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The Not Knowing

2015-09-03T04:47:37Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=44
|prev=The One Where They Go to Earth
|next=
|image=MTMTE44_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Not Knowing"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 2]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Hayato Sakamoto]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Following the trail of Agent 113's bullet, the ''Lost Light''ers make their way to the Necrobot's base of operations, where both Rewind and Chromedome's relationship, and Nightbeat's hope in the existence of a greater power, are tested.'''

==Synopsis==

The message bullet extracted from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s shoulder proves largely corrupted by rust, but of the data sent by [[Agent 113]]—now revealed to have been the previous holder of the "[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]" codename—one intact piece of information gives the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' a startling new objective to explore: the location of the supposedly-mythical [[Necrobot]]'s base of operations. [[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] has a revelation of his own, however—it turns out that the doodles he has been carving into his desk since the ship's launch are, in fact, a map to [[Cyberutopia]] just like the one [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] drew, and he is much more interested in following it than looking for the Necrobot. When [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] and [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] explain that they want to visit the Necrobot's world in hopes of learning the fate of Rewind's old partner [[Dominus Ambus]], [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] agrees to their request, and the ''Lost Light'' sets off. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes Rewind aside to talk about his departed spark brother in order to caution him to not get his hopes up for Dominus's survival, but it turns out that Rewind has already had this discussion with ''his'' Magnus, on the quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', and refuses to believe his claim that he can sense his brother's absence.

Presently, the ''Lost Light'' arrives at the Necrobot's rather unassuming planet, and a small group heads down to the surface in the [[Rodpod]]. They are greeted by the sight of a beautiful garden, full of holographic statues surrounded by sparkling blue flowers, and soon deduce that the statues represent those Transformers who are still living, while the empty plinths are for the dead. Homing in on the solitary life sign on the planet, the Rod Pod sets down outside a huge complex, where a noticeably jumpy [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] immediately spots some movement in the building's doorway, only for the door to be slammed shut before he can reach it. While the others split up to wander about the garden and investigate, Nightbeat stands outside the door and calls to whoever or whatever may be inside... at which point, the door opens a crack, and the imposing form of the Necrobot appears to invite Nightbeat inside!

[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] dismisses the exercise as a waste of time, but Megatron confides that that was precisely his rationale for allowing the trip: although he will accept his fate when the time comes, he is in no hurry to rush toward that final judgement. Regardless of Megatron's intent, Chromedome and Rewind are here for a purpose: soon, they have hacked into the central database that powers the holographic statues, so that they can search for Dominus's name to learn what has become of him. But before Chromedome presses "search", Rewind hesitates, unsure if, after all this time, he ''really'' wants to know the truth. Chromedome assures him that whatever choice he makes, he will stand by him, and help him continue his search in other ways—a show of dedication that convinces Rewind that the past must be put behind him. The search begins, and the result appears... Dominus Ambus of Ambustus Minor is, indeed, deceased.

Within the Necrobot's complex, the mysterious robot explains to Nightbeat that he is, actually, a totally ordinary—if very long-lived—Cybertronian named Censere. A forensic pathologist, Censere was moved to begin chronicling deaths when the death of his friend [[Tusk]] went unreported, and simply uses the machines in his complex to keep track of spark signatures and to teleport him around the universe to carry out his tasks. Nightbeat is dismayed and furious; in spite of his rationalist nature, he had truly hoped to learn that the Necrobot was proof of a higher power, a reaffirmation of the notion of life after death that Nightbeat had come to doubt since his own death years beforehand. Censere reassures him that just because ''he'' is not "magic" does not mean that the [[Afterspark]] does not exist, and explains that his understanding of life and death is not absolute: he was, for instance, alarmed to see Nightbeat and many of the other ''Lost Light''ers, as he believed they were already dead. Censere takes him to a monolith labelled "In Honor of the Disappeared", upon which he has carved the names of those whose deaths he cannot verify; Nightbeat sees his own name on the slab (his body having been stolen away into the [[Dead Universe]] before Censere reached him), but then spots another one of great interest. He calls the crew together, and while everyone is marvelling over the once-legendary Necrobot, Nightbeat takes Chromedome and Rewind to the monolith, where it is revealed that Dominus Ambus's name is also engraved on its surface!

A little later, as everyone prepares to depart, Nightbeat says farewell to Censere, but not without grimly informing him that he should use his skills to save the living, rather than record the dead. Rodimus realizes that Megatron has disappeared, and is informed by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] that he slipped away with Ravage a little while ago, after the Necrobot explained the significance of his garden's flowers: they contain the residual [[spark]] energy of the deceased, and he plants them around the statue of the Transformer who was responsible for ending that life. Thus it is that Megatron receives a grim reminder that he cannot put off his day of reckoning forever, as he visits his own statue and sees a beautiful blue field of sparkling flowers, stretching in every direction, far and away into the horizon...

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (2)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (3)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/[[Minimus Ambus]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Agent 113]] (video message, 7)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (9)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (10)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nautica]] (12)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
*[[Getaway]] (14)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (16)
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (statue, 17)
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (statue, 18)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (20)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (21)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (22)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (15)
|c4=
*[[Necrobot|Necrobot/Censere]] (1)
*[[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] (statue, 19)
}}

==Quotes==

"You know, I can just about accept that the '''D.J.D.''' was infiltrated by an Autobot, but what I find '''bizarre''' is that this '''"Agent 113"''' thinks it practical to deliver his field reports by firing bullet-shaped data-slugs into '''three-fingered metallurgists'''." 
"It's not '''exclusively''' metallurgists. When I said that, I didn't... I was attempting to make a joke." 
"Yes—I know—I was '''running with it'''. There's a lot of banter on this ship; I thought I was ready to take the plunge." 
"I think we've both learned something from this."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"If you caught '''me''' spilling that many beans, you'd give me a '''dressing down''' so epic, so protracted—so narratively dense—it would have subplots, callbacks, and a finale that would provide closure whilst leaving the door open for future '''tellings off'''."
:—'''Rodimus''', to Magnus, when Magnus tells Megatron about Agent 113

"Is it too soon to have '''"Chosen One"''' engraved on my forehead?" 
"I can think of more appropriate words."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Don't take offense, but it's quite difficult—sitting here, looking at you... you look so '''similar'''." 
"I know. Why do you think I've spent most of my life trying to look like someone else?"
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

"I don't know what you were expecting. I don't know what a '''non-boring''' planet looks like to you." 
"What." 
"Describe it. I'm genuinely interested. Describe your perfect planet." 
"Let's see... stripped of organic life, relieved of energy, coated in metal... oh—wait—that's '''your''' perfect planet."
:—'''Megatron''' might want some cold water for that burn, courtesy of '''Rodimus'''

"Don't '''touch''' anything, don't '''steal''' anything, and definitely don't '''desecrate''' anything."
:—'''Rodimus''' warns the crew to behave

"Once you press "search", that's it—I'll know. And I don't know if I'm '''ready''' to know. ...I'm sorry. This is stupid. I'm being stupid." 
"It's not. And you're not." 
"Tell me what to do." 
"Rewind—my love—it's not for me to say." 
"But this affects '''both''' of us. If I don't do this... if we leave here not knowing, we could spend the next four million years searching for someone who's..." 
"I know. But at least we'd be doing it together."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chrome—''' *sniff* ...and '''Chromedome'''... look, I just have something in my eye, okay?!

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The Necrobot was introduced in the "Scavengers" two-parter in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]. It was in the second of those issue that he actually physically appeared, and in which we saw his datapad containing a list of deceased ''Lost Light'' crewmembers; this issue confirms the earlier implication that these were the quantum duplicate crewmembers from the second ''Lost Light'', seen in the "Slaughterhouse" two-parter in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]] and [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]].
*Agent 113, first mentioned in the "[[Bullets]]" prose story in 2010, is finally revealed to not be a current member of the DJD, but rather, the previous holder of the "Vos" codename—the one with hooks for hands and feet, whose existence was established in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]].
*We first learned Rodimus has been carving doodles into his desk in [[Signal to Noise|issue #13]], and were reminded of that fact recently in [[The Sensuous Frame|issue #41]]. Turns out he's been drawing a map to Cyberuptopia like the one we saw [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] had drawn in that same issue, complete with the gear-like hieroglyphs from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
*When Skids remarks that he is a "recovering believer", he strokes his cheek, where we know from issues [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]] that he used to have a tattoo of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as a symbol of his faith.
*Nightbeat refers to his death from all the way back in ''[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]'' (see "Errors", below).
*Swerve takes a selfie with the Necrobot; we've seen Swerve using his "cell phone", before, back in "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]", when he went on about his ringtone.
*Magnus mentions that the crew learned how to juggle during a three-week stay at the Cosmic Carnival, and Skids was seen demonstrating his juggling skills back in issue [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]]

===Transformers references===
*Ultra Magnus mentions that the ''Lost Light''ers once spent three weeks at the [[Cosmic Carnival]], the greatest show in the galaxy that appeared in [[The Cosmic Carnival|issue #44]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel Transformers comic]].
*Rodimus jokes about having "Chosen One" engraved on his forehead, the title that Rodimus was referred to with in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].

===Real-life references===
*Rodimus describes Rewind's way of telling him about the Necrobot as they walk through the ship's corridors as "''West Wing''-ing", a reference to the TV show ''{{w|The West Wing}}'' and its famous tracking shots of characters talking with one another as they walk down long hallways.
*The Necrobot's real name, "Censere" (see "Errors", below), is a Latin word meaning to appraise or assess.

===Errors===
*The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, he calls him "Censerre", with an extra "r". It's not clear which is the error.
*When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'', rather than ''Spotlight: Hardhead''.
*Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line.

===Other trivia===
*This issue arrives a teensy bit late, landing in the first week of September rather than the last week of August.
*Several statues in the Necrobot's garden are not immediately recognizable; Rodimus mentions two Transformers named [[Raptor]] and [[Scissorkick]] who could rightly be any of them.
*While [[Xaaron]] has always been best known by the rank he carried in the Marvel comics, "Emirate", he's never had that rank in the IDW universe. As Rodimus spots a statue of him in the Necrobot's garden, he notes that his full title in this universe is "Advocate Xaaron".
*Full names learned for Transformers in this issue include: [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee of Iacon]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] of [[Pescus Hex]], Dominus Ambus of [[Ambustus Minor]], Chromedome of Iacon, Hound of [[Lower Monoplex]], and Nightbeat of [[Yuss]]. Additionally, [[Ambulon (G1)|Ambulon]] is revealed to have been an [[M.T.O.]]; a speech-bubble obscures his full name, but we see that it partially reads "Ambulon of Operation Split Infin--" something (a crack about "{{w|split infinitive}}s" and Ambulon's status as part of a [[combiner]], if not a reference to his grisly demise.) This makes Ambulon the first confirmed example of a Decepticon M.TO.
*The name written above Dominus Ambus's on the memorial doesn't appear in full, but ends in "-let". No, it's not [[Gimlet]], the shape of the preceding partially-seen letter doesn't fit!

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoCEdZnyFk Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want]" by {{w|The Smiths}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjeCgsNrvCw Song for the Leftovers]" by {{w|A Camp}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Chromedome and Rewind stare up at an imposing monolith, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Megatron amid a field of gravestones, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron wails after Nautica steals his Rodimus action figure, while Swerve looks on; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August Transformers titles.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE44 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #45
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Transgressors|#44]]
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #9
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures''
*"You Must Shop at These Fine Stores!" - classic-style advert promoting multiple comic shops
*IDW ''Transformers'' comic app
*''Uncle Scrooge'' Vol. 1 TPB (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/25708-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-44.html Preview]

A Bridge Too Close, Part II

2015-08-08T03:09:10Z

Omgpuppies: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|ep=29
|ep2=26
|prev2=A Bridge Too Close, Part I
|next2=TransWarped
|image=TFA ABTC Megatron monologue.JPG
|caption=
|title="A Bridge Too Close, Part II"
|airdate=[[June 28]], 2008
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Irineo Maramba]] [[Christopher Berkeley]] [[Noboro Huruse]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''The fates of Cybertron and Earth lie in the balance as Optimus Prime and his Autobots battle Megatron and his Decepticons in a fight to the finish for the AllSpark.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:ABridgeTooCloseII-Mixmasteroilburst.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|left| "'Ey! I was drinkin' dat!"]]

[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and [[Starscream clone (Animated)|his clones]] swoop into the [[Decepticon]]s' mine headquarters and concentrate their fire on [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. Chaos erupts as the [[Autobot]]s free themselves and start tackling the clones, and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] attempt to deactivate the [[space bridge]]. Mixmaster is attacked by the [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Egomaniac Starscream]] and binds him in cement, while [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] [[stasis cuffs]] the [[Skywarp (Animated)|coward]]. As fast as he is, though, Blurr fails to get out of the way of Thundercracker, who crashes into both him and the Skywarp, getting them caught in his cement overcoat and sending them all tumbling into the space bridge. Bulkhead attempts to recall them, but explains that the targeting coordinates of the bridge were never set, meaning that they could have been sent anywhere in the galaxy. Before he can complete his task, he is attacked by the [[Slipstream (Animated)|female clone]], but she overpowers him and hits him with stasis cuffs. Simultaneously, Megatron and Starscream engage in a one-on-one duel, but the balance doesn't last long, as the female and [[Ramjet (Animated)|the Liar]] approach Megatron from behind. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], of all 'Bots, comes to Megatron's rescue, though the irony is not lost on the two combatants.

Meanwhile, on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]], [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] finishes loading the [[AllSpark]] fragments into Teletran-1's [[spark]] chamber. [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] uses the [[AllSpark Key]] to jump-start the craft, but still can't fathom why Ratchet is talking to the ship...until the ship talks back! Ratchet explains that the ship used to be a warrior who sacrificed his spark to win the Great War, and whose body has been in a state of modified stasis ever since.

[[File:TFA ABTC2 Head Starscream.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|right|Total ownage, n00b.]]

Back in the mine, Prime and Megatron continue battling the remaining Starscream clones, but Megatron is not above seizing Prime and using him as a shield. He calls for Mixmaster, currently battling [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]], to focus his efforts on the “head Starscream,” giving Professor Sumdac an idea. Just as the clones overpower Megatron and Starscream prepares to finish him, Sumdac clambers inside the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] unit and uses it to decapitate Starscream and take over his body. As Sumdac-Starscream lunges for Megatron, however, the Decepticon leader makes it clear that he is not impressed, and he blasts the Headmaster and Sumdac clean off Starscream's body. With Starscream now in two pieces and thoroughly defeated, the clones swear loyalty to Megatron.

Back on Dinobot Island, Ratchet and Sari put the AllSpark Key to work repairing the ship's memory core. The ship comments that it is unable to see, and Ratchet explains that's because it's buried in a cliff and that getting out is priority number one. With another Key boost to help, the ship fires up its engines and manages to tear itself free and take to the air once more.

In the mine, things are looking bad for the Autobots—they've all been stasis-cuffed, Professor Sumdac is a captive again, and Scrapper has found [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]. Prowl tries a mind-over-matter style of humming (which is annoying Bumblebee) to get rid of the Stasis Cuffs. Bulkhead was surprised he could do that. However, he said it was only in theory, as he never actually ''completed'' his Cyber-Ninja training. In true supervillain style, Megatron explains to the Autobots that he plans to use the space bridge to lead his Decepticons in an attack on the under-protected [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where they will take over the entire space bridge network and transport the entire Decepticon army to the planet. Bulkhead notes that the space bridge requires a receiving code to work, which would mean Megatron would have to have someone on Cybertron, but Bumblebee points out that there ''is'' someone: [[Wasp]], the spy he caught at [[Autoboot Camp|boot camp]]. Someone is eager to correct Bumblebee, however, as Megatron's true double agent, [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], appears on a monitor and reveals how he, as Longarm Prime, deceived Bumblebee so long ago. With the theatricalities and exposition complete, Megatron prepares to toss Optimus Prime through the space bridge as a test, when suddenly, the base is rocked by heavy fire from outside. Teletran-1 has arrived!

[[File:ABridgeTooCloseII-OmegaSupremeRobotMode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85| "Stock footage? Bite me."]]

The fight moves outside as the Starscream clones, Lugnut and Blitzwing all lay siege to the Autobot ship, which is quickly overpowered by the onslaught and begins to fall out of the sky. With another burst of AllSpark Key power to boost its systems, Ratchet has the ship activate its emergency defense system, codename: Omega. As the shocked Decepticons look on, the ship transforms into a colossal [[robot mode]]—the mountainous [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]!

[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] directs the Decepticons to fire on his legs to bring him down, and the move succeeds, but Ratchet links his own systems up to Omega to give him the strength he needs to rise back up and strike back. A hail of lasers and missiles is unleashed upon the villains as Omega strikes, kicks and headbutts them all across the battlefield.

[[File:TFA ABTC sacrifice.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.85|Omega Supreme, no! You're too cool to die so soon!]]
Down in the mine, as the Constructicons clear rubble away from the space bridge and Megatron prepares to continue his test, Prowl successfully employs a [[processor-over-matter]] focusing technique to escape his stasis cuffs. Just as Prime is about to disappear through the bridge, Prowl hurls a [[shuriken]] that breaks his leader's cuffs, enabling him to fire his grappling line and haul himself to safety. At this point, the space bridge shuts down, and Megatron quickly deduces that the AllSpark fragment powering it is not strong enough. Luckily for him, he has another one—and he promptly grabs Starscream's head and stuffs it in the power core, along with the fragment the head contains. This, however, causes the core to overload and the bridge to malfunction. As it begins to pull in all surrounding material, Shockwave reports that the destination code has been deleted and that the bridge could send them anywhere. Even in defeat, Megatron attempts to take Prime with him, but before he can fire the blast that will rid him of the Autobot leader, Prime manages to slap a pair of stasis cuffs on Megatron, immobilizing him and causing his body to be sucked into the space bridge. Prowl and Prime free Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Sumdac, but the bridge still threatens to consume the entire state until help comes from above in the form of Omega Supreme. Omega blocks the bridge with his massive body and absorbs its [[transwarp]] energies, willing to sacrifice himself once more to save the Autobots. After ejecting Sari and Ratchet from his body, Omega is sucked into the bridge, which collapses in upon itself and vanishes in a dramatic implosion. As Sari and her father are reunited at last, the mine begins to cave in, and the Autobots escape while the Constructicons are buried alive attempting to save their oil.

[[File:TFA ABTC Sari spoilers.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|...There's no way we can make a funny without being [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|jerk]]s.]]
Retreating to the edge of a nearby cliff that overlooks the destruction, the Autobots reflect on the fact that Omega is probably still out there, somewhere. As Sumdac expresses relief that the whole ordeal is over, Sari once again tells the Autobots that she knew her father could never have betrayed them to the Decepticons. However, even as she espouses her father's honesty, Sari looks down at a cut on her arm...and beneath her skin, she and all around her are shocked to see the sparking circuitry of robotics. Terrified and confused, Sari clutches her arm and takes a few steps away from her father, who explains that they...need to talk...

[[File:TFA ABTC2 Megatron Screamer End.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|right|Next, on ''Crossfire''...]]
Somewhere out in the endless void of space, Megatron and the decapitated Starscream float aimlessly in the cosmic night, with nothing to do but snark back and forth at each other.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (10)
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (16)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] (3)
*[[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] (4)
*[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] (5)
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] (6)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] (8)
*[[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] (9)
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] (14)
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime / Shockwave]] (21)

|c3=
*[[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (17)

|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Thundercracker, the Egomaniac Starscream''': Fool! A mere construction-bot is no match for ''my'' superior firepower. 
'''Mixmaster''': Oh, really. Well, you know where you can stick it? 
''(Traps the clone with a glob of adhesive goo)'' 
'''Thundercracker''': Impossible! You cannot defeat me! You are not worthy! You are inferior! And your joke stinks!
:—Arrogance claims yet another [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]].

'''Slipstream''': WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!! AIM FOR HIS SPARK CHAMBER! 
'''Starscream''': ''(Mocking her)'' 'Aim for his spark chamber!' Don't tell me how to slag Megatron! I was slagging Megatron when you were still a dream in my spark! 
'''Slipstream''': And look how well that turned out!
:—Ah! '''Screamer''' and '''Streamer'''! Don't they make a lovely couple?

"It's not like you to hide behind an Autobot." 
"But it's ''completely'' like you to hide behind an army of cheap [[knockoff]]s."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' always discuss each other's flaws—even in the midst of battle.

'''Starscream''': What are you waiting for? Destroy Megatron! Now! 
'''Slipstream''':...Any leader has to be an improvement over you! 
'''Sunstorm, the Sycophant Starscream''': Oh wise and great Megatron, you have truly proven your vast superiority! 
'''Ramjet, the Liar Starscream''': I will remain loyal to you forever! 
''[Kicks Starscream's body and walks over to Megatron]''
:—Starscream learns that his clones all share the worst aspect of his personality—his treachery.

'''Optimus''': I still don't see where all this "expertise" came from. 
'''Bulkhead''': I had a lot of time to study space bridge schematics back on the [[energon farm]]. I just had a knack for 'em, I guess. 
'''Bumblebee''': Oh, well, that's great. So the ''one thing'' you're good at is going to hand Cybertron over to the Decepticons.
:—Even after being declared a technical genius, Bulkhead still can't catch a break.

'''Megatron''': Decepticons! Prepare for our conquest of Cybertron! 
''[The Decepticons start cheering wildly.] 
'''Scrapper''': What's a Cybertron? 
'''Mixmaster''': I have no idea, he lost me at "Your fate is sealed now."
:—The Constructicons are in this for the oil, not the conquests.

'''Ratchet''': Careful not to fire on our friends! 
'''Sari Sumdac''': And try to get a visual of my dad! 
'''Omega Supreme''': Sure... what's a dad?
:—Omega Supreme is confused on the concept of organics and their paternal relationships. Bit like us really.

"Sari, we... need to talk."
:—'''Isaac Sumdac''''s entry in "The Understatement of the Year" competition.

'''Megatron:''' Stop ''staring'' at me. 
'''Starscream:''' No. ''You'' stop staring at ''me''! 
'''Megatron:''' Do you think I actually ''want'' to spend the rest of eternity gazing at your unsightly visage? 
'''Starscream:''' Trust me: your visage is no picnic either. And your face is ugly too! 
'''Megatron:''' Oh, someone just take me offline now... 
'''Starscream:''' What do you think I've been trying to ''do'' for the last four million stellar cycles?! AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It's funny, really, when you think about it. Tragic, but ''funny''! AHAHAHAHAHA! 
'''Megatron:''' Oh, shut up.
:—Stranded and helpless in space, Megatron and Starscream bicker to the end.

==Notes==
===Animation errors===
*When Skywarp is dodging Bumblebee's stinger blasts, his eyes shift to Autobot blue for a split-second.
*After Shockwave reveals to Bumblebee that he is Longarm Prime, the pan-across shot that follows shows Shockwave on the monitor. In the next close-up of the monitor, Longarm is shown transforming back into Shockwave.
*When Megatron closes in on Optimus to toss him into the space bridge, Sunstorm's face is dark grey instead of white.
*Just before Ratchet gives his "don't give up on me now" speech to Omega, there is a shot from the front showing Ratchet with Sari tucked into the mouth of his "backpack". In the next shot, it shows Ratchet from behind, with Sari ''on top of'' the backpack, and then switches back to the front view with Sari back in the gap.
*When Megatron is dragged into the Space Bridge, only one hand is cuffed. When we see him next, both of them are.
*When Ratchet was about to slam a button inside Omega Supreme, his hand was missing in one frame.
*When Starscream is holding Megatron's sword, the glow of his AllSpark Fragment isn't reflected but the rest of his face is.
*At many points in the episode, Slipstream is shown with the face (and [[chin]]) of her male counterparts.
*As Bulkhead says Bumblebee sent an innocent bot to the stockade, both Optimus and Prowl sit up despite being stasis-cuffed.

===Continuity errors===
*Several immobilised characters are shown in different positions to last episode:
**Lugnut and Blitzwing are shown lying face-down on the floor, when they were sitting back-to-back last episode.
**Bumblebee and Blurr apparently swapped positions in Scrapper's arms since last episode.
*Megatron orders Mixmaster to find Lugnut and Blitzwing and Scrapper to back him up. Mixmaster stays at the battle, while Scrapper disappears, presumably going to find the other 'cons. (Then again, it's only shortly after that order is given that Mixmaster is attacked, causing him to retaliate. Since Mixmaster was now fighting, it's possible Scrapper showed some rare initiative by filling the other role.)

===Transformers references===
*Omega Supreme refers to the energy given off by the space bridge as [[Transwarp|Transwarp energy]], similar to the transwarp drives used in the [[Beast Era]].
*[[Knockoff]]s? Oh my...
*Omega Supreme's quoted question about dads is similar to what Fixit asked in [[Pilot (Part 2)|part 2 of the pilot]].

===Real-world references===
*The restoration of Omega Supreme's memory is very similar to the scene in ''[[Wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' when Dave Bowman takes HAL-9000's higher functions offline (just in reverse).
*Prowl's humming forcing the stasis cuffs to open seems inspired by a similar sequence in British superspy spoof movie ''[[Wikipedia:Johnny English|Johnny English]]'', where the titular hero attempts to escape a prison cell by whistling at the door-lock in the hope that the right frequency will cause the tumblers to rotate. Unlike Johnny however, Prowl succeeded. He is ''that'' awesome.

===Trivia===
[[File:TFA Headmaster unit facial expression changed.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|right|GASP!!!]]
*The Headmaster unit even works on Decepticons, whose armor is much tougher than Bulkhead's. Where did [[Headmaster (Animated)|Masterson]] get that cutting beam?
*Speaking of the Headmaster unit, this is the first time its facial expression has changed.
*Mixmaster is ''veeery'' disobedient in this episode. Megatron orders him to find Lugnut and Blitzwing at the start of the battle, but Scrapper does it instead. Then, after he cements Bumblebee to the wall, Megatron orders Mixmaster to attack Starscream, instead he just disappears until after Omega Supreme gets free. And yet Megatron never punishes him.
*In the shots after Slipstream yells "Aim for the legs", Lugnut is shown firing his engine pods (which are his hands in [[robot mode]]) as missiles at Omega. Those probably weren't supposed to come off. However he's shown doing the same thing a minute later, and this time in robot mode, so it isn't a lone animation error. One has to wonder where he keeps all the spare hands. Certainly nothing up his sleeve...
*Fans had been theorizing that the Autobot ship was Omega Supreme since quite literally the first episode.
*Fans had ''also'' been theorizing that Sari had a li'l bit of robot in her since the first episode too! [[Bee in the City|How silly!]]
*Fans did ''not'' theorize that when this episode premiered on YTV ''AND'' on Cartoon Network, the announcers would happily yammer inanely over the closing credits sequence of Megatron and Starscream insulting each other in space. The Cartoon Network repeat the following day aired the credits without incident, thankfully.
*It was said at [[BotCon 2008]] that the entire closing credits sequence was improvised.
*When Omega Supreme transforms, he uses the same transformation sound [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] used in the battle of Mission City when he was attacking [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]].
*When Omega Supreme is trying to get out of the cliff, some music from [[Transform and Roll Out|the movie]] can be heard.
*In this episode, this is the first time that Shockwave speaks with his real accent while still in Autobot mode as Longarm, indicating that he has to mask his voice in that mode.
*Several times after Starscream's head is cut off, he is shown with pupils.
*This episode, along with part 1, was adapted in comic book format using screen captures as "[[Transformers Animated Volume 13]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le portail d'à côté 2/2'''" ("The Portal Next Door 2/2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Weltraumbrücke, Teil 2'''" ("The Spacebridge, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 31|31 July]] [[2008]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kyōdai naru Chikara'''" (強大なる力, "The Enormous Power")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 25|25 September]] [[2010]]
::* Ratchet's turn on a new transforming [[stock footage]], with Blitzwing and Lugnut doing the intro.

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Jeden Most Za Blisko, Część 2'''" ("A Bridge Too Close, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

==Home video releases==
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season Two ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Six: Black Friday (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Six: Black Friday (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Sechs: Schwarzer Freitag (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2011 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Vol. 7 (Paramount) — Japanese audio only.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridge Too Close, Part II}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]

A Bridge Too Close, Part II

2015-08-08T03:07:27Z

Omgpuppies: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|ep=29
|ep2=26
|prev2=A Bridge Too Close, Part I
|next2=TransWarped
|image=TFA ABTC Megatron monologue.JPG
|caption=
|title="A Bridge Too Close, Part II"
|airdate=[[June 28]], 2008
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Irineo Maramba]] [[Christopher Berkeley]] [[Noboro Huruse]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''The fates of Cybertron and Earth lie in the balance as Optimus Prime and his Autobots battle Megatron and his Decepticons in a fight to the finish for the AllSpark.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:ABridgeTooCloseII-Mixmasteroilburst.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|left| "'Ey! I was drinkin' dat!"]]

[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and [[Starscream clone (Animated)|his clones]] swoop into the [[Decepticon]]s' mine headquarters and concentrate their fire on [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. Chaos erupts as the [[Autobot]]s free themselves and start tackling the clones, and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] attempt to deactivate the [[space bridge]]. Mixmaster is attacked by the [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Egomaniac Starscream]] and binds him in cement, while [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] [[stasis cuffs]] the [[Skywarp (Animated)|coward]]. As fast as he is, though, Blurr fails to get out of the way of Thundercracker, who crashes into both him and the Skywarp, getting them caught in his cement overcoat and sending them all tumbling into the space bridge. Bulkhead attempts to recall them, but explains that the targeting coordinates of the bridge were never set, meaning that they could have been sent anywhere in the galaxy. Before he can complete his task, he is attacked by the [[Slipstream (Animated)|female clone]], but she overpowers him and hits him with stasis cuffs. Simultaneously, Megatron and Starscream engage in a one-on-one duel, but the balance doesn't last long, as the female and [[Ramjet (Animated)|the Liar]] approach Megatron from behind. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], of all 'Bots, comes to Megatron's rescue, though the irony is not lost on the two combatants.

Meanwhile, on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]], [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] finishes loading the [[AllSpark]] fragments into Teletran-1's [[spark]] chamber. [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] uses the [[AllSpark Key]] to jump-start the craft, but still can't fathom why Ratchet is talking to the ship...until the ship talks back! Ratchet explains that the ship used to be a warrior who sacrificed his spark to win the Great War, and whose body has been in a state of modified stasis ever since.

[[File:TFA ABTC2 Head Starscream.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|right|Total ownage, n00b.]]

Back in the mine, Prime and Megatron continue battling the remaining Starscream clones, but Megatron is not above seizing Prime and using him as a shield. He calls for Mixmaster, currently battling [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]], to focus his efforts on the “head Starscream,” giving Professor Sumdac an idea. Just as the clones overpower Megatron and Starscream prepares to finish him, Sumdac clambers inside the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] unit and uses it to decapitate Starscream and take over his body. As Sumdac-Starscream lunges for Megatron, however, the Decepticon leader makes it clear that he is not impressed, and he blasts the Headmaster and Sumdac clean off Starscream's body. With Starscream now in two pieces and thoroughly defeated, the clones swear loyalty to Megatron.

Back on Dinobot Island, Ratchet and Sari put the AllSpark Key to work repairing the ship's memory core. The ship comments that it is unable to see, and Ratchet explains that's because it's buried in a cliff and that getting out is priority number one. With another Key boost to help, the ship fires up its engines and manages to tear itself free and take to the air once more.

In the mine, things are looking bad for the Autobots—they've all been stasis-cuffed, Professor Sumdac is a captive again, and Scrapper has found [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]. Prowl tries a mind-over-matter style of humming (which is annoying Bumblebee) to get rid of the Stasis Cuffs. Bulkhead was surprised he could do that. However, he said it was only in theory, as he never actually ''completed'' his Cyber-Ninja training. In true supervillain style, Megatron explains to the Autobots that he plans to use the space bridge to lead his Decepticons in an attack on the under-protected [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], where they will take over the entire space bridge network and transport the entire Decepticon army to the planet. Bulkhead notes that the space bridge requires a receiving code to work, which would mean Megatron would have to have someone on Cybertron, but Bumblebee points out that there ''is'' someone: [[Wasp]], the spy he caught at [[Autoboot Camp|boot camp]]. Someone is eager to correct Bumblebee, however, as Megatron's true double agent, [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], appears on a monitor and reveals how he, as Longarm Prime, deceived Bumblebee so long ago. With the theatricalities and exposition complete, Megatron prepares to toss Optimus Prime through the space bridge as a test, when suddenly, the base is rocked by heavy fire from outside. Teletran-1 has arrived!

[[File:ABridgeTooCloseII-OmegaSupremeRobotMode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85| "Stock footage? Bite me."]]

The fight moves outside as the Starscream clones, Lugnut and Blitzwing all lay siege to the Autobot ship, which is quickly overpowered by the onslaught and begins to fall out of the sky. With another burst of AllSpark Key power to boost its systems, Ratchet has the ship activate its emergency defense system, codename: Omega. As the shocked Decepticons look on, the ship transforms into a colossal [[robot mode]]—the mountainous [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]!

[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] directs the Decepticons to fire on his legs to bring him down, and the move succeeds, but Ratchet links his own systems up to Omega to give him the strength he needs to rise back up and strike back. A hail of lasers and missiles is unleashed upon the villains as Omega strikes, kicks and headbutts them all across the battlefield.

[[File:TFA ABTC sacrifice.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.85|Omega Supreme, no! You're too cool to die so soon!]]
Down in the mine, as the Constructicons clear rubble away from the space bridge and Megatron prepares to continue his test, Prowl successfully employs a [[processor-over-matter]] focusing technique to escape his stasis cuffs. Just as Prime is about to disappear through the bridge, Prowl hurls a [[shuriken]] that breaks his leader's cuffs, enabling him to fire his grappling line and haul himself to safety. At this point, the space bridge shuts down, and Megatron quickly deduces that the AllSpark fragment powering it is not strong enough. Luckily for him, he has another one—and he promptly grabs Starscream's head and stuffs it in the power core, along with the fragment the head contains. This, however, causes the core to overload and the bridge to malfunction. As it begins to pull in all surrounding material, Shockwave reports that the destination code has been deleted and that the bridge could send them anywhere. Even in defeat, Megatron attempts to take Prime with him, but before he can fire the blast that will rid him of the Autobot leader, Prime manages to slap a pair of stasis cuffs on Megatron, immobilizing him and causing his body to be sucked into the space bridge. Prowl and Prime free Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Sumdac, but the bridge still threatens to consume the entire state until help comes from above in the form of Omega Supreme. Omega blocks the bridge with his massive body and absorbs its [[transwarp]] energies, willing to sacrifice himself once more to save the Autobots. After ejecting Sari and Ratchet from his body, Omega is sucked into the bridge, which collapses in upon itself and vanishes in a dramatic implosion. As Sari and her father are reunited at last, the mine begins to cave in, and the Autobots escape while the Constructicons are buried alive attempting to save their oil.

[[File:TFA ABTC Sari spoilers.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|...There's no way we can make a funny without being [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|jerk]]s.]]
Retreating to the edge of a nearby cliff that overlooks the destruction, the Autobots reflect on the fact that Omega is probably still out there, somewhere. As Sumdac expresses relief that the whole ordeal is over, Sari once again tells the Autobots that she knew her father could never have betrayed them to the Decepticons. However, even as she espouses her father's honesty, Sari looks down at a cut on her arm...and beneath her skin, she and all around her are shocked to see the sparking circuitry of robotics. Terrified and confused, Sari clutches her arm and takes a few steps away from her father, who explains that they...need to talk...

[[File:TFA ABTC2 Megatron Screamer End.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|right|Next, on ''Crossfire''...]]
Somewhere out in the endless void of space, Megatron and the decapitated Starscream float aimlessly in the cosmic night, with nothing to do but snark back and forth at each other.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (10)
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (16)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] (2)
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] (3)
*[[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] (4)
*[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] (5)
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] (6)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] (8)
*[[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] (9)
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] (14)
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime / Shockwave]] (21)

|c3=
*[[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (17)

|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Thundercracker, the Egomaniac Starscream''': Fool! A mere construction-bot is no match for ''my'' superior firepower. 
'''Mixmaster''': Oh, really. Well, you know where you can stick it? 
''(Traps the clone with a glob of adhesive goo)'' 
'''Thundercracker''': Impossible! You cannot defeat me! You are not worthy! You are inferior! And your joke stinks!
:—Arrogance claims yet another [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]].

'''Slipstream''': WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!! AIM FOR HIS SPARK CHAMBER! 
'''Starscream''': ''(Mocking her)'' 'Aim for his spark chamber!' Don't tell me how to slag Megatron! I was slagging Megatron when you were still a dream in my spark! 
'''Slipstream''': And look how well that turned out!
:—Ah! '''Screamer''' and '''Streamer'''! Don't they make a lovely couple?

"It's not like you to hide behind an Autobot." 
"But it's ''completely'' like you to hide behind an army of cheap [[knockoff]]s."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron''' always discuss each other's flaws—even in the midst of battle.

'''Starscream''': What are you waiting for? Destroy Megatron! Now! 
'''Slipstream''':...Any leader has to be an improvement over you! 
'''Sunstorm, the Sycophant Starscream''': Oh wise and great Megatron, you have truly proven your vast superiority! 
'''Ramjet, the Liar Starscream''': I will remain loyal to you forever! 
''[Kicks Starscream's body and walks over to Megatron]''
:—Starscream learns that his clones all share the worst aspect of his personality—his treachery.

'''Optimus''': I still don't see where all this "expertise" came from. 
'''Bulkhead''': I had a lot of time to study space bridge schematics back on the [[energon farm]]. I just had a knack for 'em, I guess. 
'''Bumblebee''': Oh, well, that's great. So the ''one thing'' you're good at is going to hand Cybertron over to the Decepticons.
:—Even after being declared a technical genius, Bulkhead still can't catch a break.

'''Megatron''': Decepticons! Prepare for our conquest of Cybertron! 
''[The Decepticons start cheering wildly.] 
'''Scrapper''': What's a Cybertron? 
'''Mixmaster''': I have no idea, he lost me at "Your fate is sealed now."
:—The Constructicons are in this for the oil, not the conquests.

'''Ratchet''': Careful not to fire on our friends! 
'''Sari Sumdac''': And try to get a visual of my dad! 
'''Omega Supreme''': Sure... what's a dad?
:—Omega Supreme is confused on the concept of organics and their paternal relationships. Bit like us really.

"Sari, we... need to talk."
:—'''Isaac Sumdac''''s entry in "The Understatement of the Year" competition.

'''Megatron:''' Stop ''staring'' at me. 
'''Starscream:''' No. ''You'' stop staring at ''me''! 
'''Megatron:''' Do you think I actually ''want'' to spend the rest of eternity gazing at your unsightly visage? 
'''Starscream:''' Trust me: your visage is no picnic either. And your face is ugly too! 
'''Megatron:''' Oh, someone just take me offline now... 
'''Starscream:''' What do you think I've been trying to ''do'' for the last four million stellar cycles?! AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It's funny, really, when you think about it. Tragic, but ''funny''! AHAHAHAHAHA! 
'''Megatron:''' Oh, shut up.
:—Stranded and helpless in space, Megatron and Starscream bicker to the end.

==Notes==
===Animation errors===
*When Skywarp is dodging Bumblebee's stinger blasts, his eyes shift to Autobot blue for a split-second.
*After Shockwave reveals to Bumblebee that he is Longarm Prime, the pan-across shot that follows shows Shockwave on the monitor. In the next close-up of the monitor, Longarm is shown transforming back into Shockwave.
*When Megatron closes in on Optimus to toss him into the space bridge, Sunstorm's face is dark grey instead of white.
*Just before Ratchet gives his "don't give up on me now" speech to Omega, there is a shot from the front showing Ratchet with Sari tucked into the mouth of his "backpack". In the next shot, it shows Ratchet from behind, with Sari ''on top of'' the backpack, and then switches back to the front view with Sari back in the gap.
*When Megatron is dragged into the Space Bridge, only one hand is cuffed. When we see him next, both of them are.
*When Ratchet was about to slam a button inside Omega Supreme, his hand was missing in one frame.
*When Starscream is holding Megatron's sword, the glow of his AllSpark Fragment isn't reflected but the rest of his face is.
*At many points in the episode, Slipstream is shown with the face (and [[chin]]) of her male counterparts.
*As Bulkhead says Bumblebee sent an innocent bot to the stockade, both Optimus and Prowl sit up despite being stasis-cuffed.

===Continuity errors===
*Several immobilised characters are shown in different positions to last episode:
**Lugnut and Blitzwing are shown lying face-down on the floor, when they were sitting back-to-back last episode.
**Bumblebee and Blurr apparently swapped positions in Scrapper's arms since last episode.
*Megatron orders Mixmaster to find Lugnut and Blitzwing and Scrapper to back him up. Mixmaster stays at the battle, while Scrapper disappears, presumably going to find the other 'cons. (Then again, it's only shortly after that order is given that Mixmaster is attacked, causing him to retaliate. Since Mixmaster was now fighting, it's possible Scrapper showed some rare initiative by filling the other role.)

===Transformers references===
*Omega Supreme refers to the energy given off by the space bridge as [[Transwarp|Transwarp energy]], similar to the transwarp drives used in the [[Beast Era]].
*[[Knockoff]]s? Oh my...
*Omega Supreme's quoted question about dads is similar to what Fixit asked in [[Pilot (Part 2)|Rid Pilot Part 2]].

===Real-world references===
*The restoration of Omega Supreme's memory is very similar to the scene in ''[[Wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' when Dave Bowman takes HAL-9000's higher functions offline (just in reverse).
*Prowl's humming forcing the stasis cuffs to open seems inspired by a similar sequence in British superspy spoof movie ''[[Wikipedia:Johnny English|Johnny English]]'', where the titular hero attempts to escape a prison cell by whistling at the door-lock in the hope that the right frequency will cause the tumblers to rotate. Unlike Johnny however, Prowl succeeded. He is ''that'' awesome.

===Trivia===
[[File:TFA Headmaster unit facial expression changed.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|right|GASP!!!]]
*The Headmaster unit even works on Decepticons, whose armor is much tougher than Bulkhead's. Where did [[Headmaster (Animated)|Masterson]] get that cutting beam?
*Speaking of the Headmaster unit, this is the first time its facial expression has changed.
*Mixmaster is ''veeery'' disobedient in this episode. Megatron orders him to find Lugnut and Blitzwing at the start of the battle, but Scrapper does it instead. Then, after he cements Bumblebee to the wall, Megatron orders Mixmaster to attack Starscream, instead he just disappears until after Omega Supreme gets free. And yet Megatron never punishes him.
*In the shots after Slipstream yells "Aim for the legs", Lugnut is shown firing his engine pods (which are his hands in [[robot mode]]) as missiles at Omega. Those probably weren't supposed to come off. However he's shown doing the same thing a minute later, and this time in robot mode, so it isn't a lone animation error. One has to wonder where he keeps all the spare hands. Certainly nothing up his sleeve...
*Fans had been theorizing that the Autobot ship was Omega Supreme since quite literally the first episode.
*Fans had ''also'' been theorizing that Sari had a li'l bit of robot in her since the first episode too! [[Bee in the City|How silly!]]
*Fans did ''not'' theorize that when this episode premiered on YTV ''AND'' on Cartoon Network, the announcers would happily yammer inanely over the closing credits sequence of Megatron and Starscream insulting each other in space. The Cartoon Network repeat the following day aired the credits without incident, thankfully.
*It was said at [[BotCon 2008]] that the entire closing credits sequence was improvised.
*When Omega Supreme transforms, he uses the same transformation sound [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] used in the battle of Mission City when he was attacking [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]].
*When Omega Supreme is trying to get out of the cliff, some music from [[Transform and Roll Out|the movie]] can be heard.
*In this episode, this is the first time that Shockwave speaks with his real accent while still in Autobot mode as Longarm, indicating that he has to mask his voice in that mode.
*Several times after Starscream's head is cut off, he is shown with pupils.
*This episode, along with part 1, was adapted in comic book format using screen captures as "[[Transformers Animated Volume 13]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le portail d'à côté 2/2'''" ("The Portal Next Door 2/2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Weltraumbrücke, Teil 2'''" ("The Spacebridge, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 31|31 July]] [[2008]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kyōdai naru Chikara'''" (強大なる力, "The Enormous Power")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 25|25 September]] [[2010]]
::* Ratchet's turn on a new transforming [[stock footage]], with Blitzwing and Lugnut doing the intro.

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Jeden Most Za Blisko, Część 2'''" ("A Bridge Too Close, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

==Home video releases==
;DVD
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season Two ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Six: Black Friday (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Six: Black Friday (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Sechs: Schwarzer Freitag (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2011 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Vol. 7 (Paramount) — Japanese audio only.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridge Too Close, Part II}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Kiss Players issue 2

2015-08-07T16:14:54Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|Transformers: Kiss Players]]'' #2
|prev=Kiss Players issue 1
|next=Kiss Players issue 3
|title=
|image=Kissplayers2_prime_marissa.jpg
|caption=Yes, Marissa is naked. But so is Optimus. Bet you didn't think of that, hmm?
|published in=''[[Dengeki Daioh]]''
|date=[[September 21]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=October 2006
|story=[[Yuki Ohshima]]
|art=[[Yuki Ohshima]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Shaoshao's life looks like it might be at an end, just as Marissa Faireborn gives Optimus Prime a new lease on his!'''
{{TOC}}
==Synopsis==
[[Image:LiShaoShao2.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yes, it's rather creepy. And that severed head floating up there's pretty horrifying, too.]]
On a beach, [[Marissa Faireborn]] and [[Shaoshao Li (KP)|Shaoshao Li]] are leaning in towards one another, apparently about to kiss... when suddenly, Marissa is retreating into the distance, on [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s shoulder, waving goodbye to Shaoshao as the other girl calls after her in despair...

Shaoshao suddenly jolts awake, coming out of her nightmare, only to find herself in a much worse situation. Naked and bound, Shaoshao is trapped in a transparent tube, with the decapitated head of a [[Legion (KP)|Legion]] looming above her. And she is not the only one: other tubes line the walls of the darkened room she finds herself in, containing the gory remains of other [[Earth Defense Command|E.D.C.]] [[Kiss Player]]s who have met the same fate that now awaits her: consumption by the Legion.

[[Image:Ringo2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ringo is pretty much the Jokey Smurf of the E.D.C.]]
Meanwhile, at Narita International Airport, the forces of the E.D.C. gather around the corpse of Optimus Prime, which is to be brought to their headquarters. Prime, however, has become something of a rallying point for anti-governmental activists, and so the E.D.C. are required to protect his body from any attempts at stealing it while it is in transit. And they are quite right to be concerned: From a distance, a cat-suited Marissa Faireborn and her all-female resistance group watch as the convoy carrying Prime's body gets underway. Acting quickly and without mercy, Marissa's team detonates a bomb on the bridge that the convoy is currently crossing, bringing the vehicles to a screeching halt, and then swarms the stopped vehicles, gunning down any E.D.C. officers who stand in their way. Unfortunately, they have walking straight into the E.D.C.'s trap: "Optimus Prime"'s chest suddenly bursts open, and [[Ringo Chikuma (KP)|Ringo]] and her [[Autorooper]] emerge from within, killing all the commandos with gleeful abandon. The horrified Marissa realizes that the Optimus Prime they targeted was a decoy, but then spots a [[Combat Deck (G1)|familiar trailer]] in the convoy that she suspects may be her true target. Immobilizing the E.D.C. troops that try to stop her by slashing their clothes off, Marissa has almost reached the trailer when [[Kayu Michikusa (KP)|Kayu]] and her Autorooper immobilize her with a [[Kremzeek]] bullet. Struggling against the paralytic effect, Marissa unsheathes her largest knife and hurls it at the trailer, slicing it open and revealing the ''true'' body of Optimus Prime within!

[[Image:Kissplay2_giger_hardly_knew_her.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is the moment I nonsensically but comically ask you if you got a new haircut, right?]]
At the sight of the real Optimus Prime, Kayu's Autorooper suddenly goes berserk, violently ejecting Kayu and lunging onto Prime's prone form. In a hideous mass of tentacles and biomechanics, the Autorooper begins to [[ParasiTech|fuse]] with Prime, but despite this monstrous sight, Marissa tearfully announces that she refuses to give up on the being she used to think of a father-figure and a little bit else. Marissa kisses the fused Prime-Legion creature... and in one mighty burst of light, discovers that she is a Kiss Player too! Through the power of Marissa's kiss and the cells of the Legion, Prime is restored to life, reborn in a new body and fused with Marissa!

Elsewhere, back with Shaoshao, the Legion head above her vomits tentacles from its mouth, intending to drag her in. Shaoshao does not intend to go without a fight, struggling and biting the tentacles, but several of them wad themselves together and strike her in the abdomen, knocking the fight out of her. Left able only to scream, Shaoshao does so, at which point a streaking ball of fire comes crashing through the ceiling of her prison. As the dust from its impact clears, Shaoshao peers out of her tube to see that [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] has arrived!

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] (6)
|c3=
*[[Shaoshao Li (KP)|Shaoshao Li]] (1)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (2)
*[[Atari Hitotonari (KP)|Atari Hitotonari]] (5)
*[[Hitoshizuku Amaō]] (6)
*[[Ringo Chikuma (KP)|Ringo Chikuma]] (7)
*[[Kayu Michikusa (KP)|Kayu Michikusa]] (8)
|c4=
*[[Legion (KP)|Legion]] (4)
*[[Autorooper]] (5)
}}

==Notes==
*This issue of the ''Kiss Players'' manga take place after the events of the twenty-seventh [[Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|radio drama]] episode. Because the chronological story order of the dramas does is not the same as their broadcast order, though, it ''also'' comes ''before'' the ''first'' drama!
*While the decoy Optimus Prime body is represented by his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary|20th Anniversary toy]], the real McCoy is represented by a toy-accurate rendering of his original [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Generation 1 form]]. Hot Rod is likewise drawn to the specifications of his [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Generation 1 figure]].

[[Category:Kiss Players issues]]

The Transgressors

2015-08-06T03:58:30Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=44
|prev=South of Heaven
|next=
|caption=
|image=TF44 regcvr.jpg
|title="The Transgressors"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 5]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''As Arcee visits Cybertron, bad blood between Tracks and Needlenose boils over.'''

==Synopsis==

''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, brothers [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] are in business together, selling Needlenose's "[[Chic Chips]]". Needlenose dislikes the fact that the chips he designed for everyone are being marketed and priced by Tracks for only the higher classes, and so finds himself intrigued by the anti-class [[Decepticon]] rhetoric that his new friend [[Horri-Bull (G1)|Horri-Bull]] espouses. When Tracks makes fun of him for it, a furious Needlenose dissolves their partnership and leaves to join the Decepticons...''

In the present day, a small group of new [[Caminus|Camien]] immigrants to Cybertron are handing out religious pamphlets about [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] in the Decepticon ghetto, which causes ructions among the inhabitants. Some are willing to let them be, but others are not happy to see the 'bot who led the opposite side for millions of years' worth of war being deified. Needlenose, having just returned to the planet from [[Earth]] with [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and joined by [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], steps into the middle of the argument, disgusted to see how the Decepticons remain second-class citizens despite the end of the war. Snatching a pamphlet, Needlenose tells the Camiens that the Decepticons genuinely desire equality and welcome any newcomers... except, he adds menacingly as he rips the pamphlet up, followers of a Prime.

The Decepticons are not the only returnees to Cybertron; [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] has used the [[space bridge]] to drop in for a visit. After secretly checking up on [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]—whom she finds holding a heated conversation with ''himself''—she heads for the spaceport, where Optimus Prime and Tracks have just seen [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] off on their way back to the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Arcee chastizes Prime for not keeping her up-to-date on current events, but warns him all the same that Needlenose and Brawl are rabble-rousing; while Prime promises to take the information to Starscream, Tracks is angry to hear what his little brother is up to. When Arcee questions how he can still be so mad about something that happened millions of years ago, Tracks's curt response that ''she'' doesn't know what it's like to lose anyone prompts her to head outside the city to her old contemplation spot to reflect.

Needlenose, Brawl, and Dreadwing relax in a bar and discuss [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s plans on Earth, which ends with Brawl flipping the table in a rage at the idea the Decepticons have to be "allowed" to do anything by anybody. Tracks enters the bar and approaches Needlenose, accusing him and the Decepticons of insurgency, but Needlenose refutes the idea, blaming Tracks and the Autobots for allying with other worlds that worship Primes, keeping the Decepticons down, just like the lower classes they grew out of eons beforehand. Alas, the embittered brothers' terse discussion soon escalates into violence, when Tracks balls his fist and decks Needlenose. A bar's worth of patrons unholster their weapons and aim them at Tracks, but just then, one of Starscream's [[Badgeless]] officers bursts in to arrest them all unless they hand over Needlenose, Brawl, and Dreadwing. Fortunately, before anyone has to actually make the fateful decision, Arcee strikes, slashing off the officer's arms. Telling the Decepticons to inform Galvatron that he owes her, she orders Tracks to leave with her.

In Starscream's throne room, the other party in the conversation he is carrying on is revealed: the imaginary figure of [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], all in Starscream's head, who constantly questions the stability of the former Decepticon's power, and by his very existence, the ''in''stability of his mind. Arcee arrives with the Badgeless, whom she then kills in front of Starscream; she does not like "secret police", she warns, and that if Starscream persists with such duplicitous activities, keeping his people ''policed'' rather than ''happy'', his empire will crumble around him. Arcee leaves, still thinking about Tracks's words from earlier, and how she ''did'' lose someone: [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]. But in her jumbled mind, Arcee still struggles to make emotional connections to others, and can't really equate the experience to Tracks and Needlenose... but when she looks on the fresh, new, hopeful faces that populate Cybertron today, even if she cannot be sure she or Hardhead were ever that happy and optimistic, she is dedicated to making sure these newcomers will never become like her.

And elsewhere, Needlenose looks wistfully at a chest full of Chic Chips, which he has kept all this time... before crushing a handful, and stepping out on stage to address a throng of Decepticons assembled before him.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=

*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (1)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (5)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (wanted poster, 15)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (23)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (24)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (26)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (27)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (hallucination, 30)

|c2=
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (2)
*''[[Horri-Bull (G1)|Horri-Bull]]'' (3)
*[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]] (6)
*[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] (7)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (8)
*[[Acid Storm]] (9)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (10)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (11)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (12)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (17)
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (18)
*[[Dauros]] (28)

|c4=
*''[[Quark]]'' (4)
*Unnamed Camien religious promoters (13, 16)
*[[Aileron]] (14)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (20)
*[[Badgeless]] officer (29)

}}

==Quotes==

"I '''vouch''' for these Camiens. They gave us a '''fair shake''' back on their plant. Didn't care '''what''' symbol we wore, just cared who we '''are'''. I say let 'em be." 
"I'm very disappointed in you, '''Sparkstalker'''... if treating us like '''people''' is all it takes to win your loyalty—raise your '''standards'''."
:—'''Sparkstalker''' and '''Needlenose'''

"You didn't tell me you'd been elected '''space messiah.'''"
:—'''Arcee''', on Optimus

'''Brawl:''' "[Galvatron]'s the leader we shoulda '''always''' had." 
'''Dreadwing:''' "The kind that leaves a fella in the middle of Ex-ticons." 
'''Needlenose:''' "Middle of '''what'''?" 
'''Dreadwing:''' "Ex-Decepticons." 
'''Needlenose:''' "You trying to make that a '''thing'''?"

"Well, you did it. You found a '''worse''' crowd."
:—'''Tracks''' voices his opinion on Needlenose's current friends

"Don't '''patronize''' me. The people are '''disenfranchised'''. Again! And you're out making '''truces''' with far-away lands that just '''happen''' to serve the Primes. Four million years, and we're back where we '''started'''. All I've ever wanted is for things to '''change'''." 
"You '''had''' your chance. When '''Bumblebee''' was in charge, he tried to get everybody together—he did his '''best'''." 
"Bumblebee executed '''Horri-Bull''' in front of me! You think I'd stand with an '''Autobot''' who '''killed''' the one 'bot I've ever loved?" 
"'''FAMILY COMES FIRST!'''" 
"Only family you cared about was the one in the '''mirror'''. You '''never''' asked what I thought. Just squeezed until you got what '''you''' wanted."
:—'''Needlenose''' and '''Tracks'''

"'''Tracks'''—give your Prime a message. We don't want to '''fight''' you... but we won't let you '''rule''' us."
:—'''Needlenose'''

"'''Arcee?!''' Don't Ratbat me!"
:—'''Starscream'''

"You have something to '''lose''', now. Work to keep it."
:—'''Arcee''', to Starscream

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Needlenose and Horri-Bull were a double-act all the way back in [[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|issue #1]], in which Bumblebee killed Horri-Bull with his [[inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chip]]. Though Needlenose denies that Horri-Bull is his [[Conjunx Endura]] when Tracks jokingly uses the term in the flashback that opens the issue, Needlenose later calls him "the only 'bot he ever loved."
*Chic Chips were part of Needlenose's backstory as provided in his original [[The Transformers Universe|''Transformers Universe'' profile]]. He previously mentioned them in IDW in [[Shockpoint|issue #21]].
*Sparkstalker is happy to let the Camiens be; he'd be a bit hypocritical if he didn't, since he's currently dating one—[[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]]—as seen over in [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|''Windblade'' #4]].
*Starscream was previously seen ranting to himself in [[The World of Tomorrow|issue #33]]. A later scene in the issue made it seem that he had simply been speaking through a communicator to the off-panel [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], but here we see that, no, all is not well within Starscream's head.
*Arcee spends the whole issue in her "stealth" colors (based on her "Combiner Hunters" toy), introduced in [[Now and On Earth|issue #42]].
*Tracks has taken over the running of the spaceport from [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], who had the job in the pre-[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] era. He's off on the ''Lost Light'' these days.
*We saw Arcee at her "private spot"—a sharp peak out in the wilderness overlooking the city—back in [[Stick Together|issue #3]].
*Dreadwing is a bit miffed that he got left on Cybertron when the other Decepticons went to Earth; he was shown escaping the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'s lab alongside Galvatron back in [[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|the final chapter of Dark Cybertron]], but hasn't reappeared until now.
*Starscream begs Arcee "Don't Ratbat me!", referring to her assassination of the Decepticons' then-leader back in [[The World & Everything in It|issue #2]].
*Arcee refers to her time spent with Hardhead on [[Gorlam Prime]], between ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]''. Hardhead died in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''More than Meets the Eye'' #25]], and Arcee lampshades the unfortunately dismissive nature with which the story handled his death by remarking that "everyone just kept on going".

===Transformers references===
*The idea to make Tracks and Needlenose brothers probably stems from that slitted "knight's visor" detail-thing they both have on their foreheads/helmets, a sort of "familial insignia" not unlike moustaches and the House of Ambus. In-fiction, that detail has never been very pronounced on Tracks; it was part of his original Generation 1 toy, but it didn't get translated to his original [[character model]] back in the 80s, and that has fed into it being downplayed in modern Tracks designs. Even in this issue, he looks more like he's got a bunch of slots cut in a forehead-crest, rather than a visor.
*Several generic Decepticons populate the crowd scenes this issue, including ones colored like [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#ActionMaster|Action Master Thundercracker]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Generation 2|''Generation 2'' Ramjet]] on page 12. On page 10, there's also one colored like [[:File:G2UKWarWithoutEndJetGuy.jpg|this guy]]! The one-eyed 'con and the bartender, both also on this page, are colored with the inverted palettes of [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], respectively.
*There's a 'bot who looks like [[Skullgrin]] sitting at the bar, who tells Needlenose to "handle it". Since Skullgrin got blown up way back in [[The Transformers: Stormbringer|''Stormbringer'']] and hasn't been seen since, we'll follow the precedent established by ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' and assume this is his [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|''Masterforce'']] counterpart, [[Dauros]].
*The final page of this issue, as Needlenose addresses a crowd of Decepticons, is a recreation of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]'s speech from the first panel of [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|''More than Meets the Eye'' #1]], with Brawl and Dreadwing taking up the positions and poses of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]].

===Real-world references===
*As with the previous two issues, this story is named after a {{w|Jim Thompson (writer)|Jim Thompson}} novel.
*Camien flier-hander-outer Aileron is colored to resemble [[:File:GoBotsCrasher.jpg|Crasher]] of ''[[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]]'' fame. Her unnamed companions, a green helicopter and a red-and-blue 'bot, have their color schemes based on the [http://exo-squad.wikia.com/wiki/Marsala_with_Rapid_Assault_Light_Attack_E-frame Rapid Assault Light Attack E-Frame] from ''{{w|Exosquad}}'' and Solardyn of the ''[[Commandron]]s'', respectively.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Tracks takes a selfie with Needlenose, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Arcee in her Combiner Hunters colors, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]; Arcee is drawn with the design of her ''Generations''/Combiner Hunters toy, rather than the body-design she has in-story
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Arcee separates an arguing Optimus Prime and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August Transformers titles.
<gallery>
File:TF44 regcvr.jpg|
File:TF44 subcvr.jpg|
File:TF44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''The Transformers'' #45
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #44
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
*''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Robots in Disguise issue 2|#2]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Pax Megatronus|#8]]

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/25402-needlenose-sows-dissent-in-this-transformers-robots-in-disguise-44-preview.html Preview]

The Transgressors

2015-08-05T17:15:02Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=44
|prev=South of Heaven
|next=
|caption=
|image=TF44 regcvr.jpg
|title="The Transgressors"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 5]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''As Arcee visits Cybertron, bad blood between Tracks and Needlenose boils over.'''

==Synopsis==

''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, brothers [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] are in business together, selling Needlenose's "[[Chic Chips]]". Needlenose dislikes the fact that the chips he designed for everyone are being marketed and priced by Tracks for only the higher classes, and so finds himself intrigued by the anti-class [[Decepticon]] rhetoric that his new friend [[Horri-Bull (G1)|Horri-Bull]] espouses. When Tracks makes fun of him for it, a furious Needlenose dissolves their partnership and leaves to join the Decepticons...''

In the present day, a small group of new [[Caminus|Camien]] immigrants to Cybertron are handing out religious pamphlets about [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] in the Decepticon ghetto, which causes ructions among the inhabitants. Some are willing to let them be, but others are not happy to see the 'bot who led the opposite side for millions of years' worth of war being deified. Needlenose, having just returned to the planet from [[Earth]] with [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and joined by [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], steps into the middle of the argument, disgusted to see how the Decepticons remain second-class citizens despite the end of the war. Snatching a pamphlet, Needlenose tells the Camiens that the Decepticons genuinely desire equality and welcome any newcomers... except, he adds menacingly as he rips the pamphlet up, followers of a Prime.

The Decepticons are not the only returnees to Cybertron; [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] has used the [[space bridge]] to drop in for a visit. After secretly checking up on [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]—who she finds holding a heated conversation with ''himself''—she heads for the spaceport, where Optimus Prime and Tracks have just seen [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] off on their way back to the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Arcee chastizes Prime for not keeping her up-to-date on current events, but warns him all the same that Needlenose and Brawl are rabble-rousing; while Prime promises to take the information to Starscream, Tracks is angry to hear what his little brother is up to. When Arcee questions how he can still be so mad about something that happened millions of years ago, Tracks's curt response that ''she'' doesn't know what it's like to lose anyone prompts her to head outside the city to her old contemplation spot to reflect.

Needlenose, Brawl, and Dreadwing relax in a bar and discuss [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s plans on Earth, which ends with Brawl flipping the table in a rage at the idea the Decepticons have to be "allowed" to do anything by anybody. Tracks enters the bar and approaches Needlenose, accusing him and the Decepticons of insurgency, but Needlenose refutes the idea, blaming Tracks and the Autobots for allying with other worlds that worship Primes, keeping the Decepticons down, just like the lower classes they grew out of eons beforehand. Alas, the embittered brothers' terse discussion soon escalates into violence, when Tracks balls his fist and decks Needlenose. A bar's worth of patrons unholster their weapons and aim them at Tracks, but just then, one of Starscream's [[Badgeless]] officers bursts in to arrest them all unless they hand over Needlenose, Brawl, and Dreadwing. Fortunately, before anyone has to actually make the fateful decision, Arcee strikes, slashing off the officer's arms. Telling the Decepticons to inform Galvatron that he owes her, she orders Tracks to leave with her.

In Starscream's throne room, the other party in the conversation he is carrying on is revealed: the imaginary figure of [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], all in Starscream's head, who constantly questions the stability of the former Decepticon's power, and by his very existence, the ''in''stability of his mind. Arcee arrives with the Badgeless, whom she then kills in front of Starscream; she does not like "secret police", she warns, and that if Starscream persists with such duplicitous activities, keeping his people ''policed'' rather than ''happy'', his empire will crumble around him. Arcee leaves, still thinking about Tracks's words from earlier, and how she ''did'' lose someone: [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]. But in her jumbled mind, Arcee still struggles to make emotional connections to others, and can't really equate the experience to Tracks and Needlenose... but when she looks on the fresh, new, hopeful faces that populate Cybertron today, even if she cannot be sure she or Hardhead were ever that happy and optimistic, she is dedicated to making sure these newcomers will never become like her.

And elsewhere, Needlenose looks wistfully at a chest full of Chic Chips, which he has kept all this time... before crushing a handful, and stepping out on stage to address a throng of Decepticons assembled before him.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=

*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (1)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (5)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (wanted poster, 15)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (23)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (24)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (26)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (27)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (hallucination, 30)

|c2=
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (2)
*''[[Horri-Bull (G1)|Horri-Bull]]'' (3)
*[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]] (6)
*[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] (7)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (8)
*[[Acid Storm]] (9)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (10)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (11)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (12)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (17)
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (18)
*[[Dauros]] (28)

|c4=
*''[[Quark]]'' (4)
*Unnamed Camien religious promoters (13, 16)
*[[Aileron]] (14)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (20)
*[[Badgeless]] officer (29)

}}

==Quotes==

"I '''vouch''' for these Camiens. They gave us a '''fair shake''' back on their plant. Didn't care '''what''' symbol we wore, just cared who we '''are'''. I say let 'em be." 
"I'm very disappointed in you, '''Sparkstalker'''... if treating us like '''people''' is all it takes to win your loyalty—raise your '''standards'''."
:—'''Sparkstalker''' and '''Needlenose'''

"You didn't tell me you'd been elected '''space messiah.'''"
:—'''Arcee''', on Optimus

'''Brawl:''' "[Galvatron]'s the leader we shoulda '''always''' had." 
'''Dreadwing:''' "The kind that leaves a fella in the middle of Ex-ticons." 
'''Needlenose:''' "Middle of '''what'''?" 
'''Dreadwing:''' "Ex-Decepticons." 
'''Needlenose:''' "You trying to make that a '''thing'''?"

"Well, you did it. You found a '''worse''' crowd."
:—'''Tracks''' voices his opinion on Needlenose's current friends

"Don't '''patronize''' me. The people are '''disenfranchised'''. Again! And you're out making '''truces''' with far-away lands that just '''happen''' to serve the Primes. Four million years, and we're back where we '''started'''. All I've ever wanted is for things to '''change'''." 
"You '''had''' your chance. When '''Bumblebee''' was in charge, he tried to get everybody together—he did his '''best'''." 
"Bumblebee executed '''Horri-Bull''' in front of me! You think I'd stand with an '''Autobot''' who '''killed''' the one 'bot I've ever loved?" 
"'''FAMILY COMES FIRST!'''" 
"Only family you cared about was the one in the '''mirror'''. You '''never''' asked what I thought. Just squeezed until you got what '''you''' wanted."
:—'''Needlenose''' and '''Tracks'''

"'''Tracks'''—give your Prime a message. We don't want to '''fight''' you... but we won't let you '''rule''' us."
:—'''Needlenose'''

"'''Arcee?!''' Don't Ratbat me!"
:—'''Starscream'''

"You have something to '''lose''', now. Work to keep it."
:—'''Arcee''', to Starscream

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Needlenose and Horri-Bull were a double-act all the way back in [[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|issue #1]], in which Bumblebee killed Horri-Bull with his [[inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chip]]. Though Needlenose denies that Horri-Bull is his [[Conjunx Endura]] when Tracks jokingly uses the term in the flashback that opens the issue, Needlenose later calls him "the only 'bot he ever loved."
*Chic Chips were part of Needlenose's backstory as provided in his original [[The Transformers Universe|''Transformers Universe'' profile]]. He previously mentioned them in IDW in [[Shockpoint|issue #21]].
*Sparkstalker is happy to let the Camiens be; he'd be a bit hypocritical if he didn't, since he's currently dating one—[[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]]—as seen over in [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|''Windblade'' #4]].
*Starscream was previously seen ranting to himself in [[The World of Tomorrow|issue #33]]. A later scene in the issue made it seem that he had simply been speaking through a communicator to the off-panel [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], but here we see that, no, all is not well within Starscream's head.
*Arcee spends the whole issue in her "stealth" colors (based on her "Combiner Hunters" toy), introduced in [[Now and On Earth|issue #42]].
*Tracks has taken over the running of the spaceport from [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], who had the job in the pre-[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] era. He's off on the ''Lost Light'' these days.
*We saw Arcee at her "private spot"—a sharp peak out in the wilderness overlooking the city—back in [[Stick Together|issue #3]].
*Dreadwing is a bit miffed that he got left on Cybertron when the other Decepticons went to Earth; he was shown escaping the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'s lab alongside Galvatron back in [[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|the final chapter of Dark Cybertron]], but hasn't reappeared until now.
*Starscream begs Arcee "Don't Ratbat me!", referring to her assassination of the Decepticons' then-leader back in [[The World & Everything in It|issue #2]].
*Arcee refers to her time spent with Hardhead on [[Gorlam Prime]], between ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]''. Hardhead died in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''More than Meets the Eye'' #25]], and Arcee lampshades the unfortunately dismissive nature with which the story handled his death by remarking that "everyone just kept on going".

===Transformers references===
*The idea to make Tracks and Needlenose brothers probably stems from that slitted "knight's visor" detail-thing they both have on their foreheads/helmets, a sort of "familial insignia" not unlike moustaches and the House of Ambus. In-fiction, that detail has never been very pronounced on Tracks; it was part of his original Generation 1 toy, but it didn't get translated to his original [[character model]] back in the 80s, and that has fed into it being downplayed in modern Tracks designs. Even in this issue, he looks more like he's got a bunch of slots cut in a forehead-crest, rather than a visor.
*Several generic Decepticons populate the crowd scenes this issue, including ones colored like [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#ActionMaster|Action Master Thundercracker]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Generation 2|''Generation 2'' Ramjet]] on page 12. On page 10, there's also one colored like [[:File:G2UKWarWithoutEndJetGuy.jpg|this guy]]!
*There's a 'bot who looks like [[Skullgrin]] sitting at the bar, who tells Needlenose to "handle it". Since Skullgrin got blown up way back in [[The Transformers: Stormbringer|''Stormbringer'']] and hasn't been seen since, we'll follow the precedent established by ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' and assume this is his [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|''Masterforce'']] counterpart, [[Dauros]].
*The final page of this issue, as Needlenose addresses a crowd of Decepticons, is a recreation of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]'s speech from the first panel of [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|''More than Meets the Eye'' #1]], with Brawl and Dreadwing taking up the positions and poses of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]].

===Real-world references===
*As with the previous two issues, this story is named after a {{w|Jim Thompson (writer)|Jim Thompson}} novel.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Tracks takes a selfie with Needlenose, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Arcee in her Combiner Hunters colors, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]; Arcee is drawn with the design of her ''Generations''/Combiner Hunters toy, rather than the body-design she has in-story
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Arcee separates an arguing Optimus Prime and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August Transformers titles.
<gallery>
File:TF44 regcvr.jpg|
File:TF44 subcvr.jpg|
File:TF44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''The Transformers'' #45
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #44
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
*''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Robots in Disguise issue 2|#2]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Pax Megatronus|#8]]

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/25402-needlenose-sows-dissent-in-this-transformers-robots-in-disguise-44-preview.html Preview]

The Transgressors

2015-08-05T17:13:44Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=44
|prev=South of Heaven
|next=
|caption=
|image=TF44 regcvr.jpg
|title="The Transgressors"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 5]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''As Arcee visits Cybertron, bad blood between Tracks and Needlenose boils over.'''

==Synopsis==

''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, brothers [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] are in business together, selling Needlenose's "[[Chic Chips]]". Needlenose dislikes the fact that the chips he designed for everyone are being marketed and priced by Tracks for only the higher classes, and so finds himself intrigued by the anti-class [[Decepticon]] rhetoric that his new friend [[Horri-Bull (G1)|Horri-Bull]] espouses. When Tracks makes fun of him for it, a furious Needlenose dissolves their partnership and leaves to join the Decepticons...''

In the present day, a small group of new [[Caminus|Camien]] immigrants to Cybertron are handing out religious pamphlets about [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] in the Decepticon ghetto, which causes ructions among the inhabitants. Some are willing to let them be, but others are not happy to see the 'bot who led the opposite side for millions of years' worth of war being deified. Needlenose, having just returned to the planet from [[Earth]] with [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and joined by [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], steps into the middle of the argument, disgusted to see how the Decepticons remain second-class citizens despite the end of the war. Snatching a pamphlet, Needlenose tells the Camiens that the Decepticons genuinely desire equality and welcome any newcomers... except, he adds menacingly as he rips the pamphlet up, followers of a Prime.

The Decepticons are not the only returnees to Cybertron; [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] has used the [[space bridge]] to drop in for a visit. After secretly checking up on [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]—who she finds holding a heated conversation with ''himself''—she heads for the spaceport, where Optimus Prime and Tracks have just seen [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] off on their way back to the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Arcee chastizes Prime for not keeping her up-to-date on current events, but warns him all the same that Needlenose and Brawl are rabble-rousing; while Prime promises to take the information to Starscream, Tracks is angry to hear what his little brother is up to. When Arcee questions how he can still be so mad about something that happened millions of years ago, Tracks's curt response that ''she'' doesn't know what it's like to lose anyone prompts her to head outside the city to her old contemplation spot to reflect.

Needlenose, Brawl, and Dreadwing relax in a bar and discuss [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s plans on Earth, which ends with Brawl flipping the table in a rage at the idea the Decepticons have to be "allowed" to do anything by anybody. Tracks enters the bar and approaches Needlenose, accusing him and the Decepticons of insurgency, but Needlenose refutes the idea, blaming Tracks and the Autobots for allying with other worlds that worship Primes, keeping the Decepticons down, just like the lower classes they grew out of eons beforehand. Alas, the embittered brothers' terse discussion soon escalates into violence, when Tracks balls his fist and decks Needlenose. A bar's worth of patrons unholster their weapons and aim them at Tracks, but just then, one of Starscream's [[Badgeless]] officers bursts in to arrest them all unless they had over Needlenose, Brawl, and Dreadwing. Fortunately, before anyone has to actually make the fateful decision, Arcee strikes, slashing off the officer's arms. Telling the Decepticons to inform Galvatron that he owes her, she orders Tracks to leave with her.

In Starscream's throne room, the other party in the conversation he is carrying on is revealed: the imaginary figure of [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], all in Starscream's head, who constantly questions the stability of the former Decepticon's power, and by his very existence, the ''in''stability of his mind. Arcee arrives with the Badgeless, whom she then kills in front of Starscream; she does not like "secret police", she warns, and that if Starscream persists with such duplicitous activities, keeping his people ''policed'' rather than ''happy'', his empire will crumble around him. Arcee leaves, still thinking about Tracks's words from earlier, and how she ''did'' lose someone: [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]. But in her jumbled mind, Arcee still struggles to make emotional connections to others, and can't really equate the experience to Tracks and Needlenose... but when she looks on the fresh, new, hopeful faces that populate Cybertron today, even if she cannot be sure she or Hardhead were ever that happy and optimistic, she is dedicated to making sure these newcomers will never become like her.

And elsewhere, Needlenose looks wistfully at a chest full of Chic Chips, which he has kept all this time... before crushing a handful, and stepping out on stage to address a throng of Decepticons assembled before him.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=

*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (1)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (5)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (wanted poster, 15)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (22)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (23)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (24)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (26)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (27)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (hallucination, 30)

|c2=
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (2)
*''[[Horri-Bull (G1)|Horri-Bull]]'' (3)
*[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]] (6)
*[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] (7)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (8)
*[[Acid Storm]] (9)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (10)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (11)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (12)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (17)
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (18)
*[[Dauros]] (28)

|c4=
*''[[Quark]]'' (4)
*Unnamed Camien religious promoters (13, 16)
*[[Aileron]] (14)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (20)
*[[Badgeless]] officer (29)

}}

==Quotes==

"I '''vouch''' for these Camiens. They gave us a '''fair shake''' back on their plant. Didn't care '''what''' symbol we wore, just cared who we '''are'''. I say let 'em be." 
"I'm very disappointed in you, '''Sparkstalker'''... if treating us like '''people''' is all it takes to win your loyalty—raise your '''standards'''."
:—'''Sparkstalker''' and '''Needlenose'''

"You didn't tell me you'd been elected '''space messiah.'''"
:—'''Arcee''', on Optimus

'''Brawl:''' "[Galvatron]'s the leader we shoulda '''always''' had." 
'''Dreadwing:''' "The kind that leaves a fella in the middle of Ex-ticons." 
'''Needlenose:''' "Middle of '''what'''?" 
'''Dreadwing:''' "Ex-Decepticons." 
'''Needlenose:''' "You trying to make that a '''thing'''?"

"Well, you did it. You found a '''worse''' crowd."
:—'''Tracks''' voices his opinion on Needlenose's current friends

"Don't '''patronize''' me. The people are '''disenfranchised'''. Again! And you're out making '''truces''' with far-away lands that just '''happen''' to serve the Primes. Four million years, and we're back where we '''started'''. All I've ever wanted is for things to '''change'''." 
"You '''had''' your chance. When '''Bumblebee''' was in charge, he tried to get everybody together—he did his '''best'''." 
"Bumblebee executed '''Horri-Bull''' in front of me! You think I'd stand with an '''Autobot''' who '''killed''' the one 'bot I've ever loved?" 
"'''FAMILY COMES FIRST!'''" 
"Only family you cared about was the one in the '''mirror'''. You '''never''' asked what I thought. Just squeezed until you got what '''you''' wanted."
:—'''Needlenose''' and '''Tracks'''

"'''Tracks'''—give your Prime a message. We don't want to '''fight''' you... but we won't let you '''rule''' us."
:—'''Needlenose'''

"'''Arcee?!''' Don't Ratbat me!"
:—'''Starscream'''

"You have something to '''lose''', now. Work to keep it."
:—'''Arcee''', to Starscream

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Needlenose and Horri-Bull were a double-act all the way back in [[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|issue #1]], in which Bumblebee killed Horri-Bull with his [[inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chip]]. Though Needlenose denies that Horri-Bull is his [[Conjunx Endura]] when Tracks jokingly uses the term in the flashback that opens the issue, Needlenose later calls him "the only 'bot he ever loved."
*Chic Chips were part of Needlenose's backstory as provided in his original [[The Transformers Universe|''Transformers Universe'' profile]]. He previously mentioned them in IDW in [[Shockpoint|issue #21]].
*Sparkstalker is happy to let the Camiens be; he'd be a bit hypocritical if he didn't, since he's currently dating one—[[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]]—as seen over in [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|''Windblade'' #4]].
*Starscream was previously seen ranting to himself in [[The World of Tomorrow|issue #33]]. A later scene in the issue made it seem that he had simply been speaking through a communicator to the off-panel [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], but here we see that, no, all is not well within Starscream's head.
*Arcee spends the whole issue in her "stealth" colors (based on her "Combiner Hunters" toy), introduced in [[Now and On Earth|issue #42]].
*Tracks has taken over the running of the spaceport from [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], who had the job in the pre-[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] era. He's off on the ''Lost Light'' these days.
*We saw Arcee at her "private spot"—a sharp peak out in the wilderness overlooking the city—back in [[Stick Together|issue #3]].
*Dreadwing is a bit miffed that he got left on Cybertron when the other Decepticons went to Earth; he was shown escaping the collapse of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'s lab alongside Galvatron back in [[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|the final chapter of Dark Cybertron]], but hasn't reappeared until now.
*Starscream begs Arcee "Don't Ratbat me!", referring to her assassination of the Decepticons' then-leader back in [[The World & Everything in It|issue #2]].
*Arcee refers to her time spent with Hardhead on [[Gorlam Prime]], between ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]''. Hardhead died in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''More than Meets the Eye'' #25]], and Arcee lampshades the unfortunately dismissive nature with which the story handled his death by remarking that "everyone just kept on going".

===Transformers references===
*The idea to make Tracks and Needlenose brothers probably stems from that slitted "knight's visor" detail-thing they both have on their foreheads/helmets, a sort of "familial insignia" not unlike moustaches and the House of Ambus. In-fiction, that detail has never been very pronounced on Tracks; it was part of his original Generation 1 toy, but it didn't get translated to his original [[character model]] back in the 80s, and that has fed into it being downplayed in modern Tracks designs. Even in this issue, he looks more like he's got a bunch of slots cut in a forehead-crest, rather than a visor.
*Several generic Decepticons populate the crowd scenes this issue, including ones colored like [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#ActionMaster|Action Master Thundercracker]] and [[Ramjet (G1)#Generation 2|''Generation 2'' Ramjet]] on page 12. On page 10, there's also one colored like [[:File:G2UKWarWithoutEndJetGuy.jpg|this guy]]!
*There's a 'bot who looks like [[Skullgrin]] sitting at the bar, who tells Needlenose to "handle it". Since Skullgrin got blown up way back in [[The Transformers: Stormbringer|''Stormbringer'']] and hasn't been seen since, we'll follow the precedent established by ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' and assume this is his [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|''Masterforce'']] counterpart, [[Dauros]].
*The final page of this issue, as Needlenose addresses a crowd of Decepticons, is a recreation of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]'s speech from the first panel of [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|''More than Meets the Eye'' #1]], with Brawl and Dreadwing taking up the positions and poses of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]].

===Real-world references===
*As with the previous two issues, this story is named after a {{w|Jim Thompson (writer)|Jim Thompson}} novel.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Tracks takes a selfie with Needlenose, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Arcee in her Combiner Hunters colors, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]; Arcee is drawn with the design of her ''Generations''/Combiner Hunters toy, rather than the body-design she has in-story
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Arcee separates an arguing Optimus Prime and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August Transformers titles.
<gallery>
File:TF44 regcvr.jpg|
File:TF44 subcvr.jpg|
File:TF44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''The Transformers'' #45
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #44
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
*''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Robots in Disguise issue 2|#2]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Pax Megatronus|#8]]

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/25402-needlenose-sows-dissent-in-this-transformers-robots-in-disguise-44-preview.html Preview]

Reproduction

2015-08-04T19:02:14Z

Omgpuppies: /* Sexual reproduction */

[[File:MangaDinoforceBabies.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|HOW IS BABBY FORMED?]]
Various '''reproduction''' methods for the [[Transformer]]s species have been demonstrated across various continuities.

==Mechanical construction==
Sometimes, new Transformers are simply built from scratch, and that's all it takes. A suitable Transformer body is constructed, and when finished and turned on, it just springs to life.
===Generation 1===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
Three notable examples of this type of reproduction appear in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]: when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and company create the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}{{storylink|War of the Dinobots}} when the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s turn an [[Earth]] city into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} and when the temporarily super-intelligent [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] creates the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}

[[File:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|left|thumb|"I've been workin' on the Dinobot, all the live long day..."]]
The Dinobots are initially very simple mentally and are ordered to be deactivated because they are too dangerous. Wheeljack then develops a set of crown-like devices to place on the Dinobots which greatly enhances their intellect, although they are still "dumb" and childlike compared to the other Autobots. The Technobots, on the other hand, are immediately fully functional, and some of them are even ''smarter'' than average Transformers. If one were to take these facts as canonically meaningful (rather than simply the whims of the writers of those episodes), it could be guessed that programming a functional Transformer brain from scratch is extremely difficult, such that even Wheeljack is not up to the job. Temporarily super-genius Grimlock may be the only one capable. However, one must also note that the Dinobots were built and programmed to be as similar to dinosaurs as possible, including the limited intelligence; the Technobots, however, were built by Grimlock with intelligence in mind, as it was the only way to counter [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]' brute power.

At least on the surface, this "built from scratch" approach runs counter to claims in other episodes of the show that [[Vector Sigma]] is needed to create new Transformer life. (See below.) However, since Vector Sigma is presented as being a supercomputer and not a "magical" device like the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comics']] [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], it could fall in with the speculative statements above regarding Grimlock and Wheeljack. Perhaps Vector Sigma is simply an advanced enough computer that it is capable of constructing a working mind.
{{-}}

==Infusion==
{{see also|Sacred implement}}
[[File:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Go on, rub it and make a wish...]]
In other stories, once a new Transformer body has been built, it must still be infused with life (what the fiction from the Beast era and after would gloss as a [[spark]]) from a "god-like" outside source. In the Generation 1 cartoon, this source is Vector Sigma; in the Marvel comics, it is the Creation Matrix, which houses the essence of [[Primus]], the Transformers' creator-god. In the [[Beast Era|Beast era]] cartoons, sparks arrive from the [[Allspark]], perhaps through Vector Sigma. (In many continuities, each Transformer's life force is a fragment of Primus's own.) The [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie]] continuities function with the [[AllSpark]] being the source of infusion as well, though in that case, "living" and "sentient" are not quite the same thing. (See: [[AllSpark Mutation]].)

[[File:VectorSigmaG1.jpg|left|thumb|Vector Sigma holds "Disco Night" every Friday at 11 pm.]]
In the [[The Transformers Adventure Game Books|''Transformers'' Adventure Game Book]] "[[Desert of Danger]]", Hot Rod refers to his creation after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] left Cybertron as when he was "matrixed". How exactly this would have happened if Optimus Prime was aboard the Ark with the Matrix at the time is unknown, but one option might be the [[Matrix Flame]].

The Matrix Flame is an artifact which allows Transformers on Cybertron to access the power of the Matrix even when it is no longer on Cybertron. Literally a flame, it is used to breathe life in the super warrior [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] in the UK comics. The flame is somehow linked to the Matrix, and when the Matrix is transported to another dimension during "[[Target: 2006]]", the flame goes out, forcing the Autobots on Cybertron to investigate.

The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' guide provides yet another method of infusion. According to the guide's entry on [[protoform]]s in issue #8, in the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]], Transformers generally begin life as a skeletal mass of partially formed circuits—a [[Protoform]]. These are kept in stasis pods filled with nurturing nutrient gel. They can be built to certain specifications or be fairly general, allowing the robot to form naturally upon introduction of a spark. Sparks, and hence life, usually come from the Matrix, ''BUT'', if the Matrix is absent, life can be granted by attuning the protoform to an energy wavelength similar to the Matrix and then applying a concentrated burst of energon. This alternative is rarely used, as it is extremely resource-consumptive, requiring restrictively high amounts of energon.

