most do anyways. G1 Optimus Prime, RiD Prime, Armada Prime, Energon Prime, Big Convoy, Lio Convoy. They all have the same distinguishing "Prime" features: blue head, red body. Optimus Primal/Beast Convoy's the exception, but he has a similar head design. Whereas the various Megatron/Galvatrons don't really look alike. I know RiD Megatron was called Gigatron in Japan, so that's obviously why he doesn't resemble G1 Megatron. But what about Armada/Energon Megatron, were they still called Megatron/Galvatron in Japan. Energon Megatron is obviously an homage to G1 Galvatron, though. Galaxy Force Convoy also has the same features, and Galaxy Force Megatron doesn't look anything like G1 Megatron/Galvatron. So, why do you think that the various Megatron's don't like alike, or better yet why make all the Primes look alike?

look at the forhead crest on 80's megs. not look at the forehead hat, that GF megs has. see it now?

well, that's not much, but okay. I'm talking about the characters' overall design and appearance. Kinda like how when you see a yellow car you think taxi, when you see a red truck with a ladder you think fire engine (except for those weird green ones), and when you see a black or white car with red and blue lights you think police car. So when you see a TF with a red body, blue head, and a face plate, you think Prime/Convoy. But not many Megatrons share such identifying features.

What I want to know is, does this bother you? I bet most people are just so familiar with G1 OP that any variant that is too far off will kill it for them. I mean, we're talking about of the central main characters here. People were annoyed when Prime started showing up with a mouth, instead of the mouth plate.

I'm glad there hasn't been too much change in Prime's look.

Big Grim:

Honest truth: It's like Mickey Mouse, kids identify with him. It's everything you learn about in Marketing class. It's a formula, and HasTak will milk our money, but most importantly, the money of kids (or should I say their parents).

My generation are parents now. We identify with toys from our youth. We buy our kids the brands we trust. That's just one part of it. Take in the whole picture.

I'm right on the money man, pun definately intended!

KT

Pretty much what I was saying!

I think grimmy was wanting a fannish explaination.


Um.. all OptiConvoyPrimes are cousins, and all MeggyGalvyGigas are adopted.
That better?

Oh bother!

Well, why not?

Amen Fudrom, and that's why we shouldn't be surprised if Prime/Convoy looks like the 'formula' for the next series after Galaxy Force, and the series after, and the series after,...

I'm also willing to bet that monkey Prime comes back one day, but again, that's still following the 'formula'.

Look at GI JOE, it's still Duke versus Cobra Commander after 20 years! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, He-Man, Star Wars, ditto. Toy makers are like Hollywood. They're not willing to take a chance and so we get rehashed reiterations of what have come before because they are guaranteed a profit.

Only here and there do you really see inovation, and chance taking. But rest assured, TFs are here to stay and so is Star Wars, GI Joe, Barbie. They're Americana. Toy fodder for kids.

And I love my TFs!

KT

Optimus Prime just looks cool. Changing the red,blue,white/silver colur scheme, faceplate image and all is asking for trouble. It would be like that SupermanBlue design that DC tried in the comics a few years back, simply wrong.

I'll go with this answer.

no fannish responses please. I'm just wondering why Optimus always has to look the same but Megatron doesn't. Why don't all the Megatron's look alike?

I don't know, why has James Bond changed so much in appearance over the years? First, it's Scottish man playing the part, then to a English man, and now an Irish man, what the bloody hell is going on here?

Optimus is iconic of TF's in general (like the earlier Mickey/Disney reference)...I bet they could get away with changing every character in a future iteration of TF with no homages, and it would be cool as long as Prime was there and recognizable. They have more freedom with Megs, so they indulge in it, IMO.

I have to admit i don't know why Megatron has changed so dramaticly so many times in both character and appearence, ranging from evil ( G1 megatron ) to camp ( RID Megatron ). Perhaps they should call them different names but Megatron/Galvatron is a name we all link with the lead bad guy.

but Prime's struggle with Megatron is iconic as well. In fact, I think Megatron is equally iconic of TFs in general.

There have been more Primes/convoys then Megatrons though, Super/Ultra MEgatron never got a toy, and LioConvoy, and Bigconvoy fought Galvatron and Magmatron.

