I think the meta-theme so far of Costa's series is how the lack of a strong leader and unifying cause, for either Autobot or Decepticon, is a nearly debilitating problem for both factions. The Autobots have fared better since Bumblebee stepped up to the plate and is actually showing a degree of competence, even if all the Autobots are still deferential to Prime. The Decepticons have fragmented far worse, with some even going so far as to ally themselves with human 'leaders' in order to survive. And while the Autobots don't turn on each other in the same homicidal way that the Decepticons do, we certainly saw some animosity and parting of the ways.Sparky Prime wrote:Yeah, there is that as well. Which is another reason I really don't see that issue 7 is supposed to be looking at his leadership as Dom suggests.Onslaught Six wrote:Megatron's leadership style was already well-defined within All Hail Megs. That was the entire *point* of that book.
What we're seeing here is a society in its death throes, where only the most hardy have survived as long as they have. And they've done that by jettisoning everything except the drive to fight and win the war. The culture and government that they once had is gone, their home planet is gone, and without the war that has dominated their history for centuries, they lack direction and purpose. Even during "peacetime", in the absence of open war, what are the Autobots doing? They've allied themselves with Skywatch, and are out there looking for Decepticons to restrain. They're still going through the motions, just as they have for a long time. Thundercracker, of all people, seems to be the only one who has generally managed to break out of the cycle, and even he is tempted back into it easily by Bumblebee.
Prime has it figured out, which is why he removed himself from the leadership post. He wanted to force the Autobots to change. The Decepticons don't have either a leader with the same concern for his followers, nor do most of them have the capacity to settle down and live a "normal", non-fighting life, as AHM showed us.
