#wanted to add skywarp from other continuities

[boxkoi]

tiny doodles of that one au i talked about, gonna call it failed seeker experiment au lol

In this AU Bumblebee is a failed seeker experiment and was meant to be disposed of after being reformatted to hide any evidence of the experiment

Experiments was approved by the High Council for the better of Cybertron

Bee has no recollection of the experiments, his memories were locked

Was a sparkling at the time

Has a constant need to prove himself due a unconscious need of showing his worth from all of the failed tests he went through

Seeker coding from Skywarp (probably one of the many deceptions captured and imprisoned)

Jazz managed to secretly save him when he was supposed disposed of; "rules were meant to be broken"

Has a barcode that contains his designated number, hidden by his collar plate

Sharper dentas, eyes, and digits like a seeker

A little more violent due to seeker coding

feels natural to flight/using the jet boosters

has no control over warping, first time it happened when he took a hit for sari from starscream

still short

[factual-fantasy]

I've been thinking about adding Skywarp and Thundercracker to my AU for a while now. :0 I'm thinking the two of them and Screamer will be a set of triplets. Not clones or drones or whatever else they may be in other continuities. Any other "seekers" or "flight frames"...? Will not look identical to the trio.

(These are a little batch of test redesigns. I have a looot more passes to do before I'm satisfied! <XDD)

And then Jetfire... I've thought about adding him which is why I've drawn this scene for fun, buuuuuutt ultimately I don't think Jetfire has a place in my AU. It leaves too many plot holes and angst in its wake.

(A ramble on why Jetfire wont work is below! <XD)

The first reason why I don't think Jetfire (aka Skyfire) can exist in my AU, is because of this paragraph from his wiki:

"Millions of years ago on Cybertron, before the war, Skyfire and Starscream were good friends and fellow scientists. On a mission of exploration to prehistoric Earth, Skyfire was lost in a storm. Starscream searched, but there was no sign of his comrade. He returned home."

Now, Optimus does say that Earth and Cybertron have been intertwined for what seems like forever. But -unless there's something I don't know/remember- no living cybertronian ever set foot/made any contact with Earth in any way until AFTER the war began. So how and why did Starscream and Jetfire go to Earth before the war? It conflicts with canon.

The second reason is a simple one really. While it may have worked in G1, I cannot find a logical explanation as to HOW Jetfire was still alive and could be reactivated after crashing into the Arctic. It not like he was put into stasis on purpose and kept in a special pod in the warm desert, like Skyquake. He CRASHED into the ARCTIC. So not only was he wounded but there was literally a WHOLE EPISODE in Prime about how the cold has devastating effects on the cybertronian body. Within HOURS of being there, Optimus Prime and Arcee were literally about to die. There is just no way Jetfire logically survives in this continuity..

And lastly, there's where the story would go afterwards. And I don't like what I see. :(

You see, if I bring Jetfire into my AU, I want him to stay friends with Starscream and stay with him. But making that happen requires me to break at least something from canon.

Option 1: Jetfire stays with the Decepticons and supports their cause. Which wont work because his whole story arc is being an ex-con who doesn't agree with what their doing-

Option 2: Starscream has a redemption arc and joins the Autobots with Jetfire. This is a problem because I would want Thundercracker and Skywarp to go with them. And tbh I don't think any of the screamers can be redeemed. They're cons to their core. To make them switch sides would feel too forced. Plus I like the 3 idiots being cons and getting on Megs nerves XD

Option 3: The timeline is the same as G1. Jetfire splits from the cons and joins the Autobots, leaving the triplets behind. This is obviously sad and I don't want that. 🫸

So with that all laid out, I have Jetfire in the bleachers for now. If I can find a way to solve all 3 of these problems then I'll add him to my AU in a heart beat. And everyone is welcome to correct me on any of these if I got the facts wrong or if you have any ideas on how to bring him into my AU! :0 I want to add him I just don't see a satisfying way to do it yet.

Thank you for reading! :)))

[vynxwave]

EarthSpark Starscream & the Tunnels

An aspect that I feel has gone largely unrecognized despite its importance and relevance to S2 is Starscream beginning his plan with the tunnels in S1E21 “What Dwells Within”, so I figured I’d make a post dedicated to it!

I'll also be going over how Terratronus was subtly alluded to/referenced in S1E24 "The Last Hope" as well as expanded upon and called back to in S2, along with any other relevant callbacks.

At the beginning of S1E21 "What Dwells Within" Starscream has assumed leadership of the Decepticons here (as based on his and Swindle's dialogue, and Starscream specifically having been the one to blast them an exit into this route) and it's revealed that he had devised a plan for their escape from GHOST's detention center (we saw him first scheming in S1E08 "Decoy"). This jailbreak is only the first part of his plan.

When flying with Nova Storm and Skywarp into the tunnels, Starscream tells them:

“These tunnels are ancient, predating GHOST and this whole pathetic town.”

Starscream should not know this about the tunnels because he's been imprisoned for who knows how long and information about the tunnels is not freely accessible or widely known (see: Croft mention later in this post). But he does know this about the tunnels, because he has intentionally and purposefully sought out this information about the tunnels.

He's sharing this information because he's briefing his Seekers in relation to what he has planned — because the tunnels are an integral part of his plan (as we'd later see come to fruition in S2).

If the Seekers were using these tunnels as an escape route, he would have no reason to even have or share such information about them; the Witwicky Ranger Station exit route that Swindle used prior in S1E18 "Disarmed" is not their destination.

Nova Storm rushes ahead and flies deeper into the tunnels after Starscream's briefing. She transforms to stop where the tunnels split into opposite directions, as her map shows here:

The tunnel to the left is visible, and it's a dead end:

Which leaves only the tunnel to the right — the cave system entrance!:

The Seekers ending up here by the cave entrance was not incidental: they were deliberately heading to the cave system entrance in accordance with Starscream's planning.

Nova Storm had blasted ahead and visibly passed another branch of the tunnel without pause because this was her destination; Skywarp chided her for using sonic booms because a cave-in right at the cave entrance would be an inconvenience to Starscream's plan.

At GHOST HQ when Megatron starts to make a plan involving a retrieval team going into the tunnels, Croft cuts him off to tell him it'd be pointless because the Seekers went into an "unmapped cave system", and that they should use their energon scanners for when they resurface.

Croft disregards Megatron's urgency and forbids them from going down into the tunnels with a grave tone: "No one is to go down into the tunnels. Do you understand me?" (which is accompanied by the ominous GHOST leitmotif), alluding that she knows more than she's letting on — in fact, she is intentionally keeping them in the dark.

Back with the group in the cave tunnels, the shot framing and SFX calls attention to the map of the cave system that Starscream has here (he's also positioned in front, leading the group) because it directly contradicts Croft's claim of the cave system being "unmapped". This map is even labelled! (This disproof adds to Croft's/GHOST's shadiness as built up throughout S1.)

(Relevant to Croft having information kept secret that's of interest to Starscream, Starscream would later want specific information he knows Croft has on her hard drive in S2E03 "Control Alt Delete")

One thing I'm curious about is Starscream deliberately turning right instead of continuing straight when the Dweller begins chasing the group — he had his eyes on the map recently, so was he intending to head for the map room right then and there? (Could it have been that he hoped the others would keep the Dweller busy, allowing himself to find the exit and escape?)

It's interesting that Starscream identifies the map room as a "central hub" and not just a map room (Nightshade identifies it as "some sort of map room") — it suggests Starscream has some recognition of what this cave is.

I want to make an important note that the Maltos/Terrans, including Hashtag, are never aware of Starscream's planning here. What Hashtag challenges here is his selfishness and his belligerent authority (as portrayed throughout this episode to this point) — and we'd see this actually impact his leadership style from here until S2E09 "Witwicky" (he goes from trying to physically assert his authority over others to instead explaining the importance/relevance of what he's asking of his followers). His desire for power and glory (see: S1E16 "Warzone" where he [be]holds the AllSpark as if it were a personal victory/trophy, as opposed to Shockwave's more collective Decepticon victory goal) was never challenged here.

When Hashtag prompts Starscream to convince the Seekers to help stop the Dweller, he tells them: "The boy is right. If that thing gets out, no Cybertronian will be safe, including us."

The way he words this excludes the Maltos and all non-Cybertronians of Witwicky: instead of mirroring the Maltos' concern about Witwicky as a whole, he narrows the concern to "Cybertronians" and themselves to appeal specifically to Skywarp and Nova Storm (who've actively endangered humans before) (later in S2E01 "Aftermath" Skywarp would express explicit disdain for non-Cybertronians, corroborating this; though paired with her and Nova Storm's blatant disregard for human, Autobot, and Terran safety as shown in S1, including in this episode, this isn't surprising xD).

This (or rather, this and other moments) shows that Starscream is actually quite capable at knowing his audience and understanding how to appeal to them, which is useful in S2 when he's able to rally the Decepticons behind him by promising to make them a new home, following their imprisonment by Autobots and GHOST.

(Starscream's "Take care of yourself" at the end of S1E21 "What Dwells Within" is genuine, and his later shift on the word emphasized would be deliberate and intentional — but not actually reflective of his meaning in S1E21 "What Dwells Within". An in-depth analysis of Starscream in S2/S3 will be a different post than this one.)

In S1E24 "The Last Hope" when the Decepticons are freed they fall under Starscream's command. Starscream properly taking leadership of the Decepticons was a long time coming: S1E01 "Secret Legacy" established the Decepticons as being aimless, divided, disorganized, and leaderless (as portrayed all throughout the season too), so pairing this with S1E08 "Decoy" revealing that Starscream was imprisoned and scheming (who had the allegiance of Soundwave) set Starscream up for becoming the Decepticon leader following their liberation from GHOST.

Starscream's ability to appeal to the Decepticons can also be inferred to be true of in S1E26 "The Last Hope" where he's able to convince the Decepticons to help defeat Mandroid's forces (Sharkticons and mind-controlled Autobots) when the Maltos and Bumblebee were unable to convince them to do so (because their reasoning didn't appeal to the Decepticons' interests).

I'd doubt Starscream would appeal to the Decepticons the same way the Maltos and Bumblebee tried to — what he appealed to them with would be conjecture, but I'd guess something like being able to fight Autobots (who relentlessly hunted and imprisoned them, aiding GHOST) without consequence if Starscream's awareness of the mind-controlled Megatron and his and the Decepticons' enthusiasm joining the fight is any indication; and obviously allowing Mandroid wipe out all Cybertronian life would be quite a hindrance to Starscream's plan seen in S2.

Notably, Starscream describes the Decepticons joining the fight as "return[ing] the favor" for freeing the Decepticons from GHOST, rather than any mention of saving Earth or Cybertronians, which suggests a transactional perspective (which wouldn't be the first or last time the Decepticons appear to have this [e.g. Tarantulas asking "What do you want in return?" in response to Nightshade's gift and the Decepticons following whoever promises them something they want (Skywarp & Nova Storm working under Mandroid for his protection against GHOST, S2 Decepticons for Starscream's promised New Cybertron, and S3 Decepticons for a return to Cybertron]).

Related Set Ups & Callbacks

In S2E01 "Aftermath" Starscream shares his plan with Breakdown and alludes to Terratronus:

"Beneath Witwicky lies a tremendous weapon. The Autobots don't even know about it yet. [...]"

Which actually calls back to what Mandroid said in S1E24 "The Last Hope" at GHOST's spacebridge, revealing that he was alluding to Terratronus (which served to subtly set her up):

"[...] you have no idea the power that's been lying beneath your base all these years"

"Showing you the weapon it's perched upon."

In S2E09 "Witwicky" Starscream stands with the Witwicky Tower (which was GHOST's Spacebridge) in frame which calls back to Mandroid alluding to Terratronus lying specifically beneath GHOST's spacebridge.

In S1E21 "What Dwells Within" when Starscream saw the Maltos he says: "Ah, so you're the Maltos / [...] they'll make perfect hostages", recognizing who they are and their value to the Autobots (and Megatron) and GHOST. And in S2E09 "Witwicky" he's able to do just that:

[teleforce]

Okay, I'm...I have serious BreakBee brain rot right now and things are adding up in my sleep deprived, energy drink crashing, weed high brain.

