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Unicron

2011-12-16T00:48:26Z

125.237.207.78: /* References and footnotes */

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[[Image:Unicron-UltimateGuide.jpg|right|350px|thumb|He's been ignoring Galactus's C&D letters.]]

'''Unicron''' is the eternal arch-enemy of his twin brother [[Primus]]. Also known as the [[Lord of Chaos]], the Chaos Bringer, and the Planet Eater, he is dedicated to consuming the [[multiverse]]. His massive form is powered by the consumption of planets, moons, stars, and even the very fabric of existence. Unicron will not be sated until his ultimate goal is attained: to bring an end to the annoying creation boasting independence around him, and find peace by becoming the living center of a [[Void|swirling, infinite torrent of nothingness]] at the end of all things.

To undertake this seemingly overwhelming task, Unicron is able to travel across realities at will, a meandering plague upon existence itself.<ref>Titanium Series 3" Unicron profile</ref><ref>Universe Armada Series Unicron bio</ref> Integrated into his systems are incomprehensible quantum computers which calculate probabilities forward and backwards in time, in perpetuity, giving his processors an ever changing, evolving map of the multiverse.<ref>Profile, [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 10]]</ref> With these abilities at his disposal, Unicron has thus far devoured approximately 22.56% of known universes. <ref>According to the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s' records in "[[Withered Hope]]."</ref>

The only thing that he fears is Primus's essence, contained inside the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. To a being of chaos and uncreation, this font of life is a poison.

Frequently, Unicron will make deals with [[Herald of Unicron|lesser beings]], promising them vast new powers in exchange for their servitude. These minions are [[Thunderwing (G1)|sometimes]] stripped entirely of their free will, but [[Sideways (RID)|others]] follow him willingly. Service to Unicron, however, is a double-edged sword, for it causes insanity and loss of self. And in the end, Unicron's plans ultimately call for their consumption as well.

{{bigquote|Unicron is frightening. Unicron will destroy... will destroy ''space''.|[[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]]|"[[Uprising]]"}}

==In the beginning==
[[Image:UK150Unicron.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Saay, that shield looks [[Decepticon|familiar]].]]
Before the dawn of time, Order and Chaos existed within an extra-dimensional entity known as [[The One]]. To explore the fledgling universe, he created the astral being known as Unicron, and then subdivided him, creating his twin, Primus. Both brothers were [[Multiversal singularity|multiversal singularities]], unique in all realities, but whereas Unicron could only exist in one universe at a time, moving between them at will, Primus existed simultaneously in all realities at once. It is suggested, in fact, that the two brothers embody the basic concepts of reality—good and evil, order and chaos—and that their continued existence is necessary for the stability of the multiverse.

[[Image:Primusoriginal.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"No, [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] is ''[[RIBFIR|red]]!''"]]
As Unicron and Primus went about their appointed task, venturing through the cosmos, it became apparent to Primus that Unicron was a corrupt being, and he took it upon himself to stop the threat posed to all of existence by his sibling. In combat, Primus was no match for Unicron. In cunning, however, he proved himself to be his brother's superior when he shifted their battle to the astral plane, and then back to the physical world once more, only to have both their essences manifest within metallic planetoids, leaving them both trapped. It was with this act of sacrifice that Primus hoped to contain Unicron's evil forever. Unfortunately for him, over time, Unicron learned to psionically shape his prison into a giant metallic planet, and Primus followed suit, becoming the mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Unicron then learned to transform his planetary form even further, into a gigantic robot form, Primus adapted the idea to suit his own ends, creating a group of [[Thirteen|thirteen robots]] that possessed the ability to change shape, like Unicron.

The war between Unicron and Primus came to its seeming end during a climactic battle in which one of the Thirteen, Megatronus Prime, who would forever afterwards be known as [[The Fallen]], betrayed Primus and became an acolyte of Unicron. The battle ended when the Fallen and Unicron were sucked into a black hole and disappeared from reality. With Unicron gone for now, Primus entered an eons-long slumber, his self-imposed sleep preventing Unicron from detecting him through the mental link the brothers shared.

===Evolution of the Primus/Unicron myth===
The Primus/Unicron backstory has evolved and been rewritten a good number of times since it first originated in the [[Marvel Comics]] series. The version recounted above is the current iteration, which has slowly solidified across a wide swath of media (beginning around the time of ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''). Before the Primus/Unicron mythos reached its present form it went through several distinct versions in the Marvel Generation 1 comics and elsewhere.

====Unicron's story====
The first time the Primus/Unicron backstory appeared was in the UK comic continuity, from Unicron himself, in the story "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]", when he recounted it to [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]. Per Unicron's telling of events, he was a primal force of evil at the dawn of the universe, who led a legion of [[Dark God]]s against his mortal foe, Primus, Lord of the [[Light God]]s. Events proceeded to play out basically as described above, though the role of the Light and Dark Gods would diminish with each subsequent retelling of the story, until the current version, in which Primus and Unicron are alone, and have a unique origin.

====The Keeper's story====
The second time the story was told was in the United States book by the [[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]], an ancient mechanoid who guarded Primus's head at the center of Cybertron. This telling is effectively the same as the previous UK story, but mentions that their battle was towards the end of the era of gods, that Primus and Unicron were the last of their respective pantheons, and Primus had to defeat Unicron before he could take his place with the other gods in the "[[Omniversal Matrix]]".

====Primus's story====
The third time the story was told was also in the United States Marvel series, this time by Primus, when he gathered all his children together to prepare for Unicron's coming. It was with this telling that we learned that Unicron predated the [[universe (universe)|current universe]], and had destroyed the [[old realms|previous universe]] which existed before the current one. He had slept peacefully, alone in the [[void]] of un-creation that remained, until fragments of the old universe that he had overlooked reacted, causing the Big Bang and birthing the current universe. The "sentient core" of this new universe recognized the threat that Unicron posed, and so created Primus to counter his evil and be guardian of the new creation.

====Fleer and DK====
The first modern retelling of the origins of Primus and Unicron did not come from Generation 1-oriented media, but from a set of ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' trading cards released by Fleer. It was the backstory printed on Unicron's card which introduced the concept of the two being brothers created to explore the new universe by an extra-dimensional entity, here named the "[[Allspark]]".''

This was subsequently expanded on and combined with aspects of the various Marvel Comics stories in ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', published by Dorling Kindersley and written by [[Simon Furman]], who had written all three prior tellings in the first place. Here, the entity Fleer had called the "Allspark" was redubbed "[[The One]]", and the modern iteration of the myth detailed above was firmly established, and went on to form the backbone of subsequent fiction such as ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]]' ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics.

==Generation 1 continuity family==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:PrimalScream-Unicron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Unicron is furious that he's been miscolored again.]]

Eventually, millions of years later, circa the Earth year 1990, a group of Transformers discovered the sleeping form of Primus at Cybertron's core. When a battle erupted, a stray laser blast struck Primus, briefly jolting the god awake and causing him to emit a multiverse-shaking "Primal Scream" that alerted Unicron to Primus's location. Primus himself immediately slipped back into his sleep, but it was too late. {{storylink|Primal Scream}}

[[Image:EyeoftheStorm-possiblefutureUnicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Um, [[multiversal singularity|forget this]], please.]]

While devouring the planet [[Ghennix]], Unicron took note of three criminals who were attempting to escape their fate. Unicron destroyed their vessel and recreated the three as [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]]. As the distance to Cybertron was vast and he was too large to teleport, he ordered them to retrieve a [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] from a [[Rhythms of Darkness!|possible future]] to serve as his herald. {{storylink|All Fall Down}} Though this Galvatron was angry at being plucked from his victorious timeline, Unicron tortured him until he agreed to be his herald. Still, this Galvatron secretly plotted his eventual treachery. Unicron sent all four of them to attack Cybertron and pave the way for his coming. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}}

{{note|Unicron declares himself to not be the same entity that this future-Galvatron remembers. The "main timeline" Unicron being a different individual from "alternate future" Unicron is also asserted by Hook, Line, and Sinker. In subsequent years, the retcon establishment of Unicron as a multiversal singularity means that these claims can only be interpreted as lies. Either that, or, uhhh, just ignore them altogether.}}

So close to Cybertron he could ''taste it'', Unicron decided to forgo consumption of the planet [[Jhi]] and hasten on his way to the ultimate confrontation. His herald Galvatron, however, captured Autobot leader [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]], forcing him to fully awaken Primus. Suspecting treachery on Galvatron's part, Unicron sent Hook, Line and Sinker to retrieve him from the subterranean tunnels of Cybertron, but Galvatron destroyed them, and Primus was woken from his slumber. Unicron's arch-foe possessed Xaaron's body and summoned Transformers from all across the universe back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Out of Time!}}

Unicron shut down his higher mental functions and drifted for the remainder of the journey to hide himself from detection by Primus. At this point, a mental command that Unicron had placed in some of Primus's creations was activated, resulting in the formation of a cult of Unicron-worshipers, who gathered to destroy the leader of the united Autobots and Decepticons. These [[Unicron cultist]]s were drawn out when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] was named commander of Primus's army. The cultists tried to assassinate the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]; they failed, but distracted the Cybertronians long enough for Unicron to sneak up on the planet. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:Edgeofextinction-someonefight.jpg|right|150px|thumb|''He's got the whooooole world, in his feet...'']]

After Unicron dug his fist into the planet and ate the flesh of his mortal enemy, he noted that this was the finest meal he had ever tasted. However, he was somewhat disappointed to find that the gathered Transformers were simply so terrified of him that there was no resistance to his attack. As he devoured [[Brainstorm]] from the tip of his finger, he admitted that despite their lack of showmanship, they were at least delicious.

Unicron's unchecked rampage was soon ensnared by Primus himself, speaking through Emirate Xaaron's body. For a short moment, Unicron was restrained, but when he deduced that this ruse was a big show put on by an insignificant portion of Primus's power, he broke free and destroyed the avatar of Primus, killing both Xaaron and his creator.

Galvatron, who was worried his treachery was going to waste, attacked Unicron, hoping his bravery would stir the Transformers into action. Galvatron was smacked down, but his gambit paid off as the Transformers snapped out of their collective stupor and began a counter-attack against the Chaos-Bringer. Countless Transformers died in this assault, including the Decepticon leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. But Transformers weren't the only ones attacking him. Briefly fazed by the illusion-casting powers of the [[human]] [[Neo-Knights|Neo-Knight]] [[Rapture]], Unicron's systems were attacked by the electrical powers of [[Circuit Breaker]].

[[Image:OntheEdgeofExtinction-toomuch.jpg|left|thumb|300px|For soon you will have life. ''Sweet'' life.]]

After being clocked by the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], Unicron received another surprise: the thought-lost Creation Matrix had returned, along with its vessel, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Unicron was at first confused, as he'd sensed the Matrix's destruction, but quickly realized that the Matrix had not been destroyed, but had merely been masked by its seduction by evil. And in the realm of evil, Unicron had no equal! Thunderwing was destroyed, but the Matrix fell to the planet's surface.

Fighting the evil within the Matrix, Optimus Prime grabbed the artifact and launched into Unicron's maw, where the Creation Matrix was opened. While being pummeled by the flood of life unleashed by the Matrix, Unicron's body could not maintain structural integrity and exploded. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

[[Image:JudgmentDay-mist.jpg|right|thumb|150px|So, seriously, what was up with this stuff?]]

In an alternate 2005, Unicron's consumption of the planet [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]] was heralded first by strange pink mists<ref>The original script called this an "electronic mist". It sets you on fire and melts you.</ref> that leaked from his planet mode's maw. On route to Cybertron, he encountered an injured Megatron and the bodies of his troops. He offered them new bodies in exchange for hunting down the Matrix. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}} As Galvatron was sent forward, Unicron devoured [[Moonbase One]] and [[Moonbase Two]]. {{storylink|Judgment Day!}} Galvatron returned to Unicron with the Matrix, but he intended to use it to make Unicron his slave. In retaliation, Unicron attacked Cybertron in earnest, as the planet was helpless against his assault. Ultimately, during a battle that took place inside Unicron, Rodimus Prime claimed the Matrix of Leadership from Galvatron and the Planet-Eater was destroyed from within. Only his head survived, and it remained in orbit over Cybertron. {{storylink|The Final Battle!}} {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" were a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]. Also, the UK printing of the animated film adaptation altered the date from 2005 to 2006 to match ''[[Target: 2006]]''.}}

In another alternate 2005, a dying Megatron was found by Unicron. Unicron refashioned Galvatron into his herald, {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} and through their combined efforts, Unicron succeeded in devouring Cybertron. In the aftermath, he allowed Galvatron and his Decepticons to rule Earth. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}
{{-}}

====Earthforce====
{{earthforcefiction}}
After Grimlock accused Optimus Prime of being too focused on Unicron's imminent arrival, to the detriment of [[Earth]]'s troubles, the Dinobot Commander was allowed to create an [[Earthforce]].'' {{storylink|Break-Away!}}

''However, Prime had his work cut out for him. With an attempted Decepticon alliance ruined beyond all recovery and the Matrix still lost, Optimus had to turn to the original site of the Underbase—as the Underbase was linked to the centre of Cybertron, the Autobots could tap into that centre (and thus Primus himself) as a substitute Matrix.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}
{{-}}

====Marvel UK future timelines====
[[Image:FallenAngel-Unicron.jpg|left|250px|thumb|And then Rodimus drove up through his entire body to escape through Unicron's other eye.]]
In the parallel timeline of [[Earth-120185]], Unicron did not arrive at Cybertron until the year 2006, consuming the small planet [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]] on his way. As he drew closer to Cybertron, Unicron came upon the damaged bodies of Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and several of his Decepticon followers, who had been jettisoned into space following a major battle at [[Autobot City]] on Earth. Unicron extended Megatron a bargain, offering to rebuild him and his troops into new beings to serve him, and tortured the recalcitrant Decepticon leader into accepting. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}} Now reborn as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Megatron immediately began scheming to destroy his "master", using a [[time-jump mechanism]] to travel back in time to 1986, where he constructed a solar cannon that was powerful enough to destroy Unicron's physical form. Fully aware of his pawn's actions, Unicron took control of the minds of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and had them follow Galvatron back in time to foil his plan. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

After Galvatron returned to 2006, he fought [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] within Unicron, where he was defeated and thrown out into space. He still had remote to the [[time-jump mechanism]] and used it to travel back to 1986 again, where he planned to take over the Decepticons so he'd be ready for Unicron when he arrived 20 years later. {{storylink|Fallen Angel}}

[[Image:LegacyofUnicron-Unicron.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Silly Junkions, you can buy loose Unicrons on eBay for just $20!]]

Only Unicron's head survived the explosion of his body, and it floated off through space to eventually crash-land on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. There, the still-conscious Unicron used mind control to force the native [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] to build him a new body out of the planet. At the beginning of 2008, he pulled [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] into his thrall and used them to re-ignite the stalemated Cybertronian war in order to keep the Autobots distracted from his activities. Amused by Death's Head's repeated attempts at defiance, he told him about his origin, only to find himself now under attack by Rodimus Prime and an Autobot strike-team.

This ''almost'' went wrong, as Rodimus (at Death's Head's suggestion) tried to use the power of the Matrix on the astral plane. Here, however, the Matrix ''strengthened'' Unicron and the monster intended to merge with it for greater power. Ultimately, however, he was defeated by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], who had planted explosives under the head's building site while the Chaos-Bringer was distracted. His head was destroyed, and his mind was sealed within the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

[[Image:WhiteFire-mine.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Rodimus rejects Unicron's endorsement of the coal industry.]]

On New Year's Day 2009, Unicron attempted to turn the Matrix towards evil and merge with it again, the only way he could bear being trapped within it. {{storylink|White Fire}} He reached out from within it and took control of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]'s body, {{storylink|Edge of Impact}} only to be stopped when Kup ripped the talisman out of his chest. Unfortunately, this meant they lost their chance to purify the Matrix and that Unicron would be ready for them next time. {{storylink|White Fire}} In 2010, he repeated the trick and transformed Rodimus's body into a copy of his own before being forced back. In the far future of 2356, Unicron's essence still resides within the Matrix, steadily withering the struggling body of Rodimus. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Orson Welles]] (English, Movie), [[Roger C. Carmel]] (English, TV series), [[Mizuho Suzuki]] (Japanese, Movie), [[Toshio Ishii]] (Japanese, TV series), [[Jean-Claude Michel]] (French, Movie)

[[Image:Unicroncall.jpg|right|thumb|200px|So anyway, in this one continuity I'm built by a monkey. Sorry.]]

Unicron was constructed by the ancient genius known as [[Primacron (G1)|Primacron]] at the dawn of the universe. Primacron had hoped that Unicron would scour the galaxy clean of life, leaving a blank slate for him to experiment upon, but naturally, Unicron had no desire to be the servant of another, and turned on Primacron, badly wounding him and his [[Oracle (G1)|assistant]], and setting out into the depths of space. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

{{note|The cartoon's account of Unicron's origin is very much at odds with the current understanding of him as a multiveral singularity. This, of course, is because the cartoons were written long before the Marvel Comic storyline that created the Primus/Unicron myth, and ''much'' longer before the retcon that applied the story to all Transformer continuities. Consequently, the animated universe is easily the one piece of Transformer fiction that is least compatible with this retcon and there has as yet been no attempt in official fiction to re-write Unicron's animated origin to tie in with it.}}

[[Image:TFTM_Unicron_Lithone.jpg|left|250px|thumb|I see you down there!]]

In the year 2005, Unicron made his most famous attack upon Cybertron. While heading towards the planet, he consumed the small world of [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]], making it perfectly clear how great of a threat he was to the entire universe. As he continued on his way, Unicron's powers allowed him to become aware of the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], who handed the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] just before dying, which angered him tremendously. He then came upon the bodies of several wounded and dying Decepticons, who had been dumped into space following a [[Battle of Autobot City|recent battle]] on Earth. He extended a proposition to the Decepticons' leader, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], offering to rebuild his body and those of his troops in exchange for their destruction of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. Tortured into accepting, Megatron was transformed into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], and his followers became [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and the [[Sweep]]s.

[[Image:TFTM_Unicron_smashes_cybertron.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Unicron smash!]]

While Galvatron set about reclaiming leadership of the Decepticons, Unicron arrived at Cybertron, and proceeded to consume the planet's two moons. Outraged that Unicron would do this to a planet that he viewed as his, Galvatron found himself the victim of mental torture by his creator, and ordered to Earth to complete the task given him. The ensuing chase finally climaxed in a showdown on the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], where Galvatron seized the Matrix and returned to Unicron, only to reveal that he intended to use the talisman to make Unicron his slave. Amused by his pawn's arrogance, Unicron transformed into his [[Scale|gigantic]] robot mode and ate Galvatron. Unicron then tore into Cybertron, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the rest of the Decepticons on the planet fought back, to little effect. Unicron swallowed many spaceships, and one, which contained the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] and his comrades, crashed through Unicron's eye. Hot Rod and Galvatron battled deep inside Unicron, and ultimately, Hot Rod was able to retake the Matrix from the Decepticon. Transformed by its power into [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], he defeated Galvatron and opened the Matrix inside Unicron, destroying his body from within.

Unicron's head was blown clear during his death throes, and became caught in Cybertron's gravity, turning it into a new moon for the planet — a grisly testament to the satellites he had destroyed. {{Storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

[[Image:Unicron head orbit.jpg|180px|left|thumb|Incoming message from the [[Grand Mal|Big, Giant Head]]!]]

In the year 2006, Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps visited Unicron's head, seeking to locate Galvatron, who had been hurled into space at the conclusion of his battle with Rodimus Prime. After accessing the remaining databanks and replaying footage of the final battle, Cyclonus extrapolated Galvatron's trajectory and current location. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

[[Image:GhostMachine Unicron starscream jumpers.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Unicron's glad he got that Triple-A membership.]]

On the planet home to the monster known as [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] proclaimed that Galvatron would be "more famous in history than Unicron" once Galvatron destroyed Cybertron with his newly-built death crystal cannon. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}}

Later, the ghost of the deceased Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] reactivated Unicron's head in order to make a bargain with him; in exchange for Unicron restoring his body, Starscream would recreate Unicron's. Stealing new optic circuits and a transformation cog for Unicron from [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Starscream was then directed to connect Unicron's head to Cybertron, so that the planet could become his new body. Starscream initially attempted to do this by using Trypticon's body, but Trypticon was deactivated by the Decepticons. Unicron restored Starscream's body so that he could finish the task, but Starscream (somewhat predictably, being Starscream) double-crossed Unicron and refused to complete the necessary connections. Just then, explosives set by the Autobots were detonated, hurling Unicron's head off the planet, beyond its gravity, and out into space. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

Seeking a supply of the dangerous particles known as [[anti-electron]]s, Galvatron and the Decepticons traveled to Unicron's head, only to come under attack from the defenses of the barely-aware giant. Also present was the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], who used components from Unicron's head to create the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] to fight Galvatron's forces. The Technobot [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] disconnected enough of Unicron's internal mechanisms to deactivate his systems. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Kiss Players''/''Teletraan Go! Go!''=====
[[Image:TGGUni1.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Bwah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha]]
Following his destruction in 2005, Unicron's [[Angolmois|lifeforce]] was scattered across time and space, fragmented and parasitized into Autobot and [[Maximal]] leaders throughout history. In 2007, three of his servants, the [[Sparkbot]]s, sought to recreate their master, and tricked the human singing group, the [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]]—[[Marissa Faireborn]], [[Atari Hitotonari]] and [[Shaoshao Li]]—into helping them in their task by telling them that they were gathering the fragments of the so-called "Allspark".

