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[[Image:IDWSpotlight_Kup_cover.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Zombie|The Dawn of the Dead]] or just [[humanizing#Other biological functions|a bad dream]]?]]
{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'' #7
{{comicnav | Spotlight (comics)| 7 | seriesname=''The Transformers: Spotlight''| prev=Spotlight: Soundwave | next=Spotlight: Galvatron}}
|prev=Spotlight: Soundwave
|next=Spotlight: Galvatron
|image=Spotlight Kup cvrA.jpg
|caption=[[Zombie|The Dawn of the Dead]] or just [[Humanization|a bad dream]]?
|title="The Transformers: Spotlight Kup"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 25]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=April 2007
|written by=[[Nick Roche]]
|illustrated by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Andrew Elder]]
|letters by=[[Robbie Robbins]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#Escalation|Escalation]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
}}
'''Kup is in danger. The threat? Himself.'''
'''Kup is in danger. The threat? Himself.'''


'''Script:''' [[Nick Roche]]<br>
==Synopsis==
'''Art:''' Nick Roche<br>
A spaceship crash-lands on [[Tsiehshi|a desert planet]] covered in [[Ore-8|yellow crystals]]. Among the wreckage, a [[Dreadlocked alien species|mechanoid survivor]] sees a vehicle approaching, which transforms into [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. However, Kup ignores his pleas for assistance and decapitates him with a club. From Kup's interior monologue, we learn that his spaceship also crashed on this planet, that he has no hope of being rescued, but that the strange crystals fill him with a sense of well-being so that he gives little thought to anything else. As the suns set, he returns to a makeshift shelter, which contains the remains of [[Outback (G1)|Outback]], a fellow survivor of the crash who was killed when a generator meltdown caused the crystals to go critical. Kup is clearly not in his right mind, as he has a conversation with Outback while wielding his severed arm as a weapon.
'''Lettering:''' [[Robbie Robbins]]<br>
'''Colors:''' [[Andrew Elder]]<br>
'''Editors:''' [[Chris Ryall]], [[Dan Taylor]]<br>


* ''Major characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Kup]], [[Outback]], [[Siren]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Springer]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]], [[Trailbreaker]]
[[File:Zombiesspotlightkup.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.95|Kup sees dead people.]]
* ''Originally published: April 25, 2007''
At night-time, as Kup powers down, [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|an apparition]] emanates from Outback's corpse, informing Kup that "we're coming to get you!" Outside, Kup sees [[zombie]] robots, from which he defends himself until sunrise. In the daylight, he emerges and lies within the crystals, feeling himself becoming more alive. The following night, the 'zombots' reappear. With Kup having forgotten to secure his shelter's shutters, they easily enter. Kup fights them off with unforeseen strength. Only one escapes, fleeing as Kup's [[spark]]core threatens to go into meltdown.
{{-}}
 
==Synopsis==
The zombot is revealed to be [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], who, after returning to his ship via [[orbital jump]], angrily berates first [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] and then Springer for the loss of his team and the pointlessness of the task. The radiation that has damaged Kup's mind also restricts his would-be rescuers to [[anti-rad armor|cumbersome protective armor]] that makes him think they are zombies, and any energy discharge, from their weapons or from Kup's damaged body, could detonate the crystals in a catastrophic chain reaction. Yet Springer, who is the 'ghost' attempting to communicate with Kup, is determined to rescue his former mentor because of what he and the entire [[Autobot]] army owe to his training. Both [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and Perceptor, in their respective ways, advise Springer to give up this quixotic quest before any more Autobots lose their lives, but then he learns that the 'specialist' he requested has arrived...
A spaceship crash-lands on a desert planet covered in yellow crystals. Among the wreckage, a mechanoid survivor sees a vehicle approaching, which transforms into Kup. However, Kup ignores his pleas for assistance and decapitates him with a club. From Kup's interior monologue, we learn that his spaceship also crashed on this planet, that he has no hope of being rescued, but that the strange crystals fill him with a sense of well-being so that he gives little thought to anything else. As the suns set, he returns to a makeshift shelter, which contains the remains of Outback, a fellow survivor of the crash who was killed when a generator meltdown caused the crystals to go critical. Kup is clearly not in his right mind, as he has a conversation with Outback while wielding his severed arm as a weapon.
 