[[File:Allspark movie.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"RESISTANCE IS FERTILE."]]
The Movie continuity's [[AllSpark]] works by infusion as well, just on an even more impressive scale. It is capable of infusing any inanimate machine with life and simultaneously altering its structure so that it is capable of transforming into a Cybertronian-style robot. The AllSpark fragments spread across Detroit in the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' continuity show the same ability to alter non-living machines into new Transformers (as well as unrelated powers like slowing time and remote controlling other Cybertronians.) Although, outside of the toy biographies for certain characters, the AllSpark in the movie merely creates non-sentient, animalistic life-forms out of ordinary machines, rather than fully developed Cybertronians, suggesting some kind of evolutionary development towards sentience.

====IDW Generation 1 continuity====
[[File:Chromedome and Rodimus with a spark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Baby ''boom''? Baby fuel-air bomb!]]
Cybertronians are created through two confirmed methods: they are either "'''Forged'''" or "'''Constructed Cold'''." Their names include a "of [place]" suffix to describe where they were born, e.g. "Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]".

Forging was the natural way for Cybertronians to be created. An energy pulse from Vector Sigma would flash across the world, igniting a hot spot where new sparks would emerge from the planet. There would be great rejoicing and ceremony, and the sparks and base substance - the "'''sentio metallico'''" - would be sought out and harvested from the living metal of Cybertron or its moons. The harvested sparks would then be matured via a process known as "the nurturing". {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} The full nurturing and maturation process can be completed in less than two weeks after the spark's first flash. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

Cold Construction was a method created later when [[Nova Prime]] learned natural spark creation was slowing. Fearful (correctly, as it would turn out) that the pulsewaves from Vector Sigma would eventually halt entirely, leaving him without enough Transformers to create the grand galactic empire he envisioned, Nova entrusted the Matrix of Leadership to his scientists and charged them with tapping the fabled energy of creation legends claimed it possessed. The scientists, headed by [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]], succeeded in doing so and were able to generate thousands of sparks a day, which were then housed in pre-constructed bodies. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} Recognizing the potential for outcry against what they were doing, a cover story was put in place to explain the birth of these new Transformers: the public were told that they were created via '''Spark-splicing''', using the energy of a Forged spark to ignite a new one. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Eventually, one of the scientists had an attack of conscience and stole the Matrix, replacing it with a forgery; unaware of this, Tyrest and his team believed that they had bled the Matrix dry. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} The public were never told why the "spark-splicing" program was stopped; as such, by the time of Nominus Prime's assassination, Senator Shockwave had made repeated lobbies to resurrect it. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

After the disappearance of Nova Prime, negative feelings about cold construction led to apartheid against "knock offs", with some city-states 'proving' that they were substandard. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Religion was brought into it: the fact that many of the best medics were forged (due to the fluidity and dexterity of their hands) was taken as proof of the god [[Adaptus]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} By the time [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] was first arrested, the apartheid was ''officially'' considered a thing of the past, cough cough. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[File:Overlords spark remembrance day.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Overlord was killing fools before he was even alive. [http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/92372-more-than-meets-the-eye-14/?p=2262280]]]

Some naturally-born sparks are "[[Point One Percenter]]s" (about 0.01% of the population), with abilities greater than than the average Transformer. Known "Point One Percenters" include Overlord {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}, Minimus Ambus, and Roller {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}, while Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Scorponok, and Shockwave are implied to be. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Megatron occupies a unique position as the first (and possibly only) hybrid. Originating as a wholly cold-constructed bot, the body's original spark was destroyed by a time-travelling [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]; a Point One Percenter spark which had been harvested on Luna 1 in the present day was placed in the empty shell by [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], thus creating the Megatron who ultimately led the Decepticon in this timeline. {{storylink|Elegant_Chaos_Part_3:_Predestination:_An_Expert%27s_Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} The ramifications of a forged or constructed cold body (with pre-existing brain module) swapping out a spark like this are unknown. In somewhat similar circumstances, Megatron placed the spark of the Quintesson [[Pentius]] in the body of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. The being that emerged seemed to have the memories of both Pentius and the pre-existing Trypticon. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

As the war dragged on, the Autobots recovered a long abandoned cache of sparks from the days of Tyrest's experiments, and began constructing cold robots to fill out their ranks: "Made to Order" soldiers ([[M.T.O.|M.T.O.s]]), who to some were seen as little more than cannonfodder. Instead of a city-state, MTOs were named after the battles or campaigns they were activated for, i.e. "[[Getaway]] of the [[Corcapsia Incursion]]". A formal education process was established for the MTOs, a Ten Step program they needed to pass before being declared fit for duty. As the war continued, however, Ten Step went down to Seven Step and then Three Step, expediting the cannon fodder out onto the battle fields. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Although only Autobot MTOs have been mentioned thus far, it is possible Decepticons were constructed cold during the war as well.

[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] were created by Decepticon scientists after many failed attempts. The failed attempts lived on and were collectively known as [[Insecticon swarm|"the swarm"]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}

=====Characters by origin=====
{{quote|No one has a right to know how a fellow Cybertronian was created. There's a thin line between categorization and segregation, and I never want to see it crossed again.|[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]|[[Twenty Plus One]]}}
{| cellpadding="5" class="tt1_featuredCharacters"
! style="background:#004000;color:white" colspan="4"|Forged
! style="background:navy;color:white" colspan="3"|Constructed cold
|-
! style="background:#a1f088" align="center"|Pre-war
! style="background:#b7f78d" align="center"|"Warborn"
! style="background:#a7ee7d" align="center"|[[Metrotitan (body-type)|Titan]] colonies
! style="background:#bcf27c" align="center"|Unknown
! style="background:#9abce2" align="center"|First wave
! style="background:#8ec1f6" align="center"|Second wave/M.T.O.
! style="background:#7dc7f1" align="center"|Unknown
|-
| style="background:#BCF7AA" valign="top"|
{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent;"
|-
| valign="top"|
*[[Alchemist Prime (G1)|Alchemist Prime]]
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
*[[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]]
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dominus Ambus]]
*[[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]
*[[Eucryphia]]
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]
*[[Knights of Cybertron]]
*[[Liege Maximo (G2)|Liege Maximo]]
*[[The Fallen|Megatronus]]
*[[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitans]]
*[[Minimus Ambus]]
*[[Myskrion]]
*[[Nexus Prime (Classics)|Nexus Prime]]
| valign="top"|
*[[Nova Prime|Nova Major/Nova Prime]]
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*[[Onyx Prime (G1)|Onyx Prime]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax/Optimus Prime]]
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]
*[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]
*[[Prima (G1)|Prima]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]]
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]
*[[Solus Prime (G1)|Solus Prime]]
*[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]
*[[Thinkbox]]
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]
|}
| style="background:#D0FCB3" valign="top"|
*[[Fulcrum (G1)|Fulcrum]]
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]
| style="background:#c1fb9b" valign="top"|
{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent;"
|-
| valign="top"|
[[Caminus]]:
*[[Acceleron]]
*[[Afterburner (G2)|Afterburner]]
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]
*[[Dustup]]
*[[Exocet]]
*[[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]]
*[[Hot Shot (Henkei!)|Hot Shot]]
*[[Javelin]]
*[[Jumpstream]]
*[[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]]
*[[Mistress of Flame]]
*[[Nautica]]
*[[Proxima]]
*[[Pyra Magna]]
*"[[Red Leader (Caminus)|Red Leader]]"
*[[Roadmaster]]
*[[Rust Dust]]
*[[Skimmer (G1)|Skimmer]]
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]]
*[[Skystriker (IDW)|Skystriker]]
*[[Stormclash]]
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]
*"[[Yellow Leader]]"
| valign="top"|
[[Eukaris]]:
*[[Air Hammer]]
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]]
*[[Injector]]
*[[Tigatron]]

[[Prion]]:
*[[Nickel]]

[[Velocitron]]:
*[[Clocker (G1)|Clocker]]
*[[Crumplezone (G1)|Crumplezone]]
*[[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]]
*[[Moonracer (G1)|Moonracer]]
*[[Override (BW)|Override]]
*[[Ransack (G1 Velocitronian)|Ransack]]

Other:
*[[Elita One]]
*[[Fireshot (G1)|Fireshot]]
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]
*[[Vanquish (G1)|Vanquish]]
|}
| style="background:#CEF99D" valign="top"|
*[[Animus]]
*[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]
*[[Blockus]]
*[[Datum]]
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]
*[[Heretech]]
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]]
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
*[[Ramp]]
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]]
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]
*[[Suture]]
| style="background:#B8D1ED" valign="top"|
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]
*[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]<ref group="idw">Megatron is a hybrid Transformer, consisting of a forged spark in a cold constructed body.</ref>
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Tumbler/Chromedome]]
| style="background:#b4d8fc" valign="top"|
*[[Ammo]]
*[[Dipstick]]
*[[Brainstorm|Genitus/Brainstorm]]
*[[Getaway]]
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]
*[[Scattergun]]
| style="background:#9ed7f8" valign="top"|
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]]
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]]
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]
|}

<references group="idw"/>

{{-}}

==Resurrection==
[[File:Pmoptimusprimedeath.jpg|left|thumb|Don't worry kids, he gets better. Again.]]
Though not quite the same as reproduction, a copy of the mind or essence of a previously living Transformer may be introduced into a new body and, through some vague process, return that Transformer to life. This occurs when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] creates the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] in the Generation 1 cartoon, and in the comic when Prime uses copies of the minds of existing Cybertronians to create the second-series Autobot cars on [[Earth]]. Another example from the comic occurs when Optimus Prime himself is returned to life merely by inputting a human's [[floppy disk]] copy of his mind into a new body.

A variation on this theme is [[Unicron]]'s ability to create new Robotic life. In the cartoon continuity, Unicron rebuilds [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], though it is unclear if these are the same being. Less ambiguous is the creation of [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] from the apparently dead remains of [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Some fans have speculated that the creation of the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] by super-genius [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] was aided in some fashion by Unicron's presence.

In [[Marvel Comics continuity]], Unicron exhibits a similar ability, fashioning three servants named [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] from the remains of non-Cybertronian robots attempting to flee him.

In his ending to the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] uses "a prototype cloning device, based on transreplication technology" to clone the deactivated Generation 1 Decepticons on the Ark into new protoform bodies, thus reviving them without altering the timeline (and erasing himself) by effectively doubling each robot.

This is included as a means of reproduction because it seems likely from the dialogue that the Autobot cars created via copied minds by Prime on Earth in Marvel Comics continuity still existed on Cybertron when he left, meaning that if they survived the intermediate 4 million years, two of each of these individuals now exist.

In the [[Unicron Trilogy]] story "[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]", [[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] combine energy from their [[spark frame]]s in order to create a new body for the mind/soul of [[Twirl (Armada)|Twirl]] to inhabit after her [[Mini-Con storage panel]] is destroyed in battle. This leads to an interesting relationship between Twirl and Falcia. (See "Familial relationships", below.)

==Budding==
[[File:G2issue5-PowerandtheGlory-BuddingSteps.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Budding doesn't look like much fun at ALL. It looks like ''Aliens versus Predator'' all over again.]]
The [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Transformers: Generation 2'' comic]] introduced the concept of asexual "budding". Bubbles and lesions of apparently liquid metal form on a robot's chest, accompanied by energy discharge. The process grows more intense, until a large mass of liquid metal bursts free from the chest and slowly forms into a [[protoform]]-like blank figure, and then solidifies into a full Transformer. Illustrations suggest that this is something of a communal event, with others surrounding the budding robot in a circle.

[[File:TNA.gif|left|upright=0.85|thumb|With the right early screening, even pegwarming might some day be preventable.]]
It was revealed that (in the Marvel continuity at least) early Transformers reproduced this way until they reached the population level Primus desired. At this turning point, the practice stopped and all memory of it was erased. When the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] (possibly under influence of the [[Liege Maximo (G2)|Liege Maximo]]) rediscovered and revived the process sometime during the 4 million years after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s loss, the successive generations of robots produced were increasingly less sentient and emotional (as Primus's lifeforce was apparently spread thinner and thinner between them), and the lifeform called the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] was created as a byproduct.

It is established here that Transformers do have genetic material (the Transformer equivalent of DNA) within their cellular structures. (Yes, they also apparently have cellular structures—who knew?) This genetic material is passed down from "parent" to "child" through budding. Its make-up is seen in the picture at left. (Apparently, its design is not taught in the Transformer equivalent of high school Biology, as Megatron does not recognize what he's looking at until Perceptor explains.) This genetic material and basic Transformer cellular structure is also passed to the Swarm. Later, in [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]], Transformer genetic material is given the designation [[CNA]], and it is what is altered by the malevolent Jhiaxus to create female Transformers.

The other notable fact is that Transformers who have undergone the budding process retain some sort of primal link to their offspring, thus even though they are galaxies apart, the Generation 1 Decepticon [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] doubles over in pain when his descendant [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] is destroyed, and the Liege Maximo says he would know if his descendant, Megatron, were to die.

==Sexual reproduction==
[[File:Tfreprod marvel28.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Film the birth?" "No, got some great footage of the conception, though!"]]
Despite most continuities having male and female genders (gender being a mental and social classification, as opposed to "sexes", a physical distinction) and a definite, strong history of [[transformer romance]] existing between these genders, there is little canonical evidence for Transformers reproducing sexually. (Though admittedly, there isn't a lot of direct evidence for [[human]]s reproducing sexually in most Transformers media, which is, after all, aimed towards kids.)

In the Generation 1 cartoon, the male Transformer - [[female Transformer]] romance could perhaps be explained as an artifact of [[Quintesson]] mental programming very closely echoing the organic life forms the Transformers were built to serve.

On only two occasions in Generation 1 do we get a hint of male and female Transformer romance leading to the formation of family units and the creation of offspring. The first is subtle: [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s backstory in some versions mentions his crashing on Quintessa with his parents. The second is more explicit: At the end of the Japanese [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]], we find out that [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and his forces have been fighting all this time for the sake of their/the families living on top of the [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]], among which are [[Dinoforce]]'s [[Baby Dinoforce|children]]. Awww.

Apart from this, the best case for sexual reproduction in the species could probably be made from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', where [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] makes numerous off-color remarks throughout the series, especially directed at [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. These comments strongly hint at something sex-like among Transformers, though it could, of course, be merely recreational rather than reproductive.

It is unknown what effect the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[reformatting]] of Transformers into [[technorganic]] beings, which are equal parts organic life and mechanical structure down to a cellular level, has on their reproductive options. It is conceivable but unexplored whether this new form of Transformer life could reproduce sexually.

During a dream-like vision, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt meet in an ethereal state, and the two appear to "merge" their sparks, which may be as close to sexual intercourse as Transformers get, perhaps a more spiritual act than physical.

[[File:Sariprime.jpg|120px|thumb|At that moment, Optimus realizes that there are some questions best left unanswered.]]
The [[Transformers (film)|2007 motion picture]] once again brings up questions about the possibility of a less-than-mechanical form of reproduction. The first and most obvious of these implications comes from [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet's]] less-than-tactful observation of "the [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|boy]] want[ing] to mate with the [[Mikaela Banes|female]]." Although his grasp of the concept could stem merely from a familiarity with organic species in general, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime's]] mention of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] killing their father, in some related material, does suggest Transformers have some understanding of family units. In [[Revenge of the Fallen issue 4|the fourth issue of ''Revenge of the Fallen'']], [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] refers to Sam's parents as his "protoform batch initiators." Make that of what you will.

In the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' continuity, it seems clear that Transformers do not reproduce sexually. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] appears stunned when [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] tells him where human babies come from, and later brings up the inconsistency when Sari's own origins are revealed.
[[File:OperationBumblebee1 Bumblebee's new ride.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.95|"I swear, this isn't what it looks like!"]]
On the flip-side, in IDW continuity, female Transformers are created by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. By altering fundamental [[CNA]], Jhiaxus introduced gender to the species from a malevolent curiosity about what would happen. The depth of the change in this case is unknown; is it limited to appearance and mentality or does it go deeper? If he was truly trying to see how females would affect the evolution of the species it is possible Arcee was created with the capability for some analog of sexual reproduction in mind, but given his abandonment of the experiment and Arcee's resultant unbalanced mental state it seems unlikely the depth of the change will be explored. Later [[The Transformers: Windblade|comics]] would introduce the world of [[Caminus]], a Transformer colony world whose inhabitants had developed genders, as an alternative source of female Transformers.

In the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Transformers: Prime'' episode]] "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]", [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] joked with [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], asking him if he had heard that humans multiplied. Ratchet was expecting her and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] to bring back two humans. When they brought back three, Arcee had implied that the teenagers had reproduced since then.

In ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Brains]] revealed to Optimus Prime that Megatron had used his "chromosomes" to infect [[Kinetic Solutions Incorporated|KSI]]'s [[Galvatron (AOE)|Galvatron]] prototype, granting the mindless robot independent thought and allowing Megatron's mind to take over Galvatron's body. It's debatable whether or not Brains was translating Cybertronian terms for the benefit of the human audience present; if taken literally, it opens up a whole host of weird questions regarding the relationship between Megatron and Galvatron.
{{-}}

==Familial relationships==
[[File:PrimeDirective4 Cover SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|The Doublemint Twins they're not.]]
One confusing aspect of this apparent lack of sexual reproduction is the canonical use of genealogical terminology to describe certain relationships. The most common of these is when two Transformers regard each other as siblings: "brothers" (e.g. Generation 1's [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] or ''Robots in Disguise'''s [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]]) or "sisters" ([[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]]).

Again, the Dreamwave ''More than Meets the Eye'' guide provides a partial possible answer. According to the guide, when a spark naturally splits as it's being introduced to a protoform, it creates two robots who are "brothers", such as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. When such a spark division is artificially induced, the pair created are referred to as "[[Cloning|clones]]". (This definition of "brother" may or may not apply to RID Prime and Magnus, whose brotherhood was said to result from the special circumstance of having been created simultaneously by Alpha Trion).

However, the "[[Beast Era]]" widened the issue of reproduction with Rattrap referring to his "great-aunt" [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and in general the practice of Maximals and Predacons referring to the Autobots and Decepticons as their respective "ancestors", as well as themselves as being their "descendants", implying a direct genetic (for want of a better term) lineage. Various sources of debatable canonicity suggest that [[Optimus Primal]] is specifically descended from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], usually through the phrase "[his] ancestor Optimus Prime".

In the absence of sexual reproduction, the use and meaning of these genealogical references is difficult to explain. One possible explanation might be a situation such as when [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is brought to life in ''Beast Wars''. Her [[spark]] and [[protoform]] are heavily damaged, and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] allows some of his parts to be used as replacements while [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] guides the procedure. To compare to humans, this is something like assisting with childbirth and donating blood or organs. It is unlikely that this happened enough to cause "descendants" as they are described, however. The term may also be used in an ideological sense or even a technological sense, much as the CD or MP3 player is, in a way, a "descendant" of the gramophone.

[[File:Linkage7 Twirl-Baby.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|So, think Social Services handle cases like these often?]]
Other family designations exist as well. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has "parents" that were lost in his crash on [[Quintessa]], according to some background material. The aforementioned Mini-Con Twirl very specifically calls Falcia her "mother" (which Falcia ''hates'') and seems to treat Redline like a father, since the two's spark frame energies went into constructing her physical form. In the ''Armada'' cartoon, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] refers to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] as his brother after Hot Shot saves his life, suggesting at least an understanding of the concept; on the other hand, the ''Armada'' cartoon is originally Japanese, and in Japan, "brother" and "sister" can be used as terms of affection or respect to an unrelated person. The [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe has also used the term "cousin" for certain Transformers on occasion. The Japanese Generation 1 ''Victory'' manga features Decepticon wives and children. Even the live-action movie features an Optimus and Megatron who are brothers, and it is mentioned in the related Nintendo DS game that Megatron "took the spark" of their father.

'''''See also:''' [[Relatives]]''
{{-}}

==Toys==
[[File:Classics cosmos concept.gif|upright=1.4|thumb|Echography of a sadly aborted Transformer.... Yes, those things happen.]]
In the real-life continuity, when two toy manufacturing companies love each other very much, [[Hasbro|one of them]] may start shooting Transformer design propositions to the [[TakaraTomy|other one]]. There, during several months of gestation, engineers will work on those designs, which will be developed into functional and manufacturable Transformers. Once the Transformer is ready to be produced, its design will be sent to marketing and ultimately to the chain manufacturer for the delivery. Voilà! A new Transformer is born!
{{-}}

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb

2015-08-02T05:54:43Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=30
|prev=Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard
|next=Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five
|caption=
|image=RID30 regcvr.jpg
|title="Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 11]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=June 2014
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]] (present day) [[Casey Coller]] (flashback pgs 1-6) [[Brendan Cahill]] (flashback pgs 16-18)
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] (present day) [[Joana Lafuente]] (flashbacks)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''It's Devastator versus Galvatron as Prowl's dangerous gambit plays out, forcing the Earth Defense Command to tip their hand.'''

==Synopsis==
''Ten million years ago, during the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]], [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] fights the [[Battle of Aegiax]] against the [[Headmaster (technology)|ancient Headmasters]], slaughtering his way through the entire tribe until only two remain. As one falls to his cannon, the last, [[Myskrion]], is able to run Galvatron through with his polearm, but the wound has no effect—Galvatron simply charges his opponent with the weapon still sticking out his body, fatally impaling him with it. Myskrion's furious Headmaster partner disconnects and tries to maul Galvatron, but winds up being torn in half. As he surveys the field of corpses, Galvatron is approached by a stranger who introduces himself as [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], and offers to bestow upon Galvatron everything he has ever wanted...''

''Four months ago, the [[Decepticon]]s return to their spacecraft in orbit above [[Earth]] following their meeting with the [[Earth Defense Command]]. With Galvatron's disgust over the alliance they have forged with the [[human]]s nakedly apparent, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] explains his position—his fascination with the fact that it was Earth that brought about the end of the Transformers' war, and his belief that without [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] leading the Decepticons down a destructive path, humanity will naturally side with them against the Autobots. Galvatron has little time for the argument, as he did not live through the era of Autobot oppression, but when [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] scoffs, the enraged Galvatron slams him off a wall. Soundwave remains stoic, and insists they will gain the resources they need through truth and cooperation, rather than deceit and violence.''

In the town of [[Poverty Flat]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] drives Galvatron into the ground with one strike, then turns to swiping the attacking Decepticons out of the air. Galvatron is quick to recover, however, and resumes his battle with Devastator over Soundwave's protests. The outraged [[Marissa Faireborn]] finds her communication with [[Sparkplug Witwicky|General Witwicky]] cut off as Soundwave erects a jamming field around the town to prevent any information making it out, forcing the EDC to withdraw outside his range so that contact can be established with the orchestrator of their contingency plan in the event of the Decepticons going off-mission: Dr. [[Sanjay Bharwaney]]. The doctor activates a brainwave-scrambling "mind bomb" that incapacitates the Decepticons, allowing Faireborn to call up [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]—whose damaged form is integrated with the Decepticons' orbiting ship—and have him remotely teleport all the Decepticons back to their craft. Devastator disengages back into [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and they and the other Autobots quickly depart aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], leaving the EDC too busy with damage control to follow. Wiping away an [[energon]] "nosebleed", Prowl explains to an angry [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] that it had been obvious to him from the outset that the EDC had wanted the presence of Cybertronians on Earth to remain a secret, so he chose to take things public with Devastator in order to make their enemies' lives difficult. As [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] radios in with an update on the EDC's cover measures, Prowl horrifies his leader with his pleasant surprise at the fact the organization isn't just killing everyone in town.

''One month ago, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], Prowl, and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] watch as [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] gives Alpha Trion's message to Optimus. Prowl is curious about Arcee's reaction to the appearance of new [[Female Transformer]]s, but Arcee is surprised to find she feels nothing at all. Prowl opines that, as [[Caminus|Camiens]], Windblade and her fellow new arrivals are as different from Arcee as they are from any other "regular" Cybertronian; [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] puts his foot in it, however, when he grumbles about missing the simple old days of Autobots versus Decepticons, before nobody knew who they could trust. Arcee takes offense and leaves the group to talk to Optimus, wishing to find out more about the recent passing of her friend [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]. Prime assures her that he died trying to save everyone, and that [[Nova Prime|his killer]] has been disposed of; satisfied, Arcee voices her second request, asking to join Prime's mission to Earth.''

Prowl and Optimus argue all the way back to the ''[[Ark-7]]'', with Prime refuting the idea that the humans are their enemies, and Prowl pointing out that they had a weapon capable of disabling a Cybertronian brain. [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] regretfully offers evidence that backs up Prowl's hypothesis: he detected a Cybertronian brain pattern behind the "mind bomb", and the microbots that attacked the Ark were based on Cybertronian neurology, suggesting that the EDC has access to a Cybertronian brain for study... a brain belonging, Prowl is sure, to Alpha Trion. As the team sets course for the origin point of the mind bomb's signal, traced to the [[Marshall Islands]], [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] sneaks away and opens up a comm channel...

In the Decepticons' spaceship, Galvatron takes out his rage on the fittings and fixtures until [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] tells him to stop and becomes a target for his rage instead. Galvatron insists they take revenge on the humans, but Soundwave refuses, deeming "the mission" too important; Galvatron dismisses his goals as a farce, but Soundwave calmly informs him that he has found the location of ''Galvatron's'' goal... Scavenger, his spy among the Autobots, has provided them with the location of Alpha Trion!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (13)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (21)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (23)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (25)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
*''[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]'' (30)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (31)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (1)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (6)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (7)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (8)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (14)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (15)
*[[Needlenose]] (16)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (17)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (33)

|h4=[[Human]]s|c4=
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (18)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Daniel Witwicky]] (19)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney]] (20)
|h5=Others|c5=
*''[[Myskrion]]'' (2)
*''Myskrion's partner'' (3)
*''[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'' (4)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (9)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (22)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (24)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (26)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (27)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (28)
*[[D.O.C.]] (32)
}}

==Quotes==
"Calm yourself, warrior. I come in '''peace'''. Perhaps you know the term? It means the '''absence of war'''." 
"I am '''aware''' of the word. In my land, we pronounced it '''"conquest"'''."
:—'''Alpha Trion''' and '''Galvatron'''

"Are you prepared to die, Galvatron?" 
"Always. But that has never been a '''real''' concern."
:—'''Devastator''' and '''Galvatron'''

"Did '''Prowl''' just get, like, '''way dumber'''?" 
"It's the '''mass-displacement.''' Even Prowl's '''fat head''' can't handle the brain/size ratio of '''Devastator'''."
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Arcee'''

"When I '''smash''' you, you '''geriatric insect'''—you know what they'll call my '''fist'''? They'll name it '''progress'''!"
:—'''Devastator'''

"'''The humans betrayed us!'''" 
"Stop smashing things." 
"Did you just issue me an '''order''', Spacebus?" 
"Uh, my name's '''Astrotrain'''... and, uh... it was more a '''suggestion'''..."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Astrotrain'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Galvatron's conquest of the "Ancient Headmasters" was first mentioned in [[Shockpoint|issue #21]]. At the time, it was merely patching over a continuity error that was created with the introduction of the first of these Headmasters, [[Thinkbox]], in ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness]]'' [[Heart of Darkness issue 3|#3]]. How times change!
*After Galvatron rips Myskrion's partner in half, Alpha Trion wonders if he enjoys the action, alluding to his future tearing in half of [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] in [[Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|issue #24]].
*Skywarp is evidently still recovering from the malfunction of his teleporting powers that happened back in issue #24, and seems to have been wired into the Decepticon ship's system to direct his power and even enable heretofore unseen remote teleportation of others.
*The "Thirteen Tribes" were first mentioned in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|''More than Meets the Eye'' #27]]. See "Transformers references", below, for some further analysis of what we learn about them in this issue.
*Sanjay Bharwaney originally appeared in the ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee|Bumblebee]]'' mini-series, and most recently made a return in ''[[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]''.
*The flashback to one month ago follows directly from the similar scene in [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|issue #28]], even repeating part of Optimus and Windblade's conversation from that sequence.
*Hardhead died in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''More than Meets the Eye'' #25]]. Reference is made to the time he and Arcee spent together on [[Gorlam Prime]], between ''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'' and ''Heart of Darkness''.
*Following the revelation of his "bad eyes" in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #25, Astrotrain has replaced (or covered) his individual optics—a product of his original Generation 1 [[character model]]—with a visor like that sported by his original Generation 1 toy.

===Transformers references===
*Galvatron's ancient "barbarian" body draws particular inspiration from his original Generation 1 toy. In particular, his arm cannon is based on the hand-held gun the toy came with.
*The significance of the '''thirteen''' tribes should be lost on no-one, hearkening as they do to the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Transformers]]. That link is solidified further this issue, as the leader of the tribe of Ancient Headmasters is named as "Nexus"—short for [[Nexus Prime (Classics)|Nexus Prime]], one of the thirteen in other continuities. Strengthening the allusion, Galvatron refers to "Nexus' enigma"; per ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus]]'', Nexus Prime possessed an object known as the [[Enigma of Combination]], which granted him the power to divide and re-combine his body. And Headmasters are certainly a form of combination... [[The Crucible|Issue #34]] would subsequently provide more information about the IDW Enigma.
*Alpha Trion's alternate mode in ancient times is the hovercraft form Coller designed for him while working on the ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide|Ironhide]]'' mini-series, which previously appeared only in concept art.
*The design of the Decepticons' spacecraft is inspired by the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]'', the ship [[Unicron]] bestowed on Galvatron in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', with its distinctive arced side protrusions.

===Errors===
*The flashback to one month ago on Cybertron is mistakenly labeled as being ''six'' months into the past. This is fixed in the trade.

===Other trivia===
*Where the previous two issues were "Parts" 1 and 2, from this issue onwards, "Earthfall"'s titles switch to "Chapters".
*After last issue appeared to imply a [[wikipedia:Floating timeline|floating timescale]] that placed the events of ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' only three years before this storyline, this issue has General Witwicky state that the attack took place ''eight'' years ago. Assuming that this story is taking place six months in the relative future from its printing date of mid-2014, that would date ''All Hail Megatron'' to around late 2006/early 2007, fairly in-keeping with when we have understood it to occur up to now. Apparently the [[wikipedia:Occupy movement|Occupy movement]] just took place a lot earlier in IDW continuity!

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Galvatron in Devastator's clutches, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Galvatron the Barbarian, by [[Casey Coller]] and Joana Lafuente
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' Optimus Prime and Megatron battle atop [[Sherman Dam]], as seen in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]", by [[Guido Guidi]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
*'''BotCon cover:''' Black-and-white lineart version of the 30th Anniversary cover, available exclusively at [[BotCon 2014]]
<gallery>
File:RID30 regcvr.jpg|
File:RID30 subcvr.jpg|"Hahah, [[Unicron|'Cron]] laughs at yah [[The Transformers: Windblade|Four Windblades]]!"
File:RID30 cvrRI.jpg|
File:RID30 BCcvr.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''Robots in Disguise'' #31
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Windblade issue 3|#3]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|#30]]
*15 Years of IDW: Spotlight on Gabriel Rodriguez
*''[[Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark]]''
*IDW: Getting Into Your Head for 15 Years (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/21296-transformers-robots-in-disguise-30-preview-galvatron-the-barbarian.html Preview]

Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide

2015-08-01T19:38:22Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=38
|prev=Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet
|next=The Permanent Revolution
|image=MTMTE38 regcvr.jpg
|title="Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 4]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=February 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}

'''Faced with the choice of allowing Megatron to be created, or damning Cybertron in order to create a better universe, the time-travelling ''Lost Light''ers learn that there truly is no future but that which they make for themselves.'''

==Synopsis==

Realizing his life is in danger, [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] lashes out at [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], demanding that he be sent back in time to save himself. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] restrains the former [[Decepticon]], and he and Perceptor insist that [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] has the matter well in hand. Megatron is unconvinced, given Rodimus's track record, but the decision is out of his hands: Perceptor sends Rodimus's team back in time, draining the last of the power from the ship's [[quantum generator]]s.

In the distant past, in [[Con Facility 113]], [[Brainstorm]] aims his gun at the [[reproduction|constructed cold]] Megatron's half-built form, but is suddenly taken out by a whirlwind-generating "[[grenado]]" hurled by Rodimus as he and his team materialize on the scene. Consulting the facility computers, [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] observes that Brainstorm has tried to delete information on Megatron from them, and calls upon [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] to help him fill in the blanks, but Rewind finds that his database has now been completely overwritten with the history of [[Functionist Universe|the alternate timeline]]. Brainstorm has not yet been stopped! The scientist recover and draws his gun once more, but Rung—having seen in the computer records that Brainstorm had been hesitating for ten long minutes before they arrived—is able to talk him into standing down. Brainstorm explains that he never wanted to kill anyone: he had intended to track Megatron through time using a [[spark]]print taken from him during his therapy session with Rung, planning simply to steer him away from "life-changing events", only to have his hand forced when he realized part-way into his journey that he was following a print accidentally taken from ''Rung'' instead. At that point, Brainstorm's injuries take their toll and he keels over... but just as he hits the floor, ''Rewind'' uses his gun to kill Megatron instead!

The shaken archivist shares what his overwritten database has told him: that if Megatron dies, although Cybertron will be consigned to a dystopian [[Functionism|Functionist]]-governed future, the ''rest of the universe'' will be spared the devastation of the Transformers' war. No one can really argue against his logic... except for [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who refuses to let the Functionists "win". Grabbing Megatron's body when nobody is looking and snatching the [[Point One Percenter]] spark taken from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] from Brainstorm's chest compartment, he locks himself in a nearby room and implants the spark into Megatron's body. With this action, Whirl ensures the safety of the existing timeline: Magnus contacts Rodimus let him know that time has begun moving again, but that, with the quantum engines out of power, they are now stranded in the past. To spare them this fate, Tailgate suggests they use the [[time phone]] to try and prevent the ''[[Lost Light]]'' from taking off in the first place, altering their destinies. Together, the group sends a message to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] on the ship's launch day, warning their future selves of all the dangers that they will face on their journey—though as [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] points out, if it was successful, all the ''good'' they have done on their trip will also not happen. Rodimus cuts off Cyclonus's rant and hands him Whirl's gun: though they cannot travel through time, Perceptor ''can'' teleport them one last time to a location on Cybertron that may hold the key to their salvation.

After Rodimus and Cyclonus have left, the weakened Brainstorm explains his motivations to Rewind: originally, he had created the time machine in order to save [[Quark]], the unrequited love of his life, from dying in [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore prison]]. Following the original Rewind's death and Chromedome's emotional breakdown, however, Brainstorm decided to expand the scope of his mission, and decided to save as many lives as possible by preventing the war. Afterward, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] asks Rewind to explain exactly where Rodimus and Cyclonus have gone; Rewind tells him they have gone to [[Unitrex]], the city in which the first interstellar starships were created. Pulling up an image of the region from his database, Rewind is struck by the sight of some very familiar fuel quills poking up from below the city...

Rodimus and Cyclonus arrive in a secret facility underneath Unitrex, where they are accosted by a security guard and his pack of [[turbofox]]es. Cyclonus deals with the guard, blasting him with Whirl's gun and locking his spasming form in a nearby room with his pets, while Rodimus speeds on ahead, locating the experimental generator that Perceptor has sent them to find. At Perceptor's direction, using information gained from the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s own engines, Rodimus makes a few modifications to the generator to turn it into a functional quantum engine, then plugs the case into it in order to charge it for a jump back to the future. As Cyclonus rejoins him, Rodimus ensures that he has brought Whirl's gun with him—they cannot leave an experimental weapon from Brainstorm's future arsenal lying about in the past, though Cyclonus can't read the scientist's terrible handwriting on the handle, and does not realize he shot the guard with a "[[Sparkeater Gun]]". Adding to the weirdness of the day, the entire complex suddenly disappears around them, shunted into the future by the newly-fashioned quantum engine—little do the pair realize that they have just been responsible for ''creating'' the ''Lost Light'' they will come to call home!

The next day, after everyone has returned to their proper place and time, things get back to normal aboard the ''Lost Light''. Brainstorm is in the brig; Chromedome and Rewind now sleep in the same room once more; everyone enjoys a movie screening and a singalong in [[Swerve's]]; and Megatron retires to his quarters with [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to silently regard his [[Rodimus Star]]. Rung pays a visit to Perceptor's lab to talk over recent events—Perceptor explains that the crew were ''always'' supposed to travel through time, their actions having always been part of history, and that the alternate "functionist timeline" only came into being accidentally, as a result of his tampering with the time machine's paradox locks. Further, he speculates that that alternate timeline may now actually exist as its own parallel universe...

...which is shown to be the case, as, across time and space, [[Functionist Council]] member [[One-of-Twelve]] is summoned by [[Quark]] with news of a world-shaking discovery made by janitorial 'bot [[Sweep (IDW)|Sweep]]. Dubbing Sweep "alt mode exalted" for his contributions, One-of-Twelve bring the news before the 'bot to whom it pertains: the captive Rung, "The Useless One", held prisoner due to the mystery of his [[alternate mode]]. But that mystery has now been solved, and the threat that the truth of Rung's form poses to the Functionists' regime demands his execution. But as One-of-Twelve holds a gun on him, Rung merely encourages him to pull the trigger, as doing so will only herald the beginning of the end...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (5)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (7)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (8)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (10)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (11)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (12)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (15)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (16)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (17)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (18)

|c2=
*[[Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (19)

|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (9)
*[[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]]-to-be (13)
*[[Quark]] (14)
*[[One-of-Twelve]] (20)
*[[Sweep (IDW)|Sweep]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''Rodimus?''' You want me to put my '''life''' in the hands of an Autobot who '''somersaults''' onto the bridge? An Autobot who pretends to be '''dead''' if you ask him a difficult question? An Autobot who, in response to a crisis in morale perpetuated by his own '''woeful''' captaincy, introduced a '''reward system''' based on his own '''face?'''" 
"You were happy to leave this to Rodimus when you thought it was '''Prime's''' life on the line..." 
"What? Don't be clever, it makes you sound stupid. God, now I'm starting to '''sound''' like him."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' on Rodimus, and [[Rodimus Star]]s

"Neatest handwriting. You?" 
"''Sigh.'' For abandoning my evil ways."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Megatron''' on the attributes that earned them their Rodimus Stars

"The old '''time-traveling''' grenade trick!" 
"'''Is''' it old?" 
"It is now."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Tailgate'''

"Holy '''heck''', that was intense! And it was '''exactly''' like the climax to [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]'s '''[[My Shovel, Your Face|play]]'''—except Brainstorm isn't a giant turbofox and the gun isn't a shovel and we're not trapped inside a carnival mirror and none of us are speaking in rhyme!"
:—'''Tailgate''', after Rung gets Brainstorm to stand down

"I never '''set out''' to kill anyone. All I wanted to was stop the war by steering Megatron away from '''life-changing events'''. 
"No one cares." 
"You say that, Whirl, but maybe—" 
"<big>'''♪'''</big> No one cares what you have to say...! <big>'''♫'''</big>"
:—'''Brainstorm''' and '''Whirl'''

"Cyclonus thought you'd traced the wrong energy signature. I said, 'Percy, make a mistake? The last time '''that''' happened it turned out '''physics''' had screwed up.' Ha!"
:—'''Rodimus''', to Perceptor

"I am '''so''' lost. '''Loved''' the pink flying sled—but that bit when he watches himself playing guitar? I mean, '''what?'''" 
"It's from the first one!" 
"There's a first one?"
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Riptide''' on ''Back to the Future Part II''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*''The Custom-Made Now'' is the third part of a trilogy of flashback stories, following ''Chaos Theory'' and ''Shadowplay''.<ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ TransMissions Episode 94 – James Roberts MTMTE Elegant Chaos Interview] 36:00 to 36:07</ref>
*Whirl mentions that this issue takes place in the middle of the "[[Silver Harvest]]", the name given in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]] to the discovery of Tyrest's stockpile of Matrix-born sparks, which was itself originally alluded to in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
*The data on Megatron erased by Brainstorm includes his batch code. It was originally established that Megatron had no batch code ''waaaay'' back in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|issue #22]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]].
*While not explicitly stated, this issue does provide a possible explanation why Megatron is so adamant about keeping his mode of creation secret. As he's a Point One Percenter spark in a cold constructed body, chances are he wasn't so sure of the answer himself.
*Brainstorm's sparkprint of Rung was taken back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], during the short blackout that showed the audience an x-ray view of Rung and Megatron. We assumed at the time that the blackout itself was the first of what would be many subsequent power outages that accompanied the slow quantum erasure of the ship and its crew, but perhaps it was, as Megatron suggested at the time, simply a power surge caused by the activation of Brainstorm's scanner.
*It was in the same issue that Megatron talked about the Maccadam's brawl during his therapy session, which Brainstorm was able to learn about because he was standing outside the room at the time.
*Brainstorm collected the Point One Percenter spark from Luna 1 in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]]. The fact that 'bots of two spark-types had been able to use Brainstorm's time machine when it was supposed to be coded for just his own type was a lingering question after [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|issue #37]], but the revelation that he was carrying a second spark with him is our implicit answer to how that worked.
*At long last, Tailgate is revealed to be the sender of the warning message we heard all the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]], in an attempt to warn the crew of all the terrible things that await them on their journey: Tailgate himself warns "Don't open the coffin" containing the alternate Rodimus's corpse, in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]; Rodimus cautions "Don't let [[Legislator|them]] take [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]" to Luna 1, as seen in issue #19; Rung urges "Don't go to [[Delphi]]", where the twin terrors of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] and [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] lurk, from issues [[Life After the Big Bang|#4]] and [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|#5]] (and leading to the rescue of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and Rung's near-fatal head injury from [[Interiors|issue 6]]); Chromedome guards the mistake he made in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], "Do not look in the basement", where [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] is imprisoned; and Riptide completes the message by warning them not to trust Brainstorm, but as we saw in issue #1, this part of the transmission was lost.
** Roberts knew all along that the broadcast was from the past and not from the future. That's why it deliberately doesn't say it's a message from the future in that issue! <ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ TransMissions Episode 94 – James Roberts MTMTE Elegant Chaos Interview] 37:40 to 38:59</ref>
*Brainstorm makes reference to when he was "sort of dead once", as seen in the closing chapters of "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]".
*Brainstorm revelation that he was in love with Quark clarifies the comment he made back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], when he implied to Chromedome that he had lost a Conjunx Endura of his own.
*Brainstorm's love for Quark probably explains, to some extent, his fanboyish infatuation with Perceptor beyond his being a rival scientist—he's also a microscope, like Quark, and Quark was always designed to resemble [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]].
*Quark was captured during the fall of [[K'th Kinsere]], a location brought out several times during Roberts's works; the Decepticons' attack on it was specifically described in issue #31. He was incarcerated in [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore]] prison, previously mentioned in "[[Bullets]]".
*Brainstorm's motivations cast new light on certain previous scenes: for example, when he hugs his briefcase to him during the group funeral in issue #16, or when he tells Rewind that he is "not yet" happy, but will be "soon", with his briefcase prominently displayed, in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*As is made obvious by the story though apparently not actually realized by any of the characters, Rodimus and Cyclonus do not simply visit a "secret base", but are actually teleported inside the younger version of the ''Lost Light'' itself, ''inside'' said base. The launch pad they find themselves on when the ship disappears is labelled "U1", the previous name of the ship, as revealed in issue #31. Essentially "perfected" by its own future crew, the ship is sent into the future, where it will be found by the NAILs who then sold it to Drift in issue #31. How the NAILs ''knew'' its original name remains a question, though...
*And of course, the unfortunate guard, mutated by the Sparkeater Gun, becomes the [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] that menaced the ship in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], and has been locked in the chamber it was freed from since the very beginning. The remains of three turbofoxes were found in the cell in issue #3, but presumably these weren't the ''original'' three turbofoxes we see in this issue; in #3, Rodimus speculated that the [[NAIL]]s who would eventually come to own the ''Lost Light'' were feeding the sparkeater the creatures to keep it docile, and issue #31 seemed to back that assertion up by revealing that said NAILs had stolen a brace of turbofoxes from the ''[[Alchemy-Seven]]''. Perhaps they were inspired to use turbofoxes after they saw what the Sparkeater did to the ones it was first locked up with.
*All this would also mean that the poor fellow Whirl shot with the gun last issue also turned into a sparkeater. Could that guy and whatever he got up to after being mutated have been the ''origin'' of the sparkeater myth, in turn inspiring Brainstorm to create the gun in the first place?? James Roberts nods and winks and implies yes!<ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ TransMissions Episode 94 – James Roberts MTMTE Elegant Chaos Interview] 1:08:00 to 1:08:21</ref>
*Ravage is revealed to still be aboard the ''Lost Light'', despite a certain amount of uncertainty being shed on whether he would choose to remain with Megatron or return to the Decepticons back in [[Slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #33]].
*"The Useless One" was originally mentioned in our first glimpse of the "Functionist timeline" in [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|issue #35]], and is here confirmed to be that timeline's version of Rung, thought it was fairly easy to deduce at the time. To no-one's great surprise, we here receive our first implication that his alternate mode is part of something much greater...

===Transformers references===
*The pistol Brainstorm trains on Megatron (which is also brandished by One-of-Twelve on the final page) is based on Megatron's original Generation 1 Walther P38 [[alternate mode]], sans the [[fusion cannon]]/scope and stock attachments, but retaining its barrel-extending silencer.
*Megatron was constructed cold in "[[Con Facility 113]]," yet another of Roberts's many references to [[113 (disambiguation)|the number]].
*The title of this issue, "Predestination: An Expert's Guide", parallels the title of issue #30, "Predestination: A Beginner's Guide."
*The harness in which alternate-universe Rung is suspended is a callback to the similar apparatus that contained Overlord beneath the ''Lost Light'' - they are even presented to us in the same quarter-view looking-up angle.

===Real-life references===
*You don't need us to tell you that the 'bots are watching ''{{w|Back to the Future Part II}}''—which is, of course, about characters travelling back in time to put history to rights and avert a terrible alternate timeline from happening, just like this story has been. Tailgate missed out on seeing the {{w|Back to the Future|first one}}, but Cyclonus evidently didn't, since he is able to lead everyone in a singalong of "{{w|The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News song)|The Power of Love}}" by {{w|Huey Lewis and the News}}, which doesn't appear (properly) in the sequel. "The Power of love," the song intones, "might just save your life"—a fitting summation of the emotions revealed this issue to have secretly driven the storyline.
*Whirl likes the film well enough, but he'd rather have ''{{w|Alphaville (film)|Alphaville}}''—it's directed by Jean-Luc Godard, whose work he expressed a fondness for in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]].
*Megatron's personal revelations this issue—that the universe would be better off without him—are an intentional flip of ''{{w|It’s a Wonderful Life}}''; that’s why we never see him again in the present until the end.<ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ TransMissions Episode 94 – James Roberts MTMTE Elegant Chaos Interview] 59:30 to 1:01:11</ref>

===Errors===
*When spotting the familiar fuel quills of the ''Lost Light'', Rewind says "They looks awfully familiar", rather than "That looks" or "They look".
*Cyclonus urges the others at the bar to sing along with a hearty "Altogether!" rather than a correct "All together!"

===Other trivia===
*Roberts has said this story is the most self-referential the comic will get, and he was conscious that showing the origin of the Sparkeater and the ship might be skirting the line. <ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ TransMissions Episode 94 – James Roberts MTMTE Elegant Chaos Interview] 47:44 to 49:39</ref>
*Originally intended for release in February 2015, continuing delays afflicting multiple IDW titles as a result of port closures on the west coast of America saw this issue pushed to the first week of March.
*On the day of this issue's release, "#mtmte" was a trending topic on Tumblr, meaning that the comic was one of the most talked-about topics on the entire platform (itself one of the top 25 internet destinations as ranked by traffic) in the whole world. This is, of course, ''AWESOME.''
*Perceptor notes that the Functionist timeline may function as a starting point for additional alternate timelines. Although the concept of alternate timelines and parallel universes was discounted as impossible back in issue #35 (in spite of contrary evidence within IDW continuity itself such as the [[Dead Universe]] and ''[[Spotlight: Mirage]]''), they are a long-standing concept in the ''Transformers'' franchise - so it's possible that the Transformers multiverse was created through Brainstorm's briefcase. James Roberts later clarified that the "phenomenally arrogant" subtext was his intention! <ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ Transmissions podcast interview with James Roberts (54:08)]</ref>
*However, an entry of the 2015 BotCon Facebook blog [[Ask Vector Prime]] indicates that Brainstorm's briefcase is not ''that'' far-reaching, as [[Vector Prime (Cybertron)|Vector Prime]] states that he was surprised to ''see'' [[Functionist Universe|Primax 1114.26 Gamma]] spring fully-formed into existence in the multiverse, as such an event is very uncommon.
*Perceptor mentions that his actions tampering with Brainstorm's time machine accidentally created the conditions for the existence of parallel universes. But if their timeline hadn't started to collapse and the Functionist timeline hadn't started to intrude, Rewind's database wouldn't have been overwritten. If Rewind's database hadn't been overwritten, he wouldn't have had the motivation to destroy Megatron's original spark. Furthermore, the revelation of the Functionist dystopia was also what prompted Whirl to save Megatron's life by transplanting the new spark, preserving the timeline. So that means Perceptor accidentally creating parallel universes must also have been preordained to occur. So the multiverse and all its infinite timelines were always destined to exist. My head hurts.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMRBCCDTl7s It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)]" by {{w|R.E.M.}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXS8FmruAQg Good Goodnight]" by {{w|Aqualung (musician)|Aqualung}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSo1yr9aHpM If the World Ends]" by {{w|Guillemots (band)|Guillemots}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4LjnuhA2sg Where Are They Now?]" by {{w|Gene (band)|Gene}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Brainstorm, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Rodimus tries to separate Whirl and Rewind, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron in a {{w|Coast Salish art}} style, by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE38 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE38 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE38 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
*IDW ''Edward Scissorhands'' comic
*IDW ''Skylanders Champions'' comic (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-38-idw-2015 Preview]

==References==
<references />

Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2015-08-01T06:04:59Z

Omgpuppies: /* Crimes against the Species */

{{suite}}
{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{featured}}
[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron A, Megatron B, Megatron Retailer's Incentive, Megatron Dynamic Forces Exclusive variant, and Megatron (Second Printing).]]
'''Megatron''' waged a battle to destroy the evil forces of the [[Senate]]! Then he ''continued'' to wage a war against the evil forces of freedom, organic life, and the very idea of an Autobot living.

{{quote|Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would not do so simply as a means to an end. No. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me '''pleasure'''.|Megatron to Optimus Prime|"[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]"}}

{{quote|And the thing is, when those words were in my head I didn't think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I '''did'''. If the world thinks you're a monster, what does it matter? The world is '''wrong'''. But when you start to think of '''yourself''' as a monster...|Megatron on the previous quote|"[[slaughterhouse]]"}}

__TOC__
==IDW Generation 1 comics==
{{ongoing}}
===Birth of a tyrant===
[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] was built in the 1st Cycle 012, one of the many Transformers [[reproduction|constructed cold]] during the [[Silver Harvest]]. The [[spark]] intended for this body was one generated from the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]... but this spark was destroyed while his body was still in the process of being built, by time-travelling [[Autobot]]s from the future attempting to prevent the destruction they knew Megatron would come to wreak upon the universe. But the non-existence of Megatron meant that the [[Functionist Council]] would eventually plunge [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into [[Functionist Universe|a dystopian hell]], and the Autobot [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who loathed the Functionists, refused to permit this to happen. Whirl replaced the deceased body's spark with a forged [[Point One Percenter]] spark that had been harvested by [[Brainstorm]] from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] millions of years in the future—and so Megatron was ''truly'' born: the first "hybrid" Transformer, a powerful forged superspark in a constructed cold body. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

Megatron desired to be a medic, {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} but alas, he lived in a time of functionism, where one's [[alternate mode]] denoted one's role in society, and one's role determined one's rights. As such, the true nature of his exceptionally rare spark apparently unknown, Megatron was assigned the task for which he had been built: that of [[energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, toiling in a mine under [[Nova Point]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron symbol creation.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|... And thus the "Silica Fracturism" art movement was born.]]

An idealist, intellectual and poet, Megatron was sickened by the caste-ridden social apartheid of [[Nominus Prime]]'s Cybertron, and so he wrote [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|a treatise]] on how pacifist dissent and the exchange of ideas could change things. It was while he was sharing this work with his miner friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] over a drink in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] that the event occurred which would change the course of his life, as Impactor wound up being drawn into a bar brawl with some of the city's upper classes and Megatron was among those arrested after the fracas. Megatron's writings had been growing in popularity and inspiring some dissent against the current regime, so in order to silence him, the [[Senate]] arranged for a police officer on their payroll, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], to kill him. Before Whirl could finish the job, however, police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], having discovered Megatron's innocence, arranged for his release. Despite Pax expressing support for the message of his writings, Megatron now found himself filled with rage and hate, disillusioned with his former ideology and realizing the power of applied violence. Angrily hurling the datapad on which he had written his treatise through a public info-screen, Megatron observed the jagged shape of the shattered glass, and later turned it into a [[insignia|symbol]] for his cause. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}
[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|When considering the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy, one question remains unanswered. Why am I always pictured with phallic-shaped items in awkward positions?]]
Megatron's samizdat writings began to circulate in Cybertron's underground, spawning the "[[Decepticon]]" movement, its name derived from its own slogan, "You are being deceived", warning the common 'bot of the Senate's true nature. Knowing that, at this stage, assassinating Megatron would merely make him a martyr, the Senate instead elected to relocate him off-planet, reassigning him to a mining facility on the world of [[Messatine]] while they tried their own schemes to defuse the growing Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} It was there that Megatron met [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]], an elderly fellow miner who encouraged him to keep writing, and who, in addition to proofreading his works for him, smuggled each new tract back to Cybertron, helping to continue the spread of the Decepticon movement. When Terminus was maimed in a mining accident and had his fuel rations cut off, Megatron kept him alive by sharing his own [[energon]] with the old 'bot. Eventually, Senate agents [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]] were dispatched to Messatine to perform mind-altering [[Shadowplay]] upon Megatron, in order to cut his writings off at the source. Tased into submission and strapped to Trepan's operating table, Megatron was helpless to stop the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] from beginning his vile work. Though the arrival of Froid's rival psychopathologist [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] fortunately forced Trepan to stop before Megatron's personality was altered, the experience left the miner with a lifelong fear of mnemosurgery. Subsequently, a mysterious surge of energy deep within the mine forced an evacuation of the facility; Megatron raced back to his quarters to carry Terminus to safety, but found his friend was not there. With time running out and no sign of Terminus anywhere, Megatron instead chose to save the stack of datapads containing his unpublished works—a decision that would haunt him. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}
[[File:MegatronOrigin1 first kill.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron was relocated to [[Mining Outpost C-12]], and continued to seethe with hate and frustration in his new workplace. His discontent reached a peak when, some time later, [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived to announce that the mine was being automated and the workers would be relocated. When one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, Megatron's fury boiled over and he hurled his pickaxe at Decimus. In turn, he was attacked by the Senator's guard, whom he killed by smashing his head to fragments—the first time he had ever taken a life. A riot erupted around him, but Megatron himself could only sit amongst the chaos, staring at his fuel-stained hands in abject horror, which allowed him to be easily pacified and rounded up with the other miners as the mayhem was quickly suppressed. En route to [[Penal Facility H-3|imprisonment]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], however, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard [[Longshot (G1)|their ship]]. Megatron joined in their effort, and together, they overpowered their guards, took control of the ship, and disappeared into the [[Kaon]] underground. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}
[[File:MegsOrigin2 Cykill.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Battle of the Awesome Voices!]]
After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal and excessive, and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, covertly sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. Their meeting was spied upon by [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]], agents from the Senate's forces, who Megatron slew. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Subsequently, impressed by how he treated his animal-form [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette partners]] as equals (in contradiction to the teachings of his Senate masters), Megatron invited Soundwave back to the gladiator pits and gave him permission to use his mind-reading abilities on him. Within Megatron's mind, Soundwave saw his honest desire for all Cybertronians to be true equals, and was so moved by it that he joined Megatron's cause. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Gradually, Megatron used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents, sending Soundwave to recruit more and more warriors to his cause. Such recruits included [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who he was presented with while having an arm he lost in a brawl replaced with a new limb that incorporated an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} and the disenfranchised warrior [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was personally asked by Megatron to fight at his side when he attended a Decepticon rally, and whom Megatron rechristened "Deadlock," {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} and transformed into a capable Decepticon warrior. {{Storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}} A wave of terrorism and sabotage spread across Cybertron at his command: bombings, wrecking factories and fuel plants, shutting down transport links, a mass poisoning to tank a corporation, and a very public kidnapping of Senator Decimus. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Seeking to enhance his army even further, Megatron reached out to [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Senator Shockwave]], offering to supply him the resources he required to carry out his own mysterious experiments in exchange for his using the teachings of his lost mentor [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a [[combiner]] that would serve the Decepticons. Shockwave cautioned that it could take some time, but Megatron was content to wait. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|You should have gone to IKEA.]]
Despite all his efforts, Megatron believed that the Senate was still not taking the Decepticons seriously, so Soundwave formulated a plan for a declaration of intent that could be not denied: lure the Senate to Kaon and murder them. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} In preparation for this scheme, Megatron offered to restore Shockwave's lost hands—a victim of [[empurata]]—believing that doing so might speed his work. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} The following day, in accordance with Soundwave's plan, Megatron and the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested by Sentinel Prime's men, after which Soundwave was freed on Ratbat's orders, while Starscream would ensure his own release by pretending to defect. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Together, Soundwave and Starscream exterminated the entire Senate, then liberated Megatron and the rest of their comrades, in the process granting their leader the gift of a [[fusion cannon]] liberated from the Senate forces' armory. Megatron led his army against Sentinel Prime's men, killed Sentinel himself, and took control of Kaon, now ready to turn his insurgency into a full-blown war. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

===Early days of war===

Megatron formally declared war on "[[Declaration Day]]" when he delivered a stirring speech from [[Nova Point|Nova Peak]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The growing Decepticon forces swiftly spread across six [[Polities of Cybertron|Torus-States]], {{storylink|Parasites}} and to combat them, Cybertron's new leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] assembled a new military force, the "[[Autobot]]s", led by Megatron's old acquaintance [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]. Researching his new opposite number, Megatron was intrigued to discover that his now-abandoned treatise had been a source of inspiration for Pax, who had even quoted from it when he confronted the Senate and openly accused them of corruption. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}} Early into the war, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] would admit to Pax that Megatron talked about him sometimes, when he was tired. When Pax asked what was said, Bludgeon told him that it would make "both of us feel ''uncomfortable''". {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}
[[File:Autocracy4 backroom meeting.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]
When Orion Pax came close to Kaon during a mission, Megatron saw it as a chance to speak to him and had his Decepticons bring him in. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Megatron attempted to convince him that Zeta Prime was even worse than he appeared—that he had planned to let Orion die in [[Nyon]] so that he could use his death as pretext to invade the rebel-infested city and drain the citizens of their energon—and proposed they work together against him, but Orion refused to hear him and then escaped. Knowing the doubts he'd placed in his head would only serve to damage the Autobot cause, Megatron let him go. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}
[[File:Autocracy8 megs and pax together.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Megatron, let's roll." "What you thinking?" "...Pub?"]]
Megatron continued to keep an eye on Orion Pax's activities, spying on his encounter with the Nyon insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Zeta Prime's [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s suddenly attacked Nyon, Megatron was surprised by how zealously the new Prime fought against the city's rebels, but his real interest still lay on how Orion would handle the crisis. {{storylink|Purge}} Orion turned on Zeta, who in turn attempted to kill him, prompting Megatron to intervene and force the Prime to retreat. Taking Orion back to Kaon, he again offered that they work together against Zeta's corruption, and this time the Autobot officer accepted. {{storylink|Choices}} As their combined forces invaded the [[Citadel]] in Iacon, Megatron and Orion Pax made their way inside and fought Zeta Prime in person. The battle ended with Megatron killing the Prime with a head shot, and with his objective complete, he then betrayed the injured Orion by shooting him in the back. {{storylink|Overthrown}} This moment lived in infamy as the point at which Megatron revealed his true colors, no longer couched in ideology; {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt}} though curiously, an alternate report incorrectly implied he had assassinated Zeta from afar, sniping him with the rifle alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:Autocracy12 no you dont megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|I can't be the only one with deja vu here.]]
With Zeta dead, Megatron conquered Iacon and declared himself ruler of Cybertron. His soldiers patrolled the planet's streets to "keep the peace", mostly by hunting down and capturing any remaining Autobots who opposed him. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} During his rule, Megatron attempted to sway the neutral Hot Rod into joining the Decepticons, but he decided otherwise upon witnessing Megatron ordering the execution of several Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron was shocked to learn that Orion Pax had survived the betrayal and was organizing a rebellion against him under the name "Optimus Prime", and even more shocked that people actually had the courage to listen to him. He wasted no time in striking back against the rebels approaching the Citadel with the full force of his army. {{storylink|Broadcast}} During the battle, Megatron unleashed Zeta Prime's energy-draining [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]], but when the gigantic [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] took out the cannon, Megatron fell to the streets and was confronted by Optimus Prime himself. He lost the ensuing [[The Transformers: The Movie|familiar-looking duel]] and was badly wounded after a failed attempt to defeat Prime by holding Hot Rod hostage, forcing him to escape aboard Astrotrain. As he fled, he warned Optimus that he hadn't won, he had only started a war unlike any Cybertron had ever seen. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:Monstrosity3 Megatron and Pentius.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron insists on wearing his Darksiders cosplay when he's walking his pet Quintesson.]]
Before Megatron could recover from his injuries, he was betrayed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who was gunning for the position of Decepticon leader (with aid from Starscream). As punishment for his failure to hold Iacon, Scorponok banished the wounded Megatron to the hell-world of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Further injured in battle with some [[Junkion (species)|cannibalistic natives]], he stubbornly refused to give up and used the trash littering the world to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched, monstrous appearance. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} While searching for a way off Junkion, Megatron entered the wreckage of a starship and found a trapped [[Quintesson]] named [[Pentius]], who had mapped the planet and knew of an area known as the [[Pillar of Rust]] where starships may land and take off. Megatron freed the alien to guide him there, while also putting him in chains to serve as his slave. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}}
[[File:Monstrosity7 megatron takes pentius spark.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|"Thanks for turning me into the psychopath I've been the whole time!"]]
While crossing the [[Acid Sea]] on the way to the Pillar, Megatron was attacked by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] who pulled him into the depths. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} For reasons unknown he was then released, the creatures having allowed him to live. As he emerged, Pentius was waiting with a history lesson, telling him that Junkion was once a prosperous world until its inhabitants drained it of resources, leaving it the broken husk it is today: a fate that may also await Cybertron. Megatron rejected this possibility, declaring that under his rule, Cybertron—and his legacy—would last forever. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On arrival at the Pillar of Rust, Megatron was met by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who had come to Junkion to finish what Scorponok had started by killing him. He was able to fight off several of his attackers, but [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] was too much for him to handle in his injured state. Egged on and taunted by Pentius, Megatron realized he had one last resource left to use: the Quintesson himself. Telling Pentius that his legacy would live on within him, he tore out the alien's [[spark]] and used it to fuel himself, granting him enough power to defeat Hun-Gar. He spared the Terrorcons in exchange for their loyalty, then returned to Cybertron on their ship to take revenge on Scorponok and take back control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}
[[File:Monstrosity12 strange turns.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Megatron returned to a Cybertron in chaos, as the ancient reptilian [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] had been unleashed by Scorponok and was in the midst of razing Iacon. After reasserting his leadership of the Decepticons by beating Scorponok nearly to death, he had Shockwave restore his body to its original shape and condition, {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and set out to investigate the Trypticon situation alone, unwilling to risk his soldiers in the face of the beast's uncontrolled fury. Finding an injured Optimus Prime on the battlefield, Megatron lectured him, but opted to leave him alive so that he could watch as the Decepticon leader defeated the enemy that Prime could not. Megatron was attacked by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], but as they grappled, they were swallowed by Trypticon. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Within the giant, the pair set their differences aside to fend off the [[cyber-morphic predator]]s that populated his interior, and together, they destroyed Trypticon's internal power cell, taking him offline. A tense standoff between the Autobots and Decepticons followed as the two warriors emerged from within Trypticon, but both sides agreed to go their separate ways for the time being. Not long after the battle, however, Megatron removed Pentius's spark from within himself and installed it within Trypticon. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast (issue)|Belly of the Beast}}
[[File:Primacy4 megatron imprisoned.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]

After being fully repaired following his ordeals, Megatron roused Trypticon by exploiting the connection they now shared thanks to both having borne Pentius's spark. Discovering that Trypticon now possessed the consciousness of Pentius, Megatron was immediately suspicious of the Quintesson's potential treachery and was staggered by the visions of undiluted evil he saw in the aliens' past via their spark-link, but Trypticon assured him that he was dedicated to their shared goal of breaking a world. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Using Trypticon's city-ship alternate mode, Megatron took to the stars, rounding up the scattered Decepticon army and even recruiting Junkions and Sharkticons. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} Returning to Cybertron in force, Megatron was content to wait and watch from the sidelines while his troops viciously tore into Iacon. Trypticon was defeated in battle by Metroplex, at which point Megatron's folly was revealed: through their link, Pentius mockingly revealed his intention to use Trypticon consume Cybertron once the Autobots and Decepticons had weakened each other. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} Leaving his men with orders to burn Iacon to the ground if he failed in order to spare it such a fate, Megatron set off for Trypticon's fallen body in hopes that he would be able to remove Pentius's spark before the giant revived. Confronted atop Trypticon by Optimus Prime, Megatron tried to goad the Autobot leader into destroying him, believing that Pentius would be destroyed with him thanks to their link. Refusing to accept death as the answer, Optimus instead used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to purify Megatron, burning Pentius's spark away; Megatron, however, vowed that he would never stop hating Optimus in spite of what he had done for him. Sadly resigned to the fact that the once-noble revolutionary he had admired was now lost, Optimus knocked out the weakened Megatron and took him into custody. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}
{{-}}

===The spreading conflict===
[[File:MTMTE14 megatron vs overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]

Escaping Autobot custody under as-yet-unrevealed circumstances, Megatron continued to wage the war. Early in the continuing conflict, he wrote ''[[Towards Peace]]'', a new treatise to replace ''After the Ark'', in which he described continuing to fight the war until the very notion of conflict was literally inconceivable. Then and only then would he finally give up his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The earliest edition of the work featured a dedication to Terminus, which Megatron would later remove to reflect the lesson his friendship with Terminus had taught him: not to get attached. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} He oversaw the creation of a class of super-warriors known as the [[Warriors Elite]], selecting only his most powerful troops to undergo the torturous upgrade, including [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], a brilliant sadist and frequent opponent of his from his pit-fighting days who had developed an obsession with Megatron after the Decepticon leader dealt him his first ever defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} At some point, he also created the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to deal with traitors, {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} though he elected not to send them after Deadlock when he defected, valuing the warrior enough to instead dispatch [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] to bring him in. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}}
[[File:ChaosTheory prime vs megatron montage.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Good times, bad times.]]
Megatron would personally clash with Optimus Prime many times; Optimus grew to respect and fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, while Megatron himself respected Prime's sheer power and his skill as a tactician and as a leader. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} Megatron would later incorrectly recall their battle on [[Sherma Bridge]] during the [[Rorsha Campaign]] as the first time they met. Said battle was certainly momentous—every Autobot and Decepticon stopped fighting to witness their duel, during which Megatron's cannon arm was sliced off by Prime's [[energon-axe]], and he claimed revenge by throwing the Autobot leader off the bridge. As the war spread to other planets, they would meet again and again: during the [[Siege of Massunstrad]], Megatron sealed Prime in an anti-matter chamber; on [[Rada Mor]], Prime reduced Megatron to ashes with sentient explosives; and in the midst of the [[Vorsk Offensive]], Megatron was nearly sliced in half by Prime. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Though he resisted [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s attempts to find a "Two City-State Solution" to the war, he did agree to abide by the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Megatron took on a new pistol alternate mode for the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he was used by [[Heretech]] to blast [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} During the same skirmish, Megatron took off half of Prime's face with his energon mace, but had a city block dropped on him by Prime in retribution, which shattered his [[transformation cog]] and trapped him in gun mode for two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Prime was not the only old face that Megatron would see again during the war: during a battle on an aerial drilling platform over the [[Manganese Mountains]], Megatron came face-to-face with his old friend Impactor, and stood poised to execute him until Impactor gave him a moment's pause by recalling his old fondness for poetry. In this moment, Megatron was knocked from the platform by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and sent plummeting to the mountains below. {{storylink|Zero Point}}
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|"We attack the Rice Krispies guys at dawn! Assuming Judd Hirsch delivers the goods."]]
At the war's zenith, Megatron sealed himself in an [[Omniglobe]] to absorb the relentless flood of data coming in from countless fronts. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} With total war going nowhere, he would go on to develop a six-stage [[infiltration protocol]] to be used for conquering targeted planets. The sixth phase called for outright planetary razing, and Megatron selected three of his Warriors Elite for this task: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}}, Overlord and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]. He informed this trio of his decision via teleconference, but Overlord, tired of being used as someone else's weapon, refused. Megatron threatened to hunt Overlord down for his disobedience, {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} but while the powerful warrior spent the rest of his life preparing for this conflict, Megatron never followed up and left him to stew in his own obsession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}
[[File:Stormbringer1 get up and fight.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|You don't gotta go home Prime but you can't stay here.]]
Deducing that the Autobot/Decepticon war would culminate in an energy crisis that would threatened the stability of Cybertron itself, Shockwave left Cybertron to secretly pursue alternate energy sources. Around 10,000 years ago, when Shockwave did not return, Megatron ordered Bludgeon to investigate his files, {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} and probe deeper into whatever it was Shockwave had created. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Shockwave's prediction soon proved accurate, and Cybertron found itself in the throes of an energy shortage. Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces", or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research; instead, he experimented on himself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}} The process gave him immense power, but drove him insane. He became so dangerous that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head. Shortly after the last big push by the Decepticons, Cybertron was abandoned by both factions. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #2}}

===Breaking protocol===
[[File:Infiltration4 enter megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb]]
In the present day, when word reached Megatron that the infiltration unit led by [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], stationed on the planet [[Earth]], had broken protocol, he headed for the planet to investigate. Examining the unit's abandoned bunker in [[Nebraska]] for information, he discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ore-13]]—an incredible energy source that (unbeknownst to Megatron) was the end result of Shockwave's experiments—and was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} While studying the bunker's files, he was contacted by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] with some distressing news: Bludgeon's investigations of Shockwave's files had led him to revive Thunderwing. Megatron ordered the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron, authorizing them to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of their homeworld itself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Just as he was handing down this order, Megatron was happened upon by [[Verity Carlo]], a human ally of the Autobot unit active on the planet, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} but he utterly ignored her. The bunker was then leveled by an airstrike courtesy of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who were merely covering their unit's tracks and unaware of Megatron's presence; when their leader furiously emerged from the wreckage, Skywarp attempted to explain their ignorance, but Megatron simply responded by blasting him out of the sky. Blitzwing favored opening fire rather than attempting explanations, so Megatron beat the stuffing out of him too, then set off for Starscream's new bunker in [[Oregon]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Those librarians are getting really strict on late returns.]]

{{quote|You will stand down. If you fight, you ''die''. There is no room anymore for mercy. In the end, you are ''all'' expendable. Choose.|Megatron's ultimatum to Starscream's renegade troops|[[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]}}

[[Orbital jump]]ing to Oregon, Megatron called Starscream out and ordered the team to stand down, disgusted to see such power games being played amongst his troops. His brief, chilling speech was enough to take the fight out of all but Starscream, who, powered-up on Ore-13, took Megatron on himself. Though the new power source made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was taken out by a point-blank fusion cannon blast through his torso. Megatron ordered the Decepticons to ensure that Starscream survived, and then, observing the Autobots who had been watching the battle, announced that it was time to begin phase two. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

In light of the discovery of Ore-13, Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth and elected to get the infiltration protocol back on track himself, calling a meeting to make Starscream's former troops and making them aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} He continued to order his troops on Earth directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} and was even able to revisit his past gun alternate mode, once again able to achieve the [[size changing|mass displacement]] the mode required thanks to the extra energy Ore-13 provided. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
With his forces joined by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], a new arrival who Megatron suspected of having ulterior motives, {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} the Decepticon leader initiated phase two of infiltration protocol by destabilizing relations between the European nations of [[Latveria]] and [[Symkaria]] through use of an aggression-inducing [[Psycho-Prism]], stolen from Latverian dictator [[Doctor Doom]]. When the superhero team known as the [[Avengers]] investigated the array the Decepticons' were using to broadcast the prism's signal, Megatron abducted the arachnid-powered [[Spider-Man]] to use as a subject for their [[mirror response mode]], {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} draining the hero's powers and infusing himself and the other Decepticons with them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} He proceeded to forge a brief alliance with Doctor Doom, who helped him defeat and capture the allied Autobot/Avenger team who snuck inside the Decepticons' array, but when Doom's suggestion to threaten the captives in order to force the other heroes to lay down their arms failed, Megatron violently dissolved the partnership. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} Emerging from the confines of the array to take on the Autobots and Avengers himself, Megatron refrained from engaging Prime, foreseeing a more intimate confrontation between the two of them in the near future, and instead turned his attention to destroying [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor. The tables soon turned, however, when Doctor Doom freed the captive Autobots and used the Decepticon's mirror response technology to empower them. Defeated by these enhanced Autobots and with the Psycho-Prism destroyed by [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]], Megatron used the last of his extra power to teleport the Decepticons out with an [[emergency warp-out]]. He refrained from departing alongside his warriors, intending to slaughter the Avengers for their interference, but when he was immobilized by Spider-Man's webbing, knocked to the ground by [[Luke Cage]], and rattled by a hail of Autobot fire, he finally warped-out with a final taunt to Optimus Prime of the battle yet to come between them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}
[[File:Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb]]
With phase two of [[infiltration protocol]] properly underway, Megatron recognized that he ''should'' rightly withdraw and install a new unit commander on Earth, but could not resist the chance to try out his new Ore-13 empowered body, selecting the nation of [[Brasnya]], where Decepticon subterfuge was already underway, as his testing ground. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} Allowing the Decepticon's [[facsimile construct]] [[Georgi Koska]] to wield him in pistol mode, Megatron had Koska use him to first sever a [[Russia]]n oil pipeline, and then to fire upon the soldiers who came to investigate, furthering the political and military tensions already brewing in the region. When word came through from Blitzwing that Optimus Prime and the Autobots had arrived, {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} Megatron at last engaged Optimus directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} and although Prime was able to destroy his fusion cannon, the extra strength afforded Megatron by Ore-13 allowed him to physically beat Prime into submission, punching directly into his chest and crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} [[File:Escalation5 prime vs megs.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]] The horrified Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. It turned out that Prime's apparent death was a desperate ruse when the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness—the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Furious over the embarrassing defeat, Megatron threw protocol out the window and ordered that Sixshot be summoned to the planet. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} He took out some of his anger on Ramjet, who he discovered had been busy cooking up a plot to overthrow him; without saying a word, he beat the attempted traitor to death before tearing him apart and keeping his head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
[[File:Devastation5 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, and although the [[Phase Sixer]] questioned his early deployment, he was happy to go along with the abandonment of the phase structure. The other Decepticons, on the other hand, were worried that Megatron was losing his grip—and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}} Megatron monitored Sixshot's attack on the Autobots' [[Ark-19]], ordering him to pursue the escape pod that broke away from the crashing craft, {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} but before he could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron was forced to recall him to deal with a new threat assaulting the Decepticon base—the alien [[Reaper]]s. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Unfortunately, the Reapers convinced Sixshot to side with them, and when an Ore-13 powered Starscream entered the fray to take Sixshot down, Megatron realized his troops had been conspiring against him. He decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to greater threat posed by the Reapers, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and entered battle alongside them all, even allowing Starscream to wield him in pistol mode against the aliens. After the invaders were dead, however, he turned on his men, starting with Blitzwing—but was forced to realize that they needed to remain united when it became apparent that their battle with the Reapers had made humanity inescapably aware of their existence {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}
{{-}}

===All Hail Megatron===
[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|"I don't think I'd have made a good medic. No patience."]]
While the Decepticons were occupied fighting the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the greater threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Megatron and his men went to ground; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the Decepticons, who kept one step ahead of them for months. Secretly abducting [[Hunter O'Nion]], former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner to the Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Megatron and his men returned to Cybertron, where Megatron had [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] conduct experiments that bred a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. The experiments culminated in the creation of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who Megatron employed in a series of key tasks in his plan: the Insecticon obtained from Hunter's mind various Autobot secrets and codes, completed Shockwave's long-gestating combiner process, granting the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and created a working [[space bridge]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} based on designs sold to them by Sixshot in exchange for his freedom. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

Returning to Earth, the Decepticons staged a phony schism within their ranks, allowing the Autobots to believe that they had "disappeared" as a result of a power struggle that had split their ranks into two camps, one led by Megatron and one by Starscream. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Starscream then approached Sunstreaker, whose experience as a Headmaster had left him bitter and jaded, with the proposition that the Autobots join with his forces against Megatron, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when the Autobots arrived at the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and quickly defeated by Devastator. After personally tearing [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Optimus Prime's chest, Megatron marched the captive Autobots through the space bridge back to Cybertron, where the Insecticon swarm waited for them. Prime, however, was able to damage the bridge, causing it to deposit the Autobots a safe distance from the swarm, but in the process, fried his own circuits and left himself comatose. Though the Autobots had escaped the fate he had intended for them, Megatron had successfully exiled his enemies to their dead homeworld; moreover, using information and codes gained from Sunstreaker and Hunter, he concurrently orchestrated the event that would later be known as [[Surge (event)|The Surge]], as Decepticons stormed Autobot installations all across the galaxy, achieving total victory. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:Bringingthehousedown.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's urban renewal program was off to a flying start.]]
With galaxy-wide domination accomplished, one year after the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, Megatron chose Earth to become the new Decepticon homeworld. Together with his men, Megatron stormed [[New York City]], humiliating Starscream with a display of his greater capacity for destruction. When the US Air Force retaliated, Megatron shrugged off their fire and ordered the other Decepticons to engage them; when one damaged jet threw itself toward him in a suicide run, Megatron, outraged at the [[DJ (G1)|pilot]]'s temerity, destroyed it and its occupant with a furious swipe of his hand. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} When US Army forces arrived, Megatron ordered [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] dispatched to deal with them, then sent Devastator to destroy the subway tunnels leading out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With New York secured, Megatron directed the Constructicons to begin building a new space bridge in the city's heart, and had a candid talk with Starscream, revealing his belief that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s attitude and actions marked him as the embodiment of the Decepticon cause, even if he was blind to seeing it himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} After a series of further attacks on major American cities saw the country firmly crushed under the Decepticons' collective heel, Megatron made a propaganda speech to his men in the ruins of New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} As night fell upon the city, Megatron withdrew to privately gloat over the Matrix. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:AHM6MegatronVsIsrael.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]
As the Decepticons began attacking other countries around the globe, Megatron was questioned by Starscream on what the next step in his plan was. A recalcitrant Megatron merely informed him that it was merely time to savor their victory, but Starscream accused him of not ''having'' any plans post-victory, and was merely allowing his men to run wild to distract them from any notion of taking power for themselves. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} What Starscream did not realize was that Megatron did indeed have a plan: to defeat the Autobots, he had created an army of killers and monsters, but in order to create his perfect rule, that army would have to be destroyed, the dissenting, distasteful elements obliterated before Megatron's peace could dawn. Megatron was not distracting his warriors... he was ''waiting'' to see which of them would question and turn on him. Silently sorrowful to already know that such dissent would begin with Starscream, an otherwise-model Decepticon, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} Megatron withdrew to [[Israel]] for some silent reflection amid wholesale devastation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM10 megs vs devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Some time later, Megatron surveyed the space bridge Bombshell and the Constructicons had built in New York. He congratulated Bombshell on his work, but revealed that he had always foreseen Bombshell's intellect as a danger—had always known he and his fellow Insecticons would side with Starscream when the time came. His gambit exposed, Starscream made his move and attacked, but the Insecticons proved no match for Megatron's might. The Decepticon leader had failed to anticipate one thing, however: he did not foresee the Constructicons siding with Starscream, and found himself having to fight the mighty Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The in-fighting was halted by a last-ditch attack by the mustered might of what remained of the human resistance, forcing Megatron and Starscream to put their differences aside momentarily and organize a defense. This attack came as no surprise to Megatron, but the same could not be said for the next entrants onto the battlefield: the Autobots had returned.

