Interview with Mike Costa on Ironhide and Ongoing

To reveal that "Transformers" #7 sees the return of Megatron is not a spoiler, as the Decepticon leader appears on the cover and the solicitation text for the issue confirmed as much. But the circumstances behind the character's re-entry into the universe-spanning conflicts will hold ramifications for both teams of Transformers. That doesn't mean, however, that Megatron will simply rise up and overthrow the usurper Starscream, who despite an aeons-long yearning for the Decepticon crown has failed to take advantage of his newfound responsibilities. "Starscream is not doing great, and definitely does not have Megatron's interests at heart," Costa said of the leadership dynamic. "Starscream is really only focused on his own interests, which is staying in power. As for Megatron...he's not doing good. In fact, the Decepticons are still behaving as if he's dead, and he basically is. Dude took a head-shot from a laser-cannon. That requires a lot of bed-rest, even if you're Megatron.

"The Decepticons are having an even bigger problem with change than the Autobots have," the writer continued, adding that Starscream's ineffectual and self-aggrandizing has "created a power-vacuum where order has almost totally broken down. They are stranded in a temporary base not so much because they can't leave, but because they have no direction."