I'm just wandering who you think are the best and worst incarnations of the characters are.

I think it's a bit easier to rank different incarnations of Megatron.

G1 I don't really like because his alt mode is practically useless unless held by another character and he sounds like he has constant laryngitis. Nothing against Frank Welker I like the way he's currently playing the part, just don't like the G1 voice.

Galvatron's alt mode is a little better. He doesn't rely on another character to hold him but that cannon is a stationary object. He's not mobile in that mode. He does have treads but they don't seem to do anything in the cartoon. And I don't like his color scheme in the cartoon. Actually prefer the toy version. Oh and he's crazy but I like him crazy. He's more of a deadly killing machine than he was as Megatron even though he was mostly killing his own soldiers but one of them was Starscream... twice... so yeah.

BW Megatron looks like Barney the dinosaur. If he had a different color scheme the design wouldn't be so bad.

TM Megatron has fans on his T-Rex ass... and roller skates. I like how he looks in robot mode but kinda wish he had a better 3rd mode than roller skates and ass fans.

TM2 Megatron... is a freaking dragon! There's nothing bad I can say about this Megatron.

BM Megatron... still got that dragon mode but his robot mode is covered in a control harness all the time and he almost never leaves the control harness. I generally regard this as one of the worse designs.

Grand Mal Megatron... though it is in a way cool just because of the sheer size it doesn't really do much and is essentially just a floating head. Kinda of wasted potential there.

Optimal Megatron is one of my favorites because... well I'm a sucker for villains who are look-a-likes of the hero.

All that being said designs are rather superficial and Beast Era Megatron because he managed to take over Cybertron single handedly is by far the best incarnation of Megatron ever!

RID Megatron is among my favorite designs though I don't really like his color scheme.

RID Galvatron, his color scheme isn't perfect either but I like it a hell of a lot better than Megatron. Of course I've never really liked the "ears".

There's a version of this mold in red with Beast Era Megatron's head that never got produced that I freaking love! Anyway as a leader RID Megatron/Galvatron was kind of waisted. His design had 6-10 modes depending on which version of him it was but he spent most of his time sitting back at the Predacon base while his soldiers did most of the work. Even though I love the design, personality wise I find him to be one of the worse versions of the character.

Armada Megatron I like the design except for the giant pincher head. I kinda wish he had a different head design that would actually fold away in vehicle mode.

Armada Galvatron... was freaking Pink... as if he didn't have enough issues being named GALvatron. Is he the Cybertrontronian equivalent of a man in drag?

Personality wise... the guy saved everyone from Unicron, he died a hero. Was this set in the SG universe? No, horrible incarnation of the character.

Energon Megatron/Galvatron I freaking love the designs. Megatron is a homage to the original Galvatron toy while Galvatron is a homeage to the original animation model. And they're a lot more mobile. The only thing I don't like is that cannon which is a miniaturized version of the tank he use to be in Armada and I don't want to be reminded of Armada.

Cybertron... I'm not sure what to think of Cybertron... in a way I like it and in a way I don't. I think both color schemes either the Megatron or Galvatron versions are good. I usually have a preference of one over the other but here I like both. He's a car which seems odd for Megatron/Galvatron and the car looks an awful lot like the Bat-mobile. Of course one of my favorite features about it is that he some molding and coloring shared with Unicron. Though it was never brought up in the series if you read his bio on the web site it said that he actually constructed his new body from pieces of Unicron and that showed up really well in the design.

Movie Megatron... original design looks like a flying thorn bush. RotF design is a flying tank. DotM is a tanker truck which is actually a nice contrast to Optimus' truck form. But the robot mode in all 3 movies has the same problem... he's freaking ugly as hell and looks like something from an entirely different movie. He's by far the worst leader of any incarnation of Megatron. Spends most of the first movie frozen. Second movie he's taking orders from the Fallen and isn't actually the Decepticon leader at all. Third movie he's taking orders from Sentinel Prime. I think he had like 15 minutes of actually leading the Decepticons out of like 4 hours of taking orders from someone else.

Animated Megatron, I feaking hate his Cybertronian mode design because it reminds me of the movie. I love the Earth mode design though because it's a homage of G1 Megatron and he fits in with other toys besides the horribly disproportionate Animated toys. He's also one of the better versions of the character. I just love how he interacts with the other characters for his own personal gain.

Prime Megatron... well for a while I thought he seemed kinda crazy like G1 Galvatron, then he seemed to calm down a bit and was acting more like Animated Megatron. But lately he's been kind of indecisive. He wanted Starscream killed but now for no apparent reason has not only spared his life but saved it. He ordered Knock Out to remain trapped in a wall but then lets him out in the very next episode. He basically puts Starscream on trial and says he's going to kill Starscream but Starscream doesn't show a single piece of evidence to support why Megatron shouldn't kill him and he decides to keep him alive anyway. Plus I hate the design because it reminds me of the movie.

