All Hail Megatron #10 Review (SPOILERS)

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:56 pm

As we find ourselves winding down toward the end of this six issue story nestled comfortably within the pages of twelve issues, we begin to ask ourselves "Why the title 'All Hail Megatron"?

I suppose this issue is intended to give us the beginning of that answer, as Starscream has launched the expected coup against Megatron...with Devestator and the Insecticons.

I thought the issue was okay, but as this story begins it's conclusion, I find myself slightly underwhelmed. I was hoping that Starscream would take a more cunning approach to dethroning Megatron rather then taking the 'brute force' route, and that we would see Megatron actually outsmart Screamer, revealing himself to be a bot far beyond his thuggish cartoon persona. Maybe we will still see this in the next two issues. Maybe in the next two issues, I will find myself exclaming "Oh! That's why All Hail Megatron". I can only hope. Because so far, I haven't seen something from Megs I haven't seen before. I mean, when Megs took down Predaking in the Marvel, I think I did yell out "All Hail Megatron!". Hard to top that one in the brute force department.

The whole Swarm thing has become quite the bore, hasn't it? Nevertheless, it was nice to see the surprise appearance by Omega. Not just because he's there to save the Autobot's day, but because he's there to save our day, finally getting the Autobots the hell off Cybertron. No more Autobot bickering on Cybertron!

Nice job on that Omega page spread by Guido. Twas the best part of the issue. Also, kudos to Guido for that one page spread of Megs holding the fist of Devestator up. Some of the best TF work from IDW to date. Guido has been the one constant good thing about this series, along with the Hutch covers.

Give this issue a "B-". Great job by Guido, great Omega Supreme moment, but concerned how this is all going to end. It's been a year. When you wait a year, the payoff better be worth it.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:09 am

I mean, when Megs took down Predaking in the Marvel, I think I did yell out "All Hail Megatron!". Hard to top that one in the brute force department.

Oh, but Megs had some advantage - he knew Predaking's biggest weakness was tree trunks...

Joke aside, I always loved that issue - unlike Optimus' death, Megatron's (inteded to be final) death was well-written, showing just how big the emnity between him and Prime was, that he finds his life empty without an arch-enemy...

I think BF coined it, or someone else - but I usually call AHM "All Fail Megatron". Just like with Megatron Origins, in this comic we learn stuff about everyone else EXCEPT the title character. But while we know M:O was re-named and was originally supposed to be a Con origin story, AHm doesn't even have that saving grace.

This Megatron is bland, a totally uncharismatic leader who leads by brute force and doesn't even give a reason for his troops to fight. He keeps all his plans to himself and reprimands anyone who suggests some alternate ways of dealing with a problem... not a good strategy in a galactic war.
You know who he reminds me of? Doctor Doom. But the Doc. is justified in his behaviour as a domineering tyrant who rarely even shares his thoughts with his people, because he doesn't have underlings who are perhaps on the same power level as he is... Megatron does.

This Megs is in sharp contrast to Animated Megatron, whom I slowly find to believe to be the best Megatron so far in Transformers history. He's ruthless and powerfull as all Megatrons have been, but he's also a charismatic speaker whom many of his underlings hold in very high regard, a skilled manipulator and con-man and a master strategist to boot. And just like the 'old' IDW Megatron, he did not turn a blind eye to Starscream's treachery and killed him after the first attempt on his life.

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:28 pm

i think my favorite megs was armada, especially in "worlds collide" when he offs galvatron

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:57 pm

G1 Megatron by a farking mile...

Oh - I skim read this issue.

Amazing artwork.

Zero plot.

Utterly pointless...

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:35 am

On a side note, does anyone have the faintest idea why Hannibal at CBR has consistently been all over All Hail Megatron? This from his latest review:

"If, through the years, you've wanted a Transformers comic book to make you go, 'wow', IDW has done that with room to spare, bringing events so big that they make giant robots look up in shock. Amazing work."

I try to make a lot of 'different strokes for different folks' allowance, otherwise I'd be constantly angry, but at the moment, all I can think of is that he's looking for a job with IDW or something. GI Joe's on the list too.

