Megatron (Animated)

Megatron is a Decepticon leader from the Animated continuity family.

An insult to G1, we swear!

If you were to ask Megatron to describe himself in one word, he'd probably go with "heroic". He sees himself as a freedom fighter leading the Decepticons in a righteous struggle against "Autobot tyranny". The fact he's hoping to replace that with Decepticon tyranny isn't really a concern... to him, at least. A fanatic at spark, he revels in every Autobot who suffers at Decepticon hands and doesn't register beings like humans as anything more than "collateral damage."

Megatron demands loyalty from the Decepticons as a whole, loyalty he gains through his fear and awe-inspiring power and abilities. With the combined threat of a sharp mind, his signature fusion cannon, a pair of deadly swords and simple brute strength, there aren't many who would dare cross him. Still, he has no problem occasionally manhandling his troops as a gentle reminder.

The loss of his body and former glory was only a minor setback for him as Megatron proved himself a true master manipulator. He all-too-easily duped the rather absentminded Isaac Sumdac into helping him—and once Megatron was restored he turned the tables on his old captor.

He is extremely intolerant of treachery and deals with said treacherous bots using methods of vicious no-nonsense efficiency, unlike other Decepticon leaders. He is also a shrewd strategist who effortlessly wraps others around his fingers.

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Animated cartoon

Voice actor: Corey Burton (English), Norio Wakamoto (Japanese), Jan Spitzer (German), Mirosław Neinert (Polish), Raffaele Farina (Italian), Vincent Violette (French), Junseok Song (Korean), Affonso Amajones (Portuguese), Mario Santander (Latin American Spanish, season 1 and 2), Alexander Páez (Latin American Spanish, season 3), Santiago Salorio (Castilian Spanish), Arto Nieminen (Finnish, Fredrik Hiller (Swedish)

Pointier than thou.

Eons ago, Megatron overthrew the previous Decepticon leader Megazarak and took control of the faction for himself. He gave speeches and wrote manifestos calling for the Decepticons to rise up and take control of both Cybertron and the AllSpark from the Autobots. Finally, on the Cycle of Infamy, he took the Decepticons from mere rhetoric to outright war.

The Decepticons overran Autobot space, but the Autobots under Ultra Magnus had one major advantage—space bridge technology which allowed them to move about the galaxy more easily. The Decepticon advance ground to a halt. The AllSpark Almanac II However, Megatron's forces continued to fight on until the Autobots sent the AllSpark through the space bridge to random coordinates. Realizing that the AllSpark was the key to defeating the Autobots, Megatron abandoned the Cybertron theater and began searching the galaxy aboard his massive flagship the Nemesis. Transform and Roll Out Megatron also lost the codes to Project Omega when the bounty hunter Lockdown failed to bring him Arcee. The Thrill of the Hunt With the war going badly after this, Megatron tried a last-ditch attempt with the False Calm and sent his troops at sub-light speeds to Cybertron. During the Battle for Iacon, Megatron destroyed Gamma Supreme. Ultimately, the attack failed and the Decepticons were finally forced to agree to an armistice and exile. The AllSpark Almanac II

He's not planning on shaking Prime's hand...he's going to tear it off.

However, Megatron continued to search for the AllSpark. Four million years later, the Nemesis's crew discovered a small Autobot repair vessel after detecting the AllSpark. When Starscream volunteered to attack, Megatron saw his ambitions all too clearly, and pointedly remarked that he wasn't about to let four million solar cycles of searching for the AllSpark end with Starscream "[laying his] greasy wings on it". No, Megatron would strike the Autobot ship and take the AllSpark himself. Just prior to his departure, Starscream approached him again, ostensibly to wish him luck but actually to place an overload device on his leader's back. This device went off just as Megatron's fusion cannon was about to breach the hull of the Autobots' ship. The Autobot crew managed to steer the now-failing ship through an asteroid field and into a nearby space bridge.

With the ship now plummeting through the Earth's atmosphere, a wounded Megatron still managed to thrash the crew soundly and nearly claimed the AllSpark. Quick thinking on the part of the ship's captain sent the Decepticon leader out the cargo hatch and into free fall. Megatron fell from the sky and crashed in Paw Paw, Michigan, where his head (and later, a hand) was found by a young Isaac Sumdac.

Over the next fifty years, Sumdac built a robotics empire by reverse-engineering Megatron's components while Megatron's inert head remained secretly in Sumdac's private lab, the source of the human's engineering genius and also a secret shame. Megatron's severed hand was there as well, used by Sumdac as a piece of furniture. Transform and Roll Out Dispatches

Hey Megatron, don't lose your... oh.

After the Autobots re-awoke, Sari—Isaac's daughter—used her AllSpark Key to sneak into her father's lab. He stopped her from seeing anything it contained, but the Key's AllSpark energy was absorbed by Megatron's head, reawakening his spark and mind and bringing him back online. Confused and disoriented, he automatically brought up video footage of Starscream and the Autobots, footage in which Starscream admitted to his treachery. Furious both at Starscream's betrayal and the fact he didn't have the proper appendages to reach out and take the AllSpark which was finally within his relative grasp, he released a burst of energy which activated a small drone Prof. Sumdac had been working on. Megatron realized he could control the extremely primitive (by his race's standards) technology around him. Learning Sari was going to spend the night at the Autobot base, he secreted his drone into her backpack. Once she arrived Megatron sent the drone to look for the AllSpark but his search was fruitless. He decided to try a simpler method: Kill the Autobots and extract the data from their lifeless corpses. Interfacing with the factory's assembly line, he attacked. As the Autobots fought back, he decided to cut out the middleman and knocked a hole in a fuel tank. Prowl realized the factory was working via motion sensors and managed to get close to the control panel. To counter him, Megatron simply took over the factory arms and snatched up Prowl. However, he failed to stop Bumblebee, due to the primitive tools he was forced to use. With his plans foiled, Megatron was out of patience, refusing to work through these worthless proxy machines. He needed a body, which meant it was time to provide some more advanced technology to Sumdac... Home Is Where the Spark Is

Megatron hired the industrial saboteur Stiletto to steal from Sumdac enterprises a high-powered laser scalpel and an experimental metal alloy and then use them to collapse Detroit's Ambassador Bridge. In truth, Megatron didn't care much about whether or not she succeeded in collapsing the bridge, as he simply desired to see if the materials she had stolen would be suitable for his new body. He was satisfied with the results he saw broadcast on television. Stiletto

Megatron soon revealed to Isaac that he still functioned and, when Isaac guessed he was a friend of the Autobots, Megatron played along. He persuaded Isaac to keep his existence secret until Isaac had built him a new body, as then the Autobots would be more forgiving of how Isaac had reverse-engineered their friend. Megatron then helped construct the Dinobots, deliberately programming them to go on a rampage and building fire-breath into them as a prototype for a planned army of drones. When they were defeated, Megatron despaired he might never gain a new body, but upon discovering they'd been turned into sentient Transformers, he quickly convinced them that cars, trucks and "car robots" were evil beings that ate the fossil fuels supposedly derived from dinosaurs.

