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Why does any version of Megatron tolerate Starscream?

Slayven

Slayven

Never read a comic in his life
Moderator
Oct 25, 2017
93,096
Watching G1 and Starscream would ready to betray Megs at the drop of a hat. He left Megatron to die numrous times and literally built an army to kill at least once. And not like he was good as a henchman, he would flee at the drop of a hat. It was really insulting to Soundwave and Shockwave who were beyond loyal. Shockwave literally sat by the phone for 3 million years waiting for Meg's call.
 
sir_crocodile

sir_crocodile

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,505
In the comic he was exceptionally good at his job, the best flyer there was.
Also in the comic, Shockwave is stronger then Megatron and humiliates him when he judges that Megs is no longer effective as decepticon commander.
 
Claire Delune

Claire Delune

10 Years in the Making
Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,284
Greater Seattle Area
There have been a couple versions of Starscream where he got kicked to the curb. Transformers Animated and Transformers Prime, spring to mind.

Also kind of Transformers Armada where he joined the Autobots, but that was perhaps the most un-Starscream portrayal of Starscream ever, and the show was hot garbage, so we'll not count that.
 
Cantaim

Cantaim

Member
Oct 25, 2017
33,349
The Stussining
If you getting your ass beat every week by the auto bots. You'd want a loser on the squad to at least make you feel better about yourself.
 

Deleted member 16516

User requested account closure
Member
Oct 27, 2017
8,427
Robots in Disguise (IDW) Starscream is a rather intelligent and potent force, albeit still as Machiavellian as ever.
 
Wrexis

Wrexis

Member
Nov 4, 2017
21,247
"One day, you will lead the Decepticon armies. You will rule over them as you've always wanted and will have done so by crushing me beneath your heel. The right to lead is one that cannot be given, it must be taken. This is something I see before you. But not today. Today, the Decepticons are mine. You are mine. Understand that your time will come."
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Star Parodier

Star Parodier

Member
Oct 28, 2017
203
Madison, WI
main-qimg-5b86ad55d4a08843554dc21a5f298620
 
ThatCrazyGuy

ThatCrazyGuy

Member
Nov 27, 2017
9,859
In G1 cartoon? Megs is dumb and needs somebody to scapegoat, haha.

In other media, it gets more complicated.
 
Dennis8K

Dennis8K

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
20,161
Why did they name themselves Decepticons?

That is like screaming "we are the evil badguys"
 
Khanimus

Khanimus

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
40,199
Greater Vancouver
Because the cartoon wasn't exactly smartly written.

Other versions atleast play with that dynamic a bit. Prime is still GOAT, especially with those fucking heels.

3460a820181279aedb8ea0cf96f03bda.jpg


Bless Jose Lopez
 
sir_crocodile

sir_crocodile

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,505
Slayven said:
Fuck comics

Shockwave always struck me a Juggeraut type, not grand plans. he just happy doing what he loves
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The G1 comics are pretty much the basis for the franchise lol

Shockwave was happy while he thought Megatron was effective. He only took him out when he judged Megs failed bigtime.

MVzBUwb.png


Starscream avoiding point blank missiles:

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Megatron regretful:

eSt8SPP.png
 
jtmmachine

jtmmachine

Member
Nov 2, 2020
2,324


I like the idea Megatron's just that powerful, he treats Starscream's attempts at pulling a move on him as impossible to the point of being laughable. Gotta have something to entertain you while you're in as stressful a role as leading the Decepticons!
 
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Brickhunt

Brickhunt

Member
Feb 4, 2018
999
Brazil
I guess Starscream makes Megatron not become too complacent. If he lets screamer win, then he deserves to lose the leadership.

Also, Megatron probably also values ambition. Something that Soundwave, despite being far more competent, doesn't seem to care.
 
