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Double Dinobot

2009-06-08T15:15:51Z

128.135.181.69: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=14
|image=Dinobot mirror.jpg
|caption="Hmm. He looks good, but is he tasty...?"
|title="Double Dinobot"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[November 5]], 1996
|written by=[[Rowby Goren]]
|directed by=[[John Pozer]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''Megatron creates a non-transforming clone of Dinobot in an effort to disable Sentinel'''.

:''Japanese title:'' ダイノボットが二人に? (''Dinobot ga Futari ni?'', "Two Dinobots?")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Double Dinobot Megatron clone.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Isn't he cute?]]
In a scene reminiscent of a certain [[wikipedia:Frankenstein (1931 film)|early horror film]], Megatron creates a velociraptor clone based on the DNA of the [[Maximal]] Dinobot, Clone One, which also possesses a copy of Dinobot's mind.

Terrorsaur attacks the real Dinobot while on patrol, leading the Maximal into a cave where a swift move allows Terrorsaur to escape and bury Dinobot in a cave-in. Meanwhile, Clone One is sent to infiltrate the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal Base]] in his place. Clone One tells Optimus Primal that there's a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] camp in [[Grid Omega]] and insists Primal himself should go. Primal instead sends the Clone and Rattrap to fix the camp's exact location.

[[Image:Double Dinobot Rattrap clone.jpg|right|200px|thumb|What's funnier? Seeing someone falling off a log, or causing someone to fall of a log and then laughing at them for falling off.]]
Rattrap transforms to attack the alleged base and ''almost'' discovers the Clone's inability to transform, but stands down when the Clone reminds him this is a ''recon'' mission. Rattrap is puzzled by this uncharacteristic show of restraint, but stands down. While crossing an open lava flow, Clone One kicks the bridge out from under Rattrap, apparently sending him to his death.

In the meantime, the real Dinobot digs himself out of the rubble in the cave.

[[Image:Double Dinobot Clone shock.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is what really wiped out the dinosaurs.]]
Clone One returns to the ''Axalon'' (now crewed only by Optimus Primal) and fakes an injury, telling Primal that they discovered the Predacon camp under cover of a "stealth device" and Rattrap is trapped. Despite having just received a report from Rhinox that Grid Omega shows no signs of Predacon activity, Optimus Primal activates [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] and leaves to rescue Rattrap. Clone One struggles to deactivate the shield without Dinobot's authorization codes and is repeatedly shocked by Sentinel, who recognises him as Dinobot, but doesn't detect a Maximal spark.

Primal and Cheetor rendezvous in Grid Omega, where they pick up Rattrap's trail. Rattrap, who landed on a chunk of rock, rides it along the lava flow, but is forced to leap for his life when the flow becomes a lava waterfall. He lands up on a ledge and then [[wikipedia:Rocket jumping|grenade jumps]] back to stable ground, where he encounters Cheetor and Primal and informs them of "Dinobot"'s treachery.

Meanwhile, the real Dinobot returns to the Axalon and deactivates the perimeter shield. Clone One believes he has finally succeeded and summons Megatron. The two Dinobots come face to face and are momentarily baffled as their identical reflexes cause them to mirror one another's reactions. Clone One realizes the situation first and attacks, but Dinobot transforms and challenges his clone to a fight. Discovering that his double cannot transform, Dinobot return to Beast Mode and the two fight on equal terms. The Clone is losing ground, but a lucky blow appears to knock Dinobot unconscious. Clone One eagerly goes to meet Megatron, not realizing that Dinobot was [[wikipedia:Playing possum|playing]] [[Enter the Nightbird|robo-possum]].

[[Image:Double Dinobot Dinobot teeth.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"...Mmmm, he was quite tasty."]]
Dinobot poses as his clone and greets Megatron outside the base and flatters his ego while discovering his plan to ambush the Maximals as they return from Grid Omega then use their own defense grid to finish them off. Dinobot activates the perimeter shield just as Megatron is walking through it, shocking him badly. Megatron initially believes the clone has betrayed him just as Dinobot did, but is cheered to learn that's not the case. With the arrival of the other Maximals, Megatron retreats.

The Maximals survey the damaged command center in dismay and inquire what happened to the clone. Dinobot informs them that it is gone for good…and was 'quite tasty'.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (6)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (7)
*[[Rattrap]] (8)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (9)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (10)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (1)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (2)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (4)
*[[Clone One]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"At last, an end to the boredom!"
:—'''Dinobot''', delighted to be attacked

"Peaceful as an R-chamber. Looks like old chopper face is seein' things."
:—'''Rattrap'''

"I just knew I smelled a rat... and it wasn't even me!"
:—'''Rattrap''' jumps to the wrong conclusion.

"What in the Inferno are you?" 
"What you might have been, had you not betrayed Megatron."
:—'''Dinobot''' meets '''Clone One'''

"Ooh, your brilliance is an inspiration to me!" 
"Oh, you are an enchanting creature! I may just clone the rest of my troops."
:—'''Dinobot''' posing as his clone, to '''Megatron'''

"Well. I guess my revenge must be postponed until next week!"
:—Has '''Megatron''' got a copy of the TV Guide?

'''Rattrap:''' "If there was a clone, then where is he, huh?" 
'''Dinobot:''' "I'm afraid he's gone for good. A shame, really; he was such a handsome creature. And… quite tasty." 
''[Dinobot flicks a piece of flesh from his teeth at Primal and belches loudly. Cheetor gives him a thumbs up.]'' 
'''Optimus Primal:''' "…You're disgusting." 
''[Dinobot smiles]''
:—The Maximals discover the clone's ''deliciously'' gruesome fate.

==Notes==
* Clone One's skin will later be seen on the wall of Dinobot's room. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* Megatron was extremely pleased to learn the clone had not betrayed him. Had Dinobot led him to think his clones were unreliable, it probably would have saved the Maximals a lot of trouble…. ''Ah, hindsight.''
* Megatron would clone Dinobot twice more; the [[Cyber raptor|Cyber raptors]] in [[Cutting Edge]] and [[Dinobot II]] in [[Feral Scream Part 1]]. The [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] would use DNA from Dinobot's spark to create the [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]] in [[Beast Machines]].
* The Chamber Dinobot's clone was created in appears to be an extensively refitted Predacon [[CR chamber|R-Chamber]].
* Megatron is seemingly incapable of cloning Dinobot on sunny days with lots of butterflies. SOMEONE has been reading too much [[wikipedia:Mary Shelley|Mary Shelley]], folks.
* When Dinobot first encounters his clone, and the two mimic each other's movements, it is perhaps a reference to the famous mirror scene from the Marx Brothers movie [[wikipedia:Duck_Soup_(1933_film)|Duck Soup.]]

===Trivia===
*While the Dinobot clone is trying to deactivate Sentinel, a holographic Maximal logo appears with [[Cybertronix]] writing under it saying "who is this putz scally user". Then the shot changes to behind the projection as some more text appears next to a diagram that says "hey ian go f**k yourself", making one wonder what [[Ian Corlett]] did to piss off an animator. Then the words 'Merv Griffin' display.

==External links==
* [http://bwtf.com/bw/tvshow/episodes/seasonone/doubledinobot/doubledinobotscript.pdf Double Dinobot Script] on BWTF.com (PDF)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike

2009-05-27T17:09:06Z

128.135.181.69: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=20
|image=Sparkwar1 Obsidian Strika profile.jpg
|caption=
|title="Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike"
|airdate=[[March 22]], 2000
|written by=[[Brooks Wachtel]]
|directed by=[[Steve Sacks]]
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuty=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''While searching for the missing sparks, the Maximals are attacked by two new Vehicon generals.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 捕われの魂 (''Toraware no Kon'' "Capture of the Spirits"

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Sparkwar1 Maximals junkpile.jpg|left|thumb|200px|This is what Doom mods look like in Heaven.]]
[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] is fleeing from the usual horde of Cycle drones. Rattrap cuts in and destroys a lot of them.... then [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] does the same... and so on, with [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] looking on in anger as [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] blows away a batch of drones that are surrounding [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. Thrust ends up getting bashed down by a flying pile of Cycledrone parts, then surrounded by Maximals, who send him packing. [[Rattrap]] notes that their victories are coming rather easily these days, with a touch of trepidation.

[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], observing, coldly notes that he won't allow the "mongrel" Maximals to run roughshod over his planet.

Rattrap has cobbled together a cart from busted Cycle drones, and hauled it back to base (apparently this was the purpose of the mission!) Blackarachnia thanks Silverbolt for an assist in battle, but he only chews her out for losing focus.

The Cycle drone parts are for [[Botanica]], to help her unlock the secrets of the organic core. Nightscream tries to warm Botanica up to the idea of combat, but she's having none of it; she's a scientist, not a warrior, and doesn't want to become more like Megatron. [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] defends her position, saying the other six can easily handle one Vehicon general.

Aboard the [[Grand Mal|big floating head]], Thrust gets chewed out by Megatron for failing to hold the Maximals at bay; when Megatron says he's no better than [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] or [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]], Thrust angrily reminds him that he's remained loyal, and it was Megatron's choices that caused the other two to turn against him.

Cheetor tries to cheer up a moping Optimus, who's down in the dumps over the missing Sparks. Nightscream, meanwhile, approaches Silverbolt, trying to get him not to be such a jerk to Blackarachnia. Silverbolt isn't interested in anything else until the war is won, and flies off.

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Vehicon generals instruction.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Optimus has some kind of brief vision just then, alerting him to trouble with the Sparks. And above, we see Megatron gleefully holding aloft two of the Sparks in question. A moment later, two new Vehicons roll out from a chamber, as Thrust looks on in approval: one floats, and shoulder-mounted helicopter blades; the other is bigger and bulkier, and "skates" just above the ground. Thrust starts to deliver a lecture on the way things work. The new guys look at Thrust, at each other... and then one of them casually bashes Thrust aside, as Megatron laughs.

Nightscream pursues Silverbolt above the surface, still pressing the Blackarachnia issue. But Nightscream is suddenly blasted out of the air, then caught by Silverbolt. They spot the new generals, who stare ominously... then laugh and transform. The floating one becomes a sleek, twin-bladed helicopter: "Obliterate!" The other, a six-wheeled ground vehicle: "Terminate!"

Nightscream radios for help. The Maximals move out; Botanica stays behind, over Cheetor's protests and with Optimus's blessing.

The group arrives in time to help. They handle the new generals easily, and find their vocabulary limited to little but "OBLITERATE!!" and "TERMINATE!" Silverbolt is concerned and confused as to why Megatron would create such ineffective general; Rattrap figures they're easier to control. Primal tries to reach their Sparks, hoping to free captive Maximals within and also to learn the location of the Sparks, but they escape and run off.

Botanica, meanwhile is working with her machines, when a vat of green goo that she's using begins to seethe and speak her name, overwhelming her with visions of drifting Sparks....

The team pursues their quarry; the Generals round a corner and turn to face their opponents, their backs to a wall. For a brief instant, the Maximals are triumphant. And then a cloud of drones — identical to the generals — rises into view.

It's a trap — the Maximals are surrounded by hundreds of drones. Their leaders transform, and speak. The helicopter muses that Primal never learned not to underestimate his opponents; the tank simply laughs that the team fell for the simplistic ruse.

The drones open fire; Primal absorbs it and uses the energy to blast through the platform they're standing on, so the ground falls out from beneath his group. They try to retreat to base, but at every turn they're intercepted by drones. Primal notes that their foes are clearly master strategists.

Back at said base, Botanica finds herself adrift. She is treated to various flashbacks to Megatron's invasion, his armies of drones, the Maximals' fights.... then finds herself alone again.

Even the planet's sewers provide no safe haven, filled with more drones. The Maximals decide to fall back to the [[Council Citadel]], while a plant-vine nearby shows Botanica what's going on.

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Obsidian contacts Primal.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The Maximals slam shut a pile of heavy doors behind them. Firepower impacts the doors from the outside. Optimus has a horrible realization: they've been herded here. A screen with the helicopter's face on it approaches; he invites the team to surrender. Primal tries to reason with him, but the helicopter — [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] — says that he and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] are doing what they've always done, which is to defend Cybertron. The Maximals have been taking on the two greatest generals in Cybertronian history.

A horde of Heavy Artillery drones bursts through the doors. The group retreats again, but is soon sealed into another room with scads of drones. Primal vows to go down fighting, but then Botanica bursts ito the room and transforms. She launches a plethora of planet-vine-bomb things, disrupting the drones and causing them to randomly blast each other.

