Dear Vector Prime, in some permutations of the Marvel G1 continuity, Cybertron was ruled by a lineage of Autobot "Overlords" prior to the outbreak of the Great War. Who were these bots and how did they come to power? What can you tell us in particular about the final Overlord, who was left for dead by Megatron and Ravage during the Tarn-Vos War?
The Overlords were an ancient religious order that arose in the early days of Cybertronian history—a collection of priests, oracles, and blacksmiths who oversaw the hallowed budding ceremonies that took place during those heady days of rapid propagation. Under their supervision, legions of cityspeakers raised Titans from the living fabric of Cybertron and shaped them into glimmering metropolises that would accommodate their growing civilization—and although Primus would eventually erase all memory of this ancient ritual from his creations, the Overlords maintained a lofty position in the Cybertronian hierarchy, a lineage that would go on to include legendary historical figures like Sky Garry, Exarchon, Gigatron, Megabolt, Dominus Ambus, Alpha Trion, Victory Leo, and Domitius Major, each governing their chosen nation as they saw fit.
Each Overlord ruled their chosen city-state, and sent Senators to represent their various polities at the Presidium in Iacon. Their rule was peaceful, and largely benevolent, but as Cybertronian civilization continued to evolve, their guiding influence on Cybertronian civilization gradually eroded. One by one, the Overlords gradually died off, and neighboring Overlords inherited their territories; this process continued until Dai Atlas, the final Overlord, had ostensibly taken control of the entire planet. A passive, complacent sort, Dai Atlas legitimately believed that instituting the State Games would ease tensions and restore the crumbling planet—but unfortunately, the process only abetted the rise of Megatron.
During the Great War that followed, one inspiring young Autobot deliberately styled himself after the Overlords of old to honor them, even giving himself a new name based on their grandiose titles—it is in this way that the Autobot Star Saber carved out a name for himself on the battlefield.
