In the Gnostic scriptures, Megatron is also a name of Hermes.

Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons in fictional Transformers Universes. In some versions of the Transformers storyline he was later modified into Galvatron.

His voice in the English version was originally and most memorably supplied by "voice god" Frank Welker, a highly prolific voiceover artist. In Japan, he was voiced by Seizo Kato.

Abilities

The G1 (Generation 1) Megatron transformed into a Walther P38 pistol. The G2 Megatron toy transformed into a tank, which is how he appeared in the Marvel G2 comic, however because the G2 cartoon series was simply the G1 episodes retrofitted with pretty graphics, he still transformed into a gun in the G2 cartoon. This was due to differing attitudes about marketing toys which looked like realistic guns to children between the release of G1 and G2.

Both G1 & G2 Megatrons are incredibly powerful, and ruthless. G1 Megatron's main weapon is a nuclear fusion cannon that can level an Earth city block in one shot. G2 Megatron carries a rail gun, created by human weapons scientist Dr. Biggles-Jones, that shoots powerful, high-velocity projectiles. He can also implode neutrons and project electricity as a weapon, and has a heavily enhanced sensor array, as well as other unknown built-in weapons and abilities. G2 Megatron's only weakness is his stubborn pride, which causes him to refuse to retreat from a battle even when the odds are enormously against him and his troops.

Biography

G1 cartoon

Megatron's second-in-command was Starscream, who constantly attempted to usurp leadership of the Decepticons in various overt and covert attempts. In Transformers: The Movie, Starscream personally threw Megatron from Astrotrain on their way back to Cybertron. As he floated in space, the planet-destroyer Unicron "summoned" Megatron for a task: destroy the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. For this task, Unicron "reformatted" Megatron into Galvatron (who transformed into a mortar-style cannon).

Marvel comic

In the comics, Megatron also had to put up with Starscream's ambitions, though Soundwave was closer to the position of second-in-command, but the real challenge came from the Decepticon Shockwave who believed that it was logical he could lead the Decepticons better. Shockwave initially deposed Megatron, but later they went through periods of co-leadership alternating with one or the other seizing command. At one point Megatron's mind broke down after Shockwave had arranged an ambush and he seemingly committed suicide by setting off an explosion at an intergalactic portal known as the Space Bridge.

The story revealed later that Megatron had in fact survived, but for a while had operated as an independent agent on Cybertron. At the end of the original comic series he was missing and presumed dead when the Ark crashed on Earth. The "G2" comics revealed that he survived and his body had been replaced with a new one that transformed into a powerful tank. Megatron then seized outright command of the Decepticons and proceeded to launch a new campaign of terror. However he encountered a new generation of "Cybertronian" transformers who were intent on conquering the universe and destroying other Transformers. After an initial defeat, Megatron formed a temporary alliance with the Autobots. The alliance fought the Cybertronians and drove them from Earth's galaxy with the aid of a mysterious entity known as "the Swarm". However the Swarm also affected both the Autobots and Decepticons, exposing them to the vision of the Transformers' creator Primus that there would be one race of robots helping the universe. The series ended with the Autobots and Decepticons agreeing to unite.

Beast Wars & Beast Machines

The Beast Wars Megatron is a different entity, who transformed into a tyrannosaurus as leader of the Predacon faction stranded on ancient Earth. As the toyline produced more variants, Megatron changed into a "Transmetal" form, and then into a dragon. Many fans consider this beast version to be a "superior" version of Megatron, because of his unique personality; which made him appear as a more cunning leader with talents at manipulating others. That and other small traits such as his tendancy to speak to himself outloud and his use of a rubber duck in his baths helped make him a more developed character. Somehow, he returned to Cybertron before the Maximals, led by Optimus Primal(Convoy in the Japanese Beast wars and Beat Wars returns, did. He became leader of cybertron after wiping out the currant residents and created a mindless army of Vehicon drones, with 3 generals, Tankor (who later turned out to be Rhinox from Beast wars), Thrust (who was Waspinator) and Jetstorm (who was Silverbolt, and later got a new techno-organic body and joined the Maximals as Silverbolt again). He was a legless robot at the heart of Cybertron, who could somehow transform into his dragon form. He also was sometime overcome by an organic side, becoming a wolf named Noble who befriends the Maximal Nightscream. In times of rage or anger, he became an eyeless red dragon named Savage. HE was though to be an animal, but it was later realized to be Megatron all along! At one point, his spark was put into a small flying diagnostic drone, and then later became a giant floating head that became a ship.

