The Transformers: Megatron Origin
Encyclopedia
The Transformers: Megatron Origin is a comic book
limited series
by IDW Publishing
exploring the origin of Megatron in its rebooted
G1 universe
. Written by Eric Holmes
, the story will explore the beginnings of the Decepticon
s and the Great War, and serves as a prequel
to the various IDW G1 Transformers stories
such as The Transformers: Infiltration
, Stormbringer
, Spotlight and Escalation
. Alex Milne
is the artist with alternative covers by Marcelo Matere.
.
According to the writer,
's Transformers: The War Within
for Dreamwave Productions
, which created an origin for Optimus Prime
, Holmes felt it would be fun to go back and further explore the beginnings of the Autobot
-Decepticon
war. Holmes originally approached Dreamwave with the concept, but the company went bankrupt before anything could be published. When IDW took over the Transformers license, they were approached by Holmes as well, loved his idea and he collaborated with Furman to further tie-in the story into the continuity of the IDW-published Transformers comics. Holmes took historical inspiration from the decline of the Roman Empire
in his story of the war's beginnings.
s are Cybertron's security forces and are first seen escorting a Cybertronian senator to an Energon-mining colony in the Cybertron
system. The senator informs the miners that they are no longer needed on the colony, but that they will be relocated. Tensions rise as the miners complain about being replaced by automated equipment. An Autobot guard commander attempts to silence the lead protester, who ends up being beaten to death by the commander and his subordinates. This sparks a riot amongst the miners, who attack the Autobots and the senator. One of the miners, Megatron, gets into a fight with the commander and is shocked when he kills him with his bare hands. The Autobots retaliate using deadly force, subduing the miners with a high casualty rate.
On a prison shuttle, Megatron awakens from stasis lock, and is admired for his bravery and strength during the riot by fellow mining prisoners Rumble
and Frenzy
. They convince Megatron to help lead a revolt against the corrupt Autobot security force. They attack their guards and take control of the shuttle, using it to attack and escape from the other shuttles. They escape to Cybertron and hide underground in Kaon, the seediest city on the planet. Prowl
notifies Sentinel Prime
of the incident, who plans to locate the fugitives.
Megatron joins the secretive gladiatorial contests. He is first seen battling a bot resembling the Gobot
Cy-Kill
. Megatron beats him but hesitates to deliver the killing blow. After the presider, Clench, gives Megatron a weapon and orders him "finish it," Megatron smashes the defeated bot's head. The crowd chants "'Til all are one," and Megatron removes his helmet to reveal extendable plates that resemble a crown. Over time, Megatron becomes used to killing and rises to be one of the best gladiator
s, and his battles are distributed illegally through video recordings. A news report on this is observed by the arrogant Senator Ratbat
, who appears to be working with an obscured Soundwave
. The senator takes great interest in Megatron. Eventually, during a battle, Megatron betrays Clench and usurps command of the games from him.
The report is also witnessed by Prowl's forces, as well as Sentinel Prime, who plans to end the contests and states that Megatron "will hang." Autobots Fastback and Bumper are sent to scout out a potential gladiatorial site. They come across the Constructicons
, who begin building the site, and throw an unlucky resident into Mixmaster
's molton metal solution. Megatron, Rumble and Frenzy arrive, noting that the building is behind schedule and are approached by Soundwave, who offers to outfit Megatron with advanced weaponry, including his traditional Energon flail
, which he presents in a hologram. While observing all this, the Autobots are spotted and captured by Soundwave
's minions, Laserbeak
, Buzzsaw, and Ravage
. Megatron stomps on and crushes Fastback's head to show his power and Bumper calls him a psychopath. Soundwave and Laserbeak probe Bumper's mind and determine that he is not a threat or useful, so Megatron kills him with his bare hands.
Soundwave enters a gladiatorial location and Swindle
informs him that Megatron is in a foul mood, having lost an arm in combat. Megatron greets Soundwave coldly while Hook repairs him using parts from fallen warriors. Soundwave brings good news and presents Megatron with three flight-capable combatants: Starscream
, Thundercracker
and Skywarp
. Instead of using them to fight in the arena, Megatron uses the three of them, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ravage to perform acts of terrorism
throughout Cybertron and kidnap Senator Decimus. Senator Ratbat seems concerned that the acts of terrorism have gotten out of control.