Breakdown I very much see does care about Bee. He always goes to Bee's side to either fight along side him or against him (possibly because to him he sees it as play and knows neither of them would seriously hurt each other).

But he clearly has committment issues.

He's loyal to the Decepticons over his friendship with Bee (s3e1, s2e1).

I think it's a case of "The Devil you know" and selecting that even though knowing it's not good for you because you're scared of the possibility of something good going horribly horribly wrong.

I like to think that being a Decepticon comes with it's own mental abuses by everyone. Everyone is an abuser and victim simply by the nature of being a Decepticon, hence when bonds are formed (like with Starscream, Skywarp, and Nova Storm (or Thundercracker) it becomes extremely strong because here is the one safe person among a sea of sharks.

I think Breakdown (especially since the show takes some influence from the og 84 cartoon) has always been shown to have high anxiety and being prone to panic attacks and paranoid thinking.

So, being a con comes with its own dangers, but then if your unit leader is also abusive, it adds to everything else being done to you in an inherently hostile environment.

Motormaster is usually depicted as abusive and manipulative of his team. Breakdown could have been a particular target because of his anxiety.

I'm not going to go into the other three, but they all are more likely to fight back or absolutely not give a fuck what Motormaster says or does (ex;Dead End who is his own fascinating character study). But Breakdown would be especially susceptible to Motormaster's influence because of the anxiety and paranoia.

I think Breakdown is scared of being with Bee because of his own traumas. He clearly enjoys Bee's company and likely is doing better without Motormaster breathing down his neck.

But I get the feeling he avoids processing the trauma and might actively avoid healing because it's so unknown to him. He's scared what would change about him, his relationships, maybe Bee might not like that version of him.

And that's all it takes. The slightest possibility that that might could come true.

I think Bee trusting him no matter what (within reason), even when Breakdown betrays him, is Bee's effort to help Breakdown heal. He can't force Breakdown to do anything he isn't wanting too. Then he'd be no better than Motormaster.

Even at the end of season 1 Bee doesn't guilt trip or shame Breakdown when he and the other cons refuse to help after being released.

He accepts it. He's visibly hurt, but he accepts Breakdown's choice. Which I think is Bee's way of helping Breakdown learn he has choices and he can chose to be better when he is ready. He also continues to refer to Breakdown as his friend and "brother". Even after a whole war and Breakdown making choices that work against Bee, Bee still looks to him fondly as his friend. Because that's what Breakdown needs. He needs a friend more than a lover/partner. And it's the only thing Bee has to help him.

[sonicasura]

I am just full of ideas today

Because I just can't help myself I have decided too add another Transformer addition too the Prime Hidden Village Crossover

One of the original Seeker's SkyWarp

This is his Hearts Of Steel design which goes so hard I can not help but use it

For Prime well remember how I said that Hi-Specs likes too mess around with Ground Bridges and Gate Cards well this is one of many instances as the Ground bridge happened too open a portal half way across the Universe. Hi-Specs was about too explore the Ground Bridge when a shout from the other side echoed out

" Wait! Please! Keep the Ground Bridge open, I beg of you!!!"

And too everyone's shock a injured SkyWarp crashes through the portal. SkyWarp is immediately taken too the Medical Bay and after SkyWarp is cleared he tells everyone his story.

SkyWarp after Cybertron had gone dark was scattered too winds as were many others. He was going too planet too planet in search of any Cybertronian as SkyWarp didn't know what too do next after Cybertron went dark. His home that he was fighting for was now pretty much dead. Eventually though he got caught in a Meteor Storm and crash landed on a moon. The injures he suffered from the crash left him unable too fly.

SkyWarp injured and alone spent who knows how long just watching the sea of stars until the Ground Bridge sent by Primus himself appeared before him.

The Village officially has there newest member and someone is definitely getting a new roommate because SkyWarp really does not want too be alone again

Also in Skybound the Expedition Force appears right before Starscream and Soundwave make the decision too rip SkyWarp in half for parts and help fix SkyWarp which is how he gets his new form

Or ya know..the Expedition Force could see SkyWarp melded apart of Teletram 1 and immediately grab and rush SkyWarp too get repaired...if we wanna get even more dark about it

What do you think?

Skywarp would be an interesting addition to the village. I can only imagine Prime Starscream's shock upon seeing one of his Trine siblings still alive. The second choice really drives home how fucked up things gotten as the war continues to drag on.

Vice had gotten a call from Optimus about two very tricky repairs. Removing Skywarp from Teletran-1 was nerve wracking since one wrong move would offline the bot, nevermind just damaging the console beyond repair. To fully fix both required Bakugan grade metal as nothing else will do.

Skywarp won't be returning to the Decepticons since this gruesome betrayal was the straw to break the camel's back. He's bunking with one of the villagers due to how messed up his mental state is. The Autobots leave the seeker in their hands.

[geek-antic]

Soundwave is a powerhouse and an enigma and we don't talk about it enough so i'mma just gonna make a compilation of "how the hell did he do that" and "what the hell is he" moments that i've managed to find from across several transformers continuities

first off is from the first IDW comic continuity

this is never explained, so i can only assume its because soundwave is technically an outlier but i haven't seen a panel that shows other outliers having "off the scale" readings, whatever that means.

and then in the last moments of this continuity he sacrifices himself to save the universe/earth by using his outlier ability along with the enigma of combination to essentially connect the dead to the living in the entire galaxy for a hot minute . idk how the hell he did that or how he knew to do that, my money is on bad writing but i digress.

next up Transformers Prime

tfp fans: elaborate on that. tfp writers: no. transformers prime soundwave is definitely a powerhouse and an enigma for several reasons but number one is this god damn scene with ratchet exclaiming soundwave isn't your standard cybertronian and then to my frustration the show refuses to explain why.

also he can open portals. the only explanation for that is in the novels where he actually was part of the invention of spacebridge technology. i guess he could've incorporated that into himself, which frankly is kinda unheard of in of itself. but still I feel inclined to tell him that skywarp called and they want their powers back.

Next, we have the game Transformers: fall of cybertron. where he scavenges together all of megatrons parts and puts him back together which, yeah sure why not? it's essentially like putting a corpse back together but then he just REVIVES HIM??

with his mind completely intact despite having been decimated by Metroplex and being dead for several hours. excuse me sir but that shouldn't be possible. I guess I could just chop it up to the writers being a bit loosey goosey with their own rules for the world but it's still quite a feat. but thinking back to G1 where he did the same thing with skyfire I guess they assumed it's just something he can do?

although skyfire's revival was a bit more reasonable considering he was still in one piece and frozen solid which they explained to be the reason as to why he was kept intact. but I'm assuming that's why the writers were like "well let's just have him do the same thing for megatron" and everyone was like yeah okay why not. also like a lot of things in G1 this inbuilt high voltage canon/defibrillator is never brought up again which is hilarious and par for the course for G1.

there are several more moments throughout all the tf continuities where soundwave just does something inexplicable but these are a some of the moments that stuck out to me the most. I welcome others to add onto this post if they wish. because I'm sure I've missed some "how the hell did he do that" moments that would be a shame not to bring up.

[pluralsword]

Queer Wargaming with Cards

Yeah we do wargaming.

With cards.

Extremely gay cards.

You know, the Transformers Deck-Building Game XD

It's a wargame in the sense that we've collected a bunch of expansions (we have the core autobot game, the core decepticon game, infiltration protocol expansion, and the war for cybertron core game) that would together enable 4v4 gameplay... we calculated that would mean having a card matrix (the battlefield as it were that gets flipped over to reveal allies, enemies, gear, friendly or enemy strategies, bosses, and locations, and battles resulting in defeated enemies leave ruins) of 6 x 6 (36 cards, with one starting polity) cards, and a 21+21+21+5 deck containing the bosses and more polities... (note the game rules go up to 2v2 or 3v1 or 4 player coop/team competitive but if one wants to get in more content and players you just increase the matrix from a 4 x 4 for four players to say, 4x5 for five, and add two cards to boss stacks, going from a 11+11+11+5 to 13+13+13+5, and so on for more players)

as a deckbuilding game, a core mechanic is collecting cards from the field and adjusting your deck and buffing cards and the like, all actions you take are with cards, whether repairing, attacking, blocking, assisting, recruiting, commanding, damaging, and so on. So inevitably you end up collecting a bunch of blorbos, tactics, and gear...

so it's completely unlike any other wargame in that every player is a sort of mass effect style commander who brings their team of blorbos (including humans and non-transformer aliens), gear, and tactics with them to wreck or charm opponents, lead polities, repair the tolls of war, collect relics, take down enemy leadership, protect each other, complete war goals, along with defending ones own leaders...

which is a very transformers premise, come to think of it, but it also feels a lot like ancient war stories, and very gay equivalent, both because of all that and because well, transformers has been very same-gender love uwu intentionally since 2012 which shows no signs of halting, and hit a gender expansive aspect too (the deckbuilding game so far only has sword arcee and overlord but we are sure more will turn up)... so suffice to say that uh we are glad this is the board game we decided to collect for-

its also a lot cheaper than wargames typically are for army building or what have you, and has a built in cooperative or solo mode if you don't want to fight your friends! for reference the amount of money we've spent on the game to now have a vast number of gal characters who would appear on the board is around the cost of a single Manticore missile tank from a certain grimdark game... (although that series is infamous for being much more expensive than other wargames)

speaking of women:

With the cards we have there are 11 different options for playable characters (the leaders of your decks) who either were introduced as gals (Arcee, Elita-1, Slipstream, and Windblade), have at least one gal iteration (Starscream, Skywarp, Ironhide, and Optimus Prime) or would have been canonized as gals but either that was turned down at the time or character cut from a continuity budget (Ratchet and Jazz respectively). If we had the Dinobot expansion that would put us at 12 since Swoop is a gal in Cyberverse.

also the alt modes are on the flip side, transforming is a key mechanic since you need your alt mode to move around usually (respectively, Ratchet: ambulance, Arcee: sports convertible, Elita-1: sports muscle car, Slipstream: fighter jet, Windblade: VTOL jet, Starscream: fighter jet, Skywarp: fighter jet, Ironhide: van, Optimus Primes: truck without the trailer, Jazz: sports car)

Dunno about you but that's a lot of options who are gals for any board game usually... and they vary vastly in capabilities, for example:

-Arcee (from the core/autobot set simply known as the transformers deck-building game) has a skill lay out that is built around moving quickly and gathering maneuvers to use selectively customize personal prowess while playing cards that, in our experience, tends to defeat/eliminate the most enemy npcs on the board (at least until the war for cybertron expansion). she also has strong synergy with her own npc card and the energy blades whose art of hers held by her from the same set.

