Legendary Villains: The Origin of Megatron And Rise of The Decepticons!

“I would have waited an eternity for this, Prime.”

In this new series dedicated entirely to villains, we’ll be discussing the devious merits of villainy and the loneliness of Evil. Their victories, their defeats, and, most importantly, their origins and the roots of wickedness. Where did they come from and what is the end game for some of our favorite bad guys? That and more await!

In this edition, we will delve into the cold, metallic core of Megatron – the leader of the deadly Decepticons.

For those who are new to the Transformers franchise, the vast number of heroes and villains could be overwhelming. Unlike other franchises, such as MOTU, where the characters are easily distinguishable from one another, Transformers revolves around giant robots fighting other giant robots. To an untrained eye, it might be challenging to differentiate between the characters. For instance, the Decepticons alone have two characters with ‘wave’ in their names and who are unrelated – Soundwave and Shockwave.

Regardless of that, once you dive into the series it’s apparent how distinct each of the characters all are from one another so don’t let that be an early deterrent or else you’d be cheating yourself to some of the best sci-fi lore ever constructed.

Despite there being so many different ‘bots to love or hate the entirety of Transformers is firmly rooted in two of the most pivotal characters to ever walk across Cybertron. Those being Optimus Prime, the heroic leader of the valiant Autobots, and Megatron, the ruthless lord of the mighty Decepticons who will stop at nothing to rid the universe of all Autobots.

Today we’re delving deep into the earliest days of this monumental tyrant and the army he raised out of the shadows of Cybertron.

Megatron

Fundamentally, Megatron is not your typical villain who cackles and twirls a mustache while plotting new dastardly schemes. He is a unique kind of evil that arises out of desperation and the demands of those who need a leader. Despite his ruthless reputation, Megatron is a necessary evil that filled a void and provided leadership in times of uncertainty.

According to the official IDW comic line, Megatron initially had strong reservations about fighting against other ‘bots. However, due to unfortunate circumstances (and perhaps, most frightening of all, fate itself), Megatron eventually rose to a position of power, which led to the formation of the Decepticon army and a new order.

A dark messiah for darkened days.

Across the galaxies, Megatron has relentlessly chased the Autobots, feeding his hatred of them with every spark he stomps out of existence. Over time, many, including Optimus himself, have fallen victim to Megatron’s cold retribution for sins he deems to be unforgivable.

Where does this intense hatred stem from? What drives his relentless desire to defeat his hated enemies? His is a story of personal loss and betrayal, a tragedy that led to an alliance with violent intentions at a time when his home planet was on the brink of destruction.

It’s a legacy forged from the fires of civil war influenced by corrupt senators, corrupted Primes, and a desperate struggle for survival.

Background – The War On Cybertron

Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. The Decepticons fight back with fanatical zeal showing no mercy. Their war erupts across the endless night as the two titanic forces clash in an endless array of heavy metal and roaring cannon fire. Their war flashed across the TV screens and held us all captive as kids. We chose our sides and stood faithfully beside our heroes. We also made those little plastic toy replicas beat the crap out of each other as we repeated all the glowing spectacles we’d seen on TV. The war was on!

But it all began on their homeworld, Cybertron.

Most of us – if not all of us – know Transformers from the successful cartoon and connected toylines back in the early ’80s. Our younger audience will probably know the franchise thanks to the Bay movies. But the cartoon is where these guys got their start.

In the very first episode of the series, we’re introduced to a complex backstory. The story opens during the final days of Cybertron and the Autobots are declared outlaws on their own planet. Seeking refuge on Earth, the Autobots are facing a decimated planet with a depleted source of power, Energon, which is vital to every ‘bot’s survival. Seeking salvation and safety, the Autobots make final preparations for the Ark to carry them across the vast ocean of stars. Their goal is to regroup and reinforce their strengths, eventually to return to Cybertron and renew it to its former glory.

Megatron is well aware of Optimus Prime’s plans and is unwilling to let any trailer escape his grasp. He and his Decepticons are determined to track down Prime and his rebel army, no matter how far they may flee. This is how their war ends up on Earth. I didn’t realize this as a kid – because I was a shitheaded little thing – but it’s obvious the Decepticons have won!

