dragonmane

[dragonmane]

[dragonmane]

Transformers "More Than Meets The Eye" comic has recently torpedoed me down the feelsy space car robots hellhole, an therefore i present a sketchy collection of Lost Light crew as homo sapiens. I had SO MUCH fun coming up with the designs! Now off to actually learn how to draw robots i guess

[dragonmane]

meet the bayverse

[dragonmane]

I like to think that we’re like hamsters to the transformers. insanely easy to squish, with a short lifespan and we die in the most unexpected and crazy ways

[dragonmane]

I am so glad these fuckers will never meet

[dragonmane]

you guys will never believe what happens in this episode of smiling friends

[dragonmane]

I started watching Transformers Armada... thank the gods I more or less understand English, because I don’t particularly like watching it in dubbed in Russian. I’m just upgrading my language level thanks to transformers...so...I'll probably draw different things based on these bots 😉

[dragonmane]

I am still alive 😭 🙏🏻

[dragonmane]

One thing I really love about the UK Marvel continuity is how it handled Decepticon leadership. All of the leaders were so unique and well-defined characters! There are so many civil wars among the Decepticons that I actually lost count. I think they each show different aspects of Decepticon culture, too. In this post I wanted to showcase the leaders and discuss why I really enjoyed the way they were portrayed!

Megatron: used to be the equivalent of an Olympic athlete. Started the War by preying on political unrest caused by preexisting tensions between the city-states, an aging Autobot council who wouldn't listen to their one radical voice (Emirate Xaaron), and a lack of resources. He started the War with a plan to equip giant engines to Cybertron to pilot it around the universe to conquer other planets lol Megatron is a dictatorial strongman at heart, and his major trait seems to be his indomitable will. No matter who tries to brainwash him or how embarrassed he ought to be by his defeats and stupid mistakes, he keeps going shamelessly.

Shockwave: used to be the ruler of Tarn, and constantly tries to take leadership from Megatron, probably missing the control he had over his city-state. Has a brains vs. brawn dynamic with Megatron, but tends to get extremely frazzled when things don't go his way and don't follow his twisted, self-serving idea of what logic is. However, that doesn't mean he doesn't emote.

Starscream: used to be a figurehead dictator of Vos. Generally tries to backstab whoever's in power, which is probably informed by the fact that he wasn't #1 in his own city-state back before the War. Also, props to Starscream for killing more people than Unicron (the majority get repaired, but still)! Something I find interesting is that Megatron preyed on the war between Vos and Tarn, but usually Starscream and Shockwave work well together in present-day, which suggests the whole war thing was entirely about power and not personal. They're both also ultimately cowards out for themselves.

Soundwave frames Wild Rider when, of course, Soundwave had been the real traitor the whole time

Soundwave: this continuity has such a good version of Soundwave... unlike Starscream, whose treacherous actions are big and loud, Soundwave's treachery is quiet. He serves under nearly every leader and never faces the consequences of blackmailing and betraying any of them, until eventually he is left as the ultimate leader in at least one future timeline. He is such a snake!

Straxus: initially was the leader of the Decepticons while Megatron was on Earth. Despite only being leader for a short time, he leaves a lasting impression with his absolute brutality in the way he melts POWs down to make ingots, beats his own soldiers, and is obsessed with taking over Megatron's body. He also has lasting impacts on the story overall because the identity of Megatron becomes questionable due to Straxus's attempts to subjugate his mind with his own.

Ratbat: originally kinda like Straxus's Laserbeak, Ratbat takes over and becomes one of the most intelligent leaders! He used to be an auditor and his entire philosophy surrounds being as energy-efficient as possible. He even gives Shockwave a negative performance review LMAO Interestingly, he's positioned almost as more of an enemy to the Witwicky family than to the Autobots at times. He also likes to use his own enemies as test subjects and slaves. Eventually, though, his string of successes leads to him being too arrogant for his own good.