[[Image:TGGUni2.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Oh god ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha]]
[[Primus]] was forced to take action to stop their mission, appearing as a giant golden hand to steal away the energy fragments before the Sparkbots could collect them, but eventually, the evil trio collected enough to accomplish their dire task. Fleeing back in time to [[Earth]]'s prehistoric past, they unleashed the energy and Unicron began to form around them. Following the Sparkbots back to the past, Primus unleashed the full firepower of his mobile battle platform's cannon, sealing Unicron's energy and the Sparkbots deep within the planet. He then created the mighty [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]] to serve as a guardian and ensure that the evil being was never again reborn. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #51}}

Unfortunately for everyone except Unicron, Brave Maximus would go onto leave the Earth in 2007, leaving the chaos-bringer's life-force unguarded. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #39}}
{{-}}
=====''Beast Wars II'' cartoon=====
At some point in the far future, human beings discovered Unicron's lifeforce within the Earth, and attempted to harness it for their own means. This resulted in the devastation of the planet Earth, reducing it to a ruin, {{storylink|Emissary of the Fourth Planet}} but the fame of this "mysterious energy" that had been called "[[Angolmois]]" was far-reaching, and eventually, tens of thousands of years after the end of the Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons, the Predacon leader [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] attempted to harvest it for himself. {{storylink|The New Forces Arrive!}} Using his artificial planet, [[Nemesis (BWII)|Nemesis]], he sucked all the Angolmois energy out of the planet and into the craft. However, after the interference of [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Lio Junior]], all the Angolmois energy was sealed into capsules and ejected from Nemesis as it self-destructed. {{storylink|Farewell! Lio Convoy}}

=====''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoon=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Tetsuo Komura]] (Japanese)

[[Image:BWNeo Unicron.JPG|left|180px|thumb|Unicron didn't take kindly to being part of the Macy's Parade.]]
Teams of Maximals and Predacons, led by [[Big Convoy]] and [[Magmatron]] respectively, then raced to collect the Angolmois capsules, as their energy effects were wreaking havoc on planets all over the galaxy. {{storylink|Big Convoy, Move Out}}

They eventually collected all the capsules only to find themselves attacked by the mysterious and freakish [[Blendtron]]s. The Blendtrons, in truth servants of Unicron seeking to engineer his rebirth, proved nearly invincible, and stole the capsules from each team. {{storylink|Mysterious Beast Warriors!?}} They released the Angolmois energy and allowed it to possess Galvatron's dead body, restoring Unicron to life in a new form. {{storylink|Unicron Revived!?}} Unicron absorbed the last remaining ounce of stray Angolmois energy—the Blendtrons themselves—and left to settle his score with Cybertron. [[Great Convoy]] attempted to hold Unicron off with the entire Maximal armada, but Unicron's fiery serpent mode proved too much and he effortlessly destroyed the armada and Great Convoy along with it. Unicron then possessed [[Vector Sigma]], the mother computer of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], effectively possessing the planet, and morphed Cybertron into his new body. {{storylink|End of the Maximals!?}}

Unicron then briefly exited Vector Sigma to deal with the last remaining Cybertronian resistance. {{storylink|The Final Battle (BWN)|The Final Battle}} Big Convoy, his Maximal new recruits, Lio Convoy and Magmatron all fought side-by-side against Unicron, but all they managed to do was stall him. Big Convoy then powered up his Big Cannon with his own [[Energon Matrix|Matrix]], transforming it into the Matrix Buster. Big Convoy shot Unicron with the weapon, the powerful blast seemingly destroying the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|The Final Battle (BWN)|The Final Battle}} Unicron's spirit was then evicted from Vector Sigma, returning Cybertron to normal. {{storylink|Graduation Ceremony!!}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars'' manga continuity====
=====''Beast Wars II'' manga=====
After his destruction in 2005, Unicron's displaced lifeforce became trapped within the planet Earth, where it was eventually discovered and manipulated by humankind (who were unaware of its origins). This resulted in the devastation of the planet, but the fame of this "mysterious energy" that had been called "[[Angolmois]]" was far-reaching, and eventually, twenty million years after Unicron's destruction, {{storylink|Double Cross}} the Predacon leader [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] travelled to the deserted Earth (now known as [[Gaea]]) and attempted to harvest it for himself.

A Maximal energon survey team was sent to the planet Unicron, but it lost contact with [[Maximal Army Central Headquarters]].<ref>This is possibly a vague hint to the role Unicron would play in the greater ''Beast Wars II''-''Neo'' story, or a [[Easter egg|reference]] inserted by the [[Authorial intent|author]] before Unicron's inclusion as the source of Angolmois was decided upon.</ref> {{storylink|Demolish the Superdreadnought Tank!}}

Galvatron eventually succeeded in sucking-up all the Angolomois energy on Gaea into his artificial planet [[Nemesis (BWII)|Nemesis]]. {{storylink|All Hands, Make a Special Attack on the Evil Planet!}} The Maximals journeyed to Nemesis to stop him, only for Lio Convoy to become corrupted by the Angolmois energy, turning a Predacon. Lio Convoy was able to channel the true spiritual energy of Gaea through his [[Energon Matrix]], however, and disspell the taint, restoring himself. He then used that same power to destroy Nemesis, the Angolmois, Galvatron and the Predacons. {{storylink|Win the Battle of Light and Darkness!}}

=====''Beast Wars Neo'' manga=====
[[Image:bwn-blackball-manga-01-bigconvoy.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Reply hazy, try again"]]

On the planet Gaea, a group of Predacons somehow came into possession of a mysterious spheroid object known as the '''Black Ball'''. The strange artifact was of some importance to the Predacons; it may in fact have told Magmatron that he could rule the galaxy once he had the seven [[Angolmois]] capsules.

[[Image:bwn-unicron-manga-07-unionfleet.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]

When Big Convoy came to rescue five Maximal rookies who were trapped in the ''[[Galvaburg II]]'' on Gaea, the Maximals found the Black Ball and retrieved it.

After the Maximal returned to the ''[[Gung Ho]]'', they attempted to analyze the Black Ball. However, the Black Ball activated the ship's warp engine. {{storylink|The 5 Rookies}} During the warp, the Black Ball began to speak, telling the Maximals about the Angolmois capsules, which originated from the final conflict between [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] on [[Nemesis (BWII)|Nemesis]]. It also told them that there were seven Angolmois energy capsules scattered across the galaxy in total. The Maximals were warned that they must retrieve all the capsules to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, or the galaxy would be in extreme danger. The ''Gung Ho'' subsequently arrived at the planet [[Luxor]], where one of the capsules was located. {{storylink|There Are 7 Capsules}}

The Black Ball guided Big Convoy's team to various other places where capsules were located.

When Magmatron, who was in a healing chamber in the ''[[Dinosaur (ship)|Dinosaur]]'' due to wounds caused by Big Convoy, learned that he lost his troops in the battle on [[Jörmungandr]], the Black Ball suddenly appeared. The Black Ball told Magmatron that it could see he was short-handed and offered Magmatron some "helpers"—the [[Blendtron]]s, who emerged from within the Black Ball. {{storylink|A Battle Fought Alone}}

The Black Ball told both Big Convoy and Magmatron of the planet where the last capsule was located. Magmatron faced off with Big Convoy there, and ordered the Blendtrons to attack the Maximals. One of the Blendtrons, however, chose to attack Magmatron instead. The action of the Blendtrons baffled both Big Convoy and Magmatron alike. The Black Ball then arrived on the planet's surface.

It was revealed that the Black Ball was actually Unicron himself, or more specifically, his essence, while the Angolmois energy was his life force. Unicron absorbed the six capsules and reformed his head out of the Black Ball. He then revealed that the last capsule was actually both Big Convoy and Magmatron, who were evolved by the power of the Angolmois capsule on their home planet in the [[7th Cosmos]].

Big Convoy teamed up with Magmatron to fight against Unicron, but both failed. Big Convoy was saved by [[Heinrad]], who told him about Unicron's existence and the plan of the [[Ruler of Time and Space]] — to erase the universe and create a new universe without Unicron, the "cancer". After Heinrad was forced to leave due to his interference, Magmatron was chewed up and spat out by Unicron.{{storylink|Double Cross}} Unicron then headed to the planet Cybertron. He latched onto the planet like a parasite and turned it into his new body.

[[Image:bwn-bigconvoy&unicron-manga-07-1.jpg|thumb|200px|]]

Unicron desired to consume Big Convoy, the last half of the capsule, in order to make his right eye fully functional once more. His physical body was destroyed by Big Convoy after a harsh battle with Big Convoy's crew. However, Unicron's essence emerged from his physical remains and plastered itself onto Big Convoy's body, trying to possess him. Big Convoy removed the [[Energon Matrix|Matrix]] from his chest and unleashed its power, sacrificing himself and successfully destroying Unicron once and for all. {{storylink|Return to Zero}}

{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' comics===
[[Image:GenerationOne0-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Say, do you remember that time Leonardo Leonardo tried to open that convenience store across the street?"]]
Unicron's servant, [[The Fallen]], tried to bring about his second coming by breaking the [[Seal of Primus]], but failed. {{storylink|Conflagration}} Unicron sent a wave of drones and heralds into the universe, with the Alpha Drone, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], arriving on Cybertron 3000 years ago, amidst the [[Great Shutdown]], which he ended when he reactivated Shockwave for research purposes. {{storylink|Generation One issue 0|Generation One #0}} Shockwave happily shot him and experimented on him, and through these experiments became interesting in uncovering the secrets to Cybertron's history. This curiosity led him to steal the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and activate [[Vector Sigma]], which sent a beam across space that roused Unicron from his slumber. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

Now awake, but not at full power or consciousness, Unicron set out on a course towards [[Earth]](!). The planets he consumed along his way, including the planet [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]], accelerated his rejuvenation quicker than [[Quintesson]] spectators had calculated. Using the raw materials Unicron harvested from Lithone, he created a new batch of drones based on a second body template. Subsequently, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] burst free from his birthing pod. {{storylink|Generation One issue 0|Generation One #0}}

{{note|Unicron was to be part of a plotline in 2005, starting from [[Unreleased Dreamwave issues#issue 13|#13]], but even his might was helpless against [[Pat Lee]]'s business skills. The reason for the Quintessons' interest in Unicron was never revealed.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:BlackHorizon2-Unicron.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Unicron, [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], what's the diff?]]
Here, Unicron enslaved the population of the worlds he ate to maintain his inner works; one race included the [[Beastformer]]s. He is known about in Transformer legend, and is said to have been banished from his homeworld.

Thousands of years ago, when humanity was at a primitive stage, Unicron turned up to devour the Earth. The ancestors of [[Cobra-La]], however, had developed a [[metal-eating spore]] that could potentially kill Unicron. They came to an agreement—they would go into exile, while Unicron would merely eat human civilisation once it had developed to a useful point. Eventually they did, and Unicron began broadcasting announcements of "I Return" as he headed towards Earth. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}

[[Image:Unicron's DDP Brain.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Who needs all those TV monitors, anyway?]]

Unicron reached Earth and transformed so as to consume civilization in robot form. [[Japan]] was devastated and humanity collectively wet itself. But the world was saved by [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]], who flew into the Chaos-Bringer and doused his organic looking brain with Cobra-La's metal-eating spores. Unicron was killed, the world was saved, and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] went on to explore the dead monster's innards. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

{{note|Despite being written after the retcon that established Unicron as a multiversal singularity, this story pays little heed to that concept, refraining from touching upon the Primus/Unicron mythology and instead claiming Unicron was banished at the hands of his own race. Of course, this is only what the Cobra-Lavians ''believe'' about Unicron, so there's wiggle room. His strange organic brain, meanwhile, was explained in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'', which revealed that this particular body of Unicron's came from the universe of the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], who share that feature. His uncharacteristic willingness to only eat parts of worlds and leave their populations alive to serve him, and his death-by-fungus, however, are harder to explain away.}}

===Beast Era cartoon continuity===
{{note|From most stories of Unicron told in this continuity, it is apparent that he staged an attack upon Cybertron in 2005 as he did in several other timelines, and that his head orbited Cybertron following his destruction as it did in the Generation 1 cartoon.}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Blu Mankuma]] (English), [[Hidetoshi Nakamura]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Possession-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|250px|This model must have taken them, what, three minutes?]]
When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] appeared on prehistoric [[Earth]] and was questioned by the stranded [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] about how he came to be this way, Starscream "explained" that his body was destroyed by Unicron while serving his master, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. This was, of course, a misrepresentation, and it was revealed later that it was actually Galvatron himself who killed Starscream. {{storylink|Possession}}

When the [[Vok]] spoke with [[Optimus Primal]] in Earth's pre-history, they took the form of Unicron's head, claiming that they scanned his mind and chose Unicron as an "authority figure". {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}

[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] would later invoke the name of Unicron by referring to [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] as "Unicron's spawn" in a derogatory manner. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
After the dawn of time, Unicron recruited the [[Quintesson]]s to seek out the location of his nemesis, [[Primus]]. But when the Quintessons discovered Primus, now having taken the form of the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], they decided to delay reporting their findings so they could first exploit Primus to their own ends. After finding the "[[Vector Sigma|singular threat]]" to Unicron and discovering how to subvert it, they used it to create a [[Transformer|race of robotic beings]] which they could sell to other worlds for a price. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

[[Image:Unicrons dark essence.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Even Unicron's crap is evil.]]
After his destruction in 2005, Unicron's essence was sent spiraling through time and space, to crash on prehistoric Earth, prior to the conflict known as the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] which would occur on the planet. It is unclear if this was a deliberate attempt by Unicron to preserve his power or not, but this "[[Dark Essence]]" seemed to lack any real sentience, suggesting that it was merely Unicron's "power", while his spark remained in his intact head in the future.

[[Image:Terminus-Unicron.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Unicron makes his own light saber noises.]]

The Dark Essence was discovered by a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] known as the Hunter, who recognized the dark god's power, and fashioned from the Essence the [[Matrix of Conquest]], a twisted version of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership which he used to conquer and rule over an apocalyptic 32nd Century future, under the name "[[Shokaract]]". Resistance against Shokaract resulted in an attempt by his opponents to travel back and time and destroy the Dark Essence on prehistoric Earth, thereby erasing Shokaract from history, but the villain travelled back in time to stop this effort. [[Point Omega|A massive battle]] between him and Transformers from throughout the multiverse ensued, but eventually, thanks to the efforts of the [[Covenant]], history was altered so that Unicron's essence never arrived on prehistoric Earth, erasing this timeline—and Shokaract—from existence. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

[[Image:PrimevalDawn2-Unicron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Predicting that Unicron will eventually show up is a pretty safe bet, really.]]

Just after the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] ended on prehistoric Earth, the [[Vok]] assembled a team from the remains of that war to counter [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], Unicron's spawn. [[Primal Prime]], the leader of the Vok's team, had visions of a future apocalypse, involving Unicron, that encompassed every timeline in the [[multiverse]]. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 2}} After Tarantulas ripped the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Primal Prime's torso, he oversaw the construction of a [[transwarp]] portal that would allow him to bring his prize as an offering to Unicron. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 3}}

{{note|Though [[3H Productions|3H]] folded before this story could be completed, Tarantulas would of course not be successful, and the Matrix would be returned to its rightful place. (Because, you know, the [[Transformers: Universe (comic)|''Universe'' stories]] took place chronologically after it.)}}

One week after the [[Great Reformatting]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] gangster [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]] succeeded in acquiring the [[Divine Light]], one of the Quintessons' discarded attempts to subvert the will of Primus. As Cryotek used it steal Primus's power for himself, [[Sentinel Maximus]] warned him that flaunting Primus's power would catch the attention of Unicron and doom them all. Cryotek laughed at this, since Unicron had been dead since three centuries earlier, and the idea of his resurrection was a fairytale believed only by the naive. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:UnicronDeathstarII.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Guys. GUYS. Get that ring in the right place, or he'll never be able to eat.]]
Cryotek was defeated, and one year later Unicron struck once more. His body ruined and trapped between universes, he sought to revitalize himself by abducting Transformers from across the multiverse and pitting them against each other within the [[Cauldron]], a dark dimension contained within his own body, absorbing their [[energon radiation]] and eventually consuming their sparks. He chose to kidnap several Autobots and Maximals from the technorganic Cybertron, but that was also the staging ground from which Primus chose to launch a counterattack. Primus gathered an army from many different universes and put the resurrected [[Optimus Primal]] at its head. {{storylink|Abduction}}

These "[[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]]" raided Unicron to free his captives from their prison cities, battling Unicron's own legion of "[[Minion of Unicron|Minions]]" all the while. [[Universe war|These conflicts]] escalated for months or perhaps longer, their intensity rivaling the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|Great Wars]].<ref>Optimus Primal's bio in the [[Revelations Part 3|Transformers Collectors' Club comic #9]]</ref> This all came to an abrupt end during the final battle, when Unicron simply vanished due somehow to the [[Unicron Singularity]]. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}
{{-}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
[[Image:Ascending4-Shokaractsfuture.jpg|left|thumb|300px|FOOLISH, DOOMED CREATURE.]]

Sometime after a series of events similar to those of [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Big Convoy]]'s [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|experiences]] [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|on]] [[Gaea]] in another universe, Unicron's heralds, the [[Blendtron]]s, were instructed by the Chaos Bringer's essence to gather the [[Angolmois]] capsules scattered across the galaxy, which contained Unicron's energy. The taint of Angolmois would cause unrest and violence across Cybertron as the planet tore itself apart in renewed savage mindless conflict. At the same time, Unicron's chosen yet unwitting vessel, Shokaract, was fed Angolmois by the Blendtrons, having been convinced that it would grant him the power to be reborn as a god. In one potential timeline, this did indeed happen as Unicron was reborn from Shokaract's corrupted form, and the Chaos Bringer proceeded to consume Cybertron itself. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 1|The Ascending #1}}

However, this was averted before it came to pass—thanks to the actions of the in-temporal-limbo [[Magmatron]], who alerted [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and by extension Lio Convoy to Unicron's plan and enlightened Shokaract when the tyrant was temporarily shunted into Magmatron's personal purgatory. Realizing what his ascension actually entailed, Shokaract tore the [[Matrix of Conquest|Anti-Matrix]] from his chest, sacrificing himself and ending Unicron's plan at re-ascension. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 4|The Ascending #4}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
During Megatron's rule of Cybertron, [[Rattrap]] once compared the Predacon's [[Grand Mal|big floating head]] as a "monument to Unicron", implying that the Chaos Bringer's head orbited Cybertron after his defeat. By the time of Megatron's rule, however, it had apparently left the planet's orbit, as it was never seen. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM comic===
[[Image:Unicron tfu cdrom.jpg|left|thumb|200px|I'm gonna steal every single Decepticon every single year. Nobody investigate, mmmkay?]]
In an universe where [[Optimus Primal]] led the [[Autobot]]s and [[Reptilion]] led the [[Decepticon]]s, a ship arrived once a year when the Transformers' civil war reached a fever pitch. The ship abducted every Decepticon it could find and promptly left.

These Decepticons were brought to Unicron, who was preparing them for an eventual, ultimate battle for the universe. But unknown to even Unicron, Primus, the sentient core of Cybertron, was amassing an army of Autobots that rivalled Unicron's army of Decepticons. Could Primus meet Unicron's challenge, or was the universe doomed? {{Storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}

{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Image:Armadaminicomic4-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Check out my tiny buildings!]]
The Transformers were unaware of Unicron's gradual approach during the climax of their civil war. [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] was defeated and imprisoned, and just when he had escaped, the Planet-Eater suddenly appeared over their planet. Only time would tell if the Transformers could possibly defeat him! {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

Apparently, they could, and years later Galvatron was reborn as Megatron deep inside the [[Unicron's core|core]] of the defeated Unicron. {{storylink|Energon Volume 1}} The threat of Unicron still loomed over the [[Transformer]]s. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 2}} {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:TheEnd-Unicron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The southern hemisphere is known as the "footsmell" region.]]

The nearly-dead body of [[Optimus Prime (Worlds Collide)|a dying Cybertron's Optimus Prime]] was sent ahead by Unicron to his next target universe, as a "calling card". Additionally, Unicron sent a group of heralds—incarnations of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]—to this second universe to find the Mini-Con Matrix and kill that universe's Optimus Prime and Megatron. The heralds did not realize that their target Optimus Prime had been accidentally transported to the initial, dying Cybertron. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

Optimus Prime found one lone survivor, [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]], and begged him to tell him what was going on. Spinister told him that the "heart of darkness, the root of all evil" had ravaged their world. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4}} When Unicron loomed over them, Spinister surrendered himself to his fate. Spinister soon returned as an avatar for Unicron, who found this Optimus Prime's presence to be an "anomaly". Soon [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] managed to trace Optimus Prime to this dying universe and travel there to rescue him. Using the power of the Mini-Con Matrix, Prime and Jetfire were able to combine into Jet Optimus and fire a powerful shot into the heart of Unicron. Though they were too late to save this Cybertron, they could return home and prepare for Unicron's coming there. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}}

Optimus Prime called for an alliance with the Decepticons and the Mini-Cons, hoping to unite their forces against the coming Dark god. After warping to Cybertron's surface, Unicron himself arrived, and announced that they would all soon be consumed. During the following battle, Unicron was curious about the Transformers [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]], [[Cheetor (Armada)|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]] and [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|Terrorsaur]], and abducted them for future purposes. Unicron was ultimately defeated by the Mini-Con Matrix, boosted from the additional power of two universes' Mini-Cons. This universe's [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], having made a bid for Unicron's power, was standing on the surface of the planet-eater when he was destroyed, and his body was also lost, his spark trapped within Unicron's remains. {{storylink|The End}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[Image:ThisEvilReborn-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You never see him transform to robot mode.]]

Ten years later, his broken body was still left floating in space after his defeat. Despite his damaged form, his [[Unicron's core|core]] presented huge potentials for power, and so [[Alpha Quintesson]] gathered together a group of Decepticon dissidents under the leadership of [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] and transformed them into "[[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]". He promised these Terrorcons this power in exchange for their services. Meanwhile, Megatron's consciousness was trapped within this core, and it called out to Optimus Prime to help free him. Alpha Quintesson was secretly working for Unicron himself, and he sent the corrupted forms of Airazor, Cheetor, Rhinox, and Terrorsaur, his "[[Unicron's Four Horsemen|Four Horsemen]]", to Cybertron to distract the Autobots from Unicron's revival. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn}}

Optimus Prime, who received Megatron's message, turned to the [[Autobot High Council]] for permission to dedicate an army towards Unicron's return and his intent to consume alleged huge amounts of [[energon]] on Earth, but the Council dismissed these concerns as paranoia. While they did not grant Prime his army, they did permit him to travel to Earth alone. Before Prime could get out of the building, Unicron's Horsemen struck. Prime and the Council realized this was an act of war perpetrated by Unicron, and so Prime's original pleas were finally heard.

As drones continued to repair Unicron, Megatron managed to assert his will on these drones, who fashioned him a new body. {{storylink|What Lies Beneath}}

[[Image:WhatLiesBeneath3-Unicroninterior.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Unicron has a big [[negative universe]] [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] collection.]]

After defeating Scorponok and his Terrorcons on Earth, Optimus Prime stepped through a portal back to Cybertron to assemble a team of reinforcments... but instead on the other end of the portal he found himself within Unicron himself, summoned by Megatron's consciousness. {{storylink|Omni-Potent}} Optimus Prime argued with Megatron, denying that he would ever help his thought-dead foe inhabit his new body. Megatron countered with images of a massive-scale Terrorcon attack on Earth. Alpha Quintesson had used Unicron's power to reconfigure [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] into Mirage, and [[Moscow]], [[Toronto]], and [[Los Angeles]] were under heavy siege. Still, Optimus Prime resisted helping Megatron, even with the promise of teaming up to destroy the remnants of Unicron, as he feared releasing Megatron in his new body would be unleashing an equal evil.

