IDW - Spotlight Megatron

Story and Art by: Nick Roche

Colours by: Len O'Grady

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editorial Assistant: Thomas Boeing

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Megatron returns to life after almost dying in the final battle of All Hail Megatron, and greets his still loyal troops, however they seem to be in bad moods due to their inactivity, and severe injuries (due to cannibalism etc on their asteroid). Megatron goes to visit Starscream, who is sulking away in a room alone. Megatron talks calmly asking him what has happened in the past 3 years (which he knows already) and Starscream just wants him to kill him. Megatron taunts Starscream over how he had leadership, but failed to do anything with it, to which Starscream shoots him, and blasts his way out of the room, flying off into space.

However, Megatron now has an aerial mode as well, and chases after him, he easily beats Starscream in a fight, whilst the other Decepticons watch from below.

Megatron spares Starscream's life so that he can turn his treacherous nature into something theycan use to win the war with the Autobots once and for all. Megatron, victorious in his fight rallies the Decepticons and reinvigorates them to rejoin the war, all for his new plan.

Characters

Decepticon

Megatron - Stealth Bomber

Starscream - F15 Jet

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Sunstorm - F15 Jet

Acid Storm - F15 Jet

Skywarp - F15 Jet

Wingspan or Pounce

Viewfinder

Blitzwing - Jet/Tank

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train

Windsweeper - Jet

Needlenose - Jet

Razorclaw - Lion

Shrapnel - Scarab

Kickback - Locust

Autobot

Metroplex - City/Space Ship

Notes

• This is the first of the "new" Spotlights to be set in a near modern era, with the previous two being in the early war timeframe.
• This story is set just before the events of the Revenge of the Decepticons storyline from the Ongoing series (and also after Hot Rod stole the Matrix from Starscream it seems)
• It also explains the sudden reappearance and power of the Decepticons following 3 years of basic inactivity
• Megatron wasn't angry at Starscream for taking command of the Decepticons during his "nap" but was angry that he allowed them to basically fall apart in just 3 years.
• This is actually (I think) the first decent view we've had in an actual comic of Megatron's stealth bomber mode (the only other time I remember seeing it was heavily shadowed and from below)
• Megatron doesn't truly trust Starscream, Shockwave or Soundwave, but he keeps them around to maintain the status quo (and probably to keep an eye on them)
• It's explained here that the Decepticon's space bridge technology is also taken from their research into Metroplex, as seen in Spotlight Thundercracker.
• The plan Megatron mentions here is clearly the one involving the mind controlling guns they send to Earth, it may also include Megatron surrendering himself (maybe indicating that his return in RID was all planned out too somehow)