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Artillery drone fight.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Strika and Obsidian, watching from afar, note that their targeting systems are being disrupted, by the new Maximal whose capabilities they know little about. The Maximals revert to beast mode and retreat, and Botanica simply melts into the floor.

The generals finally arrive at the scene, find the Maximals have vanished, and order their forces to stand down. The two later report back to Megatron, prepared to accept punishment for failure — a point that Thrust happily emphasizes. Megatron is pleased with their loyalty, though, and for keeping the Maximals occupied, allowing him to finalize his plan for the Sparks.

Botanica burrows her way, drill-like, into the Maximal base. She explains what changed her mind; Rattrap facepalms: "Another one with visions." The team apologizes for trying to force her into their way of doing things; Botanica vows that it's her fight as well. Silverbolt is pessimistic; the new Generals have fought a thousand wars together, and won them all. Primal observes that they were culled from the missing Sparks, and vows not to let Megatron violate another. A dancing vision of Sparks fills the screen as we fade out.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (2)
*[[Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (4)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (6)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (8)
*[[Botanica]] (10)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Motorcycle Drone]]s (1)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] (11)
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (12)
*[[Copter Drone]] (13)
*[[Heavy Artillery Drone]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Honey, I'm home! You know, they had the best sale on used Vehicon parts, only slightly damaged."
:—'''Rattrap'''

"The more we fight like Megatron, the more we become like Megatron."
:—'''Botanica'''

"Until the threat of Megatron is quelled, love is a luxury I cannot afford." 
"Did he really say 'quelled'?"
:—'''Silverbolt''' and '''Nightscream'''

'''Nightscream:''' "Now we've got 'em!" 
'''Rattrap:''' "Exactly where they want us." 
'''Cheetor:''' "It's a trap!" 
'''Rattrap:''' "Ya think?"
:—The Maximals catch on quickly.

"Although he took his name from a great leader, Optimus Primal never learned the first rule of warfare: never underestimate your opponent."
:—'''Obsidian'''

==Notes==
* This episode marks the first appearances of [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] as actual characters. Along with [[Botanica]], their first ''literal'' appearance was in "[[Fallout]]", during a split-second vision by Optimus Primal.

===Technical or animation errors===
*In the opening scene, after Silverbolt blows up an assortment of (just) cycle drones, the debris inexplicably includes aero drone parts.

===Continuity errors===
*Silverbolt seems to know about Obsidian and Strika's past success as war generals despite the fact that his protoform was activated during the Beast Wars on Earth and his own datatracks were lost. Presumably he read a history book at some point.

===Transformers References===
* Thrust is brutally yet comically harmed at least three times in this episode. Sadly for him, he seems to be reverting to [[Waspinator (BW)|his old role]].

===Real-World References===
* ?

==External Links==
* ?

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike

2009-05-27T14:10:23Z

128.135.181.69: /* Transformers References */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=20
|image=Sparkwar1 Obsidian Strika profile.jpg
|caption=
|title="Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike"
|airdate=[[March 22]], 2000
|written by=[[Brooks Wachtel]]
|directed by=[[Steve Sacks]]
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuty=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''While searching for the missing sparks, the Maximals are attacked by two new Vehicon generals.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 捕われの魂 (''Toraware no Kon'' "Capture of the Spirits"

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Sparkwar1 Maximals junkpile.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] is fleeing from the usual horde of Cycle drones. Rattrap cuts in and destroys a lot of them.... then [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] does the same... and so on, with [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] looking on in anger as [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] blows away a batch of drones that are surrounding [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. Thrust ends up getting bashed down by a flying pile of Cycledrone parts, then surrounded by Maximals, who send him packing. [[Rattrap]] notes that their victories are coming rather easily these days, with a touch of trepidation.

[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], observing, coldly notes that he won't allow the "mongrel" Maximals to run roughshod over his planet.

Rattrap has cobbled together a cart from busted Cycle drones, and hauled it back to base (apparently this was the purpose of the mission!) Blackarachnia thanks Silverbolt for an assist in battle, but he only chews her out for losing focus.

The Cycle drone parts are for [[Botanica]], to help her unlock the secrets of the organic core. Nightscream tries to warm Botanica up to the idea of combat, but she's having none of it; she's a scientist, not a warrior, and doesn't want to become more like Megatron. [[Optimus Primal|Optimus]] defends her position, saying the other six can easily handle one Vehicon general.

Aboard the [[Grand Mal|big floating head]], Thrust gets chewed out by Megatron for failing to hold the Maximals at bay; when Megatron says he's no better than [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] or [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]], Thrust angrily reminds him that he's remained loyal, and it was Megatron's choices that caused the other two to turn against him.

Cheetor tries to cheer up a moping Optimus, who's down in the dumps over the missing Sparks. Nightscream, meanwhile, approaches Silverbolt, trying to get him not to be such a jerk to Blackarachnia. Silverbolt isn't interested in anything else until the war is won, and flies off.

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Vehicon generals instruction.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Optimus has some kind of brief vision just then, alerting him to trouble with the Sparks. And above, we see Megatron gleefully holding aloft two of the Sparks in question. A moment later, two new Vehicons roll out from a chamber, as Thrust looks on in approval: one floats, and shoulder-mounted helicopter blades; the other is bigger and bulkier, and "skates" just above the ground. Thrust starts to deliver a lecture on the way things work. The new guys look at Thrust, at each other... and then one of them casually bashes Thrust aside, as Megatron laughs.

Nightscream pursues Silverbolt above the surface, still pressing the Blackarachnia issue. But Nightscream is suddenly blasted out of the air, then caught by Silverbolt. They spot the new generals, who stare ominously... then laugh and transform. The floating one becomes a sleek, twin-bladed helicopter: "Obliterate!" The other, a six-wheeled ground vehicle: "Terminate!"

Nightscream radios for help. The Maximals move out; Botanica stays behind, over Cheetor's protests and with Optimus's blessing.

The group arrives in time to help. They handle the new generals easily, and find their vocabulary limited to little but "OBLITERATE!!" and "TERMINATE!" Silverbolt is concerned and confused as to why Megatron would create such ineffective general; Rattrap figures they're easier to control. Primal tries to reach their Sparks, hoping to free captive Maximals within and also to learn the location of the Sparks, but they escape and run off.

Botanica, meanwhile is working with her machines, when a vat of green goo that she's using begins to seethe and speak her name, overwhelming her with visions of drifting Sparks....

The team pursues their quarry; the Generals round a corner and turn to face their opponents, their backs to a wall. For a brief instant, the Maximals are triumphant. And then a cloud of drones — identical to the generals — rises into view.

It's a trap — the Maximals are surrounded by hundreds of drones. Their leaders transform, and speak. The helicopter muses that Primal never learned not to underestimate his opponents; the tank simply laughs that the team fell for the simplistic ruse.

The drones open fire; Primal absorbs it and uses the energy to blast through the platform they're standing on, so the ground falls out from beneath his group. They try to retreat to base, but at every turn they're intercepted by drones. Primal notes that their foes are clearly master strategists.

Back at said base, Botanica finds herself adrift. She is treated to various flashbacks to Megatron's invasion, his armies of drones, the Maximals' fights.... then finds herself alone again.

Even the planet's sewers provide no safe haven, filled with more drones. The Maximals decide to fall back to the [[Council Citadel]], while a plant-vine nearby shows Botanica what's going on.

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Obsidian contacts Primal.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The Maximals slam shut a pile of heavy doors behind them. Firepower impacts the doors from the outside. Optimus has a horrible realization: they've been herded here. A screen with the helicopter's face on it approaches; he invites the team to surrender. Primal tries to reason with him, but the helicopter — [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] — says that he and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] are doing what they've always done, which is to defend Cybertron. The Maximals have been taking on the two greatest generals in Cybertronian history.

A horde of Heavy Artillery drones bursts through the doors. The group retreats again, but is soon sealed into another room with scads of drones. Primal vows to go down fighting, but then Botanica bursts ito the room and transforms. She launches a plethora of planet-vine-bomb things, disrupting the drones and causing them to randomly blast each other.

[[Image:Sparkwar1 Artillery drone fight.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
Strika and Obsidian, watching from afar, note that their targeting systems are being disrupted, by the new Maximal whose capabilities they know little about. The Maximals revert to beast mode and retreat, and Botanica simply melts into the floor.

The generals finally arrive at the scene, find the Maximals have vanished, and order their forces to stand down. The two later report back to Megatron, prepared to accept punishment for failure — a point that Thrust happily emphasizes. Megatron is pleased with their loyalty, though, and for keeping the Maximals occupied, allowing him to finalize his plan for the Sparks.

Botanica burrows her way, drill-like, into the Maximal base. She explains what changed her mind; Rattrap facepalms: "Another one with visions." The team apologizes for trying to force her into their way of doing things; Botanica vows that it's her fight as well. Silverbolt is pessimistic; the new Generals have fought a thousand wars together, and won them all. Primal observes that they were culled from the missing Sparks, and vows not to let Megatron violate another. A dancing vision of Sparks fills the screen as we fade out.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (2)
*[[Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (4)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (5)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (6)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (8)
*[[Botanica]] (10)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Motorcycle Drone]]s (1)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] (11)
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (12)
*[[Copter Drone]] (13)
*[[Heavy Artillery Drone]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Honey, I'm home! You know, they had the best sale on used Vehicon parts, only slightly damaged."
:—'''Rattrap'''

"The more we fight like Megatron, the more we become like Megatron."
:—'''Botanica'''

"Until the threat of Megatron is quelled, love is a luxury I cannot afford." 
"Did he really say 'quelled'?"
:—'''Silverbolt''' and '''Nightscream'''

'''Nightscream:''' "Now we've got 'em!" 
'''Rattrap:''' "Exactly where they want us." 
'''Cheetor:''' "It's a trap!" 
'''Rattrap:''' "Ya think?"
:—The Maximals catch on quickly.

"Although he took his name from a great leader, Optimus Primal never learned the first rule of warfare: never underestimate your opponent."
:—'''Obsidian'''

==Notes==
* This episode marks the first appearances of [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] as actual characters. Along with [[Botanica]], their first ''literal'' appearance was in "[[Fallout]]", during a split-second vision by Optimus Primal.

===Technical or animation errors===
*In the opening scene, after Silverbolt blows up an assortment of (just) cycle drones, the debris inexplicably includes aero drone parts.

===Continuity errors===
*Silverbolt seems to know about Obsidian and Strika's past success as war generals despite the fact that his protoform was activated during the Beast Wars on Earth and his own datatracks were lost. Presumably he read a history book at some point.

===Transformers References===
* Thrust is brutally yet comically harmed at least three times in this episode. Sadly for him, he seems to be reverting to [[Waspinator (BW)|his old role]].

===Real-World References===
* ?

==External Links==
* ?

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Optimus Prime (G1)

2009-05-20T17:48:29Z

128.135.181.69: /* Generation 1 cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}
:''Optimus Prime is the leader of the [[Autobot]]s from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Optimusg1.jpg|right|350px|thumb|I'm that guy everyone remembers. No, not the tape guy, the other guy.]]
'''Optimus Prime''' is the awe-inspiring [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]] forces. Originally a mere civilian, he was chosen by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] to command, the first in a number of heavy burdens he has been forced to bear. Another is his bringing of the Transformers' conflict to Earth. The complete opposite of his mortal enemy [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], every casualty, [[human]] or [[Transformer|Cybertronian]], weighs heavily on his [[spark]]. He does not show this side to his soldiers, and he never succumbs to despair. The Autobots need a decisive, charismatic leader, and that is what he gives them. It was that leadership which turned the tide of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]].

On the battlefield, there are few who rival Optimus Prime's prowess. He is easily the strongest of any Autobot his [[Scale|size]], and his [[ion blaster]] and his [[energon-axe]] are deadly weapons. He would sacrifice his life to protect his fellow Autobots or those under their care, and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|does so on a regular basis]]. His compassion for other sentient beings is his only real weakness, and one the Decepticons have taken advantage of time and again... though it's also the source of his strength!

Prime carries within him the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

Before being rebuilt into a [[Powermaster]] his robot mode split into three components:

*A sentient robot module, the [[Brain Center]].
*A wheeled drone module known as [[Roller]].
*A [[Combat Deck]].

Although Optimus Prime can function as three independent modules, injury to any one module is felt by the other two.

