The Transformers: Spotlight

The Transformers: Spotlight, starting in 2006, is an ongoing series of one-shot comics published by IDW Publishing 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 evolved into an annual set of 5 produced per year (at least through 2008).

• Scheduled issues: January 2008 (Blaster); February 2008 (Arcee); 2008 (Grimlock and two more)

Overview

The Spotlight series is set within the main IDW storyline. The format allows more free-ranging story settings, with many issues being 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 Dinobots 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.

Creative team

• Most of the Spotlights has thus far been written by Simon Furman, as will the three known upcoming issues. Exceptions are Spotlight: Kup, written by Nick Roche and Spotlight: Ramjet, written by Stewart Moore. 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 978-1600100680

Collects the first five issues

• The Transformers: Spotlight, Vol. 2 TPB (due February 25, 2008) ISBN 978-1600101540

Collects the second five issues

From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.