WARNING! Spoilers for Transformers #16After almost a year of build-up, Megatron has finally entered the main story inTransformers, and theEnergon Universewill never be the same again. The Decepticon leader has been M.I.A. since his appearance in last summer’sEnergon Universe Special#1, but now Megatron is looking to take back the leadership of the Decepticons as the different factions of Soundwave and Starscream battle it out on Earth.
Coming from the creative team of Daniel Warren Johnson, Jorge Corona, Sarah Stern and Rus Wooton,Transformers#16 ends with Laserbeak arriving in an undisclosed desert location. Soundwave previously sent his mini-cassette on a mission in the last issue, andnow it’s confirmed that Laserbeak was looking for Megatron.
Laserbeak finds the Decepticon leader hiding out in a cavern, and Megatron wastes no time upon seeing his “old friend.” The true Decepticon leader pulls out Laserbeak’s wires, connecting them to his missing optics so the mini-cassette can act as his eyes to lead him back to his Decepticon warriors.
Megatron Returns to the Energon Universe Playing Field inTransformers#16
The Decepticon Wants His Evil Faction Back
WhenTransformers#1 launched in 2023,Megatron was nowhere to be seen. Skybound teased the villain’s return for several issues before it was revealed that the Decepticon leader had beena prisoner of Cobra Commanderand the hidden society of Cobra-La.Megatron broke free from his imprisonment in last summer’sEnergon Universe Special, where he lost both his optics in a gruesome battle with Lord Golobulus. The Decepticon leader has seemingly been in hiding ever since, biding his time before he enters the Autobot / Decepticon conflict that has broken out on Earth.
Megatron now takes center stage in the Energon Universe to reclaim his role as the true Decepticon leader.
While Megatron was missing,Starscream took up the vacant leadership role within the Decepticons, leading to one disastrous encounter with the Autobots after another. Soundwave eventually challenged Starscream for leadership, defeating him in combat to take his position. Starscream was recently revealed to have survived the brawl, and he has formed his ownfaction of former Decepticons to challenge Soundwave’s forces. Both could be in for a rude awakening, as Megatron now takes center stage in the Energon Universe to reclaim his role as the true Decepticon leader, even though he’s currently in a rather weakened state.
Will Megatron Take on Soundwave and Starscream in the Coming Issues?
Considering that Soundwave sent Laserbeak to find Megatron in the first place, it would be easy to assume that the loyal Decepticon will fall in line behind his original leader once he makes his presence known. Starscream likely won’t be as accommodating, considering that it was he whooriginally shot Megatron from the crashing Ark centuries ago when it crash-landed on Earth.While it’s in keeping with Starscream’s treacherous nature,Starscream’s recently-revealed origin in the Energon Universeshows that the Decepticon has a right to be angry with Megatron, after his leader twisted him into becoming a cold-blooded murderer.
Transformers Confirms Megatron’s Alt-Mode in New Continuity (& It’s the One Fans Wanted)
Transformers #13 finally confirms Megatron’s alt-mode in the Energon Universe, and long-time fans should definitely be happy with the results.
Yet the biggest confrontation of them all will be with Megatron’s mortal enemy, Optimus Prime. Prime sliced off Megatron’s cannon arm with his Energon axe centuries ago aboard the Ark, and the Autobot leader hastaken Megatron’s arm as his ownin the new continuity. Megatron will likely be looking to take his arm back, but the recent violent outbursts that have overcome Prime might make that more of a challenge than the Decepticon realizes. Whatever the case,Transformersfans are in for an epic rematch between Optimus Prime and Megatron, as theEnergon Universerockets into its third year of publication.
Transformers#16is available now from Skybound Entertainment.
Transformers (2023)
Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.
