sideswipe recovers, sets his gun to maximum power, and shoots Galvatron in the face, blowing off half of his head. Hound immediately starts yelling at Sideswipe that a corpse can't tell them anything, with Sideswipe naturally defending his actions. Skram interrupts, though, and tells them that Galvatron isn't dead—something that the rising Galvatron notes mentally is "wrong". He transforms to cannon mode and blasts them all... but to incapacitate, not kill. Galvatron considers it a small rebellion against his master, a reminder that his destiny is his own. He says that the others aboard the ''Ark'' are all dead, killed by his hands. The moment they entered the [[Dead Universe]], it claimed them all.

Hound recovers and immediately starts sending out an emergency distress signal. But Skram bursts in with terrible news: Thunderwing is gone! Elsewhere, Galvatron stands beside Thunderwing, and states that his primary objective is achieved.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (2)
*[[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (7)
*[[Skram (G2)|Skram]] (8)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (9)
*[[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (11)
|c3=
*[[Verity Carlo]] (5)
*[[Jimmy Pink]] (6)
|c4=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (1)
}}

==Notes==
[[Image:HoundCyb.gif|thumb|]]
* A Transformer resembling the [[Marvel Comics]] continuity Thunderwing can be seen on the bridge of the first ''Ark'' alongside Galvatron. It is unclear whether this is the same character as the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]] Thunderwing, or just a tip of the hat to the original comics (most likely the latter).
* The issue includes several pages of sketches (most in color) by [[Guido Guidi]]. Of note, Guidi's colour scheme for Hound slightly differs from the final colour scheme used.
* Among the horde fighting Galvatron on Cover B, are [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and what resembles his [[Pretender]] shell from the Generation 1 era, [[Sharkticon (G1)| Sharkticons]] and a few [[Trans-Organics]]

===Errors===
* Ratchet's head is colored like his cartoon model, rather than the usual scheme used in all his IDW appearances to this point.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Galvatron grimacing; art by [[Guido Guidi]] and [[Eric Burns]] (colors).
* '''Cover B:''' Galvatron fights off horde; art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]] (colors).
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Uncolored cover A
* '''Cover RI-B:''' Uncolored cover B
<gallery>
Image:Spotlight Galvatron a.jpg|My cannon is bigger than yours.
Image:Spotlight Galvatron b.jpg|This is why he's crazy!
Image:Spotlight Galvatron ria.jpg|Cover RI-A
Image:Spotlight Galvatron rib.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron|Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron]]''
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* ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'' film
* ''[[Transformers: Movie Adaptation|Movie Adaptation]]'' TPB
* ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2008]] — ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2]]''
*[[2009]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2]]''
*[[2011]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three]]''

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Galvatron]]

File:Spotlight Ramjet cvrRI.jpg

2012-03-16T21:33:23Z

BorisjeNL: RI Cover of Transformers Spotlight: Ramjet

RI Cover of Transformers Spotlight: Ramjet

Spotlight: Ramjet

2012-03-16T21:32:38Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' #10
|prev=Spotlight: Optimus Prime
|next=Spotlight: Blaster
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight Ramjet"
|image=Spotlight Ramjet a.jpg
|caption=I'm a sexy beast!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 7]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=November 2007
|written by=[[Stuart Moore]]
|art by=[[Robby Musso]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] and [[Andrew Steven Harris]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Escalation|Escalation]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}
'''Ramjet schemes to overthrow Megatron. Who knew the guy had it in him?'''

==Synopsis==
[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] diverts from his mission to meet with [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in mid-flight. While speeding across the skies, Ramjet and Skywarp discuss the failings of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Ramjet boasts that he has the smarts to overthrow Megatron, and tries to enlist Skywarp. Skywarp gives him 24 hours to come up with a good plan, reminding him of the old Cybertronian saying, "Always bet on the leader." Ramjet checks in with his [[Mini-Constructicon]]s, who inform him that the [[Universal Cybertronic Tracker]] will be ready in 18 hours. Ramjet next contacts his [[Pentagon]]-employed [[facsimile construct|facsimile]] [[Harrison]] (who, due to inferior construction, appears dimwitted) and tells him to be prepared to deliver missile codes. Ramjet will use the missiles to devastate the [[United States of America|United States]].

As Megatron and his Decepticons begin their war in [[Brasnya]], Ramjet flies to the [[European Union Alternative Energy Research Center]] and drops fliers for an unspecified contest. A money symbol on the flier is actually a spy device which jumps off the paper and attaches itself to the computers of the Center's employees. Ramjet believes that someone at the Center will eventually develop a useful [[energon]] substitute. Meanwhile in Brasnya, Megatron delivers to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] the beating of his life.

Ramjet later returns to his Mini-Constructicons, and they have his device ready. When two of them ask for a taste of his power once he overthrows Megatron, Ramjet destroys them for their insolence. Harrison meets with Ramjet and delivers the codes, but his face is melting off due to his inferior creation. Ramjet boasts of his plans to his liquefying lackey, which include tracking all Cybertronians, acquiring his energon substitute, blowing up the United States, enslaving the [[Decepticon]]s and [[human]]s of [[Earth]], and using a [[superstring spacebridge]] to dominate the galaxy.

Unfortunately for Ramjet, Megatron arrives and beats him mercilessly, ripping out his [[spark]] before tearing him limb from limb. He scatters Ramjet's parts at Ramjet's base, Harrison's office at the Pentagon, and the Energy Research Center, indicating that he knew about Ramjet's plans in detail. Megatron keeps Ramjet's head as a trophy and an object lesson for his other troops. Behind him, Skywarp echoes his earlier statement, "Always bet on the leader."

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (1)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (2)
*[[Mini-Constructicon]]s (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (6)
*[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (11)

|c3=
*[[Hunter O'Nion]] (12)
*[[Jimmy Pink]] (13)
*[[Verity Carlo]] (14)

|c4=
*[[Harrison]] (5)
*[[Georgi Koska]] (7)
}}

==Notes==
* This issue takes place after the ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' miniseries, and is written by the same author.
* The timeframe of the issue corresponds with the events in the ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' series.
* Apparently, IDW Transformers can fart (page 7). In general terms, this is [[Humanization|not a new development]].
* As Harrison collapses to the ground, it can also be seen that his car is wrecked and smoking. This is not explained, though it seems likely that the barely-functional facsimile is a terrible driver, given that it can only speak in rudimentary grunts. (It's also nicely symbolic of how everything around Ramjet was about to turn to crap.)
* This issue has the first mention of a space bridge in the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]].
* Given how the Decepticons are so keen on keeping themselves hidden from the planet's populace they infiltrate, it is quite unexpected that Megatron throws parts of Ramjet around the globe (thereby giving humans access to Cybertronian technology as well).
* Following the story are two pages of sketches by [[Robby Musso]].
* This is the first ''Spotlight'' issue that does not appear to be part of a larger storyline. While other ''Spotlights'' have answered questions raised in previous issues, brought up mysteries that created new questions, or introduced future plot developments, this one seems to be relatively self-contained. The only references to the rest of the storyline exist merely for chronological placement. However, [[Simon Furman]] mentioned on his blog that Ramjet may show up again.<ref>http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2007/11/05/script-wrap-14/#comment-1692</ref>

===Errors===
* The size of the text in this issue is considerably smaller than the norm.
* On page 17, in the first speech bubble, the sentence is unfinished.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Ramjet, robot and alternate modes by [[Robby Musso]] and [[Kieran Oats]] (colors).
* '''Cover B:''' Ramjet, Megatron and Skywarp by [[Guido Guidi]] and [[Josh Burcham]] (colors).
* '''Cover RI:''' Cover A, uncolored sketch
<gallery>
Image:Spotlight Ramjet a.jpg|Cover A
Image:Spotlight Ramjet b.jpg|And he would have gotten away with it if it weren't for <s>you pesky kids</s> Megatron's head hovering behind him the whole time.
Image:Spotlight Ramjet ria.jpg|RI Cover
</gallery>

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===Reprints===
*[[2008]] — ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2]]''
*[[2009]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Ramjet]]

File:Spotlight Arcee cvrRI.jpg

2012-03-16T21:27:54Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover of Transformers Spotlight: Arcee

RI cover of Transformers Spotlight: Arcee

Spotlight: Soundwave

2012-03-15T19:32:30Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' #6
|prev=Spotlight: Ultra Magnus
|next=Spotlight: Kup
|image=Spotlight_Soundwave_a.jpg
|caption=Soundwave commands his cassettes with the Finger of Doom!
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight Soundwave"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 21]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=March 2007
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Marcelo Matere]]
|colors by=[[Rob Ruffolo]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#1984|1984]]/[[IDW timeline#Infiltration|Infiltration]]
}}

'''Soundwave is keeping tabs on a group of rogue Decepticons... but who is keeping an eye on Soundwave?'''