During their second rampage, Isaac realized Megatron had deliberately built weapons into the Dinobots. The tyrant feigned shame, saying he'd added experimental features out of a desire to have a body again. Isaac promised not to tell the Autobots and that Megatron would have a body again one day... Blast from the Past

Rub it in, why don't you?

Soon, Dr. Sumdac began attempting to build him some new servos, but these proved inadequate. Megatron revealed that his body would need Destronium to work, but Isaac responded there was only a small amount available and that it would have to be delivered across town in less than 10 minutes or it would become unstable. Taking notice of an experimental turbo suit Sumdac's labs were developing (with flaws that possibly precluded Isaac considering it as a solution), Megatron manipulated computer systems so the suit was delivered to small-time hood Nino Sexton. Once Sexton began using the suit to commit crimes too quickly to be stopped, Megatron contacted him with an offer of much money out of Dr. Sumdac's private account if Sexton used the suit to steal and deliver the Destronium. Between Autobot interference and the suit aging him prematurely, Sexton failed. Worse, the Destronium was energized to a critical level, risking an explosion that would destroy Detroit. The Autobots barely managed to send the Destronium sample into the upper atmosphere before it exploded, and they were left to wonder why a human had tried to steal it in the first place. Nanosec

After Megatron learned of the power of Sari's AllSpark Key and the careless nature in which she used it, he attempted to trick her into assisting him. He designed Soundwave, a musical toy that was secretly meant to grow more powerful every time Sari used the Key upon it, until eventually it would be a suitable robotic body for Megatron himself. When the Key instead brought Soundwave to independent life, Megatron changed his plan and, with convincing logic, recruited Soundwave as a Decepticon warrior. Sound and Fury

Yeah, it's a fixer-upper.

When Blitzwing and Lugnut arrived on Earth, Megatron, remembering Starscream's betrayal, was hesitant to act. After witnessing a battle between his soldiers and the Autobots, Megatron concluded that Blitzwing was too unstable, but Lugnut was genuinely loyal. He contacted Lugnut only, instructing him to locate the AllSpark, which would help restore him. Later, he also informed Lugnut about the Key. Unfortunately, Lugnut and Blitzwing were defeated and damaged by the Autobots, severing Lugnut's link with Megatron—and Megatron's only link to the outside world. Lost and Found

Although Megatron himself was not mentally involved, his headless body was infected with space barnacles, causing the barnacles to mutate into a semi-sentient form. After absorbing two mining bots and attacking a miner, it was defeated by Bumblebee and Prowl. Later, the body was discovered (minus space barnacles) by Isaac Sumdac and most likely brought back to his laboratory. Sumdac remarked that Megatron would be very pleased with the find... Nature Calls

Don't call it a comeback; I've been here for years.

Sumdac attempted to rebuild Megatron, but progress was slowed by a power failure. Frustrated, Megatron again contacted Lugnut and ordered him to bring him the AllSpark Key. This communication triggered Starscream's curiosity, and the treacherous jet located Megatron. Starscream didn't have time to finish his speech slay Megatron before he was distracted by the Autobots—and Megatron used that distraction to take Starscream by surprise and eject him from the lab. When Blitzwing and Lugnut arrived with the Key, Megatron revealed his true identity to his human "friend". Sumdac, seized by the mechanical hand he had so long used as a chair, could only watch and wail in horror as the Decepticon tyrant used the power of the AllSpark to reconstruct himself, more powerful than ever. Finally restored, he burst through the roof of Sumdac Tower, to the horror of the Autobots and Starscream, ready to unleash his vengeance on all of them. Megatron Rising - Part 1

"Will anyone else attempt to fill his shoes?"

Megatron's revenge was quick and brutal. Trashing the Autobots in short order, he called his Decepticons to him. As Starscream bootlicked, Megatron powered up his fusion cannon to destroy the one responsible for his defeat—then used the AllSpark Key to send a painful power surge through Starscream, extinguishing the traitor's spark and reinforcing his authority over Blitzwing and Lugnut. He commanded them to "transform and rise up," and the three Decepticons took to the sky, using the Key to track the AllSpark.

Finding it aboard the Autobots' ship, the Decepticons caused the ship to crash on Dinobot Island, where Megatron proceeded to beat the slag out of Optimus Prime. Getting into the ship, Megatron removed the AllSpark from its casing and placed it in his chest, preparing to devastate Earth before conquering Cybertron. However, Professor Sumdac used his knowledge of Megatron's circuitry to disrupt his equilibrium sensors, causing Megatron to drop the AllSpark Key. Optimus Prime used the Key to force a surge of power through the AllSpark within Megatron, causing it to explode and disperse its energy.

This is not good...

And yet, it was not a total loss for Megatron; despite the damage, he escaped and managed to abduct Sumdac. Once again, their fates were intertwined, only this time Sumdac was Megatron's prisoner. Megatron Rising - Part 2

Establishing a base deep underground in a mine, Megatron quickly adjusted his plans after the loss of the AllSpark. During his battle aboard the Autobot ship, he had managed to download a partial space bridge schematic from their computers. He planned to use the space bridge to teleport himself, Lugnut, and Blitzwing to Cybertron, then conquer the planet from within. To facilitate this plan, Megatron used the captive Professor Sumdac to reverse-engineer the space bridge and fill in the "gaps" within the schematics. However, when a service bot suddenly malfunctioned, it was revealed that a shard of the AllSpark was embedded within it. This gave Megatron hope that the AllSpark was not destroyed, but dispersed throughout the city of Detroit. The Elite Guard

Yes, Starscream, and we'll keep doing it until you get it right!

