The Transformers: Megatron Origin

IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall first revealed the existence of the story on his message board,[1] originally to be titled Megatron: Precursor.[2] The first issue of Megatron: Origin was released in June 2007, and the limited series continues the overall title, following Escalation and before the debut of The Transformers: Devastation.[3]

According to the Holmes, Megatron, as a smart character with a determined drive, has always been his favorite Transformer. "Those are the people that change the world. He deserves an interesting tale to have made him what he is."[4] Inspired by Simon Furman's Transformers: The War Within for Dreamwave Productions, which created an origin for Optimus Prime, Holmes felt it would be fun to go back and further explore the beginnings of the Autobot-Decepticon war.[4] Holmes originally approached Dreamwave with the concept, but the company went bankrupt before anything could be published.[5] When IDW took over the Transformers license, they were approached by Holmes as well, loved his idea and he collaborated with Furman to further tie-in the story into the continuity of the IDW-published Transformers comics. Holmes took historical inspiration from the decline of the Roman Empire in his story of the war's beginnings.[6]

As the Autobots escort a Cybertronian senator to an Energon-mining colony, the senator informs the miners that they are no longer needed and will be relocated. As the miners complain about being replaced by automated equipment, an Autobot guard commander attempts to silence the lead protester, who is eventually beaten to death. The miners riot, and one of the miners, Megatron, gets into a fight with the commander and is shocked when he kills him with his bare hands. The Autobots violently subdue the miners, and many casualties result.

On a prison shuttle, fellow miners Rumble and Frenzy convince Megatron to help lead a revolt against the corrupt Autobot security force. They attack their guards and take control of the shuttle, then escape to Cybertron to hide underground in Kaon, the seediest city on the planet. Prowl notifies Sentinel Prime of the incident, who plans to locate the fugitives.

After Megatron joins the secretive gladiatorial contests, he becomes accustomed to killing and rises to be one of the best gladiators, and his battles are distributed illegally through video recordings. A news report about Megatron is observed by Senator Ratbat, who then takes great interest in Megatron. During a later battle, Megatron betrays Clench and usurps command of the games from him.

The report is also witnessed by Prowl's forces, as well as Sentinel Prime, who plans to end the contests and states that Megatron "will hang." Autobots Fastback and Bumper are sent to scout out a potential gladiatorial site. They come across the Constructicons, who begin building the site, and throw an unlucky resident into Mixmaster's molten metal solution. Megatron, Rumble, and Frenzy arrive, noting that the building is behind schedule and are approached by Soundwave, who offers to outfit Megatron with advanced weaponry, including his traditional Energon flail, which he presents in a hologram. While observing all this, the Autobots are spotted and captured by Soundwave's minions, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ravage. Megatron crushes Fastback's head to show his power and Bumper calls him a psychopath. Soundwave and Laserbeak probe Bumper's mind and determine that he is not a threat or useful, so Megatron kills him with his bare hands.

Soundwave enters a gladiatorial location and Swindle informs him that Megatron is in a foul mood, having lost an arm in combat. Megatron greets Soundwave coldly while Hook repairs him using parts from fallen warriors. Soundwave presents Megatron with three flight-capable combatants: Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp. Instead of using them to fight in the arena, Megatron uses the three of them, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, and Ravage to perform acts of terrorism throughout Cybertron and kidnap Senator Decimus. Senator Ratbat seems concerned that the acts of terrorism have gotten out of control.

At the funeral for Bumper and Fastback, Sentinel Prime uses the tragedy to drum up interest in capturing Megatron and his gladiators. Meanwhile, Megatron rallies his gladiators and proposes an alliance, bringing out Senator Decimus to show his weakness. However, Sentinel Prime's police force have been watching, and they capture and arrest Megatron and his followers. The Autobot security center is overflowing with the arrestees and Megatron is silent. Starscream speaks to a guard and makes a deal to get out of jail and inform the Senate of some crucial information.

Starscream is taken before the Senate and delivers his message: that they helped create the Decepticons indirectly. Using his built-in weapons systems he and Soundwave slaughter the Senate. Starscream then frees the prisoners, arming them and giving Megatron his fusion cannon in the process, and general revolution breaks out in Kaon. Sentinel Prime and his team attempt to contain them, but Prime soon realizes that it is out of control. He then withdraws to "go Apex".

As the slaughter continues, Prime returns - in a titanic suit of armor - and engages Megatron. Despite his firepower, Megatron is able to overcome him and the two fall off a building, with Prime taking the brunt of the damage. Later, Prowl's team find Prime, who has been beaten within an inch of his life. With Soundwave by his side, Megatron consider his options, reclining on a throne made out of Sentinel Prime's Apex armour.

Issue 1 was originally supposed to be released in May 2007, but was delayed to June due to artist Alex Milne's illness.[7]