At the funeral for Bumper and Fastback, Sentinel Prime uses the tragedy to drum interest in capturing Megatron and his gladiators. Meanwhile, Megatron rallies a large group of gladiators. Several Transformers are in attendance, including the Predacons, Stunticons, Dynobots
, and more notably, Sunstreaker
, who attends under the protest of his brother Sideswipe. Megatron arrives and reveals that Rumble and Frenzy have been modified to work with Soundwave. Megatron rallies the gladiators and proposes for them to unite under the same badge, bringing out Senator Decimus to show his weakness. However, Sentinel Prime's police force have been watching, and they capture and arrest Megatron and his followers. The Autobot security center is overflowing with the arrestees and Megatron is silent. Senator Ratbat sends a directive for Soundwave to be released, while Starscream speaks to a guard and makes a deal to get out of jail and inform the Senate of some crucial information.
Starscream is taken before the Senate and delivers his message: that they helped create the Decepticons indirectly. Using his built-in weapons systems he and Soundwave slaughter the Senate. Starscream then frees the prisoners, arming them and giving Megatron his fusion cannon in the process, and general revolution breaks out in Kaon. Sentinel Prime and his team attempt to contain them, but Prime soon realizes that it is out of control. He then withdraws to "go Apex".
Meanwhile Ratbat meets up with Soundwave. During a conversation it turns out that Ratbat was the one behind supplying the Decepticons weapons and technology because, as an investor, he can make large profits by manipulating certain events (i.e. instigate a war so he can profit from the sale of weaponry). Ratbat is in the process of downloading his finances during the Autobot / Decepticon battle, but before he can flee Soundwave betrays him and steals the finances from Ratbat to fund the Decepticon's activities during wartime, then appropriates Ratbat's spark as a "resource".
As the slaughter continues, Prime returns - in a titanic suit of armor - and engages Megatron. Despite his firepower, Megatron is able to overcome him and the two fall off a building, with Prime taking the brunt of the damage. Later, Prowl's team find Prime, who has been beaten within an inch of his life. With Soundwave by his side, Megatron consider his options, reclining on a throne made out of Sentinel Prime's Apex armour.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
by IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
exploring the origin of Megatron in its rebooted
Reboot (continuity)
The verb reboot, in media dealing with serial fiction, means to discard much or even all previous continuity in the series and start anew with fresh ideas...
G1 universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
. Written by Eric Holmes
Eric Holmes (videogame designer)
Eric Holmes is a Scottish video game designer, located in North Carolina, USA. He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and currently works for Epic Games. He has been employed by Epic Games since April 2009...
, the story will explore the beginnings of the Decepticon
Decepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
s and the Great War, and serves as a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the various IDW G1 Transformers stories
The Transformers (IDW Publishing)
The Transformers is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, based upon Hasbro's Transformers characters and toy line.Following Dreamwave Productions' bankruptcy in 2005, IDW picked up the rights and hired long-time Transformers writer Simon Furman to craft a rebooted Generation 1-based continuity,...
such as The Transformers: Infiltration
The Transformers: Infiltration
The Transformers: Infiltration is a six-issue comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers. The series was previewed with a #0 in October, 2005, formally launched with #1 in January 2006 and ended with #6 in July....
, Stormbringer
The Transformers: Stormbringer
The Transformers: Stormbringer is a comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing.The series debuted in July, 2006 and is set during the same time frame as The Transformers: Infiltration...
, Spotlight and Escalation
The Transformers: Escalation
The Transformers: Escalation is a six-issue comic book mini-series, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers and following on from The Transformers: Infiltration. The series launched in November 2006 and ended in April 2007....
. Alex Milne
Alex Milne
Alex Milne is a Canadian comic book artist, best known for his work on various Transformers comic books.-Career:Graduating from Sheridan College, Milne debuted on the comics scene after being hired by Dreamwave Productions to pencil their Transformers: Energon series...
is the artist with alternative covers by Marcelo Matere.
Background
IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall first revealed the existence of the story on his message board, originally to be titled Megatron: Precursor. The first issue of Megatron: Origin was released in June 2007, and the limited series continues the overall title, following Escalation and before the debut of The Transformers: DevastationThe Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation is a six-issue comic book miniseries, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers and following on from The Transformers: Escalation. Issue 1 of Devastation was released on October 3, 2007, with issue 2 following on the 24th of October and was published...
.
According to the writer,
Simon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
's Transformers: The War Within
Transformers: The War Within
This article is about the comic book series. For other uses, see The War Within .Transformers: The War Within is a series of comic book mini-series written by Simon Furman and published by Dreamwave Productions featuring Generation One characters with brand new pre-Earth designs.The series focuses...
for Dreamwave Productions
Dreamwave Productions
Dreamwave Productions was a Canadian art design studio and comic book publisher founded in 1996 and is best known for their multiple Transformers comic book series...
