Cold Construction and Starscream
***Originally posted in 2017***
So, in the IDW comics Cybertronians have two ways of being "born." The natural way is via hot spots where sparks (their soul/life force) are created and mold with a special metal that forms a protoform. The protoform then takes on the true shape of that transformer. Just like organic genetics and DNA turn a fetus into a human, bear, tiger, etc. Their CNA and spark coding determines what they will be.
The second way of creating a spark is Cold Construction. Cold Construction is when a spark is created with the Matrix, making an "artificial life." Think of a test tube baby. But instead of allowing that fetus to grow into what it wants to, they throw it into an adult body of what the creator wants it to be. Like taking the soul of a dog but putting it into the body of an elephant.
Cold Construction takes these sparks and puts them in already made bodies skipping out the protoform molding process and ignoring CNA/coding.
Starscream is Constructed Cold. He was created by the Senate to solve the hot spot crisis, when hot spots and therefore sparks were disappearing. He was artificially created and his spark put into the empty husk of a Seeker frame.
In the newest issue of "Till All are One" Starscream and Windblade find themselves fighting a villain in Starscream's own mind and what Starscream truly would look like, had his protoform been allowed to mold itself, is revealed.
This is the body of the real Starscream.
I also want to point out how this issue delved more into his PTSD. How seeing the one who abused him for so long made him fearful causing him to be unable to fight. How broken he is. And how this issue showed a small glimpse of what he would have been had Megatron never showed up, never abused him, never had torn him down, and Starscream never had to hide who he was in order to protect himself from more pain.
Seriously, why aren't comic books more recognized for all the deep and psychological shit they delve into?
Another thing to discuss:
Get ready for a long ass theory about my Space Hubby in the IDW comics. (SPOILERS)
So! During the events of the IDW comics we have seen some crazy stuff going on. I will begin this theory discussing the 13 Primes. There are a few who have gone missing, unaccounted for but their names live on. One Prime, though, name has been lost to history, The Arisen. Megatronus' name was removed due to his betrayal, but Alpha Trion, one of the Thirteen, has brought that name back. The rest of the world knows Megatronus simply as The Fallen. But, The Arisen's name is still lost. Unknown.
Optimus Prime has shown some true powers of being a Prime, such as using The Matrix, rising a Titan from the ground, and finding one of the Thirteen colony worlds (Earth). The Mistress of Flame pointed out how he seems to be The Arisen, and Optimus hasn't done anything to dissuade her.
But, going back to earlier issues, Optimus confessed to Ratchet that when he first connected to The Matrix it "hurt" and didn't feel right. He also claimed himself to be a Prime, taking on the name rather than being given it, and has been having doubts about being a Prime.
Rodimus Prime told Optimus that when he first connected to The Matrix it felt "natural" and there was no pain. Rodimus did not name himself, rather was given the name Prime by those around him after seeing what he did with The Matrix and his leadership.
Now, let's talk about Starscream. Starscream was Constructed Cold. His spark created from The Matrix when hot spots were disappearing on Cybertron, and placed in an already made body, a Seeker frame. He never got to choose who he was, and his protoform never was able to take on the natural shape that his spark code demanded. Due to this, Starscream would change bodies often because none of them "felt right." This happened especially in the more recent issues when he's the ruler of Cybertron. Probably due to feeling so close to who he wanted to be (in reality, it because his toy kept changing but we're sticking to the story).
In "Till All Are One" #12 we find out what Starscream's TRUE frame is. The way he was always meant to be. What his spark demanded to be (See image below). He is not a Seeker, but something so much more.
In "Robots in Disguise" a Titan in Crystal City awoke and said that Starscream was The Chosen One from the prophesy foretold by Alchemist Prime. Galvatron claimed this prophesy was simply "drunk talk," but the prophesy of The Chosen One uniting Cybertron's lost colonies and uniting her people did come true, as seen at the end of the "Till All Are One" arc, which cost Starscream his freedom.
Now, the Titan that told Starscream he was The Chosen one is the same one that Optimus Prime rose from the ground on Earth. Coincidence? Probably not.
Starscream fulfilled the prophesy of The Chosen One, uniting Cybertron together even if it took them uniting against him in doing so. He sacrificed his freedom (his life as far as he knew it) in order to do the right thing. To save Cybertron and her people. In previous issues Starscream has always done what he could to help his people, the Seekers, even if it meant him being hurt, possibly dying, or doing something "morally dubious," as he told Wheeljack in RID.
These selfless actions and fulfilling the prophesy is very... Prime-like. Starscream also once held The Matrix for a time, even though he was unable to get it to work.
Now, looking at his TRUE body, he is very Prime-like as well. Large, noble, even sporting unusual optic colors (purple).
Starscream also seems to survive things that would kill most. Every time Megatron basically kills him he somehow lives. Is it possible his spark is unusual?
Now, this is just a theory, but is it possible Starscream could be The Arisen?
IDW bases the Thirteen Primes on The Aligned Continuity's Thirteen. In the Aligned universe The Arisen was an Optimus Prime who sacrificed himself and was resurrected as the new Optimus Prime. Maybe IDW is keeping to the same script, OR perhaps The Arisen has resurrected as a new person? Maybe they were a Seeker-like being before death?
Starscream has been a leader, warrior, has made sacrifices for the good of others, and in many regards is far more humble and dependable than Optimus Prime. While it is hard to understand Starscream fully due to the abuse he suffered at the servos of Megatron, in recent comics he's been able to be more of himself now since his abuser is far away and he's feeling safer. The things he did to survive still leak out as he seems unable to turn off his "fight or flight" response, but PTSD does this to someone.
Maybe, just maybe, Starscream is a Prime. The lost Prime. Maybe an entirely new Prime.
With the Lost Light now having just found Cyberutopia perhaps the Knights shall reveal some shocking results. Maybe we will learn the truths of the Primes.
I personally would love if Starscream was a Prime. Not just because he's my absolute favorite, but as someone who also suffers PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies, it would be amazing to see Starscream, despite all of this, despite the hell he went through, despite what he had to do to survive, despite everything, all his pain, suffering, tears, loneliness, loss, and regret... He would get something amazing. Something he never even thought about that he would get. Something that a fighter, a survivor, has earned.
And it would be awesome because then he can laugh at Megatron and finally, maybe, feel like he has escaped his past and his abuser.
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