Or maybe he's mates with McCarthy? Call me a bitter cynic, but I just can't believe for a minute the above is someone's honest, unbiased opinion.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:09 am

Jack Cade wrote: all I can think of is that he's looking for a job with IDW or something. GI Joe's on the list too.

Or maybe he's mates with McCarthy? Call me a bitter cynic, but I just can't believe for a minute the above is someone's honest, unbiased opinion.

I agree 100 percent with you, and noticed the same thing.

This guy has got to be pals with the people at IDW.

He has done nothing but shower praise on AHM since day one.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:20 am

I'm back to liking this story. Still not sure what Ironhide was talking about, though.

I really hope that, once the story's finished, IDW collects it into a nice hardcover.

I don't care for the human stuff, but it's fairly harmless and minimal. As a fan of the cartoon, this really is the Transformers story I wanted to read when Dreamwave got the license all those years ago.

Post by **snarl** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:12 am

Yeah, I've noticed this too... and its ridiculous, as AHM is just a big frustrating mess.

Maybe he's off his face. I never really had him down as Mr. rubber stamp of credibility anyway, as I know nothing about him.

Although, I've never seen "The Boys" in his buy pile... So I'd say... odds on he does glue?

Post by **Best First** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:31 pm

snarl wrote:Yeah, I've noticed this too... and its ridiculous, as AHM is just a big frustrating mess.

Maybe he's off his face. I never really had him down as Mr. rubber stamp of credibility anyway, as I know nothing about him.

Although, I've never seen "The Boys" in his buy pile... So I'd say... odds on he does glue?

If i recall correctly he stopped buying the boys because he objected to what he saw a a gratuitous use of the n-word by that big Russian dude in the arc set in.. Russia.

Personally i though the comic was just taking the piss out of people learning to speak from TV and not understanding the context of the words, but maybe that's just me.

Agree about his treatement of AHM. However he also fails to be impressed by books that i really like, such as Captain Britain, Buffy and Hercules, so maybe he is just a guy with poor taste who happens to have a column.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 1:53 pm

I always put it down to him never actually having read a TF comic before and getting sold on THE HYPE.

Best First wrote:so maybe he is just a guy with poor taste who happens to have a column.

Stranger things have happened.

The internet means anybody can be a journalist if they want to. Regardless of taste or journalistic abilities.

Most news sites these days seem to be glorified blogs run by drivelling fanboys.

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:19 pm

B to the F wrote:just a guy with poor taste who happens to have a column.

They will give anyone a column these days.

Mr_Tigg · Post by **Mr_Tigg** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:48 pm

Although much better than the previous issue, once again McCarthy delivers sweet FA in terms of originality.

All the 'wow' moments, like Megs vrs. Devastator and Omega appearing...they just aren't that awe-inspiring. I assume these are the moments that are intended to blow us away, but they are always so..undramatic.

The swarm never came across as a particularly threatening enemy, so theres no actual suspence during the fight. No other autobots die...hell even the reapers were more menacing and better killers than the swarm.

The whole series has had the overall quality of an average fan fiction. I'm so happy it's nearly over.

KJ · Post by KJ » Sat Apr 18, 2009 2:59 pm

Best First wrote:
snarl wrote:Yeah, I've noticed this too... and its ridiculous, as AHM is just a big frustrating mess.

Maybe he's off his face. I never really had him down as Mr. rubber stamp of credibility anyway, as I know nothing about him.

Although, I've never seen "The Boys" in his buy pile... So I'd say... odds on he does glue?
If i recall correctly he stopped buying the boys because he objected to what he saw a a gratuitous use of the n-word by that big Russian dude in the arc set in.. Russia.

Personally i though the comic was just taking the piss out of people learning to speak from TV and not understanding the context of the words, but maybe that's just me.

Agree about his treatement of AHM. However he also fails to be impressed by books that i really like, such as Captain Britain, Buffy and Hercules, so maybe he is just a guy with poor taste who happens to have a column.

