Transformers One is the new frontier in the long-suffering Transformers film franchise. Escaping Michael Bay's long domination was only one step in the right direction. Human characters have always been central to the narrative, but they're often treated like vestigial wastes of time, and the films almost always render them insufferable. Transformers One eschews Earth to focus on the war for Cybertron and its leaders, Optimus Prime and Megatron. Both generals lived under other names, but how did D-16 become Megatron?
Megatron is one of the landmark cartoon villains of his era. He stands alongside Skeletor and Cobra Commander as a go-to example of animated antagonism. These characters, iconic as they are, often struggle to demonstrate traits beyond cruelty and selfishness. Evil is their personality, without room for anything else. Later examples add nuance to create a more complex figure, often developing more engaging versions of beloved cartoon supervillains.
22 Most Powerful Transformers Villains Ranked
There have been many villains in the Transformers series but some are far more powerful than the rest.
Who Was Megatronus?
According to Transformers: The Ultimate Guide, Megatronus is one of the first thirteen Transformers. Primus, the omnipotent god of the universe, created Megatronus and his fellow Primes to aid him in the fight against his twin brother, Unicron. Unicron and Primus fought while in planetary form, representing chaos and order respectively. The Primes operated Primus like a living spaceship or assisted him in other unspecified challenges. Some versions of the story imagine the Primes behaving like gods, controlling elements of the material universe. Megatronus commanded entropy, destroying the old to make way for the new. Megatronus grew obsessive, studied forbidden dark sciences, and abandoned Primus to serve Unicron. His brothers stripped him of his name and dubbed him The Fallen for his betrayal. The Fallen followed Unicron into his long banishment in a black hole, floating in the void for generations. Narratively, he's the Judas in the Transformers' creation myth. His story, though tragic and evil, inspired a new threat.
How did Megatron Take His Name?
Various iterations of Transformers imagine Megatron as an anonymous worker enslaved by an ancient caste system on Cybertron. The version of the character most likely to appear in Transformers One emerged from the "Aligned Continuity Family" of the 2010s. Its most notable arms include Transformers: Prime, Rescue Bots, and Robots in Disguise (2015.) Megatron's Aligned backstory appears in novels including Transformers: Exodus and Transformers: Retribution. While most of the details of Transformers One remain shrouded, the premise reveals its intended source material. Bryan Tyree Henry will star as Megatron, but the performer is also credited as "D-16." That title only appears in the Aligned Continuity Family, suggesting the first big-screen adaptation in the upcoming film. Transformers One promises to depict the circumstances leading Megatron and Optimus Prime to the machines they became in later entries. D-16's story is the most compelling version of Megatron to date.
D-16 grew up during Cybertron's Age of Wrath. His home planet was invaded by the Quintessons, an ancient alien species armed with superior knowledge and technology. Their presence disrupted every natural process on Cybertron, prompting newborn Cybertronians to emerge blank. D-16 had no name, but the oppressive system found him a purpose. He was forced to work in the mines for most of his young life. He took the designation of the sector he mined as his name. D-16 spent his limited free time fighting in gladiatorial arenas, where he built a substantial following. Fans celebrated him, allowing him to preach his radical political philosophy. After a successful rebellion overthrew the Quintessons, D-16 dominated two cities. He dubbed himself Megatronus, after his favorite member of the thirteen Primes, and began gathering fellow aggrieved warriors to enact his will. Gladiatorial combat fans shortened Megatronus to Megatron, leaving D-16 with the title he'd carry for the rest of his revolutionary career. Megatron's newfound power and obsession with prophecy led him away from the semi-noble goals he once pursued. He describes his quest like this in Transformers: Prime:
I can see the future vividly, but I must ensure its outcome. For I am the rising darkness of which the prophecy speaks!
Behind the scenes, Bob Budianski named Megatron. His name is a portmanteau of "megaton" and "electric." Hasbro reportedly opposed the name, considering it too scary for a child-friendly property. Megatron's villainous role in the series prompted them to reconsider. The concept of his roots in gladiatorial combat emerged in the Marvel Transformers comics and stayed consistent through several new iterations. The Aligned Continuity Family provided the most in-depth version of the narrative. Transformers One had several options, but their choice of character name implies a brilliant choice of source material. The Aligned Continuity novels could be the best option for the upcoming film, inspiring a ton of faith in the animated adaptation. Transformers One will see D-16 find his name and become the Megatron fans know and love to hate.
Transformers Prime: 8 Strongest Decepticons
Transformers Prime presents some of the strongest Decepticons that the franchise has to offer that can easily rival the best Autobots out there.