{{bigquote|Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.|Optimus Prime's most common [[bio]] quote}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Convoy''', '''Battle Convoy''' (Laser)
:''French-Canadian & Chzech name:'' '''Optimus Primus'''
:''Hungarian name (The Movie):'' '''Optimusz Fővezér''' / '''Optimusz Prájm'''
:''Italian name:'' '''Commander'''
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comics):'' '''Optimus Supremo''' ("Optimus Supreme")
:''Portuguese name (Brazil cartoon):'' '''Líder Optimus''' ("Leader Optimus")
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comics):'' '''Supremus Absolutus'''
:''Taiwanese name:'' '''Tīh-ghŭ''' (鐵牛, literally "Iron Ox" or "Iron Bull", a kind of vehicle in early days and rural area)
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Jr-tsūn''' (至尊, "Prime")
:''Cantonese name:'' '''O Baak Man''' (柯柏文)
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Qing Tian Zhu''' (擎天柱, "Pillar Towering into Sky")

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Optimusprimeg1preearthmarvel2.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Optimus Prime's Cybertronic truck mode, along with a Cybertronic Grumman X-29, a Cybertronic Earth motorcycle, and a Cybertronic Porsche 962.]]
Before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] broke out on Cybertron, Optimus Prime was a Transformer of note, displaying his skills in the [[Intra-Formers Sharpshooting Competition]]. {{storylink|Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot's ''Transformers Universe'' entry}} As a serious-minded individual, he also spoke out against [[Needlenose]]'s faddish "[[Chic Chips]]" line of hardware accessories. {{storylink|Needlenose|Needlenose's ''Transformers Universe'' entry}}

''Gladiator games were commissioned between the City-States to increase good will as the planet's population outpaced its resources. Optimus was the gladiator champion of [[Iacon]], and he shared a sporting rivalry with a young champion from [[Tarn]] called [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. But sabotage plunged Tarn and [[Vos]] into an inter-city war. An [[Overlord (rank)|Autobot Overlord]] was damaged while trying to sort it out, so Optimus Prime left to get help. However, the Overlord mysteriously perished while under the care of Megatron and Overlord's bodyguard, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|State Games}} Following the destruction of Tarn and Vos, Prime had planned to become a medical officer, but enrolled in the Autobot army as soon as the Decepticons declared war. He was immediately put in charge of the [[Elite Flying Corps]]. {{storylink|Transformers Annual 1987|Optimus Prime datafile}}''

''Optimus Prime saved the life of an Autobot named [[Swoop (G1)|Divebomb]] from another [[Divebomb (G1)|flying Decepticon]] who had previously beaten him and taken his name. "Divebomb" hated Prime with a passion, and was humiliated by his rescue, and so he kept this to himself. {{storylink|What's in a Name?}}''

Optimus Prime quickly made a name for himself as a combat leader. On a mission with the [[Triggerbot]]s to stop Megatron from claiming the [[Underbase]], Prime was forced to jettison the massive databank into space to prevent anyone acquiring its power, but with this action he first proved his wisdom and skill. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}} ''As Optimus Prime's reputation became known, he was promoted to field commander of the entire Autobot army, but regrettably, the [[Council of Autobot Elders]] still pulled the strings. Unknown to the Elders, Optimus Prime began orchestrating unsanctioned military actions. {{storylink|Transformers Annual 1987|Optimus Prime datafile}} As the Great War intensified, Autobot territories began falling under Decepticon dominion, one City-State at a time. The last City-State to be taken was the Autobot capital of Iacon. As Decepticons besieged Iacon, the Council of Elders prepared to surrender. Councillor [[Emirate Xaaron|Xaaron]] suggested that High Councillor [[Traachon]] step down and allow a military officer to assume Autobot leadership. Traachon then used his powers of veto and effectively elected himself out of office, allowing Optimus Prime to assume supreme command of the Autobots, becoming the first soldier to ever hold the mantle of Autobot leadership. {{storylink|And There Shall Come...a Leader!}} ''

[[Image:Optimusprimeg1marvelfirst.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Prime had to go through an experimental "box with a gun on top" phase before he could commit to the truck thing.]]
After over a thousand years of war, Cybertron—shaken from its orbit and drifting through space—came under threat when it floated into the path of a massive asteroid swarm that could potentially devastate the planet. Prime led a group of his most powerful Autobot warriors on the Autobot starship, the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], on a mission to destroy the asteroids. Although the Autobots were successful, in the aftermath of this mission the Ark was attacked by Decepticons, hoping to overcome their weakened foes. Intent on keeping the secrets of the Ark's computer, [[Auntie]], from the Decepticons, Prime set the craft on a suicide course, crashing it into the prehistoric planet Earth. After lying dormant for four million years, the Ark was awakened by the eruption of [[Mount St. Hilary]] in 1984, and Optimus Prime was rebuilt so that he could reconfigure his body into a semi truck. As the Decepticons fled, Optimus Prime called for a roll call of his own troops. Suspecting that after all this time, Cybertron probably no longer existed, Optimus Prime began studying the planet upon which they had landed; he was startled to realize that this planet did have sentient life! He swore that the Autobots would hide themselves from Earth's natives, so that they would be spared the horrors of the Transformers' war. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

[[Image:PowerPlay-Optimustransforms.jpg|left|thumb|250px|In the live-action movie's version of this scene, Sparkplug was replaced with some hot chick.]]

Optimus Prime and the other Autobots were all dangerously low on fuel, but thankfully [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] had befriended some humans who could help—[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and his son, [[Buster Witwicky]]. Leading the Autobots to Sparkplug's auto shop, Optimus Prime introduced himself to the humans. Unfortunately, the Decepticons had the same idea, and the warring factions met in battle. But while Prime was busy shooting Decepticons out of the air, Megatron grabbed Sparkplug, and so Prime was forced to face his nemesis one-on-one. Despite Prime's apparent victory, Sparkplug was snatched away by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and the Decepticons retreated. Optimus Prime acknowledged Buster's sorrow at the kidnapping of his father, but noted that without fuel, retrieving him would be impossible. {{storylink|Power Play!}} Carrying [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] in his trailer, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots returned to the Ark, where [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] awaited. With the mysterious [[Spider-Man]]'s help, Sparkplug was rescued from the Decepticons' [[Fortress Sinister|cliffside headquarters]], but not before Sparkplug had converted fuel for the Decepticons! {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}} Unfortunately, Optimus Prime couldn't stop the Autobots from overreacting to this bad news, and their actions caused Sparkplug Witwicky to suffer a heart attack. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

[[Image:Boulderdamfight.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Better get used to seeing this scene.]]

''When the Ark alerted Optimus Prime of a power surge at [[Sherman Dam]], he and his Autobots weren't surprised to find the Decepticons behind it. Afraid of the dam crumbling under the stress of the Decepticons' manipulations, he faced off against Megatron on the top of the dam, brandishing his energy ax. As he trash-talked Megatron, Prime was suddenly distracted by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s defeat. Megatron used this moment to his advantage, knocking Prime off the dam and firing his cannon into the dam itself. Prime quickly assembled his troops, directing them to divert the waves by digging trenches and elevating the neighboring humans. Mirage was angered when the humans still vilified them, despite their hard work, but Prime calmed him. {{storylink|Decepticon Dam-Busters!}}''

''Meanwhile, Optimus Prime sent a team of Autobots to investigate the [[Man of Iron]], a local legend in the [[United Kingdom]]. After befriending [[Sammy Harker]], and tangling with the Decepticons over the remains of the Man of Iron's ship, Optimus Prime and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] were forced to destroy the ship and its inhabitants, not realizing that its [[Navigator]] knew the location of Cybertron. {{storylink|Man of Iron!}} Back at the Ark, after [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] suffered some sort of psychotic break and had ran off, Optimus Prime decided that hunting Brawn down was crucial, before he could harm any humans! After cornering Brawn, he threatened them with death, but he was quickly overwhelmed, and Optimus Prime carried Brawn's defeated body back to the Ark. In order to prove Brawn's loyalty, a showdown was orchestrated between him and the traitorous Decepticon, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. With the help of [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s holograms, once Brawn had proved himself his death was faked, and the two factions returned to their respective bases. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} The Decepticons did not stay there for long, and suddenly a full-scale attack was launched on the Ark! Unfortunately, the Ark's computer systems, "[[Auntie]]", went berserk, and it fell to Optimus and Megatron to team up against the malfunctioning program. Megatron used his ability to tap into the power of a black hole, freeing them, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] destroyed Auntie, and the Decepticons were forcibly ejected from the Ark. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}''

[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] alerted Optimus Prime to information that Ratchet had uncovered from the Ark's databanks: millions of years ago, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] battled [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] to a standstill. This raised some questions, but there was little Optimus Prime could do with this knowledge now. With a Decepticon attack imminent, and the Autobots dangerously low on fuel, Optimus Prime had a desperate gamble. Using the [[Tubes of Transference]], the combined remaining fuel was compiled into five of the strongest Autobots, himself, [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], Huffer, [[Bluestreak]], and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. Sure enough, the Decepticons descended quickly upon them, but even though Prime was still low on fuel, he was still quick enough to grab Starscream out of the air! It was not enough to defeat Megatron, however, and his nemesis hoisted Prime's body over his head in complete victory. ...That is, until Megatron and the other Decepticons doubled over in pain. Sparkplug had poisoned the Decepticons' fuel! Unfortunately, Optimus Prime's subsequent speech was short as he and the other Autobots were blasted into pieces. Shockwave had awakened and returned. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

[[Image:NewOrder-OptimusPrimehead.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Buster regretted the low volume on his Optimus Prime voice changer helmet.]]

Though the Decepticons had taken over the Ark, Ratchet was able to sneak Buster Witwicky inside, and the young human was startled to find Optimus Prime's decapitated head attached to machinery. {{storylink|The New Order}} Optimus Prime, in this weakened state, pleaded with Buster to detach two power cords and attach them to either side of the human's head. This released a tremendous amount of energy, transferring Optimus Prime's [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to the human, and Buster blacked out. After Buster awoke, he returned to Ratchet to tell him of Optimus Prime's defeat. {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} Ratchet had to see this for himself, and he was saddened to find out that Buster was correct. The Autobots were defeated, even including the mighty Optimus Prime! But Optimus would not let Ratchet give up or despair. He pushed Ratchet to action, telling him that even though Ratchet was nothing more than a doctor, now was the time for him to learn to be a warrior. {{storylink|Warrior School!}} Since Shockwave's return, he had wrested leadership of the Decepticons from Megatron, and so the former Decepticon leader was ordered by Shockwave to prepare to move Optimus Prime's head from the Ark to the Decepticons' base of operations within a [[Blackrock Industries]] aerospace plant. {{storylink|Repeat Performance!}}

Shockwave planned to use the Creation Matrix energies within Optimus Prime's head to give life to a new Decepticon army, despite Optimus Prime's obvious objections. Shockwave didn't know that he had transferred most of the energy to Buster Witwicky, so Optimus Prime took quiet solace in the fact that the last of his remaining energies would be used on only six new warriors. ''{{storylink|The Wrath of Guardian!}}'' {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}}

[[Image:PrimeTime-Primewantsyou.jpg|thumb|right|250px|He's mad as hell, ain't he ain't gonna take your orders anymore!]]

Optimus Prime's head watched helplessly as Shockwave brought his [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to life using the rest of Prime's stored Creation Matrix energies. But Shockwave realized something was wrong when Prime failed to give life to his next creation, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}} Shockwave deduced what had happened, and so he sent Jetfire (who was still little more than a drone) out to capture Buster. Optimus Prime realized he had put Buster in tremendous risk, but thankfully Buster prevailed. However, with the Matrix energy spent, Prime was useless to Shockwave, and so the Decepticon leader made plans to dispose of the head. {{storylink|Brainstorm!}} In actuality, the head Shockwave disposed of was an impostor. Shockwave had learned that his headquarters were bugged, and so when the Autobots came to retrieve the head from a nearby swamp, the impostor head took control of Prime's body and turned on the Autobots. The day was saved only by the efforts of Buster, who was able to wrest control of Jetfire so that he could deliver the real head to its body. Once again whole, Prime retaliated against the Decepticons battling at the swamp, and one by one, they were destroyed. Shockwave himself arrived to battle Prime, but after they grappled, Shockwave was thrown into the swamps and disappeared. Instead of delivering a final blow, Optimus Prime rushed back to the plant to assure Buster's safety. The nightmare over, Prime transferred the Creation Matrix energies from Buster back into himself. {{storylink|Prime Time!}}

[[Image:Arkchristmastree.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Prime may reconsider his return to the Autobots.]]