Finally, after images of carnage on Earth overwhelmed him, Optimus Prime caved to Megatron's demands, and Prime began travelling through Unicron under Megatron's direction. After falling in some goo, Prime located the sensor array that was keeping Megatron's consciousness from entering his new body. It worked, and Megatron was free... though Optimus Prime was subsequently located by Unicron's internal defenses. He is last seen having defeated these antibodies, with a bandolier and his hand-held cannon, telling Unicron he was coming for him. {{storylink|Multiplicity}}

{{note|In unreleased issues: Previously, Unicron had destroyed [[Quintessa]], and [[Alpha Quintesson]] was the sole survivor. With the [[Initiator]], Alpha attempted to escape Unicron, only for his ship to be pulled to the planet eater. {{storylink|Doomsday Redux!}} The energon used for Unicron's reactivation came not from Earth, but from [[Nervissa]], a fact Optimus Prime discovered after connecting to Unicron's consciousness. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 1}} Alpha Quintesson sought to destroy Unicron and had a [[seismic-shock warhead]] teleported to Unicron. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 2}} In the later chaos of an alternate-universe [[Quintesson]] invasion of Cybertron, Unicron awoke and began to strike out against the Transformers. Realizing that their planet was open to Unicron's attack, the Quintessons attacked Unicron, to no avail. The Quintessons are destroyed, and the Transformers manage to delay Unicron enough for the warhead to explode, destroying the planet. The shockwaves from Unicron's destruction created a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] from the portal to the alternate-universe Quintessa. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 5}}
}}

===Cartoon continuity===
Unicron was evidently very active in this universe at various points in time, although the precise chronological order of his activities is unclear.

At some undetermined point in the past of this universe, Unicron was approached by the survivors of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]], a world that had been destroyed in a war with the inhabitants of the Giant Planet, [[Gigantion]]. In return for the chance to gain revenge on Gigantion, the survivors swore loyalty to Unicron, and "Planet X" became something of a code-phrase that identified those in the service of the planet-eater.

{{note|Liner notes included with the DVD release of ''Galaxy Force'' in [[Japan]] claim that Planet X is actually the body of Unicron from a parallel universe. This would not appear to be compatible with the Western storyline, nor, indeed, with the date later given to the planet's destruction on the [[TakaraTomy]] "[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/bible/index.html World of the Transformers]" website.}}

Additionally, Cybertronian legend refers to an attack by Unicron on the planet that was ultimately thwarted by the mighty Autobot warrior, [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}}

====''Armada'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Mark Acheson]] (English), [[Katsumi Chō]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Alliance-Unicronmoon.jpg|right|thumb|200px|That's no moon!]]
Unicron's first attack on Cybertron in the present day was an indirect one, over a million years in the making, begun when he opted to disguise his dormant body as Cybertron's moon. From this secret vantage point, he implanted his own cells within the planet, where they germinated and grew into the small race of robots known as the [[Mini-Con]]s. Unicron hoped to use the Mini-Cons to increase the ferocity of the Autobot/Decepticon war, and feed off of the energies released in the conflict, but an encounter with a group of [[Rad White|time-displaced]] [[Carlos Lopez|human]] [[Alexis Thi Dang|children]] planted the seed of sentience and free will within the Mini-Cons, who ultimately rebelled against their creator and fled Cybertron, crash-landing on the planet Earth. {{storylink|Origin}}
[[Image:Union-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Don't mind me, just chillin'.]]

When the Mini-Cons were reawakened a million years later in 2010, they were detected by the Autobots and Decepticons, who followed their signal to Earth. {{storylink|First Encounter}} Unicron also picked up the signal, and dispatched his minion [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], an inhabitant of Planet X who would occasionally serve as an avatar for Unicron's spark, to carry on his work. {{storylink|Gale}} Sideways escalated the conflict by manipulating control of the three Mini-Con weapons, the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]], the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom]] shield and the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]], but eventually arranged for all three to be returned to Cybertron, where he stole them and used them to reawaken Unicron.

[[Image:ArmadaUnicron02.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Power Cosmic gives you wrinkles.]]
Shedding his moon disguise and transforming to robot mode, Unicron turned on Cybertron, only to be met with resistance in the form of the united armada of Autobots and Decepticons {{storylink|Alliance}}, and his own Mini-Cons, who had linked together and formed a giant duplicate of his body. {{storylink|Union}} Now at full power, however, it was child's play for Unicron to exert control over his creations, and bring the Mini-Cons under his thumb once more. Again, it was thanks to the Autobots' human allies—the same children who had been sent back in time and given the Mini-Cons free will in the first place—that the Mini-Cons struggled free of Unicron's control, including the three Mini-Con weapons, who broke free and left Unicron's body deactivated. Believing the threat over, [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] then challenged Optimus Prime to their final battle, only for the hatred and ferocity of their fight to awaken Unicron once more. To end the circle of hate that gave Unicron life, Galvatron allowed himself to be consumed by the monster, and in a brilliant flash of light, Unicron apparently ceased to exist. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]], [[Mark Acheson]] (English), [[Nobutoshi Canna]] (Japanese), [[Fredrik Beckmann]] (Swedish)

[[Image:MegatronRaid Unicronhead.jpg|left|thumb|200px|If I need to steal [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s eyes again, I quit.]]

In truth, however, Unicron had survived, and for the next ten years, continued to consume planets in other regions of space. One such planet was the world known as [[Planet Q]], whose inhabitants fought back by detonating the planet's core in Unicron's face. Badly damaged by the explosion, Unicron fell into a state of dormancy, but the life essence of the planet's ruler—the being who would come to be known as [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]]—continued to exist within him, and began a not-entirely-sane plan to use Unicron's powers to recreate everything the Chaos-Bringer had ever destroyed. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} Recreating the armies of Planet Q as "Terrorcons", Alpha Q had them attack Autobot facilities on Earth and throughout the [[solar system]] to gather the [[energon]] that would be necessary for his plan to work. {{storylink|Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City}}

[[Image:Energon Unicron.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Unicron sported [[Neon|awesome]] [[Black repaint|colors]] during ''Energon''.]]

Unbeknownst to Alpha Q, Megatron's corpse and spark remained within Unicron, and he slowly siphoned off some of the gathered Energon, allowing him to be reborn in his own new body. To escape Megatron's fury, Alpha Q jettisoned Unicron's head and escaped in it, while Megatron took over Unicron's body, and continued to gather Energon in order to rebuild Unicron to use as his ultimate weapon. {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected}} As the climax of this plan neared, a joint attack by Alpha Q, the Autobots and their human allies saw all of Earth's Energon channeled into Unicron's head, which Alpha Q then rammed into Unicron's body. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} The positively-charged Energon of Earth reacted with the negatively-charged Energon running through Unicron, tearing open a fissure in reality leading to a new area of space where planets Unicron consumed were recreated, and sustained through the Energon radiated from Unicron's head, which had now become a glowing red sun. {{storylink|Open Fire!}} {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

[[Image:Unicron eats blizzard.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Unicron should stop eating so many Blizzards.]]
Unicron's body, damaged once more, lay in the dark reaches near the fissure, and the Decepticons began to raid Alpha Q's new planets for the Energon necessary to revive Unicron again. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}} This time, they succeeded, and Megatron directed Unicron's body to retrieve his head, extinguishing the Energon Sun and killing Alpha Q in the process. But the power of Unicron proved too much for Megatron to control, as Unicron began to take over Megatron's body. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}} The Autobots made a valiant but futile attempt to stop him, but Unicron decimated them. Just as things seemed hopeless, a surge of power came that allowed Optimus-Supreme to grow to Unicron's size and powered up the other Autobots, {{storylink|Optimus Supreme}} and after a long and hard battle Optimus destroyed Unicron's body. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes}}

[[Image:Energon-Unicrons-Arms.jpg|right|thumb|200px|"Geodude geeeeoooo geodude."]]

None of the Transformers were aware, however, that Unicron lived on in two forms: his miniscule Spark, floating in space, and his consciousness, which lay buried in Megatron's mind. With quiet, subconscious nudging, Unicron led Megatron to a massive reservoir of "[[Super Energon]]" beneath Cybertron's surface, {{storylink|Ambition}} which transformed him into Galvatron upon his first exposure. {{storylink|Wishes}} After a series of failed battles, Galvatron proceeded to expose himself to the Super Energon once again, and this time grew to a gigantic height. {{storylink|Galvatron Terror}} Unicron seized control of his body again for a new vessel and set out to rejoin with his Spark, but a Primus-empowered Optimus Supreme engaged him in battle once more, and drew all of Unicron's consciousness out of Galvatron and sealed it within his own Spark. {{storylink|Destructive Power}}

[[Image:EnergonUnicronOrbTheSun.jpg|left|thumb|180px|"How could this puny thing be Unicron?" 
—[[Kicker Jones]]]]
Enraged, Galvatron prepared to destroy Unicron's Spark, but it merged with him, enlarging him again, leading to another battle with Optimus Supreme, this time bolstered by the combined energy of all his troops' Sparks. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}} Meanwhile, Primus merged with the Super Energon, creating a foundling sun which arrived at the site of the battle. Taking control of his body for a brief moment, Galvatron made the decision to plunge himself into the infant sun to rid himself of Unicron's possession. The super energon mass, having now received Unicron's spark, ignited into a powerful red sun which gave new life to Alpha Q's worlds. {{storylink|The Sun}}
{{-}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
[[Image:Cyb ep20 unicron chunks.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Ssssh, don't tell ''Galaxy Force'' that I'm here!]]

The bitter [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] was a loner, but his attitude changed when, in deep space, he was trapped underneath some debris near the remains of Unicron and saved by [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Honor}}

[[Image:Unicronsingularity.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The cause of—and solution to—all of our continuity problems.]]

Primus's plan to trap Unicron in the heart of a new sun failed when the star collapsed into a massive [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] (sometimes known as the "Unicron Singularity") that threatened the entire multiverse. The collapse of the sun also allowed [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] to escape, [[Armor of Unicron|but not before integrating what remained of Unicron's body into himself]], increasing his power to nightmarish new heights. {{storylink|Fallen (episode)|Fallen}}

In addition to strengthening the Decepticon leader, the Armor of Unicron apparently gave Megatron access to a few of the Chaos Bringer's reality-warping powers, including the ability to unleash a devastating Energon aura {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} {{storylink|Showdown}}, create new Transformer bodies, upgrade and repair fallen Transformers {{storylink|Darkness (episode)|Darkness}}, and tap into the power of the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. {{storylink|Revelation (episode)|Revelation}} {{storylink|Fury|Fury}} The Decepticon leader's newest plan also held hints of the dark god's old agenda, as he intended to use the Keys to accelerate the black hole's growth and destroy the entire universe (albeit with the intent to remake it in his image afterwards).

Unfortunately for Unicron and Megatron (who again upgraded into Galvatron), the black hole would be sealed away by Primus himself after the Autobots restored his full power. {{storylink|End}} The Armor of Unicron would be overwhelmed and destroyed along with its wearer in a final battle with Optimus Prime, wiping away the last traces of Unicron from the universe. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

{{-}}
====''Cybertron'' comic====
[[Image:Unicroncybertron.jpg|right|150px|thumb|The Planet-Eater's back, and you're gonna be in trouble.]]
Unicron's heralds [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] and [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived on Cybertron, intent on unleashing the [[Dead Matrix]] on Primus's vulnerable essence—as the Matrix was the antithesis of Unicron, so too would the Dead Matrix ensure the destruction of Primus, thereby totally destabilizing the multiverse and reducing it to a sea of entropic chaos. For the first time, it would be possible for Unicron to strike at Primus in all realities simultaneously, ending their cosmic feud once and for all. {{storylink|Balancing Act, Part 2}}

Ramjet and Nemesis Prime were ultimately stopped by Vector Prime and allies [[Sentinel Maximus]] and [[Omega Prime]], plucked from the midst of the ''Universe'' conflict by the multiverse-warping energies of the black hole. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}} The Dead Matrix, however, was taken by Unicron's servant [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] and cast into the heart of the black hole, freeing Unicron's spark, which entered the planet [[Yst]] and immediately began to sow chaos and disorder. Re-energized by the hatred and violence than ran rampant on Yst, Unicron formed a new, diminutive body for himself, born into the universe when Yst exploded. {{storylink|Revelations Part 3}}

[[Image:Sentinelmaximusunicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Sorry, did that previous image indicate that Unicron was still huge?]]

During the time that followed, from behind the scenes Unicron orchestrated a civil war between the Mini-Cons stationed on Cybertron's moons. {{storylink|Revelations Part 4}} When Sentinel Maximus led a team of Autobots to stamp out the escalating conflict, Unicron's involvement was revealed, and he joined the battle himself alongside Soundwave. With no further use for the Mini-Cons, he murdered several of them and tried to capture [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], whom he had plans for. {{storylink|Revelations Part 5}} However, before Unicron could achieve victory, Primus was reawakened, and the dark god fled as Cybertron transformed into its robot mode. {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}

{{-}}

==''TransTech''==
Within the [[Primax 984.0 Gamma]] universal stream, the appearance and subsequent destruction of Unicron and the destruction of Primus's [[Xaaron|avatar]], {{Storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} as well as the tainting of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] caused by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], created a great many [[splinter timeline]]s. These events, as well as an earlier, undefined event related to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], resulted in the creation of yet another splinter timeline, [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon]]. This universe overwrote a [[Gargent]] universe. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

==Live-action ''Transformers'' movie series==
===Titan Magazines===
{{quote|I'm certain I can speak for all those pledged to the Decepticon cause when I say Unicron spells one thing, and that's trouble with a capital 'running and screaming'.|Barricade|[[Transformers Comic issue 2.6|#6 (Vol.2)]]}}

While the Transformer race appears ignorant of Unicron, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] has knowledge of him and encountered him {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|#12's Star Screams}} in an event where Unicron attempted to devour Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|#19's Star Screams}} We don't know how Starscream witnessed this (did he hop universes?) but it has left him terrified. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 17|#17's Star Screams}}

In 2009, both [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] would also be aware of Unicron's existence. His sheer might scared him. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|#6's Law and Disorder}} They know that [[fandom|you]] want to see Unicron in the third film and it ''sickens'' them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.13|#13's Law and Disorder}}

{{notetitantlg}}
[[Image:Unicron Titan19.JPG|left|200px|thumb|"The psoriasis is barely slowing him down!"]]
[[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]] and his Decepticon chums attempted to rebirth Cybertron by sending out a summons that would attract any entity related to the lost [[AllSpark]], and then drawing that entity into Cybertron once it arrived.

As that entity announced itself to be '''"Unicron the Anti-Life!"''', they felt like a right bunch of plonkers. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 18|Return to Cybertron: Part 2}}

Unicron moved swiftly, transforming Cybertron into a scarier looking physical form and causing the planet's surface to becoming hostile to the Transformers on it. Stockade's attempts at communication were met with contempt and a strange attack. The new Unicron then warped into the Sol system, shot down an Autobot shuttle, and went "OM NOM NOM" at the sight of Earth. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}}

The downed Autobots regrouped with Stockade's Decepticons and worked to take away the [[Nucleon]] that was powering Unicron's physical form. They succeeded in this by causing it to blow up and catch fire, which caused Unicron to draw on more Nucleon to recover, which fueled the fire and so on until the source ran out. Unicron disappeared, though whether he was dead or just gone is ambigious. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 20|Return to Cybertron: Part 4}}

Either way, the changes Unicron had made to Cybertron remained. The teleportation equipment he'd created was used by the Autobots to finally end the war. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part Three}}
{{-}}

==Aligned continuity==
===''Exodus'' novel===
Unicron was defeated in his attempt to destroy Cybertron very early in its history, but emanations of his presence remained and were gathered and stored on [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] Station. This substance was a violently addictive poison that could pass on to another bot once its user died, and was dubbed the Sparks of Unicron or [[Dark Energon]]. Ultimately [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] achieved what Unicron did not by contaminating the [[core]] with Dark Energon, forcing the planet to shut down and reboot. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[John Noble]] (English), [[José Lavat]] (Latin American-Spanish)

[[Image:OneShallRise1-Unicronsilhouette.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Unicron ate the corners of this image. See, 'cuz he's ''evil.'']]

According to legend, at the beginning of time, Unicron and Primus battled each other for eons, with neither side remaining victorious for long. Until, that is, Primus created the [[Thirteen]]. These Thirteen defeated Unicron and cast him into space.

Over time, matter gravitated towards Unicron's fallen form, eventually forming a [[Earth |planet]] which found an orbit around a distant star. Prophesies foretold that should a certain planetary alignment occur, gravitational forces would wake Unicron from his slumber. In Optimus Prime's later view, Unicron had likely begun to transcend physical form. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

In his three years in space, Megatron discovered the solidified form of Dark Energon, rumoured to be "the blood of Unicron". A worried [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] referred to Unicron as a legendary "destroyer", and called his blood the "Anti-Spark" as well. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

Megatron injected a piece of Dark Energon into himself and announced that he could hear Unicron's thoughts, much to Starscream's concern.{{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}}

Some time later, as a planetary alignment foretold in a prophecy from the [[Covenant of Primus]] was drawing near, Megatron began to see visions of the future brought on by the sliver of Dark Energon that dwelt within his body. In one such vision, Megatron glimpsed the shadowed face of Unicron himself, and claimed that it was as if he could hear Unicron's own thoughts. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Airachnid]] were less than convinced, but kept that fact to themselves. Much to everyone's shock, a volcano near the site of Optimus and Megatron's battle exploded and released a load of Dark Energon from the Earth's core. {{storylink|One Shall Fall}}

[[Image:OneShallRise1-Unicronlistens.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"Disappointed that I'm not the size of the moon or bigger? We'll soon fix that."]]

As storms, earthquakes, and volcanoes erupted simultaneously across Earth, the Autobots began to suspect that Earth itself had Unicron as its core, explaining why Dark Energon was expelling from within. Meanwhile, Megatron ordered the [[Decepticon Miner]]s to mine the Dark Energon that spilled and at the same time he sought Unicron's attention at the maw of a volcano. Megatron presented himself as Unicron's herald and servant, an enemy of the Primes, but Unicron dismissed the Decepticon leader. If Megatron had failed to destroy the last of the Primes thus far on his own, Unicron believed Megatron's help was worthless. Similarly, Optimus Prime sought out Unicron elsewhere, traveling to the area which the Autobots believed to be the strongest epicenter of his consciousness. Unicron formed from a cliffside as a stone likeness of his old body near Optimus, while the Autobot leader made a passioned plea to the Chaos Bringer to spare the planets' inhabitants. Unicron denied Optimus's pleas, as he considered the humans "parasites", and he birthed multiple copies of himself from the landscape that surrounded Optimus Prime. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 1}}

[[Image:OneShallRise2-bigdude.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Still not big enough for you?]]
Optimus, soon joined by his fellow Autobots, blasted his way through increasingly larger Unicron avatars, until finally Unicron produced one even the Autobots couldn't beat. It raised a foot to crush Optimus, only for Megatron to lend a hand by blasting its head off. While the Autobots retreated to base to consider Megatron's plan, the Decepticon leader engaged more of the stone Unicrons, smashing them as fast as Unicron could produce them. Eventually, Megatron disappeared through the Autobot [[GroundBridge]].

[[Image:OneShallRise2-inside.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"So hey, Prime, I guess we're kind of like Ozzy and Drix, huh?" "Shut up."]]
A short time later, Megatron and the Autobots used the GroundBridge to reach the core of Earth itself, where Unicron's eye peered around. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}}

Inside the ancient robot, the Autobots and Megatron continued to look for Unicron's spark. A query from Optimus about how long it would take for Unicron to know that they were there got the reply, "He already does." Suddenly, a swarm of flying drones, Unicron's own antibodies, began shooting at the Autobots in an attempt to cleanse the Chaos-Bringer's body of the intruders. The group effectively fought them off, until Megatron started his way towards Unicron's spark. Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead stayed behind to fight off the drones, and Optimus accompanied Megatron to the core of Unicron, and to his spark.
Once inside the enormous spark chamber, Optimus and Megatron were both hit by waves from the colossal robot's spark, and nearly incapacitated. Megatron began experiencing incredibly intense visions of Unicron, telling him to kill Prime. With great effort, Megatron rejected him, saying that he was commanded by no one. Meanwhile, Prime righted himself, and called upon the power of the Matrix- the combined wisdom of all the Primes- to bring itself out.
However, Megatron was overwhelmed in this time by Unicron, and completely possessed by the ancient god, he ran towards Optimus to kill him.
But, as Megatron approached, Optimus unleashed the full power of the Matrix unto the dark god, overwhelming him, putting him into stasis, and quite possibly extinguishing his spark.
{{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers'' game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Matthew King]] (English)

[[Image:Armadavideogame-Unicron.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Unicron takes a shot in the mouth.]]

After the Autobots defeated the Decepticons on [[Earth]] and had secured the majority of the Mini-Cons there, Unicron made his appearance above Cybertron, intent on destroying the planet. Optimus Prime's team of Autobots and the Mini-Cons returned home via a warp gate to see the Chaos Bringer unleash a wave of destruction upon the great cities of their planet. The Mini-Cons joined together to form the [[Matrix Cannon]], the [[Vanguard Booster]] and the [[Nemesis Shield]] for the Autobots to use against Unicron. The Autobots flew into Unicron's maw and blasted their way into his energy core, damaging it enough to send Unicron spiralling out of control and destroying him. {{storylink|Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}

{{-}}
==Toys==
{{main|Unicron/toys}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Model-TheEntity.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Flamboyantcron]]

{{bigquote|Since Unicron is a villain and because I was fooling around at that time, I decided to make him look demonic with goatee, horns, bat-like wings and eagle talons for feet. I got the idea of Unicron from the planet Saturn and Satur. Actually, the original name was "Ingestor," but the writer changed it to Unicron when he saw the design, probably because of the "horns."|character designer [[Floro Dery]], [http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/floro-derys-transformers-exhibit-and.html Floro Dery's TransFormers Exhibit And Interview]}}

* Before the Transformers brand even existed, Takara designer [[Hiroyuki Hataike]] drew up a "Planet-Robot" toy for the ''[[Micro Change]]'' line, a design that would eventually inspire Unicron.