==Synopsis==
[[Spotlight: Shockwave|Several stellar spans ago]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] assigned [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to delve into [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s research and relay all the information back to him. As the Decepticon leader did not fully trust Bludgeon, he also assigned [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to spy on him. Soundwave watches and observes, relaying information back to Megatron as he does so. He notes that one of Shockwave's projects called [[Regenesis]] is of particular interest to Bludgeon. Bludgeon never mentions it in his reports to Megatron, and, by the same token, neither does Soundwave. He continues watching as something is recovered from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s depths, sealed up, and guarded around the clock. He continues watching as, long after Cybertron is quarantined, Bludgeon, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]], and [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] leave for [[Earth]] in [[1984]]. Soundwave, of course, follows. Taking on his cassette deck [[alternate mode]], he allows himself to fall into the possession of a construction worker in order to spy on the two foremen, who had been replaced with [[Facsimile construct|facsimiles]] by Bludgeon. Soundwave records their conversations, and learns that they discovered [[Ultra-Energon]] below the construction site.

When the foremen leave to report to Bludgeon, Soundwave sends [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to track them. Listening in via Laserbeak, Soundwave overhears Bludgeon's plan: the foremen will plant [[Plasma-density charge|explosive charges]] to destroy the construction site, and then Bludgeon's team will remove the Ultra-Energon ore they need. That night, Laserbeak "liberates" Soundwave from his "owner" and flies him to Bludgeon's base within [[Mount St. Helens]]. He allows events at the construction site to run their course; the site is destroyed, the [[energon]] is claimed, and the Decepticons return to their base. While they are still disoriented from the [[Orbital jump|orbital bounce]], Soundwave announces his presence and tells Bludgeon that he wants a cut of the profits. Bludgeon sneers at him and tells him that they are not motivated by avarice or ambition; rather, they have seen the truth, and their goal is the resurrection of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] himself!

Soundwave, remembering Thunderwing's previous devastation of Cybertron, decides that the only recourse is to destroy them: for once, he remarks, he's working for the greatest good instead of his own! He looses Ravage and Laserbeak, who take out Iguanus and Bomb-Burst but are easily dispatched by Bludgeon. Soundwave hesitates for a moment before remembering the apocalypse that was nearly perpetrated by Thunderwing and renewing his resolve. Unfortunately, that one moment is all it took: Iguanus recovers and blasts Soundwave with one of Shockwave's experimental weapons, overriding his transformation circuits and forcing Soundwave back into his alternate mode. Bludgeon remarks on how much of an inconvenience that must be for him, before dropping an explosive charge into the lava below and transporting his team and the energon away as the volcano erupts. A year later, Laserbeak and Ravage are extracted from Mt. St. Helens by an [[Skywatch|unknown team of humans]]. However, they don't realize the true nature of the cassette deck buried amongst the rubble and Soundwave ultimately finds his way to a pawn shop, where he was purchased by a teenager.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (1)
* [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (4)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (5)
* [[Skullgrin]] (6)
* [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] (7)
* [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] (8)
* [[Finback]] (9)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (12)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
|c3=
* [[Bud]] (10)
* [[Hiro]] (11)
* [[Joshua Red]] (14)
* [[Jimmy]] (15)

|h4=[[Facsimile construct]]s|c4=
*[[Fleming]] (2)
*[[Markham]] (3)
}}

==Notes==
* The eruption of Mount Saint Helens in this story does not appear to correspond with an actual historical event. The most famous eruption of the real world volcano took place on [[May 18]], [[1980]]. Although there have been many smaller eruptions since then, according to a [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs036-00/ US Geological Survey Fact Sheet], none of the three eruptions recorded in [[1984]] included any "explosive activity," which the eruption in this story certainly does.
* Ravage and Laserbeak's story would be followed up on in [[Escalation issue 6|''Escalation'' #6]], while Soundwave would be seen in [[Devastation issue 4|''Devastation'' #4]]. All 3 would be visited again in ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'', which would also identify Soundwave's "owner" as "Jimmy".
* The issue pays homage to some events in the cartoon, such as the term [[transformation cog]] and "[[The Autobot Run]]"—the episode where the [[Autobot]]s were locked into their alternate modes.

===Errors===
[[Image:SpotlightSoundwaveScale.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Skywatch? More like Skydwarf.]]
* Rob Ruffolo is credited as Rob Ruff'''a'''lo; this seems to be a fairly common misspelling.
* In the panel introducing the two facsimiles, the one with a goatee is shown with a beard that covers his lips instead of the beard he wears for the rest of the issue. If this isn't an illustration error, then that means he has super ''hair-ingesting'' powers. Ew.
* In the scene depicting the two facsimiles arriving to receive orders from Bludgeon, Skullgrin can be seen in the background, despite the fact that Soundwave had previously stated that only Bludgeon, Iguanus, and Bomb-Burst journeyed to Earth.
* [[Scale]] is pretty wonky in this issue: When [[Hiro]] picks up Soundwave in his alternate mode on page 6, the tape deck mode is smaller than a thick comic book slipcase. When Laserbeak picks up Soundwave out of Hiro's hands on page 11, he can barely hold the tape deck in his mouth, making Laserbeak about the size of a large dog (not counting the wings). Yet when Skywatch discovers Laserbeak on page 22, his ''head'' alone is suddenly the size of an adult human.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Soundwave and cassettes at night; art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]] (colors).
* '''Cover B:''' Soundwave and cassettes with blasted wall; art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and Josh Burcham (colors).
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Uncolored cover A
* '''Cover RI-B:''' Uncolored cover B
<gallery>
Image:Spotlight Soundwave a.jpg|
Image:Spotlight Soundwave b.jpg|"For the last time, Ravage and Laserbeak, I don't have any more kitty treats or crackers! See?!"
Image:Spotlight Soundwave ria.jpg|Cover RI-A
Image:Spotlight Soundwave rib.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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===Reprints===
*[[2008]] — ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2]]''
*[[2009]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Soundwave]]

File:Spotlight Soundwave cvrRIB.jpg

2012-03-15T19:32:12Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave

RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave

File:Spotlight Soundwave cvrRIA.jpg

2012-03-15T19:31:00Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave

RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave

File:Spotlight UltraMagnus cvrRIB.jpg

2012-03-15T19:25:02Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

File:Spotlight UltraMagnus cvrRIA.jpg

2012-03-15T19:24:39Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

2012-03-15T19:24:01Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers: Spotlight|''The Transformers: Spotlight'']] #5
|prev=Spotlight: Sixshot
|next=Spotlight: Soundwave
|image=Spotlight_UltraMagnus_a.jpg
|caption=Yep, I'm a [[Brick (term)|brick]].
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight Ultra Magnus"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 17]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=January 2007
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Robby Musso]]
|colors by=[[Kieran Oats]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|~1988]]
}}

'''Ultra Magnus firmly believes in his duties. But how will he deal with violating one to achieve another?'''

