All Hail Megatron Discussion thread

[Shockwave]

It's Transformers characters *being Transformers characters.*

You mean it's Transformers characters acting like some brief back of the box toy descriptions from 25 years ago?

Yes. I liked those descriptions and always wanted to see them expanded upon. I don't feel they ever really were. It's one of the main reasons why I like the fact that Galvatron isn't simply "Megatron on crack". And citin the cartoon series holds zero wheight with me as the series couldn't even maintain continuity within a single episode, much less a season or the whole series. And their interpretations of the characters were so far off base (in most cases) that it's impossible to get any actual development out of them. AHM gave me all the things I've wanted to see the characters be and more and apparently it did the same for O6 and Dom.

[andersonh1]

Since I'm planning on picking up the ongoing series in November, I've pretty much decided that I'm willing to spend $4 a month on a Transformers comic. That being the case, I drove over to the comic shop today on my lunch hour and picked up All Hail Megatron #15. I didn't have time to read the entire issue, but I read the first story, which follows up on the Kup spotlight.

I like it. I liked it quite a bit actually. Because not only does it follow up nicely on Kup's story, but it makes great use of Prowl. Prowl of course has a preference for logic over emotion, and thus his assessment of the flaws in the Autobot army seems like a conclusion he might well come to, right or wrong. The fact that he takes the action he does, to manipulate Kup and use his status as a hero in order to push Prowl's own point of view, is highly unethical. And yet it seems believable that Prowl might abandon his ethics and resort to something like this rather than let the war be lost, which would be a far worse outcome.

While I don't agree with what Prowl has done, I find the whole string of reasoning and actions that he takes to be plausibly within the bounds of the character as established. And more to the point, I find them interesting. Interesting for what they say about Prowl, and interesting for the consequences that might come into play down the line.

Now I just have to read the rest of the comic.

[Onslaught Six]

Get the first AHM TPB, you probably won't regret it!

[andersonh1]

Get the first AHM TPB, you probably won't regret it!

I'm planning on it. I see volume two is supposed to be out soon as well.

Finished the issue, and the second story about Perceptor. It's certainly a change to have him upgrading himself and deciding that he's got to be more of a fighter and less of a scientist. I"m sure had I read all the issues up to this point that I'd have a bit more background on his decision, but there's enough explanation in this issue to allow me to follow Perceptor's reasoning.

I enjoyed both stories quite a bit. There's some really good character work in this issue.

[Sparky Prime]

The Decepticons being aimless is the point of the story.

As I've said several times, there was still plenty for the Decepticons to do. Even Megatron indicates he still has plans but instead, he wastes time while waiting for Starscream to make his decision. That shifts the focus of the story from aimless Decepticons more toward simply stalling for time until something actually interesting happens.

But, the longer between reboots, the more baggage builds up, resulting in the need for "Saga" type books that exist to give summaries of long running series. (These can be incredibly difficult to read through, which arguably hurts the titles in question further.)

I don't agree. Really, isn't DC the only company to do a "Saga" type book for such a purpose? Marvel tried to do a company wide reboot in the 90's (minus the "Crisis" level event) but it failed, resulting in that reboot being ignored and the original continuity restored.

But this case, it looked like Mirage really might have been a traitor.

Not at all. It was more like: "We think we might have a traitor" *our perspective suddenly shifts to Mirage*. Then Ironhide lets his anger get to him and he beats Mirage up based on nothing but a "gut feeling". There was nothing substantial to actually suggest Mirage was a traitor.

AHM gave me all the things I've wanted to see the characters be and more and apparently it did the same for O6 and Dom.

Which is something that could have just as easily have been accomplished with out taking the story out of context like AHM does.

[BWprowl]

Hey, I don't know how on-topic this would be considered, but I was checking out that promo image for the Ongoing comic, and I caught something...interesting...



Yeaaaaah...

[Shockwave]

Hey, I don't know how on-topic this would be considered, but I was checking out that promo image for the Ongoing comic, and I caught something...interesting...



Yeaaaaah...

And right beneath that is Sunstreaker. That sound you hear is the sound of Dom's voice cursing McCarthy.

[Onslaught Six]

It's clearly some kind of flashback-montage picture and not anything to do with the actual series. You're missing the big picture, the fact that f'in MEGATRON is over there. Since he's dead too. Or mostly dead.

And the Dinobots are palling around with the Autobots. That's just not right at all.

[Dominic]

Oh, that is is. BWP.....you are.....

gonna have to wait until I answer the rest of the posts.......