We don’t have much information about the history of how things became so difficult for the Autobots. All we know is they had to abandon their world and take refuge among us. However, the creative storytellers of comic books and video games have largely helped fill in many missing pieces about the Cybertonian civil war. The IDW comics offer a detailed explanation of how Megatron became who we know him as, while the (butt-slapping AWESOME) two Cybertron games provide a wicked account of the Autobots’ last days on their home planet.

Honestly that’s the stuff I find most interesting – the Cybertron events.

The Origins of Megatron As Told By IDW Comics – The Miner, The Gladiator, the Tyrant

Mining Energon deep from within the planet’s core fortified Megatron with its own set of trials. He is strong and determined. This is our first official introduction to Megatron in the canon. At Mining Outpost C-12 to be exact.

The comic opens with a senate flagship en route to deliver some devastating news to the mining crew. The Senate has decided it’s high time a more cost-effective method of mining the essential Energon they’ve all come to rely on is in order. Unbeknownst to the hard-working ‘bots below they’re about to be replaced by cheaper labor. They all stand to lose their livelihood and their homes as a result.

Senator Decimus is given the task of delivering the devastating news to the mining colony, and the guy has little to no concern for the many lives he’s about to ruin. He sees them as nothing more than cogs in a greater machine and easily replaceable. He’s warned the colony won’t like the news but he just shrugs it off, trusting in his private security detail to handle any potential inconvenience.

Once Decimus greets the assembled workers he turns all politician and informs them this will be their last cycle and how “the senate thanks each of you for your contribution.”

He spins some bullshit story about how they’ll all be relocated to new destinations but not a one of these guys is buying the shit Decimus is selling. One miner dares speak up shouting about the senate being corrupt. The guy’s had all he can stand from this political bullcrap and refuses to shut up.

A security guard walks up to the outspoken ‘bot and kills him on the spot. Right next to Megatron. The officer then flashes the Autobot badge at the crowd and dares anyone else to make a scene.

Well, how could Megatron resist an offer like that? With such an open invitation, he hurls a glowing pickaxe right at the pompous senator, nailing him in the shoulder, and taking him down! Megatron’s eyes burn red and the legacy begins!

A riot breaks out! Having put up with all they can stand the miners reach a boiling point and go nuclear quick. “Murderers!” someone shouts at the security guards. Then Megatron’s voice rises above all others as he commands”Take them apart!” and the ‘bots smash against the guards like a battering ram. Megatron has a singular goal in mind and locates the officer who flashed his badge (the murderer) and kills him with his bare hands.

Clearly not expecting things to get this out of hand, the wounded Decimus watches in Horror as his security detail is overwhelmed by a roaring mob of angry ‘bots. Losting control of the situation he orders them to open fire against the rioters and things go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds.

Most of the miners get fried on sight and it’s a total massacre.

Megatron survives along with a few others. They’re immediately arrested and shipped off to a prison facility.

This is far too simple an end for someone such as Megatron though and there’s no way fate would see him sealed away to rot in a prison. Aboad the prison transport Megatron has time to reflect on the actions left behind back there. How he killed a law enforcer and encouraged a riot. He’s never killed before today and it’s weighing heavy on him. him.

He’s interrupted when his fellow prisoners urge him to help them escape their dire fates. Fans will note this little ‘bot is none other than Rumble, one of my favorite of the cassette guys… but oh wow that’s a whole other thing and happens way, way down the road so we’re not getting into all that right now. Anyway, Megatron’s reluctant at first and doesn’t want more blood on his hands but you know what they say about desperate times calling for equally desperate measures.

So, while en route to prison, Megatron leads a coup, takes over the ship, and does it all without breaking a sweat… hypothetically speaking. The vehicle of their damnation quickly becomes the means of their salvation. Still, there’s one last bit of business Megatron must attend to before they get away scot-free. The Senator’s ship is not too far away from them and well when life hands you lemons ya know. Megatron turns the ship to face the Senator’s and something amazing is about to happen.

Decimus is undergoing maintenance repairs on the grievous wound he received back at the mining colony. He learns they lost contact with the prison ship’s pilot (Longshot) and just when things couldn’t get worse for the guy Megatron gets on the com system. Proving, once again, what a total badass he is Megatron uses Decimus’s own words against him and says, “The senate thanks each of you for your contribution.”

