Transformers #19: Hold Me, Brother

Transformers #19 takes the reader back in time to explore the backstory of the greatest villain in Transformers’ history, Megatron. Back in Transformers #13, Daniel Warren Johnson and Jason Howard revealed the troubled backstory of the Deception soldier, Starscream, revealing how Megatron has coerced him into his own plight, making him into the character that audiences all love to hate today. Now, in Transformers #19, Johnson teams up with artist Ludo Lullabi to tell another flashback story that reveals even more about how Megatron came to power, as well as connecting back to Transformers #13.

The issue opens with Megatron seemingly captured and forced to fight in some sort of tournament at the behest of a mysterious benefactor. For those familiar with Megatron’s original backstory, you’ll know that he was originally a gladiator in Cybertron’s underworld, growing to be the leader of the resistance faction that turned into the Decepticons. While Transformers #19 doesn’t completely dismiss that origin story, it does liken its own gladiatorial system to that of the original, showing sparks of the original story while building on it for the sake of this new story.

The crux of the issue lies in the finale, where it is revealed that the area Megatron had been fighting in is his own mind, and that the Quintessons were harboring him there to meld him to fit their means. But, in typical Megatron fashion, his will could not be forged by another, with him executing this arena with his intentions fortified and with a new ability granted.

This ability is revealed to be one of the more confusing elements of Transformers’ lore, transforming into a gun that can fit into the hands of a fellow Transformer. Johnson plays with this, revealing that this not only is a third transformation for the Decepticon leader, but also grants him with the ability to coerce the mind of the individual holding the gun. This massive reveal will definitely send shockwaves down fan’s spines, especially knowing how powerful Megatron already was before gaining this ability. This goes to show the thoughtfulness and planned out nature of the series that has made it so stellar this far.