I read his column every week, and without fail, almost every single book we both buy, he has the complete opposite opinion than me. I love it, he hates it, vice versa.

I know plenty of others that also dismiss his column, as the reviewer has crap taste. I don't know, maybe there's something to it.

Sunyavadin · Post by **Sunyavadin** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:38 am

I give it a resounding.... "ehh...."

Reading MD immediately before it set standards it just didn't match up to.

All fail Megatron.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:50 am

Mr_Tigg wrote:All the 'wow' moments, like Megs vrs. Devastator and Omega appearing...they just aren't that awe-inspiring. I assume these are the moments that are intended to blow us away, but they are always so..undramatic.

I agree with pretty much everything you posted but this hits the nail on the head. Megs vs. Devastator should be awesome, but for all Megatron's talk of Starscream's "intellectual" plan, getting the Constructicons to combine and smash Megs isn't exactly Stephen Hawking's level, is it?

On the plus side, the Autobots have finished pissing about on Cybertron, after ten bloody issues. That's the entire length of the Dreamwave ongoing series, and we complained about decompressed plot development then.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:34 am

Meh.

The thing that, despoite the general moribund plotting, things thats that were supposed to be awe inspiring not being and dreadful dialougue (nicely highighted by The Buy Pile), really got on my wick was, yet again, a character is described in way that is not evidenced by anything he has done.

In exactly the same way that nothing Megatron did demonstarted he was a tactical genius the likes of which we have never seen equally we have seen nothing that made Bombshell seem like an "unparalled genius" - but he is stated as being one so he must be. Yayness.

Being honest i though Omega's arrival was nicely rendered - to the point it did make me smile, but that was somewhat spoiled by the odd continuity of the fight where people seemed to be in trouble, then fine again a second later.

Also Blaster has been a total tart this series - and Blaster should be baddass - more badass than Jazz frankly.

Not that Jazz has shown any badassery (this is officially a word) since he did his ninja party piece on Out Of Character Springer anyway. Pfft, pfft and thrice pfft.

There have been some ideas with potential across this series but non of them have been well realised and pacing and continuity wise (no references! loads of references!) its the equivelent of getting your balls caught in your zip.

That said i am looking forwrad to issue 12 when i am allowed to judge it

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:52 am

The thing that bugs me about "oh-so-mighty" Megatron - now he tells Starscream that he has been sitting on his shiny metal ass on Earth just waiting for Starscream to betray him. WTF?

Heck, the Megatron we have got to know in Infiltration would have shot Starscream in the head the moment Prime (seemingly) died. What further use does he have? We have seen that although Screamer has some support, Megs doesn't give a turbofox's ass about his troops opinion.

Also in a nice twist of continuity, Starscream's "brigade" is NOT composed of the guys who liked him so much that they resurrected him a few issues earlier (Blitzwing, Astrotrain, Skywarp, TC). Meh.

Also, what were the chances that Omega Supreme would show up at Hot Rod's call (who is an immature young idiot again apparently)? I'd have loved to see the Autobots look up in hope... to see Wheelie arriving.

Why the heck was Omega redesigned anyway to look like his G1 toy? Oh... it WILL BE explained. Like the F15-s have been explained.

Post by **Best First** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:55 am

Yes, that was the other thing - i have acted in a manner that would make you betray me so you will betray me - marvel at my circular logic based genius.

If he had just cracked on and given them some purpose than not an issue surely? Starscream pretty much states that.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:42 pm

Here's the thing.

When you come in as a new writer, you want to make damn well sure you bring something new to the table.

Megatron and Starscream's relationship, then, becomes a very prickly subject, because if there's been one constant throughout every continuity, it's been Starscream's rebellious nature.

So my point is, if your going to make the Starscream/Megatron relationship a focus of your story, you better have something clever up your sleeve, something that hasn't been done before.

Shane doesn't do himself any favors by taking this chance. He made it too hard on himself. I think he tried to put a new spin on it, but in the end, it fell right back into the 'cartoon Starscream' mindless attack on Megs.