, which created an origin for Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
, Holmes felt it would be fun to go back and further explore the beginnings of the Autobot
Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
-Decepticon
Decepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
war. Holmes originally approached Dreamwave with the concept, but the company went bankrupt before anything could be published. When IDW took over the Transformers license, they were approached by Holmes as well, loved his idea and he collaborated with Furman to further tie-in the story into the continuity of the IDW-published Transformers comics. Holmes took historical inspiration from the decline of the Roman Empire
Decline of the Roman Empire
The decline of the Roman Empire refers to the gradual societal collapse of the Western Roman Empire. Many theories of causality prevail, but most concern the disintegration of political, economic, military, and other social institutions, in tandem with foreign invasions and usurpers from within the...
in his story of the war's beginnings.
Plot
The AutobotAutobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
s are Cybertron's security forces and are first seen escorting a Cybertronian senator to an Energon-mining colony in the Cybertron
Cybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
system. The senator informs the miners that they are no longer needed on the colony, but that they will be relocated. Tensions rise as the miners complain about being replaced by automated equipment. An Autobot guard commander attempts to silence the lead protester, who ends up being beaten to death by the commander and his subordinates. This sparks a riot amongst the miners, who attack the Autobots and the senator. One of the miners, Megatron, gets into a fight with the commander and is shocked when he kills him with his bare hands. The Autobots retaliate using deadly force, subduing the miners with a high casualty rate.
On a prison shuttle, Megatron awakens from stasis lock, and is admired for his bravery and strength during the riot by fellow mining prisoners Rumble
Rumble (Transformers)
Rumble is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. In order to trademark the name, Hasbro referred to the Alternators character as Decepticon Rumble.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
and Frenzy
Frenzy (Transformers)
Frenzy is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. Wired Magazine once nominated him as one 12 most ridiculous Transformers of all time.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
. They convince Megatron to help lead a revolt against the corrupt Autobot security force. They attack their guards and take control of the shuttle, using it to attack and escape from the other shuttles. They escape to Cybertron and hide underground in Kaon, the seediest city on the planet. Prowl
Prowl (Transformers)
Prowl is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers series. "Prowl" is one of the most re-used American names in the assorted Transformers series, and its use has become almost synonymous with Autobots who possess a police car alternate mode...
notifies Sentinel Prime
Sentinel Prime
Sentinel Prime is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. First mention of Sentinel Prime was in issue #65 of the US Marvel Comics Transformers series, where he was mentioned to hold the Autobot Matrix of Leadership before Optimus Prime. Sentinel Prime has since...
of the incident, who plans to locate the fugitives.
Megatron joins the secretive gladiatorial contests. He is first seen battling a bot resembling the Gobot
Gobots
Gobots was a line of transforming robot toys produced by Tonka from 1983 to 1987, similar to Transformers. In 1991, the Gobots range was acquired from Tonka Inc. by Hasbro.-History:...
Cy-Kill
Cy-Kill
Cy-Kill is the name of several fictional characters from the Gobots, Robo Machines and Transformers toy line and fiction. Introduced as a toy in 1983, he is leader of the Renegade Gobot faction and the main antagonist of the animated series, where he was voiced by Bernard Erhard...
. Megatron beats him but hesitates to deliver the killing blow. After the presider, Clench, gives Megatron a weapon and orders him "finish it," Megatron smashes the defeated bot's head. The crowd chants "'Til all are one," and Megatron removes his helmet to reveal extendable plates that resemble a crown. Over time, Megatron becomes used to killing and rises to be one of the best gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
s, and his battles are distributed illegally through video recordings. A news report on this is observed by the arrogant Senator Ratbat
Ratbat
Ratbat is the name of several fictional characters who appeared in various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:As is the case with many Transformers characters, the various continuities in which Ratbat has appeared have portrayed him widely differently in terms of size, personality,...
, who appears to be working with an obscured Soundwave
Soundwave
Sound waves are audible acoustic waves that carry sound.Soundwave may also refer to:*Soundwave , an annual music festival held in Australia...
. The senator takes great interest in Megatron. Eventually, during a battle, Megatron betrays Clench and usurps command of the games from him.
The report is also witnessed by Prowl's forces, as well as Sentinel Prime, who plans to end the contests and states that Megatron "will hang." Autobots Fastback and Bumper are sent to scout out a potential gladiatorial site. They come across the Constructicons
Constructicons
right|thumb|Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Longhaul, Scrapper & Mixmaster - five of the original six Constructicons The Constructicons are a group of fictional characters from the various Transformers continuities...
, who begin building the site, and throw an unlucky resident into Mixmaster
Mixmaster
Mixmaster may refer to:*Mixmaster, a brand of Sunbeam Products electric kitchen mixer*The Mixmaster anonymous remailer, a Type II anonymous remailer which sends messages in fixed-size packets and reorders them, preventing anyone watching the messages go in and out of remailers from tracing...