* In early preproduction for ''The Transformers: The Movie'', Unicron was referred to as the '''Entity'''. A model sheet from later in the movie's preproduction revealed that, at one point, the ''planet'' Unicron would turn into the ''robot'' '''Ingestor'''. An early rough draft of the film detailed some of the specifics of this; the disembodied voice of Ingestor would have presented itself to Megatron as merely the master and custodian of the planet Unicron, communicating from somewhere within the planet. He would remake the [[Life Spark]] of Megatron and other fallen Decepticons into Galvatron and his troops, and implore them to bring him energon to feed the planet, consumed with straw-slurping and lip-smacking sounds. Only at the draft's climax were Ingestor and Unicron revealed to be one and the same, as the energy the planet had been absorbing was revealed to be required to power the planet's transformation into robot mode. We used "robot" loosely, though; many pieces of organic terminology are used throughout the draft to describe planet and robot forms, such as the planet being covered in what appeared to be grass trees but which were actually the hairs of his humanoid form. At the end of the early rough draft, Unicron is destroyed completely by the Life Spark of Optimus Prime. <ref>[http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/heritaage-auctions-transformers-movie.htmlHeritage Auctions Transformers: The Movie script] @ Disciples of Boltax</ref>

* Character designer [[Floro Dery]] claims his designs for Unicron were very large and complicated. For example, there were three drawings of Unicron's internal organs that were 2'x7' each. Dery also explains that Unicron's television monitor-covered [[Unicron's core|core]] is "like security monitors in a building," and that he must watch these screens manually to know what is going on, rather than the information being diverted directly into him from the screens' source. And finally, the orbiting moon that is seen in the discarded ''Generation 1'' prototype by Takara (see [[Unicron/toys]]) was intended to be "a kind of mini-Unicron, like Mini-Me of Dr. Evil." Floro Dery's kind of eccentric. <ref>Zobovor's [http://web.archive.org/web/20060625115408/http://members.aol.com/tfencyc/interview_dery.html Interview with Floro Dery]</ref>

[[Image:FloroDeryUnicronNotes.jpg|right|thumb|150px|That's no moon. No seriously, ignore that moon.]]

* Floro Dery's production notes as shown on his designs for Unicron (then "The Entity") reveal some very interesting things that don't quite come through in the original film or were dropped:
** The spheres on Unicron's rings are meant to be roughly equivalent in size to ''Earth''.
** The surface of Unicron was originally a dense jungle of metal and mechanical creatures.
** Dery's roundabout reasoning for giving Unicron rings is explained: "Saturn sounds like Satur [presumably meaning ''satyr'']. Satur is synonymous with the Devil. The Entity is a Devil-like planet. This is the reason why I designed the Entity like the planet Saturn."
** A moon is included (as in Takara's G1 toy prototype), but never explained aside from being flashy and conductive.
** All the circular portions on the planet's surface were to flash and reflect different colors to "dazzle the viewers" and eliminate the epileptics in the audience.

[[Image:TFTM-Unicronalternatehead.jpg|right|thumb|150px|He shaved!]]

* An earlier version of Unicron's head showed up during Unicron's transformation scene in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. Originally animated for [[The Transformers: The Movie promo]], this version has no [[facial hair]] and has extra greebles all over his face. It also colored the helmet entirely gray, save an orange mohawk. In [[Transformers: The Animated Movie|IDW's comic book adaptation of the animated film]], [[Don Figueroa]] drew a hybrid between the two designs, combining the facial hair and the orange mohawk.

*The [[Unicron Trilogy]], the series of Transformers franchises that includes ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'', ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'', was so named by Hasbro designer [[Aaron Archer]] because of Unicron's importance in each story.

*[[Roberto Orci]] was interested in having Unicron in the then untitled ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Transformers 3]]''.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-movie-just-movie-31/ask-roberto-orci-roundup-january-14---mythology-money-shots-jolt-military-and-bringing-chaos-166603/]</ref>

* Unicron has the ability to create [[tainted world]]s, but none have yet been discovered.

* The animated film and the following season of the cartoon are extraordinarily consistent about Unicron never actually moving his mouth while speaking, suggesting his voice may be ''broadcast'' as opposed to physically produced.
**Armada similarly features a lack of mouth movement, how ever he DOES move it while speaking once.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Unicron''' (ユニクロン ''Yunikuron'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Unikron''', '''Unikornisz''' ("Unicorn")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Unicron''' (Taiwan, 尤尼克隆, ''Yóu Ní Kè Lúng''), '''Yǚ-zhòu Dà-dì''' (China, 宇宙大帝, "Emperor of the Universe")
*''Polish:'' '''Unicron''', '''Rogacz''' (''The Horned One''), '''Jednorożec''' (''Unicorn'')

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Unicron/Unicron/unicron.htm Unicron on TFU.info]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Unicron Unicron's Universe profile at NFTA.net]
*[http://www.transformersontheshelf.com/UnicronPage Unicron (toy) History]
*[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/pages/transformers-reviews/gallery/766/micron+legend/Green+Unicron+%28Lucky+Draw%29.html Photo gallery and review of Green Lucky Draw Unicron]
*[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-gallery/merchandise/25/merchandise/Unicron+Japanese+Store+Display.html Inflatable Unicron store display gallery]

==References and footnotes==
<references />

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The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2

2011-12-15T23:38:02Z

125.237.207.78: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=95
|ep2=32
|prev2=The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1
|next2=Four Warriors Come out of the Sky
|image=ReturnOptimusPrime2 title shot.JPG
|caption=I'm back, kiddies!
|title="The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2"
|production code=700-116
|airdate=[[February 25]], 1987
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|story by=[[Marv Wolfman]] [[Cherie Wilkerson]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Optimus and a handful of Autobots make a desperate bid to recover the Matrix, in the hopes that a cure for the Hate Plague can be found.'''

:''Japanese title:'' コンボイの復活パート2 (''Convoy no Fukkatsu Part 2'', "The Resurrection of Convoy Part 2")
:''German title:'' '''Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime, Teil 2''' ("The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Primeandjessicamorgan.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Chip Chase, is that you?]]

[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], now fully restored to life by [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and a [[Quintesson]] survivor of the rampant Hate Plague that's infecting the universe, demands to know what has happened during his time on the [[Allspark|other side]]. Sky Lynx recaps the events that had conspired to bring him back, including [[Jessica Morgan]]'s valiant play to save him from total destruction, the discovery of the [[Hate Plague]] spores, and the trap laid out by Jessica's father and her partner Gregory Swofford to infect the Autobots with the spores in revenge, which ultimately spiraled out of control. It was thought by Rodimus, before his infection, that Prime would know what it would take to stop the plague. Prime asks who is available, and learns of the injured [[Autobot|Autobots]]. The Quintesson manages to reactivate them, completely rebuilding [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] into Goldbug.

When [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] asks what the plan is, Prime admits that he doesn't have a plan. Without the accumulated wisdom within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] (which now resides in Rodimus), he doesn't have a clue as to where to start. That is, until Jessica comes forward with the experimental alloy that she, her father, and Gregory had worked on, which proved strong enough to block the spores. Theoretically, coating Optimus with this alloy would protect himself from the spore's infection and allow him to get close enough to Rodimus to extract the Matrix from him. However, all remaining alloy samples were stolen by the Decepticons. The Autobots decide to retrieve the metal.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 crazycons.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Cyclonus and Scourge each spent 2,000 XP to create the Level 7 Flame Barrier spell. Unfortunately Galvatron has Protection from Fire with Permanency effect.]]

Meanwhile, on [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is pinned down by his own mutinously diseased soldiers, unable to fight back against their maddening ferocity...until Optimus and his team arrive to save the day, convincing Galvatron that it would be in his best interest to join in an alliance with them. As is his way, however, the Decepticon leader is suspicious of Optimus's motives, especially when he learns they need the alloy he stole, but cannot get a reason for it out of them. He agrees to join in and leads Optimus and his gang down a series of boobytrapped tunnels, their numbers dwindling from the tunnel's natural hazards and the infected Decepticon mob behind them, until only Optimus, Galvatron, Sky Lynx, and Jessica arrive at the alloy's hiding place. Unfortunately, Jessie accidentally lets slip their plan to coat Optimus with the metal after confirming there would be enough of it to do the job, prompting Galvatron to turn on Optimus in hopes of using the process on himself, but he is soon subdued by Sky Lynx. Under coercion, Galvatron loads the alloy onto Prime's trailer, but doesn't notice that an infected Cyclonus has managed to sneak in, infecting Jessica in the process. Jessica, in turn, infects Galvatron, forcing Sky Lynx and Optimus to flee back to Earth.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Primes duel.JPG|left|200px|thumb|So I guess Rodimus is a bottom... to Ultra Magnus?]]

Once on Earth, Optimus is coated with the alloy, and sets out to find Rodimus. He finds him, taking down infected Transformers with reckless glee, and attempts to reason with him, which fails. Unwilling to hurt his successor, Prime lures Rodimus to a nearby auto shop, attempting to peacefully subdue and talk Rodimus into helping him, but the Hate Plague is overriding any effort to do so, forcing Optimus to knock Rodimus out and take the Matrix back by force. Back at [[Autobot City]], Optimus dives into the Matrix to question the elders of the past in reverse chronological order (of their history) to try and find out any information on the spores. The spirit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] warns him that if he travels too far, he risks becoming lost within the Matrix itself.

During Prime's journey, the Quintesson that revived him notices a troop of infected Transformers attempting to get in, and manages to temporarily shut them out, giving Optimus the time he needs to finally find his answer. He learns that, in a period of pre-Cybertronian history, the Plague ''has'' visited the planet before, but was contained and sealed inside the star Jessica and Gregory found it in using sheer wisdom, though even back then, no one had the wisdom to destroy the spores, and now that it has spread so much throughout the galaxy, it's doubtful that anyone has the wisdom to even contain them again. Optimus then realizes that a source of raw wisdom may be available to destroy the infection once and for all: the accumulated wisdom within the Matrix of Leadership.

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Hmm, this looks familiar...]]

The infected Transformers finally break into the base, and corner the Quintesson, who begs them to stop. Galvatron grabs a metal pole, intending to impale Prime. However, Prime's chest opens to reveal a glowing Matrix, surprising the Transformers. Asking it to "light our [[darkest hour]]", Optimus Prime releases the energy of the Matrix of Leadership, which spreads across the universe and totally eradicates the Plague. It even seems to, at least temporarily, cure Gregory and Jessica's father of their hatred for Autobots, and Galvatron of his own madness; all of them call a truce with Optimus.

It is then that Rodimus (now [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], without the Matrix within him) notes that the Matrix is now empty, its wisdom supposedly lost in order to stop the plague. Optimus, however, disagrees; they have all become a little wiser, now, and although the Matrix is indeed empty of wisdom, it is up to them from then on to fill it again with their knowledge and experience. Optimus, once again the Autobot leader, ordering his troops to "Transform and roll out".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (2)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (6)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (7)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (11)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (21)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (22)

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (16)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
*[[Sweep|Sweeps]] (19)
*[[Predaking]] (20)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (23)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (24)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (25)

|c3=
*[[Jessica Morgan]] (4)
*[[Gregory Swofford]] (5)
*[[Mark Morgan]] (26)

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]] (3)
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==

"We need a plan! Okay, Optimus, what's the plan?" 
"I... have no plan."
:—'''Goldbug''' and '''Optimus Prime''', the latter of whom is not exactly inspiring confidence

"[[Autobots, transform and roll out]]!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', getting back into the swing of things.

"Fools, I am your leader! ... It's no use. You're all crazed!"
:—'''Galvatron''' fighting his infected and insane troops. The irony fairy just had a coronary.

"Have I no friends left?!" 
"Well, well, what have we here?" 
"Looks like something the cat dragged in."
:—'''Galvatron''' tries to reason with the infected '''Cyclonus''' and '''Scourge'''...for once

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Prime Galvatron.JPG|right|200px|thumb|"Come on, Optimus, why can't we be friends?"
 "When we first met, you shot me and my girlfriend. You make a bad first impression."]]

"Come on, Optimus, tell me! Why do you want this metal? How will it be used? Why is it so precious?" 
"I've explained it to you." 
"You told me it was important, but you didn't tell me why!" 
"That's because I know you too well, Galvatron."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' resuming their same old song and dance

"I don't need you anymore, Optimus. So much for your resurrection!"
:—'''Galvatron''', same song, different tune

"I don't want to hurt you, Rodimus!" 
"Don't worry, Optimus, you won't! HAHAHAHAH!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' throw down.

"No more games, Rodimus! Innocent lives are at stake!" 
"''No one'' is innocent!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' throw down some more... right before Optimus clocks him.

"Now, light our darkest hour!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', proving that destiny and Chosen Ones mean nothing when pitted against letters from angry kids and parents.

"There will be no war today, Optimus Prime. You have earned Galvatron's respect."
:—'''Galvatron''', totally sane for the first time since... ever

"The wisdom of the ages! It's lost!" 
"No, not lost. We're all a little wiser now." 
"But the Matrix is empty!" 
"It's up to all of us to fill it again—with the wisdom we accumulate from this moment on. Autobots, transform and roll out!"
:—'''Hot Rod''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*The chair Optimus was sitting on is missing at the beginning of the episode.
*Optimus's fog lights are entirely red, even at the bulbs, which should be yellow or white.
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Steeljaw's paws are over the side of the table in one shot and beside him in the next shot.
*In his first full body shot, Goldbug's head is drawn off-model, with pointier horns, smaller eyes and a much simpler mouthplate that looks more like Optimus Prime's than Goldbug's zigzag-shaped plate.
*As he speaks with the group, the closeups of Optimus's face from the side have the panel on the left side of his head in gray instead of blue. The long shots don't show his mouth plate moving as he speaks.
*When Optimus Prime kneels down to talk to Jessica Morgan, Goldbug's feet (in the background) are colored gray instead of gold, even though his shins are still gold.
*After Kup suggests the Autobots steal the metal back, Steeljaw (who's very close to the camera) is Rampage colored like Steeljaw.
*As the group "rolls out," Kup is shown driving backwards (unless he turns around after the scene transition...).
*The red squares are missing from the tops of Galvatron's shoulders in several shots. His chin is gray in some and dark gray in others as well.
*Optimus's rifle has the basic Autobot gun sound effect rather than its usual sound effect.
*When the Decepticons retreat on Chaar, Cyclonus speaks with Ultra Magnus's voice.
*As Optimus drives through the cave, his trailer is missing its Autobot symbol.
*Just before he transforms in the cave, Optimus' bumper and grille are red instead of gray.
*Just before the team crosses the spider web, Cyclonus is shown in place of Blurr.
*Some shots show the crest on Optimus's helmet framed in gray, while others (such as during his "know you too well" line) have it framed in blue.
*As the energy leeches drop on Optimus, his fog lights are long cylinders rather than short triangles.
*Just before getting infected, Blaster has no lines on his switch plate.
*"We have to get out of here!" - Optimus's faceplate is misaligned with his helmet.
*When Galvatron shoots the top of the cave the second time, some of the rocks stay in mid-air.
*When they enter the Decepticon lab, Galvatron is taller than Optimus. In most other shots, he's shorter than Optimus.
*As Jessica discovers the alloy in the lab, Optimus is missing the Autobot symbol on his shoulder.
*After she makes the discovery, a shot shows the sides of Optimus' midsection in white instead of red.
*When Galvatron is threatening Optimus after they find the heat-resistant metal, Galvatron's cannon has a trigger on it.
*When escaping after Galvatron is infected, Optimus and his cab are coated in the resistant metal before it was even melted down.
*During the aforementioned escape, an infected Jessica Morgan makes a jump for Sky Lynx and there are several frames where it appears as if she had managed to grab hold of his tail...yet he remains mysteriously unaffected by the Hate Plague.
*When he first meets Optimus, Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol.
*The subsequent shots show Rodimus as semi-transparent.
*As Rodimus drives out of the junkyard a few moments later, he floats above the ground.
*Rodimus's gun fires yellow shots at times and purple shots in others. And what happened to his rifle?
*As Optimus grapples with Rodimus, Rodimus's Autobot logo disappears in a few frames.
*The inside of Rodimus' mouth is gray as he delivers the "no one is innocent!" line.
*The ceiling of the junkyard plant has beams framing the glass, yet the beams disappear when Sky Lynx crashes through them.
*Sky Lynx ''also'' disappears after crashing through the glass.
*As Optimus struggles with Rodimus the second time, Optimus's Autobot logo is framed in white in some shots, black in others.
*When Optimus takes the Matrix from Rodimus, the "glow" from the Matrix lags behind the Matrix itself when he raises it up.
*In the next shot, Rodimus is laying there with his chest suddenly closed again.
*When Optimus is talking to Alpha Trion, Alpha Trion is miscolored. He's entirely orange in a few shots.
*When Optimus activates the Matrix, its handles disappear. They're back again in the next shot.
*As Optimus is explaining that the Matrix must be refilled with the future wisdom, he is colored as if he still has the heat resistant metal on him.
*In the same shot, Hot Rod looks bigger than Optimus even though he should be much smaller (especially now that he's not Rodimus anymore).
*In the last shot of the episode, Optimus is missing his smoke stacks, the front of his cab has the gray stripes but the sides do not, and his trailer is again missing its Autobot logo.
*Also in the last shot of the episode, look at Blurr carefully. He clips into Kup and his front end disappears from the frame!

===Continuity errors===

''Oh boy''

*Optimus's last line in Part 1 was "This time, no force in the universe can stop me." His first line here is "''Now'', no force in the universe ''will'' stop me."
*Sky Lynx is in two parts at the beginning. He was the full walking bird at the end of the last episode.
*After Sky Lynx's recap, Optimus is seen getting up from a table and walking over to where he was a minute earlier. There was no table behind him in previous shots, and no reason for him to lay down for a moment.
* So....how ''exactly'' does Sky Lynx know every single detail of what happened in the previous episode? He wasn't even there when half of those recapped events took place! Unless he turned Metroplex back on...
* If Sky Lynx said that the uninfected Autobots were "Kup,''Wheelie'', Steeljaw, Bumblebee, and Blurr," then why does it show ''Blaster'', not Wheelie, among the uninfected autobots?
*When the small group of Autobots is restored, Optimus suddenly has his rifle back, though he wasn't holding it in the previous shots.
*Given that the Autobots are in a rush to save the galaxy, why did the Quintessons take the time to retool Bumblebee into Goldbug?
*How did Kup know that Rodimus had been contaminated since he was deactivated by Superion before Rodimus was?
*A close-up of Jessica during the spider-web ambush shows her without her exo-suit, which she is shown wearing immediately before and after.
*The alloy is heat-resistant to the point of surviving a supernova in the [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|previous episode]]. Yet it now can be melted down to coat Optimus Prime with it.
*The Transformers wounded by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] included Steeljaw and Wheelie, who are briefly seen at the start. They are then replaced by Blaster. Steeljaw returns a bit later, however, but Wheelie stays gone. Not that this is a bad thing. Wheelie must have stayed with a Quintesson on Cybertron.
*The infected Decepticons work ''together'' to fight Galvatron and the others, instead of attacking each other.
*Worse, when outnumbered by the Autobots, Cyclonus orders the other Decepticons to retreat, and they follow his command.
*Sky Lynx doesn't help during the spider attack, even though he ''can'' fly.
*When Galvatron and Prime are working together, Prime says, "That's because I know you too well, Galvatron." Yet this is the first time a ''cognizant'' Optimus has ever met Galvatron (him being only half-alive back when they met in "[[Dark Awakening]]"). Perhaps he just has really good intuition, or knows [[Megatron (G1)|who Galvatron USED to be...]]
*Goldbug, Kup and Blaster get infected without being touched. Sky Lynx was right next to them but doesn't get infected. Huh?
*Optimus is coated in the alloy in robot mode. How does his trailer get coated?
*How do the support beams in the junkyard plant hold Optimus and Rodimus' weight?
*How exactly did Jessica get off [[Chaar]]?
*Rodimus's Matrix chamber opens via a pair of rectangular swing-out doors much like Optimus' chamber. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door opened in the middle of the flame on his chest. In "Dark Awakening", it hinged across the left side of the flame, and the whole design opened to reveal the chamber.
* When Optimus puts the Matrix into his chest, he puts it in kind of... sideways. Surely his months of deactivation haven't made him forget how the thing sat in his chest for ''millions of years''?
* Upon entering the Matrix of Leadership, the first ancient Autobot that Optimus Prime converses with is Alpha Trion. The latter's appearance there is somewhat puzzling, as it was [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2|previously established]] (and [[The Rebirth, Part 2|later reiterated]]) that he had merged with Vector Sigma. Alpha Trion's presence makes even ''less'' sense considering that it was clearly stated in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" that he had never taken the Matrix for himself, thus eliminating the possibility that a "backup copy" of himself had somehow been "uploaded" into it. Years later, of course, the big ol' retcon of the [[Allspark]] indirectly rectified this: Alpha Trion's in the afterlife, which one can communicate with through both the Matrix and Vector Sigma.
*The infected transformers work ''together'' to find Optimus Prime, instead of attacking each other.
*How exactly does wisdom kill spores?
*In the movie, the Matrix took up the top half of Optimus' chest compartment and was behind a flip-up panel. Here, it fills in the whole (now hollow) cavity with no panel or other electronics to be seen.
*How did they get the alloy ''off'' Optimus Prime?
*And why would they want to, if it's so resilient? (Unless... they just painted over the alloy?)
*Does anyone else think that Dr. Swofford and Morgan get off waaaaay too easy at the end of the episode? They ''willingly'' unleash the hate plague that causes widespread devastation (and probably death) across not just the world but the entire galaxy, just to spite the Autobots, and they get off by just saying "sorry"?
*Then again, we don't actually ''see'' Optimus shaking their hands. Burn!

===Transformers references===
*When Optimus uses the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, it bears more than a passing resemblance to when Rodimus Prime used the Matrix to destroy [[Unicron]] in [[The Transformers: The Movie|''The Movie'']]. They've even got "[[The Touch]]" playing in the background.

*In Japanese continuity, the events of [[The Great Transformer War issue 3|issue 3]] of ''[[The Great Transformer War]]'' take place shortly after this episode, helping to bridge the gap between it and "[[Four Warriors Come out of the Sky]]", the first episode of ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''.

===Trivia===
[[Image:DialogueScriptTROOPOrionPax.jpg|thumb|250px|So this is odd.]]
*The Japanese version of this episode has a slightly alternate ending. After Optimus Prime and the Autobots ride off into the sunset and "the Touch" ends, the music changes to "[[Transformer 2010|TRANSFORMER 2010]]" by [[Shō Hirose]] and the scene shifts to a montage of all the major characters from the series.
*The portion of "The Touch" that plays includes the line about "Hell breaking loose," an unusually strong word for an American '80s TV cartoon. Guess the censors were looking elsewhere that day.
*The [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for this episode lists Orion Pax as appearing. A flashback to Optimus Prime's early days that was removed for time constraints, you might think? No. According to the [[dialogue script]] for the episode, Orion Pax was originally going to be the one to ask Prime why he had returned to the Matrix! Presumably someone on staff caught the error early enough, as Pax's line in the final cut went to Alpha Trion.
*After abusing his own troops throughout Season 3, there's something deeply satisfying in seeing Galvatron being attacked by his soldiers willingly.
*Jack Angel takes over as the voice for Cyclonus following the death of Roger C. Carmel

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1987 — ''The Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Die Rückkehr von Optimus Prime (Zweiter Teil) ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''Transformers'' — The Return of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime the Ultimate Robot ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Headmasters / The Return of Optimus Prime / Cosmic Rust (Tempo Video) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 7: The Return of Optimus Prime ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_return_of_optimus_prime_part_2.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Hate Plague

2011-12-15T11:28:43Z

125.237.207.78: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

[[Image:Hate Plague Rodimus.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You've got red on you.]]
{{quote|It's a madness plague, Galvatron! If one of those Transformers touches you, you're infected.|[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]"}}

Wretched scumbags! Before you die an agonizing, chainsaw-related death, you're gonna hear about the '''Hate Plague'''! This insidious, maddening, blood-red malady was one of the few capable of affecting those disgusting, rust-bucket Transformers. Any ''filthy'' organism infected turns bright red, like freshly spilled gore, and displays incredibly high levels of SHUT UP AND DIE toward everything and everyone. Now get on your knees and pray, because it's all over!