Finding out about the AllSpark fragments, however, didn't seem to result in any changes in his plans. Megatron received word from a spy that the Decepticons had begun making random assaults on the Autobots. He realized that they needed to make a concentrated effort in order to secure his victory. He had Lugnut and Blitzwing steal a tachyon transmitter from the Elite Guard so he could send his message, but was interrupted during his transmission by a revived Starscream. After quickly beating him to a pulp, Megatron relayed his commands to the spacefaring 'Cons, only to be repeatedly attacked by a seemingly invincible Starscream. The renegade even attempted to draw Megatron out with an AllSpark fragment. Megatron emerged victorious every time and was informed by his spy that all was going as planned: With his forces now drawing the Autobots away from Cybertron, Megatron could attack a weakened Cybertron from within as soon as his space bridge was completed. Mission Accomplished

Later, while at the Decepticon base, Lugnut detected an AllSpark energy signal emanating from Detroit. Megatron quickly dispatched Lugnut to retrieve the AllSpark shard before the Autobots could. Lugnut proceeded to praise his master's "grand and glorious plan", but Megatron, fed up with the adulation to the point of involuntary optic-twitching, curtly commanded his enforcer to get going. Garbage In, Garbage Out As Lugnut failed to retrieve this fragment, Megatron tasked Blitzwing with retrieving the next one the Decepticons detected. The triple-changer proved just as incapable when it came to securing AllSpark fragments. Velocity

Gentlemen, to evil.

When Lugnut and Blitzwing brought the Constructobots back to base, Megatron saw the advantage of keeping them alive, and he invited them to have a look at his space bridge schematics. Impressed by their knowledge, he decided to put them to work stealing supplies. After an encounter with Bulkhead, the Constructobots became convinced of "the funny guy's" less-than-noble intentions, and they returned to the mine to confront him. Megatron calmly slammed them both against a rock face and asked them to explain. He feigned shock and brought them in to discuss things over his own private oil blend. Megatron showed himself to be a bit of an oil connoisseur, possessing stylish little goblets for it made of twisted oil drums, as well as a secret stash of top-quality oil and a chamber to drink it in. Megatron spoke of the glories they could achieve as Constructicons: the adulation, the statues in their honor...the barrels of oil they could down. Ever the shrewd worker, it didn't take much for him to convince them to join up and he promptly sent them to the Autobot base to retrieve the AllSpark fragments. Rise of the Constructicons

Constructicons say WHAAAAAT?

When Starscream escaped from the Elite Guard's ship, Megatron received Ultra Magnus's alert to the Autobots thanks to the stolen tachyon transmitter. Megatron had placed a bounty on the traitor and Lockdown (with the unknowing aid of Prowl) pretty much took the opportunity to bring him to the Decepticon leader. Lockdown contacted Megatron to confirm that he had captured a purple-ish "Starscream" (who was acting quite odd and cowardly) and agreed to meet at an abandoned warehouse for the exchange. As "Starscream" was brought to Megatron, Prowl, who was hiding on a rafter high above, accidentally scuffed a small bolt, which grabbed the Decepticons' attention. Not too long after, the Autobots appeared with another, different-colored Starscream. Megatron intercepted Lockdown's escape and announced confusedly that no one was to leave until they found out which was the true Starscream. However, it soon turned out that both Starscreams were clones with bombs in their spark chambers designed to destroy Megatron and the Autobots in one go. Not content to stand by and be blown up, Megatron quickly blasted the skylight of the warehouse and called for his Decepticons to transform and rise up, leaving the soon-to-explode clones with the Autobots. This turned out to be a mistake, as Prowl used the upgrades given to him by Lockdown to send the clones into the air, and the fleeing Decepticons were caught in the wake of the blast. Still in one piece despite the explosion, Megatron later raised the bounty on Starscream—insisting on the real one this time. A Fistful of Energon

He was later contacted by Swindle, who attempted to sell him a new weapon. Nothing came of this as Swindle was defeated before the deal could be closed. SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy Megatron also made some "secret" transmissions to his double agent on Cybertron in order to settle his new plans for the coming Autobot-Decepticon war. Autoboot Camp Blitzwing also successfully retrieved the Constructicons for him. Sari, No One's Home

"Did I tell you about the time I killed the cult leader?"

Megatron's plans finally seemed on the verge of fruition when Sumdac and the Constructicons completed the space bridge. However, some vital technical aspects made it inoperable. In order to remedy this, Megatron contacted Shockwave to learn who was Cybertron's leading space bridge technician which turned out to be the Autobot Bulkhead. Not wishing to leave Doctor Sumdac alone to sabotage the Constructicons' efforts, Megatron took him along as a hostage while he went to capture Bulkhead. Once he had the big Autobot in custody, Megatron threatened to use the Headmaster unit on him if he didn't help make the space bridge operational. To Megatron's satisfaction, Bulkhead agreed and finished the project. Just as the machine was activated both the Autobots and Starscream and his clone army attacked. A Bridge Too Close, Part I

The three-way free-for-all ironically forced Megatron and Optimus Prime to team up temporarily, but this quickly ended when Megatron used Prime's body as a shield against one of Starscream's clone's attacks. Despite putting up a decent resistance, Megatron was overwhelmed and held down by two of the Starscream clones. As the original Starscream gloated, he was head-jacked by Isaac Sumdac in the Headmaster unit. Sumdac prepared to fight the Decepticon leader himself but an unimpressed Megatron simply used his strength to throw the distracted Starscream clones at him then blasted the Headmaster unit off with his fusion cannon, quickly proving himself the victor. With Starscream incapacitated the clones sided with Megatron. He then made his own victory speech to his soldiers, declaring he would send Optimus through the bridge to test it. However, the Autobots got some reinforcements - in the form of their own ship, now revealed to be the surviving Omega Sentinel Omega Supreme. Megatron quickly ordered the majority of his forces to deal with this new menace while the Constructicons cleared the space bridge area of rubble. Grabbing Optimus, Megatron threw him into the portal but was frustrated when Prowl freed his leader in the nick of time at which point the bridge shut down. Bulkhead declared the power source wasn't strong enough to maintain the link for long so Megatron grabbed Starscream's AllSpark-powered head to maintain the gateway. However, this provided too much power, sending the space bridge portal out of control. An enraged Megatron decided to terminate Optimus Prime only for Optimus to slap stasis cuffs on him causing him to lose his grip and fall into the portal.