On an obscure lore note, since the Matrix of Leadership card can be picked up by anyone who can play 8 power (having the power and the touch here doesn't seem to function on a morality basis but hey it doesn't always do that anyway), if you do it with her you can effectively play Arcana Magnus, which is close to the name that was considered for her if she had won the choose a Prime poll for the Power of the Primes toyline (for which she ran on a platform of giving up her career as a warrior, serving with honor, and focusing on reparations in the aftermath of the Great War)

-Windblade (war for cybertron bonus pack) can boost one of her cards while on a site (because of her cityspeaker thing) and can for 1 energon also teleport to allies / sites (another reference because of titans often having spacebridges, but also she's a flyer), and then draws a card she has card draw... on top of that for 2 energon she can recruit an enemy of 2-4 power so she can recruit from the start of the game without the matrix of leadership (which is the only other way to do this, from the core/autobot set)- so effectively politician Windblade has made it into the cardgame (which was so exciting to us), and she can also move allied players to an adjacent space when switching to alt mode, her team versatility is very different from Ironhide who is all about focusing on blocking attacks for teammates, or Ratchet who doles out assists and repairs like no tomorrow (this also uniquely positions Ratchet to defend friendly Autobot bosses)

-Slipstream (war for cybertron) is the first real starter sniper/gunship of the lot, she can give her starter cards +1 range and can also battle enemies not in her space with +2 range and +2 power which makes her a killer to rival arcee, and has card draw or can self heal 2 damage and in alt mode can choose a card from her discard to put on top of her deck so she is the deck engine blorbo (insert blue/red deck joke here)

-Elita-1 (war for cybertron) on the other hand has a sort of turn by turn engine because when she recruits an autobot they go on top of the deck for the next turn, so she can determine her next turn draw, and also can boost autobot cards- and most importantly, for each autobot she controls on the field in play, she can deal 1 damage to a target character, so um... Elita can completely mess up enemy players/teams, if she has five Autobots played on a turn she can hit someone in the same space as her for 5 damage... which means -10 points at the end of the game if not repaired! she is a menace even compared to the Decepticons in other other sets because of the amount of damage she can deal mid-late game. If one wants to reimplement the core game co-op/solo rule of a team loses when a character takes 5 damage, but instead do it as the player is taken out until getting at least a damage repaired (for the record we came up with this variant, but otherwise it's a death by a thousand cuts situation where you can keep racking up damage), this makes Elita extremely dangerous for shutting down opponents and also the ideal Autobot wielder of the Star Saber, since that card is in part for dealing damage to other players

-Skywarp (infiltration protocol bonus pack) on the other hand is all about scouting (Jazz from the autobot/core game bonus pack is even more so), utility, disruption, able to teleport upon transforming to altmode, flipping adjacent regions' cards face-up when playing a starter card for the first time on a turn, and able to either cause a friend to discard a hand and draw again -1 (which is handy if your pal does not like their hand and especially if they know what cards are next), or can do the same thing to an opponent to try to mess up their next turn or defensive actions they might take

-Optimus Prime's War for Cybertron variant is the strategic counterpart to her own (for clarification, Transformers Universe Optimus Prime and Yellow Splendid Convoy are she/her Optimi) autobot/core game card autobot card boosting and card draw/blcok capabilities and to Elita-1's guerrilla cqc style: this Optimus can block an attack from anywhere in the field against any player, while having the ability to draw a lot of cards or just build up victory points while on a polity

-Starcream actually has interesting counterplay to Elita in that she (she was a gal in the French dub of TFTM) can spend energon to give 1 damage dealt to her to a target player anywhere... and aside from this can also can battle Decepticons allies to gain their defeat rewards instead of adding them to her deck. Very Starscream

Some reviews of the game said it is lackluster with the lack of energon utility and having a lot near the end of the game- a rule was implemented in War for Cybertron capping the amount of energon one can have to 12, and also another rule (unsure if this was a rule before) established that cards spent to fight people could not have their move points be used after, so the game is now significantly more difficult hehe

We've played it a bunch of times with friends prior to acquiring War for Cybertron, it is easily one of our favorite games not just because of the intentionally queer-coded alien robots' art and personalities being all over the game, but also because the dynamic card synergy is enjoyable and the bosses can really mess you up if one doesn't have the right build. We aren't getting into this because we'd be here all day but the npc's personalities are certainly there: e.g. well known for her martial artist bodyguard iteration, Chromia (war for cybertron) helps players to gather maneuvers and to buff them in combat/diplomacy, along with having significant move and combat/recruiting capabilities herself (this could, for example, help Windblade collect combat and scouting cards, or enable Arcee to be even more deadly). There's other things we haven't tried yet, the Infiltration Protocol expansion comes with the eponymous six phases of Decepticon resource extraction invasion from IDW1 as a playable mode, and the bonus pack (which we have tried) came with Metroplex (who is an Autobot boss location rather than playable card), and also has a 1 vs team mode where the solo player is buffed significantly

anyway, we had to ramble about it because this game is cool as hell

[justawayninja]

Why IDW Starscream deserved his redemption arc (Pt. 2)

Pt. 1: A small hint of ‘goodness’

Pt. 2: The different IDW Starscreams

In the last part I talked about how the original G1 cartoon left us with a hanging question about Starscream’s moral capacity for ‘goodness’, the possibility of a little ‘something more’. 

In this part, I want to talk about: actual, ‘good’ traits of Starscream. 

Obviously, Starscream is a well-established bad guy of the franchise, whatever the continuity. 

The traits most easily associated with him are also largely, if not all, negative. Traitorous. Cowardly. Self-centred. Egotistical. Brash. Opportunistic. And that’s only what distinguishes him from the other Transformers villains. Add on the standard Decepticon ‘values’ of ‘cruel, ruthless warmonger’ and a sadistic penchant for violence and murdering people... 

Yeah. Not a good guy. Tick. 

But just because a person has bad morals or values, does NOT invalidate any of their strengths, competences, or positive traits in general. Just because they use their strengths to further a bad cause does NOT mean those traits are now invaluable, or useless, or ‘evil’. 

Writers who are able to take this into consideration, who can recognise that not all personality traits need to be portrayed as purely ‘good’ or ‘bad’, are writers who can create interesting, perhaps even likeable bad guys - despite, or even because of their badness. 

And, here, I would argue that, for most writers of an IDW G1 Starscream, there is an acknowledgement of Starscream’s actual competences and ‘positive’ traits - even though interpretations of these ‘positive’ traits do differ somewhat between writers. 

And if we are able to build on these interpretations, we will find ourselves with an image of Starscream that feels much more hopeful, and is certainly much more nuanced and complex than... others. (*cough cough John Barber cough*)

(Spoiler alert: Transformers: All Hail Megatron, Transformers: ‘Til All Are One, The Transformers (2009))

Shane McCarthy’s Starscream (Transformers: All Hail Megatron, 2008-2009)

Without outright portraying Starscream as a character worthy of moral redemption or sympathy, Shane McCarthy’s Starscream is one of the more positive portrayals of the character. 

While this Starscream exhibits the same petty, almost childish competitiveness reminiscent of the original G1 Starscream - getting very riled up when Skywarp suggests he’s unable to inspire as much fear and destruction as Megatron could - he is also highly competent. 

Firstly, he challenges Megatron with valid, meaningful criticisms of his plans after conquering Earth. He correctly points out that Megatron has lost his sense of purpose, and his vision for the future. They are questions to which Megatron has no answers.

And once Megatron failed to step up to the bar, Starscream organises a coup which poses an actual threat to Megatron’s position as leader of the Decepticons.

If it wasn’t for the Autobots’ arrival, I believe the Starscream VS Megatron coup could at least have a 50-50 chance of success. Not only did he manage to sway a significant number of Decepticons to his side, but he also surprised Megatron by taking over Devastator, Megatron’s then most powerful soldiers and the only Combiner team (I believe). 

What’s more, his capabilities and power are openly acknowledged and respected by Megatron. 

This respect for Starscream is something which very few later IDW writers choose to incorporate into their interpretations of Megatron. Many, instead, favour the more G1-esque Megatron-Starscream dynamic of bickering and insulting with a darker twist which borders abuse. (In later parts, I will also explore how re-interpretations of the G1 Megatron and Starscream dynamic affects the interpretation of both characters). 

And, indeed, there is something honourable about McCarthy’s Starscream, who, in issue 12 of All Hail Megatron, chooses to save Megatron from the Autobots so that he may earn his leadership of the Decepticons. 

Granted, I think this happens more out of plot convenience, so that Megatron can continue as the leader of the Decepticons in later series. But still, this has important implications for our understanding of Starscream’s character - and Shane McCarthy’s Starscream is a respectable character, even if he is on the ‘wrong side’. 

Mike Costa’s Starscream (The Transformers, 2009-2011)

The first thing Mike Costa’s Starscream does is... Throw Shane McCarthy’s Starscream’s sense of honour out of the window. Almost immediately, he’s torn between keeping Megatron’s husk alive and repairing him to function, or snatching Decepticon leadership during the power vacuum and killing Megatron off in the process. Which makes you wonder why he saved Megatron in the first place. 

But despite the inconsistency, Costa’s Starscream forms an interesting, tragic character. Although his Starscream does not necessarily exhibit competence or positive strengths in the same way as McCarthy’s Starscream, he certainly experiences and goes through feelings which readers can be sympathetic towards. 

One of which is guilt. 

This is Starscream in issue 13 of All Hail Megatron, shortly after lying to the other Decepticons that the Autobot’s Matrix of Leadership has chosen him as a leader. It’s a valid political move, using religion to aid your support.  

But here, you get the sense that this a Starscream who does not enjoy the deception. He does not blindly rejoice in power, and he feels no joy despite finally obtaining what he has desired for so many millions of years. 

Instead, he is filled with fear, paranoia, doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and a horrible, horrible sense of disappointment. 

This is a Starscream who recognises his own incompetence. 

In contrast to the original G1 Starscream, who is something of a bumbling fool too happy to self-indulge in his power for his own ego rather than actually using it to practical purpose, this is a Starscream who is finally confronted with the realisation that he cannot lead, cannot fulfil his grand ambitions in the way Megatron could. 

And it crushes him. 

This is NOT a fear that would occur to a shallower, simple-minded character who cared only about titles, egos, and their own glory. A Starscream like that would never even consider it. 

Because both McCarthy and Costa’s Starscream are legitimately, and reasonably, disappointed in Megatron’s reign. Both aspire for power not for the sake of power, but for a higher purpose. 

The Decepticon cause. 

And if we remember that, in the IDW-verse, the Decepticons are depicted as activists responding to genuine oppression who gradually lose their way in bloodbath and war, then Starscream’s determination to remember and return to the original Decepticon ideals definitely highlights something more than ‘just’ a sadistic, self-centred, sociopath. 

(Of course, there is no guarantee that Starscream’s own visions of the Decepticon ideals haven’t been skewed by war and bloodshed. The important thing is that he still remembers that their brutality should serve a purpose, which most other Decepticons rarely ever consider). 

Costa’s Starscream is tragic - tragic because he must face the reality that he is the reason that he cannot achieve his dream. Because he is not Megatron. Because he lacks the charisma. The ability. The determination. The strength. 

And that is something readers can sympathise with. Dreams being crushed. Ideals turning to ash. Fantasy morphing into bitter reality. This is the story of Costa’s Starscream - a broken idealist, someone who could have been something better than Megatron, but ultimately wasn’t. 

Mairghread Scott’s Starscream (Transformers: ‘Til All Are One, 2016-2017)

Scott’s Starscream offers a very interesting, brave interpretation of his character - because it is her Starscream, after all, who takes the journey of redemption. 

A lot of it comes down to the mechs Starscream is mainly surrounded by, as Supreme Leader of Cybertron. Bumblebee, Windblade, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and delegates from different colonies. Autobots, or else people who never knew him as the ruthless Decepticon Second-in-Command he once was. He has a chance to start with a clean slate. 

And this is when things get interesting. Whereas most Starscreams pretend to have compassion, and sympathy, and morality, in order to profit from the latest scandal or betrayal, Scott’s Starscream is the complete reverse. (Particularly in TAAO).

Similar to Mike Costa, in TAAO, we see a Starscream who plots and schemes not because he necessarily enjoys behaving this way, but because when everything happens exactly the way he wants things to, when he has a chance to start completely anew with his legally established power, he realises that deception, violence, and manipulation are all he knows. 

It’s what he expects of himself, and what others expects of him. 

Look at that expression. That is NOT the expression of someone who is proud of what he has done, or the expression of someone who feels no remorse. It’s bitter. It’s ironic. It’s a look of self-loathing. 

Scott’s Starscream has given up on himself. He carries on the despair of Costa’s Starscream, albeit with a subtle difference. Because while Costa’s Starscream despaired over the realisation that he cannot fulfil his dream as leader of the Decepticon Empire. Scott’s Starscream despaired over his inability to do good, to be a better person. 

Scott’s Starscream, in short, has a conscience. 

At some point, his plotting and scheming have become farcical. A ‘mask’, as Bumblebee puts it, which he can no longer put down. 

This can be seen most clearly when he releases Chromia from prison. Note how all his ‘official’, surface excuses for freeing her are all to do with establishing his own political power and influence. Entirely self-serving, as most people would expect. 

And yet, when Chromia sees through all of this, and asks him for the real reason, he answers with this: 

Unlike most other carnations, the self-serving, power-hungry Starscream had become the mask. Underneath it all, is a true Starscream who is attempting to atone, in some way, for his earlier faults (such as convicting an innocent Badgeless). 