To everyone aboard the Senator’s ship’s utmost Horror, they see the rouge transporter is lighting up its weapons.

Ka-fucking-BOOM, bitch! Megatron unleashes unholy Hell all over that smug fuck before escaping! Decimus’s ship burns and veers violently off course, but, on purpose too, Megatron didn’t destroy the vessel. The Senator lives. When questioned why he didn’t just kill Decimus, Megatron informs his crew that had they destroyed the ship the Senate would waste no time in hunting them down. Instead, by leaving the asshole alive out there, the Senate would rather invest all their energy in saving him and not waste time on searching for a small band of criminals. Reluctant as he may have been we already see the mastermind at work to preserve his people.

The prisoners lay low and hide in Kaon where a new life awaits Megatron in the pits of death-match gladiatorial arenas.

Kaon Gladiator Pits

We’re introduced to Sentinal Prime, the lead law enforcer and overall scary dude. The guy is armed to the gills with weapons and stands as an opposing figure, towering over (most) everyone else. This is early on in the lore so Optimus Prime doesn’t exactly exist yet. What I mean is the character is alive and active but goes by the name Orion Pax. He’s not become a Prime yet, and, up until now, the Primes have mostly all proven to be corrupted and cruel.

Now wait a moment. Before fans ring my neck I’m not saying Sentinal Prime is corrupt. After a quick re-read it’s pretty clear he’s on the up and up, and, in a funny way, finds the Senate to be annoying. At least that’s what I get from him. Like, when he’s approached about the Senator’s distress beacon somewhere off planet at first he acts like he can’t be bothered by it. Like it’s not his problem and he assigns someone else to look into it. That made me actually laugh. The guy is ok by me and is a fan-favorite and rightly so too.

Just look at the guy! I would love it if MDLX made a figure of him.

Meanwhile, rumors of (pretty illegal) gladiatorial games are mounting. These games involve violent matches where ‘bots fight for their lives in a show of brute strength and tactical might. Word of such events has even made its way to the Senate, where ailing old farts fret over what sort of threat these (alleged) warrior ‘bots could pose to their law and order. Doesn’t take long before they enlist Sentinal Prime to seek and destroy whoever is behind this.

We come back to Megatron – and you know it – he’s part of the gladiators. He’s quickly risen in rank due to his tactics and natural talents for combat.

It’s during this period we really get to see the leader of the Decepticons come into his own. The villain we all know starts showing his face as he, expecting Sentinal Prime to be on the hunt, starts setting the board in his own favor.

Chenk is the ‘bot in charge of these events and takes sadistic pleasure in seeing the most violent of outcomes. We’re thrown into the action with Megatron battling an opponent. During the fight, Megatron transforms into his vehicular mode and throws his weight down upon his rival ending the fight with a nasty blow. He doesn’t kill him though.

This act of mercy pisses Chenck off and he demands death. The crowds around Megatron chant, ’til all are one!’ over and over, filling his mind, and opening a dark portal within his core. Filled with new purpose Megatron obliges and kills his opponent and the crowds erupt in a frenzy of cheers. Megatron basks in it.

Now could it be that this event marked the moment when Megatron lost the final ounce of innocence desperately clinging to him? This death, though encouraged as it was, was in fact done in cold blood. True, he hesitated at first, but the door towards a violent path swung open and he willingly chose to step foot on it.

A darker side of Megatron starts being seen in all of his calculations from here on out.

The violent games continue to spread through the underground of Kaon, building in infamy and in numbers as more ‘bots flock to join the arenas. All the while Megatron gains increasing notoriety for his incredible battle prowess. His calculated ruthlessness begins to gradually show as well.

For example, in one game Chenck is shockingly betrayed by his own teammates, which creates an opportunity for Megatron to strike and he deals a fatal blow that ends Chenck’s life. Megatron quickly takes charge and ascends the empty throne to rule in Chenck’s place. A new power is on the rise.

Now fans have speculated whether or not Megatron was the puppet master behind this betrayal or if it was a coincidence. I happen to believe he orchestrated it. Mainly because it’s during these gladiator times that he’s molded into the villain we all know him as and this doesn’t seem too far off the course of what we’d come to expect.