Once again at nightfall, the 'zombots' reappear, and once again Kup wreaks havoc among them—pushed over the edge by the accidental destruction of Outback's corpse, the exertion driving his sparkcore into meltdown again. However, the appearance of [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], minus rad-armor and protected by his forcefield, shocks Kup momentarily, permitting Trailbreaker to secure him and prevent disaster. Back on board the ''[[Ark-17]]'', Springer and Trailbreaker consider the situation—although Kup has been rescued, his mind is broken, his body is severely damaged and too outdated to repair, and his spark is being maintained by artificial means. Springer wonders whether bringing him back in this condition, and at the cost of so many other lives, was worth it.


At night-time, as Kup powers down, an apparition emanates from Outback's corpse, informing Kup that "we're coming to get you!" Outside, Kup sees zombie robots, from which he defends himself until sunrise. In the daylight, he emerges and lies within the crystals, feeling himself becoming more alive. The following night, the 'zombots' reappear, enter Kup's shelter, and accidentally destroy Outback's corpse{{m-}}causing a surge of strength from the old Autobot savagely defeat them. Only one escapes, fleeing as Kup's sparkcore threatens to go into meltdown.
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] (2)
* [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] (3)
* [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (4)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (5)
* [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] (6)
* [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (7)
* [[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] (8)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (9)
|c4=
* [[Dreadlocked alien species|Dreadlocked alien]] (1)
}}


The zombot is revealed to be Siren, who, after returning to his ship via [[orbital jump]], angrily berates first Perceptor and then Springer for the loss of his team and the pointlessness of the task.  The radiation that has damaged Kup's mind also restricts his would-be rescuers to cumbersome protective armor that makes him think they are zombies, and any energy discharge, from their weapons or from Kup's damaged body, could detonate the crystals in a catastrophic chain reaction. Yet Springer, who is the 'ghost' attempting to communicate with Kup, is determined to rescue his former mentor because of what he and the entire Autobot army owe to his training. Both Prowl and Perceptor, in their respective ways, advise Springer to give up this quixotic quest before any more Autobots lose their lives, but then he learns that the 'specialist' he requested has arrived...
==Notes==


Once again at nightfall, the 'zombots' reappear, and once again Kup wreaks havoc among them, the exertion driving his sparkcore into meltdown again. However, the appearance of Trailbreaker, minus rad-armor and protected by his forcefield, shocks Kup momentarily, permitting Trailbreaker to secure him and prevent disaster. Back on board the ''[[Ark-17]]'', Springer and Trailbreaker consider the situation{{m-}}although Kup has been rescued, his mind is broken, his body is severely damaged and too outdated to repair, and his spark is being maintained by artificial means. Springer wonders whether bringing him back in this condition, and at the cost of so many other lives, was worth it.
===Continuity notes===
* Springer makes reference to the events of the ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' series as being the reason he was late arriving on the scene.
* Outback dying in this story forced a change to the [[Megatron Origin issue 2|second issue of ''Megatron Origin'']], which was written semi-simultaneously but published after ''Spotlight: Kup'' was released. Outback and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] had been written to be the first Autobot victims of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s illegal underground deathsports, which obviously would cause continuity problems. Thus, the creation of "[[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]]", who looks a hell of a lot like Outback but totally isn't, really.
** You might feel bad for Outback given his horrible death and the nostalgic way Kup reminisces about him, but [[Iron_in_the_Blood|later]] [[New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|stories]] reveal him to have been a thoroughly nasty thug who was no better than the Decepticons he hated. This implicitly recontextualizes Kup's thoughts on him to being just another part of his delusions, being so far gone that he remembers the unhinged murderer he once trained as an old friend.
* The planet Kup is stranded on is not named in this issue and would not be till years later, in [[Shockwaves|''Robots in Disguise'' #17]], where it is also revealed that [[Ore-8|the damaging crystals]] on the planet are the result of [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Regenesis]] project.
[[File:SpotlightKup Springersholograph.jpg|150px|thumb|''Always look on the briiiight side of death!'']]
* Years later, [[James Roberts]], Roche's partner on ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', would think up the [[Shimmer]], a ghostly green entity that Autobots believe visits you as a sign of oncoming death. Which Springer's hologram is often mistaken for. Hmmm...
* '''First appearances:''' Kup, Outback, Siren, Sizzle, Trailbreaker; Perceptor previously appeared as a holographic head in ''Stormbringer''.


