Optimus Prime (Unicron Trilogy)
Optimus Prime is a fictional Transformers character and leader of the heroic Autobots in the "Unicron Trilogy" comprising Transformers: Armada, Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Cybertron.
Although the original Japanese incarnation of Transformers: Cybertron, there known as Transformers: Galaxy Force, was produced as being unrelated to Armada and Energon the series as originally conceived by Hasbro was as the third part of the trilogy, and the English language dub of the series treats it as such. Consequently, inconsistencies arise between Cybertron and the other two series, but these have been explained away by the Cybertron comic book available exclusively through the Official Transformers Collectors Club as the result of fluctuations in the fabric of reality caused by the Unicron-induced black hole. The collective name for the trilogy was coined by Aaron Archer.
| Transformers character | |
| Optimus Prime | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Autobot (Cybertron) |
| Sub-Group | Deluxe Vehicles |
| Function | Autobot Leader |
| Motto | ??? |
| Alternate mode(s) | semi truck |
| Series | Armada |
| Voiced by | Gary Chalk (Enflish), Toru Ohkawa (Micron Legend) |
Optimus Prime leads his small team of Autobots to Earth to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the small race of power-enhancing Transformers known as Mini-Cons.
Optimus Prime transforms into a semi-truck and is partnered with the Mini-Con, Sparkplug. The cab of his truck mode detaches and forms Prime himself, while the trailer can transform into a battle station mode operable by Prime and several Mini-Cons. Prime can also combine with his base to form a "Super Mode" robot. Additionally, Prime can combine with Jetfire and/or Overload for additional power.
Optimus Prime died by standing purposefully in the path of the Hydra Cannon built by Megatron from the three Mini-Con weapons. It was the Mini-Cons themselves, however, who resurrected him, entering the Matrix and reconstructing a new body for him. Subsequently, Prime was forced to face the dark part of his soul by Unicron, who forced him to face the fact that on some level, he enjoyed the thrill of combat. Following Unicron's defeat, Prime's denial was sorely tested as Galvatron forced him into one final furious battle, that ended when Galvatron sacrificed himself to end the circle of hate that powered Unicron.
| Transformers character | |
| Optimus Prime | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Autobot (Cybertron) |
| Sub-Group | None |
| Function | Autobot Leader |
| Motto | "Those who threaten peace will fall in pieces." |
| Alternate mode(s) | semi truck |
| Series | Energon |
| Voiced by | Gary Chalk (English), Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese) |
Although peacetime in the decade that followed the apparent deaths of Unicron and Galvatron had afforded Prime (called Grand Convoy in the Japanese version) the opportunity to train his own elite squadron of Autobots, teaching the martial art of Kumite, the re-emergence of the war has forced him to return to his role as commander. The war for the Mini-Cons, and the truths he was forced to face in his confrontation with Unicron seem to have changed him - now a stern commander, he is more direct, and shows little of the conflict that held him back. However, he is still known to make classic "Prime" decisions, which include an emphasis on team work, and the foundation of the Autobot values. Some exaggerate his objective as a single-minded, violent dedication to destroying both Megatron and Unicron, but the fact that he has been known to counsel and advise individuals like Kicker and Ironhide, as well as go so far as to compromise with Alpha Q, shows that this is not true.
No longer able to combine with his trailer, Prime has instead been gifted with the Spark of Combination by Primus, allowing him to combine with the quartet of vehicular drones in his trailer, the Prime Force (Grand Cross) - Fire One, Copter Two (Gyro Two), Digger Three and Submarine Four, each of which can form either an arm or a leg when they combine with Prime, creating his Super Mode. Later, Prime also gained the ability to combine with his fellow Autobots, Wing Saber and Omega Supreme, merging with the latter regularly in the final stages of the conflict, growing to colossal heights to directly battle Unicron.
Transformers: Cybertron
| Transformers character | |
| Optimus Prime (Galaxy Convoy) | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance | Autobot (Cybertron) |
| Sub-Group | Super Vehicles |
| Function | Autobot Leader |
| Motto | |
| Alternate mode(s) | fire truck |
| Series | Cybertron |
| Voiced by | Gary Chalk (English), Taiten Kusunoki (Japanese) |
At first, Optimus Prime (Galaxy Convoy in the Japanese version) shows a near-xenophobic reluctance with interacting with other cultures, believing that such interaction would cause more harm than good and strongly prohibiting his team from mingling with the locals of Earth, Velocitron, and Jungle Planet during their search for the Cyber Planet Keys. This attitude was drastically changed when Prime realized that the only way to acquire the Cyber Planet Keys from Velocitron and Animatros was to play by their laws.
His alt-mode is a futuristic firetruck, although some believe it to be some sort of mobile weapons platform (the show itself treats it as a firetruck). This can also transform into a flight mode, with wings and cannons on each side of the truck. In addition to his standard robot mode, he can combine with his rear 'trailer' section to form a heavily armed Super mode. That trailer section can also form an independent weapons platform, useable by anyone. His face, designed in the classic Prime style, merges the two mouth-plate elements - a slitted version to expose his mouth, like Beast Wars Optimus Primal did on the television series and a full mouth-plate which can rise to cover it.
There is also a smaller "Legends of Cybertron" Micro sized version of this Optimus Prime, without a trailer, and a Burger King Kid's Meal toy, again without a trailer.
During the Animatros story arc, it was discovered he could combine with Leobreaker (Ligerjack in Japan) into a stronger form called Savage Claw Mode (Liger Convoy in Japan). In addition, Optimus can combine with Wing Saber (Sonic Bomber in Japan) as well, into Sonic Flight Mode (Sonic Convoy in Japan).
What was generally regarded to be his most impressive feat happened towards the end of the series, where he was able to take on Galvatron without combining with any other Transformer (Leobreaker and Wing Saber). He managed to destroy Galvatron with Vector Prime's sword.
He was voiced by in the Japanese version.
Dreamwave Comics
Just as Marvel Comics produced a companion comic to the original Transformers toyline that differed from its animated counterpart, so did Dreamwave produce a comic to go along with the Transformers: Armada and Energon lines that owed little to their animated fellows. This incarnation of Optimus Prime, however, is not particularly different from his animated counterpart in personality.
Transported to a parallel universe as the walls of reality began to crumble, fortelling the coming of Unicron to the Armada universe, Prime and Jetfire were supercharged by their Mini-Con companions into new, "Powerlinx" forms, and combined to hold the chaos-bringer at bay. Unicron was eventually defeated by the united power of the Mini-Cons. Ten years later after the end of the Armada comic series, Unicron rose again, and Megatron's disembodied spark, trapped within the world-eater, called out to Prime, intercepting his path during a spacebridge transit, and bringing him inside Unicron's body. Prime fought his way through Unicron's defences, but Dreamwave's closure meant that resolution to the storyline was not accomplished, nor was the Cybertron era of the comics reached.