It’s funny how things can work out sometimes. How an innocent, almost naive faith can produce the greatest change in a way which violence and power never could. 

Scott’s Starscream lives a tragedy, much like Costa’s Starscream, his story full of the could-have-beens and the sadness of someone who has lost themselves in the painful turns of war and its deceit. But it is in Scott’s Starscream where we see the greatest possibility for goodness - an awareness of right and wrong, a feeling of guilt, doubt, and conflict. And it is Scott’s Starscream who ultimately, chooses what would have been otherwise unthinkable for any other Starscream. He sacrifices himself, his ambitions, and his dreams - so that the world can do better without him. 

To summarise, while most writers show Starscream to be manipulative, deceptive, and conniving - they rarely depict him as someone who enjoys these betrayals. What’s more, he is not usually depicted as self-centred purely for the sake of being self-centred. Self-preservation, and the need to come out on top, are certainly a large part to his motivations, but they are never his sole motivations. They are usually accompanied by a genuine ambition to fulfil a certain ideology or vision of leadership, visions which are ultimately hampered by his own insecurities and inadequacies in the face of overwhelming responsibility. From this, we can see that IDW’s Starscream is a fairly nuanced, complex character, who is much more morally grey, much more competent, with a much greater capacity for good, than the G1 counterpart from whom he is inspired. 

........ Aaaaand then John Barber came along with Robots in Disguise, smashed a sledgehammer into all those subtleties and character development, called him a ‘sociopath’, and created the least likeable, redeemable version of IDW Starscream possible. 

Which brings me on to Part 3: Barber’s Biased Starscream

[afterspark-podcast]

G1 Episode 17: Transcript

Episode Show Notes

[This can also be found on AO3!]

[Stinger]

O: No, no absolutely--but I'm talking about--

S:I know.

O: --like, Aliens!

S: I know.

O: You know, and it’s just like--

[Intro Music]

O: Hello, and welcome to the Afterspark Podcast, an episode by episode recap of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon. I'm Owls!

S: And I'm Specs!

O: And today we're gonna be talking about episode number 17: Autobot Spike.  Let's talk about giant robots today, shall we?

S: Mm-hmm.

O: Also a note for, uh, I guess season 2 onwards?  Uhh, we are gonna go by the order that's on my DVD set, because that's the set we're using when we're scripting.  Ah, it technically, it seems like it's the um, airdate order versus if you go on the TF wiki it's like by episode--

S: It varies though, the page I was looking on for when I was doing the reordering on the fanfic rec document, it has like episode number or airdate number and then like, actual order number on the other side, it was like what?

O: Yeah, it was like the episode internal number for the studio or for the writing staff or something. I'm not really sure I understand it, but basically if you go on TF wiki or at least the page we have initially used to like, make our spreadsheet for things, it uses that number instead of the air date and I think the DVDs are using the air date.  So that's what we're gonna go off of just so we don't have to try to keep track of it as much.

S: So yes, some of these may not be in chronological order, I guess?

O: Uh so, if you're like, “Hey why did you do this episode instead of this episode?” that's probably why, we will still get to all of them though.

S: Yes, we will.  Just weird order.

O: Yeah.  We had to pick something and this is what we did.  Anyway, welcome to season 2 of the Transformers, complete with a brand new opening and teasing us with brand new characters. (And by characters we meet toys.)

S: Yes, yes new toys to add to your burgeoning army.

O: [laughs] Today at the Autobot base, Sparkplug is playing God!

S: The Autobots are just fine with this.  Apparently, they don't have um, moral or ethical quandaries with this.

O: I mean considering that um, Wheeljack and--

S: The Dinobots.

O: Yeah, I was going to say, Wheeljack and Ratchet just decided to create new life ah, no problem.  I guess, yeah, they must not be worried about a God complex.

S: I guess.

O: Uh, Sparkplug’s new creation is called Autobot X.

S: Unfortunately, he's definitely not a looker.

O: Autobot X is a literal Frankenstein's monster uh, made out of a hodgepodge of spare Autobot parts.

S: He's even got bolts on his helmet where his neck should be, it’s um, yeah.

O: He's like--I wanna say he didn't have much of a neck, which is why we phrased that way, but yes.  Uh, Spike even calls it a Frankenstein's monster.  Which confuses poor Bumblebee but Spike doesn't want to take the time to explain the human pop culture reference to his giant alien robot friend.  This is fine.

S: Honestly, he could just direct him to the library.

O: Or put on a movie. [laughs]

S: Yeah.

O: We know a movie exists in this world!.

S: Yeah, as we will um, see later.  Autobot X is an amalgam of Prowl, Bluestreak, Sunstreaker, Optimus Prime, Trailbreaker, Jazz, and Hound parts.

O: It's apparently got Jazz's crotch.  Uh, to which, all we can say is, he's got a party in his pants.

S: Yes, literally!  Especially if he can do that speaker doohickey--if he's got those speaker doohickeys somewhere.

O: Weirdly enough he seems to have a mostly unique face, uh, helm, uh, that kind of reminds me of Ultra Magnus?  Which is hilarious, cuz Ultra Magnus doesn't even exist in the series yet.

S: Yeah.  Sparkplu--well actually, presumably they know about him and they just decided to make his face look like that.

O: Okay, but if Sparkplug--

S: I mean in uni--I mean in universe not the--

O: No-no-

S: Oh no, you’re right.

O: Because Sparkplug’s the one that made him, and so Ultra Magnus, if he--it does exist which presumably he does--

S: Yeah.

O: He's on Cybertron--

S: Yes.

O: And Sparkplug would have never met him!

S: Yes, the Autobots didn't have any, like contribution to the--

O: The design? [laughs]

S: Unless they just had like, a face that looked like Ultra Magnus’s lying around.

O: I don’t know.

S: Which would be weird.

O: That’s so weird!

S: Let’s move on now, shall we?  Sparkplug is gunning for a Wheeljack's job as resident mad scientist.

O: Wheeljack seems vaguely insulted by this, as he should be.

S: Mmm-hmm.  Surprising no one, Autobot X begins rampaging around the room destroying things, and Sparkplug can't control it.  I'm not sure why they expected any differently, considering what happened with the Dinobots but...

O: This proves that Sparkplug may be at Wheeljack’s level, but he certainly hasn't surpassed it. [laughs]

S: Yeah...yeah.  So on the list of powers this abomination has, we have super-strength, force lightning as it combats the Autobots' attempts to subdue it.

O: Autobot X is knocked out and Sparkplug laments that it needs to be perfected.

S: [sighs] Sparkplug.

O: Everyone here makes terrible decisions.

S: They do, they do.  Wheeljack and Ratchet offer to help, with Wheeljack wanting to shove Autobots' consciousnesses into Autobot X while their bodies are being repaired.

O: Just put them in stasis!  It’s easier!

S: I'm not sure why their minds somehow, um interfere with the repair process but, that's the logic we're going with.

O: Apparently, and Optimus is totally okay with this horrifying idea.

S: Clearly he hasn’t put a whole lot of thought into it.

O: Like, it cannot be an easy process to swap bodies around like, otherwise people I think would do--er, um--robots would do it more often in this series!

S: Well, we do see the Combaticons’ like, does little cube thingies that Starscream steals from robot prison--

O: Yeah, but that’s not their--

S: --later but...

O: I mean, you’re right, but still.

S: It's-it’s very different, that's their personality components or whatever.

O: Yeah.

S: [unintelligible]

O: So, at this point in time, Teletraan I goes off alerting the Autobots to the presence of Decepticons.

S: And as the Autobots roll out we must remember that this is the start of a new season so let's have another toy roll call except--I think, these are--I don't think any of these characters are new?

O: I don't think they are, but they're reminding the kids who have come back you know, presumably after however long since the new season got, you know, uh--

S: Last season ended or whatever.

O: Last season ended, yeah, that’s what I mean.  The Decepticons are apparently attacking the *New* Air Force rocket base.

S: And then trained army men try to shoot the Cons with teeny, teeny, tiny handguns.  It's silly.

O: It's very silly, and then Megatron fires a warning shot that doesn't actually hit any of humans.

S: Though I must say, I don't think I saw any cannons in this particular base.

O: No, no this one actually looked like, you know it was maybe up to date with the 80’s weaponry!

 S: Yeah...those were some really big rockets.

O: Yeah.

S: The Autobots proceed to show up.

O: With Starscream wordlessly pointing as they approach.

S: And then a fight breaks out.

O: As it is prone to do in this particular series. Uh, and to get back on my high horse--fuck you Brawn, uh, he kicks Soundwave into a giant rocket here, which then proceeds to knock down a bunch of other rockets.

S: It's like dominoes.

O: Dominoes!  But with rockets!

S: Instigated by a robot getting kicked into them.

O: Yes, that was poor Soundwave.

S: Um-hm, and the Autobots were specifically trying to avoid all of this damage happening which makes it more infinitely hilarious that it actually happens.

O: Brawn clearly didn't get the memo. [laughs]

S: The fighting continues, with Thundercracker and Skywarp destroying the other rockets in the base.

O: Bumblebee and Spike arrive on scene.

S: There will be regrets.

O: [laughs] Just regrets!?!

S: Megatron and Soundwave take off, with Megatron turning it into his gun mode and Soundwave firing him at Bumblebee as a diversion.  And then Optimus gasps, “They hit Spike!”

O: No they didn’t!  They didn’t even hit Bumblebee!  They hit in front of Bumblebee and then he just kind of fell over on his side!  I’m not saying Spike would be unaffected, but I certainly don’t think this was--should be life threatening!

S: Yes, but this is like, a bug made out of a giant alien robot that presumably doesn't have fucking airbags and there is no restraining harness, no seat belt.

O: He wasn’t even going that fast though, and it was like, kind of this slow tip over!?!  It just--it didn’t look like a--just didn’t look like it should have done that much!

S: It probably didn't do much to Bumblebee but that doesn't mean that Spike didn't hit his head in an unfortunate manner.

O: I-- [unintelligible muttering]

S: I think is dumb but they went with what they went with and we can't really argue with it.

O: [groans]

S: At least I don't think we can.

O: Ohhh, watch me! [laughs]

S: Well, okay, yes we can.

O: [continues to laugh]

S: [sighs] Megatron is very happy at the possibility of having killed a 14 year old boy.

O: Ironhide and the others pull out Spike and load him up into Ratchet.  You know, moving someone who might have a spinal injury or a head injury.  This is fine.

S: They did not take proper precautions and Spike is apparently in critical condition so...probably the Autobots hurt him more than the fall did.

O: Quite possibly!  And then we cut to a doctor talking to Sparkplug and--who says, “If only we could separate Spike's mind from his body!”

S: It's called a medically induced coma, you ass.  And then Sparkplug says, “Oh hey, wait!”

O: Alright, I buy that we can move a robot's mind around because machines and electricity or whatever but why on earth can this be possible with a human mind in this series?

S: I don't know, but it sure set up some stuff that fanfic writers use.

O: Oh, did it!

S: Um-hm.

O: And as if we need more Frankenstein shenanigans in this episode, back at the Ark, the Autobots prepare to transfer Spike's mind into Autobot X.

S: Ratchet says that Spike’s mind not being in his body will allow the doctors to operate and I mean how does this help with anything?

O: I don't see how it possibly could.

S: I mean--

O: I really don’t!

S: Unless it's some sort of brain surgery, I could maybe kind of see that.  Maybe, maybe.

O: Even then that seems unlikely though.

S: Yeah, I don't-I- don't know. I'm spitballing here.

O: [laughs]

S: Is there a doctor in the house? No, no, we've just got a bunch of mechanics.

O: Surely nothing can possibly go wrong here!

S: This stupidity does indeed work.

O: And by work, we mean Spike begins rampaging all over the lab just like Autobot X!

S: He's a very unhappy camper. Anyway, Spike is ramp--anyway, Spike is rampaging around the lab yelling, “WHYYY!?!”

O: You know, why have I been turned into an abomination?

S: [sighs]

O: Sunstreaker and Sideswipe come in and try to restrain him, but Spike just yeets both of them through the air.