== Errors ==
===Trivia===
* The issue includes 5 pages of sketches by [[Nick Roche]].
* Page 4 is completely silent... but it's not ''supposed'' to be! The lettering was accidentally left out, of which Roche says: "Luckly it was the ONLY page in the WHOLE book that could have lost it. Any other page, and NONE of the story would have made sense."<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Luckily it was the ONLY page in the WHOLE book that could have lost it. Any other page, and NONE of the story would have made sense.|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/724571997821407232|name=Nick Roche|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=04|day=25|(defunct=)}}</ref> It would ultimately be restored in the trade paperback release.
* In several panels throughout the issue, Kup's arms and legs have extra-thick black outlines. This was an alteration to Roche's art carried out in-house at IDW, in response to a decision that Kup looked "too skinny."<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Also,fun fact: The artwork was altered in-house. A Hasbro (I assume) mandate came that Kup was too skinny. Hence ugly, fat inked outlines.|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/724572280823623680|name=Nick Roche|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=04|day=25|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* A page was cut where Kup drives to a cliff every day to dump the "zombie" heads into a lake so they will stop staring at him. That was cut by Roche, not editorial... but only because another scene needed more room!<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9DPbginVXE Moonbase 2's AA2010 interview], 27:04 - 27:40</ref>
* Kup—and his visions of zombies—are drawn in a different style from the "real world", such as the scenes on board the ''Ark-17''. Kup's nightmarish world is rendered with messy black cross-hatching and shadowy splotches, colored with either primarily orange tones (for daylight) or blue (at night), and the panels are given thick, jagged borders. In contrast, the "real world" events are cleanly rendered and colored normally. When the two "worlds" collide with Trailbreaker's arrival, even the dinged-up Trailbreaker looks polished compared to the been-through-hell Kup.
* Roche had the idea of writing an ''I Am Legend'' with Transformers, and Kup seemed like the best fit. He has also stated that due to concerns about trying to "dive in" to pre-existing continuity, he wrote the story as if it could be slotted into any continuity.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIkqheta3GE Nick Roche interview with Moonbase Two]</ref>
 
===Errors===
* On page 3, 'cos is misspelled cos'.
* A bit of Trailbreaker's shoulder is clipping through Springer's on the final page.
* A bit of Trailbreaker's shoulder is clipping through Springer's on the final page.


== Items of note ==
===Foreign Localization===
* The unnamed planet on which Kup and Outback crashed may be one of those seeded with ultra-energon by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] before the ruin of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. As well as driving Kup insane, the energy from the crystals gives him immense power in a manner similar to [[Ore-13]]. If so, this planet may be representative of all those seeded by Shockwave other than [[Earth]], since he was prevented by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] from stabilizing any of the other worlds.
'''Swedish'''
* Kup{{m-}}and his visions of zombies{{m-}}are drawn in a different style from the "real world", such as the scenes on-board the ''Ark-17''. Kup's nightmarish world is rendered with messy black cross-hatching and shadowy splotches, colored with either primarily orange tones (for daylight) or blue (at night), and the panels are given thick, jagged borders. In contrast, the "real world" events are cleanly rendered and colored normally. When the two "worlds" collide with Trailbreaker's arrival, even the dinged-up Trailbreaker looks polished compared to the been-through-hell Kup.
**''Title:'' "'''Berättelsen om Kup'''" ("Kup's Story")
* Springer makes reference to the events of the ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'' series as being the reason he was late arriving on the scene.
* The issue includes 5 pages of sketches by [[Nick Roche]].


