Big, bad, and very hammy, Megatron is a staple of the Transformers franchise. Almost every Transformers series to date has featured Megatron in some capacity. As the leader of the Decepticons, Megatron has questionable morals, typically taking the route of the ends justifying the means.
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Even so, something must be compelling about Megatron for him to have as many loyal followers as he does. Whether it be fear or ideals, Megatron is a force to be reckoned with. However, not all forces are created equal. Some are more threatening than others.
Live Action Movies (2007-2016)
Though the Michael Bay movies provided a much needed boost to the Transformers franchise, there’s not much going on beneath the explosions and action sequences. That being said, the first film is where the Optimus Prime and Megatron brotherhood storyline originated from. Since then, other Transformers series have taken this morsel of lore and expanded upon it.
As a character, the movie version of Megatron really doesn’t have a lot going on. He doesn’t show up until the last portion of the first movie and after that, doesn’t get much more characterization aside from shouting and being disappointed in Starscream.
Robots In Disguise (2001)
Arguably one of the strangest Transformers series out there, Robots in Disguise (2001) was originally produced in Japan - making it an anime. It was the first Japanese-original Transformers series to be dubbed and broadcast in the United States. In the Transformers fandom, it’s seen as the first reboot in the franchise, since Beast Wars was a continuation of Generation 1 (G1) timeline.
This Megatron isn’t the most active player in the series, usually allowing his Decepticon underlings like Sky-Byte to launch attacks on the Autobots. In general, Robots in Disguise's(2001) Megatron didn’t make his mark in history, but his design is pretty darn cool.
Unicron Trilogy (Armada, Energon, And Cybertron)
Another often overlooked Transformers series is the Unicron Trilogy. This continuity contains Transformers Armada, Energon, and Cybertron. Unlike the previous Megatrons, this one really shows his thirst for power. Featured in Armada, Megatron goes after the collectible, power-boosting Minicons. Essentially, he wants to enslave them. For power.
His weakness is usually his absolute obsession with Optimus Prime, which can be said for a lot of Megatron incarnations. However, the Unicron Trilogy's Megatron only scratches the surface of that obsession and insanity. Coupled with being a dub, many emotional scenes and even consistent Minicon names were lost in translation.
Netflix’s War For Cybertron
Geared towards the older Transformers audience, Netflix’s War for Cybertron trilogy marks new grounds for the franchise. Arguably the first series to solely cater to older fans, War for Cybertron doesn’t pull punches when depicting a war-torn Cybertron.
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This Megatron seems to be more in control and appears to have the upper hand at the beginning of the series. He doesn’t let nostalgia get in the way of his goals either, killing Ultra Magnus without hesitation when the time comes. However, he seems much more put together than some other iterations and such a cool demeanor doesn’t feel completely right.
Generation 1
The pinnacle of 80s ham, G1 Megatron was the original bad guy. Loud, pure evil, and with an ego the size of the sun, G1 Megatron set the foundation for all future Megatrons. For the 80s kids, he was the ultimate bad guy. For fans who grew up on other series and went back to watch G1, he is downright hilarious.
Some of his decisions make no sense. Some of them simply cater to his pride, (like Decepticon Day). But fans respect the classics while acknowledging that the classics can be improved upon. G1 Megatron is very one-dimensional and doesn’t seem to have a motivation beyond cultivating Energon and destroying the Autobots. There’s a big reason why that wasn’t answered.
Cyberverse
Possibly the closest spiritually to G1 Megatron, Cyberverse Megatron blends many previous influences into a somewhat kid-friendly Megatron. Despite the short runtime, Cyberverse manages to tell the story of someone with good intentions then becoming corrupted by the power they sought to overthrow.
While the rest of the series dedicates itself to the present, arguably, the most interesting parts of the show and character development lie in Bumblebee’s flashbacks. There’s something to be said for Bumblebee cheering for Megatron while high-fiving Shockwave.
IDW Comics
With both time and flexibility on its side, the IDW version of Megatron had the most time to develop and change. Starting out as the typical tyrannical ruler, over time, readers watched him change and repent. His story ends with a redemption arc via More Than Meets the Eye by James Roberts, with the series containing an entire story arc dedicated to an Autobot Megatron.
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While this interpretation may not feel right for some fans, given the time and context, it makes sense. In addition, this is the only series to truly say yes, people (and giant alien robots) always have the capacity to change.
Transformers Animated
Often overlooked due to its simplistic art style, Transformers Animated is surprisingly dark beneath its cheery exterior. Animated Megatron is a very different take on the character, usually making him the threat that looms in the shadows. However, he shows his power when needed, usually during the big, exciting season finale fights.
Though he’s the calmest of the Megatrons, Animated Megatron tells the audience why he has followers. He claims he treats those under his command decently well and comes off as highly charismatic. He’s smart and uses his resources. And considering that the Autobots were the ones to throw the Decepticons off-planet for losing the Great War? It's not really surprising whyAnimated Megatron had a reason to be angry and fight.
Transformers: Prime
Arguably the biggest and the baddest of the Megatrons, Transformers: Prime Megatron is downright terrifying. Taking visual cues from G1 and the live-action movies, Prime Megatron is an iconic combination of the two designs. Additionally, the small details really add to his character, such as the fact that he never transforms into an Earth vehicle, choosing to keep his Cybertronian form.
This series marked the beginning of Megatron’s gladiator background, explaining his tenacity and inability to give up. However, despite being this machine of destruction, he doesn’t personally kill any of the Autobots or enact grand plans of manipulation. He has goals, but no roadmaps to get there.
Beast Wars
Funny but also driven and wildly manipulative, Beast Wars Megatron is everything Megatron should be. His one goal is to restore the power of the Predacons, obviously with himself as the ultimate leader. He doesn’t care what he has to do to achieve that goal or who he has to kill. Equipped with both brains and brawn, Megatron is a terrifying force.
What makes him the best villain of all is the addition of his flaws. Beast Wars Megatron tends to gloat, allowing the Maximals time to scrap a plan together. He also has a flair for the dramatic, laying out large, complex plans that originally had a very simple solution. Beast Wars Megatron has a goal, the resources, and the flaws that make him a near-perfect villain and the ultimate Megatron.
NEXT: Transformers: Every Version Of Bumblebee, Ranked
