"Best of Megatron" compilation

[Dominic]

Best of Megatron:
Like the Optimus Prime focuses compilation, this is a random sampling of Megatron stories from the past 25+ years. As with the Optimus Prime volume, there are explanatory notes before each selection, justifying its inclusion. However, unlike the Prime volume, the notes in this case do as much to make me question the choice as they do to justify it.

-Transformers #24: "After Death" is of course the infamous video game issue of "Transformers". Besides being about as close to universally reviled as any issue of the original series, issue 24 was also reprinted in the "Best of Optimus Prime". In that case, it was arguably justified, as it was very much Prime focused, and (to be frank), there were not really many Prime-focused issues of the G1 Marvel run. In this case however, it is inexplicable. The next issue of the US run was focused almost entirely on Megatron, and it (logically) followed up on issue 24. Or, IDW could have reprinted issue 13, "Shooting Star", a generally highly regarded issue from Budiansky's early run on "Transformers.

-Transformers #78: This one I have no complaints about. Even if I did not have a soft spot for the Tokar/Furman/Wildman run of the original series, I would consider this an essential Megatron story. As much as I complain about much of Furman's work from this past decade, there is a reason so many fans hold him in such high regard. This issue nicely demonstrates why Furman still gets work, even after damned near 20 years. One thing that strikes me about this selection is that a main plot point, (Megatron v/s Galvatron), would be seen as dated by new/younger readers. In current IDW comics, Megatron and Galvatron are two wholly separate characters. The above mentioned new/younger readers will likely view these pages the way I viewed pre-Crisis Batman and Joker stories that were reprinted in the late 80s, following the Time Burton movie.

-"Aspects of Evil": This is a black and white UK story of the sort that justifies the regard the old UK comics are held in. It is also the most self-contained story in this volume.

-Armada #5: As much a fan of the Sarracini/Raiz run on this book as I am, and as much a fan of the "Unicron Trilogy" as I am, I have to question the reasoning behind this selection. Part of me wonders if this story was not chosen more to limit the amount of content written by Furman than for some other reason. If, for some reason, it was essential to have something from the "Unicron Trilogy" in this volume, there would have been better Megatron focused selections to choose from. As it is, I am wondering if this story might have been included simply to plug IDW's reprints of the Dreamwave "Armada" series.

-All Hail Megatron #1: Oh no they didn't! Oh yes they did! Even the "this is why we are reprinting this here" blurb acknowledges the mixed (to put it gently) reactons of fans to "All Hail Megatron". In this context, AHM number 1 apparently serves to show what a bad ass Megatron is. If IDW really wanted to have a chapter from AHM in this volume, they would have done better to shoose one of the issues that showed Megatron interacting more directly with Starscream or the other Decepticons and/or more clearly demonstrated the high concept of AHM.

-Megatron Origins #1: The rational for including "Megatron Origins" in this volume is self-explanatory. I am not a huge fan of the series. But, it makes sense to have part of it in this volume.

Grade: C All in all, "The Best of Megatron" is unfocused and thrown together. Long time fans will recognize obviously bad choices by the editors while newer fans may well wonder how the character became so popular if this is truly "The Best of Megatron".




Dom
-notes that reprints are not IDW's strength.

[Mako Crab]

If it were me, I'd include a picture of BW Megatron. The blurb on his page would say, "Just close the book now. Megatron doesn't get any better than this."

[Dominic]

Actually, why the hell not?

The Optimus volume featured iterations of G1 Optimus. There was nothing about RiD Optimus or UT Optimus.

But, the inclusion of a UT story, ("Armada" #5), pretty well kills that for Megatron.


Dom
-and that is a problem with this volume.

[Shockwave]

Indeed, if they were gonna go that route, they could have taken selections from the various different continuities.

[138 Scourge]

Sadly, there's no "Beast Machines" comic. I think that's where Megatron (any Megatron) did the best.

Conquer Cybertron? Done.

Populace enslaved? You know it, brother.

Peace Through Tyranny? Until the Maximals showed up, yes.

That was pretty much the high point, as far as mission being accomplished, for a Megatron. Which makes him losing it all even more of a takedown, but still.

[Dominic]

Actually, there was a "Beast Machines" comics, "Wreckers". It covered everything you listed there Scourge.


Dom
-tell me I am wrong. Go on.

[138 Scourge]

Actually, there was a "Beast Machines" comics, "Wreckers". It covered everything you listed there Scourge.


Dom
-tell me I am wrong. Go on.

Yeah, okay, but Convention Comics are never what I mean when I say "comics" because they're hard for the average chump to get and they're usually godawful.

[Shockwave]

And fanwanky. You forgot fanwanky. Yeah, I wouldn't count that as a BM comic either.

[138 Scourge]

Well, maybe as a "BM" comic, but that'd depend on what "BM" stands for in that instance.

[Shockwave]

Well, maybe as a "BM" comic, but that'd depend on what "BM" stands for in that instance.