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
Long ago, the Hate Plague ravaged the universe, but was contained by a wise man using sheer wisdom. However, nobody was wise enough to completely destroy the plague spores, so they were simply sealed inside a star. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

Eventually, the star went supernova and exploded while being studied by [[human]] scientists [[Jessica Morgan]] and [[Gregory Swofford]], covering their spaceship in Hate Plague spores. Taking them back to [[Earth]], Gregory studied the spores with his colleague, [[Mark Morgan]], and learned of their properties. Jessica was later injured in a scuffle between the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], prompting the two men to trap various Autobots and infect them with the spores. However, the Hate Plague spread like wildfire, infecting Transformers, humans and aliens alike. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

The newly resurrected [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was tasked with curing the disease. Not knowing what to do, Prime dove into the accumulated knowledge of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to question the spirits of leaders before him about the matter. Eventually, the mysterious [[It]] informed him of the Hate Plague's past and its weakness to pure wisdom. Going back to the real world, Prime opened the Matrix and unleashed its accumulated wisdom unto the universe, eradicating the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

====Known infected====
{{collist|2|
* Thousands (if not ''millions'') of [[humans]]
* Mark Morgan
* Gregory Swofford
* [[Aerialbot (G1)|The Aerialbots]]
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
* [[Combaticon (G1)|The Combaticons]]
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and his Sweeps
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (previously Bumblebee)
* Jessica Morgan
* [[Predacon (G1)|The Predacons]]
* [[Protectobot (G1)|The Protectobots]]
* Rodimus Prime (later Hot Rod)
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|The Sharkticons]]
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]
* [[Stunticon (G1)|The Stunticons]]
* [[Throttlebot|The Throttlebots]]
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
* And two lab rats}}

{{note|The only characters in "The Return of Optimus Prime" who definitely never get infected by the Hate Plague are Optimus Prime himself, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (who was deactivated to prevent him from getting infected), and the [[Quintesson]] that Sky Lynx brought to Earth to revive Optimus Prime.}}

===''Beast Machines'' cartoon===
[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] used a new variety of virus based on the Hate Plague in an attempt to destroy the [[Maximal]]s. [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] compared this with the original Hate Plague. Primal had everyone work together to get themselves out of the mess which destroyed the virus. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Surgeon General Arkeville]] suggested that [[Ding Dong]]s might be an effective remedy for the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The AllSpark Almanac}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Uchū Pest''' (宇宙ペスト ''Uchū Pesuto'', "Space Plague")

{{stub}}

[[Category:Aggravaters]]
[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]

Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity

2011-12-15T11:04:23Z

125.237.207.78: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{suite}}
[[Image:G1OptimusPrimeStockFootage.jpg|thumb|right|350px|"Captions are the right of all TFwiki users"]]
Come read the incredibly complex, convoluted, and competing accounts of '''[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s massive amount of appearances in the [[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]!

==''The Transformers'' cartoon==
:''Voice actors:'' [[Peter Cullen]] (Optimus Prime, English), [[Laurie Faso]] (Orion Pax, English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Francis Lax]] (French), [[Hubert Gagnon]] (French Canadian), [[Willi Röbke]] (German), [[Thomas Rau]] (German ''Generation 2''), [[Diego Reggente]] (Italian, first season and part of second season), [[Giorgio Melazzi]] (Italian, third season), [[Celso de Vasconcelos]] (Brazil, episodes 4-27), [[Darcy Pedrosa]] (Brazil, episodes 28 onwards), [[Edgar Wald]] (Latin American dub), [[Vlastimir Đuza Stojiljković]] (Serbian)

[[Image:Orionpax.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Ariel spends a lot of time hanging around the docks.]]

Optimus Prime began his life as an Autobot named '''Orion Pax''' during the [[Golden Age]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] nine million years ago. Together with his girlfriend [[Elita One|Ariel]] and his best friend [[Dion]], Orion was a dock-worker at a [[storage yard 67|storage yard]] who had the simple job of unloading and storing shipments of energy that came from a power plant up-river. But the times in which Orion lived were strange ones: A new breed of robot had recently appeared on the planet, with strange robot-mode [[flight]] powers that led Orion and Dion to idolize them. Ariel wasn't so sure, having heard rumors that the flying robots' leader had recently perpetrated an attack on an outer city.

[[Image:Wardawn_orion_dies.jpg|left|210px|thumb|Better get used to [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|dying horribly]], buddy.]]

One day, Orion was going about work as usual when an unfamiliar group of [[Aerialbot (G1)|five robots]] arrived on the docks, and Orion, wondering if they were new workers, introduced himself and his friends. At that moment, all attentions turned skyward as a group of the flying robots soared by overhead. Both Ariel and the newcomers urged caution in dealing with the fliers, but Orion waved off their concerns, and returned to work. Before long, Orion was shocked when he was approached by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], leader of the flying robots, who claimed to be looking for a place to store his wares. Overcome, Orion showed Megatron around the warehouses and explained that they were used for storing energy... at which point Megatron ordered his followers, the [[Decepticon]]s, to attack and steal it all! When Orion took a shot to the shoulder from the Decepticon leader, Ariel rushed to his defense, but was hit by another blast from Megatron. The enraged Orion lunged at Megatron, but was shot down by yet another blast from the Decepticon's cannon.

[[Image:Sfat prime and elita fb.jpg|right|thumb|"No girls allowed"]]

While Megatron and [[Transport drone|his troops]] set about pillaging the warehouses, the five robots Orion had met earlier carried his body away, in hopes of finding someone to repair him. They came upon the Cybertronian machinesmith [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], who reluctantly decided to subject Orion to a new reconstruction process he had developed, which would rebuild the Autobots' frail bodies into battle-hardy configurations so that they could battle the Decepticons on even footing. Thus it was that Orion Pax became Optimus Prime, the new leader of the Autobots, and was given the [[Matrix of Leadership]], which Alpha Trion had kept safe since Megatron had killed its [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|previous holder]]. While Alpha Trion set to work on rebuilding Ariel into "[[Elita One]]" using Prime's schematics as a basis, Prime confronted Megatron, introducing himself as the Decepticon's "worst nightmare". A mighty battle ensued, which came to an end when the warehouse's fuel stockpiles were blown up by the five enigmatic Autobots, who disappeared. {{storylink|War Dawn}}

Over the following five million years, Optimus Prime led the Autobots in a steady war of attrition that gradually drained Cybertron of almost all of its energy. In order to continue the fight, Prime arranged for an interstellar expedition to search for energy on other planets. Loading his best and brightest aboard a huge [[Ark (G1)|spacecraft]], Prime was the last to board, but was stopped by a cry from Elita One, who came running up to the launch platform. Prime told her that he would return for her as soon as he could, but Elita was intent on joining Prime on the mission. No debate was to be had, however, as a Decepticon attack on the platform caused an explosion that seemingly destroyed Elita. Crestfallen, Prime boarded the spacecraft and ordered a take-off, unaware that Elita had, in fact, survived. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}

[[Image:Mtmte1 prime controls.jpg|left|thumb|The Transformers spent four million years in stasis lock because Prime never learned to turn INTO the skid.]]

The Autobots' spacecraft had a troubled flight. After navigating a treacherous asteroid field, the ship was caught in a tractor beam from a [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon space cruiser]] that had been shadowing them, under the command of Megatron himself. Megatron's forces swarmed the Autobot ship, and the two leaders grappled until the G-force of the nearby planet [[Earth]] took hold of the craft, and dragged it down. Although Prime tried valiantly to pull the ship up, it collided with a [[Mount St. Hilary|mountain]] so violently that all the Autobots and Decepticons were knocked offline.

[[Image:Mtmte2_witiwickys_saved.jpg|215px|right|thumb|Water-boarding is unconstitutional]]

Four million years later, in 1984, a volcanic eruption jarred the ship's computer, [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], back online, and it set about reviving the Transformers indiscriminately, beginning with the Decepticons. The evil robots soon departed the Ark, but thanks to a tremor caused by a petty parting shot upon the ship from [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], the inactive form of Optimus Prime was jostled into the path of Teletraan I's restoration beam. Reconfigured by the computer to transform into a tractor trailer, Prime thanked Teletraan for its efforts with a thumbs-up, and quickly saw to the reactivation of all his fellow Autobots. Wasting no time, Prime led the Autobots in pursuing the Decepticons, who were in the process of attacking an oil rig. Prime and Megatron faced off, but Prime was promptly set upon by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], allowing Megatron to break off the fight and collapse the oil rig with a few well-placed blasts. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} Prime quickly rescued a pair of rig workers—[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and his son [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]—and introduced himself and the Autobots to the two grateful humans, who volunteered to help the Autobots learn more about Earth.

[[Image:Mtmte2_shermandam.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"Hey, Megatron! Lemme axe you a question!"]]

Next, the Decepticons targeted [[Sherman Dam]], and Prime led the Autobots in an attempt to stop them, battling Megatron atop the dam with his retractable [[energon-axe]]. Distracted by a cry for help from Spike, Prime was knocked off the dam by Megatron, and the Decepticons escaped to carry out their next raid, this time on the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]]. When the Autobots arrived at the mines, Sparkplug and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] were sent in to plant an explosive charge that would entomb the Decepticons. When the pair did not return, Prime drove up to the mineshaft and deployed [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] to investigate. No sooner had Roller entered the mine, however, than the charge went off, and Prime was caught in the blast and hurled off the cliff. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}} Prime and Roller both survived the explosion, but unfortunately, so did the Decepticons, who blasted their way free of the collapsed mine and took to the air. Prime tried to stop [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] from pursuing the villains, but his old friend would not listen and was shot down. Prime was happy that Ironhide was okay, but reminded him that there was a thin line between being a hero, and being a memory.

[[Image:Mtmte3_prime_combatdeck.jpg|right|225px|thumb|In mere moments, the gun would be destroyed, but the finger would keep right on firing.]]

After the Autobots' attempt to use a phony holographic rocket base to dupe the Decepticons failed, Megatron stood poised to return to Cybertron. Prime called for volunteers for the dangerous mission to stop the Decepticons' blasting off in their new [[Victory (G1)|space cruiser]], and all the Autobots stepped forward, including Spike and Sparkplug. With all his soldiers behind him, Prime led the Autobots into battle once more, and once again faced off with Megatron, this time using the additional firepower of his [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] against his enemy. When the combat shifted to hand-to-hand, however, Prime was blindsided by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], affording Megatron the opportunity to call off the fight and instruct the Decepticons to board the cruiser. As the craft took off, emotion got the better of Prime, and in a rare display of short-temperedness and anger, he roared at [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to hand over his rocket pack. With the pack's additional boost, Prime achieved escape velocity and followed the cruiser into space, but a blast from its artillery hatch sent him plummeting back to Earth. His anger fading to despair, Prime declared that the Decepticons had won... before noticing that [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] was missing. In fact, the invisible Autobot had stowed away aboard the Decepticons' cruiser and sabotaged it from within, causing it to crash back to Earth, into the ocean. Believing the Decepticons aboard destroyed, Prime ordered the Autobots back to the ship, so that they could continue rebuilding it and return to Cybertron themselves. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

[[Image:Too_prime_truckmode.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The smokestacks were filed down for your safety, kids.]]

One night, months later, before rebuilding was complete, Prime and Ironhide stood looking out at the ocean, and Prime confessed he was not entirely convinced that the Decepticons were gone for good. And he was right: before long, Teletraan I reported an emergency at a solar power plant, and Optimus discovered to his horror that Megatron still lived. Prime led a team of Autobots to drive the villains off, and while they were successful, the Decepticons escaped with a large quantity of energy to send to Cybertron with their new intergalactic "[[space bridge]]" transport system. Spike was captured and nearly sent across the bridge with the energy, but at the last moment, Prime blasted him free of the transport pod and then hurled Megatron into the bridge in his place. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} Megatron was not gone for long, however, and when Prime next faced his eternal enemy, it was for possession of an [[antimatter]] energy formula. {{storylink|Roll for It}}

[[Image:Divide and conquer.jpg|right|225px|thumb|He was recovering nicely until Bumblebee tripped while carrying his dynamite collection.]]

While searching for any trace of where the Decepticons' space bridge would next materialize, Prime received word of a Decepticon attack on a weapons factory and sped to the scene. In the battle that followed, Prime was badly injured by an exploding computer bank when he shielded the human workers with his body, and was taken back to Autobot Headquarters for repair. Alas, Laserbeak followed the Autobots back to their base, and while Prime was lying on a medical table with his internal mechanisms exposed, the crooked cassette struck, destroying Prime's vital [[cosmitron]] component. A team of Autobots were dispatched to Cybertron to recover a replacement cosmitron, but in their absence, the Decepticons initiated an all-out attack on the Autobots. At the last moment, the cosmitron arrived, and the repaired Prime made a dramatic entrance onto the battlefield, challenging Megatron to one-on-one combat and soundly defeating him. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}}

After leading the Autobots on a mission to the Arctic to stop the Decepticons from draining the energy of the Earth's core, {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}} Optimus Prime okayed [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'s project to create robotic dinosaurs to bolster their forces. Unfortunately, when the three "[[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]" turned out to be dangerous, simple-minded monsters, Prime ordered them destroyed. Wheeljack was able to talk him down to merely deactivating the Dinobots and sealing them in a cavern in their volcano headquarters... and a good thing, too, since soon after, when Prime and the Autobots were defeated in battle with the Decepticons at the [[Great Falls]], Wheeljack was able to bring the Dinobots back online to save the day. Realizing that "even the wisest of men and machines can be in error", Prime overruled his previous order, and allowed the Dinobots to remain part of the Autobot ranks. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

[[Image:Grimlockapologize.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"Someday, my large friend, [[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|the tables will be turned]]."]]

Following a mission to Peru, {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}} Prime was so impressed with the Dinobot trio's improved performance that he ordered the creation of two more. Unfortunately, Prime would soon learn that the Dinobots were not perfect; left alone to guard a [[Meteorini Chipperoni|strange energy-rich meteorite]], the Dinobots were approached by Megatron, who exploited their simple brains to turn them against Optimus Prime. Soon after, when Prime discovered that the meteorite was unstable and set to explode, he rushed out to warn the Dinobots, only to be attacked by them and taken to Megatron. The Decepticons had also stolen the meteorite, unaware of its impending detonation, and when the space-rock finally exploded, Prime dove into action and shoved the Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to safety. Realizing that Optimus Prime was on the side of the angels, Grimlock apologized, and he and Prime shook hands. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots}}

[[Image:SurfsUp.jpg|right|225px|thumb|There is no way it could be cooler than this...]]

When the Decepticons constructed a massive "space pyramid" in order to bring Cybertron into Earth's orbit, that they might exploit the energies released in the chaos that would ensue, Prime attempted to stop Megatron from activating the third and final pylon in the system. Megatron merely laughed, and informed Prime that ''he'' would be the one to activate the pylon—for if he did not, Cybertron would be utterly destroyed! {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} Prime was forced to comply and brought the pylon online, but he did not linger on the moral repercussions of his decision, and instead led the Autobots in combatting the environmental terrors that Cybertron's orbit unleashed. On top of all this mayhem, the Decepticons had also used [[hypno-chip]]s to mind-control human slaves into helping them gather energy, including Sparkplug Witwicky. Learning that Sparkplug had been taken to work on Cybertron, Prime felt that it would be best if Spike did not find out, only for the boy to overhear him discussing it. Prime permitted Spike to join a team of Autobots that were heading for Cybertron to investigate the source of the Decepticons' mind-control. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} Prime then led another team of the Autobots on a mission to stop the construction of a Decepticon hydro-electric generator, cruising into battle on Transformer-sized surfboards. Things came to a head in a huge firefight on a tropical island, during which the Autobots returned from Cybertron with a device that undid the effects of the hypno-chips. Megatron cut his losses and fled with the energy he had gathered, but Prime then opened fire on his craft, blowing up the energy within and creating an explosion powerful enough to thrust Cybertron back out of orbit. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}}

[[Image:CountdownToExtinction.jpg|left|thumb|... I stand corrected.]]

In the wake of Cybertron's orbit, Optimus Prime and the Autobots set about repairing the damage done to Earth, when an even greater threat emerged: Starscream set an [[Exponential Generator]] to overlord and destroy the planet. For the first time—but not the last—Prime and Megatron were forced to team up for the greater good (or the lesser evil), as Megatron transformed into pistol mode and allowed Prime to wield him so that they could shoot the exponential generator into space and save Earth. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}}

[[Image:Tanker throw.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Eat your heart out, [[Superman]].]]

Hearing reports of giant robotic insects in Bali, Optimus Prime led a team of Autobots to investigate. The team discovered that the insects in questions were a trio of "[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]" who had allied themselves with Megatron, and pursued them to an oil refinery the Decepticons were in the process of plundering. In one of his most impressive feats of strength ever recorded, Optimus Prime hoisted an entire oil tanker over his head and hurled it at Megatron. The Insecticons were so awed by this display of strength that they decided to consume the gathered energon and flee, earning them Megatron's ire. Although he considered the day a victory, Prime worried that the Insecticons would inevitably ally themselves with Megatron again. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}

[[Image:HeavyMetalWar Primedefeated.jpg|left|thumb|"I... fell on my keys.. ow."]]

When an unarmed Megatron appeared in front of Autobot Headquarters claiming that he had come only to talk, Optimus Prime agreed to hear him out, and found himself challenged to a one-on-one duel in accordance with Cybertron law. The loser of the duel and his troops would be forced to vacate Earth forever, but Prime confidently and honorably accepted the challenge. Little did Prime realize that Megatron had found a way to imbue himself with the different powers of all his Decepticon troops, and when the battle began, Prime was defeated with shocking speed. Believing that he had simply been unaware of the number of powers at Megatron's command, Prime sorrowfully agreed to leave Earth, much to the other Autobots' chagrin. When they returned to Autobot Headquarters to prepare for their departure, they discovered Megatron's newest warriors, the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], in battle with the Dinobots, but Prime refused to get involved, citing the law despite Ironhide's protests. Spike's friend [[Chip Chase]] had his suspicions about the battle and used Teletraan I to scan Prime's injuries, revealing Megatron's deception. As the battle had been unlawfully won, Prime was able to disregard the law and lead the Autobots into the battle raging outside. Prime was able to blast the Constructicons' merged form of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] apart with his laser rifle, and the Autobots ganged up on the Decepticons and forced them into a lava-filled crevasse. Prime and Megatron faced off once more, and Prime sent Megatron to join his troops in the magma below. Spike asked if the Decepticons were gone forever, prompting Optimus to wonder aloud... in the vast universe, was anything truly forever? {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

[[Image:Autobotspike_prime_vs_autobotx.jpg|215px|right|thumb]]

As 1985 rolled in, Optimus Prime found himself on the receiving end of the fury of "Autobot Spike", as he struggled to bring the young Witwicky back to his right mind after his consciousness was implanted in a [[Autobot X|robot body]]. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}} Later, when Megatron threatened the stability of the [[sun]] with his [[Solar Needle]], Prime was caught off guard by the Decepticon leader and wound up staring down his fusion cannon. Megatron ordered the other Autobots to lay down their weapons, but Prime told them to leave him to his fate and destroy the needle. Refusing to risk their commander's life, the Autobots complied with Megatron's wishes, but Prime found a way out of the situation by requesting a last wish: he asked [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], who had been rendered totally subservient by the removal of one of his circuit cards, to destroy the Solar Needle for him, and the deed was done before Megatron could do anything about it. {{storylink|Changing Gears}}

[[Image:Cos prime disassembled.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"The seller promised he was mint!"]]

Responding to reports of Decepticon activity in New York City, Optimus Prime was captured by the evil robots and disassembled into his component parts by [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]. The Autobots were able to recover their leader's head, but the other parts of his body had been rebuilt into an [[alligatorcon]] that the Autobots were forced to defeat and disassemble in order to restore him. Even after his body was rebuilt, Prime was still missing his right arm, which had been mounted as a laser turret on the top of the [[Empire State Building]]. Luckily, Prime was able to remote-control his arm, and used it to blast Devastator off the building, after which the Autobots reclaimed and re-attached Prime's errant limb. {{storylink|City of Steel}} The Decepticons were not done trying to manipulate Prime for their own ends, however; for their next evil scheme, they attacked his mind instead of his body, using a [[personality destabilizer device]] to turn Prime and his fellow Autobots to the side of evil. Sparkplug was able to rig up [[attitude exchanger]]s to restore the Autobots to normal, but Prime was able to avoid being tagged by the devices by splitting up into his three components and bedeviling the Autobots on three fronts. Finally, Bumblebee took it upon himself to charge into Prime, and succeeded in restoring his leader's mind. {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}}

[[Image:Dotm_prime_vs_torq3.jpg|right|215px|thumb]]

Numerous crazy gadgets formed the backbone of Prime's next few adventures, as he battled the Decepticons for control of [[electro-cell]]s, {{storylink|Traitor}} had to convince Ironhide to remain with the Autobots when his old friend botched a mission involved Wheeljack's new [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]], {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} and found himself temporarily trapped in truck mode by the [[Transfixatron]] when he and the other Autobots participated in the "Autobot Run" charity race. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} Later, when the Decepticons allied themselves with the [[Sub-Atlantica]]ns and attacked [[Washington, D.C.]], Prime was felled by a blast from an anti-Transformer disruptor ray created by the Sub-Atlantican king, [[Nergill]]. Prime's diodes were pulled out of the laser fire by the fortunate arrival of Grimlock and the Dinobots, and the Dinobot leader didn't hesitate to point out that fact. Prime then transported the Dinobots to Sub-Atlantica in his trailer, and unleashed them upon the fish-men with the order to "act prehistoric!" {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}}

When Megatron took control of the super computer [[TORQ III]], Prime gave a particularly good account of himself, duping and defeating the addled computer almost single-handedly, besting Megatron in hand-to-hand combat and destroying his remote control device, and saving [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] and Spike from a sinking oil platform. {{storylink|Day of the Machines}} The Decepticons struck back with another plot that involved controlling an Earth machine; even Optimus Prime found himself outmatched by the robotic ninja [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]], and his attempts to reason with the lifeless construct fell on deaf ears. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

[[Image:Primeproblem prime and clone.jpg|left|215px|thumb|"Oh noes! If only there were some way to tell them apart! [[Matrix of Leadership|Sacred lifeforce]]? What?"]]