After assuring Starscream that he would be leader in the future, when his time was done, Megatron confronted Optimus Prime, surprised not so much that his old foe had survived, but that he had bothered to return to Earth. Both leaders had always maintained a policy of acceptable losses through their millennia-long war, so Megatron assumed Prime had come back for selfish reasons, to reclaim the Matrix, but Prime insisted that he had changed, and would no longer allow their cold war to endanger innocent lives on this scale. [[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]] Megatron scoffed at the notion, reavling that Prime's supposedly "innocent" humans were planning to nuke New York, killing millions of their own just to get rid of the Decepticons, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} but Prime retorted that it wasn't ''just'' about the humans, but also about the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. The two came to blows, but Megatron triumphed in short order and commanded the Decepticons to depart, leaving the Autobots to be killed by the humans' nuke... but just before they withdrew, he was shot in the face by human soldier [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], wielding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Cybertronian technology. Injured and disoriented by the blast, Megatron was finished off when Prime smashed his face in with his own fusion cannon. As he wanted to ''take'' leadership rather than just have it fall in his hands, Starscream picked up his damaged leader and ordered the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:AllHisEngines-Megatron.jpg|thumb|Pretty sure when you float in a bacta tank you're supposed to be wearing a diaper.]]
The Decepticons departed Earth aboard Astrotrain, where the gravely wounded Megatron was put on life support and tended to by Soundwave and his cassettes. With Megatron's life signs only at ten percent capacity, Starscream attempted to appeal to Soundwave's sense of logic and have him shut down so that leadership could be his, but Soundwave refused. Starscream was soon able to take command, however, when he recovered the Matrix of Leadership and professed to have been chosen by it. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===New body, new powers===
The Decepticons eventually settled on a desolate asteroid, where Megatron was installed in a [[CR chamber|CR tank]]. Retaining some level of awareness of the events occurring around him during his convalescence, he was forced to watch as his army languished in inactivity, their energy slowly ebbing away until they were reduced to cannibalism. {{storylink|All His Engines}} After a year of trying to free his leader from this living death, Soundwave was finally forced to conclude that Megatron's body was beyond repair, and recruited the recently returned Shockwave, whom Starscream had provided with the majority of the Decepticons' resources to create a space bridge, to help build a new body for Megatron's consciousness to inhabit. The operation succeeded and Megatron was reborn in a deadly new body, powered by Ore-13, armed with a devastatingly powerful rail gun, and even equipped with space bridge nodes stolen from Metroplex, which gave him the ability to open space bridge portals on his own. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing15 megatrons new body.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"Uh, it's like...did anyone ever see the movie ''Tron''?"]]
Back in action, Megatron devised a plan to destabilize the relationship between the humans and Autobots on Earth. Together with Soundwave and Shockwave, he chopped up his old body and used it to create human-scaled replicas of his former gun mode, containing small pieces of his own consciousness. When Starscream caught them in the act, Megatron elected to table his plan for the moment, as he considered it folly to go against Starscream's wishes for the moment since the Seeker was still in possession of the Matrix of Leadership. Megatron had never truly understood what the talisman ''did'', but it served as a threat merely by being an unknown variable. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} Fortunately, for Megatron this variable was soon removed from the equation when Hot Rod, estranged from the Earthbound Autobots, infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base and recovered the Matrix from Starscream. Megatron seized his chance, intercepting the Autobot and blasting him and the Matrix out into the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

[[File:SLMegatron stealth bomber mode.jpg|thumb|275px|Behold... the ''Bomberang!'']]
With Starscream's trump card now gone, Megatron had the Decepticons gathered so he could address them. Distrustful of Shockwave's motives for preparing his new body, wary of Soundwave's constant surveillance, and repulsed by the state of his once fearsome Decepticon war machine, Megatron decided that he needed to unequivocally reestablish dominance over the now Matrix-less Starscream. He intended to beat Starscream near to death as a means of letting them both work out their frustrations with Starscream's inability to lead effectively during Megatron's absence, but Starscream did not want to fight—spiritually broken by his failures, he simply wanted Megatron to kill him. Rather than accept this, Megatron instead goaded Starscream into opening fire upon him. This began a running battle between the two, with Megatron pursuing the fleeing Seeker in his new stealth bomber alternate mode, continuing to bait Starscream every time he appeared willing to give up the fight. Incensed by Starscream's accusation that he did not know what it felt like to see everything he had worked for fall apart, when that was exactly what Starscream's pitiful leadership had done to the empire he had created, Megatron pummeled him to within an inch of his life, then paused to explain why he kept a schemer like Starscream around: as a constant reminder to watch his back. The brutal display galvanized the languid Decepticons, and Megatron was ready to begin his scheme. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing14 megatron guns.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|Megatron doesn't support the NRA. He IS the NRA.]]
Roughly two years after the Decepticons' defeat on Earth, Megatron used his space bridge powers to dispatch a container full of the guns made from his old body to Earth, where they were found by South American gun-runners and illegally disseminated amongst an increasingly paranoid public seeking ways to protect themselves against Transformers. This allowed Megatron's consciousness to spread across North America, until it was focused enough to contact one particular owner of a Megatron gun: [[Joe Gladki]]. He deceived and manipulated the paranoid human, and eventually convinced him to perform an assassination attempt on [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} In their ignorance, the Autobots then mistook Gladki's gun for Megatron himself and held it captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}}

[[File:IDWongoing16 megatron vs autobots.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Not the [[Realignments|first time]] he's traded his [[fusion cannon]] for a [[rail gun]].]]
With the Autobots in chaos, Megatron started the next phase of his plan and returned to Earth personally, where he used his new stealth bomber mode to shoot down a plane carrying Optimus Prime and several other Autobots. He then hunted down the remaining Autobots, effortlessly defeating them and their new temporary leader Ultra Magnus with his powerful new body, and killing some of their [[Skywatch]] allies. Magnus tried to draw Megatron's attention from the humans, claiming the Autobots were the ones he really wanted, but Megatron assured him that humanity was his real target. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Taking the defeated Autobots captive, Megatron dumped them in a city and directed three of his mind-controlled human puppets to kill them. Contacting Prime directly, Megatron summoned him to the city's outskirts and revealed his plan: crush Prime's spirit and destroy the Autobots' alliance with humanity by forcing them to choose between fighting the humans or allowing them to kill them. Prime found the hole in Megatron's plan, however, when he realized that Soundwave was maintaining the connection between Megatron and his guns, and shot him in the head. His connection to his pawns severed, Megatron scooped up Soundwave and withdrew. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Thanks to a tracker Ultra Magnus had slipped on Soundwave, though, Prime was able to follow the Decepticons to their bolthole and called Megatron out for a full and proper confrontation. In actuality, Prime had lured Megatron outside so Skywatch could drop a [[kinetic harpoon]] on him, but even a weapon dropped from orbit barely proved able to put a scratch in Megatron's mighty new exostructure. Megatron proceeded to beat Prime senseless, but then returned him to the Autobots, and to their great shock, surrendered to their custody. After recovering, Optimus demanded to know why he had surrendered, but Megatron merely taunted him by revealing that Spike Witwicky had murdered a Decepticon in cold blood. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} Prime immediately had Prowl begin investigating Spike and Skywatch, and Prowl interrogated the Decepticon leader for information, which he provided after a little verbal sparring. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron imprisoned.jpg|upright=1.5|left|thumb|Megatron and Optimus Prime can't agree on a safe word.]]
When Rodimus returned to Earth and warned the Autobots that [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] had taken control of Cybertron, Optimus decided to lead the Autobots in reclaiming their homeworld. In the name of Earth's safety, he elected to bring Megatron and the confiscated guns made from his old body with them. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} On the way to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Prime again attempted to discern why Megatron had surrendered, even releasing his old foe from his bonds and having a civil conversation with him about their past together and their dueling ideologies. Optimus tried to reach out to Megatron, offering him the chance to end the war once and for all with a handshake; Megatron appeared to consider it for a moment but ultimately remained silent. With Megatron returned to the confines of the [[variable voltage harness]], the other Autobots pressured Optimus for a decision on his fate: execution or imprisonment. Trying to come to a conclusion, Prime asked Megatron if he regretted any of his actions, but the Decepticon leader remarked that he only regretted not killing ''more'' Autobots. He taunted Prime with the notion that even he was thankful for the war, as it had raised him from a nobody to the greatest Autobot in history, and a furious Prime activated the harness, electrocuting Megatron. The jolt would have killed Megatron if Omega Supreme had not cut the power in time and Megatron, struggling to stay conscious, offered Prime his thanks for saving his life all those years ago in Rodion. Shocked by his actions, Prime realized that Megatron wanted to die and wanted Prime to be the one to kill him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Eventually, Prime decided to let Megatron choose his own fate, and Megatron calmly replied that he chose death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Chaos2 armored megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|...Again...?]]
As Omega drew close to Cybertron, Megatron demanded to know who or what was threatening their homeworld, but Optimus Prime refused to provde him with any information. {{storylink| Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} The Autobots subsequently engaged Galvatron's forces in battle, and while they were occupied, Megatron put into motion the ace he had up his sleeve: taking remote control of the numerous "Megatron guns" aboard Omega, Megatron summoned them to him and combined with them into a new armored mode. Breaking free from his restraints, he headed out to confront Galvatron, intent that nobody would take his world from him. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} As he tore through the Sweeps, Megatron also revealed the reason for his surrender: now that he was back on Cybertron, he could open a space bridge that would allow the massed forces of the Decepticons on Earth to return to their home planet as well. Unfortunately, not long after the Decepticons arrived on the battlefield, Galvatron's secret puppet master, the Dead Universe entity known as [[D-Void]], seized control of their minds and those of the Sweeps, merging them into a gigantic, monstrous avatar. With Prime occupied pursuing Galvatron into Cybertron's depths, Megatron was left to face this "[[Deceptigod]]" alone. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Fighting against D-Void's attempts to ensnare his own mind and make him part of the collective, Megatron was gravely wounded and even lost an arm to the beast, but succeeded into destroying it, blasting it apart with one massive beam from his weapons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

===The long game===
Even as the Deceptigod disintegrated back into its component Decepticons, Megatron could see the potential the creature embodied—D-Void had, in essence, created the perfect combiner by means of utterly obliterating free will. With Cybertron reverting into a primordial wasteland around him—a result of Optimus Prime purifying [[Vector Sigma]] with the Matrix to stop Galvatron and D-Void—Megatron chose to withdraw to experiment with the possibilities this presented. He informed Shockwave, the sole Decepticon who had not been made part of the Deceptigod, of his plans, and Shockwave in turn revealed them to Soundwave and Bombshell. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} While Megatron hid in the wilderness, his Decepticons were left to live as second-class citizens in the new [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] that the Autobots built; Optimus Prime left Cybertron two weeks after D-Void's defeat to calm tensions with "NAILs"—other unaffiliated Cybertronians—who had returned to their homeworld, but even as he did so, he mused that Megatron must still be out there somewhere. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:RID11 megatron in wilderness.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Megatron can't find anyone who wants to join his nudist colony to save his skin.]]
In the months of study and experimentation that followed, Megatron discerned that the combination of Ore-13 and space bridge technology in his body somehow gave him the ability to manipulate the natural energy of Cybertron that D-Void had used to merge the Decepticons into the Deceptigod. After experiments on [[turbofox]]es created larger, more ferocious beasts, Megatron stepped up trials when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] seceded from the shaky government Bumblebee, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and Starscream were building in Iacon and ventured into the wilderness. The signal Megatron had created from the combination energy first drove the Aerialbots mad, before uniting them in body and mind, spontaneously merging them into the gestalt [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but this newborn Autobot combiner was considered hopelessly insane by Megatron and left to die in the wilderness. The madness aspect of the signal afforded him the chance to revive some of the principles of the infiltration protocol, however, as he blanketed the wastelands in it, forcing the Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs to stay in Iacon, causing natural conflict among them to snowball, providing a useful cover for his actions. To gain a pawn within Autobot high command, Megatron even provided Bombshell with the energy to use in conjunction with his own mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s, ensnaring the mind of Prowl. With the resources and cover control of Prowl provided, Shockwave, Soundwave and Bombshell were able to use Megatron's findings to perfect the combination process, rebuilding the Constructicons with new modular designs that would allow them to merge into a perfect Devastator. The endgame was for Megatron himself to form the head of the combiner, but before risking his own mind and body, Megatron decided that Prowl would be used first as a test subject. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:RID12 kill him.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
The appearance of a [[Crystal City Metrotitan|Metrotitan]] on Cybertron which declared that Starscream was the "Chosen One" threatened Megatron's ability to easily re-take leadership of his Decepticons, forcing him to step up his schedule. Through Prowl, he had his inner circle gathered together in the secret "[[Black Room]]", then boldly strode into Iacon for all to see. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} His body shattered and skeletal, he professed to come in peace, but Bumblebee did not accept his surrender and ordered his Autobots to kill him. Indeed, Megatron could possibly have died there and then had Iacon's Decepticons not stepped in, insisting that Megatron's defense of Cybertron during D-Void's attack marked him a hero and that he be taken into custody instead. {{storylink|City on Fire}} After [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] got through examining him to prove his body concealed no weapons, Starscream approached the imprisoned Megatron and attempted to explain that he was not far away from taking complete power in the government, ensuring a Decepticon victory of a different kind. Megatron merely smiled silently at the notion, terrifying his ex-lieutenant with his grin. Presently, the Decepticons rose up in an angry mob and marched on Autobot high command to insist on Megatron's release; the situation quickly devolved into a riot, during which a squad led by [[Needlenose]] stormed the prison and freed Megatron. {{storylink|The Verge}}

[[File:RID14 new body redux.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.55|New body or not, Megatron may want to think twice about standing [[:File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|underneath Devastator's legs.]]]]
Megatron brought Starscream and the captured Bumblebee and Metalhawk to the Black Room, where he explained his plans and had himself transferred into a pre-prepared new body that could combine with the Constructicons' new forms. At his command, the Constructicons and Prowl combined into the new Devastator, who immediately set about razing Iacon. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Even the return of Superion seemed unable to stop the powerful new combiner, until help came from an unexpected quarter—Prowl's secret assassin [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] killed Bombshell, taking out Prowl's controller and causing Devastator to shut down. This was no real impediment to Megatron, however, as the successful function of the new combiner process had been proven, and he set out to take ''his'' place as Devastator's head. Before Megatron could reach the fallen gestalt, though, Devastator awoke, possessed of his own unique, united consciousness for the first time, and resumed tearing into Iacon. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:RID20 megatron in forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|You know you can't catch a break when you find yourself trapped inside a novelty plasma lamp from Spencer's.]]
Still Megatron remained unfazed, calmly fending off Autobot attacks and waiting for the inevitable moment when the heroes would take Devastator down. When [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] succeeded in doing so by managing to reach Prowl, Devastator separated, and Megatron immediately stepped in, re-initiation the combination with himself in control. Seconds before uniting with the Constructicons, though, his plan was foiled by Bumblebee, Ironhide and Prowl's activation of a secret failsafe: Wheeljack had integrated a forcefield generator into Megatron's spark casing during his examination of him, and when it was triggered, he was completely paralyzed in mid-transformation. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

In the fallout of the battle, Starscream killed Metalhawk, took control of Iacon and banished the Autobots and Decepticons from the city. He took custody of the immobilized Megatron, and silently gloated over the victory he had accomplished by using guile and politics, rather than Megatron's ways of brute force and firepower. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

===A new approach===
Megatron would not remain incapacitated for long. That night, as the end result of millennia-long secret machinations by Shockwave, an [[Necrotitan|undead Metrotitan]] appeared on Cybertron and opened a portal to the Dead Universe in the planet's skies. Through the portal, Shockwave made contact with Galvatron and his master, the exiled Cybertron despot [[Nova Prime]], but was unable to bring them through to Cybertron thanks to the unexpected disappearance of the Titan's space bridge system. Intending to use the space bridge within Megatron as a replacement, {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Shockwave reanimated the deceased Metalhawk with a wave of necrotic energy from the Titan and had him liberate Megatron and bring him to his secret lab in [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

[[File:RID24 i remember you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Somewhere in the multiverse, [[Override (G1)|Override]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] are smiling.]]
Shockwave hoped that Megatron would comply with his plans willingly, but the Decepticon leader refused and Shockwave forcibly activated the space bridge technology in Megatron's body. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The opening of the bridge in his chest caused Megatron agony, but his screams were heard by Soundwave, who led the united forces of the exiled Autobots and Decepticons to Shockwave's lab to free his leader. Nova Prime and Galvatron attempted to squeeze their way through the space bridge despite this interference, but Ironhide was able to punch Nova back through into the Dead Universe. Just then, Shockwave's "Necrotitan" came crashing into the subterranean city, and in the chaos, Megatron was freed from the restraints holding him. No sooner had Megatron carried Ironhide to the safe hands of the other Autobots, however, than he was ripped in half from behind by Galvatron, who had successfully emerged through the portal {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}} — a briefer battle, no doubt, than the one Shockwave had foreseen between the pair in a vision at the outset of his scheme. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:MTMTE26 megs and bee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I smell a sitcom!]]
After the battle was over, Galvatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] lugged Megatron's bisected remains back into Crystal City, only to find their way barred by the unlikely form of Bumblebee, who demanded they hand Megatron over. Galvatron attacked the Autobot, at which point Megatron revealed that he was fine, as he took down Waspinator and knocked Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bumblebee lugged Megatron back to Iacon, currently being razed by the Necrotitan, where the Decepticon leader announced to the assembled Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs his plan to withdraw to [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], summon the Decepticon Justice Division and other scattered troops, and strike back. Bumblebee rejected Megatron's notion of retreating, and struck a nerve within him by questioning his entire philosophy: Megatron had ''long'' ago abandoned any notion of fighting for freedom and equality, Bumblebee attested, and merely used the claim to ideology as an excuse for his actions. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Fortunately, fighting back suddenly got a lot easier when Metroplex and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' space-bridged to Cybertron. During the battle between the Titans, Megatron observed Metroplex reaching for the ''Lost Light''; when the ship's crew explained that they had Metroplex's severed thumb aboard, Megatron had Bumblebee carry him to it, whereupon he realized that the thumb contained one of Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] ores. Megatron used his internal space bridge to teleport the thumb back to Metroplex, and the ore provided the giant with the power boost to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|ಠ_ಠ]]
At Bumblebee's order and under protest, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] repaired Megatron's injuries and reattached his legs, reminding Megatron of his desire in youth to be a medic. His recent string of failures, the success of ''Starscream'', of all 'bots, and Bumblebee's stinging words had turned the Decepticon leader introspective, and he realized he had forgotten something very important that had driven his writings in his early years: winning meant turning people to your way of thinking, not dominating them. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Subsequently, when Shockwave initiated his millennia-long plan to collapse all reality into a universal black hole, Megatron placed himself and the Decepticons under Bumblebee's command to co-ordinate a counter-strike, and journeyed with his uneasy new "friend" into Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base to confront their shared enemy. There, they found the weakened Galvatron, who Megatron prepared to destroy for past indignities, until Bumblebee talked him down, convincing him that blood did not have to be repaid with blood. At that moment, Shockwave struck, slaying Bumblebee with a blast, and driving Megatron into a rage. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Empowered by his various ores and the energy of the Dead Universe, Shockwave was a formidable opponent and it was all Megatron could do to hold his own against him until Optimus Prime arrived to join the fight. Prime attempted to reason with Shockwave and remind him of the kindly senator he had once been, but his words had little effect, so Megatron opted for a more object lesson: removing the fallen Bumblebee's insignia, he placed it upon his chest and declared himself an Autobot. The stunned Shockwave lost control of the time machine powering his plot, causing his old pre-[[Shadowplay]] memories to emerge. Horrified at what he had become, he allowed Megatron and Prime to kill him, which caused the time machine to collapse into a singularity. Megatron and Prime made what seemed to be a futile dash for freedom, but were saved from the singularity's pull at the last moment by the timely arrival of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

===Crimes against the Species===

{{quote|I don't want to be acquitted. I want to '''make amends'''|Megatron on his new goal in life|"[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide]]"}}
[[File:DCFinale this is not a trick.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|Optimus apparently decided a sincere Megatron was a cue for mood lighting.]]
In a private meeting between Optimus Prime and Megatron a short time after Shockwave's defeat, Megatron affirmed that his change of heart was genuine, and Optimus assured him that he could see past his wartime deeds and remember the well-intentioned 'bot he had started out as. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} The rest of Cybertron, however, demanded a trial; Autobot High Command agreed, realizing that the Decepticon leader's fate had to be decided in public. Before the trial, Megatron was approached by Optimus, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and Rodimus in an attempt to extract some of the Decepticon's memories as evidence in hopes of expediting the proceedings, but a horrified Megatron refused, considering the sanctity of his mind all he had left. After Optimus departed, Rodimus remained to taunt Megatron with the certainty of his execution; in return, the impassive Decepticon simply asked Rodimus to deliver a [[communicube]] to Optimus, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} containing a request to have the trial moved to the [[Raskol Arena]] on Luna 2, in order, he alleged, to accommodate the huge number of spectators that would inevitably attend. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|I agreed to this trial on the condition of meeting Matlock.]]
Megatron's trial lasted five months. At the outset of the proceedings, Megatron pled guilty to "Crimes against the Species", {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} but things changed when Starscream took the stand and gave a testimony that presented Megatron as an incapable leader who was unable to control the Decepticon forces under his command, a powerful brute lacking in the qualities of true leadership who led his followers down an ultimately self-destructive path. His treacherous lieutenant's words struck home, and Megatron stunned the assembled crowd by changing his plea to "not guilty". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Just as his defender, Ultra Magnus, was reading a statement declaring this, the trial was dramatically interrupted by a small army of Decepticons led by [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]], who had escaped from the brig on the ''Lost Light''. The invading force attempted to teleport Megatron away to safety, but he refused to escape and the uprising was quickly quelled. During the recess that followed, Optimus confronted Megatron over his true motives: he had requested that the trial be held on Luna 2 in order to exploit the moon's different legal system in the event that he felt the trial was unjust. Caused by Starscream's speech to realize that, were he to submit to execution now, his legacy would be one only of pain and death, Megatron invoked one of the moon's forgotten laws: an individual who had committed sufficiently heinous crimes could request he be judged by the long-lost [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Megatron requested that he be allowed to join the ''Lost Light'' in their search for the Knights and their homeworld of [[Cyberutopia]], thus ensuring that ''that'' would be his legacy, after which he would submit to whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Optimus agreed on the condition that Megatron read a prepared speech denouncing the Decepticon cause and asking all active Decepticons to stand down. Megatron did so, at great personal pain. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Hurt and angry over this perceived abandonment, Soundwave used Megatron's change of faction as evidence to forge a new allegiance of his own, decamping to Earth and working with the [[Earth Defense Command]] to create a new home for Autobots there. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}
[[File:MTMTE30 cocaptains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|O captain, my co-captain.]]
Megatron was assigned co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light'' alongside Rodimus, who immediately hated the idea and everything about it, leading to a particularly antagonistic relationship between the two. Megatron was permitted only to fuel himself with "[[Fool's Energon]]", which left him substantially weakened. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Shockwave's machinations had left his internal organs a tortured Gordian knot of space bridge wormholes from which it was impossible to extract his spark; his outward appearance changed between the end of his trial and his co-captaincy, suggesting that his armor was rebuilt around him, or his entire internal structure was transplanted into a new body. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron would later lament that his body did not graft to his spark like past chassis, which he considered a sign of his waning age. {{storylink|Slaughterhouse|Slaughterhouse}} Optimus would see Megatron off on his voyage before he himself headed off to Earth, a meeting Prowl found deeply disturbing. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}

===Towards Peace===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron head examined.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"So Megatron, tell me about your mother." "She was hot."]]
The ''Lost Light'' warped back out to the Galactic Rim and set off on the trail of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who they considered their best lead on the location of the Knights. A month into the journey, Megatron agreed to a therapy session with ship's psychoanalyst Rung. Megatron was less than forthcoming, but when Rung inquired about the removed dedication to Terminus from ''Towards Peace'', Megatron explained to him his current thinking on personal history, and one's ability to selectively edit or abandon entirely previously-held truths. Departing for his quarters, Megatron found that his door had been heavily grafittied by Whirl, who then suddenly attacked him, declaring that their shared history made the battle inevitable. Megatron responded by undermining Whirl's entire life with the revelation that the ex-Wrecker's penchant for surviving tough scraps was a falsehood: the second order Megatron had issued upon forming the Decepticons was that under no circumstances was any Decepticon to kill Whirl. As they struggled, Megatron taunted Whirl with the knowledge that his memory of Whirl's actions all those years ago had helped keep him on the path of violence; the outraged ex-Wrecker punched Megatron in the stomach, only to find his hand teleported away by the space bridge tangle inside the former Decepticon. This took the fight out of Whirl, and Megatron offered to forget the incident if the graffiti was removed from his wall. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

Leaving Whirl behind and heading for the bridge, Megatron received a report that the ''Lost Light'' had crossed paths with a coffin floating in space. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron oversaw the bringing onboard of the coffin and its transport to the med-bay. A short time later, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] snuck into the med-bay on a drunken dare in search of Megatron's "Fool's Energon", unaware of its true nature; caught in the act and believing he had been poisoned by the fuel, he triggered his forcefield, which inadvertently cracked the coffin open. Megatron reprimanded him by permanently engaging his fuel intake moderation chip, and assigned him the role of Security Director in order to focus his mind. The pair then turned their attention to the opened coffin, which was revealed to contain the body of another Rodimus! {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}
[[File:MTMTE32 i came to hate the person id become.jpg|thumb|275px|Lolcat is watching you deprecate.]]
Brief analysis suggested that the body was of Rodimus from the future, but before the matter could be settled, the crew of the ''Lost Light'' were forced to abandon the ship as it suddenly began disappearing around them. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} The disappearances did not stop there, however: Megatron found himself on the [[Rodpod]] with a score of other 'bots, and when ''they'' then began to vanish, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] accused Megatron of being responsible. A tense Mexican standoff ensued, which was brought to a surprising end when [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] was discovered to have been hiding on the pod, having secreted himself on the ''Lost Light'' in order to spy on Megatron for Soundwave. The disappearances continued, and Megatron clashed with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] as he tried to find a pattern. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The weirdness only continued as the remaining crew of the Rodpod—Megatron, Ravage, Nightbeat, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Nautica]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], and [[Getaway]]—discovered the wreckage of a second ''Lost Light'', point of origin for the mystery second Rodimus, orbiting the planet [[Ofsted XVII]]. Still believing that the duplicate ship hailed from the future, Skids accused Megatron of being responsible for the devastation, and, realizing that the recent huge changes he had made in his life left him devoid of any surety in his future actions, Megatron allowed himself and Ravage to be imprisoned until the truth could be determined. Locked in a supply closet with Ravage, Megatron had a heart-to-heart with his angry ex-subordinate, justifying his decisions and unable to offer Ravage any consolation. When power returned to the ship, the pair discovered the dead bodies of Ratchet, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] in the closet with them, their [[brain module]]s stuffed in their mouths—calling card of [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] of the Decepticon Justice Division. Realizing the DJD was responsible for destroying the ship the team re-grouped and prepared to retreat when an even stranger discovery was made: Autobot archivist [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] was found, still alive, the only survivor of the DJD's attack, despite the fact that he had died months beforehand. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}
[[File:MTMTE33 megatron skids right there.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"...But you're not the [[Skyfall (G1)|worst]] [[Zeta Prime (G1)|guy]] to wear the badge. So keep trying."]]
Nautica and Nightbeat were able to deduce the whole story: the duplicate ''Lost Light'' was not from the future, but rather, it and its crew were quantum duplicates created in the explosion of the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] during the ship's original launch two years prior. To make matters worse, the [[quantum foam]] leaking from the engines was threatening to destroy Ofsted XVII, but Megatron had no compunctions about getting to safety and leaving the planet to its fate until Skids called him out, forcing him to face up to the fact that being an Autobot meant more than wearing a badge, and had to be reflected in one's actions. When all other options were exhausted, Megatron admitted that he could use his old mass-displacement ability to shrink his robot form down, enabling him to safely make it through the foam and deactivate the engines, saving Ofsted XVII, "cancelling out" the duplicate ''Lost Light'', and reinstating their own. The diminutive Rewind joined him in the task; Megatron showed him kindness by holding back knowledge of his counterpart's passing so that he might die happy, but Rewind was mysteriously ''not'' erased when their task was successfully completed. As they made their way back to the returned ''Lost Light'', Megatron invited Ravage to remain at his side, hoping an up-close view of the DJD's horrors had instilled in him some doubt in the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}
[[File:MTMTE38 send me back.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75|"AND I WANT YOUR LUNCH MONEY TOO NERD!"]]
Returning to "their" ''Lost Light'', Megatron's team discovered that their Brainstorm had incapacitated the crew and used his mysterious [[briefcase]] to travel back in time. The ridiculousness of the entire situation caused Megatron to have a mini-breakdown, but he soon got ahold of himself, and theorized that Brainstorm was attempting to change history by killing Orion Pax. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Rodimus led a squad back in time in pursuit, which led to Megatron having a cross-time conversation with the young Orion Pax via Rodimus's "[[time phone]]" communicator. Pretending to be his own younger self during the call, Megatron found the young 'bots optimism for the future a mixed source of both affirmation and tragic amusement. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} After Rodimus's team made several further jumps, Megatron deduced that the dates they were travelling to were not important moments in Pax's life, but Megatron's own. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} Realizing that Brainstorm intended to kill him at the moment of his creation, he flew into a panicked rage, attacking [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and demanding the scientist send him back in time to save himself, until Ultra Magnus restrained him and the pair talked him down. As events in the past played out, Megatron was visibly shaken to hear that Rewind had been the one to pull the trigger that destroyed the original spark in his body, and that the universe would truly be a better place had he never existed. Although Whirl subsequently set the timeline to rights, Megatron did not join in the celebrations when everyone returned from the past, retiring to his quarters to brood. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}
When Optimus contacted the ''Lost Light'' to invite them home for first contact, Rodimus declined, saying it would interfere with their quest, while Magnus promised to send a shuttle with representatives from the ship, Megatron just hung silently in the background. When the call ended Rodimus told Optimus that Megatron said 'Hi'. Megatron said no such thing but Rodimus ended the call before he could tell Optimus. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} Megatron dedicated some of his spare time to writing poetry, but his works remained largely unappreciated- a single poetry reading at Mirage's bar, [["Visages"]], was enough to empty the bar of its patrons. This returned the title of popular Lost Light bar back to [[Swerve's]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

===Pax Cybertronia===
In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and Alpha Trion during the reformatting of Cybertron, fifteen million years hence, Ironhide still believed Megatron to be alive and promised a young Autobot they would defeat him again if he ever returned. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
{{-}}

===''Spotlight: Mirage''===
[[File:SLMirage all in good time.jpg|thumb|275px]]
{{NoteSLMirage}}
Somewhere, in an unknown time or place, the self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] dreamed of Megatron and his Decepticons launching a massive attack on the Autobots. But Mirage knew that to only be a dream; in reality, the Autobots were almost eradicated, and Megatron had hired him to hunt down the last of their number. Megatron was outraged by the mercenary's demand for a majority share in all energon mining operations as payment, but it proved to be fuel well spent, as he soon succeeded in locating Optimus Prime and forcing him to surrender. Megatron demanded the prisoners be executed despite Mirage's promise to spare Autobot lives. Seeing Mirage's hesitation, Megatron appealed to his greed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*In [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]], we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, a helmet and not part of his head (at least in his original body). Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, but it is briefly revisited in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]] when a helmetless Megatron spars with [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]].

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Point One Percenters]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2015-08-01T06:04:18Z

Omgpuppies: /* Crimes against the Species */

{{suite}}
{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{featured}}
[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron A, Megatron B, Megatron Retailer's Incentive, Megatron Dynamic Forces Exclusive variant, and Megatron (Second Printing).]]
'''Megatron''' waged a battle to destroy the evil forces of the [[Senate]]! Then he ''continued'' to wage a war against the evil forces of freedom, organic life, and the very idea of an Autobot living.

{{quote|Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would not do so simply as a means to an end. No. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me '''pleasure'''.|Megatron to Optimus Prime|"[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]"}}

{{quote|And the thing is, when those words were in my head I didn't think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I '''did'''. If the world thinks you're a monster, what does it matter? The world is '''wrong'''. But when you start to think of '''yourself''' as a monster...|Megatron on the previous quote|"[[slaughterhouse]]"}}

__TOC__
==IDW Generation 1 comics==
{{ongoing}}
===Birth of a tyrant===
[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] was built in the 1st Cycle 012, one of the many Transformers [[reproduction|constructed cold]] during the [[Silver Harvest]]. The [[spark]] intended for this body was one generated from the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]... but this spark was destroyed while his body was still in the process of being built, by time-travelling [[Autobot]]s from the future attempting to prevent the destruction they knew Megatron would come to wreak upon the universe. But the non-existence of Megatron meant that the [[Functionist Council]] would eventually plunge [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into [[Functionist Universe|a dystopian hell]], and the Autobot [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who loathed the Functionists, refused to permit this to happen. Whirl replaced the deceased body's spark with a forged [[Point One Percenter]] spark that had been harvested by [[Brainstorm]] from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] millions of years in the future—and so Megatron was ''truly'' born: the first "hybrid" Transformer, a powerful forged superspark in a constructed cold body. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

Megatron desired to be a medic, {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} but alas, he lived in a time of functionism, where one's [[alternate mode]] denoted one's role in society, and one's role determined one's rights. As such, the true nature of his exceptionally rare spark apparently unknown, Megatron was assigned the task for which he had been built: that of [[energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, toiling in a mine under [[Nova Point]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron symbol creation.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|... And thus the "Silica Fracturism" art movement was born.]]

An idealist, intellectual and poet, Megatron was sickened by the caste-ridden social apartheid of [[Nominus Prime]]'s Cybertron, and so he wrote [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|a treatise]] on how pacifist dissent and the exchange of ideas could change things. It was while he was sharing this work with his miner friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] over a drink in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] that the event occurred which would change the course of his life, as Impactor wound up being drawn into a bar brawl with some of the city's upper classes and Megatron was among those arrested after the fracas. Megatron's writings had been growing in popularity and inspiring some dissent against the current regime, so in order to silence him, the [[Senate]] arranged for a police officer on their payroll, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], to kill him. Before Whirl could finish the job, however, police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], having discovered Megatron's innocence, arranged for his release. Despite Pax expressing support for the message of his writings, Megatron now found himself filled with rage and hate, disillusioned with his former ideology and realizing the power of applied violence. Angrily hurling the datapad on which he had written his treatise through a public info-screen, Megatron observed the jagged shape of the shattered glass, and later turned it into a [[insignia|symbol]] for his cause. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}
[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|When considering the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy, one question remains unanswered. Why am I always pictured with phallic-shaped items in awkward positions?]]
Megatron's samizdat writings began to circulate in Cybertron's underground, spawning the "[[Decepticon]]" movement, its name derived from its own slogan, "You are being deceived", warning the common 'bot of the Senate's true nature. Knowing that, at this stage, assassinating Megatron would merely make him a martyr, the Senate instead elected to relocate him off-planet, reassigning him to a mining facility on the world of [[Messatine]] while they tried their own schemes to defuse the growing Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} It was there that Megatron met [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]], an elderly fellow miner who encouraged him to keep writing, and who, in addition to proofreading his works for him, smuggled each new tract back to Cybertron, helping to continue the spread of the Decepticon movement. When Terminus was maimed in a mining accident and had his fuel rations cut off, Megatron kept him alive by sharing his own [[energon]] with the old 'bot. Eventually, Senate agents [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]] were dispatched to Messatine to perform mind-altering [[Shadowplay]] upon Megatron, in order to cut his writings off at the source. Tased into submission and strapped to Trepan's operating table, Megatron was helpless to stop the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] from beginning his vile work. Though the arrival of Froid's rival psychopathologist [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] fortunately forced Trepan to stop before Megatron's personality was altered, the experience left the miner with a lifelong fear of mnemosurgery. Subsequently, a mysterious surge of energy deep within the mine forced an evacuation of the facility; Megatron raced back to his quarters to carry Terminus to safety, but found his friend was not there. With time running out and no sign of Terminus anywhere, Megatron instead chose to save the stack of datapads containing his unpublished works—a decision that would haunt him. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}
[[File:MegatronOrigin1 first kill.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron was relocated to [[Mining Outpost C-12]], and continued to seethe with hate and frustration in his new workplace. His discontent reached a peak when, some time later, [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived to announce that the mine was being automated and the workers would be relocated. When one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, Megatron's fury boiled over and he hurled his pickaxe at Decimus. In turn, he was attacked by the Senator's guard, whom he killed by smashing his head to fragments—the first time he had ever taken a life. A riot erupted around him, but Megatron himself could only sit amongst the chaos, staring at his fuel-stained hands in abject horror, which allowed him to be easily pacified and rounded up with the other miners as the mayhem was quickly suppressed. En route to [[Penal Facility H-3|imprisonment]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], however, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard [[Longshot (G1)|their ship]]. Megatron joined in their effort, and together, they overpowered their guards, took control of the ship, and disappeared into the [[Kaon]] underground. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}
[[File:MegsOrigin2 Cykill.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Battle of the Awesome Voices!]]
After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal and excessive, and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, covertly sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. Their meeting was spied upon by [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]], agents from the Senate's forces, who Megatron slew. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Subsequently, impressed by how he treated his animal-form [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette partners]] as equals (in contradiction to the teachings of his Senate masters), Megatron invited Soundwave back to the gladiator pits and gave him permission to use his mind-reading abilities on him. Within Megatron's mind, Soundwave saw his honest desire for all Cybertronians to be true equals, and was so moved by it that he joined Megatron's cause. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Gradually, Megatron used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents, sending Soundwave to recruit more and more warriors to his cause. Such recruits included [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who he was presented with while having an arm he lost in a brawl replaced with a new limb that incorporated an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} and the disenfranchised warrior [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was personally asked by Megatron to fight at his side when he attended a Decepticon rally, and whom Megatron rechristened "Deadlock," {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} and transformed into a capable Decepticon warrior. {{Storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}} A wave of terrorism and sabotage spread across Cybertron at his command: bombings, wrecking factories and fuel plants, shutting down transport links, a mass poisoning to tank a corporation, and a very public kidnapping of Senator Decimus. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Seeking to enhance his army even further, Megatron reached out to [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Senator Shockwave]], offering to supply him the resources he required to carry out his own mysterious experiments in exchange for his using the teachings of his lost mentor [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a [[combiner]] that would serve the Decepticons. Shockwave cautioned that it could take some time, but Megatron was content to wait. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|You should have gone to IKEA.]]
Despite all his efforts, Megatron believed that the Senate was still not taking the Decepticons seriously, so Soundwave formulated a plan for a declaration of intent that could be not denied: lure the Senate to Kaon and murder them. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} In preparation for this scheme, Megatron offered to restore Shockwave's lost hands—a victim of [[empurata]]—believing that doing so might speed his work. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} The following day, in accordance with Soundwave's plan, Megatron and the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested by Sentinel Prime's men, after which Soundwave was freed on Ratbat's orders, while Starscream would ensure his own release by pretending to defect. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Together, Soundwave and Starscream exterminated the entire Senate, then liberated Megatron and the rest of their comrades, in the process granting their leader the gift of a [[fusion cannon]] liberated from the Senate forces' armory. Megatron led his army against Sentinel Prime's men, killed Sentinel himself, and took control of Kaon, now ready to turn his insurgency into a full-blown war. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

===Early days of war===

Megatron formally declared war on "[[Declaration Day]]" when he delivered a stirring speech from [[Nova Point|Nova Peak]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The growing Decepticon forces swiftly spread across six [[Polities of Cybertron|Torus-States]], {{storylink|Parasites}} and to combat them, Cybertron's new leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] assembled a new military force, the "[[Autobot]]s", led by Megatron's old acquaintance [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]. Researching his new opposite number, Megatron was intrigued to discover that his now-abandoned treatise had been a source of inspiration for Pax, who had even quoted from it when he confronted the Senate and openly accused them of corruption. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}} Early into the war, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] would admit to Pax that Megatron talked about him sometimes, when he was tired. When Pax asked what was said, Bludgeon told him that it would make "both of us feel ''uncomfortable''". {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}
[[File:Autocracy4 backroom meeting.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]
When Orion Pax came close to Kaon during a mission, Megatron saw it as a chance to speak to him and had his Decepticons bring him in. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Megatron attempted to convince him that Zeta Prime was even worse than he appeared—that he had planned to let Orion die in [[Nyon]] so that he could use his death as pretext to invade the rebel-infested city and drain the citizens of their energon—and proposed they work together against him, but Orion refused to hear him and then escaped. Knowing the doubts he'd placed in his head would only serve to damage the Autobot cause, Megatron let him go. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}
[[File:Autocracy8 megs and pax together.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Megatron, let's roll." "What you thinking?" "...Pub?"]]
Megatron continued to keep an eye on Orion Pax's activities, spying on his encounter with the Nyon insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Zeta Prime's [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s suddenly attacked Nyon, Megatron was surprised by how zealously the new Prime fought against the city's rebels, but his real interest still lay on how Orion would handle the crisis. {{storylink|Purge}} Orion turned on Zeta, who in turn attempted to kill him, prompting Megatron to intervene and force the Prime to retreat. Taking Orion back to Kaon, he again offered that they work together against Zeta's corruption, and this time the Autobot officer accepted. {{storylink|Choices}} As their combined forces invaded the [[Citadel]] in Iacon, Megatron and Orion Pax made their way inside and fought Zeta Prime in person. The battle ended with Megatron killing the Prime with a head shot, and with his objective complete, he then betrayed the injured Orion by shooting him in the back. {{storylink|Overthrown}} This moment lived in infamy as the point at which Megatron revealed his true colors, no longer couched in ideology; {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt}} though curiously, an alternate report incorrectly implied he had assassinated Zeta from afar, sniping him with the rifle alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:Autocracy12 no you dont megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|I can't be the only one with deja vu here.]]
With Zeta dead, Megatron conquered Iacon and declared himself ruler of Cybertron. His soldiers patrolled the planet's streets to "keep the peace", mostly by hunting down and capturing any remaining Autobots who opposed him. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} During his rule, Megatron attempted to sway the neutral Hot Rod into joining the Decepticons, but he decided otherwise upon witnessing Megatron ordering the execution of several Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron was shocked to learn that Orion Pax had survived the betrayal and was organizing a rebellion against him under the name "Optimus Prime", and even more shocked that people actually had the courage to listen to him. He wasted no time in striking back against the rebels approaching the Citadel with the full force of his army. {{storylink|Broadcast}} During the battle, Megatron unleashed Zeta Prime's energy-draining [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]], but when the gigantic [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] took out the cannon, Megatron fell to the streets and was confronted by Optimus Prime himself. He lost the ensuing [[The Transformers: The Movie|familiar-looking duel]] and was badly wounded after a failed attempt to defeat Prime by holding Hot Rod hostage, forcing him to escape aboard Astrotrain. As he fled, he warned Optimus that he hadn't won, he had only started a war unlike any Cybertron had ever seen. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:Monstrosity3 Megatron and Pentius.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron insists on wearing his Darksiders cosplay when he's walking his pet Quintesson.]]
Before Megatron could recover from his injuries, he was betrayed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who was gunning for the position of Decepticon leader (with aid from Starscream). As punishment for his failure to hold Iacon, Scorponok banished the wounded Megatron to the hell-world of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Further injured in battle with some [[Junkion (species)|cannibalistic natives]], he stubbornly refused to give up and used the trash littering the world to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched, monstrous appearance. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} While searching for a way off Junkion, Megatron entered the wreckage of a starship and found a trapped [[Quintesson]] named [[Pentius]], who had mapped the planet and knew of an area known as the [[Pillar of Rust]] where starships may land and take off. Megatron freed the alien to guide him there, while also putting him in chains to serve as his slave. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}}
[[File:Monstrosity7 megatron takes pentius spark.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|"Thanks for turning me into the psychopath I've been the whole time!"]]
While crossing the [[Acid Sea]] on the way to the Pillar, Megatron was attacked by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] who pulled him into the depths. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} For reasons unknown he was then released, the creatures having allowed him to live. As he emerged, Pentius was waiting with a history lesson, telling him that Junkion was once a prosperous world until its inhabitants drained it of resources, leaving it the broken husk it is today: a fate that may also await Cybertron. Megatron rejected this possibility, declaring that under his rule, Cybertron—and his legacy—would last forever. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On arrival at the Pillar of Rust, Megatron was met by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who had come to Junkion to finish what Scorponok had started by killing him. He was able to fight off several of his attackers, but [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] was too much for him to handle in his injured state. Egged on and taunted by Pentius, Megatron realized he had one last resource left to use: the Quintesson himself. Telling Pentius that his legacy would live on within him, he tore out the alien's [[spark]] and used it to fuel himself, granting him enough power to defeat Hun-Gar. He spared the Terrorcons in exchange for their loyalty, then returned to Cybertron on their ship to take revenge on Scorponok and take back control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}
[[File:Monstrosity12 strange turns.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Megatron returned to a Cybertron in chaos, as the ancient reptilian [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] had been unleashed by Scorponok and was in the midst of razing Iacon. After reasserting his leadership of the Decepticons by beating Scorponok nearly to death, he had Shockwave restore his body to its original shape and condition, {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and set out to investigate the Trypticon situation alone, unwilling to risk his soldiers in the face of the beast's uncontrolled fury. Finding an injured Optimus Prime on the battlefield, Megatron lectured him, but opted to leave him alive so that he could watch as the Decepticon leader defeated the enemy that Prime could not. Megatron was attacked by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], but as they grappled, they were swallowed by Trypticon. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Within the giant, the pair set their differences aside to fend off the [[cyber-morphic predator]]s that populated his interior, and together, they destroyed Trypticon's internal power cell, taking him offline. A tense standoff between the Autobots and Decepticons followed as the two warriors emerged from within Trypticon, but both sides agreed to go their separate ways for the time being. Not long after the battle, however, Megatron removed Pentius's spark from within himself and installed it within Trypticon. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast (issue)|Belly of the Beast}}
[[File:Primacy4 megatron imprisoned.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]

After being fully repaired following his ordeals, Megatron roused Trypticon by exploiting the connection they now shared thanks to both having borne Pentius's spark. Discovering that Trypticon now possessed the consciousness of Pentius, Megatron was immediately suspicious of the Quintesson's potential treachery and was staggered by the visions of undiluted evil he saw in the aliens' past via their spark-link, but Trypticon assured him that he was dedicated to their shared goal of breaking a world. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Using Trypticon's city-ship alternate mode, Megatron took to the stars, rounding up the scattered Decepticon army and even recruiting Junkions and Sharkticons. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} Returning to Cybertron in force, Megatron was content to wait and watch from the sidelines while his troops viciously tore into Iacon. Trypticon was defeated in battle by Metroplex, at which point Megatron's folly was revealed: through their link, Pentius mockingly revealed his intention to use Trypticon consume Cybertron once the Autobots and Decepticons had weakened each other. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} Leaving his men with orders to burn Iacon to the ground if he failed in order to spare it such a fate, Megatron set off for Trypticon's fallen body in hopes that he would be able to remove Pentius's spark before the giant revived. Confronted atop Trypticon by Optimus Prime, Megatron tried to goad the Autobot leader into destroying him, believing that Pentius would be destroyed with him thanks to their link. Refusing to accept death as the answer, Optimus instead used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to purify Megatron, burning Pentius's spark away; Megatron, however, vowed that he would never stop hating Optimus in spite of what he had done for him. Sadly resigned to the fact that the once-noble revolutionary he had admired was now lost, Optimus knocked out the weakened Megatron and took him into custody. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}
{{-}}

===The spreading conflict===
[[File:MTMTE14 megatron vs overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]

Escaping Autobot custody under as-yet-unrevealed circumstances, Megatron continued to wage the war. Early in the continuing conflict, he wrote ''[[Towards Peace]]'', a new treatise to replace ''After the Ark'', in which he described continuing to fight the war until the very notion of conflict was literally inconceivable. Then and only then would he finally give up his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The earliest edition of the work featured a dedication to Terminus, which Megatron would later remove to reflect the lesson his friendship with Terminus had taught him: not to get attached. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} He oversaw the creation of a class of super-warriors known as the [[Warriors Elite]], selecting only his most powerful troops to undergo the torturous upgrade, including [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], a brilliant sadist and frequent opponent of his from his pit-fighting days who had developed an obsession with Megatron after the Decepticon leader dealt him his first ever defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} At some point, he also created the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to deal with traitors, {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} though he elected not to send them after Deadlock when he defected, valuing the warrior enough to instead dispatch [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] to bring him in. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}}
[[File:ChaosTheory prime vs megatron montage.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Good times, bad times.]]
Megatron would personally clash with Optimus Prime many times; Optimus grew to respect and fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, while Megatron himself respected Prime's sheer power and his skill as a tactician and as a leader. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} Megatron would later incorrectly recall their battle on [[Sherma Bridge]] during the [[Rorsha Campaign]] as the first time they met. Said battle was certainly momentous—every Autobot and Decepticon stopped fighting to witness their duel, during which Megatron's cannon arm was sliced off by Prime's [[energon-axe]], and he claimed revenge by throwing the Autobot leader off the bridge. As the war spread to other planets, they would meet again and again: during the [[Siege of Massunstrad]], Megatron sealed Prime in an anti-matter chamber; on [[Rada Mor]], Prime reduced Megatron to ashes with sentient explosives; and in the midst of the [[Vorsk Offensive]], Megatron was nearly sliced in half by Prime. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Though he resisted [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s attempts to find a "Two City-State Solution" to the war, he did agree to abide by the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Megatron took on a new pistol alternate mode for the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he was used by [[Heretech]] to blast [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} During the same skirmish, Megatron took off half of Prime's face with his energon mace, but had a city block dropped on him by Prime in retribution, which shattered his [[transformation cog]] and trapped him in gun mode for two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Prime was not the only old face that Megatron would see again during the war: during a battle on an aerial drilling platform over the [[Manganese Mountains]], Megatron came face-to-face with his old friend Impactor, and stood poised to execute him until Impactor gave him a moment's pause by recalling his old fondness for poetry. In this moment, Megatron was knocked from the platform by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and sent plummeting to the mountains below. {{storylink|Zero Point}}
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|"We attack the Rice Krispies guys at dawn! Assuming Judd Hirsch delivers the goods."]]
At the war's zenith, Megatron sealed himself in an [[Omniglobe]] to absorb the relentless flood of data coming in from countless fronts. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} With total war going nowhere, he would go on to develop a six-stage [[infiltration protocol]] to be used for conquering targeted planets. The sixth phase called for outright planetary razing, and Megatron selected three of his Warriors Elite for this task: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}}, Overlord and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]. He informed this trio of his decision via teleconference, but Overlord, tired of being used as someone else's weapon, refused. Megatron threatened to hunt Overlord down for his disobedience, {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} but while the powerful warrior spent the rest of his life preparing for this conflict, Megatron never followed up and left him to stew in his own obsession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}
[[File:Stormbringer1 get up and fight.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|You don't gotta go home Prime but you can't stay here.]]
Deducing that the Autobot/Decepticon war would culminate in an energy crisis that would threatened the stability of Cybertron itself, Shockwave left Cybertron to secretly pursue alternate energy sources. Around 10,000 years ago, when Shockwave did not return, Megatron ordered Bludgeon to investigate his files, {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} and probe deeper into whatever it was Shockwave had created. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Shockwave's prediction soon proved accurate, and Cybertron found itself in the throes of an energy shortage. Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces", or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research; instead, he experimented on himself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}} The process gave him immense power, but drove him insane. He became so dangerous that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head. Shortly after the last big push by the Decepticons, Cybertron was abandoned by both factions. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #2}}

===Breaking protocol===
[[File:Infiltration4 enter megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb]]
In the present day, when word reached Megatron that the infiltration unit led by [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], stationed on the planet [[Earth]], had broken protocol, he headed for the planet to investigate. Examining the unit's abandoned bunker in [[Nebraska]] for information, he discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ore-13]]—an incredible energy source that (unbeknownst to Megatron) was the end result of Shockwave's experiments—and was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} While studying the bunker's files, he was contacted by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] with some distressing news: Bludgeon's investigations of Shockwave's files had led him to revive Thunderwing. Megatron ordered the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron, authorizing them to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of their homeworld itself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Just as he was handing down this order, Megatron was happened upon by [[Verity Carlo]], a human ally of the Autobot unit active on the planet, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} but he utterly ignored her. The bunker was then leveled by an airstrike courtesy of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who were merely covering their unit's tracks and unaware of Megatron's presence; when their leader furiously emerged from the wreckage, Skywarp attempted to explain their ignorance, but Megatron simply responded by blasting him out of the sky. Blitzwing favored opening fire rather than attempting explanations, so Megatron beat the stuffing out of him too, then set off for Starscream's new bunker in [[Oregon]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Those librarians are getting really strict on late returns.]]

{{quote|You will stand down. If you fight, you ''die''. There is no room anymore for mercy. In the end, you are ''all'' expendable. Choose.|Megatron's ultimatum to Starscream's renegade troops|[[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]}}

[[Orbital jump]]ing to Oregon, Megatron called Starscream out and ordered the team to stand down, disgusted to see such power games being played amongst his troops. His brief, chilling speech was enough to take the fight out of all but Starscream, who, powered-up on Ore-13, took Megatron on himself. Though the new power source made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was taken out by a point-blank fusion cannon blast through his torso. Megatron ordered the Decepticons to ensure that Starscream survived, and then, observing the Autobots who had been watching the battle, announced that it was time to begin phase two. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

In light of the discovery of Ore-13, Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth and elected to get the infiltration protocol back on track himself, calling a meeting to make Starscream's former troops and making them aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} He continued to order his troops on Earth directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} and was even able to revisit his past gun alternate mode, once again able to achieve the [[size changing|mass displacement]] the mode required thanks to the extra energy Ore-13 provided. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
With his forces joined by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], a new arrival who Megatron suspected of having ulterior motives, {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} the Decepticon leader initiated phase two of infiltration protocol by destabilizing relations between the European nations of [[Latveria]] and [[Symkaria]] through use of an aggression-inducing [[Psycho-Prism]], stolen from Latverian dictator [[Doctor Doom]]. When the superhero team known as the [[Avengers]] investigated the array the Decepticons' were using to broadcast the prism's signal, Megatron abducted the arachnid-powered [[Spider-Man]] to use as a subject for their [[mirror response mode]], {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} draining the hero's powers and infusing himself and the other Decepticons with them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} He proceeded to forge a brief alliance with Doctor Doom, who helped him defeat and capture the allied Autobot/Avenger team who snuck inside the Decepticons' array, but when Doom's suggestion to threaten the captives in order to force the other heroes to lay down their arms failed, Megatron violently dissolved the partnership. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} Emerging from the confines of the array to take on the Autobots and Avengers himself, Megatron refrained from engaging Prime, foreseeing a more intimate confrontation between the two of them in the near future, and instead turned his attention to destroying [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor. The tables soon turned, however, when Doctor Doom freed the captive Autobots and used the Decepticon's mirror response technology to empower them. Defeated by these enhanced Autobots and with the Psycho-Prism destroyed by [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]], Megatron used the last of his extra power to teleport the Decepticons out with an [[emergency warp-out]]. He refrained from departing alongside his warriors, intending to slaughter the Avengers for their interference, but when he was immobilized by Spider-Man's webbing, knocked to the ground by [[Luke Cage]], and rattled by a hail of Autobot fire, he finally warped-out with a final taunt to Optimus Prime of the battle yet to come between them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}
[[File:Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb]]
With phase two of [[infiltration protocol]] properly underway, Megatron recognized that he ''should'' rightly withdraw and install a new unit commander on Earth, but could not resist the chance to try out his new Ore-13 empowered body, selecting the nation of [[Brasnya]], where Decepticon subterfuge was already underway, as his testing ground. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} Allowing the Decepticon's [[facsimile construct]] [[Georgi Koska]] to wield him in pistol mode, Megatron had Koska use him to first sever a [[Russia]]n oil pipeline, and then to fire upon the soldiers who came to investigate, furthering the political and military tensions already brewing in the region. When word came through from Blitzwing that Optimus Prime and the Autobots had arrived, {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} Megatron at last engaged Optimus directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} and although Prime was able to destroy his fusion cannon, the extra strength afforded Megatron by Ore-13 allowed him to physically beat Prime into submission, punching directly into his chest and crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} [[File:Escalation5 prime vs megs.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]] The horrified Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. It turned out that Prime's apparent death was a desperate ruse when the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness—the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Furious over the embarrassing defeat, Megatron threw protocol out the window and ordered that Sixshot be summoned to the planet. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} He took out some of his anger on Ramjet, who he discovered had been busy cooking up a plot to overthrow him; without saying a word, he beat the attempted traitor to death before tearing him apart and keeping his head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
[[File:Devastation5 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, and although the [[Phase Sixer]] questioned his early deployment, he was happy to go along with the abandonment of the phase structure. The other Decepticons, on the other hand, were worried that Megatron was losing his grip—and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}} Megatron monitored Sixshot's attack on the Autobots' [[Ark-19]], ordering him to pursue the escape pod that broke away from the crashing craft, {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} but before he could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron was forced to recall him to deal with a new threat assaulting the Decepticon base—the alien [[Reaper]]s. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Unfortunately, the Reapers convinced Sixshot to side with them, and when an Ore-13 powered Starscream entered the fray to take Sixshot down, Megatron realized his troops had been conspiring against him. He decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to greater threat posed by the Reapers, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and entered battle alongside them all, even allowing Starscream to wield him in pistol mode against the aliens. After the invaders were dead, however, he turned on his men, starting with Blitzwing—but was forced to realize that they needed to remain united when it became apparent that their battle with the Reapers had made humanity inescapably aware of their existence {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}
{{-}}

===All Hail Megatron===
[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|"I don't think I'd have made a good medic. No patience."]]
While the Decepticons were occupied fighting the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the greater threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Megatron and his men went to ground; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the Decepticons, who kept one step ahead of them for months. Secretly abducting [[Hunter O'Nion]], former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner to the Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Megatron and his men returned to Cybertron, where Megatron had [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] conduct experiments that bred a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. The experiments culminated in the creation of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who Megatron employed in a series of key tasks in his plan: the Insecticon obtained from Hunter's mind various Autobot secrets and codes, completed Shockwave's long-gestating combiner process, granting the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and created a working [[space bridge]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} based on designs sold to them by Sixshot in exchange for his freedom. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

Returning to Earth, the Decepticons staged a phony schism within their ranks, allowing the Autobots to believe that they had "disappeared" as a result of a power struggle that had split their ranks into two camps, one led by Megatron and one by Starscream. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Starscream then approached Sunstreaker, whose experience as a Headmaster had left him bitter and jaded, with the proposition that the Autobots join with his forces against Megatron, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when the Autobots arrived at the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and quickly defeated by Devastator. After personally tearing [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Optimus Prime's chest, Megatron marched the captive Autobots through the space bridge back to Cybertron, where the Insecticon swarm waited for them. Prime, however, was able to damage the bridge, causing it to deposit the Autobots a safe distance from the swarm, but in the process, fried his own circuits and left himself comatose. Though the Autobots had escaped the fate he had intended for them, Megatron had successfully exiled his enemies to their dead homeworld; moreover, using information and codes gained from Sunstreaker and Hunter, he concurrently orchestrated the event that would later be known as [[Surge (event)|The Surge]], as Decepticons stormed Autobot installations all across the galaxy, achieving total victory. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:Bringingthehousedown.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's urban renewal program was off to a flying start.]]
With galaxy-wide domination accomplished, one year after the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, Megatron chose Earth to become the new Decepticon homeworld. Together with his men, Megatron stormed [[New York City]], humiliating Starscream with a display of his greater capacity for destruction. When the US Air Force retaliated, Megatron shrugged off their fire and ordered the other Decepticons to engage them; when one damaged jet threw itself toward him in a suicide run, Megatron, outraged at the [[DJ (G1)|pilot]]'s temerity, destroyed it and its occupant with a furious swipe of his hand. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} When US Army forces arrived, Megatron ordered [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] dispatched to deal with them, then sent Devastator to destroy the subway tunnels leading out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With New York secured, Megatron directed the Constructicons to begin building a new space bridge in the city's heart, and had a candid talk with Starscream, revealing his belief that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s attitude and actions marked him as the embodiment of the Decepticon cause, even if he was blind to seeing it himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} After a series of further attacks on major American cities saw the country firmly crushed under the Decepticons' collective heel, Megatron made a propaganda speech to his men in the ruins of New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} As night fell upon the city, Megatron withdrew to privately gloat over the Matrix. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:AHM6MegatronVsIsrael.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]
As the Decepticons began attacking other countries around the globe, Megatron was questioned by Starscream on what the next step in his plan was. A recalcitrant Megatron merely informed him that it was merely time to savor their victory, but Starscream accused him of not ''having'' any plans post-victory, and was merely allowing his men to run wild to distract them from any notion of taking power for themselves. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} What Starscream did not realize was that Megatron did indeed have a plan: to defeat the Autobots, he had created an army of killers and monsters, but in order to create his perfect rule, that army would have to be destroyed, the dissenting, distasteful elements obliterated before Megatron's peace could dawn. Megatron was not distracting his warriors... he was ''waiting'' to see which of them would question and turn on him. Silently sorrowful to already know that such dissent would begin with Starscream, an otherwise-model Decepticon, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} Megatron withdrew to [[Israel]] for some silent reflection amid wholesale devastation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM10 megs vs devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Some time later, Megatron surveyed the space bridge Bombshell and the Constructicons had built in New York. He congratulated Bombshell on his work, but revealed that he had always foreseen Bombshell's intellect as a danger—had always known he and his fellow Insecticons would side with Starscream when the time came. His gambit exposed, Starscream made his move and attacked, but the Insecticons proved no match for Megatron's might. The Decepticon leader had failed to anticipate one thing, however: he did not foresee the Constructicons siding with Starscream, and found himself having to fight the mighty Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The in-fighting was halted by a last-ditch attack by the mustered might of what remained of the human resistance, forcing Megatron and Starscream to put their differences aside momentarily and organize a defense. This attack came as no surprise to Megatron, but the same could not be said for the next entrants onto the battlefield: the Autobots had returned.

After assuring Starscream that he would be leader in the future, when his time was done, Megatron confronted Optimus Prime, surprised not so much that his old foe had survived, but that he had bothered to return to Earth. Both leaders had always maintained a policy of acceptable losses through their millennia-long war, so Megatron assumed Prime had come back for selfish reasons, to reclaim the Matrix, but Prime insisted that he had changed, and would no longer allow their cold war to endanger innocent lives on this scale. [[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]] Megatron scoffed at the notion, reavling that Prime's supposedly "innocent" humans were planning to nuke New York, killing millions of their own just to get rid of the Decepticons, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} but Prime retorted that it wasn't ''just'' about the humans, but also about the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. The two came to blows, but Megatron triumphed in short order and commanded the Decepticons to depart, leaving the Autobots to be killed by the humans' nuke... but just before they withdrew, he was shot in the face by human soldier [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], wielding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Cybertronian technology. Injured and disoriented by the blast, Megatron was finished off when Prime smashed his face in with his own fusion cannon. As he wanted to ''take'' leadership rather than just have it fall in his hands, Starscream picked up his damaged leader and ordered the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:AllHisEngines-Megatron.jpg|thumb|Pretty sure when you float in a bacta tank you're supposed to be wearing a diaper.]]
The Decepticons departed Earth aboard Astrotrain, where the gravely wounded Megatron was put on life support and tended to by Soundwave and his cassettes. With Megatron's life signs only at ten percent capacity, Starscream attempted to appeal to Soundwave's sense of logic and have him shut down so that leadership could be his, but Soundwave refused. Starscream was soon able to take command, however, when he recovered the Matrix of Leadership and professed to have been chosen by it. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===New body, new powers===
The Decepticons eventually settled on a desolate asteroid, where Megatron was installed in a [[CR chamber|CR tank]]. Retaining some level of awareness of the events occurring around him during his convalescence, he was forced to watch as his army languished in inactivity, their energy slowly ebbing away until they were reduced to cannibalism. {{storylink|All His Engines}} After a year of trying to free his leader from this living death, Soundwave was finally forced to conclude that Megatron's body was beyond repair, and recruited the recently returned Shockwave, whom Starscream had provided with the majority of the Decepticons' resources to create a space bridge, to help build a new body for Megatron's consciousness to inhabit. The operation succeeded and Megatron was reborn in a deadly new body, powered by Ore-13, armed with a devastatingly powerful rail gun, and even equipped with space bridge nodes stolen from Metroplex, which gave him the ability to open space bridge portals on his own. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing15 megatrons new body.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"Uh, it's like...did anyone ever see the movie ''Tron''?"]]
Back in action, Megatron devised a plan to destabilize the relationship between the humans and Autobots on Earth. Together with Soundwave and Shockwave, he chopped up his old body and used it to create human-scaled replicas of his former gun mode, containing small pieces of his own consciousness. When Starscream caught them in the act, Megatron elected to table his plan for the moment, as he considered it folly to go against Starscream's wishes for the moment since the Seeker was still in possession of the Matrix of Leadership. Megatron had never truly understood what the talisman ''did'', but it served as a threat merely by being an unknown variable. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} Fortunately, for Megatron this variable was soon removed from the equation when Hot Rod, estranged from the Earthbound Autobots, infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base and recovered the Matrix from Starscream. Megatron seized his chance, intercepting the Autobot and blasting him and the Matrix out into the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

[[File:SLMegatron stealth bomber mode.jpg|thumb|275px|Behold... the ''Bomberang!'']]
With Starscream's trump card now gone, Megatron had the Decepticons gathered so he could address them. Distrustful of Shockwave's motives for preparing his new body, wary of Soundwave's constant surveillance, and repulsed by the state of his once fearsome Decepticon war machine, Megatron decided that he needed to unequivocally reestablish dominance over the now Matrix-less Starscream. He intended to beat Starscream near to death as a means of letting them both work out their frustrations with Starscream's inability to lead effectively during Megatron's absence, but Starscream did not want to fight—spiritually broken by his failures, he simply wanted Megatron to kill him. Rather than accept this, Megatron instead goaded Starscream into opening fire upon him. This began a running battle between the two, with Megatron pursuing the fleeing Seeker in his new stealth bomber alternate mode, continuing to bait Starscream every time he appeared willing to give up the fight. Incensed by Starscream's accusation that he did not know what it felt like to see everything he had worked for fall apart, when that was exactly what Starscream's pitiful leadership had done to the empire he had created, Megatron pummeled him to within an inch of his life, then paused to explain why he kept a schemer like Starscream around: as a constant reminder to watch his back. The brutal display galvanized the languid Decepticons, and Megatron was ready to begin his scheme. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing14 megatron guns.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|Megatron doesn't support the NRA. He IS the NRA.]]
Roughly two years after the Decepticons' defeat on Earth, Megatron used his space bridge powers to dispatch a container full of the guns made from his old body to Earth, where they were found by South American gun-runners and illegally disseminated amongst an increasingly paranoid public seeking ways to protect themselves against Transformers. This allowed Megatron's consciousness to spread across North America, until it was focused enough to contact one particular owner of a Megatron gun: [[Joe Gladki]]. He deceived and manipulated the paranoid human, and eventually convinced him to perform an assassination attempt on [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} In their ignorance, the Autobots then mistook Gladki's gun for Megatron himself and held it captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}}

[[File:IDWongoing16 megatron vs autobots.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Not the [[Realignments|first time]] he's traded his [[fusion cannon]] for a [[rail gun]].]]
With the Autobots in chaos, Megatron started the next phase of his plan and returned to Earth personally, where he used his new stealth bomber mode to shoot down a plane carrying Optimus Prime and several other Autobots. He then hunted down the remaining Autobots, effortlessly defeating them and their new temporary leader Ultra Magnus with his powerful new body, and killing some of their [[Skywatch]] allies. Magnus tried to draw Megatron's attention from the humans, claiming the Autobots were the ones he really wanted, but Megatron assured him that humanity was his real target. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Taking the defeated Autobots captive, Megatron dumped them in a city and directed three of his mind-controlled human puppets to kill them. Contacting Prime directly, Megatron summoned him to the city's outskirts and revealed his plan: crush Prime's spirit and destroy the Autobots' alliance with humanity by forcing them to choose between fighting the humans or allowing them to kill them. Prime found the hole in Megatron's plan, however, when he realized that Soundwave was maintaining the connection between Megatron and his guns, and shot him in the head. His connection to his pawns severed, Megatron scooped up Soundwave and withdrew. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Thanks to a tracker Ultra Magnus had slipped on Soundwave, though, Prime was able to follow the Decepticons to their bolthole and called Megatron out for a full and proper confrontation. In actuality, Prime had lured Megatron outside so Skywatch could drop a [[kinetic harpoon]] on him, but even a weapon dropped from orbit barely proved able to put a scratch in Megatron's mighty new exostructure. Megatron proceeded to beat Prime senseless, but then returned him to the Autobots, and to their great shock, surrendered to their custody. After recovering, Optimus demanded to know why he had surrendered, but Megatron merely taunted him by revealing that Spike Witwicky had murdered a Decepticon in cold blood. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} Prime immediately had Prowl begin investigating Spike and Skywatch, and Prowl interrogated the Decepticon leader for information, which he provided after a little verbal sparring. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron imprisoned.jpg|upright=1.5|left|thumb|Megatron and Optimus Prime can't agree on a safe word.]]
When Rodimus returned to Earth and warned the Autobots that [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] had taken control of Cybertron, Optimus decided to lead the Autobots in reclaiming their homeworld. In the name of Earth's safety, he elected to bring Megatron and the confiscated guns made from his old body with them. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} On the way to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Prime again attempted to discern why Megatron had surrendered, even releasing his old foe from his bonds and having a civil conversation with him about their past together and their dueling ideologies. Optimus tried to reach out to Megatron, offering him the chance to end the war once and for all with a handshake; Megatron appeared to consider it for a moment but ultimately remained silent. With Megatron returned to the confines of the [[variable voltage harness]], the other Autobots pressured Optimus for a decision on his fate: execution or imprisonment. Trying to come to a conclusion, Prime asked Megatron if he regretted any of his actions, but the Decepticon leader remarked that he only regretted not killing ''more'' Autobots. He taunted Prime with the notion that even he was thankful for the war, as it had raised him from a nobody to the greatest Autobot in history, and a furious Prime activated the harness, electrocuting Megatron. The jolt would have killed Megatron if Omega Supreme had not cut the power in time and Megatron, struggling to stay conscious, offered Prime his thanks for saving his life all those years ago in Rodion. Shocked by his actions, Prime realized that Megatron wanted to die and wanted Prime to be the one to kill him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Eventually, Prime decided to let Megatron choose his own fate, and Megatron calmly replied that he chose death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Chaos2 armored megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|...Again...?]]
As Omega drew close to Cybertron, Megatron demanded to know who or what was threatening their homeworld, but Optimus Prime refused to provde him with any information. {{storylink| Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} The Autobots subsequently engaged Galvatron's forces in battle, and while they were occupied, Megatron put into motion the ace he had up his sleeve: taking remote control of the numerous "Megatron guns" aboard Omega, Megatron summoned them to him and combined with them into a new armored mode. Breaking free from his restraints, he headed out to confront Galvatron, intent that nobody would take his world from him. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} As he tore through the Sweeps, Megatron also revealed the reason for his surrender: now that he was back on Cybertron, he could open a space bridge that would allow the massed forces of the Decepticons on Earth to return to their home planet as well. Unfortunately, not long after the Decepticons arrived on the battlefield, Galvatron's secret puppet master, the Dead Universe entity known as [[D-Void]], seized control of their minds and those of the Sweeps, merging them into a gigantic, monstrous avatar. With Prime occupied pursuing Galvatron into Cybertron's depths, Megatron was left to face this "[[Deceptigod]]" alone. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Fighting against D-Void's attempts to ensnare his own mind and make him part of the collective, Megatron was gravely wounded and even lost an arm to the beast, but succeeded into destroying it, blasting it apart with one massive beam from his weapons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

===The long game===
Even as the Deceptigod disintegrated back into its component Decepticons, Megatron could see the potential the creature embodied—D-Void had, in essence, created the perfect combiner by means of utterly obliterating free will. With Cybertron reverting into a primordial wasteland around him—a result of Optimus Prime purifying [[Vector Sigma]] with the Matrix to stop Galvatron and D-Void—Megatron chose to withdraw to experiment with the possibilities this presented. He informed Shockwave, the sole Decepticon who had not been made part of the Deceptigod, of his plans, and Shockwave in turn revealed them to Soundwave and Bombshell. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} While Megatron hid in the wilderness, his Decepticons were left to live as second-class citizens in the new [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] that the Autobots built; Optimus Prime left Cybertron two weeks after D-Void's defeat to calm tensions with "NAILs"—other unaffiliated Cybertronians—who had returned to their homeworld, but even as he did so, he mused that Megatron must still be out there somewhere. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:RID11 megatron in wilderness.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Megatron can't find anyone who wants to join his nudist colony to save his skin.]]
In the months of study and experimentation that followed, Megatron discerned that the combination of Ore-13 and space bridge technology in his body somehow gave him the ability to manipulate the natural energy of Cybertron that D-Void had used to merge the Decepticons into the Deceptigod. After experiments on [[turbofox]]es created larger, more ferocious beasts, Megatron stepped up trials when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] seceded from the shaky government Bumblebee, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and Starscream were building in Iacon and ventured into the wilderness. The signal Megatron had created from the combination energy first drove the Aerialbots mad, before uniting them in body and mind, spontaneously merging them into the gestalt [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but this newborn Autobot combiner was considered hopelessly insane by Megatron and left to die in the wilderness. The madness aspect of the signal afforded him the chance to revive some of the principles of the infiltration protocol, however, as he blanketed the wastelands in it, forcing the Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs to stay in Iacon, causing natural conflict among them to snowball, providing a useful cover for his actions. To gain a pawn within Autobot high command, Megatron even provided Bombshell with the energy to use in conjunction with his own mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s, ensnaring the mind of Prowl. With the resources and cover control of Prowl provided, Shockwave, Soundwave and Bombshell were able to use Megatron's findings to perfect the combination process, rebuilding the Constructicons with new modular designs that would allow them to merge into a perfect Devastator. The endgame was for Megatron himself to form the head of the combiner, but before risking his own mind and body, Megatron decided that Prowl would be used first as a test subject. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:RID12 kill him.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
The appearance of a [[Crystal City Metrotitan|Metrotitan]] on Cybertron which declared that Starscream was the "Chosen One" threatened Megatron's ability to easily re-take leadership of his Decepticons, forcing him to step up his schedule. Through Prowl, he had his inner circle gathered together in the secret "[[Black Room]]", then boldly strode into Iacon for all to see. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} His body shattered and skeletal, he professed to come in peace, but Bumblebee did not accept his surrender and ordered his Autobots to kill him. Indeed, Megatron could possibly have died there and then had Iacon's Decepticons not stepped in, insisting that Megatron's defense of Cybertron during D-Void's attack marked him a hero and that he be taken into custody instead. {{storylink|City on Fire}} After [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] got through examining him to prove his body concealed no weapons, Starscream approached the imprisoned Megatron and attempted to explain that he was not far away from taking complete power in the government, ensuring a Decepticon victory of a different kind. Megatron merely smiled silently at the notion, terrifying his ex-lieutenant with his grin. Presently, the Decepticons rose up in an angry mob and marched on Autobot high command to insist on Megatron's release; the situation quickly devolved into a riot, during which a squad led by [[Needlenose]] stormed the prison and freed Megatron. {{storylink|The Verge}}

[[File:RID14 new body redux.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.55|New body or not, Megatron may want to think twice about standing [[:File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|underneath Devastator's legs.]]]]
Megatron brought Starscream and the captured Bumblebee and Metalhawk to the Black Room, where he explained his plans and had himself transferred into a pre-prepared new body that could combine with the Constructicons' new forms. At his command, the Constructicons and Prowl combined into the new Devastator, who immediately set about razing Iacon. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Even the return of Superion seemed unable to stop the powerful new combiner, until help came from an unexpected quarter—Prowl's secret assassin [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] killed Bombshell, taking out Prowl's controller and causing Devastator to shut down. This was no real impediment to Megatron, however, as the successful function of the new combiner process had been proven, and he set out to take ''his'' place as Devastator's head. Before Megatron could reach the fallen gestalt, though, Devastator awoke, possessed of his own unique, united consciousness for the first time, and resumed tearing into Iacon. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:RID20 megatron in forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|You know you can't catch a break when you find yourself trapped inside a novelty plasma lamp from Spencer's.]]
Still Megatron remained unfazed, calmly fending off Autobot attacks and waiting for the inevitable moment when the heroes would take Devastator down. When [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] succeeded in doing so by managing to reach Prowl, Devastator separated, and Megatron immediately stepped in, re-initiation the combination with himself in control. Seconds before uniting with the Constructicons, though, his plan was foiled by Bumblebee, Ironhide and Prowl's activation of a secret failsafe: Wheeljack had integrated a forcefield generator into Megatron's spark casing during his examination of him, and when it was triggered, he was completely paralyzed in mid-transformation. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

In the fallout of the battle, Starscream killed Metalhawk, took control of Iacon and banished the Autobots and Decepticons from the city. He took custody of the immobilized Megatron, and silently gloated over the victory he had accomplished by using guile and politics, rather than Megatron's ways of brute force and firepower. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

===A new approach===
Megatron would not remain incapacitated for long. That night, as the end result of millennia-long secret machinations by Shockwave, an [[Necrotitan|undead Metrotitan]] appeared on Cybertron and opened a portal to the Dead Universe in the planet's skies. Through the portal, Shockwave made contact with Galvatron and his master, the exiled Cybertron despot [[Nova Prime]], but was unable to bring them through to Cybertron thanks to the unexpected disappearance of the Titan's space bridge system. Intending to use the space bridge within Megatron as a replacement, {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Shockwave reanimated the deceased Metalhawk with a wave of necrotic energy from the Titan and had him liberate Megatron and bring him to his secret lab in [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

[[File:RID24 i remember you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Somewhere in the multiverse, [[Override (G1)|Override]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] are smiling.]]
Shockwave hoped that Megatron would comply with his plans willingly, but the Decepticon leader refused and Shockwave forcibly activated the space bridge technology in Megatron's body. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The opening of the bridge in his chest caused Megatron agony, but his screams were heard by Soundwave, who led the united forces of the exiled Autobots and Decepticons to Shockwave's lab to free his leader. Nova Prime and Galvatron attempted to squeeze their way through the space bridge despite this interference, but Ironhide was able to punch Nova back through into the Dead Universe. Just then, Shockwave's "Necrotitan" came crashing into the subterranean city, and in the chaos, Megatron was freed from the restraints holding him. No sooner had Megatron carried Ironhide to the safe hands of the other Autobots, however, than he was ripped in half from behind by Galvatron, who had successfully emerged through the portal {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}} — a briefer battle, no doubt, than the one Shockwave had foreseen between the pair in a vision at the outset of his scheme. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:MTMTE26 megs and bee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I smell a sitcom!]]
After the battle was over, Galvatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] lugged Megatron's bisected remains back into Crystal City, only to find their way barred by the unlikely form of Bumblebee, who demanded they hand Megatron over. Galvatron attacked the Autobot, at which point Megatron revealed that he was fine, as he took down Waspinator and knocked Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bumblebee lugged Megatron back to Iacon, currently being razed by the Necrotitan, where the Decepticon leader announced to the assembled Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs his plan to withdraw to [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], summon the Decepticon Justice Division and other scattered troops, and strike back. Bumblebee rejected Megatron's notion of retreating, and struck a nerve within him by questioning his entire philosophy: Megatron had ''long'' ago abandoned any notion of fighting for freedom and equality, Bumblebee attested, and merely used the claim to ideology as an excuse for his actions. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Fortunately, fighting back suddenly got a lot easier when Metroplex and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' space-bridged to Cybertron. During the battle between the Titans, Megatron observed Metroplex reaching for the ''Lost Light''; when the ship's crew explained that they had Metroplex's severed thumb aboard, Megatron had Bumblebee carry him to it, whereupon he realized that the thumb contained one of Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] ores. Megatron used his internal space bridge to teleport the thumb back to Metroplex, and the ore provided the giant with the power boost to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|ಠ_ಠ]]
At Bumblebee's order and under protest, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] repaired Megatron's injuries and reattached his legs, reminding Megatron of his desire in youth to be a medic. His recent string of failures, the success of ''Starscream'', of all 'bots, and Bumblebee's stinging words had turned the Decepticon leader introspective, and he realized he had forgotten something very important that had driven his writings in his early years: winning meant turning people to your way of thinking, not dominating them. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Subsequently, when Shockwave initiated his millennia-long plan to collapse all reality into a universal black hole, Megatron placed himself and the Decepticons under Bumblebee's command to co-ordinate a counter-strike, and journeyed with his uneasy new "friend" into Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base to confront their shared enemy. There, they found the weakened Galvatron, who Megatron prepared to destroy for past indignities, until Bumblebee talked him down, convincing him that blood did not have to be repaid with blood. At that moment, Shockwave struck, slaying Bumblebee with a blast, and driving Megatron into a rage. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Empowered by his various ores and the energy of the Dead Universe, Shockwave was a formidable opponent and it was all Megatron could do to hold his own against him until Optimus Prime arrived to join the fight. Prime attempted to reason with Shockwave and remind him of the kindly senator he had once been, but his words had little effect, so Megatron opted for a more object lesson: removing the fallen Bumblebee's insignia, he placed it upon his chest and declared himself an Autobot. The stunned Shockwave lost control of the time machine powering his plot, causing his old pre-[[Shadowplay]] memories to emerge. Horrified at what he had become, he allowed Megatron and Prime to kill him, which caused the time machine to collapse into a singularity. Megatron and Prime made what seemed to be a futile dash for freedom, but were saved from the singularity's pull at the last moment by the timely arrival of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

===Crimes against the Species===

{{quote|I don't want to be acquitted. I want to '''make amends'''|Megatron on his new goal in life|"[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide]]"}}
[[File:DCFinale this is not a trick.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|Optimus apparently decided a sincere Megatron was a cue for mood lighting.]]
In a private meeting between Optimus Prime and Megatron a short time after Shockwave's defeat, Megatron affirmed that his change of heart was genuine, and Optimus assured him that he could see past his wartime deeds and remember the well-intentioned 'bot he had started out as. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} The rest of Cybertron, however, demanded a trial; Autobot High Command agreed, realizing that the Decepticon leader's fate had to be decided in public. Before the trial, Megatron was approached by Optimus, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and Rodimus in an attempt to extract some of the Decepticon's memories as evidence in hopes of expediting the proceedings, but a horrified Megatron refused, considering the sanctity of his mind all he had left. After Optimus departed, Rodimus remained to taunt Megatron with the certainty of his execution; in return, the impassive Decepticon simply asked Rodimus to deliver a [[communicube]] to Optimus, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} containing a request to have the trial moved to the [[Raskol Arena]] on Luna 2, in order, he alleged, to accommodate the huge number of spectators that would inevitably attend. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|I agreed to this trial on the condition of meeting Matlock.]]
Megatron's trial lasted five months. At the outset of the proceedings, Megatron pled guilty to "Crimes against the Species", {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} but things changed when Starscream took the stand and gave a testimony that presented Megatron as an incapable leader who was unable to control the Decepticon forces under his command, a powerful brute lacking in the qualities of true leadership who led his followers down an ultimately self-destructive path. His treacherous lieutenant's words struck home, and Megatron stunned the assembled crowd by changing his plea to "not guilty". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Just as his defender, Ultra Magnus, was reading a statement declaring this, the trial was dramatically interrupted by the a small army of Decepticons led by [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]], who had escaped from the brig on the ''Lost Light''. The invading force attempted to teleport Megatron away to safety, but he refused to escape and the uprising was quickly quelled. During the recess that followed, Optimus confronted Megatron over his true motives: he had requested that the trial be held on Luna 2 in order to exploit the moon's different legal system in the event that he felt the trial was unjust. Caused by Starscream's speech to realize that, were he to submit to execution now, his legacy would be one only of pain and death, Megatron invoked one of the moon's forgotten laws: an individual who had committed sufficiently heinous crimes could request he be judged by the long-lost [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Megatron requested that he be allowed to join the ''Lost Light'' in their search for the Knights and their homeworld of [[Cyberutopia]], thus ensuring that ''that'' would be his legacy, after which he would submit to whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Optimus agreed on the condition that Megatron read a prepared speech denouncing the Decepticon cause and asking all active Decepticons to stand down. Megatron did so, at great personal pain. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Hurt and angry over this perceived abandonment, Soundwave used Megatron's change of faction as evidence to forge a new allegiance of his own, decamping to Earth and working with the [[Earth Defense Command]] to create a new home for Autobots there. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}
[[File:MTMTE30 cocaptains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|O captain, my co-captain.]]
Megatron was assigned co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light'' alongside Rodimus, who immediately hated the idea and everything about it, leading to a particularly antagonistic relationship between the two. Megatron was permitted only to fuel himself with "[[Fool's Energon]]", which left him substantially weakened. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Shockwave's machinations had left his internal organs a tortured Gordian knot of space bridge wormholes from which it was impossible to extract his spark; his outward appearance changed between the end of his trial and his co-captaincy, suggesting that his armor was rebuilt around him, or his entire internal structure was transplanted into a new body. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron would later lament that his body did not graft to his spark like past chassis, which he considered a sign of his waning age. {{storylink|Slaughterhouse|Slaughterhouse}} Optimus would see Megatron off on his voyage before he himself headed off to Earth, a meeting Prowl found deeply disturbing. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}

===Towards Peace===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron head examined.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"So Megatron, tell me about your mother." "She was hot."]]
The ''Lost Light'' warped back out to the Galactic Rim and set off on the trail of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who they considered their best lead on the location of the Knights. A month into the journey, Megatron agreed to a therapy session with ship's psychoanalyst Rung. Megatron was less than forthcoming, but when Rung inquired about the removed dedication to Terminus from ''Towards Peace'', Megatron explained to him his current thinking on personal history, and one's ability to selectively edit or abandon entirely previously-held truths. Departing for his quarters, Megatron found that his door had been heavily grafittied by Whirl, who then suddenly attacked him, declaring that their shared history made the battle inevitable. Megatron responded by undermining Whirl's entire life with the revelation that the ex-Wrecker's penchant for surviving tough scraps was a falsehood: the second order Megatron had issued upon forming the Decepticons was that under no circumstances was any Decepticon to kill Whirl. As they struggled, Megatron taunted Whirl with the knowledge that his memory of Whirl's actions all those years ago had helped keep him on the path of violence; the outraged ex-Wrecker punched Megatron in the stomach, only to find his hand teleported away by the space bridge tangle inside the former Decepticon. This took the fight out of Whirl, and Megatron offered to forget the incident if the graffiti was removed from his wall. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

Leaving Whirl behind and heading for the bridge, Megatron received a report that the ''Lost Light'' had crossed paths with a coffin floating in space. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron oversaw the bringing onboard of the coffin and its transport to the med-bay. A short time later, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] snuck into the med-bay on a drunken dare in search of Megatron's "Fool's Energon", unaware of its true nature; caught in the act and believing he had been poisoned by the fuel, he triggered his forcefield, which inadvertently cracked the coffin open. Megatron reprimanded him by permanently engaging his fuel intake moderation chip, and assigned him the role of Security Director in order to focus his mind. The pair then turned their attention to the opened coffin, which was revealed to contain the body of another Rodimus! {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}
[[File:MTMTE32 i came to hate the person id become.jpg|thumb|275px|Lolcat is watching you deprecate.]]
Brief analysis suggested that the body was of Rodimus from the future, but before the matter could be settled, the crew of the ''Lost Light'' were forced to abandon the ship as it suddenly began disappearing around them. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} The disappearances did not stop there, however: Megatron found himself on the [[Rodpod]] with a score of other 'bots, and when ''they'' then began to vanish, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] accused Megatron of being responsible. A tense Mexican standoff ensued, which was brought to a surprising end when [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] was discovered to have been hiding on the pod, having secreted himself on the ''Lost Light'' in order to spy on Megatron for Soundwave. The disappearances continued, and Megatron clashed with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] as he tried to find a pattern. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The weirdness only continued as the remaining crew of the Rodpod—Megatron, Ravage, Nightbeat, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Nautica]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], and [[Getaway]]—discovered the wreckage of a second ''Lost Light'', point of origin for the mystery second Rodimus, orbiting the planet [[Ofsted XVII]]. Still believing that the duplicate ship hailed from the future, Skids accused Megatron of being responsible for the devastation, and, realizing that the recent huge changes he had made in his life left him devoid of any surety in his future actions, Megatron allowed himself and Ravage to be imprisoned until the truth could be determined. Locked in a supply closet with Ravage, Megatron had a heart-to-heart with his angry ex-subordinate, justifying his decisions and unable to offer Ravage any consolation. When power returned to the ship, the pair discovered the dead bodies of Ratchet, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] in the closet with them, their [[brain module]]s stuffed in their mouths—calling card of [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] of the Decepticon Justice Division. Realizing the DJD was responsible for destroying the ship the team re-grouped and prepared to retreat when an even stranger discovery was made: Autobot archivist [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] was found, still alive, the only survivor of the DJD's attack, despite the fact that he had died months beforehand. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}
[[File:MTMTE33 megatron skids right there.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"...But you're not the [[Skyfall (G1)|worst]] [[Zeta Prime (G1)|guy]] to wear the badge. So keep trying."]]
Nautica and Nightbeat were able to deduce the whole story: the duplicate ''Lost Light'' was not from the future, but rather, it and its crew were quantum duplicates created in the explosion of the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] during the ship's original launch two years prior. To make matters worse, the [[quantum foam]] leaking from the engines was threatening to destroy Ofsted XVII, but Megatron had no compunctions about getting to safety and leaving the planet to its fate until Skids called him out, forcing him to face up to the fact that being an Autobot meant more than wearing a badge, and had to be reflected in one's actions. When all other options were exhausted, Megatron admitted that he could use his old mass-displacement ability to shrink his robot form down, enabling him to safely make it through the foam and deactivate the engines, saving Ofsted XVII, "cancelling out" the duplicate ''Lost Light'', and reinstating their own. The diminutive Rewind joined him in the task; Megatron showed him kindness by holding back knowledge of his counterpart's passing so that he might die happy, but Rewind was mysteriously ''not'' erased when their task was successfully completed. As they made their way back to the returned ''Lost Light'', Megatron invited Ravage to remain at his side, hoping an up-close view of the DJD's horrors had instilled in him some doubt in the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}
[[File:MTMTE38 send me back.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75|"AND I WANT YOUR LUNCH MONEY TOO NERD!"]]
Returning to "their" ''Lost Light'', Megatron's team discovered that their Brainstorm had incapacitated the crew and used his mysterious [[briefcase]] to travel back in time. The ridiculousness of the entire situation caused Megatron to have a mini-breakdown, but he soon got ahold of himself, and theorized that Brainstorm was attempting to change history by killing Orion Pax. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Rodimus led a squad back in time in pursuit, which led to Megatron having a cross-time conversation with the young Orion Pax via Rodimus's "[[time phone]]" communicator. Pretending to be his own younger self during the call, Megatron found the young 'bots optimism for the future a mixed source of both affirmation and tragic amusement. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} After Rodimus's team made several further jumps, Megatron deduced that the dates they were travelling to were not important moments in Pax's life, but Megatron's own. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} Realizing that Brainstorm intended to kill him at the moment of his creation, he flew into a panicked rage, attacking [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and demanding the scientist send him back in time to save himself, until Ultra Magnus restrained him and the pair talked him down. As events in the past played out, Megatron was visibly shaken to hear that Rewind had been the one to pull the trigger that destroyed the original spark in his body, and that the universe would truly be a better place had he never existed. Although Whirl subsequently set the timeline to rights, Megatron did not join in the celebrations when everyone returned from the past, retiring to his quarters to brood. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}
When Optimus contacted the ''Lost Light'' to invite them home for first contact, Rodimus declined, saying it would interfere with their quest, while Magnus promised to send a shuttle with representatives from the ship, Megatron just hung silently in the background. When the call ended Rodimus told Optimus that Megatron said 'Hi'. Megatron said no such thing but Rodimus ended the call before he could tell Optimus. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} Megatron dedicated some of his spare time to writing poetry, but his works remained largely unappreciated- a single poetry reading at Mirage's bar, [["Visages"]], was enough to empty the bar of its patrons. This returned the title of popular Lost Light bar back to [[Swerve's]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

===Pax Cybertronia===
In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and Alpha Trion during the reformatting of Cybertron, fifteen million years hence, Ironhide still believed Megatron to be alive and promised a young Autobot they would defeat him again if he ever returned. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
{{-}}

===''Spotlight: Mirage''===
[[File:SLMirage all in good time.jpg|thumb|275px]]
{{NoteSLMirage}}
Somewhere, in an unknown time or place, the self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] dreamed of Megatron and his Decepticons launching a massive attack on the Autobots. But Mirage knew that to only be a dream; in reality, the Autobots were almost eradicated, and Megatron had hired him to hunt down the last of their number. Megatron was outraged by the mercenary's demand for a majority share in all energon mining operations as payment, but it proved to be fuel well spent, as he soon succeeded in locating Optimus Prime and forcing him to surrender. Megatron demanded the prisoners be executed despite Mirage's promise to spare Autobot lives. Seeing Mirage's hesitation, Megatron appealed to his greed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*In [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]], we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, a helmet and not part of his head (at least in his original body). Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, but it is briefly revisited in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]] when a helmetless Megatron spars with [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]].

