Megatron Origin issue 4

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<tr style="font-size:14px;"> <td class="tti_buttonlink">« </td><td align="center">The Transformers: Megatron Origin #4 </td><td align="right" class="tti_buttonlink"> </td></tr> <tr class="tt1_secondarynav"> <td class="tti_buttonlink"> </td><td align="center"> </td><td align="right" class="tti_buttonlink"> </td></tr></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 12px; background-color:#ffffff;" align="center"> <img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/8/87/MO_4_b.jpg/230px-MO_4_b.jpg" width="230" height="365" border="0" /><br />I... Need... A... Breathmint!!! </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center"> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Publisher </td><td> IDW Publishing </td></tr> <tr> <td>Date published </td><td> October 24, 2007 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Cover date </td><td> September 2007 </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Written by </td><td> Eric Holmes </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Art by </td><td> Alex Milne </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Colors by </td><td> Josh Perez and Mark Bristow </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Color assist by </td><td> Gabe Eltaeb </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Letters by </td><td> Neil Uyetake </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Edits by </td><td> Andrew Steven Harris </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Continuity </td><td> IDW continuity </td></tr> <tr> <td>Chronology </td><td> Megatron Origin </td></tr>

</table> The former miner-turned-gladiator-turned-rebel leader kills lots of other guys for the hell of it.

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

Sentinel Prime radios to the other Autobots that he's created a route that can be used to fight against the enemy. But when his armor's helmet is shattered by Hound's body, he discovers that Megatron still functions. Their struggle takes them over a precipice as they battle while discussing Megatron's goal: Megatron wants to transform the world. With a final strike, Megatron (possibly) kills the Prime.

The other Autobots arrive, following Sentinel Prime. They find their leader's body. Prowl, assuming command, orders a retreat.

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

The Great War has begun...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

<table border="5" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" align="center" style="border:#800000"> <tr> <th style="background:#FFEEEE"> Autobots</th><th style="background:#EEEEFE"> Decepticons</th><th style="background:#FFEEB8"> Others </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top">

• Sentinel Prime (19)
• Prowl (20)
• Blades (21)
• Hound (22)
• Ironhide (23)
• Trailbreaker (24)
• Springer (29)
• Jetfire (30)
• Hubcap (31)

</td><td style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top">

• Starscream (1)
• Megatron (2)
• Soundwave (3)
• Ravage (4)
• Buzzsaw (5)
• Laserbeak (6)
• Squawkbox (7)
• Thundercracker (8)
• Skywarp (9)
• Rumble (10)
• Frenzy (11)
• Motormaster (12)
• Runamuck (13)
• Kickback (14)
• Bonecrusher (15)
• Mixmaster (16)
• Drag Strip (26)
• Dead End (27)
• Razorclaw (28)

</td><td style="background:#FFEEB8" valign="top">

• Grapple (17)
• Inferno (18)
• Senator Ratbat (25)

</td></tr></table>

Quotes

"Heh. Nobody's perfect."

—Starscream, after hearing a long list of charges against him.

"Through your own interests you created this. You brought us here. You didn't just make it possible—you made it happen."

—Starscream, before the court.

"Hmm. Yes. There's something about this."

—Megatron, upon receiving his arm cannon.

"Situation—war. Resources—limited. Optimal solution—repurpose valuable resource."

—Soundwave, while downgrading Senator Ratbat.

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

—Sentinel Prime and Megatron

Errors

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

Items of note

• Civilians cry out "Primus!" when they are attacked by Thundercracker and Skywarp. His name is only used as a curse here, but it is the first time their creator's name is mentioned in this continuity in which writer Simon Furman has claimed Primus and Unicron will never take part.
• According to Alex Milne, Sentinel Prime isn't actually dead, and the script called for him to look like he could go either way.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-0" title="">[1]</a></sup> But he is drawn with a gaping hole in his chest and an expression of horror frozen on his face, and his colors are extremely washed-out. The dialogue leaves the question "He alive?" spoken but unanswered.
• Sentinel Prime uses Apex Armor, a reference to the Commemorative Series reissue of Powermaster Optimus Prime.
• Megatron's intention to "create desolation — and call it peace!" is a paraphrase of the real-life <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caledonians" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Caledonians">Caledonian</a> chieftain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgacus" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Calgacus">Calgacus</a>, who described the philosophy of the Romans he was fighting against: "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace." Megatron's wording also reflects the motto from his original bio, "Peace through tyranny."
• Starscream gives Megatron his fusion cannon. It shouldn't be hard too see the irony in this.

Covers (3)

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<td style="padding:0 1em 0 1em;text-align:right;"><div class="tti_messageboxdiv" style="width:100%;padding:.5em; background-color:#efefff; border:solid 1px #9f9fff;text-align:center;margin:auto;">

They're actually both looking for characterization.

<span style="font-size:125%;font-weight:900;">Let's see what you can see...</span><hr /> This article is in need of images.

</div><small>Specifics: Cover RI</small> </td></tr></table> </center>

• Cover A: Megatron stands over a defeated Sentinel Prime by Alex Milne (pencils) and Josh Perez (colors)
• Cover B: Megatron screaming by Marcelo Matere (pencils) and Andrew Elder (colors)
• Cover RI-A: uncolored cover A

<table class="gallery" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0; width: 150px;"><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/f/f3/MO_4_a.jpg/80px-MO_4_a.jpg" width="80" height="120" border="0" /></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> Um... Spoiler alert!

</div> </div></td> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0; width: 150px;"><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/8/87/MO_4_b.jpg/75px-MO_4_b.jpg" width="75" height="119" border="0" /></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> </div> </div></td> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div style="height: 152px;">MO 4 RI.jpg</div> <div class="gallerytext"> </div> </div></td> </tr> </table>

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References

<ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-0">[#cite_ref-0" title="">↑</a> <a href="http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411#37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ol>