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Transformers: All Hail Megatron (collected editions) #1
TRANSFORMERS ALL HAIL MEGATRON 1
After finally succeeding in defeating the Autobots, the Decepticons set about ruling our planet with an iron fist. Their forces invade & control New York City where, before long, they manage to cripple the United States. It's a war between the armed forces & a giant species of technologically advanced killing machines.
152 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 8, 2018
Decepticons! Transform and destroy!
I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I’ve chosen this TPB edition to be able of making a better overall review.
Creative Team:
Writer: Shane McCarthy
Illustrator: Guido Guidi
DECEPTICONS FINALLY WIN
As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of Transformers in 2009, this comic book run, All Hail Megatron, was published in an alternate storyline where Megatron and his Decepticons finally win the war against the noble Autobots and Earth falls too.
I did like a lot this concept that it would help to audience that hadn’t watch the original G1 & G2 animated series of Transformers why Megatron was the indisputable leader of the insidious Decepticons, since the recent live-action films (that I honestly like the first movie of those) could be troublesome to understand why Megatron was a force to fear since he was mostly absent or shadowed by other villain.
Here, Megatron is the fearsome villain that you want to see in action, totally in command of his destructive army, having defeat the Autobots and even forcing the Earth population to its knees.
FAMILIAR FACES IN DISGUISE
Many of your usual characters are there, but not how you remembered them, but still working wonderfully for the narrative.
“Sparkplug” Witwicky is now a US Army Colonel, called to lead the military US forces trying to find a way to fight against the invading Decepticons, and Spike Witwicky is a SEAL soldier.
The Constructicons and Insecticons are there but they’re introduced in a different way, having crucial to certain developments in this new storyline of Transformers.
Generation 1 and Generation 2 of Transformers clashed, merging into a sole narrative in this alternate path of the endless war of the Cybertronian transforming robots.
If you ever wonder why Megatron keeps Starscream (my favorite Transformer) so close to him, quite aware of the aspiring dreams of Starscream to take over the Decepticons, here (and second volume of the story), you’ll understand the way of the Decepticons in this matter.
You have to trust that Megatron know what he's doing...
...after all...
...he kills TWO Primes and Optimus was beaten and almost gone. Dang!
The Autobots fell, but there was an inside job that it will go further even deeper of the present story to fully grasp it.
ALL HAIL MEGATRON!!!
I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I’ve chosen this TPB edition to be able of making a better overall review.
Creative Team:
Writer: Shane McCarthy
Illustrator: Guido Guidi
DECEPTICONS FINALLY WIN
As part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of Transformers in 2009, this comic book run, All Hail Megatron, was published in an alternate storyline where Megatron and his Decepticons finally win the war against the noble Autobots and Earth falls too.
I did like a lot this concept that it would help to audience that hadn’t watch the original G1 & G2 animated series of Transformers why Megatron was the indisputable leader of the insidious Decepticons, since the recent live-action films (that I honestly like the first movie of those) could be troublesome to understand why Megatron was a force to fear since he was mostly absent or shadowed by other villain.
Here, Megatron is the fearsome villain that you want to see in action, totally in command of his destructive army, having defeat the Autobots and even forcing the Earth population to its knees.
FAMILIAR FACES IN DISGUISE
Many of your usual characters are there, but not how you remembered them, but still working wonderfully for the narrative.
“Sparkplug” Witwicky is now a US Army Colonel, called to lead the military US forces trying to find a way to fight against the invading Decepticons, and Spike Witwicky is a SEAL soldier.
The Constructicons and Insecticons are there but they’re introduced in a different way, having crucial to certain developments in this new storyline of Transformers.
Generation 1 and Generation 2 of Transformers clashed, merging into a sole narrative in this alternate path of the endless war of the Cybertronian transforming robots.
If you ever wonder why Megatron keeps Starscream (my favorite Transformer) so close to him, quite aware of the aspiring dreams of Starscream to take over the Decepticons, here (and second volume of the story), you’ll understand the way of the Decepticons in this matter.
You have to trust that Megatron know what he's doing...
...after all...
...he kills TWO Primes and Optimus was beaten and almost gone. Dang!
The Autobots fell, but there was an inside job that it will go further even deeper of the present story to fully grasp it.
ALL HAIL MEGATRON!!!
September 6, 2022
Los Decepticons han llegado a la Tierra y Megatron, su líder, quiere someter a la raza humana.
Me encanta la estética "Transformer" de los años 80. Prefiero más los "Transformers" de los 80 que los modernos.
Buen cómic.
------------------------
The Decepticons have arrived on Earth and Megatron, their leader, wants to subjugate the human race.
