I really like what IDW has been doing with the TFormers. For some reason they just seem realer than ever before. I really hope the characters from the Spotlights show up in the regular issues. Sixshot rocked. I'm also with Who I want to see them combine. Also I love that Prime isn't as bleeding hart as his has been in the past. Standing infront of that truck was badass.

I believe Nightbeat and Hot Rod are supposed to be making appearances, but I'm not entirely certain

Man, can't wait to get the Magnus Spotlight. Here is a five page preview

I'm hoping they don't wait too long to bring in Shockwave. I like how he's being written.

I bought the spotlight Ultra Magnus today and I really liked the story.

Ultra Magnus Review below (SPOILERS):

 

 

 

Well done again, by both Simon and the artistic team.

 

When you read a Spotlight, you want something that is a succinct clear story in and of itself (which this is) and something that sets things up for future storytelling (which this does).

 

Writing-wise, I think this is Simon's best use of dialogue since the Shockwave Spotlight. It really flowed and none of the dialogue or exposition felt forced in any way. There were no cheesy oneliners that have the intent of making things more kickass, but have the opposite effect of being distractingly cliche.

 

What's more, Simon's take with the Headmasters was so fresh, I completely forgot that in the past we've already seen a Con named Scorponok meet a guy named Zarak on a planet called Nebulos where characters called Headmasters were born (in the Marvel run). That's #### good writing when you can have the same character do the same thing in the same place, and make it read like it's never been done before. When you can stay true to the essence of these characters, yet make it comepletely fresh, that's called skill. Simon and Nick did the same thing with the Shockwave Spotlight.

 

Crucial to having strong short stories, you gotta have an intriguing cast. Magnus vs. Scorponok. Very clever of Simon, because these guys have never even met, if I'm not mistaken, in any TF continuity. So it gives us something unique. I had the same feeling with DW's War and Peace, when it was Magnus vs. Shockwave. It's nice to see some of the other head honchos from each side go at it besides Prime and Megs. Throw that cheap bastard Swindle into the mix and you've got yourself a captivating enough cast.

 

Musso doesn't disappoint, and although he could downsize some to make the characters less bulky, overall he gets the job done. Needs some work on the body poses too, however, as Magnus at times seemed to be positioned strangely during the action sequences.

 

Overall, I give this a "B+", just under the Shockwave and Hot Rod Spotlights. Four out of five on the Spotlights ain't too shabby. Keep it up!

Once again, my LCS only ordered one copy of the spotlight. Luckily the only time I have to go on Wednesday is when they open, or I would've missed it. I liked it alot, but the only thing that nagged at me was if this was the same planet Thunderwing attacked in Stormbringer.

hey, he only laid waste to part of the planet....

I suppose it's possible the Magnus Spotlight takes place before the events of Stormbringer, like the Shockwave one did. The "up to his old tricks again" line in Escalation could be from when he picked up Swindle at the end of the story.

I suppose it's possible the Magnus Spotlight takes place before the events of Stormbringer, like the Shockwave one did. The "up to his old tricks again" line in Escalation could be from when he picked up Swindle at the end of the story.

 

 

I think you're touching on the only real failing of these spotlights. We're given great stories, and interesting characters not in the main continuity right now, but there's a vague idea that they tie in some how, but the timeframe isn't there. We don't know when hotrod busted Dealer out, or when Nighbeat got his brains sucked out. However when these start pouring into the main stories it's going to make for some really great plotlines because. This is the only series I'm buying issue by issue, and the "The End?"s are driving me nuts.