As part of a plot to lead the Autobots to their doom in a crevasse of [[korlonium crystal]]s, Megatron created a [[Optimus Prime clone|perfect clone of Optimus Prime]], which he could remote control from a distance. Despite the Prime clone's blatantly odd behavior, the Autobots were unable to tell the difference between the two Primes, so they staged several contests in hopes of identifying the true Prime through his skills. Unfortunately, a sharp-shooting test and a race yielded no results, and the Autobots were forced to table the debate and go into battle against the Decepticons with both Primes. To fully complete the illusion, Megatron proceeded to create a [[Starscream clone (G1)|clone of Starscream]], which his Prime clone then destroyed, convincing the Autobots that it was the genuine article. Unfortunately, Megatron promptly blew his ruse by dismissing Spike's safety as unimportant, and all of the Autobots immediately turned on the clone and blew it to smithereens. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}}

[[Image:Dinobotisland jetpacks.jpg|right|215px|thumb]]

Next, Prime found himself allying with Megatron on two separate occasions, first to prevent the destruction of the Earth when a Decepticon attempt to drill to the planet's core went awry {{storylink|The Core}}, and then again when the Insecticons drained the [[Nova Power Core|power core]] of the [[Nova Power Plant]] and grew in size and power. In the latter instance, Prime again wielded Megatron in gun mode to shoot capsules of antidote into the Insecticons, shrinking them back to normal before they exploded. {{storylink|The Insecticon Syndrome}}

After another disastrous Dinobot rampage in Autobot Headquarters, Optimus Prime ordered the Dinobots to relocate to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], a strange prehistoric paradise the Autobots had just recently discovered. Unfortunately, the Decepticons followed the Dinobots there and began draining the island's rich sources of energy, disrupting the fabric of space and time and causing humans and other creatures from throughout time to materialize in the present day. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Prime put his trailer to use as a holding pen for a herd of woolly mammoths, and after the prehistoric pachyderms were returned to their home time, he donned a jetpack and led a team of Autobots to Dinobot Island to stop the Decepticons' plan. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

[[Image:Master builders prime basketball.jpg|left|215px|thumb|Red bots can't jump.]]

In the midst of some basketball lessons from Spike, Prime was approached by [[Grapple]] with a design for a solar power tower, but was forced to forbid its construction on the basis that it had no means of defense against a Decepticon attack. Consumed with a desire to build the tower, Grapple and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] wound up allying with the Constructicons to construct the tower, only to be promptly turned on and entombed within it once it was complete. Prime and the Autobots rescued them, and while Prime accepted their apologies, he still had them clear up the wreckage of the tower as punishment. {{storylink|The Master Builders}}

Optimus Prime later helped test Wheeljack's new [[Negavator]] weapon and had to deal with a paranoid [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], {{storylink|Auto Berserk}} then found himself faced with a super-powered Megatron when the Decepticon leader boosted his systems with the [[Heart of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Microbots}}

[[Image:MMP1 Gavel bang.jpg|right|215px|thumb|A collection of G1 Transformers toys, sold to the [[Megatron (G1)|psychotic robotic madman offscreen]].]]

After helping to save [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]]'s new solar energy facility from Decepticon attack, Optimus Prime and the Autobots were honored at city hall, but the ceremony turned sour when the mayor's rival, [[Shawn Berger]], framed the Autobots for raiding an oil field using a video tape faked by the Decepticons (which featured a costumed Starscream playing the role of Prime). Prime and the Autobots were called to trial and found guilty of crimes against Earth, and Prime reluctantly accepted the court's ruling that they leave Earth and return to Cybertron aboard a craft supplied by Berger. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} Prime soon regretted his decision and ordered [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] to turn the rocket around, only to discover that Megatron had set it to collide with the sun and destroy them all. Thanks to [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s force field, Prime and the Autobots survived the explosion of their rocket, and returned to Earth to clear their names. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

When Optimus Prime attended [[Greene|Professor Greene]]'s demonstration of his new [[Ultra Plane]], the Decepticons attacked and destroyed the new weapon. In the battle that resulted, the Autobots and Decepticons began to suffer sudden system malfunctions that were quickly deduced to be a result of the [[cybertonium]] in their systems degenerating after four million years on Earth. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} Spike and his girlfriend [[Carly]] braved a perilous journey to Cybertron, recovering enough cybertonium to repair the Autobots, and were appointed honorary Autobots by Prime for their efforts. {{Storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:Goldenlagoon_prime_perceptor.jpg|left|225px|thumb| Rare [[Lucky Draw]] Optimus and Perceptor.]]

Optimus Prime was particularly exasperated with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] when he broadcast a rock concert back into the Autobot base, partially because of the ungodly noise, but mostly because it meant that the Autobots failed to receive a distress call from [[Haley|Professor Haley]], whose [[Voltronic Galaxer]] device had been stolen by the Decepticons. It was with Blaster's help, however, that Prime then bested Megatron in a battle on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], and so he allowed Blaster to turn Megatron's moonbase into a radio station that he could broadcast from. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}}

Prime later led the Autobots in battle for control of the [[electrum|golden lagoon]], {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} then found himself playing the role of tech-support as he talked [[Talaria]] through the activation of [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]'s signal beacon via a communications channel when the space-faring Autobot was stranded on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]]. Prime intended to go to Titan and rescue Cosmos himself, but Red Alert urged against it, and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] wound up going in his place.{{storylink|The God Gambit}} Prime later agreed to help the NYPD bust a carjacking ring headed up by the [[Geddis brothers]], leading to another confrontation with the Geddis's secret allies, the Decepticons. {{storylink|Make Tracks}}

[[Image:Childsplay_aron_and_prime.jpg|right|thumb|Aron just finished his cartoon accurate Optimus kitbash.]]

When the Decepticons attempted to turn a baseball stadium into a new space bridge, the mechanism malfunction, teleporting Prime, Bumblebee, [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and a quartet of Decepticons to an alien planet inhabited by giants. Prime took the diplomatic approach, introducing himself and the Autobots to [[Aron (G1)|Aron]], the alien boy into whose room they had been transported, and Aron then helped his new friends evade capture and dissection by the planet's authorities. Following a riotous sewer-surfing journey back to Aron's house, the Autobots departed the planet in a toy rocket ship Perceptor had rewired. {{storylink|Child's Play (episode)|Child's Play}} On the return journey to Earth, however, the Autobots were captured by the alien gambler [[Bosch]], who brainwashed them all, save Smokescreen, and sold them to Lord [[Gyconi]] on the asteroid resort of [[Monacus]]. Prime was pitted against an [[Animalien]] in a gladiatorial battle for Gyconi's patrons' amusement before Smokescreen and Bosch secured the Autobots' freedom and restored their minds. {{storylink|The Gambler}} Upon his return to Earth, Optimus Prime faced the menace of the [[Morphobot]]s. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}}

When reports came in of the Constructicons mining an asteroid out in space, Optimus Prime requested that Omega Supreme investigate. The asteroid proved to be an egg containing an [[asteroid bird alien|alien bird monster]], which emerged and began attacking [[San Francisco]], but Omega ignored Prime's orders to intervene and shut off his communicator in mid-battle, preferring to seek revenge against the Constructicons. Prime was forced to intervene, getting between Omega and his quarry and finally convincing the giant Autobot to help dispose of the alien, on the basis that there were more important things in life than revenge. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme}}

Outfitted with a special coating of insulation to protect himself, Prime led a small team of Autobots to Japan to stop Megatron's latest creation, the demented energy imp known as [[Kremzeek]]. When the Autobots finally got the better of the crazy creature, Prime had to regretfully order his destruction. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}}

[[Image:Primetarget_beast_of_borneo.jpg|left|thumb|Bad touch!]]

After receiving a distress signal from the planet of [[Tlalakan]]s, Prime ordered a team of Autobots to investigate, but was unable to go himself as he was too large for Cosmos to carry. {{storylink|Sea Change}} Later, when Megatron, Starscream, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] began feuding for Decepticon leadership, Prime was greatly amused by the whole thing, calling it a "domestic squabble" and taunting Megatron by dismissing him so he could fight the "real" leaders of the Decepticons. Prime kept the other Autobots from getting involved in the battle, and sure enough, the Decepticons wound up knocking the fight out of each other. The other Autobots agreed there was only one leader for them, and formed a throne out of their bodies for Prime to sit upon, but Prime said he preferred to roll. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}}

Optimus Prime's fame and prowess led him to become the target of the demented big-game hunter, [[Chumley|Lord Chumley]], who sought Prime's head to go along with his other rare trophies. Chumley captured several Autobots in order to lure Prime to his estate, and of course, the Autobot leader had no choice but to comply. Battling his way through a mock-up of Cybertron itself against all kind of bizarre traps and creatures, from a [[Beast of Borneo|ferocious dragon-like beast]], to several [[Chumley's arachnoid drones|robotic arachnids]], to the interfering Astrotrain and Blitzwing, Prime succeeded in freeing his Autobot comrades, capturing Chumley, and delivering him to the authorities. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}}

[[Image:G1 Prime Elita energy transfer.JPG|right|220px|thumb|Oh look. Optimus Prime is having robo-sex with his sister. Better get used to seei- whoa, wait a minute.]]

Prime received the shock of his life when Megatron contacted him to inform him that Elita One was still alive, and had been captured by his Decepticons on Cybertron. Prime immediately departed for Cybertron to rescue her, but walked straight into the trap that had been laid for him, and was trussed up by the Decepticons and dangled above a vat of acid. Just as Prime was dropped, Elita used her secret power to stop time, freezing Prime in mid-air and pulling him to safety. Unfortunately, the use of her power drained almost all of her life-force, leaving her on the brink of death, so Prime loaded her aboard his trailer and set out in search of Alpha Trion, in the hope that the ancient Autobot could heal her. In the process, Prime rediscovered his own forgotten connection to his creator, when Alpha Trion shocked him with intimate knowledge of his and Elita's systems by telling him that only his own power supply could properly interface with Elita's. Prime gave Elita the power transfusion necessary to save her life, and the two lovers then joined the other Autobots in fighting off the Decepticons. Prime regretted that they had to part ways again, but Elita knew that she had to continue the fight against the Decepticons on Cybertron. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}

[[Image:Ktvs_prime_and_trion.jpg|left|215px|thumb|Optimus was just in time to keep Alpha Trion from falling for the Nigerian e-mail scam.]]

Optimus Prime had little to do in the mission to rescue [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz]] from the Decepticons, merely offering theories and passing along information to Powerglide, {{storylink|The Girl Who Loved Powerglide}} but took to the fore again when Megatron created the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] to combat the Autobots on the roads. Realizing that Megatron would have to use the Cybertronian mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]] to bring the Stunticons to life, Prime took a team of Autobots to Cybertron, where they sought the aid of Alpha Trion in navigating the planet's catacombs to find the way to the computer. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}} Unfortunately, Megatron made it to the computer first and brought the Stunticons online, so Prime proposed the creation of a team of jets known as the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] as a countermeasure. With Vector Sigma's [[Key to Vector Sigma|activation key]] in Megatron's clutches, Alpha Trion proposed that he merge with Vector Sigma to bring the computer back online. Prime refused, knowing it would mean the end of his creator's life, but Alpha Trion insisted that he be allowed to sacrifice himself so that the Aerialbots could live. The Autobots and Aerialbots returned to Earth, where they stopped Megatron from using the key to Vector Sigma to convert the planet into a metal sphere. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

[[Image:Cosmicrust_prime_and_perceptor.jpg|right|215px|thumb|"Perceptor, what happened?"
"It's... rust."
"But it looks like..."
"Rust."
"But it smells like..."
"RUST!"]]

When Megatron attempted to send the Aerialbots back to the dawn of time using the [[kronosphere]] time machine, Optimus Prime blasted the device before it could complete its evil work, depositing the Aerialbots nine million years in the past. Prime and the other Autobots fended off a Decepticon attack while Wheeljack rebuilt the kronosphere, and the five airborne Autobots were returned to the present just in time to turn the tide of battle. In the aftermath of the conflict, when the Aerialbots were able to refer to him with his old name of Orion Pax, Prime realized that it had been the time-tossed Aerialbots who have saved him from Megatron and brought him to Alpha Trion to be rebuilt all those millions of years ago. {{storylink|War Dawn}}

When Perceptor was kidnapped by the Decepticons and infected with the contagious [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] , Prime risked his own safety to single-handedly rescue the scientist, and wound up being infected in the process, just as Megatron had planned. Even infected, Prime met Megatron in battle while the Autobots retrieved the cure to the disease, and the Autobots won the day yet again. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

[[Image:RevengeofBruticus Primefiringguns.jpg|left|thumb|Being a hero is all about dramatic lighting. And two-fisted violence.]]

When another power struggle between Megatron and Starscream erupted, Prime was once again quite happy to ignore the whole messy affair until Starscream and his newly-built [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] attacked the unveiling ceremony for a [[Optimus Prime memorial|memorial]] to Optimus Prime himself (rather oddly being built while he was still alive) and kidnapped Jazz and Cliffjumper. In the midst of a battle between Megatron and Starscream's force, Prime led the Autobots in rescuing their teammates. Starscream and the Combaticons were subsequently defeated and exiled from Earth, {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}} but that just made matters worse, as they headed for Cybertron, conquered the planet, and used the space bridge to alter Earth's orbit and send it spiralling towards the sun. Both Autobots and Decepticons needed to use the space bridge to travel to Cybertron and stop Starscream's plan, but the Insecticons damaged the control panel, requiring Prime to donate some of his own circuitry to the repair effort, on the condition that Megatron did the same. With the bridge restored, Prime and Megatron led a united team of Autobots and Decepticons to stop Starscream and the Combaticons and save the Earth. Prime was led to believe that he had destroyed the Combaticons at the battle's end, but in reality, he had been duped by a holographic projection so that Megatron could reprogram the new Decepticons to serve him. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[Image:Masquerade_prime_vs_mmaster.jpg|right|230px|thumb|You re-enacted this scene countless times as a kid. You know you did.]]

After leading a team of Autobots to save the Aerialbots from a Combaticon attack in the Middle East {{storylink|Aerial Assault}} Prime led another effort to stop the Stunticons from stealing the components Megatron needed for his latest super-weapon. Prime survived a head-on collision with [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (although he definitely decided it was something he would prefer not to go through again) and then disguised himself as the Stunticon leader in an effort to learn what Megatron's plan was. Accompanied by a team of four other Autobots disguised as the other Stunticons, Prime was able to infiltrate the Decepticon camp, but had not counted on the real Stunticons escaping Autobot capture and exposing their deception. The Autobots abandoned their disguises when Megatron assembled the components into his new laser weapon, but it turned out that Optimus had sabotaged the device, and it blew up in Megatron's face. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

In his final recorded adventure in the 20th century, Prime dispatched Ironhide, Gears and Bumblebee to investigate a disturbance at [[Benjamin Franklin Pierce High School]], where a group of students had stumbled onto a Decepticon plot to attack the Autobots with a gravity disruptor beam. Prime rallied the Autobots to fight off the Decepticons, and thanked the humans for their help. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[Image:Tftm_prime_megs_finalblow.jpg|left|260px|thumb]]

Over the course of the next twenty years, the Decepticons turned their attentions away from Earth, and succeeded in seizing control of all of Cybertron. The Autobots were forced off the planet and founded [[Autobot City]] on Earth, in addition to two staging bases on Cybertron's moons. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}} At some point during this period of time, Prime was known to have battled Megatron in a laboratory on Earth, causing an explosion that scarred scientist [[Gregory Swofford]]. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

In the Earth year 2005, Optimus Prime was stationed on [[Moonbase One]], and dispatched troops to Earth to acquire energy for an upcoming strike to take back Cybertron. The Decepticons, however, got wind of the plan and attacked the shuttle, killing its occupants. Their scheme was to use the shuttle to stage a [[Battle of Autobot City|surprise attack on Autobot City]]; an attack which would have succeeded, if not for a distress call which summoned Optimus Prime and support troops to Earth. Declaring that Megatron would have to be stopped, "no matter the cost", Prime bravely plowed through the remaining Decepticon ranks before confronting Megatron in a climactic one-on-one battle. Despite a gash being torn in his side, Prime gained the upper hand in the battle and was poised to deliver a killing blast when the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] leapt into the middle of the fight, having spotted that Megatron was reaching for a gun. Unfortunately, Megatron overpowered the youth and used him as a shield, preventing Prime from taking his shot, and opened fire with the gun, blasting Prime in his wound. Prime fell, and Megatron stood over him, about to deliver the final blow, but at the last moment, Prime summoned up all his strength and hurled Megatron off the platform on which they battling. With Megatron bested, the Decepticons fled, as the other Autobots flocked to the side of the wounded Prime.

[[Image:Optimusg1passingthematrix.jpg|right|thumb|"Oh, hey, I have this in me now, by the way."]]

Despite the efforts of Perceptor, Optimus Prime's wounds were fatal. Knowing his time had come, Prime passed the Matrix of Leadership, and with it leadership of the Autobots, into the hands of his old friend, the city's commander, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. With his last ounce of energy, he muttered "[['Til all are one]]", then died, his lifeforce becoming one with the ancient wisdom contained in the Matrix, joining the other former bearers within it. Soon after, when Hot Rod opened the Matrix within the body of the planet-eater, [[Unicron]], Prime 's voice was heard once more, dubbing the transformed Hot Rod "Rodimus Prime", new leader of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

When Rodimus Prime voyaged into the Matrix in search of answers to the mysteries of the alien [[Quintesson]]s, Optimus Prime was among the "spirit guides" who appeared to him and led him on his journey through the origin and history of the Transformer race. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[Image:Optimusg1zombie.jpg|left|215px|thumb|"WHERE IS SARAH CONNOR?"]]
Optimus Prime's body was entombed in a massive deep-space mausoleum with the many other fallen Autobots, but his corpse was desecrated by the [[Quintesson]]s in 2006 when they reanimated it as part of an attempt to destroy the Autobots. Pursued by the Decepticons through space, a team of Autobots led by Rodimus Prime took refuge in the mausoleum, where they were confronted by the seemingly-reborn Optimus Prime. Optimus dispatched the pursuing Decepticons, and Rodimus—never truly comfortable with the burden of leadership—happily relinquished the Matrix to his predecessor. At that point, the reprogrammed Optimus turned on the Autobots, stranding them on the mausoleum and blowing it up. The zombie Prime returned to the main Autobot force and reassumed command, intending to lure the Autobot space fleet into a trap that would destroy them all. Hot Rod's Autobots, however, were revealed to have survived the explosion of the mausoleum, and Hot Rod engaged Prime in battle. In the course of the fight, the Matrix began to overpower the Quintesson influence in Prime's mind, and he returned the talisman to Hot Rod, then ordered the rest of the Autobots clear while he piloted his flagship into the Quintessons' trap. As the Autobots watched from a distance, the flagship collided with the booby-trap detonator the Quintessons had placed on an asteroid, triggering the explosion of a nearby sun that apparently took Optimus Prime from them once more. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

Prime's lifeforce returned to the Matrix, and he was among the spectral figures whose ethereal forms emerged from the talisman when it was stolen by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], warning him to return it to its rightful holder. Galvatron was suitably convinced. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

[[Image:Roop1_prime_revived.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Optimus Prime was reborn in the electric chair for our sins.]]

While the other Autobots believed that Prime's body had been destroyed in the supernova, in actuality, just before the flagship impacted with the detonator, his remains had been recovered from the craft by two human scientists, [[Jessica Morgan]] and Gregory Swofford, who still blamed Prime for the explosion that scarred him years beforehand. Jessica's father, [[Mark Morgan]], shared Swofford's loathing of the Autobots, and his hatred only grew when, some months later, an attempt by the Decepticons to steal a heat-resistant alloy he had developed resulted in Jessica being paralyzed. Seeking revenge, Swofford and Morgan reconstructed Optimus Prime's body in an attempt to use it as a delivery system for the mysterious spores that had been released from the exploding sun, which induced hatred and madness. However, when they could not reanimate Prime, they used his body as a lure instead, bringing the Autobots to their lab, where they were infected by the spores directly. Rodimus Prime was able to escape infection and made off with Optimus Prime's body, then ordered [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to find him a Quintesson to fully restore Prime to life. Rodimus succumbed to the "[[Hate Plague]]" before Sky Lynx returned, but the airborne Autobot succeeded in his mission, recovering a Quintesson who finally brought Optimus Prime back to life. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

[[Image:Roop2_prime_vs_prime.jpg|left|210px|thumb|Not [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] srsly.]]

The resurrected Prime led a team of Autobots to the Decepticons' base on [[Chaar]] to recover the heat-resistant alloy they had stolen, so that Prime could coat his body in it and make himself impervious to the Hate Plague. Thus protected, Optimus confronted Rodimus and defeated him in battle, reacquiring the Matrix so that he could consult the lifeforces of the ancient Autobots within it for a way to defeat the Hate Plague. Informed by "[[It]]" that the only way to cure the disease was with wisdom, Prime unleashed the concentrated wisdom of the Matrix itself to wipe out the plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, Optimus Prime began to suffer visions following the release of the Matrix's energy, which foretold a great transformation for Cybertron. Prime realized that the events he had foreseen had begun with the Decepticons' theft of the key to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} Prime was forced to consult the spirit of Alpha Trion within [[Vector Sigma]], who informed him that the mega-computer had set these very events in motion in order to restore Cybertron's Golden Age. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}} When the Plasma Energy Chamber was opened and threatened to drive Earth's Sun supernova, Spike Witwicky and the other organic [[Nebulan]]s who had become involved in the conflict as a result of these events were able to drain off the excess solar energy and revitalize Cybertron. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

[[Image:Puppetpmprime.jpg|right|thumb|Prime's legal troubles began after he gave Tommy "the Touch". Strangely, the prosecution never even noticed the double entendre.]]

At an undetermined point in time, through unknown circumstances, Optimus Prime was upgraded into a [[Powermaster]] body, and began associating with a human boy named [[Tommy Kennedy (G1)|Tommy Kennedy]]. Tommy, apparently a resident of Autobot City, interviewed Prime on a variety of topics related to Cybertronian history and lore, sometimes for school assignments, sometimes for historical reference, and sometimes simply for the heck of it. Prime regaled young Tommy with tales of the Autobots' greatest battles; [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|their arrival on Earth]], [[The Transformers: The Movie|Prime's own death and the struggle against Unicron]], [[Five Faces of Darkness|the return of Galvatron and the Quintessons' role in Transformer history]], Prime's [[Dark Awakening|brief revival at the hands of the Quintessons]] as well as his [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|return during the Hate Plague crisis]]. He also recounted [[The Rebirth|the origins of the Headmasters and Targetmasters]] and, inexplicably, a tale of [[Surprise Party|Ultra Magnus's birthday]].