RiD

In this completely different continuity, Megatron (known as Gigatron in Japan) was the merciless leader of the Predacons. Whispered rumours say that he and his Predacons - Sky-Byte, Slapper, Nightscream and Gas Skunk - may have come from a different place, a different time... but whatever the case may have been, it was clear that Megatron had now targeted Earth's energy, and not even Optimus Prime was going to stand in his way. To that end he kidnapped the human archaeologist, Daichi Onishi. Megatron was powerful enough to transform into five other modes{japanese name only}: GigaDragon[two-headed dragon], Gigabat(gargolyle), GigaFormula(car), GigaJet(plane) and GigaHand(claw). But each form had its own different frightening personality, making Megatron a very unstable and unpredictable fighter.

Some time into the campaign on Earth, Megatron sought to bolster his forces, locating six Autobot protoforms in a crashed Cybertronian spaceship, bestowing them with military vehicle modes and corrupting them with his own Spark energy, creating the Decepticons. However, their leader, Scourge, happened to scan Optimus Prime along with the tanker that would form his alternate mode, and as a result became something of an "evil clone" of Prime, whose cruelty and cunning eventually extended to plotting against Megatron.

When Megatron was buried in the ruins of an ancient pyramid following a failed attempt to steal the Orb of Sigma from the Autobots, he underwent his most startling transformation of all, as the energies of the pyramid resurrected him as the vampiric Gavatron(known as DevilGigatron in Japan), able to enhance his own strength by draining the Spark energy from others. As Galvatron, he possessed four additional transformations - a hydrofoil, a griffen, a pteranodon and a mammoth. He was eventaully defeated and was sent back to Cybertron for imprisonment via Fortress Maximus.

Armada & Energon/Micron Legend & Superlink

Yet another different Megatron, this time coming from Cybertron to Earth in hot pursuit of Mini-Cons, power augumenting transformers about the size of human children. He assumes the form of an Earth tank. He and his henchmen directly teleport to Earth, and then set up headquarters in the ruined hulk of the Mini-Con spaceship which crashed on the moon. When he succeeds in acquiring the nine most powerful Minicons (who form the weapons Star Saber, Skyboom Shield and Reqium Blaster), their ultimate power is unlocked when they are combined into the Hydra Cannon, attached to his newly constructed ship. Earth is almost destroyed by the cannon, but Optimus Prime absorbs the blast with his Matrix, sacrificing himself for the time being. Megatron decides to return to Cybertron, until a gigantic planet devouring transformer named Unicron jeapordises the planet's survival! He, along with some Decepticons and Autobots, gets powered up by the Minicon's powers, and get new paintjobs and power boosts{He was called 'Galvatron' in the US version after that.}. Unicron's arrival forces the two warring factions to team up to destroy him, and Megatron gets swallowed up by Unicron after sacrificing his life for Prime's.

Megatron is found dormant inside Unicron's lifeless body, now occupied by Alpha-Q and his Terrorcons residing within it, gathering Energon with the intent of recreating that which Unicron has destroyed. Megatron quietly steals small portions of the Energon, working towards resurrecting himself, while Alpha-Q is able to make a sword out of his spark. When an enraged Scorponok stabs Megatron's body with the sword, it catalyses his rebirth, and Megatron becomes Galvatron in the Super Link series. The US version keeps the name of Megatron until later he powers up to Galvatron after bathing in a pool of Super Energon.

Megatron was voiced by David Kaye (US, Armada/Energon), Yanada Kiyoyuki (Japan, Micron Legends), & Junichi Endou (Japan, Super Link).

Cybertron/Galaxy Force

• Master Megatron in Japan

The #1 scourge of the universe, the greatest Emperor to be fear by his minions. Megatron has a big ego & views even his his minions as stepping stones in his plan to use the Planet Force power to become a god & remold the universe the universe in his image. He is a triple changer who has the ability to change into an F-1 racer reminiscent of the Batmobile and a jet plane.

He was voiced by Jouji Nakata.