Fun detail: The Deathmatch arenas are built onsite for every game and then torn down leaving not a trace behind. It’s discovered that the bodies of fallen ‘bots are in fact smelted down and used in the construction of these gladiatorial sites. That’s so motherfucking metal. Imagine going to a deathmatch wrestling event where the ring was made up of the bodies and bones of fallen wrestlers. Or a metal concert where the guts and viscera of fanatic fans were used to build the stage? Metal as Hell! Megatron is hardcore and one of my top favorites for obvious reasons!

Decepticons Assemble

The board is set and all the crucial pieces make their play. It’s here that we start seeing some very familiar faces show up.

So Sentinal Prime can no longer ignore the widespread rumors of the illegal games happening beneath everyone’s nose. He assigns two of his Autobots to snoop around and see what they might dig up.

These two spies manage to locate the location of a new arena build site and it becomes apparent they’ve accidentally stumbled face-first into a hornet nest of activity. Constructicons arrive and make fast work of the area. Dead ‘bots are cast into a glowing pit, smelted down, and the arena starts to rise. The two spies are horrified by the sight.

Then Megatron arrives and the spies are pretty much doomed. During this event, Soundwave, one of my favorite Decepticons, makes a dramatic entrance and offers to supply illegal weapons to Megatron and his warriors. Soundwave mentions that he works for a powerful ‘boss’ and Megatron takes it all into consideration. Soundwave then proves his value to Megatron by using Lazorbeak and Ravage, his personal assistants, to expose the two Autobot spies.

The two spies are brought before Megatron. There is no hope for escape for either of them for they’ve seen too much. Megatron kills the one before investigating the other for information. The remaining spy calls Megatron a psychopath but Megatron takes it as a compliment. With the help of Lazorbeak’s hacking ability, he learns all of Sentinal Prime’s little secrets. He and his warriors are top of the most wanted list and really no shocker there.

Megatron commands the site to be torn down, it’s too compromised now. Megatron then turns back to the spy and muses, “Now what did you call me…? … Psychopath?” He crushes the spy’s head beneath his boot.

Their deaths – oh let’s face it this was murder – have a profound impact on Sentinal Prime. The situation beneath Kaon proves to be far more dire than he first thought possible. These illegal pitfighters are exceedingly more treacherous than originally anticipated. Prime won’t underestimate this Megatron ever again. During the funeral of the two spies, Prime vows to each of his Autobots that Megatron will pay for this atrocity. His underground operation is about to be crushed!

Tensions are rising and the rebellion is gaining strength. Soundwave, per Megatron’s orders, has brought in three sky operatives to join the cause: Thundercracker, Skywarp, and the infamous Starscream. It is ironic how Starscream, who has a notorious history of undermining Megatron’s authority in the Transformers universe, quickly pledges his loyalty to Megatron in this situation. It feels like hero worship almost, Starscream is in awe of Megatron’s presence.

The three want to join the pitfighters but Megatron gives them a far more important task at hand. Something to shake all of Cybertron to its core.

So it’s during a public event, something involving a grand parade and a statue unveiling (well la-de-dah!) for none other than dear ol’ Senator Decimus who’s been recently rescued from space, that the three sky operatives swoop in and kill his personal guards.

Goddamn! This guy cannot catch a break it seems. Well, that’s what he gets for being a dickhead. Starscream then kidnaps him as the whole planet watches unable to do a single thing to stop them. That’s because the three sky operatives are so fast they can basically teleport themselves across advantage points.

As the three fly away they leave behind the iconic Decepticon logo carved into the face of the Autobot insignia. I absolutely love that. This is nothing short of a call to war.

Megatron’s forces act fast and attack hard. They target key locations across the planet to sabotage and destroy, sending a clear message out to all that oppose them. Pretty much the games are over and the new order is at hand.

Megatron’s grip over the planet tightens as the Senate watches on with trepidation. In particular, we’re shown the devastation from Senator Ratbat’s perspective as he views multiple view screens, each one glowing with Megatron’s lethal pattern of destruction. Never before had anyone dared to launch such calculated assaults against them. The Law is unable to hold back the resistance as transport sectors explode around them trapping citizens in select zones.

Mass poisonings spread and plague tactical locations. On top of all this, resource centers are obliterated. It’s nothing short of a symphony of chaos. This level of organized terrorism shakes everyone to the core as the flames of Megatron’s revolution burn out of control. Honestly put Han Zimmer in charge of scoring this scene and you’d have one helluva’n epic masterpiece on your hands.