At this point in his career, Prime 's role seemed to be more of a goodwill ambassador, as he spent much of his time aiding fellow Autobots with minor tasks, like helping [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] repair a space bridge, refueling [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]], and helping [[Cloudburst]] redesign his retro-rockets.

At one point, a problem with Prime's [[memory chip]] left him incapable of recalling specific details of various historical events. This issue was short-lived, as Tommy Kennedy managed to fix it with a small amount of effort and encouragement. Once, before leaving to attend an intergalactic peace conferences, Prime showed Tommy an informational [[The Touch|music video]] depicting the events surrounding the battle with Unicron. {{storylink|The Transformers (cartoon)|Season 5}}
{{-}}

==Madman ''The Transformers'' comic==
[[Image:Madman comic PrimeHotrod.jpg|left|200px|thumb|—Or maybe you're just hepped-up on goofballs, kid.]]
In 2001, Optimus Prime led the Autobot evacuation from the Decepticons' successful conquest of Cybertron, standing as the unflinching rearguard for his fleeing Autobots. Before he left, he secretly met with Ultra Magnus at the site of the future Autobot City to discuss hiding the Matrix of Leadership, against the possibility of Prime's capture or death. Unfortunately, Soundwave had secretly recorded this clandestine meeting and moved to capture the powerful Autobot relic. To the surprise of all, the young Hot Rod managed to defeat Soundwave and secure the Matrix. When the Autobots arrived back on Earth, Optimus Prime learned of Hot Rod's deeds, and as he was handed the Matrix, a mysterious energy from the artifact passed through both Autobots. However, Prime only cryptically stated that perhaps Hot Rod's destiny was greater than the young 'bot himself knew. {{storylink|The Transformers (Madman)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

==Japanese cartoon continuity==
{{note|The events of the American animated series occur in Japanese continuity as noted above, except that the events of Season 3, which took place in 2006 in America, were moved back to 2010, and "The Rebirth" and subsequent events do not occur. Japanese animated continuity inserts a large number of additional storylines, told through various different media, into the timeline (in particular, between Season 2 and the movie, and between the movie and Season 3), as detailed below.}}

===e-HOBBY pack-in comic===
[[Image:EHobby_packin_prime_vs_megs.jpg|right|thumb|]]

During an attack on [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], Optimus Prime once again found himself going toe to toe with Megatron. Prime eventually punched Megatron hard enough to send him smashing through a wall, seemingly defeating him. In reality, Prime's punch so was powerful it damaged Megatron's gyrocompass which acted as his internal stability regulators. This allowed Megatron to access a cache of [[Quantum surge|quantum surge]] energy within his circuits, upgrading him into a nigh-invulnerable [[Transmetal]]. Maybe pull your punches next time, Optimus? {{storylink|Decepticon Leader Megatron Black Ver.}}
{{-}}
===''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic===

[[Image:FightSuperRobotLifeTransformersManga.JPG|left|275px|thumb|From ''AMERICA!'']]

When the Decepticons turned their attention to pillaging the energies of Japan in the late 1980s, Optimus Prime and the Autobots met up with a young Japanese boy named [[Kenji]], whose inventive mind helped them to defeat [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] during an energy raid on [[Tokyo]]. As a token of thanks, Optimus Prime granted Kenji a special communications helmet and made him an official Autobot ally. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 1|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #1}}

During a Decepticon attack on Autobot Headquarters, Ratchet noticed that Soundwave and his cassettes were nowhere to be seen, so Prime dispatched a unit to Japan to search for them. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #2}} Not long after, Prime oversaw the early stages of the construction of the Autobots' new transforming battle fortress, [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}

While showing Kenji around the Autobots' new Tokyo base, Optimus Prime lamented that he wished his "kid brother" [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] would hurry up and arrive with his trailer upgrade. As he pondered the whereabouts of his sibling, the Decepticons attacked Yokohama. The Autobots hurried to the scene only to encounter an over-powered Megatron in his newest form: the Super Megatron Gun. The Autobots' defeat seemed assured until Magnus arrived with Prime's trailer upgrade, the [[Scramble Power Buster]]. The Scramble Power Buster trumped the might of the Super Megatron Gun, leaving Prime and Magnus to vanquish the Decepticon forces with their combined attack: the Double Cross Kick (basically, them jump-kicking the Decepticons in the spine at the same time). {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #4}}

When the Decepticons created their own counter to Scramble City, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Prime ordered the Aerialbots into battle against the monster on an island utopia. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}} Later, Prime and Magnus teamed up again to battle the Stunticons and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] when the two Decepticons teams posed as Autobots and besmirched the two commanders' good names. Although Menasor and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]'s [[Decepticon Trailer Brigade|Decepticon Great Wheel]] attack proved a challenge, Prime and Magnus's "Finish Double" attack (suspiciously similar to their Double Cross Kick) soon won the day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

===Scramble City===
[[Image:Prime_magnus_scramblecity.jpg|right|thumb|"I'm a white you under here."]]

As the 1980s rolled on, the Autobots began an initiative to construct a new battle fortress known as [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]]. The facility to construct the fortress was concealed within a cavern and overseen by Ultra Magnus, but when it was discovered by Decepticon spy [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], Megatron ordered the Decepticons to destroy it. Prime led an Autobot counter-offensive, and helped to blast [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] free when the evil Stunticon managed to link up to Superion in an attempt to disable the Aerialbot combiner, but things were looking bleak for the Autobots until the construction of Scramble City was completed. Ultra Magnus activated the battle fortress, which transformed into its robot mode of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to send the Decepticons fleeing. As Prime thanked Ultra Magnus for his quick work, however, Megatron unleashed Trypticon upon the assembled Autobots. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

{{note|This storyline was never concluded, as a second installment of "Scramble City" was never produced.}}
{{-}}

===Full Throttle Scramble Power!===
[[Image:MegatronMangaEnergonMace1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is why you have that axe, Prime, remember?]]
After Megatron and the Decepticons threatened humanity with their latest death ray, the [[Omega Whip]], Optimus Prime dispatched [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and his human partners, [[Toru]] and [[Jenny (G1)|Jenny]] to follow the electromagnetic trail and find the Decepticons' hidden base. Hound, Toru and Jenny were then swiftly captured.

Contemplating what to do next, Prime reluctantly dispatched the still-wet-behind-the-ears [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to deal with the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], who were trashing a power plant. The burning justice of [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] ensured his victory.

Prime and a small unit of Autobots then stormed the Decepticon base to rescue their friends. As Hound, Toru and Jenny destroyed the Omega Whip and escaped, Prime and Megatron squared off yet again (with Megatron unleashing his seldom-seen [[energon mace]]). Megatron quickly gained the upper hand in battle...until [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and ''every single Autobot soldier'' arrived as back-up. Megatron and the Decepticons immediately fled.

Toru and Jenny celebrated their success with a public display of affection. Curious, Optimus began to ask them embarrassing questions, swatting Toru in the bottom with his mighty robot finger. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}
{{-}}

===''The Battle of the Star Gate''===
[[Image:Stargatebattles_prime_cx_slice.jpg|right|thumb|225px|right]]

In the late 1990s, continued interaction between the Autobots and humankind led to a formal alliance being forged with the American government. Using technology supplied by the Autobots, the government funded the creation of the [[Trigger]], a huge [[Warp gate|interstellar teleportation system]], and Prime participated in a goodwill press conference to announce the creation of the Trigger to the world. Unfortunately, the Trigger soon became a target for the Decepticons, who had allied with a foreign power and used a human agent to gain access to the station. The Autobots were quick to repel the Decepticon attack, but only one member of the Trigger's crew survived. This man, [[Makoto (Star Gate)|Makoto]], offered to help the Autobots in any way that he could, and Prime told him that his kind of strength was what the Autobots needed the most. {{storylink|First Contact}}

[[Image:Stargatebattles_prime_megs.jpg|left|225px|thumb|''Rival Fusion!'']]

Three months later, Optimus Prime helped [[Adle|Professor Adle]] test his new [[C-X]] drone, which was designed to resemble Prime himself, by sparring with the remote-controlled robot so that the Professor could gather data on its performance. In the midst of the test, however, the C-X ran amok (in actuality, it had been possessed by the time-tossed ghost of Starscream), and Prime was forced to crush it beneath his trailer and sever its head with his energon-axe to stop it. The grisly scene did little to dissuade the mass of anti-Transformer protestors that had sprung up in recent months, but Prime attempted to placate the crowd by telling them that he did not ''want'' the power he wielded—he ''needed'' it, in order to protect those that could not protect themselves. {{storylink|Divided Views}}

When the Decepticons terrorized Japan with a series of powerful earthquakes, Optimus Prime confronted Megatron amidst the chaos caused by the most powerful tremor yet. The battle ended when a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon sent Prime plummeting to the depths of the ocean, apparently destroyed. {{storylink|Activation}} Subsequently, Starscream's ghost fused with the rebuilt Trigger in an attempted coup, and it was during the monumental space battle that resulted that Prime returned from his seeming demise, borne into space on [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]'s back. After saving Makoto's escape pod from burning up in re-entry, Prime was forced to join with Megatron to defeat the greater threat posed by Starscream, channelling the power of the Matrix through gun-mode Megatron to destroy Starscream and the Trigger in one mighty blast. The Transformers were all caught in the backwash of the explosion, and their flaming bodies were sent tumbling back down to Earth. Although they were not heard from again for many months, Prime and Megatron survived the experience, and their war continued. {{storylink|The Battle of the Star Gate}}
{{-}}

===''Story of Binaltech''===

In 2003, the Decepticons attacked the Autobots on Earth with a plague of [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]], leaving many of them injured. Consequently, Earth was all but defenseless when Megatron made his big push to fully take over Cybertron in 2004, and Optimus Prime found that he could not spare any troops currently fighting by his side on the Transformers' home planet to send to Earth. To resolve this situation, the Autobots on Earth worked closely with the governments of the world and various car companies on the Binaltech Project, creating advanced new "Binaltech" bodies for the various Autobot warriors damaged by the Cosmic Rust. {{storylink|Story of Binaltech, Chapter 1}}

In the midst of the Binaltech conflict, the time-travelling [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] attempted to alter history by using the [[Kronosphere]] to teleport Megatron and the Decepticon armada outside of time during a turning-point battle with Prime and the Autobots. {{storylink|Changing Lanes}} This left the Autobots to face the looming threat of [[Unicron]] alone, an opponent which Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus bravely faced together. Prime was badly damaged in the attack and passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus, who was able to use it to destroy Unicron. {{storylink|Binal Time}}

[[Image:Alternators optimusprime package art.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]

Before departing to battle Unicron, Prime had put into motion a plan to try and undo the changes Ravage had wrought upon the timeline, having ordered [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to use the time warp on Dinobot Island to send a message into the past. {{storylink|Darkest Hour}} Shortly after the defeat of Unicron, this plan bore fruit, and time began to correct itself. Thanks to the sudden intervention of a mysterious time-travelling entity known as "[[Optimus Primal|the Protector]]", however, the altered, "BT World" timeline was also preserved, and continued to exist as an alternate universe. {{storylink|Binal Time}}

{{Note|At this point, the original timeline was retroactively restored and the events of the ''Story of Binaltech'' diverged into a parallel universe. Skip to "[[#Robot Masters|Robot Masters]]" below to continue reading about the original timeline; exactly how many (if any) of the events related in this section, even prior to the divergence, occurred in the original unaltered timeline are unknown.}}

In this new, parallel world (known as [[universal stream]] Primax 903.0 Beta), the Protector explained that he had acted to preserve the "BT World" because it was the origin point for the ultimate evolution of Cybertronian life, the [[Alternity]], of whose he was an agent. Optimus Prime soon recovered from his injuries and adopted a Binaltech body of his own; it was thanks to the attributes of this new body that he and the other Binaltech Autobots were able to avoid being shut down when they triggered the Quintesson's [[large switch|killswitch]], deactivating nearly all the Decepticons. {{storylink|Kill Switch}} With their enemies all but eradicated by this move, the Autobots were free to start conducting experiments under the Protector's direction that would ultimately lead to the future he had spoken of. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 3}} When the Protector's spark was stolen by the new leader of the remaining Decepticons—an evil clone of Optimus known as [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]]—Prime engaged his evil doppelganger in battle in Australia. During the fight, the Protector's spark fused with Prime—an experience that Prime found [[Optimal Situation|strangely familiar]]—giving him the power to destroy Nemesis Prime. {{storylink|Unfinished Business, Part 4}}
{{-}}
====Alternity====

[[Image:Alternity convoy silver boxart.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Wait...i'm ''not'' red and blue? SOMEONE SHOULD PUNCH THE GUYS WHO MADE ME SILVER!!! Although it does look shiny...]]

Experimentation proceeded apace, and eventually, the Autobots succeeded in synthesizing the substance known as [[Alternium]], which would form the bodies of their new evolved forms, and the space-time transportation system known as the [[Timaeus drive]], which would allow them to travel through the [[multiverse]]. After millennia of experimentation, effort and broadening of his perceptions, Optimus Prime eventually integrated these new technologies into his systems, and 900,000 years later, became a founding member of the Alternity. Now existing outside of time, Prime interacted with the material world through a proxy body known as an [[auto-avatar]] (a "Vector 01" model, code-named "Ultimate Silver"), which he used to travel from world to world, inviting many different incarnations of himself from different dimensions to join the Alternity. Together, they merged into one composite trans-dimensional "Optimus Prime" being, becoming a huge collective consciousness existing outside of reality, while yet retaining their individuality as a cross-time "[[Convoy Corps]]", each one controlling an auto-avatar of their own in the physical world.

Learning that his eternal enemy, Megatron had reawakened, and that he planned to lure the Alternity's natural enemy, the time-eating god-beast known as [[Hytherion]], into universal stream Primax 109.0 Beta, Prime traveled into that universe in 2007. Approaching his [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Alternity|counterpart]] from that world, Prime informed him of this looming danger, and his counterpart agreed to join the Alternity when the time came. Sure enough, in 2009, Hytherion appeared in his dimension, and so Prime returned to that world, with a "Vibrant Red" Vector 109 auto-avatar for his counterpart to inhabit. {{storylink|From Here to Alternity}} Little did the Convoy Corps suspect, however, that Megatron had summoned Hytherion for reasons greater than mere destruction. Shackling the beast's power and overwriting its consciousness with his own, Megatron was able to confer hyperdimensional powers akin to the Alternity's upon himself and many other Megatrons he had gathered from across the multiverse. {{storylink|To Mega Therion}}

[[Image:To die game begins.jpg|right|thumb|220px| Hey, I can see Ultra Magnus's butt from down here! Oh...]]

As battles between numerous different Primes and Megatrons erupted quite literally all across time and space, "Ultimate Silver" Optimus Prime was seen engaging in a cross-dimensional duel with a Megatron who hailed from universal stream [[Transformers: Mystery of Convoy|Primax 1286:3 Kappa]]. Prime lost an arm to Megatron's tesseractal swords, but remained undeterred, observing that Megatron was fighting from the year 2009 and suspecting an ulterior motive for his being in that time period. Amused by Prime's observation, Megatron proposed a wager: if Prime could defeat him in a game of his choosing, he would answer any question he asks him honestly. Megatron's sadistic game involved manipulating the occupants of his home dimension in the year 2005, pitting them against each other in a "game full of death and suffering". While Megatron distributed a portion of his power through legions of this universe's Decepticons, Prime was only allowed to infuse his power into one being to send against them. Prime dismissed the rules as utter nonsense and refused to use another living being like a chess piece, but Megatron forced him to play the game by pointing out that the inhabitants of the dimension would only suffer if he did not. Prime selected Ultra Magnus as his champion, and the game began! {{storylink|To Die Game!}}
{{note|Alternity beings are both individuals and a collective of separate entities. More fiction about Optimus Prime's Alternity collective can be found [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Alternity|here]].}}
{{--}}

===''Robot Masters''===
[[Image:Robotmasters_four_great_commanders.jpg|left|thumb|275px|If Big Convoy would just hurry the hell up, they could summon Captain Planet.]]

In 2004, the Scramble City project was expanded through the use of the newly-discovered element [[Solitarium]] to involve the construction of a fully-fledged Autobot City on Earth. This coincided with the opening of a dimensional fissure known as the [[Blasty Zone]], which transported the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] through time to the present day. This "Beast Megatron" seized control of the Decepticons, left leaderless by the mysterious absence of the original Megatron, and went up against Optimus Prime and the Autobots for control of the world's solitarium. Uniting with a team of Autobot and Maximal leaders from throughout time and space who also came through the Blasty Zone, Optimus Prime gained the power of an [[Energon Matrix]] and eventually returned all the Transformers to their home time.

{{-}}
{{note|''Robot Masters'' is explicitly placed in the Japanese cartoon continuity by [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Takara's 2007 Transformers timeline]]. However, none of the three pieces of actual ''Robot Masters'' fiction tells the story of the line in its entirety, and each of them relate certain events in notably different ways. Precisely ''which'' of the three—covered individually below—should be considered the [[canon]] one for the cartoon timeline is unknown.}}

====Pack-in comic====
[[Image:Starsaber robotmasters minicomic.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Gah! What's wrong with Prime's chest? Was he drawn by [http://grotesqueanatomy.blogspot.com/2004/05/now-thats-grotesque-anatomy.html Rob Liefeld?]]]

When a creature that seemed to be a ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' appeared just outside Autobot City, Optimus Prime and Mirage investigated, and were shocked when the dinosaur transformed into a robot mode and introduced itself as "Beast Megatron". Almost immediately, [[Optimus Primal]] appeared through the Blasty Zone, and he and Optimus Prime charged into battle against Megatron side-by-side. {{storylink|The New Battle Begins!}}

Later, the two Optimuses found themselves in battle against the huge Decepticon warrior, [[Gigant Bomb]], but were unable to hurt him because he had supercharged his armor with Solitarium. The two heroes were flattened by a powerful punch from Gigant Bomb, at which point [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] and [[Victory Leo]] appeared to join the fray. The two future heroes merged into Victory Saber and defeated Gigant Bomb, after which Prime and Primal welcomed him to the fold. {{storylink|The Victory Warriors Enter!!}}

====Online comic====

When a mysterious purple dinosaur led the Decepticons in an attack against the Autobots, Optimus Prime demanded to know the identity of the foe he was facing. The creature transformed into robot mode and introduced itself as "Beast Megatron", but Prime did not falter, and bombarded the new villain with heavy fire. Declaring Prime to be "quite the monkey", Megatron announced that the battle had merely served as a introduction, and promptly departed. {{storylink|Clash! The Two Leaders}}

Optimus Prime, Optimus Primal and [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] were later exploring a large crevasse filled with Solitarium when they were attacked by Megatron and [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]]. The two villains detonated the crystals around the Autobots, and while Primal was able to shield them with a huge slab of rock, they were unable to stop the Decepticons from escaping with a huge load of Solitarium. {{storylink|Defend the Solitarium!}}

[[Image:Robotmasters_prime_vs_megses.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]

When new arrival [[Lio Convoy]] was tricked into battling Victory Saber by Megatron, it was Optimus Prime who got between the two combatants and convinced Lio Convoy that they were all on the same side by revealing his Energon Matrix, which glowed in tandem with Lio Convoy's own. The four great commanders teamed up to dispose of the Decepticons lurking nearby, and then they all welcomed Lio Convoy to the team. {{storylink|Together, the 4 Great Supreme Commanders}}

Discovering an unconscious robot outside Autobot City, Prime and the Autobots brought the enigmatic newcomer inside for medical attention. The robot introduced himself as [[Reverse Convoy]] of the planet [[Vehicon (planet)|Vehicon]]. {{storylink||Strategic Meeting: The Mysterious New Warrior}} Before long, however, Prime's goodwill proved to be misplaced when "Reverse Convoy" captured him, Mirage and Optimus Primal, and revealed himself to actually be the original Megatron, inhabiting Reverse Convoy's body by means of his black hole interlink system. Although the Autobots were saved from the clutches of "Rebirth Megatron" by Victory Saber and Lio Convoy, Prime's greatest enemy had returned. {{storylink|The Dark Emperor of Destruction, Reborn}}

Prime led Primal, Victory Saber and Lio Convoy in a mighty battle against the two Megatrons, Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker, during which he had much of his right forearm torn off by Beast Megatron. As both Megatron rushed the injured Prime, he summoned his energon-axe to take the place of his lost fist and slashed the two Decepticons, claiming victory. {{storylink|And Then}}
{{-}}

====Cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Wataru Hatano]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Robomasters g1convoy.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Check out my taint!]]

Optimus Prime sped into action to help Victory Saber in battle against Starscream and [[Wingstun]], blasting Wingstun with a sneaky shot from below. Prime then transformed into robot mode and opened fire on Starscream, but was shocked when the plummeting form of the Air Commander was snatched out of the sky by a ''tyrannosaurus rex''. Transforming to robot mode, the dinosaur introduced himself as "Beast Megatron", and revealed that he came from a different dimension, causing Optimus Prime to fear for the integrity of the space-time continuum. Before he could fret any more on the subject, Prime came under attack from Gigant Bomb and [[Smokesniper]], but quickly took refuge in a nearby canyon while Victory Saber handled the twin troublemakers. Prime then engaged Megatron in battle, but was quickly laid low by the newcomer, who called for Gigant Bomb and Smokesniper to finish him off. Instead, however, another strange new Transformer descended from the sky: Optimus Primal! Following Primal's lead, Prime united his energy with Primal's own, and together, they created the powerful "Double Convoy Tornado", which sent Megatron flying. In the aftermath of the battle, Prime thanked Primal for his help, and told him that they would definitely need his power when the Decepticons next attacked. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

Beast Megatron would not relent, and eventually discovered a massive deposit of solitarium beneath a human city. The Decepticons razed the city in search of the element until Prime and his forces arrived to save the day, this time aided by Lio Convoy and the enigmatic Reverse Convoy. Prime battled Gigant Bomb, Smoke Sniper and Megatron once more, with a little extra firepower courtesy of Victory Saber's V-Lock Cannon, and things were going smoothly until Reverse Convoy revealed himself to actually be the ''real'' Megatron in disguise. Now going by the name Rebirth Megatron, Prime's nemesis teamed with Beast Megatron to conquer their mutual foes. Again, Prime and Primal united their power in the Double Convoy Tornado, but the Megatrons countered it with a tornado of their own. It seemed that the Decepticons' power would overcome the heroes, until Lio Convoy added his energy to the mix, becoming a shining "Lio Typhoon Arrow" that took down the two Megatrons. While the battle was over, however, the war raged on... {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}

===''15 Go! Go!''===
[[Image:TGGStarConvoy.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"Hot Rod?! Did you shrink in the wash?"]]
[[Image:TGGLaserPrime.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"How do you think I'd look in black?"]]
Shortly before the [[Battle of Autobot City]] in 2005, an unknown saboteur badly damaged [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]'s databanks. Optimus Prime notified his Autobots of the attack and issued a command that the information be recovered as soon as possible. "[[Ravage (G1)|Black Panther Man]]", stationed on the artificial Earth satellite [[Nana]], volunteered for the important task and assigned [[Teletraan 15]] to the case. {{storylink|Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go! Volume 1}}

Teletraan 15 proceeded to travel through time and space on her mission, and encountered future incarnation of Optimus Prime on several occasions. First, she travelled into the future, where [[Micromaster]] [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] saved her from a [[Novaroid]]. {{storylink|Hot Rod Volume}} As Dark Nova and Ultra Megatron prepared to merge, Prime, in his "Star Convoy" form, arrived and asked Hot Rod to aid him in the coming fight. {{storylink|Star Convoy Volume}} But before they could start the battle, an interruption came from an unexpected source: [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] emerged from a [[Transwarp]] portal and attacked! {{storylink|Galvatron Volume}} {{storylink|Galvatron Volume 2}}

On another mission even further into the future, Teletraan 15 and her companion [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] were aboard [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] as he was attacked by the [[Decepticon]] jets [[Smokescreen (G2)|Smokescreen]] and [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] on his way to his commander. Fortunately for them, Optimus Prime—now in his [[Laser Rod]] body—appeared and severed Dreadwing's wing with a single mighty slash of his sword. Teletraan 15 thought that he looked sad and wondered if he had learned his sword skills during his [[Kiss Player]] days. {{storylink|Battle Convoy Volume}}
{{-}}

===''Kiss Players''===
{{note|[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]] takes place between ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and the third season of the animated series. While there is no particularly large time-gap between these stories in American animated continuity, in Japan, since the third season was moved to 2010 but the movie remained set in 2005, there was a five-year milieu that made room for plenty of new stories to be told.}}

[[Image:Illust.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Optimus is the one on the left. With the dignity.]]