If I were forced to write the Screamer/Megs relationship as a new writer,(because quite frankly, I wouldn't have the balls to tackle it voluntarily), this would have been the result: in the end, Starscream would have actually saved Megatron's life, in an effort to further his own selfish purposes. It would have been a twist, but still stayed true to who Screamer is. All hope would have been lost for Megs, and his only saving grace would have been Screamer. By his pulling Megs ass out of the fire, Megs would have garnered a newfound respect for Screamer...only to be be again find out Screamer did it to further his own selfish ambitions.

Would that have worked? Maybe, maybe not. Probably many a fanfic along this line, but you know what? It likely would have worked better than what we have.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:36 pm

Yaya wrote:When you come in as a new writer, you want to make damn well sure you bring something new to the table.

Megatron and Starscream's relationship, then, becomes a very prickly subject, because if there's been one constant throughout every continuity, it's been Starscream's rebellious nature.

So my point is, if your going to make the Starscream/Megatron relationship a focus of your story, you better have something clever up your sleeve, something that hasn't been done before.

Like in Infiltration, where Megatron responded by blowing a hole in him and sticking the body in cold storage.

Jack Cade · Post by **Jack Cade** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:34 am

Yaya wrote:If I were forced to write the Screamer/Megs relationship as a new writer ...

What I'd like to see is something a bit more cunningly political. Starscream isolates Megs by giving him poor intel/advice that leads to him making the wrong decisions and becoming alienated from his own troops. All the time, Starscream is, on the face of it, loyal to his leader and defending his actions, but in such a way as to cause others to see him as the more reliable of the pair. Then, when the time is right, Megs is rejected by his own army and Starscream steps forward.

One thing I realised when I first read War Within - but it comes up in the movie too - Starscream seems to expend all his effort trying to get rid of Megatron but it never occurs to him that once he's out of the way, there are Decepticons other than him who might like a shot at being leader. You'd think he'd start by eliminating the competition before making the final gambit. After all, historically, the assassins of dictators are just as often punished by the new dictator, so as not to encourage future assassinations.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:43 pm

Yeah, first step in any coup is removing all viable alternatives.

Before Starscream could realistically challenge Megatron, Soundwave would first need to meet with some unfortunate accident.

Like being trapped in alt mode and lost on an alien planet, maybe.

Sorry what? Oh.

Take the example of Bludgeon at the end of the Marvel run. He didn't (overtly) pursue power, he didn't seize it in some big standoff. He just wound up in the situation where everybody ahead of him was dead, and he had enough respect in the troops that when he started giving orders, nobody bothered to challenge his authority.

But no, Starscream is always written as going for the big dramatic gesture that ultimately will always fall flat on its arse.

Best move he made was in Infiltration, where he covertly groomed the unit he was in command of into his own personal little goon squad by convincing them they could take on anybody with the Ore-13. Of course he still went for the big gesture, got smacked down and everybody quietly fell back in line. But it's an improvement.

And of course he still had enough support in the unit to be first port of call when they started to suspect Megatron's sanity.

First off you make sure you're the big dog amongst your own pack. Then you quietly make sure all the other pack leaders are quietly written out of contention. Then you take on the boss. Starscream invariably leaps right to the last step.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:49 pm

The rate which SS launchs new plots to over throw megs is so regular that in the last 4 millenium you would have thought he would have succeeded. or, conversly simply shot megs in the back of the head or somthing.

All of SS plans involve becoming more powerfull, confront Megs, and dispatch Megs by being more powerfull. Its a very direct tactic.
Surely, after all this time he would have just shot him in the back of the head...

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:00 pm

Jack Cade wrote:
Yaya wrote:If I were forced to write the Screamer/Megs relationship as a new writer ...
What I'd like to see is something a bit more cunningly political. Starscream isolates Megs by giving him poor intel/advice that leads to him making the wrong decisions and becoming alienated from his own troops. All the time, Starscream is, on the face of it, loyal to his leader and defending his actions, but in such a way as to cause others to see him as the more reliable of the pair. Then, when the time is right, Megs is rejected by his own army and Starscream steps forward.

