''The Transformers: Megatron Origin'' is a

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. ...

limited series Limited series may refer to: *Limited series, individual storylines within an anthology series *Limited series, a particular run of collectables, usually individually numbered * Limited series (comics), a comics series with a predetermined number ...

IDW Publishing IDW Publishing is an American publisher of comic books, graphic novels, art books, and comic strip collections. It was founded in 1999 as the publishing division of Idea and Design Works, LLC (IDW), itself formed in 1999, and is regularly re ...

exploring the origin of

Megatron Megatron is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the ''Transformers'' media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. Megatron is the cruel and tyrannical leader of the Decepticons, a ...

in its

rebooted ''Rebooted'' is the third season of the computer-animated television series '' Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu'' (titled ''Ninjago'' from the eleventh season onward). The series was created by Michael Hegner and Tommy Andreasen. The season aired fr ...

universe The universe is all of space and time and their contents, including planets, stars, galaxies, and all other forms of matter and energy. The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological description of the development of the universe. A ...

. Written by Eric Holmes, the story explored the beginnings of the

Decepticon The Decepticons are the main antagonists in the fictional continuities of the '' Transformers'' multimedia franchise. They are depicted as a faction of sentient robotic lifeforms led by Megatron, identified by a purple face-like insignia. Ca ...

s and the Great War, and serves as a

prequel A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work. The term ...

to the various IDW G1 Transformers stories such as '' The Transformers: Infiltration'', ''

Stormbringer Stormbringer is a magic sword featured in a number of fantasy stories by the author Michael Moorcock. It is described as a huge, black sword covered with strange runes, created by the forces of Chaos with its own will. It is wielded by the doo ...

'', '' Spotlight'' and '' Escalation''. Alex Milne is the artist with alternative covers by Marcelo Matere. The series is available in The Transformers: Volume 1.

Background

IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall first revealed the existence of the story on his message board, originally to be titled ''Megatron: Precursor''. The first issue of ''Megatron: Origin'' was released in June 2007, and the limited series continues the overall title, following ''Escalation'' and before the debut of '' The Transformers: Devastation''. According to the Holmes, Megatron, as a smart character with a determined drive, has always been his favorite

Transformer A transformer is a passive component that transfers electrical energy from one electrical circuit to another circuit, or multiple circuits. A varying current in any coil of the transformer produces a varying magnetic flux in the transformer' ...

. "Those are the people that change the world. He deserves an interesting tale to have made him what he is." Inspired by

Simon Furman Simon Christopher Francis Furman (born 22 March 1961) is a British comic book writer who is best known for his work on Hasbro's ''Transformers'' franchise, starting with writing Marvel's initial comic book to promote the toyline worldwide, as ...

's '' Transformers: The War Within'' for

Dreamwave Productions Dreamwave Productions was a Canadian art design studio and comic book publisher founded in 1996. Best known for its comic book adaptations of Transformers, the company shut down on January 4, 2005. History Brothers Pat Lee and Roger Lee founde ...

, which created an origin for

Optimus Prime Optimus Prime, , is a fictional character in the '' Transformers'' franchise. The Transformers characters were developed for an American market after Hasbro representatives visited the 1983 Tokyo Toy Show. The characters were modified and the ...

, Holmes felt it would be fun to go back and further explore the beginnings of the

Autobot The Autobots are the main protagonists in the fictional continuities of the Transformers multimedia franchise, and are depicted in a collection of various toys, cartoons, films, graphic novels, and paperback books first introduced in 1984. Th ...

war. Holmes originally approached Dreamwave with the concept, but the company went bankrupt before anything could be published. When IDW took over the Transformers license, they were approached by Holmes as well, loved his idea and he collaborated with Furman to further tie-in the story into the continuity of the IDW-published Transformers comics. Holmes took historical inspiration from the

decline of the Roman Empire The fall of the Western Roman Empire (also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome) was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vas ...

in his story of the war's beginnings.

Plot

Release

Issue 1 was originally supposed to be released in May 2007, but was delayed to June due to artist Alex Milne's illness.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers: Megatron Origin, The Megatron Origin IDW Publishing titles Comic book limited series 2007 comics debuts 2007 comics endings