==Synopsis==
On [[Zull]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] apprehends the [[Decepticon]] criminal [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]], blowing away [[Karzai Lorcha]]'s forces who are protecting him. However, Swindle decides to make Ultra Magnus a deal: his freedom in exchange for [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s location. Magnus realizes that Scorponok's capture would be far more important than Swindle's, and he knows that he would easily be able to catch Swindle the next time he got himself in trouble, then he could still get him to [[Decepticon High Justice]]. But is it enough for Magnus to violate the rules he enforces? Ultimately, Ultra Magnus agrees.

The information leads him to [[Nebulos]], where he finds that Scorponok is using businessman [[Zarak (G1)|Mo Zarak]]'s corporation, the [[Zarak Consortium]], as a front for his own activities. Using a [[holomatter]] disguise, Ultra Magnus penetrates into the very heart of the facility and discovers what appears to be a [[Nebulan]] whose [[Headmaster (technology)|body has been almost entirely re-engineered with Cybertronian technology]]; in short, a transforming Nebulan. Shortly after discovering this, his hologram is detected and destroyed, and Ultra Magnus reenters the facility via less subtle means. He encounters a group of Cybertronian drones—which are lacking heads. Defeating the drones, Magnus realizes that something serious is going on, and heads into the underground facility.

Once underground, Ultra Magnus offers Scorponok a chance to surrender, which is interrupted by an attack. Although Scorponok's usual modus operandi is to flee when discovered, he says that what he is working on is something "breathtaking", and Magnus cannot be allowed to interfere. In the ensuing battle, Mo Zarak, afraid that all his work will be lost, tries to stop Scorponok and is shot in the crossfire, revealing cybernetic components in his body. Ultra Magnus takes advantage of Scorponok's distraction at having seemingly killed Mo Zarak and shoots the Decepticon in the face. Scorponok, damaged and distraught over the loss of his research, flees through an artificial wormhole generator.

Twenty-nine stellar cycles later on [[Buras]], Ultra Magnus finds himself taking Swindle into custody once more. As Swindle once again tries to bargain his way out of trouble, Ultra Magnus wonders just how many compromises he'll make in order to get Scorponok.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
|c2=
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (1)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (4)
|c4=
* [[Karzai Lorcha]] (2)
* [[Zarak (G1)|Mo Zarak]] (5)
}}

==Notes==
* When Ultra Magnus re-arrests Swindle on the last page, he is reporting to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]; this report is seen during [[Escalation issue 1|''Escalation'' #1]].
* Magnus later reports to Optimus Prime in "[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]" that he has a new lead on Scorponok. Whether he got the lead by cutting another deal with Swindle remains unknown.
* Magnus's ship shares his color scheme.
* Scorponok is in scale with his [[Marvel Comics]] incarnation, rather than the cartoon where he was city-sized.
* As fully revealed in [[Devastation issue 6|''Devastation'' #6]], Scorponok's experiments on Nebulos would later be implemented on [[Earth]] under the guise of the [[Machination]].
* First appearance of [[cydraulic]]s and [[trauma-buffer]]s, terms for Transformer anatomy that have since moved into wider circulation.
* Swindle's stock of weapons includes an [[r-infinity accelerator]].

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Magnus contacting Swindle; art by [[Klaus Scherwinski]].
* '''Cover B:''' Magnus in front of clouds; art by [[Robby Musso]] and colors by [[Kieran Oats]].
* '''Cover RI-A:''' cover A, uncolored
* '''Cover RI-B:''' cover B, uncolored

<gallery>
Image:Spotlight UltraMagnus a.jpg|Ok, I'll deal with that now.
Image:Spotlight Magnus b.jpg|Quit looking at my crotch.
Image:Spotlight Magnus ria.jpg|Cover RI-A
Image:Spotlight Magnus rib.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 1]]''
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Ultra Magnus]]

File:Spotlight Sixshot cvrRIB.jpg

2012-03-15T19:20:18Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Sixshot

RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Sixshot

File:Spotlight Sixshot cvrRIA.jpg

2012-03-15T19:20:00Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Sixshot

RI cover A for Transformers Spotlight: Sixshot

Spotlight: Sixshot

2012-03-15T19:19:30Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers: Spotlight |''The Transformers: Spotlight'']] #4
|prev=Spotlight: Hot Rod
|next=Spotlight: Ultra Magnus
|image=Spotlight_Sixshot_a.jpg
|caption=Sixshot and his playmates
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight: Sixshot"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 20]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=December 2006
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Rob Ruffolo]]
|colors by=[[Rob Ruffolo]]
|letters by=[[Robbie Robbins]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Infiltration|various]]
}}

'''Sixshot, an engine of destruction, meets a group just like him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Sixshot]] is stationed on a [[Decepticon]] orbital outpost waiting for his next assignment. He's restless, itching to get back to doing what he does best—wide-scale destruction. He daydreams about the last stellar-span when he destroyed the entire world of [[Ys'devian]].

Most of the other Decepticons stationed with him are uncomfortable around him and avoid him out of fear. The only exception to this is a unit that call themselves the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who look up to Sixshot as a kind of role model. However, Sixshot hasn't seen them around in a while and misses their company, so he asks [[Squawkbox]] about their whereabouts. Squawkbox informs him that they went missing on the planet [[Mumu-Obscura]], a planet of strategic importance that has fallen to the [[Reaper]]s. Sixshot immediately leaves to investigate, traveling there in spaceship mode.

Upon arrival at Mumu-Obscura, Sixshot easily fights his way through the Reapers' automated perimeter defenses. He surveys the landscape to find it completely devastated. He is met by the Reapers and the [[Deathbringer (IDW)|Deathbringer]] welcomes him to their planet. Sixshot wastes no time in asking for the Terrorcons, but the deathbringer tells Sixshot that he will have to go through the Reapers to get to them. Sixshot then attacks without hesitation.

He fights the Reapers one by one, believe that he's holding his own, but when the Reapers kick the fight up a notch, he has to retreat to regroup. It is then that Sixshot guesses that the Reapers were testing him and returns to find them all waiting for him. The Reapers teleport in the Terrorcons, and the Deathbringer tells Sixshot about the mission of the Reapers: The Reapers seek to end war by totally obliterating any location that has strategic importance, which will destroy anything worth fighting over. The Deathbringer offers to let Sixshot join them if he will first destroy the Terrorcons, demonstrating that he has left his old life behind.

Sixshot considers the offer long enough for the Terrorcons to get nervous and plead with him out of friendship. Sixshot then takes off into the air, shooting the ground around the Terrorcons but sparing their lives. The Deathbringer allows them to leave, but vows that they will find Sixshot again.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c2=
* [[Sixshot]] (1)
* [[Spectro]] (2)
*[[Spyglass]] (3)
* [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] (4)
* [[Squawkbox]] (5)
*[[Pounce]] or [[Wingspan]] (6)
*[[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] (7)
* [[Hun-Gurrr]] (14)
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (15)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (16)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (17)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (18)

|h4=[[Reaper]]s|c4=
* [[Deathbringer (IDW)|Deathbringer]] (8)
* Invertebrate Reaper (9)
* [[Ravenous]] Reaper (10)
* Designer weapon of mass destruction Reaper (11)
* [[Klaxa]] (12)
* Hooded Reaper (13)
}}

==Notes==
*Spectro and Spyglass appear in toy-based character models. In "[[Spotlight: Wheelie]]", they have adopted character models based on the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].
* On the first page, Sixshot's guns make a ZARAAAK sound, possibly an in-joke reference to [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s [[Nebulan]] partner [[Mo Zarak]], who appears in the following ''Spotlight'' comic.
* Aside from appearing on Rob Ruffolo's cover, Sixshot doesn't use his "armored car" mode in this issue.
* This marks the first time that Simon Furman has used the Sixshot character in his fiction.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Sixshot with Terrorcons; art by [[James Raiz]].
* '''Cover B:''' Sixshot, multiple modes; art by [[Rob Ruffolo]].
* '''Cover RI-A:''' cover A, uncolored
* '''Cover RI-B:''' cover B, uncolored