I love the 80's "Transformer" aesthetic. I prefer the 80's "Transformers" more than the modern ones.
Good comic.
Me encanta la estética "Transformer" de los años 80. Prefiero más los "Transformers" de los 80 que los modernos.
Buen cómic.
------------------------
The Decepticons have arrived on Earth and Megatron, their leader, wants to subjugate the human race.
I love the 80's "Transformer" aesthetic. I prefer the 80's "Transformers" more than the modern ones.
Good comic.
December 28, 2015
Wow! This is a very, very, very DARK reboot\remake of the classic Tranformers Generation One of the 80s! Loving it! :)
The Killing Joke tribute cover was really amazing!!! :D
The Killing Joke tribute cover was really amazing!!! :D
August 15, 2022
A series that explores what if Megatron won. The Autobots are thoroughly beaten and trapped on Cybertron. The Decepticons have invaded Earth and have taken over America. The series picks and chooses what it wants from the cartoons. Witwicky is now a Colonel in charge of the remaining U.S. forces. The series also uses elements of the 2nd generation of the cartoon with appearances by Hot Rod and the like. The one thing I would have loved to see is little titles next to the Transformers when they make an appearance like Matt Fraction used to do in the X-Men. There's a ton of characters and they aren't always identified. All in all a great start. Looking forward to diving into volume 2.
August 4, 2014
The start of Transformers Humble Bundle promotion coincided with the week of SDCC so I'm tagging this as part of my SDCC 2014. Even if I didn't actually attended the convention in the flesh, I still felt I was psrt of the this celebration of comicbook culture with all the online sales I found. The great thing about Humble Bundle was that I get to name my price and the proceeds to charity.
The All Hail Megatron miniseries took the Autobots where no writer has took them before, to the edge of defeat and a conquered Earth at the hands of the Decepticons. This was a very interesting place the Transformer reader has found himself. The Autobots are exiled and the Decepticons rampaging through the planet. The bads finally won.
I read this a few years back and I remembered how the minimalist covers by artist and designer Trevor Hutchinson made this series stand out on the comicbook shelves. I really like them a lot; the covers have a propaganda vibe to it which would want the Decepticons would use to indocrinate the human masses if they even bothered to pause from their rampage. Great covers all around.
The weakness though for this series was the human element. The artist could never really draw humans as well as he could draw the Cybertronians. The pages with the humans are my most disliked parts of this volume, I just wished they could have done without it.
The All Hail Megatron miniseries took the Autobots where no writer has took them before, to the edge of defeat and a conquered Earth at the hands of the Decepticons. This was a very interesting place the Transformer reader has found himself. The Autobots are exiled and the Decepticons rampaging through the planet. The bads finally won.
I read this a few years back and I remembered how the minimalist covers by artist and designer Trevor Hutchinson made this series stand out on the comicbook shelves. I really like them a lot; the covers have a propaganda vibe to it which would want the Decepticons would use to indocrinate the human masses if they even bothered to pause from their rampage. Great covers all around.
The weakness though for this series was the human element. The artist could never really draw humans as well as he could draw the Cybertronians. The pages with the humans are my most disliked parts of this volume, I just wished they could have done without it.
September 28, 2019
When I'm sick, I break into the books I've been meaning to read for a while. I liked this enough I'll look for the sequel. If I ever STOP COUGHING long enough to leave the house again. Ugh.
May 4, 2016
Transformers All Hail Megatron confronts us with the situation of what if the Decepticons actually won the war and in this we actually get to see it happening! :D The book starts with the Decepticons starting to consolidate their hold on Earth and the rest of the galaxy! :D We get to see the full brutality of their actions and All Hail Megatron does not pull its punches! :D
At the same time though we get to see that there is the beginning of an Autobot resistance and this provides a counterpoint to the Decepticons conquest as we get to see them starting to pull together which at the same time provides lots of character to the story as we can see characters like Kup and Jazz trying to get along at least long enough to form a cohesive unit which promises character moments and action galore on the Autobot side as well! :D This is obviously the start of the Autobots fight back and this adds another layer of suspense to events that promises great things that we can start to see happening in this book! :D The setup is done on a grand scale with events throughout the rest of the galaxy being dropped in the scope seen in later stories as well as this book starts to lay the groundwork for those events as well! :D
The art as ever is brilliant and vibrant with scenes leaping off the page really conveying a sense of action and pace! :D Not to mention that the writing is well put together and showing the human side of the war brought to Earth is brilliantly handled as well as having a sense of humour that will have you laughing at many of the scenes! :D This helps to balance the actions undertaken by the Decepticons and the Autobots hiding out from their opponents! :D
Brilliant, fast paced, with crisp colours and snappy scenes throughout! :D Highly recommended! :D
At the same time though we get to see that there is the beginning of an Autobot resistance and this provides a counterpoint to the Decepticons conquest as we get to see them starting to pull together which at the same time provides lots of character to the story as we can see characters like Kup and Jazz trying to get along at least long enough to form a cohesive unit which promises character moments and action galore on the Autobot side as well! :D This is obviously the start of the Autobots fight back and this adds another layer of suspense to events that promises great things that we can start to see happening in this book! :D The setup is done on a grand scale with events throughout the rest of the galaxy being dropped in the scope seen in later stories as well as this book starts to lay the groundwork for those events as well! :D
The art as ever is brilliant and vibrant with scenes leaping off the page really conveying a sense of action and pace! :D Not to mention that the writing is well put together and showing the human side of the war brought to Earth is brilliantly handled as well as having a sense of humour that will have you laughing at many of the scenes! :D This helps to balance the actions undertaken by the Decepticons and the Autobots hiding out from their opponents! :D
Brilliant, fast paced, with crisp colours and snappy scenes throughout! :D Highly recommended! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2012
This graphic had me from the moment that a giant robot was given the opportunity to crack a science fiction movie joke and give a really convincing evil laugh.