S: That's kind of great.

O: It is kind of great, but I feel bad for Sunstreaker and Sideswipe.  They did nothing to deserve this, this episode.

S: Yeah, and then Optimus shoots Spike to stop his rampagey ways.  And then Sparkplug is very apologetic for what they've done saying that did the only thing that they could think of.  Which was--

O: Which was clearly sneak Spike out of the hospital in the middle of the night because when Sparkplug told the doctor this was the plan, they must have thought he was nuts!

S: Who the heck knows, I think it's--I think the entire plot is dumb but let's move on from that.  Autobot X is super freaking tall, he's at least as tall as Optimus so that's kinda…

O: It's really big!  Cuz Optimus is like, one of the biggest ones.

S: Yeah, like Skyfire I think, is taller but..

O: Skyfire is way bigger but-but out of a like, kind of normal cast like, Optimus and Megatron tend to be the biggest.

S: Yeah.

O: Surprise though, Laserbeak has been here the entire time recording all of this!

S: He's a good spy.

O: He's a good spy, unlike Bumblebee. [laughs]

S: Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't--

O: I apologize for nothing!

S: Bumblebee, you do not stand up to transform when you are within sight--

O: [laughs]

S: --of the people you're spying on.  Don't do it.  Nevertheless, he totally did it, and then he got brain tentacled for his troubles.

O: Yep, cuz we needed more reminders of that.  Anyway, our good birb returns and reports to Megatron.

S: And then Megatron decides to see if he can use Spike's instability to destroy the rest of the Autobots.

O: With Starscream living on the edge again, ah, insulting Megatron to his face and getting shoved for his troubles.

S: Back at the Ark, Ratchet is still trying to fix Bumblebee and Spike has apparently been left under the care of Wheeljack.

O: Which by left under the care of Wheeljack, that means he got shoved into a room with a TV and you'll never guess what movie is on!

S: Yep, we're being very on-the-nose today.

O: Surprise, surprise--it's Frankenstein.

S: And as Igor shouts, “You’ve created a monster!” on TV, Spike destroys the television set. Which may or may not be part of Teletraan 1.

O: Yeah, he then begins to trash the rest of the room too.

S: That's it, no more TV for you for six months, Spike!

O: To add to Autobot X's weird power list--he also has jet feet.

S: Obviously, we gotta make this body that we're just gonna put people in occasionally very, very useful and let it fly.

O: Uh, Sparkplug decided he was gonna cram in the features here, you know.

S: He just wanted all the features.

O: He wanted all the features.

S: Ratchet, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, and Bumblebee attempt to calm Spike with little success.

O: Spike smashes his way out of the Ark, and we see that Reflector’s been left on surveillance on the Decepticon side.

S: You gotta use what you have and when you have a camera, yeah.

O: Still better at surveillance than Bumblebee!  [laughs]

S: Yeah. [laughs] Bumblebee follows on the ground, apparently without a working method of communication back to base as Ratchet has yet to repair his radio transmitter.

O: Reflector’s also following Spike, holding position until Megatron arrives.

S: And Spike is just holding an entire darn conversation with himself basically saying--he's a monster, so no helping humanity for him.

O: I know they keep saying he's unstable but him being evil here is just kind of weird.

S: He's more chaotic neutral than anything, I guess?  But I think, he's like--99% of his impulse control was split between Bumblebee and being super tiny and neither of those is currently available to him, so…

O: [laughing] True!  He’s currently as big as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee is not here quite yet.  Uh, Bumblebee does however, catch up with Spike and warns him that his current body is making it harder for Spike to think but Spike whacks him off a cliff with a tree.

S: I'm going to amend that and say that most of his impulse control was being tiny and not being able to do dumb shit.

O: I could--I can believe that, although Cliffjumper being tiny and doing dumb shit does not seem to be a hindrance.

S: Yes, but the thing is Spike is a lot squishier than Cliffjumper.

O: True.  Megatron shows up with other cons in tow.

S: And Reflector’s t-posing for dominance here so...um, take that as you will. [laughs] Spike and the Seekers fire on each other but Megatron lands and tells them to stop fighting.

O: We, uh get a glance at Megs’ apparently trick knee here as an animation error causes some really funky motion with him.

S: Yeah.  Bee is able to climb back up and he attempts stealth.

O: He is literally standing behind Megatron with his head perfectly visible, um, from behind some rocks.

S: [exasperated sigh] Then Megatron apparently offers Spike Starscream's job or being second, “Only to me!”

O: Spike seems to agree, as he shakes Megatron’s hand and wants to, “Make them pay real bad!”

S: [even more exasperated sigh]

O: [laughs]

S: Bumblebee escapes back to the Air Force Base, where Optimus and company are currently working.

O: The Autobots arrive to confront Spike, who is wielding Megatron and fires on them.  Weird Autobot X power number 4:  Boobs slash headlight cannon laser gun thing.

S: Considering but that's Prowl’s chest, that tells me more than I expected the cartoon to tell me about Prowl.

O: Yeah guys, tmi.  Tmi!

S: I mean, we never see Prowl do that.

O: [while laughing] We never see Prowl do that!

S: Apparently, he's just very polite so…

O: It is impolite to shoot things out of your boobs!

B: [giggle]

S: The Seekers enter the fray, and then Ironhide fires...oil from his arms at them?

O: I guess we'll just add that to the list of Ironhide’s Swiss Army knife abilities.

S: God, Ironhide can do so much stuff!

O: So much shit.

S: Sparkplug shows up then and gets shot at, but Spike panics and saves him with--

O: Autobot X power number 5!  Weird grippy claw, thing.

S: Which apparent--I think that's supposed to be like, Trailbreaker’ss gun, but I don’t know…

O: We don’t know what this thing is, but he uses it!

S: Yup, it’s like...yeah, yeah.  Megatron attempts to get Spike to defeat the Autobots, but Spike instead fires on the Decepticons

O: But Spike’s sworry, so he's forgiven.

S: Yeah, um, at some point Megatron and the Decepticons just...skedaddle.

O: Yeah, they just leave.  They're done for the day, this plan did not work, bye.

S: Yeah and so, Spike is zapped back into his real body and the transfer device breaks and then Bumblebee wonders what it would be like for a robot in a human body.

O: Sadly, when we actually do get this in canon or in the cartoon it's kind of boring and in my opinion, this is not the best characters they could have picked for the scenario.  Just legitimately, I think the entire thing would have been vastly improved if it had been all cons. Involved say, Starscream, Soundwave, and Megatron, yes?

S: There is actually um, a piece of fan fiction by Wayward [Insecticon] that is basically that.  All the Decepticons get turned into humans.

O: And I'm willing to bet it is better than the episode where fucking Arcee, Rodimus, and uh-- Rodimus, Ultra Magnus and--

S: Springer!

O: Springer do because that one...the only good thing in that episode was me dead-ass looking at the screen and going, “Rodimus definitely, definitely had sex with that woman the night before and she is bringing him breakfast in bed.”  There is another explanation for this and I will say the same damn thing when we go through the episode.

B: [laughing]

O: Regardless, that is it for today.  Join us next time for, “The Immobilizer,” or as I like to call it:  Hello Carly! [said in the same tone as, “Hello nurse!” from Animaniacs]

S: It'll be nice to see Carly.

O: I like Carly, so I'm looking forward to this, also, we get--Wheeljack cuz this is one of Wheeljack’s inventions, yeah?

S: Um-hm.

O: Alright, so Specs, what fanfic do we have for today?

S: Ok, today we have two pieces of fanfic.  There technically could be three, but the third one, it has actually been removed from the internet.  And while I could use the Wayback Machine to get you to the author's site.  Since they removed it from Fanfiction Net, I don't think that's a thing I should do.  Which makes me sad because I really, really like that one and...yeah.  And I've got well, I have a copy of it cuz I saved--I saved the mobi back when it was still on Fanfiction Net.

O: Yeah.

S: Um, but since I can't really share it with anyone I'm not going to include that one, though I might mention the name.  But, so, I have two that are readily accessible to share.  Um, “Chrysalis,” by Ape32.  It’s G1 cartoon AU, rated T, for teens, and it's Gen. I've only actually gone through the first three chapters of this one so if there is um, romance in later chapters I'm afraid I don't--I haven't reached that part yet.

O: So none as first we're aware, right now.

S: Yes.

O: Apologies if there is later, however.

S: Yes, thank you, thank you very much.  So characters:  Spike, Sparkplug, various Autobots and Decepticons.  And in summary, uh, “It’s g1 a season two AO.  Spike's life is changed forever by his single act of vengeance.  Now he must adapt or lose not only his mind and his friends, but his very soul as well.”  And so, uh, the reason for choosing this is that this is an alternate universe continuation of Autobot X, where Megatron makes a very cruel decision.  I think you can guess what happens, um…

O: Yeah.

S: Yeah, and so this is an incomplete multi-chapter piece of fanfiction that was last updated in 2008.  So, it's highly unlikely that it's going to be updated again but it's actually let me...

O: Sounds like a really interesting premise though, like, I'm gonna read it and I normally don't read it incomplete stuff, unless they're like, currently ongoing because I'm like, “Ahhh!  It's never going to be finished!”  But tha-that's a really interesting concept!

S: Yeah, and let me... it's 15 chapters.

O: Okay, so you know, still a pretty good read.

S: Yeah, sixty-six thousand words, or thereabouts.  Mm-hmm, and so, yeah, I'd recommend that so far.  And then my second recommendation is, “Hopeless,” by WaywardInsecticon.  I...it's actually been a while since I've read this and I'm pretty sure it's Marvel G1, but that's apparently what I put down in my notes.  I don't remember.  But it's definitely G1.

O: Yeah.

S: I think the reason I chose Marvel G1 was because Mindwipe’s in there.  But I've read it (actually several times), it's just been a while.  It's rated T for teen, it's Gen.  There aren't any pairings.  Uh, the characters here--it focuses on original characters but there's also Mindwipe and Flywheels, who are not particularly well-known Decepticons.  Though we do know Flywheels from…

O: The IDW comics.

S: Yes, his unfortunate big feet were the only things left off him.

O: [laughs]

S: In summary, “Dark Star is a Decepticon who used to be a 17 year old girl.  Now she's trapped on Cybertron with no friends, no idea how to function, and no help but Mindwipe who was the one who changed her in the first place.”  And yeah, the theme for this was humans getting turned into robots and--

O: Eyyy!

S: Pretty much, yeah.  And it's a one shot so, yeah.  I definitely recommend that and then the third one which I...which we won't actually be linking to--

O: We will not actually link to it.

S: For a variety of reasons.  Was the, “Starting Gate,” by Korat.  Which was a G1 cartoon, uhh, one.  It was rated T, Gen, no pairings.  The original--the main character was an original character and in summary, “Life has a funny way of throwing things at you sometimes, that you would never expect.  Either you learn to run with it or you don't.”  It was heavily G1 based, it was never completed and the author took it down, ah... When did I save this?  I think I saved it like, a little while before she took it to down--or they took it down.  I saved this in...2012.  June 29th, 2012.

O: Well then.

S: Ahhhh, the flagfic--the FLAG fanfiction downloader.

O: [laughs]

S: Yeah, so yeah, we're not gonna link to that, but it basically involved Starscream... Starscream basically it was--it sort of making friends with a human and then things go very, very bad.

O: Things go very wrong, very fast.

S: Yes, and let's move on to the art.

O: So, our recommendation for today is Coralus.  Ah, they primarily seem to do IDW, at least from a lot of the stuff I saw, but there might be some--a variety of things on there.  Their colors are GORGEOUS in everything.

S: They are!

O: Like, oh my god, seriously, some of my favorite colors out of all of the fan artists we've recommended.

S: Um-hm.

O: They have a number of Ratchet/Drift fan art, but there's also a lot of different art from-from various characters from the IDW comics.  We linked to a few pieces that I really enjoyed, uh, their Rung one in particular is one of my favorites.

S: I love it too.

O: It's really pretty!  Uh, so, I think we've mentioned this enough it should be apparent, but Rung is actually Primus in the IDW comics.  And so the piece of art with him is basically him, kind of drawn overlaid with more of what Primus probably looked like in the past.