<gallery>
Image:Spotlight Sixshot a.jpg|Terrorcons, terrorize!
Image:Spotlight Sixshot b.jpg|6 toys in one!
Image:Spotlight Sixshot ria.jpg|Cover RI-A
Image:Spotlight Sixshot rib.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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* Transformers posters
* IDW trade paperbacks of ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer]]'', ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'', ''[[Prime Directive]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Generations|Generations]]''
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* ''Generations'' series
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===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 1]]''
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Sixshot]]

Spotlight: Hot Rod

2012-03-15T19:16:10Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' #3
|prev=Spotlight: Nightbeat
|next=Spotlight: Sixshot
|image=Spotlight03HotRod.jpg
|caption=The Big Astro-Kahuna
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight Hot Rod"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 15]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=November 2006
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Liam Shalloo]]
|letters by=[[Robbie Robbins]]
|edits by=[[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Infiltration|various]]
}}

'''Hot Rod takes enormous risks to rescue the one he left behind.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:SpotlightHotRod Autobotvehicles.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Hot Rod, Dealer, and three Ensign Smiths.]]
[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] hitches a ride on a meteoroid to travel to the cold moon with the [[Decepticon]] penal colony [[Styx]]. His landing is not smooth, and in unconsciousness, he flashbacks to a mission at [[Ki-Aleta]], with him in charge of a tactical unit, including [[Download]], [[Gizmo]], [[Backbeat]], and [[Doubledealer|Dealer]]. Their mission was to infiltrate the [[Omega Bunker]] to obtain the [[Magnificence]] using a drill to create tunnels.

Hot Rod regains consciousness and sneaks into Styx, using a [[viral carrier wave]], a device the produces apparently random, but actually timed gaps in the security system. [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] reports those issues as they come up. Once inside Styx, Hot Rod flashbacks again. Gizmo uses his holomatter generator to distract the Bunker's [[Omega Guardian]]s while Hot Rod and Download follow a tunnel into the Bunker. There, they see the Magnificence. However, the holomatter generator malfunctions, and Gizmo is killed shortly after. Without distractions, the Omega Guardians aim their sights at Download and destroy him.

In the present, the alarms sound; thanks to the virus, every cell is open. Hot Rod disguises himself as a Decepticon and finds Dealer in a cell. Again, Hot Rod flashbacks to the end of the mission. While escaping with the Magnificence, Dealer says that he has been ambushed by a Decepticon attack squad and requests help. Hot Rod, under orders to put the Magnificence at the highest priority, follows a secret tunnel known only to him. Hot Rod blames himself for the death of his teammates.

Back in Styx, Hot Rod, carrying a disguised Dealer along, hijacks a Decepticon ship and returns to an Autobot base. There, Hot Rod tries to apologize to Dealer, but Dealer states he understands and just wants them to be friends. Later, in a secret conversation with [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], Dealer states that the holomatter generator failure was the result of his sabotage and assures him that Hot Rod will eventually trust him enough to reveal the location of the Magnificence. Banzaitron dubs him the name of "Doubledealer".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (1)
*[[Download]] (2)
*[[Gizmo]] (3)
*[[Backbeat]] (4)
|c2=
*[[Doubledealer]] (5)
*[[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (6)
*[[Crankshot]] (7)
*[[Demo]] (8)
*[[Jugurnot]] (9)
*[[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]] (10)
}}

==Notes==
* These are the first official fictional appearances of Gutcruncher and Banzai-Tron, although both were given profiles in [[Dreamwave Productions]]' ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' series.
* Backbeat's fate is never shown, though a close reading implies (subtly) that he was manning the holo-matter generator with Gizmo. "[[Spotlight: Doubledealer]]" would later reveal that he died as well.
* The Magnificence is colored to resemble the [[Pearl of Bahoudin]].

===Errors===
* Banzai-Tron's name is misparsed as "Banzaitron", though this may just be a "reinvention" of the name since it is consistent in later issues.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Hot Rod on meteor by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Rob Ruffolo]] (colors).
* '''Cover B:''' Hot Rod in Hot Rod by [[James Raiz]] and [[Rob Ruffolo]] (colors).
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Cover A uncolored
* '''Cover RI-B:''' Cover B uncolored
<gallery>
Image:Spotlight03HotRod.jpg|Cowabunga!
Image:Spotlight HotRod b.jpg|The only one better than me is... me!
Image:Spotlight HotRod ria.jpg|Cover RI-A
Image:Spotlight HotRod rib.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>

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===Reprints===
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[[Category:Spotlight issues|Hot Rod]]

File:Spotlight HotRod cvrRIB.jpg

2012-03-15T19:15:48Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Hot Rod

RI cover B for Transformers Spotlight: Hot Rod

File:Spotlight HotRod cvrRIA.jpg

2012-03-15T19:15:01Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover A of Transformers Spotlight: Hot Rod

RI cover A of Transformers Spotlight: Hot Rod

Megatron Origin issue 4

2012-03-15T17:06:37Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' #4
|prev=Megatron Origin issue 3
|image=MO 4 b.jpg
|caption=Somebody needs to switch to decaf.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 24]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=September 2007
|written by=[[Eric Holmes]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] and [[Mark Bristow]]
|color assist by=[[Gabe Eltaeb]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|edits by=[[Andrew Steven Harris]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Megatron Origin]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}
'''The former miner-turned-gladiator-turned-rebel leader kills lots of other guys for the hell of it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Autobot]] security escorts [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] away from the other detained gladiators held in the [[Kaon]] holding cells. They take Starscream to stand before the Council of the district, to whom Starscream delivers a message: Everything that has happened is the council's fault. As punishment for their sins, Starscream and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] destroy the council, etching their [[Insignia|symbol]] into the meeting room's view screen.

The next stage in [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s master plan carried out by Starscream is to free all the inmates. Starscream releases them all, and the criminals with prior association with Megatron are recruited into his new army. Soundwave provides armaments, and Starscream introduces Megatron to a new arm-mounted [[fusion cannon]]. Blasting a hole in the wall with his new weapon, Megatron orders the group to attack with an offensive that is as simple as it is destructive: Everything burns.

In an area inhabited by [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Kaon upperclass|high class]], snooty recreation comes to an end when [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] fire upon an airborne vessel, causing it to crash below, destroying an incredible amount on the way down.

Soundwave meets with his boss, Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. The senator admits that not only did he aid Megatron's cause by supplying arms, he was also the one who arranged for Megatron to be removed from the mining operation where he was originally working. Now that Megatron's forces have destabilized the area, the senator is embezzling what he can before moving on to new pastures. Soundwave, however, shoots Ratbat, takes Ratbat's ill-gotten gains, and seals his [[spark]] inside of a frame—his new "cassette" body. Evidently, Soundwave prefers Megatron as his new boss.

[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and the other [[Autobot]]s fight to retake Kaon from the rioting rebellion. However, the rebels are causing massive damage, have jammed communications with [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and just won't give an inch of ground. Running out of options, Sentinel Prime decides to bring his incredible assortment of firepower (using his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex System]]) head to head against Megatron. A colossal explosion blasts Megatron out of sight.

Sentinel Prime radios to the other Autobots that he's created a route that can be used to fight against the enemy. But when his armor's helmet is shattered by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s body, he discovers that Megatron still functions. Their struggle takes them over a precipice as they battle while discussing Megatron's goal: Megatron wants to transform the world. With a final strike, Megatron (possibly) kills the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]].

The other Autobots arrive, following Sentinel Prime. They find their leader's body. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], assuming command, orders a retreat.

Megatron sits on his throne and discusses the victory with Soundwave. Now that Kaon has been taken, the next step is clear—the rest of Cybertron shall be conquered. But they will not do it as Cybertronians. From this day forward, they are the [[Decepticon]]s.

The [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] has begun...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (19)
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (20)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (21)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (22)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (23)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (25)
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] (30)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (31)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (32)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Squawkbox]] (5)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (6)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (7)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (8)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (10)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (11)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (13)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (14)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (15)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (16)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (24)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (27)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (28)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (29)

|c4=
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (3)
*[[Grapple]] (17)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (18)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (26)
}}

== Quotes ==
"Heh. Nobody's perfect."
:'''—Starscream''', after hearing a long list of charges against him.

