Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Transformers #14In Image and Skybound’s new Energon Universe,Transformersfans will never see Megatron’s original alt-mode the same way again thanks to a genius new reveal. As seen in recent issues ofTransformers, the secret origins of Starscream have been revealed, including his first interactions with Megatron himself. To that end, it’s been revealed that Megatron’s gun form is far more powerful and more cruel than was ever seen in the original animated series of the ’80s.
As seen in Daniel Warren Johnson’sTransformers #14,Starscream is still reeling from his recent betrayal at the hands of Soundwavewho nearly beat him to death before taking command of the Decepticons for himself. Now, Starscream has woken up to find his upper half attached to a HISS tank, courtesy of a group of mercenaries working for Cobra they’ve rigged to blow if he doesn’t cooperate. While temporarily working alongside these humans,Starscream reflects on his past when he was first recruited by Megatron, specifically the first time the Decepticon leader had Starscream wield him in his gun form:
Remarkably, it’s revealed that Megatron in his gun form is far more powerful than was ever realized. While he still needs someone to wield him,Megatron is apparently able to coerce the wielder to do his will (whether they like it or not). To that end, Starscream’s first time wielding Megatron as a gun in the Energon Universe canon sees the air commander having no choice but to murder prisoners of war against his will.
Megatron Needs Someone To Wield Him In His Gun Form
(But He Ends Up Wielding Them)
The concept of Megatron always needing someone else to hold and shoot him in his alt-mode always felt like an odd choice in the original animatedTransformerscanon. After all, it felt like he was effectively giving up degrees of autonomy and agency with his forces doing all the real work. To that end, it’s not surprising thatmany future continuities would abandon the gun alt mode in favor of Megatron turning into a tankor some other vehicle of war. As such, it’s a primary reason why this brand-new addition to the concept is so compelling in Skybound’s new Energon Universe canon.
Megatron Is Back, & Transformers' Energon Universe Will Never Be the Same
The FCBD Energon Universe Special reveals just what happened to Megatron, and now the true Decepticon leader is back in a big way for 2024.
While Megatron himself admits that his alt-mode has its limits, the fact that he can coerce his wielders to shoot whomever he desires is a genius way for the Decepticon leader to retain a cruel level of authority in his gun form. As seen in this issue, the younger Starscream has no choice but to kill the prisoners, despite having been conflicted and having said as much to Megatron who cares little about his inner turmoil or what he wants.While he may need to be wielded, Megatron ends up being the true wielder regardless, thanks to this new power while in his gun form.
Becoming Megatron’s Brutal Executioner
While the previous issue fleshed outStarscream’s more sympathetic origins to a much greater degree,Transformers #14absolutely hammers the idea home that Starscream had very little choice but to become the brutal and merciless bot he is in the present.As Megatron’s primary wielder and executioner, the idea is that Starscream was in truth nothing more than Megatron’s pawn, gradually becoming desensitized until cruelty and hate became second nature. As such, it makes Starscream a far more tragic and complex villain, while also making Megatron’s original gun mode far more dangerous and powerful than ever before in theTransformersfranchise.
Transformers #14is on sale now from Image Comics.
Transformers (2023)
Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.