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Point One Percenters]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Onyx Primal

2015-08-01T04:59:32Z

Omgpuppies: /* Beast Wars */

{{factions|predacon|maximal}}

:''Onyx Primal is a [[Maximal]] or a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] from the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]. He is evidently also known as '''Blackie'''.''

[[Image:Onyxprimal.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I'm whoever you want me to be, baby.]]
At one time, '''Onyx Primal''' was one of the [[Tripredacus Council]]'s more promising assassins, even if he was given to overblown melodrama. His movements are utterly silent, and in bat mode his "stealth cloak" can shield him from most scanners. A smug glory-hog, Onyx quickly takes credit for any nearby successes and is even quicker to shuffle blame for his failures to others.

However, a falling-out with the Predacons has left him with little choice but to join the Maximals. He doesn't like them, and they don't like him, but neither camp is in much position to refuse each others' help. He's an accomplished spy and assassin, though as a Maximal he has little opportunity to practice the latter skill.

{{quote|...and I will strike down with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers, and you will know my name is Onyx when I lay my vengeance upon thee.|For realsies, Onyx Primal's original motto}}

==Fiction==
===3H comics===
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English)}}
[[Image:Visitations.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Over here! Over ''here''! No, don't look at Apelinq—''OVER HERE!'']]

Onyx Primal and [[Packrat]] were in Predacon territory investigating a fallen meteorite when they stumbled across a Predacon "plot device". They fought over the artifact amongst themselves but were immediately attacked by [[Vice Grip]] and [[Fractyl (BW)|Fractyl]]. After Onyx Primal stashed the artifact in a rock crevice, a [[Apelinq|shadowy figure]] stole it and vanished.

The Predacons continued their attack, but [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] appeared overhead to rescue the Maximals, even though they were mere "repaints". Vice Grip and Fractyl's defeat was followed by [[Optimus Primal]]'s arrival. Onyx Primal and Packrat argued over whose fault it was the artifact was lost.

Ultimately, they blamed [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Visitations}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[File:BW-toy OnyxPrimal.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I am vengeance. I am the night.]]
*'''Onyx Primal''' (Basic, 1996/1997)
**''Accessories:'' 2 electron-scimitars

: A [[redeco]] of the Basic-class [[Optimus Primal/toys|Optimus Primal]] toy, Onyx transforms from a large vampire bat to robot mode with a one-step spring-loaded transformation. He has two scimitars, stored on the underside of his wings. (Most of the art associated with Onyx shows these swords held in the same fist as a sort of double-bladed weapon.) He is notable for being the first Transformers convention-exclusive toy specifically cast in new plastic colors (the previous year's exclusive was only a [[repaint]], using the same plastics as one of the retail versions of the mold).

: He came in a large box with no real padding and incredibly low-resolution artwork on the cover half. A "VIP" (Very Important Predicon {{sic}}) packaging variant was given to guests of the convention; the toy inside was the same.

: He was available [[exclusive]]ly to pre-registrants and attendees at [[BotCon 1996]]... at first. Reportedly, BotCon '96 organizers [[Men in Black]] had to have a 1700 Onyx Primals produced in order to have them at all, and as such ended up with a ''lot'' of overstock. So much that for their unofficial convention "TransCon '97", they offered attendees Onyx Primal again. And in hotel rooms "coincidentally" within the facilities for later BotCons... plus they had another way to move more of them...

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/OnyxPrimal/onyxprimal.htm More information on Onyx Primal at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|DealerExclusive}}
[[File:BW-toy OnyxPrimalDealers.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The idea made a lot of people very angry. The execution then made them very apathetic.]]
*'''Onyx Primal''' (Basic, 1996)
**''Accessories:'' 2 electron-scimitars

: In a move never duplicated by later convention organizers, a "Dealer Exclusive" version of Onyx Primal was available only to -of course- dealers. The toy is almost identical, having "BOTCON '96 DEALER EXCLUSIVE" [[tampograph]]ed on his back in metallic gold paint.

: This version came in a black box with silver lettering, and included a silver sticker showing which number of the limited amount you had. Exactly how many of these boxed pieces were given out is unknown... and how many ''more'' Onyxes with the back-tampo were made and ''not'' given to dealers is also a mystery, as quite a few eventually ended up on [[eBay]] without box or sticker, reportedly from a former [[Hasbro]]/[[Kenner]] employee.
{{--}}

==Notes==
* The original Onyx Primal bio is a pretty direct lift of [[Wikipedia:Samuel L. Jackson|Samuel L. Jackson]]'s character from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:Pulp Fiction (film)|Pulp Fiction]]'' reciting Bible scripture. This was not the only slapped-on ''Pulp Fiction'' reference to happen in [[BotCon 1996]] material.
* Onyx Primal's faction is generally in flux.
** The original BotCon 1996 bio said Onyx was a Predacon assassin.
** In 1998, Hasbro/Kenner decided retroactively that Onyx was a Maximal, reportedly due to the original use of the mold being a Maximal. (This also resulted in the "Noble Predacon" [[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]] for [[BotCon 1999]].) This change prompted a second bio, crafted for the BotConBeyond site (linked below), and it seemed to recast Onyx Primal as a deeply flawed individual, a transparent critique of the individuals who created him. The 1998 voice actor script reading, "[[Visitations]]", likeways portrayed him as a Maximal.
** A decade later, ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' presented Onyx as a Predacon assassin again, this time as a dark creature of the night.
* Garry Chalk's voice for Onyx was based loosely on [[The Honeymooners|Jackie Gleason]], to go along with [[Scott McNeil]]'s Art Carney voice for [[Packrat]].
* According to the toy database section of ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'', Onyx Primal was given the alternative name "Blackie" because someone at [[Men in Black]] was a fan of the ''[[Microman]]'' franchise. [http://www.microforever.com/m11x.htm M114 Blacky] was a black and yellow Microman from 1975 who had "great knowledge of universal science".
* ''Beast Wars Universe'' goes on to say that Onyx Primal's [[Black repaint|black color scheme]] was chosen by his designer to enhance the mold's [[Optimus Primal/toys#Notes|inherent resemblance]] to [[Batman]], an action figure license also held at the time by [[Kenner]].

==External links==
*[http://www.botcon.com/archive/story/characters/onyxprimal.html BotConBeyond's Onyx Primal profile, archived at BotCon.com]

[[Category:Assassins]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Convention-original characters]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2015-08-01T04:51:45Z

Omgpuppies: /* All Hail Megatron */

{{suite}}
{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{featured}}
[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron A, Megatron B, Megatron Retailer's Incentive, Megatron Dynamic Forces Exclusive variant, and Megatron (Second Printing).]]
'''Megatron''' waged a battle to destroy the evil forces of the [[Senate]]! Then he ''continued'' to wage a war against the evil forces of freedom, organic life, and the very idea of an Autobot living.

{{quote|Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would not do so simply as a means to an end. No. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me '''pleasure'''.|Megatron to Optimus Prime|"[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]"}}

{{quote|And the thing is, when those words were in my head I didn't think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I '''did'''. If the world thinks you're a monster, what does it matter? The world is '''wrong'''. But when you start to think of '''yourself''' as a monster...|Megatron on the previous quote|"[[slaughterhouse]]"}}

__TOC__
==IDW Generation 1 comics==
{{ongoing}}
===Birth of a tyrant===
[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] was built in the 1st Cycle 012, one of the many Transformers [[reproduction|constructed cold]] during the [[Silver Harvest]]. The [[spark]] intended for this body was one generated from the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]... but this spark was destroyed while his body was still in the process of being built, by time-travelling [[Autobot]]s from the future attempting to prevent the destruction they knew Megatron would come to wreak upon the universe. But the non-existence of Megatron meant that the [[Functionist Council]] would eventually plunge [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into [[Functionist Universe|a dystopian hell]], and the Autobot [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who loathed the Functionists, refused to permit this to happen. Whirl replaced the deceased body's spark with a forged [[Point One Percenter]] spark that had been harvested by [[Brainstorm]] from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] millions of years in the future—and so Megatron was ''truly'' born: the first "hybrid" Transformer, a powerful forged superspark in a constructed cold body. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

Megatron desired to be a medic, {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} but alas, he lived in a time of functionism, where one's [[alternate mode]] denoted one's role in society, and one's role determined one's rights. As such, the true nature of his exceptionally rare spark apparently unknown, Megatron was assigned the task for which he had been built: that of [[energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, toiling in a mine under [[Nova Point]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron symbol creation.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|... And thus the "Silica Fracturism" art movement was born.]]

An idealist, intellectual and poet, Megatron was sickened by the caste-ridden social apartheid of [[Nominus Prime]]'s Cybertron, and so he wrote [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|a treatise]] on how pacifist dissent and the exchange of ideas could change things. It was while he was sharing this work with his miner friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] over a drink in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] that the event occurred which would change the course of his life, as Impactor wound up being drawn into a bar brawl with some of the city's upper classes and Megatron was among those arrested after the fracas. Megatron's writings had been growing in popularity and inspiring some dissent against the current regime, so in order to silence him, the [[Senate]] arranged for a police officer on their payroll, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], to kill him. Before Whirl could finish the job, however, police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], having discovered Megatron's innocence, arranged for his release. Despite Pax expressing support for the message of his writings, Megatron now found himself filled with rage and hate, disillusioned with his former ideology and realizing the power of applied violence. Angrily hurling the datapad on which he had written his treatise through a public info-screen, Megatron observed the jagged shape of the shattered glass, and later turned it into a [[insignia|symbol]] for his cause. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}
[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|When considering the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy, one question remains unanswered. Why am I always pictured with phallic-shaped items in awkward positions?]]
Megatron's samizdat writings began to circulate in Cybertron's underground, spawning the "[[Decepticon]]" movement, its name derived from its own slogan, "You are being deceived", warning the common 'bot of the Senate's true nature. Knowing that, at this stage, assassinating Megatron would merely make him a martyr, the Senate instead elected to relocate him off-planet, reassigning him to a mining facility on the world of [[Messatine]] while they tried their own schemes to defuse the growing Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} It was there that Megatron met [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]], an elderly fellow miner who encouraged him to keep writing, and who, in addition to proofreading his works for him, smuggled each new tract back to Cybertron, helping to continue the spread of the Decepticon movement. When Terminus was maimed in a mining accident and had his fuel rations cut off, Megatron kept him alive by sharing his own [[energon]] with the old 'bot. Eventually, Senate agents [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]] were dispatched to Messatine to perform mind-altering [[Shadowplay]] upon Megatron, in order to cut his writings off at the source. Tased into submission and strapped to Trepan's operating table, Megatron was helpless to stop the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] from beginning his vile work. Though the arrival of Froid's rival psychopathologist [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] fortunately forced Trepan to stop before Megatron's personality was altered, the experience left the miner with a lifelong fear of mnemosurgery. Subsequently, a mysterious surge of energy deep within the mine forced an evacuation of the facility; Megatron raced back to his quarters to carry Terminus to safety, but found his friend was not there. With time running out and no sign of Terminus anywhere, Megatron instead chose to save the stack of datapads containing his unpublished works—a decision that would haunt him. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}
[[File:MegatronOrigin1 first kill.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron was relocated to [[Mining Outpost C-12]], and continued to seethe with hate and frustration in his new workplace. His discontent reached a peak when, some time later, [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived to announce that the mine was being automated and the workers would be relocated. When one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, Megatron's fury boiled over and he hurled his pickaxe at Decimus. In turn, he was attacked by the Senator's guard, whom he killed by smashing his head to fragments—the first time he had ever taken a life. A riot erupted around him, but Megatron himself could only sit amongst the chaos, staring at his fuel-stained hands in abject horror, which allowed him to be easily pacified and rounded up with the other miners as the mayhem was quickly suppressed. En route to [[Penal Facility H-3|imprisonment]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], however, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard [[Longshot (G1)|their ship]]. Megatron joined in their effort, and together, they overpowered their guards, took control of the ship, and disappeared into the [[Kaon]] underground. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}
[[File:MegsOrigin2 Cykill.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Battle of the Awesome Voices!]]
After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal and excessive, and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, covertly sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. Their meeting was spied upon by [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]], agents from the Senate's forces, who Megatron slew. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Subsequently, impressed by how he treated his animal-form [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette partners]] as equals (in contradiction to the teachings of his Senate masters), Megatron invited Soundwave back to the gladiator pits and gave him permission to use his mind-reading abilities on him. Within Megatron's mind, Soundwave saw his honest desire for all Cybertronians to be true equals, and was so moved by it that he joined Megatron's cause. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Gradually, Megatron used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents, sending Soundwave to recruit more and more warriors to his cause. Such recruits included [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who he was presented with while having an arm he lost in a brawl replaced with a new limb that incorporated an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} and the disenfranchised warrior [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was personally asked by Megatron to fight at his side when he attended a Decepticon rally, and whom Megatron rechristened "Deadlock," {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} and transformed into a capable Decepticon warrior. {{Storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}} A wave of terrorism and sabotage spread across Cybertron at his command: bombings, wrecking factories and fuel plants, shutting down transport links, a mass poisoning to tank a corporation, and a very public kidnapping of Senator Decimus. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Seeking to enhance his army even further, Megatron reached out to [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Senator Shockwave]], offering to supply him the resources he required to carry out his own mysterious experiments in exchange for his using the teachings of his lost mentor [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a [[combiner]] that would serve the Decepticons. Shockwave cautioned that it could take some time, but Megatron was content to wait. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|You should have gone to IKEA.]]
Despite all his efforts, Megatron believed that the Senate was still not taking the Decepticons seriously, so Soundwave formulated a plan for a declaration of intent that could be not denied: lure the Senate to Kaon and murder them. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} In preparation for this scheme, Megatron offered to restore Shockwave's lost hands—a victim of [[empurata]]—believing that doing so might speed his work. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} The following day, in accordance with Soundwave's plan, Megatron and the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested by Sentinel Prime's men, after which Soundwave was freed on Ratbat's orders, while Starscream would ensure his own release by pretending to defect. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Together, Soundwave and Starscream exterminated the entire Senate, then liberated Megatron and the rest of their comrades, in the process granting their leader the gift of a [[fusion cannon]] liberated from the Senate forces' armory. Megatron led his army against Sentinel Prime's men, killed Sentinel himself, and took control of Kaon, now ready to turn his insurgency into a full-blown war. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

===Early days of war===

Megatron formally declared war on "[[Declaration Day]]" when he delivered a stirring speech from [[Nova Point|Nova Peak]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The growing Decepticon forces swiftly spread across six [[Polities of Cybertron|Torus-States]], {{storylink|Parasites}} and to combat them, Cybertron's new leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] assembled a new military force, the "[[Autobot]]s", led by Megatron's old acquaintance [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]. Researching his new opposite number, Megatron was intrigued to discover that his now-abandoned treatise had been a source of inspiration for Pax, who had even quoted from it when he confronted the Senate and openly accused them of corruption. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}} Early into the war, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] would admit to Pax that Megatron talked about him sometimes, when he was tired. When Pax asked what was said, Bludgeon told him that it would make "both of us feel ''uncomfortable''". {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}
[[File:Autocracy4 backroom meeting.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]
When Orion Pax came close to Kaon during a mission, Megatron saw it as a chance to speak to him and had his Decepticons bring him in. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Megatron attempted to convince him that Zeta Prime was even worse than he appeared—that he had planned to let Orion die in [[Nyon]] so that he could use his death as pretext to invade the rebel-infested city and drain the citizens of their energon—and proposed they work together against him, but Orion refused to hear him and then escaped. Knowing the doubts he'd placed in his head would only serve to damage the Autobot cause, Megatron let him go. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}
[[File:Autocracy8 megs and pax together.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Megatron, let's roll." "What you thinking?" "...Pub?"]]
Megatron continued to keep an eye on Orion Pax's activities, spying on his encounter with the Nyon insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Zeta Prime's [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s suddenly attacked Nyon, Megatron was surprised by how zealously the new Prime fought against the city's rebels, but his real interest still lay on how Orion would handle the crisis. {{storylink|Purge}} Orion turned on Zeta, who in turn attempted to kill him, prompting Megatron to intervene and force the Prime to retreat. Taking Orion back to Kaon, he again offered that they work together against Zeta's corruption, and this time the Autobot officer accepted. {{storylink|Choices}} As their combined forces invaded the [[Citadel]] in Iacon, Megatron and Orion Pax made their way inside and fought Zeta Prime in person. The battle ended with Megatron killing the Prime with a head shot, and with his objective complete, he then betrayed the injured Orion by shooting him in the back. {{storylink|Overthrown}} This moment lived in infamy as the point at which Megatron revealed his true colors, no longer couched in ideology; {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt}} though curiously, an alternate report incorrectly implied he had assassinated Zeta from afar, sniping him with the rifle alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:Autocracy12 no you dont megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|I can't be the only one with deja vu here.]]
With Zeta dead, Megatron conquered Iacon and declared himself ruler of Cybertron. His soldiers patrolled the planet's streets to "keep the peace", mostly by hunting down and capturing any remaining Autobots who opposed him. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} During his rule, Megatron attempted to sway the neutral Hot Rod into joining the Decepticons, but he decided otherwise upon witnessing Megatron ordering the execution of several Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron was shocked to learn that Orion Pax had survived the betrayal and was organizing a rebellion against him under the name "Optimus Prime", and even more shocked that people actually had the courage to listen to him. He wasted no time in striking back against the rebels approaching the Citadel with the full force of his army. {{storylink|Broadcast}} During the battle, Megatron unleashed Zeta Prime's energy-draining [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]], but when the gigantic [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] took out the cannon, Megatron fell to the streets and was confronted by Optimus Prime himself. He lost the ensuing [[The Transformers: The Movie|familiar-looking duel]] and was badly wounded after a failed attempt to defeat Prime by holding Hot Rod hostage, forcing him to escape aboard Astrotrain. As he fled, he warned Optimus that he hadn't won, he had only started a war unlike any Cybertron had ever seen. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:Monstrosity3 Megatron and Pentius.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron insists on wearing his Darksiders cosplay when he's walking his pet Quintesson.]]
Before Megatron could recover from his injuries, he was betrayed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who was gunning for the position of Decepticon leader (with aid from Starscream). As punishment for his failure to hold Iacon, Scorponok banished the wounded Megatron to the hell-world of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Further injured in battle with some [[Junkion (species)|cannibalistic natives]], he stubbornly refused to give up and used the trash littering the world to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched, monstrous appearance. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} While searching for a way off Junkion, Megatron entered the wreckage of a starship and found a trapped [[Quintesson]] named [[Pentius]], who had mapped the planet and knew of an area known as the [[Pillar of Rust]] where starships may land and take off. Megatron freed the alien to guide him there, while also putting him in chains to serve as his slave. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}}
[[File:Monstrosity7 megatron takes pentius spark.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|"Thanks for turning me into the psychopath I've been the whole time!"]]
While crossing the [[Acid Sea]] on the way to the Pillar, Megatron was attacked by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] who pulled him into the depths. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} For reasons unknown he was then released, the creatures having allowed him to live. As he emerged, Pentius was waiting with a history lesson, telling him that Junkion was once a prosperous world until its inhabitants drained it of resources, leaving it the broken husk it is today: a fate that may also await Cybertron. Megatron rejected this possibility, declaring that under his rule, Cybertron—and his legacy—would last forever. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On arrival at the Pillar of Rust, Megatron was met by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who had come to Junkion to finish what Scorponok had started by killing him. He was able to fight off several of his attackers, but [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] was too much for him to handle in his injured state. Egged on and taunted by Pentius, Megatron realized he had one last resource left to use: the Quintesson himself. Telling Pentius that his legacy would live on within him, he tore out the alien's [[spark]] and used it to fuel himself, granting him enough power to defeat Hun-Gar. He spared the Terrorcons in exchange for their loyalty, then returned to Cybertron on their ship to take revenge on Scorponok and take back control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}
[[File:Monstrosity12 strange turns.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Megatron returned to a Cybertron in chaos, as the ancient reptilian [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] had been unleashed by Scorponok and was in the midst of razing Iacon. After reasserting his leadership of the Decepticons by beating Scorponok nearly to death, he had Shockwave restore his body to its original shape and condition, {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and set out to investigate the Trypticon situation alone, unwilling to risk his soldiers in the face of the beast's uncontrolled fury. Finding an injured Optimus Prime on the battlefield, Megatron lectured him, but opted to leave him alive so that he could watch as the Decepticon leader defeated the enemy that Prime could not. Megatron was attacked by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], but as they grappled, they were swallowed by Trypticon. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Within the giant, the pair set their differences aside to fend off the [[cyber-morphic predator]]s that populated his interior, and together, they destroyed Trypticon's internal power cell, taking him offline. A tense standoff between the Autobots and Decepticons followed as the two warriors emerged from within Trypticon, but both sides agreed to go their separate ways for the time being. Not long after the battle, however, Megatron removed Pentius's spark from within himself and installed it within Trypticon. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast (issue)|Belly of the Beast}}
[[File:Primacy4 megatron imprisoned.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]

After being fully repaired following his ordeals, Megatron roused Trypticon by exploiting the connection they now shared thanks to both having borne Pentius's spark. Discovering that Trypticon now possessed the consciousness of Pentius, Megatron was immediately suspicious of the Quintesson's potential treachery and was staggered by the visions of undiluted evil he saw in the aliens' past via their spark-link, but Trypticon assured him that he was dedicated to their shared goal of breaking a world. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Using Trypticon's city-ship alternate mode, Megatron took to the stars, rounding up the scattered Decepticon army and even recruiting Junkions and Sharkticons. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} Returning to Cybertron in force, Megatron was content to wait and watch from the sidelines while his troops viciously tore into Iacon. Trypticon was defeated in battle by Metroplex, at which point Megatron's folly was revealed: through their link, Pentius mockingly revealed his intention to use Trypticon consume Cybertron once the Autobots and Decepticons had weakened each other. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} Leaving his men with orders to burn Iacon to the ground if he failed in order to spare it such a fate, Megatron set off for Trypticon's fallen body in hopes that he would be able to remove Pentius's spark before the giant revived. Confronted atop Trypticon by Optimus Prime, Megatron tried to goad the Autobot leader into destroying him, believing that Pentius would be destroyed with him thanks to their link. Refusing to accept death as the answer, Optimus instead used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to purify Megatron, burning Pentius's spark away; Megatron, however, vowed that he would never stop hating Optimus in spite of what he had done for him. Sadly resigned to the fact that the once-noble revolutionary he had admired was now lost, Optimus knocked out the weakened Megatron and took him into custody. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}
{{-}}

===The spreading conflict===
[[File:MTMTE14 megatron vs overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]

Escaping Autobot custody under as-yet-unrevealed circumstances, Megatron continued to wage the war. Early in the continuing conflict, he wrote ''[[Towards Peace]]'', a new treatise to replace ''After the Ark'', in which he described continuing to fight the war until the very notion of conflict was literally inconceivable. Then and only then would he finally give up his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The earliest edition of the work featured a dedication to Terminus, which Megatron would later remove to reflect the lesson his friendship with Terminus had taught him: not to get attached. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} He oversaw the creation of a class of super-warriors known as the [[Warriors Elite]], selecting only his most powerful troops to undergo the torturous upgrade, including [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], a brilliant sadist and frequent opponent of his from his pit-fighting days who had developed an obsession with Megatron after the Decepticon leader dealt him his first ever defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} At some point, he also created the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to deal with traitors, {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} though he elected not to send them after Deadlock when he defected, valuing the warrior enough to instead dispatch [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] to bring him in. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}}
[[File:ChaosTheory prime vs megatron montage.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Good times, bad times.]]
Megatron would personally clash with Optimus Prime many times; Optimus grew to respect and fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, while Megatron himself respected Prime's sheer power and his skill as a tactician and as a leader. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} Megatron would later incorrectly recall their battle on [[Sherma Bridge]] during the [[Rorsha Campaign]] as the first time they met. Said battle was certainly momentous—every Autobot and Decepticon stopped fighting to witness their duel, during which Megatron's cannon arm was sliced off by Prime's [[energon-axe]], and he claimed revenge by throwing the Autobot leader off the bridge. As the war spread to other planets, they would meet again and again: during the [[Siege of Massunstrad]], Megatron sealed Prime in an anti-matter chamber; on [[Rada Mor]], Prime reduced Megatron to ashes with sentient explosives; and in the midst of the [[Vorsk Offensive]], Megatron was nearly sliced in half by Prime. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Though he resisted [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s attempts to find a "Two City-State Solution" to the war, he did agree to abide by the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Megatron took on a new pistol alternate mode for the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he was used by [[Heretech]] to blast [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} During the same skirmish, Megatron took off half of Prime's face with his energon mace, but had a city block dropped on him by Prime in retribution, which shattered his [[transformation cog]] and trapped him in gun mode for two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Prime was not the only old face that Megatron would see again during the war: during a battle on an aerial drilling platform over the [[Manganese Mountains]], Megatron came face-to-face with his old friend Impactor, and stood poised to execute him until Impactor gave him a moment's pause by recalling his old fondness for poetry. In this moment, Megatron was knocked from the platform by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and sent plummeting to the mountains below. {{storylink|Zero Point}}
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|"We attack the Rice Krispies guys at dawn! Assuming Judd Hirsch delivers the goods."]]
At the war's zenith, Megatron sealed himself in an [[Omniglobe]] to absorb the relentless flood of data coming in from countless fronts. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} With total war going nowhere, he would go on to develop a six-stage [[infiltration protocol]] to be used for conquering targeted planets. The sixth phase called for outright planetary razing, and Megatron selected three of his Warriors Elite for this task: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}}, Overlord and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]. He informed this trio of his decision via teleconference, but Overlord, tired of being used as someone else's weapon, refused. Megatron threatened to hunt Overlord down for his disobedience, {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} but while the powerful warrior spent the rest of his life preparing for this conflict, Megatron never followed up and left him to stew in his own obsession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}
[[File:Stormbringer1 get up and fight.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|You don't gotta go home Prime but you can't stay here.]]
Deducing that the Autobot/Decepticon war would culminate in an energy crisis that would threatened the stability of Cybertron itself, Shockwave left Cybertron to secretly pursue alternate energy sources. Around 10,000 years ago, when Shockwave did not return, Megatron ordered Bludgeon to investigate his files, {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} and probe deeper into whatever it was Shockwave had created. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Shockwave's prediction soon proved accurate, and Cybertron found itself in the throes of an energy shortage. Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces", or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research; instead, he experimented on himself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}} The process gave him immense power, but drove him insane. He became so dangerous that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head. Shortly after the last big push by the Decepticons, Cybertron was abandoned by both factions. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #2}}

===Breaking protocol===
[[File:Infiltration4 enter megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb]]
In the present day, when word reached Megatron that the infiltration unit led by [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], stationed on the planet [[Earth]], had broken protocol, he headed for the planet to investigate. Examining the unit's abandoned bunker in [[Nebraska]] for information, he discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ore-13]]—an incredible energy source that (unbeknownst to Megatron) was the end result of Shockwave's experiments—and was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} While studying the bunker's files, he was contacted by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] with some distressing news: Bludgeon's investigations of Shockwave's files had led him to revive Thunderwing. Megatron ordered the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron, authorizing them to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of their homeworld itself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Just as he was handing down this order, Megatron was happened upon by [[Verity Carlo]], a human ally of the Autobot unit active on the planet, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} but he utterly ignored her. The bunker was then leveled by an airstrike courtesy of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who were merely covering their unit's tracks and unaware of Megatron's presence; when their leader furiously emerged from the wreckage, Skywarp attempted to explain their ignorance, but Megatron simply responded by blasting him out of the sky. Blitzwing favored opening fire rather than attempting explanations, so Megatron beat the stuffing out of him too, then set off for Starscream's new bunker in [[Oregon]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Those librarians are getting really strict on late returns.]]

{{quote|You will stand down. If you fight, you ''die''. There is no room anymore for mercy. In the end, you are ''all'' expendable. Choose.|Megatron's ultimatum to Starscream's renegade troops|[[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]}}

[[Orbital jump]]ing to Oregon, Megatron called Starscream out and ordered the team to stand down, disgusted to see such power games being played amongst his troops. His brief, chilling speech was enough to take the fight out of all but Starscream, who, powered-up on Ore-13, took Megatron on himself. Though the new power source made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was taken out by a point-blank fusion cannon blast through his torso. Megatron ordered the Decepticons to ensure that Starscream survived, and then, observing the Autobots who had been watching the battle, announced that it was time to begin phase two. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

In light of the discovery of Ore-13, Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth and elected to get the infiltration protocol back on track himself, calling a meeting to make Starscream's former troops and making them aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} He continued to order his troops on Earth directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} and was even able to revisit his past gun alternate mode, once again able to achieve the [[size changing|mass displacement]] the mode required thanks to the extra energy Ore-13 provided. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
With his forces joined by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], a new arrival who Megatron suspected of having ulterior motives, {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} the Decepticon leader initiated phase two of infiltration protocol by destabilizing relations between the European nations of [[Latveria]] and [[Symkaria]] through use of an aggression-inducing [[Psycho-Prism]], stolen from Latverian dictator [[Doctor Doom]]. When the superhero team known as the [[Avengers]] investigated the array the Decepticons' were using to broadcast the prism's signal, Megatron abducted the arachnid-powered [[Spider-Man]] to use as a subject for their [[mirror response mode]], {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} draining the hero's powers and infusing himself and the other Decepticons with them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} He proceeded to forge a brief alliance with Doctor Doom, who helped him defeat and capture the allied Autobot/Avenger team who snuck inside the Decepticons' array, but when Doom's suggestion to threaten the captives in order to force the other heroes to lay down their arms failed, Megatron violently dissolved the partnership. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} Emerging from the confines of the array to take on the Autobots and Avengers himself, Megatron refrained from engaging Prime, foreseeing a more intimate confrontation between the two of them in the near future, and instead turned his attention to destroying [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor. The tables soon turned, however, when Doctor Doom freed the captive Autobots and used the Decepticon's mirror response technology to empower them. Defeated by these enhanced Autobots and with the Psycho-Prism destroyed by [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]], Megatron used the last of his extra power to teleport the Decepticons out with an [[emergency warp-out]]. He refrained from departing alongside his warriors, intending to slaughter the Avengers for their interference, but when he was immobilized by Spider-Man's webbing, knocked to the ground by [[Luke Cage]], and rattled by a hail of Autobot fire, he finally warped-out with a final taunt to Optimus Prime of the battle yet to come between them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}
[[File:Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb]]
With phase two of [[infiltration protocol]] properly underway, Megatron recognized that he ''should'' rightly withdraw and install a new unit commander on Earth, but could not resist the chance to try out his new Ore-13 empowered body, selecting the nation of [[Brasnya]], where Decepticon subterfuge was already underway, as his testing ground. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} Allowing the Decepticon's [[facsimile construct]] [[Georgi Koska]] to wield him in pistol mode, Megatron had Koska use him to first sever a [[Russia]]n oil pipeline, and then to fire upon the soldiers who came to investigate, furthering the political and military tensions already brewing in the region. When word came through from Blitzwing that Optimus Prime and the Autobots had arrived, {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} Megatron at last engaged Optimus directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} and although Prime was able to destroy his fusion cannon, the extra strength afforded Megatron by Ore-13 allowed him to physically beat Prime into submission, punching directly into his chest and crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} [[File:Escalation5 prime vs megs.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]] The horrified Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. It turned out that Prime's apparent death was a desperate ruse when the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness—the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Furious over the embarrassing defeat, Megatron threw protocol out the window and ordered that Sixshot be summoned to the planet. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} He took out some of his anger on Ramjet, who he discovered had been busy cooking up a plot to overthrow him; without saying a word, he beat the attempted traitor to death before tearing him apart and keeping his head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
[[File:Devastation5 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, and although the [[Phase Sixer]] questioned his early deployment, he was happy to go along with the abandonment of the phase structure. The other Decepticons, on the other hand, were worried that Megatron was losing his grip—and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}} Megatron monitored Sixshot's attack on the Autobots' [[Ark-19]], ordering him to pursue the escape pod that broke away from the crashing craft, {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} but before he could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron was forced to recall him to deal with a new threat assaulting the Decepticon base—the alien [[Reaper]]s. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Unfortunately, the Reapers convinced Sixshot to side with them, and when an Ore-13 powered Starscream entered the fray to take Sixshot down, Megatron realized his troops had been conspiring against him. He decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to greater threat posed by the Reapers, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and entered battle alongside them all, even allowing Starscream to wield him in pistol mode against the aliens. After the invaders were dead, however, he turned on his men, starting with Blitzwing—but was forced to realize that they needed to remain united when it became apparent that their battle with the Reapers had made humanity inescapably aware of their existence {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}
{{-}}

===All Hail Megatron===
[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|"I don't think I'd have made a good medic. No patience."]]
While the Decepticons were occupied fighting the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the greater threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Megatron and his men went to ground; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the Decepticons, who kept one step ahead of them for months. Secretly abducting [[Hunter O'Nion]], former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner to the Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Megatron and his men returned to Cybertron, where Megatron had [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] conduct experiments that bred a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. The experiments culminated in the creation of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who Megatron employed in a series of key tasks in his plan: the Insecticon obtained from Hunter's mind various Autobot secrets and codes, completed Shockwave's long-gestating combiner process, granting the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and created a working [[space bridge]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} based on designs sold to them by Sixshot in exchange for his freedom. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

Returning to Earth, the Decepticons staged a phony schism within their ranks, allowing the Autobots to believe that they had "disappeared" as a result of a power struggle that had split their ranks into two camps, one led by Megatron and one by Starscream. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Starscream then approached Sunstreaker, whose experience as a Headmaster had left him bitter and jaded, with the proposition that the Autobots join with his forces against Megatron, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when the Autobots arrived at the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and quickly defeated by Devastator. After personally tearing [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Optimus Prime's chest, Megatron marched the captive Autobots through the space bridge back to Cybertron, where the Insecticon swarm waited for them. Prime, however, was able to damage the bridge, causing it to deposit the Autobots a safe distance from the swarm, but in the process, fried his own circuits and left himself comatose. Though the Autobots had escaped the fate he had intended for them, Megatron had successfully exiled his enemies to their dead homeworld; moreover, using information and codes gained from Sunstreaker and Hunter, he concurrently orchestrated the event that would later be known as [[Surge (event)|The Surge]], as Decepticons stormed Autobot installations all across the galaxy, achieving total victory. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:Bringingthehousedown.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's urban renewal program was off to a flying start.]]
With galaxy-wide domination accomplished, one year after the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, Megatron chose Earth to become the new Decepticon homeworld. Together with his men, Megatron stormed [[New York City]], humiliating Starscream with a display of his greater capacity for destruction. When the US Air Force retaliated, Megatron shrugged off their fire and ordered the other Decepticons to engage them; when one damaged jet threw itself toward him in a suicide run, Megatron, outraged at the [[DJ (G1)|pilot]]'s temerity, destroyed it and its occupant with a furious swipe of his hand. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} When US Army forces arrived, Megatron ordered [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] dispatched to deal with them, then sent Devastator to destroy the subway tunnels leading out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With New York secured, Megatron directed the Constructicons to begin building a new space bridge in the city's heart, and had a candid talk with Starscream, revealing his belief that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s attitude and actions marked him as the embodiment of the Decepticon cause, even if he was blind to seeing it himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} After a series of further attacks on major American cities saw the country firmly crushed under the Decepticons' collective heel, Megatron made a propaganda speech to his men in the ruins of New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} As night fell upon the city, Megatron withdrew to privately gloat over the Matrix. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:AHM6MegatronVsIsrael.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]
As the Decepticons began attacking other countries around the globe, Megatron was questioned by Starscream on what the next step in his plan was. A recalcitrant Megatron merely informed him that it was merely time to savor their victory, but Starscream accused him of not ''having'' any plans post-victory, and was merely allowing his men to run wild to distract them from any notion of taking power for themselves. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} What Starscream did not realize was that Megatron did indeed have a plan: to defeat the Autobots, he had created an army of killers and monsters, but in order to create his perfect rule, that army would have to be destroyed, the dissenting, distasteful elements obliterated before Megatron's peace could dawn. Megatron was not distracting his warriors... he was ''waiting'' to see which of them would question and turn on him. Silently sorrowful to already know that such dissent would begin with Starscream, an otherwise-model Decepticon, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} Megatron withdrew to [[Israel]] for some silent reflection amid wholesale devastation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM10 megs vs devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Some time later, Megatron surveyed the space bridge Bombshell and the Constructicons had built in New York. He congratulated Bombshell on his work, but revealed that he had always foreseen Bombshell's intellect as a danger—had always known he and his fellow Insecticons would side with Starscream when the time came. His gambit exposed, Starscream made his move and attacked, but the Insecticons proved no match for Megatron's might. The Decepticon leader had failed to anticipate one thing, however: he did not foresee the Constructicons siding with Starscream, and found himself having to fight the mighty Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The in-fighting was halted by a last-ditch attack by the mustered might of what remained of the human resistance, forcing Megatron and Starscream to put their differences aside momentarily and organize a defense. This attack came as no surprise to Megatron, but the same could not be said for the next entrants onto the battlefield: the Autobots had returned.

After assuring Starscream that he would be leader in the future, when his time was done, Megatron confronted Optimus Prime, surprised not so much that his old foe had survived, but that he had bothered to return to Earth. Both leaders had always maintained a policy of acceptable losses through their millennia-long war, so Megatron assumed Prime had come back for selfish reasons, to reclaim the Matrix, but Prime insisted that he had changed, and would no longer allow their cold war to endanger innocent lives on this scale. [[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]] Megatron scoffed at the notion, reavling that Prime's supposedly "innocent" humans were planning to nuke New York, killing millions of their own just to get rid of the Decepticons, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} but Prime retorted that it wasn't ''just'' about the humans, but also about the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. The two came to blows, but Megatron triumphed in short order and commanded the Decepticons to depart, leaving the Autobots to be killed by the humans' nuke... but just before they withdrew, he was shot in the face by human soldier [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], wielding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Cybertronian technology. Injured and disoriented by the blast, Megatron was finished off when Prime smashed his face in with his own fusion cannon. As he wanted to ''take'' leadership rather than just have it fall in his hands, Starscream picked up his damaged leader and ordered the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:AllHisEngines-Megatron.jpg|thumb|Pretty sure when you float in a bacta tank you're supposed to be wearing a diaper.]]
The Decepticons departed Earth aboard Astrotrain, where the gravely wounded Megatron was put on life support and tended to by Soundwave and his cassettes. With Megatron's life signs only at ten percent capacity, Starscream attempted to appeal to Soundwave's sense of logic and have him shut down so that leadership could be his, but Soundwave refused. Starscream was soon able to take command, however, when he recovered the Matrix of Leadership and professed to have been chosen by it. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===New body, new powers===
The Decepticons eventually settled on a desolate asteroid, where Megatron was installed in a [[CR chamber|CR tank]]. Retaining some level of awareness of the events occurring around him during his convalescence, he was forced to watch as his army languished in inactivity, their energy slowly ebbing away until they were reduced to cannibalism. {{storylink|All His Engines}} After a year of trying to free his leader from this living death, Soundwave was finally forced to conclude that Megatron's body was beyond repair, and recruited the recently returned Shockwave, whom Starscream had provided with the majority of the Decepticons' resources to create a space bridge, to help build a new body for Megatron's consciousness to inhabit. The operation succeeded and Megatron was reborn in a deadly new body, powered by Ore-13, armed with a devastatingly powerful rail gun, and even equipped with space bridge nodes stolen from Metroplex, which gave him the ability to open space bridge portals on his own. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing15 megatrons new body.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"Uh, it's like...did anyone ever see the movie ''Tron''?"]]
Back in action, Megatron devised a plan to destabilize the relationship between the humans and Autobots on Earth. Together with Soundwave and Shockwave, he chopped up his old body and used it to create human-scaled replicas of his former gun mode, containing small pieces of his own consciousness. When Starscream caught them in the act, Megatron elected to table his plan for the moment, as he considered it folly to go against Starscream's wishes for the moment since the Seeker was still in possession of the Matrix of Leadership. Megatron had never truly understood what the talisman ''did'', but it served as a threat merely by being an unknown variable. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} Fortunately, for Megatron this variable was soon removed from the equation when Hot Rod, estranged from the Earthbound Autobots, infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base and recovered the Matrix from Starscream. Megatron seized his chance, intercepting the Autobot and blasting him and the Matrix out into the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

[[File:SLMegatron stealth bomber mode.jpg|thumb|275px|Behold... the ''Bomberang!'']]
With Starscream's trump card now gone, Megatron had the Decepticons gathered so he could address them. Distrustful of Shockwave's motives for preparing his new body, wary of Soundwave's constant surveillance, and repulsed by the state of his once fearsome Decepticon war machine, Megatron decided that he needed to unequivocally reestablish dominance over the now Matrix-less Starscream. He intended to beat Starscream near to death as a means of letting them both work out their frustrations with Starscream's inability to lead effectively during Megatron's absence, but Starscream did not want to fight—spiritually broken by his failures, he simply wanted Megatron to kill him. Rather than accept this, Megatron instead goaded Starscream into opening fire upon him. This began a running battle between the two, with Megatron pursuing the fleeing Seeker in his new stealth bomber alternate mode, continuing to bait Starscream every time he appeared willing to give up the fight. Incensed by Starscream's accusation that he did not know what it felt like to see everything he had worked for fall apart, when that was exactly what Starscream's pitiful leadership had done to the empire he had created, Megatron pummeled him to within an inch of his life, then paused to explain why he kept a schemer like Starscream around: as a constant reminder to watch his back. The brutal display galvanized the languid Decepticons, and Megatron was ready to begin his scheme. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing14 megatron guns.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|Megatron doesn't support the NRA. He IS the NRA.]]
Roughly two years after the Decepticons' defeat on Earth, Megatron used his space bridge powers to dispatch a container full of the guns made from his old body to Earth, where they were found by South American gun-runners and illegally disseminated amongst an increasingly paranoid public seeking ways to protect themselves against Transformers. This allowed Megatron's consciousness to spread across North America, until it was focused enough to contact one particular owner of a Megatron gun: [[Joe Gladki]]. He deceived and manipulated the paranoid human, and eventually convinced him to perform an assassination attempt on [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} In their ignorance, the Autobots then mistook Gladki's gun for Megatron himself and held it captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}}

[[File:IDWongoing16 megatron vs autobots.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Not the [[Realignments|first time]] he's traded his [[fusion cannon]] for a [[rail gun]].]]
With the Autobots in chaos, Megatron started the next phase of his plan and returned to Earth personally, where he used his new stealth bomber mode to shoot down a plane carrying Optimus Prime and several other Autobots. He then hunted down the remaining Autobots, effortlessly defeating them and their new temporary leader Ultra Magnus with his powerful new body, and killing some of their [[Skywatch]] allies. Magnus tried to draw Megatron's attention from the humans, claiming the Autobots were the ones he really wanted, but Megatron assured him that humanity was his real target. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Taking the defeated Autobots captive, Megatron dumped them in a city and directed three of his mind-controlled human puppets to kill them. Contacting Prime directly, Megatron summoned him to the city's outskirts and revealed his plan: crush Prime's spirit and destroy the Autobots' alliance with humanity by forcing them to choose between fighting the humans or allowing them to kill them. Prime found the hole in Megatron's plan, however, when he realized that Soundwave was maintaining the connection between Megatron and his guns, and shot him in the head. His connection to his pawns severed, Megatron scooped up Soundwave and withdrew. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Thanks to a tracker Ultra Magnus had slipped on Soundwave, though, Prime was able to follow the Decepticons to their bolthole and called Megatron out for a full and proper confrontation. In actuality, Prime had lured Megatron outside so Skywatch could drop a [[kinetic harpoon]] on him, but even a weapon dropped from orbit barely proved able to put a scratch in Megatron's mighty new exostructure. Megatron proceeded to beat Prime senseless, but then returned him to the Autobots, and to their great shock, surrendered to their custody. After recovering, Optimus demanded to know why he had surrendered, but Megatron merely taunted him by revealing that Spike Witwicky had murdered a Decepticon in cold blood. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} Prime immediately had Prowl begin investigating Spike and Skywatch, and Prowl interrogated the Decepticon leader for information, which he provided after a little verbal sparring. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron imprisoned.jpg|upright=1.5|left|thumb|Megatron and Optimus Prime can't agree on a safe word.]]
When Rodimus returned to Earth and warned the Autobots that [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] had taken control of Cybertron, Optimus decided to lead the Autobots in reclaiming their homeworld. In the name of Earth's safety, he elected to bring Megatron and the confiscated guns made from his old body with them. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} On the way to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Prime again attempted to discern why Megatron had surrendered, even releasing his old foe from his bonds and having a civil conversation with him about their past together and their dueling ideologies. Optimus tried to reach out to Megatron, offering him the chance to end the war once and for all with a handshake; Megatron appeared to consider it for a moment but ultimately remained silent. With Megatron returned to the confines of the [[variable voltage harness]], the other Autobots pressured Optimus for a decision on his fate: execution or imprisonment. Trying to come to a conclusion, Prime asked Megatron if he regretted any of his actions, but the Decepticon leader remarked that he only regretted not killing ''more'' Autobots. He taunted Prime with the notion that even he was thankful for the war, as it had raised him from a nobody to the greatest Autobot in history, and a furious Prime activated the harness, electrocuting Megatron. The jolt would have killed Megatron if Omega Supreme had not cut the power in time and Megatron, struggling to stay conscious, offered Prime his thanks for saving his life all those years ago in Rodion. Shocked by his actions, Prime realized that Megatron wanted to die and wanted Prime to be the one to kill him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Eventually, Prime decided to let Megatron choose his own fate, and Megatron calmly replied that he chose death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Chaos2 armored megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|...Again...?]]
As Omega drew close to Cybertron, Megatron demanded to know who or what was threatening their homeworld, but Optimus Prime refused to provde him with any information. {{storylink| Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} The Autobots subsequently engaged Galvatron's forces in battle, and while they were occupied, Megatron put into motion the ace he had up his sleeve: taking remote control of the numerous "Megatron guns" aboard Omega, Megatron summoned them to him and combined with them into a new armored mode. Breaking free from his restraints, he headed out to confront Galvatron, intent that nobody would take his world from him. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} As he tore through the Sweeps, Megatron also revealed the reason for his surrender: now that he was back on Cybertron, he could open a space bridge that would allow the massed forces of the Decepticons on Earth to return to their home planet as well. Unfortunately, not long after the Decepticons arrived on the battlefield, Galvatron's secret puppet master, the Dead Universe entity known as [[D-Void]], seized control of their minds and those of the Sweeps, merging them into a gigantic, monstrous avatar. With Prime occupied pursuing Galvatron into Cybertron's depths, Megatron was left to face this "[[Deceptigod]]" alone. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Fighting against D-Void's attempts to ensnare his own mind and make him part of the collective, Megatron was gravely wounded and even lost an arm to the beast, but succeeded into destroying it, blasting it apart with one massive beam from his weapons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

===The long game===
Even as the Deceptigod disintegrated back into its component Decepticons, Megatron could see the potential the creature embodied—D-Void had, in essence, created the perfect combiner by means of utterly obliterating free will. With Cybertron reverting into a primordial wasteland around him—a result of Optimus Prime purifying [[Vector Sigma]] with the Matrix to stop Galvatron and D-Void—Megatron chose to withdraw to experiment with the possibilities this presented. He informed Shockwave, the sole Decepticon who had not been made part of the Deceptigod, of his plans, and Shockwave in turn revealed them to Soundwave and Bombshell. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} While Megatron hid in the wilderness, his Decepticons were left to live as second-class citizens in the new [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] that the Autobots built; Optimus Prime left Cybertron two weeks after D-Void's defeat to calm tensions with "NAILs"—other unaffiliated Cybertronians—who had returned to their homeworld, but even as he did so, he mused that Megatron must still be out there somewhere. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:RID11 megatron in wilderness.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Megatron can't find anyone who wants to join his nudist colony to save his skin.]]
In the months of study and experimentation that followed, Megatron discerned that the combination of Ore-13 and space bridge technology in his body somehow gave him the ability to manipulate the natural energy of Cybertron that D-Void had used to merge the Decepticons into the Deceptigod. After experiments on [[turbofox]]es created larger, more ferocious beasts, Megatron stepped up trials when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] seceded from the shaky government Bumblebee, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and Starscream were building in Iacon and ventured into the wilderness. The signal Megatron had created from the combination energy first drove the Aerialbots mad, before uniting them in body and mind, spontaneously merging them into the gestalt [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but this newborn Autobot combiner was considered hopelessly insane by Megatron and left to die in the wilderness. The madness aspect of the signal afforded him the chance to revive some of the principles of the infiltration protocol, however, as he blanketed the wastelands in it, forcing the Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs to stay in Iacon, causing natural conflict among them to snowball, providing a useful cover for his actions. To gain a pawn within Autobot high command, Megatron even provided Bombshell with the energy to use in conjunction with his own mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s, ensnaring the mind of Prowl. With the resources and cover control of Prowl provided, Shockwave, Soundwave and Bombshell were able to use Megatron's findings to perfect the combination process, rebuilding the Constructicons with new modular designs that would allow them to merge into a perfect Devastator. The endgame was for Megatron himself to form the head of the combiner, but before risking his own mind and body, Megatron decided that Prowl would be used first as a test subject. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:RID12 kill him.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
The appearance of a [[Crystal City Metrotitan|Metrotitan]] on Cybertron which declared that Starscream was the "Chosen One" threatened Megatron's ability to easily re-take leadership of his Decepticons, forcing him to step up his schedule. Through Prowl, he had his inner circle gathered together in the secret "[[Black Room]]", then boldly strode into Iacon for all to see. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} His body shattered and skeletal, he professed to come in peace, but Bumblebee did not accept his surrender and ordered his Autobots to kill him. Indeed, Megatron could possibly have died there and then had Iacon's Decepticons not stepped in, insisting that Megatron's defense of Cybertron during D-Void's attack marked him a hero and that he be taken into custody instead. {{storylink|City on Fire}} After [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] got through examining him to prove his body concealed no weapons, Starscream approached the imprisoned Megatron and attempted to explain that he was not far away from taking complete power in the government, ensuring a Decepticon victory of a different kind. Megatron merely smiled silently at the notion, terrifying his ex-lieutenant with his grin. Presently, the Decepticons rose up in an angry mob and marched on Autobot high command to insist on Megatron's release; the situation quickly devolved into a riot, during which a squad led by [[Needlenose]] stormed the prison and freed Megatron. {{storylink|The Verge}}

[[File:RID14 new body redux.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.55|New body or not, Megatron may want to think twice about standing [[:File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|underneath Devastator's legs.]]]]
Megatron brought Starscream and the captured Bumblebee and Metalhawk to the Black Room, where he explained his plans and had himself transferred into a pre-prepared new body that could combine with the Constructicons' new forms. At his command, the Constructicons and Prowl combined into the new Devastator, who immediately set about razing Iacon. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Even the return of Superion seemed unable to stop the powerful new combiner, until help came from an unexpected quarter—Prowl's secret assassin [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] killed Bombshell, taking out Prowl's controller and causing Devastator to shut down. This was no real impediment to Megatron, however, as the successful function of the new combiner process had been proven, and he set out to take ''his'' place as Devastator's head. Before Megatron could reach the fallen gestalt, though, Devastator awoke, possessed of his own unique, united consciousness for the first time, and resumed tearing into Iacon. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:RID20 megatron in forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|You know you can't catch a break when you find yourself trapped inside a novelty plasma lamp from Spencer's.]]
Still Megatron remained unfazed, calmly fending off Autobot attacks and waiting for the inevitable moment when the heroes would take Devastator down. When [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] succeeded in doing so by managing to reach Prowl, Devastator separated, and Megatron immediately stepped in, re-initiation the combination with himself in control. Seconds before uniting with the Constructicons, though, his plan was foiled by Bumblebee, Ironhide and Prowl's activation of a secret failsafe: Wheeljack had integrated a forcefield generator into Megatron's spark casing during his examination of him, and when it was triggered, he was completely paralyzed in mid-transformation. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

In the fallout of the battle, Starscream killed Metalhawk, took control of Iacon and banished the Autobots and Decepticons from the city. He took custody of the immobilized Megatron, and silently gloated over the victory he had accomplished by using guile and politics, rather than Megatron's ways of brute force and firepower. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

===A new approach===
Megatron would not remain incapacitated for long. That night, as the end result of millennia-long secret machinations by Shockwave, an [[Necrotitan|undead Metrotitan]] appeared on Cybertron and opened a portal to the Dead Universe in the planet's skies. Through the portal, Shockwave made contact with Galvatron and his master, the exiled Cybertron despot [[Nova Prime]], but was unable to bring them through to Cybertron thanks to the unexpected disappearance of the Titan's space bridge system. Intending to use the space bridge within Megatron as a replacement, {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Shockwave reanimated the deceased Metalhawk with a wave of necrotic energy from the Titan and had him liberate Megatron and bring him to his secret lab in [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

[[File:RID24 i remember you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Somewhere in the multiverse, [[Override (G1)|Override]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] are smiling.]]
Shockwave hoped that Megatron would comply with his plans willingly, but the Decepticon leader refused and Shockwave forcibly activated the space bridge technology in Megatron's body. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The opening of the bridge in his chest caused Megatron agony, but his screams were heard by Soundwave, who led the united forces of the exiled Autobots and Decepticons to Shockwave's lab to free his leader. Nova Prime and Galvatron attempted to squeeze their way through the space bridge despite this interference, but Ironhide was able to punch Nova back through into the Dead Universe. Just then, Shockwave's "Necrotitan" came crashing into the subterranean city, and in the chaos, Megatron was freed from the restraints holding him. No sooner had Megatron carried Ironhide to the safe hands of the other Autobots, however, than he was ripped in half from behind by Galvatron, who had successfully emerged through the portal {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}} — a briefer battle, no doubt, than the one Shockwave had foreseen between the pair in a vision at the outset of his scheme. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:MTMTE26 megs and bee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I smell a sitcom!]]
After the battle was over, Galvatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] lugged Megatron's bisected remains back into Crystal City, only to find their way barred by the unlikely form of Bumblebee, who demanded they hand Megatron over. Galvatron attacked the Autobot, at which point Megatron revealed that he was fine, as he took down Waspinator and knocked Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bumblebee lugged Megatron back to Iacon, currently being razed by the Necrotitan, where the Decepticon leader announced to the assembled Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs his plan to withdraw to [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], summon the Decepticon Justice Division and other scattered troops, and strike back. Bumblebee rejected Megatron's notion of retreating, and struck a nerve within him by questioning his entire philosophy: Megatron had ''long'' ago abandoned any notion of fighting for freedom and equality, Bumblebee attested, and merely used the claim to ideology as an excuse for his actions. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Fortunately, fighting back suddenly got a lot easier when Metroplex and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' space-bridged to Cybertron. During the battle between the Titans, Megatron observed Metroplex reaching for the ''Lost Light''; when the ship's crew explained that they had Metroplex's severed thumb aboard, Megatron had Bumblebee carry him to it, whereupon he realized that the thumb contained one of Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] ores. Megatron used his internal space bridge to teleport the thumb back to Metroplex, and the ore provided the giant with the power boost to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|ಠ_ಠ]]
At Bumblebee's order and under protest, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] repaired Megatron's injuries and reattached his legs, reminding Megatron of his desire in youth to be a medic. His recent string of failures, the success of ''Starscream'', of all 'bots, and Bumblebee's stinging words had turned the Decepticon leader introspective, and he realized he had forgotten something very important that had driven his writings in his early years: winning meant turning people to your way of thinking, not dominating them. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Subsequently, when Shockwave initiated his millennia-long plan to collapse all reality into a universal black hole, Megatron placed himself and the Decepticons under Bumblebee's command to co-ordinate a counter-strike, and journeyed with his uneasy new "friend" into Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base to confront their shared enemy. There, they found the weakened Galvatron, who Megatron prepared to destroy for past indignities, until Bumblebee talked him down, convincing him that blood did not have to be repaid with blood. At that moment, Shockwave struck, slaying Bumblebee with a blast, and driving Megatron into a rage. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Empowered by his various ores and the energy of the Dead Universe, Shockwave was a formidable opponent and it was all Megatron could do to hold his own against him until Optimus Prime arrived to join the fight. Prime attempted to reason with Shockwave and remind him of the kindly senator he had once been, but his words had little effect, so Megatron opted for a more object lesson: removing the fallen Bumblebee's insignia, he placed it upon his chest and declared himself an Autobot. The stunned Shockwave lost control of the time machine powering his plot, causing his old pre-[[Shadowplay]] memories to emerge. Horrified at what he had become, he allowed Megatron and Prime to kill him, which caused the time machine to collapse into a singularity. Megatron and Prime made what seemed to be a futile dash for freedom, but were saved from the singularity's pull at the last moment by the timely arrival of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

===Crimes against the Species===

{{quote|I don't want to be acquitted. I want to '''make amends'''|Megatron on his new goal in life|"[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide]]"}}
[[File:DCFinale this is not a trick.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|Optimus apparently decided a sincere Megatron was a cue for mood lighting.]]
In a private meeting between Optimus Prime and Megatron a short time after Shockwave's defeat, Megatron affirmed that his change of heart was genuine, and Optimus assured him that he could see past his wartime deeds and remember the well-intentioned 'bot he had started out as. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} The rest of Cybertron, however, demanded a trial; Autobot High Command agreed, realizing that the Decepticon leader's fate had to be decided in public. Before the trial, Megatron was approached by Optimus, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and Rodimus in an attempt to extract some of the Decepticon's memories as evidence in hopes of expediting the proceedings, but a horrified Megatron refused, considering the sanctity of his mind all he had left. After Optimus departed, Rodimus remained to taunt Megatron with the certainty of his execution; in return, the impassive Decepticon simply asked Rodimus to deliver a [[communicube]] to Optimus, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} containing a request to have the trial moved to the [[Raskol Arena]] on Luna 2, in order, he alleged, to accommodate the huge number of spectators that would inevitably attend. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|I agreed to this trial on the condition of meeting Matlock.]]
Megatron's trial lasted five months. At the outset of the proceedings, Megatron plead guilty to "Crimes against the Species", {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} but things changed when Starscream took the stand and gave a testimony that presented Megatron as an incapable leader who was unable to control the Decepticon forces under his command, a powerful brute lacking in the qualities of true leadership who led his followers down an ultimately self-destructive path. His treacherous lieutenant's words struck home, and Megatron stunned the assembled crowd by changing his plea to "not guilty". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Just as his defender, Ultra Magnus, was reading a statement declaring this, the trial was dramatically interrupted by the a small army of Decepticons led by [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]], who had escaped from the brig on the ''Lost Light''. The invading force attempted to teleport Megatron away to safety, but he refused to escape and the uprising was quickly quelled. During the recess that followed, Optimus confronted Megatron over his true motives: he had requested that the trial be held on Luna 2 in order to exploit the moon's different legal system in the event that he felt the trial was unjust. Caused by Starscream's speech to realize that, were he to submit to execution now, his legacy would be one only of pain and death, Megatron invoked one of the moon's forgotten laws: an individual who had committed sufficiently heinous crimes could request he be judged by the long-lost [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Megatron requested that he be allowed to join the ''Lost Light'' in their search for the Knights and their homeworld of [[Cyberutopia]], thus ensuring that ''that'' would be his legacy, after which he would submit to whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Optimus agreed on the condition that Megatron read a prepared speech denouncing the Decepticon cause and asking all active Decepticons to stand down. Megatron did so, at great personal pain. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Hurt and angry over this perceived abandonment, Soundwave used Megatron's change of faction as evidence to forge a new allegiance of his own, decamping to Earth and working with the [[Earth Defense Command]] to create a new home for Autobots there. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}
[[File:MTMTE30 cocaptains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|O captain, my co-captain.]]
Megatron was assigned co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light'' alongside Rodimus, who immediately hated the idea and everything about it, leading to a particularly antagonistic relationship between the two. Megatron was permitted only to fuel himself with "[[Fool's Energon]]", which left him substantially weakened. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Shockwave's machinations had left his internal organs a tortured Gordian knot of space bridge wormholes from which it was impossible to extract his spark; his outward appearance changed between the end of his trial and his co-captaincy, suggesting that his armor was rebuilt around him, or his entire internal structure was transplanted into a new body. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron would later lament that his body did not graft to his spark like past chassis, which he considered a sign of his waning age. {{storylink|Slaughterhouse|Slaughterhouse}} Optimus would see Megatron off on his voyage before he himself headed off to Earth, a meeting Prowl found deeply disturbing. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}
===Towards Peace===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron head examined.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"So Megatron, tell me about your mother." "She was hot."]]
The ''Lost Light'' warped back out to the Galactic Rim and set off on the trail of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who they considered their best lead on the location of the Knights. A month into the journey, Megatron agreed to a therapy session with ship's psychoanalyst Rung. Megatron was less than forthcoming, but when Rung inquired about the removed dedication to Terminus from ''Towards Peace'', Megatron explained to him his current thinking on personal history, and one's ability to selectively edit or abandon entirely previously-held truths. Departing for his quarters, Megatron found that his door had been heavily grafittied by Whirl, who then suddenly attacked him, declaring that their shared history made the battle inevitable. Megatron responded by undermining Whirl's entire life with the revelation that the ex-Wrecker's penchant for surviving tough scraps was a falsehood: the second order Megatron had issued upon forming the Decepticons was that under no circumstances was any Decepticon to kill Whirl. As they struggled, Megatron taunted Whirl with the knowledge that his memory of Whirl's actions all those years ago had helped keep him on the path of violence; the outraged ex-Wrecker punched Megatron in the stomach, only to find his hand teleported away by the space bridge tangle inside the former Decepticon. This took the fight out of Whirl, and Megatron offered to forget the incident if the graffiti was removed from his wall. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

Leaving Whirl behind and heading for the bridge, Megatron received a report that the ''Lost Light'' had crossed paths with a coffin floating in space. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron oversaw the bringing onboard of the coffin and its transport to the med-bay. A short time later, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] snuck into the med-bay on a drunken dare in search of Megatron's "Fool's Energon", unaware of its true nature; caught in the act and believing he had been poisoned by the fuel, he triggered his forcefield, which inadvertently cracked the coffin open. Megatron reprimanded him by permanently engaging his fuel intake moderation chip, and assigned him the role of Security Director in order to focus his mind. The pair then turned their attention to the opened coffin, which was revealed to contain the body of another Rodimus! {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}
[[File:MTMTE32 i came to hate the person id become.jpg|thumb|275px|Lolcat is watching you deprecate.]]
Brief analysis suggested that the body was of Rodimus from the future, but before the matter could be settled, the crew of the ''Lost Light'' were forced to abandon the ship as it suddenly began disappearing around them. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} The disappearances did not stop there, however: Megatron found himself on the [[Rodpod]] with a score of other 'bots, and when ''they'' then began to vanish, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] accused Megatron of being responsible. A tense Mexican standoff ensued, which was brought to a surprising end when [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] was discovered to have been hiding on the pod, having secreted himself on the ''Lost Light'' in order to spy on Megatron for Soundwave. The disappearances continued, and Megatron clashed with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] as he tried to find a pattern. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The weirdness only continued as the remaining crew of the Rodpod—Megatron, Ravage, Nightbeat, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Nautica]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], and [[Getaway]]—discovered the wreckage of a second ''Lost Light'', point of origin for the mystery second Rodimus, orbiting the planet [[Ofsted XVII]]. Still believing that the duplicate ship hailed from the future, Skids accused Megatron of being responsible for the devastation, and, realizing that the recent huge changes he had made in his life left him devoid of any surety in his future actions, Megatron allowed himself and Ravage to be imprisoned until the truth could be determined. Locked in a supply closet with Ravage, Megatron had a heart-to-heart with his angry ex-subordinate, justifying his decisions and unable to offer Ravage any consolation. When power returned to the ship, the pair discovered the dead bodies of Ratchet, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] in the closet with them, their [[brain module]]s stuffed in their mouths—calling card of [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] of the Decepticon Justice Division. Realizing the DJD was responsible for destroying the ship the team re-grouped and prepared to retreat when an even stranger discovery was made: Autobot archivist [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] was found, still alive, the only survivor of the DJD's attack, despite the fact that he had died months beforehand. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}
[[File:MTMTE33 megatron skids right there.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"...But you're not the [[Skyfall (G1)|worst]] [[Zeta Prime (G1)|guy]] to wear the badge. So keep trying."]]
Nautica and Nightbeat were able to deduce the whole story: the duplicate ''Lost Light'' was not from the future, but rather, it and its crew were quantum duplicates created in the explosion of the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] during the ship's original launch two years prior. To make matters worse, the [[quantum foam]] leaking from the engines was threatening to destroy Ofsted XVII, but Megatron had no compunctions about getting to safety and leaving the planet to its fate until Skids called him out, forcing him to face up to the fact that being an Autobot meant more than wearing a badge, and had to be reflected in one's actions. When all other options were exhausted, Megatron admitted that he could use his old mass-displacement ability to shrink his robot form down, enabling him to safely make it through the foam and deactivate the engines, saving Ofsted XVII, "cancelling out" the duplicate ''Lost Light'', and reinstating their own. The diminutive Rewind joined him in the task; Megatron showed him kindness by holding back knowledge of his counterpart's passing so that he might die happy, but Rewind was mysteriously ''not'' erased when their task was successfully completed. As they made their way back to the returned ''Lost Light'', Megatron invited Ravage to remain at his side, hoping an up-close view of the DJD's horrors had instilled in him some doubt in the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}
[[File:MTMTE38 send me back.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75|"AND I WANT YOUR LUNCH MONEY TOO NERD!"]]
Returning to "their" ''Lost Light'', Megatron's team discovered that their Brainstorm had incapacitated the crew and used his mysterious [[briefcase]] to travel back in time. The ridiculousness of the entire situation caused Megatron to have a mini-breakdown, but he soon got ahold of himself, and theorized that Brainstorm was attempting to change history by killing Orion Pax. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Rodimus led a squad back in time in pursuit, which led to Megatron having a cross-time conversation with the young Orion Pax via Rodimus's "[[time phone]]" communicator. Pretending to be his own younger self during the call, Megatron found the young 'bots optimism for the future a mixed source of both affirmation and tragic amusement. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} After Rodimus's team made several further jumps, Megatron deduced that the dates they were travelling to were not important moments in Pax's life, but Megatron's own. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} Realizing that Brainstorm intended to kill him at the moment of his creation, he flew into a panicked rage, attacking [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and demanding the scientist send him back in time to save himself, until Ultra Magnus restrained him and the pair talked him down. As events in the past played out, Megatron was visibly shaken to hear that Rewind had been the one to pull the trigger that destroyed the original spark in his body, and that the universe would truly be a better place had he never existed. Although Whirl subsequently set the timeline to rights, Megatron did not join in the celebrations when everyone returned from the past, retiring to his quarters to brood. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}
When Optimus contacted the ''Lost Light'' to invite them home for first contact, Rodimus declined, saying it would interfere with their quest, while Magnus promised to send a shuttle with representatives from the ship, Megatron just hung silently in the background. When the call ended Rodimus told Optimus that Megatron said 'Hi'. Megatron said no such thing but Rodimus ended the call before he could tell Optimus. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} Megatron dedicated some of his spare time to writing poetry, but his works remained largely unappreciated- a single poetry reading at Mirage's bar, [["Visages"]], was enough to empty the bar of its patrons. This returned the title of popular Lost Light bar back to [[Swerve's]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

===Pax Cybertronia===
In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and Alpha Trion during the reformatting of Cybertron, fifteen million years hence, Ironhide still believed Megatron to be alive and promised a young Autobot they would defeat him again if he ever returned. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
{{-}}

===''Spotlight: Mirage''===
[[File:SLMirage all in good time.jpg|thumb|275px]]
{{NoteSLMirage}}
Somewhere, in an unknown time or place, the self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] dreamed of Megatron and his Decepticons launching a massive attack on the Autobots. But Mirage knew that to only be a dream; in reality, the Autobots were almost eradicated, and Megatron had hired him to hunt down the last of their number. Megatron was outraged by the mercenary's demand for a majority share in all energon mining operations as payment, but it proved to be fuel well spent, as he soon succeeded in locating Optimus Prime and forcing him to surrender. Megatron demanded the prisoners be executed despite Mirage's promise to spare Autobot lives. Seeing Mirage's hesitation, Megatron appealed to his greed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*In [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]], we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, a helmet and not part of his head (at least in his original body). Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, but it is briefly revisited in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]] when a helmetless Megatron spars with [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]].

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Point One Percenters]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2015-08-01T01:58:44Z

Omgpuppies: /* Early days of war */

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[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron A, Megatron B, Megatron Retailer's Incentive, Megatron Dynamic Forces Exclusive variant, and Megatron (Second Printing).]]
'''Megatron''' waged a battle to destroy the evil forces of the [[Senate]]! Then he ''continued'' to wage a war against the evil forces of freedom, organic life, and the very idea of an Autobot living.

{{quote|Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would not do so simply as a means to an end. No. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me '''pleasure'''.|Megatron to Optimus Prime|"[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]"}}

{{quote|And the thing is, when those words were in my head I didn't think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I '''did'''. If the world thinks you're a monster, what does it matter? The world is '''wrong'''. But when you start to think of '''yourself''' as a monster...|Megatron on the previous quote|"[[slaughterhouse]]"}}

__TOC__
==IDW Generation 1 comics==
{{ongoing}}
===Birth of a tyrant===
[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] was built in the 1st Cycle 012, one of the many Transformers [[reproduction|constructed cold]] during the [[Silver Harvest]]. The [[spark]] intended for this body was one generated from the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]... but this spark was destroyed while his body was still in the process of being built, by time-travelling [[Autobot]]s from the future attempting to prevent the destruction they knew Megatron would come to wreak upon the universe. But the non-existence of Megatron meant that the [[Functionist Council]] would eventually plunge [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into [[Functionist Universe|a dystopian hell]], and the Autobot [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who loathed the Functionists, refused to permit this to happen. Whirl replaced the deceased body's spark with a forged [[Point One Percenter]] spark that had been harvested by [[Brainstorm]] from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] millions of years in the future—and so Megatron was ''truly'' born: the first "hybrid" Transformer, a powerful forged superspark in a constructed cold body. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

Megatron desired to be a medic, {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} but alas, he lived in a time of functionism, where one's [[alternate mode]] denoted one's role in society, and one's role determined one's rights. As such, the true nature of his exceptionally rare spark apparently unknown, Megatron was assigned the task for which he had been built: that of [[energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, toiling in a mine under [[Nova Point]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron symbol creation.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|... And thus the "Silica Fracturism" art movement was born.]]

An idealist, intellectual and poet, Megatron was sickened by the caste-ridden social apartheid of [[Nominus Prime]]'s Cybertron, and so he wrote [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|a treatise]] on how pacifist dissent and the exchange of ideas could change things. It was while he was sharing this work with his miner friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] over a drink in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] that the event occurred which would change the course of his life, as Impactor wound up being drawn into a bar brawl with some of the city's upper classes and Megatron was among those arrested after the fracas. Megatron's writings had been growing in popularity and inspiring some dissent against the current regime, so in order to silence him, the [[Senate]] arranged for a police officer on their payroll, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], to kill him. Before Whirl could finish the job, however, police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], having discovered Megatron's innocence, arranged for his release. Despite Pax expressing support for the message of his writings, Megatron now found himself filled with rage and hate, disillusioned with his former ideology and realizing the power of applied violence. Angrily hurling the datapad on which he had written his treatise through a public info-screen, Megatron observed the jagged shape of the shattered glass, and later turned it into a [[insignia|symbol]] for his cause. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}
[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|When considering the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy, one question remains unanswered. Why am I always pictured with phallic-shaped items in awkward positions?]]
Megatron's samizdat writings began to circulate in Cybertron's underground, spawning the "[[Decepticon]]" movement, its name derived from its own slogan, "You are being deceived", warning the common 'bot of the Senate's true nature. Knowing that, at this stage, assassinating Megatron would merely make him a martyr, the Senate instead elected to relocate him off-planet, reassigning him to a mining facility on the world of [[Messatine]] while they tried their own schemes to defuse the growing Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} It was there that Megatron met [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]], an elderly fellow miner who encouraged him to keep writing, and who, in addition to proofreading his works for him, smuggled each new tract back to Cybertron, helping to continue the spread of the Decepticon movement. When Terminus was maimed in a mining accident and had his fuel rations cut off, Megatron kept him alive by sharing his own [[energon]] with the old 'bot. Eventually, Senate agents [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]] were dispatched to Messatine to perform mind-altering [[Shadowplay]] upon Megatron, in order to cut his writings off at the source. Tased into submission and strapped to Trepan's operating table, Megatron was helpless to stop the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] from beginning his vile work. Though the arrival of Froid's rival psychopathologist [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] fortunately forced Trepan to stop before Megatron's personality was altered, the experience left the miner with a lifelong fear of mnemosurgery. Subsequently, a mysterious surge of energy deep within the mine forced an evacuation of the facility; Megatron raced back to his quarters to carry Terminus to safety, but found his friend was not there. With time running out and no sign of Terminus anywhere, Megatron instead chose to save the stack of datapads containing his unpublished works—a decision that would haunt him. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}
[[File:MegatronOrigin1 first kill.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Megatron was relocated to [[Mining Outpost C-12]], and continued to seethe with hate and frustration in his new workplace. His discontent reached a peak when, some time later, [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived to announce that the mine was being automated and the workers would be relocated. When one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, Megatron's fury boiled over and he hurled his pickaxe at Decimus. In turn, he was attacked by the Senator's guard, whom he killed by smashing his head to fragments—the first time he had ever taken a life. A riot erupted around him, but Megatron himself could only sit amongst the chaos, staring at his fuel-stained hands in abject horror, which allowed him to be easily pacified and rounded up with the other miners as the mayhem was quickly suppressed. En route to [[Penal Facility H-3|imprisonment]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], however, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard [[Longshot (G1)|their ship]]. Megatron joined in their effort, and together, they overpowered their guards, took control of the ship, and disappeared into the [[Kaon]] underground. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}
[[File:MegsOrigin2 Cykill.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Battle of the Awesome Voices!]]
After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal and excessive, and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, covertly sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. Their meeting was spied upon by [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]], agents from the Senate's forces, who Megatron slew. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Subsequently, impressed by how he treated his animal-form [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette partners]] as equals (in contradiction to the teachings of his Senate masters), Megatron invited Soundwave back to the gladiator pits and gave him permission to use his mind-reading abilities on him. Within Megatron's mind, Soundwave saw his honest desire for all Cybertronians to be true equals, and was so moved by it that he joined Megatron's cause. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Gradually, Megatron used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents, sending Soundwave to recruit more and more warriors to his cause. Such recruits included [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who he was presented with while having an arm he lost in a brawl replaced with a new limb that incorporated an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} and the disenfranchised warrior [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was personally asked by Megatron to fight at his side when he attended a Decepticon rally, and whom Megatron rechristened "Deadlock," {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} and transformed into a capable Decepticon warrior. {{Storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}} A wave of terrorism and sabotage spread across Cybertron at his command: bombings, wrecking factories and fuel plants, shutting down transport links, a mass poisoning to tank a corporation, and a very public kidnapping of Senator Decimus. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Seeking to enhance his army even further, Megatron reached out to [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Senator Shockwave]], offering to supply him the resources he required to carry out his own mysterious experiments in exchange for his using the teachings of his lost mentor [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a [[combiner]] that would serve the Decepticons. Shockwave cautioned that it could take some time, but Megatron was content to wait. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|You should have gone to IKEA.]]
Despite all his efforts, Megatron believed that the Senate was still not taking the Decepticons seriously, so Soundwave formulated a plan for a declaration of intent that could be not denied: lure the Senate to Kaon and murder them. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} In preparation for this scheme, Megatron offered to restore Shockwave's lost hands—a victim of [[empurata]]—believing that doing so might speed his work. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} The following day, in accordance with Soundwave's plan, Megatron and the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested by Sentinel Prime's men, after which Soundwave was freed on Ratbat's orders, while Starscream would ensure his own release by pretending to defect. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Together, Soundwave and Starscream exterminated the entire Senate, then liberated Megatron and the rest of their comrades, in the process granting their leader the gift of a [[fusion cannon]] liberated from the Senate forces' armory. Megatron led his army against Sentinel Prime's men, killed Sentinel himself, and took control of Kaon, now ready to turn his insurgency into a full-blown war. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

===Early days of war===

Megatron formally declared war on "[[Declaration Day]]" when he delivered a stirring speech from [[Nova Point|Nova Peak]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The growing Decepticon forces swiftly spread across six [[Polities of Cybertron|Torus-States]], {{storylink|Parasites}} and to combat them, Cybertron's new leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] assembled a new military force, the "[[Autobot]]s", led by Megatron's old acquaintance [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]. Researching his new opposite number, Megatron was intrigued to discover that his now-abandoned treatise had been a source of inspiration for Pax, who had even quoted from it when he confronted the Senate and openly accused them of corruption. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}} Early into the war, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] would admit to Pax that Megatron talked about him sometimes, when he was tired. When Pax asked what was said, Bludgeon told him that it would make "both of us feel ''uncomfortable''". {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}
[[File:Autocracy4 backroom meeting.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]
When Orion Pax came close to Kaon during a mission, Megatron saw it as a chance to speak to him and had his Decepticons bring him in. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Megatron attempted to convince him that Zeta Prime was even worse than he appeared—that he had planned to let Orion die in [[Nyon]] so that he could use his death as pretext to invade the rebel-infested city and drain the citizens of their energon—and proposed they work together against him, but Orion refused to hear him and then escaped. Knowing the doubts he'd placed in his head would only serve to damage the Autobot cause, Megatron let him go. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}
[[File:Autocracy8 megs and pax together.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Megatron, let's roll." "What you thinking?" "...Pub?"]]
Megatron continued to keep an eye on Orion Pax's activities, spying on his encounter with the Nyon insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Zeta Prime's [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s suddenly attacked Nyon, Megatron was surprised by how zealously the new Prime fought against the city's rebels, but his real interest still lay on how Orion would handle the crisis. {{storylink|Purge}} Orion turned on Zeta, who in turn attempted to kill him, prompting Megatron to intervene and force the Prime to retreat. Taking Orion back to Kaon, he again offered that they work together against Zeta's corruption, and this time the Autobot officer accepted. {{storylink|Choices}} As their combined forces invaded the [[Citadel]] in Iacon, Megatron and Orion Pax made their way inside and fought Zeta Prime in person. The battle ended with Megatron killing the Prime with a head shot, and with his objective complete, he then betrayed the injured Orion by shooting him in the back. {{storylink|Overthrown}} This moment lived in infamy as the point at which Megatron revealed his true colors, no longer couched in ideology; {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt}} though curiously, an alternate report incorrectly implied he had assassinated Zeta from afar, sniping him with the rifle alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:Autocracy12 no you dont megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|I can't be the only one with deja vu here.]]
With Zeta dead, Megatron conquered Iacon and declared himself ruler of Cybertron. His soldiers patrolled the planet's streets to "keep the peace", mostly by hunting down and capturing any remaining Autobots who opposed him. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} During his rule, Megatron attempted to sway the neutral Hot Rod into joining the Decepticons, but he decided otherwise upon witnessing Megatron ordering the execution of several Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron was shocked to learn that Orion Pax had survived the betrayal and was organizing a rebellion against him under the name "Optimus Prime", and even more shocked that people actually had the courage to listen to him. He wasted no time in striking back against the rebels approaching the Citadel with the full force of his army. {{storylink|Broadcast}} During the battle, Megatron unleashed Zeta Prime's energy-draining [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]], but when the gigantic [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] took out the cannon, Megatron fell to the streets and was confronted by Optimus Prime himself. He lost the ensuing [[The Transformers: The Movie|familiar-looking duel]] and was badly wounded after a failed attempt to defeat Prime by holding Hot Rod hostage, forcing him to escape aboard Astrotrain. As he fled, he warned Optimus that he hadn't won, he had only started a war unlike any Cybertron had ever seen. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:Monstrosity3 Megatron and Pentius.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron insists on wearing his Darksiders cosplay when he's walking his pet Quintesson.]]
Before Megatron could recover from his injuries, he was betrayed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who was gunning for the position of Decepticon leader (with aid from Starscream). As punishment for his failure to hold Iacon, Scorponok banished the wounded Megatron to the hell-world of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Further injured in battle with some [[Junkion (species)|cannibalistic natives]], he stubbornly refused to give up and used the trash littering the world to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched, monstrous appearance. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} While searching for a way off Junkion, Megatron entered the wreckage of a starship and found a trapped [[Quintesson]] named [[Pentius]], who had mapped the planet and knew of an area known as the [[Pillar of Rust]] where starships may land and take off. Megatron freed the alien to guide him there, while also putting him in chains to serve as his slave. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}}
[[File:Monstrosity7 megatron takes pentius spark.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|"Thanks for turning me into the psychopath I've been the whole time!"]]
While crossing the [[Acid Sea]] on the way to the Pillar, Megatron was attacked by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] who pulled him into the depths. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} For reasons unknown he was then released, the creatures having allowed him to live. As he emerged, Pentius was waiting with a history lesson, telling him that Junkion was once a prosperous world until its inhabitants drained it of resources, leaving it the broken husk it is today: a fate that may also await Cybertron. Megatron rejected this possibility, declaring that under his rule, Cybertron—and his legacy—would last forever. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On arrival at the Pillar of Rust, Megatron was met by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who had come to Junkion to finish what Scorponok had started by killing him. He was able to fight off several of his attackers, but [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] was too much for him to handle in his injured state. Egged on and taunted by Pentius, Megatron realized he had one last resource left to use: the Quintesson himself. Telling Pentius that his legacy would live on within him, he tore out the alien's [[spark]] and used it to fuel himself, granting him enough power to defeat Hun-Gar. He spared the Terrorcons in exchange for their loyalty, then returned to Cybertron on their ship to take revenge on Scorponok and take back control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}
[[File:Monstrosity12 strange turns.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Megatron returned to a Cybertron in chaos, as the ancient reptilian [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] had been unleashed by Scorponok and was in the midst of razing Iacon. After reasserting his leadership of the Decepticons by beating Scorponok nearly to death, he had Shockwave restore his body to its original shape and condition, {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and set out to investigate the Trypticon situation alone, unwilling to risk his soldiers in the face of the beast's uncontrolled fury. Finding an injured Optimus Prime on the battlefield, Megatron lectured him, but opted to leave him alive so that he could watch as the Decepticon leader defeated the enemy that Prime could not. Megatron was attacked by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], but as they grappled, they were swallowed by Trypticon. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Within the giant, the pair set their differences aside to fend off the [[cyber-morphic predator]]s that populated his interior, and together, they destroyed Trypticon's internal power cell, taking him offline. A tense standoff between the Autobots and Decepticons followed as the two warriors emerged from within Trypticon, but both sides agreed to go their separate ways for the time being. Not long after the battle, however, Megatron removed Pentius's spark from within himself and installed it within Trypticon. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast (issue)|Belly of the Beast}}
[[File:Primacy4 megatron imprisoned.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]

After being fully repaired following his ordeals, Megatron roused Trypticon by exploiting the connection they now shared thanks to both having borne Pentius's spark. Discovering that Trypticon now possessed the consciousness of Pentius, Megatron was immediately suspicious of the Quintesson's potential treachery and was staggered by the visions of undiluted evil he saw in the aliens' past via their spark-link, but Trypticon assured him that he was dedicated to their shared goal of breaking a world. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Using Trypticon's city-ship alternate mode, Megatron took to the stars, rounding up the scattered Decepticon army and even recruiting Junkions and Sharkticons. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} Returning to Cybertron in force, Megatron was content to wait and watch from the sidelines while his troops viciously tore into Iacon. Trypticon was defeated in battle by Metroplex, at which point Megatron's folly was revealed: through their link, Pentius mockingly revealed his intention to use Trypticon consume Cybertron once the Autobots and Decepticons had weakened each other. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} Leaving his men with orders to burn Iacon to the ground if he failed in order to spare it such a fate, Megatron set off for Trypticon's fallen body in hopes that he would be able to remove Pentius's spark before the giant revived. Confronted atop Trypticon by Optimus Prime, Megatron tried to goad the Autobot leader into destroying him, believing that Pentius would be destroyed with him thanks to their link. Refusing to accept death as the answer, Optimus instead used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to purify Megatron, burning Pentius's spark away; Megatron, however, vowed that he would never stop hating Optimus in spite of what he had done for him. Sadly resigned to the fact that the once-noble revolutionary he had admired was now lost, Optimus knocked out the weakened Megatron and took him into custody. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}
{{-}}

===The spreading conflict===
[[File:MTMTE14 megatron vs overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]

Escaping Autobot custody under as-yet-unrevealed circumstances, Megatron continued to wage the war. Early in the continuing conflict, he wrote ''[[Towards Peace]]'', a new treatise to replace ''After the Ark'', in which he described continuing to fight the war until the very notion of conflict was literally inconceivable. Then and only then would he finally give up his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The earliest edition of the work featured a dedication to Terminus, which Megatron would later remove to reflect the lesson his friendship with Terminus had taught him: not to get attached. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} He oversaw the creation of a class of super-warriors known as the [[Warriors Elite]], selecting only his most powerful troops to undergo the torturous upgrade, including [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], a brilliant sadist and frequent opponent of his from his pit-fighting days who had developed an obsession with Megatron after the Decepticon leader dealt him his first ever defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} At some point, he also created the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to deal with traitors, {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} though he elected not to send them after Deadlock when he defected, valuing the warrior enough to instead dispatch [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] to bring him in. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}}
[[File:ChaosTheory prime vs megatron montage.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Good times, bad times.]]
Megatron would personally clash with Optimus Prime many times; Optimus grew to respect and fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, while Megatron himself respected Prime's sheer power and his skill as a tactician and as a leader. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} Megatron would later incorrectly recall their battle on [[Sherma Bridge]] during the [[Rorsha Campaign]] as the first time they met. Said battle was certainly momentous—every Autobot and Decepticon stopped fighting to witness their duel, during which Megatron's cannon arm was sliced off by Prime's [[energon-axe]], and he claimed revenge by throwing the Autobot leader off the bridge. As the war spread to other planets, they would meet again and again: during the [[Siege of Massunstrad]], Megatron sealed Prime in an anti-matter chamber; on [[Rada Mor]], Prime reduced Megatron to ashes with sentient explosives; and in the midst of the [[Vorsk Offensive]], Megatron was nearly sliced in half by Prime. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Though he resisted [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s attempts to find a "Two City-State Solution" to the war, he did agree to abide by the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Megatron took on a new pistol alternate mode for the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he was used by [[Heretech]] to blast [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} During the same skirmish, Megatron took off half of Prime's face with his energon mace, but had a city block dropped on him by Prime in retribution, which shattered his [[transformation cog]] and trapped him in gun mode for two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Prime was not the only old face that Megatron would see again during the war: during a battle on an aerial drilling platform over the [[Manganese Mountains]], Megatron came face-to-face with his old friend Impactor, and stood poised to execute him until Impactor gave him a moment's pause by recalling his old fondness for poetry. In this moment, Megatron was knocked from the platform by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and sent plummeting to the mountains below. {{storylink|Zero Point}}
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|"We attack the Rice Krispies guys at dawn! Assuming Judd Hirsch delivers the goods."]]
At the war's zenith, Megatron sealed himself in an [[Omniglobe]] to absorb the relentless flood of data coming in from countless fronts. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} With total war going nowhere, he would go on to develop a six-stage [[infiltration protocol]] to be used for conquering targeted planets. The sixth phase called for outright planetary razing, and Megatron selected three of his Warriors Elite for this task: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}}, Overlord and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]. He informed this trio of his decision via teleconference, but Overlord, tired of being used as someone else's weapon, refused. Megatron threatened to hunt Overlord down for his disobedience, {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} but while the powerful warrior spent the rest of his life preparing for this conflict, Megatron never followed up and left him to stew in his own obsession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}
[[File:Stormbringer1 get up and fight.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|You don't gotta go home Prime but you can't stay here.]]
Deducing that the Autobot/Decepticon war would culminate in an energy crisis that would threatened the stability of Cybertron itself, Shockwave left Cybertron to secretly pursue alternate energy sources. Around 10,000 years ago, when Shockwave did not return, Megatron ordered Bludgeon to investigate his files, {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} and probe deeper into whatever it was Shockwave had created. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Shockwave's prediction soon proved accurate, and Cybertron found itself in the throes of an energy shortage. Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces", or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research; instead, he experimented on himself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}} The process gave him immense power, but drove him insane. He became so dangerous that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head. Shortly after the last big push by the Decepticons, Cybertron was abandoned by both factions. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #2}}

===Breaking protocol===
[[File:Infiltration4 enter megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb]]
In the present day, when word reached Megatron that the infiltration unit led by [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], stationed on the planet [[Earth]], had broken protocol, he headed for the planet to investigate. Examining the unit's abandoned bunker in [[Nebraska]] for information, he discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ore-13]]—an incredible energy source that (unbeknownst to Megatron) was the end result of Shockwave's experiments—and was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} While studying the bunker's files, he was contacted by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] with some distressing news: Bludgeon's investigations of Shockwave's files had led him to revive Thunderwing. Megatron ordered the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron, authorizing them to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of their homeworld itself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Just as he was handing down this order, Megatron was happened upon by [[Verity Carlo]], a human ally of the Autobot unit active on the planet, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} but he utterly ignored her. The bunker was then leveled by an airstrike courtesy of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who were merely covering their unit's tracks and unaware of Megatron's presence; when their leader furiously emerged from the wreckage, Skywarp attempted to explain their ignorance, but Megatron simply responded by blasting him out of the sky. Blitzwing favored opening fire rather than attempting explanations, so Megatron beat the stuffing out of him too, then set off for Starscream's new bunker in [[Oregon]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Those librarians are getting really strict on late returns.]]