"Through your own interests you created this. You brought us here. You didn't just make it possible—you made it happen. All we did was give it a name."
:'''—Starscream''', before the court.

"Hmm. Yes. There's something about this."
:'''—Megatron''', upon receiving his arm cannon.

"Situation—war. Resources—limited. Optimal solution—repurpose valuable resource."
:'''—Soundwave''', while downgrading Senator Ratbat.

"And when you've crossed the planet with your little gang of thugs, what will you do then?" 
"I will create desolation—and call it peace!"
:'''—Sentinel Prime''' and '''Megatron'''

==Notes==
* Civilians cry out "[[Primus]]!" when they are attacked by Thundercracker and Skywarp. The name is only used as a curse here, but it is significant because the principal writer of the series at the time, [[Simon Furman]], intended to keep Primus and [[Unicron]] out of this continuity. Although Furman didn't write ''Megatron Origin'', he did comment on it on his blog: "just because someone refers to something called Primus, doesn’t necessarily mean it's G1 Primus. There are still no plans to do feature Primus (as was). But is/was there someone or something called Primus in the IDW/TF-verse, quite possibly."<ref>[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/#comment-3074 Simon Furman's reply to his own blog post]</ref>
* According to Alex Milne, Sentinel Prime isn't actually dead, and the script called for him to look like he could go either way.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411#37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> But he is drawn with a gaping hole in his chest and an expression of horror frozen on his face, and his colors are extremely washed-out. The dialogue leaves the question "He alive?" spoken but unanswered.
* Sentinel Prime uses Apex Armor, a reference to the ''[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Commemorative Series]]'' reissue of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* Megatron's intention to "create desolation—and call it peace!" is a paraphrase of the real-life [[wikipedia:Caledonians|Caledonian]] chieftain [[wikipedia:Calgacus|Calgacus]], who described the philosophy of the Romans he was fighting against: "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace." Megatron's wording also reflects the motto from his original [[bio]], "Peace through tyranny."
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] gives [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] his [[fusion cannon]]. It shouldn't be hard to see [[Infiltration issue 6|the irony in this]].
* Thundercracker expresses some misgivings about shooting down the ship with Skywarp. Take notice of that little bit of characterization, it becomes [[All Hail Megatron issue 12|important later]].

===Errors===
* On page 10, Trailbreaker is depicted grabbing Starscream as the Decepticon makes his escape. Starscream then kicks the Autobot off, sending him into what is heavily implied to be his death (what with the long fall into a massive explosion and all), despite Trailbreaker turning up alive and well many years later in the previously published "[[Spotlight: Kup]]" as well as the later published "[[Spotlight: Blaster]]". This is not the [[Fastback (G1)|first time]] that the ''Megatron Origin'' books would [[Outback (G1)|conflict]] with the events in ''Spotlight:'' Kup.
* It also wouldn't be the last time a Spotlight issue has a conflicting plot point, as despite appearances here, Hound shows up fine in [[Spotlight: Galvatron]].
* [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] shows up as one of the Senate guards... when really he [[Dead Universe|shouldn't be there at all.]]
* The string of word bubbles meant for Ratbat on page 12 instead appear to come from Ravage.

=== Covers (3) ===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron stands over a defeated Sentinel Prime by [[Alex Milne]] (pencils) and [[Josh Perez]] (colors)
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron screaming by [[Marcelo Matere]] (pencils) and [[Andrew Elder]] (colors)
* '''Cover RI-A:''' uncolored cover A

<gallery>
Image:MO 4 a.jpg|Um... Spoiler alert!
Image:MO 4 b.jpg|He's angry because of that spoiler
Image:MO 4 RI.jpg|No colors, still spoiled
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

File:MO 4 RI.jpg

2012-03-15T17:06:29Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover of Megatron Origin issue 4

RI cover of Megatron Origin issue 4

Megatron Origin issue 3

2012-03-15T16:46:29Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' #3
|prev=Megatron Origin issue 2
|next=Megatron Origin issue 4
|image=MO 3 a.jpg
|caption=Anyone have a Tylenol?
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 6]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=August 2007
|written by=[[Eric Holmes]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|color assist by=[[Mark Bristow]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Megatron Origin]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}
'''The former miner-turned-gladiator decides to start a rebellion for some reason.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] reports to the gladiatorial safehouse in [[Kaon]] to speak with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] comments to Soundwave to tread lightly, as Megatron has just lost an arm. Soundwave enters and sees the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] replacing Megatron's missing arm with one culled from a casualty of the fight. He relates that he has made progress on Megatron's request for a flight-capable combatant. Megatron asks if he has located one, and Soundwave says that instead he has found three. He presents the original [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] to Megatron. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] is awed in the presence of the famous gladiator and prostrates himself, swearing undying allegiance. After questioning them on their capabilities, Megatron says he has something in store for them besides gladiatorial matches, and turns the Seekers over to [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] for modification.

[[Image:Bumper-funeral.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Obviously, Alex Milne is still overcoming Dreamwave's egg obsession.]]
The Cybertron Security Forces hold a funeral for [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]] and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]], with many mourners in attendance and [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] gives the eulogy. He emphasizes that their deaths should serve as a call to action, and that to give them meaning he will bring the outlaws to justice.

A parade is held for the unveiling of a new statue of Senator [[Decimus]] alongside other famous Cybertronians. The Seekers disrupt the festivities and, thanks to [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], manage to abduct the Senator. Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] watches footage of a series of daring and destructive attacks and comments that things are getting out of control.

Megatron puts out a call for new recruits to join the gladiator games. [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] considers joining, but [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] advises against it—watching the fights is one thing, but joining them another thing entirely. The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] express scorn about the influx of "amateurs" though quickly retract the claim as [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] are seen passing by.

Backstage, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] are seen protesting being placed under Soundwave's command. Megatron states that they have been modified for a reason, and that the decision is final.

At the meeting, Megatron whips up the crowd, telling them that they are the most dangerous Cybertronians alive, and tempting them with the prospect of the whole [[Cybertron (planet)|planet]] as their arena. To emphasize his point, he has the Seekers bring out Senator Decimus. Before he can execute the Senator, the meeting is interrupted by the Autobot Security Services as led by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and Sentinel Prime. Megatron, his inner circle, and everyone they can catch are clapped in [[inhibitor claw]]s and captured.

Back at the headquarters, Sentinel Prime is frustrated by the information that Soundwave must be freed under [[Senate]] directive. Back in the holding cell, Starscream offers to turn state's evidence and Megatron quickly orders his death to try and stop him, but Starscream is escorted out of the cell. As he leaves, Starscream requests to be taken to the Senate, as he has something that will guarantee both their future and his own.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (10)
*? (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (13)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (14)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (15)
*[[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]] (16)
*[[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] (17)
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (18)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (19)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (20)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (21)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (22)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (23)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] (24)
*[[Elita One]] (25)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (26)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (27)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (28)
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] (29)
*? (30)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (31)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (3)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (5)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (6)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (8)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (37)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (38)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (39)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (40)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (41)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (42)
*[[Tantrum]] (43)
*[[Headstrong]] (44)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (47)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (48)
*[[Sixshot]] (49)
*[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (51)
*[[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] (52)
*[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (53)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (54)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (55)

|c4=
*[[Decimus]] (32)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (34)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (35)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (36)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (45)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (46)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (50)
}}

==Quotes==
"Anyway..ech...you should see the other guy."
:—'''Swindle''' on the fate of Megatron's opponent.

"Mmm...uh...Meg...MEGATRON! I swear my allegiance undying!"
:—'''Starscream''' upon first meeting Megatron.

"I'm so going to make the team."
:—A disturbingly optimistic '''Dead End'''.

'''Divebomb''': "Megatron calls and many come." 
'''Rampage''': "Pfff...amateur night." 
'''Razorclaw''': "...Mostly."
:—The '''Predacons''' on their fellow gladiators... right before and after the Dynobots show up.