''Optimus Prime's dignity restored with his head once again reunited with his body, Prime immediately dressed as Santa Claus to appease Buster's strong sense of [[Christmas]] spirit. {{storylink|Christmas Breaker!}}''

''Optimus Prime questioned his ability to lead after his recent series of trials when a fight broke out amongst the Autobots on whether to use the Creation Matrix to create an army of unstoppable robot monsters. His introspection was interrupted by the intrusion of Ravage. The spy was captured, but it was not known by the Autobots that this was part of a larger Decepticon plot. Ravage escaped easily, and when Bumblebee gave chase, the Autobot was captured by the Decepticons. His disembodied arm was dropped in front of the Ark by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], a gauntlet cast. Prime decided to go alone to Decepticon headquarters to rescue Bumblebee, despite the other Autobots' objections. Indeed, Prime bested the Decepticons one-by-one, felling them all, until he arrived, heavily damaged, in the chamber where Bumblebee was held. After making short work of Soundwave, Optimus Prime returned to the Autobots, determined to do things right from then on. {{storylink|Crisis of Command!}}''

''After Optimus Prime visited Bumblebee in the repair bay, the Autobots were surprised to attacked by the Dinobot [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], who was thought to be dead. After reclaiming Swoop's mind from [[Professor P. Morris]], Swoop went berserk and left once more. After learning that the Dinobots all would suffer the same involuntary rage, Optimus Prime called for a Dinobot Hunt! {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} Optimus Prime briefed the Autobots on the Dinobots and their nature and sent them to find the Dinobots in groups. Later, Optimus Prime traveled via [[Ark shuttlecraft]] to put a stop to a fight between Grimlock and Sludge that had claimed several Autobot and human injuries. Prime neutralized the rampaging Dinobots, but was saddened to hear that the Decepticons had seized the opportunity to steal large quantities of energy from the humans while the Autobots were kept busy. With the Dinobots in ruin and the Decepticons fueled, Optimus Prime's Autobots had suffered a major defeat. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}} Optimus Prime later checked in with Ratchet, who was monitoring the comatose Dinobots. He implored Ratchet to find a way to save them from their constant nightmares. {{storylink|Victory!}}''

With the Autobot ranks drastically depleted, Optimus Prime gave life to Jetfire using the Creation Matrix, and performed on him the [[Rite of the Autobrand]]. He guided Jetfire through the Ark; first into Ratchet's repair bay, and next into [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s lab, where additional troops were being assembled. Optimus Prime assigned Bumblebee to train these new recruits, but ordered them not to engage the enemy. When the group stumbled onto a Decepticon plot to siphon energy from a [[Brick Springhorn]] concert, Optimus gathered every able Autobot to assist. However, Bumblebee had disobeyed orders and his rookies had successfully thwarted the Decepticons. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

When a human named [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]] appeared on television, claiming he controlled all Transformers, Optimus Prime led a team of Autobots into the [[Powder River Basin]] to prevent the human from getting hurt. Megatron, who had frozen, deactivated, at the bottom of the basin, was subsequently re-energized by Soundwave and his minions, and the combined might of their firepower and the human military's drove away Optimus and the Autobots in defeat. {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} Afterward, Bumblebee felt he had failed Optimus Prime due to his relative lack of size and strength, and so he ran away. When Optimus discovered that Bumblebee had become a target of interest for the Decepticons, Optimus hurriedly led another team of Autobots to rescue, an act that helped prove Bumblebee's worth to himself. {{storylink|Plight of the Bumblebee!}}

[[Image:RobotBuster-outofyourminds.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"There's ''no slaggin' way'' Mary-Kate is the cutest Olsen Twin!"]]

''Optimus Prime was absolutely appalled to discover that Wheeljack and Ratchet had built Buster Witwicky an armored suit to aid him in the battle against the Decepticons, asking them out right if they had lost their minds. Though Buster protested, noting that since he was trusted with holding the Creation Matrix he should be trusted with the suit as well, Optimus Prime ordered the armored suit destroyed. But Buster stole the armored suit under cover of night and attacked the Decepticon headquarters, plowing through the Decepticons until he reached Shockwave. Shockwave bested the human, but the arrival of Optimus Prime and the Autobots convinced Shockwave to spare his life. {{storylink|Robot Buster!}} Following this incident, Buster began having strange nightmares, and Optimus Prime suspected that these nightmares were induced by the Creation Matrix. {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} Wanting to investigate these Creation Matrix-induced dreams, Optimus Prime and Buster were hooked up to machinery so that the human could share them. Optimus Prime and Buster witnessed strange five-robot combiners from each faction named [[Special Teams]], and awoke shouting their name. They had seen a vision of the next generation of Transformers... {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

Meanwhile on Cybertron, a group of Autobots were happy to learn that Optimus Prime and his Autobots still lived. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}}

[[Image:CommandPerformances-Autobotsattack.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Year Two toys, attack!"]]

In front of all the active Autobots, Optimus Prime and [[Grapple]] unveiled their secret project: [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]! Designed to be their last line of defense, Prime planned to leave Omega Supreme to guard the Ark while Prime led the Autobots to the Decepticon river basin headquarters to steal combiner technology from Devastator and promptly leave. The Dinobots scoffed at this plan, refusing to start a battle in which they were required to run away from, and so Grimlock and his Dinobots seceded from the Autobots. Though [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] raised concerns, Optimus Prime maintained that he had allowed for this. In fact, he allowed for everything save the interference of the humans, and after the mission was successfully pulled off, one human came after Skids for revenge. Optimus Prime regretfully had to leave Skids behind. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

''Learning of the Dinobots' disastrous solo adventures, Optimus Prime wanted to disown them, but reluctantly acknowledged that they were necessary muscle for the team. Tragically, while speaking to the Autobots about their war thus far on Earth, he, Prowl, and Ratchet mysteriously vanished in a flash of light! {{storylink|Target: 2006}} They found themselves in a strange dimension called [[Limbo]], where they battled violent creatures. They soon allied with Shockwave, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], who were also shunted into this dimension. The creatures' attack stopped only when Prime realized that they fed on their negative emotions. {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}} Upon his return, Optimus learned that they had been displaced by Autobots and Decepticons traveling from the future. {{storylink|Time Wars}}''

As Ratchet sealed up one of Prime's wounds, the Autobot commander was delighted to see Skids was alive, having returned to him along with [[Donny Finkleberg]] (previously the Robot-Master). They had news for him regarding the arrival of Autobot reinforcements from Cybertron, but they were interrupted by a news bulletin. [[Hoover Dam]] was being attacked by Decepticons, so Optimus Prime lept from the repair bay despite Ratchet's objections to call the new [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] into service. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} Later Ratchet was able to finish sealing Prime's wound, but not before the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] [[Bombshell]] was able to implant a [[cerebro-shell]] within Prime's body. Through this link, the Decepticons would be able to share use of the Creation Matrix to give life to new troops! The Aerialbots hadn't done well on their first outing, so as Optimus Prime reformatted them, Megatron gave life to the [[Stunticon]]s! {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

''Optimus Prime observed the records of how poorly the Autobots performed in his absence in Limbo, specifically how they went so far as to seek leadership from Megatron out of sheer desperation. Optimus Prime began to consider whether he was too important to the Autobots, and if they could carry on should he fall. To alleviate his doubts, he and a reluctant [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] plotted to fake Prime's death to teach the Autobots how to fend for themselves. While Prime was setting up an impostor version of himself to leave behind destroyed for the Autobots to find, Megatron sent the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to attack Prime. {{storylink|Prey!}}''

[[Image:HarderTheyDie-Iaconno.jpg|right|thumb|300px|You can't go home again.]]

''During the scuffle, Optimus and Megatron were transported to Cybertron, while Prime's counterfeit body, torn apart, was found by the Autobots. Optimus Prime surveyed Cybertron for the first time in four million years, and he couldn't believe how terrible it had fallen. Cities and buildings were cut to the ground, and even his beloved [[Iacon]] was in shambles. After Prime saved [[Outback]] from a roving Decepticon, the tiny Autobot followed him despite Prime's wishes to be alone. Unfortunately, Megatron (in league with [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]) had spread rumors that an imposter Optimus Prime had infiltrated Cybertron, which were readily believed due to Prime's four-million-year absence. Before too long, Prime was surrounded and shackled by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and the [[Wrecker]]s! {{storylink|The Harder They Die!}} With Outback's help, Prime was able to escape, but not without Outback suffering mortal wounds. {{storylink|Under Fire!}} As Outback began to die in his arms, Prime told Outback of the time he, Prowl, and Ratchet were stuck in Limbo. His words were overheard by the Wreckers, but hearing Prime's words convinced [[Emirate Xaaron]] that this was in fact the real Optimus Prime! {{storylink|Distant Thunder!}}''

[[Image:Primefuneralnumberone.jpg|left|thumb|200px|He approved of it ''so much'' that when he died for real the next day, they instead shot him into space.]]

''The return of Optimus Prime was a welcome boost to the Autobot underground resistance. Not only did Autobot morale increase, but Decepticons were spooked at his very appearance! But after a few strategic victories, Prime knew he had to return to Earth. Prime and Ultra Magnus planned one last raid—they would siege [[Polyhex]] and destroy Megatron! But Megatron's "eccentricities" had become too much for Cybertron's Decepticons to handle, and in the middle of their battle, all three were whisked away to Earth by the [[space bridge]]. Optimus Prime appeared before the Autobots just as they had finished their Earth-inspired burial of the impostor body he had left behind. {{storylink|Resurrection!}}''

[[Image:Afterdeath-gameoverman.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Game over, man! Game over!]]

The Autobots had been monitoring the humans' creation of [[Power Station Alpha]], and Optimus Prime, sensing its completion would need closer inspection, sent Bumblebee to its unveiling. {{storylink|Blood on the Tracks}} Optimus Prime met an anticlimactic end in a gambit for [[Energy Futures Industries]]' [[Hydrothermocline]]. He and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] agreed to fight Megatron and the [[Combaticon]]s in a simulated, virtual world named ''[[Multi-World]]''. But when Megatron cheated, Prime resorted to killing virtual beings to gain the upper hand, and despite his victory Prime believed he had truly lost. Before their eyes, the human [[Ethan Zachary]] detonated Optimus Prime's body, as was previously agreed. In secret, Ethan secured away a [[floppy disk]] that held a copy of Optimus Prime's mind. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} Meanwhile, [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] had been sent to investigate Bumblebee's destruction at the hands of [[G.I. Joe]], but he was recalled in the middle of this altercation when it was discovered that Optimus Prime had been "assassinated". {{storylink|Power Struggle}}

Optimus Prime's death unhinged Megatron further. The Decepticon leader simply couldn't believe that his eternal foe was truly dead, and he began blowing up random trucks. Megatron's paranoia grew so much that he blew up the Space Bridge with himself on it. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} Ratchet's subsequent efforts to restore Optimus Prime were unsuccessful, and after much grieving, Optimus Prime's body was launched into space as per Cybertronian custom. Omega Supreme presided over his funeral, and both he and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] gave eulogies. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}}

In front of a holographic image of Optimus Prime's head, the surviving Autobots tried to choose a new leader. Optimus Prime's replacement would be like him: a great warrior, wise, compassionate, kind, and courageous. As luck would have it, Grimlock chose exactly that moment to show all of those qualities for the first and only time in his life. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}}

Optimus Prime's funeral barge eventually crashed on a giant moon of [[VsQs]], where it lay for untold time. {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

[[Image:Ethanzacharypretendertothethrone.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Reaching level 70 was a momentous occasion.]]

Years passed as [[Ethan Zachary]], who still possessed the floppy disk that contained a copy of Optimus Prime's mind, tried to coax it into full sentience. This copy of Optimus Prime believed he was a video game character and nothing more, despite Ethan Zachary's constant prodding. Ethan thought he finally had a chance to jolt Prime back to his old self when he was investigated by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]]. The two put Optimus Prime in charge of a real team of Autobots, the [[Pretender]]s, and the disk copy Prime led them in battle against Decepticon Pretenders. Prime's delusions were unshaken. {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!}} Goldbug took the disk with him, and attempts to rebuild Optimus Prime ended in failure. An argument over supreme Autobot leadership erupted between Grimlock's earthbound Autobots and a group of Autobots who had just arrived from [[Nebulos]] under the leadership of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]. Ultimately, Fortress Maximus realized that Optimus Prime was the true leader of the Autobots, not anyone else, and so he sent Goldbug, [[Joyride (Autobot)|Joyride]], [[Slapdash]], and [[Getaway]] back to Nebulos where the technology existed to fully restore Optimus Prime to life. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[Image:PeoplePower-reprogrammed.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Seriously, Prime's been playing WoW waaaay too long.]]