{{quote|You will stand down. If you fight, you ''die''. There is no room anymore for mercy. In the end, you are ''all'' expendable. Choose.|Megatron's ultimatum to Starscream's renegade troops|[[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]}}

[[Orbital jump]]ing to Oregon, Megatron called Starscream out and ordered the team to stand down, disgusted to see such power games being played amongst his troops. His brief, chilling speech was enough to take the fight out of all but Starscream, who, powered-up on Ore-13, took Megatron on himself. Though the new power source made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was taken out by a point-blank fusion cannon blast through his torso. Megatron ordered the Decepticons to ensure that Starscream survived, and then, observing the Autobots who had been watching the battle, announced that it was time to begin phase two. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

In light of the discovery of Ore-13, Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth and elected to get the infiltration protocol back on track himself, calling a meeting to make Starscream's former troops and making them aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} He continued to order his troops on Earth directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} and was even able to revisit his past gun alternate mode, once again able to achieve the [[size changing|mass displacement]] the mode required thanks to the extra energy Ore-13 provided. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
With his forces joined by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], a new arrival who Megatron suspected of having ulterior motives, {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} the Decepticon leader initiated phase two of infiltration protocol by destabilizing relations between the European nations of [[Latveria]] and [[Symkaria]] through use of an aggression-inducing [[Psycho-Prism]], stolen from Latverian dictator [[Doctor Doom]]. When the superhero team known as the [[Avengers]] investigated the array the Decepticons' were using to broadcast the prism's signal, Megatron abducted the arachnid-powered [[Spider-Man]] to use as a subject for their [[mirror response mode]], {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} draining the hero's powers and infusing himself and the other Decepticons with them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} He proceeded to forge a brief alliance with Doctor Doom, who helped him defeat and capture the allied Autobot/Avenger team who snuck inside the Decepticons' array, but when Doom's suggestion to threaten the captives in order to force the other heroes to lay down their arms failed, Megatron violently dissolved the partnership. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} Emerging from the confines of the array to take on the Autobots and Avengers himself, Megatron refrained from engaging Prime, foreseeing a more intimate confrontation between the two of them in the near future, and instead turned his attention to destroying [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor. The tables soon turned, however, when Doctor Doom freed the captive Autobots and used the Decepticon's mirror response technology to empower them. Defeated by these enhanced Autobots and with the Psycho-Prism destroyed by [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]], Megatron used the last of his extra power to teleport the Decepticons out with an [[emergency warp-out]]. He refrained from departing alongside his warriors, intending to slaughter the Avengers for their interference, but when he was immobilized by Spider-Man's webbing, knocked to the ground by [[Luke Cage]], and rattled by a hail of Autobot fire, he finally warped-out with a final taunt to Optimus Prime of the battle yet to come between them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}
[[File:Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb]]
With phase two of [[infiltration protocol]] properly underway, Megatron recognized that he ''should'' rightly withdraw and install a new unit commander on Earth, but could not resist the chance to try out his new Ore-13 empowered body, selecting the nation of [[Brasnya]], where Decepticon subterfuge was already underway, as his testing ground. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} Allowing the Decepticon's [[facsimile construct]] [[Georgi Koska]] to wield him in pistol mode, Megatron had Koska use him to first sever a [[Russia]]n oil pipeline, and then to fire upon the soldiers who came to investigate, furthering the political and military tensions already brewing in the region. When word came through from Blitzwing that Optimus Prime and the Autobots had arrived, {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} Megatron at last engaged Optimus directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} and although Prime was able to destroy his fusion cannon, the extra strength afforded Megatron by Ore-13 allowed him to physically beat Prime into submission, punching directly into his chest and crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} [[File:Escalation5 prime vs megs.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]] The horrified Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. It turned out that Prime's apparent death was a desperate ruse when the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness—the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Furious over the embarrassing defeat, Megatron threw protocol out the window and ordered that Sixshot be summoned to the planet. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} He took out some of his anger on Ramjet, who he discovered had been busy cooking up a plot to overthrow him; without saying a word, he beat the attempted traitor to death before tearing him apart and keeping his head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
[[File:Devastation5 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, and although the [[Phase Sixer]] questioned his early deployment, he was happy to go along with the abandonment of the phase structure. The other Decepticons, on the other hand, were worried that Megatron was losing his grip—and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}} Megatron monitored Sixshot's attack on the Autobots' [[Ark-19]], ordering him to pursue the escape pod that broke away from the crashing craft, {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} but before he could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron was forced to recall him to deal with a new threat assaulting the Decepticon base—the alien [[Reaper]]s. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Unfortunately, the Reapers convinced Sixshot to side with them, and when an Ore-13 powered Starscream entered the fray to take Sixshot down, Megatron realized his troops had been conspiring against him. He decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to greater threat posed by the Reapers, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and entered battle alongside them all, even allowing Starscream to wield him in pistol mode against the aliens. After the invaders were dead, however, he turned on his men, starting with Blitzwing—but was forced to realize that they needed to remain united when it became apparent that their battle with the Reapers had made humanity inescapably aware of their existence {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}
{{-}}

===All Hail Megatron===
[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|"I don't think I'd have made a good medic. No patience."]]
While the Decepticons were occupied fighting the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the greater threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Megatron and his men went to ground; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the Decepticons, who kept one step ahead of them for months. Secretly abducting [[Hunter O'Nion]], former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner to the Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Megatron and his men returned to Cybertron, where Megatron had [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] conduct experiments that bred a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. The experiments culminated in the creation of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who Megatron employed in a series of key tasks in his plan: the Insecticon obtained from Hunter's mind various Autobot secrets and codes, completed Shockwave's long-gestating combiner process, granting the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and created a working [[space bridge]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} based on designs sold to them by Sixshot in exchange for his freedom. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

Returning to Earth, the Decepticons staged a phony schism within their ranks, allowing the Autobots to believe that they had "disappeared" as a result of a power struggle that had split their ranks into two camps, one led by Megatron and one by Starscream. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Starscream then approached Sunstreaker, whose experience has a Headmaster had left him bitter and jaded, with the proposition that the Autobots join with his forces against Megatron, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when the Autobots arrived at the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and quickly defeated by Devastator. After personally tearing [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Optimus Prime's chest, Megatron marched the captive Autobots through the space bridge back to Cybertron, where the Insecticon swarm waited for them. Prime, however, was able to damage the bridge, causing it to deposit the Autobots a safe distance from the swarm, but in the process, fried his own circuits and left himself comatose. Though the Autobots had escaped the fate he had intended for them, Megatron had successfully exiled his enemies to their dead homeworld; moreover, using information and codes gained from Sunstreaker and Hunter, he concurrently orchestrated the event that would later be known as [[Surge (event)|The Surge]], as Decepticons stormed Autobot installations all across the galaxy, achieving total victory. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:Bringingthehousedown.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's urban renewal program was off to a flying start.]]
With galaxy-wide domination accomplished, one year after the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, Megatron chose Earth to become the new Decepticon homeworld. Together with his men, Megatron stormed [[New York City]], humiliating Starscream with a display of his greater capacity for destruction. When the US Air Force retaliated, Megatron shrugged off their fire and ordered the other Decepticons to engage them; when one damaged jet threw itself toward him in a suicide run, Megatron, outraged at the [[DJ (G1)|pilot]]'s temerity, destroyed it and its occupant with a furious swipe of his hand. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} When US Army forces arrived, Megatron ordered [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] dispatched to deal with them, then sent Devastator to destroy the subway tunnels leading out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With New York secured, Megatron directed the Constructicons to begin building a new space bridge in the city's heart, and had a candid talk with Starscream, revealing his belief that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s attitude and actions marked him as the embodiment of the Decepticon cause, even if he was blind to seeing it himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} After a series of further attacks on major American cities saw the country firmly crushed under the Decepticons' collective heel, Megatron made a propaganda speech to his men in the ruins of New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} As night fell upon the city, Megatron withdrew to privately gloat over the Matrix. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:AHM6MegatronVsIsrael.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]
As the Decepticons began attacking other countries around the globe, Megatron was questioned by Starscream on what the next step in his plan was. A recalcitrant Megatron merely informed him that it was merely time to savor their victory, but Starscream accused him of not ''having'' any plans post-victory, and was merely allowing his men to run wild to distract them from any notion of taking power for themselves. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} What Starscream did not realize was that Megatron did indeed have a plan: to defeat the Autobots, he had created an army of killers and monsters, but in order to create his perfect rule, that army would have to be destroyed, the dissenting, distasteful elements obliterated before Megatron's peace could dawn. Megatron was not distracting his warriors... he was ''waiting'' to see which of them would question and turn on him. Silently sorrowful to already know that such dissent would begin with Starscream, an otherwise-model Decepticon, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} Megatron withdrew to [[Israel]] for some silent reflection amid wholesale devastation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM10 megs vs devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Some time later, Megatron surveyed the space bridge Bombshell and the Constructicons had built in New York. He congratulated Bombshell on his work, but revealed that he had always foreseen Bombshell's intellect as a danger—had always known he and his fellow Insecticons would side with Starscream when the time came. His gambit exposed, Starscream made his move and attacked, but the Insecticons proved no match for Megatron's might. The Decepticon leader had failed to anticipate one thing, however: he did not foresee the Constructicons siding with Starscream, and found himself having to fight the mighty Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The in-fighting was halted by a last-ditch attack by the mustered might of what remained of the human resistance, forcing Megatron and Starscream to put their differences aside momentarily and organize a defense. This attack came as no surprise to Megatron, but the same could not be said for the next entrants onto the battlefield: the Autobots had returned.

After assuring Starscream that he would be leader in the future, when his time was done, Megatron confronted Optimus Prime, surprised not so much that his old foe had survived, but that he had bothered to return to Earth. Both leaders had always maintained a policy of acceptable losses through their millennia-long war, so Megatron assumed Prime had come back for selfish reasons, to reclaim the Matrix, but Prime insisted that he had changed, and would no longer allow their cold war to endanger innocent lives on this scale. [[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]] Megatron scoffed at the notion, reavling that Prime's supposedly "innocent" humans were planning to nuke New York, killing millions of their own just to get rid of the Decepticons, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} but Prime retorted that it wasn't ''just'' about the humans, but also about the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. The two came to blows, but Megatron triumphed in short order and commanded the Decepticons to depart, leaving the Autobots to be killed by the humans' nuke... but just before they withdrew, he was shot in the face by human soldier [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], wielding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Cybertronian technology. Injured and disoriented by the blast, Megatron was finished off when Prime smashed his face in with his own fusion cannon. As he wanted to ''take'' leadership rather than just have it fall in his hands, Starscream picked up his damaged leader and ordered the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:AllHisEngines-Megatron.jpg|thumb|Pretty sure when you float in a bacta tank you're supposed to be wearing a diaper.]]
The Decepticons departed Earth aboard Astrotrain, where the gravely wounded Megatron was put on life support and tended to by Soundwave and his cassettes. With Megatron's life signs only at ten percent capacity, Starscream attempted to appeal to Soundwave's sense of logic and have him shut down so that leadership could be his, but Soundwave refused. Starscream was soon able to take command, however, when he recovered the Matrix of Leadership and professed to have been chosen by it. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===New body, new powers===
The Decepticons eventually settled on a desolate asteroid, where Megatron was installed in a [[CR chamber|CR tank]]. Retaining some level of awareness of the events occurring around him during his convalescence, he was forced to watch as his army languished in inactivity, their energy slowly ebbing away until they were reduced to cannibalism. {{storylink|All His Engines}} After a year of trying to free his leader from this living death, Soundwave was finally forced to conclude that Megatron's body was beyond repair, and recruited the recently returned Shockwave, whom Starscream had provided with the majority of the Decepticons' resources to create a space bridge, to help build a new body for Megatron's consciousness to inhabit. The operation succeeded and Megatron was reborn in a deadly new body, powered by Ore-13, armed with a devastatingly powerful rail gun, and even equipped with space bridge nodes stolen from Metroplex, which gave him the ability to open space bridge portals on his own. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing15 megatrons new body.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"Uh, it's like...did anyone ever see the movie ''Tron''?"]]
Back in action, Megatron devised a plan to destabilize the relationship between the humans and Autobots on Earth. Together with Soundwave and Shockwave, he chopped up his old body and used it to create human-scaled replicas of his former gun mode, containing small pieces of his own consciousness. When Starscream caught them in the act, Megatron elected to table his plan for the moment, as he considered it folly to go against Starscream's wishes for the moment since the Seeker was still in possession of the Matrix of Leadership. Megatron had never truly understood what the talisman ''did'', but it served as a threat merely by being an unknown variable. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} Fortunately, for Megatron this variable was soon removed from the equation when Hot Rod, estranged from the Earthbound Autobots, infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base and recovered the Matrix from Starscream. Megatron seized his chance, intercepting the Autobot and blasting him and the Matrix out into the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

[[File:SLMegatron stealth bomber mode.jpg|thumb|275px|Behold... the ''Bomberang!'']]
With Starscream's trump card now gone, Megatron had the Decepticons gathered so he could address them. Distrustful of Shockwave's motives for preparing his new body, wary of Soundwave's constant surveillance, and repulsed by the state of his once fearsome Decepticon war machine, Megatron decided that he needed to unequivocally reestablish dominance over the now Matrix-less Starscream. He intended to beat Starscream near to death as a means of letting them both work out their frustrations with Starscream's inability to lead effectively during Megatron's absence, but Starscream did not want to fight—spiritually broken by his failures, he simply wanted Megatron to kill him. Rather than accept this, Megatron instead goaded Starscream into opening fire upon him. This began a running battle between the two, with Megatron pursuing the fleeing Seeker in his new stealth bomber alternate mode, continuing to bait Starscream every time he appeared willing to give up the fight. Incensed by Starscream's accusation that he did not know what it felt like to see everything he had worked for fall apart, when that was exactly what Starscream's pitiful leadership had done to the empire he had created, Megatron pummeled him to within an inch of his life, then paused to explain why he kept a schemer like Starscream around: as a constant reminder to watch his back. The brutal display galvanized the languid Decepticons, and Megatron was ready to begin his scheme. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing14 megatron guns.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|Megatron doesn't support the NRA. He IS the NRA.]]
Roughly two years after the Decepticons' defeat on Earth, Megatron used his space bridge powers to dispatch a container full of the guns made from his old body to Earth, where they were found by South American gun-runners and illegally disseminated amongst an increasingly paranoid public seeking ways to protect themselves against Transformers. This allowed Megatron's consciousness to spread across North America, until it was focused enough to contact one particular owner of a Megatron gun: [[Joe Gladki]]. He deceived and manipulated the paranoid human, and eventually convinced him to perform an assassination attempt on [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} In their ignorance, the Autobots then mistook Gladki's gun for Megatron himself and held it captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}}

[[File:IDWongoing16 megatron vs autobots.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Not the [[Realignments|first time]] he's traded his [[fusion cannon]] for a [[rail gun]].]]
With the Autobots in chaos, Megatron started the next phase of his plan and returned to Earth personally, where he used his new stealth bomber mode to shoot down a plane carrying Optimus Prime and several other Autobots. He then hunted down the remaining Autobots, effortlessly defeating them and their new temporary leader Ultra Magnus with his powerful new body, and killing some of their [[Skywatch]] allies. Magnus tried to draw Megatron's attention from the humans, claiming the Autobots were the ones he really wanted, but Megatron assured him that humanity was his real target. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Taking the defeated Autobots captive, Megatron dumped them in a city and directed three of his mind-controlled human puppets to kill them. Contacting Prime directly, Megatron summoned him to the city's outskirts and revealed his plan: crush Prime's spirit and destroy the Autobots' alliance with humanity by forcing them to choose between fighting the humans or allowing them to kill them. Prime found the hole in Megatron's plan, however, when he realized that Soundwave was maintaining the connection between Megatron and his guns, and shot him in the head. His connection to his pawns severed, Megatron scooped up Soundwave and withdrew. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Thanks to a tracker Ultra Magnus had slipped on Soundwave, though, Prime was able to follow the Decepticons to their bolthole and called Megatron out for a full and proper confrontation. In actuality, Prime had lured Megatron outside so Skywatch could drop a [[kinetic harpoon]] on him, but even a weapon dropped from orbit barely proved able to put a scratch in Megatron's mighty new exostructure. Megatron proceeded to beat Prime senseless, but then returned him to the Autobots, and to their great shock, surrendered to their custody. After recovering, Optimus demanded to know why he had surrendered, but Megatron merely taunted him by revealing that Spike Witwicky had murdered a Decepticon in cold blood. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} Prime immediately had Prowl begin investigating Spike and Skywatch, and Prowl interrogated the Decepticon leader for information, which he provided after a little verbal sparring. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron imprisoned.jpg|upright=1.5|left|thumb|Megatron and Optimus Prime can't agree on a safe word.]]
When Rodimus returned to Earth and warned the Autobots that [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] had taken control of Cybertron, Optimus decided to lead the Autobots in reclaiming their homeworld. In the name of Earth's safety, he elected to bring Megatron and the confiscated guns made from his old body with them. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} On the way to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Prime again attempted to discern why Megatron had surrendered, even releasing his old foe from his bonds and having a civil conversation with him about their past together and their dueling ideologies. Optimus tried to reach out to Megatron, offering him the chance to end the war once and for all with a handshake; Megatron appeared to consider it for a moment but ultimately remained silent. With Megatron returned to the confines of the [[variable voltage harness]], the other Autobots pressured Optimus for a decision on his fate: execution or imprisonment. Trying to come to a conclusion, Prime asked Megatron if he regretted any of his actions, but the Decepticon leader remarked that he only regretted not killing ''more'' Autobots. He taunted Prime with the notion that even he was thankful for the war, as it had raised him from a nobody to the greatest Autobot in history, and a furious Prime activated the harness, electrocuting Megatron. The jolt would have killed Megatron if Omega Supreme had not cut the power in time and Megatron, struggling to stay conscious, offered Prime his thanks for saving his life all those years ago in Rodion. Shocked by his actions, Prime realized that Megatron wanted to die and wanted Prime to be the one to kill him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Eventually, Prime decided to let Megatron choose his own fate, and Megatron calmly replied that he chose death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Chaos2 armored megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|...Again...?]]
As Omega drew close to Cybertron, Megatron demanded to know who or what was threatening their homeworld, but Optimus Prime refused to provde him with any information. {{storylink| Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} The Autobots subsequently engaged Galvatron's forces in battle, and while they were occupied, Megatron put into motion the ace he had up his sleeve: taking remote control of the numerous "Megatron guns" aboard Omega, Megatron summoned them to him and combined with them into a new armored mode. Breaking free from his restraints, he headed out to confront Galvatron, intent that nobody would take his world from him. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} As he tore through the Sweeps, Megatron also revealed the reason for his surrender: now that he was back on Cybertron, he could open a space bridge that would allow the massed forces of the Decepticons on Earth to return to their home planet as well. Unfortunately, not long after the Decepticons arrived on the battlefield, Galvatron's secret puppet master, the Dead Universe entity known as [[D-Void]], seized control of their minds and those of the Sweeps, merging them into a gigantic, monstrous avatar. With Prime occupied pursuing Galvatron into Cybertron's depths, Megatron was left to face this "[[Deceptigod]]" alone. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Fighting against D-Void's attempts to ensnare his own mind and make him part of the collective, Megatron was gravely wounded and even lost an arm to the beast, but succeeded into destroying it, blasting it apart with one massive beam from his weapons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

===The long game===
Even as the Deceptigod disintegrated back into its component Decepticons, Megatron could see the potential the creature embodied—D-Void had, in essence, created the perfect combiner by means of utterly obliterating free will. With Cybertron reverting into a primordial wasteland around him—a result of Optimus Prime purifying [[Vector Sigma]] with the Matrix to stop Galvatron and D-Void—Megatron chose to withdraw to experiment with the possibilities this presented. He informed Shockwave, the sole Decepticon who had not been made part of the Deceptigod, of his plans, and Shockwave in turn revealed them to Soundwave and Bombshell. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} While Megatron hid in the wilderness, his Decepticons were left to live as second-class citizens in the new [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] that the Autobots built; Optimus Prime left Cybertron two weeks after D-Void's defeat to calm tensions with "NAILs"—other unaffiliated Cybertronians—who had returned to their homeworld, but even as he did so, he mused that Megatron must still be out there somewhere. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:RID11 megatron in wilderness.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Megatron can't find anyone who wants to join his nudist colony to save his skin.]]
In the months of study and experimentation that followed, Megatron discerned that the combination of Ore-13 and space bridge technology in his body somehow gave him the ability to manipulate the natural energy of Cybertron that D-Void had used to merge the Decepticons into the Deceptigod. After experiments on [[turbofox]]es created larger, more ferocious beasts, Megatron stepped up trials when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] seceded from the shaky government Bumblebee, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and Starscream were building in Iacon and ventured into the wilderness. The signal Megatron had created from the combination energy first drove the Aerialbots mad, before uniting them in body and mind, spontaneously merging them into the gestalt [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but this newborn Autobot combiner was considered hopelessly insane by Megatron and left to die in the wilderness. The madness aspect of the signal afforded him the chance to revive some of the principles of the infiltration protocol, however, as he blanketed the wastelands in it, forcing the Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs to stay in Iacon, causing natural conflict among them to snowball, providing a useful cover for his actions. To gain a pawn within Autobot high command, Megatron even provided Bombshell with the energy to use in conjunction with his own mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s, ensnaring the mind of Prowl. With the resources and cover control of Prowl provided, Shockwave, Soundwave and Bombshell were able to use Megatron's findings to perfect the combination process, rebuilding the Constructicons with new modular designs that would allow them to merge into a perfect Devastator. The endgame was for Megatron himself to form the head of the combiner, but before risking his own mind and body, Megatron decided that Prowl would be used first as a test subject. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:RID12 kill him.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
The appearance of a [[Crystal City Metrotitan|Metrotitan]] on Cybertron which declared that Starscream was the "Chosen One" threatened Megatron's ability to easily re-take leadership of his Decepticons, forcing him to step up his schedule. Through Prowl, he had his inner circle gathered together in the secret "[[Black Room]]", then boldly strode into Iacon for all to see. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} His body shattered and skeletal, he professed to come in peace, but Bumblebee did not accept his surrender and ordered his Autobots to kill him. Indeed, Megatron could possibly have died there and then had Iacon's Decepticons not stepped in, insisting that Megatron's defense of Cybertron during D-Void's attack marked him a hero and that he be taken into custody instead. {{storylink|City on Fire}} After [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] got through examining him to prove his body concealed no weapons, Starscream approached the imprisoned Megatron and attempted to explain that he was not far away from taking complete power in the government, ensuring a Decepticon victory of a different kind. Megatron merely smiled silently at the notion, terrifying his ex-lieutenant with his grin. Presently, the Decepticons rose up in an angry mob and marched on Autobot high command to insist on Megatron's release; the situation quickly devolved into a riot, during which a squad led by [[Needlenose]] stormed the prison and freed Megatron. {{storylink|The Verge}}

[[File:RID14 new body redux.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.55|New body or not, Megatron may want to think twice about standing [[:File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|underneath Devastator's legs.]]]]
Megatron brought Starscream and the captured Bumblebee and Metalhawk to the Black Room, where he explained his plans and had himself transferred into a pre-prepared new body that could combine with the Constructicons' new forms. At his command, the Constructicons and Prowl combined into the new Devastator, who immediately set about razing Iacon. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Even the return of Superion seemed unable to stop the powerful new combiner, until help came from an unexpected quarter—Prowl's secret assassin [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] killed Bombshell, taking out Prowl's controller and causing Devastator to shut down. This was no real impediment to Megatron, however, as the successful function of the new combiner process had been proven, and he set out to take ''his'' place as Devastator's head. Before Megatron could reach the fallen gestalt, though, Devastator awoke, possessed of his own unique, united consciousness for the first time, and resumed tearing into Iacon. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:RID20 megatron in forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|You know you can't catch a break when you find yourself trapped inside a novelty plasma lamp from Spencer's.]]
Still Megatron remained unfazed, calmly fending off Autobot attacks and waiting for the inevitable moment when the heroes would take Devastator down. When [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] succeeded in doing so by managing to reach Prowl, Devastator separated, and Megatron immediately stepped in, re-initiation the combination with himself in control. Seconds before uniting with the Constructicons, though, his plan was foiled by Bumblebee, Ironhide and Prowl's activation of a secret failsafe: Wheeljack had integrated a forcefield generator into Megatron's spark casing during his examination of him, and when it was triggered, he was completely paralyzed in mid-transformation. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

In the fallout of the battle, Starscream killed Metalhawk, took control of Iacon and banished the Autobots and Decepticons from the city. He took custody of the immobilized Megatron, and silently gloated over the victory he had accomplished by using guile and politics, rather than Megatron's ways of brute force and firepower. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

===A new approach===
Megatron would not remain incapacitated for long. That night, as the end result of millennia-long secret machinations by Shockwave, an [[Necrotitan|undead Metrotitan]] appeared on Cybertron and opened a portal to the Dead Universe in the planet's skies. Through the portal, Shockwave made contact with Galvatron and his master, the exiled Cybertron despot [[Nova Prime]], but was unable to bring them through to Cybertron thanks to the unexpected disappearance of the Titan's space bridge system. Intending to use the space bridge within Megatron as a replacement, {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Shockwave reanimated the deceased Metalhawk with a wave of necrotic energy from the Titan and had him liberate Megatron and bring him to his secret lab in [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

[[File:RID24 i remember you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Somewhere in the multiverse, [[Override (G1)|Override]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] are smiling.]]
Shockwave hoped that Megatron would comply with his plans willingly, but the Decepticon leader refused and Shockwave forcibly activated the space bridge technology in Megatron's body. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The opening of the bridge in his chest caused Megatron agony, but his screams were heard by Soundwave, who led the united forces of the exiled Autobots and Decepticons to Shockwave's lab to free his leader. Nova Prime and Galvatron attempted to squeeze their way through the space bridge despite this interference, but Ironhide was able to punch Nova back through into the Dead Universe. Just then, Shockwave's "Necrotitan" came crashing into the subterranean city, and in the chaos, Megatron was freed from the restraints holding him. No sooner had Megatron carried Ironhide to the safe hands of the other Autobots, however, than he was ripped in half from behind by Galvatron, who had successfully emerged through the portal {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}} — a briefer battle, no doubt, than the one Shockwave had foreseen between the pair in a vision at the outset of his scheme. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:MTMTE26 megs and bee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I smell a sitcom!]]
After the battle was over, Galvatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] lugged Megatron's bisected remains back into Crystal City, only to find their way barred by the unlikely form of Bumblebee, who demanded they hand Megatron over. Galvatron attacked the Autobot, at which point Megatron revealed that he was fine, as he took down Waspinator and knocked Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bumblebee lugged Megatron back to Iacon, currently being razed by the Necrotitan, where the Decepticon leader announced to the assembled Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs his plan to withdraw to [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], summon the Decepticon Justice Division and other scattered troops, and strike back. Bumblebee rejected Megatron's notion of retreating, and struck a nerve within him by questioning his entire philosophy: Megatron had ''long'' ago abandoned any notion of fighting for freedom and equality, Bumblebee attested, and merely used the claim to ideology as an excuse for his actions. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Fortunately, fighting back suddenly got a lot easier when Metroplex and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' space-bridged to Cybertron. During the battle between the Titans, Megatron observed Metroplex reaching for the ''Lost Light''; when the ship's crew explained that they had Metroplex's severed thumb aboard, Megatron had Bumblebee carry him to it, whereupon he realized that the thumb contained one of Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] ores. Megatron used his internal space bridge to teleport the thumb back to Metroplex, and the ore provided the giant with the power boost to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|ಠ_ಠ]]
At Bumblebee's order and under protest, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] repaired Megatron's injuries and reattached his legs, reminding Megatron of his desire in youth to be a medic. His recent string of failures, the success of ''Starscream'', of all 'bots, and Bumblebee's stinging words had turned the Decepticon leader introspective, and he realized he had forgotten something very important that had driven his writings in his early years: winning meant turning people to your way of thinking, not dominating them. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Subsequently, when Shockwave initiated his millennia-long plan to collapse all reality into a universal black hole, Megatron placed himself and the Decepticons under Bumblebee's command to co-ordinate a counter-strike, and journeyed with his uneasy new "friend" into Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base to confront their shared enemy. There, they found the weakened Galvatron, who Megatron prepared to destroy for past indignities, until Bumblebee talked him down, convincing him that blood did not have to be repaid with blood. At that moment, Shockwave struck, slaying Bumblebee with a blast, and driving Megatron into a rage. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Empowered by his various ores and the energy of the Dead Universe, Shockwave was a formidable opponent and it was all Megatron could do to hold his own against him until Optimus Prime arrived to join the fight. Prime attempted to reason with Shockwave and remind him of the kindly senator he had once been, but his words had little effect, so Megatron opted for a more object lesson: removing the fallen Bumblebee's insignia, he placed it upon his chest and declared himself an Autobot. The stunned Shockwave lost control of the time machine powering his plot, causing his old pre-[[Shadowplay]] memories to emerge. Horrified at what he had become, he allowed Megatron and Prime to kill him, which caused the time machine to collapse into a singularity. Megatron and Prime made what seemed to be a futile dash for freedom, but were saved from the singularity's pull at the last moment by the timely arrival of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

===Crimes against the Species===

{{quote|I don't want to be acquitted. I want to '''make amends'''|Megatron on his new goal in life|"[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide]]"}}
[[File:DCFinale this is not a trick.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|Optimus apparently decided a sincere Megatron was a cue for mood lighting.]]
In a private meeting between Optimus Prime and Megatron a short time after Shockwave's defeat, Megatron affirmed that his change of heart was genuine, and Optimus assured him that he could see past his wartime deeds and remember the well-intentioned 'bot he had started out as. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} The rest of Cybertron, however, demanded a trial; Autobot High Command agreed, realizing that the Decepticon leader's fate had to be decided in public. Before the trial, Megatron was approached by Optimus, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and Rodimus in an attempt to extract some of the Decepticon's memories as evidence in hopes of expediting the proceedings, but a horrified Megatron refused, considering the sanctity of his mind all he had left. After Optimus departed, Rodimus remained to taunt Megatron with the certainty of his execution; in return, the impassive Decepticon simply asked Rodimus to deliver a [[communicube]] to Optimus, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} containing a request to have the trial moved to the [[Raskol Arena]] on Luna 2, in order, he alleged, to accommodate the huge number of spectators that would inevitably attend. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|I agreed to this trial on the condition of meeting Matlock.]]
Megatron's trial lasted five months. At the outset of the proceedings, Megatron plead guilty to "Crimes against the Species", {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} but things changed when Starscream took the stand and gave a testimony that presented Megatron as an incapable leader who was unable to control the Decepticon forces under his command, a powerful brute lacking in the qualities of true leadership who led his followers down an ultimately self-destructive path. His treacherous lieutenant's words struck home, and Megatron stunned the assembled crowd by changing his plea to "not guilty". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Just as his defender, Ultra Magnus, was reading a statement declaring this, the trial was dramatically interrupted by the a small army of Decepticons led by [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]], who had escaped from the brig on the ''Lost Light''. The invading force attempted to teleport Megatron away to safety, but he refused to escape and the uprising was quickly quelled. During the recess that followed, Optimus confronted Megatron over his true motives: he had requested that the trial be held on Luna 2 in order to exploit the moon's different legal system in the event that he felt the trial was unjust. Caused by Starscream's speech to realize that, were he to submit to execution now, his legacy would be one only of pain and death, Megatron invoked one of the moon's forgotten laws: an individual who had committed sufficiently heinous crimes could request he be judged by the long-lost [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Megatron requested that he be allowed to join the ''Lost Light'' in their search for the Knights and their homeworld of [[Cyberutopia]], thus ensuring that ''that'' would be his legacy, after which he would submit to whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Optimus agreed on the condition that Megatron read a prepared speech denouncing the Decepticon cause and asking all active Decepticons to stand down. Megatron did so, at great personal pain. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Hurt and angry over this perceived abandonment, Soundwave used Megatron's change of faction as evidence to forge a new allegiance of his own, decamping to Earth and working with the [[Earth Defense Command]] to create a new home for Autobots there. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}
[[File:MTMTE30 cocaptains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|O captain, my co-captain.]]
Megatron was assigned co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light'' alongside Rodimus, who immediately hated the idea and everything about it, leading to a particularly antagonistic relationship between the two. Megatron was permitted only to fuel himself with "[[Fool's Energon]]", which left him substantially weakened. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Shockwave's machinations had left his internal organs a tortured Gordian knot of space bridge wormholes from which it was impossible to extract his spark; his outward appearance changed between the end of his trial and his co-captaincy, suggesting that his armor was rebuilt around him, or his entire internal structure was transplanted into a new body. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron would later lament that his body did not graft to his spark like past chassis, which he considered a sign of his waning age. {{storylink|Slaughterhouse|Slaughterhouse}} Optimus would see Megatron off on his voyage before he himself headed off to Earth, a meeting Prowl found deeply disturbing. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}
===Towards Peace===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron head examined.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"So Megatron, tell me about your mother." "She was hot."]]
The ''Lost Light'' warped back out to the Galactic Rim and set off on the trail of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who they considered their best lead on the location of the Knights. A month into the journey, Megatron agreed to a therapy session with ship's psychoanalyst Rung. Megatron was less than forthcoming, but when Rung inquired about the removed dedication to Terminus from ''Towards Peace'', Megatron explained to him his current thinking on personal history, and one's ability to selectively edit or abandon entirely previously-held truths. Departing for his quarters, Megatron found that his door had been heavily grafittied by Whirl, who then suddenly attacked him, declaring that their shared history made the battle inevitable. Megatron responded by undermining Whirl's entire life with the revelation that the ex-Wrecker's penchant for surviving tough scraps was a falsehood: the second order Megatron had issued upon forming the Decepticons was that under no circumstances was any Decepticon to kill Whirl. As they struggled, Megatron taunted Whirl with the knowledge that his memory of Whirl's actions all those years ago had helped keep him on the path of violence; the outraged ex-Wrecker punched Megatron in the stomach, only to find his hand teleported away by the space bridge tangle inside the former Decepticon. This took the fight out of Whirl, and Megatron offered to forget the incident if the graffiti was removed from his wall. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

Leaving Whirl behind and heading for the bridge, Megatron received a report that the ''Lost Light'' had crossed paths with a coffin floating in space. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron oversaw the bringing onboard of the coffin and its transport to the med-bay. A short time later, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] snuck into the med-bay on a drunken dare in search of Megatron's "Fool's Energon", unaware of its true nature; caught in the act and believing he had been poisoned by the fuel, he triggered his forcefield, which inadvertently cracked the coffin open. Megatron reprimanded him by permanently engaging his fuel intake moderation chip, and assigned him the role of Security Director in order to focus his mind. The pair then turned their attention to the opened coffin, which was revealed to contain the body of another Rodimus! {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}
[[File:MTMTE32 i came to hate the person id become.jpg|thumb|275px|Lolcat is watching you deprecate.]]
Brief analysis suggested that the body was of Rodimus from the future, but before the matter could be settled, the crew of the ''Lost Light'' were forced to abandon the ship as it suddenly began disappearing around them. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} The disappearances did not stop there, however: Megatron found himself on the [[Rodpod]] with a score of other 'bots, and when ''they'' then began to vanish, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] accused Megatron of being responsible. A tense Mexican standoff ensued, which was brought to a surprising end when [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] was discovered to have been hiding on the pod, having secreted himself on the ''Lost Light'' in order to spy on Megatron for Soundwave. The disappearances continued, and Megatron clashed with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] as he tried to find a pattern. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The weirdness only continued as the remaining crew of the Rodpod—Megatron, Ravage, Nightbeat, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Nautica]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], and [[Getaway]]—discovered the wreckage of a second ''Lost Light'', point of origin for the mystery second Rodimus, orbiting the planet [[Ofsted XVII]]. Still believing that the duplicate ship hailed from the future, Skids accused Megatron of being responsible for the devastation, and, realizing that the recent huge changes he had made in his life left him devoid of any surety in his future actions, Megatron allowed himself and Ravage to be imprisoned until the truth could be determined. Locked in a supply closet with Ravage, Megatron had a heart-to-heart with his angry ex-subordinate, justifying his decisions and unable to offer Ravage any consolation. When power returned to the ship, the pair discovered the dead bodies of Ratchet, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] in the closet with them, their [[brain module]]s stuffed in their mouths—calling card of [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] of the Decepticon Justice Division. Realizing the DJD was responsible for destroying the ship the team re-grouped and prepared to retreat when an even stranger discovery was made: Autobot archivist [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] was found, still alive, the only survivor of the DJD's attack, despite the fact that he had died months beforehand. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}
[[File:MTMTE33 megatron skids right there.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"...But you're not the [[Skyfall (G1)|worst]] [[Zeta Prime (G1)|guy]] to wear the badge. So keep trying."]]
Nautica and Nightbeat were able to deduce the whole story: the duplicate ''Lost Light'' was not from the future, but rather, it and its crew were quantum duplicates created in the explosion of the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] during the ship's original launch two years prior. To make matters worse, the [[quantum foam]] leaking from the engines was threatening to destroy Ofsted XVII, but Megatron had no compunctions about getting to safety and leaving the planet to its fate until Skids called him out, forcing him to face up to the fact that being an Autobot meant more than wearing a badge, and had to be reflected in one's actions. When all other options were exhausted, Megatron admitted that he could use his old mass-displacement ability to shrink his robot form down, enabling him to safely make it through the foam and deactivate the engines, saving Ofsted XVII, "cancelling out" the duplicate ''Lost Light'', and reinstating their own. The diminutive Rewind joined him in the task; Megatron showed him kindness by holding back knowledge of his counterpart's passing so that he might die happy, but Rewind was mysteriously ''not'' erased when their task was successfully completed. As they made their way back to the returned ''Lost Light'', Megatron invited Ravage to remain at his side, hoping an up-close view of the DJD's horrors had instilled in him some doubt in the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}
[[File:MTMTE38 send me back.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75|"AND I WANT YOUR LUNCH MONEY TOO NERD!"]]
Returning to "their" ''Lost Light'', Megatron's team discovered that their Brainstorm had incapacitated the crew and used his mysterious [[briefcase]] to travel back in time. The ridiculousness of the entire situation caused Megatron to have a mini-breakdown, but he soon got ahold of himself, and theorized that Brainstorm was attempting to change history by killing Orion Pax. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Rodimus led a squad back in time in pursuit, which led to Megatron having a cross-time conversation with the young Orion Pax via Rodimus's "[[time phone]]" communicator. Pretending to be his own younger self during the call, Megatron found the young 'bots optimism for the future a mixed source of both affirmation and tragic amusement. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} After Rodimus's team made several further jumps, Megatron deduced that the dates they were travelling to were not important moments in Pax's life, but Megatron's own. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} Realizing that Brainstorm intended to kill him at the moment of his creation, he flew into a panicked rage, attacking [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and demanding the scientist send him back in time to save himself, until Ultra Magnus restrained him and the pair talked him down. As events in the past played out, Megatron was visibly shaken to hear that Rewind had been the one to pull the trigger that destroyed the original spark in his body, and that the universe would truly be a better place had he never existed. Although Whirl subsequently set the timeline to rights, Megatron did not join in the celebrations when everyone returned from the past, retiring to his quarters to brood. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}
When Optimus contacted the ''Lost Light'' to invite them home for first contact, Rodimus declined, saying it would interfere with their quest, while Magnus promised to send a shuttle with representatives from the ship, Megatron just hung silently in the background. When the call ended Rodimus told Optimus that Megatron said 'Hi'. Megatron said no such thing but Rodimus ended the call before he could tell Optimus. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} Megatron dedicated some of his spare time to writing poetry, but his works remained largely unappreciated- a single poetry reading at Mirage's bar, [["Visages"]], was enough to empty the bar of its patrons. This returned the title of popular Lost Light bar back to [[Swerve's]]. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

===Pax Cybertronia===
In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and Alpha Trion during the reformatting of Cybertron, fifteen million years hence, Ironhide still believed Megatron to be alive and promised a young Autobot they would defeat him again if he ever returned. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
{{-}}

===''Spotlight: Mirage''===
[[File:SLMirage all in good time.jpg|thumb|275px]]
{{NoteSLMirage}}
Somewhere, in an unknown time or place, the self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] dreamed of Megatron and his Decepticons launching a massive attack on the Autobots. But Mirage knew that to only be a dream; in reality, the Autobots were almost eradicated, and Megatron had hired him to hunt down the last of their number. Megatron was outraged by the mercenary's demand for a majority share in all energon mining operations as payment, but it proved to be fuel well spent, as he soon succeeded in locating Optimus Prime and forcing him to surrender. Megatron demanded the prisoners be executed despite Mirage's promise to spare Autobot lives. Seeing Mirage's hesitation, Megatron appealed to his greed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|thumb|100px]]
*In [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]], we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, a helmet and not part of his head (at least in his original body). Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, but it is briefly revisited in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]] when a helmetless Megatron spars with [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]].

[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Point One Percenters]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Chaos Theory Part 2

2015-08-01T00:20:55Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #23
|prev=Chaos Theory Part 1
|next=Chaos Part One: Lamentations
|seriesissue2="[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]"
|prev2=Chaos Theory Part 1
|next2=Chaos Part One: Lamentations
|title="Chaos Theory Part 2"
|image=Transformersissue23-CoverB.jpg
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 10]], [[2011]]
|coverdate=August 2011
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}

'''Optimus Prime recalls his role in the outbreak of the war, when he was merely "Orion Pax", in an attempt to clear his judgment.'''

==Synopsis==
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] is watching a news report on the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], dealing with a terrorist attack on the Primal Procession. [[Nominus Prime]] is missing, and the flickering of the [[Matrix Flame]] indicates he's in critical condition.''

''An electrical storm cuts the feed just as three armoured thugs enter Orion Pax's office. Orion Pax demands to know why they're there, and the lead thug mentions that they're looking for [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. Orion Pax states that Whirl is in custody awaiting trial for [[Chaos Theory Part 1|savagely beating]] [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|a suspect]]. The lead thug implies that Whirl's learned his lesson and should be set free. When Orion Pax disagrees, the lead thug mentions that Whirl has friends in high places, and that putting him on trial could lead to embarrassment to certain high level Cybertronians. Orion Pax kicks them out of his office, and the lead thug states that it's unfortunate that Orion lives up to his reputation. ''

In the present day, Optimus Prime and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] discuss Megatron's fate now that he's been captured. Optimus Prime believes that he's been too reliant on the wisdom of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] and reveals that when he first bonded with it after becoming [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], it hurt. He asks Ratchet to look after the Matrix so he can decide Megatron's fate without it.

''[[Springarm]] and [[Wheelarch]] are on patrol, and discuss how much Orion Pax has turned the Dead End around since being appointed police captain of the region. They notice that there isn't a criminal to be found. They find out why when they return to base. Orion Pax has already arrested them all. Later, Orion Pax admits to Springarm that the thugs from earlier troubled him. He thinks they might be men under [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel's]] command, members of the Senate security detail. This would give credence to Megatron's political tract in which he declared the Senate was corrupt. Springarm mentions that when he's feeling troubled he tries to channel the power of the Matrix, but Orion Pax states he's not religious, and doesn't believe that the Matrix is anything more than a symbol.''

Optimus Prime asks [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] what it felt like when he bonded with the Matrix. Rodimus replies that it felt wonderful, a fact that Optimus finds troubling, but does not reveal to Rodimus.
[[File:OrionridesSpringarm.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"C'mon hit me!"]]
''Orion Pax returns to his police headquarters to find Springarm and Wheelarch decapitated. He finds the thugs from earlier, who have freed Whirl. Whirl protests, stating it wasn't his idea for the break-in, but Orion has had enough, only to be blindsided by one of the thugs. Orion Pax fights the thugs off, only to be cornered in a small room with Springarm's headless corpse. He manages to transform the corpse into its [[alternate mode]] and rides out, dispatching the thugs while reading them their rights. Whirl again states that none of this was his idea, and warns Orion Pax to just let the matter rest, stating that if he tries to expose the Senate's corruption, they will destroy his life. Whirl asks Orion what he plans to do.''

''At the [[Grand Imperium]], [[Proteus|Senator Proteus]] gives a speech in which he says the Senate needs to institute a [[clampdown (event)|clampdown]], a series of measures that will limit the freedoms of the Cybertronians for a limited time, while Sentinel, head of Senate security, tracks down those responsible for the attack on Nominus Prime. An aide informs Sentinel that someone wishes to address the Senate. Sentinel orders the unknown individual arrested. A short time later, the same aide informs Sentinel that the individual has fought his way through the Senate's security. The individual is revealed to be Orion Pax, who enters the Senate's chamber. Sentinel orders his men to allow him to speak, interested to see where things are going. Orion Pax throws Whirl's body onto the Senate floor, and reveals that members of the Senate's security team tried to persuade Orion Pax from pressing charges on him for breaking the law. He condemns the Senate for lording over Cybertron, detached from the masses, always looking for new ways to control the populace. He claims that the other races of the universe that look down on Cybertron refer to Cybertronians as Autobots, meaning automatons, and states that this is what the Senate has reduced the population to. He says that the term "Autobot" can also mean autonomous, free thinking, and declares himself an Autobot. Orion then retells Megatron's story and asks the Senate the three questions Megatron wanted to ask them, just as Sentinel orders his forces to remove Orion: In whose interests do you exercise power? To whom are you accountable? How can we get rid of you? Senator Proteus mentions he didn't catch Orion Pax's name, and Sentinel declares it doesn't matter, he's going to be locked up.''

Optimus Prime confronts Megatron and states that even if Megatron has resorted to bloodshed to achieve his goals, Optimus hasn't, and he'd still give the same speech he gave before the Senate today. He declares that since freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Megatron should be free to choose his fate should he be found guilty of his crimes. Megatron chooses death. After Optimus leaves Megatron's cell, Ratchet comments on the Matrix's incredible powers, remarking that just holding it near Sunstreaker restored his ability to walk. He returns the Matrix to Optimus, and Optimus says that he just needed to see if he was still the same person he was before becoming Prime without the Matrix.

''Orion Pax meets with an [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|unknown Senator]] at the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark-1]]'' memorial. Orion thanks the Senator for pulling strings to have him released from prison, but asks why he did so after he condemned the Senate. The Senator says that he did it because he did not want to see a robot of Orion's caliber imprisoned on [[Garrus-1]] or sent to the [[Institute]]. The Senator continues, saying that Orion Pax was right, and that the corruption in the Senate goes deeper than he knows. The Senator tells Orion that the [[Knights of Cybertron]] called the Matrix of Leadership the Creation Matrix due to its ability to create life. He goes on to explain that a faction within the Senate orchestrated the attack on Nominus Prime so that they would have an excuse to put him into hiding and gain unrestricted access to the Matrix so that they could learn how to control it, and increase their power over the Cybertronian populace. The Senator then says that the Senate's crackdown in the aftermath of the terrorist attack will lead to a war, and that sides are already being chosen. Orion responds that he feels differently, and that when the Senator's men rebuilt him, they changed him. The Senator mentions that Orion should look reflect on what has happened, and look inside himself to see what his part in the upcoming conflict will be. While alone, Orion Pax discovers the extent of the changes the Senator had ordered. He now has room in his torso to carry the Matrix of Leadership.''

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]] (2)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (20)
|c4=
*''[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'' (1)
*''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (3)
*''[[Senate]] thugs'' (4-5)
*''[[Kroma]]'' (6)
*''[[Springarm]]'' (9)
*''[[Wheelarch]]'' (10)
*''[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'' (12)
*''Sentinel's security officer'' (13)
*''[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]]'' (14)
*''[[Proteus]]'' (15)
*''[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'' (16)
*''[[Decimus]]'' (17)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Conspicuously-unnamed senator]]'' (18)
*''[[Sherma]]'' (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"I think you've made your ''point'' now, don't you? I think he's learned his lesson. I think it's time we all moved on." 
"I'll tell you what I think: I think it's time you ''left''."
:—'''Whirl's friends''' fail to shake down '''Orion Pax'''

"It ''hurt''. Bonding with [the Matrix], interfacing with it — whatever the ''acceptable term'' is these days — it hurt like ''hell''. I've always interpreted the pain as a kind of ''warning'' — like the Matrix was saying 'are you sure you want the responsibility? Are you ''sure''?'"
:—'''Optimus'''

"When you became one with the Matrix... how did it ''feel''?" 
"How did it feel ''honestly''? ... It felt ''wonderful!''"
:—'''Optimus''' learns the Matrix likes '''Rodimus''' better

"Come out and face us! At least your colleagues had the guts to confront us ''head-on''..." 
"'Head on'. It's ''funny'' 'cos, y'know, we cut off their—" 
"Yes, I know. I said it on ''purpose.''"
:—'''Whirl's friends''' make puns about murder.

'''"How can we get rid of you?"'''
:—'''Orion Pax''' faces down the Senate

==Notes==
*This was originally going to be a one-shot with ''Chaos'' as a mini-series. But the ongoing sells more than one-shots and minis, so in they went to the ongoing! (This is why the series ended on #31 and not #25.)<ref>[http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/webpage/the-underbase-reviews-ongoing-31 Moonbase 2 interview with Mike Costa ("Special Guest")]</ref>
*Orion Pax is ''hardcore.''
*Among Orion's trophies is one from the [[Institute for Higher Programming]] mentioned in [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]'s toy bio.
*[[Nebulan]]s are described by Whirl's friends as having hair, but were all shown as bald in "[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]". [[Mo Zarak]] had facial hair though, which might count for something. But as this was millions of years before Spotlight: Ultra Magnus, and the "hair" could have been lost through evolution or cultural change, or the Nebulans seen in the Spotlight were exceptions and not the rule.
*In addition to [[Primus]], Orion Pax refers to the previously unknown deities [[Mortilus]] and [[Adaptus]].
*A statue of [[Prima (G1)|Prima]] overlooks the [[Grand Imperium]] Senate chamber. He's drawn like the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]]-style [[Prima (WFC)|Prima]] seen in ''[[Transformers Vault]],'' Matrix sword and all. Beneath him is inscribed; 'Freedom is the right of all civilized beings', a quote Prime clearly felt he could improve on.
*When Orion Pax reaches the Senate Chamber he gives their full title noting that they are the 113th Cybertronian Senate. This is one of [[113 (disambiguation)|'''many''' references]] James Roberts makes to [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|UK issue #113]].
*Proteus is the name of a Greek god of the seas who has prophetic abilities and is able to change his form at will.
*The Senate mentions the [[Cyberutopian]]s as a sect that annoy them. "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]" will later mention the legend of [[Cyberutopia]], related to the mythical Knights of Cybertron.
*Megatron's "three questions" are a near-verbatim quote from British politician [[wikipedia:Tony Benn|Tony Benn]].
*Optimus mentions that bonding with the Matrix hurt him physically. We learn more about that in [[Transformation (issue)|Transformation]].
*Senator Sherma can be spotted amongst the crowd at the Grand Imperium, near Orion's unnamed mentor.
*The unnamed senator was scripted as "Senator X" and not intended to be [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|anyone]], but Roberts immediately thought it would be cool to [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|reveal]] he was someone we knew. <ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 42:30 - 43:10</ref>

===Errors===
*Springarm's decapitated head lacks the Matrix tattoo on his cheek.
*Despite saying that they are "purely decorative", one of Orion's arm cannons has smoke coming out of it after he fights his way into the senate.
*On the final page, the mysterious Senator calls Optimus Prime by his current name, "Orion", only to call him "Optimus" a few panels later, after explaining the room made in his chest to (presumably) hold the Matrix. This is either an outright error, or the Senator is foreshadowing to what he somehow apparently knows will happen to Orion/Optimus in the near future.

===Covers (3)===
{{picsneeded|Cover RI}}
*'''Cover A:''' Optimus Prime's head; art by [[Alex Milne]] and colors by [[Josh Perez]].
*'''Cover B:''' Orion Pax's head; art by Milne and colors by Perez.
*'''Cover RI:''' Both half-heads combined into one time-spanning B&W super head; art by Milne.

<gallery>
Image:Transformersissue23-CoverA.jpg|new Prime
Image:Transformersissue23-CoverB.jpg|old Prime
Image:Transformersissue23-CoverRI.jpg|all-time Prime
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*[[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|''The Transformers'' #24]]
*"Chaos" checklist
*[[IDWords]] advertising ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', ''The Legend of Drizzt'' and ''True Blood'' comics
*Anne Rice's ''Servant of the Bones'' comic
*''The Legend of Drizzt'' comic
*IDW on Twitter
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' comic (back cover)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:IDW The Transformers issues]]

Chaos Theory Part 1

2015-08-01T00:14:45Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #22
|prev=Police Action: Prologue
|next=Chaos Theory Part 2
|seriesissue2="[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]"
|prev2=Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix
|next2=Chaos Theory Part 2
|title="Chaos Theory Part 1"
|image=Transformersissue22-CoverA.jpg
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 20]], [[2011]]
|coverdate=July 2011
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}

'''Why did Megatron surrender...?'''

==Synopsis==

''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] and [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] are sitting in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]], discussing Megatron's treatise that calls for non-violent direct action to bring about a revolution. A bar fight involving [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] soon attracts Impactor's violent attention, despite Megatron's protests.''

Aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s rocket, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] scan the captured Megatron for weapons. A paranoid Ratchet worries about a rumor that Megatron can siphon [[antimatter]] from a [[black hole]] and release it through his eyes. Perceptor finds his paranoia ridiculous and turns the [[Decepticon]] over to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]. While Megatron is being investigated by the scientists, Optimus watches with [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Xaaron]], who came from [[Kimia Facility|Kimia]] to see Megatron for himself and offer [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] a position at Kimia. Optimus Prime questions Megatron's motives, wondering if his nemesis wants the war to be over as much as he does. Ironhide offers to handle the interrogation, but Prime considers Megatron as his responsibility and as his greatest failure.

''In a police cell, [[Springarm]], a police officer, checks Megatron's information and asks for his name and where he was created. Megatron asks of Impactor's whereabouts, learning that he is in a medical facility. However, the cadets he beat up are in a much poorer condition. [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] enters with a [[Communicube]] to relieve Springarm and warns Megatron that things for him will not turn out well if the cadets expire.''

Optimus Prime, alone and blocking out any prying eyes, engages Megatron in a "civilized conversation". After being released of his restraints and taking a seat, Megatron enquires about his troops back on [[Earth]], but Prime tells him to focus on the current topic. Megatron elaborates on the constants of his millions of years of war and conquering: hate, created in his stay in prison thanks to an Autobot, and Optimus Prime. Megatron does not hate Prime himself, just what he represents and the barriers he creates for Megatron's ambition. Megatron asks Optimus if he hates him; the question is first answered with a yes, but Optimus takes it back. "Hate" is too simple a word—it may sustain Megatron, but he is lessened by it. Megatron mocks Prime's rhetoric and claims to know the [[Autobot]] leader all too well. Optimus tires of the conversation, but Megatron points out that the war has changed; things are speeding up. Optimus asks him what victory is to him. It is dominion over the lesser species, the Autobots vanquished, and a new [[Golden Age]]—peace through tyranny. Optimus attempts to compare the two's desires for peace, but Megatron refuses to accept the parallel. Optimus has done nothing for his goal, while Megatron fought to address the injustice in their society. Optimus asks when the two first met, leading into the two recalling their battles over the years. Optimus wishes for Megatron's help in ending the war, but he refuses.

The [[Autobot High Command]] convenes to discuss the situation with Megatron. Xaaron wants to make sure that there is a proper public and independent trial. [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] agrees and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] suggests Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]], seen as neutral by the [[Galactic Council]]. The conversation turns to the death sentence, but [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] fears making Megatron a martyr and turning away from the Autobots' principles. The ultimate decision, however, rests with Optimus Prime. [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] doubts whether Optimus can make the right decision and points out that, although there was no visual showing of the conversation between Optimus and Megatron, the audio feed was not shut down and everyone heard the cozy recall of memories. Prime is livid, and soon sits alone in despair.

''In a police cell, Whirl savagely beats Megatron for supposedly crippling his cadet friends and threatens to kill the prisoner, planning to claim self-defense. He notes his death will mean nothing. Before Whirl can carry out the threat, Springarm stops him, horrified at what Whirl has done. The prisoner is released under orders and Megatron is escorted to see the police captain, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]. Pax had read Megatron's treatise and surmised that he was not prone to violence and the bartender's evidence backed this up. Orion tells Megatron that, though he doesn't agree with the entirety of the treatise, he is glad someone is voicing their concerns and encourages Megatron to keep it up.''

Annoyed, Optimus Prime returns to Megatron's cell and demands to know why he surrendered. The Decepticon is obtuse, telling him to rephrase the question. Optimus rants at Megatron, laying singular blame on him for millennia of conflict, the billions of lives ruined, and their race on the edge of extinction. Again, Megatron insists that Prime rephrase his question, and Optimus Prime asks if Megatron feels even the slightest remorse. The answer is "no"; Megatron's only regret is that he didn't do more while he had the chance, that he didn't kill even more. He will always respond by killing on an industrial scale, he will do anything to murder every single Autobot, and doing so will give him great pleasure. Megatron turns the conversation on Optimus Prime, stating that the war made Prime who he is now, and that he should be grateful to Megatron for starting it. Optimus realizes Megatron's attempts to bring out anger, but nevertheless activates the [[variable voltage harness]]. From the audience, Rodimus observes sternly. Recovering, Megatron tells Prime that they first met in [[Rodion]] and thanks him for what happened back then.

Leaving the cell, Optimus Prime tells Omega Supreme that he should have cut the power to the harness. Omega explains that he did and that, had he not, Megatron would likely be dead.

''Outside the Rodion police station, Springarm bids farewell to Megatron and hands back his non-violent treatise on Cybertronian society. Megatron looks at it briefly before smashing it through a large screen. He walks away with fresh determination and a new perspective.''

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] (9)
*[[Xaaron]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (13)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (15)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (21)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (22)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (24)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (25)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (26)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (27)
*''[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]'' (29)
*''[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'' (30)
*''[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'' (33)
*''[[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'' (35)
*''[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'' (37)
*''[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'' (39)
*''[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]'' (45)
*''[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]'' (46)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (47)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (48)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (49)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*''[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'' (28)
*''[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (34)
*''[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'' (36)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'' (38)
*''[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'' (40)
*''[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]'' (41)
*''[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'' (43)
*''[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]'' (44)
|c4=
*''[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'' (1)
*''[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'' (3)
*''Cadets'' (4-5)
*''[[Springarm]]'' (17)
*''[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'' (18)
*''[[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]]'' (31)
*''[[Verity Carlo]]'' (32)
*''[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]'' (42)
*''[[Wheelarch]]'' (50)
}}

==Quotes==

"[[Hasbro|They]] say he can use this weird inter-dimensional circuity to syphon anti-matter from... from a [[black hole]]. You know, in space. So." 
"With respect, Ratchet, that sounds—that just sounds ''stupid''."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Perceptor'''

"So. How are we going to play this? Are we going to spend the next hour ''posturing'', or are we going to rise to the occasion and actually have a ''civilised conversation''?" 
"'Rise to the occasion'? What is this, a summit meeting? I'm bolted to the wall, I'm riddled with inhibitor chips, and I'm precisely ''one rash gesture'' away from being ''electrocuted to death''. It's hardly conducive to a frank exchange of views." 
"Fair point. [unbolts] Take a seat."
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"I look back over the last four million years and recognize that there have been only two constants: hate... and you."
:—'''Megatron'''

"Look me in the eye and say you want it ended, and ''it will end''."
:—'''Optimus'''

"Do you even feel the ''slightest'' remorse?" 
"No."
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Understand ''this''. So long as you stand in my way- so long as ''anybody'' stands in my way, I will respond by killing. Murder on an ''industrial'' scale. Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine [[oil]], just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would do so not simply as a means to an end, no. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me ''pleasure''."
:—'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The flashback portion of this issue takes place before ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' and fill in a lot of details that the miniseries left out: namely, ''why'' Megatron is already so angry and willing to turn to violence.
*Impactor and Megatron are sitting in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's NEW Oil House]], an early version of the classic Transformers hangout that was previously only mentioned in dialogue in the IDW continuity, in the ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide|Ironhide]]'' mini-series.
*Xaaron mentions a free lab on [[Kimia Facility|Kimia]]; it's [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'s old one, free following his demise in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*This issue introduces [[Nominus Prime]], ''another'' previously-unheard-of Prime who was not part of the lineage as glimpsed in ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]''. Where the last one, [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], introduced in ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'', came after [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], Nominus ''precedes'' Sentinel.
*The idea of the Transformers as a pariah race, shunned by the rest of the galaxy, was originally suggested by some aliens' reactions to them in ''[[Spotlight: Drift]]''.
*The montage of war scenes include: ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', "[[Spotlight: Arcee]]", ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'', "[[Spotlight: Kup]]", "[[Spotlight: Shockwave]]", ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide|Ironhide]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'', "[[...For All Mankind]]", ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]''.
*When recalling past fights, Megatron and Optimus remember their relatively recent battle in [[Brasnya]] from ''Escalation'', and one at [[Rada Mor]], which was previously mentioned in "[[Bullets]]". Also mentioned are the [[Vorsk Offensive]] and the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], which would received some expansion during Roberts's later stories. Contrarily, this is thus far the only mention of the [[Siege of Massunstrad]].
*The Tremorcons were mentioned before in "Bullets"; Rung—a character originally created by Roberts for a passing mention in his unofficial novella "Eugenesus"—was also seen in that story, as well as being the writer of the ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' [[Autopedia]] profiles.
*The screen that Megatron throws his treatise through ends up with a hole the shape of the Decepticon insignia, inspiring the design of the badge of his cause-to-be.
*Knowing that he would soon be writing an ongoing series of his own, ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' James Roberts wrote many story seeds into "Chaos Theory", including:
**A reference to the "[[Knights of Cybertron]]", who were going to be in an abandoned [[Mike Costa]] plot after "Chaos"; the search for the Knights would become the backbone of ''More than Meets the Eye''<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/idw-transformers-comic-writer-mike-costa-reflects-on-transformers-173922/ TFW2005 interview with Mike Costa]</ref>
**The introduction of the concept of "forged" and "constructed cold" methods of Transformer creation, which would take several years to be explained. Further, the idea of racism against constructed cold 'bots is debuts; this was an idea which Roberts came up with in ''Eugenesis''. Cybertron used to have apartheid based on your origin, which was ''supposed'' to no longer matter near the end of Nominus' reign (but obviously still does). The idea of racism based on the circumstances of your birth would be greatly expanded on during ''More than Meets the Eye'' to encompass the ideals of [[Functionism]].
**Mention of the [[Galactic Council]].
**Whirl as the prison guard who beats up Megatron; Whirl is a main cast member in ''More than Meets the Eye'', and was specifically chosen for this scene in "Chaos Theory" for that reason.
*Roberts didn't know at this point whether Megatron was forged or constructed, and the missing batch code was done to create mystery around the character. But they'll both turn out to be relevant in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|''Elegant Chaos'']]!<ref>[http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2015/03/transmissions-episode-94-james-roberts-mtmte-elegant-chaos-interview/ TransMissions Episode 94 – James Roberts MTMTE Elegant Chaos Interview] 36:27 to 37:37</ref>

===Transformers references===
*Ratchet and Perceptor are discussing a superpower that Megatron was given in his original [[bio]]... and which almost every single G1 story since has ignored. Probably because, as Perceptor notes, throwing a black hole around is a little too silly. Ratchet talking about it as "the thing with the eyes" is a reference to the Marvel UK story "[[Resurrection!]]", in which Megatron used said power to channel [[antimatter]] [[:File:MegatronAntimatterUK.jpg|through his eyes]].
*Some graffiti in Megatron's cell reads "peace through tyranny", the motto from his original bio, indicating this is where he picked up the phrase.
*Megatron correcting the guard on his name seems to be a reference to how [[Bob Budiansky]] came up with the actual name: combining the words "megaton" and "electron."
*Among the battles recalled by Prime and Megatron include one at [[Sherma Bridge]], a nod to the infamous [[Sherman Dam]] punchup from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generatin 1 cartoon]] episode, "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
*The [[variable voltage harness]] comes from [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|the original Marvel comics]]. Also mentioned are [[Pathblaster]]s, [[communicube]]s and [[Shanix]] from the Marvel UK comics.
*The plot element of Optimus and Megatron having met before the war, and the former agreeing with the latter's ideals, is reminiscent of the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] versions of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. This, however, would turn out to be complete coincidence, developed by Roberts independent of any Aligned material.
*On page 17, a [[Diagnostic Drone]]-like drone appears.

===Real-life references===
*Megatron's serial number, "071-980", is an apparent reference to July 1980, the month in which [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:Shogun Warriors (toys)|Shogun Warriors]]'' #18 was published, in which the name "Megatron" was first used by the company.

===Errors===
*Jazz is seen amongst the Autobots who are viewing the captive Megatron, but [[Police Action: Part 1|issue #25]] will establish that he should currently be on Earth.
*Both ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' and "[[Spotlight: Blurr]]" had a pre-Prime Optimus sporting a body clearly inspired by Orion Pax. Here, before either story, Optimus is already in his usual Cybertronian Optimus Prime form. This would later be remedied in ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]''.
*Despite Megatron's recollection of being trapped in a gun [[alternate mode|alt mode]] after the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], Prime's recollection of the fight shows Megatron having the [[Don Figueroa]]-designed body that transforms into a Cybertronian tank. It is, of course, possible that Megatron was forced to withdraw and swap alt-modes in the midst of that battle, only to return later.
* The notion of Optimus and Megatron having their first (or second) meeting at [[Sherma Bridge]] would essentially be retconned away by ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. Chalk it up to Megatron switching the subject, perhaps?
*In the first panel Impactor either has a normal right hand which later transforms or his drill attachment is mis-colored.

===Other notes===

*'''JAMES ROBERTS!'''
*"Chaos Theory" was originally going to be published separated from the ongoing as a one-shot published, the series had higher sales than one-shots and minis, so it and "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]", which was going to be a mini-series, were rolled in—which is why the series ended on #31 and not #25.)<ref>[http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/webpage/the-underbase-reviews-ongoing-31 Moonbase 2 interview with Mike Costa ("Special Guest")]</ref> Other early plans were that it would be set on Earth, the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] were going to attack, and Impactor would turn out to have been visiting Megatron in his cell.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:33:27 to 01:35:01]</ref>
*"Forged" and "constructed cold" come up here for the first time. "Constructed cold" was a concept from Roberts' ''Eugenesis'': Transformers made by the Matrix instead of [[reproduction|budding]] and seen as unnatural for it. The idea would be heavily reworked for the IDW world.

===Covers (3)===
{{picsneeded|Cover RI}}
*'''Cover A:''' Megatron's current head; art by [[Alex Milne]] and colors by [[Josh Perez]].
*'''Cover B:''' Megatron's head from [[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]; art by Milne and colors by Perez.
*'''Cover RI:''' Both half-heads combined into one time-spanning B&W super head; art by Milne.

<gallery>
File:Transformersissue22-CoverA.jpg|'''Cover A''' - Megatron; as in Electron
File:Transformersissue22-CoverB.jpg|'''Cover B''' - Megatron; as in Neutron Bomb
File:Transformersissue22-CoverRI.jpg|'''Cover RI'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*"Chaos" Checklist
*''Walter Simonson's The Mighty Thor: Artist's Edition''
*[[IDWords]] plugging ''Thor'', 'Dave Stevens: The Complete Sketchbook", IDW Legacy Editions
*IDW on Twitter
*''Angel: The Covers'' (back cover)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:IDW The Transformers issues]]

Whirl (G1)

2015-07-31T02:59:16Z

Omgpuppies: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers}}
{{disambig3|Whirl}}
:''Whirl is an [[Autobot]] [[Deluxe Vehicle]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Whirl boxart.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Whirl enjoys making hand puppets in his own image.]]

[[Units of time|Vorns]] before [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] coined the phrase "Sometimes crazy works", '''Whirl''' was living it in action. Whirl believes that, logically speaking, insanity makes an extremely effective weapon. Enemies flee in terror before the absolutely insane maneuvers he pulls on the battlefield. His extreme maneuverability in helicopter mode lets him spin, bob, weave, dive, and bank like someone totally out of control. Or totally out of his mind.

Needless to say, Whirl is a rather reckless fighter and can take damage because of it. He's okay with that, because he absolutely LOVES his job...perhaps a little ''too'' much. Many of Whirl's comrades remain unsure if his wild behavior is truly an affectation, or if his increasingly-fleeting displays of rationality are actually the facade hiding a troubled psyche.

Whirl is (or was) a member of the elite [[Wrecker]]s unit.

Sometimes he is known as '''Jetstream'''.

{{bigquote|You wanna know a '''secret''', [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|hornhead]]? Life's messed up. '''I'm''' messed up. I've done bad things and I '''continue''' to do bad things, because the voice telling me '''not to'''...? He's not said much for a while. And y'know what keeps me going? <big>'''ANGER.'''</big> Anger's an '''insulator'''. Stops life getting '''too close'''. If I got myself "fixed," maybe the anger would leave me—and then I really '''would''' be screwed.|Whirl, psychotic and unapologetic|"[[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukexclusive|Whirl}}
Whirl was a member of the elite Wreckers unit under the command of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. Alongside [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], he accompanied his commander as Impactor argued with [[Xaaron]] over [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]' trip to [[Earth]] to investigate the disappearance of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].

[[File:Whirl copter Target 2006.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|This is one choppah you cannot get to.]]
Later, the Wreckers continued preparing for [[Operation: Volcano]], an attempt to eliminate some of the [[Decepticon|Decepticons']] [[Ten Deadliest Killers|deadliest killers]]. During the simulation, Whirl demonstrated his trademark aerial combat style to draw fire away from his teammates. As the simulation concluded, Impactor decided that without Ultra Magnus' support, the operation would basically become a suicide mission for the Wreckers. Whirl and the others agreed with him and Impactor left to tell Xaaron that the Wreckers were bowing out of Volcano. Taking some downtime, Whirl, Roadbuster, and [[Twin Twist]] went to [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] to unwind. While Roadbuster and Twin Twist were having uneasy feelings about the decision to ditch Volcano, Whirl seemed fine with it, pointing out that it was only logical and no one would say that they were in the wrong. Their discussion was interrupted when they noticed [[Fang]], a Decepticon who began bullying a [[Tusks|smaller Transformer]] in the place. Twin Twist violently intervened, realizing that as Autobots, it was their duty to always do their best to stop the Decepticons. His sudden revelation seemed to energize Whirl and Roadbuster, and after Impactor was convinced by Xaaron to go through with Operation: Volcano, the rest of the Wreckers eagerly volunteered.

[[File:Target 2006 Whirl Roadbuster Do It.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|My face is down here, Roadbuster...I think.]]
Unfortunately, Operation: Volcano failed when most of the targeted Decepticons were unknowingly ordered clear of the ambush by [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]. Only [[Macabre]] went ahead and attempted to assassinate Xaaron, shooting and mortally-wounding Impactor instead. Whirl and the rest of the Wreckers immediately gunned Macabre down in retaliation. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

Later, Whirl was seen alongside Ultra Magnus and his fellow Wreckers on a hunt for a Decepticon spy posing as Optimus Prime. This was revealed, thanks to the efforts of [[Outback (G1)|Outback]], to be a product of Decepticon misinformation and Prime was welcomed back into the fold. {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:Whirl Triton Peace.jpg|left|100px|thumb|Hands, glorious hands!]]
In an alternate version of [[2510]], Whirl and the Wreckers led the final Autobot offensive against Decepticon held territory, bringing the war to a close. At the ceremony where he officially announced the end of the war, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] chose to make [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], leader of the Wreckers, his successor as Autobot leader and carrier of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. One Autobot named [[Triton]] objected to the idea, though: he said Springer was a fighter, not a tactician, and Ultra Magnus would be a better leader for a world at peace. Whirl took offense to Triton putting down his commanding officer, and shoved the little guy in the back, asking where was his "precious Ultra Magnus" when the Wreckers were winning the war? Triton struck back, and the situation turned from bad to worse as the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] sided with Ultra Magnus against the Wreckers. Shots were fired, battle lines were drawn, and a new war picked up where the old one left off. Tragically, it seems no one took the time to examine Triton's fallen body, and the hidden Decepticon insignia on his chest. The last act of the last Decepticon was to see that there would never truly be peace on Cybertron. {{storylink|Peace}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Whirl LooseEnds2.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
Along with the other [[Wrecker]]s Whirl voted to follow [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s plan to leave Cybertron to visit the other planets touched by the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and so they hitched a ride with [[Berko]]'s [[Cosmic Carnival]] to Earth. Whirl looked on in horror as their surveillance drones showed a devastated planet, and worse still—Megatron! Before any of the Wreckers could react, the Decepticon promptly launched nuclear warheads at their shuttle, apparently destroying it. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 1}}

The Wreckers managed to make it to Earth's surface in escape pods, and Whirl was sent to survey the ruined planet. He spied an incoming horde of [[Zombie|reanimated Decepticons]] sent by Megatron and reported back to the others. The Wreckers' priority then became to get a message back to Cybertron about the situation on Earth. They eventually found the [[Deep Space Network]] located in [[Goldstone]], and put a plan into action to utilize its radio transmitter to send a distress call. Whirl joined Kup and Springer in making a break for the facility while the other Wreckers distracted Megatron's forces. They succeeded in sending their message to Cybertron, but Kup was captured in the process. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}

The Wreckers soon encountered [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]]—formerly Spike Witwicky, one of the last vestiges of resistance on Megatron's conquered Earth. Despite some initial hostility on his part, the Wreckers were soon invited to [[Argus Base]], the human resistance's headquarters. On the way there, Whirl asked Spike how things had gotten so bad on Earth. Spike filled them in on the tale of Megatron's rise and humanity's fall. After arriving at Argus Base and convening with the leader of the resistance, [[G.B. Blackrock]], the Wreckers agreed to aid them in destroying Megatron's chief power base—the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}}

Whirl embarked on a rescue mission with Springer and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] to retrieve Kup and also to divert Megatron's forces from the assault on the Ark. While Sandstorm considered the plan to be "reckless suicide", Whirl cheerfully voiced his approval of it. They soon encountered Megatron's air defenders, and experienced trouble fighting them, as the undead Decepticons apparently no longer felt any pain. While Whirl managed to fly circles around [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] for a bit, he was eventually shot down. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 4}}

After returning to Cybertron, Whirl was present with the other Wreckers as they attempted to defuse a tense situation between civilians on a main highway road. They failed and it erupted into a brawl. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} He later participated in an attack on [[Fort Scyk]] to root out [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s cell of Decepticon insurgents, but was flung through the air when the whole place exploded. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}}

Whirl was with the Wreckers when the entire Autobot fleet attacked the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} While the rest of the fleet was shot down or captured, the Wreckers covertly infiltrated the Hub's slam tube rail system and began wreaking havoc from within. The Wreckers traveled from point to point, seeking to destabilize the Hub by severing its planetary links with targeted nuclear explosions. Whirl and the others engaged the troops of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] in a crowded slam tube and managed to blow them out into space. Eventually, the surviving Autobots managed to escape as the Hub suffered catastrophic damage. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} What became of Whirl after this point is unknown, but if he managed to return to Cybertron and survive the battle with the Dark [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] creature, he likely [[Death|died]] of old age after [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] severed their reality's link to the [[multiverse]]. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Whirl was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|In the Transformers}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:War and Peace 4 RoadbusterWhirl.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"RAGH, WHIRL NOT IN [[The Transformers (cartoon)|CARTOON]]!! MENASOR REMOVE FROM STORY!"]]
When the Autobots split into multiple factions after the disappearance of their leaders, Whirl joined Springer's group, known as the Wreckers. During the Dark Ages of Cybertron, he participated in an attack against [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Much later, during [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s rule of Cybertron, Whirl continued with the Wreckers, now a small unit of Autobots dedicated to keeping the peace wherever (and however) necessary. When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] released the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] from their imprisonment in Cybertron's [[Detention Banks]], the Wreckers were sent in to deal with the escapees. Unfortunately, both Whirl and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were crushed before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] brought down the Stunticons' combined form, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. {{storylink|War and Peace}}
{{-}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Escalation}} {{storylink|Devastation}} {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:Interiors WhirlPreEmpurataFlashback.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
{{quote|Twice voted "Autobot most likely to defect".|{{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|''Meet The Crew''}}}}

In the pre-war era, under the reign of [[Nominus Prime]], Whirl of [[Polyhex]] {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} was a member of the [[Aerial Corps]]. Dissatisfied with his lot, Whirl managed to accomplish what was thought impossible, defying the function he was created with and actually changing professions to become a watchmaker. And Whirl was ''good'' at what he did—so good that the [[Functionist Council]], angry that a moderate functionary had given him permission to switch jobs, decided to teach him a lesson. They had the local criminal elements demand a cut of his profits so that when he refused, the [[Heavies]] would be sent to destroy his business and leave the Council's hands 'clean'. Whirl was left destitute and roamed the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], where he hung out with a bad crowd and started getting into fights. His combat prowess caught the attention of the [[Senate]]'s agents, who press-ganged a reluctant Whirl into their service. Whirl was made to do despicable things in the Senate's employ. When he tried to resist, he was put through the barbaric [[empurata]] ritual, costing him his original hands and effectively neutering his watchmaking skills. The Senate had, in fact, been ''arranged'' to hire him for all this by the vindictive Functionist Council. {{storylink|Interiors}} {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}}

[[File:Ongoing22 WhirlbeatsMegatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|''I'M THE HERO I CAN DO WHAT I WANT!'']]
Whirl was eventually granted a position in the [[Rodion]] police force. When a rabble-rousing miner named [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] was brought in for brawling with other law enforcement officers, the Senate ordered Whirl to kill him, presumably to silence his increasingly loud voice of dissension. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} {{storylink|Interiors}} Failing to finish the job, Whirl was arrested by his captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], so the Senate sent more men to free him, fearing his actions would be exposed. Their men attacked the Rodion police station and freed Whirl, but Orion Pax wouldn't stand for it and defeated them, shooting Whirl's leg off in the process. Whirl warned his captain that the Senate would not be happy if any further harm came to him, but Orion merely picked him up, went to the [[Grand Imperium]] in person and confronted the entire Senate with his actions. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Whirl Impactor Patternism.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Due to Orion Pax's public display of Whirl's crime, the Senate had no choice but to send him to [[Garrus-1]]. After Whirl's mistreatment of Megatron in Rodion was exposed, he found himself suffering constant attacks and beatings in prison by Decepticon sympathizers. Whirl saved his one [[communicube]] call for an appropriate occasion, and found it when his former handler [[Kroma]] briefly became his cellmate. Whirl was told of an impending Senate plot involving assassination and a city-destroying bomb. He consequently used his one call to bring Orion Pax to Garrus-1, where he informed his former captain of all he had heard. While Orion initially assumed Whirl was acting out of compassion, Whirl immediately corrected him, explaining that he just wanted revenge against the Senate for mutilating, using, and abandoning him. After Orion left, Whirl was introduced to his new cellmate - [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], who promptly beat him into critical condition. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}}

Whirl eventually wound up in the [[Kaon]] Security Service, where he witnessed the full extent of what his actions had wrought, as Megatron, now convinced that violence was the only way forward, assaulted the city and slew [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], beginning the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Orion Pax—now Optimus Prime—personally invited Whirl to join the Autobots before the Decepticons reached him: "forgiveness as a weapon of war", as Whirl put it. After "bouncing around a bit", he changed his name to "Jetstream" and became a flight instructor at the [[Iaconian Aerial Academy]]. {{storylink|Interiors}}

One of his most promising cadets at the academy was [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]], but he insisted on berating him in private, his verbal abuse eventually evolving into regular unprovoked beatings. After one particularly savage beating, "Jetstream" shoved Rotorstorm into the academy's newly installed [[CR chamber]], and by the time Rotorstorm recovered, his instructor had moved to a training facility in another province. Whirl later returned to using his original name, and attended the ceremony when Rotorstorm received the [[Novic Medal for Outstanding Valor]], applauding and cheering from the front row. {{storylink|Bullets}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers4-triumphoverevil.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Category: Things That Do Not Exist.]]
Whirl eventually joined the Autobot special operations taskforce, the Wreckers. He was with the team when they triumphed in final battle over their longtime rivals [[Squadron X]] on the planet [[Pova]], only to discover they had no jurisdiction on the planet and would be required to let the Squadron go. Refusing to accept this, Wrecker leader Impactor murdered the entire squadron while Whirl looked away in apparent shame, but took no action. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|Last Stand of the Wreckers #4}} {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}} The incident was covered up by [[Autobot High Command]], and to avoid being implicated in the crime alongside their leader, Whirl and the other Wreckers lied and told Springer that they had no idea what Impactor was planning on doing. Springer believed them and defended their inaction at Impactor's trial, also agreeing to become the new leader of the Wreckers at Whirl and the others' request. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

At some point during the war, Whirl established a rivalry with the wand-wielding Decepticon known as [[Killmaster]]. The rivalry ended when Whirl broke into a medical center where Killmaster was recharging, crushed the Decepticon's brain as he slept, and shoved his wand up his - ''AHEM!'' {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

[[File:Whirl copter Stormbringer4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Is [[Obsidian (BM)|"Obsidianesque"]] a word?]]
Years later, Whirl was deployed with the other Wreckers to [[Varas Centralus]] to help [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s counter-insurgency team deal with the Decepticon [[infiltration protocol|infiltration team]] there, which had just activated Siege Mode. Partway into the battle, they were forced to pull out and return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] when news came through of the possible resurgence of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}} Arriving at their homeworld, the team saved the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] and [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] from a patrol of [[Centurion droid]]s, then joined Optimus Prime in attacking [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s secret base. Whirl and Roadbuster helped Jetfire from his imprisonment, but they were too late: Bludgeon had indeed recalled Thunderwing home. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Whirl joined Springer and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] in attacking the mindless [[Pretender]], but their weapons were disabled when he ionized the air around them, forcing them to back off. Fortunately, a team of Decepticons led by [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] arrived to supplement the Autobot forces and the day was soon won. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

The Wreckers got a rematch with Thunderwing some time later when the denizens of the [[Dead Universe]] took control of him and stationed him on [[Corata-Vaz]] to guard one of the [[Nega-Core]]s required for their [[Expansion]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} Whirl fought hard alongside his teammates {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} and eventually the Wreckers were able to disable the Nega-Core when [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] lost control of Thunderwing. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

During the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], when the Decepticons launched a devastating simultaneous attack against the Autobots across the galaxy—Whirl and several other Wreckers were captured by Decepticons under the command of [[Turmoil]]. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] led an extraction team to rescue the Autobots from a Decepticon cruiser, and they were ultimately saved thanks to the efforts the former Decepticon [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

[[File:Whirl Sparkeaterweapon Interiors.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"What, ''this''? It's uhm...just his new [[Beast Hunters]] armor! Yeah, that's it."]]
Around three years later, when putting together a squad to liberate [[Garrus-9]] from the clutches of the deranged Decepticon [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], Springer ruled Whirl out of the mission on account of his recently becoming something of a liability. {{storylink|Bullets}} The mission to Garrus-9 left Springer in a comatose state, and Whirl and Roadbuster were assigned the task of watching over him and tending to his needs until he awoke. Convinced that this was never going to happen, Whirl attempted to euthanize his leader with Roadbuster's [[Sparkeater (weapon)|Sparkeater weapon]], but was caught in the act by Roadbuster and ejected from the Wreckers by the power of "the veto"—the ability of a Wrecker to have another member of the unit removed at any time. {{storylink|Interiors}} He wound up in prison for his actions, but was released and given a "final warning" by Ultra Magnus to stay out of trouble. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

After the war was ended and Cybertron was returned to a primordial state, Whirl and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] were tasked with policing a mob of [[NAIL|neutral Transformers]] that had recently returned to Cybertron. They came upon Optimus Prime being harassed by [[Tappet|one of the mob]], and promptly began bullying the smaller neutral. Optimus Prime had to pointedly lower Whirl's gun and asked to be filled in on current events. Later, the mob revolted and dragged Whirl to the ground during the ensuing riot. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:Whirl Sweeps Liars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Dear God...they're no longer mint in box!]]
Frustrated with the NAILs and having been kicked out of the Wreckers, Whirl acquired a disturbing method of stress relief: gathering up several leftover [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]] carcasses, pinning them to a wall inside a shabby structure out in Cybertron's wastelands, and apparently mutilating them. Eventually deciding that he'd had his fun, Whirl doused the ruins with fuel and bid a very creepy thank you and farewell to the remains, planning to burn it all—quite possibly, himself included. Interrupted by [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], who had misidentified the Sweeps' energy readings as those of [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], Whirl immediately attacked him and set the place ablaze to cover his tracks. Their battle carried them to the [[Mitteous Plateau]], where they were discovered by [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]], prompting Whirl to try and pin all the blame on Cyclonus before killing him so he couldn't contradict his story. Before he could, however, a huge subterranean explosion triggered by [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] erupted beneath Whirl, heavily damaging him and knocking him offline. Figuring that Whirl was too dangerous to leave lying around, Ratchet had him brought along with Tailgate aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'' as it left Cybertron. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

[[File:HangersOn Whirl Cyclonus.jpg|thumb|left|110px|Expressions, glorious expressions!]]
Whirl awoke in the medibay of the ''Lost Light'', his first instinct being to reach out and throttle the nearest person to him, which turned out to be [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]. Brought to his senses with the warning that he'd go back to prison if he didn't behave, Whirl left to skulk around the hallways, where he was found by Ultra Magnus and brought him into a meeting between [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] and Cyclonus. Advised to make his peace with Cyclonus, Whirl continued to dodge all responsibility for starting the fight but nonetheless offered him a hand of "forgiveness", only to have Cyclonus respond by drawing him into a ''hug''... followed by a whispered threat that he would kill him at some point and the Autobot would never see it coming.