"Eyes open. Don't need buzzer to start fight. Crowd like this, we play it dirty — or play it dead."
:—'''Grimlock'''. He's either being brief or talking in the "Me Grimlock"s.

"Boss... what did you tell him?" 
"...Everything."
:—'''An Unidentified Decepticon''' and '''Megatron''', following Starscream's betrayal. Megatron starts things off as he means to go on.

==Notes==
* Soundwave hides his true allegiance with a device that strongly resembles a [[rubsign]].
* Orion Pax shows a new character design, a mix between how he appeared in "[[War Dawn]]" and how his counterpart Optronix looked in ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]''. Standing behind him is a white robot of near-identical design, possibly denoting a pre-war Ultra Magnus. However, this robot is only seen clearly from the back, and is obscured later in the scene.
* Sentinel Prime shifts the primary colors of his armor from orange to black, probably as a sign of mourning for Bumper and Fastback's untimely deaths. This scene only makes slightly more sense than Megatron removing his "helmet" last issue, and is just about as integral to the plot, but is ''infinitely'' harder to decipher, thanks to eye-wateringly confusing panel layout and insufferably murky coloring.
* A statue is shown depicting [[Nova Prime]] in combined-with-trailer mode but sans his [[mouthplate]].
* Bumper and Fastback's caskets feature their names written in English, even though everything else is written in Cybertronian.

===Errors===
* When Razorclaw looks across the crowd at Megatron's rally to regard the Dynobots, they are all mis-colored and thus virtually unrecognizable. Similarly, in the next panel when Grimlock returns Razorclaw's glare, the Predacons are all mis-colored and also virtually unrecognizable, pretty much ruining the whole point of the scene.
* According to Alex Milne, the guy who complains to Grimlock that his tank is "rust-dry" is supposed to be [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]. He's completely mis-colored and unrecognizable as Sludge, however.<ref>[http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/megatron03-sample-06-64189148?offset=60#comments Alex Milne's comment on his DeviantArt account]</ref>
* When Megatron has Decimus brought out before the crowd to presumably be executed, the good senator is mis-colored in a seemingly random orange and yellow deco, looking a bit similar to Sentinel Prime.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron screaming by [[Alex Milne]] (pencils) and [[Josh Perez]] (colors)
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron shadow by [[Marcelo Matere]] (pencils) and [[Andrew Elder]] (colors)
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Uncolored cover A

<gallery>
Image:MO 3 a.jpg|
Image:MO 3 b.jpg|Megatron's shadow is on steroids.
Image:MO 3 RI.jpg|
</gallery>

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* ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel |Movie Prequel]]''
* Hasbro toys for [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]
* ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending|Beast Wars: The Ascending]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron|Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron]]''
* [http://www.cgccomics.com/ CGC: Certified Guaranty Company]
* ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

File:MO 3 RI.jpg

2012-03-15T16:46:08Z

BorisjeNL: RI cover for MO issue 3

RI cover for MO issue 3

Megatron Origin issue 2

2012-03-15T16:43:29Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' #2
|prev=Megatron Origin issue 1
|next=Megatron Origin issue 3
|image=MO 2 a.jpg
|caption=$39.95 on Pay Per View
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 25]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=July 2007
|written by=[[Eric Holmes]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]] (pages 1-11, 20-22) and [[Marcelo Matere]] (pages 12-19)
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]] and [[Robbie Robbins]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Megatron Origin]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}
'''The former miner decides to kill other guys for the hell of it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|left|180px|thumb|AND I'M PRETTY]]
[[Kaon]]. The [[Forge]]. During an underground [[gladiatorial combat]], the escaped convict [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] fights against [[Cy-Kill (G1)|a familiar opponent]]. His enemy displays the remarkable ability to continue fighting once impaled, but is crippled after being run over by Megatron in vehicle mode. For the satisfaction of the ring master and the audience, he executes his opponent. As the crowd cheers at the death, Megatron removes his helmet, exposing his long metal panels (ahem).

Meanwhile, Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] dismisses the concerns of his meager assistant to attend to more important matters. In privacy, he manipulates world events for personal gain. But a report on the underground combat circuit piques his interest. He sends his servant to handle it.

Megatron rises through the ranks of the illegal gladiatorial bloodsport and eventually finds himself fighting alongside [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Megatron takes the opportunity to better his position in the organization by killing Clench and taking over.

[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] shows footage of the battle to his team, who are eager to put a stop to the unlawful violence. [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] arrives and announces that there've already been several efforts in a plan to catch the delinquents.

[[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]] stake out a location suspected to be the grounds for the next session of murders. They witness the arrival of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] who begin to assemble that night's arena, which includes tossing an [[Wheezel|Empty]] to drown in [[Smelting pool|hot metal]]. Megatron arrives on the scene and immediately receives a technology and weaponry sales offer from one who introduces himself as [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. The two [[Autobot]]s witness the transaction and are ambushed by Ravage, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.

Bumper awakens to see Megatron stomp the life out of Fastback. Next, Soundwave uses [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] to pry data from Bumper's mind. Megatron cancels the battle and expresses satisfaction with Soundwave's service—he agrees to do business with Soundwave's master and then kills Bumper.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (19)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (20)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (27)
*[[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] (28)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (29)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (30)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (31)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (32)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (33)
*[[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]] (34)
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (35)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (36)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (37)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (38)
*? (39)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (52)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (53)

|c4=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] (2)
* [[Clench (G1)|Clench]] (3)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (4)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (5)
*[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] (5)
*? (6)
*[[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]] (7)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] (9)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
*[[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (11)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (12)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (13)
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (14)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (15)
*[[Full-Tilt]] (16)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (18)
*[[Tantrum]] (21)
*[[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grrr]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Drill Powerdasher]] (24)
*[[Betabear]] (25)
*[[Stalker (G1)|Stalker]] (26)
*[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] (40)
*[[Wheezel]] (41)
*[[Telus and Rotorbolt's buddy]] (42)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (43)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (44)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (45)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (46)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (47)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (48)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (49)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (50)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (51)
}}

==Quotes==
''"Finish Him!"''
:—'''Clench'''

''"[['Til all are one]]!"''
:—''Spectators'' at the execution of Cy-Kill

==Notes==
* The markings on Cy-kill... err, Megatron's opponent's shoulder possibly represent the number of kills he has.
* During the first fight, Megatron wears an emblem around his neck that resembles what might become the [[Decepticon]] insignia.
* In a moment perhaps best forgotten, Megatron takes off his buckethead helmet to unfurl elaborate decorative panels on his head, in a scene mimicking modern "historical epic" type movies where the hero takes off his helmet to flick his hair around like it's a shampoo commercial.
* Two of the gladiators on Megatron's team appear to be the UK-released [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] and [[Stalker (G1)|Stalker]], though they are unnamed.
* During the depiction of Megatron's sixth fight, the head of the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] appears giant in the background for reasons that are unclear.
* Clench and Frenzy mention the departed [[Betabear]]. Since he was in a combat arena for robots, we can assume Betabear is a godless killing machine.
* Several [[Female Transformer|female Transformers]] appear in the background of scenes—these may be a continuity goof. However, since this takes place after the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], taking [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] with it, they may be descendants/results of his further experiments, post [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]].
* The new anti-gravity technology which Ratbat learns of is likely responsible for the Decepticons' ability to fly in robot form.... which, until AHM, did not exist in IDW continuity.
* The weapons which Soundwave offers to Megatron include the usual [[Energon mace|energon flail]], a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s [[null-ray]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s blaster hand.
* Among the crowd of enthralled fans thirsty for blood is [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. While this does seem like his kind of scene...isn't he currently trapped in a dimensional prison somewhere?