"Stop staring at me!"

With the overload having deleted the space bridge's receiving coordinates, the defeated Megatron was transported to some unknown sector of space. Still immobilized by the stasis cuffs, Megatron's only companion was now Starscream's head which a cruel twist of fate had deposited right next to him. Forced to remain face to face with his traitorous ex-lieutenant, Megatron could only trade verbal blows. A most cruel fate, indeed. A Bridge Too Close, Part II

After their bickering subsided, Starscream began trying to free Megatron from the stasis cuffs, but having no body was a hindrance. Megatron was only freed when Starscream revealed a previously unseen weapon from his mouth. Before they could react, Omega Supreme appeared, offline. Getting aboard him, Megatron was captured by Omega but was able to convince the simple processor-possessing behemoth to take him to Cybertron to face a war crimes tribunal. However, Omega Supreme's attempt to transwarp to Cybertron left them somewhere else in space but did drain Omega for the time being. Initially disgusted that he was trapped aboard the cause of the Decepticons' defeat without his weapons and only Starscream for company, Megatron soon realized that if he could reprogram Omega to serve him he would be at a great advantage.

Managing to hotwire the Autobot with the stasis cuffs and Starscream's AllSpark charged head, Megatron contacted Shockwave to give him a status report on the Earth space bridge. However, the situation was worse than Megatron realized: not only was the space bridge network shut down, but the Earth Autobots could expose Shockwave at any moment. Although Omega Supreme provided an advantage that could end both problems, Megatron decided that the space bridge invasion plan was a failure, and issued a fleet wide stand down order. Heading to Earth, Megatron attempted to use Omega to destroy the Autobots (even though he couldn't remember their names). However, Prowl and Optimus Prime managed to board Omega and sever Megatron's control over him. Unfortunately, Starscream managed to gain control over Omega Supreme, capturing Megatron again. Ever the manipulator, Megatron convinced Starscream that his time would be better spent conquering Cybertron. However, the Autobots managed to install the plasma dynamic thruster from Megatron's space bridge into Omega Supreme, sending Omega and the two Decepticons aboard warping through space randomly. TransWarped

When the Autobots became trapped in Soundwave's virtual reality, Megatron led the Decepticons into invading and attacking Detroit. As the Autobots realized what was going on Prowl was able to break free of Megatron's grip and severed his arm with a single swipe of his hand. He was later beaten by Optimus who destroyed his fusion cannon by tossing his axe at the cannon's barrel. Human Error, Part I

Don't you just hate it when fanboys keep following you?

Later, as Lugnut was floating through space following his half-successful escape from the Elite Guard flagship, Omega Supreme transwarped to directly in front of him and he smashed into the bridge window. When Starscream asked Megatron if they were picking up hitchhickers, Megatron simply slapped his head off its position. That was for asking stupid questions.Decepticon Air

Soon thereafter, Megatron gained control of Omega Supreme's transforming mechanism, and by detaching the plasma dynamic thruster was also able to direct their transwarp jumps; however, he could not get the weapons online without the proper access codes. Megatron brought the ship to Cybertron, where they could do little but float helplessly in the air; Megatron reasoned—correctly—that the Autobots would not dare fire on their own most famous weapon (though Sentinel "Magnus" sure wanted to). Megatron ordered Shockwave to hurry up his search for the access codes; once Shockwave successfully abducted Arcee and boarded the ship, they transwarped into Earth orbit right before Sentinel opened fire. Megatron welcomed Shockwave aboard as his "most loyal" servant, to the great concern of Lugnut. This Is Why I Hate Machines

Now on the moon, Megatron commanded Shockwave to extract the access codes from Arcee's mind. When Starscream re-attached his head to another clone body, Megatron pursued him and destroyed all the remaining clones, teasing Starscream for having always thought on a small scale. Megatron's ultimate plans for the protoforms aboard the Nemesis was to use them to create his own clone fleet of Omega Supremes—based on the personality template of his truly most loyal minion, Lugnut. That part of the plan went just fine, but Shockwave was still unable to get Arcee to do his bidding—perhaps because although she was fooled by his Longarm Prime persona, she saw the evil Megatron standing right behind him and refused to cooperate. After a few technical bypasses put Lugnut in mental command of the "Lugnut Supreme" fleet, Megatron ordered his new weapons to test their skills by destroying the Earthbound Autobots. Endgame, Part I

...No Comment

Observing from within one of the Lugnut Supremes, Megatron's first target for destruction was his former prison, Sumdac Tower. But when the tower's forcefield proved impenetrable and Optimus Prime was able to destroy the Lugnut Supremes he was riding in and severely damage the other two by using the Magnus Hammer, Megatron settled on a new plan: destroying everything that wasn't him. He flew cover over the advancing Lugnut Supremes, directly engaging Optimus Prime (at first mistaken for Ultra Magnus, then dismissed as a "cheap imitation") so Prime would not again be able to use the Magnus Hammer on the giants. As the battle raged and failures mounted, Megatron finally addressed Prime by his real name to the Autobot's bitter satisfaction. The two were later trapped within a prison of AllSpark energy—meant to seal in the timebomb that Starscream had secretly placed in one of the Lugnut Supremes.

Lugnut: Master, do you have anymore toilet paper?
Megatron: WE'RE GIANT ROBOTS YOU BLOATED BEAN BAG WHY DO YOU EVEN NEED TOILET PAPER?!?