PhoenixAKG

PhoenixAKG

Member
Aug 14, 2019
7,812
Slayven said:
Watching G1 and Starscream would ready to betray Megs at the drop of a hat. He left Megatron to die numrous times and literally built an army to kill at least once. And not like he was good as a henchman, he would flee at the drop of a hat. It was really insulting to Soundwave and Shockwave who were beyond loyal. Shockwave literally sat by the phone for 3 million years waiting for Meg's call.
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Doesn't Shockwave also want to betray Megatron but not out of ego but because he thinks he's the most logical choice.
 
sir_crocodile

sir_crocodile

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,505
PhoenixAKG said:
Doesn't Shockwave also want to betray Megatron but not out of ego but because he thinks he's the most logical choice.
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In the G1 comic, yes, in the cartoon he is 1000% loyal. Although it's never so much a betrayal as it is cleaning up after Megatron's mess and then assuming command. See the first panel in post #19.
 
Darkmaigle

Darkmaigle

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,518
I always felt like starscream was someone that megs could get a W over.

he's always losing and failing to Optimus so why not keep an easy win around to constantly make yourself feel better.
 
TheEchosOfTheCyborg

TheEchosOfTheCyborg

Member
Feb 24, 2018
5,238
Slayven said:
Watching G1 and Starscream would ready to betray Megs at the drop of a hat. He left Megatron to die numrous times and literally built an army to kill at least once. And not like he was good as a henchman, he would flee at the drop of a hat. It was really insulting to Soundwave and Shockwave who were beyond loyal. Shockwave literally sat by the phone for 3 million years waiting for Meg's call.
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In the G1 Cartoon, it's mostly "Keep your friends close (Soundwave) and keep your enemies closer (Starscream)", that Starscream is competent when not under pressure, he's the only Decepticon who knows any medicine and was a scientist (aka a geologists it seems) and I think Starscream amuses him, their is amusing thing cut from Starscream's Brigade was that after Megatron had kicked Starscream out on an island after the latest betryal, it was revealed Megatron had forgotten about it, he just needed time to steam off.
 
Chumunga64

Chumunga64

Member
Jun 22, 2018
14,263
Transformers Animated Megatron kills starscream the first time starscream pulled anything

another reason why Animated is amazing
 
Darkspellmaster

Darkspellmaster

Member
Jun 17, 2019
2,182
G1 Starscream is actually fairly smart and competent. I'm not sure how far you are in, but there's episodes that show that the guy does know his stuff. He's a scientist, shown to be a bit on the compassionate side (see Skyfire) and not to bad when it comes to working on actual good ideas. If his Ego wouldn't get in the way.

Meg's keeps him around, as with Soundwave, because he's actually good at dealing with the Seekers, and is smart and clever when he's not being an idiot. And had proven time and again to be actually fairly good at deceiving people. That's not even to mention what he does to Archeville.
 
Akira86

Akira86

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,587
Megatron appreciated that wildcard energy. At one point in their culture, Starscream was considered a legit genius. But Meggy's mistake was thinking that he could control the independence, wildness, and madness, and utilize it, instead of always being a toad and scorpion pain in his ass.

He wanted a Lancelot, but forgets that Lancelot betrays him and sleeps with his wife.
 
somerandomweirdguy

somerandomweirdguy

Member
Nov 2, 2017
2,090
Real life history is filled with kings, emperors, and such, putting up with transparently self serving if not outright treasonous vassals

It's better to have the guy who you know is trying to screw you close by where you can watch him I guess
 
Zaied

Zaied

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,564
Armada Starscream was one of the most powerful Decepticons and managed to earn Megatron's respect at the very end.
 
Dreamwriter

Dreamwriter

Member
Oct 27, 2017
7,461
My theory was always that there just weren't very many Decepticons around, so he needed everyone he could get on his side, even if they weren't trustworthy.
 
Wood Man

Wood Man

Member
Oct 30, 2017
5,449
G1 cartoon Starscream made little sense to keep around. He was pretty useless most the time. It was just a poorly written 80's cartoon to sell toys. Still a fun character to watch, and that voice..

After that his character gets fleshed out more. It seems Megs keeps him around to keep him on his toes. Starscream is pretty much the definition of a Decepticon.

And Armada Starscream is a totally different story. Check that stuff out if you haven't.

latest


BTW anyone know where I can watch Armada? Is it available anywhere or streaming?
 
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