's molton metal solution. Megatron, Rumble and Frenzy arrive, noting that the building is behind schedule and are approached by Soundwave, who offers to outfit Megatron with advanced weaponry, including his traditional Energon flail
Flail (weapon)
The flail is a hand weapon derived from the agricultural tool.The handle is attached to the striking part of a weapon by a flexible chain or cord...
, which he presents in a hologram. While observing all this, the Autobots are spotted and captured by Soundwave
Soundwave (Transformers)
Soundwave is the name of several characters in the various series Transformers series. His most famous disguise is that of a microcassette recorder and has an iconic voice done by a vocoder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
's minions, Laserbeak
Laserbeak
Laserbeak is the name given to several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. He is almost always a mechanical bird, and is partnered with Soundwave.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Buzzsaw, and Ravage
Ravage (Transformers)
Ravage is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Due to the inability to trademark the common word "ravage", he is sometimes called Battle Ravage, Command Ravage or Tripredacus Agent...
. Megatron stomps on and crushes Fastback's head to show his power and Bumper calls him a psychopath. Soundwave and Laserbeak probe Bumper's mind and determine that he is not a threat or useful, so Megatron kills him with his bare hands.
Soundwave enters a gladiatorial location and Swindle
Swindle (Transformers)
Swindle is the name given to several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Swindle originally appeared as a member of a group of five Decepticons known as the Combaticons who were able to combine together to form a larger robot known as Bruticus...
informs him that Megatron is in a foul mood, having lost an arm in combat. Megatron greets Soundwave coldly while Hook repairs him using parts from fallen warriors. Soundwave brings good news and presents Megatron with three flight-capable combatants: Starscream
Starscream (Transformers)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
, Thundercracker
Thundercracker
Thundercracker is the name given to multiple fictional characters in the Transformers universes. Thundercracker is almost always depicted as a blue color Decepticon who turns into a jet fighter.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
and Skywarp
Skywarp
Skywarp is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers toy line. He is usually depicted as a black or purple Decepticon jet with teleportation powers.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
. Instead of using them to fight in the arena, Megatron uses the three of them, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ravage to perform acts of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
throughout Cybertron and kidnap Senator Decimus. Senator Ratbat seems concerned that the acts of terrorism have gotten out of control.
At the funeral for Bumper and Fastback, Sentinel Prime uses the tragedy to drum interest in capturing Megatron and his gladiators. Meanwhile, Megatron rallies a large group of gladiators. Several Transformers are in attendance, including the Predacons, Stunticons, Dynobots
Dinobots
Dinobots is the name of several teams of characters in the fictional Transformers Universe. The groups are made up of several robots, each of whose transformed mode is that of a dinosaur or similar prehistoric animal. They are called Dinotrons in the Japanese version; and ' in the Japanese dub of...
, and more notably, Sunstreaker
Sunstreaker
Sunstreaker is the name of two fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. The first is one of the main Autobot cars from the original Transformers series...
, who attends under the protest of his brother Sideswipe. Megatron arrives and reveals that Rumble and Frenzy have been modified to work with Soundwave. Megatron rallies the gladiators and proposes for them to unite under the same badge, bringing out Senator Decimus to show his weakness. However, Sentinel Prime's police force have been watching, and they capture and arrest Megatron and his followers. The Autobot security center is overflowing with the arrestees and Megatron is silent. Senator Ratbat sends a directive for Soundwave to be released, while Starscream speaks to a guard and makes a deal to get out of jail and inform the Senate of some crucial information.
Starscream is taken before the Senate and delivers his message: that they helped create the Decepticons indirectly. Using his built-in weapons systems he and Soundwave slaughter the Senate. Starscream then frees the prisoners, arming them and giving Megatron his fusion cannon in the process, and general revolution breaks out in Kaon. Sentinel Prime and his team attempt to contain them, but Prime soon realizes that it is out of control. He then withdraws to "go Apex".
Meanwhile Ratbat meets up with Soundwave. During a conversation it turns out that Ratbat was the one behind supplying the Decepticons weapons and technology because, as an investor, he can make large profits by manipulating certain events (i.e. instigate a war so he can profit from the sale of weaponry). Ratbat is in the process of downloading his finances during the Autobot / Decepticon battle, but before he can flee Soundwave betrays him and steals the finances from Ratbat to fund the Decepticon's activities during wartime, then appropriates Ratbat's spark as a "resource".
As the slaughter continues, Prime returns - in a titanic suit of armor - and engages Megatron. Despite his firepower, Megatron is able to overcome him and the two fall off a building, with Prime taking the brunt of the damage. Later, Prowl's team find Prime, who has been beaten within an inch of his life. With Soundwave by his side, Megatron consider his options, reclining on a throne made out of Sentinel Prime's Apex armour.