Transformers: All Hail Megatron Volume 1 (v. 1) [Paperback]

Shane McCarthy (Author), Guido Guidi (Author)

Book Description

Series: Transformers | Publication Date: March 3, 2009

The Decepticons have won, the Autobots are defeated, and the time for conquest is at hand! After finally succeeding in defeating the Autobots, the Decepticons set about ruling our planet with an iron fist. Their forces invade and control New York City where, before long, they manage to cripple the United States. It's a war between the armed forces of the United States of America and a giant species of technologically advanced killing machines - a war that suddenly becomes incredibly one-sided! Meanwhile, the battered and defeated Autobots are struggling to survive a forced exile on their dead homeworld of Cybertron. Defeated due to a traitor amongst their ranks, the Autobots struggle to maintain their trust and unity... and nothing short of a miracle will save them from utter extinction! Volume One of this collection contains issues #1-6 of this startling series.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: IDW Publishing (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600103715
• ISBN-13: 978-1600103711
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A visual orgy that fails glamorously in many avenues., April 11, 2009

By 

Darwin Tsen (Binghamton, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformers: All Hail Megatron Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Thematically, "All Hail Megatron" (AHM for short) pushes Transformers comics into new and interesting territory, a closer embrace of the "grim and gritty" approach to comics and graphic novels since the advent of works such as Watchmen, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Sin City etc. Interestingly enough, these seminal works emerged while Transformers G1 was broadcasted: most of us G1 fans would definitely remember the first Decepticon attack on an Oil Rig, and the epic confrontation of Hoover Dam. Think about the human casualties, blood and gore the animators dared not show back in the day. With anime, manga and the aforementioned trend in comics stirring up things in the past 25 years, AHM is almost like a "what if we saw what the 'cons REALLY did to humans?" dream come true, updated via modern aesthetics.

Starting with IDW's Infiltration series, the creators have focused hard in expanding the power gap between the 'cons and the 'bots in G1 (though not as drastic as say, Transformers Animated), both in terms of physical strength and strategic prowess. Throughout the series, the 'cons are truly a threat to behold - especially good ol' Megatron - not the cookie-cutter goons in G1. In this volume we see the culmination of their might, dumped upon the U.S. Army like test subjects. As the supposed apex of the current continuity, AHM succeeds in delivering the dazzling graphics, awesome firepower and one-sided tactical capabilities of the 'cons. The storyboards are well placed and impressive, though less over-the-top than some may like, and Guidi's panels are definitely more subtle than E.J. Su's work.

However, despite the visual orgasmics, AHM falls short in terms of plot presentation. The attempts to depict the inner turmoil of the downtrodden, Cybertron-stranded Autobots came off too practiced, superficial and panel consuming at times; while the characterization of human characters held potential, we don't see any specific advancement of the plot by the end of the 1st volume. Too many loose ends, developed throughout IDW's continuity have been mysteriously tied (even worse, problematically), adding to the confusion of those who have not read previous volumes. In sum, AHM is stylistically and thematically entertaining (Jazz humiliating Springer, Blurr(?) and Kup in a skirmish, anyone?), but the story has been insufficient in comparison to those elements. Let's hope everything picks up the pace in the second volume.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Intrigued but ultimately confused, March 16, 2009

By 

M. Matishak (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformers: All Hail Megatron Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

I must admit I had never read a "Transformers" comic book before, even though I love the franchise. I watched the cartoon, and the many spin-offs, religiously over the years but I just could not wrap my head around seeing the characters in another format.

Then I read the premise of "All Hail Megatron" and I NEEDED to read it. So, I read it. And I was lost. I don't know if a mini-series or series preceeded this title (the book doesn't give you a clue) but it sure felt like the second chapter of a story, rather than the first.

More importantly, as near as the franchise is to my heart, I don't know or remember all the characters by name, nor their backgrounds, and here the writer doesn't help you at all. He assumes you know all the characters, their origins, and their relationships with others. This lack of information detracts from the story. There were moments that were seemingly designed to hit the reader between the eyes but if you don't know the nuances, they knock you out of the story.

On the plus side, the understandable parts of the story's premise do work. The Decepticons have won and this is the world now. Additionally the art and production values are great. "All Hail Megatron" is a slick book, but not for the uninitiated, or even casual, "Transformers" fan.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Alternate Universe With Original G1 Characters, December 30, 2010

By 

Michael A. Saxton (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformers: All Hail Megatron Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

When I found out about the All Hail Megatron series from IDW, I had to check out, especially since I am a long time Transformers G1 fan. The premise of this series is quite grim for everyone. Cybertron is a dead husk of a world. The Decepticons are running rampant and the Autobots have all but lost. They were ejected from Earth and are now stranded on Cybertron. Optimus Prime lay dying. Megatron and a group of Decepticons are ripping Earth's forces and societies to shreds. And to make matters worse, the Autobots have a traitor in their midst.

This series of graphic novels reprints collections of the comic book series. As I mentioned earlier, it casts the original Generation 1 Transformers, but in a whole new light and a whole new continuity. It is definitely worthwhile for any G1 fan to grab. There is plenty of action but also some unique twists to the roles that individual characters play on both teams.