The Transformers: Spotlight

The Transformers: Spotlight, starting in 2006, is an ongoing series of one-shot comics published by IDW Publishing and set in the primary IDW continuity. Each issue focuses on a particular Generation 1 Transformer. The series was originally only to consist of 5 issues, but has since evolved into an annual set of 5 produced per year (at least through 2008).

• Scheduled issues: Cliffjumper (due June 2009), Metroplex (due July 2009), Cosmos (due ???)

Overview

The Spotlight series is set within the main IDW storyline. The format allows more free-ranging story settings—many issues are set on alien worlds—and serve to give a wider view of the overall IDW Transformers universe. The issues set up future story ideas and plot points for the main IDW miniseries; many have eventually tied-in directly with the main storyline, with others obviously set to do so in the future.

Most of the issues have prominent co-stars, such as the Dynobots in Shockwave's spotlight, and Omega Supreme in Optimus Prime's story.

There is no absolute chronological order for all of the issues. Some, such as Galvatron and Optimus Prime, are set after specific events in the main story; others like Hot Rod and Nightbeat are not so clearly delineated, having happened an unspecified time ago. Still others (Shockwave, Soundwave) are flashbacks to a specific point in the recent or distant past.

Revelation Saga

The follow-up to Devastation, Revelation was played out through four Spotlights, focusing on Cyclonus, Hardhead, Doubledealer and Sideswipe. This four-parter marked the end of the "-tion" series "for the foreseeable", though Maximum Dinobots takes care of some loose ends.

Creative teams

• Most of the Spotlights has thus far been written by Simon Furman. Exceptions are Spotlight: Kup, written by Nick Roche, Spotlight: Ramjet, written by Stewart Moore and Spotlight: Mirage, written by George Strayton. When Shane McCarthy was brought on for All Hail Megatron, Furman's run seems to be in hiatus, with Spotlight: Blurr, Spotlight: Drift and Spotlight: Cliffjumper being written by Shane McCarthy, and Spotlight: Jazz by Josh van Reyk & Shaun Knowler. The list of artists throughout the series is diverse (please see each issue for credits).

Collections

• The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 1 TPB (May 30, 2007) ISBN 1600100686 / ISBN 978-1600100680

Collects Shockwave through Ultra Magnus. The spine wields the number 1.

• The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 2 TPB (February 20, 2008) ISBN 1600101542 / ISBN 978-1600101540

Collects Soundwave through Ramjet. The spine wields the number 2.

Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.

• The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 3 TPB (September 29, 2008) ISBN 160010245X / ISBN 978-1600102455

Collects Blaster through Wheelie. The spine wields the number 3.

Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue. The cover is an unused incentive cover from "Spotlight: Grimlock".

• The Transformers Spotlight: Revelation TPB (February 4, 2009) ISBN 1600104215 / ISBN 978-1600104213

Collects Cyclonus through Sideswipe. The spine wields the number 4, putting it clearly in the Spotlight series rather than in the "-ation" series.

Bonus material includes each A and B cover, and sketches of the 4-part image, Cyclonus, Nightbeat, Doubledealer (including a dragon-like alternate mode), Grindcore and Straxus (the last 2 in robot and alt mode).

• The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 5 TPB (September 29, 2009 Scheduled) ISBN 1600105416 / ISBN 978-1600105418

Collects Blurr through Metroplex. The spine will wield the number 5 (presumably).

Bonus material unknown.

• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1

Includes the contents of Spotlight Volume 1 (December 12, 2007 Scheduled) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182

• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2 (May 29, 2009 Scheduled) ISBN 1600104371 / ISBN 978-1600104374

Includes the contents of Spotlight Volumes 2,3 and Revelation.

• Six Spotlight issues were also library bound and available for sale through ABDO Publishing Group and its aptly named subsidiary, Spotlight.