Starscream is Megatron's second in command who dreams of taking his place. He betrays at every opportunity, yet almost never succeeds. Why?
Ambition without support
Starscream is clever, fast and cunning, but he can't lead. The Decepticons follow Megatron for his strength and charisma; Starscream they merely tolerate. When he seizes power, his allies quickly scatter.
His best-known attempts
In the 1986 film Starscream is finally crowned leader, but Galvatron interrupts the ceremony and destroys him. Even then he returns as a ghost in the classic cartoon's third season. In Transformers: Animated he creates clones of himself, each embodying one of his traits. In Prime he operates alone for a long time but eventually returns to Megatron.
Why the character works
Starscream is comic and tragic at once. His constant failures are funny, but behind them is a familiar human trait: the craving for recognition that eats you from within. That's why he remains one of fans' favourite villains.