I like this. In theory, it would work. It's not really a twist, per se, but actually a more competent rendition of their historic conflict.

I always regretted your, shall we say, strained relationship with IDW, as I think you would be quite competent in writing TF. You have a handle on the characters and experience with the Transformers, which is something other good writers don't have, since they tend to have focused more on the superhero genre.

Your ideas always resonate with me, and I think, if competently transferred into a comic book format (which is where the big challenge would lie), they would make for some kickass TF storytelling.

It really is a shame you had that falling out with Chris and co. The above concept regarding Starscream would make for an incredible four-issue mini, with each issue focusing on Starscream removing a certain member of the opposition before the final issue spotlights his confrontation with the big boss.

When I saw those two fans get the gig for the Jazz Spotlight, I thought of the missed opportunity there with you.

Not trying to stroke your ego, but I have to give credit where credit is due. I really think you show promise as a credible TF comic writer.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:27 pm

heres a plot for AHM, or a side plot.

SS trys his normall crap to kill Megs. to achieve this he has to top lots of other TF, which just so happen to be a direct threat to megs, say perhaps Shockwave or some other rouge like Scorpy.

At the end, it is revealed that Megatron knew of the plan all along, and thus used SS to achieve his own goals. he then sticks SS in a VVH or somthing untill he requires his talents once more.

Thus, u have the Megs/SS plot line, coupled to showing how evil and tactically brillant Megatron really is... and thus we can AHM!...

2 mins, and I think my idea has more to it then Mc Carthy,s 10 issues.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:28 am

I like that idea alot!
But I would find it very hard to believe that Screamer could ever take out ol' Shockers...

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:48 am

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:The rate which SS launchs new plots to over throw megs is so regular that in the last 4 millenium you would have thought he would have succeeded. or, conversly simply shot megs in the back of the head or somthing.

All of SS plans involve becoming more powerfull, confront Megs, and dispatch Megs by being more powerfull. Its a very direct tactic.
Surely, after all this time he would have just shot him in the back of the head...

The thing is... Starscream sees the whole thing as a power struggle between him and Megs, and fails to see the bigger picture. His ambition blinds him. I mean... what would he do AFTER he succeeds? In TWW, he would have been easily dethroned by Shockwave... so he just destroyed Iacon along with Shockwave and the Autobots, at least tried to.

Screamer has only one long-term plan: taking over the Cons. The details and smaller plans, he makes up as he goes. And he never learns from his mistakes.

I simply love it in Animated, after finding out he's immortal (see - even there he craves great power...) what does Starscream do? Go after Megatron, of course. And ending up killed and thrown into a river again... and again... and again. It takes about 4 attempts for him to realize that he needs a different approach.

Starscream is just not meant to be a leader, same way Prowl would have (or had, as in Dark Ages) troubles commanding the whole Autobot army. They both lack the charisma and the ability to see the bigger picture.

But then, that's what we love in Starscream, no?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:55 am

I, for one, can't see Starscream's destiny work out much differently than it did in TFTM.

Gets rid of Megatron. Assumes command. Loses command (and life). That was the most perfect part of the movie.

Starscream: I am the leader! Woo, me!

Mega/Galvatron: Ok, enough of this bullocks, DIE!

Starscream: Worth it.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:45 am

BB Shockwave wrote:But then, that's what we love in Starscream, no?

Love? Starscream? Seriously?

A series is lucky if it provokes anything other than indifference towards the character from me.

Seriously, he's rubbish. And uses up valuable storytime that would be better devoted to the likes of Spinister and the Firecons.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:48 am

Brendocon wrote:
BB Shockwave wrote:But then, that's what we love in Starscream, no?
Love? Starscream? Seriously?

A series is lucky if it provokes anything other than indifference towards the character from me.

Seriously, he's rubbish. And uses up valuable storytime that would be better devoted to the likes of Spinister and the Firecons.

Yes, you can never have enough of the Firecons!

Or Guzzle.