Megatron Origin - the mini series

I've been catching up on reading the recent Transformers comics lately. Yesterday, I read Megatron Origin. It blew my socks off.

It rocked my world.

It's awesome. (So much so it was in my dreams last night)

Eric Holmes weaved an origin that is every bit as convincing and intricate as Furman is doing for the IDW TF-verse. More importantly, through the use of themes and designs from Dreamwave's War Within (vol.1), Megatron Origin confirms the former's validity as Optimus Prime's origin story. If nothing from the Dreamwave TF-verse survives the IDW transition, we know at the very least that War Within (vol.1) did, for now.

When Holmes indicated that he was writing this series because Megatron is his favourite Transformer, I was skeptical about how good a series he could pen. As it turned out, all the details and G1-ness that he put into the story has proven, to me at least, beyond doubt that he certainly knows Megatron and may only so know if that is indeed his favourite Transformer.

*Spoilers from this point forward*

So why was it awesome? In short, the series revealed Megatron's motivations and visions, the origin of his ruthlessness, how he acquired his arsenal and very importantly- how, when and why were the Decepticons formed.

While reading, I continually went 'oh yes', 'so that is how it came about', 'nice point', or just screaming 'woowwwww!'. Below at some of the instances.

Issue #01:

• Megatron began as a miner. Which may go a little to explaining his immense strength and endurance;
• He meets Rumble and Frenzy on a prison transport ship. Rumble and Frenzy were miners too, which could explain why one had pile drivers and the other has sonic powers- it was for mining purposes; and
• Megatron showed tactical brilliance toward the end of the first issue and this could have developed into his powress at military strategy later on.

Issue #02:

• Megatron versus Cy-Kill for real! The future leader of the Decepticons versus the leader of the Renegade Go-Bots. Megatron killed him just as surely as Transformers killed the Go-Bot toyline;
• Sunstreaker is always present in the gladiatorial battles (panel 5, page 5; panel 6, page 10);
• assorted Transformers and lots of Go-Bots cheering for Megatron (page 7);
• Ratbat is shown with a body and as a very calculative Senator (pages 8, 9);
• Blaster's friend, Scrounge, from Marvel Transformers #17 appears! (panel 1, page 15);
• Soundwave offers Megatron his arsenal including the Flail (Morningstar) that he used when battling Prime in G1 More than Meets the Eye part 2; and
• Bumper dies (hooray!).

Issue #03:

• Soundwave uses a rub symbol to show his allegiance! (panel 4 & 5, page 1);
• Megatron meets the 3 original seekers for the first time. Flying Transformers are a rare new thing- kudos to the G1 episode War Dawn;
• Megatron 'officially' gets his energon flail when Hook installs it (page 6);
• Elita-One, Orion Pax (because he does not have a mouth guard; alternatively this could be Optronix), Alpha Trion, Prowl, Wheeljack and Ironhide appear (panel 5, page 8);
• Sunstreaker and Sideswipe answers Megatron's call to arms. The Stunticons, Predacons and Dynobots (Dinobots) answer as well;
• Rumble and Frenzy are shown after their mode conversion to cassettes to 'work better with Soundwave' (page 14);
• Sixshot appears during Megatron's speech (extreme left, page 15); and
• Starscream's first betrayal of Megatron.

Issue #04:

• Starscream gifts Megatron his fusion cannon!;
• the Insecticon Kickback appears (panel 4, page 7);
• Sentinel Prime 'goes Apex' perhaps implying that all Primes have this ability. After all, what was the Godbomber armour in Japanese continuity is, after the Hasbro TRU exclusive reissue, now officially Apex amour Optimus Prime in terms of US continuity;
• the origin of Ratbat's cassette mode;
• Megatron kills Sentinel Prime and presumably, it is shortly after this point that Dreamwave's War Within (vol.1) picks up; and
• Megatron coins the term 'Decepticons'.

There is so much more in the four issues. So much, that words cannot fully describe. So I'll use pictures.

Next: Issue #02 easter eggs

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Read all Megatron Origin chapters!
Chapter 01: The Mini Series
Chapter 02: Issue #02 easter eggs
Chapter 03: Issue #03 easter eggs
Chapter 04: Issue #04 easter eggs (part 1)
Chapter 05: Issue #04 easter eggs (part 2)
Chapter 06: Quotes from Megatron Origin