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron in arena by [[Alex Milne]] (pencils) and [[Josh Perez]] (colors)
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron roars over over a dead Cy-Kill by [[Marcelo Matere]] (pencils) and [[Andrew Elder]] (colors)
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Uncolored cover A

<gallery>
Image:MO 2 a.jpg|
Image:MO 2 b.jpg|lol go-bots suck amirite?
Image:MO 2 RI.jpg|
</gallery>

=== Advertisements ===
* [[Megatron Origin issue 3|''Megatron Origin'' #3]]
* ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel |Movie Prequel]]''
* ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'' movie comic adaptation
* [http://www.cgccomics.com/ CGC: Certified Guaranty Company]
* Transformers posters
* Manga-sized collections of ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' and ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|Beast Wars: The Gathering]]''
* IDW trade paperbacks (''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''Stormbringer'', ''The Gathering'', ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Generations|Generations]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron|Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Cover Gallery Volume 2]]''
* ''Star Trek Year Four''
* ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

File:MO 2 RI.jpg

2012-03-15T16:43:10Z

BorisjeNL: Retailer incentive cover for Megatron: Origin issue 2

Retailer incentive cover for Megatron: Origin issue 2

Megatron Origin issue 1

2012-03-15T16:36:56Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (3) */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' #1
|next=Megatron Origin issue 2
|image=MO 1 a.jpg
|caption=How ya like me now?!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 20]], 2007
|coverdate=May 2007
|written by=[[Eric Holmes]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|color assist by=[[Zac Atkinson]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Megatron Origin]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}
'''A working-class miner accidentally kills some other guy in anger.'''

==Synopsis==
Senator [[Decimus]] and his assistant are hesitant to attend a formal ceremony on [[Mining Outpost C-12]], but they do it anyway because those are the rules. Decimus holds disdain for the personnel who operate the [[energon]] mines, and understands why they must be replaced.

During the assembly, he announces the replacement of the working class, but makes sure to mention that the laborers will not be left without jobs. The crowd responds angrily to their replacement, led by one particularly angry bot with blue eyes, but for his protests, this bot is executed by an [[Autobot]] security official.

The crowd is silenced at this display of force, and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] fights back against the oppression by tossing his axe into Decimus's shoulder. Before the security officer can react, Megatron tackles and disarms him. The two struggle, and in the ensuing fight, Megatron accidentally kills his opponent.

With one Autobot down, the rest of the miners get into an open rumble against the Autobots. However thanks to superior firepower, the Autobots are able to knock out all their foes.

Later, Megatron awakens aboard a prison vessel. Because of the violence he and his fellows engaged in, all the surviving miners are arrested, en route to [[Penal Facility H-3]], "The Rig". But the miners (including [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]) take over their ship, the ''[[Longshot (G1)|Longshot]]''. The ''Longshot'' blasts the ship containing Senator Decimus and heads toward [[Kaon]], a hive of villainy and scum easily defined as wretched, where the miners hide and plot.

[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s target practice is interrupted by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] with news of the incident in space. The Prime is uninterested in the dealings and appoints Prowl to handle the situation.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* Autobot security official (5)
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
|c4=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Decimus]] (2)
* [[Decimus's assistant]] (3)
* Outspoken miner (4)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (6)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"What…" 
"What… did I…" 
"No… Nonono…" 
"Oh ''no''."
:— '''Megatron''', possibly regretting taking the first Autobot life in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]].

"That was… unintentional. I shouldn't be here."
:— '''Megatron''' is a ''BIG SOFTIE.''

==Notes==
* The heroic James Roberts would write "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]" in 2011 and show us what Megatron was like ''before'' this issue: an idealistic, would-be dissident wanting non-violent change, only to find himself brutalised by an untouchable and corrupt member of a higher caste and filled with rage as a result. The events of ''Origin'' retroactively have more consistency.
* That later story also reveals that there was a Prime shortly before Sentinel, [[Nominus Prime]], meaning that Sentinel here is new to the job. You may have also thought Sentinel was alright because he dislikes the Senate, in which case "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" will correct you...
* Kaon was previously established in [[Dreamwave Productions]]' ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]''.
* When Frenzy attempts to enlist Megatron's aid in escaping their imprisonment on the ''Longshot'', Megatron makes it clear that the violence he dealt during the mine revolt was unintentional (and indeed, he was remorseful). Yet on the next page, after he is freed, Megatron seems to be quite willing to beat the living daylights out of the security guard on the ship. Of course, we can now look at "Chaos Theory" and Megatron's growing psychotic rage...

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron with pickax by [[Alex Milne]] (pencils) and [[Josh Perez]] (colors)
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron smashing security guard by [[Marcelo Matere]] (pencils) and [[Andrew Elder]] (colors)
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Cover A, uncolored

<gallery>
Image:MO 1 a.jpg|THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!
Image:MO 1 b.jpg|Oops, I dropped my glass of grape juice!
Image:MO-1 RI.jpg|THEY TOOK THE COLORS!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]]
* ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel |Movie Prequel]]''
* Transformers posters
* 2-page ad for the ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'' movie comic adaptation
* Manga-sized collections of [[The Transformers: Stormbringer |''Stormbringer'']] and [[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|''Beast Wars: The Gathering'']]
* IDW trade paperbacks (''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''Stormbringer'', ''The Gathering'', ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Generations|Generations]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron|Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Cover Gallery Volume 2]]''
* ''Star Trek: Year Four''
* [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' film]] (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: Best of Megatron]]''

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

File:MO-1 RI.jpg

2012-03-15T16:36:26Z

BorisjeNL: Megatron: Origin retailer incentive cover

Megatron: Origin retailer incentive cover

Spotlight: Nightbeat

2012-03-15T16:13:35Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' #2
|prev=Spotlight: Shockwave
|next=Spotlight: Hot Rod
|image=Spotlight Nightbeat a.jpg
|caption=Nightbeat, P.I.
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight #2 Nightbeat"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 18]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=October 2006
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Mark Bright|MD Bright]]
|colors by=[[John Rauch]]
|letters by=[[Sulaco Studios]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Infiltration|late Infiltration]]
}}

'''Lured by an ancient relic, Nightbeat discovers something sinister...'''

==Synopsis==
[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] is an [[Autobot]] officer attracted by mystery and enigmas. When a mercenary named [[Krakon]] offers him the flight recorder of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' (the first [[Autobot]] spaceship, which had disappeared many eons before), he accepts. But when he makes contact, he finds Krakon very dead, his ship intact with all its valuable cargo still there... save the flight recorder. Nightbeat puts himself on the scent, leading him to the remote planet [[Gorlam Prime]], eager to uncover a clue to the mystery of the lost ''Ark''.

After an [[orbital jump]] lands him planetside, the detective reformats himself to transform into a local automobile and heads for the nearest city. Oddly, Gorlam's people have a technical development more advanced than the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronians]] believed them to be; rampant bio-mechanical upgrading of their organic forms and some mysterious excavations, all indicating an external force at work, pushing the society to further evolution.

Upon reaching an excavation site, Nightbeat sends a summary of what he's found so far to his ship as a precaution, then heads in to investigate further. Curiosity and lack of prudence gets the better of him, and he discovers a massive "portal" of an undetermined nature, looking like a sea of silver. Nightbeat is soon surrounded by [[Micromaster|four smaller Transformers]], then some creatures exit from the portal. Nightbeat runs for his freedom, but it's ultimately useless; he is chased down and captured by the tiny Transformers.

Nightbeat flashes in and out of consciousness, strapped on an operating table, while [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] alters his brain,<ref>According to the [http://idwpublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=82441#82441 script] for "[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]".</ref> placing a cerebral implant into him that configures him into a sleeper agent.

Later, Nightbeat is on his ship, in his pre-Gorlam body, sweeping the [[Durzan Sector]], with no memory of the events that happened since Krakon contacted him. At that moment, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] calls, needing his services on [[Earth]].