It wasn't quite so simple, however. Fortress Maximus's Autobots had left Nebulos in ruin, and the planet poisoned its fuel supply so that robots could never return and wage war. A loophole was found, however, in the [[Powermaster]] process, created by the scientist [[Hi-Q]]. As luck would have it, Hi-Q was the exact person Goldbug was searching for to rebuild Optimus Prime, but the scientist refused on the grounds that he would be reintroducing the war to his planet—and he didn't believe the Transformers were any more than clever yet unsentient machines. Optimus Prime was rebuilt anyway, even though he wouldn't live very long at all without unpoisoned fuel. Hi-Q changed his mind on the sentience of Transformers when he saw the rebuilt Optimus Prime (shocked out of his video game persona delusions) interact with Goldbug. Hi-Q underwent the Powermaster process himself to save Optimus Prime's life, and Powermaster Optimus Prime was able to defeat two Powermaster-enhanced Decepticons, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]]. Optimus Prime and his crew left Nebulos with their new Nebulon partners. {{storylink|People Power!}}

Prime quickly proved himself to be a fool, for he dared to ignore [[Rorza, the Rocket-cycle Racer from Rigel III]]. {{storylink|The Cosmic Carnival!}}

''Before reuniting with the other Earthbound Autobots, Optimus Prime and the other Powermasters took a [[Ark shuttlecraft|shuttle]] to Earth on [[Christmas]] Day. Optimus Prime, seeing Earth's frozen wasteland, wondered why he even cared about the Earth in the first place, much less fought desperately to defend it. But after recalling the events that first brought him there, he remembered that it was his fault that the Ark crashed there four million years ago, and so any pain and suffering caused by the Transformers' war was his burden. {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}''

Once Optimus Prime had assumed command of the Autobots orbiting Earth aboard the Ark, he learned via television about the Decepticons' baffling island vacation resort, [[Club Con]]. Optimus Prime sent Blaster to investigate. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

[[Image:TimeWars-OptimusPrimeentersthefray.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Enter a new challenger!]]

''Despite a mysterious disruption in time and space that threatened all reality, due to [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s adventures in his own past (which was Prime's present), Optimus Prime halted a conference on the matter to rescue [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]. While Highbrow apologized for interrupting more important matters, he, Optimus Prime, and a few other Autobots were displaced to Limbo once again, allowing [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and other Autobots from the future to investigate the mysterious disruption. The other present-day Autobots thought Optimus Prime and the others had been disintegrated, and so attacked the "impostor" Autobots under Rodimus Prime's command, but Optimus spoke to them through Rodimus Prime's Matrix and calmed them down. A crazed yet seemingly unbeatable Galvatron attacked them, and Optimus Prime debated whether he should leave Limbo and team up with Rodimus against him, even though two Matrix-bearers coexisting at the same time would accelerate the timestorm's destruction of reality. Eventually, Optimus decided to ignore the dangers, and he materialized through Rodimus Prime's Matrix, but even he was unable to defeat Galvatron. Finally, Galvatron himself was eaten by the timestorm, and Scourge and the body of Cyclonus were also fed to it, which caused the timestorm to subside temporarily. Rodimus Prime promised to Optimus Prime that he would destroy all time machines when he returned to the future. {{storylink|Time Wars}}''

[[Image:Fortmaxboat.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Prime's not back five minutes and he's already using the previous leader as his personal boat.]]

Optimus Prime and Fortress Maximus accompanied Blaster to where Club Con used to be located, but it had been relocated by then. Prime assured [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] that the search for his brother Buster, who had been kidnapped by the Decepticons, would continue. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Sure enough, a distress signal in the Arctic led the Autobots to Buster, but also to a Decepticon ambush! After several Autobots were incapacitated, the battle stopped when it was discovered that this had all been arranged by Starscream, who had launched into space to seize the powers of the long lost [[Underbase]]. As the Autobots and Decepticons formed a loose alliance to stop Starscream, Optimus Prime warned that he learned when he was young that fully possessing the Underbase led madness or death. Starscream was stopped before he could absorb all of the Underbase, but he had absorbed enough of it to be able to destroy the Decepticons' island spacecraft in which the two factions were traveling. Thankfully, Optimus Prime had thought ahead and had the Ark follow them there in case of an emergency.

Several teams of allied Autobots and Decepticons followed Starscream to Earth to stop him, but Optimus Prime insisted that he stay behind on the Ark to work on a plan on his own. [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] had growing suspicions that the Autobot leader was really trying to claim the rest of the Underbase for himself, and they snuck on board as the Transformers on Earth were being shut down en masse by Starscream. Unfortunately for Optimus, they caught him while Hi-Q was disconnected from him, and so he was drastically overpowered. Optimus revealed to Scorponok that he was not trying to possess the Underbase... rather, he had been working on a rocket to deflect the Underbase towards Earth. He knew Starscream would try to absorb the rest, and sure enough, Starscream did—growing in size and power before their eyes. But possession of the Underbase resulted in madness ''and'' death, and Starscream's massive body exploded. Scorponok apologized for his bad appraisal of Optimus Prime's intentions, and the two commanders resolved to cease fighting so that they could gather their wounded and resume the fight another day. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

Now that Buster had been reclaimed from the Decepticons, Spike told Optimus Prime that he felt his obligation to the Autobots was over. Prime reluctantly let Spike go, but told him that he was more attached to Fortress Maximus than he knew. {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} Not only was now Fortress Maximus out of commission, but the Autobots had suffered incredible losses at the hands of the Underbase-powered Starscream. Optimus Prime assigned [[Cloudburst]] and [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] to purchase microchips on the black market at [[Grand Central Space Station]], knowing their Pretender shells would allow them to hide their robotic forms from the robotophobic aliens there. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} Cloudburst and Landmine reached an ethical impasse involving the microchips, and so Optimus Prime reached out to Cybertron for reinforcements. He called upon the [[Micromaster]]s, specifically the [[Race Car Patrol]] and [[Off Road Patrol]], to investigate some Decepticon-originated weather problems in [[New York City]]. Hi-Q worried that the Micromasters were unreliable punks, but they were able to prove themselves against the Decepticons in the end, though they refused to join the Autobots proper. {{storylink|King Con!}}

[[Image:Doubledealerofthecentury.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Optimus Prime is also corresponding with a cash-strapped Nicaraguan prince...]]

''The Race Car Patrol accompanied Prime on a more rural mission: receiving stolen Autobot resistance plans couriered by [[Chainclaw]]. But a Decepticon, [[Doubledealer|Dealer]], abducted Chainclaw before he could deliver them, and offered the plans back to Prime as a ransom. Optimus Prime accepted, and a new Autobot named [[Doubledealer|Double]] offered to deliver the Energon payment himself. But Double never made it, and he returned to Optimus defeated with Chainclaw's injured form, having been "ransacked" by "the Decepticons". {{storylink|(Double) Deal of the Century!}}

''Optimus Prime lamented that he could no longer use the Creation Matrix to heal his fallen troops, as the Matrix was inside his old body which had been shot into space; the Autobots did not know the Matrix was in Optimus Prime's chest to remove. On cue, a being who called himself [[Deathbringer]] appeared on Earth, and it was seemingly powered by a piece of the Creation Matrix! Death Bringer proved to be invulnerable, but Optimus Prime couldn't bring himself to harm something that held the essence of the Matrix anyhow. But after enough destruction, Optimus Prime was finally able to defeat it with help from [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], who convinced it to self-destruct in concordance with its primary function. {{storylink|Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer}}'' {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

''Thunderwing led a seemingly suicidal assault on the Ark, entirely for the purpose of seeking revenge against his defeat at the hands of Nightbeat, [[Siren]], and [[Hosehead]]. Optimus Prime took Thunderwing on, berating him for having more courage than sense. True to Prime's words, Thunderwing's own troops dragged him away. {{storylink|Assault on the Ark!}}''

Optimus Prime ordered Ratchet to get some downtime, fearing his overworked medic (and friend) was losing his grip on sanity. Soon after, Optimus Prime saw news reports of the Micromaster [[Air Strike Patrol]] holding [[MacDill Air Force Base]] hostage, so he took the largest ensemble of troops down to Earth he could muster, given the Autobots' depleted ranks. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} As he told the Micromasters to surrender or face the consequences, he received a transmission from Ratchet, back at the Ark, but [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] fired at Prime's communicator before the message could be completed. This enraged Optimus Prime, who began to suspect grander, more sinister things at work behind the scenes. Optimus Prime had been led to a staged battle, but before he could leave, Scorponok and his Decepticons also arrived, itching for a fight! But after the circumstances of the day, Optimus Prime wasn't about to deny them the opportunity, and he fought back with shocking, cold fury that baffled even Scorponok. The humans at the Air Force base called out Prime on his reckless violence, and Prime apologized for his outburst. {{storylink|The Resurrection Gambit!}}

Since Optimus Prime knew the battle was staged, he scaled back his troops accordingly, and ordered them to return to the Ark and leave him behind. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] refused and stayed behind, helping Optimus Prime fend off the hordes of Decepticons who had attacked him. But Optimus Prime stopped Hot Rod short of firing on [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Lord Zarak]], as Optimus Prime had begun to appeal to his sense of logic. Someone was pulling the strings! Scorponok hesitated, but before an agreement could be reached, they were confronted by an old enemy thought defeated—Starscream! {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}}

Though Starscream's performance started out impressive, he soon began to show his true cowardly colors, and so both factions again parted ways. Once again Optimus Prime turned his thoughts towards Ratchet... {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[Image:YesterdaysHeroes-Whyyyy.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Meanwhile, nobody mourns poor [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]].]]

...but it was too late! Ratchet had sacrificed himself to destroy Megatron, the orchestrator behind the events at MacDill Air Force Base. Optimus Prime was overcome with grief, and he decided to stop fighting altogether. After parking the Ark on Earth's moon, he walked out on its surface, apparently never to return again. This, of course, caused the Autobots to worry about the future of their cause, and Hot Rod quickly threw together a risky plan to win Prime back. He plotted a "rampage" by an "out-of-control" [[Mark V Guardian Droid]] to whisk Prime back into fighting shape, but when the droid truly went out of control, the plan worked just a little too well. Prime came to his senses, returned to the Ark, and destroyed the droid, but not before several Autobots suffered genuine injury. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

Meanwhile, their creator, [[Primus]] had awakened within Cybertron, alerting his enemy [[Unicron]] to its location. Since the only thing that could stop Unicron was the Creation Matrix, and the Creation Matrix had been shot into space inside Optimus Prime's funeral barge, Prime and Emirate Xaaron assembled several teams of Autobots to scour a specific star system in which the funeral barge likely would have landed. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}} Though Optimus Prime was never very comfortable with the mystical side of the Creation Matrix, he approached an altar aboard the Ark and was given a vision of a Matrix corrupted by evil and imminent oblivion! {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier}} After several dead ends, the Prime's funeral barge and the Creation Matrix were found on the barren moon of [[VsQs]]. Optimus Prime and Hot Rod went together to meet the [[All-Terrain Turbo-Transport]] as it landed, but were shocked to realize that Autobots were not delivering the Matrix at all! No, they were face to face with Lord Thunderwing, the Creation Matrix's next vessel! {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

[[Image:AllFallDown-andweshallwin.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"The sky will open. The lights will come down. Celestial choirs will be singing and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect!"]]

Powered by the corrupted energies of the Matrix, Thunderwing was unstoppable. Even so, Optimus Prime pleaded for his troops to avoid trying to damage Thunderwing, for the Matrix was their only chance to destroy Unicron! After numerous losses were incurred, however, Optimus Prime decided to forgo the soft touch, and the Autobot leader let loose his full fury on the possessed Decepticon leader. More and more, the Matrix assumed control of Thunderwing, even taking control of his mind, but Prime could not make Thunderwing notice he was losing control of his own body. Thunderwing was not stopped by Prime's strength or by logic or reason, but by the cunning of Nightbeat. Nightbeat harpooned Thunderwing to the All-Terrain Turbo-Transport, shut off the artificial gravity systems, and Thunderwing and the transport were flung out into space. Thunderwing and the Matrix were presumed destroyed when the transport's self-destruct activated. Despite this seemingly catastrophic loss, Optimus Prime vowed to never give hope or give in to evil. With good on their side, they would ultimately prevail! {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[Image:PriceofLife-Icannot.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Optimus Prime is firmly against the Right to Die movement.]]