===Covers (4)===
===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Kup attacks zombies by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]] (colors)
* '''Cover A:''' Kup attacks zombies; art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]] (colors).
* '''Cover B:''' Kup in Swamp by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]] (colors)
* '''Cover B:''' Kup in swamp; art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]] (colors).
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Uncolored cover A
* '''Cover RI-A:''' Uncolored cover A
* '''Cover RI-B:''' Uncolored cover B
* '''Cover RI-B:''' Uncolored cover B
<gallery>
File:Spotlight Kup cvrA.jpg|We'll get you, Kup!
File:Spotlight Kup cvrB.jpg|Kup, smelling swampy.
File:Spotlight Kup cvrRIA.jpg|Cover RI-A
File:Spotlight Kup cvrRIB.jpg|Cover RI-B
</gallery>


===Advertisements===
===Advertisements===
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* [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] toys
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* IDW trade paperbacks (''[[Infiltration]]'', ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]]'', ''[[The Gathering]]'', ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', ''[[Generations (comic reprints)|Generations]]'') (back cover)
* IDW trade paperbacks (''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'', ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'', ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'', ''[[War and Peace]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Generations (comic)|Generations]]'') (back cover)
 
===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2''''' <small>([[February 20]], [[2008]]) ISBN 1600101542 / ISBN 978-1600101540</small>
** Collects ''Spotlight: [[Spotlight: Soundwave|Soundwave]]'', ''Kup'', ''[[Spotlight: Galvatron|Galvatron]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime|Optimus Prime]]'' and ''[[Spotlight: Ramjet|Ramjet]]''.
** Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.
** Trade paperback format.
 
* '''''The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2''''' <small>([[June 17]], [[2009]]) ISBN 1600104371 / ISBN 978-1600104374</small>
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'', ''Ramjet'', ''[[Spotlight: Blaster|Blaster]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Arcee|Arcee]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Mirage|Mirage]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Grimlock|Grimlock]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Wheelie|Wheelie]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Cyclonus|Cyclonus]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Hardhead|Hardhead]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Doubledealer|Doubledealer]]'' & ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe|Sideswipe]]''.
** Hardcover format.
 
* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''''' <small>([[October 6]], [[2010]]) ISBN 978-1600107511</small>
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: [[Spotlight: Sixshot|Sixshot]]'', ''Ramjet'', ''[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus]]'', ''Kup'', ''Mirage'' & ''Optimus Prime''.
** Hardcover format.
 
* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1''''' <small>([[April 15]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631402463 / ISBN 978-1631402463</small>
** Collects ''Spotlight: [[Spotlight: Shockwave|Shockwave]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat|Nightbeat]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod|Hot Rod]]'', ''Sixshot'', ''Ultra Magnus'', ''Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'', ''Ramjet'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'' and ''Grimlock''.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.
** Trade paperback format.
 
* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1]]''''' <small>([[July 6]], [[2016]]) ISBN 163140637X / ISBN 978-1631406379</small>
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection|The IDW Collection]] [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One|One]]'' and ''Two''.
** Trade paperback format.
 
* '''''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Transformers: Wreckers sista strid]]''''' <small>([[June 18]], [[2018]]) ISBN 978-91-88131-23-2</small>
** Swedish reprint volume.
 
<gallery>
File:TF Spotlight v2.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 2''''' – cover art by [[Gabriel Rodríguez]]
File:Premier Collection 2.jpg|'''''The Premiere Collection Volume 2''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
File:IDWCollection2.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Two''''' – cover art by [[E. J. Su]]
File:TF Spotlight Omnibus v1.jpg|'''''Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]
File:IDWCollectionCompendiumV1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1''''' – cover art by Jeffrey Veregge
File:LSOTW SWECover.jpg|'''''Wreckers sista strid''''' – cover by [[Trevor Hutchison]]
</gallery>
 
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 38: Devastation''''' <small>([[August 7]], [[2019]])</small>
** Collects ''Devastation'' issues #1–6, and ''Spotlight: Kup'', ''Ramjet'' & ''[[Spotlight: Cliffjumper|Cliffjumper]]''.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and an introduction by Simon Furman.
** Hardcover format.
 