Later, Rodimus addressed the crew to update them on the situation. When he asked if there were any important questions, Whirl made a point to speak up and state that he was embarrassed to be among this group and that they at least needed a decent name. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

When a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] was reported to be loose on board the ''Lost Light'', the crew were ordered to pair off and lock themselves into habitation suites until the creature was dealt with. Being a jerk, Whirl locked himself in without waiting for his temporary roommate [[Animus]] and ignored the other Autobot's pleas to enter, resulting in his being killed by the Sparkeater. Whirl attacked the creature, but his missiles were intercepted by [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s [[force field]] to prevent the catastrophic detonation of the sparks the monster was digesting inside it. Whirl was nonplussed. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

During a therapy session with Rung, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s extra-sensitive ears overheard Whirl having a "blazing row" with...himself. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}} Whirl later attempted to cheer up and advise a despondent Trailbreaker on changing his image. His advice consisted of telling Trailbreaker to change his name, always talk big of himself, and then suggested he get [[Brainstorm]] to build him a new weapon. After one of Brainstorm's inventions malfunctioned the entire crew of the ''Lost Light'', save the newly rechristened Trail''cutter'', were temporarily frozen in place when a [[Titan Hunters|group of Decepticons]] inconveniently boarded the ship. Whirl was in the middle of watching a furious Rodimus chew Rewind out on the bridge when he was frozen, and Trailcutter was forced to use his inert body as a shield against gunfire, stealing the guns mounted on Whirl's chest to return fire. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

[[File:Whirl Interiors yes.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Whirl: '''1'''. {{-}} Hostage situation: '''-2'''.]]
Not long thereafter, Whirl was having a session with Rung when recent crew addition [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] had an acute psychotic episode and went on a rampage through the ship, holing up in Rung's office and immobilizing Whirl by stabbing him to the floor with a pipe. Unfazed, Whirl taunted Maximus, trying to bait him into killing him, but Maximus only grew more curious about Whirl's mental state and reputation, and threatened Rung in order to force Whirl into telling his life story. The story provided [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] enough time to position themselves outside Rung's office and distract Maximus with a projection of his tormentor, Overlord. Whirl used the distraction to tear the pipe out of his gut, unpinning himself from the floor. When a shot intended to take Maximus out went wild and hit Rung in the head instead, Whirl took the opportunity to stab the distraught Max with the pipe, ending the hostage situation after three-plus hours. {{storylink|Interiors}}

[[File:Whirl graffiti MTMTEAnnual2012.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|left|"Yeah well, I'll build my own spaceship! With blackjack! And hookers! In fact, forget the spaceship!"]]
Whirl joined Rodimus, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] in being shrunk down and sent to deal with a swarm of [[Nanocon]]s that had been revived within Ultra Magnus's body, where he showed some difficulty with his "no guns" orders. After Magnus smiled them to death, Whirl managed to leave some graffiti inside Ultra Magnus, a fact that he would proudly inform First Aid of during Tailgate's [[Act of Affiliation]] ceremony.

Later, Whirl was among the Autobots that were teleported to the surface of [[Theophany]] by representatives of the [[Galactic Council]]. After the group found [[Crystal City]] in ruins, Whirl openly mocked Drift's despair at seeing the desolation and was decked by the former Decepticon for his irreverence. The group ventured into the ruins and soon discovered an inert [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]], which had once been used to power the city. An abortive attempt by Chromedome to hack into the giant's [[brain module]] accidentally woke the Metrotitan, causing it to fire an eye-blast that hit the Council's ship, ''[[The Benign Intervention]]''. Whirl was ordered to take a team to hold off the troops sent to take revenge on the Cybertronians, with Rodimus stressing to the trigger-happy bot that there should be ''no fatalities''. Whirl and the others successfully fended off their attackers until the Autobots were all teleported back to the ''Lost Light'' by the freed Metrotitan, before the ship quantum-jumped to safety. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:Mtmte-before-and-after-whirl-weaponup.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right]]
Whirl declined to attend Rewind's movie night when he learned the [[Proteus|subject matter]] of the film. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} He did, however, agree to aid in Rewind's attempt to expedite Rung's mental recovery. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} Rewind brought together a group who each took turns telling their parts in a story of past events from before the war. When Whirl's turn began, he became quite agitated when Ratchet brought up the tender subject of Whirl's encounter with Megatron in Rodion. He settled down and told the others of Orion Pax's visit to Garrus-1 and what they had discussed. When Whirl mentioned that Impactor was his cellmate for a while, Rewind became excited and posited that Impactor had earmarked Whirl then and there for the Wreckers. Whirl shot down that suggestion and admitted that he just got badly beaten-up and he and Impactor met again years later under different circumstances. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} Everyone took a break from storytelling, giving Swerve an opportunity to leave and bring back some booze. Whirl wouldn't let him back into the room without uttering the password - ''"Whirl is a million billion times tougher than Cyclonus"''. He later had fun positioning Rung's eyebrows to make the still-unresponsive psychiatrist look cross. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:BeforeAndAfter-WhirlLocksCyclonusIn.jpg|thumb|upright|left]]
When Rodimus led a mission to [[Temptoria]] to fight Decepticons, Whirl was only to happy to volunteer. Aboard the ''[[Leading Light]]'', he had Rewind record him limbering up, and joined in with some impromptu battle chants with the other Autobots. As they fought Decepticons, his attempt to bond with Cyclonus was rebuffed rather bluntly. He subsequently faked a door malfunction, trapping Cyclonus and Rewind with an exploding bomb. He apparently at least had the courtesy to take Rewind back to the ''Leading Light'', and when it turned out he had a compatible [[spark]], allowed First Aid to use him to jumpstart Rewind, earning him Chromedome's gratitude. {{storylink|Before & After}}

Whirl tagged along with Swerve's group when the crew of the ''Lost Light'' was granted leave on the planet [[Hedonia]]. He was granted a new human-based [[holomatter]] avatar, which he seemed to approve of based solely on the fact that it carried weapons. When the group found a Transformer-friendly bar, Whirl got Ultra Magnus black-out drunk after slipping him a drink containing weapons-grade [[Nucleon]], much to everyone's chagrin. While waiting for Magnus to regain consciousness, the group played "the nemesis game", each sharing their own personal arch-enemies. Whirl named the deceased Killmaster as his, and proceeded to describe the graphic nature of how he ended their rivalry before being cut off by Rung. When Magnus began to stir, the group left Swerve to deal with him and took a trip to a nearby gift shop. Whirl opted to remain outside and continually bang his head against a display case - something he felt relieved pressure on his brain. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} {{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

[[File:Whirlholomatter.jpg|right|thumb|Because [[wikipedia: Carl Grimes|one trigger-happy kid with a missing eye]] wasn't bad enough.]]
Sometime later, the group encountered a group of [[Ammonite]]s - a mechanical race similar to Transformers who were entangled in a long and bitter war with their hated foes, the [[Terradore]]s. Whirl and Skids engaged in a bit of a "my war is bigger than yours" contest with them, with the Ammonites outclassing them in most categories. When [[Imperius Drax]], the leader of the Terradores unexpectedly entered the same bar as them, Whirl took it upon himself to show the Ammonites a thing or two about war. He walked up to chat with Drax, things escalated, and then Whirl simply killed the guy (which ended up only ''worsening'' the war). {{storylink|Little Victories}}

Ultra Magnus was still out cold when they returned to check on him, so Whirl hatched a plan to get him back in time for pick-up. He ferried the others to the shuttle, then they projected their holomatter avatars back to the bar to drive Magnus's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] through an organics-only section. While forcing Magnus into vehicle mode proved difficult, they eventually managed it and drove him home. Whirl admitted to the others that, difficulties aside, he had a fun time. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

Whirl was among those interviewed for Rewind's documentary, "Little Victories". A "Person You'd Like To Punch" theme night at [[Swerve's]] had an overwhelming majority of people who attended pick Whirl. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] allowed Whirl to vent some frustration and blow up a few asteroids in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s path. They were interrupted by [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], who wanted to record a message to send back to Cybertron whenever Blaster managed to repair the subspace communications channel. Whirl and Blaster would be the last Autobots to see Pipes alive, as the hapless [[Mini Vehicle|Minibot]] was murdered by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] minutes later. Having escaped from his cell underneath the ''Lost Light'', Overlord was quickly discovered and dozens of Autobots threw themselves into battle with him. For Whirl's part, he only managed to be used as a club and smashed into [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] during the fight. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} In the aftermath, Whirl attended the funeral of those who lost their lives fighting Overlord and engaged in some speculation with Swerve and Skids over what was in Brainstorm's ever-present briefcase. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

[[File:Whirl Cyclonus HouseOfAmbus.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95]]
When a search for the abducted Ultra Magnus led the ''Lost Light'' to discover the long-missing [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], Rodimus asked Whirl to be part of an advance landing party. Finding the "miracle moon" to be a hot spot seething with newborn [[spark]]s, Tailgate asked the others to define for him the difference between being "forged" and being "constructed cold". When Chromedome identified himself as someone who had been constructed cold, Whirl couldn't help but point out that he himself had been forged and "perfected" in a hot spot just like the one they were standing in. Shortly thereafter, the group was attacked by [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]]'s [[Titan Hunters]], forcing Whirl and the others to flee from superior numbers. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Retreating didn't sit well with Whirl, and he invited Cyclonus to join him in a counterattack on their pursuers. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Their attack was successful only in that they didn't get captured along with the others. Whirl couldn't help himself in claiming that he had killed more Decepticons than Cyclonus during the battle. On smelling the enriched Nucleon of a nearby armory close to a jail suspended over a [[smelting pool]], Whirl was eager to organise a jailbreak to free Rodimus and the others.

In company with a far more cautious Cyclonus, Whirl found that he couldn't open the armory door due to his unwieldy claws and needed Cyclonus to help him. Occupied with the door mechanism, Cyclonus inquired of Whirl why he never had his empurata features "fixed". Whirl replied that he was messed up, that he had done and would continue to do bad things. While he remained angry about his mutilations, he was insulated against the voice of his conscience. If fixed he "really would be screwed". In the spirit of ''quid pro quo'' Whirl tried to ask Cyclonus about the gashes on his face, but the reply was lost when a stealthy [[Legislator]] stabbed Cyclonus through the midriff with his sword.

[[File:Whirl Cyclonus TheDividedSelf.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|"You know what I keep thinking about, Cyclonus? You know the end of Butch Cassidy? Redford and Newman are almost out of ammunition, and the whole Bolivian army is out in front of this little hut?"{{-}} "Whirl, I'm going to make you pay for this."]]

Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Whirl, he fought Cyclonus's attacker off so that Cyclonus could remove the blade without too much injury. The pair then teamed up with other rescued prisoners, [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] and the remaining survivors of the ill fated [[Circle of Light]], just as an army of Legislators attacked en masse. Whirl asked Cyclonus to call off his previous death threats if they made it out of the fight alive as they rushed into battle wielding [[Great Sword]]s procured from the armory. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

In the middle of the battle Whirl noticed something very unusual about Cyclonus's Great Sword, it was, in Whirl's words, "frikkin nuclear-powered", glowing with light and cutting a swathe through the attacking Legislator army. Cyclonus had a surprisingly deep connection with his sword for a novice, as only Dai Atlas could manage a similar feat with his own sword. Dai Atlas suggested to Whirl that "your friend is clearly ''devout''". Whirl was more surprised by the use of the word "friend" than the rest of Atlas's explanation.

However much headway they were making, it wasn't fast enough for Cyclonus. Cyclonus's rather obtuse comment of being "needed elsewhere" made Whirl respond cattily that he was dragging their battle out for fun, that he would just finish up himself. Dai Atlas asked Cyclonus if Whirl was being sarcastic, and Cyclonus replied that he didn't believe that even Whirl knew. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Whirl and the surviving members of the Circle of Light continued to fight the Legislators, but they were eventually overwhelmed. Moments from being killed, Whirl was saved when Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] called all remaining Legislators to his position. In the battle's aftermath, Whirl and Cyclonus conferred on the edge of the smelting pool. A heavily-damaged and unable-to-fly Whirl asked Cyclonus if he was still willing to let bygones be bygones in regards to their mutual death threats against one another. Despite briefly entertaining a fantasy of shoving Whirl into the pool, a preoccupied Cyclonus agreed and departed.

Later aboard the ''Lost Light'', Whirl would reveal that Dai Atlas had commented on the unnatural strength of Cyclonus's spark - demonstrated while Cyclonus was wielding a Great Sword. Atlas had wondered if Cyclonus had the spark of a newborn with the intense energy he was producing. Relaying this information to Cyclonus, Whirl indirectly helped save Tailgate's life, as Cyclonus consequently used his excess spark energy to revitalize his dying roommate. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

[[File:Whirl fightfightfight BlackMetal.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
The ''Lost Light'' received a distress call from Orion Pax and headed to [[Gorlam Prime]]. They rescued the ''[[Skyroller]]'' from the collapsing planet's gravity well and welcomed Orion and his crew aboard. Whirl derived amusement from [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]'s outright hostility toward Cyclonus. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} Later, when Orion and Rodimus were looking for volunteers to journey into the [[Dead Universe]], Hardhead took another verbal potshot at Cyclonus. Whirl was gleeful at first, but then disappointed when they didn't come to blows. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}}

After the ''Lost Light'' was by guided by to an unknown planet, the Autobots found themselves underwater and attacked by thousands of Ammonites. Whirl was among those who boarded the [[Rodpod]] to launch a counterattack. Eventually, the Autobots found the inert [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] hiding on the ocean floor. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}}

The Rodpod entered Metroplex's empty eye socket and made its way to the [[Brain module|brain]], where the group discovered it missing. The Autobots disembarked and after journeying around in Metroplex's head for a brief time, they ended up right back where they started at the Rodpod. Whirl took his frustration out on the garish vehicle, but it was soon discovered to be booby-trapped by an Ammonite. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}} The Rodpod exploded, but the Autobots were shielded from the blast by a wall that had suddenly sprung up within the chamber. Ratchet worryingly noticed that Whirl had gone missing in the chaos. Whirl quickly returned, however, having captured the Ammonite that blew up the Rodpod. After some strong-arming, the Ammonite revealed that they had been ordered by [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] to sabotage the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s efforts to return to Cybertron. Before the Autobots could discuss these revelations further, they were confronted by [[Nautica]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}}

After a brief introduction, the two [[Female Transformer|female]] Autobots offered to lead the others to Metroplex's brain. Another horde of Ammonites appeared, and Ultra Magnus ordered the others to follow Nautica and Chromia. Whirl opted to stay behind and fight the Ammonites with a few others, noting that he was in his element in battle. Eventually, the Autobots were able to connect Metroplex to the ''Lost Light'', which he used as a makeshift life support system. He quantum-jumped back to Cybertron, bringing the ''Lost Light'' with him. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Unfortunately, this didn't solve the problem of the Ammonite infestation, and Whirl's group was still fighting for their lives within Metroplex as the giant Autobot squared off with the [[Necrotitan]]. The Ammonites kept combining into larger and larger forms, prompting Whirl to admit that even he was tired of fighting with them. Thankfully, through the efforts of [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] and Megatron, Metroplex was given a sudden boost of power, which reactivated his internal defenses. This immediately eliminated any Ammonite invaders, with Whirl charmingly referring to them as being "deader than a [[Duobot]]". {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:Whirl Arcee DCFinale.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]|]]

After the Necrotitan was felled, Whirl, putting aside past enmities he may have for the Decepticons, sang along to a tune alongside several of them in Swerve's bar, including [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} The moment of levity was cut short, however, by the arrival of a 70 ''billion''-strong Ammonite army. Whirl was once again thrust into Ammonite-murdering duty. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Whirl joked around with [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] about accidentally causing an escalation amongst the Ammonites' war, and made a little remark about his role in the start of their own war. When the Ammonites all spontaneously exploded, Whirl called foul on the whole thing for ruining his fun. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

[[File:Whirl Megatron MTMTE28.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.45]]

Six months after that, Whirl was still on board the ''Lost Light'', only this time due to a series of events, the captain (or rather, co-captain) of the ship was, in fact, Megatron. Whirl was apparently upset by this turn of events, first messing up Megatron's door with graffiti and attacking him with a crossbow. Whirl then physically assaulted Megatron, the brawl taking both of them to the fuel furnaces. Whirl claimed that he was tired of waiting for Megatron to make his first move, and had instead taken the initiative. However, the fight offered a shocking revelation from Megatron: the only reason Whirl had survived for so long is because Megatron had ensured it by giving an order for the Decepticons never to kill Whirl, so that Megatron could save Whirl's death for himself. A furious Whirl punched through Megatron's stomach, only to have his arm disappear thanks to the [[space bridge]] within the former Decepticon leader's body. In exchange for keeping quiet about the attack, Megatron ordered Whirl to clean up the graffiti, leaving the shaken Whirl in the engine rooms. Whirl then reported to someone with a communicator that his attempt to bait Megatron into attacking him had failed. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

Later on, suspected to be behind the theft of Ultra Magnus's desk tidy, Whirl was confined to his quarters. As 'protest' for this, Whirl watched off-world cinema at Swerve's using his holomatter avatar. While braiding his hair, Whirl revealed that he was a fan of Jean-Luc Godard's works. During the subsequent alarm as portions of the ''Lost Light'' began to disappear, Whirl's holomatter disappeared. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Whether he made it to a lifepod or not, Whirl presumably disappeared along with the rest of the original crew of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

Eventually, the remaining crew found the ruins of a quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', which had been attacked by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. The on-course ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Whirl had his arms torn off before having his head blown off by [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}
{{-}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}}}}

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Whirl.jpg|thumb|right]]

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Metamorphosis (Cloud)|Metamorphosis}} {{storylink|Overwhelm}}}}

===''Transformers Legends'' comic===
Whirl and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were built by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], inspired by designs from a [[w:Special Armored Battalion Dorvack|certain '80s giant robot anime]], to aid him in his plans to return the world to how it was in the '80s. In spite of Tankor's design intentions, however, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] recognized them as Autobots from a [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|British ''Transformers'' comic]], an origin story that confused the pair. Setting out to take humans hostage to further their cause, Whirl then encountered an innocent little girl and caused had a change of heart about his role in life. Placing the girl in his chest canopy, he decided to fight for her sake as a hero of justice and turned on Roadbuster, only to later get admonished by the girl for being too violent. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 4|Bonus Edition Vol. 4}} Entrusted with Tankor's '80s Transformation Beam, Roadbuster then started turning everyone present into various '80s forms, though the weapon didn't affect Whirl since he was already from the 80's. When Tankor resolve was broken by a speech from [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], Whirl took the chance to air-drop the rat onto the villains like a bomb, defeating Roadbuster. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|Bonus Edition Vol. 5}}

Running into Roadbuster again while spending time with the girl, Whirl took his new friend hostage to prevent Roadbuster from attacking, shocking his former partner with the decidedly un-heroic act. The girl was upset and took control of Whirl from the inside, forcing him to heroically pick up garbage instead. {{storylink|Transformers Legends (comic)|Whirl Versus Roadbuster!}} For some undisclosed reason, Whirl eventually returned to Tankor and Roadbuster's side and the three went back to terrorizing the population, but it all came to an end when a dimensionally-displaced [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] defeated Tankor for good. Whirl and Roadbuster were left lost and confused about what to without their leader, so Jetfire invited them back to his [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|home dimension]], reasoning they would fit in better there. The pair accepted his offer and traveled through a [[solitarium]] portal to his universe, where they joined the Autobots and became founding members of a new unit: the Wreckers. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 7|Bonus Edition Vol. 7}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Legends (comic)#Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz|Whirl and Roadbuster Now on Sale, Buzz}}}}

==Games==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
Whirl was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces, in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Whirl was involved in a chaotic kerfuffle. What outcome the battle yielded is unclear. {{storylink|By Land, Sea, or Air}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsWhirl.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
Whirl participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1Whirl toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Shockwave's younger brother? Only in the wild world of [[Fan fiction|fanfic]]s.]]
*'''Whirl''' (Deluxe Vehicle, 1985)
**''Accessories'': "Null-Ray Module", "[[Paralyzo box]]", "Photon Beam Rifle", "Shell Cannon"

:Whirl transforms into a light blue Cybertronian attack helicopter, similar to a Bell [[Wikipedia:AH-1 Cobra|AH-1 Cobra]]. In this mode, he has two wing-mounted weapons installed: a Gatling-like "Shell Cannon" and a four-tube "Photon Beam Rifle".

:In [[robot mode]], Whirl is unusual in that he appears quite different from the other Transformers in the line at the time. He has no humanoid hands; instead, his arms end in a pair of mechanical pincers. A "[[Null-ray|Null-Ray]] Module" cannon can be fitted over either pincer, while his "Paralyzo-Box" weapon slides onto the fin on his right leg.

:There is a variation in the construction of his canopy; while most are smooth and featureless, some have raised "cage" outlines on the edges.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Whirl/whirl.htm More information on Whirl at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Classics===
[[File:ClassicsWhirl toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Am I blue? Am I blue? Ain't these tears in my eye tellin' you?]]
*'''Autobot Whirl''' (Legends, 2007)
**''Accessories'': Rotor blade

:A [[redeco]] of ''[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]]'' [[Evac (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Evac]], Whirl transforms into a blue Eurocopter Dauphin rescue helicopter. A ''heavily'' simplified version of the Voyager Class Evac toy, his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] has a back mounted (non-firing) twin missile launcher which is carried onto his robot mode, and he is also armed with a rotor blade on his left arm which can rotate, but does not spin freely.

:In terms of articulation, he has ball-jointed hips and knees and can rotate his arms, although the arms can otherwise barely move beyond pointing straight down due to his ball-jointed shoulders being blocked by plastic.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Blades (G1)#LOC|Blades]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/ClassicsWhirl/whirl.htm More information on ''Classics'' Whirl at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:Whirl generations voyager.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Not as super-unvincible as people were hoping.]]
*'''Autobot Whirl''' (Voyager, 2014)
**''Series / Number:'' '''02 / 006'''
**''Accessories'': Null-Ray Module, Paralyzo box, Shell Cannon, Photon Beam Rifle

: Whirl is heavily styled after his Generation 1 toy, but sports a more curved head and reverse knee "chicken legs" which evoke (but do not match) his appearance in [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''. He also has a third, Gerwalk-esque mode known as a "Heloped". Just as with his original toy, he has a pair of mechanical pincers which a weapon similar to his "Null-Ray Module" cannon can be fitted over. All four of his weapons can attach via c-clips to various sculpted rods.

:Unmentioned in the instruction sheet is that his shoulder-struts can collapse into his torso for a more pleasing robot mode. Also, in robot mode, you can rotate the shoulder-struts so that the thin tabs on top face down to allow for greater shoulder poseability. It's also likely that the knee transformations are swapped between robot and heloped mode in the instructions, so that the robot mode has the digitigrade legs and the heloped mode has the "gerwalk"-style backwards knees, and this hypothesis is supported by the [[:File:RID26 subcvr.jpg|packaging art]]. A smaller detail of note is that Whirl's neck is on an extra hinged panel that allows the head to be raised up a few millimeters from where it normally sits.

:Whirl comes with a sticker sheet, with one sticker referencing [[Wild Bill|CW-4 William S. Hardy]].

:This mold was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Cloud|Shockwave]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenWhirl/whirl.htm More information on ''Generations'' Whirl at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Legends===
[[File:Legends-toy Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
*'''Whirl''' (Voyager, [[November 29|11-29]]-2014)
**''ID number:'' '''LG05'''
**''Accessories'': Null-Ray Module, Paralyzo box, Shell Cannon, Photon Beam Rifle

:''Legends'' Whirl is a redeco of ''Generations'' Whirl featuring a lighter blue closer to his original toy and additional paint detail on his canopy and shoulders but dropping the black off his nape and the red stripe pattern on his rotor blades. Some of his black plastic (on his toes and head) is replaced with blue. The antenna mounted on his head is angled 45 degrees lower towards the front as opposed to the 90 degrees in the Generations version. He doesn't have a sticker sheet, though two of his Autobot symbols and a single canopy detailing are now tampographed. He now comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs and [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 5|volume 5]] of the ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Transformers Legends]] Comic: Bonus Edition'' mini-comic.

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
[[File:3DBattleCard Whirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Soi soi soi soi]]
*'''Whirl''' (2007)

:A 30-point "rare" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, Whirl "transforms" into a blue helicopter. He uses the same parts layout as [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], [[Evac (Movie)|Evac]], and [[Stormcloud (Energon)|Vortex]].
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Both [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s were licensed from [[Takatoku Toys]] by [[Hasbro]] for inclusion in the 1985 line, and hence were not included in the Japanese line, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]], or the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comics]]. Whirl was originally the "Oberon Gazette" from the ''Armored Trooper Dorvack'' toyline, although the toy's dark and light blues were inverted for the ''Transformers'' release.
*In recent years, toys sporting the name "Whirl" require an additional "Autobot" prefix for [[trademark]] reasons, hence making the official name "'''Autobot Whirl'''".
*Poor Whirl never got a printed ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' bio. One was written though, and finally revealed to the fans on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2011/01/extended-bio-whirl.html ''Disciples of Boltax''] in 2011.
*Whirl is possibly the most influential character in the entire [[IDW timeline|IDW Generation 1 continuity]], having been the one who brought Megatron to life with a [[Point One Percenter]] spark (knowing full well that Megatron would eventually bring about the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]), and was explicitly pointed out by Megatron as being the one who "taught" him how to hate and use violence instead of peaceful means, which started Megatron down the path that would eventually lead to the Great War. Of course, the latter of these two instances can also be blamed on the Senate, as they had pressed him into service and it was the Senate that Megatron was initially rebelling against, but ultimately, it was Whirl's influence on Megatron that caused him to rebel with violence. In addition, it's implied that his attack on the Heavies during his travel back in time and his subsequent argument with Chromedome let the Senate know when and where to abduct Shockwave. Oh, and his accidental reheating of the Ammonite-Terradore War made the Ammonites desperate enough to forge an alliance with Shockwave. Thanks, buddy.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Whirl''' (ホワール ''Howāru'')
*''French:'' '''Tourbillon''' (Canada, "Whirlwind")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Xuán Rèn''' (China, 旋刃, "Turning Blades")

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Legends franchise]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Decepticon

2015-07-04T16:58:31Z

Omgpuppies: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|ttdecepticon|sgDecepticon}}
{{disambig2|the Transformers faction|the ''Robots in Disguise'' episode|The Decepticons}}
[[File:Symbol decept reg.png|upright=1.4|thumb|Get this tattooed on you and all you'll need is a black trenchcoat and a long ponytail. Then people will love you.]]

{{quote|'''''Decepticon''' (di-sep-ti-con) A member of a subversive sect or society. From the noun — 'deception'; one who deceives.|the [[New Cybertronic Dictograph]]}}

The '''Decepticons''' are one of the primary factions in the ''[[Transformer]]s'' mythos. They are typically concerned with such things as conquering [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], defeating the [[Autobot]]s, amassing large quantities of [[energon]], developing powerful weaponry, and beating people up. Not necessarily in that order.

Unlike the Autobots, whose leader is a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] bearing a [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], the Decepticons are led by the [[Decepticon leader|most powerful]] of their ranks. This tends to cause some conflict, given how generally ''every'' Decepticon thinks that they're the most powerful. Also, the Decepticons are not exactly the most compassionate beings in the universe, but not all fight for greed. More than a few have a [[Scourge (Cybertron)|sense of honor]], while others believe that Cybertron would be better protected by [[Decepticon Empire|aggressive expansion]]. Ultimately, the Decepticons desire to protect their homeworld, even if it is at the expense of others. [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Usually]].

{{quote|The Decepticons are a malevolent race of robot warriors, brutal and merciless. The Decepticons are led by a single undeviating goal: total domination of the universe.|[[Narrator]]|[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Thelaststand-prepare.jpg|left|upright=1.95|thumb|MUSTER THE GOOMBAS! HAND OUT THE DE-EVOLUTION GUNS! PREPARE FOR DESTINY!]]
The Decepticons emerged from the gladiatorial [[Games|State Games]], which caused [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s rise to public prominence - in the aftermath of the destructive Vos-Tarn War, Megatron was able to use his fame and charisma to unite both the survivors and the planet's malcontents into a new army. His plan was to turn Cybertron into a mobile cosmic dreadnought and conquer the galaxy. {{storylink|State Games}} The Decepticons developed new technology to allow them to transform into attack vehicles and weaponry, launching a devastating attack that killed billions and shook the planet from its orbit before [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] turned the tide.

Megatron, Shockwave and others were lost on Earth for four million years; as Optimus was too, the Autobots swiftly lost ground to Decepticon leaders [[Trannis]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]. Cybertron was devastated and conquered, causing the cream of the Decepticons to leave the burnt-out planet to form a [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] out in the stars, while Straxus threw all those he considered weak into the [[Smelting pool]]. The Empire would go on to slaughter and Cyberform planet after planet, their actions unknown on Cybertron.

Eventually the Earth-bound Decepticons would awaken in 1984, sparking off a new front in the war. After the presumed suicide of Megatron, an escalation in fighting would see Decepticon leadership fragment and change hands rapidly, with frequent clashes, plots and counter-plots between the primary leadership, namely [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], until most of them were killed in the [[Underbase]] conflict, leaving Scorponok the only surviving commander. A brief truce with the Autobots was held when [[Unicron]] attacked in 1991, but Scorponok was killed in the following conflict. Immediately after this, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] came to power. Charismatic and driven, Bludgeon turned the beaten Decepticons into a new army; after a defeat on [[Klo]], they regrouped and reorganised. ([[Another Time & Place|In one reality, they were immediately massacred afterward.]])

{{--}}

====Earthforce====
{{Earthforcefiction}}
In the side-continuity of [[Earthforce]], while Unicron continued on to Cybertron, Megatron and Shockwave continued a Decepticon civil war on Earth with a small handful of troops - wasting most of their time trying to take each other out. Eventually Soundwave and Starscream overthrew them, uniting both factions into a stronger Decepticon force. The two former leaders attempted to regain their position but never appeared to succeed.

====Generation 2====
Bludgeon invaded Earth with the intention of capturing the Matrix and making a new generation of Decepticons, but Megatron returned, killed Bludgeon in one-on-one combat, and stole this plan. However, the threat of the Cybertronian Empire forced an alliance between the Autobots and Decepticons again.

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
{{groupstub}}

====Regeneration One====
{{NoteRG1}}
{{groupstub}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Ffod4 early soldiers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

The Decepticons began life as a line of military hardware robots created by the [[Quintesson]]s, alongside the consumer goods robots that would become the Autobots. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} It is unknown exactly what role the military hardware robots played in the eventual rebellion of the robots against their creators; the only ones seen to participate in the conflict were the Autobots' ancestors, led by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]], but given their fighting ability, the proto-Decepticons seem like they would have made logical soldiers in the fight. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

Following the defeat of the Quintessons and their exile from Cybertron, a brief period of peace descended, before the base differences between the two breeds of robot led to the outbreak of conflict. Lusting for power, the Decepticons, as they now called themselves, rallied under [[Early Decepticon leader|a leader]] and began a war with the peaceful Autobots, who proved unable to match their inborn military skills. After the fall of several successive Autobot leaders, the heroic robots turned to stealth, and invented the art of [[transformation]]; with this edge, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] defeated the Decepticons' leader, ending the war and ushering in the prosperous [[Golden Age]] of Cybertron. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:Masterplan2 earth germ.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"Excuse me, do you have seating for 3?"]]
Over time, the defeated Decepticons married transformation technology with [[robot mode]] flight powers, leading to the creation of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] around nine million years ago. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Gathering like-minded warriors like the loyal [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], the emotionless [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the young upstart [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and brain-washing others into his service with the [[Robo-Smasher]], {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} Megatron slew Sentinel Prime and reignited the war. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Against the Autobots under the command of new leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], the protracted warfare ran for five million years, draining Cybertron dry of energy and forcing the Transformers to seek new power sources on other planets. When Optimus Prime's best and brightest departed on this quest aboard [[Ark (G1)|a spacecraft]], Megatron's elite followed them, and the battle that erupted led to a crash-landing on prehistoric Earth that entombed all the combatants in stasis for four million years. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

In 1984, a volcanic explosion led to the reactivation of the Transformers; the Decepticons were first to recover, and immediately set about plundering Earth's natural resources to build a [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]] that would take them back to Cybertron. Sabotaged in mid-flight, the ship crashed into one of Earth's oceans, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} but the Decepticons survived and rebuilt the crippled craft to serve as their new [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|headquarters]] for the continuing conflict on the planet. A [[space bridge]] was established between Earth and Cybertron, and any resources the villains could purloin would be sent back to the dying planet to secure their stranglehold over it. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}}
[[File:FFOD5 Decepticons attack.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4]]
At some point over the next twenty years, the Decepticons focused their attentions away from Earth and managed to take complete control of Cybertron, forcing the Autobots to relocate to twin moonbases on Cybertron's two satellites, and to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth. In 2005, learning that the Autobots planned a major strike to retake Cybertron, the Decepticons launched an [[Battle of Autobot City|attack]] on Autobot City, with disastrous consequences for the Autobots. The battle saw one of the Decepticons' long held dreams achieved in the death of Optimus Prime, but Megatron was damaged, and left to rot in deep space, along with several of his wounded followers. Found by the monster planet [[Unicron]], Megatron was reformatted him into [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], and the others into [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep]]s, in return for their servitude. Soon after, while Unicron was attacking the Decepticon-controlled Cybertron, Galvatron duelled with the new Autobot leader [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], who triumphed and hurled him into the void of space. Their world and their forces devastated and their leader gone, the Decepticons were easily routed by the Autobots, who forced them into exile on the burned-out world of [[Chaar]] while they retook and restored Cybertron. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

{{quote|Once the Decepticons held the quadrant through terror, now we scrap like [[Slaarg]]s over a few [[energon cube]]s.|[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]|[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]}}
[[File:Rebirth 2 Decepticon offerings.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
On Chaar, the Decepticons faced constant energy shortages and engaged in constant in-fighting over what little they did have. Determined to restore order, Cyclonus hatched a plan to locate the lost Galvatron, in hopes that he could lead the Decepticons to glory once more. Although they were successful, Galvatron proved to have been driven insane by his experiences, and while his return did herald the recommencement of hostilities with the Autobots, the Decepticons never quite recovered their old standing, continuing to operate on Chaar throughout 2006 and regularly entering into ill-fated alliances with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}}

Eventually, the Decepticons went into hiding following the resurrection of Optimus Prime. When they returned, it was in force, launching an attack on Autobot City in order to steal the key to the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] on Cybertron, intending to use the chamber to overload the sun and destroy Earth and Cybertron together. The battle for the key carried several of their number to the planet [[Nebulos]], where they became [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]], as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s. They returned with the key to Cybertron, but Autobot intervention caused the energy of the chamber to backfire on them, hurling their battlestation [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], with the amassed forces of the Decepticons aboard, off into the far reaches of the universe. {{storylink|The Rebirth}}

{{--}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====

{{note|In Japanese cartoon continuity, the events of "The Rebirth" do not occur, and Headmasters and Targetmasters have a different origin.}}
[[File:FourWarriors Decepticon Headmasters flaming balls.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|There were more burning rocks in the Japanese continuity.]]
Following the return of Optimus Prime, the Decepticons consolidated their power base by heavily fortifying Chaar and turning it into an actual, functional base of operations. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Their ranks were swelled with the addition of the Decepticon Headmasters—Cybertronians who had fled their homeworld millions of years before and taken up residence on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], but who had been exiled by the local leader [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] for an attempted coup. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Headmaster commander [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] coveted leadership of the Decepticons for himself, and finally obtained it when the Autobot Headmasters entombed Galvatron in an iceberg. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}} Under Scorponok's leadership, the Decepticons nearly succeeded in destroying the Earth with [[crysmagnetal]] and [[plasma energy]], but upon the destruction of Scorponok's [[Transtector]], the ultimately elected to finally withdraw from Earth once and for all. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
[[File:BirthHeadmasterJrs Decepticon Jrs in transtators.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
The Decepticons returned to Chaar, and over the next few years, fought the Autobots on [[Athenia]] in a series of space-based exchanges that became known as the [[Master Wars]]. Circumstances changed when the mysterious alien [[Devil Z]] was able to brainwash Scorponok, placing him and by extension, the entire Decepticon army, under his command. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}} While Scorponok, now known as "BlackZarak", continued to lead the Decepticons' space based forces, a small group of [[Pretender]]s operating under Devil Z's direct command on Earth furthered the evil alien's attempts to fuse human and Transformer life to create the ultimate lifeform by bringing about the rise of the [[Headmaster Junior]]s and the [[Godmaster]]s. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}} {{storylink|Super Warriors - The Godmaster Brothers}} A group of Autobot Pretenders worked to counter his schemes by doing the same, and the repeated failure of his human Transformers to triumph over their Autobot counterparts led Devil Z to conclude that he had been incorrect, and that humanity was of no use to him. He transformed the Headmaster Jr and Godmasters into full robotic lifeforms, but soon after, he and BlackZarak were destroyed by the Autobot leader [[Ginrai]], and the Decepticons fled the Earth once more. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
[[File:Deathsaurus throne.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Leadership was briefly taken up by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], but by the year 2025, the Decepticon army was reorganized under the new Emperor of Destruction, [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], and began attacking numerous different planets all across the galaxy in pursuit of a world they could take for their own. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}} Deathsaurus led the [[Breastforce]] and [[Dinoforce]] in attack on Earth, seizing enough energy to reactive his [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]], but he was stopped by the new Autobot [[Supreme Commander]], [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]. {{storylink|Showdown! The Fortress vs the Victory Unification}}
[[File:TVMJuly1990Mashougun.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Deathsaurus' defeat marked a decline in Decepticon activity, but soon a more supernatural force seized command: [[Violen Jiger]], a being made up of the spirits of many defeated Decepticons, rallied together [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] from throughout Decepticon history to capture for him the Autobots' new [[Energon Z]], and the life-giving [[Zodiac]], which he would combine to create a "[[Decepticon Zone]]" from which he could conquer the universe. His plans were stopped by new Autobot leader [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]], {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}} and the Zodiac was instead used to bring Optimus Prime back to life. This stood in the way of the plans of the mysterious alien [[Dark Nova]], so he used his powers to resurrect Galvatron from his Arctic tomb and transform him into Super Megatron. The Decepticon army was virtually non-existent under Dark Nova; Super Megatron had no actual Decepticon troops at his command, merely Dark Nova's [[Novaroid]] and [[Galaman]] warriors, though they did bear the Decepticon insignia. Dark Nova later upgraded Super Megatron into Ultra Megatron, then merged with him to become "Star Giant", but was destroyed by the resurrected Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy}}

By the year 2035, Decepticon leadership had been taken up by the enigmatic [[Scrash (OC)|Scrash]], and fighting was primarily occurring in outer space once again. The development of [[Power Core Combination]] by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth drew Scrash's attention back to the planet, and he sent [[Battle Gaia (OC)|Battle Gaia]] and the [[Jet Corps]] to create distractions while a team of Decepticons reformatted to be able to take control of the Autobots' new inventions were sent to steal the combiner tech. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination}} Some reports suggest that when his plans were foiled, Scrash himself made another attack on the planet along with his warriors [[Flashwing]], [[Deathplay]], [[Darkfly]] and [[Sharpedge]] which also met with failure. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)#After_2025|2007 timeline}} [[File:G2 Humans killed Megatron's friend.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|There were also more gigantic plastic army men in the Japanese continuity.]] Following this, Megatron retook command of the Decepticons, but with his damaged sanity circuits repaired, he abandoned his evil ways and united the Decepticons with the Autobots as the [[Cybertron Alliance]]. This was not to last, unfortunately, when a misunderstanding led a human military unit to kill [[Megatron's dead friend|a Decepticon]], prompting Megatron to begin the war all over again. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|Autobots vs. Decepticons: Combat Secrets}}

Defeated by Optimus Prime in a duel in the [[Mirtonian constellation]], the badly wounded Megatron disappeared with the Decepticons into the far reaches of the universe, and the war appeared to be over once more. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}} Alas, it was not to be so, as a [[Galvatron II|parallel version of Galvatron from an alternate dimension]] appeared and took control of the Decepticon army, renewing hostilities {{storylink|Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version}} and bolstering their forces with the addition of biomechanically-engineered monsters. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:DeceptLitho.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"My Liege, when did you get that sw—" "CAN'T HEAR YOU, FANWANKING"]]
The Decepticons arose out of the [[Gladiatorial combat|underground fights]] that Megatron once partook in. After discovering certain secrets about Cybertron's origin, including massive [[planetary engine]]s, Megatron began using the games to recruit combatants. For nearly half a million years, they grew in numbers and trained, until they rebelled against the [[Council of Ancients]] and took [[Kaon]] by force.

While the war raged on, the Constructicons repaired the engines and introduced a mecha-forming process, but what they really needed was a power source. Megatron became convinced that he could find one powerful enough within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], which was in the possession of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. However, when Megatron finally killed the Prime, he discovered that it was not within him. Soon after, Optronix became Optimus Prime, and Megatron initiated a plan: an assassination team under Communications Officer [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] would elimate the Prime and claim the Matrix, while Military Operations Commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would lay siege to Iacon, preventing the Autobots from coming to Prime's rescue.

However, Megatron made two mistakes: he informed Air Commander [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] of his intentions, and he underestimated Optimus Prime. The Prime managed to erase some of Megatron's memories of what he discovered, while Starscream activated the mechaforming process using energy from the planetary engines. The engines were destroyed before the process was complete, ruining both. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

After Megatron disappeared with Optimus Prime in a space bridge test, Shockwave became Decepticon leader, though Starscream and High Auditor [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] broke off with their own splinter factions shortly afterwards. The Decepticons allied with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s Autobots and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] (an Autobot splinter group), to stop the machinations of [[The Fallen]]. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} Several thousand years later, Shockwave was prepared to sign a peace treaty with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who had become Autobot leader, the LSC, and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]. However, Megatron returned with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Quintesson]] created [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones, whose abilities allowed the Decepticons to fully conquer Cybertron and enslave the Autobots. The Decepticons' control over Cybertron was ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were defeated. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

When Megatron disappeared along with the ''Nemesis'' crew, Shockwave again emerged as Decepticon leader, this time as head of a triumvirate including Ratbat and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. With [[energon]] becoming scarce, Shockwave agreed to work with Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] in the creation of the [[Micromaster]]s, Transformers who were downsized for better fuel efficiency. Shockwave suffered a rebellion when [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] overthrew him, using Shockwave's severed head as a tool. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}} However, all Transformers on Cybertron entered [[stasis lock]] when the [[Great Shutdown]] occurred.

Around 1,000 B.C.E., Shockwave was reactivated by Scourge, and then defeated the Unicronian Transformer. Studying Scourge and discovering some of the secrets Megatron had learned, Shockwave made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an [[Autobot High Council]] as a legislature, while Ultra Magnus became his senior security officer. However, the High Councillors were unsuited for peace time government, and gradually gave Shockwave more and more power... which is exactly what he had planned.

On Earth, the ''Nemesis'' crew was reawakened in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, the Decepticons concluded that they had no other choice but to conquer the planet. Megatron soon learned that others had come looking for them, including [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]]. The Decepticons captured Jetfire and the Dinobots except Grimlock, and used the hostage situation to force Grimlock to serve the Decepticons. Additionally, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] located Earth and served under Megatron. In 1998, the Autobots allied with humanity to defeat the Decepticons. They were to be returned to Cybertron in the ''[[Ark II]]'', but Shockwave, through a human intermediary, sabotaged the ''Ark II'', causing the ship to crash and send the Transformers aboard into stasis lock.

Renegade members of the [[United States military]] managed to capture the Decepticons and a number of Autobots, intending to use them as instruments of war, but [[Lazarus (G1)|Adam Rook]] later stole them and set himself up as an arms dealer. Unfortunately, Megatron overwhelmed the programming that kept him a prisoner, and freed the other Decepticons. Megatron then intended to unleash a technovirus on Earth, but the Autobots defeated him. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

A year later, Shockwave arrived to tie up loose ends, quickly capturing Megatron and the ''Nemesis'' crew. Starscream ejected Megatron out of the ship carrying them to Cybertron, leaving him to die in space. The ''Nemesis'' crew were granted amnesty, but Starscream quickly recruited them into going back to Earth to conquer the planet, taking the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] with them. Shockwave was finally overthrown when Optimus Prime united the Autobot resistance groups, but he escaped with a small number of troops. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

Meanwhile, Megatron was rescued by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], who repaired his memory loss. Using some recovered Air Warriors, Megatron located the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], who were used to take control of Shockwave's small army. On Earth, Starscream's failures during [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]'s rampage were reason enough to convince the ''Nemesis'' crew to mutiny against Starscream in Megatron's favor. With two combiner teams, an army of Seekers, Soundwave's cassettes, and knowledge of Earth's connection to Cybertron, Megatron prepared to lead the Decepticons on the conquests of Earth and Cybertron {{storylink|Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave) |G1 ongoing}}...

{{note|...At which point Dreamwave went bankrupt. Damn.}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
During the reign of [[Nominus Prime]], Cybertronian civilization was stratified by a [[Functionism|Functionist]] society that equated one's worth as an individual with the usefulness and uniqueness of one's altmode. Among the impoverished lower classes was a young, idealist miner named [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] who sought to peacefully end Functionism as an institution. His [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|treatise]] gathered momentum among Cybertron's working class,{{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} but the Decepticon movement didn't come about until later, when an embittered and disillusioned Megatron began circulating more radical and violent samizdat writings. Indeed, the name Decepticon was taken from one of Megatron's favorite rallying cries: "You are being deceived." They soon began scaring people in high society. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc}}

They really came into their own when Megatron led an uprising in Kaon, taking the city and killing a Prime. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} The Decepticons soon began spreading across the planet, recruiting new people and carrying out terrorist strikes in advance of their main assaults. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}} Eventually they overthrew the Senate and yet another Prime, but by then it was clear they were going to install a brutal dictatorship of their own. {{storylink|Overthrown}} The Autobots of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] rose up against them and war began. {{storylink|Rise}}

The war they started proved ''too'' destructive for Cybertron to handle, and the Decepticons had to abandon it after the disastrous [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] incident. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}}

The Decepticons are spread across known space, following a strict [[Infiltration protocol]] to conquer worlds. Disguising themselves, the infiltration unit gathers intelligence and seeds [[Facsimile construct|facsimiles]] in key strategic places; Phase Two is to use their facsimiles to inflame global tensions and watch the locals to devastate themselves. By Phase Five, their base is in [[Infiltration protocol|Siege Mode]] and Phase 6 has open war on a burnt-out world. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration}} {{storylink|The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation}} In extreme circumstances, when they ''really'' want a world destroyed, they'll send in a [[Phase Sixer]] like [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]].

The Decepticon army is highly specialised: there's infiltration units for, er, infiltration; a [[Decepticon Secret Service]] handling spying and tech acquisitions {{storylink|Spotlight: Hot Rod}}; penal colonies like [[Styx]]; and Tactical Assault Units like the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] who carry out direct action.

This all got thrown out of the window in the early 21st Century, however, when it appeared the Decepticons had won. Whoops, they hadn't. Earth was lost, Megatron was defeated, and Starscream took control through a charade of wielding the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}} Some Decepticons were left behind on Earth while Starscream led the rest to a barren asteroid, where they accomplished nothing for three years until Megatron finally returned and took back his rightful position. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon}}

Later, Megatron allowed himself to be captured and brought to a mostly restored Cybertron, where he used a [[space bridge]] built into his body to summon the Decepticon army to him. Then they were brainwashed by [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] and/or [[D-Void]] into combining with the [[Sweep]]s to form a "[[Deceptigod]]". {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}} Once the monster was defeated, the weakened Decepticons were all captured by the Autobots. They were imprisoned and kept under control using [[inhibitor/deterrence chip]]s in their heads, and the war was considered over. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

The Decepticons were released and eventually, in the interests of peace, the chips were deactivated. An uneasy peace exists between Decepticon, Autobots, and the [[NAIL|returning neutrals]], with Starscream rising to power as the Decepticon spokesman (after arranging the death of their previous spokesman, Ratbat, before he could start another war). {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}} Out in space, however, the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] refused to accept the war was over and continued hunting down and murdering anyone on their 'list'. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}

Following the [[Dark Cybertron]] crisis, Megatron allowed himself to be put on trial on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], having supposedly abandoned the Decepticon cause.{{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Thanks to a technicality in the Luna 2 legal system, Megatron was allowed to join the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew in its quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]], postponing his ultimate verdict until the Knights could judge him in person. However, in exchange for his continued freedom, Megatron was forced to recite a statement declaring his renouncement of all Decepticon ideals and ordering all remaining Decepticon forces to stand down and do the same. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} In the aftermath of Megatron's defection [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] took command of the Decepticons. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} Galvatron led them to Earth where they forged an alliance with the EDC. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}} According to Ravage, however, Galvatron would be instantly abandoned if Megatron gave the word {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

==Beast Era==
In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' continuity, the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] were the descendants of the Decepticons and fought with the same aggression and ideas of conquest. They faced the [[Maximal]]s in the same way their ancestors had fought the [[Autobot]]s.

In the aftermath of the conflict, both sides signed the [[Pax Cybertronia]], which eventually led to peace, but left the Decepticons in a second class position.

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise''==
In the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], the Decepticons were a brand new faction that came into being during the events of the story. Because there were so few Decepticons (only six or seven), and because they were a subset of the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacon]] antagonists, they can almost be viewed as a [[subgroup]] rather than a proper faction. The Decepticons were created on Earth when [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]'s forces captured a set of [[stasis pod]]s from an ancient Transformer spaceship that had been found on [[Earth]], leading to the birth of the [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] and [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]]. The toy version of [[Megatron (RID)|Galvatron]] was also labeled as a Decepticon, although this "change" in the character's faction was only mentioned once in the cartoon series.

In the Japanese version of ''Robots in Disguise'', ''Car Robots'', the Decepticons were known as Combatrons. This is the same name by which the [[Combaticon (G1)|G1 Combaticons]] were called in Japan.

For the [[Hasbro]] toy line, several other non-show Decepticons were added to the ranks to help fill out the line. It is unknown how most of these actually fit into the story, though one of them, [[Axer (G1)|Axer]], is actually a dimension-hopper who arrived from [[Generation 1 continuity family|a Generation 1 universe]].

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada====
The ''exact'' origins of the Decepticon faction are a bit muddled. It is widely assumed, though never directly confirmed, that the movement was founded by [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Also, the enslavement of the power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s is considered to be the impetus to the Decepticons' rise to a massive multi-planet-spanning army, though at what point in the war this occurred is unclear; it's possible the Mini-Cons' arrival was what gave Megatron the opportunity to rise to power, or that they arrived after the war had already begun.

Either way, the Mini-Cons fueled the war machine for centuries, and the war with the [[Autobot]]s soon spread from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to other worlds. The self-imposed exile of the Mini-Cons to an unknown destination was seen as a major setback for the Decepticons (and something of a pyrrhic victory for the Autobots), but despite this, the war continued, as both sides had amassed a large enough power base to continue on without the little buggers.

The Autobots and Decepticons seemed to fight to a stalemate, neither able to gain a distinct advantage over the other. When a signal reached Cybertron centuries later that the Mini-Cons had landed on [[Earth]], it seemed neither side was capable of sending a full force to retrieve them, despite the power they contained. Though the Decepticon force sent to Earth was small in numbers, it was far from insignificant; Megatron himself led the squad, backed by some of his most trusted warriors.

When Megatron returned to Cybertron, the overwhelming majority of the Mini-Cons were in the protective custody of the Autobots, but Megatron was unfazed; he had assembled the Mini-Cons required to make the three legendary weapons: the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]] and [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]]. Bolstered by this new power and the apparent death of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], Megatron attempted to take Cybertron once and for all.

But Megatron's (now calling himself Galvatron) return to Cybertron was the beginning of the end of the Decepticon army. When [[Unicron]] revealed himself as a threat to both armies, fueled by the negative psychic energies from centuries of death and destruction, the two sides eventually joined together to beat back the planet-eater. Despite the truce, Galvatron and Prime engaged in a brutal duel on the surface of the weakened Unicron after the three legendary weapons had been removed from his core. Realizing their battle was keeping Unicron active, Galvatron sacrificed himself, and both Unicron and Galvatron disappeared into nothingness.

====Energon====
[[File:Energon Decepticon insignia.jpg|left|127px|thumb|Now available with added purple!]]
Galvatron's final orders to his troops still stood: work ''with'' the Autobots. The Decepticons maintained a degree of autonomy, still wearing the faction sigil and often taking military/defensive positions in the growing number of [[energon]]-mining colonies, but they were ultimately answerable to Optimus Prime and the Autobots. There were, of course, dissenters, most of whom were captured and imprisoned. For a decade, Autobot and Decepticon worked side-by-side in a somewhat stable truce.

Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon drones]], sent by [[Alpha Quintesson]] to steal energon ore with which to revive the now-shattered husk of Unicron. What the alien did not count on was that Galvatron's [[spark]] had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader revived himself in a new form,(calling himself Megatron again) drove off Alpha Quintesson, and along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, began his ''new'' plans for conquest.

When news of Megatron's return reached Cybertron, hundreds of Decepticons rose up and rebelled, eager to get back to conquering. But having been joined to Unicron for so long apparently had given Megatron a taste of godhood; he had no more interest in amassing a galaxy-spanning army of troops. Countless Decepticons died in the resulting battles, with Megatron more than willing to sacrifice them without a thought to attain ultimate power for himself. As "[[the Powerlinx Battles]]" -as they came to be called- came to their climax, Megatron (calling himself Galvatron ''again'') found that his actions and thoughts were being influenced and controlled by the dark spark of Unicron. Unwilling to let Unicron stand in his way, Galvatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly formed energon sun created by [[Primus]].

{{--}}

====Cybertron====
What little remained of the once-mighty Decepticon army after [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron's]] loss was at best a loose association of criminals, thugs, and lunatics, with no real political or military power to speak of. For a decade, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was once again at peace, with the population overwhelmingly [[Autobot]] or neutral. The Transformers had withdrawn from [[Earth]] and its other colonies to focus on revitalizing their homeworld after the devastation of the Powerlinx Battles. However, two great catastrophes shattered this peace; the energon sun collapsed in on itself, forming the powerful black hole known as the [[Unicron Singularity]], which threatened to devour Cybertron and, if left unchecked, the entire universe... and the return yet once again of Megatron, who had absorbed much of what remained of Unicron's power.

Megatron's goal of attaining godhood was now at hand. By obtaining the legendary [[Omega Lock]] and the four [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, Megatron intended to accelerate the growth of the black hole, consuming the universe in a vast sea of nothingness that only he would survive, then use his powers to re-create the universe in his image.

To this end, he had no need of an army. He gathered a small group of allies and lackeys to seek the items he needed, but they were nothing more than pawns to him, to be used and discarded at a whim.

The Decepticons briefly regained their status as a mass army of individuals when [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who had long suffered at Megatron's hands since the beginning of the Decepticons, made his own bid for ultimate power with the help of the [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] agent [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]]. Having sealed Megatron and his troops in a trap, Starscream freed hundreds of criminal Transformers who had been locked up on [[Earth]] for millennia, and formed his own globe-spanning army. The Decepticon "Monsters" were tasked with finding the Omega Lock and Earth's Cyber Planet Key, which they eventually brought to their leader. However, numerous Decepticons were killed in the battles with the Autobots, and it soon became apparent that Starscream, like Megatron before him, didn't care. Most of these criminals soon abandoned Starscream and went into hiding.

As for Megatron, he too had deserters among his own considerably-small ranks. Most notably, the powerful [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], leader of the [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] and the colossal [[Menasor (Cybertron)|Menasor]] from [[Gigantion]], both of whom eventually joined forces with their former enemies the Autobots.

This was not seen as a concern for Megatron, however, as by this time Starscream and his allies were seemingly destroyed on Gigantion, and Megatron (now calling himself "Galvatron" again) had the Omega Lock and all four Keys. What few Decepticons remained loyal to him were too stupid to see what Galvatron had planned, and made perfect distractions as he set his final plan in motion. If they weren't strong enough to survive the coming cataclysm, then so be it.

[[File:NewDecepticonArmy.jpg|thumb|The yutz, the ditz, the klutz, and the putz.]]
Ultimately, Galvatron's plan failed, and the Unicron Singularity was sealed. His remaining Decepticons quickly left him, realizing what was likely to have happened to them, and eventually joined the Autobots. After Galvatron's seemingly-final defeat and death in a one-on-one duel with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron's]] moon, the Decepticons, not knowing when to quit, rose again, albeit in a rather pathetic fashion. Having cobbled together a rather rickety rocket, [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] shanghaied the reluctant [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], who was ''really'' keen on being on the winning side for once, and flew off to parts unknown as the "[[New Decepticon Army]]".

They made it to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] before the rocket crash-landed.

Meanwhile, the Autobot [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] reported form a deep-space recon mission that he thought he had picked up traces of Starscream, seemingly backed up by Sideways and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]]. [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and the former Decepticon [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] raced off to join Wing Saber and investigate...

===Comics continuity===
====Armada====
Founded by Megatron, the exact number of the original Decepticons is unknown. Using the Mini-Cons as weapons, they were able to conquer Cybertron and force the Autobots underground. Eventually they were beaten due to the arrival of Unicron: his heralds slaughtered the entire Decepticon base on Cybertron, and the Chaos-Bringer's arrival forced them to join forces with the Autobots. With Megatron shot dead during the Unicron battle, the peace held for a period of years.

==Live-action ''Transformers'' movies continuity==
[[File:Defiance3 wearenowDECEPTICONS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|LATER: Megatron realizes he blew his entire budget on the giant rotating wall symbol.]]

The Decepticons are the Transformers who sided with [[Megatron (Movie)|Lord High Protector Megatron]] and attempted to seize the [[AllSpark]]. Their numbers ranged from the [[Starscream (Movie)|treacherous]], the [[Blackout (Movie)|fanatical]], the [[Brawl (Movie)|violent]], and the [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|treacherous fanatically violent]] to the [[Frenzy (Movie)|spastic]].

The origins of these Decepticons began when a being known as [[The Fallen]] turned on his [[Dynasty of Primes|brother Primes]] in an attempt to seize power at the cost of [[human|humanity's]] existence. One account has it that the Fallen gathered a small army of [[Constructicon (ROTF)|construction drones]] to assist him and named them Decepticons. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 3}} Either way, he would become known as the ''first'' Decepticon and would go on to become the [[Palpatine|Sidious]] to Megatron's [[Darth Vader|Vader]] {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}, tempting the latent aggressive edge in the Protector. Filled with dreams of power and paranoia of losing that power, Megatron reformed the Cybertron defense force into a massive engine of war, ready to wipe out entire alien species who would dare challenge them. When science leader [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime's]] opposition became known, Megatron branded them traitors and declared his followers to be the Decepticons. Soon after, The Fallen commanded Megatron to build the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', a ship that would carry his sarcophagus and Decepticon soldiers in their search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] left on Earth. Megatron was commanded to remain on Cybertron, so [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] commanded the expedition. Most of the Decepticons left Cybertron, leaving Megatron with a reduced, but still potent, army. {{Storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}}

War devastated Cybertron. While the Decepticons were heavily reliant on drone units to bolster their forces and were forced to automate many of their outposts, the risk was still too high that they might claim the AllSpark, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 1|Prelude: Optimus Prime}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 5|Lost In Space 3: Ironhide}} and Optimus Prime made the desperate decision to launch the AllSpark into deep space. Megatron obsessively followed after it, and disappeared. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] took over leadership, and began a search for Megatron and the AllSpark. After a while, Starscream began to focus more on the AllSpark, hoping Megatron would remain lost, something the other Decepticons began to suspect. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

In 2003, Starscream's retrieval team made their way to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], destroyed the [[Beagle 2 Rover]] and making their way to Earth. In 2007, the Decepticons began to make their presence known, with [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] destroying [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] in [[Qatar]], searching for information on Megatron and the AllSpark. A few days later, [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] hacked [[Air Force One]]'s computers. Although he was unable to find out the truth about [[Sector Seven]], he avoided detection and managed to get a clue in [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]], whose ancestor [[Archibald Witwicky]] had discovered Megatron a century earlier. His glasses had been marked with coordinates to the AllSpark's location, so [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and Frenzy attempted to confront the boy. Although they were defeated by [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] and [[Mikaela Banes]], Frenzy hid in Mikaela's purse, and accompanied them to [[Hoover Dam]], where Megatron and the AllSpark were hidden. As Starscream ordered the Decepticons to mobilize, Frenzy shut down the temperature controls while Starscream destroyed the external generators. Megatron was freed, but Bumblebee took the Cube with a group of survivors from Blackout's attack to Mission City, meeting with Optimus Prime's Autobots along the way. In the Battle of Mission City, Megatron and most of the Decepticons were killed and the AllSpark believed destroyed. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

Starscream, however, survived, and stole Frenzy's remains to access whatever information the humans had on the AllSpark to build [[Replica AllSpark|his own AllSpark]]. Returning to Cybertron, Starscream proclaimed himself [[Decepticon leader]] and began building the replica. One month later, the replica was ready, but it didn't work properly and [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] made a coup attempt. Starscream barely survived and made his way back to Mars, questioning his purpose, when he received word that the Autobots would be helping the humans destroy Megatron's remains. Hoping to destroy Prime, Megatron, and the traitor [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] all at once, Starscream returned to Earth. Although he managed to destroy Wreckage, Prime had already left with Megatron's body. Just as he defeated Bumblebee, Starscream received word from Soundwave, who had brought the ''Nemesis'' to Earth's solar system. After meeting up with Soundwave, Starscream explained the situation, and returned to the ''Nemesis'' to awaken the remaining Decepticons and oversee the spawning of more [[hatchling]]s while Soundwave lead a scout team to Earth. {{storylink|Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream}} {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}}

[[File:ROTF Fallen message.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The Fallen performs what may be the greatest [[Rick Astley|Rick roll]] in history.]]
Over the next two years, the Decepticons searched for the [[Tomb of the Primes]], which housed the Matrix needed to activate the solar harvester. In 2009, Soundwave discovered Megatron's resting place in the [[Laurentian Abyss]] and the presence of an AllSpark shard on [[Diego Garcia]]. Dispatching [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s, the Decepticons managed to restore Megatron's [[Spark]] and bring him back to life. Returning to the Decepticon flagship, the ''Nemesis'', Megatron learned from the Fallen that the AllSpark's knowledge was now within Sam Witwicky's mind, who had destroyed the Cube when he killed Megatron. Further commanded to kill Optimus Prime, Megatron captured the boy. Although the boy escaped, Megatron, Starscream and Grindor battled Optimus, and Megatron eventually managed to kill the last Prime. Megatron then decided that a show of force was needed to compel the humans to turn Sam over to them. The Fallen lead Decepticon protoforms to Earth and then broadcast a message demanding the humans turn over Sam. Sam was eventually found in [[Egypt]], where the harvester was hidden under a pyramid. In Egypt, a battle took place around the pyramids. Although the Fallen managed to reclaim the Matrix, it had already been used to resurrect Optimus, who was then made more powerful by being fused with Jetfire, a defected Decepticon. Optimus Prime then destroyed the harvester and confronted the Fallen. After a fierce fight, the Fallen was finally killed by Optimus. Seeing his master's demise, Megatron, who had been severely injured during the battle, retreated with Starscream, vowing revenge. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

[[File:DOTM-Moonspacebridge.jpg|upright=1.67|right|thumb|Fly me to the Earth.]]
After three years of relative quiet, the Decepticons returned to NEST's radar when they enacted a scheme decades in the making, luring Optimus to the crashed ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'' on the [[Moon]]. Optimus revived [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], who soon revealed that he had joined up with Megatron to restore Cybertron. Sentinel activated his space bridge, bringing forth an army of Decepticons who had hidden on the Moon. Sentinel issued an ultimatum to humanity: deport the Autobots from Earth or be destroyed. Humanity complied and the Autobots left in their spacecraft, but Starscream destroyed the ship once their human operative [[Dylan Gould]] learned they would leave without a fight. The Decepticons then stormed Chicago, slaughtering thousands of humans and made the city into a fortress impenetrable to the human military. Decepticons scattered across the globe to get Sentinel Prime's [[pillar]]s in place, so that they could create a space bridge large enough to bring Cybertron to Earth, enslaving humanity to reconstruct their home.

However, the Autobots had survived the destruction of their ship, foreseeing the Decepticons' treachery, and with the help of Sam Witwicky and a small crew of human allies, began a great battle to destroy Sentinel's space bridge. In the ensuing battle, the majority of the Decepticons' chain of command was killed off before the Autobots took the fight to Sentinel once the control pillar was temporarily disabled. After a brief duel, Sentinel ordered the Decepticons' entire [[Orbital Assault Carrier]] fleet to attack Optimus. With Sentinel battling the majority of the Autobots, the OAC's attacking Optimus, and the [[Wrecker]]s engaging the incoming terrestrial Decepticons, Gould was left to reactivate the control pillar. Though he succeeded, he was killed by Sam, and the pillar was destroyed, taking Cybertron, the Decepticons' remaining air force, and the space bridge with it. Sentinel attempted to escape, but was intercepted by Optimus. Though Sentinel managed to defeat Optimus, he was attacked and grievously wounded by Megatron, who sought to regain the power he had lost in the past few years. Megatron then attempted to deceive Optimus into thinking that he wanted peace, but Optimus saw through the ruse and seemingly killed the tyrant once and for all. Sentinel Prime was then executed by Optimus. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

Unfortunately, this Autobot victory was quickly negated when [[Harold Attinger]] rallied [[Cemetery Wind]], a secret [[CIA]] cabal who began hunting down all Autobots and Decepticons left around the globe, with the help of [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] the bounty hunter. Five years later, less than a dozen Transformers from either faction had survived the hunt. Though both factions were being slaughtered, Attinger claimed he was only hunting Decepticons, and their remains were sent to [[Kinetic Solutions Incorporated]] to be melted down to be made into new Transformers remote-controlled by humans. Megatron's head was recovered from Chicago, but no one except [[Brains]] discovered that the Decepticon leader had survived, and was biding his time by secretly worming his way into KSI's military prototype, [[Galvatron (AOE)|Galvatron]]. Megatron also gave his new body operational control of the other fifty drones KSI had built. This was all in order to obtain the [[Seed]] that Lockdown would eventually pay Attinger and KSI with in exchange for help in apprehending Optimus Prime, so that Megatron could cyberform a large city to announce his return and build a massive army.

[[File:AOE-Climb.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|left|HE STOLE MY LINE!!!]]
Optimus only became aware of Galvatron's true nature after a lengthy battle with the drone, and passed the knowledge on to his human ally [[Cade Yeager]]. Yeager tried to warn [[Joshua Joyce]] of Galvatron's plot regarding the Seed, but it was too late, and Galvatron rebelled, christening the drones he took control of Decepticons. The Autobots came to rescue Joyce and the Seed in Hong Kong, but Galvatron set his army upon them, sparking a large battle. [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] and Bumblebee were nearly overwhelmed by the Decepticons until Optimus arrived with the [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobots]], decimating the majority of them. The last few Decepticons were killed when Optimus detonated one of Lockdown's grenades. Galvatron, having escaped the battle when the Dinobots arrived, took off for parts unknown, his plans temporarily stymied.
{{Storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

[[File:Titan23 decepticonsmassing.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|Company photo day.]]
The Decepticons are, in general, less human in appearance than the Autobots in the movie, resembling carnivorous mammals, birds, insects or the Decepticon insignia itself (possibly to frighten the [[Human|insects]]). What is also most noticeable about the Decepticons in the movie franchise is that they've actually been designed to resemble the insignia of their faction, most notably Megatron, Blackout, Barricade, and the Fallen; the insignia is in fact based on the Fallen's ugly mug. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}}

{{note|In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Decepticons" for this franchise, rather than "Destrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/decepticons.html Movie Decepticons toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

{{-}}

==Animated==
Around 1 billion years ago, the [[Destron (Animated)|Destrons]] emerged as a new faction on the Protectobot governed Cybertron. Led by [[Devron (Animated)|Devron]], the [[Third Cybertronian War]] was fought between the Destrons and the Protectobots (who were led by the new leader [[Nova Magnus]]). ''The Destrons emerged victorious, though many Cybertronian records were forever lost due to the [[Great Purge]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

The Decepticons came to prominence as a sub-faction of the Destrons around 70 million years ago. They advocated the use of the AllSpark to bring Cybertron itself to life, that it might serve as a cosmic juggernaut that would allow the Transformers to return to the era of expansion and colonization of other worlds they had enjoyed nearly 700 million years beforehand. When the Decepticon leader [[Megazarak (Animated)|Megazarak]] was ousted by charismatic rhetorician named [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], tensions finally exploded, and the Autobots and Decepticons went to [[Great War (Animated)|war]] for possession of the AllSpark.

After something in the vicinity of six million years of civil war, things reached a crisis point when the Decepticons began a strategic bombing campaign on Cybertron, demanding the AllSpark be turned over in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} Rather than give in to Megatron's demands, the Autobots instead sought to put the AllSpark beyond any Cybertronian's reach, launching it randomly through a [[space bridge]] to some distant corner of the galaxy, where it was hoped it would never be found. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

The Autobots pulled a victory only due to their exclusive access to [[space bridge]]s, [[Project Omega]], and their decision to send the [[AllSpark]] into deep space. Defeated, the Decepticons dispersed, and, according to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], the only sight of them would be an occasional scout ship. In fact, they had been missing for so long, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] believed a Decepticon presence was a thing of the past. This was quickly reassessed upon encountering [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron's]] crew. The ensuing confrontation over the newly rediscovered AllSpark took Megatron - injured from an assassination attempt by his lieutenant [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] - and the Autobots to Earth, where Megatron would be sent crashing to Earth. The Autobots' ship crash-landed in [[Lake Erie]], and during the next fifty years, [[Isaac Sumdac]] reverse-engineered technology from Megatron's severed head to build a robotic empire. Starscream would follow the AllSpark's trail to Earth, and the Autobots subsequently became heroes, though they were unaware of Sumdac's use of Megatron's technology. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

Megatron revived in Sumdac's lab and covertly manipulated the scientist into helping him build a new body, poising as an incapacitated Autobot. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} His loyal Decepticons [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] arrived on Earth to find him, {{storylink|Lost and Found}} and when the time was right, helped restore him to a functioning body. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}} Megatron killed Starscream for his betrayal, but in the ensuing battle with the Autobots, the AllSpark was dispersed across the [[Detroit]] area. Though disheartened by the loss of the AllSpark, Megatron kidnapped Sumdac {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}} and downloaded a schematic of an Autobot space bridge, plotting to build one to invade Cybertron from within. The three Decepticons made camp in an abandoned mine that shielded their signals from the Autobots, {{storylink|The Elite Guard}}, but were surprised when Starscream was reanimated by an AllSpark fragment. Megatron reestablished contact with his double-agent on Cybertron, [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], and ordered his troops around the galaxy to begin attacking the Autobots' space bridges. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}.

Megatron would have his troops go after AllSpark fragments {{storylink|Garbage In, Garbage Out}} or supplies for his space bridge {{storylink|Rise of the Constructicons}}. Megatron also ordered a large bounty on the rogue Starscream. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}} When the space bridge was completed, the Decepticons engaged in a fierce three-way battle with the Earthbound Autobots and Starscream's army of [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]]. Megatron would emerge victorious with the Autobots captured and the Starscream clones defected to his side, though the space bridge ended up malfunctioning and sucked in him and Starscream. A long night of bickering ensued. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

[[Team Chaar]] and other Decepticons around the galaxy began succeeding in taking the Autobots' space bridges, but were dismayed when Megatron failed to arrive on Cybertron to begin the invasion. Megatron and Starscream were found by the comatose [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], and Megatron cut his losses and cancelled the invasion, seeking to use Omega to conquer Cybertron himself. He was able to bring the Autobot to Earth to attack Optimus Prime's crew, but [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]'s intervention trapped Megatron and Starscream inside Omega and sent them transwarping around the galaxy randomly. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

His cover about to be blown, Shockwave mortally injured Ultra Magnus before escaping with the [[Magnus Hammer]], putting Cybertron in disarray. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}} [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] had [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] capture Lugnut, Blitzwing, [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]], and the stasis-locked [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] for him. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}} However, Swindle would be revived en route to Cybertron, and freed his fellow prisoners, though only he and Lugnut would escape the ship and not be recaptured. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}} Lugnut found his way to Megatron, and Shockwave brought the group [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]. {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}} The Decepticons returned to Earth and constructed a group of [[Lugnut Supreme|dark clones]] of Omega Supremes with the codes in Arcee's processor, and attacked Earth. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}} Autobots and Decepticons did battle; Ratchet led a team to rescue Arcee and Omega Supreme, while Bulkhead and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] defeated and captured Lugnut and Shockwave. Starscream took control of the Lugnut Supremes, rigging them to blow and destroy Detroit. [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] reconstructed the AllSpark, killing Starscream once and for all, and managed to use the power of the AllSpark to save Detroit. Megatron was captured by Optimus, and the Autobots returned to Cybertron with the Decepticon leader, Lugnut, and Shockwave as prisoners. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}

Megatron and his men would be incarcerated in [[Trypticon Prison]], and [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] took command of the Decepticons for the time being. She ordered [[Team Stunticon]] to break out Megatron, but when they failed, Strika led an invasion of Cybertron's Energon farms. {{storylink|The Stunti-Con Job}}

{{note|As with the movie Decepticons, the Animated Decepticons are not called Destrons in Japan.}}

==Shattered Glass==
[[File:Decepticon Shattered Glass.png|thumb|Decepticons wage their battles to destroy...]]
{{quote|Your tyranny ends here, Prime! Cybertronians will once again know the freedom which is their right!|Megatron|"[[Shattered Glass]]"}}
In this universe, the Decepticons are the good guys and a resistance group, intended to overthrow Autobot tyranny and their dastardly leader, [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Led by the heroic [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]], the 'Cons want to liberate Cybertron and preserve freedom and life across the galaxy, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|no matter the cost]]. But if they fail to stop the Autobots, not only will the Autobots conquer [[Earth]], they will also enslave the universe and all will be lost. {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}

{{-}}

==Aligned==
{{bigquote|Sometimes deception is necessary, when those who should listen to the truth will not, and will only understand once they have been lied to and forced to see their own lies.|[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]].}}

[[File:Megatroncamehome.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|"Breakdown! Assume the footrest position! Soundwave! Log into my Netflix! Knock Out, you... erm. Go make some popcorn or something."]]
The Decepticons originated from those in the [[caste system|lower castes]] of Cybertronian society in the [[Badlands (Cybertron)|Badlands]]. Megatron, a gladiator who seized control of all the gladiatorial pits and assumed the name of The Fallen, began preaching to the dispossessed on the Grid. He allowed them to bomb Cybertron and throw their society into chaos, for he rightly believed if he denied any connection to their extremist behavior, it would elevate him in the eyes of the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]]. Even the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] kidnapped [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] for him. When the Council questioned Megatron about the movement's name, he denied he had heard of it, though he also accepted it for reasons outlined above.

When Halogen appointed Orion the new Prime, Megatron declared his Decepticons would continue to fight for freedom. During the war they conquered eighty-five percent of the planet, as well as occupying [[Moonbase One|Moon Base One]] and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] Station, before poisoning the [[core]] itself with [[Dark Energon]]. When the Autobots left aboard the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', Trypticon transformed into the ''Nemesis'' and followed them with Megatron, Starscream, [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] and [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] into unknown space, while [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] took control of the Cybertronian Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===Prime===
Eons later, Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] were based on [[Earth]], with a mass-produced [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] army. During a three-year lull, Starscream was ordered to build a [[space bridge]] and to mine more Energon. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)}} Megatron returned, but not with the army Starscream had hoped for. Instead he tried to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] [[zombie]]s to eradicate humanity, but failed and perished in a space bridge implosion, leaving Starscream in command once more. {{storylink|Darkness Rising}} It emerged he survived, and he was retrieved and placed in sickbay. {{storylink|Masters & Students}} Meanwhile, Starscream and Soundwave waited for opportunities to pounce on [[Team Prime]] with their Vehicons. {{storylink|Con Job}} {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}
[[File:DeusExMachina-fourcons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Starscream: "We're gonna go out there and catch those museum thieves red-handed!" Breakdown: "What color are their hands now?"]]

Megatron eventually returned to life, nearly killing Starscream for his part in his near-death in the space bridge explosion. {{storylink|Sick Mind}}{{storylink|Out of His Head}}{{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}} Despite his brush with death, Starscream continued to secretly operate against Megatron {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}}, which came to a grinding halt when Megatron forced him to beg for his life in an abandoned Energon mine. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}} Finding neither respect from Megatron following this incident nor mercy from the [[Arcee (WFC)|Autobots]], as well as seemingly being replaced by former rogue [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]], Starscream abandoned the Decepticons, becoming neutral, and leaving Airachnid to take his place. {{storylink|Partners}}

Seeking to attain more Dark Energon to coincide with a prophecy that he interpreted as his own destiny in the [[Covenant of Primus]], Megatron raced to complete a second space bridge. Optimus Prime sought to stop this plot by finally ending the Decepticon leader's life{{storylink|One Shall Fall}}, but a larger problem became apparent. Following an explosion of Dark Energon from a volcano, it was surmised that [[Unicron]] was awakening at the [[Earth's core|core of Earth]]. Rejected from Unicron's service,{{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}} Megatron formed a shaky alliance with Optimus {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} to defeat Unicron. During this time, acting Decepticon leader Airachnid attempted to abandon Megatron to Unicron's wrath, but following a humiliating defeat at the hands of Soundwave, relinquished command to the communications officer. With the power of the Matrix of Leadership, Optimus was able to defeat Unicron. However, Optimus' surrender of the Matrix's power also lost him his memories of being a Prime, and he took upon his old 'Orion Pax' persona. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Megatron took advantage of Orion's amnesia, setting him to work on [[Project Iacon]], to find various relics from Cybertron hidden on Earth. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Eventually, however, the Autobots were successful in restoring Orion Pax to Optimus Prime, halting work on the project {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}.