Undeterred, Megatron accepted that even if he himself had to die he could at least take Prime with him. But Prowl's ghost was having none of that and Megatron soon found himself left alone to be blown up. Though massively damaged, he survived this and turned to attack the Autobots once more. He was quickly defeated by Optimus Prime and when Megatron wearily invited Prime to kill him, Prime retorted that that would be "the easy way out" which he claimed Megatron did not deserve. Megatron was placed in stasis cuffs and arrested, then brought back to Cybertron and displayed as a prisoner before the cheering Autobot masses. Endgame, Part II

He was incarcerated in Trypticon Prison and Team Stunticon failed to rescue him. The Stunti-Con Job While this happened Shockwave's old Kremzeek program became active and began making its way to Fortress Maximus to destroy Cybertron. Megatron then questioned what could prompt Shockwave to create such a stupid program and the scientist meekly admitted that the program was only supposed to be activated if they were not on Cybertron. The Return of Blurr

If Cyclonus is to be believed, Megatron will become Galvatron in the future and kill Oil Slick. The AllSpark Almanac II

Titan Animated comic

Apart from showing interest in the activities of Quake-Maker, Burnout! Megatron seemed idle... but what the Autobots were unaware of was that he'd constructed a Spark-less drone unit, Afterburn, as a prototype of a future army, and then sent Afterburn off to spy on the Autobots.

He not only received repeated communications from his spy but gained directions to the Autobot base! Megatron entered with explosive results Divebomb and then killed Afterburn while rubbing Bumblebee's nose in it. He proceeded to summon the other Decepticons and thrash most of the Autobots with ease making some really bad puns along the way, only stopped when Starscream secretly got him buried under a crane. Starscream then "saved" him, making Megatron think he'd turned over a new leaf and thus giving him temporary command until he got better. Megatron's Revenge

Animated shorts

If only he was around to see this

While Megatron gave an inspirational speech to his Decepticons (which seemed to be very similar to another message he'd sent out), Starscream proceeded to make fun of him behind his back—making faces, giving Megatron bunny ears, and shaking his butt at his leader. Megatron was suspicious of Starscream's actions, but each time he turned to look, his lieutenant was standing there innocently, doing nothing unseemly. Megatron apparently decided to let it go, as did the other Decepticons (even Lugnut), until he finally caught Starscream in mid-heckle and dealt with him by blasting him through a wall. Starscream Heckles Megatron

After the defeat of the Autobots, Megatron became the personal servant of new Decepticon leader Starscream. He was all too eager to accept the role, apologizing for never seeing Starscream's potential until now...or, at least, the imagined version in Starscream's dream did. The real Megatron punched Starscream awake, threatening to terminate him if he ever nodded off during a staff meeting again. Starscream's Fantasy

Quest for the AllSpark

Megatron took to hanging around online using the alias "Meg A. Tron". Masquerading thusly, he was able to recruit the unwitting help of Professor Heinz Von Furstwartz in his scheme to sow confusion amongst the Autobots and get a hold of the AllSpark. He was also able to take control of Detroit's legion of robot workers forcing the Autobots to enact an elaborate plan to keep the AllSpark safe. Quest for the AllSpark

The Cool comic

All aboard the Crazy Train! Toot! Toot!

Stumbling across Optimus Prime's band of Autobots, who had recently discovered the long-lost Allspark, Megatron pursued the Space Bridge repair crew relentlessly even after they lost the rest of Megatron's band of Decepticons by going through a Space Bridge gate. Having invaded the Autobot's ship, he beat down the entirety of its crew, save for their leader. Though already having all-but lost an arm in combat when he confronted Optimus, Megatron engaged in vicious melee combat, gloating all-the-while that when he claimed the AllSpark for himself, he would rule the Universe. Defiantly, Optimus managed to expulse Megatron from the ship's cargo bay door as the vessel was plummeting through the Earth's atmosphere, reducing the mighty Decepticon to a smoldering head, to be discovered by a young boy... The Cool Extra issue 3

At some point, Starscream double-crossed Megatron and attempted to kill him. Unbeknownst to anyone, Megatron's head survived his destruction and had hooked into Detroit's closed-circuit video surveillance system. Following the dispersion of the AllSpark (and Starscream's apparent demise), Megatron became intrigued by Sari's key after she used it to bring Optimus Prime back to life. Interests piqued, Megatron declared the time was right to initiate the next phase of his operation. The Cool Episode 2

Megatron eventually got his hands on the key and used its power to revive himself. After killing Starscream, Megatron engaged Optimus Prime in a sword-to-axe duel. The outcome of that fight is unknown though apparently the Autobots survived the day. The Cool Episode 5

Megatron later hired Lockdown to capture the (somehow still alive) Starscream. Lockdown mistakenly captured Clone #3370318 instead while the Autobots captured Clone #2716057. Megatron was met with both clones at his meeting place in a warehouse and demanded to know why there were two Starscreams. When the clones turned out to be bombs Megatron attempted to flee in helicopter mode only to be chased down by the explosives after Prowl attached a pair of rockets to them. Megatron screamed in confusion as he was caught in the explosion. The Cool Episode 6

With the Space Bridge nearly completed, Megatron was caught off-guard by a surprise attack from Optimus Prime and the Autobots. Clashing sword with Prime's axe, Megatron arrogantly told the Autobot he could never win, though his efforts were amusing. Megatron was then met by a second surprise: an attack by Starscream and his Clone Army. Megatron was forced to fight side by side with Optimus but quickly dissolved the partnership when he use Prime as a shield to block one of Slipstream's shots. Dropping Prime's smoking body, Megatron informed all listening that the universe belonged to him. The Cool Episode 7

Megatron then installed the severed head of Starscream into the Space Bridge in order to power it with his AllSpark fragment. The fragment proved too powerful and caused the Space Bridge to overload. Optimus recovered and took Megatron's distraction as an opportunity to defeat the villain once and for all. Slapping a pair of stasis cuffs on him, Optimus kicked Megatron in the jaw and sent him hurtling into the vortex. The Cool Episode 8

Megatron found himself warped to the same coordinates as Starscream's head and Omega Supreme. Megatron attempted to use Starscream's spark to jumpstart Omega Supreme but the plan backfired and Starscream took control of Omega's systems. Starscream sized Megatron in his giant hand and, taunting him returned to Earth for vengeance against the Autobots. Megatron would not be so easily defeated however, and breaking free teamed with Optimus Prime to sever Starscream's connection to Omega. That dealt with, Megatron and Optimus then agreed to end their rivalry with a final battle. Flying off into the sky, the enemies clashed sword with hammer. The Cool Episode 9

Megatron found himself outmatched by Optimus's Wingblade and Magnus Hammer however, and chose to even the odds by blasting his foe with his fusion cannon powered by Starscream's AllSpark fragment! The blast blew Optimus to pieces, but just to be sure Megatron impaled his foe through the spark chamber with his sword anyway. Optimus refused to be beaten and absorbed the power of the AllSpark fragment into himself... somehow. Repaired and now apparently invincible, Prime mopped the floor with Megatron. The defeated Emperor of Destruction was then carted back to Cybertron in shackles. The Cool Episode Final

Games

Transformers Animated: The Game

Voice actor: Corey Burton (English), Marc Alfos (French)

Helmet design provided by Lego.