Still, Nightbeat can't shake the feeling that he's missing ''something''...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
|c4=
*[[Krakon]] (1)
*[[Hyperdrive (Micromaster)|Hyperdrive]] (3)
*[[Blackjack]] (4)
*[[Road Hugger (G1)|Road Hugger]] (5)
*[[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (6)
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (7)
}}

==Notes==
* When seeing the inhabitants turning from organic to mechanical, Nightbeat wonders if Cybertron has a similar origin. Remember that, it becomes [[Spotlight: Hardhead|important]] [[Spotlight: Sideswipe|later]].
* This issue was released with four different covers, including a "sketch" version of the MD Bright cover. For [[BotCon 2006]], IDW sold an [[exclusive]] version of the comic with all four covers stapled together as a single thick book. This multi-cover issue was sold well before the issue hit comic stores.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Nightbeat with flashlight by [[Mark Bright|MD Bright]] and [[Josh Burcham]] (colors).
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Nightbeat with an ''Ark'' hologram by [[James Raiz]] and Josh Burcham (colors).
* '''Cover RI-B:''' Nightbeat and metal sea by [[Nick Roche]] and Josh Burcham (colors).
* '''BotCon Exclusive Sketch Cover:''' Uncolored Cover A (front) and B (back)

<gallery>
Image:Spotlight Nightbeat a.jpg|Where's the fedora and trenchcoat?
Image:Spotlight Nightbeat ria.jpg|Lose your head, buddy?
Image:Spotlight Nightbeat rib.jpg|Yeeeaaagggghhhh!!!!!
Image:TFSNightbeatBCC.jpg|2006 BotCon Cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Optimus Prime [[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]] toy
* [[Transformers: The Animated Movie|''Transformers: The Animated Movie'' #1]], including a 6-page preview
* Transformers posters
* ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' trade paperback
* ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' 20th Anniversary DVD (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 1]]''
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Nightbeat]]

File:Spotlight Nightbeat cvrBotCon.jpg

2012-03-15T16:12:20Z

BorisjeNL: uploaded a new version of "Image:TFSNightbeatBCC.jpg": Front and Back cover scan of the botcon 2006 exclusive cover for Transformers Spotlight: Nightbeat

File:Spotlight Nightbeat cvrBotCon.jpg

2012-03-15T16:07:30Z

BorisjeNL:

Escalation issue 1

2012-03-15T15:29:27Z

BorisjeNL: /* Covers (4) */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Escalation]]'' #1
|prev=Stormbringer issue 4
|next=Escalation issue 2
|image=Escalation 1 a.jpg
|caption=Wheeljack's latest invention: gaydar
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 29]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=November 2006
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[E. J. Su]]
|colors by=[[John Rauch]]
|color assist by=[[Zac Atkinson]] & [[Aaron Myers]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Escalation]]
}}

'''With Optimus Prime's arrival to Earth, the Decepticons prepare to destabilize Earth as the Machination makes its move.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Machination]] team, led by [[Drake]], use a sophisticated VR simulator to train on different scenarios on how to destroy a [[Transformer]]. This setup turns out to be in the back of a large camper van parked near [[Lake Michigan]], where the humans are monitoring the lake shore for [[Autobot]] activity.

At the bottom of said lake, aboard ''[[Ark-19]]'', [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] is informing the [[human]]s that [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] has decided to send them back to their normal lives. [[Hunter O'Nion]] and [[Jimmy Pink]] express their desire to stay, while [[Verity Carlo]] shrugs it off, saying that this is just one more rejection in her angst-prone life.

At the [[Decepticon Command Bunker]] in [[Oregon]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] briefs [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] on the potency and proliferation of [[Ultra-Energon|Ore-13]] on [[Earth]]. Megatron marvels that it appears to be naturally occurring on this planet, but has suspicions that its existence isn't [[Regenesis|completely natural]].

As the three humans pack up to leave, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s [[holomatter]] avatar stops in to say goodbye. He and Ratchet have both grown fond of their human charges, but it is [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] who are tasked with ferrying the humans back home. Although Ratchet and the humans blame Prowl, it seems the Autobot lieutenant was acting on [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s orders. Prime informs Prowl that they aren't the first Transformers to visit Earth; evidence has been uncovered that both [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] have been to the planet... ''but where are they now''?

As Ironhide and Sunstreaker surface from the bottom of Lake Michigan, they are picked up by Drake and his team. Other vehicles are deployed by the humans to track the Autobots. Unaware that they are being pursued, Ironhide chides Sunstreaker to drive the speed limit.

In the meantime, Megatron brings his wayward unit to heel and offers to overlook their traitorous actions under [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] just this once. The [[Decepticon]]s agree to this reprieve. Megatron then orders Astrotrain to begin [[Infiltration protocol|Phase Two]] by activating the [[facsimile construct|facsimiles]].

Outside of [[Lebanon]], [[Missouri]], the humans tailing the Autobots make their move. While Ironhide and Sunstreaker are separated in traffic, Drake's team causes a jam, deploys a smokescreen, then temporarily immobilizes Ironhide while moving in on Sunstreaker with a disabling electrical charge.

Ironhide, with Verity and Jimmy aboard, frantically smashes and weaves through the other cars caught in the jam, but the humans deploy a bazooka. By the time Ironhide catches up with Sunstreaker, the yellow Autobot, with Hunter inside, is nothing more than a burning wreck.

== Featured characters ==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (10)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (11)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (17)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (18)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (19)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (20)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (21)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (22)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (23)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (13)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (14)
*[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (15)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (16)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (24)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (25)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (26)

|c3=
* [[Drake]] (1)
*[[Goss]] (2)
*[[Kamen]] (3)
*[[Schmidt]] (4)
* [[Creel]] (5)
* [[Weiss]] (6)
* [[Hunter O'Nion]] (8)
* [[Jimmy Pink]] (9)
* [[Verity Carlo]] (12)
}}

==Notes==
* Among the reports that Prime monitors in the issue's opening pages are:
:* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|bringing in Swindle]].
:* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (with his battle helmet), reporting on a finding, presumably at the site of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s lab.
:* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], reporting on an unknown battle.
:* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], reporting that a Decepticon infiltration unit is laying low.
* The same cross-story technique is later used in ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]''.
* The Machination have little regard for human life, blowing up cars on the highway to get at the [[Transformer]]s.
* The crossover series ''[[New Avengers / Transformers]]'' most likely takes place during the last part of this issue, after Megatron reinstates [[infiltration protocol]] and while Ironhide and Sunstreaker are driving the humans home (accounting for their absence in that series).
* The "Decepticomments" page has readers' mail answered by [[Chris Ryall]] and ads for ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' #2 and ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''.
* Errors:
** The narration boxes describe the Machination attack as occurring near "Lebanon, MI", which would be in Michigan. Next issue we learn that this is in Missouri (postal abbreviation MO), a far more logical location for a trip from Chicago to Tulsa.
** Sunstreaker and Ironhide are shown heading south on I-94 through Missouri. Not only does I-94 not go through Missouri at all, it is—like all even-numbered Interstates—an east-west route.
** Runabout is sporting a red Decepticon insignia in Sunstreaker's video game.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Sunstreaker targeted for destruction; art by [[E. J. Su]].
* '''Cover B:''' Ironhide, Jimmy and Verity mourning over the fate of Sunstreaker and Hunter; art by [[Klaus Scherwinski]].
* '''Cover RI-A:''' cover A uncolored
* '''Cover RI-B:''' cover B uncolored

<gallery>
Image:Escalation 1 a.jpg|'''Not''' ''Spotlight: Sunstreaker''.
Image:Escalation01B.jpg|Have a little [[wikipedia:Captain Morgan|Captain]] in you?
Image:Escalation 1ria.jpg|Cover RI-A
Image:Escalation 1rib.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' TPB
* ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD
* ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' #1
* Transformers posters
* IDW trade paperbacks (''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer]]'', ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'', ''[[Prime Directive]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'')
* Manga editions of ''Stormbringer'' and ''The Gathering''
* ''Generations'' series
* ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight |Spotlight]]'' (first 5 issues)
* [[Escalation issue 2|''Escalation'' #2]]
* [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] with Kung Fu Grip (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Escalation]]''
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]