When it comes to snivelling, backstabbing minions with transparent ambitions, there is none quite like the shrewd and cowardly Decepticon, Starscream.
Sure, we know he wants to replace Megatron as the leader of the Decepticons and which villainous leader is without a treacherous lackey, but there are many reasons why Starscream stands out as a fan favourite. Firstly, he transforms into an amazing McDonnel-Douglass F-15C Eagle, and then there is the voice. The G1 character was voiced to perfection by Chris Latta aka Christopher Charles Collins, and we mourned his death when he was obliterated by Galvatron for usurping Megatron’s position.
Was that battle satisfying? Probably not since the 1985 Transformers animated movie was made to sell toys and there was a decree to wipe out the original Autobots and Decepticons, to make way for newer toys, but fans have always wondered – what would a Starscream vs Megatron fight look like?
Well, Starscream megafan 87render, a CG artist who makes anime fan films, and apparently specialises in jet planes and cell shading, has taken a stab at it, creating an exhilarating five-minute film that brings us back to G1 Transformers, with Megatron and Starscream. It’s the duo in robot mode for sure, and his love for jets is probably why Megatron doesn’t transform into his original Walther P38 gun mode, but turns into a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Stealth plane instead.
But it’s a small twist because the rest of the short film, which also brings back the Decepticon flagship, Nemesis, is a great throwback. 87render even got a voice actor for Starscream that sounds so much like Latta, and fans will likely recall the sense of joy to hear Cobra Commande…. I mean, Starscream challenge Megatron again.
“You’re a fool for fighting me in the skies Megatron!” shouts Starscream, as he manipulates his form into a semi-Gerwalk mode, and unleashes a volley of missiles at his commander, who has received an upgrade in the form of a new body.
This makes us clamour for more Transformers G1 goodness! None of that Bayformers nonsense, or the Japanese-led Transformers Armada, Energon and Cybertron Unicron Trilogy.