Editing Megatron (section)

{{Short description|Transformers character}}
{{Distinguish|Metatron|Megagon|Magnetron}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{multiple issues|
{{in-universe|date=June 2021}}
{{overly detailed|date=December 2024}}
{{original research|date=February 2024}}
{{fan POV|date=March 2025}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox character
| series = [[Transformers]]
| image = Megatron (Decepticon).jpg
| alt = 
| caption = ''Generation 1'' Megatron art
| voice = 
{{collapsible list|title=English
 |[[Frank Welker]] (television series, ''[[Transformers: Devastation]]'')<ref>{{cite news|title= Frank Welker Q&A |work= IGN|url= http://uk.dvd.ign.com/articles/102/1025229p1.html|access-date=2010-10-12}}</ref>
 | [[Garry Chalk (actor)|Garry Chalk]] (''[[Beast Wars]]'' – Golden Disk recording)
 | [[David Kaye (voice actor)|David Kaye]] (Unicron trilogy)
 | Jason Marnocha (''[[Transformers: Combiner Wars]]'')
 | [[Marc Thompson (voice actor)|Marc Thompson]] (''[[Transformers: Cyberverse]]'')
 | [[Rory McCann]] (''[[Transformers: EarthSpark]]'')
 | [[Brian Tyree Henry]] (''[[Transformers One]]'')}}
{{collapsible list|title=Japanese
 |[[Seizō Katō]] (television series)
 | [[Wataru Takagi]] (''Beast Wars'' – Golden Disk recording)
 | [[Keiji Fujiwara]] ([[The Transformers: Mystery of Convoy|Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]])
 | [[Shigeru Chiba]] (''Cyberverse'', ''EarthSpark'')
 | [[Hōchū Ōtsuka]] (''War for Cybertron'' trilogy)}}
| affiliation = Decepticon
| lbl21 = Japanese name
| data21 = Megatron, Reverse Convoy/Rebirth Megatron
| lbl22 = Sub-group
| data22 = Action Masters, Go-Bots, Combat Heroes, Voyagers, Basic Beasts
| lbl23 = Function
| data23 = Decepticon Leader, Emperor of Destruction, Decepticon Supreme Commander, Strongest Emperor of Destruction, Dark Emperor of Destruction
| lbl24 = Rank
| data24 = 10
| lbl31 = Partner
| data31 = [[Starscream]], [[Soundwave (Transformers)|Soundwave]], [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]]
| lbl32 = Motto
| data32 = {{ubl|"''Peace through tyranny!''"|"''Everything is fodder.''"|"''Lesser creatures are the playthings of my will.''" (Classics)|"''My power is everything; defeat is absurd!''" (Galvatron)}}
| lbl33 = Alternate modes
| data33 = [[Walther P38]] [[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.#Props|U.N.C.L.E. Special]], various [[tank]]s, various [[jet aircraft|jets]], [[Nerf Maverick|Nerf N-Strike Maverick REV-6]], Porsche, Cybertronian mobile weapon platform, [[Nissan 370Z]], laser cannon (Galvatron)<ref name="Bellomo">{{cite book|last=Bellomo|first=Mark|title=Transformers: Identification and Price Guide|publisher=Krause Publications|location=Iola, Wisconsin|date=May 9, 2007|isbn=9780896894457|page=27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nAvb8AYjl68C&q=Totally+Tubular+'80s.+Mark+Bellomo|access-date=December 17, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
}}
'''Megatron''' is a fictional character and the main [[antagonist]] of the ''[[Transformers]]'' media franchise produced by the American toy company [[Hasbro]] and the Japanese toy company [[Takara Tomy]]. He is the tyrannical leader of the [[Decepticon]]s, a villainous faction of alien robots that seeks to conquer their home planet of Cybertron and the rest of the known universe, and serves as the [[archenemy]] of [[Optimus Prime]], the leader of the rival [[Autobot]] faction. As with all Cybertronians, Megatron can disguise himself by transforming into vehicles or weapons. His alternate modes have included a [[Walther P38]] [[handgun]], a [[particle-beam weapon]], a [[Telescope|telescopic]] [[laser cannon]], a Cybertronian [[jet aircraft|jet]], and various tanks, depending on which continuity he is depicted in. In some continuities, his original name is '''D-16'''.

Megatron's most consistent origin portrays him as having risen up from being an oppressed worker to a [[gladiator]]ial champion who took the legendary name of one of the original Thirteen Primes—'''Megatronus'''—as his own.<ref name="Bellomo"/> He shortened his name when he became a political revolutionary who attempted to reform Cybertron's corrupt governing body and called for an end to its decrepit [[caste]] system. As the mentor of the young [[Orion Pax]], Megatron preached that freedom of self-determination was the right of all sentient beings. When Megatron grew corrupted by his power, Orion would utilize his teachings against him as Optimus Prime. In most incarnations, Megatron would eventually meet his demise at Optimus' hands, only to later be resurrected as '''Galvatron''' although some continuities have Galvatron as a separate entity from Megatron.<ref>{{cite news|title= Rogue's Gallery: Megatron |work= IGN|url= http://uk.stars.ign.com/articles/859/859514p1.html|access-date=2010-10-12}}</ref>

Megatron has become one of the franchise's most iconic characters and a widely recognized [[villain]] in [[popular culture]]. The character's popularity has seen him appear on a variety of merchandise, such as toys, clothing and collectible items, theme park attractions, and be referenced in a number of media. He has been adapted in live-action, animated, and video game incarnations, having been voiced by actors including [[Frank Welker]], [[Corey Burton]], [[Hugo Weaving]], and [[Brian Tyree Henry]].