I’ve always considered Transformers to be a very indulgent franchise.
That could mainly be in part from its origin as a popular (but
incredibly flawed) 80’s cartoon show. Such a stigma can lead to one’s
affinity for the franchises’ intellectual properties – especially those
pertaining to said Generation One cartoon – being written off as a
symptom of nostalgia.

G1-related comics, however, have more than often proved to be of actual
“intellectual” merit. Beginning with Marvel’s dated series and
continuing with the current IDW lines, the original lineup of
Transformers have been rejuvenated time and time again into something
more than just a means of selling pieces of plastic to kids.
Transformers: Spotlight showed everyone there is more to a given
character’s apparent one-dimensional personality, and Megatron: Origins
has turned the epitome of all that is robotic evil into an anti-heroic
leader for the degenerates and destructive. Now, with All Hail
Megatron, we find both factions dealing with the repercussions of loss
and victory.

For the Decepticons, a side of Cybertron dedicated to war and conquest,
we find discontent and dissension rising from a mission’s
accomplishment. For the Autobots, we see disillusionment and distrust
brewing amongst the brooding. The book’s pacing has shifted from
focusing onto the latter, because at this point McCarthy can only
present so much of the victorious side of things. And as we all know,
the most important thing in any Transformers story is the struggle. At
the moment, the main struggle is restraining Ironhide from punching out
anyone he suspects to be the deceptive Autobot, as well as Jazz and Kup
reminisce and on try to equal their sum, Optimus Prime. Both sides of
the story are portrayed beautifully by Guidi and Su, who have done
their best to breath in new life and details into characters often
criticized for their simple, blocky designs.

The writing and art of this issue continue the quality rejuvenation
that the 25-year old franchise has long deserved. Though old school
Transformers fans may always have to be burden with their past, the
present and (hopefully) future comic titles will keep on with the good
struggle of proving that when it comes to these robots, there is more
than meets the eye.