Former Seeker captain [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]] arrived on Earth {{storylink|Loose Cannons}}, and was promoted to second in command following Airachnid's departure and murder of Breakdown (whose remains were recovered by human terrorist organization MECH). {{storylink|Crossfire}} Airachnid later sent her armada of [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] to kill Megatron, but following her defeat at the hands of Arcee, the Insecticons were freed from her control and then integrated into Megatron's forces. However, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead's]] actions caused the ''Nemesis'' to crash on Earth, {{storylink|Armada (episode)}} prompting Megatron to use Dark Energon to repair the ship. Unexpectedly, the Dark Energon enhanced Nemesis gained sentience, and disabled the Decepticons and worked to complete Project Iacon and collect the relics around the world. Through the efforts of [[Jack Darby (Prime)|the]] [[William Fowler|Autobots]] [[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|human]] [[Raf Esquivel|allies]], the ship's sentience was defeated, but had already located four Iacon relics. {{storylink|Flying Mind}} The Decepticon forces were sent to the four locations around the world: Knock Out and an Insecticon to New York City {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}}, Dreadwing to Antarctica {{storylink|Triangulation}}, Soundwave to a wooded area {{storylink|Triage (episode)|Triage}}, and [[Hardshell (Prime)|Hardshell]] to a volcano around the equator. {{storylink|Toxicity}} Knock Out, Dreadwing, and Hardshell's endeavours all end in failure, Soundwave being the only victorious one. {{storylink|Triage (episode)|Triage}} After mistakenly reporting Bulkhead's destruction to Megatron, Hardshell was himself destroyed by a vengeful Wheeljack and Miko.{{storylink|Hurt}}

[[File:FlyingMind-DecepticonsOnDeck.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|And the Decepticons always remembered this as the day Megatron said, [[Frank Welker|"Well it was either this or college!"]]]]
Breakdown's remains were used to save the mortally wounded {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)}} MECH leader Silas - to Megatron and Knock Out's disgust - who attempted to join the Decepticon ranks, but when his offering of Project Damocles was destroyed by the Autobots, he was hauled away for dissection by Knock Out. The effort did bear fruit in that the location of Raf Esquivel's home was discovered,{{storylink|The Human Factor}} narrowing down the location of the Autobot base. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}}. The Decepticons lost the upper hand briefly when Optimus acquired the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] {{storylink|Legacy}}, but the blade was destroyed by Megatron's knock-off [[Dark Star Saber]]. Additionally, the Decepticons found the existence of the [[Omega Key]]s on Earth, though they were unaware of their true function. {{storylink|Alpha/Omega}}. Knock Out successfully retrieved a Key, while Dreadwing lost one, but it turned out new Autobot recruit [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] is the final Key, and was promptly kidnapped by Soundwave. {{storylink|Hard Knocks}} Megatron learned of the Omega Keys' ability to revive Cybertron, but Smokescreen made off with the two Keys the Decepticons possessed. However, the rogue Starscream was able to steal all three Autobot Keys, and proposed to use them as a bargaining chip to return to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Inside Job}}

Naturally, Megatron was less than convinced of Starscream's loyalty, and watched his memories via cortical psychic patch to find his true motives. While evidence of Starscream's treachery was rampant, Megatron allowed him to return since the Decepticons must be united to revive Cybertron. However, Dreadwing was enraged and disillusioned by Megatron's pardon, since his leader was apathetic to Skyquake becoming one of the undead, {{storylink|Patch (episode)}} but his attempt to murder Starscream was halted when Megatron killed him with his own blaster. Starscream returned to his position of second-in-command, and worked out the location of the Omega Lock on Cybertron. Megatron battled the Autobots on their home planet, lost the Keys, but Starscream, Knock Out and Soundwave kidnapped the Autobots' human allies and held them hostage. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)}} The Autobots handed over the Keys in exchange for the children, and Megatron turned the power of the Omega Lock on Earth to cyberform it. Optimus used the Star Saber to destroy the Omega Lock and all hope of restoring Cybertron, but Megatron launched a full-scale invasion of the Earth from his new fortress of [[Darkmount (Earth)|Darkmount]], with his first act of aggression being destroying the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]]. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

In the wake of the Autobots' defeat, and having found no corpses in the base's remains, the Decepticons increased global surveillance to find them - also dealing a similarly devastating blow against the United States military with its fusion cannons. Megatron feigned a desire for peace to the US government, a cover for his eventual violent conquest of Earth. A search on Cybertron for the missing relics turned up [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}} who is quickly reinstated into the Decepticon command structure as first lieutenant of all scientific endeavors, to Starscream's chagrin. Efforts to find the Autobots resulted only in failure, leading Shockwave to unleash the massive [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] he cloned, [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] to hunt down the Autobots, {{storylink|Scattered}} only for it to come home empty-handed. {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}} The Autobots were able to spread the Decepticon ranks thin and away from Darkmount, and the newly arrived [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] lead the regrouped team to assault the fortress. The attack was eventually halted and the Autobots were taken prisoner, only for an upgraded Optimus Prime to arrive and single-handedly turn the tide. Earth's military was able to bring Darkmount crumbling to the ground, forcing the Decepticons to go on the defense and return to using the ''Nemesis'' as their base of operations. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)}}

The Decepticons turned their efforts to cloning, and enjoyed a string of successful ventures to retrieve Predacon fossils to engineer an army of the extinct beasts thanks to the efforts of Shockwave and Soundwave, {{storylink|Project Predacon}} the Predacon, {{storylink|Chain of Command (Prime)}} and Knock Out. {{storylink|Plus One}} Jealous of Megatron's favoring Shockwave, Starscream coerced Knock Out to create an army of super soldiers with a mix of Dark and [[Synthetic Energon]], starting with the imprisoned Cylas. However, this only created a new form of Terrorcon that craved and drained Energon from a victim, starting a plague that threatened the entire ship. The Decepticons struggled to repel the infected, until Cylas freed Airachnid from her stasis pod. The former prisoner killed Cylas and called the Insecticons to rejoin her, but Airachnid's latest attempt to overthrow Megatron was put down by Soundwave, who bridged her and her army to a dead moon of Cybertron. The crisis weakened the Decepticons with the loss of the Insecticons and the infected Vehicons, having depleted more than half of their military strength. Shockwave subsequently speeded up progress on Project Predacon, {{storylink|Thirst}} but Predaking revealed his sentience and ability to transform on the verge of the project's completion. The former beast asked to lead the coming Predacons on Megatron's behalf, but the Decepticon leader and his command staff knew better than to give him control of a more powerful army than the depleted Decepticons. Following a plot engineered by Starscream, the Decepticons allowed the Autobots to destroy the Predacons before they escape their pods, to Predaking's horror and rage. The destruction of the lab, coupled with the presence of Synthetic Energon, resulted in the lab being filled with pure Cybermatter. {{storylink|Evolution}}

[[File:Deadlock-Megatron-Decepticons-extinguished.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron shouldn't have gone to Unicron for life insurance.]]
Shockwave realized the Cybermatter could cyberform entire worlds. Megatron resolved to restore the Omega Lock and rule a cyberformed Earth and a revived Cybertron, but found the synthetic Energon formula was incomplete, and had Ratchet delivered to him by the captured Soundwave, while his lieutenants gathered human technology to repair the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Minus One}} As the device was being restored, Megatron appealed to Ratchet to finish the synthetic Energon formula, playing on the medic's love for his home to outweigh his reservations about aiding the leader of the Decepticons. Ratchet eventually consented when he was shown the nearly completed Omega Lock {{storylink|Persuasion}} and soon completed the formula. In return, Megatron turned him over to the vengeful Predaking, but Ratchet - having learned the truth thanks to a slip up from Knock Out - revealed Megatron's plot to wipe out Project Predacon. Predaking turned on the Decepticons and slaughtered countless Vehicons, but was bested by Megatron in combat. Ratchet gave his comrades a way onto the warship, and Megatron mobilized his remaining army for their last stand. {{storylink|Synthesis}} While Megatron battled Optimus with the Dark Star Saber, Jack and Miko banished Soundwave to the [[shadowzone (dimension)|shadowzone]] on the bridge, while the other Autobots fought to capture the ship. Smokescreen and Bumblebee tried to get the Star Saber to Optimus, but Megatron killed Bumblebee as he tried to do so. However, the scout's corpse, having fallen info the Omega Lock, was revived by the Cybermatter, and ran Megatron through with the Star Saber, finally killing the leader of the Decepticons once and for all. Their leader dead, Shockwave, Starscream, and what few Vehicons remained abandoned ship, while Knock Out attempted to join the winning team. The ''Nemesis'' was used to fire the Omega Lock into the [[Well of All Sparks]], and Cybertron was restored. {{storylink|Deadlock (episode)|Deadlock}}

Most of the Vehicons had theoretically surrendered to the Autobots, and were part of an inept crew of construction workers under Bulkhead's watch. Though, not all hope was lost for the Decepticons. Shockwave & Starscream had been moving to the former's labs, cloning more Predacons to overthrow the Autobots in their newly restored home world. However, when Unicron took over Megatron's semi-lifeless body, the [[Skylynx|two]] [[Darksteel (Prime)|Predacons]] they had cloned joined [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] in helping the Autobots save Cybertron from an army of Terrorcon-Predacons headed to corrupt the core once more, after Shockwave had been beaten up by the zombie dragons and encouraged the Predacons' decision. To make matters worse for them, Knock Out, who had been imprisoned by the Autobots, officially joined their side. When the Autobots put a stop to Unicron's plans and trapped Unicron in the [[AllSpark]]'s container, Megatron officially disbanded the Decepticons after being victim of Unicron's eternal torture and realized the true meaning of oppression. With Starscream all alone, he returned to his roots and decided to take command of the no longer functioning faction, but the Predacons had something in store for their former abuser... {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}

===Rescue Bots===
At some point during the Decepticons' campaign on Earth, [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]] arrive on the planet in response to message sent into space by [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]. Prime judges them as not ready to face the Decepticons, and instead stations them in the technologically advanced town of [[Griffin Rock]], [[Maine]] located on an island off the east coast of [[United States of America|America]]. There they must work undercover, posing as ordinary robots used as rescue vehicles by the island's "family of heroes", the Burns family.{{storylink|Family of Heroes}} For their protection, Optimus apparently kept their existence a secret from the Decepticons and seemingly the other Autobots, with the exception of Bumblebee and Ratchet. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (RB)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} While the Decepticon empire has never touched the island, Optimus and Bumblebee occasionally lend a hand whenever things get out of control by [[Thaddeus Morocco|other dangerous]] [[Quint Quarry|threats]]. {{storylink|It's a Bot Time}}

In an alternate timeline where [[Thaddeus Morocco|Doctor Morocco]] ruled [[Griffin Rock]], Bumblebee mistook the [[MorBot]]s as Decepticons, only to have Heatwave to correct him. {{storylink|Bot to the Future}}

===Robots in Disguise (2015)===
{{Main|Alchemor#Prisoner manifest}}
[[File:RID-steeljawsgang.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]]
At some undetermined point, the Autobot prison ship ''[[Alchemor]]'' took off of Cybetron, its cargo of [[stasis pod]]s carrying several hundred of the most-wanted Decepticons, who [[To sell toys|for some unexplained reason]] all possess robot or [[beast mode]]s based on Earth animals. After Megatron disbanded the Decepticons, it seems that any remaining Decepticons were forced into hiding or defected after the planet repopulated with Autobots. Megatron apparently kept his promise about no inflicting anymore oppression as he has remained unseen by the time Bumblebee goes to Earth.

Several years after the restoration of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the end of the Great War, the ''[[Alchemor]]'' crashes on [[Earth]] near [[Crown City]], its cargo being scattered around the countryside in the crash, releasing their contents. The [[Mini-Con]] [[Fixit (RID)|Fixit]] sends a mayday, however on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], now working as a street cop for the repopulated planet, is instead alerted by a vision of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus gives Bumblebee a new mission on Earth, sending the young Autobot to the nearest [[space bridge]]. Bumblebee unwillingly finds himself accompanied to Earth by his cop partner [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] and the delinquent [[Sideswipe (WFC)|Sideswipe]]. Joined by the ex-Decepticon prisoner [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and two [[human]]s — [[Denny Clay]], owner of a vintage salvage depot for the discriminating nostalgist (a scrapyard) and his son [[Russell Clay|Russell]] — Bumblebee and his team must track down the escaped prisoners and prevent harm coming to Earth or its native population. {{storylink|Pilot (Part 1)}}

Chief among the threats poised by the Decepticons is the charismatic [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]], who seeks to organize the escaped prisoners into an effective cabal to conquer the planet. {{storylink|Trust Exercises}} Steeljaw first teamed up with [[Minitron]], who took control of Grimlock and was able to snatch Underbite. Though Minitron was captured, Steeljaw made off with Underbite {{storylink|True Colors}} and made an alliance with the Decepticon criminal, [[Thunderhoof]]. {{storylink|As the Kospego Commands!}} Setting up a base in an abandoned factory, Steeljaw is eventually able to assemble a new team of Decepticons - consisting of [[Underbite (RID)|Underbite]], [[Thunderhoof]], [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]], the bounty hunter [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] (who had initially arrived on Earth to collect a bounty placed on Bumblebee by the High Council).{{storylink|Hunting Season}} and his Mini-Cons, [[Airazor (RID)|Airazor]] and [[Divebomb (RID)|Divebomb]]. After a short battle with Bumblebee's team, they are able to apprehend all the members of Steeljaw's gang, however, Steeljaw is able to free everyone and they are able to escape. {{storylink|Sideways (episode)|Sideways}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[File:Movie Decepticon Screencleaner.jpg|105px|thumb|Transforms your dirty screen to a clean one and — well, actually just the first thing.]]
*'''Decepticon''' (2008)
:Released by Tomy Yujin on January, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Decepticon insignia printed on the other side.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Destron''' (デストロン ''Desutoron''), '''Combatron''' (''Car Robots'', コンバットロン ''Konbatoron''), '''Decepticon''' (ディセプティコン ''Diseputikon'')
*''Armenian:'' '''Deseptikonner''' (Դեսեպտիկոններ, "Decepticons")
*''Cantonese:'' '''Kwòng Pāǐ''' (Hong Kong, 狂派, "Con Faction", literally "Mad Faction" or "Crazy Clan")
*''Danish'': '''Bedragerne''' (Marvel comic, "Betrayers"), '''Bedraonerne''' (''The Transformers'' cartoon)
*''French:'' '''Decepticans''' (France ''The Transformers'' cartoon)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Álcák''' (Marvel comic, "Disguises"), '''Decepticonok''' (toy commercial, second ''The Movie'' dub), '''Varangyok''' (first ''The Movie'' dub, "Toads"), '''Robotikák''' (''Energon'', ''Cybertron'', "Roboticas")
*''Italian:'' '''Distructors'''
*''Korean:'' '''Destron''' (데스트론 ''Deseuteuron''), '''Decepticon''' (디셉티콘 ''Diseptikon'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Dí Sài Gāng''' (Taiwan, 迪賽剛), '''Bà Tiān Hǔ''' (China, 霸天虎, "Heavenly Tyrant Tiger")
*''Polish:'' '''Deceptikony''', '''Decepcjokony''' (first ''The Movie'' dub, "Deceptiocons"), '''Dezorientaci''' (''Beast Wars'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Decépticos''' (Portugal comic), '''Malignus''' (Brazil comic)
*''Serbian:'' '''Deseptikoni'''
*''Swedish:'' '''Bedragare''' (Marvel comic, "Betrayers")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Obmanoidy''' (Обманоіди, "Decepticons")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Alternity]]
[[Category:Animated factions]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beastformers franchise]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon]]
[[Category:Decepticons| ]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Factions]]
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[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Micromaster]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Operation Combination]]
[[Category:Predacon subgroups]]
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[[Category:Victory]]
[[Category:Zone]]

No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6

2015-06-13T04:04:09Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=25
|prev=Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4
|next=Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8
|seriesissue2=[[Dark Cybertron]] Chapter 6
|prev2=Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5
|next2=The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7
|caption=
|image=MTMTE25 cvrA.jpg
|title="No Exit" Dark Cybertron Chapter 6
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 15]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=January 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]] and [[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Atilio Rojo]], [[James Raiz]], and [[Livio Ramondelli]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] and Livio Ramondelli
|letters by=[[Gilberto Lazcano]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''The ''Lost Light'' crew explore the mysteries within Metroplex, the Necrotitan descends upon Iacon, and two Primes come face to face!'''

==Synopsis==
In the wastelands surrounding [[Crystal City]], the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] stand watch over those wounded by the [[Necrotitan]]'s death-wave. Although badly injured himself, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] expresses his desire to have gone with the other [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s into the city; [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] talks him down, but arguing is certainly something Slag has the energy left to do, including the insistence that his name is now "Slug", after [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] told him his old name was "offensive". When the Necrotitan suddenly moves, a pair of binoculars donated by [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] lets Swoop get a closer look at the action, as the small surviving crowd of 'Bots and 'Cons comes running towards them, the Titan hot on their trail and heading straight for [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]!

On an alien world, deep underwater, the [[Rodpod]] carries its small crew deeper into the eye socket of the unmoving [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. With [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] unsure if Metroplex is either alive or dead, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] scans for lifesigns and finds eight: a positive outcome, as there are only seven 'bots in the pod. [[Brainstorm]] analyzes the water on suspicion it may have reduced Metroplex to his sorry state, and, upon finding traces of what he believes to be [[Admium]], has [[Getaway]]—struggling to cope with the enormity of the situation—call [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] for his metallurgical expertise. Swerve is too busy fighting [[Ammonite]]s to answer his phone, but [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] rations that if they can save Metroplex, ''he'' can end the battle. That prospect suddenly looks a lot less likely when the Rodpod enters the Titan's brain chamber, and the crew find his [[brain module]] to be ''gone'', surgically removed. The pod heads for Metroplex's [[spark]] chamber to investigate further, even as the Titan's internal lights die out around it, his lifeforce ebbing away.

In Iacon, [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] seeks an update on the wounded from [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]], though the medic at first misinterprets his request as a report on the spread of the mysterious "deathmark" left on his chest by the Necrotitan's wave. Medical aide [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] loses patience with Starscream and bellows a stream of insults at him before stalking off; Flatline's immensely obvious observations of the situation do nothing to improve Starscream's mood, but just as he is yelling at the doctor, the Nectrotitan comes stomping into the city, and fiery chaos ensues.

In the [[Dead Universe]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]'s team remained trapped in a containment field by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], awaiting the arrival of [[Nova Prime]]. [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] tries headbutting his way out, to no avail, but Orion follows his lead, landing a hand-shattering haymaker on the cube wall. Orion appears to lose his composure, and begins screaming threats at Nightbeat, but when [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] tries to intercede, Pax punches ''him'' too—but only, he quickly explains in whispers, to keep Nightbeat distracted from the small crack he successfully made in the cube with his punch. Rodimus joins in the effort, raising his palms to the detective in an imploring gesture, but with unexpected results: the sight of the mysterious contents of Rodimus's hand affects Nightbeat's mind, bringing him to his knees... just as Nova Prime arrives.

The Rodpod berths at a dry dock within Metroplex (unsurprising, Magnus notes, as he ''is'' a city), where the team finds a series of hand-painted arrows drawn on its walls and floors that lead them on a disorienting Escher-esque tour of the Titan's insides. Alas, the final arrow brings them right back to where they started, and when [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] starts to take out his frustrations on the Rodpod, Magnus stops him... but in the process gets close enough to the pod to hear ''ticking''. Following a length of new cable running from the Rodpod with their eyes, the team spots a stowaway Ammonite—Perceptor's eighth lifesign—standing in a doorway, holding a detonator. Before any of them can move, the tiny 'bot pushes the switch, and the Rodpod explodes!

Nova Prime greets Orion as "Optimus Prime", waving aside Pax's attempted correction and instead musing that they are all trapped in the Dead Universe now, and that the two Primes may go down side by side. Spotting [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], Nova mocks his status as a perennial "hanger-on"... at which point Cyclonus gives Hardhead the word. The taciturn 'bot barrels into the cracked wall and smashes through, though the cube re-seals before the others can escape. Hardhead tries to take on Nova himself, but the ancient Prime simply catches and crushes his hand, destroying the protective force-field generator. As the others look on in horror, Hardhead is consumed by the Dead Universe, disintegrating and blowing away on the winds. Nova then informs Orion that he is taking him to meet a "friend" of his... a friend who turns into a [[space bridge]]... a friend we know as [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Slag (G1)|Slug]] (2)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (3)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (5)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] (9)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (12)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]('s insides, 13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Getaway]] (14)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (16)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (17)
*[[Brainstorm]] (18)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (19)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (20)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (22)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (27)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] (29)
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (30)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (31)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (33)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (4)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (8)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
|c4=
*[[Necrotitan]] (1)
*[[Ammonite]] (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (23)
*[[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] (24)
*[[Tankor (BM)]] (25)
*[[Octane (G1)|Tankor (Octane)]] (26)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (28)
*[[Nova Prime]] (32)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well, '''something's''' not right." 
"Easy on the '''jargon,''' Ratchet, we didn't all go to medical school." 
"Sarcasm: the first sign of a damaged brain module. Other symptoms include me '''hitting you in the face.'''"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Whirl'''

"He's not even the first guy named Tankor to yell at me today."
:—'''Starscream''' on the quirks of [[Transformer naming]]. [[Skydive (Predator)|Like]] [[Ambulon (G1)|they]] [[Dent|say]], all the good ones are taken.

'''Getaway:''' "Weird. Some kind of '''arrow'''..." 
'''Ratchet:''' "Hand drawn. And pointing towards the spark chamber..." 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "And another one over there. Pointing in a different direction." 
'''Brainstorm:''' "What do we do, fearless leader? Follow them?" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "Well we certainly can't ignore them... it'd be like ignoring a '''traffic sign.'''" 
'''Brainstorm:''' "And that way anarchy lies..." 
''(The team sets off.)'' 
'''Skids:''' "Come on, Perceptor!" 
'''Perceptor:''' "No one's locking the '''Rodpod?'''" 
'''Skids:''' "Hopefully someone will steal it."

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*True to his word, we here see that Swerve has indeed made Orion Pax's distress call his ringtone, as he promised back in [[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Chapter 1]].
*Ultra Magnus remarks on a sense of déjà vu when the team finds Metroplex's brain to be missing, presumably a reference to the [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] incident from [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|''More than Meets the Eye'' #3]], where said sparkeater removed its victims' brain modules first in preparation for harvesting their sparks. Hence, Magnus's decision to check on Metroplex's spark upon noticing his brain was gone.
*To see ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' Tankor appearing in this issue in such a manner is perhaps a little disarming; he is, of course, only here because this issue is packed in with his new ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' toy. But! This is actually ''not'' his first appearance in IDW continuity! Given the timings involved, it can only have been an incredibly fortuitous coincidence, but Tankor first showed up in a crowd-scene cameo (as his original toy) back in the [[Primus: All Good Things|2012 ''Robots in Disguise'' annual]].
*The mysterious contents of Rodimus's hand were alluded to back in [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Chapter 2]].
*Kup was last seen in [[The Transformers: Infestation issue 2|''Transformers: Infestation'' #2]], in which he was sucked into the Dead Universe through a magic portal.

===Transformers references===
*The story catches up to the "Roll Call" pages this issue, with Slag officially renaming himself "Slug", the name Hasbro now uses for versions of the character which originated with his [[Slug (FOC)|Aligned universe counterpart]]. The full details of his change of heart aren't gone into, merely that Arcee told him that his name was offensive—a double-reference to its status as both a [[Slag (slang)|Transformer swear word]] and a disparaging term for a woman in the [[United Kingdom]], the latter being the reason Hasbro shelved it as the character's name. The story has tactfully avoided actually ''using'' "Slag" in dialogue up until now, which is not a problem IDW stories have faced before, but ''Dark Cybertron'' is packed in with toys.

===Errors===
*As has already occurred twice, in chapters [[Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|three]] and [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|four]], Sludge is among the Dinobots on the first page of the story, despite the fact that he was sent back to the Autobot camp in [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|chapter two]]. When Swoop speaks to him, though, he calls him "Snarl", and further, dino mode Sludge vanishes on page 3 and is replaced with [[robot mode]] Snarl, suggesting that Rojo may be mixing up the characters regularly.
*The harried schedule of "Dark Cybertron" caused some confusion between Tankors. Informed that a new Tankor toy was to be among the ''Generations'' assortment the comics would be coming with, it was mistakenly assumed the character was Generation 1 Tankor, aka [[Octane (G1)|Octane]], and so he was drawn into the medibay scene, with ''Robots in Disguise'' having already established suitable precedent for him to want peace. When it was discovered that the toy was, in fact, of ''Beast Machines'' Tankor, Octane was replaced in the artwork, and the crack about there being more than one guy named Tankor was added to the script; unfortunately, Octane was accidentally not replaced in the third panel of the scene. For the collected edition, rather than be replaced, Octane's sole appearance was removed from the scene entirely.
*The last panel of the first dry dock page: Presumably, the lines that begin with "Come on, Perceptor!" should not be coming from Perceptor himself. This is corrected in the Dark Cybertron volume 1 collected edition, showing Skids talking with Perceptor.
*The Hasbro exclusive cover variant of this issue that [[pack-in material|was included]] with the ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Deluxe Class [[Tankor (BM)#Generations|Tankor]] toy has its pages very badly out of order.

===Trivia===
*Artist breakdown: Per the established pattern, Rojo draws the scenes on Cybertron, Raiz covers the ''Lost Light'' crew, and Ramondelli the Dead Universe.

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Orion and Rodimus in the grip of Nova Prime, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Sub cover:''' Tankor by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
*'''Cover RI:''' The Dinobots open fire, by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Hasbro exclusive cover''': Cropped version of the subscription cover, exclusively available with ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Tankor (BM)#Generations|Tankor]].
<gallery>
File:MTMTE25 cvrA.jpg|
File:MTMTE25 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE25 cvrRI.jpg|
File:MTMTE25 cvrHAS.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*"[[Dark Cybertron]]" checklist, highlighting [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Robots in Disguise'' #25]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures''
*''[[My Little Pony]]'' [[Monopoly]]
*''My Little Pony: Friends Forever'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.comicosity.com/preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-25 Preview]
[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

Orion Pax, Part 3

2015-06-11T07:56:53Z

Omgpuppies: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 29
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 2
|next=Operation Bumblebee, Part 1
|image=OrionPax3 Optimus Decepticon insignia.jpg
|caption=Man, that must have been some party last night!
|title="Orion Pax, Part 3"
|airdate=[[March 3]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack and Arcee undertake a dangerous mission on Cybertron to access Vector Sigma, while Orion begins to rebel against Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:OrionPax3 Jack and Arcee find entrance.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Speak, friend, and enter.]]
[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] walk through [[Kaon]], guided by the light of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. They come upon a circular clearing, and the key glows intensely, indicating that they must be close. Suddenly, the ground begins to shake, and cracks appear in the surface. The duo watch in awe as a passageway rises from the ground, its door illuminated the same as the Key. It opens, but just as the two are about to enter, an enormous creature rears up from atop the passage. Arcee's [[Autobot]] symbol catches its eye, and it charges her, Arcee's minute strength doing nothing to injure it. She is quickly incapacitated, and the creature notices Jack, giving temporary pursuit until distracted by Arcee. Jack radios [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and is told that the creature is an [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]], one of many sentries left to guard the dead [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Arcee tells Jack to go, to his surprise, but he realizes the necessity. As he enters, the door closes behind him.

On the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] inquires as to [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion]]'s progress on [[Project Iacon]]. Orion says it's tough work, but Megatron says otherwise, revealing to him that all of his unsanctioned research has been recorded. Orion takes the opportunity to ask about his reported affiliation with the Autobots, but Megatron merely tells him to get back to work. Orion decides that enough is enough, and erases his progress in the archives. Megatron laughs, and shows the clerk that he has been recorded and documented in his pursuits. [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] intrudes, to show Megatron that one of their sentries came online on Cybertron. Orion asks how anything is alive on the planet, but Megatron tells him to continue his work-or be terminated.

[[File:OrionPax3 Megatron threatens Orion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Look, Orion! You can see your reflection on my sword!]]
Back on Cybertron, Arcee tangles with the enormous bug, but is no match for its brute strength. Finished with her, the Insecticon turns its attention to the fleshling, and breaks its way into the tunnel.

In the depths of the tunnel, Jack hears a [[Scraplet|familiar noise]], and uproots a metal bar for protection.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron reviews the reports with Soundwave. He learns of the [[space bridge]]'s activation, its endpoint, and the fact that it is still active. He quickly deduces the Autobots' plan.

In Cybertron's depths, Jack arrives at the chamber of [[Vector Sigma]]. He proceeds to the center of a circular platform, where he places the Key. The entire chamber begins to transform and glow with the Key's energy, and the enormous supercomputer reveals itself, and begins to transfer its energy to the Key.

On the ''Nemesis'', Orion is hassled by the guards. He appeals to their "good nature", saying that he believes Megatron will use the information he is agglomerating for nefarious purposes. Good-old fashioned police brutality ensues as the helpless clerk is kicked and punched by his guards.

[[File:OrionPax3 Jack watches download.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Don't go into the light!]]
In the chamber, Jack is antsy about the speed of his download. His problems lie beyond his dial-up however, because behind him, a horde of Scraplets has just woken up. While they have no interest in harming Jack, they quickly notice the ''very'' alive metal before him, in the form of Vector Sigma (a spinning ball of blue light) and the Key. Jack is helpless to fend them off, and they begin to snack on the delicious download port. He reports frantically on his position to ground control.

In the space bridge chamber, however, the Autobots have problems of their own as Megatron steps out of a [[GroundBridge]] to them. Ratchet tells them that they must hold the Bridge at any cost, and the battle begins. Unsurprisingly, Megatron easily floors every Autobot twice.

On Cybertron, Arcee awakes to find a Scraplet chewing on her foot. She blasts it off, and notices the opened passage — and the absent Insecticon. Transforming, she speeds into the passageway.

Jack valiantly smashes the Scraplets as they feed, but is unable to stop their progress towards the Matrix. Another problem presents itself behind him in the form of the Insecticon. It charges towards him, but stops in its tracks, staring at the Key. Jack realizes why, and the Scraplets suddenly become a blessing. He formulates an idea, pulling a Scraplet off the Key and pointing it at the aggressor. The Insecticon turns tail as it realizes what's happening, but the Scraplets give chase and latch on, quickly chewing through the giant insect as it falls to its doom, limbs disconnected. The download completes, and Jack retrieves the key. Arcee finally arrives, and the two depart.

The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] guards continue to beat down Orion, and one of them lets slip that it's a privilege to beat the former leader of the Autobots. Orion pleads with them to stop, and in desperation, he accidentally activates his blasters. He is shocked to realise that he has been installed with ''any'' weapons, and the guards realise they are in trouble, firing upon him. He is further surprised by the ease with which he dispatches them.

[[File:OrionPax3 the Matrix reloaded.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Reverse Care Bear Stare.]]
Arcee and Jack arrive at the space bridge portal, and radio Ratchet about their position. Total silence on the comm tip them off that something is wrong, and, undetected on the other end of the portal, Megatron waits to end the lineage of the Primes. However, he is surprised by the sudden arrival of Orion Pax, who vows that, no matter what his heritage might be, his spark sympathises with the Autobots. He deploys his blades, and charges for Megatron, but is quickly defeated. Megatron says that he has much to learn, and prepares to kill him, but Arcee speeds through the bridge and collides with him, sending them both flying. In the light of the bridge, Jack presents the Key to Orion, who hesitates in his humility, but accepts his destiny.

The Key begins to upload the Matrix to its host. Megatron, preoccupied with fighting Arcee, notices this, and desperately runs at him. However, Orion Pax—now ''Optimus Prime'' once again—isn't ready to go down again, and trounces his enemy. A GroundBridge portal opens up, and the Autobots retreat.

At base, the Autobots and humans rejoice at their reunion. Noticing his Decepticon symbol, Optimus asks Ratchet what had happened. He replies that it was their darkest hour, but at every point along the way, Optimus was truly an Autobot at spark.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (16)

|c2=
*[[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticon]] (3)
*[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby (Prime)|Jack Darby]] (1)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai (Prime)|Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (6)
*[[William Fowler]] (7)

|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (12)
*[[Vector Sigma]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==
"Why does history portray me siding with the Autobot aggressors? And why did Starscream call me a Prime? I must know...who ''am'' I?" 
"You are my clerk."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' questions his identity, while '''Megatron''' responds with a firm establishment of the pecking order.

"This is taking a while..." 
"Of course it is! We are talking about the collective wisdom of the Primes!"
:—'''Jack''' is reminded by '''Ratchet''' that he's downloading a ''brain,'' not an ''MP3.''

'''Vehicon''':"You have to admit, it's a privilege to stomp a former leader of the Autobots." 
'''"Orion Pax"''':"Arg! No! Please! Enough! I'm... I'm armed?"
:—"Orion" discovers he has blasters.

"You're going down, buckethead!"
:—'''Bulkhead''' takes on Megatron.

"That may be true, or yet another deception, but this much I do know: my sympathies lie with the Autobots, and you are ''not'' one of us!"
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' to Megatron, realizing the truth.

"Are you... certain I am worthy?" 
"You have no idea."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' and '''Jack'''.

"Megatron— ''be gone!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', before delivering the most awesome series of punches in the entire series.

"Ratchet, how did we arrive here?" 
"Long story, old friend."
:-'''Optimus Prime''' asks Ratchet why they're fighting Megatron in his own headquarters. Gotta love amnesia...

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this: from every indication your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot."
:—'''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*As Megatron notices Jack recharging Optimus's Matrix and lets go of Arcee, his shoulder armour goes through the wall.

===Continuity errors===
*As Optimus jumps through the Autobot GroundBridge, he is suddenly sporting Autobot insignias.
*In the episode [[Shadowzone (episode)|"Shadowzone"]], when the two Ground Bridge portals opened in close proximity to each other, the energy from both fed back on each other (as stated by Ratchet), and there was an explosion. Here, the Autobots' Ground Bridge portal opened ''right next to'' the still open Space Bridge, yet nothing happened.

===Continuity notes===
*The scraplets seem a ''lot'' nastier in this episode, chewing so fast as to render a hulking robot limbless in a matter of seconds. This is ''not'' an error, as many factors could contribute, such as the scraplets' inability to find living metal on the barren Cybertron and the ancient state of the Insecticon.
*Optimus still has the broken sword from way back in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It would seem that the Decepticons neglected to repair it. Or rather, neglected to mention that he had weapons in the first place.
*The Insecticon is the first Cybertronian in the Prime cartoon to have a Beast [[alternate mode]].

===Transformers references===
[[File:OrionPax3 Vector Sigma in scraplet-vision.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Night vision on.]]
* Ratchet references ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' by referring an event as "our darkest hour", as he did before in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]", and as Optimus did in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Bulkhead calls Megatron "buckethead", a reference to [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]].
* The Insecticon's insect mode resembles a large rhinoceros beetle, [[Bombshell (G1)|like]] [[Salvo|several]] [[Barrage (Insecticon)|other]] [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]].
* From the Scraplets' point-of-view, the sphere of Vector Sigma is seen in its faceted orb appearance common to many continuities.

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's line bemoaning the Scraplets on Cybertron is a paraphrase of the oft-referenced "Why did it have to be snakes?" line from ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''.

===Trivia===
* Look closely at the arena in Kaon: it's the same arena as seen in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]". Ironic that the entrance to Vector Sigma lay beneath Megatron's feet at that moment.
* When the Scraplets look at Vector Sigma, most of the room is boring old dead metal, but the spinning blue light comes up in their vision as living metal. The download area is clearly even more delicious.
* When Jack coaxes the Scraplets into attacking the Insecticon, he calls it "the main course", echoing what Bulkhead said while using himself as bait in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
* The way Optimus catches Megatron's sword just after he regains his memory is exactly the same as when Megatron caught Optimus' sword in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It even makes the same thundering noise.
* Jack never picked up a souvenir for Raf, which Raf asked for in the previous episode. No one ever brings souvenirs for Raf. Aww...
* Adaptations of this episode include a screen-capture-style comic version as part of ''[[Transformers Prime: The Orion Pax Saga|The Orion Pax Saga]]''.
* You'd think that despite knowing that Orion was not as good a warrior as Optimus, Megatron would have ordered that he be disarmed.
* This is the last live appearance of the Scraplets (they'd later appear in a flashback during "[[Toxicity]]").

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Teil 3'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 24|24 October]] [[2012]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kidō Henkei! Vector Sigma no Kagi'''" (起動変形!ベクターシグマの鍵, "Activated Transformation! The Key to Vector Sigma")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 20|20 October]] [[2012]]
*The talking Insecticon continues to call back to the Japanese-dubbed version of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] by saying "buzz buzz" when it flies around.

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Orion Pax, Parte 3'''" ("Orion Pax, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 5|5 June]] [[2013]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

TransWarped

2015-06-09T18:20:09Z

Omgpuppies: /* Part I */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|image=TFA TransWarped Sari hands.jpg
|caption="WhY mY hAnDs HuRt?"
|prev=A Bridge Too Close, Part II
|next=Three's a Crowd
|ep=30, 31 and 32
|ep2=27, 28 and 29
|prev2=A Bridge Too Close, Part II
|next2=Three's a Crowd
|title="TransWarped"
|airdate=[[March 14]], 2009
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]] [[Michael Ryan]] [[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]] [[Yoshio Frank Chatani]] [[Tetsurō Moronuki]] [[Yutaka Kagawa]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''In the aftermath of the battle at the mine, Sari and her father’s relationship takes a strange turn; the Autobots have their work cut out for them trying to contact Cybertron; and Megatron and Starscream find a new opportunity.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part I===
[[File:TransWarpedRodimusCosmicRust.jpg|thumb|left|No fair, I just got here!]]

Somewhere along the outer rim of the galaxy, the [[Autobot]] group, [[Team Athenia]], led by [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]], defends [[space bridge 687-030]] against the [[Decepticon]]s' "[[Team Chaar]]," led by [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]. She, [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] and [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] strafe [[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] and [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]], badly injuring Hot Shot's leg and forcing team medic [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] to perform an amputation. Before she can do so, however, she is swallowed up by [[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]], who explosively vomits her back at her team. Rodimus contacts the [[Elite Guard]] for backup, but the Autobot forces are spread much too thin, defending space bridges from Decepticon attacks all across the galaxy. Oil Slick and Cyclonus proceed to take down Brawn and Ironhide, leaving Rodimus on his own, at which point Blackout arrives and all but finishes the fight with a huge electromagnetic pulse. Rodimus still has some fight left in him, but it drains away when Oil Slick offlines him with a vial of [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. Strika contacts [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], who informs her that nobody is to TransWarp to the planet until [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] himself arrives. But Megatron was supposed to be there megacycles ago...

[[File:TransWarpedStarscreamsScream.jpg|thumb|right|I'mma firin' mah lazhar!]]

Off in the depths of space, the disembodied head of [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] attempts to remove Megatron's stasis cuffs with his teeth as the Decepticon leader berates him all the while. As Starscream begins bellowing back at Megatron, the [[AllSpark#Animated continuity family|AllSpark]] fragment in his forehead begins to glow, and he undergoes a surprising transformation: His mouth converts into a sonic blaster that shoots the cuffs clean off Megatron's wrists. There is no time for the two villains to celebrate, however, as the giant form of [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] materializes above them. But after a moment, Megatron realizes that the colossus is offline...

[[File:TransWarpedProtoform.jpg|thumb|left|Hush little baby, don't say a word. Sumdac's gonna build you a mockingbird.]]

On [[Earth]], as the Autobots return to [[Detroit]], [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] explains [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari's]] origins to her as best he can, revealing that he discovered her in his laboratory years ago, in the form of a small, liquid metal robot. Sari finds the story hard to believe, and her strained patience reaches its end when the group returns to [[Sumdac Tower]] and confronts [[Porter C. Powell]] and [[Headmaster (Animated)|Henry Masterson]]. Powell tries to smooth things over with Isaac, but Masterson's belligerent attitude dispels any attempts at peace, which is further ruined when he demands the Autobots return his Headmaster, or "heads will roll." Having entered the lab from the elevator behind them, Optimus picks up Masterson and asks for clarification on his threat. Isaac immediately fires both Powell and Masterson, but Masterson refuses to vacate the premises, and Powell takes another shot at Sari's disputed parentage.

[[File:TransWarped Pt1 Sari Freakout.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|POWER!!! UNLIMITED POWER!!!]]

In a moment of anger, Sari's hands transform into energy projectors that hurl the two men into the building's elevator. This newest revelation pushes Sari over the edge, and she walks out on the man she can no longer even think of as her father, returning to the [[Autobot Earth Base|Autobots' base]] with her "fellow machines." While [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] examines Sari—deducing that she's basically human, but partially Cybertronian—Prowl departs to carry out some research of his own. With Ratchet lost in his memories of [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] head back to the Decepticons' destroyed mine base to salvage some equipment that will let them contact Cybertron and inform the Autobots there of the traitor in their midst.

On a small planetoid somewhere in space, [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] is still trapped in a cement blob with Starscream's [[Thundercracker (Animated)|egomaniacal]] and [[Skywarp (Animated)|cowardly]] clones. Blurr proposes using sonic pulses to dissolve the glue, and the egomaniac takes the idea for his own and successfully frees them. Blurr immediately speeds off, launching into space and literally running across the galaxy, ricocheting off everything in his path (including the egomaniac) to get back to Cybertron and inform the Elite Guard of Megatron's invasion plan.

Megatron and Starscream force their way into Omega Supreme's body, but this action brings the giant Autobot back online, and his internal systems immediately seize the Decepticons. Megatron exploits Omega's simple processor and convinces the titan to take him back to Cybertron "to face justice." Omega transforms back into ship mode and TransWarps off toward Cybertron.

Back on Earth, Bumblebee and Bulkhead are searching through the ruins of the mine when Bumblebee discovers a [[plasma dynamic thruster]] space bridge component that abruptly TransWarps him away. While Bulkhead is wondering where his buddy went, he is suddenly attacked by Henry Masterson, who recovered his Headmaster unit and Starscream's headless body from the mine the night before.

At Sumdac Tower, Prowl shadows Sumdac into his laboratory, quickly accesses his computers, and scans the scientist in an attempt to learn more about Sari's origins. Ratchet is having distinctly less luck back at the Autobot base, where Sari refuses to let him perform an exploratory surgery. The whole unpleasant affair reminds Ratchet of his past on Cybertron, when he performed open-processor surgery on Arcee and discovered she was carrying the codes that were key to the creation of Omega Supreme. Prime snaps Ratchet out of his flashback with the news that he cannot contact Bumblebee and Bulkhead, and Ratchet heads out to the mine to investigate.

[[File:TFA TransWarped Headmaster Starscream power up.jpg|thumb|right|[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|Here we go again...]]]]
With the other Autobots busy, Optimus Prime tries to patch up the Sumdac family feud by surreptitiously opening a comm channel to Professor Sumdac's laboratory and explaining loudly and at length to Sari that he is going to take her to [[Burger Bot]]. Sumdac catches on and heads out to meet them there, but Sari is furious at being set up and refuses to talk to him. Unfortunately, the Headmaster soon arrives, having picked up Prime's phone call through bugs left in Sumdac Tower, and threatens to unleash t0t47 0wN4ge!

===Part II===
[[File:TFAni TransWarped Headmaster PWN3D.jpg|left|thumb|Heads out.]]
Optimus Prime engages the Headmaster, binding him with his grapplers and dragging him around the Burger Bot parking lot before taking a moment to usher the Sumdacs to safety behind a dumpster. The fight carries the two combatants to an overhead roadway and back, with the Headmaster eventually downing Prime with a slab of concrete. Sumdac is forced to take action, and he hides Sari within the dumpster so that he can draw the Headmaster's attention and keep her safe. Touched by this, Sari unleashes her energy projectors on the Headmaster in defence of her father, though they do little to the villain other than draw his attention. Prime rejoins the battle just in time, ramming the villain in truck mode and goading the Headmaster into trying to transform Starscream's body as well. Infuriated by Prime's claim that a n00b such as he would find it difficult, the Headmaster tries to meet the challenge... only to find his Headmaster unit squeezed clean off Starscream's body by the transformation process. As Starscream's lifeless carcass spirals off into the river, the Headmaster is apprehended by Prime and handed over to [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]].

Back at Sumdac tower, Prowl reveals his findings to Prime, Sari and Sumdac: He believes that the body Sumdac found in his lab was, in fact, a Cybertronian [[protoform]] that scanned Professor Sumdac's genetic data. Sari takes the revelation in stride, although everyone else remains mystified as to how a protoform wound up on Earth in the first place. There is no time to dwell on the subject, however, as Ratchet radios Prime to inform him of Bulkhead's injuries and Bumblebee's disappearance.

Out in space, Omega Supreme re-emerges from TransWarp, and his systems all power down, having been sapped of energy by the effort of the teleport. Megatron attempts to escape from the confines of the giant Autobot's body, but without his weapons, he is unable. Starscream's new sonic blaster is similarly ineffective, and Megatron instead schemes to take control of Omega's very body.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Blurr Crushed.jpg|right|thumb|"We... are going... to die!"]]
On Cybertron, Shockwave (in the form of Longarm Prime) is informed by [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] that the space bridge network has been shut down to prevent a Decepticon invasion of the planet. Suppressing his frustration, Shockwave is promptly presented with an outlet for his anger when Blurr comes streaking out of the sky and crashes at his feet. Blurr informs him of the double-agent on Cybertron, whom he plans to identify by cross-referencing his voice-print with the Cybertron intelligence database, and Shockwave immediately attacks the speedster, intent on silencing him before his cover can be blown. Blurr streaks off into a series of nearby corridors, but his speed fails to carry him beyond Shockwave's reach: Using a control console, Shockwave seals off the tunnels, and Blurr is crushed between two walls.

Back on Earth, Ratchet's treatment of Bulkhead is interrupted by Sari, who volunteers use of her Key to fix the larger Autobot's wounds. Ratchet is indignant, insisting that just because something is new, it doesn't make it better, but Bulkhead requests the Key. While Sari goes to work on Bulkhead's injuries, the sullen medic is overtaken by his memories; he recalls the creation of Omega Supreme and how he was partnered with the newborn titan to serve as his mentor, teacher and friend. Ratchet is roused from his unpleasant trip down memory lane when discussion turns to the whereabouts of Bumblebee, and before long, Bulkhead figures out that the plasma dynamic thruster has TransWarped Bumblebee off across the galaxy. Bulkhead suggests using a [[retrieval beacon generator]] recovered from the mine ruins to pinpoint Bumblebee's location, and Sari uses her Key to fix it before Ratchet can even begin examining it.

Aboard Omega Supreme, Megatron uses his stasis cuffs to "hotwire" Omega's body and bring it back online. However, when the light from Omega's "headlights" falls upon a nearby asteroid, Megatron and Starscream are shocked to see the rock react to the light, transforming into a humanoid monster that immediately attacks the ship! As more asteroids transform around him, Omega transwarps away to safety...only for Bumblebee, cruising on the tail end of Omega's TransWarp field, to materialize in his place, right in the midst of the [[Rock Lord]]s! The largest creature swallows the tiny Autobot with a single gulp.

Simultaneously, on Earth, Bulkhead locks in on Bumblebee's position and teleports him back, but the Rock Lord he is inside comes with him and is immediately driven to a rampage by the blinding light of the [[Sun]]. Optimus Prime detects Bumblebee's signature within the creature, and the Autobots prepare to give chase as the alien stomps off through the city. Prowl is rather taken aback to see Ratchet wearing his EMP generator on his arm once more, while Prime has to deal with Sari's demands that she be allowed to join them in the fight now that she has powers. Prime refuses, and the Autobots zoom off after the rock monster, but Sari won't take no for an answer and is struck with inspiration: Give herself an upgrade! Sari concentrates, and a port opens in her chest, into which she inserts her Key...and in an explosion of energy, Sari's whole body transforms into a taller, older form, suited in combat armor!

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Screamer Hotwire OmegaSupreme.jpg|left|thumb|Name: Starscream Function: Jumper Cable]]
Meanwhile, Megatron has discovered that Omega Supreme has again expended all his power, and his stasis cuffs do not have the energy left to rectify the situation. He grabs Starscream's head and jams it into the circuits, where the traitor's AllSpark fragment energizes Omega's systems once more.

[[File:TransWarpedBumblebeeSari.jpg|thumb|right|So, kids, don't play with too many knives!]]
Back in Detroit, the Autobots are attempting to figure out how to stop the Rock Lord without hurting Bumblebee, when the upgraded Sari comes streaking onto the scene on jet skates. As the Autobots look on in shock, Sari begins attacking the alien with arm-blades and an energy-hammer that morph out of her arms. A single strike of the hammer reduces the alien to boulders, freeing Bumblebee, who is immediately struck by Sari's new look, but then shouts a warning: The smaller boulders surrounding the pair have transformed into small creatures. But the creatures pose no threat to Sari, and she pounds them into pebbles. As Sari basks in her triumph, Ratchet realizes with horror that she has used the Key on herself. The elderly Autobot's concern is soon proven valid, as the Key overloads Sari's systems, and she loses control of her body. With Sari attacking everything and everyone around her, the Autobots attempt to stop her with a variety of non-lethal strategies, but Sari counters everything they throw at her, including Prowl's processor-over-matter technique. Even as Prime and Sari tell Bumblebee to keep back, the young Autobot races to his friend's side...only for the out-of-control Sari to stab him through the chest! Frozen for a horrific moment, Bumblebee is then hurled back by an energy discharge, and the light dims from his optics...

===Part III===
Ratchet leaps to Bumblebee's aid, but without Sari's Key, Bulkhead fears his little buddy is done for. Ratchet denies that he requires the key to do his job, but his memories of when he was forced to place the dying Omega Supreme in stasis haunt him as he begins to operate on Bumblebee.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Ratchet Repairs Bumblebee.jpg|left|thumb|Operator, what's the number for Nine-One-One?]]
Sari, meanwhile, is storming through the city streets, causing objects to explode when she comes into contact with them, and the Autobots head after her, seeking to remove the Key in hopes of bringing her back under control. They corral her with a wall of steel girders, affording Prowl the chance to get the drop on her and rip the Key from her chest, but Sari continues to rampage. With Bumblebee fading, Ratchet goes back on his previous claim and requests the Key be brought to him, but when Prowl complies, he discovers that the energy of the Key has been completely drained. Prowl assures Ratchet that he can accomplish the task without the Key, and the old medic gravely takes up the challenge and manages to bring Bumblebee back online.

Back with Sari, Prime and Bulkhead, Sari's energies are growing increasingly more out of control, as the street beneath her explodes with every step she takes. Bulkhead suggests just trying to "hold it in," but when Sari tries, things get even worse, as she begins to glow with so much energy that she is on the verge of exploding. Optimus summons Ratchet so that he can use his EMP generator to take Sari down, and while Ratchet is hesitant to do so, Sari begs him to stop her. Ratchet fires, and Sari collapses, her energy fading.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped LongArm Cliffjumper Cube.jpg|right|thumb|Kid's meal premiums aren't what they used to be.]]
On Cybertron, Longarm Prime has Cliffjumper dispose of the crushed remains of Blurr and is then contacted by Megatron. Learning that the space bridge network is down and that the Earth-based Autobots are poised to blow Shockwave's cover, Megatron orders the Decepticons to cease their attacks on the space bridges so that he can solve both problems his own way. Team Chaar receive the transmission and fall back, much to the Elite Guard's surprise.

In the Autobots' base, Ratchet completes a rewiring of Sari's systems, bypassing the circuits that caused her to run out of control. Professor Sumdac soon arrives, having been informed of the location of the base by Optimus Prime. The Autobots are a little upset by this, but Prime makes it clear that there are to be no more secrets in this "family". The Autobots step outside the plant to give the Sumdacs some time together, and are in the middle of catching Bumblebee up on recent events when the small Autobot suddenly begins to glow with TransWarp energies once more. Bulkhead quickly deactivates the plasma dynamic thruster, but the source of the TransWarp wave the thruster was picking up soon becomes apparent, as Omega Supreme materializes in the sky overhead. Much to the Autobots' surprise, the titan fires upon them before transforming to robot mode, revealing a projected image of Megatron's face upon his visor! The Decepticon leader is in complete control of Omega's body and begins attacking the Autobots, forcing Optimus Prime to consider unleashing an uncontrollable Sari on the giant. Before resorting to this desperate last resort, the Autobots attempt to lure Megatron away from the city. Ratchet even upgrades Bumblebee's stingers to a more powerful battle grade for the mission.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Prowl Megs OSFight.jpg|left|thumb|I'm going to have to put you on the game grid.]]
Taking refuge in the nearby river, the Autobots attack Omega's legs, forcing open an access hatch through which Prime and Prowl enter Omega's body. Battling Omega's internal defences, Prowl taps into Omega's processor in order to help him fight off Megatron's control, and they succeed in forcing Megatron out of the system. Prime engages Megatron in order to keep Prowl safe, but as their battle rages, Starscream seizes control of Omega's mind and forcibly disconnects Prowl from Omega's processor. Prime and Prowl are unceremoniously ejected from Omega Supreme's body, but Starscream is not finished there; he uses Omega's internal defences to seize Megatron, and resumes attacking the Autobots all around him. Megatron manages to talk Starscream into an alliance, suggesting they forget Earth and conquer Cybertron together. Starscream struggles to activate Omega's TransWarp system, and while his attention is occupied with this task, Omega's consciousness fights its way to the surface and begs Ratchet to shut him down again. Ratchet regretfully unleashes his EMP generator upon Omega, but it has no effect, and Starscream transforms Omega into starship mode in order to begin the TransWarp. Bulkhead and Bumblebee hit upon the idea to plant the plasma dynamic thruster on Omega Supreme, and they hand it off to Prime to complete the task. Prime plants the thruster at the last second before Omega disappears into TransWarp, and Ratchet catches Prime with his magnets as he falls out of the sky.

Back at the Autobot base a little later, Sari comes to and admits to Ratchet that he was right about taking it slow. Sumdac apologizes for holding back the truth from Sari for so long, and Bumblebee thanks Ratchet for saving his tailpipe. Unfortunately, Bulkhead brings the mood down by reminding everyone that they still have to find a way to contact Cybertron.

[[File:TFA TransWarped lost in space.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ripped Up Space]]]]
On Cybertron, [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] holds an Autobot council and announces that all the evidence points to a double agent on Cybertron. Longarm Prime implicates escaped convict [[Wasp]], and Ultra Magnus instructs [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] to put together a unit to hunt the fugitive down. Magnus also notes that he has to make contact with Optimus's crew on Earth, and Longarm hastily demands that all contact with them be filtered through him, responding to the council's wary looks by adding that it will be purely for security reasons.

In the sky above Cybertron, Omega Supreme materializes, and Starscream howls with glee...only for the Autobot spaceship to TransWarp away immediately to another random point in space...and another...and another...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]] (2)
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (3)
*[[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]] (4)
*[[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] (7)
*[[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (10)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (12)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (17)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (21)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (22)
*[[Mainframe (Animated)|Mainframe]] (27)
*[[Highbrow (Animated)|Highbrow]] (28)
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] (29)
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] (31)
*[[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]] (33)
*[[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] (34)
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] (36)
*[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (37)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] (1)
*[[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] (5)
*[[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] (6)
*[[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]] (8)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime / Shockwave]] (13)
*[[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]] (14)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] (30)
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] (32)
|c3=
*[[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (24)
*[[Headmaster (Animated)|The Headmaster]] (25)
*[[Porter C. Powell]] (26)
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (35)
|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (23)
*[[Rock Lord]]s (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"'Bulkhead' and 'genius' in the same sentence? I'll never get used to that."
:—'''Bumblebee''' shows his high opinion of his best friend.

"I'll warn them even if I have to run halfway across the galaxy to Cybertron to do it!" 
:—'''Blurr''', who apparently does just that.

"Sari, I don't pretend to fully understand humans, but from what I've seen, being a father is far more than a simple organic bond. It has much more to do with the spark. With the heart."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' muses on the nature of family. Sadly, the [[fandom]] desires more [[Relatives|concrete answers]].

"Prepare for T-O-T! Total Ownage Time!"
:—'''Headmaster''' to Optimus Prime and the Sumdacs.

"You taught me to protect like an Autobot, but all I did was destroy like a Decepticon." 
"We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn't make sense." 
:—'''Omega Supreme''' and '''Ratchet''', before the former is put into modified stasis

'''Ratchet''': Omega, what are you doing?! Don't you recognize your old friend?! 
'''Megatron''': The question should be, "Don't you recognize your old enemy?" 
'''Optimus Prime''': Megatron?! 
'''Megatron''': Ah, then you ''do'' remember my name. Pity I can't remember yours.
:—The Autobots learn that Megatron has taken control of Omega Supreme

"It appears you and I are destined to battle aboard this ship once more, Autobot." 
"Bring it on, Decepticon."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Starscream too powerful. Please, shut me down! I want to sleep again." 
"I already had to use this thing once today when I didn't want to. Don't make me use it again." 
"We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn't make sense."
:—'''Omega Supreme''' tries to convince '''Ratchet''' to use his EMP Generator

"Someday I really have to learn how to fly."
:—Someday will come [[Endgame, Part I|soon]], '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Technical or animation errors===
* When Megatron is first seen in space, parts of his helmet are miscolored red.
* Just before Omega Supreme is activated, Ultra Magnus accompanies Highbrow and Ratchet on a lift. In this shot, part of the Magnus Hammer's handle is missing.
* When Sari removes her key in order to place it in the homing beacon generator, the string doesn't actually go over her head... it just phases through her neck. Somehow.
* The damage to Starscream's body disappears during the commercial break.
* When Bumblebee tells Sari to watch out, her back kibble disappears for a moment. It reappears in the next shot.
* Once the key has been removed from Sari, the vaporized string attached to it mysteriously reappears.
* When Ratchet is talking to Bumblebee about Sari's condition, the side of his head is miscolored white.
* When Blackout attacks Rodimus, his chest is miscolored gray.
* After Bumblebee is slashed, there's a red spot on Bulkhead with an Autobot symbol inside it.

===Continuity errors===
* Megatron finds both of his rotors/swords after being freed from the stasis cuffs, despite leaving ''at least'' one behind when he was sucked into the space bridge in "A Bridge Too Close".
* If Sumdac was wearing gloves at the time he touched the protoform, how did it get his DNA? For that matter, how did Sari end up female?
** Given that protoforms in ''Beast Wars'' scanned animals that were nowhere near their pods, Sari may have not actually required physical contact to scan Sumdac. Also, the protoform may have already been female before being activated.
* It is revealed that the streak of white in Isaac's hair came from the shock he received when he approached the protoform that would become Sari. Pay no attention to the streak in the hair of his younger self appearing in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", please...
* Sari's protruding robotic elbow disappears without explanation while she's sitting on Ratchet's repair table.
* When Bumblebee gets blown away in "Part II" after being stabbed by Sari, he lands on his back. When we cut back to him in "Part III", he appears on his side.
* Bumblebee’s rocket boosters seemingly appear out of nowhere.
** The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|AllSpark Almanac II]] reveals that Ratchet installed the turbo boosters while he was repairing Bumblebee just in case he needed them.
** With Ratchet's upgrading of his stingers and now this, it seems that <s>Hasbro</s> the Autobots have gotten over their "upgrades are bad, m'kay" phase. Spending two seasons out-gunned will probably do that to you.

===Continuity notes===
*As Sari dismisses Isaac Sumdac's story of her origin, she suggests that he should have told her how he found her "in a cabbage patch", or how "the stork" brought her. Similar ideas were suggested by Professors Bumblebee and Bulkhead in "[[The Return of the Headmaster]]". In that episode, the professors also suggested that Sari was really a robot, that she came to Earth in an egg, or that she could have fallen through a portal, ''all'' of which seem to have some nugget of truth to them: She ''is'' part-robot, she was contained in a strange pod, and she appeared in Sumdac's lab out of thin air. ''Foreshadowing!''
*After Sari mentions those theories, Optimus Prime recalls how Sari told him of human manufacturing, which occurred in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]".
*Starscream says Omega Supreme is "more powerful than I imagined...well, not AllSpark-powerful...", in reference to his use of the same phrase to describe the AllSpark way back in "Transform and Roll Out!"

===Transformers references===
[[File:TransWarped Pt1 Blurr Runs Rings.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Bar Oil Slick, every member of the new squads harkens back to a previous series. Rodimus, Ironhide, Brawn and Cyclonus are heavily based off their Generation One counterparts. Red Alert and Hot Shot take after their Unicron Trilogy incarnations. Spittor and Strika are both modeled after Beast Era characters, and Blackout's design is heavily influenced by the live-action movie version.
*While lecturing Sari on taking it slow with her powers, Ratchet says that there's "more than meets the vis-scanners" on having powers, a clear reference to the time-honored Transformers tagline "[[More than Meets the Eye (disambiguation)|more than meets the eye]]".
*Arcee's open head [[:File:Spotlight Arcee b.jpg|looks ''waaay'' too much]] like [[Alex Milne]]'s cover for [[IDW Publishing]]'s "[[Spotlight: Arcee]]" to be a coincidence.
*Blurr races along a Saturn-style planetary ring, as [[Blurr (G1)|his namesake]] had done in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 3|Generation 1 season 3]] [[title sequence]].
*The building in which the [[Autobot High Council]] have their meeting looks [[Metroplex (G1)|somewhat familiar]].
*Blackout seems to have retained his seismic stomp that was used by his [[Blackout (Movie)|movie counterpart]].
*Team Chaar gets its name from [[Chaar|the planet of the same name]].
*After being told by Optimus to stay behind, Sari tells Optimus that she is a Robot Hero now too.
*Ratchet says that he has been the team's medic for 4 Million Stellar-cycles.

===Real-world references===
* Megatron tells Optimus, "You have persistence, Autobot. I hate persistence." This is based on Lou Grant's well-known dialogue from the first episode of ''[[:wikipedia:The Mary Tyler Moore Show|The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''—"You know what, you've got spunk! … I hate spunk!"
* Sari's transformation sequence upon absorbing the power of the key is a nod to the transformation sequence of the title robot in ''Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann''.
* Sari's use of a large hammer, sending it down with her buttocks in the air, references back to... about ninety billion different anime shows. Although they usually involve an upskirt of sorts that's very thankfully absent here.

===Trivia===
*[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] confirmed via Twitter after the show aired that like the series pilot, "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", "TransWarped" was made "as one 70-minute movie", although it was also cut into 22-minute episodes for syndication.<ref>[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] — http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1329673450 — "We made it as one 70 minute movie, but it has also been cut into three 22s".</ref> Unlike the pilot, however, "TransWarped" counts as three episodes out of the thirteen allotted for the show's third season. While Cartoon Network aired all three episode in movie form for their premiere, Canadian network YTV opted to debut them in episodic form, airing only the first two in a double-bill, and then screening the final part the following week.
* Several scenes are known to have been storyboarded for this three-parter, only to wind up being cut for time. These would have included an appearance by [[Beachcomber (Animated)|Beachcomber]], who would have caught Shockwave disposing of Blurr and would have been killed by the double-agent to maintain his cover, and an extended flashback to the [[Battle for Iacon|final battle of the Great War]], which would have featured [[Reflector (Animated)|Reflector]], [[Straxus (Animated)|Straxus]] and the myriad [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinels]]. While Beachcomber turned up in crowd scenes later in the season and Reflector had a bio in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 26|issue #26]] of the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]], it would take until the publication of ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'' over a year later before Straxus and the Sentinels would be revealed.
* The creatures that turn into rocks may be a reference to the Rock Lords from the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]] movie ''[[wikipedia:GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords]]''.
*Starscream gains a "sonic scream" as a head-mounted weapon in this episode. Coincidentally (or not?), in the initial [[Cartoon Network]] press release for ''Transformers Animated'', Starscream's profile claimed that he had a sonic scream he could use to send foes spinning through the air. This ability is never seen again.
*The Headmaster's appearance in this episode marks the only time a human villain is used in Season 3. And even then, he's relatively minor compared to a Decepticon-controlled Omega Supreme.
*In his last line, Shockwave seems to forget to use his American accent. Probably because he's getting worried about getting caught.
*This episode marks the first live appearance of Cybertron.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Transdobra'''" ("Transwarp")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Porte stellaire'''" ("Stargate")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Spanish (Latin America)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Teletransportados'''" ("Teleported")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 1)''
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 13|13 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 2)'
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 20|20 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 3)'''

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sari no Himitsu'''" (Part 1, サリの秘密, "The Secret of Sari")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 2|2 October]] [[2010]]
::*For the opening pre-[[title sequence]] chatter, [[Tesshō Genda]] reprises his role as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] in order to carry on a conversation with ''Animated'' Optimus Prime.

:*''Title:'' "'''Sari, Transform!?'''" (Part 2, サリ、トランスフォーム!?)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 9|9 October]] [[2010]]

:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron no Shōrai'''" (Part 3, メガトロンの襲来, "Megatron's Raid")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 16|16 October]] [[2010]]

==Home video releases==
This episode has yet to be released on home video.

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transwarped}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Megatron (Animated)

2015-06-09T18:14:34Z

Omgpuppies: /* Animated cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon|hofsilver}}{{disambig3|Megatron}}
:''Megatron is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Megatronanimated.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|An insult to G1, we swear!]]
If you were to ask '''Megatron''' to describe himself in one word, he'd probably go with "heroic". He sees himself as a freedom fighter, [[Decepticon leader#Animated|leading]] the Decepticons out of the days of "[[Autobot]] tyranny". The fact he's hoping to replace that with Decepticon tyranny isn't really a concern. A fanatic at [[spark]], he revels in every Autobot who suffers at Decepticon hands and doesn't register humans as anything more than "collateral damage."

Megatron demands loyalty from the Decepticons, loyalty he gains by his awe-inspiring power. With the combined threat of a sharp mind, his [[fusion cannon]], a pair of deadly swords and simple brute strength, there aren't many who'd dare cross him. Still, he has no problem manhandling troops as a gentle reminder.

The loss of his body and former power was only a minor setback for him, as Megatron proved a master manipulator. He effortlessly duped [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] into helping him—and once Megatron was restored to full power, he turned the tables on his old captor.

He is extremely intolerant of treachery and deals with [[Starscream (Animated)|said treacherous bots]] with a vicious no-nonsense efficiency, [[Megatron (G1)|unlike other Decepticon leaders]]. He is also a shrewd strategist who effortlessly [[Scrapper (Animated)|wraps]] [[Mixmaster (Animated)|others]] around his fingers.

{{bigquote|Decepticons... ''transform and rise up!''|Megatron puts a new twist on [[Roll out|an old saying]]|"[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
{{voiceactor|[[Corey Burton]] (English), [[Norio Wakamoto]] (Japanese)|[[Jan Spitzer]] (German), [[Mirosław Neinert]] (Polish), [[Raffaele Farina]] (Italian), [[Junseok Song]] (Korean), [[Afonso Amajones]] (Portuguese), [[Mario Santander]] (Latin American Spanish, season 1 and 2), [[Alexander Páez]] (Latin American Spanish, season 3)}}

[[File:Megatron Cybertron.jpg|left|thumb|Pointier than thou.]]
''Eons ago, Megatron overthrew the [[Decepticon]] leader [[Megazarak (Animated)|Megazarak]] and took control of the faction for himself. He gave speeches and wrote manifestos calling for the Decepticons to rise up and take control of both Cybertron and the [[AllSpark]] from the Autobots. Finally, on the [[Cycle of Infamy]], he took the Decepticons from mere rhetoric to outright war.''

''The Decepticons overran Autobot space but the Autobots under [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] had one major advantage—[[space bridge]] technology, which allowed them to move about the galaxy more easily. The Decepticon advance ground to a halt.'' {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} However, Megatron's forces continued to fight on until the Autobots sent the AllSpark through the space bridge to random coordinates. Realizing that the AllSpark was the key to defeating the Autobots, Megatron abandoned the Cybertron theater and began searching the galaxy aboard his massive flagship, the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]''. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} ''With the war going badly after this, Megatron tried a last-ditch attempt with the [[False Calm]] and sent his troops at sub-light speeds to Cybertron. During the [[Battle for Iacon]], Megatron destroyed [[Gamma Supreme]]. Ultimately, the attack failed and the Decepticons were finally forced to agree to an armistice and exile.'' {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

[[File:TFA TARO Decepticons attention.JPG|thumb|He's not planning on shaking Prime's hand...he's going to tear it off.]] However, Megatron continued to search for the AllSpark. Four million years later, the ''Nemesis's'' crew discovered a [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|small Autobot repair vessel]] after detecting the AllSpark. When [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] volunteered to attack, Megatron saw his ambitions all too clearly, and pointedly remarked that he wasn't about to let four million solar cycles of searching for the AllSpark end with Starscream getting his greasy wings on it. No, Megatron would strike the Autobot ship and take the AllSpark himself. Just prior to his departure, Starscream approached him again, ostensibly to wish him luck, but actually to place an overload device on his leader's back. This device went off just as Megatron's fusion cannon was about to breach the hull of the Autobots' ship. The Autobot crew managed to steer the now-failing ship through an asteroid field and into a nearby [[space bridge]].

With the ship now plummeting through the Earth's atmosphere, a wounded Megatron still managed to thrash the crew soundly and nearly claimed the AllSpark. Quick thinking on the part of [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] sent the Decepticon leader out the cargo hatch and into free fall. Megatron [[Megatron (Movie)|fell from the sky]] and crashed in Paw Paw, Michigan, where his head (and later, a hand) was found by a young [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]].

Over the next fifty years, Sumdac built a robotics empire by reverse-engineering Megatron's components, while, Megatron's inert head remained secretly in Sumdac's private lab, the source of the human's engineering genius and also a secret shame. Megatron's severed hand was there as well, used by Sumdac as a piece of furniture. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} {{storylink|Dispatches}}

[[File:AniMegsHead-TransformAndRollout.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Hey Megatron, don't lose your... oh.]]
After the Autobots re-awoke, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] used her [[AllSpark Key]] to sneak into her father's lab. He stopped her from seeing anything it contained, but the AllSpark energy from the Key was absorbed by Megatron's head, reawakening his spark and bringing him back online. Confused and disoriented, he automatically brought up video footage of Starscream and the Autobots, footage in which Starscream admitted to his treachery. Furious both at Starscream's betrayal and the fact he didn't have the hands to reach out and take the AllSpark which was finally within his grasp, he released a burst of energy which activated a small drone Dr. Sumdac had been working on. Megatron thus realized he could control the extremely primitive (by his standards) technology around him. Learning Sari was going to spend the night at the Autobot base, he secreted his drone into her backpack. Once she arrived, Megatron sent the drone to look for the AllSpark, but his search was fruitless. He decided to try a simpler method: Kill the Autobots and extract the data from their lifeless corpses. Interfacing with the factory's assembly line, he attacked. As the Autobots fought back, he decided to cut out the middleman and knocked a hole in a fuel tank. [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] realized the factory was working via motion sensors and managed to get close to the control panel. To counter him, Megatron simply took over the factory arms and snatched up Prowl. However, he failed to stop [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], due to the primitive tools he was forced to use. With his plans foiled, Megatron was out of patience, refusing to work through these worthless proxy machines. He needed a body, which meant it was time to provide some more advanced technology to Sumdac... {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

Megatron soon revealed to Isaac that he still functioned and, when Isaac guessed he was a friend of the Autobots, Megatron played along. He persuaded Isaac to keep his existence secret until Isaac had built him a new body, as then the Autobots would be more forgiving of how Isaac had reverse-engineered their friend. Megatron then helped construct the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]], deliberately programming them to go on a rampage and building fire-breath into them as a prototype for a planned army of drones. When they were defeated, Megatron despaired he might never gain a new body, but upon discovering they'd been turned into sentient Transformers, he quickly convinced them that cars, trucks and "[[Autobot|car robots]]" were evil beings that ate the fossil fuels supposedly derived from dinosaurs.

During their second rampage, Isaac realized Megatron had deliberately built weapons into the Dinobots. The tyrant feigned shame, saying he'd added experimental features out of a desire to have a body again. Isaac promised not to tell the Autobots and that Megatron would have a body again one day... {{storylink|Blast from the Past}}

[[File:TFA Nanosec Sumdac Megatron chill.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|Rub it in, why don't you?]]
Soon, Dr. Sumdac began attempting to build him some new servos, but these proved inadequate. Megatron revealed that his body would need [[Destronium]] to work, but Isaac responded there was only a small amount available and that it would have to be delivered across town in less than 10 minutes or it would become unstable. Taking notice of an experimental turbo suit Sumdac's labs were developing (with flaws that possibly precluded Isaac considering it as a solution), Megatron manipulated computer systems so the suit was delivered to small-time hood [[Nanosec|Nino Sexton]]. Once Sexton began using the suit to commit crimes too quickly to be stopped, Megatron contacted him with an offer of much money out of Dr. Sumdac's private account if Sexton used the suit to steal and deliver the Destronium. Between Autobot interference and the suit aging him prematurely, Sexton failed. Worse, the Destronium was energized to a critical level, risking an explosion that would destroy [[Detroit]]. The Autobots barely managed to send the Destronium sample into the upper atmosphere before it exploded, and they were left to wonder why a human had tried to steal it in the first place. {{storylink|Nanosec (episode)|Nanosec}}

After Megatron learned of the power of Sari's AllSpark Key and the careless nature in which she used it, he attempted to trick her into assisting him. He designed [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]], a musical toy that was secretly meant to grow more powerful every time Sari used the Key upon it, until eventually it would be a suitable robotic body for Megatron himself. When the Key instead brought Soundwave to independent life, Megatron changed his plan and, with convincing logic, recruited Soundwave as a Decepticon warrior. {{storylink|Sound and Fury}}

When [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] arrived on Earth, Megatron, remembering Starscream's betrayal, was hesitant to act. After witnessing a battle between his soldiers and the Autobots, Megatron concluded that Blitzwing was too unstable, but Lugnut was genuinely loyal. He contacted Lugnut only, instructing him to locate the AllSpark, which would help restore him. Later, he also informed Lugnut about the Key. Unfortunately, Lugnut and Blitzwing were defeated and damaged by the Autobots, severing Lugnut's link with Megatron—and Megatron's only link to the outside world. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}}

[[File:Sumdac megatron's body.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|Yeah, it's a fixer-upper.]]
Although Megatron himself was not mentally involved, his headless body was infected with [[space barnacle]]s, causing the barnacles to mutate into a semi-sentient form. After absorbing two mining bots and attacking a [[Sparkplug (Animated human)|miner]], it was defeated by Bumblebee and Prowl. Later, the body was discovered (minus space barnacles) by Isaac Sumdac and most likely brought back to his laboratory. Sumdac remarked that Megatron would be ''very'' pleased with the find... {{storylink|Nature Calls}}

[[File:MegRisingRebuilt.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't call it a comeback; I've been here for years.]] Sumdac attempted to rebuild Megatron, but progress was slowed by a power failure. Frustrated, Megatron again contacted Lugnut and ordered him to bring him the AllSpark Key. This communication triggered Starscream's curiosity, and the treacherous jet located Megatron. Starscream didn't have time to <s>finish his speech</s> slay Megatron before he was distracted by the Autobots—and Megatron used that distraction to take Starscream by surprise and eject him from the lab. When Blitzwing and Lugnut arrived with the Key, Megatron revealed his true identity to his human "friend". Sumdac, seized by the mechanical hand he had so long used as a chair, could only watch and wail in horror as the Decepticon tyrant used the power of the AllSpark to reconstruct himself, more powerful than ever. Finally restored, he burst through the roof of [[Sumdac Tower]], to the horror of the Autobots and Starscream, ready to unleash his vengeance on all of them. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

[[File:PayThePiper.JPG|upright=1.1|left|thumb|"Will anyone else attempt to fill his shoes?"]] Megatron's revenge was quick and brutal. Trashing the Autobots in short order, he called his Decepticons to him. As Starscream bootlicked, Megatron powered up his fusion cannon to destroy the one responsible for his defeat—then used the AllSpark Key to send a painful power surge through Starscream, extinguishing the traitor's spark and reinforcing his authority over Blitzwing and Lugnut. He commanded them to "transform and rise up," and the three Decepticons took to the sky, using the Key to track the AllSpark.

[[File:Megatron Rising 2 All Spark Megs boom.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This is not good...]] Finding it aboard the Autobots' ship, the Decepticons caused the ship to crash on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]], where Megatron proceeded to beat the [[Slag (slang)|slag]] out of Optimus Prime. Getting into the ship, Megatron removed the AllSpark from its casing and placed it in his chest, preparing to devastate Earth before conquering Cybertron. However, Professor Sumdac used his knowledge of Megatron's circuitry to disrupt his equilibrium sensors, causing Megatron to drop the AllSpark Key. Optimus Prime used the Key to force a surge of power through the AllSpark within Megatron, causing it to explode and disperse its energy.

And yet, it was not a total loss for Megatron; despite the damage, he escaped and managed to abduct Sumdac. Once again, their fates were intertwined, only this time Sumdac was Megatron's prisoner. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

Establishing a base deep underground in a mine, Megatron quickly adjusted his plans after the loss of the AllSpark. During his battle aboard the Autobot ship, he had managed to download a partial [[space bridge]] schematic from their computers. He planned to use the space bridge to teleport himself, Lugnut, and Blitzwing to Cybertron, then conquer the planet from within. To facilitate this plan, Megatron used the captive Professor Sumdac to reverse-engineer the space bridge and fill in the "gaps" within the schematics. However, when a service bot suddenly malfunctioned, it was revealed that a shard of the AllSpark was embedded within it. This gave Megatron hope that the AllSpark was not destroyed, but dispersed throughout the city of Detroit. {{storylink|The Elite Guard}}

[[File:Swordscream.JPG|upright=1.1|left|thumb|Yes, Starscream, and we'll keep doing it until you get it right!]]
Finding out about the AllSpark fragments, however, didn't seem to result in any changes in his plans. Megatron received word from a spy that the Decepticons had begun making random assaults on the Autobots. He realized that they needed to make a concentrated effort in order to secure his victory. He had Lugnut and Blitzwing steal a tachyon transmitter from the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] so he could send his message, but was interrupted during his transmission by a revived Starscream. After quickly beating him to a pulp, Megatron relayed his commands to the spacefaring 'Cons, only to be repeatedly attacked by a seemingly invincible Starscream. The renegade even attempted to draw Megatron out with an AllSpark fragment. Megatron emerged victorious every time and was informed by his spy that all was going as planned: With his [[Decepticon Uprisings|forces now drawing the Autobots away from Cybertron]], Megatron could attack a weakened Cybertron from within as soon as his space bridge was completed. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

Later, while at the Decepticon base, Lugnut detected an AllSpark energy signal emanating from Detroit. Megatron quickly dispatched Lugnut to retrieve the AllSpark shard before the Autobots could. Lugnut proceeded to praise his master's "grand and glorious plan", but Megatron, fed up with the adulation to the point of involuntary optic-twitching, curtly commanded his enforcer to get going. {{storylink|Garbage In, Garbage Out}}

[[File:RiseoftheConstructicons-Megatron'sprivateblend.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Gentlemen, to evil.]]
When Lugnut and Blitzwing brought the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructobots]] back to base, Megatron saw the advantage of keeping them alive, and he invited them to have a look at his space bridge schematics. Impressed by their knowledge, he decided to put them to work stealing supplies. After an encounter with [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], the Constructobots became convinced of "the funny guy's" less-than-noble intentions, and they returned to the mine to confront him. Megatron calmly slammed them both against a rock face and asked them to explain. He feigned shock and brought them in to discuss things over his own private oil blend. Megatron showed himself to be a bit of an oil connoisseur, possessing stylish little goblets for it made of twisted oil drums, as well as a secret stash of top-quality oil and a chamber to drink it in. Megatron spoke of the glories they could achieve as Constructicons: the adulation, the statues in their honor...the barrels of oil they could down. Ever the shrewd worker, it didn't take much for him to convince them to join up, and he promptly sent them to the Autobot base to retrieve the AllSpark fragments. {{storylink|Rise of the Constructicons}}

[[File:Rise Constructicons Megatron what.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|Constructicons say WHAAAAAT?]]
When Starscream escaped from the Elite Guard's ship, Megatron received [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]'s alert to the Autobots thanks to the stolen tachyon transmitter. Megatron had placed a bounty on the traitor, and [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] (with the unknowing aid of Prowl) pretty much took the opportunity to bring him to the Decepticon leader. Lockdown contacted Megatron to confirm that he had captured a purple-ish "Starscream" (who was acting quite odd and cowardly) and agreed to meet at an abandoned warehouse for the exchange. As "Starscream" was brought to Megatron, Prowl, who was hiding on a rafter high above, accidentally scuffed a small bolt, which grabbed the Decepticons' attention. Not too long after, the Autobots appeared with another, different-colored Starscream. Megatron intercepted Lockdown's escape and announced confusedly that no one was to leave until they found out which was the true Starscream. However, it turned out that both Starscreams were clones with bombs in their [[spark]] chambers designed to destroy Megatron and the Autobots in one go. Quickly thinking up a plan, Megatron and the other Decepticons transformed and escaped forcibly through the ceiling. However, Prowl used the upgrades given to him by Lockdown to send the [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]] into the air, not too far from the fleeing Decepticons, when the bombs exploded. It is unknown if they were wounded, but Megatron later raised the bounty on Starscream—insisting on the ''real'' one this time. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

He was later contacted by [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]], who attempted to sell him a new weapon. Nothing came of this, as Swindle was defeated before the deal could be closed. {{storylink|SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy}} Megatron also made some ''"secret"'' transmissions to his [[Shockwave (Animated)|double agent]] on Cybertron in order to settle his new plans for the coming Autobot-Decepticon war. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

[[File:TFA ABTC1 Megatron Sumdac Hostage.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Did I tell you about the time I killed the cult leader?"]]
Megatron's plans finally seemed on the verge of fruition when Sumdac and the Constructicons completed the space bridge. However, some vital technical aspects made it inoperable. In order to remedy this, Megatron contacted Shockwave to learn who was Cybertron's leading [[Space bridge technician]], which turned out to be the Autobot Bulkhead. Not wishing to leave Doctor Sumdac alone to sabotage the Constructicons' efforts, Megatron took him along as a hostage while he went to capture Bulkhead. Once he had the big Autobot in custody, Megatron threatened to use the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] unit on him if he didn't help make the space bridge operational. To Megatron's satisfaction, Bulkhead agreed and finished the project. Just as the machine was activated, both the Autobots and Starscream and his clone army attacked. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

The three-way free-for-all ironically forced Megatron and Optimus Prime to team up temporarily, but this quickly ended when Megatron used Prime's body as a shield against one of Starscream's clone's attacks. Despite putting up a decent resistance, Megatron was overwhelmed and held down by two of the Starscream clones. As the original Starscream gloated, he was head-jacked by Isaac Sumdac in the Headmaster unit. Sumdac prepared to fight Megatron himself, but Megatron simply used his strength to throw the two Starscream clones at him, knocking off the Headmaster unit and proving himself the victor. With Starscream incapacitated, the clones sided with Megatron. He then made his own victory speech to his soldiers, declaring he would send Optimus Prime through the bridge to test it. However, the Autobots got some [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|reinforcements]]. Megatron quickly ordered the majority of his forces to deal with this new menace while the Constructicons cleared the space bridge area of rubble. Grabbing Optimus, Megatron threw him into the portal, but was frustrated when Prowl freed his leader in the nick of time, at which point the bridge shut down. Bulkhead declared the power source wasn't strong enough to maintain the link for long, so Megatron grabbed Starscream's AllSpark-powered head to maintain the gateway. However, this provided too much power, sending the space bridge portal out of control. An enraged Megatron decided to terminate Optimus Prime, only for Optimus to slap [[stasis cuffs]] on him, causing him to lose his grip and fall into the portal.

[[File:TFA ABTC2 Megatron Screamer End.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|"Stop staring at me!"]]
With the overload having deleted the space bridge's receiving coordinates, the defeated Megatron was transported to some unknown sector of space. Still immobilized by the stasis cuffs, Megatron's only companion was now Starscream's head, which a cruel twist of Fate had deposited right next to him. Forced to remain face to face with his traitorous ex-lieutenant, Megatron could only trade verbal blows. A most cruel fate, indeed. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

After their bickering subsided, Starscream began trying to free Megatron from the stasis cuffs, but having no body was a hindrance. Megatron was only freed when Starscream revealed a previously unseen weapon from his mouth. Before they could react, Omega Supreme appeared, offline. Getting aboard him, Megatron was captured by Omega, but was able to convince the simple processor possessing behemoth to take him to Cybertron to face a war crimes tribunal. However, Omega Supreme's attempt to transwarp to Cybertron left them somewhere else in space, but did drain Omega for the time being. Initially disgusted that he was trapped aboard the cause of the Decepticons' defeat, as well without his weapons and only Starscream for company, Megatron soon realized that if he could reprogram Omega to serve him, he would be at a great advantage.

Managing to hotwire the Autobot with the stasis cuffs and Starscream's AllSpark charged head, Megatron contacted Shockwave to give him a status report on the Earth space bridge. However, the situation was worse than Megatron realized: not only was the space bridge network shut down, but the Earth Autobots could expose Shockwave at any moment. Although Omega Supreme provided an advantage that could end both problems, Megatron decided that the space bridge invasion plan was a failure, and issued a fleet wide stand down order. Heading to Earth, Megatron attempted to use Omega to destroy the Autobots (even though he couldn't remember their names). However, Prowl and Optimus Prime managed to board Omega and sever Megatron's control over him. Unfortunately, Starscream managed to gain control over Omega Supreme, capturing Megatron again. Ever the manipulator, Megatron convinced Starscream that his time would be better spent conquering Cybertron. However, the Autobots managed to install the [[plasma dynamic thruster]] from Megatron's space bridge into Omega Supreme, sending Omega and the two Decepticons aboard warping through space randomly. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

[[File:TFAni Decepticon Air Lugnut Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't you just hate it when fanboys keep following you?]]
Later, as Lugnut was floating through space following his half-successful escape from the Elite Guard flagship, Omega Supreme transwarped to directly in front of him and he smashed into the bridge window. When Starscream asked Megatron if they were picking up hitchhickers, Megatron simply slapped his head of its position. That was for asking stupid questions.. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}

Soon thereafter, Megatron gained control of Omega Supreme's transforming mechanism, and by detaching the plasma dynamic thruster was also able to direct their transwarp jumps; however, he could not get the weapons online without the proper access codes. Megatron brought the ship to Cybertron, where they could do little but float helplessly in the air; Megatron reasoned—correctly—that the Autobots would not dare fire on their own most famous weapon (though [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel "Magnus"]] sure wanted to). Megatron ordered Shockwave to hurry up his search for the access codes; once Shockwave successfully abducted Arcee and boarded the ship, they transwarped into Earth orbit right before Sentinel opened fire. Megatron welcomed Shockwave aboard as his "most loyal" servant, to the great concern of Lugnut. {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}}

Now on the moon, Megatron commanded Shockwave to extract the access codes from Arcee's mind. When Starscream re-attached his head to another clone body, Megatron pursued him and destroyed all the remaining clones, teasing Starscream for having always thought on a small scale. Megatron's ultimate plans for the protoforms aboard the ''Nemesis'' was to use them to create his own clone fleet of Omega Supremes—based on the personality template of his ''truly'' most loyal minion, Lugnut. That part of the plan went just fine, but Shockwave was still unable to get Arcee to do his bidding—perhaps because although she was fooled by his Longarm Prime persona, she saw the evil Megatron standing right behind him and refused to cooperate. After a few technical bypasses put Lugnut in mental command of the "[[Lugnut Supreme]]" fleet, Megatron ordered his new weapons to test their skills by destroying the Earthbound Autobots. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

[[File:TFA-Endgame-PanAcrossEveryone.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.34|...No Comment]]
Observing from within one of the Lugnut Supremes, Megatron's first target for destruction was his former prison, Sumdac Tower. But when the tower's forcefield proved impenetrable and Optimus Prime was able to destroy the Lugnut Supremes he was riding in and severely damage the other two by using the [[Magnus Hammer]], Megatron settled on a new plan: destroying everything that wasn't him. He flew cover over the advancing Lugnut Supremes, directly engaging Optimus Prime (at first mistaken for [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], then dismissed as a [[knockoff|"cheap imitation"]]) so Prime would not again be able to use the Magnus Hammer on the giants. As their combat raged on, Megatron was at last able to remember Optimus Prime's name, to Prime's bitter enjoyment. The two were later trapped within a prison of Allspark energy—meant to seal in the timebomb that Starscream had secretly placed in one of the Lugnut Supremes and Megatron reasoned that even if he himself had to die, he could at least kill Prime first. But Prowl's ghost was having none of that, and Megatron soon found himself left alone to be blown up. Though massively damaged, he survived this and turned to attack the Autobots once more. He was quickly defeated by Optimus Prime, and when Megatron then invited Prime to kill him, Prime retorted that that would be "the easy way out," which Megatron did not deserve. Megatron was placed in [[stasis cuffs]] and arrested, then brought back to Cybertron and displayed as a prisoner before the cheering Autobot masses. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}

''If [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] is to be believed, Megatron would have become '''Galvatron''' in the future and kill [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]].'' {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Arrival issue 3|Stiletto}} {{storylink|The Stunti-Con Job}} {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}} {{storylink|Velocity}} {{storylink|Sari, No One's Home}}}}

===''Quest for the AllSpark''===
Megatron took to hanging around [[Internet|online]] using the alias "Meg A. Tron". Masquerading thusly, he was able to recruit the unwitting help of [[Heinz Von Furstwartz|Professor Heinz Von Furstwartz]] in his scheme to sow confusion amongst the Autobots and get hold of the AllSpark. He was also able to take control of Detroit's legion of robot workers, forcing the Autobots to enact an elaborate plan to keep the AllSpark safe. {{storylink|Quest for the AllSpark}}

===Titan Magazines===
[[File:MegatronTitan23.jpg|thumb|"NIXON'S BAAACK!"]]

Apart from showing interest in the activities of [[Quake-Maker]], {{storylink|Animated Comic issue 1|Burnout!}} Megatron seemed idle... but what the Autobots were unaware of was that he'd constructed a Spark-less drone unit, [[Afterburn]], as a prototype of a future army, and then sent Afterburn off to spy on the Autobots.

He not only received repeated communications from his spy, but gained directions to the Autobot base! Megatron entered with explosive results {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Divebomb}} and then ''killed'' Afterburn while rubbing [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s nose in it. He proceeded to summon the other Decepticons and thrash most of the Autobots with ease, making some really bad puns along the way, only stopped when [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] secretly got him buried under a crane. Starscream then "saved" him, making Megatron think he'd turned over a new leaf and thus giving him temporary command until he got better. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Megatron's Revenge}}

{{-}}
===Animated shorts===
[[File:MockMegs-bunny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|If only [[Cyclonus (Animated)|he]] was around to see this]]
While Megatron gave an inspirational speech to his Decepticons (which seemed to be very similar to [[Mission Accomplished|another message]] he'd sent out), Starscream proceeded to make fun of him behind his back—making faces, giving Megatron bunny ears, and shaking his butt at his leader. Megatron was suspicious of Starscream's actions, but each time he turned to look, his lieutenant was standing there innocently, doing nothing unseemly. Megatron apparently decided to let it go, as did the other Decepticons (even Lugnut), until he finally caught Starscream in mid-heckle and dealt with him by blasting him through a wall. {{storylink|Starscream Heckles Megatron}}
{{-}}

===''The Cool'' comic===
[[File:TheCoolMegatronChokesPrime01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|All aboard the Crazy Train! ''Toot! Toot!'']]