Scorponok: wow, I don't even know where to begin. Introduced as the archenemy of Fortress Maximus, he becomes a Headmaster commander by teaming up with the evil Nebulan politician, Zarak. Scorponok begins as a complete mess, with hilariously idiotic plans like using bubbles against his enemies or humiliating the Autobots by having his soldiers defeat them in wrestling matches... and on Earth, he and his soldiers live in a dump. Literally, they live in a dump. He also has more truces than battles with Optimus Prime as he comes to know him, never having seen him until Earth. But Scorponok's ineffectual villainy and eagerness to team up with the Autobots actually leads up to something, as it becomes clear that he actually wants what's best for all transformers but needed to be inspired by Optimus Prime's compassion and support to become confident enough to risk losing the Decepticons' respect and aim for peace. Scorponok (and Optimus) show the strength that lies in choosing to give up conflict and try for peace. In some ways, Scorponok is more like Optimus Prime than Optimus is in this continuity!

Thunderwing: really fascinating. At first he kinda comes across like a generic distillation of what a Decepticon leader is, with all the traits you'd expect of one, and he even takes a test to become one... not the norm given that it's usually backstabbing and civil war that decides who comes out on top. He also thinks he fails the test because he gets distracted by revenge, but then he passes because that proves he's a true Decepticon!!! It's Thunderwing's relationship with the Matrix that is especially interesting. He's obsessed with it, but it's the Matrix's own desire to have new experiences that's corrupting his mind and eventually possesses him. Thunderwing is actually honorable and it's his goodness that allows him to temporarily fight back against it. By current TF standards, Thunderwing would actually be a Prime, since he opened the Matrix, but the Matrix isn't benevolent here. It's more like a little kid that wants to learn by acting out, and Thunderwing is a casualty of that.

Decepticon leaders don't look like this anymore!

Megadeath: the reason Thunderwing is like That™️, and the reason five specific prominent Autobots are the way they are. I mention him because he only appears in a single story in one of the annuals, yet his actions were so unspeakably horrible (the Autobots he traumatized certainly thought so) that he's one of the most sadistic Decepticon leaders ever.

Galvatron: such a multi-faceted and cool villain, that I already made a whole post about him! Notable for his cunning, his fears, and the fact that he was made from at the very least both Megatron and Straxus.

Bludgeon: introduced as part of the Mayhem Attack Squad, which is the Decepticon equivalent of the Wreckers. Specifically, he's introduced hunting down former Mayhems for fraternizing with Wreckers! Bludgeon hates the possibility of peace and loves war, to a religious degree. He thinks he believes in honor, but to be honest, he really doesn't. He's also incredibly fake in that he will pretend to be all for peace just long enough for the Autobots to let their guards down. I'm impressed by how much I love to hate this character given how short Bludgeon's time on-panel was.

There are a few other minor ones that appear as well, so there are even more! I'd like to say that while it probably shouldn't be given that this was like... the first continuity ever, as a fan who became introduced to TF during the Aligned continuity, the way the Marvel UK stories approach Decepticon leadership is so refreshing.

One reason is that Megatron is not portrayed as special just by nature of being Megatron. Yes, he started the War and founded the Decepticons, but he's not given more respect from his troops or his enemies automatically, and he gets his shit rocked constantly. Shockwave's intro was to immediately beat him up and take over, and Megatron embarrasses himself constantly. That's not to say that Megatron isn't worthy of being a Decepticon leader, no—but it means he's often shown clawing his way back up and constantly battling legitimate threats to his position. As a fan, it made me respect him a lot more.

Another thing I appreciate is the way the Decepticons are humanized. There are a lot of blatantly evil ones, but there also many of them who have a sense of honor and goodness, and it's clear that both many Decepticons and Autobots feel stuck and don't even remember why the War started at this point. And even the Decepticons who lack compassion or honor have very understandable struggles, such as facing trauma and trying to overcome it.

Along with the above point is the way the story of Scorponok is handled. I love that Scorponok is a Decepticon leader who always secretly held values that align with Autobot values, but then he ended up stuck in this bloodthirsty culture and endless conflict where he felt like he couldn't do anything, and I love how this is slowly foreshadowed throughout the comic. His friendship with Optimus is also excellent. I really enjoyed how they didn't meet until Earth and slowly became friends as they continually teamed up against greater threats. I appreciate that the Decepticon leader who's best friends with Optimus isn't like... Megatron, who started the War. I feel like a lot of newer continuities make the War center on the falling-out of two friends, which I think is a ridiculous way to handle the conflict.

