Megatron’s past is unveiled at last! Daniel Warren Johnson & Ludo Lullabi ignite the long-demanded origin story in Transformers #19. It all begins HERE… but what truly forged the Decepticon tyrant? Let’s dive in!
This issue throws us straight into Megatron’s past. We find him captured, confused, and trying to figure out where he is. It turns out he’s been nabbed by an alien named Dezimir, who’s set up some mysterious trial for the Decepticon tyrant. While Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers series has seen big faction fights (Autobots vs. Autobots, Decepticons vs. Decepticons), the last issue promised we’d get more of Megatron’s backstory, and this issue starts delivering on that.
The trials kick off violently, with Megatron crushing some initial shark-bots before getting beaten by Mechanokoar. This starts a brutal loop where he’s destroyed and rebuilt for more trials – a grim cycle graphically brought to life by artist Ludo Lullabi. Even though the trial ends a bit abruptly, it reveals how Megatron got his signature gun mode and sets things up for more explosive action in future issues.
Credit: Image Comics
Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers clearly understands its audience, delivering exactly what’s promised: high-octane action, relentless combat, energy blasts galore, and Megatron channeling serious villain swagger. His boastful, self-assured dialogue is pure Megatron; frankly, it’s fun to read.
The central trial sequence is depicted as brutally harsh – “like hell,” as Megatron puts it. The concept of being destroyed and rebuilt 500 times carries significant weight. However, the culmination of this ordeal feels rather abrupt. After emphasizing his prolonged suffering, the trial doesn’t truly end through Megatron’s agency or triumph; victory is essentially handed to him by Mechanokoar. This transition could have been smoother, perhaps showing Megatron gaining the upper hand himself.
Speaking of Mechanokoar, I’ll admit my Transformers lore isn’t quite up-to-date, so I don’t know if he exists in canon. Regardless, the design is fantastic: a winged, robotic dinosaur figure that just screams ‘metal’.
Artist Ludo Lullabi brings the action to life. His linework is clean and easy to follow during the fights. Unlike Johnson’s style, Lullabi uses less heavy shadowing, giving the art a slightly brighter, perhaps more anime-influenced feel. The panel showing Megatron’s explosive power surge against the shark bots is a highlight, radiating energy and pure badassery. The main drawback artistically is that the issue’s focus on a single location for the brunt of the story doesn’t give Lullabi any room to showcase a broader range of environments or compositions.
Credit: Image Comics
Letterer Rus Wooton nails the effects, from the funny-cute ‘GRAGHH’ of the Sharkticons and the classic ‘KHEEKOKOHAHKEE’ alternate mode transformation to the impactful ‘BOOM’ of an angry Megatron.
Complementing this, colorist Adriano Lucas uses powerful pink/purple energy beams for Megatron that radiate off the panels and a dread-inducing fiery orange hue for Mechanokoar’s many appearances. Both significantly elevate the comic.
Transformers #19 kicks off Megatron’s long-awaited origin story, plunging him into a brutal trial by writer Daniel Warren Johnson and vividly rendered with clean artwork by Ludo Lullabi. While packed with high-octane action, classic Megatron swagger, and strong visuals, the trial’s abrupt conclusion feels anticlimactic and undercuts the impact of the tyrant’s grim ordeal.
‘Transformers’ #19 Review: Megatron’s Trial By Fire
Transformers #19 kicks off Megatron’s long-awaited origin story, plunging him into a brutal trial by writer Daniel Warren Johnson and vividly rendered with clean artwork by Ludo Lullabi. While packed with high-octane action, classic Megatron swagger, and strong visuals, the trial’s abrupt conclusion feels anticlimactic and undercuts the impact of the tyrant’s grim ordeal.