With the Matrix out of the picture, Optimus Prime fell to another prophecy, one that claimed that Unicron could be destroyed if all Transformers worked together as one. That would be impossible so long as the war continued, so Prime announced his intentions to surrender the Autobots to the Decepticons on Earth. Unsurprisingly, this was met with hostility. Optimus Prime was also still hung up on Ratchet's death, and had assigned Nightbeat to investigate it. Nightbeat suggested that Ratchet and Megatron may still be alive in [[Unspace]], the dimension that serves as a middleman between transdimensional portal openings. Nightbeat was correct, but there were complications. He was able to pull Ratchet out of Unspace, but Ratchet had been fused molecularly with Megatron into one frightening creature! {{storylink|Eye of the Storm!}} Optimus Prime refused to let anyone harm the creature. This caused even more complications when the creature, unchecked, began to tear apart the Ark's engine systems. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], Prime's security officer, warned him that if he didn't put the creature down, he would personally remove Prime from command. Optimus Prime reluctantly approached the creature, intending to kill it, but when the half that was Ratchet put the barrel of Prime's gun to its own head, begging Prime to kill it, Optimus Prime had second thoughts. He ordered [[Fixit]] to separate the two, even though Megatron would survive. Worse, one could not survive without the other. This did not please Kup and the others. {{storylink|The Price of Life!}}

True to his word, Optimus Prime surrendered his Autobots to Scorponok's Decepticons, stationed in the [[New Jersey (Earth)|New Jersey]] swamps. The Decepticons were enjoying this turn of events a little too much, which drew an outburst from Kup. Optimus Prime tried to tell Kup to have patience, but Kup reminded him that the Optimus Prime he knew would never back down, never surrender, no matter what the cost! But no matter, the deed was done, and Optimus Prime and the Autobots were escorted into cells. After a while, Optimus Prime began to suspect that Scorponok didn't really want to talk about an alliance against Unicron at all, and was ignoring the long term to satisfy his short term problems with commanding respect amongst his troops. Optimus Prime knocked aside Soundwave, his guard, and found Kup and Hot Rod. Unfortunately, Kup wouldn't be so easily rounded up, citing Prime's recent problems. But Prime pleaded to him at length, noting that for a warrior race, perhaps surrender took the most courage of all! Kup quietly admitted Prime was right, and the three Autobots burst into Scorponok's quarters, where Scorponok's body had been stowed, leaving Lord Zarak and Bludgeon mostly vulnerable. Zarak and Hot Rod grabbed a hostage each, but Prime ordered both sides to stand down. They had to begin trusting each other, if they were to team up against Unicron. Optimus Prime and Scorponok were once again about to reach an agreement when they were once again interrupted! A splinter team of Decepticons, led by Shockwave and Starscream, attacked the Decepticons' underground base, causing it to implode. {{storylink|Surrender!}}

Optimus Prime's immediate concern was damage control—and not just towards the humans in nearby New York City, but to the fragile alliance that was nearly formed! He and Nighbeat left to keep Scorponok and Shockwave's feud from reaching New York, but the fight was accelerated with the arrival of [[G.B. Blackrock]]'s new superhuman team, the [[Neo-Knights]]! {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}} Their best chance at securing the alliance was keeping Scorponok alive, but [[Circuit Breaker]] was making it very difficult. Finally, once Shockwave was out of the picture, Optimus Prime and Scorponok once again (again) went to shake hands... {{storylink|Out of Time!}} when all Earthbound Transformers were all whisked away by Primus to Cybertron. Primus spoke to them through the glowing body of Emirate Xaaron, telling them of the eternal conflict between himself and Unicron. Primus also selected Optimus Prime to be the Transformers' leader, which caught the attention of a hidden sect of [[Unicron cultist]]s. While Scorponok confided in Prime that he was scared, the two were jumped by the cultists. Scorponok, the Autobots, and even the rest of the Decepticon army came to Prime's rescue, and it seemed the alliance was finally forged. ...Till, at least, Kup pointed out that Unicron himself was hovering over the planet, ready for attack. Prime took the opportunity to double over in debilitating pain, a condition he had been hiding from the Autobots for some time. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:EdgeofExtinction-sothatallmaylive.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Prime's been reading his [[Jesus|New Testament]].]]

Kup and Getaway tried to push Prime along, but the force of Unicron's claws punching into the surface of Cybertron sent them reeling. Just the sheer impossible size of Unicron paralyzed Optimus Prime and Scorponok with fear and awe. Primus, still using Emirate Xaaron's body as an avatar, tried to intervene, but was destroyed; Optimus Prime cried out in loss. Optimus Prime was not shaken into action until a [[Galvatron II|brave, unidentified soldier]] attacked Unicron singlehandledly and was swatted away. The Autobot leader charged into action, but their attacks had little effect. Scorponok was among the casualties, and Optimus Prime waited with the melted body of his former foe until death. Scorponok, having martyred himself, asked Optimus Prime if he "did good". Optimus Prime nodded, called him his friend, and finally Scorponok passed away. Unfortunately, it was Optimus Prime's turn. A Matrix-possessed Thunderwing had suddenly returned, but although Thunderwing's body was completely disintegrated by Unicron, that left the Matrix itself unaccounted for. Prime ejected Hi-Q from his chest, knowing this next act would kill him. He seized the Matrix, fought its corruption, and plunged himself and the Matrix into Unicron's maw. Unicron exploded. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

[[Image:EndOfTheRoad-itcanitis.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Gotta sell that one last toy!]]

The Transformers' ultimate battle was won, but the cost was high! What was left of Optimus Prime's body was found, and he was amazingly still holding on to life, thanks to the Matrix energy that he'd absorbed. But he hadn't much longer, so he pulled Prowl close to him and told him that Grimlock would lead the Autobots. Prime died (again), and Prowl screamed in agony. But before too long, after the Powermaster absorbed [[Nucleon]] energy from Grimlock, Hi-Q announced that ''he'' was Optimus Prime! {{storylink|Still Life!}} Since Cybertron was threatening to break apart after the stress of Unicron's attack, Hi-Q and the other Neo-Knights were packed up on a ship meant to escape the planet. But Hi-Q had other ideas. {{storylink|Exodus!}} He persuaded the Neo-Knights to stay on the dying planet and search for the [[Last Autobot]], explaining that the pains Optimus Prime were feeling before he died were the start of a larger metamorphosis. If Prime had lived, the Powermaster process would have eventually merged the two into one, but it continued on even with Prime dead. Thankfully for the Neo-Knights, Hi-Q was not crazy, and they stumbled across the storage chamber for the Last Autobot. {{storylink|The Last Autobot?}}

The Last Autobot set in motion the planet's healing process and took interest in Hi-Q. A new robotic body was forged around Hi-Q's, and he and Optimus Prime were truly combined into one being! Optimus Prime, fully reborn as an [[Action Master]], took the Neo-Knights and the Last Autobot to [[Klo]], where the final battle was taking place. The Autobots had been dwindled to just five of their number, and the Decepticons were approaching total victory, when Optimus Prime miraculously returned. Optimus Prime ushered in a new age of peace and harmony by shoving his fists through the Decepticons' heads and torsos, and with some resurrection help from the Last Autobot, the dead Autobots were restored and the Decepticons were forced to flee. The war finally over, Optimus Prime told his fellow Autobots that they'd help Klo rebuild... and then they'd finally go home! {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In an alternate timeline, Optimus Prime still maintained his Powermaster body in 1995. When a feminist group on Earth raised complaints that all the Autobots seemed to fit male archetypes, Optimus tried to appease them in the name of public relations. Unfortunately, his "appeasement" came in the form of a powder pink token Autobot female named [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. That...didn't go over well. {{storylink|Prime's Rib!}}''

''Years later, in 2004, Prime was back in his original Earthen appearance. While attending the grand opening of Autobot City on Earth, the Autobots came under fire from Shockwave and his Decepticons. Optimus Prime and the Autobots bravely used their bodies as shields to protect their human guests until the Decepticons were driven off. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}''

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Primevsgrimlockbreakaway.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's got to be theraputic.]]
''While dealing with the oncoming threat of Unicron, Optimus Prime came under a great deal of stress and began actively berating [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and his newly reactivated Dinobots for their more brutal methods of combating the enemy. {{storylink|Two Steps Back!}} This reprimand prompted Grimlock to offer his resignation from the Autobot army. Tempers got heated, and the two Autobots actually started brawling with one another in the conference room. After a few minutes of furious fighting, however, Prime and Grimlock effectively beat some sense into each other. Optimus Prime decided to take the Ark and its crew out into space, leaving Grimlock behind to command an "Earthforce" of Autobots, dedicated to protecting the planet in his absence. {{storylink|Break-Away!}}''

''Optimus Prime returned briefly for an inspection after the Autobot Earthbase was completed, and the Dinobots barely managed to keep him from learning about the berserker rages which plague [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] every few million years. {{storylink|The 4,000,000 Year Itch!}} He also oversaw the reconstruction of [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] in Wheeljack's repair bay, leaving the vain Autobot under Grimlock's command before returning to space. {{storylink|Makin' Tracks!}}''
{{-}}

=====Another Time and Place=====
{{note|This text story was later [[Retcon|retconned]] away by the events of ''[[Generation 2 (Marvel Comics)|Generation 2]]''.}}

[[Image:TFAnnual1991rip.JPG|left|thumb|200px|They will keep each half in separate BFF lockets.]]

After Klo, the Autobots returned to Cybertron in an effort to rebuild the planetary government and resources. Optimus Prime naturally took the lead in these endeavours, but matters weighed heavily on his spark. The [[Nucleon]]-soaked Hi-Q at the core of his new body was one thing, reducing Prime to a non-transforming "[[Action Master|Actionmaster]]" like many of his fellow Autobots. But more importantly, Optimus Prime feared that the newfound peace on Cybertron would not last. He desperately wanted his soldiers to stop being soldiers, yet was petrified that something might come along and disturb their inactivity. This trepidation kept Optimus from stopping Grimlock from jetting off on an ill-advised mission to [[Hydrus Four]] in search of a way to reverse the Nucleon process, and he even refused to listen to Prowl when he reported that Grimlock took off to Hydrus Four anyway. Prowl struck a chord, however, when he pointed out that if he could track Grimlock's destination, so could the Decepticons. Shamed by Prowl's rebuke, Optimus Prime soon pushed aside his recalcitrance and assembled a strike team to go after the Dinobots.

On Hydrus Four, the Autobots discovered the Decepticons had taken over the medical facility with the Nucleon supply, and taken the Dinobots hostage. It seemed Bludgeon had a plan for the Nucleon, using it to recreate Megatron himself. With a surgical strike, however, they managed to free the Dinobots and take the fight to the enemy. Optimus confronted Bludgeon himself in battle, but was saved when Grimlock suddenly charged through and struck the Decepticon leader in dino-mode. It turned out the Nucleon process could be reversed after all! After that, all Prime and Grimlock had to do was tear apart the zombie-like, half-revived Megatron. Piece o' cake. {{storylink|Another Time and Place}}
{{-}}

====''Generation 2''====
[[Image:Optimusprime-g2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|More apocalyptic visions than you can shake a covenant at.]]