While I don't agree with what Prowl has done, I find the whole string of reasoning and actions that he takes to be plausibly within the bounds of the character as established. And more to the point, I find them interesting. Interesting for what they say about Prowl, and interesting for the consequences that might come into play down the line.

I can see being bothered by what Prowl has done. But, I really cannot say it was that bad. Kup was a vegetable at that point, and Prowl needed a way to productively motivate the troops.

It is probably a safe bet that these ideas will never be followed up though, given that IDW is changing direction again.

Even Megatron indicates he still has plans but instead, he wastes time while waiting for Starscream to make his decision.

Reread issue 5, where Megatron and Starscream banter while TC and SW brood. Megatron is not waiting for Starscream to make a decision. He is trying to keep the Decepticons occupied enough to not kill each other. Megatron needs Starscream to, for lack of a better term, grow up a bit.

I don't agree. Really, isn't DC the only company to do a "Saga" type book for such a purpose? Marvel tried to do a company wide reboot in the 90's (minus the "Crisis" level event) but it failed, resulting in that reboot being ignored and the original continuity restored.

Marvel has been doing "Saga" books that summarize years of tedious back-story in preparation for the next big event. Some of them have some interesting touches, such as being written in character voice. But, they are most back-story that readers have to pay for.

Not at all. It was more like: "We think we might have a traitor" *our perspective suddenly shifts to Mirage*. Then Ironhide lets his anger get to him and he beats Mirage up based on nothing but a "gut feeling". There was nothing substantial to actually suggest Mirage was a traitor.

Between the fact that they said "there is a traitor in the main cast", and the content of the Mirage focused issue of "Spotlight", there was actual reason to think Mirage was the traitor.

Which is something that could have just as easily have been accomplished with out taking the story out of context like AHM does.

I am not against "Elseworlds" type stories. But, IDW likely wanted to have a main-line book instead of something that was self-contained, especially after the failure of "Hearts of Steel". (Granted, it failed because Dixon dropped the ball. But, IDW may have drawn the lesson that out-of-context stories cannot work.)

And right beneath that is Sunstreaker. That sound you hear is the sound of Dom's voice cursing McCarthy.

Actually, it is Costa who is writing the on-going. And, it might be more editorial fiat than any decision by Costa responsible for whatever the new status quo is.

The image Prowl posted might not even be part of the comic in any real way. The image might be any number of things. It could be a flash-back. Or, it could be a random pin-up/promotional. Those often have little enough to do with the comics themselves.

Of course, as this is yet another reboot, it is not unreasonable to think IDW might be setting everything back the way it was....in preparation for the next big stupid event. Thundercracker and Sunstreaker coming back, as well as any other off-panel change, can be explained by the 3 year gap.

Wow, "Transformers" is going to be like every other stupid comic out there, because that business model apparently works so well.


Dom
-habit only goes so far.

[Sparky Prime]

Reread issue 5, where Megatron and Starscream banter while TC and SW brood. Megatron is not waiting for Starscream to make a decision. He is trying to keep the Decepticons occupied enough to not kill each other. Megatron needs Starscream to, for lack of a better term, grow up a bit.

You're missing the obvious conflict of interests... If Megatron was waiting for Starscream to make a move one way or another, then obviously Megatron wouldn't reveal that to Starscream in issue 5. He's waiting for Starscream to either side with him or take a stance against him. Issue 5 is just Megatron stalling, waiting to see what would happen.

Marvel has been doing "Saga" books that summarize years of tedious back-story in preparation for the next big event. Some of them have some interesting touches, such as being written in character voice. But, they are most back-story that readers have to pay for.

I have no idea what you're talking about. To my knowledge, Marvel doesn't have anything like that, save for 1 series back in the 80's literally called "Marvel Saga" to illustrate an overview of the Marvel Universe up to that point.

Between the fact that they said "there is a traitor in the main cast", and the content of the Mirage focused issue of "Spotlight", there was actual reason to think Mirage was the traitor.

That's not reason enough. The Mirage Spotlight, no one knows where, how or even if it fits with the continuity. Is it just a dream? Or an alternate reality? Maybe just a fantasy from the writer? No one knows. As such, it's content isn't reliable. Not to mention McCarthy's tendency to ignore and change things anyway. As for a traitor in the main cast, again, that doesn't narrow it down to anyone in-particular.

Of course, as this is yet another reboot, it is not unreasonable to think IDW might be setting everything back the way it was....

It's another "soft reboot" actually and I doubt they'd just reset everything to the way it was. Actually, we already know that the Autobots will be dealing with an Earth that doesn't trust or like them after the events of AHM.