Stumbling across Optimus Prime's band of Autobots, who had recently discovered the long-lost Allspark, Megatron pursued the Space Bridge repair crew relentlessly, even after they lost the rest of Megatron's band of Decepticons by going through a Space Bridge gate. Having invaded the Autobot's ship, he beat down the entirety of its crew, save for their leader. Though already having all-but lost an arm in combat when he confronted Optimus, Megatron engaged in vicious melee combat, gloating all-the-while that the Universe would be under his possession when the Allspark would be in his possession. Defiantly, Optimus managed to expulse Megatron from the ship's cargo bay door as the vessel was plummeting though the Earth's atmosphere, reducing the mighty Decepticon to a smoldering head, to be discovered by a young boy...{{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 3}}

At some point, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] double-crossed Megatron and attempted to kill him. Unbeknownst to anyone, Megatron's head survived his destruction and had hooked into [[Detroit]]'s closed-circuit video surveillance system. Following the dispersion of the [[AllSpark]] (and Starscream's apparent demise), Megatron became intrigued by [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari's]] [[AllSpark Key|key]] after she used it to bring [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] back to life. Interests piqued, Megatron declared the time was right to initiate the next phase of his operation. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 2}}

Megatron eventually got his hands on the key and used its power to revive himself. After killing Starscream, Megatron engaged Optimus Prime in a sword-to-axe duel. The outcome of that fight is unknown, though apparently the Autobots survived the day. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 5}}

Megatron later hired [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] to capture the (somehow still alive) Starscream. Lockdown mistakenly captured [[Clone number 3370318|Clone #3370318]], instead, while the Autobots captured [[Clone number 2716057|Clone #2716057]]. Megatron was met with both clones at his meeting place in a warehouse and demanded to know why there were ''two'' Starscreams. When the clones turned out to be bombs, Megatron attempted to flee in helicopter mode, only to be chased down by the explosives after [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] attached a pair of rockets to them. Megatron screamed in confusion as he was caught in the explosion. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 6}}

With the [[space bridge#Animated cartoon|Space Bridge]] nearly completed, Megatron was caught off-guard by a surprise attack from Optimus Prime and the Autobots. Clashing sword with Prime's axe, Megatron arrogantly told the Autobot he could never win, though his efforts were amusing. Megatron was then met by a second surprise: an attack by Starscream and his [[Starscream clone (Animated)|Clone Army]]. Megatron was forced to fight side by side with Optimus, but quickly dissolved the partnership when he use Prime as a shield to block one of [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]]'s shots. Dropping Prime's smoking body, Megatron informed all listening that the universe belonged to him. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 7}}

[[image:TheCool10TitlePage01.jpg|thumb|250px|left|]]

Megatron then installed the severed head of Starscream into the Space Bridge in order to power it with his AllSpark fragment. The fragment proved ''too'' powerful and caused the Space Bridge to overload. Optimus, recovered, took Megatron's distraction as an opportunity to defeat the villain once and for all. Slapping a pair of stasis cuffs on him, Optimus kicked Megatron in the jaw and sent him hurtling into the vortex. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 8}}

Megatron found himself warped to the same coordinates as Starscream's head and Omega Supreme. Megatron attempted to use Starscream's [[spark]] to jumpstart Omega Supreme, but the plan backfired and Starscream took control of Omega's systems. Starscream sized Megatron in his giant hand and, taunting him, returned to [[Earth]] for vengeance against the Autobots. Megatron would not be so easily defeated, however, and breaking free, teamed with Optimus Prime to sever Starscream's connection to Omega. That dealt with, Megatron and Optimus then agreed to end their rivalry with a final battle. Flying off into the sky, the enemies clashed sword with hammer. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 9}}

Megatron found himself outmatched by Optimus's Wingblade and Magnus Hammer, however, and chose to even the odds by blasting his foe with his fusion cannon, powered by Starscream's AllSpark fragment! The blast blew Optimus to pieces, but just to be sure, Megatron impaled his foe through the [[spark]] chamber with his sword, anyway. Optimus refused to be beaten and absorbed the power of the AllSpark fragment into himself... somehow. Repaired and now apparently invincible, Prime mopped the floor with Megatron. The defeated [[Emperor of Destruction]] was then carted back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in shackles. {{storylink|The Cool Episode Final}}

{{--}}

==Games==
===Transformers Animated: The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Corey Burton]] (English)
[[File:TFAnimated Game Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|126px|Helmet design provided by Lego.]]
After completing a space bridge terminal in his hidden mine base on [[Earth]], Megatron began to prepare to attack Cybertron. He hired [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] to collect [[AllSpark]] fragments to power his Space Bridge and obtained enough to do so, however while he was in the process of powering it up, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s team found the base and attacked him. Though he boasted he could beat them easily without the use of weapons, they used an electromagnet to defeat him, and he was forced to escape by transwarping to Cybertron.

There, he was able to take control of some of the planet's defense systems, driving the Autobots away from the Space Bridge Nexus, and sent out a message ordering his forces to take control of the Space Bridges around the rim of the galaxy. [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] soon reported that they'd captured more than a dozen Space Bridges. Before Megatron could take control of the nexus, Optimus's team caught up with him. Commandeering some of the defense systems, they managed to defeat him. Growling that the Decepticons would rise again, Megatron transwarped out to parts unknown. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The Game}}

===Transformers Battle Universe===

At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Megatron was among several warriors (and [[Megatron]]s) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

{{--}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
[[File:TFAnimated Deluxe BattleBegins Megatron toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|SPAAAACE ROOOAAACH!]]
*'''Optimus Prime vs. Megatron: The Battle Begins''' (Entertainment Pack, 2008)

:Megatron transforms into a sleek spacecraft with, er, VTOL turbofans (presumably designed to show some lineage with his eventual helicopter mode. It's best if you don't think about it too hard). His signature fusion cannon forms the central chassis and cockpit section of the spacecraft (officially, a "Fusion Fighter"); his sword sections mount on the sides of the cannon for storage, though the blade is unremovable and effectively useless. Like the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Prime]] figure he comes with, he features a punching gimmick, having a spring-loaded waist that snaps back when twisted. Unfortunately, Megatron's balljoint hips and the swivel joints between his thighs and knees are rather loose, making it difficult to pose the figure in such a way that he stands on his own. The figure features a silver color scheme and battle damage paint applications. Also included was [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video#Pack-in disc|a DVD]] featuring the first episode of ''Transformers Animated''.

:The design makes it tricky to tell which end of his Fusion Fighter mode is the front and which is the back.

:This toy was also released in a 2-pack with Prowl as a Wal*Mart [[exclusive]] (see below).

:If you want to be pedantic about it, the battle implied by the battle-pack pairing is technically a timeline impossibility, insofar as it depicts Cybertron Mode Megatron versus Earth Mode Optimus. It is also [[scale]]d incorrectly, as Megatron was shown as being notably larger than Optimus in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/BattleBeginsMegatron/megatron.htm More information on "The Battle Begins" Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VoyagerCybMode}}

[[File:Animated megatron voyager.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Curse you, Earth's atmosphere!]]
*'''CYBERTRON Mode Megatron''' (Voyager, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-06'''
**''Accessories'': Missile

: A larger, bulkier, more detailed, and more gimmick-laden iteration of the same character design used in the deluxe-scaled versus pack toy. Note that while both modes of both toys look very similar, they have different transformation mechanisms and are not a simple upscaling/downscaling of each other. Where the deluxe version is straight silver, this version has a pearl-gray paint scheme. The figure features an [[Automorph Technology|automorph]] gimmick in the chest, which closes like a clamshell in transforming to robot mode. A second automorph gimmick is built into the energon blades on the cannon, swinging them into place to form a polearm. Red translucent plastic is heavily used throughout the figure, including in the light piping for the head and the missile for the spring-loaded cannon. Even his ''fingers'' are made of energon, it seems.

:This toy apparently had a safety modification done late on in the design process (late enough that it doesn't show up on the instructions), possibly as a result of drop test failure. The strut that holds his fusion cannon has been reinforced, and as a result, his cannon cannot be mounted flush against his arm. It is also noted that his cannon easily pops off.

:As with the smaller figure above, it's not obvious exactly what end is the front of his spaceship mode. Neither orientation really matches up to the version seen in the show, which had the fusion cannon mounted in a way that's impossible with both toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/VoyagerMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Cybertron Mode Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Leader}}

[[File:Animated megatron leader.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"I kill you till you're dead!"]]
*'''Megatron''' (Leader, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-26'''
**''Accessories'' Missile, 2 rotor-swords

: Megatron's "Earth" robot mode bears a significant resemblance to Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#The Battlestars story pages and comic|Super Megatron]] from the ''Battlestars'' storyline, and thus, in turn, to his original G1 body. His alt-mode is a dual-rotored helicopter design, somewhat like an [[Incinerator (Movie)|Osprey]] [[Obsidian (BM)|helicopter]] or the [[Cobra]] Mamba. Its rotors form double-bladed swords. The fusion cannon is attached to the left arm out of the box, but it can be detached and put on either arm. It has wheels for use in vehicle mode, and if it is removed, then (undocumented) landing gear can be deployed to make up for the loss. Interestingly, it seems the alt-mode was originally intended to allow for the removal of the cannon without removal of the bottom half of the fuselage. With a fair amount of force the cannon can be popped off (and will reattach), but the cannon mount/fuselage lower half does not provide the front landing gear with sufficient clearance to fully extend. The toy has a [[Gimmick|voice chip]], activated by pressing the Decepticon symbol on his chest. If used in robot mode it says one of three quotes: "Crush the Autobots!", "Where is the AllSpark?", and (glorious) evil laughter, all three lines are terrifically cheesy. In helicopter mode it makes the sound of the rotors warming up, spinning, and powering down. When the cockpit is moved during transformation the classic G1/Animated [[Transformation#The noise|transformation noise]] is heard. It is compatible with the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] toy, but it does not change his quotes.

: The instructions leave a couple of things out. First, the shoulders should be pushed backwards/upwards for vehicle mode. This lowers the wings down and aligns the front of the engines with the back. Second, the barrel of the cannon can be rotated 180 degrees (at a separate pivot from the one at its base) for robot mode, to better match how it looks in the cartoon, with the red stripes facing his arm. Considering how padded the instructions are to mask the relatively simple transformation (two whole steps just to move the rear landing gear), leaving all this out is quite a feat. Bad Hasbro.

:There is no doubt whatsoever as to which end is the front and which is the back of his vehicle mode.

: The TakaraTomy version of the toy features a metallic silver and red paint job, and replaces the English voice clips with typically hammy Japanese ones by [[Norio Wakamoto]]: "I am Megatron" in Japanese and "Megatron, transform!" and "Fusion Cannon!" in [[Engrish]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Leader Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|McDonalds}}
[[File:McdonaldsAnimatedMegatron.jpg|300px|thumb|right]]
*'''Megatron''' (McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, 2008)

:This is a very simple representation of Megatron in his Earth form. It transforms by rotating the head, lying face down and flipping the arms onto the back. The robot mode seems to have taken priority in the design process, since the vehicle mode looks like his robot mode lying down. Megatron does not come with his signature arm cannon.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/McMegatron/megatron.htm More information on McDonald's Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:TFA McD Megatron Jumpstarter.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
*'''Megatron''' (McDonald's Happy Meal toys, 2008)

:This is a very simplistic version of Megatron, he converts from non-articulated robot mode to a "folded" robot with three wheels (which is a very non-show-accurate alt-mode). Like the G1 [[Jumpstarter]]s toys he features a pull-back motor in vehicle mode that propels him forward on smooth surfaces; after a short run the latch that keeps his spring-loaded legs releases, causing him to flip forward and into upright robot mode.
:Like the rest of his assortment, this Megatron was only available in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela.

{{-}}{{anchor|Activator}}

[[File:Megatronanimatedactivator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Transform and shrink down!"]]
*'''Megatron''' (Activators, 2008)

:Part of the fourth wave of [[Activators]], this version of Megatron is a very simplified, roughly-Basic-sized version of his Earth mode. His spring-loaded transformation from vehicle to robot mode is activated by a single switch on the back of his copter mode.

:Despite having a cannon on the bottom of his vehicle mode, he does not possess one on either arm in robot mode.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/ActMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Activators Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|AnimatedSuperCollection}}
*'''Animated Super Collection Vol. 1''' (multipack, 2010)

: Released in October 2010 in Japan, the "Animated Super Collection Vol. 1" giftset contained slight redecos of Activators Megatron, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] and [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]].

{{-}}{{anchor|ShadowBlade}}

[[File:SBAniMegs..jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|I defy the Unicron Trilogy. Defy it, I say!]]
*'''Shadow Blade Megatron''' (Leader, 2008)

: A [[Black repaint|black]], grey and purple redeco of Megatron's leader class mold with a slight remolding to the tail... that's NOT called [[Megatron (Armada)/toys|Galvatron]]. YeabuhWHA?

:Surprisingly for a Hasbro produced redeco, Shadow Blade Megatron is cast entirely in black plastic with the exception of his translucent parts. His nose is not painted, so whenever his lights light up...his nose glows red.

: Many units of this figure have a slight molding problem that prevents him from actually moving his face when the Decepticon insignia is pressed. However, as many units are also unaffected, this may have been an inconsistent problem or corrected by a running change.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/SBMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Shadow Blade Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
{{anchor|FightOfStart}}
*'''Fight of Start''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-F'''

:For its Japanese release, "Battle Begins" Megatron was given a shinier metallic paint job (sans battle damage) and white-bordered Decepticon symbols, like the majority of the TakaraTomy ''Animated'' toys. The figure was only available in a 2-pack with a redecoed version of the Deluxe-scale CYBERTRON Mode Optimus Prime.

:The title of this set in Japanese is "hajimari no taiketsu" - which amounts to "the battle begins" when translated, but the back of the box chooses to render the phrase as "Fight of Start". [[Engrish|Oh well...]]

{{-}}{{anchor|GoldVersion}}
[[File:AniDXMegsGoldVersion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4| All that glitters is gold.]]
*'''Megatron Gold Version''' (Deluxe, 2011)

:A gold-chromed version of the Deluxe-class Battle Begins Megatron, Megatron Gold Version was made available to residents of Japan via a lottery. There were several ways to enter the drawing for him: one could clip out and send in a barcode from a single standard ''Animated'' toy or a single standard ''Autobot Alliance'' live action film series toy (or four EZ Collection barcodes), '''or''' send in 5 Sega Transformers trading cards, '''or''' cut out and send in the appropriate portion of the character cards included with volumes 4 or 5 of Paramount of Japan's ''Animated'' DVDs or the "[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge]] Greatest Hits" DVD. The entry period of the drawing was November 1st, 2010 to January 16th, 2011.

:Megatron Gold Version was limited to 1,000 pieces.

{{-}}

{{anchor|Marauder}}
[[File:MarauderMegatron.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Tonight, I dine on turtle soup!]]
*'''Marauder Megatron'''
**''Accessories:'' Missiles

:A mold of Megatron as a [[Triple Changer]] in the canceled fourth season. He has a jet mode and a tank mode, and his robot mode head has a muzzle-like plate over the mouth in a homage to ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] also based the design on [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#The Battlestars story pages and comic|Super and Ultra Megatron]] from ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)| Return of Convoy]]''.[http://www.formspring.me/DerrickJWyatt/q/878717866]

{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:AnimatedMegatronMovieHat.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|They moonlight as lawn darts.]]

[[File:AnimatedMegatronAltmode.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"''That's'' a ship?!" "Who cares, as long as it flies."]]

[[File:AniMegsKatana.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Where is my [[fusion cannon]]?! All Megatrons should have them! ALL OF THEM, I TELL YOU!!!]]

* Megatron's pre-Earth head has a rather pointed resemblance to the somewhat early head of 2007 movie's [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], which went unused in the actual movie but appeared on loads of promotional materials and merchandise. Also in common with Movie Megatron, ''Animated'' Megatron lay inert for many years while his technology was [[Sector Seven|reverse-engineered by humans]].
* He is, additionally, [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|not the only Megatron]] to spend time as [[Grand Mal|a giant, disembodied head]].
* Megatron's cannon makes the same sound as his [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 counterpart]]'s weapon, except with additional effects mixed in to make it actually sound like a laser cannon and not a blender.
* Megatron's outer space alt mode, shown for all of 20 seconds, has ''two'' toy molds devoted to it. Though these "Cybertron mode" toys resemble each other, neither looks anything like the alt mode of the pre-Earth Megatron seen on the show.
* Megatron is the only one of the original 5 Decepticons in ''Animated'' actually to have a Cybertronian vehicle mode design. Although the others have different robot mode kibble before they scan their Earth modes, none of them had an alt-mode created. Having a toy helps. (This is in contrast to the Autobots, who all had Cybertronian-modes designed for them from the start, even if we didn't see them in the first episode.)
* Sumdac found Megatron's head intact in its original Cybertronian mode. The head housed in his lab, however, is essentially a damaged version of his Earth-mode head. Presumably, this change is the result of Sumdac's destructive tinkering and research over the fifty years Megatron was in stasis lock.
* According to ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The Allspark Almanac]]'', Megatron's Earth mode cockpit seats five.
* When he was a disembodied head, Megatron had a pupil in his right eye, similar to the Autobots. Once he regained his body, this never appeared again.
* An early image of Megatron's Earth body had slight differences from the finished product, most notably the lack of a fusion cannon and the presence of a katana instead of his twin swords. This image originally appeared as part of an Amazon.com listing for [[Transformers Animated Volume 2|volume 2]] of [[IDW Publishing]]'s screenshot-based ''[[Transformers Animated (IDW Publishing)|Transformers Animated]]'' adaption series.
* In the initial planning phases of the never-greenlit fourth season, Megatron would have broken out of prison on Cybertron and become a [[Triple Changer]], as detailed in the ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The Allspark Almanac II]]''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Megatron''' (メガトロン ''Megatoron'')

[[Category:Animated Decepticons]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

File:G1 cartoon Apeface Cyclonus.JPG

2015-06-09T05:57:35Z

Omgpuppies:

{{G1cap|[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] lets [[Apeface]] know where he stands in the hierarchy.|The Rebirth, Part 2|7}}

Megatron Rising - Part 1

2015-06-09T05:18:01Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|image=MegRisingHeadKey.jpg
|caption=Cyber Key power!
|ep=15
|ep2=14
|prev2=Headmaster (episode)
|next2=Megatron Rising - Part 2
|title="Megatron Rising - Part 1"
|airdate=[[March 29]], [[2008]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Irineo Maramba]] [[Ciro Nieli]] [[Kentaro Mizuno]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''Prime begins to doubt his leadership abilities as the Decepticons mobilize for a big invasion of Earth.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:MegRisingBodyLab.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is what happens when you don't have proper rust-proofing.]]

[[Detroit]] is in the midst of a blizzard, and as Isaac Sumdac starts to repair Megatron's body he comments that they were fortunate to have found it beforehand, while at the same time praising it for being well-constructed enough to withstand 50 years of exposure to the elements. Megatron silently gloats that Cybertronian technology is more powerful than any force on Earth. The bad weather causes a blackout and forces [[Sumdac Tower]] onto its backup generator; when Sumdac decides this will force a delay in the repairs, Megatron alternates between bluster and sweet-talk to try to get his way, but it's no use. Megatron attempts to call Lugnut again for assistance.

Lugnut and Blitzwing have just finished rebuilding themselves (after some squabbling over the last piece) in a distant forest. Starscream mocks them for in-fighting and reminds them that he is their new chosen and sworn sovereign; his two subjects retort that they serve him only under threat, not by choice. At that moment, Megatron successfully contacts Lugnut, whose newly reverential and respectful attitude both pleases and confuses (''but mostly pleases'') Starscream. When Starscream finds out Lugnut "thinks" he's hearing Megatron, the new leader is infuriated, and in his anger almost exposes that fact that it was himself, and not the Autobots, who defeated Megatron in the first place. Megatron orders Lugnut to retrieve the [[AllSpark Key]] and bring it to him; Starscream then notices that, regardless of the source, Lugnut is indeed being contacted by someone. He orders Lugnut and Blitzwing to obey the strange orders for now, while he himself will track the transmissions to their source and see who is trying to undermine his authority.

As the Decepticons move out, the [[Autobot Earth Base|Autobots' headquarters]] computer notices their increased activity. The Autobots are worried about a possible full-scale Decepticon invasion. As if Optimus Prime wasn't stressed enough, Bulkhead and Prowl then take the opportunity to finally tell him about the continued survival of the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]]. Prime is furious that his orders were disobeyed, but decides that given the circumstances they should try to use all resources available—but insists that he will lead the new mission to contact the Dinobots.

[[Image:Megatron Rising Sari key taken.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Try all you want kid, Captain Planet ain't coming.]]

Optimus Prime is especially worried about the AllSpark Key, both because Sari can't protect it, and because she once again is using it as a toy (this time for model-plane dogfighting). When he orders her to turn it over, Sari angrily reminds him that she was chosen for this role by the [[AllSpark#Animated|AllSpark]] itself. Prime then orders Ratchet to magnetically take the Key from her, and, reluctantly, Ratchet obeys. Sari feels heartbroken and betrayed, and flees the base. An upset Bumblebee defends Sari's role as part of the team, to which Optimus responds that since Bumblebee has been such a poor team performer who makes so many mistakes, he isn't a good character witness. Bumblebee retorts that the Autobots' desperate, seemingly hopeless situation means Optimus isn't a good leader—then he leaves in pursuit of Sari. Prime orders Ratchet to take the Key to the [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Autobot spaceship]] beneath Lake Erie, and they all depart.

Sari walks down the street, dejected and pouting about how untrustworthy the Autobots turned out to be. But she's being watched—by Blackarachnia, who abducts the girl and mockingly praises her for seeing the light. Still hoping to cure herself of her techno-organic body, Blackarachnia attempts to bargain with Sari to hand over the AllSpark Key. They exchange "snappy banter" for a while, which leaves Blackarachnia bored. When Sari again mentions how the Autobots no longer trust her, Blackarachnia tells her more about her own sad past and how only the power of the AllSpark can give her back a normal life. Sari seems moved....

[[Image:Megatron Rising 1 Ratchet Blitzwing Key.jpg|left|200px|thumb|YOINK! AHAHAHAHAHA!]]

En route to the Autobot ship, Ratchet is ambushed by Blitzwing and Lugnut, in a battle about as one-sided as Bambi vs. Godzilla. He seems to challenge Blitzwing to a battle to the finish—but the three-faced robot simply freezes Ratchet solid and cracks off his crystallized arm, taking the AllSpark Key with it.

On Dinobot Island, the Autobots are confronted by the Dinobots who—again—are hostile to trespassers. Prime seemingly worsens the situation, as a stranger with a heavy-handed attitude. When their familiar protector Prowl reveals himself and tries to speak, the Dinobots calm down slightly (though Prime is further frustrated to learn the [[Meltdown (Animated)|extent of his troops' misadventures]] on Dinobot Island). But in the end, the Dinobots refuse to help against the Decepticons, saying they don't want to help any robots—they ''fight'' robots. Optimus points out that the Dinobots are robots themselves, prompting them to begin fighting each other. When Ratchet calls and informs Prime of the AllSpark Key's theft, the Autobots return to the mainland. Bulkhead asks what their next course of action is, and Prime admits he doesn't know, thinking that Bumblebee was right about Prime being unfit for command.

[[Image:Megatron rising 1 Starscream freakout.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee violated rule number 37 of the good guy code: never interrupt the villain during the monologue.]]

Starscream traces the source of Lugnut's messages back to Sumdac Tower. Blasting his way in, he is shocked to find Megatron alive—but regains his composure at the sight of his former leader dismantled and helpless. The two have an elaborately deceptive conversation about loyalty: Megatron knows Starscream betrayed him, but Starscream doesn't know he knows and wants to [[wikipedia:The Incredibles|monologue]] a bit before delivering the final blow. Meanwhile, Bumblebee's search for Sari leads him to the tower; when he spots Starscream through the wrecked wall, he squeezes himself into an elevator and prepares for a one-on-one battle (after using the classic "cellphone interference" ploy to avoid talking to Optimus). Right when Starscream is finally about to finish Megatron off, Bumblebee charges in, stingers blasting wildly—striking Starscream at full force and causing no damage at all. Starscream effortlessly thrashes Bumblebee, more angry at having his monologue interrupted than anything else. During this diversion, Megatron activates some of the lab machinery, propelling both Starscream and Bumblebee out of the lab and onto the tower roof.

[[Image:Megatron Rising head body connect.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Yep. We're boned.]]

Dr. Sumdac rushes in, hearing the disturbance. At first Megatron keeps up his usual act, warning that the Decepticons will be back soon and that he needs his new body immediately. The doctor agrees, trying to repair it as quickly as possible, while Megatron observes the rooftop action on a viewscreen and tries to electrocute Starscream through a spotlight. Lugnut and Blitzwing arrive, with Lugnut praising his leader, belatedly noticing his damaged state. Seeing Megatron, Blitzwing finally understands that Lugnut wasn't crazy. As Sumdac demands to know who they are, Lugnut forces Sumdac to genuflect to Megatron, revealing that Megatron is a Decepticon, who in turn gloats at the sight and how easily he was able to lie to his captor. Before Sumdac can contemplate the seriousness of what he has done, Lugnut drops him into Megatron's hand to witness what will happen. Blitzwing inserts the AllSpark Key into Megatron's head; its power is now his to command. Megatron quickly (''and beautifully'') repairs himself, using metal from the lab as patch-up material when necessary; in the process he steals Sumdac away to an as-yet-undisclosed location.

[[Image:Megatron Rising Megs entrance.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Sheer awesomeness.]]

Up on the roof, Starscream is about to finish off Bumblebee, and down on the street the Autobots are just arriving to try to help, but all are reduced to staring in horror and disbelief as Megatron blasts up into the sky, an armored colossus.

Oh, crap.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (10)
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (11)
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (12)
* [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (14)
* [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] (15)
* [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] (16)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (2)
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (5)
* [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] (6)
* [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (7)
* [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (1)
* [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (3)

|c4=
*[[Reception Bot]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Lugnut''': And the universe will rejoice! All hail your grand and glorious return! 
'''Starscream''': Okaaay, what's ''his'' malfunction? 
'''Icy Blitzwing''': Technical glitch. It happens. 
'''Random Blitzwing''': A lot, actually! Ahahahaha! 
'''Lugnut''': It is ''not'' a glitch! It is Megatron, and he commands us to deliver him the Key! 
'''Starscream''': Megatron...?! Did you just say Megatron?! Did he just say ''MEGATRON''?! ''THERE IS NO MEGATRON!'' MEGATRON IS OFFLINE! TERMINATED! I DID IT MYSEL—''saw'' it myself.
:—Starscream is a master of subtlety, truly!

"The fate of the Earth and Cybertron hang in the balance and all I've got in my command are a bunch of undisciplined, insubordinate MALFUNCTIONS!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' has quite the bad temper when he's dissatisfied with his troops.

"What's your damage, Prime? Sari has been helping us since the day we got here. She is a part of this team!" 
"Considering your own history of mistakes, Bumblebee, I wouldn't exactly call you a great character witness." 
"Is that right?! Well let me tell ''you'' something, ''Boss-Bot'': Considering the fact that we're stuck on this planet, outnumbered, with no idea on how we're gonna beat an army of Decepticons ready to fry our circuits at any second, I wouldn't exactly call '''you''' a great leader."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Optimus Prime''' exchange harsh words. Ouch.

'''Hothead Blitzwing''': The Key, Autobot! 
'''Ratchet''': You'll have to pry it from my cold, offline servo. 
''[Blitzwing switches to his icy face, freezes Ratchet, then switches to his random face]'' 
'''Random Blitzwing''': Well, it's not exactly offline, but— ''[Rips off Ratchet's arm]'' —it's certainly cold. Ahahahaha! 
:—Blitzwing cheats by stealing the Key from Ratchet instead of fighting for it.

"Look what the capacitor dragged in." 
"Megatron?! Alive? And looking... magnificent, as always." 
"Starscream. How good it is to be reunited with such a ''devoted'' and ''faithful'' subject in my time of need." 
"I would have come sooner, o grand and illustrious leader, but naturally we all assumed you perished at the hands of the Autobot scum. What... great... joy to discover you did not." 
"Yes. Delight is written all over your face."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Starscream''' exchange, ''ahem'', warm and heartfelt pleasantries.

"'''YOU INTERRUPTED MY SPEECH!'''"
:—'''Starscream''' seriously freaks out when Bumblebee shoots him.

"We have come for our glorious leader, Megatron!" 
"I am here, Lugnut." 
"Oh, Master, I am not worthy! I am not worthy... What happened to your body?" 
"Long story."
:—'''Lugnut''' and '''Megatron''', reunited at last.

"''Decepticons?'' But, you told me you were an Autobot." 
"And I hated every moment of that humiliating charade. But no more..."
:—'''Isaac Sumdac''' finally learns the truth, and from '''Megatron''' himself.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:Sari's leg.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It's a new fashion trend.]]
* The [[Scale|size of Megatron's head]] fluctuates greatly between scenes, often appearing gigantic even compared to large characters.
* While Prime is shouting at the other 'Bots his insignia starts where it should be, on his shoulder. But as he gestures it seems to rotate around to the underside of his arm.
* When Sari is telling Blackarachnia about the Autobots taking away the AllSpark Key, her right leg is drawn awkwardly... almost as if it's growing out of her skirt. Though this is very likely in order to prevent a [[Teletraan 15 (G1)|pre-teen panty shot]].
* In the same scene, Blackarachnia's Decepticon insignia is missing the white lines, making it a featureless purple spot.
* After Ratchet reports to Prime that he lost the AllSpark Key, his EMP blaster wound briefly disappears as he lowers his arm.
* Starscream's Decepticon insignia is occasionally upside-down.
* Optimus has two lights on each shoulder, when he admits he was out of line and says about repairing friendships, he raises his fist hiding one of these lights, but when his fist goes down, the light he is hiding has vanished.

===Continuity errors===
* When Bulkhead brings up the Dinobots, Optimus says that they were destroyed, "weren't they?" However, the last time the Dinobots were mentioned was in "[[Survival of the Fittest]]", when Optimus thought the Dinobots were ''missing,'' and also suspected they were involved in the kidnapping of Sari. He has no known reason to think they were ''destroyed.'' Of course, we still don't know what story Prowl and Bulkhead told Prime after the events of "Survival of the Fittest".
* Does Blackarachnia not remember that she already tried using Sari's key to get rid of her organic half back in "[[Along Came a Spider]]" and it didn't work?
* Not so much an error as just an oddity: When Starscream stands over a dangling Bumblebee on the Sumdac Tower rooftop, Megatron sends a power surge through a roof fixture and zaps Starscream. When the scene cuts back to the roof a few minutes later, Bumblebee's back on the roof, which he likely managed while Starscream was stunned, and Starscream's confronting him again. However, with no time given for them to talk or react about the transition, the previous roof scene may as well not have happened.

===Transformers references===
* Prime finally refers to [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] by that name.

===Real-world references===
* Ratchet's remark to Blitzwing about prying the AllSpark Key "from his cold, offline servo" is a reference to an [[wikipedia:From my cold, dead hands|NRA slogan]] made famous in a speech by [[wikipedia:Charlton Heston|Charlton Heston]]. Coincidentally, exactly one week after this episode aired, Heston went up to that grand old shooting range in the sky.

===Trivia===
*The Decepticon symbol on Megatron's body that was so clear [[Nature Calls|last episode]] is nowhere to be seen now. Of course, neither is the chestplate it resided on.
*The R/C Plane Sari was flying resembles a MiG-15 Fighter.
*We learn that Prowl and Bulkhead not only didn't tell Prime that the Dinobots were still around, but also didn't tell him that [[Meltdown (Animated)|Meltdown]] was the one behind Sari's kidnapping in "[[Survival of the Fittest]]". So, when they returned with Sari after the events of that episode, they apparently told him ''none'' of the truth. What ''did'' they tell him?
*Apparently, when Optimus is '''really''' ticked off and breathing heavy, his engine audibly revs.
*This is the first episode in which we see an extended transformation sequence for Starscream.
*When Megatron's energized body sends out cables to its detached hand, in which Prof. Sumdac is sitting, the hand grips around Sumdac, then is yanked under the flooring and over to the body, where it opens back up—with Sumdac no longer within it. (Nothing up Megatron's sleeve!)
*At one point during Starscream's transformation, he strongly resembles the Gerwalk mode of the [http://www.macross2.net/m3/macrossplus/yf-19.htm YF-19 Alpha One] from the anime ''[[wikipedia:Macross Plus|Macross Plus]],'' one of the apparent influences for his alternate mode.
*It appears that Grimlock has gotten over his hatred of [[Car Robots]], but [[Grimlock (G1)|he still hates Optimus Prime]].
*Being in the Great War must have really toughened Ratchet up, as he expresses no pain or shock at the fact that he gets his servo ripped off by [[Blitzwing (Animated)|some mad Decepticon]]. Hardcore.
*All through Season 1, since his reactivation, Megatron has been saying the words "triumphant return" frequently. This episode is the last time he uses those two words together.
*This episode, along with part 2, was adapted in comic book format using screen captures as "[[Transformers Animated Volume 7]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazil'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Retorno de Megatron, parte 1'''" ("The Return of Megatron, part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le retour de Megatron 1/2'''" ("The Return of Megatron 1/2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Megatrons Auferstehung, Teil 1'''" ("Megatron's Resurrection, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 11|11 July]] [[2008]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron no Fukkatsu Part 1'''" (メガトロンの復活パート1, "Megatron's Resurrection, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 3|3 July]] [[2010]]
::* '''Cut:''' The blizzard rages on in Detroit.
::* '''Cut:''' After Optimus learns that Prowl and Bulkhead help the Dinobots escape, he becomes really ticked off and his engine audibly revs.
::* '''Cut:''' Sari tries to defend herself that she's done a good job of protecting her key when Optimus tells her that she can no longer be trusted with it.
::* '''Cut:''' When Sari runs off, Bumblebee tries to chase after her when Optimus stops him. Bumblebee argues that Sari's been helping the Autobots since the day they arrived on Earth, to which Optimus says he wouldn't consider him a good character witness. Before running off to find Sari, Bumblebee replies coldly that considering the fact that the Autobots are stuck on this planet, outnumbered, and have no idea have to defend Earth against an army of Decepticons, he wouldn't consider him a great leader.

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Powrót Megatrona, Część 1'''" ("The Return of Megatron, Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

==Home video releases==
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Three: Megatron Rising (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Three: Megatron Rising (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Drei: Megatrons Auferstehung (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2010 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Vol. 4 (Paramount) — Japanese audio only.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Colossus Rhodes

2015-06-09T03:23:51Z

Omgpuppies:

{{disambig2|the Animated henchman|the European late-G1 Decepticon leader sometimes known as Colossus|Clench (G1)}}
:''Colossus Rhodes is a [[human]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ColossusRhodesModel.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Paul Teutul is pissed. Again]]
'''Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes''' is a biotech-enhanced human who works for [[Meltdown (Animated)|Prometheus Black]]. He seems to have issues over being rather small and frail, so he uses the enhancements to transform into a giant that's as big as or bigger than [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]].

That's pretty [[Frag|fragging]] big.

Black boasts that Rhodes is one of his greatest successes in biotechnological enhancement. Although a success when viewed from the goal of enhancing his musculature, it is important to remember that Black's experiments increased his body power, not his brain power. Colossus Rhodes is strong, but he isn't very smart.

{{quote|That's a human?}}
{{quote|Must be a new model...|Bulkhead and Prowl commenting on Rhodes's strange appearance|"[[Total Meltdown]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
{{voiceactor|[[Corey Burton]] (English), [[Nobuo Tobita]] (Japanese)|[[Gunnar Helm]] (German, small), [[Gerald Paradies]] (German, giant), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Portuguese, giant), [[Mario Scarabelli]] (Italian)}}

[[Image:Cyrus Rhodes.jpg|left|150px|thumb|A mustache, [[Yoda]] grew!]]
Cyrus Rhodes first appeared as a combatant in a wrestling match staged by Prometheus Black to show off how effective biotechnology is. Though he seemed to be just a tiny, old man, pistons implanted in his back began energizing super-steroids that quickly made him more than a match for [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. He tossed the plucky little 'bot out of the ring, and then proceeded to make a mess out of him and most of the surrounding parking lot. He was then disoriented by the sounds of a nearby car alarm, giving [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] a chance to disable the pistons that granted him his enhancements. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] was not impressed by Rhodes's crazed, berserker-like state and denied Black the coveted Detroit police contract.

Later, as Black attacked the Sumdac corporation as the villainous Meltdown, Rhodes was left to mop up the opposition outside. Prowl again tried to disable the freak's steroid pistons, but Rhodes commented that the "boss" had reinforced them. Ultimately, he became disoriented again when he accidentally tossed [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] against a church bell. Prowl correctly surmised that sonics were Rhodes's weakness, so Prime struck the bell repeatedly and forced Rhodes back into his normal, un-enhanced form. {{storylink|Total Meltdown}}

[[Image:RhodesWraithArrivalIssue2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|I WILL BREAK YOUUUU!]]

''Rhodes managed to escape prison, and subsequently went on a rampage. [[Wraith|The Wraith]] tried to stop him, but Colossus had in fact been keeping up with his news reports, and tipped the Wraith out of his truck. Before he could crush him, Bumblebee showed up and short-circuited his electrode thingies.'' {{storylink|Attention Surplus Disorder}}

[[Image:TFA Survival Fittest Colossus experiments afraid.JPG|left|175px|thumb|This is just one of those days where you should have stayed in bed.]]

Several weeks later, he was still working for Black. After [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] kidnapped Sari, Black left Rhodes to guard her. However, he wasn't very good at it, as Sari tricked him into walking into a bathroom and drenched him with water, which shorted out his "electrode thingies". He later got his pistons working and emerged from Black's hideout (along with Black's two other [[Fusion creature|mutant freaks]]) to help their boss, but met up with the [[Dinobot (Animated)| Dinobots]]. After being frightened by the Dinobots' [[Energo-sword|menacing flaming weapons,]] Rhodes and his cohorts were thoroughly trashed by the robot dinosaurs. {{storylink|Survival of the Fittest}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Colossus Rhodes's name is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Colossus of Rhodes|Colossus of Rhodes]], one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
* [[wikipedia:Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)|A professional wrestler]] on [[wikipedia:Anabolic steroid|steroids]]? No way!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Colossus Rhodes''' (コロッソス・ロードス ''Korossosu Rōdosu'')

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Colossus}}
[[Category:Animated humans]]
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Supervillains]]

Colossus Rhodes

2015-06-09T03:23:40Z

Omgpuppies:

{{disambig2|the Animated henchman|the European late-G1 Decepticon leader sometimes known as Colossus|Clench (G1)}}
:''Colossus Rhodes is a [[human]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ColossusRhodesModel.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Paul Teutul is pissed. Again]]
'''Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes''' is a biotech-enhanced human who works for [[Meltdown (Animated)|Prometheus Black]]. He seems to have issues over being rather small and frail, so he uses the enhancements to transform into a giant that's as big as or bigger than [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]].

That's pretty [[Frag|fragging]] big.

Black boasts that Rhodes is one of his greatest successes in biotechnological enhancement. Although a success when viewed from the goal of enhancing his musculature, it is important to remember that Black's experiements increased his body power, not his brain power. Colossus Rhodes is strong, but he isn't very smart.

{{quote|That's a human?}}
{{quote|Must be a new model...|Bulkhead and Prowl commenting on Rhodes's strange appearance|"[[Total Meltdown]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
{{voiceactor|[[Corey Burton]] (English), [[Nobuo Tobita]] (Japanese)|[[Gunnar Helm]] (German, small), [[Gerald Paradies]] (German, giant), [[Guilherme Lopes]] (Portuguese, giant), [[Mario Scarabelli]] (Italian)}}

[[Image:Cyrus Rhodes.jpg|left|150px|thumb|A mustache, [[Yoda]] grew!]]
Cyrus Rhodes first appeared as a combatant in a wrestling match staged by Prometheus Black to show off how effective biotechnology is. Though he seemed to be just a tiny, old man, pistons implanted in his back began energizing super-steroids that quickly made him more than a match for [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. He tossed the plucky little 'bot out of the ring, and then proceeded to make a mess out of him and most of the surrounding parking lot. He was then disoriented by the sounds of a nearby car alarm, giving [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] a chance to disable the pistons that granted him his enhancements. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] was not impressed by Rhodes's crazed, berserker-like state and denied Black the coveted Detroit police contract.

Later, as Black attacked the Sumdac corporation as the villainous Meltdown, Rhodes was left to mop up the opposition outside. Prowl again tried to disable the freak's steroid pistons, but Rhodes commented that the "boss" had reinforced them. Ultimately, he became disoriented again when he accidentally tossed [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] against a church bell. Prowl correctly surmised that sonics were Rhodes's weakness, so Prime struck the bell repeatedly and forced Rhodes back into his normal, un-enhanced form. {{storylink|Total Meltdown}}

[[Image:RhodesWraithArrivalIssue2.jpg|right|100px|thumb|I WILL BREAK YOUUUU!]]

''Rhodes managed to escape prison, and subsequently went on a rampage. [[Wraith|The Wraith]] tried to stop him, but Colossus had in fact been keeping up with his news reports, and tipped the Wraith out of his truck. Before he could crush him, Bumblebee showed up and short-circuited his electrode thingies.'' {{storylink|Attention Surplus Disorder}}

[[Image:TFA Survival Fittest Colossus experiments afraid.JPG|left|175px|thumb|This is just one of those days where you should have stayed in bed.]]

Several weeks later, he was still working for Black. After [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] kidnapped Sari, Black left Rhodes to guard her. However, he wasn't very good at it, as Sari tricked him into walking into a bathroom and drenched him with water, which shorted out his "electrode thingies". He later got his pistons working and emerged from Black's hideout (along with Black's two other [[Fusion creature|mutant freaks]]) to help their boss, but met up with the [[Dinobot (Animated)| Dinobots]]. After being frightened by the Dinobots' [[Energo-sword|menacing flaming weapons,]] Rhodes and his cohorts were thoroughly trashed by the robot dinosaurs. {{storylink|Survival of the Fittest}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Colossus Rhodes's name is a reference to the [[Wikipedia:Colossus of Rhodes|Colossus of Rhodes]], one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
* [[wikipedia:Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)|A professional wrestler]] on [[wikipedia:Anabolic steroid|steroids]]? No way!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Colossus Rhodes''' (コロッソス・ロードス ''Korossosu Rōdosu'')

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Colossus}}
[[Category:Animated humans]]
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Supervillains]]

War Dawn (episode)

2015-06-09T02:46:00Z

Omgpuppies: /* Continuity errors */ corrected spelling

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Legends]]'' event|War Dawn (Legends)}}
{{episode
|image=WarDawn title.jpg
|caption=''Masterpiece'' Megatron and ''Smallest'' Optimus Prime face off.
|series=G1toon
|ep=59
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=60
|prev2=B.O.T. (episode)
|next2=Masquerade
|title="War Dawn"
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-58
|airdate=[[December 25]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Trapped in Cybertron's past, the Aerialbots learn the truth about Megatron and the rise of Optimus Prime.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:WarDawn Silverboltairways.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Do yourself a favor; don't fly coach on Autobot Airways.]]
[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] are racing through the skies with the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] in hot pursuit. They have kidnapped human dignitaries for unknown, but certainly nefarious, purposes. The Aerialbots are debating amongst themselves in pretty stark terms if humans are worth saving. After they outmaneuver the Decepticons, Starscream dumps the hostages in mid-air. He and the others escape as the Aerialbots break off to save the humans.

Back at Autobot headquarters, the Aerialbots talk amongst themselves about their admiration of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], to the ire of the other Autobots. [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] breaks in before the argument gets out of hand and alerts [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] to strange energy readings emanating from Cybertron. They board [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and head into the stratosphere to investigate.

Under the ocean, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] gripes about the Aerialbots and losing air supremacy. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] reports in that the Autobots have left earth, and Megatron goes after them across the [[space bridge]]. On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron explains that he has a time machine called a [[Kronosphere]] that he planned on using to steal energy from the past. Now, he wants to set a trap for the Aerialbots and send them back into the past.

[[File:Slingshot war dawn 1.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|As tradition dictates, Slingshot and Starscream greet one another by pulling each other's finger.]]

The Autobots arrive on a dark and dingy Cybertron, and are attacked by Starscream and the others. [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] tries to get the Decepticons to stop attacking and talk to them. Starscream and the others drop down for a chat while [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] frets. After gaining their trust, Starscream leads them right onto Megatron's Kronosphere. Silverbolt tries to warn them that it's a trap but it's too late. Megatron activates the device, intending to send them back to the beginning of time. The Aerialbots are encased in a purple bubble and disappear.

Seconds later, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots ram through the wall of the building and attack. Prime shoots the machine in order to stop it from trapping the Aerialbots in the past. The Decepticons retreat and Optimus orders the machine repaired. He estimates it has sent the Aerialbots 9 million years into the past to Cybertron's [[Golden Age]].

[[File:OrionPax Ariel.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hi, I'm Machobot... who are you?"]]

The bubble bursts and the five planes reappear on Cybertron, but it's a different world than the one they left. This Cybertron is bright and alive. The Aerialbots admire the scenery and argue about whose fault it was that the planet was trashed. Slingshot isn't ready to blame the Decepticons and says they are misunderstood. They are interrupted by a small 'bot who introduces himself as Orion Pax. He works at [[storage yard 67|the docks]] unloading energy shipments. Orion's friend [[Dion]] and girlfriend [[Ariel]] introduce themselves too. Dion alerts them to come outside and see the new type of flying robot that everyone is talking about. The Aerialbots go out and see Megatron, Soundwave and Shockwave flying overheard. Orion and Dion admire the flying robots, and Silverbolt warns them away from their hero worship. But does anybody listen to him? Nooooo.

After Orion goes back to work unloading ships, he is approached by a visitor who introduces himself as Megatron. Orion shows him around but when they reach the energy storehouse Megatron orders [[Transport drone|the Decepticons concealed outside]] to attack. When Orion tries to stop him, Megatron mercilessly shoots him and his two friends. The Aerialbots arrive after the battle to find the three Autobots inoperative.

Back in the present, Megatron is planning a counterattack to regain the Kronosphere. In nearby wreckage, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] spots the body of a [[Guardian Robot]], sans head, and Megatron plans to reactivate it. Meanwhile, Optimus, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] are still trying to repair the device.

[[File:WarDawn Prime killingmachine.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Hot lead is the right of all sentient beings!]]

In the past, the Aerialbots are carrying Orion's lifeless body to someone who can help. Slingshot is singing a very different tune now; he swears revenge on Megatron. A [[Alpha Trion (G1)|mustached figure]] from a doorway calls to them and suggests they go someplace else for help. Decepticon attacks have caused severe casualties among the Autobots. After the Aerialbots ask again, he agrees to fix Orion. After an unknown amount of time, the stranger emerges with a rebuilt Orion Pax, now going by the name Optimus Prime. Prime and the Aerialbots rush off to join the battle, while the stranger muses about rebuilding Ariel into a female warrior named [[Elita One]].

Just as the tide of battle is turning in the Decepticons' favor, Megatron is confronted by Optimus Prime, who takes out the entire Decepticon front line by himself. Meanwhile, the Aerialbots have returned to the docks to find the Decepticons raiding the energy stores.

Flashing to the present, the time machine has been fixed, but Megatron and the Decepticons attack. To further complicate things, they let loose the Guardian Robot against the Autobots.

Back in the past, the Aerialbots set [[energy pack]] charges to blow up the storehouse in order to keep the energy out of Megatron's hands. Unfortunately, they are trapped inside because Decepticon warriors are blocking the exits. Silverbolt orders Slingshot to blow up the storehouse anyway. Just as the charges go off, the Kronosphere scoops them up and brings them back to the present. They merge into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and take out the Guardian Robot. Megatron retreats and an enraged Slingshot yells after him.

As they head back to Omega Supreme, Silverbolt describes their adventures in the past, and Optimus finally recognizes the Aerialbots as the ones who saved him. Ratchet demands to know what's going on and Optimus starts to tell the tale.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (4)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (5)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (7)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (8)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (9)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]] (11)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (13)
* [[Dion]] (16)
* [[Elita One|Ariel]] (17)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (21)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (22)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (2)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (3)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (14)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (15)
* [[Transport drone|Transport drones & warriors]] (18)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (20)

|c4=
* [[Guardian robot]]s (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"There's only one way to get those Aerialbots off our tails and that's to... dump the chumps!”
:—'''Starscream''' right before he dumps the chumps, er, humans.

"Are those guys crazy?" 
"Crazy, or even dumber than I suspected."
:—'''Skywarp''' and '''Starscream''' talking about the Aerialbots who stopped fighting and want to "talk" to the Seekers.

'''Starscream''': Okay ''buddies'', we'll talk. What do you want to know? 
'''Slingshot''': I want to know why Optimus Prime thinks you're evil. 
'''Starscream''': That old rust bucket doesn't know a thing about Decepticons. Stick with me. I'll teach you some things about the Decepticons, all right. 
'''Silverbolt''': I don't believe this!
:—Starscream prepares to school the Aerialbots.

"Those little twerps. They're tryin' to switch sides!"
:—'''Ironhide''' comments on the dubious loyalty of the Aerialbots.

"The Decepticons. Boy, this'd be a great time to get to know 'em!" 
"You've just ''got'' to learn things the hard way, don'tcha?"
:—'''Slingshot''' and '''Silverbolt'''

"A warrior doesn't need a head! Just a good, strong body."
:—'''Megatron''' reveals one of his guiding philosophies, re: the downed Guardian Robot

"You may not recognize him. He is no longer Orion Pax. He is the first of our new defenders... Optimus Prime." 
"I was wrong, my friends. I admired Megatron merely because he was powerful. I failed to see how he used that power."
:—'''Alpha Trion''' introducing '''Optimus Prime'''.

'''Optimus Prime''': You've caused enough destruction for one day, Megatron! 
'''Megatron''': I haven't even ''started!'' 
''[Megatron fires several shots at Optimus Prime, all of which bounce off harmlessly]'' 
'''Megatron''': ''[shocked]'' You, who are you?! 
'''Optimus Prime''': Your worst nightmare!
:—Megatron and Optimus Prime confront each other for the first time.

"It all began about nine million years ago..." 
"Oh, great! It's gonna be one of those ''long'' stories!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''', after the latter demands to know what's going on.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:Orionpax.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|More like Orion ''Lips'', huh huh?]]
[[File:WarDawn-SilverboltAndOP.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Orion Succulent Luscious Lips. And his buddy, Silipsverbolt.]]
[[File:WarDawn superion combination.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Aerialbots! Unite, and transform into... each other!"]]
* Throughout the episode, the characters' colors are somewhat grayed out and desaturated.
* The quality of the character artwork is noticeably low. Throughout the episode, characters frequently have odd proportions, imprecise delineation, fat necks, curves where they should have straight lines... and the animators display a real fondness for putting big round juicy lips on just about everybody, from the Aerialbots to Orion and company to Megatron. Despite all this, a few random closeups are drawn at a much higher level of quality, in the distinctive [[Toei]] style.
* Rather than count all the times it happens, we'll simply note that Starscream is missing his wing Decepticon insignias in many, many shots.
* In the close-up shot of jet mode Silverbolt, he's flying with his landing gear down (odd in itself, plus it wasn't there in the shot immediately before), and his Autobot symbol is just a featureless red rectangle.
*The air battle is filled with errors:
** Slingshot is coloured like Air Raid when Skywarp is bearing down upon him
** Skydive fires purple lasers, instead of the usual Autobot orange, at Skywarp. When the lasers hit Skywarp in the next shot, they're orange.
** The black panels on Thundercracker's hull are mis-aligned as he flees from Slingshot and Fireflight.
** When Slingshot and Fireflight fly past the camera, Fireflight has three thrusters.
** Slingshot's cockpit is unpainted as they climb after Thundercracker.
** Starscream's air intakes are gray instead of red as he prepares to dump the humans.
** The same set of cries is recycled three times in a row as the hostages fall, and later on ''again'' for the Aerialbots as they're launched back in time.
** Starscream initially dumps 7 hostages. In the next shot, 14 hostages fall past the Aerialbots. In the shot after that, the Aerialbots rescue 10 hostages.
** And those "dignitaries" sure dress quite casual, especially the two that seem to sport mohawks! They must not have been at work when captured!
* Coloring errors:
**The top of Slingshot's head is consistently colored white in this episode, where it was orange in "The Key to Vector Sigma."
**While Megatron berates the Seekers for allowing the Aerialbots to defeat them, Starscream's lower right arm is coloured red instead of blue.
** Shockwave's chest window is colored the same purple as the rest of him as he flies over the loading docks.[[File:Wardawn wheeljack fixes kronosphere.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
** As Wheeljack works on the Kronosphere, the inside rims of Optimus's chest-windows are glass blue instead of red, and Wheeljack's "ears" are curved when they should be straight.
** As Alpha Trion decides to rename Ariel into Elita One, his chin is white rather than gray.

* Omega's tank component just flies off-screen when he transforms to base mode, and doesn't reappear (and it likewise flies in from off-screen when the same sequence is used in reverse on Cybertron.)
* The Autobots enter Omega's rocket component ''through the thruster'', which ignites like 1 second after they all walk in. Autobot flambé, anyone?
* Megatron's gun barrel is drawn bulbous and rounded as he communicates with Soundwave.
* The Decepticons exit the space bridge elevator not into Shockwave's spic and span [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]] complex, but into a beat-up abandoned green building. Possibly the animators conflated 'con HQ with the warehouse where the Kronosphere is set up.
*Omega Supreme disappears in a couple of frames during his transformation sequence. A second later, the animation skips backwards so that Omega is shown lowering his arms to his side twice in a row.
* "Those Autobots are weird" - Skydive, Air Raid and Fireflight are all flying with their nose landing gear down.
*When Silverbolt notifies Prime about the other Aerialbots leaving with Starscream, Prime's smokestacks are drawn totally wrong (they're white instead of gray and are sort of melting into his trailer).
* "I don't buy that story about everything being the Decepticons' fault" - Slingshot's chest is too wide, and his arms and head are too small.
*When Fireflight asks Orion what he does, Orion is drawn mouthing the words.
*The bottom of the screen has thin black lines on it for several shots just after the Aerialbots meet Orion.
*When Orion and the Aerialbots enter the loading bay for the first time, we see a vehicle that shares Dion's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and colors unloading cargo. Right after that, Dion drives into the hangar from outside.
*Skydive explains to Fireflight why Megatron wouldn't recognize them 9 million years in the past. Skydive is then shown mouthing Fireflight's "Huh?" reaction to his own statement. Huh?
* The next few shots suffer from some choppy editing. The scene abruptly cuts away from Slingshot asking "So what's the big deal?" to Megatron and Orion at the warehouse. Dion's line "Oh wow, it's one of those flying robots" gets cut off by a shot change, as does the background music.
* The cube-bots take off into the air, but their flight sound effect gets cut off half-way through the shot.
*Ariel is shown with the Aerialbots running back to the warehouse, but she's already in it (and gets shot down by Megatron) before they arrive. That was reused from the scene when Silverbolt said "That was Megatron".
*When Ariel is shot by Megatron, her cel is not properly aligned with the background, so one of her legs floats over the energon cubes.
*After all the fuss over those "new robots who can fly", Orion gets a jet sound effect as he jumps up to attack Megatron.
*As Megatron flies out of the warehouse, his cannon is on his left arm.
[[File:WarDawn-ThundercrackerPounding.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Thundercracker (in addition to having the wrong voice) is missing the metallic flange in his voice as he notes how the guardian robots used to give the Decepticons "a pounding back in the old days." In the same shot, Skywarp's helmet seems to be drooping.
*In the aerial shot of Megatron's transport drones entering the warehouse, they disappear before reaching the doorway.
*As the Aerialbots observe the drones entering the warehouse, the drones are colored like Dion rather than their correct olive green and purple. The error repeats a moment later as the last drones enter the warehouse.
* "...Then, blow it up." - the drones are shown driving in to the warehouse, in front of the cubes, but they're mislayered, miscolored and misplaced.

*When the Aerialbots return, they appear a few seconds apart for some reason. Silverbolt transforms immediately and is missing his side windows. The rest of the Aerialbots simply run out of the energy field, but they're also given transformation sounds (which doesn't make sense as they were already in their [[robot mode]]s in the past).
*As the Aerialbots start to form Superion, Slingshot and Fireflight form Superion's legs while Skydive and Air Raid form his arms. While this is different to their traditional placement, as Scramble City-type limbs, not altogether "wrong". However, once Superion is complete, Slingshot and Skydive have morphed into each other, likewise for Fireflight and Air Raid, resulting in the "normal" Superion.
*Megatron and the Decepticons fly out of the building, but the next shot shows them flying ''over'' the hole on the roof rather than ''through'' it.
* As the Autobots walk off into the sunset, Slingshot's canopy disappears.
*The original broadcast version of the episode had the entirety of act two's soundtrack incorrectly played back at too slow a speed, noticeably pitching down the dialogue and music. This was corrected for the [[Kid Rhino]] DVDs, but when [[Shout! Factory]] went back to the broadcast masters for their original audio tracks, this error was re-introduced to their DVD of the episode in order to restore it to its original broadcast version.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:WarDawn Silverboltairways.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Splat'']]
[[File:Chronosphere.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It's a chaise longue, but from... THE FUTURE!]]
* Superhuman hostages:
** The humans the Seekers dump at the beginning of the episode somehow don't die after plummeting several hundred feet and landing on the metal bodies of the Aerialbots. Your wiki editors are [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|somehow]] [[A Prime Problem|unsurprised]] [[A Plague of Insecticons|by this.]]
* It is unclear why the Aerialbots (bar Silverbolt) are so impressed by the Seekers considering the ease with which the Decepticons were defeated.
*Optimus Prime somehow knows exactly what the Kronosphere is doing despite the fact he was out of earshot when Megatron said it.
* Silverbolt's line "That was Megatron...I'm sure of it" makes no sense - Fireflight and Skydive already identified him several scenes earlier.
* Speaking of these scenes, it's not clear at all why the Aerialbots are rushing back to the docks because of Megatron - they were ''at the docks'' when Megatron flew past, and were never shown leaving; and why is Ariel with them? Did the animators think she was supposed to be included with the... Aerialbots?
* In "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]", Optimus Prime had no idea that Alpha Trion was his creator, despite the fact he has a direct interaction with him here.
* Skydive's assertion that "there's no way we can get out of here" seems dubious - they're a combiner team!
* Flashbacks in this episode depict the Autobots on Cybertron nine million years ago using [[energon cube]]s, despite the pre-movie cartoon's otherwise-consistent presentation of the cubes as the province of Decepticons alone, about which the Autobots knew nothing before 1984. The actual term "energon" is never used to refer to the cubes in this episode, however, so it may be an error on the animation level, rather than the scripting level.

===Continuity notes===
*This takes place "a few weeks" after "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]", according to Optimus Prime.
* Starscream is seen effecting repairs on Skywarp.
*This episode introduces a lot of major mythological elements from the Generation 1 cartoon, including the origin of Optimus Prime and [[Elita One]] and showing the start of the [[Great War (G1)|Third Great War]].
* While the Decepticons often threaten or injure humans, this is the first time they are shown explicitly trying to kill them via a direct act (Starscream dropping them from the sky).
*Coincidental or not, this episode marks the return of Starscream after a three episode hiatus, after Megatron seriously injured him in "Hoist Goes Hollywood".
* Cybertron has a river!
*The Aerialbots essentially succumb to that old time travel cliché of becoming their own grandfather, as they're instrumental in the (re-)creation of their own creator, Optimus Prime.
[[File:DieDionDie.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Dion, dyin'.]]
*Dion's fate is never revealed. Fans have speculated that he was also rebuilt and reformatted by Alpha Trion into a familiar character, with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] being the two most popular suspects. Of course, it's entirely possible he simply died. ''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Timelines]]'' presented yet another outcome: he was rebuilt into... Dion.
*This episode is one of the two episodes before the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] featuring a genuine [[female Transformer]].
*The headless guardian robot reactivated by Megatron and co. is totally the same one Megatron decapitated in the past, and the ruined building housing the Kronosphere is the very same warehouse the Aerialbots destroyed.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Starscream's interior apparently has enough room for <s>7</s> <s>14</s> 10 humans.
** Shockwave repairs the Guardian Robot with beams from his eye.
*The events of the minicomic "[[64 Cybertron Urban Defense Robot GADEP]]" take place around this time period, showing Megatron raiding more energon storage facilities.
*Dion's profile in ''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Timelines]]'' #4, "[[Wings of Honor]]", gave a name to the specific area of the docks which Orion and the others worked. [[Storage yard 67]] was named for [[e-HOBBY]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Collector.27s Edition|Orion Pax]] and [[Dion#Collector.27s Edition|Dion]]'s [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese identification number]].

===Real-world references===
* The sound effect in the opening shot, as the three Decepticon jets swoop past the camera, is a common one used in many Loony Toons cartoons, particularly for the Roadrunner.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effect:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Silverbolt explains the importance of the "stupid humans."
** ''Falcon'' engine burst again as the Aerialbots take off on Cybertron.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst again as Orion (one of those old bots who can't fly) flies up to attack Megatron.
** Clashing [[lightsaber]]s as the fuel warehouse explodes.

===Trivia===
[[File:UltraMagnus-FloroDery3rdConcept-OrionPax.jpg|thumb|upright|upright=1.1]]
*Orion Pax's design appears to be based on an early Ultra Magnus concept - distinct from the Powered Convoy recolour that ultimately formed the basis for that character - by [[Floro Dery]].
*In an interview on the [[Kid Rhino]] DVD set, writer David Wise says that the meeting between Orion Pax and Megatron happened differently in the original version of the script. Megatron was to blast Orion's arm off and then use it to decapitate him. Sunbow, fearing the scene was too violent, had it changed.
*For whatever reason, voice actor [[John Stephenson]] wasn't in this episode and thus Thundercracker and Alpha Trion had different voices; Alpha Trion's voice was [[Corey Burton]]'s, and Thundercracker's was that of voice director [[Wally Burr]]. Burr also filled in as [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] in "[[Kremzeek!]]" and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] in "[[Masquerade]]".
* When Skywarp gets shot down, he transforms to [[robot mode]]. The same animation is used again, recolored, when Thundercracker gets shot down... and two more times on Cybertron when the jets approach the Aerialbots to talk. Hey, who would ever notice?
*Footage from this episode was used to represent a historical video in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", the opening movie for ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]''. Most notably, a shot of Dion shielding his eyes with his hand was used out of context to represent an Autobot saluting.

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Viaggio nel passato'''" ("Journey into the Past")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''L'alba della guerra'''" ("The Dawn of the War")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hikiokosareta Sensō'''" (ひきおこされた戦争, "The Caused War")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 12]], [[1986]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Na zarye voiny'''" (На заре войны, "At the Dawn of the War")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 12: "The Secret of Omega Supreme", "War Dawn", "A Plague of Insecticons" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — The Key to Vector Sigma & War Dawn ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 5: Return to Cybertron ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 7 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/war_dawn.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Helex (G1)

2015-06-09T02:45:13Z

Omgpuppies: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */ added comma

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the member of the Decepticon Justice Division|the Decepticon city|Helex}}
:''Helex is a Decepticon from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Helex whos afraid of the djd.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|"I'm not angry, just ''disappointed''."]]
'''Helex''' is a member of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], the group of torturers and fanatics employed by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] to hunt down and deal with traitors. His bizarre and enormous form sports two pairs of arms - a big pair and a smaller one at waist level - and a cavernous torso which can be opened when he assumes his [[alternate mode]], interring an unfortunate prisoner within. Claustrophobia is the least of their worries, as his internal heating elements engage and the dissident is treated to the exquisite pain of their internal components melting down in his own personal [[smelting pool]]. To top it all, he has a liking for removing a victim's [[brain module]] and placing it into their mouths.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
When the Decepticon [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] was caught for getting bribed to destroy a fleet of [[Warworld|War Worlds]], Helex partially melted him and left him to get talked to death by [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] after the other members got a turn to torture Black Shadow. Afterwards, Helex and the other members were ordered by Tarn to move on to their next target. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}}

[[File:Mtmte08-p11-helex-smash.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|HELEX SMASH and melt and smash some more and melt and shoot and more shoot and more melt and more smash]]
Discovering their target's [[energy signature]] on the planet [[Clemency]], the D.J.D. threatened the occupants of a P-6 [[Worldsweeper]] symbol ship until they gave him up, left sealed outside in a [[stasis pod]]. However, instead of [[Fulcrum (G1)|Fulcrum]]—wanted by the D.J.D. for cowardice after failing to detonate himself as part of a [[K-Class|K-Squad]]—the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] had handed over [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], spiked with [[circuit speeder]]s. The D.J.D. battled Grimlock and the Scavengers; Helex gave a good stomping to Crankcase while shrugging off fire from Spinister. After [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]] killed [[Flywheels]], he and Helex were blasted to the ground by [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] in a [[Cybernought]]. With Fulcrum's apparent death and the discovery by [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] of their next target's location, the D.J.D. left the surviving Scavengers with a warning that they were all now on [[The List]] and took off in the ''[[Peaceful Tyranny]]'' in pursuit of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}}

The D.J.D. eventually caught up with Overlord on board a quantum duplicate of the ''[[Lost Light]]'', and proceed to massacre the Autobot crew. Upon discovering Overlord captive in a slow cell hidden aboard, Helex smirked as Tarn prepared to behead their quarry. During the slaughter, Helex killed Ratchet, Drift and Hound, and his habit of placing his victims' brain modules in their mouths later helped Megatron, from the "main" ''Lost Light'', to identify the D.J.D. as the attackers. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

After slaughtering Overlord, the DJD turned their attention to the Autobot crew. During the rather one-sided battle, Helex used his gigantic upper arms to rip [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] in half, while simultaneously firing a pair of pistols with his smaller arms - taking out [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] with a head shot. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}}}}

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Decepticons]]

Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5

2015-06-08T07:06:42Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' #5
|prev=Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4
|next=Escape (G1)
|image=Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover A.jpg
|caption=This is the end, my former friend.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 19]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=May 2010
|story=[[Nick Roche]] & [[James Roberts]]
|script=Nick Roche & James Roberts
|art=Nick Roche
|colors=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}

'''Where everything FINALLY hits the fan.'''

==Synopsis==
In [[Garrus-9]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] tears [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] in half, bashes [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] unconscious, and smirks when [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] ''destroys his right eye''. Down in the [[Aequitas]] chamber, [[Verity Carlo]] continues to argue against detonating the deterrence chips, which will kill Impactor in addition to the closing Decepticons. She puts her case to [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], arguing that he's made the Wreckers stand for something, and ''his'' [[Wrecker]]s would never kill one of their own.

[[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] decides to abandon his egotistical visions of a glorious death and tells the others to run; he'll cover them. Dying for people he cares about, he tells Ironfist, is the most he can do, and he tells Verity that the ''[[Autobot]]s'' need the humans to look after ''them''. The Wreckers withdraw, Ironfist working out a plan to deal with Overlord, while Pyro is ingloriously torn to pieces behind them. As they withdraw, at Verity's urging, Ironfist reveals the truth he's learnt about Impactor and [[Pova]]...

''Twenty years ago, pinned down on Pova, Impactor decided the best way to get a shot at [[Squadron X]] would be to fire through [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s midsection. Despite Springer's protest that he didn't have the circuit dampeners needed to avoid the pain, Impactor fired. After winning the battle, Impactor reported to [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] that the enemy had been caught, but learned [[Povian]] neutrality made the operation illegal; Squadron X would have to be released. Instead, Impactor murdered the Decepticon as they knelt in chains as Springer tried to stop him and the others stood silent...''

Back outside, Overlord has defeated Impactor, but Springer gloats that his men will soon arrive with the freed Autobot prisoners, but Overlord reveals he had already ordered the prisoners executed. Luckily, the other Wreckers do arrive and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] blasts the monster's hand off to free Springer, and Ironfist chucks him a ''massive'' chaingun, which Springer unloads into Overlord.

Overlord shrugs off the fire, ''rips off Springer's face'', and blasts Perceptor offline, leaving only Ironfist. ''That'' is when said nerd reveals the gun was loaded with deterrence chips... and detonates them.

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers5-brittlebones.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Overlord learned the hard way to never let [[The Fallen]] ever do your makeovers.]]
Ironfist falls unconscious, leaving Verity alone as Overlord rises as a ''fire-consumed, skeletal horror'', enraged that he's left unable to face [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] when he arrives. Realizing Overlord's intentions, Verity, informs him that [[All Hail Megatron issue 12|Megatron is long dead]] and laughs; Overlord thought Megatron would come for him, yet the tyrant died not remembering Overlord ''at all''. The monster collapses in despair, and Impactor rises from the mat to finish him. When Overlord fails to resist, Impactor refuses to kill him. Repenting his actions on Pova, he disables Overlord for capture and trial... as Springer would want.

Overlord is beaten and the Decepticons have fled, but four Wreckers lie dead. Springer and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] are on emergency life support, their chances of recovery unclear. Pardoned by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], Impactor and a repaired Guzzle abruptly leave. Ironfist dies en route to Earth from an aneurysm caused by a lab accident with his [[Cerebro-sensitive bullet|cerebro-centric bullet]]s eighteen months ago that left one inching towards his brain all along.

[[File:Prowl LSOTW5 Pressure.jpg|thumb|150px|]]
On Earth, Prowl takes this report and the ostensibly sole [[data slug]] Ironfist was able to make of the Aequitas data. He admits to Ultra Magnus that he knew about Ironfist's approaching death and had arranged for him to be placed on the Wreckers, his dream job, in exchange for bypassing the suicide lock on Aequitas. ("''Yes'', of ''course'' I regret it.") Prowl reveals the true reason for the mission: they couldn't allow the Decepticons to get Aequitas's records of tried ''Autobots''. Prowl recalls the horror of their charges. Magnus believes in revealing the trials; Prowl agrees, but fears the Autobots will be shattered if they learn the truth before the war ends. Departing, Ultra Magnus notes how convienient it would be for Prowl if the data were corrupted, but he likes to think Prowl better than to destroy the evidence. Alone, contemplating the slug, Prowl slightly squeezes it...

And on Earth, Verity writing as "Fisitron", muses whether this is the "end of the road" for the Wreckers or just a "stop-off" to reflect. "Because that's how we ''honor'' those we've lost: by looking ''forward'', not back."
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] (1)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (3)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (4)
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (5)
*[[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] (8)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (10)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin]] (14)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (15)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (20)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (21)
*[[Rad]] (22)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (23)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (25)
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] (26)
*[[Xaaron]] (27)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (2)
*[[Tornado]] (11)
*[[Macabre]] (12)
*[[Earthquake (G1)|Earthquake]] (13)
*[[Fang]] (18)
*[[Triton]] (19)
|c3=
*[[Verity Carlo]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's a story of sacrifice and betrayal, and of good people dying in ''stupid, pointless ways''."
:—'''"Fisitron"'''

"Oh, don't look so ''surprised''. You didn't expecte this stunted little ''wretch'' to ''survive'', did you?" 
"You're a '''maniac'''!"
:—'''Overlord''''s opinion on Guzzle's chance of living and '''Kup''' pretty much summing up readers' thoughts of Overlord.

"Ironfist! You should know better than ''anyone'' what the Wreckers are ''really'' about! They give the other Autobots something to ''believe in''!"
:—'''Verity''' trying to motivate Ironfist.

"I figure that dying to save people you ''care about'' is the most that anyone can do." 
"I think you have your ''motto''." 
"No... my ''last words''."
:—'''Pyro''' and '''Ironfist'''

"Sweet."
:—'''Springer''' gets thrown a giant gun to shoot Overlord with.

"Sweet."
:—'''Overlord''' holds Springer's face-skin in his palm.

"Oh, man, this is PERFECT! You can't accept that he never gave chase! You lived your life thinking about him every day, and he died forgetting all about you!" 
"But... But he owes me! He owes me."
:—'''Verity''' giving '''Overlord''' the ''wonderful'' news about Megatron.

"One way or another, you've killed a ''lot'' of my friends today. It's been a ''long time coming'', but this is where you get yours!"
:—'''Impactor''' to Overlord.

"You see, this is one of those stories with a ''moral''. And the moral is simply this: life persists."
:—'''Verity'''

==Notes==
* Either Springer, Perceptor, or Kup ''were'' going to die in the final issue during planning, but in the end Roche and Roberts weren't allowed to do it.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9DPbginVXE Moonbase 2's AA2010 interview], 19:00 - 19:40</ref> Also dropped was a Guzzle/Kup confrontation, as there simply wasn't ''room'' in the condensed beast for it.
* [[Autopedia]] profiles include Pyro, Guzzle, and Impactor. Huzzah!
* Part of "Fisitron's" narration on the first page is based upon Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, ''[[Wikipedia:The Charge of the Light Brigade (poem)|The Charge of the Light Brigade]]''. At the end of the issue, with Verity finishing the entry as "Fisitron", a book of [[Tennyson]]'s poetry is on the table.
* The visuals of the battle on Pova in this issue contrasts sharply with how it was depicted in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|the previous issue]]. In issue 4, the battle was depicted with a sense of non-reality (befitting a falsified story), taking place on a sunny day, with the participants having little damage upon their bodies, even in death. However, in issue 5, the reality shows a depressing, rainy landscape with the participants all showing the signs of battle injuries. When Impactor is shown standing above the corpses of Squadron X, he is splattered with their fluids.
* "[[Zero Point]]", a short story included in the second ''Last Stand'' hardcover, would reveal that Squadron X were merely refueling on Pova and that the Wreckers had started the fight unprovoked. In the same collection, [[Ferak]]'s profile says they were on a supply run and not a combat mission. No "did it to save lives" excuse for ''you'', Impactor!
* Also in "Zero Point", we learn what the Wreckers are thinking when they stand silently by: they're thinking "hooray, good ol' Impactor!" but will pretend otherwise so Springer will keep the team going.
* On Pova, Prowl admonished Impactor through a communications device in his palm which projected an image that resembles a [[communicube]]. The text story "[[Bullets]]" would later confirm these as communicubes.
* Ironfist's little head scar had been around since #1, so we'd all been visually forewarned what his accident had been...
* The scenes of the dead prisoners is a deliberate copy of #3's scene of the imprisoned prisoners hearing the Wreckers have come to save them...
* The final scene takes place in [[Mister O's]].
* The police car parked outside is not [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] or [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]].<ref>[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Fisitron's Facts]]</ref>
* Impactor's [[Autopedia]] profile mentions that Impactor got the idea for his harpoon arm after meeting an unnamed dimension-hopping "freelance peacekeeping agent" who had been "ricocheting from universe to universe after leaping through an exploding time portal." [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], yes? Their meeting is chronicled in ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'', [[Datalog]] 151, which refers to the [[The Legacy of Unicron!|Marvel UK issue number]] in which Death's Head leaps through a time portal with [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and disappears from the story. The title of said datalog, "The Wreckers at the Crossroads of Time", refers to the short ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'' story, "The Crossroads of Time", which saw the titular Time Lord have a run-in with Death's Head following the time portal incident.
* Near the end of the issue we see [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] on trial.
* Autopedia tells us that Pyro suffers from [[Primus apotheosis]].
* Pyro's profile reveals he was at the [[Simanzi Massacre]], same as [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] in his profile. Both began to suffer their personality disorders following the Massacre...
* Speaking of Datalog numbers, the Datalog retelling of this series is numbered #332, which was the total number of issues of the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic had.
* Prowl starts to squeeze the chip a bit but it's left ambiguous as to whether he actually destroyed it. Even Roche and Roberts don't know whether Prowl did it! <ref>[http://tfarchive.com/community/showpost.php?p=690984&postcount=228 Fan account of the Auto Assembly 2010 Q&A]</ref> So how dodgy do ''you'' think Prowl is?
* James Roberts has noted that Prowl never asks about the Autobot prisoners, the alleged reason the Wreckers were sent in the first place. Brr.
* Ultra Magnus is shown in this issue in the design that [[Don Figueroa]] gave him for the first arc of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]].
*At the end of this issue, Kup and Perceptor are the only active Wreckers, with the other eight either dead, AWOL (Impactor and Guzzle), discharged (Whirl), or in critical condition (Springer), not counting Roadbuster.
* Perceptor uses his pretty-much-forgotten third "tank" mode in this issue.

===Errors===
* In the first scene in the Aequitas chamber, Topspin's body is initially colored gray and black (deactivated), but on the next page, it is colored normally.
* In the panel where Verity is on her knees mourning Ironfist's death, the part of the shirt below her ribcage is colored like skin.

===Real-world references===
* One of the sites of Flame's atrocities, [[Babu Yar]], is named very similarly to a [[wikipedia:Babi Yar|famous historical massacre site on Earth]].
* Amongst Flame's atrocities is listed the crime of "circuit-boarding", a reference to the torture technique controversially used by the CIA known as [[wikipedia:Waterboarding|waterboarding]]—kind of appropriate for a rogue Autobot.
* In what's likely a deliberate reference to the "Inquisitor" episode of the British sci-fi sitcom ''Red Dwarf'', Impactor almost directly quotes that show's Dave Lister, with his line to Overlord: "One way or another, you killed a lot of my friends today".

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' A silhouette of Overlord looming over Impactor and Springer amidst flames with several Autobot grave markers in front of them, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover B:''' A Transformer hand lying on the ground, art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
* '''Cover RI:''' "Virgin" title-free edition of cover B.
<gallery>
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover A.jpg|
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover B.jpg|
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide]]'' [[The Iron Age|issue 1]]
* [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]: Disavowed'' TPB
* ''[[Star Trek]]: Motion Picture Trilogy''
* ''Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo'' TPB
* ''The Family Circus Library: Book 2''
* [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s ''The Wonderful Wizard of OZ'' TPB
* Comic app for the iPhone and iPod touch

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Last Stand of the Wreckers issues]]

Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires

2015-06-08T06:33:43Z

Omgpuppies: /* Synopsis */ typo

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=32
|prev=Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five
|next=The World of Tomorrow
|caption=Let's face it: we all knew this would happen eventually.
|image=RID32 subcvr.jpg
|title="Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 20]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=August 2014
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]] [[Brendan Cahill]] (pages 7, 10, 11, 13)
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]] [[Joana Lafuente]] (pages 7, 10, 11, 13)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''Prowl turns the tables on the EDC and the Decepticons as the search for Alpha Trion reaches a climax. But what other secrets is the EDC hiding...?'''

==Synopsis==

''Half a million years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] watch as [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] leaves the planet. Though he accepts that Metroplex's departure is necessary, Prowl bemoans the fact that it has only come about as a result of the illogicality of war. As he watches [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] lead the charge into battle down below, he confides in his friend that Prime's reactive style of leadership is not what the Autobots need; rather, they need someone who can plan for the future...''

''As the [[Ark-7]] draws near to [[Earth]], Prowl remarks that it's "nice to come home", surprising [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], who remembers the [[Autobot]]s' last visit to the planet and Prowl's dramatic fallout with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Prowl brushes the matter aside and changes the subject, asking if Cosmos trusts Prime's leadership, and revealing that he asked him to come along because he needs someone he can trust.''

As the Autobots are attacked by the Decepticon spaceship on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]], in the secret [[Earth Defense Command]] base below the island's surface, Prowl stops [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from disconnecting the captive [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] by pressing his gun to Jazz's head. Prowl withdraws the weapon as soon as he has Jazz's attention, having only intended to make a point, and explains that Trion's presence is not the final piece of the puzzle: the ancient Autobot has clearly only been there for a few months, and the EDC have obviously had their "mind bomb" weapon for longer than that. Realizing that there must be another Cybertronian within the base, the pair set out to search for it, unaware that their presence has already been detected by [[Sanjay Bharwaney]]'s equipment. At [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s direction, Bharwaney targets Prowl with the mind bomb, instantly knocking him out.

Meanwhile, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] flies [[Marissa Faireborn]] to Bikini Atoll; as they draw closer, his confusion over the island's name gives way to a refusal to fly into the middle of the combat zone, out of concern for [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]]'s safety. He lands some distance away, and an exasperated Faireborn doesn't even bother to argue, racing for the base on foot.

As Jazz tries to drag Prowl's unconscious form through the base, his way is barred by Soundwave, who reveals the existence of his spy within the Autobot ranks. As this standoff plays out, however, Prowl's mind is hard at work: in actuality, he ''wanted'' to be attacked by the mind bomb, thereby allowing his mind to be connected to the EDC's network. As he searches through their computer banks from within, he comes upon a heavily encrypted data point, but has no time to decode it; instead, he interfaces with the base's weapons systems, and unleashes every missile in the EDC's arsenal against the Decepticon ship, blowing it out of the sky. Next, he activates their army of tanks and jets, turning them on Soundwave so that Jazz can continue getting himself and Prowl's body to safety.

Outside, Thundercracker runs for cover from the fire and debris created by the attack on the Decepticon ship, slipping and tumbling into a crevasse. Momentarily filled with horror over the belief that he has crushed Buster in the fall, his relief to discover that his canine companion is fine is immediately replaced with screaming terror at something unseen...

Jazz and Prowl emerge from the base, rejoining Prime's Autobot squad and the same time as the stealth-painted [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]; [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] even reveals that he's not ''really'' a Decepticon spy, but fed Soundwave information on Prowl's orders. Prowl and the Constructicons merge into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and cover the Autobots as they quickly enter the base, recover Alpha Trion, then return to board [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and withdraw. As [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[D.O.C.]] administer medical aid to the ancient—but still chipper—'bot, Optimus chews Prowl out over his dangerous, secretive actions. Prowls retorts that the new age they now find themselves in holds many dangers, and that logic and planning are what is needed to survive, not heroic reaction. Prime backs down, begrudgingly admitting that the mission was a success, but Prowl then tells him about the EDC's secret data, and believes he knows who they need to find in order to solve the mystery.

As the EDC base crumbles, [[Sparkplug Witwicky|General Witwicky]] attempts to order an evacuation when he is confronted by [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]. The Decepticon commander remains displeased over the humans' use of the mind bomb against him and is intent on revenge, and although Witwicky tries to give him a message to pass on to his son, Galvatron pays the general no heed and atomizes him with a blast from his cannon. Marissa Faireborn presently arrives in the command centre, and Galvatron professes that Prowl was responsible for the general's death; Faireborn knows of the bad blood between Prowl and the Witwicky family and is easily led into believing the lie.

Thundercracker and Buster flee Bikini Atoll, and as he circles the globe, the Seeker's experiences on the island clearly inform his continued work on his screenplay. As he writes about "Susan Journeyer" making a shocking discovery in "Josh Boyfriend's" secret apartment, his mind flashes back to the sight he glimpsed in the crevasse on the island... an EDC-made army of drones based on his old allies, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'' (1)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (2)
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (3)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (4)
*''[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]]'' (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (9)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (18)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (35)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Needlenose]] (10)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (11)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (12)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (14)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (15)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (21)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (22)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (26)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (36)

|h4=[[Human]]s|c4=
*[[Jones]] (23)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Daniel Witwicky]] (24)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney]] (25)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (27)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[D.O.C.]] (16)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (28)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (29)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (30)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (31)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (32)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (33)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (34)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] drones (37)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] drones (38)
}}

==Quotes==

"'''Bikini Atoll''', huh? I actually thought bikinis were '''something''' else entirely." 
"'''Thundercracker,''' just... just give me ten '''seconds''' to '''think'''." 
"Well, I want to be a better writer, so I '''have''' to learn about your human culture '''somehow''', Faireborn. If '''you''' don't tell me, I'll just pick it up on the '''internet'''."
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Marissa Faireborn'''

"The '''telepathic device.''' I '''understand''' the weapon, and I applaud the ingenuity. But you must '''understand'''... there are consequences to using it on '''me'''." 
"Wait. '''My son.''' Tell my son—" 
''(CHOOM!)'' 
"I hope your sun shines in whatever '''Afterspark''' awaits you, General Daniel."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Daniel Witwicky'''

"''Ah.'' "Son". An '''offspring.''' How... '''charming''' a method of procreation."
:—'''Galvatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The departure of Metroplex from Cybertron was previously seen in a flashback in [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|issue #28]].
*Ramjet and Thrust have been dead for quite some time in IDW continuity; Ramjet was torn to bits by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] in his [[Spotlight: Ramjet|self-titled ''Spotlight'']] seven years prior, while an injured Thrust was left to burn by human police in ''[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]'' four years ago. EDC has evidently been able to get ahold of their remains to make this army of duplicates; in the case of Ramjet that's partially Megatron's fault, as he rather unwisely and rather prominently spread Ramjet's dismembered parts around the world.
**This isn't [[Machination|the first time]] humans have attempted to create an army of robots reverse-engineered from Cybertronians in the IDW Universe.

===Transformers references===
*The title page of this issue is an homage to the poster for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's sub-title is taken from the Gary Numan song, "I Dream of Wires".

===Errors===
*On the second-to-last page "Josh Boyfriend" is consistently misspelled as "Josh Boyfreind". This was fixed for the trade paperback collection.

===Other trivia===
*This is labeled "chapter 5"; every other installment of "Earthfall" has been a "part", not a "chapter".
*Prowl calls Scavenger "Scrapper" while explaining how he ordered them to leak information to the Decepticons. However, due to this ''not'' being corrected for the trade paperback collection, combined with the fact that he does exactly the same thing to Long Haul in issue [[Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|#36]] (and is called out on it in-story), this is not the error it appears....

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Optimus Prime, Thundercracker and Buster, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Optimus Prime versus Prowl, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' Optimus Prime kneels by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s dead body during [[Unicron]]'s rampage, as seen in [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics series]], by Casey Coller and [[John-Paul Bove]]
<gallery>
File:RID32 regcvr.jpg|
File:RID32 subcvr.jpg|
File:RID32 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

*''Robots in Disguise'' #33
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Slaughterhouse|#32]]
*''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #2
*''Spirit Animals''
*''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/21909-transformers-robots-in-disguise-32-preview.html Preview]