After completing a space bridge terminal in his hidden mine base on Earth, Megatron began to prepare to attack Cybertron. He hired Lockdown to collect AllSpark fragments to power his Space Bridge and obtained enough to do so, however while he was in the process of powering it up Optimus Prime's team found the base and attacked him. Though he boasted he could beat them easily without the use of weapons they used an electromagnet to defeat him and he was forced to escape by transwarping to Cybertron. There, he was able to take control of some of the planetary defense systems driving the Autobots away from the Space Bridge Nexus and sent out a message ordering his forces to take control of the Space Bridges around the rim of the galaxy. Shockwave soon reported that they'd captured more than a dozen Space Bridges. Before Megatron could take control of the nexus, Optimus's team caught up with him. Commandeering some of the defense systems, they managed to defeat him. Growling that the Decepticons would rise again, Megatron transwarped out to parts unknown. Transformers Animated: The Game

Transformers Animated: Action Packs

Transformers Battle Universe

At the edge of time, when the Matrix needed a new host, Megatron was among several warriors (and Megatrons) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. Transformers Battle Universe

Toys

Animated

Deluxe Class

SPAAAACE ROOOAAACH!

• Optimus Prime vs. Megatron: The Battle Begins (Entertainment Pack, 2008)

• Accessories: Bladed cannon
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

Megatron transforms into a sleek spacecraft with, er, VTOL turbofans (presumably designed to show some lineage with his eventual helicopter mode. It's best if you don't think about it too hard). His signature fusion cannon forms the central chassis and cockpit section of the spacecraft (officially, a "Fusion Fighter"); his sword sections mount on the sides of the cannon for storage, though the blade is unremovable and effectively useless. Like the Prime figure he comes with, he features a punching gimmick, having a spring-loaded waist that snaps back when twisted. Unfortunately, Megatron's balljoint hips and the swivel joints between his thighs and knees are rather loose, making it difficult to pose the figure in such a way that he stands on his own. The figure features a silver color scheme and battle damage paint applications. Also included was a DVD featuring the first episode of Transformers Animated.

The design makes it impossible to mount his fusion cannon beneath his cockpit like in the show.

If you want to be pedantic about it, the battle implied by the battle-pack pairing is technically a timeline impossibility, insofar as it depicts Cybertron Mode Megatron versus Earth Mode Optimus. It is also scaled incorrectly, as Megatron was shown as being notably larger than Optimus in "Transform and Roll Out".

This mold was used to make the third prize of the Hasbro UK exclusive limited Edition Handmade Samples.

• More information on "The Battle Begins" Megatron at TFU.info

• Battle in Space (Deluxe 2-pack, 2008)

This two-pack features an unchanged Battle Damaged Deluxe Megatron from the Battle Begins two-pack above, and unchanged Deluxe Prowl.

The bundle was a 2008 Walmart-exclusive Black Friday release in 2008.

• The Beginning Showdown: Optimus Prime / Megatron (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: March 27, 2010
• Accessories: Bladed cannon

Released in the first wave of TakaraTomy's Animated toyline, "Battle Begins" Megatron is the Deluxe mold once again, but this time given a shiny metallic paint job (sans battle damage) and white-bordered purple Decepticon symbols, like the majority of the TakaraTomy Animated toys.

The figure was only available in a "The Beginning Showdown" (始まりの対決, hajimari no taiketsu, also called "Fight of Start" on English on the box-back) 2-pack with a redecoed version of the Deluxe-scale Cybertronian Optimus Prime from the "Optimus Prime vs. Megatron: The Battle Begins" set.

All that glitters is gold.

• Megatron Gold Version (Deluxe, 2011)

• Accessories: Bladed cannon

An entirely-gold-chromed version of the Deluxe-class Battle Begins Megatron limited to 1,000 pieces, "Megatron Gold Version" was made available to residents of Japan via a lottery.

There were several ways to enter the drawing for him: one could clip out and send in a barcode from a single standard Animated toy or a single standard Autobot Alliance live action film series toy (or four EZ Collection barcodes), or send in five Sega Transformers trading cards, or cut out and send in the appropriate portion of the character cards included with volumes 4 or 5 of Paramount of Japan's Animated DVDs or the "Transformers: Revenge Greatest Hits" DVD. The entry period of the drawing was November 1st, 2010 to January 16th, 2011.

In 2014, Megatron Gold Version was one of the prize figures that were re-issued (probably remaining stock) again for the Transformers Celebration 2014 event held at Ikebukuro Sunshine City store's Toys"R"Us.

Voyager Class

Curse you, Earth's atmosphere! (Hasbro version pictured)

(TakaraTomy version pictured)

• Cybertron Mode Megatron (Voyager, 2008 / 2010)

• TakaraTomy name: Megatron
• TakaraTomy ID number: TA-06
• TakaraTomy release date: March 27, 2010
• Accessories: Missile
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro)

Part of the first wave of Hasbro Animated Voyager Class toys, this Megatron toy is a larger, bulkier, more detailed, and more gimmick-laden iteration of the same character design used in the Deluxe-scaled versus pack toy. While both modes of both toys look very similar, they have different transformation mechanisms and are not a simple upscaling/downscaling of each other. Where the Deluxe version is straight silver, this version has a pearl-gray paint scheme. The figure features an automorph gimmick in the chest, which closes like a clamshell in transforming to robot mode. A second automorph gimmick is built into the energon blades on the cannon, swinging them into place to form a polearm. Red translucent plastic is heavily used throughout the figure, including in the light piping for the head and the missile for the spring-loaded cannon. Even his fingers are made of energon, it seems. As with the smaller figure above, it's not possible to have the fusion cannon mounted in a way that's accurate to the show or the later Leader Class toy.