S: Or, well the general Primus designs--

O: Yeah.

S: --that are considered canon.

O: Yeah, uh, but it's it's really pretty and also like, Rung’s expression is really lovely because it's just very kind.  Which is why I think-I think partially why I liked Rung so much of the comics is that like, Primus and a lot of them is like either you know the-the literal center of their planet--

S: Um-hmm.

O: --or kind of a warrior god.

S: Yeah.

O: And so to have it be this very kind, sweet character, is one of my favorite things.

S: Who's not a combatant, and he just wants to help people.

O: It's very sweet.  Uh, we also--we did link to some of their Drift/Ratchet art, which is very, very cute.  And then the last one we linked to was Sunstreaker, who is one of my favorite G1 characters who I haven't gotten to talk about enough. [laughs]  But, yeah, uh, we will be linking to their Tumblr… We are actually posting this on AO3 as well, or at least embedding it.  So any artists that make money through other avenues with their fan art we will not be posting links to.  I will also not be mentioning it in here, since we have to embed this on a site that forbids it.  However, if there are links, uh, you can find them on our Tumblr page, like our Tumblr Episode Notes, uh, at least as far as linking on an AO3 we will be linking to their Tumblr and their... I guess just their Tumblr because all those other ones make money.  They're all, like stores and stuff.

S: Um-hmm.

O: We will be linking to their Tumblr and you can also find links on our Tumblr, and you can, you know find the other places where they are online.

S: And that just about wraps up for us today.  Remember to check us out on Tumblr or Pillowfort as Afterspark-Podcast for any additional information, show notes or links we may have mentioned.  You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter at AftersparkPod (all one word) and various other locations by searching for Afterspark Podcast such as AO3, iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Youtube, just to name a few.  Till next time, I'm Specs!

O: And I'm Owls!

S: Toodles!

[Outro Music]

[stlplaybox]

Better late than never: my top 10 Transformers of 2017

Yes, yes. I know I’m about 7 months too late but it’s been a tough slog. I was 90% complete in January but have only snailed along since then. I love doing these to really collect my thoughts on a year of collecting but I ended up letting it slip way more than I intended to. Anyway, with that aside out of the way, let’s get cracking.  

Here we are again, that time of the year when everyone reflects on the best of the year that was.Twelve months on and the job of selecting my top 10 figures for 2017 was no less daunting than it was the last time. I found myself drawn to my closing remarks from last year as a starting point. 

“Hasbro and Takara look to be continuing their winning formula with a strong opening salvo in the form of Topspin, Quake and Krok. It’s also a movie year and I’m very curious how they’ll apply this design ethos to the movie line. The Masterpiece line will welcome more Beast Wars figures and will deliver arguably the most important release of the year: the despot we all want, but will it be the one we deserve?

Third party continue their onslaught of amazing product. MMC’s stable is ready to burst with Kultur on the cusp of release and IDW Megatron due later this year. Maketoys have MP Jazz and Targetmasters on the way whilst pushing the aesthetic and action figure boundaries of the franchise with their Cross Dimensions line. Master Made will turn their eye to their next project after they finish Scorponok and Fort Max. SparkToys will deliver the follow up to their War Within Optimus Prime with Megatron and maybe even the King. Having wow’d us with what they can do at Legends scale, Iron Factory will deliver combiners and a six changer.”

As it turned out, all these things happened. And more. The mantra of “there’s never been a better time to be a Transformers collector” has never been more true. It’s with this backdrop that I embark on disambiguating my own ever-changing proclivities.  

Some honourable mentions first because it feels like a transgression of the highest order to not acknowledge at least a slither the other amazing figures that did not make this list. 

First off, dear Iron Factory I love everything you guys do. It’s a travesty that nothing you guys made ended up on my list. But the bite-sized delight that you guys deliver time and time again cannot go unacknowledged. From Ultimate Commander to Sixshot, you guys pack an impossible amount of articulation, fun and detail that should not be possible at such a scale. 

Planet X Mors: Planet X has been a regular occupier in my lists over the years and as amazing as their Trypticon was, there’s nothing more ambitious than dethroning an official version of a toy. They did that with Grimlock and then repeated it with Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker. It’s a stunning toy that has not left the coffee table since it’s arrival and it was hard leaving it off this list.

MAS-01 Optimus Prime: I have an Ultimetal Optimus Prime. I should not need this. There’s only so many humungous, non-transforming toys one should have in an era that is delivering knockout citybot after citybot. But I succumbed and gratefully so. Whilst Ultimetal delivers an impeccable amount of diecast, detail and finish, MAS-01 delivers insane poseability that will never be possible in a transforming version of our favourite Autobot commander.

Titan Returns Black Shadow: It’s been awhile since an official leader class figure has been of interest to me. Black Shadow outshone the main course that he was an appetiser to. Beautiful headsculpt, wonderful colours, topped with an incredibly clever and satisfying transformation. 

Titan Returns Gnaw: It’s a rarity that Hasbro could outdo Takara but they did. Fun and so full of character, Gnaw was a wonderful addition to our fandom. You can see it in the amount of fun photos this little fella has graced. I’ve had a Legends figure in my top TFs in the last 3 years and it was really hard to not have one on the list this year.  

TAV-60 Bisk: A fading line that accompanied an uninspiring TV show, TAV managed to deliver some amazing Decepticons with unusual shapes and transformations. Bisk was the epitome of this. A muscle car that turns into a hyper articulated lobster, Bisk was a bundle of joy I found hard to put down for many months in front of the TV or on holiday.  

I’ll have to stop there as I’ll be here all year otherwise. Let’s rollout for the top 10.      

10: Beast Wars Optimal Optimus (Perfect Effect Beast Gorira) 

Never having owned a toy of this quintessential character, I drooled enviously while everyone picked this up at TFNation because it was too large to lug home. The FOMO factor egged me on to buy it on eBay at TFNation in the early hours of the morning. I ship it so it’d be there when I got home. However, upon arriving home after having been away for almost two months I allowed it to gather dust alongside my backlog of unopened toys. It led me to more than once question if I’d just been a sucker for convention hype. 

Finally opening it in December, I discovered the perfection that is Perfect Effect’s Beast Gorira. The sculpt is immaculate but what elevates this is the premium finish. Perfect Effect brought their trademark paint and attention to detail to the table and made this the ultimate representation of Beast Wars Optimal Optimus. As much as I love posing Gorira, what holds him back from climbing higher is the finicky transformation. 

9: Maketoys G1 Pointblank (Maketoys MTRM-06 Contact Shot)

A surefire way to my heart is a futuristic alt mode. The Autobot cars and Decepticon jet Targetmasters have always occupied a mystical spot in my head for that reason. When Maketoys dropped Pointblank, a Masterpiece of a toy I’d only known from the well-read pages of my G1 toy catalogue, I had high expectations. Those expectations were well and truly blown out of the water when I handled it for the first time. The way those legs compress, the way that chest works, the playability and detail of that cockpit, that insane articulation… it’s a stunning feat of engineering. So much so that it made not one but two trips as a holidaybot in 2017. Subjecting a masterpiece toy to the rigours of a holiday is something that makes most collector’s cringe. But it was that good. That’s a hell of an achievement for a Masterpiece toy. 

8. G1 Starscream (MTRM-11 Howling Meteor)

In a heated 3rd party masterpiece scene, if you were going to dislodge an official figure from being the preferred representation of a character, you’d go after the decrepit Seeker mould. But it’s a risk. There was no shortage of collector relief at having finished the Seekers this year so it makes Maketoys ambition all that more audacious. But if anyone was going to pull it off, it was Maketoys. They did. The presence, paint and peerless articulation of everyone’s favourite scheming whiner is a joy to behold, pose, and play. All that stopped it from usurping higher spots on this list was the lack of upwards head articulation and its unphotogenic dark face.

7. MP-32 Optimus Primal

I’ll confess to being one of those “Trukk not Monkey” people once upon a time. But Beast Wars was a show that I grew to love. It lacked the cast of thousands of G1 but it more than made up for that with a story and characterisation that still withstands the test of time. When I liberated this figure from its packaging, the love I felt was instantaneous. The CGI perfect blue, the multiple faces, the loving attention to the sculpt, I was sure I’d have to file for divorce. It went everywhere with me even to the distant fjords of Norway as seen in the picture I’m using here. But there was drama. Gutwrenching heartbreak ensued when I discovered I’d broken it in a fall on a climb in Husedalen. It was an expensive replacement but one I did at TFNation before returning downunder. My personal story with this figure would have catapulted it into the number one spot in any other year but such a time it is to be a collector that this was as high as it could climb.

6. MTMTE Rodimus (SXS R-04 Hot Flame) 

If you know me well, you know the place MTMTE and Lost Light holds in my heart. There was a crack at this by a more accomplished third party company that satisfied most. Not me though. SXS stepped up to the plate to deliver the perfect rendition of the cavalier Co-Captain of the Lost Light. It rendered MMC’s Calidus to a mediocre representation of a Hot Rod / Rodimus. The sci-fi vibe of the rugged alt mode, the perfection of the chest sculpt relative to the shoulders, and the exceptional articulation were exhilarating to experience. It’s a toy that will not leave the coffee table anytime soon.   

5 . War Within Megatron (SparkToys Spartacus)

It was the year of Megatron. Whichever line you look at, there was not just a good one but a great one. That’s why there are three on this list. War Within got me back into buying Transformers. It lit the spark that re-ignited that childhood love that I’d had for Transformers. Last year, SparkToys Optimus Prime almost took the top spot and they were always going to be in contention in 2017 again given how much nostalgia this plays up in me. Collectors talk about paint and finish but this is a whole different level. Not only is the detail of the sculpt exceptional, every nook and cranny of this pre-war despot is coated in loving layers of vibrant paint. Add the commanding presence of a gladiatorial Megatron and a generous armoury, this figure is packed with endless fun as well as beauty.

4. Titan Returns Decepticon Targetmasters: Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, Misfire 

This is a cheat as Triggerhappy had already made my list last year but there was an overwhelming sense of achievement unlocked when I completed this triplet of Targetmasters. All cut from the same cloth but each so uniquely distinct with tonnes of articulation, personality and clever little design decisions, I spent whole evenings playing and photographing these handsome lads. Another important factor was that I acquired all three of these locally and with my boy. As someone who largely imports these days, the fact I could experience the thrill of the hunt again chasing such great figures cemented their place in my memory banks.   

3. Chaos Theory Optimus Prime GT-03 Optimus

I mentioned the importance of James Roberts’ MTMTE to my love of Transformers. It’s fiction that elevates the characters and their journeys to a level that we haven’t experienced before. But before there was MTMTE, there was the two part story Chaos Theory. I remember reading it amid the Costa era of TF comics and knowing straightaway this was special. The gravitas with which it regarded the four million year old war and the relationship between the two diametrically opposed leaders gripped me like nothing else. It was not till much later that I realised it was the start of James Roberts’ meteoric rise in TF fiction.

It was only in October 2017 that I secured all the variant covers of those two issues of Chaos Theory (Transformers #22 and #23) after having stopped buying physical comics for many years. But to then obtain a Masterpiece version of that Optimus? With perfectly stunning articulation, paint and detail? A sculpt that oozes a sense of heroic gravity? That I did not expect.       

2. Chaos Theory Megatron (GT-02 Tyrant)

Chaos Theory was a tale in two parts. The covers represented the two halves of the story: Optimus Prime and Megatron in both their current day and youthful forms. Generations Toys completed the other half of that equation with their wonderful designed Chaos Theory Megatron. With transformation steps that evoke Masterpiece level ingenuity and a transformation that is a pleasure to switch back and forth between, it’s amazing how Generation Toys designed such a Megatron full of fearsome presence yet is also a stealth bomber at the same time.    . 