Megatron is certainly not as iconic of TF's in general as Optimus Prime. If he were, he would be the one most referenced in other media, like by shows such as "I love the 80's", "Family Guy", and countless others.

To fans we see both as being equals...almost. To the "outside world" Optimus Prime is Transformers. If you don't believe me or disagree, just ask your parents/non-TFans friends/others, who they think is iconic of the transformers brand. If I show my mom or dad Optimus Prime either would know his name and what toy line he's from. If I show them Megatron, they'd shrug their shoulders.

The fact that OP has maintained a similar look for so long aids his iconclastic status, and Megatron's shifting hurts his to those outside the fandom.

All of these are good reasons why Megatron is always getting a different look, but here's another reason:

G1 Megatron turned into a GUN. We can't have that nowdays, can we?
To me, it seemed that Beast Wars Megatron had a similar look to G1 Megs in his head design. But that's as far as it got. Now if they made a figure of War Within Megatron, that would be the closest IMO.

I think they should keep, the Distict Helmit from G1 Megs, the rest can change.

What I'd really like to see is a nod to the original G1 Megs color scheme (Silver/Black/Red)...If they can do it with Prime for every freakin line, they can do it for Megatron just once.

I didn't mean anything about his alt mode. But rather, like X-BoB mentioned, how he doesn't have the same head design for example as Prime does. But whatever, I know he's not as well known as Megatron, but I don't see why that means they have to change his design.

I know BWII Galvatron isn't a real Megatron, But I love his head design, it is Like G1 Megs, with an asian twist
http://www.tfu.info/1998/Destron/Galvatron/galvatron.htm

What I meant was that the G1 robot mode doesn't really resemble anything else, unlike Prime's - Prime has obvious aspects of his truck mode when in robot mode.

Either way, I think I understand what you're getting at, which is why hasn't there been a Megatron who has the G1 colors, an arm cannon and a G1 style head.

BTW, I forgot about G2 Hero Megatron. If you set him up the right way in bot mode, he's a pretty good G1 Megs homage (aside form the colors).

both Megs in the G2 line resemble G1 Megs, for obvious reasons other than him being the same character. I just find it odd that he's not treated as an icon like Prime. And not just in regards to his appearance, but also how, as X-BoB said, the villains in BWII and BW Neo aren't even Megatrons.

Sure they do. They're all evil.

But seriously. G1 Galvatron, RID Megs/Galvie, Armada Megs/Galvie, Energon Megs/Galvie, and GF Megatron all have one thing in common. They all have horn like extensions on their heads, whether their on the sides, or on their forehead, they all have them.

This wouldn't be time for a "Me So Horny" joke, would it?

xbob says there is a Galvatron in BW Neo??

And I do agree...poor megs is getting the icon status shelved

Mmmm...Probably not.

No, there was a Megatron in Beast Wars second, but he named Megastorm was a second in command to Galvatron...

Is there pics of Super and Ultra Megatron from the Japanese Gen 1 series...

Though Megatron can no longer be a gun I so wish Hasbro/Takara would keep his alt mode a tank. I think that works very well for his and has since Generation2. With the alt mode relatively the same as with Optimus Prime it would be much easier for Magatron to obtain the same iconic body design. Though over the past years since Rid Megatron may have sprouted horns but has otherwise alway been able to obtain the same face for some reason. Body design aside whenever I see an updated/retooled Megatron I can immediately identify it as Megatron because with the face/head sculpt with red eyes there is deffinitely a dark aura of evil being contained and that is all anyone should need to identify the character.

you want a simple answer? because G1 megatron just isn't very popular in japan. that, plus the fact that toy guns are illegal in the usa, means that hastak has to get innovative with megatron.

Simple: Megatron isn't the main character therefore he can be changed.

dont all transformers (with the exception of beastwars/machines iguess) have an asian twist?

There was a Guy Named Galvatron in BWII and Neo, wh has No relation to G1 Galvatron or Megatron.

Super Megatron
Ultra Megatron
Star Giant

I think that they shouldn't change anything about Prime, he just looks cool by the way he is and that's just the way it's been.

Beast Machienes had Bhudist/Hindu/whatever aspects

I AM TRANSFORMED!!!