As time passed, with the Decepticons supposed in exile and Cybertron at peace, the Autobots functionally disbanded. They scattered across the galaxies, with many retiring in peace while others continued to fight for peace among other civilizations they came across. The time came when Optimus Prime was called back into the skirmish, alongside his honor guard of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], when Grimlock and his combat unit discovered a greater [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] that had sprouted up without their noticing it. These next generation Decepticons, led by the Liege Centuro [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], would conquer world after world using terraforming and exo-structuring processes to remake raw materials into a new Cybertron for their use. Optimus Prime, Grimlock and their "Dirty Dozen" of Autobots began a small resistance movement against Jhiaxus and his people, but realized they were out of their depth. As the call went out to reassemble the Autobot army en masse, Prime worried that they were still missing some greater threat—he had begun experiencing visions of an unknown peril that was heading their way, and wasn't sure if even the united Autobots would be enough to deal with it. {{storylink|War Without End!}}

Until he could identify this secondary threat, Prime ordered the Autobots to remain inactive at an Autobase built into a small asteroid belt. But certainly Grimlock was having none of that. He grabbed a sizeable percentage of their displaced warriors who had already arrived and headed out after Jhiaxus and his flagship, [[Twilight]]. Naturally, they got in over their heads. Prime grabbed some of his personal soldiers (Hot Rod, Kup, Prowl, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]) and hijacked a strike ship to get close enough to Twilight for a rescue mission. Once Grimlock and his men were sent out on a prison vessel, Optimus blasted the ship just enough to cause chaos, and give Grimlock enough time to overtake the crew. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

Surprisingly enough, he gave Grimlock no rebuke once they met up again—in fact, Prime put the Dinobot commander in charge of the entire army! In order to fully understand the visions of impending doom he was receiving, Optimus Prime decided he needed to return to Cybertron itself, to help "cut through the static" that was garbling whatever message the Matrix was trying to send him. Engaging in a quasi-mystical ritual to expand his psychic boundaries, Optimus cast himself mentally back through time to witness the birth of the first Transformers, [[Prima]], as he rose from the living structure of Cybertron itself. What he saw next, however, was astonishing—Cybertronians birthing new Cybertronians themselves, causing living metal to burst forth from them in a bio-morphic reproduction process called "[[Reproduction#Budding|budding]]". Primus had apparently allowed this only up till a point, allowing the race to evolve in stages before discontinuing the ability and the memory of it from his progeny. Jhiaxus and his new Cybertronians, however, were the end result of some Decepticons somehow relearning the budding process. They were stronger, yes, and perhaps more evolved physically, but their souls, their sparks, were distilled too many times over. Optimus Prime awoke from his trance, believing he had come to understand the threat he sensed: the fractioning of his species. Little did he know that the threat was far less philosophical, and far more tangible, than he realized. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}}

When word reached Prime that Megatron had resurfaced on Earth, he jumped at the idea of joining forces with the original Decepticons to face off against the Cybertronian Empire. Travelling to Earth alone, Optimus approached Megatron with the intent to talk. Instead, Megatron blasted him from behind, beat him to a pulp, ionized his every circuit, and then ripped out his chest and siphoned away the power of the Matrix. So no, the talking didn't go too well. Prime only survived due to Grimlock's talent for insubordination, as the Dinobot leader brought a massive strike team down to save their fallen leader before Megatron finished him off. Still, as the Autobots dragged Prime away to receive repair treatment, he knew Megatron would be back—Optimus had stuttered out enough information about "new Decepticons" to pique his old foe's interest, and once Megatron went after them and bit off more than he could chew, they'd meet again. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}}

In this, at least, Optimus Prime knew Megatron all too well. Only days later a heavily battered and bruised Megatron wandered into Autobase: Earth, looking for that alliance Prime had offered. {{storylink|Escalation!}} With new allies, things were looking up for Prime until the unthinkable happened. His visions of death and apocalypse finally came true as the Autobots came across a devastated world looking almost identical to the images he had been experiencing. Optimus now realized his visions were not metaphorical in nature, and almost drew the conclusion himself before [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s science team completed their analysis of the genocide—it was their fault. More specifically, some by-product of the Cybertronian race had been formed by the budding process which created Jhiaxus and the Cybertronian Empire, an animate entity that scoured the cosmos of its own design. Before more data and analysis could be had, however, Jhiaxus and his troops arrived on Earth seeking to end their ancestors once and for all. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

[[Image:Megatrong2idiot.jpg|left|thumb|250px|No, no, shoot at ''each other''!]]

Once again seeking compromise, Optimus Prime took Megatron in an attempt to reacquire the Decepticon [[Warworld]] and use it to force Jhiaxus to see reason, that they faced a common and perhaps unbeatable foe in this "[[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]". His efforts were more than a little delayed, however, by the ever-treacherous [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. That Decepticon schemer had sold them out to Jhiaxus in the first place, but then came aboard Warworld and merged with it and the power of the Creation Matrix Megatron had been housing there. {{storylink|Total War!}} Still, Optimus Prime managed to reach a communications console, and begged Jhiaxus for an audience to discuss the impending threat which was bearing down on them all. As badly as Prime's last attempt to "just talk" with an enemy went, this time it went much worse, as Jhiaxus responded by ordering the orbital bombardment and destruction of the human city of San Francisco. Millions of lives wiped out in an instant. And before Prime could even attempt to respond or try again, the Swarm itself arrived in orbit. {{storylink|Dark Shadows!}}

[[Image:Jhiaxusyouhavedestroyedme.jpg|right|thumb|200px|"Do you like me? Check (yes) or (no)."]]

As bad as things were, a silver lining did develop—Starscream proved too much of a "pedestrian villain" to actually corrupt the Matrix as had happened in the past. Instead, it was actually turning him more heroic, giving him selfless and self-sacrificing urges! Not wanting to be a hero, much less a dead hero, Starscream willingly relinquished the Matrix to Optimus Prime. In yet another effort at unity and compromise, Prime took a skysled over to Jhiaxus's flagship, Twilight, in order to talk the Liege Centuro into working with the Autobots and Decepticons to commune with the Swarm.

[[Image:RageInHeaven-HeroPrime.jpg|left|thumb|100px|He really does like to push the new toy at the last possible moment.]]

Instead, Jhiaxus tore off his face.

The formerly icy Cybertronian had been driven completely off his rocker by the extended conflict with his ancestors, and was now little more than a mad dog pounding away at Optimus Prime. The brutality only ended when the Swarm entered Twilight and consumed Jhiaxus utterly. At this point, Optimus had reasoned that the Swarm was merely a void, searching for something to complete the emptiness inside it. With desperate reasoning, Prime allowed the Swarm to assail him, hoping that he (and the Matrix inside him) would prove to be what it was searching for. His body ravaged to the point of total disintegration, Optimus Prime still managed to make mental contact with the Swarm as it consumed him, and expose it to the will of Primus. Having successfully purified the Swarm, Optimus Prime rematerialized in a new, more powerful body. In the aftermath, in front of the cheering masses, Prime declared a new age of peace and enlightenment.

Privately, however, Prime knew that [[Furmanism|it never ends]]... {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
{{note|The Classics comic takes place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a new timeline that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or ''Generation 2''.}}

[[Image:Classicscomicautobots.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"All right, do-over. This time I'll skip the visions of doom, and you won't get yourself tangled up with Cobra. Deal?"]]

After the war ended on Klo, Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron exhausted. Since the war had gone on for so long, Prime had all along resigned himself to an inevitable death, and so finding the war at an end, Prime simply withdrew from society. No civilian job satisfied him. Now that peace was finally here, he had no idea what to do! Fifteen years later, he was somewhat relieved that Megatron had resurfaced on Earth. Though it shamed him, he once again had a purpose. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|''Classics'' Optimus Prime profile}}

Optimus Prime returned to Earth commanding [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (formerly Hot Rod) to counter the return of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. When Transformers from another reality, [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], arrived on Earth unexpectedly, Megatron stumbled upon them, only to find himself under attack by Prime and his Autobots. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 1}} Overwhelmed, Megatron managed to escape with Landquake, while the Autobots returned to Autobot headquarters with Skyfall. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 2}}

Optimus Prime took his Autobots and Skyfall to [[South America]], where the Decepticons were investigating a mysterious energy source that was similar to the radiation readings of their new dimension-traveling companions. After Prime left Jetfire in mid-transit to help [[Armored Robot Hunters|RUNT]] fight the [[Seeker]]s, he and the remaining Autobots arrived at their destination and battled the rest of Megatron's forces on the ground. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}} As the battle raged, Optimus Prime took on Megatron in a one-on-one battle. Megatron tried repeatedly to escape Prime so that he could discover the location of the energy readings, but Prime made it difficult. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 4}} As Megatron's troops were eliminated from the fight, the Decepticon leader realized his gambit was up. He swore the next time he and Prime met, it would be different! Optimus Prime told him to leave before he lost his patience, and the Decepticons withdrew. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}}

The battle won, but the energy source still a mystery, Prime and his Autobots returned to their headquarters heavily damaged, and seemingly having lost Skyfall and Cliffjumper (along with Landquake). Later, he was pleased to have been visited (seemingly very quickly, if really at all) by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] when their paths crossed while the latter was hunting [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]]. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

===S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers===
The Autobots were outnumbered and outgunned on Earth from the start, though Optimus was confident (and correct) that reinforcements from Cybertron would arrive. {{storylink|Reinforcements from Cybertron!}}

However, the situation was still so desperate that Optimus not only decided to recruit human allies {{storylink|The battle is far from over!}}, but aggressively tried to recruit and ''deputise'' human children, including giving them the power to co-ordinate Autobot teams in battles. He wouldn't even make a final move on the Decepticons until he had enough child soldiers on his side. {{storylink|Earthlings: THE S.T.A.R.S. need your help now!}} {{storylink|Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?}} In at least one case, this likely led to the ''death'' of a small boy at Decepticon hands. {{storylink|Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?}}

Optimus later led a convoy in search for a building site for [[Autobot City]], which ran into a Decepticon ambush. {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}} He sent off several Autobots to get help, knowing this was the only chance of victory. {{storylink|Transformers Combat Data}} Those several Autobots were seen again, but Prime... wasn't.

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====Generation 1 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'')

[[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 nine million years ago. Together with his girlfriend [[Elita One|Ariel]] and his best friend [[Dion]], Orion was a dock-worker who had the simple job of unloading and storing shipments of energy that came from a power planet 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 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, 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 story energy... at which point Megatron ordered his followers, the Decepticons, 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 the Decepticons 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 is 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 [[U-Haul Robot|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 tremor caused by a petty parting shot upon the ship from Starscream, the inactivate 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—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 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 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 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 [[Decepticon Headquarters|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]] 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 of 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 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 anti-matter 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 [[cosmotron]] component. A team of Autobots were dispatched to Cybertron recover a replacement cosmotron, but in their absence, the Decepticons initiated an all-out attack on the Autobots. At the last moment, the cosmotron 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's project to create robotic dinosaurs to bolster their forces. Unfortuantely, 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:War of the dinos 7.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 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 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 becooler 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 combating 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 correct.]]

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 "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 inevitable ally themselves with Megatron again. {{storylink|A Plague of Insecticons}}

[[Image:Primedefeated.gif|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 Constructicons, in battle with the Dinobots, but Prime refused to get involved, citing the law despite Ironhide's protests. Spike 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 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]], 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]] 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 [[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 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 with 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 Station]] 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:Masterplan2_autobots_on_trial.jpg|right|215px|thumb]]

After helping to save [[Central City (G1)|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 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 [[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]]

Optimus Prime was particularly exasperated with 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 [[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]]. Prime intended to go to Titan and rescue Cosmos himself, but Red Alert urged against it, and 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]]

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]], 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 [[animalian]] 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 in 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 loon led him to become the target of the demented big-game hunter, [[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 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 ferocious [[dragon]]-like beast, to several 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|Prime Target}}

[[Image:Sfat_powertransfer.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 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 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 the 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 sacricice 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]]

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 realised 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 Combaticons attacked the unveiling ceremony for a [[Optimus Prime Memoria|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 lead 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, 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]] (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 escape 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. 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 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)|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 opening 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)|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 formers 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|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 beforehead. 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 restored Prime to life. Rodimus succumbed to the "[[Hate Plague]]" before Sky Lynx returned, but the airborne Autbot 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]]

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 when 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 [[Nebulos|Nebulans]] 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]]. 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 [[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 (Autobot)|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|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.}}

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====

[[Image:FightSuperRobotLifeTransformersManga.JPG|right|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)|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 Aerilabots 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 again teamed up again to battle the Stunticons and [[Combaticon]]s 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 cartoon=====

[[Image:Prime_magnus_scramblecity.jpg|left|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]] 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}}

{{note|This storyline was never concluded, as a second installment of "Scramble City" was never produced.}}
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=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====
[[Image:MegatronMangaEnergonMace1.jpg|right|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]]s, 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 seldomly 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!}}
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=====''The Stargate Battles''=====

[[Image:Stargatebattles_prime_cx_slice.jpg|left|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 "[[Warp Gate|The Trigger]]", a huge 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 (Stargate Battles)|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|right|225px|thumb]]

Three months later, Optimus Prime helped [[Professor Adle]] test his new [[C-X]] drone, which were 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 amdist the chaos caused by the most powerful tremor yet. The battle ended when a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon sent Prime plummetting 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 when 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 Stargate Battles (issue)|The Stargate Battles}}
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=====''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.

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. This left the Autobots to face the looming threat of [[Unicron]] alone, but as Prime and Ultra Magnus coordinated a last-chance attack against the chaos bringer, Prime dispatched [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] into the past to undo the change made to the timeline. Although Skids was successful in his mission, and the original timeline was restored, the intervention of a mysterious time-travelling entity known as "[[Optimus Primal|the Protector]]" led to the altered, "Binal-Time" timeline also being preserved, as an alternate universe. This, the Protector attested, was due to the fact that the existence of the Binaltech warriors was necessary to preserve the future from which he came.