1. MTMTE Megatron (MMC R-28 Tyrantron)

This was a hard choice. On the one hand, of all the figures on this list, MMC’s MTMTE Megatron has the laziest of transformations on top of being a heavy partsformer. On the other hand, never has a character stepped off a page more than this. This wonderfully epic rendition of the tormented Megatron knocks it out of the park. Not only is the every part of the body sculpted to perfection but the head sculpt captures the grim introspection that dominated the former Decepticon leader’s tenure on the Lost Light. If that wasn’t enough, the figure does double duty and with a few bits of parts forming becomes pre-war Megatron from Chaos Theory. It’s a monumental effort from MMC and allowed me to round out 2017 with the 3 most important representations of Megatron to me.    

So there’s my list for another great year. 2017 was a special year for me. One dominated by the realisation of some of my favourite characters from my favourite Transformers fiction. It’s a reflection of how vibrant the transforming scene is at the moment that it supports not only a heavy masterpiece market but multiple TF canons as well. There’s truly never been a greater time to be a fan.

[brandxspandex]

TF IDW reread: Megatron Origin

I think Megatron Origin as it stands alone is a…ok villain origin story. Yeah, having your livelihood taken away by the people in power who clearly don’t give a shit about you, then watching them murder one of your colleagues in front of you, before finding yourself what’s basically Sin City where you’ve gotta kill to survive, is a pretty fair reason to flip your shit. That being said, I don’t think it’s a good enough backstory on its own to explain the sheer extent of Megatron’s evil, which lasted over millions of years and killed billions of people. I also don’t think it does enough to explain the underlying rage and bloodlust it presents Megatron as having; his first kill feels like the boiling point of something that has been bubbling away inside him, then the progression of the story feels like we’re watching that emerge to become his dominant personality, but it doesn’t properly explain where this darkness inside him comes from. Sure, it establishes that the Senate doesn’t think much of the miners, and that there’s certainly severe problems with Cybertronian society overall, but we don’t see how it effects Megatron directly until the moment it finally becomes too much and flips his shit. Fortunately, these problems are all addressed by flashbacks in later series that further flesh out Megatron’s backstory and all fit really nicely into the story Megatron Origin tells to create a very compelling villain backstory.

So Megatron Origin works much better as a piece of a puzzle (even though it contains numerous things that are inconsistent with these later puzzle pieces, like Cybertron having two moons and Cybertronians bleeding blue energon). After being subjected to torments such as Whirl’s prison beating and Trepan’s attempted shadow play, on top of the general oppressions of being a miner under an uncaring and greedy Senate in a society that reduces one’s worth to one’s alt-mode, Megatron Origin provides a the tipping point where it all becomes too much. This suffering laid the seeds of the hate and rage that we finally see bubble to the surface when he takes his first life. There are still signs of the pacifist Megatron was established to have once been when he snaps out of his first murderous rage and is horrified at what he’s done, and when he later says that his actions were unintentional. It comes across as though Megatron had felt this darkness percolating inside him for some time, so his horror when he realises he’s killed someone is horror at the realisation that the monster growing inside him has finally been let loose.

Once it’s loose, he quickly falls for its seductions and allows it to take him over as he grows rapidly more violent over the course of the series. When rifling through his mind, Trepan commented on Megatron’s pride, which we see plenty of further evidence for throughout the series, and this incident itself is one of multiple very horrible moments in Megatron’s life where he’d been made to feel helpless. In the gladiatorial pits, Megatron is given the recognition his pride makes him crave, and is able to fight back against his helplessness and achieve power and dominance, all through dealing out violence and death. While his suffering laid the groundwork for the hate and rage inside him, the gladiatorial pits rewarded the violence they brought out of him (with his Point One Percenter spark helping him survive so long and rack up such as impressive win/kill streak no doubt) with the pleasures of glory and power.

Megatron starts out as a pacifist wanting to build a better, more equal society, but in the pits his motivation changes; he falls in love with inflicting pain, humiliation and death, and when he finally rallies his revolutionary movement it is not about making a better world, it is about the thrill of the fight.

He gathers his revolutionaries from the criminals of the most depraved city on Cybertron and builds the culture of his movement on the culture of death match gladiators to whom life is cheap and violence and dominance are valued.

He outright says to Sentinel that the peace he promises to bring is actually destruction and desolation; by the time Megatron has an army, he is already off the deep end.

Also, I think Megatron Origin fits in nicely with the idea of Megatron being a poet, since he sure does have a way with words in this.

Megatron Origin also lays down one of my favourite aspects of Starscream’s characterisation: him having been a raging Megatron groupie. Something I do worry about is that this aspect of his character may be retconned at some stage, because while there are a number of moments to support it, there are even more moments hammering home the fact that Starscream is manipulator who lies even to himself, so I could see it getting retconned as an act to gain Megatron’s favour. I really do hope it was genuine however because the thought of someone as cynical and self-centred as Starscream having at one point been willing to genuinely and passionately pledge his undying allegiance to someone else makes him a much more interesting and emotionally rich character to me. It also makes the degradation of his relationship with Megatron all the more tragic.

What Megatron Origin does make me question is why Starscream was pledging his allegiance to Megatron in the first place. Was he interested in Megatron the revolutionary, or Megatron the gladiator? There were bots in the crowd that looked like Starscream during Megatron’s first fight, although I don’t think they were clear enough to be taken as definitive evidence that Starscream was there at the time (especially given that we’d have to accept that Elita One was on Cybertron at the time if we were to take all Megatron Origin cameos at face value). When he was recruited by Soundwave for Megatron’s cause he thought that he and his Seekers were being recruited to fight alongside Megatron in the arena, and is visibly disappointed when he learns this is not the case. This certainly seems to suggest that he was interested in Megatron the gladiator, but it also raises the question as to why he was so eager to fight in deathmatches. Starscream’s a glory seeker sure, and he’s certainly willing to engage in deadly combat, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would elect to so dramatically risk his life without a more distinct and sizeable reward. Furthermore, Starscream has repeatedly said that he looked up to Megatron as a leader who could bring about change, only to be betrayed when Megatron turned out to be more interested in violence. That seems more like something someone interested in Megatron the revolutionary would say. I suppose it’s possible that Starscream allowed himself to be recruited into Megatron’s revolutionary cause, but wanted to fight alongside him the arena for the honour of fighting along Megatron himself, because he was that much of groupie.

Speaking of Starscream, now that we know a little more about his backstory, particularly that he was a senator who went on the run for conning his taxpayers, some of the charges against him make more sense, but I want to know how many of these applied after he joined the Deceptions, because christ:

Also gotta add his reaction:

I swear, one of the most frustrating things about the fact they’re ending the IDW continuity is the fact that we probably won’t get much more info about Starscream’s backstory, and there’s clearly a lot left to tell.

On another note, this series was written prior to Functionalism being conceived of, so the story is just about the Decepticons arising in reaction to the upper echelons screwing over the lower classes. I think this is quite the waste, since that’s a story you can tell with humans, and has been told with humans, many, many times. I think the later introduction of Functionalism retroactively makes the story way better because it takes the powerful narrative of one group of people oppressing and (for the lack of a better word) “dehumanising” another, and presents it in a way that you can only do with Transformers. After all, why tell a story you can tell with pretty much any other type of characters, when you can instead tell one that ties the central gimmick of a story into one of its most major and emotionally resonant themes?

One thing that really bugs me about the backstory of IDW, which Megatron Origin is mostly responsible for, is the fact that we see so many characters in more or less the same state at the start of the story that they’re in 4 million years later. The series establishes Megatron, Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Soundwave and pretty much all his cassettes, the Constructicons, and even Swindle as major players in the Decepticons right at the start of the movement, in basically the same roles they have 4 million years later (then further series go on to add Shockwave and Overlord to that list, among others I’ve no doubt forgotten). It just seems utterly ridiculous that over the course of something as stupendously lengthy and turbulent as a 4 million year war, none of these characters died, or got significantly demoted/promoted, or deserted, or switched sides, or underwent some other sort of dramatic change. Sure, once they built up a significant army of expendables the core command team of Decepticons perhaps didn’t spend much time on the front lines, and maybe the only reason we see them fighting a lot in the modern comics is because they’ve got no cannon fodder left and had to return to fighting the war themselves. But even if they only took part in a tiny percentage of the actual battles of the war, over 4 million years that’s probably still going to be a lot, and there are so many other ways they could die or otherwise change over that time, so it seems silly they are still so much the same.

In summary, I think that overall Megatron Origin is something that got a lot better retroactively once it was contextualised in a number of flashback stories that added further character and plot details. It established a number of things that ended up working really well in the overall story, but was also responsible for some frustrating things.

I will now leave you with my favourite quote from the series:

[factual-fantasy]

I know in your FAQ you don’t take drawing requests, but I was wondering if you ever considered the idea of, seeing as you as well are gripped the TFP hyperfixation, of design a Skyfire/Jetfire and have interactions with Starscream? Hasbro mistreats our star so much, I just want him to be happy.

When I was first really getting into my AU, I heavily considered adding Jetfire to my AU to give Starscream a friend. Not necessarily because I felt bad for him or like he deserved a friend..? But just because I wanted him to be happy.

I even made this post where I dabbled in redesigns for Starscream, his brothers and tinkering with his reunion with Jetfire.

But! Trying to insert Jetfire into TFP left me with 3 huge seemingly unsolvable problems. Which are talked about in depth in the post I linked.

People provided solutions for some of the problems, like using other continuities for Jetfire's backstory. But no solution could solve all 3 problems. The biggest problem being: If Jetfire was brought into my AU, I would want him and Starscream to stay together.

There are 5 options for what path Jetfire would take if I brought him to TFP, 3 of which keep Jetfire and Starscream together, but none of which work for my AU. I went over 3 in the post I linked, but I'll go over all 5 again here-

Option 1: Jetfire stays with the Decepticons. Which wont work because his whole story arc is being an ex-con who doesn't agree with what the cons are doing.

Option 2: Starscream has a redemption arc and joins the Autobots with Jetfire. This is a problem because I would want Thundercracker and Skywarp to go with them. And tbh.. I don't think any of the screamers can be redeemed. Starscream especially. He never struck me as Autobot potential.

Option 3: The timeline is the same as G1. Jetfire splits from the cons and joins the Autobots, leaving the triplets behind. This is obviously sad and I don't want that. 🫸

Option 4: The 4 of them split from the cons as a group and live as rogues in the Harbinger. I don't like this option tho because I like the idea of Starscream and his brothers staying with the cons and being total thorns in Megatrons side. And in my AU, Starscream is more likely to stay with the cons for the energon and safety they provide for him and his brothers.

Option 5: Adopting an alternate backstory, Jetfire splits from the cons before/during the war, leaving Starscream behind. I don't like this one because obviously, I want him and Screamer to stay together-

I told myself and my followers that if I found a satisfying solution to all three problems, then I would absolutely add Jetfire to my AU in a heart beat. But for now he's been put on the back burner 😔💔

[transformersimagines]

Drabble request for female human s.o./G1 Thundercracker? I give TC lots of respect and validation (esp. compared to the Cons), and I try to help his moral compass; TC makes me feel confident and worth while; we feel free to be ourselves around each other (cuz i'm an awkward nerd and he just wants to belong). Maybe we could destress from life by getting fresh air and taking photos, and/or just out for a flight? (and maybe somewhere hints at his wavering loyalties to the Cons)

Here you go, a Thundercracker drabble, hope you enjoy it!

You swing your legs off the edge of the cliff. The breeze whips your hair behind you, the sunsets purple and pinks shimmer off the spotless sea. The distant sound of an engine shakes you from your thoughts, causing you to smile. You continue to stare into the sunset as the ground shakes and trembles. Soon a much larger figure sits down next to you in a similar fashion. You glance down at your watch.

“New record, only 46 minutes late.” You comment, leaning back on your hands and look up at Thundercracker, “What last minute job did screamer give you this time? Or did something else happen?”

“The latter” TC replies, not elaborating further. You decide to drop the subject and the two of you sit in a comfortable silence as the colors of the sunset dance across the sky.

“Why am I even here.” TC comments quietly, probably meant only for himself, but you could hear it anyway.

“Don’t know TC, maybe the company, or lack thereof back at your base?” You suggest. He laughs at the comment, you hear some rocks break off the cliff and tumble into the sea below.

“Maybe, you are much better company than most Decepticons, for a human.” TC adds.