Speaking of Megatron and Optimus, I appreciate how this continuity just doesn't have a lot of the dynamics that are typically present regarding these Decepticons. Megatron and Optimus are definitely each other's oldest enemy, but their conflict is de-centered in the narrative and they never had a falling-out. Instead, they always disliked each other from before the War. It's actually Shockwave who becomes the nemesis of both Optimus and Megatron for many issues! A lot of Optimus's deepest trauma was inflicted by Shockwave. Also, Megatron and Starscream still have a conflict, but that conflict is rarely present. Starscream causes problems for everyone and is mainly linked to Shockwave for a long time. And as I said before, it's Optimus and Scorponok become friends.

I think a lot of the approaches this continuity took with the Decepticons should be used in the future!

[dragonmane]

[dragonmane]

The great Optimus prime.

Supreme emperor of Cybertron. Leader of the autobots. Loved by his people and feared by his enemies.

Surely they aren’t putting in the history books that he was ran off his planet by some thug and his cronies with his tail tucked in between his legs.

Hm? -what? that’s exactly what they are putting? Ok.

The reality is that Optimus is a shy and all around awkward person. But most people mistake his anti social personality as being all wise, stoic and mysterious. Don’t get me wrong he still is all those things but sometimes it’s just him being nervous.

He’s angry too. Mostly at himself. Not bring a strong or good enough leader, that sort of thing. He isn’t immune to losing his temper tho.

He tries not to loose his cool in front of his friends, usually opting to go into his room then lose it. Because of this, his room is mostly empty so he doesn’t break anything important. His hab giving off loony cell vibes. Ratchet made him get a comforter, so at least were making progress.

Speaking of Ratchet. His two closest friends, Ironhide and Ratty! Ratchet knows Optimum best. They we’re friends when he was Orion pax. Ratchet takes care of him cause primus knows he can’t. Ratchet is the only one Optimus is comfortable taking his mask off in front of. Ironhide seem to know how Optimus is feeling no matter how hard he tries to hide. So op can’t help but be honest with him. Optimus let’s his guard down majorly around these two. The same goes for them as well. Maybe not Ironhide cause he is most comfortable around his wife. But that’s a story for a different time.

Op is crushing on Elita and she knows it. That’s all I’ll say about that.

Op is the type of guy to lay in bed looking at the ceiling waiting for his alarm to go off. He still gets up before anyone else tho. Except Ratchet he has never seem to beat Ratchet In the waking up early game. If Op is standing behind Ratchet he’s nervous.

All these numerous flaws he can’t let other know about. But there still is one more thing. The worst one. He is scared. and sure who isn’t? But he is scared of Megatron. He’s so scared of this mech, he can’t eat, sleep or enjoy anything without thinking about him. But he knows he has to fight him again.

No one can know this about him.

[dragonmane]

I still love thinking about the differences between cybertronian/human anatomy and lifestyle and hilarious confusion that could result

[dragonmane]

being stuck on cybertron with a bunch of ladies who keep outsmarting him for 4mil years. he's had to resort to psychological warfare

[dragonmane]

still thinkin about how megatron wanted to be a medic...

ay im reading Dark Cybetron again rn and this is an underrated moment kay

"Really? I wanted to be a genocidal despot." LMAO sry

[dragonmane]

I just wanna say that I absolutely adore the Shockwave Furby comic, the panel where he realizes that he chose the wrong dialogue option and accidentally disturbs Rumble/Frenzy (let's not go there) is just really cute 😭 The world deserves more flustered Shockwaves fr fr

ok i went on a tangent again

we deserve one (1) 1️⃣☝🏻shockwave emotion every once in a while, as a treat :)

thank you!! glad you liked it!

[dragonmane]

Megatron getting a headcount like hes a teacher on a school fieldtrip

He gives big substitute teacher vibes

[dragonmane]

aeaeaeeaaeaeae

Maybe I’ll finish it, maybe I won’t