COUNTDOWN: 10 noteworthy moments from Skybound’s Transformers #19

We’re back for more Skybound Transformers action! #19 represented something a little different in the ongoing narrative as we return to Cybertron for another flashback adventure that fills in some of Megatron’s backstory. Let’s dive in and see what happened!

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS ahead!

#10: Megatron awakens

This issue begins in a very different place from where we left off last time. We kick off with a cold open in the past as Megatron awakens to find himself held captive in an unknown place (presumably the planet Quintessa) with no memory of how he got there or what is currently happening. Despite his disorientated concern, he is greeted ominously by a Quintesson named Dezimir, who tells him that he has been removed from Cybertron and now must face a ‘great trial’ as a chance to achieve true power and glory. This is all evidently happening before the war and Megatron setting up the Decepticons. It’s a foreboding start to a rather unusual entry in this series so far, which is only compounded by the absence of regular artist Jorge Corona. Still, I love the art from Ludo Lullabi and colourist Adriano Lucas here, and the fluid style feels like a great fit for the adventure at hand.

#9: A Quintesson slave

Megatron protests at being taken and attempts to fight back, but he is very swiftly subdued by Dezimir using a familiar-looking device located on his chest. It has the distinct appearance of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, which, as we will discover, is no happy accident! The Quintesson is able to repel Megatron with ease and force him to the floor, explaining that the device is a means of controlling Megatron and forcing him to be a slave. All of this is a new spin on the classic Quintesson origin in many ways, taking light inspiration from the 1980s cartoon and their attempts to enslave the Cybertronians (even if they don’t appear to be their creators in this case), but served in an entirely new fashion. It feels decidedly fresh and sets up plenty of mystery for the future!

#8: A horde of Sharkticons

The true nature of Megatron’s trials quickly becomes evident as Dezimir unleashes a massive horde of Sharkticons and makes it clear the future Decepticon leader must fight to survive. Megatron is characteristically defiant and proclaims he is not concerned about the vast army he now faces, which is backed up by how quickly he starts tearing through them! Even the Quintesson is impressed, mentioning that his master chose their subject well. It is not long before Megatron has defeated the horde, at which point his captor says the trials must move onto phase two… Again, the artwork is astounding here, with the large panel pencils and popping colours all working wonders to capture the action on display!

#7: Tank mode!

To help demonstrate his frustration at further trials, Megatron swiftly transforms into his alternate form – a tank! That may not be the biggest revelation in Transformers generally, but it is a twist from what we’ve seen of the Decepticon in previous flashback stories. In any case, the results are predictable enough, as Megatron begins firing upon the Quintessons to explosive effect. Dezimir, however, has a surprise of his own in store…

#6: Mechanokoar!!!!

In a moment I certainly did not expect, this Quintesson has a powerful shell of amour known as Mechanokoar, resembling a massive metal dragon. He is exceptionally powerful in this form, as demonstrated by his immediately crushing (and seemingly killing) Megatron with one blow. I’m quite enjoying how Skybound is content to weave in these unexpected new elements to classic Transformers tropes, and it will be intriguing to see if this idea makes a return for future stories.

#5: The trials

Megatron awakens again, completely rebuilt and intact, before being returned to the combat arena to face off against more Sharkitcons in another trial. He continues to protest, but ultimately, the result is much the same, and he ends up being destroyed by Mechanokoar once more. This process then repeats over and over at least five hundred times, after which it becomes evident that even Megatron’s strong will is starting to fade. He states he cannot go on until Dezimir confesses how his master wished for the Cybertronian to appreciate how small he is and that he is unable to save either his own people or his planet. At this point, it seems the trials continue many more times over…

#4: A voice from above

Eventually, Megatron’s torment is ended by a surprise call from an unseen voice. Dezimir looks upward, but we don’t see a clear glimpse of who or what is calling to them. However, the Quintesson explains that his master has arrived and the trials are now over. This is the only hint we get as to the identity of Megatron’s true captor, so it will be fascinating to see how this plot thread develops in future issues and how it might play into the Quintessons’ presence in Void Rivals, if at all.

#3: The gift

Finally, we come to the crux of this story, as Dezimir reveals that the object in his chest is indeed an equivalent of the Autobot Matrix. He describes it as a ‘dark equal’ to the one wielded by ‘the Prime’ (though we do not know if he specifically means Optimus or another at this point), and says that through the Quintessons, Megatron will become an ‘opposing force’. He uses the Matrix to reformat the Cybertronian, granting him a third form, which is the gun mode we saw in the #13 flashback. It is explained that this new guise will allow the future Decepticon to control whoever wields him, which also explains how he was able to assert such influence over Starscream in the previous story. It might also give us a clue as to why Megatron had the ability to heal Ravage in the last issue, and it may well be another piece in the puzzle of what exactly is going on with Optimus Prime and his odd Matrix-related visions in the present timeline of this story (or perhaps not – time will tell!).

#2: Cosmic karma

There are more twists yet to come in the issue, though, as the unseen master speaks once again, this time instructing Dezimir to pick up Megatron’s gun form as a means of allowing him to assert control over the Quintesson. The voice proclaims that their new warrior must know how it feels to have a ‘spark under his heel’, and despite Dezimir’s protests, he slowly does as he is told. Megatron relishes his new power and immediately asserts it over his former captor, forcing him to turn and fire his destructive capabilities on the Mechanokoar armour, completely obliterating it!

#1: Megatron’s destiny

The issue ends with a jump forward in time – the text says it is “now”, but it is still seemingly in the past versus the current Earth-bound adventures, and presumably from when the Decepticons first began forming. In any case, we see that Megatron has begun using his new gift to rise to power, with Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream all following him. There is also a voice that proclaims it was Megatron’s destiny to take control and lead Cybertron, and from the context, it appears this is the mysterious power behind Dezimir. Beyond that, though, it remains to be seen how all of these events will fit into what comes next in both the current story and whatever is planned with the Quintessons!

So that’s our list! Did you enjoy #19?

TTFN