<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v38.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Sunstreaker) and [[Robby Musso]] (Sixshot)
</gallery>
 
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.myspace.com/lostkup Kup's MySpace page], maintained by [[Nick Roche]]
* [http://www.myspace.com/lostkup Kup's MySpace page], maintained by [[Nick Roche]]


[[Category:Spotlight issues|Kup]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>
[[Category:Spotlight issues|Kup]]

Latest revision as of 20:14, 19 August 2025

« The Transformers: Spotlight #7 »

The Dawn of the Dead or just a bad dream?
"The Transformers: Spotlight Kup"
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published April 25, 2007
Cover date April 2007
Written by Nick Roche
Illustrated by Nick Roche
Colors by Andrew Elder
Letters by Robbie Robbins
Edits by Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor
Continuity 2005 IDW continuity
Chronology Escalation

Kup is in danger. The threat? Himself.

Synopsis

[edit]

A spaceship crash-lands on a desert planet covered in yellow crystals. Among the wreckage, a mechanoid survivor sees a vehicle approaching, which transforms into Kup. However, Kup ignores his pleas for assistance and decapitates him with a club. From Kup's interior monologue, we learn that his spaceship also crashed on this planet, that he has no hope of being rescued, but that the strange crystals fill him with a sense of well-being so that he gives little thought to anything else. As the suns set, he returns to a makeshift shelter, which contains the remains of Outback, a fellow survivor of the crash who was killed when a generator meltdown caused the crystals to go critical. Kup is clearly not in his right mind, as he has a conversation with Outback while wielding his severed arm as a weapon.

Kup sees dead people.

At night-time, as Kup powers down, an apparition emanates from Outback's corpse, informing Kup that "we're coming to get you!" Outside, Kup sees zombie robots, from which he defends himself until sunrise. In the daylight, he emerges and lies within the crystals, feeling himself becoming more alive. The following night, the 'zombots' reappear. With Kup having forgotten to secure his shelter's shutters, they easily enter. Kup fights them off with unforeseen strength. Only one escapes, fleeing as Kup's sparkcore threatens to go into meltdown.

The zombot is revealed to be Siren, who, after returning to his ship via orbital jump, angrily berates first Perceptor and then Springer for the loss of his team and the pointlessness of the task. The radiation that has damaged Kup's mind also restricts his would-be rescuers to cumbersome protective armor that makes him think they are zombies, and any energy discharge, from their weapons or from Kup's damaged body, could detonate the crystals in a catastrophic chain reaction. Yet Springer, who is the 'ghost' attempting to communicate with Kup, is determined to rescue his former mentor because of what he and the entire Autobot army owe to his training. Both Prowl and Perceptor, in their respective ways, advise Springer to give up this quixotic quest before any more Autobots lose their lives, but then he learns that the 'specialist' he requested has arrived...

Once again at nightfall, the 'zombots' reappear, and once again Kup wreaks havoc among them—pushed over the edge by the accidental destruction of Outback's corpse, the exertion driving his sparkcore into meltdown again. However, the appearance of Trailbreaker, minus rad-armor and protected by his forcefield, shocks Kup momentarily, permitting Trailbreaker to secure him and prevent disaster. Back on board the Ark-17, Springer and Trailbreaker consider the situation—although Kup has been rescued, his mind is broken, his body is severely damaged and too outdated to repair, and his spark is being maintained by artificial means. Springer wonders whether bringing him back in this condition, and at the cost of so many other lives, was worth it.