Optimus... I pretty much like every incarnation of him except Beast Machines, RID, Armada, Energon, Movie Protoform and Animated. Beast Machines because the design looks nothing at all like Optimus. RID because he spends most of the series in the Autobot HQ while the other Autobots do most of the work. Armada because he was constantly getting other character's names wrong and ended up looking like the bad guy in the end. Energon because he reminds me of a Power Ranger's Megazord and he's fat. Movie Protoform because he looks more like Ultra Magnus. Animated because I just can't stand the disproportionate design. Armada and RID are the worst because their complains are more about personality than design. Beast Machines, movie protoform and Animated I actually like despite hating their designs. Of course with movie Protoform you don't really see it that much so I can't complain about it too much. My over all favorite is Optimal Optimus. He's got 4 modes, it's hard not to like that design and I like the character as well. RID could be right up there with him if he did more in the show, love the design, just hate the character.

 

Best Optimus: A toss-up between Animated Optimus and Movie Optimus. The former for his wonderful development and digressing from the typical Optimus template; a washed-out guardsman who eventually grows into the leader that Ultra Magnus hoped he would be despite all the obstacles in the path, and the latter for an awesome design and the sheer determination and strength to fight against whole damn armies, ancient evils and even his own mentor to protect Earth.

I don't have a worst Optimus, actually; I like all of them well-enough. I suppose I might dislike Prime Optimus' taking so long to realise Megatron is a psychopathic monster who needs to put down for good.

Best Megatron: When it comes to Megatrons, I'd vote for BW Megatron, with Movie and FoC right behind. BW Megs, hot damn, he was just the most hilarious, charismatic, intelligent chap ever to turn into a purple dinosaur, yeeessss.

Movie Megs, I adore his designs, especially ROTF; he is this crazy genocidal monster, yet he came out with some pretty awesome plans and showed off a good sense of strategy behind his trademark savagry, while FoC is just the most determined motherfucker ever; not even fucking Metroplex makes him back down. He's egotistical, over-the-top psychotic and I adore him for it.

Out of the Megatrons I've seen, I suppose G1 is at the bottom of my list. He came out with a load of plans, I'll admit, and I do like him, but he spent many chunks of time retreating or engaging in bitch-fights with Starscream.

 

Best Optimus- tie between Animated and Beast Wars. I love interactions between the characters, and these two seemed the least like high leaders who and more like they were part of the crew.

Worst Optimus- Prime. His monologuing is becoming boring and stiff. They write good action scenes, but he has virtually no character in between.

Best Megatron- tie between animated and Beast Wars (notice a pattern  ). I loved their regalness/charisma respectively yet both could also be quite brutal whent they needed to.

Worst Megatron- G1. Transforming into a gun just made him way too codependant on others and retreating the second something goes wrong should be more Starscream's thing.

 

I already have a thread for best Optimus and Megs.

 

Best Optimus Prime- US G1 Optimus Prime

Best Megatron- US G1 Megatron

Worst Optimus Prime- Anything non US G1!

Worst Megatron- See above!

 

best for both is a tie between animated and beast wars. worst for optimus is prime and rid, worst for megatron is movie and rid.

 

Here are the links.
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/trans...optimus-prime.html?highlight=Favorite+Optimus
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/trans...ion-megatron.html?highlight=Favorite+Megatron

 

Best Prime: TFA Optimus

Worst Prime: TFP Optimus

Best Megatron: TFA and the Movies.

Worst Megatron: tie between G1 and TFP.

 

Best Optimus: WFC/FOC Optimus prime. He has a lot of development throughout the games and I feel that he is the most relatable optimus.

Worst Optimus: Rotf/DOTM Optimus prime. Unstoppable merciless killing machine, need I go on?

Best Megatron: WFC/FOC Megatron. His dialogue with his fellow troops and mercilessness make him a leader to be feared.

Worst Megatron: Beast wars Megatron. I don't think I could ever take a green and purple dinosaur that goes "yeeeeeeeeesssssssss"
all the time seriously. By extension: the unicron trilogy megatrons fit this category as well due to them all sharing my least favorite voice actor for Megatron.

 

Best Optimus : animated. He wasn't the big Optimus. He became a better leader as time goes on.
Worst Optimus : Unicron trilogy. I don't like a/e/c.

Best megatron : beast wars. He didn't have that great of a team and still managed to be a powerful force.

Worst megatron : movie. He was only powerful in the 1st the rest of the time he was like starscream joining the strong guy and waiting to stab his back.

 

Best Optimus: BW, UT, Animated

Worst Optimus: G1, Prime

Best Megatron: BW, UT

Worst Megatron: G1, Movie

 

Best Optimus: Animated was the only one I ever cared for.

Worst Optimus: I don't know, they're all exactly the same except for a few. Maybe movie for breaking the goody goody Optimus rule, maybe TFP for the boring Optimus who never disciplines his troops. Maybe the majority for being perfect and uninteresting.