This toy apparently had a safety modification done late on in the design process (late enough that it doesn't show up on the instructions), possibly as a result of drop test failure. The strut that holds his fusion cannon has been reinforced, and as a result, his cannon cannot be mounted flush against his arm. It is also noted that his cannon easily pops off.

The (much later) TakaraTomy release, also in the first wave of their Animated toyline, much like the Deluxe Class figure released in the same country, coats much of his gray plastics in metallic silver overspray paint, and replaces the plain gold Decepticon symbol with a white-bordered purple one.

Takara's Megatron was part of a pair of different store-exclusive promotional giveaways in April. Buying him from JUSCO stores netted customers the EZ Collection Starscream Clear Purple Ver. toy. Meanwhile, buying him from Apita stores got you the Prowl Clear Smoke Ver. EZ Collection toy.

• More information on Cybertron Mode Megatron at TFU.info

Leader Class

"I kill you till you're dead!" (Hasbro Version pictured)

You UTTER FOOL! Metallic paint operations are the finest in the world!!! (TakaraTomy Version Pictured)

• Megatron (Leader, 2008 / 2010)

• TakaraTomy ID number: TA-26
• TakaraTomy release date: July 10, 2010
• Accessories: Missile, 2 rotor-swords
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro)

Part of the first wave of Hasbro's Leader-class toys, Megatron's "Earth" mode transforms into a high-tech dual-rotor assault helicopter, with his signature (spring-loaded missile launching) cannon mounted under the cockpit. Interestingly, it seems the alt-mode was originally intended to allow for the removal of the cannon without the removal of the bottom half of the fuselage. With a fair amount of force, the cannon can be popped off (and will reattach), but the cannon mount/fuselage lower half does not provide the front landing gear with sufficient clearance to fully extend. The fusion cannon is attached to the left arm out of the box, but it can be detached and put on either arm. It has wheels for use in vehicle mode, and if it is removed, then (undocumented) landing gear can be deployed to make up for the loss. Each rotor blade assembly becomes a sword for robot-mode use.

The toy has a voice chip, activated by pressing the Decepticon symbol on his chest. If used in robot mode it says one of three quotes: "Crush the Autobots!", "Where is the AllSpark?", and (glorious) evil laughter. All three lines are terrifically cheesy, as you might guess. In helicopter mode, it makes the sound of the rotors warming up, spinning, and powering down. When the cockpit is moved during transformation the classic G1/Animated transformation noise is heard. While the toy is compatible with the Headmaster "helmet" that comes with Leader-class Bulkhead, but it does not change his quotes.

The instructions leave a couple of things out. First, the shoulders should be pushed backwards/upwards for vehicle mode. This lowers the wings down and aligns the front of the engines with the back. Second, the barrel of the cannon can be rotated 180 degrees (at a separate pivot from the one at its base) for robot mode, to better match how it looks in the cartoon, with the red stripes facing his arm. Considering how padded the instructions are to mask the relatively simple transformation (two whole steps just to move the rear landing gear), leaving all this out is quite a feat. Bad Hasbro.

The TakaraTomy version of the toy, released in the fifth wave of the line (and the only item in said wave), adds a silver overspray to much of his gray plastic, changes his red paint to metallic red, and as per usual changes the faction symbol to the white-outlined full-color version. It also replaces the English voice clips with typically hammy Japanese ones by Norio Wakamoto: "I am Megatron" in Japanese and "Megatron, transform!" and "Fusion Cannon!" in English.

• More information on Leader Megatron at TFU.info

I defy the Unicron Trilogy. Defy it, I say!

• Shadow Blade Megatron (Leader, 2008)

• Accessories: Missile, 2 rotor-swords
• Known designers: Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro), Marcelo Matere (packaging artist)

The only new item in the third wave of Hasbro Leader-class toys, "Shadow Blade Megatron" is a black, grey and purple redeco of Megatron's Leader class mold with a slight remolding to the tail... that's NOT called Galvatron. YeabuhWHA? He is cast entirely in black plastic except for his translucent parts. His nose is not painted, so whenever his lights light up... his nose glows red.

Many units of this figure have a slight molding problem that prevents him from moving his face when the Decepticon logo is pressed. However, as many units are also unaffected, this may have been an inconsistent problem or corrected by a running change.

This toy was repurposed as Black Megatron in Generations Selects Special Comic.

• More information on Shadow Blade Megatron at TFU.info

Tonight, I dine on turtle soup!

• Marauder Megatron (Leader, 2010)

• Accessories: 2 missiles

Based on the Megatron design for the ultimately-canceled fourth season of the show, a new toy of "Marauder Megaton" made it to a gray-resin sculpt before also being canceled.

Now a Triple Changer, he transforms into both a Cybertronian jet and a Cybertronian tank, armed with a pair of spring-loaded missile launching "fusion cannons" in all three modes. His robot mode head has a muzzle-like plate over the mouth in a homage to Beast Machines Megatron. Derrick J. Wyatt also based the design on Super and Ultra Megatron from Return of Convoy. [1] 14 years later, this canceled design was homaged in the concept art Studio Series toy for Bumblebee Megatron.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Activators

"Transform and shrink down!"

• Megatron (Activators, 2008)

• Known designers: Bill Rawley (Hasbro)

Part of the fourth wave of Activators, this version of Megatron is a very simplified, roughly-Basic-sized version of his Earth mode. His spring-loaded transformation from vehicle to robot mode is activated by a single switch on the back of his copter mode. A simplified transformation means most of his Helicopter kibble hungs on his back. Despite having a cannon on the bottom of his vehicle mode, he does not possess one on either arm in robot mode, and the robot mode art in the instructions still depict him possessing a detachable fusion cannon accessory.

Unlike most Hasbro Animated Activators, Megatron features a sculpted insignia painted purple, rather than the standard gold/black.

