Transformers Embraces a Big Change As a Surprising Villain Joins the Decepticons

WARNING! Spoilers for Transformers #16After almost a year of build-up, Megatron has finally entered the main story in Transformers, and the Energon Universe will never be the same again. The Decepticon leader has been M.I.A. since his appearance in last summer’s Energon 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, and now 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 in Transformers #16

The Decepticon Wants His Evil Faction Back

When Transformers #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 been a prisoner of Cobra Commander and the hidden society of Cobra-La. Megatron broke free from his imprisonment in last summer’s Energon 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.

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 own faction 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?

The True Decepticon Leader Has a Fight Ahead of Him

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 who originally 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 Universe shows that the Decepticon has a right to be angry with Megatron, after his leader twisted him into becoming a cold-blooded murderer.

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 has taken Megatron’s arm as his own in 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 the Energon Universe rockets into its third year of publication.

Transformers #16 is available now from Skybound Entertainment.

Transformers (2023)

Writer

Daniel Warren Johnson

Penciler

Daniel Warren Johnson

Colorist

Mike Spicer

Letterer

Rus Wooton

Publisher(s)

Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment

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.

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