Megatron Origin issue 4

2012-06-20T16:02:00Z

90.207.220.75: /* Synopsis */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' #4
|prev=Megatron Origin issue 3
|image=MO 4 b.jpg
|caption=Somebody needs to switch to decaf.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 24]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=September 2007
|written by=[[Eric Holmes]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] and [[Mark Bristow]]
|color assist by=[[Gabe Eltaeb]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|edits by=[[Andrew Steven Harris]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Megatron Origin]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}
'''The former miner-turned-gladiator-turned-rebel leader kills lots of other guys for the hell of it.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Autobot]] security escorts [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] away from the other detained gladiators held in the [[Kaon]] holding cells. They take Starscream to stand before the Council of the district, to whom Starscream delivers a message: Everything that has happened is the council's fault. As punishment for their sins, Starscream and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] destroy the council, etching their [[Insignia|symbol]] into the meeting room's view screen.

The next stage in [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s master plan carried out by Starscream is to free all the inmates. Starscream releases them all, and the criminals with prior association with Megatron are recruited into his new army. Soundwave provides armaments, and Starscream introduces Megatron to a new arm-mounted [[fusion cannon]]. Blasting a hole in the wall with his new weapon, Megatron orders the group to attack with an offensive that is as simple as it is destructive: Everything burns.

In an area inhabited by [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Kaon upperclass|high class]], snooty recreation comes to an end when [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] fire upon an airborne vessel, causing it to crash below, destroying an incredible amount on the way down.

Soundwave meets with his boss, Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. The senator admits that not only did he aid Megatron's cause by supplying arms, he was also the one who arranged for Megatron to be removed from the mining operation where he was originally working. Now that Megatron's forces have destabilized the area, the senator is embezzling what he can before moving on to new pastures. Soundwave, however, shoots Ratbat, takes Ratbat's ill-gotten gains, and seals his [[spark]] inside of a frame—his new "cassette" body. Evidently, Soundwave prefers Megatron as his new boss.

[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and the other [[Autobot]]s fight to retake Kaon from the rioting rebellion. However, the rebels are causing massive damage, have jammed communications with [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and just won't give an inch of ground. Running out of options, Sentinel Prime decides to bring his incredible assortment of firepower (using his [[Apex Armor (G1)|Apex System]]) head to head against Megatron. A colossal explosion blasts Megatron out of sight.

Sentinel Prime radios to the other Autobots that he's created a route that can be used to fight against the enemy. But when his armor's helmet is shattered by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s body, he discovers that Megatron still functions. Their struggle takes them over a precipice as they battle while discussing Megatron's goal: Megatron wants to transform the world. Sentinel hits Megatron back with his knees and as Megatron is hardly holding on Sentinel helps up Megatron and prepares to arrest him but is hit back and with a final strike, Megatron (possibly) kills the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]].

The other Autobots arrive, following Sentinel Prime. They find their leader's body. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], assuming command, orders a retreat.

Megatron sits on his throne and discusses the victory with Soundwave. Now that Kaon has been taken, the next step is clear—the rest of Cybertron shall be conquered. But they will not do it as Cybertronians. From this day forward, they are the [[Decepticon]]s.

The [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] has begun...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (19)
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (20)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (21)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (22)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (23)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (25)
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] (31)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (32)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (33)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (34)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (4)
*[[Squawkbox]] (5)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (6)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (7)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (8)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (10)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (11)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (13)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (14)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (15)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (16)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (24)
*[[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (27)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (28)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (29)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (30)

|c4=
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (3)
*[[Grapple]] (17)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (18)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (26)
}}

== Quotes ==
"Heh. Nobody's perfect."
:'''—Starscream''', after hearing a long list of charges against him.

"Through your own interests you created this. You brought us here. You didn't just make it possible—you made it happen. All we did was give it a name."
:'''—Starscream''', before the court.

"Hmm. Yes. There's something about this."
:'''—Megatron''', upon receiving his arm cannon.

"Situation—war. Resources—limited. Optimal solution—repurpose valuable resource."
:'''—Soundwave''', while downgrading Senator Ratbat.

"And when you've crossed the planet with your little gang of thugs, what will you do then?"<br>
"I will create desolation—and call it peace!"
:'''—Sentinel Prime''' and '''Megatron'''

==Notes==
* Civilians cry out "[[Primus]]!" when they are attacked by Thundercracker and Skywarp. The name is only used as a curse here, but it is significant because the principal writer of the series at the time, [[Simon Furman]], intended to keep Primus and [[Unicron]] out of this continuity. Although Furman didn't write ''Megatron Origin'', he did comment on it on his blog: "just because someone refers to something called Primus, doesn’t necessarily mean it's G1 Primus. There are still no plans to do feature Primus (as was). But is/was there someone or something called Primus in the IDW/TF-verse, quite possibly."<ref>[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/all-this-and-devastation-4/#comment-3074 Simon Furman's reply to his own blog post]</ref>
* According to Alex Milne, Sentinel Prime isn't actually dead, and the script called for him to look like he could go either way.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411#37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> But he is drawn with a gaping hole in his chest and an expression of horror frozen on his face, and his colors are extremely washed-out. The dialogue leaves the question "He alive?" spoken but unanswered.
* Sentinel Prime uses Apex Armor, a reference to the ''[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Commemorative Series]]'' reissue of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Powermaster Optimus Prime]].
* Megatron's intention to "create desolation—and call it peace!" is a paraphrase of the real-life [[wikipedia:Caledonians|Caledonian]] chieftain [[wikipedia:Calgacus|Calgacus]], who described the philosophy of the Romans he was fighting against: "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace." Megatron's wording also reflects the motto from his original [[bio]], "Peace through tyranny."
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] gives [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] his [[fusion cannon]]. It shouldn't be hard to see [[Infiltration issue 6|the irony in this]].
* Thundercracker expresses some misgivings about shooting down the ship with Skywarp. Take notice of that little bit of characterization, it becomes [[All Hail Megatron issue 12|important later]].

===Errors===
* On page 10, Trailbreaker is depicted grabbing Starscream as the Decepticon makes his escape. Starscream then kicks the Autobot off, sending him into what is heavily implied to be his death (what with the long fall into a massive explosion and all), despite Trailbreaker turning up alive and well many years later in the previously published "[[Spotlight: Kup]]" as well as the later published "[[Spotlight: Blaster]]". This is not the [[Fastback (G1)|first time]] that the ''Megatron Origin'' books would [[Outback (G1)|conflict]] with the events in ''Spotlight:'' Kup.
* It also wouldn't be the last time a Spotlight issue has a conflicting plot point, as despite appearances here, Hound shows up fine in [[Spotlight: Galvatron]].
* [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] shows up as one of the Senate guards... when really he [[Dead Universe|shouldn't be there at all.]]
* The string of word bubbles meant for Ratbat on page 12 instead appear to come from Ravage.

=== Covers (3) ===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron stands over a defeated Sentinel Prime by [[Alex Milne]] (pencils) and [[Josh Perez]] (colors)
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron screaming by [[Marcelo Matere]] (pencils) and [[Andrew Elder]] (colors)
* '''Cover RI-A:''' uncolored cover A

<gallery>
Image:MO 4 a.jpg|Um... Spoiler alert!
Image:MO 4 b.jpg|He's angry because of that spoiler
Image:MO 4 RI.jpg|No colors, still spoiled
</gallery>

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===Reprints===
*[[2007]] — ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''
*[[2010]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

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Megatron Origin issue 4