IDW Publishing’s releases for March 2008 have been announced and there are a couple of surprises. The first is the news that the next Spotlight issue after Spotlight: Grimlock is Spotlight: Mirage! The issue is written by George Strayton with art and the cover by Guido Guidi.

Spotlight Grimlock, which has already been announced, has a cover up at Comics Continuum but there is a MAJOR spoiler on that cover for the entire IDW series.

Continuing the Marvel UK reprinted material is Space Pirates #1 in IDW’s renamed Best of UK.

Finally, there is something different, with The Transformers: Focus On Decepticons. The “preview” issue, 24 pages for $3, looks at the evil Decepticons but also at stuff from the Movie sequel. Full solicitations can be found below:

THE TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT: GRIMLOCK

Written by Simon Furman, art and cover by Marcelo Matere.

Presenting the first of two March-bound one-shots focusing on some of the best-loved (or loathed) characters from the Transformers Universe. The spotlight now falls on Grimlock, everyone’s favorite Dinobot! Once set on a course of action, Grimlock always sees it to the bitter end. But has he now gone too far? Branded a renegade and responsible for condemning his fellow Dinobots to a living death, this time there may be no way back!

32 pages, $3.99.

THE TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT: MIRAGE

Written by George Strayton, art and cover by Guido Guidi.

The second one-shot tale this month showcasing the fan-favorite characters of the Transformers Universe. Stepping into the spotlight is the infiltrator Mirage, an Autobot who has long questioned his allegiances in the war against Megatron. But when a temporal accident suddenly shunts him into an alternate timeline, he finally gets the chance to experience life as a Decepticon. Will he embrace his newfound power and wipe out the last of the Autobots, or sacrifice everything to save them?

32 pages, $3.99.

TRANSFORMERS: BEST OF THE U.K.: SPACE PIRATES #1

Written by Simon Furman, art by Dan Reed, cover by Robby Musso.

Continuing reprints of the best Transformers epics from across the pond! In the debut issue of this latest series, when a space-time rift materializes near the Quintesson homeworld, its merciless warriors set off to establish a new home planet — and their target is Cybertron! Written by Cybertronian stalwart Simon Furman, with art by Dan Reed, and a new cover recreating an old scene by Robby Musso.

32 pages, $3.99.

THE TRANSFORMERS: FOCUS ON DECEPTICONS!

Written by Shane McCarthy and Neil Kleid, art by Nick Roche and more, cover by Don Figueroa.

Starscream. Thundercracker. Skywarp. Shockwave. And, of course, their terrifying leaderŠ the Decepticons represent the greatest threat in the history of Earth — and now they’re about to make their move. What are their plans? What will it mean for fate of mankind? And where are the Autobots, sworn defenders against Megatron’s menace? IDW Publishing is set to unveil a globe-shattering Transformers event that will explode across comics pages this spring, and this specially-priced sneak peek features preview art, behind-the-scenes interviews, design sketches, information on the Decepticons of the upcoming Movie Sequel series and more!

24 pages, $2.99.

In his latest entry on his blog, Simon Furman has posted some teaser information on his favourite character’s spotlight issue, Grimlock. He has hinted that the comic plans a part in setting up one of 2008’s big ‘events’. The issue is released in March 2008 with art by Marcelo Matere and Simon on the writing duties.