Transformers Spotlight: Mirage
By George Strayton & Guido Guidi
Plot: As one can safely assume, this is a tale of where Mirage loyalties ultimately lie. It should be noted that its vague as to whether this lies within continuity. I could be wrong but I believe it was posted somewhere that this was not incontinuity. Either way, it doesn’t matter b/c ultimately
Cover: Unusual as it is. We only have 1 cover to choose from. Having seen the pencils and inked versions I must say I think the colouring let this book down. There isn’t that dynamism that there was in the online B & W version of the cover. The desert-like colours is where the cover goes wrong. It makes the cover look drab and dreary rather than sleek, introverted and fast.
Other than that, it really is nice w/ the headshot in the background and the traditional race car mode in the foreground and then Mirage in robot mode in the middle ground.
Art: Stellar. Breathtaking. G1. If you think of the G1 cartoon, you generally think it’s a bit too block and lacking in detail. That’s where artists like Don , Musso, Su, Milne have really starred. Guido’s style is clean and simplistic but it elevates the G1 style to viable form. I think. He needs more work. Pronto.
Characters: Mirage, Megatron, Soundwave, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, Starscream, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Hound, Ratchet, Jetfire
Issue Review:
I’m surprised more hasn’t been said of this. I’m reviewing it a few weeks late and expected some comments on it by now. Guess it didn’t generate much interest.
The first thing one notices upon reading through is the lack of reference to the larger IDW universe that have been a pervasive feature of previous Spotlights. Is this jarring? No. I don’t mind done-in-one stories. I like them actually. There aren’t enough of them. They give characters a chance to shine in a fandom dominated by a curious contradiction. On the one hand there is that unquenchable thirst for fan favourites. Yet there is a contradictory countervailing desire for lesser known characters to shine. When the former happens, the latter is the complaint. When the latter occurs, fandom latches onto the former demanding more stories focused on core characters, core concepts.
What in my opinion it all boils down to is that if you’re going to do a lesser character, make sure you do it right. Otherwise, the fickle fandom that we are, you’re in for a slagging.
This is one such case. Mirage isn’t one of the fan favourites. It’s his turn under the sun. Unfortunately, the story is doesn’t live up to that. The concept of time in this issue is especially jarring. And that’s due in large part to the structure of the story. It’s based on a dream and trying to lure the audience out of their comfort zone, to question reality and illusion. It doesn’t work. It’s rather messy, thin and meaningless.
When I say meaningless, I don’t mean in a broad universe sense. I mean in with reference to the character. For the illusion to have been meaningful we needed some backstory, some explanation of why Mirage is questioning his own loyalties and motivations. In all of its immediacy, the title quickly forgets that there must be a backdrop against which the character is propelled forward. It is that backdrop that gives their actions, their choices, their illusions significance. Instead we are thrust into a one-paced story and it’s over before we know it
I’d say Hound probably gets more development here than Mirage. And that’s sad if you compare panel time each receives and the name on the front of the Spotlight. The deficiency goes a long way to explaining the weakness of the story.
Single issues or wait for the trade?
Wait for the trade. Nothing especially desirable here unless you want the gorgeous but poorly coloured cover.
Overall: 4/10
Great art. Little story. It really is unfulfilling. Its rating is only saved by the immaculate art. It is G1 in all it’s glory. That’s the only saving grace here so don’t expect much.
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On the 3rd page where you see Opitmus Prime pointing forward, notice that kind of awkward way that Prime's pointing forward? That was often the way that G1 US artist José Delbo made Transformers point! A really nice and subtle visual easter egg! 
