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I'm a sexy beast!
"The Transformers: Spotlight Ramjet"
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	November 7,2007
Cover date	November 2007
Written by	Stuart Moore
Art by	Robby Musso
Colors by	Josh Burcham
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Chris Ryall andAndrew Steven Harris
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Escalation

Ramjet schemes to overthrow Megatron. Who knew the guy had it in him?

Synopsis

Skywarp diverts from his mission to meet withRamjet in mid-flight. While speeding across the skies, Ramjet and Skywarp discuss the failings ofMegatron andStarscream. Ramjet boasts that he has the smarts to overthrow Megatron, and tries to enlist Skywarp. Skywarp gives him 24 hours to come up with a good plan, reminding him of the old Cybertronian saying, "Always bet on the leader." Ramjet checks in with hisMini-Constructicons, who inform him that theUniversal Cybertronic Tracker will be ready in 18 hours. Ramjet next contacts hisPentagon-employedfacsimileHarrison (who, due to inferior construction, appears dimwitted) and tells him to be prepared to deliver missile codes. Ramjet will use the missiles to devastate theUnited States.

As Megatron and his Decepticons begin their war inBrasnya, Ramjet flies to theEuropean Union Alternative Energy Research Center and drops fliers for an unspecified contest. An emblem of a Euro symbol on each flier is actually a spy device which jumps off the paper and attaches itself to the computers of the Center's employees. Ramjet believes that someone at the Center will eventually develop a usefulenergon substitute. Meanwhile, in Brasnya, Megatron delivers the beating ofOptimus Prime's life.

Ramjet later returns to his Mini-Constructicons, and they have his device ready. When two of them ask for a taste of his power once he overthrows Megatron, Ramjet destroys them for their insolence. Harrison meets with Ramjet and delivers the codes, but his face is melting off due to his inferior creation. Ramjet boasts of his plans to his liquefying lackey, which include tracking all Cybertronians, acquiring his energon substitute, blowing up the United States, enslaving theDecepticons andhumans ofEarth, and using asuperstring spacebridge to dominate the galaxy.

Unfortunately for Ramjet, Megatron arrives and beats him mercilessly, ripping out hisspark before tearing him limb from limb. He scatters Ramjet's parts at Ramjet's base, Harrison's office at the Pentagon, and the Energy Research Center, indicating that he knew about Ramjet's plans in detail. Megatron keeps Ramjet's head as a trophy and an object lesson for his other troops. Behind him, Skywarp echoes his earlier statement: "Always bet on the leader."

Featured characters

(Characters initalic text only appear in Ramjet's fantasy.)
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

Continuity notes

• This issue takes place after theNew Avengers/Transformers miniseries, and is written by the same author. The "business" that Skywarp mentions on page 2 is the battle inLatveria in which Ramjet deserted his post, letting the Autobots andAvengers win.
• The timeframe of the issue corresponds with the events in theEscalation series.
• Apparently, IDW Transformers can fart (page 7). In general terms, this isnot a new development.
• As Harrison collapses to the ground, it can also be seen that his car is wrecked and smoking. This is not explained, though it seems likely that the barely-functional facsimile is a terrible driver, given that it can only speak in rudimentary grunts. (It's also nicely symbolic of how everything around Ramjet was about to turn to crap.)
• This issue has the first mention of a space bridge in theIDW continuity.
• Given how the Decepticons are so keen on keeping themselves hidden from the planet's populace they infiltrate, it is quite unexpected that Megatron throws parts of Ramjet around the globe. Whilst it would take both a good few years and the intervention ofJohn "Master of Continuity" Barber, giving humans access to Cybertronian technology would go on to havesome drastic repercussions.

Trivia

• Following the story are two pages of sketches byRobby Musso.
• This was the firstSpotlight issue that wasn't part of a larger storyline. While every previousSpotlight (and a bunch of the following) answered questions raised in previous issues, brought up mysteries that created new questions, or introduced future plot developments, this one was relatively self-contained. The only references to the rest of the storyline exist merely for chronological placement. However,Simon Furman mentioned on his blog that Ramjet may show up again^[1]and in a way, he did. AfterRamjet, we would see moreSpotlights that told done-in-one contained stories likeSpotlight: Cliffjumper.

Errors

• The size of the text in this issue is considerably smaller than the norm.
• On page 17, the first dialogue box of Ramjet's big plan ends abruptly:

"With the universal tracker, I can monitor the locations ofall Cybertronians, anywhere in the galaxy–Autobots and

The trade paperback ends this sentence with "Decepticons alike."

Covers (3)

• Cover A: Ramjet, robot and alternate modes byRobby Musso andKieran Oats (colors).
• Cover B: Ramjet, Megatron and Skywarp byGuido Guidi andJosh Burcham (colors).
• Cover RI: Cover A, uncolored sketch

• 

  Ramjet hates everyone, even himself!

• 

  And he would have gotten away with it if it weren't foryou pesky kids Megatron's head hovering behind him the whole time.

• 

  RI Cover

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Reprints

• The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2(February 20,2008)ISBN 1600101542 /ISBN 978-1600101540
  • CollectsSpotlight:Soundwave,Kup,Galvatron,Optimus Prime andRamjet.
  • Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.
  • Trade paperback format.

• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2(June 17,2009)ISBN 1600104371 /ISBN 978-1600104374
  • CollectsDevastation issues#1–6, andSpotlight: Soundwave,Kup,Galvatron,Optimus Prime,Ramjet,Blaster,Arcee,Mirage,Grimlock,Wheelie,Cyclonus,Hardhead,Doubledealer &Sideswipe.
  • Hardcover format.

• The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two(October 6,2010)ISBN 1600107516 /ISBN 978-1600107511
  • CollectsStormbringer issues#1–4,Escalation issues#1–6, andSpotlight:Sixshot,Ramjet,Ultra Magnus,Kup,Mirage &Optimus Prime.
  • Hardcover format.

• The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1(April 15,2015)ISBN 1631402463 /ISBN 978-1631402463
  • CollectsSpotlight:Shockwave,Nightbeat,Hot Rod,Sixshot,Ultra Magnus,Soundwave,Kup,Galvatron,Optimus Prime,Ramjet,Blaster,Arcee andGrimlock.
  • Bonus material unknown at this time.
  • Trade paperback format.

• The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1(July 6,2016)ISBN 163140637X /ISBN 978-1631406379
  • CollectsThe IDW CollectionOne andTwo.
  • Trade paperback format.

• Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation(August 7,2019)
  • CollectsDevastation issues#1–6, andSpotlight: Kup,Ramjet &Cliffjumper.
  • Bonus material includes a cover gallery and an introduction by Simon Furman.
  • Hardcover format.

• 

  Spotlight Volume 2 – cover art byGabriel Rodríguez

• 

  The Premiere Collection Volume 2 – cover art byNick Roche andJosh Burcham

• 

  The IDW Collection Volume Two – cover art byE.J. Su

• 

  Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1 – cover art byJeffrey Veregge

• 

  The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1 – cover art by Jeffrey Veregge

• 

  The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation – cover art byDon Figueroa (Sunstreaker) andRobby Musso (Sixshot)

References