The basic premise is that the good guy Autobots, instead of establishing themselves on Earth and helping defend it against the evil Decepticons...well, they lost the battle early on, ending up stuck back on their home world, with Optimus crippled and possibly dying. The Decepticons quickly conquered the United States, and paused to catch their breath before conquering the rest of the world. The story involved warfare, intrigue, and did I mentione evil robot laughter? How can you not like that concept.
This would have made a far better film than the story used for the second Transformers movie.
The basic premise is that the good guy Autobots, instead of establishing themselves on Earth and helping defend it against the evil Decepticons...well, they lost the battle early on, ending up stuck back on their home world, with Optimus crippled and possibly dying. The Decepticons quickly conquered the United States, and paused to catch their breath before conquering the rest of the world. The story involved warfare, intrigue, and did I mentione evil robot laughter? How can you not like that concept.
This would have made a far better film than the story used for the second Transformers movie.
Read
August 22, 2017It's Amazing!
This series so far is among the best Transformers stories I've read. It's like getting to watch the original animated series again, only everything has been brought up to the epic standards of the first movie. It really feels like everything that an adult who grew up watching the show could hope for. Best of all, it's like the characters are the same ones you know and love, but the story has matured. The artwork is also fantastic. And hey - Roadbuster is here! Highly recommended!
This series so far is among the best Transformers stories I've read. It's like getting to watch the original animated series again, only everything has been brought up to the epic standards of the first movie. It really feels like everything that an adult who grew up watching the show could hope for. Best of all, it's like the characters are the same ones you know and love, but the story has matured. The artwork is also fantastic. And hey - Roadbuster is here! Highly recommended!
October 5, 2009
Decepticons winning? Autobots dying? SWEET. Loved it. I sucked it down and was thirsty for more. And I especially loved the Seeker artwork.
September 3, 2017
Interesting read. Excited to see how the story unfolds
1. Art was great. Enjoyed the detail, color, and compositional storytelling
2. Story was pretty good. I found myself skimming through the humans dialogue to get back to the robot story arcs. I can see this changing in future issues, but it felt like the human snippets were almost unimportant for this collection. The main story and traitor arc are intriguing.
3. Definitely looking forward to reading through the next issues in the story. I have been away from Transformers for a long time, and this was a pleasant return to a favorite from my younger years.
1. Art was great. Enjoyed the detail, color, and compositional storytelling
2. Story was pretty good. I found myself skimming through the humans dialogue to get back to the robot story arcs. I can see this changing in future issues, but it felt like the human snippets were almost unimportant for this collection. The main story and traitor arc are intriguing.
3. Definitely looking forward to reading through the next issues in the story. I have been away from Transformers for a long time, and this was a pleasant return to a favorite from my younger years.
January 16, 2024
The Decipticons attack and take the USA, giving them a base of operations to attack city's around the world. With the Autobots stranded on Cybertron nursing a dying Optimus Prime, with no way of escaping, they can't help mankind. Besides which, also they have issues with infighting after it transpires they have a traitor in this midst who sold them out to the Decipticons - morale is low and trust is virtually none-existent.
This firs part of "All Hail Megatron" is a great start to set the scene for a bigger story. It's a bit choppy in parts of the story but made up for by being really well drawn. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to ploughing through volume 2.
This firs part of "All Hail Megatron" is a great start to set the scene for a bigger story. It's a bit choppy in parts of the story but made up for by being really well drawn. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to ploughing through volume 2.
