Boredom sets in!
This was cross-posted to my regular journal, but since it's got to do with Transformers I'm dumping it here too.
(No, I'm not biased at all)
You know, there's a significant side effect to being an english major. Every day in class I'm made to analyze, critique, and look closer into every single word of every single sentence of every single paragraph for metaphors, similes, different interpretations, and bizarre theories supported, at times, by a single instance in a huge body of work.
Ultimately, this ends up creeping into my other interests. Yes, most of the time it's me being an obnoxious grammar Nazi, correcting my friends' usages of "your" and "you're." Right now, however, I've been involved in a great discussion about various Shakespearean characters and the hazards of ambition and how that in turn leads to either greatness or villainy.
Which is why I get to write this.
WHY STARSCREAM IS A BETTER TRANSFORMERS VILLAIN THAN MEGATRON
For those unfamiliar with the gigantic Transformers canon, I'll do a basic rundown:
-Transformers are giant robot aliens from a planet called Cybertron.
-They have the power to transform into a variety of vehicles and technology, including cars, trucks, jets, guns, and tape decks. Yes, tape decks.
Above: Probably the greatest Decepticon in terms of usefulness.
-Two factions of Cybertronians are involved in a war millions of years old: the good guys are the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the bad guys are the Decepticons, led by Megatron. Through accidental circumstances, both leaders and a handful of their crew are stuck on Earth and do battle on our own home planet.
-Starscream is the Decepticon Air Commander and Megatron's second in command, when he isn't being an ambitious, sarcastic traitor. He wants to be in charge, period, and thus undermines Megatron's control, plots against him, and tries to assassinate/take over from Megatron every other week or so. Depending on which series you're watching, Megatron either overlooks all this, beats the crap out of Starscream but lets him stay, or tries to kill him back at every opportunity.
The picture of evil.
First, let's take a look at weapons.
Megatron's weapon of choice in most of his appearances is a gigantic cannon mounted on one arm.
Above: subtlety.
Seriously, that thing's almost as big as he is. Compensating, much?
The cannon packs a wallop, sure, but it takes forever to charge, you have to make every shot count, it's shit to aim, and the recoil might knock you back into an even more inconvenient position. That's a lot to consider when you're placing pure firepower over usability.
Meanwhile, Starscream's weapons are the much craftier, more manageable null rays.
Sure, they're not going to burn a boulder-sized hole in your chest, but they will disable primary functions, which basically means it's the same job, minus half the weight, better aiming, and two for the price of one. They're dangerous, but they're not OMG IN UR FACE. At least, not in the way Megatron's weapon is.
Seriously. What the hell?
Pre-war careers are also interesting to look at. In G1 continuity, Megatron is a gladiator: he's a bloody god of war, trained to kill and do battle until there's no life left in him. He's ruthless, vicious, lacking mercy, and ultimately unforgiving. Which is great and all, but if you don't know how to be anything but a killer, you're at a significant disadvantage because of the inability to get inside the head of your adversary. (The Autobots, who are notorious Princes of Honor)
Actually, he kind of looks like Darth Vader in this one. WTF?
Starscream, on the other hand, was a scientist. He ran around the galaxy, exploring distant planets with his buddy and fellow scientist Skyfire, spending his time learning and experimenting new and innovative ideas to push forward the boundaries of knowledge. (Until Skyfire got lost in the Arctic and sat around long enough for chimps to evolve into fully functioning, car-driving humans.)
"What do you mean, frozen for four million years?!"
Whereas Megatron will simply run over and/or trash everything he comes across that stands in his way, Starscream will take the time to understand what new threat they're facing and whether or not said threat can be turned towards the advantage of the Decepticons. The power of analyzing any situation is a required tool of any leader, especially in the heat of battle. Firing repeatedly at something that may not have any conventional methods of destruction isn't going to help. Having a scientist on the team who knows a little bit about researching one's opponent is a clear boon to the cause, especially if said opponent is liable to kick some serious Transformer ass.
Above: Science.
Next, let's take a look at vehicle modes. First, G1.
Starscream is Air Commander of the Decepticons, so naturally he's not only a jet, but the fastest of all flying Cybertronians. He does Mach 2.8 at top speed and can fly circles around the rest, Autobots and Decepticons alike. He's got two wingmates, Skywarp and Thundercracker, who are almost as great fliers as their leader.
Rule of Cool is go.
This is what Megatron turns into.
Yeah. Guns don't fly. Shit, he already has a gun on his arm, why does he need to turn into another one, other than for the purposes of redundancy?
Oh! Plus, he needs Starscream or another Decepticon to fire for him. So basically, if nobody else is around to lend a servo, Megatron's awesome alt-mode is a giant hunk of potentially fatal metal if you touch it. Whoop-de-doo.
Transformers live FOREVER. Seriously, like millions of years, barring any unforeseen circumstances, like an axe to the spark. (That would be "heart" in human terms) There is no ladder of promotion when you're waiting for your practically immortal leader to bite the dust longer than the last three Ice Ages to fly by. Anybody's patience is going to be tried after the first few hundred thousand years of no results, and Starscream just wants his turn to shine.