[edit]

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Others

Notes

[edit]

Continuity notes

[edit]
  • Springer makes reference to the events of the Stormbringer series as being the reason he was late arriving on the scene.
  • Outback dying in this story forced a change to the second issue of Megatron Origin, which was written semi-simultaneously but published after Spotlight: Kup was released. Outback and Bumper had been written to be the first Autobot victims of Megatron's illegal underground deathsports, which obviously would cause continuity problems. Thus, the creation of "Fastback", who looks a hell of a lot like Outback but totally isn't, really.
    • You might feel bad for Outback given his horrible death and the nostalgic way Kup reminisces about him, but later stories reveal him to have been a thoroughly nasty thug who was no better than the Decepticons he hated. This implicitly recontextualizes Kup's thoughts on him to being just another part of his delusions, being so far gone that he remembers the unhinged murderer he once trained as an old friend.
  • The planet Kup is stranded on is not named in this issue and would not be till years later, in Robots in Disguise #17, where it is also revealed that the damaging crystals on the planet are the result of Shockwave's Regenesis project.
Always look on the briiiight side of death!
  • Years later, James Roberts, Roche's partner on Last Stand of the Wreckers, would think up the Shimmer, a ghostly green entity that Autobots believe visits you as a sign of oncoming death. Which Springer's hologram is often mistaken for. Hmmm...
  • First appearances: Kup, Outback, Siren, Sizzle, Trailbreaker; Perceptor previously appeared as a holographic head in Stormbringer.

Trivia

[edit]
  • The issue includes 5 pages of sketches by Nick Roche.
  • Page 4 is completely silent... but it's not supposed to be! The lettering was accidentally left out, of which Roche says: "Luckly it was the ONLY page in the WHOLE book that could have lost it. Any other page, and NONE of the story would have made sense."[1] It would ultimately be restored in the trade paperback release.
  • In several panels throughout the issue, Kup's arms and legs have extra-thick black outlines. This was an alteration to Roche's art carried out in-house at IDW, in response to a decision that Kup looked "too skinny."[2]
  • A page was cut where Kup drives to a cliff every day to dump the "zombie" heads into a lake so they will stop staring at him. That was cut by Roche, not editorial... but only because another scene needed more room![3]
  • Kup—and his visions of zombies—are drawn in a different style from the "real world", such as the scenes on board the Ark-17. Kup's nightmarish world is rendered with messy black cross-hatching and shadowy splotches, colored with either primarily orange tones (for daylight) or blue (at night), and the panels are given thick, jagged borders. In contrast, the "real world" events are cleanly rendered and colored normally. When the two "worlds" collide with Trailbreaker's arrival, even the dinged-up Trailbreaker looks polished compared to the been-through-hell Kup.
  • Roche had the idea of writing an I Am Legend with Transformers, and Kup seemed like the best fit. He has also stated that due to concerns about trying to "dive in" to pre-existing continuity, he wrote the story as if it could be slotted into any continuity.[4]

Errors

[edit]
  • On page 3, 'cos is misspelled cos'.
  • A bit of Trailbreaker's shoulder is clipping through Springer's on the final page.

Foreign Localization

[edit]

Swedish

    • Title: "Berättelsen om Kup" ("Kup's Story")

Covers (4)

[edit]
  • We'll get you, Kup!
    We'll get you, Kup!
  • Kup, smelling swampy.
    Kup, smelling swampy.
  • Cover RI-A
    Cover RI-A
  • Cover RI-B
    Cover RI-B

Advertisements

[edit]

Reprints

[edit]
  • The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1 (April 15, 2015) ISBN 1631402463 / ISBN 978-1631402463
    • Collects Spotlight: Shockwave, Nightbeat, Hot Rod, Sixshot, Ultra Magnus, Soundwave, Kup, Galvatron, Optimus Prime, Ramjet, Blaster, Arcee and Grimlock.
    • Bonus material unknown at this time.
    • Trade paperback format.
  • The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation – cover art by Don Figueroa (Sunstreaker) and Robby Musso (Sixshot)
    The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation – cover art by Don Figueroa (Sunstreaker) and Robby Musso (Sixshot)

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Luckily it was the ONLY page in the WHOLE book that could have lost it. Any other page, and NONE of the story would have made sense."—Nick Roche, Twitter, 2016/04/25
  2. ↑ "Also,fun fact: The artwork was altered in-house. A Hasbro (I assume) mandate came that Kup was too skinny. Hence ugly, fat inked outlines."—Nick Roche, Twitter, 2016/04/25
  3. ↑ Moonbase 2's AA2010 interview, 27:04 - 27:40
  4. ↑ Nick Roche interview with Moonbase Two
[edit]
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