November 3, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was lucky to have been a kid in the 1980s, as the original Marvel TFs comics came out and were so addictive. All Hail Megatron seems like an alternative outcome to the originals. To see the Decepticons go all berserk is great. All the classic characters are in there, Megatron is an absolute bad a$$, the Constructicons put in a good shout for comedy sketch of the year, and the art is, in my opinion, excellently done. I read it via iPhone kindle app, and the comic format worked really well, especially with keeping surprise elements in some sequences. Shame I read it so quickly...on to part 2.
September 13, 2019
I like the concept but it was hard to feel the stakes when the Decepticons were routing humanity. Everything is so easy for Megatron which means there’s little to no conflict. I enjoyed the Autobots who had conflicts outside and within their team. Maybe I expected too much after the rave reviews but this comic does do a decent job of setting up the situation.
February 23, 2022
The Decepticons launch a brilliant, multi-layered attack and totally overwhelm the Autobots. The Autobots are on their heels and must regroup to counter while Earth is completely dominated and at the breaking point. Amazing story, artwork is beautiful and full of bright colors. A true pleasure to read, can't wait to start Vol II.
January 6, 2020
ok, but as a fan of the big guy myself self I thought that it was stupid to go to Cybertron and not have an escape plan but I liked it.
April 6, 2020
These classic IDW Transformers books are great, six volumes in and always entertaining!
June 24, 2022
Loved to see the bad guys finally getting to act fully evil in control.
March 1, 2017
This was a really good Transformers story. They really turned Megatron into the ruthless world conquerer that he is and that was pretty cool. This story really got me invested when they brought in that human element, where no matter how bad things seem the human race finds a way to hang on. The Autobots also have something brewing but a lack of energon and an internal matter has taken the wind out of their sails for now. Looking forward to seeing what's in store for everyone.
January 11, 2018
I reached 200 books with this - my second Transformers comic. And what a ride it was... The covers are simply beautiful; I liked very much the art too, especially the beginning in New York (p. 8, Megatron arriving) and some of the scenes with Autobots (the first page on Cybertron, oh my heart...). The story: how could I not adore it, if it's all I love: a dystopian, realistic vision of a nightmare come true; bad guys winning, good guys coping somewhat (or not); internal conflicts of our villains and heroes; Starscream (Starscream!). Dear comic, you convinced a reader who hardly ever reads comics to give Transformers a shot.
ETA, January 10: my daughter who doesn't know English very well, as she is 9,5, has just read the two first volumes; I managed to infect her with Transformers, yay!
ETA, January 10: my daughter who doesn't know English very well, as she is 9,5, has just read the two first volumes; I managed to infect her with Transformers, yay!
January 23, 2018
Synopsis
Megatron has won. He has defeated the mighty autobots and they have been exiled, leaving Megatron and his decepticons to rampage and pillage the earth. Who will be able to stop them? Will anybody?
Transformers: All Hail Megatron, Vol. 1 by Shane McCarthy and Guido Guidi
★★★
Genre: Comic/Science Fiction
Release Date: March 2009
Source: Half Price Books – Bought
On My Shelf: No
This was a pretty okay read for me. It’s hard for me to describe exactly what I mean, but this story met somewhere in the middle of “meh,” and “yea, I really liked this.” I think the biggest inconsistency that really affected my rating process for this was that the art was well-deserving of at least a 4-star rating while the story barely scraped by with 2 stars from me.
I’ll start by saying a bit about the bad so that we can end on a good note. I found McCarthy’s storytelling ability to be adequate and efficient but didn’t really find anything more in it. I thought the story dragged in sections, was poorly explained in others, and could have used more elaboration in most. Also, I wasn’t a huge fan of the military focus. I understand the purpose and know that many people will appreciate this; it’s just not really my thing. In my opinion, McCarthy did what he could, but he could have done better.
I don’t have the same thing to say about the art. WOW. This artwork by Guido Guidi is PHENOMENAL. I loved the simplicity of it. The lines were crisp and a little thick and for me everything about it worked. There’s not a single thing about the artwork that didn’t work for me. Honestly, I recommend this book solely for the artwork. Guidi truly makes it worth the read.
The coloring also helped compliment Guidi’s work extremely well. I liked the muted tones that really contributed the atmosphere of the story and enhanced my reading experience.
Overall, I definitely only recommend this to die-hard fans: otherwise, you’re really not missing much if you skip it. If you want to feel nostalgic about the ’90’s cartoon series, pick this up for the art; if not, once again, skip it. I will most likely read the sequel, but I’m not in any hurry to do so.