Megatron also puts out a call to join his cause and scores of ‘bots flood to answer. Here we see tons of familiar faces. Characters we played with and watched on TV all gathered together before Megatron. Each of these ‘bots have assembled expecting to join the gladiator games, but, as I stated earlier, the games are over and this is something much more vital to the cause.

Megatron addresses the gathered multitude and insists that as gladiators they fought one another and wore different badges to support whatever cause they followed. But now the time’s come for them to put away badges that divided them and to unite as one mighty force and fight against the corruption of the Autobots.

He introduces the Decepticon logo, a logo that would identify them with the new order and one they would wear forever. They’ve all come from various places but share a common misery at the hands of their oppressors. In their misery, they’ve been made strong and fierce. They now have the chance to stand together as one unit, the forgotten who refuse to forget the crimes of the Autobots. He calls them the most dangerous power on Cybertron alive and swears it’s time they take back what’s theirs.

The rally comes to an abrupt end as Sentinal Prime and his elite task force break through and bust up the party. The Decepticons are arrested in mass, Megatron among them. In an apparent victory for the Autobots Starscream, as per usual, promises to turn in evidence against Megatron in exchange for his own freedom. Now there’s the little bastard we’ve come to know. Of course, he’d betray Megatron at the first chance he got. Strascream’s had plenty of one-on-one meetings with Megatron so he knows all of the megalomaniac’s plans. This is information the Kaon Counsel couldn’t stand to lose.

Starscream and Soundwave are brought before the Kaon Counsel to both answer for their crimes and provide vital intel. The Counsel is all gathered here eager to see this minor inconvenience, this rebel cause, extinguished before it had a chance to deal any permanent damage. It’s here when the shit hits the fan as Starscream delivers a message from Megatron personally. He addresses the assembly by saying, “Through your own interests you created this. You didn’t just make it possible – you made it happen. All we did was give it a badge.”

The Counsel orders them to be taken away but Starscream and Soundwave reveal hidden weapons and quickly kill every member there.

Smoldering bodies lay fractured everywhere. The Decepticons then move to enact the new phase of Megatron’s master plan. Before leaving the court though they carve the Decepticon logo into the wall as a nice parting gift. Now I geeked the fuck out over this when I read it. Talk about epic. Damn! That’s good storytelling.

Megatron’s plan goes perfectly as Starscream returns back to the prison to free him and the other Decepticons. Megatron stalls him a moment before escaping and tells Starscream to release every prisoner there. They all shall be recruited and wear the badge of the new order. The day of the Decepticons is at hand.

Soundwave supplies everyone with weapons and badges. It’s also here that Megatron gets his devastating arm-mounted BFG canon. This thing blasts a hole through solid walls of steel or whatever superior metal is used in Cybertronian buildings. Imagine the havoc he now can create against his foes.

He commands his forces to fall on the city like predators on prey!

Kaon burns as the Decepticons spread out melting a path of wanton destruction in their wake. Innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire as Autobots retaliate but steadily lose control.

Amid all the chaos, Soundwave holds a secret meeting with his enigmatic superior, a Senator who goes by the name Ratbat. Fans of the story will recognize this name undoubtedly. Ratbat reveals himself to be the sole instigator of all the past despair and eventual destruction at hand. It all occurred according to his master plan.

As a Senator, Ratbat initiated the earliest events, including the automation of the small mining company, to achieve what he calls a ‘win-win-win’ scenario for himself. Decimus was merely a pawn in Ratbat’s game, and the other senators, well Ratbat just killed them.

Senator Ratbat stands smugly in the neon glow of Cybertron’s pyre, standing to alone gain from everyone else’s loss. However, he overlooked one important detail: Megatron’s charisma.

Soundwave, who had already changed his allegiance, is now a loyal soldier for his new king. He believes that Ratbat is too dangerous even for the Decepticons. As a result, he shoots the Senator with a calculated shot, crippling him. Ratbat is left dying, but Soundwave feels that this is too lenient a punishment for someone with so much blood on his hands. Therefore, he looks down at the helpless politician and says, “- resources – limited -“. He then transfers Ratbat’s spark into a cassette body and uses him as his servant for the cause. Touche, Soundwave!