Following Optimus Prime's death in the Battle of Autobot City, Tokyo was devastated when [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] crash-landed on the city after being hurled out of Unicron's body by Rodimus Prime. The death and destruction that resulted caused a massive anti-Transformer sentiment to spring up, epitomized by the formation of the government organization known as the [[Earth Defense Command]], who forced any remaining Transformers on Earth off the planet. Dissatisfaction with the EDC's extreme actions resulted in the formation of an underground resistance group for whom the death of Optimus Prime was a rallying point. Among these commandos was a young woman [[Marissa Faireborn]], who had been rescued by Optimus Prime back in 1996 when a mission that her [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|soldier father]] had been on had gone bad. Marissa had formed a great friendship with Prime in her childhood, and came to see him as a surrogate father figure, and perhaps a little bit more. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #34}}

[[Image:Kissplayers2 prime marissa.jpg|right|thumb|These x-rays uncover the darnedest things.]]

When Prime's corpse was covertly flown to Japan by the EDC, {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 1|Kiss Players #1}} Marissa's commandos attacked the convoy transporting the Autobot leader's body. Believing that they had secured Prime's body, the commandos were taken by surprise and slaughtered by the [[Ne Squad]] [[Kiss Player]] [[Ringo Chikuma|Ringo]] and her [[Autorooper]] partner, who burst out of the torso of the decoy Prime body that had been atop the flatbed truck. As the sole surviving member of the squad, Marissa discovered that the true body was being transported within Prime's own trailer nearby. Slicing the trailer open, she was too late to prevent an EDC Autorooper from partially fusing with Prime. Reflecting on her childhood memories of playing with the kindly Autobot leader, Marissa lovingly kissed his faceplate. In an explosion of energy that destroyed the trailer, the two [[ParasiTech|fused]] and Prime was reborn in a new, living body. The pair had become Kiss Players! {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 2|Kiss Players #2}}

Marissa and Prime promptly made themselves scarce, and began travelling together, battling the monstrous creatures known as [[Legion]] that Galvatron's dispersed cells had also produced, while also eluding the EDC. Marissa thought of Prime as her boyfriend, {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #1}} and Prime himself certainly cared for the girl, unwilling as he was to put her in harm's way, despite the prodigious knife-wielding skills that she could share with him via their kiss-fusion. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #4}}

[[Image:Marissa convoy stack.jpg|left|150px|thumb|She prefers the Japanese version's longer stacks.]]

Prime had little use for Marissa's other great skill—surfing—given his own [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|experience in that area]], {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #7}} so instead, he found a better use for Marissa's surfboard by using his new powers to transform it into a knife so he could make use of the skills Marissa's fusion gave with him. Marissa was not very happy, {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #10}} but took it in stride, and dubbed the new weapon the "[[Surfblade]]". In response, Prime named her shirt "The Three Skull Brothers," after the image on it. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #16}}

Prime and Marissa had a close relationship, as the girl washed Prime in "intimate" spots like his stick shift and gas tank, {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #19}} and they would go on "dates" together, at one point visiting the seaside, only to wind up in battle with a Legion created from the fusion of an octopus and a shipwreck. Prime regretted that these activities had to be carried out under the cover of night, and vowed that he and Marissa would visit the beach under the light of the sun. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)#CD_collections_and_special_episodes|Someday, Under the Sun}}

[[Image:PrimeKP.jpg|right|225px|thumb|Unable to take it anymore, Optimus tries to punch his way free of the Kiss Players Universe. Hey, it worked for Superboy-Prime.]]

Soon, Optimus Prime found himself suffering from a recurring nightmare filled with visions of his old enemy, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. In the grip of one of these hallucinations, Prime lost control of himself and almost crushed Marissa in his fist, but was thankfully able to regain his senses before he hurt her. Marissa and Prime subsequently fused, and were able to corral a legion of Legion for an attack upon the EDC headquarters. They found their way barred by a pair of most unexpected opponents: [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] had returned to Earth and become Kiss Player partners with Marissa's old friend, [[Shaoshao Li]]. Hot Rod believed Prime to be an impostor, and Shaoshao wished to see him dead so that she might "reclaim" Marissa as her friend, having long hated Prime for "stealing" Marissa away from her. Prime and Hot Rod began battling, but EDC Kiss Player [[Atari Hitotonari]] soon entered the fold and broke up the battle. The attack on EDC headquarters was broken off, and Prime and Marissa now found they had to elude Hot Rod and Shaoshao as well as the EDC's forces. {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 3|Kiss Players #3}}

[[Image:KPPrimeGoldbug.jpg|left|thumb|You, Sharkticon. Devour the human faster.]]

After viewing a seaside fireworks display for their "last date", {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #34}} Marissa and Prime again launched a Legion-backed attack upon the EDC. This time, however, Marissa, Shaoshao, Atari, Prime and Hot Rod all decided to set their differences aside in order to discover the true, dark secret lurking within the EDC. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #37}} Venturing into the mysterious [[Genital System]] facility hidden beneath the EDC headquarters, the team discovered a mad plot by EDC Commander [[Hitoshizuku Amaō]] to resurrect her daughter, who had died in Galvatron's impact. Thanks to the efforts of Marissa and her friends, the plan was foiled, the [[anti-electron]] field keeping Transformers off Earth was deactivated, and Galvatron's cells were extracted from the Legions and Kiss Players and reconstituted within his body, which was launched off into space. As a result, Marissa lost her Kiss Player powers, and Prime slipped back into death once more. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)#CD_collections_and_special_episodes|You, I and the Spinning Earth}}

Marissa did get a few chances to see her friend again, however. In 2007, she, Shaoshao and Atari were transported back through time by the [[Sparkbot]]s to 1984 where they witnessed Prime's battle with Megatron atop [[Sherman Dam]]. Although invisible to residents of the past, Marissa was instructed by the Sparkbots to kiss Prime, and when she did so, a piece of what the Sparkbots claimed was the "[[Allspark]]" emerged from within him. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio play #40}} While travelling on through time to search for more pieces of the Allspark, the girls accidentally crashed in 2010 and wound up in the clutches of the [[Quintesson]]s. Prime (and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]]) helped Marissa once more by rescuing her and her friends from death in the fangs of the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Tokyo Toy Festival 2007 live script-reading}} Later still, Shaoshao embarked on a marathon Prime-kissing session (much to her own disgust), quickly jumping through time to kiss Prime in his Star Convoy, "Nucleon Quest," [[Action Master]] and [[Laser Rod]] bodies successively. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio play #44}}
{{-}}

===''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''===
[[Image:2010_manga_primes.jpg|right|thumb|300px|And eat your greens or no dessert!]]

After boarding a Decepticon spaceship, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] became trapped by the scheming Galvatron. Galvatron quickly bested him in combat and Rodimus, badly injured, was ready to give up. Lucky for him, the spirit of Optimus Prime reached out to him from within the Matrix and encouraged him to get up and keep fighting. Inspired by his predecessor, Rodimus Prime outwitted Galvatron, escaped and destroyed their spaceship. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 1|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #1}}

When the Quintessons reactivated Optimus Prime as a rampaging zombie {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}, they made it a point to copy his schematics while they had the opportunity. Teaming with the Decepticons, they then obtained the schematics of Megatron. Combining the best aspects of both, they created the Colossal Cannon Soldier [[Guiltaur]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

Guiltaur was then unleashed upon Rodimus Prime and, eventually, Galvatron. The two enemies teamed up and defeated the powerful warrior, with Rodimus swearing to do it in the name of Optimus Prime's honor. With Guiltaur destroyed, it was revealed the behemoth had been controlled by the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] all along. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #4}}

===''The Great Transformer War''===
Following his resurrection, in the year 2011, Optimus Prime and [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] engaged in a battle against [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticons in deep space. Galvatron fled the battle, leaving Hot Rod to request pursuit. Optimus told him not to, and instead to regroup back at [[Athenia]], as he suspected the Decepticons had a much greater scheme in mind. Indeed, Optimus was correct, as Galvatron was preparing for his full-blown invasion of planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 3|The Great Transformer War #3}}

===''The Headmasters'' cartoon===
[[Image:Headmasters-primedies.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Some time before the Transformers' war left Cybertron, Optimus Prime engaged the Decepticons with his men. Later, on Earth, a suspiciously similar battle with the Decepticons resulted in, er, Prime's death.

{{note|Optimus Prime appears in two Cybertronian flashback battles within the episode, alongside the same team of Autobots, suggesting that they represent the same fight. He also appears in one further flashback battle on Earth, which depicts his death in a scene that doesn't match up to his ''actual'' death in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. This was a continuity patch-job by the ''Headmasters'' production staff, as the movie hadn't been released in Japan yet. }}

At an unknown time, Optimus had an Autobot called [[Pointblank]] under his command. However, Pointblank went rogue, and Prime expelled him from his squad. {{storylink|Duel on the Asteroid}}

One year after Prime's resurrection, in 2011, the Autobots had entered into an even closer relationship with Earth and began the colonization of other worlds, the first of which was the planet [[Athenia]], where Optimus Prime was stationed. It soon became apparent, however, that when Prime had released the energy of the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, the consequences were more far-reaching than he had anticipated—without the energy of the Matrix to act as a balancing factor, [[Image:Headmasters_prime_death.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rodimus finally receives his Nemesis Prime RealDoll.]] [[Vector Sigma]] had become destabilized, and the Decepticons suddenly returned to exploit this, assaulting Cybertron in order to seize control of the mega-computer. The intensity of the battle caused [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] to recall the Cybertronian skirmish that Optimus took part in 4 million years ago — or another one very much like it. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

Prime took a squad of troops to aid in the battle on the planet, and when the arrival of the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] tipped the battle in their favor, Prime broke off from the main attack and headed down into the depths of the planet, planning on stabilizing Vector Sigma at any cost. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Guided through the dangers of the planet's catacombs by the spirit of Alpha Trion while the other Autobots searched for the Matrix on Earth, Prime eventually arrived at the computer, only to find his way barred by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Hot Rod then arrived with the Matrix, with which Alpha Trion merged, re-energizing it and transforming Hot Rod back into Rodimus Prime; for the first time, the two Primes fought side-by-side and defeated Galvatron. Before Rodimus could implement the Matrix to stabilize Vector Sigma, however, Optimus Prime sacrificed himself to perform the task, merging with the computer and restoring its balance to save the planet. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}

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===''The Headmasters'' comic===
Following Prime's death, a great bronze [[Optimus Prime memorial|statue]] was erected on planet [[Athenia]] in order to memorialize him. Oddly, only [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and the [[Headmasters of Justice]] attended its unveiling. Speaking for all the Headmasters, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] announced that Optimus Prime was the greatest warrior who ever lived. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 1|The Headmasters #1}}

===''Super-God Masterforce'' and ''Victory'' cartoons===
[[Image:Ginrai_1stapp.jpg|thumb|right|"Well tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be..."]]
Once they had defeated the Decepticons, the Autobots had planned to somehow resurrect their fallen leader, using the technology developed on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] to give him a new body. However, shortly after it had been built, the [[Transtector]] intended for Optimus was among those stolen by the self-proclaimed "Decepticon god" [[Devil Z]]. It was then hidden on Earth where it was eventually found by, and [[Godmaster|bonded with]], a human named [[Ginrai]]. {{storylink|Shūta and Grand's Masterforce Super-Secrets!}} The Transtector later gained sentience of its own, which meant that it ultimately could not be used for its intended purpose. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}} For whatever reason, the Autobots didn't try to build another one.

Occupying the body of Optimus Prime comes with [[the many deaths of Optimus Prime|its drawbacks]], and it seems that even if the bot in question doesn't actually happen to be Prime, it doesn't mean they should be an exception. After a scuffle with the Decepticons' new [[Emperor of Destruction]] [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], the sentient Transtector Ginrai accepted his fate and [[death|bought the energon farm]]. {{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} Quick to act, the Autobots built him a fresh new body, and Ginrai was reborn as [[Victory Leo]]. {{storylink|Fight!! Victory Leo}} They still didn't build another body for Optimus, though. By then, they'd already moved on and found [[Star Saber (Victory)|someone new]] to settle down with.
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===''The Battlestars'' story pages and comic===
[[Image:PrimeZodiak.jpg|left|225px|thumb|''You got the—'' No, hang on... Nevermind.]]

Over 15 years after his merging with Vector Sigma, Optimus Prime's lifeless body was spirited away in a sinister plot to destroy the Autobots by [[Dark Nova]], the big bad guy du jour. Nova duplicated Prime's body, using the copy to create the evil [[False Convoy]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #3}} The elite Autobot team, the [[Battlestars]], defeated False Convoy and retrieved the real Prime's body from Planet [[Lucifer]], and then used the mysterious energy source known as the [[Zodiac]] to restore Prime to life. Transformed into '''Star Convoy''', Prime was also reunited with [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]], who became his [[Micromaster]] partner. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #4}}

[[Image:Starconvoy magami.jpg|right|thumb|"Occasionally you meet a nice one—Star Convoy, E.T. ... but usually they just turn out to be some kind of big lizard!"]]

After Star Convoy and [[Sixliner]] defeated a swarm of Dark Nova's [[Novaroid|Great Novaroid]] drone warriors, {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #5}} the mysterious creature decided to resurrect Prime's oldest nemesis, and plucked [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] from the icy grave he had been cast into years beforehand by the Autobot Headmasters, recreating him as [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Super Megatron]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #6}} The two old foes clashed in battle at the North Pole, with Star Convoy emerging victorious {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|The Battlestars special}} but Super Megatron soon returned with an army of [[Galaman|Great Galaman]] drones to back him up. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #7}} Defeated by the "[[Triple Combination Battlestar Attack]]" that combined all the power of Star Convoy, [[Sky Garry (ROC)|Sky Garry]] and [[Grandus (ROC)|Grandus]], Super Megatron was again upgraded by Dark Nova into Ultra Megatron. Star Convoy and the Battlestars met him in battle once again, and again, they claimed victory. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #8}}

His pawn having failed him, Dark Nova absorbed Ultra Megatron into his body, transforming them both into the gargantuan "Star Giant". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #9}} Star Giant proved to be virtually indestructible from the outside until Star Convoy got the bright idea of giving the villain [[Furmanism|the worst case of indigestion he'd ever had]]. Holding Star Giant's massive mouth open, he ordered Sky Garry and Grandus to move in. After all three were swallowed, they began taking Star Giant down from the inside while simultaneously fighting off his various defensive systems. As soon as the trio escaped from Star Giant's interior, the monster exploded, leaving only his head slightly intact. As it happens, Megatron was housed inside Star Giant's noggin and survived the attack. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #10}}

===Nucleon Quest Super Convoy bio===
Following the defeat of Star Giant, the restoration of Cybertron (following its devastation in 2011) began, but the planet was in the throes of a chronic energy shortage. In order to re-energize the struggling planet, Optimus Prime upgraded himself into a Powermaster by fusing with the Nebulan scientist [[Hi-Q]]. Protecting his body with a Phase Modulation Shield, Prime ventured into a black hole to obtain the super-energy [[Nucleon]], which was used to restore Cybertron to its former glory.
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===''G-2'' story pages and pack-in comic===
[[Image:G2AllianceBeginsAndEnds.jpg|left|225px|thumb|The alliance would have lasted if they'd gotten more than one chair.]]
With Cybertron restored, Optimus Prime upgraded himself into a new [[Action Master]] body. Megatron eventually recovered from his defeat and with his sanity circuit fully restored at last, joined with Prime to form the [[Cybertron Alliance]]. Things were good for a little while. Though Megatron dreamed of regaining sole command of his army, for the meantime, there was peace and the alliance ushered in what would be called the Second Generation of the Transformers. However, after human soldiers killed [[Megatron's dead friend|one of his comrades]], Megatron adopted a new tank body and started the war anew, believing he could bring a more stable peace to the galaxy by ruling it with an iron fist. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|Autobots vs. Decepticons: Combat Secrets }}

[[Image:G2 manga hero prime.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Uh oh, [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]]! You've cheesed off Prime so much he's broken through the panel borders!]]
To counter Megatron, Optimus Prime upgraded his body into a new Missile Trailer mode. Rallying a new wave of Autobot warriors, Optimus diligently repelled Megatron and the Decepticons. In one early encounter, Prime managed to rescue [[Electro]] and [[Volt]] from Megatron by firing his "Matrix Saturn" attack. He immediately recommended that Megatron and all his Decepticons leave the area at once. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #1}} Megatron, of course, refused, and continued his attack. Prime, Electro and Volt combined their firepower, leaving Megatron in a smoke-filled crater. As Electro moved in to administer the killing blow, Megatron emerged from the smoke unscathed, effortlessly plucking Electro up by his head. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #2}} Against Prime's orders, Volt immediately rushed Megatron from behind to free his captured friend. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #4}}

At one point, the secrecy of the Autobot field base became a priority, leaving Megatron to order warriors such as [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] to tail other Autobots and locate Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #5}} Prime's location was eventually compromised when [[Skyjack]] slipped past all Autobot radar. Astonished at the Decepticon's stealth, Prime was unable to stop Skyjack from returning to Megatron with his location. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #7}} Meanwhile, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] began to study the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and discovered a new property within it called the [[Reconfiguration Matrix]] which could grant Autobots new powers. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|Optimus Prime of the Autobots has Fallen!}}

[[Image:G2PrimeJustice.jpg|left|thumb|225px|"SHALOM!"]]
Prime and Megatron eventually met to do battle, with Prime coming out on top as Megatron slowly ran low on fuel. Prime offered Megatron one last chance to surrender, but was caught off-guard by [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]], who blasted him in the back with his missile attack, destroying Prime's back-mounted weaponry unit. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #9}} Megatron then ordered [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] and [[Smokescreen (G2)|Smokescreen]] to swoop in and finish Prime off before he could recover. The pair of Decepticons proceeded to bomb Prime mercilessly before turning him over to Megatron for the kill. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #10}} With a surprising lack of satisfaction, Megatron blasted Prime to pieces, killing his ancient foe at last. Victorious, Megatron offered Prime a final prayer, only to be interrupted by...Prime! The essences of the previous Autobot Supreme Commanders within the Matrix of Leadership activated the Reconfiguration Matrix to forge him a new body. Optimus Prime became '''Battle Convoy''' and easily trumped Megatron's power. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2 #13}} {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|Birth of the New Supreme Commander Battle Convoy!}}

Prime and Megatron then agreed to a one-on-one duel following the "Law of Cybertron": total banishment to the defeated and his forces. After a lengthy and painful battle, Prime narrowly managed to best Megatron, forcing him and the Decepticons to retreat into deep space. Prime was last seen wounded, being aided off the battlefield by Volt and Electro. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}}
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===e-HOBBY comics===

[[Image:Black_hybrid_prime_manga.jpg|right|thumb]]

When the universe came under threat from an [[Galvatron II|alternate-reality incarnation of Galvatron]], Prime used his [[Reconfiguration Matrix]] to once again transform his body into a form resembling his original. Armed with powerful solar-powered missile launchers created by the Decepticons that were so energy-consumptive that Prime required a sunlight-absorbing [[black body]] coating to operate them at full power, Prime put his new body to use rescuing Laser Ultra Magnus from Galvatron's clutches. {{storylink|Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version}}

To combat the Decepticons' aggressive energy raids, Wheeljack and [[Ga'mede]] put their heads together and duplicated Prime's new black form to create twenty-one battle droids that would play on the Decepticons' subconscious fear of Optimus Prime. These "[[Eldedroid]]s" were placed under the remote control of [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]] and sent out onto the battlefield.<ref>''Masterpiece'' Convoy Black Ver.‎ [[bio]]</ref> Later experimentation with the Eldedroids involved placing human minds in control of them; the first successful test subject was a human named [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Dan]]. This Eldedroid, along with [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]], [[Splashdown]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], was dispatched by Optimus Prime to investigate Decepticon involvement in recent attacks on human shipping vessels. Prime was worried about Dan, but Ironhide encouraged him not to be so pessimistic. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.‎}}

From his command point on [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], Optimus was convinced by Ironhide and Perceptor that the battle on the ocean floor required more back-up. Prime ordered Broadside to set a course for the undersea research station. On the way there, however, Prime and all the other Autobots within Broadside were suddenly menaced by the towering spectre of Starscream. {{storylink|MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.}}

==Notes==
*[http://buzzdixon.com/media/the-many-faces-of-hector-ramirez/ According to screenwriter] [[Buzz Dixon]], Optimus Prime was to have a cameo in ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: The Movie]]''. He was to be asked by one of the Ponies for aid against their antagonist, only to disappoint them for some reason, leaving the Pony no recourse but to try and enlist the aid of a drunken [[Shipwreck]] from ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' (no, really). Prime's (and Shipwreck's) scene was cut from the script at [[Hasbro]]'s behest.

==References==

{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Action Masters]]
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