The Transformers: Spotlight

Extremely logical that I was given the first 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 2009. It's been announced though that Metroplex will be the last Spotlight for awhile.

	Transformers: Spotlight issues:
v1: Shockwave Nightbeat Hot Rod Sixshot Ultra Magnus v2: Soundwave Kup Galvatron Optimus Prime Ramjet v3: Blaster Arcee Mirage Grimlock Wheelie Revelation: Cyclonus Hardhead Doubledealer Sideswipe All Hail Megatron v3: Blurr Jazz Drift Cliffjumper Metroplex

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.

A spotlight for Cosmos was planned but canceled.

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.

All Hail Megatron Vol. 3

Thought much more loosely connected than the Revelation collection, the Spotlights for Blurr, Jazz, Drift, Cliffjumper and Metroplex were collected under the banner of All Hail Megatron Vol 3. This was likely done to cash in on the popular (yet highly dividing) series. These stories provide some background of a few characters that appeared in the series, as well as things yet to come (in the case of Metroplex).

Creative teams

• Most of the Spotlights through volume 4 have 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. Klaus Scherwinski co-wrote "Spotlight: Wheelie" with Furman. 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, Spotlight: Jazz by Josh van Reyk & Shaun Knowler and "Spotlight: Metroplex" by Andy Schmidt. 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).

• All Hail Megatron, Vol. 3 TPB (October 15, 2009 Scheduled) ISBN 1600105416 / ISBN 978-1600105418

Collects Blurr through Metroplex. Instead of being Volume 5 of the Spotlights, the TPB will be labeled as part of the All Hail Megatron series.

Bonus material unknown.

• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1

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

• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2 (July 1, 2009) 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.

Covers

• Volume 1: A menacing Shockwave; re-use of Nick Roche and Rob Ruffolo's art from the Retailer Summit cover for "Spotlight: Shockwave".
• Volume 2: Optimus Prime; re-use of Gabriel Rodriguez's art from cover B of "Spotlight: Optimus Prime".
• Volume 3: T-Rex Grimlock bursts through an image of the Dynobots; unused art by Marcelo Matere from "Spotlight: Grimlock".
• Volume 4: Sideswipe and Revelation's major players; art by Nick Roche. Reuse of cover B art from "Spotlight: Sideswipe".
• Volume 5: New art by Trevor Hutchison featuring the subject of each Spotlight.

• 
  Volume 1
• 
  Volume 2
• 
  Volume 3
• 
  Volume 4
• Volume 5
  Volume 5