Now, it’s all come down to this – a major showdown between Megatron and Sentinel Prime. Just look at Prime’s armor. He is damn near Titan-class as he confronts Megatron. I mean, the guy has cannon blasters on top of cannon blasters! Anyone else would run for their lives, and, as a matter of fact, they do, leaving Megatron alone to stand against Prime.

Megatron is too much of a badass to run away though and stands his ground. Sentinal Prime is loaded up in the Apex Armor and approaches Megatron like the final boss of a video game.

Megaron isn’t intimidated by the flashy show of guns and calls Sentinal Prime a pussy or something like that. He challenges Prime to come out of that armor and face him in a fair hand-to-hand fight like a true warrior, like a gladiator! Now this is where I have to love Optimus Prime, who will fight Megatron (many, many times) in fair combat once his time to be Prime comes, vs this current Prime at hand.

Sentinel Prime responds with a sudden attack on Megatron, causing a massive explosion. He believes that he has killed him.

In his eagerness to claim a triumph, Prime believes that victory is within his grasp and commands his Autobots to break through the enemy lines. He thinks that by cutting off the head of the snake, he has already won. However, Prime is mistaken.

Megatron bursts out of the flaming crater like a crazed demon escaping Hell and uses the body of another ‘bot to crack open the Apex Armor. Megatron then gets the fight he wanted all along and with his bare hands begins beating Sentinal Prime. What follows is a fury of panels full of Megatron’s unwavering ferocity.

He informs Prime that times are changing, that is the end of Prime’s and the beginning of his. Prime asks Megatron what he and his rag-tag group of thugs plan to do with the time they’re now given. Megatron answers in true tyrannical fashion, “I will create desolation – and call it peace!”

For a brief moment, Sentinal Prime manages to gain the upper hand and fate seems to be on his side for the final time. He strikes Megatron, nearly knocking him over the cliffside. However, Megatron manages to grip the edge and save himself from falling into the void below. This is where Sentinal Prime’s Achilles heel is revealed – his pride. Instead of kicking Megatron in the face, he decides to gloat over his foe. So, he lifts Megatron up to stare him down optic to optic.

Megatron doesn’t waste the opportunity and stabs Prime in the throat. Sentinal Prime staggers briefly, then plummets into the crater with Megatron in tow.

As they fall, Megatron admits to Prime that everything he has said about him and the Decepticons is true and even worse. Prime crashes and lies broken, with his life force slowly leaving him. With his last breath, he tries to tell Megatron that nothing he has done this day will matter. Megatron pauses, but then coldly assures his enemy that it will matter, and to everyone, once they see what he has done to the mighty Sentinal Prime. Finally, Megatron ends Prime’s life.

Meanwhile, Autobot reinforcements fly in overhead just in time to look down and see the broken body of their leader lying dead at Megatron’s feet. Megatron’s words prove true as Horror washes over them all.

No one believed Sentinel Prime could fall, let alone by any bot’s bare hands. Megatron proves he’s an insidious force no one is ready to face. They order a retreat and leave Kaon to Decepticon occupation.

Megatron and the Decepticons have emerged victorious as the Autobots retreat from Kaon. The sun rises on the horizon, as if symbolizing the dawn of a new era. We witness Megatron sitting on a makeshift throne he’s crafted from the broken Apex armor of Sentinel Prime. The great war of Cybertron has now begun.

Holy shit! This is how the four-issue comic closes, on this magnificent shot of Megatron victorious! I know this was a lot but there was a lot to cover – and I skimmed over a lot of it – so thank you for hanging in there this long.

I really admire how the story explored Megatron’s power over the masses. He not only understood their pain, but he isolated it to use it as a weapon. The story also leaves an open door and an urgent need for an Autobot leader who understands Megatron, unlike Sentinal. That role would eventually be filled by none other than our hero, Optimus Prime. It’s interesting to note that Optimus doesn’t even appear in this storyline, but it has a way of making me appreciate the character a whole lot more. That’s damn good storytelling.

Ok, I’m done! This was a lot to write. I’m gonna get ready for the big retro toy show coming up. And, yes, I’m gonna finally shut up for now. So until next time, friends, or rather, I should say ‘until all are one.”

Manic out!