The Energon Pub

From Megatron's own character point of view...Why a gun? In "MTMTE" that explorer thingy is scanning the region around Mount Saint Helens, and finds numerous vars, a plane and a stereo to create the altmodes for the first G1 characters we have seen.

Now after Megatron found out about his new altmode, why did he keep this, presumable he could change it? Being a Transformer himself...;
- Why would he like an altmode that is so small?
- Why does he want to change into a weapon that needs to be controlled by another?*
Not counting the 1 or 2 times he attached himself below the jets and controlled himself?
- Why did he use this so rarely?
- Or is their some kind of weird psychological reason? Being the most ruthless Decepticon leader of all times, Megs sees Transforming as something he doesn't like about himself? (Not that he needs it anyway, since he can fly.)

Just some questions i've been thingking about after buying the TF PRime toy Megatron today.

Though G1 Megatron is by far my favoprite Mega- (and Galva) tron of all the others, the only thing I like better about Megs Armada, the Paramount movies, and Galvatron are their altmodes.
I kinda liked the idea of a Hercules as an altmode, being somewhat of a airial truck in opposite to Optimus. Or a B-52.

I think it had to do with how he was represented. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the comics version actually came 1st, so it was the writers of the Marvel comics that picked his alt mode, which was a German Walther P-38. If you notice, in robot mode he somewhat resembles a WWII Nazi soldier, with the helmet, and gray colors. This was in direct contrast to Optimus Prime's all-American appearance, with the red, white, and blue paint job, and later Peter Cullen's voice, which he did in tribute to his older brother who reminded him of John Wayne. Back in the 80s this was still rather relevant for some people, I guess.

Deathastator2212 wrote:- Why would he like an altmode that is so small?

Pfft. All I know is that Optimus' is bigger.

- Why did he use this so rarely?

Why would he use it when his arch enemy has one that's bigger?

- Or is their some kind of weird psychological reason? Being the most ruthless Decepticon leader of all times, Megs sees Transforming as something he doesn't like about himself?

He is ashamed that his is small.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jokes aside, here's an interesting question. Mind the marketing gimmick, did he really need to transform? His alt mode didn't provide him any tactical advantages, unlike others (providing faster flight for jets, intercepting radio transmissions for radios, playing back recordings for tape decks, transport for land vehicles, etc.). It's not like Megatron wanted to disguise himself anyway.

Rodimus Prime wrote:If you notice, in robot mode he somewhat resembles a WWII Nazi soldier, with the helmet, and gray colors.

Hi, poster here, yes i always noticed the German helmet. As well as with the following evil characters during the 70's and 80's.;
- Dart vader
- Shredder from the Turtles. (Though shredder is a ninja, it's more like a samourai helmet.)
- Cobra soldiers and a character named Major bludd from GIJoe. (Surprisingly Cobra commander doesn't have one.)
- A character from Bionic Six, called Glove.

I guess adding ww2 german elements into a character made it look more evil.

Probably not what you're looking for, but from a real world stand point they were just working with what they were given from MicoChange toyline. Hasbro imported the Diaclone and MicroChange lines and combined them into the Transformers franchise. Marvel was tasked with putting the backstory together with characters based on the existing toys.

El Duque wrote:Probably not what you're looking for.

Yes, old news to me. But I don't mind you posting that. Pretty stupid idea to make a gun for a toy. In the Netherlands it is illegal to sell toys that are too hard too distinguish from real weapons.

(Cool AT-AT avatar by the way!)

Back to the reason from a Megatron point of view. I think it could be related to the fact that he wants to keep a sort of mysteriousness about him towards his enemy.

How would an Autobot respond to a Decep - like Starscream - who's Transformation is quite familiar? Certainly with a lot of ease, since he done so before.
How would an Autobot respond to a Decep - Like Mega/Galva - who's Transformation is unfamiliar to him? Probably whit a feeling of uncertainty.

Not only that, Megatron weakest point is during Transfoamtion when his head/neck are hardly connected to the rest of his body. The easiest way to destroy him be to wait for him to transform and hit him with everything you've got. (Lookt at the TF the movie inside the shuttle or his MP version for details.)

He just likes his trigger to be pulled by someone else. As a busy alien overlord, Megatron realises that all work and no play makes him a dull boy.

It also allows him to focus on strategical decisions while still having a tactical presence.

On one of the special behind the scenes features I have on the complete G1 series dvd set, Someone stated that Megatron is a gun because as a kids show, they wanted to show that guns are bad. How do you do that when you have a tyranical dictator from an alien planet? You make him the gun.

Point in case:
-Guns = Bad
-Megatron = Bad Guy

Evil Leader = Gun + Bad Guy

Now take the Nazi based items and input them into the equation...
-Nazis = Bad
-Evil Leader who's a gun + Nazi based items = Mega Evil Leader of Ruthless Alien Robot Warriors

Final Answer:

Megatron = 30 tons of Pure Evil

*Phhheeeewwwww* I'm going to bed now...

MasterSoundBlaster wrote:On one of the special behind the scenes features I have on the complete G1 series dvd set, Someone stated that Megatron is a gun because as a kids show, they wanted to show that guns are bad. How do you do that when you have a tyranical dictator from an alien planet? You make him the gun.

Point in case:
-Guns = Bad
-Megatron = Bad Guy

Evil Leader = Gun + Bad Guy

Now take the Nazi based items and input them into the equation...
-Nazis = Bad
-Evil Leader who's a gun + Nazi based items = Mega Evil Leader of Ruthless Alien Robot Warriors

Final Answer:

Megatron = 30 tons of Pure Evil

*Phhheeeewwwww* I'm going to bed now...

Lol. Greatest answer ever.

PrymeStriker wrote:
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jokes aside, here's an interesting question. Mind the marketing gimmick, did he really need to transform? His alt mode didn't provide him any tactical advantages, unlike others (providing faster flight for jets, intercepting radio transmissions for radios, playing back recordings for tape decks, transport for land vehicles, etc.). It's not like Megatron wanted to disguise himself anyway.

I remember when the 07 movie came out and some people thought that this, being the reason behind Megatron not taking an Earth alt mode, was some brilliant invention of the Bayverse. Now I know that when Megs crashed he wasn't in any shape to take an alt mode nor where there many around to take, but the idea that he doesn't see any need to hide himself or blend in is something that, if you look across the breath of the fiction, is fairly common to Megatrons' character.
Prime seems to transform whenever he's got a free minute, even in the comics; Megatron very rarely does. Megatron doesn't want or need to hide, and as it's already been noted that his alt mode offers no real advantages, he sort of just doesn't.

Well, as Starscream said under his breath, G1 Megatron is just a over-glorified targetmaster.

This mass-shifting, shrinking marvel is a classic Decepticon deception. It disguises his massive power almost completely. He can hide nearly anywhere and spring terrible surprises on people. He can be held by a puny human and fire at a wide range of power levels, from harmless beam to cataclysmic blast. Of course, he relies on others for high mobility but, in an unfamiliar alien environment, perhaps he feels that he needs the protection of secrecy.

Spotted an archeologist who just unearthed a corpse to practice necromancy on.

Yuck!