“Oh, most Decepticons, I’m slightly offended.” You joke. You pull your legs off the cliff’s edge and cross them more comfortably in front of you, “So, how are Screamer and Skywarp anyway?”

“Screamers still trying to overthrow Megatron and Skywarp the same airheaded mech. How about your (Bro/Sis/Parents), how are they?” He asks.

“Same old, same old. They are still convinced you’re apart of some sort of biker gang or something.” You snicker at the reminder of your families oblivious behavior. You both became silent once again, enjoying each other’s company once again. A commercial airplane passes overhead, reminding you of something.

“You know…” You start, messing with the grass at your feet, “I was at Coast Guard (or some other celebration) a few days ago. There were some jets there doing some extreme tricks.”

“Like what?” TC asks. You slip your phone out of your pocket and stand yourself up.

“I took some video, I can show you.” You explain. TC lifts you from the ground and closer to his face so he can properly see the video on your small phone. After the video finishes TC laugh out loud. His laughter shakes his whole body, causing you to lose balance on his hand.

“That mediocre at best (Y/n),  I can show you much better.” He boasts.

“Really?” You question, “I would love to see, but we don’t have much time left.” You glance down at your watch to assure your suspicions. The two of you never seemed to have more than 45 minutes before he would be called away.

“We have all the time in the world!” TC proclaims, transforming around you, leaving you strapped into the pilot seat. You grip tightly to the armrest of your seat, a huge grin on your face just as TC shoots into the air.

~Thundercracker! Where are you!~ A voice booms throughout the cockpit. TC instantly rights himself in the air and slows down.

“Out patrolling Lord Megatron.” He answers. You stiffen in your seat, trying to make as little noise and movement as possible.

~Get back to base now, or else!~ Megatron orders.

“Yes, Lord Megatron.” TC assures, “Guess our time is through with.” You release the deep breath you’ve been holding.

“Ya, I guess. You be safe, ok.” You say.

“I will, (Y/n). I’ll drop you off at the peak, see you next time.” TC insists.

“See you next time TC.” 

[fanfiction-writers]

All for One (Transformers)

Summary: The Seekers are put on a humiliating punishment detail, and only one knows why. Word Count: 1,750+ Warnings: None A/N: This is set in the cartoon G1 Universe, with bits (like personalities) pulled from the G1 IDW comic line. I love Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp and it’s so fun getting these three in trouble.

My Master List is HERE.

(Image by HobbitPunk, found here.)

"Slaggit! This is ridiculous!" Skywarp ranted. "This is not our responsibility. It's… it's demeaning!" Forty-three, Thundercracker silently counted to himself. Forty-three outbursts. His trine brother had been complaining, loudly, since Megatron had assigned them to this cursed duty. Not that he blamed his wingmate. For unknown reasons, the trine had been assigned construction duty. Of all things, construction duty. They were hauling large metal beams over a mountain range. The slagging things were so heavy that the three of them – Starscream, Skywarp and himself – had to use harnesses on them and slowly fly them over the mountains. At this pace, they couldn't even use their altmodes. "Using our superior skills for this! It's insulting!" Skywarp continued. "Shut. Up. Sky. Warp." Starscream bit out each syllable. That made thirty-nine 'shut ups' from Starscream, by Thundercracker's count. The other four times he himself had tired of his wingmate's grousing first. He began timing how long until Skywarp's next outburst. The intervals between each one were becoming gradually shorter. Soon, he believed he could accurately estimate when the next outburst would occur. If nothing else, the extra computations gave him something to do during this infernal duty. "Surely you can see how absurd this is!" Forty-four. And several nano-kliks sooner than Thundercracker anticipated. He filtered the new time into his internal equation. "The best trine in the Decepticon army, and we're forced to do … Constructicon work?" Skywarp released one hand off the harness, waving at the beam they carried. The other two cried out in protest as it began wobbling. "Why us? If he needed fliers, why not some drones? Or the Coneheads? What idiocy possessed Megatron to do this to us?" "Just let it go. And grab that harness before it falls!" Starscream hissed at Skywarp. Thundercracker contemplated whether or not to add this to Starscream's 'shut up' count. 'Let it go,' was probably the mildest order the Air Commander had ever used for silence, but the intent was the same. It would be interesting if the tamer command effected the duration until Skywarp's next tantrum. Intrigued by the new variable, Thundercracker began cross-referencing the inflection of Starscream's commands compared to the time decrease between Skywarp's outbursts. Perhaps stronger inflections caused a smaller time decrease? The hypothesis was worth investigation. While he compiled numbers, he also considered the irony of Starscream refusing to engage in a discussion of Megatron's faults. Their trine leader usually pounced at the chance to ridicule the other mech. It was almost unheard of for him to miss an opportunity. In fact, it was unheard of… Thundercracker halted, forcing the other two to do the same or risk unbalancing the beam. They squawked at the abrupt stop. Ignoring their protests, he turned to Starscream. "What did you do?"

"What do you mean?" Starscream replied, too quickly. "We 'mysteriously' pull the most humiliating shift imaginable for Seekers, and yet it's Skywarp – not you, not you! – who's complaining about Megatron. When have you ever not carried on about our glorious leader? Yet Skywarp brings it up, and you tell him to, 'let it go.' What did you do?" Skywarp turned shocked eyes to the Air Commander. "Screamer?" "Don't call me that! And I didn't do anything," Starscream glanced away, "… much." "What!" "Much?" Thundercracker replied at the same moment. "What didn't you do 'much' of?" Starscream attempted to shrug, but the metal beam's immense weight made the motion impossible while airborn. Instead, he twitched his wings. "It was just a small clerical error. Keep moving. This is heavy." "Actually, I feel like putting it down. 'Warp, that sound good to you?" "’Down’ sounds real good to me," Skywarp replied. Suiting actions to words, he dropped altitude without warning. The others scrambled to match his decent, trying to keep the beam from toppling from their grip. They dropped it unceremoniously into a shallow stream bed. "Amazing," Starscream said, once they stood on solid ground. He considered his trine. "I didn't realize we'd joined the Autobots, becoming a democracy, taking votes. All that tripe." "No, not Autobots," Thundercracker snorted. "We're Decepticons. With that comes the responsibility to question our leaders, confirm that they deserve our loyalty. Is that not what you always say?" "Cute." Starscream's optics narrowed. "So." Thundercracker crossed his arms. "'Clerical error?'" "Yeah, what does that even mean?" Skywarp asked. Starscream threw his arms up in disgust. "It was nothing. Remember when the Aerialbots attacked our supply depot, three deca-cycles ago? Several munitions crates were destroyed. I assisted in the clean up. A few crates of explosives were mistakenly reported as destroyed. Some Constructicons discovered them recently, undamaged." Skywarp glanced at Thundercracker, then back at the Air Commander. He shrugged. "That's it? Finding extra weapons is usually a good thing. That's glitched." "Precisely my point. It was nothing." Thundercracker had plenty of experience listening to Starscream's narratives and, more important, listening to what was not said. He raised an optic ridge. "Where exactly did they find these explosives?" Starscream awarded him with an annoyed glance. "Is that important?" "Yes. Even more so now, since you don't want to answer." Skywarp's shoulders slumped as he considered his trine leader. "Screamer, you didn't…" "Do not call me that!" Starscream growled. Glancing between the two other Seekers, he shook his head. Surrendering, he listed off the coordinates where the crates had been found. Coordinates that were not only no where near the supply depot, but actually on the far side of their base from it. "You must not have hid them very well, huh?" Skywarp asked, shaking his head. "They were hidden. They were in a cave. I collapsed the slagging entrance. There was no way to see them, or the cave." "But…?" Thundercracker prompted. "I don't know. Maybe someone else saw me over there. For whatever reason, our glorious leader sent the Constructicons to the area. 'For raw materials,' I believe the excuse was. It took them a few deca-cycles, but they found the crates." "Did you ever consider, y'know, moving them once you realized they were digging over there?" Skywarp asked. "I don't credit the Constructicons with an access of mental prowess, but they might have noticed me flying in empty-handed, and flying away loaded down with crates. Especially if Megatron sent them there to investigate me." Thundercracker shook his head. Starscream stockpiling explosives didn't surprise him. When it came to ways to overthrow Megatron, his trine leader was always exploring new and creative options. It took more than a few crates of munitions to surprise him anymore. Although he had to ask, "How many other stashes do you have, that Megatron doesn't know about?" "I'm shocked, Thundercracker," Starscream replied, sounding anything but. He didn't even attempt to hide his smirk. "Concealing weapons and explosives would be deceitful and traitorous. A loyal Decepticon would, of course, turn all munitions he obtained into base, where they would strengthen our cause. Suggesting I would do otherwise insults my," Starscream waved a hand idly, considering, "my… integrity. My honor. I am upset you even consider me capable of such duplicity." The three Seekers glanced between each other. Then Skywarp burst into laughter. Even Thundercracker couldn't hold a straight face. With a wicked grin, Starscream pretended to buff a scuff from his arm. "That's hilarious," Skywarp said. "Seriously, though, if you'd hid that slag better, Megatron wouldn't have found it." "Please," Starscream scoffed, "do you know how long I've been able to hide weapons from him?" "Apparently, three deca-cycles," Thundercracker raised an optic ridge. "After all, to suggest otherwise would insult your integrity and honor." "Yes, of course," Starscream said, innocently, "three deca-cycles." Thundercracker rubbed his temples. He was developing a processor ache: a common side effect when dealing with too much of Starscream's rationalizations. "Fine. Whatever. This still doesn't explain how 'Warp and I got dragged into," he gestured at the neglected beam, "this." "Oh. That." Starscream looked away. "Yes, ‘that’." Thundercracker crossed his arms. "I'm sure interested in ‘that’ too," Skywarp chimed in. Starscream shrugged. "Megatron was unimpressed with me having the explosives– " "Imagine that," Skywarp interrupted, glancing at Thundercracker. "–and informed me that if I enjoyed playing in the dirt, he could find something 'suitable' for me to do. Then he assigned me to move these." Starscream kicked the metal beam. "Assigned you. Not us. You. At what point did we get volunteered for this?" Thundercracker asked. "I pointed out a flaw in Megatron's logic." The Air Commander shrugged again. "Wait," Thundercracker raised a hand, stalling him. "Let me guess. You informed him that these are far too heavy for one Seeker to carry?" "Basically, yes." "Thanks, Screamer. Really, I mean that." Skywarp muttered. "Stop calling me that!" "What, exactly, did you think he'd do once you pointed that out?" Thundercracker asked, rubbing his temples. Yes, he was definitely developing a processor ache. "I thought he'd give me something, anything, else to do. I didn't want to haul these things around. Would you?" "Funny you should ask," Thundercracker replied, "because, no, really I don’t want to." "Why didn't Megs just beat the slag outta you? That's what he usually does." Skywarp didn't pretend to sound concerned about his Air Commander's physical well-being. "Yeah, well, he did that too," Starscream grumbled. Thundercracker considered his trine leader, arms crossed. "I suppose I should thank you. After all, if I weren't here, doing this wonderful chore because of you, I would be probably be doing something even more tedious: like attacking Aerialbots, or fighting Autobots, perhaps blowing something up. You know, boring stuff like that." He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "But now, I have the exciting opportunity to explore a new career as a Constructicon. Thank you, Starscream." "Shut up," Starscream said, but without any vehemence. "Are you two done complaining? We still have to get these slagging things moved." The two wingmates exchanged glances. "Why should we help you? This is your punishment." "Because if you don't, I'm won't finish this. And when Megatron comes asking why we're not done, he won't just come after me. You'll share any punishment I get. So, by all means, do nothing. Enjoy Megatron's wrath. I know he will." Starscream leaned against a boulder, crossing his arms. "I hate you," Skywarp muttered. "C'mon, 'Warp. Let's get this slagging thing moved." Thundercracker motioned to his trine brother, shaking his head. Turning back to the Air Commander, he asked, "One more thing, is there anything else you're up to that's going to come back and bite us in our collective afts?" "I don't know what you're talking about," Starscream replied, hand over his spark. "I'm the picture of innocence." "Great," Skywarp growled. "We're dead."