• More information on Activators Megatron at TFU.info

• Animated Super Collection Vol. 1 (Multi-pack, 2010)

• Release date: October 2, 2010

Released in the ninth wave of the TakaraTomy line, the "Animated Super Collection Vol. 1" giftset contains (some) (very) slight redecos of Activators Megatron, Optimus Prime, Lockdown and Ratchet.

While the overwhelming majority of Takara Animated toys have altered faction symbols, Megatron is actually unchanged from the Hasbro release, which had a purple symbol already.

Mini EZ Collection

"WHAT HAPPENED TO 2 AND 3!?"
"I don't want to know, because a Con only needs to remember number 1 to live."

• Megatron (Mini EZ Collection, 2010?)

Intended to be released as part of TakaraTomy's new Mini EZ Collection line, Megatron is an all new, 2-inch mold that converts from robot into a futuristic helicopter, although the simplified transformation makes him looks like he's lying down.

The figures were set for a November 2010 release, but were quietly canceled.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Fast Food toys

Nope, it's still just a robot lying down.

• Megatron (McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, 2008)

• McNumber: 2

Part of the McDonald's Transformers Animated Happy Meal promotion, this is a very simple representation of Megatron in his Earth form. The robot mode seems to have taken priority in the design process, since the vehicle mode looks like his robot mode lying down. Megatron does not come with his signature arm cannon.

• More information on McDonald's Megatron at TFU.info

Look on the bright side: at least he has his arm cannon this time.

• Megatron (McDonald's Happy Meal toys, 2008)

This is very simplistic version of Megatron converts from non-articulated robot mode to a "folded" robot with three wheels (which is a very non-show-accurate alt-mode). Like the Jumpstarters toys, he features a pull-back motor in vehicle mode that propels him forward on smooth surfaces; after a short run the latch that keeps his spring-loaded legs releases, causing him to flip forward and into upright robot mode.

Like the rest of his assortment, this Megatron was only available in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela.

Merchandise

Admit it, you're disappointed you can't pretend to blast Autobots with this.

• Megatron Battle Blaster (2009)

This roleplay toy would have been able to transform from helicopter mode by wrapping around the user's hand to become a vague version of Megatron's fist topped with a truncated version of his fusion cannon. Humorously, the actual fusion cannon from vehicle mode points backwards when in fist mode, pointing at the wearer. Due to it being unreleased it's unknown what, if any, voice lines or other sound effect it may have had. The Battle Blaster initially had stock photos sent out in February of 2008 by Hasbro^[1] and later appeared on the website of the store Boscov in January of 2009 ^[2] before ultimately going unreleased.

Proceed on your way to oblivion. This item has been canceled, with no current plans for release.

Transformers Cards

• Megatron (2010?)
  • Card number: D-001

Part of the Transformers Cards series used in the Transformers Animated: The Chase and Transformers Animated: The Shooting arcade card-reading games by Sega.

• Promotion number: P-010, P-010a, P-031

Also part of the Transformers Cards series in the Sega arcade games, except the art is mostly character art in motion.

Transformers Character Card

• Optimus Prime & Megatron Set (March 19, 2024)
  • ID number: 77 & 78

Released as part of the eleventh wave of the e-HOBBY exclusive Transformers Character Card series, this pair of holographic trading cards depict super-deformed art of Optimus Prime and Megatron along with character profiles and tech specs.

• Translation of Animated Megatron's Transformers Character Card

Notes

They moonlight as lawn darts.

"That's a ship?!" "Who cares, as long as it flies."

Where is my fusion cannon?! All Megatrons should have them! ALL OF THEM, I TELL YOU!!!

• Megatron's pre-Earth head has a rather pointed resemblance to the somewhat early head of 2007 movie's Megatron, which went unused in the actual movie but appeared on loads of promotional materials and merchandise. Also in common with Movie Megatron, Animated Megatron lay inert for many years while his technology was reverse-engineered by humans.
• Corey Burton cites John Hurt as his vocal inspiration for Animated Megatron.
• Megatron's cannon makes the same sound as his Generation 1 counterpart's weapon, except with additional effects mixed in to make it actually sound like a laser cannon and not a blender.
• Megatron's outer space alternate mode, shown for all of 20 seconds, has two toy molds devoted to it. Though these "Cybertron mode" toys resemble each other, neither looks anything like the alt mode of the pre-Earth Megatron seen on the show.
• Megatron is the only one of the original five Decepticons in Animated actually to have a Cybertronian vehicle mode design. Although the others have different robot mode kibble before they scan their Earth modes, none of them had an alt-mode created. Having a toy helps (this is in contrast to the Autobots, who all had Cybertronian-modes designed for them from the start, even if we didn't see them in the first episode).
• Sumdac found Megatron's head intact in its original Cybertronian mode. The head housed in his lab, however, is essentially a damaged version of his Earth-mode head. Presumably, this change is the result of Sumdac's destructive tinkering and research over the fifty years Megatron was in stasis lock.
• According to The Allspark Almanac, Megatron's Earth mode cockpit seats five.
• When he was a disembodied head, Megatron had a pupil in his right eye, similar to the Autobots. Once he regained his body, this never appeared again.
• An early image of Megatron's Earth body had slight differences from the finished product, most notably the lack of a fusion cannon and the presence of a katana instead of his twin swords. This image originally appeared as part of an Amazon.com listing for volume 2 of IDW Publishing's screenshot-based Transformers Animated adaption series.
• In the initial planning phases of the never-greenlit fourth season, Megatron would have broken out of prison on Cybertron and become a Triple Changer, as detailed in the The Allspark Almanac II. This upgrade would have been courtesy of Blackarachnia and rendered him "unstable" for a time.
• In the Transformers Animated profile shorts, Megatron is introduced to the audience by Optimus in "Meet Megatron."
• Megatron's tongue color changes throughout the series, starting as gray, then a dark blue in Megatron Rising - Part 2, then gray again until episode Rise of the Constructicons where it's red. It reverts back to gray in the next episode A Fistful of Energon and remains as such until the end of the series.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Megatron (メガトロン Megatoron)
• Mandarin: Wēi Zhèn Tīan (威震天, "Extremely Prestigious", literally "Heaven-shaking Might")
• Spanish: Megatrón (Latin America)

References