All Hail Megatron Discussion thread

[Onslaught Six]

You are. Clench is one of the obscure Euro G1.5/early G2 guys. The G2 Decepticon symbol is definitely loosely based on him (just as the Autobot symbol is loosely based on Clench's Autobot counterpart, Pyro) and he's crazy awesome.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Clench

86 and I have loved this guy for years, and then he shows up in Megs Origin and we're all Holy Shit Clench and then he dies and it sucks. The fact that they also have Skyquake show up later and do positively nothing is a travesty. Plus, well, the whole thing sucked.

[Sparky Prime]

Y'know, did it ever occur to you that maybe Megatron Origin is the one that doesn't fit into continuity very well?

Seriously? AHM started a year after M:O was released. How could Origin be the one that doesn't fit when it came out first and was the story that established how the war started in the first place? No, it is most certainly AHM that does not fit with the established continuity.

Exactly. AHM is 'still going on.' That's why we don't have any answers yet.

Assuming they do answer these questions at all. Just because it isn't over yet doesn't mean they will address the continuity flubs.

[Onslaught Six]

Except Megs Origin both sucked, and was pretty iffy on its status in continuity in the first place when it was published. Hell, have you ever heard of a 'retcon?' That thing that happens almost constantly in TF fiction anyway? It's where something new comes along that overwrites what a previous thing established. You want a real mainstream example, look into Batman: Year Two.

My point about AHM not being finished is that it's 'pointless' to try arguing about whether or not certain things gel or not when we haven't seen the rest of the series and AHM Coda. So just wait a bit, yeah?

I'm not trying to say "AHM fits perfect into continuity," as of right now, it kinda doesn't, but it's not over yet, so we can't judge either way. If we get through it and AHM Coda, and there's still issues, then I'll concede.

[Sparky Prime]

Except Megs Origin both sucked,

An opinion I don't agree with.

and was pretty iffy on its status in continuity in the first place when it was published.

Regardless, it is established as being a part of the IDW continuity.

Hell, have you ever heard of a 'retcon?' That thing that happens almost constantly in TF fiction anyway? It's where something new comes along that overwrites what a previous thing established. You want a real mainstream example, look into Batman: Year Two.

Of coarse. Retcons are rampant in comics. But given how in depth Megatron Origin was about the start of the war, and no further explanation currently in AHM, I see this as a continuity error in AHM.

My point about AHM not being finished is that it's 'pointless' to try arguing about whether or not certain things gel or not when we haven't seen the rest of the series and AHM Coda. So just wait a bit, yeah?

When I see something I believe to be in error, I'm going to point it out. If they happen to explain it later, then great, but in the meantime...

[BWprowl]

I honestly enjoyed Megatron Origin a fair bit (and didn't find the art nearly as muddled as it was made out to be) for what it was. There were a few things I couldn't get behind (Sentinel Prime's portrayal as, well, Big Convoy. The downright silly resolution of Ratbat's arc.), but for the most part it provided some entertaining and suprisingly well-integrated insight into Megatron, though Starscream stole the show a coupla times.

Still, the feeling I got from the book overall was less that it was of a "This IS what happened" fact-by-fact historical account, and more of a Year-One, "Well here's one idea..." mythology-level tale. So I never really thought of it as part of a specific TF Canon, least of all IDW, especially since NO characters in ANY other IDW TF book have ever referred to ANY events from the series.

[Sparky Prime]

So I never really thought of it as part of a specific TF Canon, least of all IDW, especially since NO characters in ANY other IDW TF book have ever referred to ANY events from the series.

No characters may have referred back to it specifically, but there are some allusions that connect it with the rest of the continuity.

[Dominic]

All Hail Megatron #8:
For whatever flaws it may have, this series has consistently impressed me with its idea and direction. The last few issues have been amazing by virtue of how established characters have been handled. Given how poorly such things have been done in the past, this could be taken as meeting a low standard. But, McCarthy manages to both break new ground and make one ask "why this has not been done before?" with AHM.

In this issue, McCarthy resolves one of the lingering continuity questions along with the "traitor" question. Sunstreaker has been on the short-list of a number of people, myself included. Of course, there were several other characters that could have been the traitor. It is not so much the reveal as it is the fact that the motive makes so much sense. Sunstreaker was not so much looking to betray the Autobots as he was looking to punish humans, and his plan spun out of control. Of course, as it pointed out later in this issue, Sunstreaker is not as important as this may make him seem, as Drift points out that the Decepticons clearly had more information than Sunstreaker could have given them.

The down-side to this issue is that the transitions between "now" to "then" scenes could be handled a bit more neatly. It is not as jarring as last issue, but it is still problematic. (This is also one of the few times I like the "traditional" cover better than the "poster" cover.)

Grade: A At this point, it might be worth waiting for the compilation. But, this issue alone is worth reading.

[BWprowl]

I'll give my own props to number 8, but will add that the whole Sunstreaker thing actually surprised me, I honestly didn't see that one coming. But it was handled masterfully either way, and Ironhide's reaction is great. On the other hand, it brings me to my one big gripe with this issue: Could Drift have screamed "Hey, I'm the other traitor!!" any louder than he already did? Christ guys, leave us a *little* suspense...

Actually, this issue almost seems like it was written to appease the Sparkys in the crowd. It's got direct connections back to threads from the '-ion' series, and plot advancement in leaps and bounds (let's start our theories on the 'mysterious figure' Starscream was conversing with!). There's a lot else to like too, the action was great, and snuck characterization in there. Cliffjumper's gonna be a new fan-favorite when this is all over, and if it weren't for the fact that there was no new Perceptor toy, I'd think this series was trying to sell us one. He's *such* a badass here, I really want to see a TFU Perceptor now. Also, forgive me, but I chuckled pretty heartily at the Reflector bit. This series has been great about giving unique, memorable quirks to characters who've long been neglected.

-BW "I wonder how many people are working on Drift kitbashes out of Cybertron Overdrive?" prowl

[Sparky Prime]

Actually, this issue almost seems like it was written to appease the Sparkys in the crowd.

And yet... I'm not appeased. Like Dom, I was expecting Sunstreaker to be the traitor given the hints dropped in previous issues. The reason for his betrayal I must admit I am a bit surprised by, however, I also find it hard to believe. Ok, he's pissed because some humans forced him into becoming a Headmaster. But really, kill them all as punishment? That's a bit extreme for Sunstreaker. I can see him wanting revenge, but genocide? Especially having been bonded to Hunter, he should realize not all humans are bad. And he went to Starscream of all 'cons for help in this plan, the biggest backstabber of them all.

And again with the pacing, it shouldn't have taken them 7 issues to reveal this.

[Onslaught Six]

-BW "I wonder how many people are working on Drift kitbashes out of Cybertron Overdrive?" prowl

Nobody, because Drift sucks.

And again with the pacing, it shouldn't have taken them 7 issues to reveal this.

...What're you, nuts? I've been guessing as to who the traitor was for 'months.' Sunstreaker's kind of an obvious one, but I got some mild hints that maybe, just maybe, it was Jazz.

Speaking of, I'm still wondering what the hell Kup was alluding to back there. What's Jazz done that he doesn't want anyone to find out about?