One final note: That Killing Joke artwork parallel THO!
Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Ashly Reads.
Megatron has won. He has defeated the mighty autobots and they have been exiled, leaving Megatron and his decepticons to rampage and pillage the earth. Who will be able to stop them? Will anybody?
Transformers: All Hail Megatron, Vol. 1 by Shane McCarthy and Guido Guidi
★★★
Genre: Comic/Science Fiction
Release Date: March 2009
Source: Half Price Books – Bought
On My Shelf: No
This was a pretty okay read for me. It’s hard for me to describe exactly what I mean, but this story met somewhere in the middle of “meh,” and “yea, I really liked this.” I think the biggest inconsistency that really affected my rating process for this was that the art was well-deserving of at least a 4-star rating while the story barely scraped by with 2 stars from me.
I’ll start by saying a bit about the bad so that we can end on a good note. I found McCarthy’s storytelling ability to be adequate and efficient but didn’t really find anything more in it. I thought the story dragged in sections, was poorly explained in others, and could have used more elaboration in most. Also, I wasn’t a huge fan of the military focus. I understand the purpose and know that many people will appreciate this; it’s just not really my thing. In my opinion, McCarthy did what he could, but he could have done better.
I don’t have the same thing to say about the art. WOW. This artwork by Guido Guidi is PHENOMENAL. I loved the simplicity of it. The lines were crisp and a little thick and for me everything about it worked. There’s not a single thing about the artwork that didn’t work for me. Honestly, I recommend this book solely for the artwork. Guidi truly makes it worth the read.
The coloring also helped compliment Guidi’s work extremely well. I liked the muted tones that really contributed the atmosphere of the story and enhanced my reading experience.
Overall, I definitely only recommend this to die-hard fans: otherwise, you’re really not missing much if you skip it. If you want to feel nostalgic about the ’90’s cartoon series, pick this up for the art; if not, once again, skip it. I will most likely read the sequel, but I’m not in any hurry to do so.
One final note: That Killing Joke artwork parallel THO!
Review originally published on my Wordpress blog Ashly Reads.
October 19, 2019
This iteration of Transformers has had a thing for sprawling plot lines that bob and weave past and through each other. The problem has often been that the tapestry being woven as not been particularly tightly drawn and has often been full of holes. This arc marks a culmination of that trend. Even though I have read every issue of IDW's Transformers I have the barest idea of what's going on here only because of the significant amount of exposition provided by the Autobots. What Megatron is going on about it still pretty unclear.
One thing I know for sure, Witwicky who I think were supposed to see as a hero, looks like a thoroughly unlikable person to me. I know the franchise started in the Reagan era, but that doesn't mean its heroes need to sound like they belong there to this day.
One thing I know for sure, Witwicky who I think were supposed to see as a hero, looks like a thoroughly unlikable person to me. I know the franchise started in the Reagan era, but that doesn't mean its heroes need to sound like they belong there to this day.
October 1, 2014
It's fun when the bad guys win. And the first volume is well-written and entertaining. However, I can't rate it higher since I wasn't privy to events that happened before the volume opens, so I feel like I'm missing out. How did the autobots end up on cybertron? And why are there two groups of autobots? Unless the reader is meant to find out as the story goes along. I also haven't read transformers comics in several years, so I didn't recognize or distinguish many of the characters. It's not the fault of the book, but it prevents me from liking it more. I am looking forward to the other three (!) volumes though.
March 19, 2009
The Decepticons are strategically conquering Earth and the Autobots are stranded on Cybertron. Optimus Prime is near death, the whereabouts of the Metrix are unknown, and there is a serious lack of Energon to be found anywhere on the Transformers' home planet. This is one of the most exciting Transformers stories I have encountered since their IDW comics run began. I may have to go out and get the individual issues that continue the story, as vol. 2 cannot arrive fast enough for me!
March 26, 2009
Horay! It's so rare that the bad guys are allowed to really stretch their wings. Unopposed Decepticons wreaking havok on an unprotected Earth is such a beautiful thing. It's like hot chocolate in graphic novel form.
December 10, 2008
Awesome new comic, great art, focus on the bad guys, lots of evil laughter!
February 12, 2013
Possibly the best Transformers any medium has ever produced, certainly the best depiction of Megatron and the Decepticons.
September 29, 2014
Love the G1 Transformers! It was good to have the bad guys win for a change. Although now I'm ready for the Autobots to come back strong.
February 23, 2016
4 Stars for the art. 2 Stars for the story. Clunky plot with very little originality. I hope All Hail Optimus is better than this.
June 3, 2013
Really interesting to see someone tackle the question of what if the bad guys win.
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