Stay tuned, for in-depth philosophical discussion about voice-work, other canon interpretations, and the relevance of slash fiction!
(No, I'm not biased at all)
You know, there's a significant side effect to being an english major. Every day in class I'm made to analyze, critique, and look closer into every single word of every single sentence of every single paragraph for metaphors, similes, different interpretations, and bizarre theories supported, at times, by a single instance in a huge body of work.
Ultimately, this ends up creeping into my other interests. Yes, most of the time it's me being an obnoxious grammar Nazi, correcting my friends' usages of "your" and "you're." Right now, however, I've been involved in a great discussion about various Shakespearean characters and the hazards of ambition and how that in turn leads to either greatness or villainy.
Which is why I get to write this.
WHY STARSCREAM IS A BETTER TRANSFORMERS VILLAIN THAN MEGATRON
For those unfamiliar with the gigantic Transformers canon, I'll do a basic rundown:
-Transformers are giant robot aliens from a planet called Cybertron.
-They have the power to transform into a variety of vehicles and technology, including cars, trucks, jets, guns, and tape decks. Yes, tape decks.
Above: Probably the greatest Decepticon in terms of usefulness.
-Two factions of Cybertronians are involved in a war millions of years old: the good guys are the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the bad guys are the Decepticons, led by Megatron. Through accidental circumstances, both leaders and a handful of their crew are stuck on Earth and do battle on our own home planet.
-Starscream is the Decepticon Air Commander and Megatron's second in command, when he isn't being an ambitious, sarcastic traitor. He wants to be in charge, period, and thus undermines Megatron's control, plots against him, and tries to assassinate/take over from Megatron every other week or so. Depending on which series you're watching, Megatron either overlooks all this, beats the crap out of Starscream but lets him stay, or tries to kill him back at every opportunity.
The picture of evil.
First, let's take a look at weapons.
Megatron's weapon of choice in most of his appearances is a gigantic cannon mounted on one arm.
Above: subtlety.
Seriously, that thing's almost as big as he is. Compensating, much?
The cannon packs a wallop, sure, but it takes forever to charge, you have to make every shot count, it's shit to aim, and the recoil might knock you back into an even more inconvenient position. That's a lot to consider when you're placing pure firepower over usability.
Meanwhile, Starscream's weapons are the much craftier, more manageable null rays.
Sure, they're not going to burn a boulder-sized hole in your chest, but they will disable primary functions, which basically means it's the same job, minus half the weight, better aiming, and two for the price of one. They're dangerous, but they're not OMG IN UR FACE. At least, not in the way Megatron's weapon is.
Seriously. What the hell?
Pre-war careers are also interesting to look at. In G1 continuity, Megatron is a gladiator: he's a bloody god of war, trained to kill and do battle until there's no life left in him. He's ruthless, vicious, lacking mercy, and ultimately unforgiving. Which is great and all, but if you don't know how to be anything but a killer, you're at a significant disadvantage because of the inability to get inside the head of your adversary. (The Autobots, who are notorious Princes of Honor)
Actually, he kind of looks like Darth Vader in this one. WTF?
Starscream, on the other hand, was a scientist. He ran around the galaxy, exploring distant planets with his buddy and fellow scientist Skyfire, spending his time learning and experimenting new and innovative ideas to push forward the boundaries of knowledge. (Until Skyfire got lost in the Arctic and sat around long enough for chimps to evolve into fully functioning, car-driving humans.)
"What do you mean, frozen for four million years?!"
Whereas Megatron will simply run over and/or trash everything he comes across that stands in his way, Starscream will take the time to understand what new threat they're facing and whether or not said threat can be turned towards the advantage of the Decepticons. The power of analyzing any situation is a required tool of any leader, especially in the heat of battle. Firing repeatedly at something that may not have any conventional methods of destruction isn't going to help. Having a scientist on the team who knows a little bit about researching one's opponent is a clear boon to the cause, especially if said opponent is liable to kick some serious Transformer ass.
Above: Science.
Next, let's take a look at vehicle modes. First, G1.
Starscream is Air Commander of the Decepticons, so naturally he's not only a jet, but the fastest of all flying Cybertronians. He does Mach 2.8 at top speed and can fly circles around the rest, Autobots and Decepticons alike. He's got two wingmates, Skywarp and Thundercracker, who are almost as great fliers as their leader.
Rule of Cool is go.
This is what Megatron turns into.
Yeah. Guns don't fly. Shit, he already has a gun on his arm, why does he need to turn into another one, other than for the purposes of redundancy?
Oh! Plus, he needs Starscream or another Decepticon to fire for him. So basically, if nobody else is around to lend a servo, Megatron's awesome alt-mode is a giant hunk of potentially fatal metal if you touch it. Whoop-de-doo.
Transformers live FOREVER. Seriously, like millions of years, barring any unforeseen circumstances, like an axe to the spark. (That would be "heart" in human terms) There is no ladder of promotion when you're waiting for your practically immortal leader to bite the dust longer than the last three Ice Ages to fly by. Anybody's patience is going to be tried after the first few hundred thousand years of no results, and Starscream just wants his turn to shine.
Stay tuned, for in-depth philosophical discussion about voice-work, other canon interpretations, and the relevance of slash fiction!
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