Best Megatron: Beast Era as he always had a plan within a plan.

Worst Megatron: Robots in Disguise because he never did anything.

 

best - powermaster optimus prime
worst - tfa optimus prime
best - g1 galavtron
worst - tf c galavtron

 

I'll just post
Best OP- Without a doubt G1, he was a powerful leader and other stuff.
Worst OP- Sorry for the hate, but Animated, I loved David voicing him, but he didn't appeal to me.
Best Megs- Prime Megatron, the only one that is actually a threat, while it is a tie with BW.
Worst Megs- Unicron Trilogy, he didn't do much.

 

Best Optimus - Primal. Optimus Primal. He seemed like an actual character, a person. He wasn't perfect, he never had all the answers and not to mention members of his crew always had a tendency to go against his orders. He had disagreements with them and argued with them. He seemed real.

Worst - This is a tough decision. I'm leaning toward UT though.

Best Megatron - BW. As if that's a surprise though. He always had a plan, and knew what he was doing. Plus, he knew what it took to be a super villain--PRESENTATION!

Worst - Either UT or RiD. At least I could take UT Megs seriously--RiD Megatron has too many alt-modes (most of which were just stupid and unnecessary) and never really did anything noteworthy. Yeah, I'll say RiD.

 

G1 incarnations of both characters are my all time favorites due to nostalgia, so that doesn't really count.
Here are my next best Optimus and Megatron.

Best Optimus: Beast Wars, Movie
Best Megatron: Prime, Beast Wars
Worst Optimus: I'm sorry to say, but Prime
Worst Megatron: Unicron Trilogy

May I suggest we expand and add Starscream?
I'd love to see who's your favorite.  

 

Best Optimus: Beast Wars and Animated
Best Megatron: Beast Wars and Animated
Worst Optimus: TFP
Worst Megatron: RID

 

Best Optimus Prime: TFA, Cybertron, G1 (Only for his attitude)

Worst Optimus Prime: Movie, RID, Prime

Best Megatron: BW, TFA, TFP, Armada

Worst Megatron: Movie, RID

 

Best Megatron: Beast Era Megatron is a damned fine example. Animated Megatron would come close, but the writers never let him cut loose outside of Megatron Rising - they would stuff him in a closet until the season finale, which doesn't do the character justice. Prime Megatron's problem is that he doesn't have an overall plan the way the other two did - he's just there.

Worst: G1, RID. RID Megatron never got off his butt and did anything, and G1 Megatron was a joke. As someone else said upthread, "Decepticons, RETREAT!" should be Starscream's refrain, not Megatron's.

AEC Megatron was just there. Movie Megatron, though, he had his moments. His warehouse scene, where he's using Scalpel to probe Sam's brain, is one of my favorite scenes with him. He projects a subtle menace that is still chilling: "Oh, I could snap your limbs off. But first, we have some delicate work to do." "You have something on your mind, something I need."

Worst Optimus: RID & AEC Optimus were just there, and BM Optimus went spiritual guru, which should be Alpha Trion's role. However, the worst in my opinion is TFP Optimus - he took way too long to decide to kill Megatron rather than try to convince him to stop, after Megatron had already burned their world to the ground. His few visual hints at emotion are undermined by his dull, monotone, speech-vending voice. Some of his speeches are painfully self-righteous, like "We must rise above ourselves" rather than shoot Breakdown in the face. It's like a committee got together and made an Optimus Prime out of cardboard and narcoleptic speeches, rather than create a character.

Now, to end it on a high note: Runner-ups for best Optimus are Animated Optimus and BW Optimus Primal, who did their job well. Animated Op didn't get enough to do, thanks to Bumblebee and Bulkhead stealing the spotlight, and he may have won with a cheap deus ex machina like the Magnus Hammer, but he was decent. Primal makes a pretty good baseline for Optimuses. In my opinion, the best Optimus is the Bayverse - he's an astoundingly badass, brutally effective Optimus who has no patience for 'Con bullshit. If they hurt the people Optimus is trying to protect, they are going to die, no mercy, no second chances, no opportunity to escape and rebuild for round two. They. Will. Die. This Optimus's dedication to doing what's right, even when his own father figure is making a deal with the devil, is inspiring.

As a side note, I haven't read much of the recent IDW offerings, so I don't know much about the recently badassified IDW Optimus (the Chaos Theory/Shadowplay Optimus). All I know is that a lot of people love the James Roberts IDW Optimus as opposed to the Simon Furman/Shane McCarthy/Mike Costa Optimus Prime.

 

Best Optimus Prime -- WFC/FOC. Really shows compassion for ALL of the Autobots, and has a really great leadership quality about him.

Worst Optimus Prime -- Animated. I just dont get it.

Best Megatron -- Once again, WFC/FOC. He gets shit done, and is RUTHLESS on the battle field. That is how a Megatron should act

Worst Megatron -- Bayformers. Cowardly, and didn't get anything done that Optimus couldn't stop.