Unfortunately, this meant that the Autobots of this parallel timeline still had to deal with Unicron, and during the final showdown with the chaos-bringer, Optimus Prime was badly injured. Fearing that he would die, he passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus, who used it to destroy Unicron, but as chance would have it, Prime recovered from his injuries and resumed leadership. Under the Protector's direction, the Autobots began conducting experiments that would ultimately lead to the future the Protector spoke of, where Transformers would evolve into multiversal-spanning abstract entities known as the "[[Alternity (species)|Alternity]]". When the Protector's spark was stolen by the new Decepticon leader—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.

=====''Robot Masters''=====
[[Image:Robotmasters_four_great_commanders.jpg|left|thumb|275px]]

Also 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.

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{{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]]

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 (G1)|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|Robot Masters (online comic)|Robot Masters online comic #1}}

Optimus Prime, Optimus Primal and [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] were later exploring a large crevase 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 escaping with a huge load of Solitarium. {{storylink|Robot Masters (online comic)|Must 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 welcome Lio Convoy to the team. {{storylink|Robot Masters (online comic)|Gathering, 4 Great Supreme Commanders}}

Discovering an unconsious 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|Robot Masters (online comic)|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|Robot Masters (online comic)|Revive, Dark Emperor of Destruction}}

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|Robot Masters (online comic)|Robot Masters online comic #13}}
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======Cartoon======

:''Voice actor:'' ? (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 plummetting 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 nearly 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 [[New York 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.

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)|Hot Rod]] saved her from a [[Novaroid]]. 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. But before they could start the battle, an interruption came from an unexpected source: [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] emerged from a [[Transwarp]] portal and attacked!

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.
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=====''Kiss Players''=====
{{note|[[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|250px|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 commandoes 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.

[[Image:Marissa convoy stack.jpg|right|150px|thumb|She prefers the Japanese version's longer stacks.]]
When Prime's corpse was covertly flown to Japan by the EDC, 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 [[Autrooper]] 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 Autrooper 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}}

As fugitives from the EDC, Prime and Marissa spent their days on the run and their nights hanging out at the beach. He longed for the day when he would be able to see her bathing in the sun, rather than the moonlight, although he also thought that all the soft-serve ice cream she was eating was making her a little fat. One night while Marissa was surfing, she had a squid latch onto her. Then a [[Legion]] that had infused itself with both an octopus and shipwreck attacked her. With tentacles. Prime fought it off and saved Marissa, but the EDC [[Autrooper]]s were soon dispatched to the scene, and the two had to beat a hasty retreat. {{storylink|List of Kiss Players radio drama episodes|Someday, Under the Sun}}

[[Image:PrimeKP.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"And THIS is for TRAILBREAKER, who DESERVED to have GOTTEN this MOLD INSTEAD!"]]
Over the months that followed, Prime and Marissa battled Legions, led Legions (due to the Galvatron-infused cells inside Prime's new body, which sometimes overcame him with nightmares about his old enemy Megatron), fled from Hot Rod, who believed Prime to be an impersonator of his dead commander, and both fought and fled from the EDC.

Finally, teaming up with Hot Rod and his Kiss Player partner [[Shaoshao Li]] (who had adored Marissa since childhood and hated Prime for "stealing" her friend's affections), and the EDC Kiss Player [[Atari Hitotonari]] with her Autrooper partner, Prime and Marissa entered the secret experimental facility beneath the Tokyo headquarters of the EDC and discovered the sinister truth behind the shadowy organization. Everything that had occurred was part of an attempt by EDC commander [[Hitoshizuku Amaō]] to resurrect her daughter, who had been killed in the 2005 catastrophe. Finding Galvatron's headless corpse imprisoned in the facility, the Kiss Players realized that the only way to repair things was to return the [[Unicron]]-created Decepticon's cells. Galvatron's body absorbed the Legions, the Autroopers, and the cells inside Prime and Hot Rod, who were returned to their former forms... which meant that Prime was once again dead. {{storylink|List of Kiss Players radio drama episodes|You, I, and the Spinning Earth}}

Marissa did get a few chances to see her friend again—in 2007, she and her friends were transported back through time to 1984 where they witnessed Prime's battle with Megatron atop [[Sherman Dam]], {{storylink|List of Kiss Players radio drama episodes|Kiss Players radio play #40}} and then later, ''forward'' in time, to 2010, where Prime (and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]]) helped her once more by rescuing her and her friends from the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] pit on [[Quintessa]]. {{storylink|List of Kiss Players radio drama episodes|Tokyo Toy Festival 2007 live script-reading}}
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=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====

[[Image:2010_manga_primes.jpg|right|thumb|275px|And eat your greens or no dessert!]]

After boarding a Decepticon spaceship, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] became trapped by the schemeing 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}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====

Following his resurrection, in the year 2011, Optimus Prime and [[Hot Rod (G1)|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_prime_death.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Rodimus finally receives his Nemesis Prime RealDoll.]]

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, [[Vector Sigma]] had become destabilized, and the Decepticons suddenly returned to exploit this, assaulting Cybertron in order to seize control of the mega-computer. {{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}}

[[Image:Ginrai_1stapp.jpg|thumb|right|Invasion of the bodysnatchers.]]

=====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon=====

Once they had defeated the Decepticons, the Autobots had planned to somehow resurrect their fallen leader, using the technology developed on the planet [[Master (Headmasters)|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|You Too Use the Masterforce to Transform|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. The Autobots didn't bother to build another one.

=====''The Battlestars'' story pages and comic=====
[[Image:PrimeZodiak.jpg|left|thumb]]

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 new leader of the Decepticons. Nova duplicated Prime's body, using the copy to create the evil [[False Convoy]]. {{storylink|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)|Hot Rod]], who became his [[Micromaster]] partner. {{storylink|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|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)|Super Megatron]]. {{storylink|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|The Battlestars}} but Super Megatron soon returned with an army of [[Galaman|Great Galaman]] drones to back him up. {{storylink|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 (G1)|Sky Garry]] and [[Grandus (G1)|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|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|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|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars story page #10}}

=====Nucleon Quest 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:BlasterG2.jpg|left|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, as Megatron's attempts at peace were genuinely sincere, and the alliance ushered in what would be called the Second Generation of the Transformers. However, after human soldiers killed one of his dearest 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|G-2 (story page)|Autobots vs. Decepticons: Combat Secrets }}

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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|G-2 #2}} Against Prime's orders, Volt immediately rushed Megatron from behind to free his captured friend. {{storylink|G-2 (pack-in comic)|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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|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|G-2 (story page)|Optimus Prime of the Autobots has Fallen!}}

[[Image:G2PrimeJustice.jpg|right|thumb|"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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|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|G-2 (pack-in comic)|G-2 #13}} {{storylink|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|G-2 (story page)|The Autobots Triumph in the Battle of Good Vs. Evil!}}
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=====e-Hobby ''Generation 2'' storyline=====

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

When the universe came under threat from an [[Galvatron II|alternate-reality incarnation of Galvatron]], Prime used his [[Reconfiguration Matrix|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 [[wikipedia:Black_body|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}}
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===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books===
:''Voice actor:'' Unknown

Optimus Prime is a "metallic nemesis". Megatron said so.

{{charstubfiction}}

===Big Looker Story Books===
[[Image:KidsPrime1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|And the fluffy kitten played with that yarn all gosh-darn night.]]

When a 2-part race was being held with a massive supply of oil and gasoline as the prize, both the Decepticons and the Autobots badly wanted to win it. Megatron entered the race by hiding himself inside a hollowed-out car and harassed [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] all throughout the contest. When Prime discovered the car was being driven by his arch foe, he swiftly pulled a telephone pole out from the ground and used it to bash the mortal hell out of the cheating Decepticon. Thanks to Prime's violent intervention, Cliffjumper was able to win the race. Afterward, Optimus Prime celebrated the Minibot's victory with a gargantuan smile as all the Decepticons starved to death. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

{{charstubfiction}}
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===Ladybird Books continuity===
{{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}} {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}} {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}} {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}} {{storylink|Autobot Hostage}} {{storylink|Decepticons Underground}}
{{charstubfiction}}

===''Transformer PD Type'' comic===

[[Image:PDtype-Matrixattack.jpg|left|thumb|250px|This is the highlight of this entire page.]]

When a horde of time-displaced Decepticons joined forces to hunt down the five [[Blackball]]s, a super energy source, Optimus Prime gathered a team of time-displaced Autobots to help stop them.

In one encounter with his arch-foe [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], they reenacted their epic struggle from the [[Battle of Autobot City]]. However, this time around, Prime avoided dying by launching his "Matrix Attack"...''literally'' launching the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] from his chest, bonking Megatron on the head. {{storylink|Transformer PD Type|You're Great! Optimus Prime!}}

Later, Optimus Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] concocted a cunning strategy. They disguised a round, black cartoon explosive as a Blackball and gave it to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Starscream promptly brought it to Megatron, where it blew both of them up. Optimus and Magnus were astounded their plan actually worked. {{storylink|Transformer PD Type|Don't Cry! Megatron!!}}

In one of his less impressive moments, after running out of ammo during a battle with [[Deathsaurus]], Optimus Prime ordered his fellow Autobots to improvise and hurl everything that wasn't nailed down at their enemy. This included the Blackball, unfortunately. Catching it, Deathsaurus began to fantasize about his inevitable galactic conquest, all the while being pelted with rocks and litter. Frustrated, Deathsaurus accidentilly hurled the Blackball back to the Autobots in a fit of rage. {{storylink|Transformer PD Type|Good Job! Deathsaurus!!}}
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===''Comic Bom Bom G-2'' comic===
[[Image:G2Hero.jpg|right|200px|thumb|GAH, HE'S LOOKING AT ME!]]
In the year 199X, the Decepticons had learned of a powerful new energy source known as [[forestonite]] which just happened to be located (surprise surprise) on [[Earth]]. Megatron sent his trio of [[Cyberjet]]s to Earth first to draw out the enemy Autobots. The Cyberjets made quick work of [[Electro]] but were soon halted by the appearance of Optimus Prime.

Megatron then entered the fray and fired his Black Hole Burn attack from his fusion cannon, narrowly missing Optimus Prime but vaporizing [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]] in the process. Prime fought fiercely but Megatron began to take the upper-hand in battle.

However, Prime was encouraged to keep fighting by the cheers of a human boy named [[Junpei]]. Megatron, surprised at Prime's resilience, attempted to finish his foe off with his Tornado Axe attack. Prime countered with his Double Wheel-Torque Mega-Ton, which trumped Megatron's attack and injured the Decepticon badly. Megatron teleported back to his ship and left Earth's atmosphere, vowing to return.

Optimus Prime addressed Junpei, asking if the boy was injured. Junpei revealed he was alright but presented concern about the Decepticons returning to Earth. Optimus Prime swore that the Autobots would remain on Earth until the threat of the Decepticons was finished and asked for Junpei's help in making that future a reality. {{storylink|The New Battle!!}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Image:G1Prime BWMegs.jpg|left|180px|thumb|You have to get up preeeeetty early in the timestream to beat Optimus Prime!]]

The [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] raged on prehistoric Earth, eventually leading to the discovery of the buried Ark sometime after its crash on prehistoric Earth. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], following his namesake's instructions in a desperate gambit, decided to attempt to change history by killing Prime, who was still lying in the Ark in [[stasis lock]]. Megatron hoped that this would result in the Decepticons winning the Great War and eventually [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] control of Cybertron. Megatron unleashed a full-power weapon blast at Optimus Prime's face, near-fatally injuring him. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}} However, [[Optimus Primal]] proceeded to take Prime's spark into his body to protect it from surgical trauma while his injuries were repaired. The subsequent power increase caused by Prime's spark's connection to the Matrix mutated Primal into a large, [[Transmetal]] "Optimal Optimus" form. Then, with the repairs complete, Prime's spark was restored, and he briefly activated before sinking back into normal stasis. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

Sometime after the Autobots and Decepticons awoke in the 1980s, the original Megatron gained access to one of Earth's ''Voyager'' spacecraft and inscribed a message on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|disk]] on board. In the event that he lost the War, Megatron left instructions for the descendants of the Decepticons to use [[transwarp]] technology to travel to Prehistoric Earth, locate the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and change history by killing Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
[[Image:Sparkwar2_Optimus_hologram_primal.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Garry Chalk]] (English), [[Tilo Schmitz]] (German)

An enormous statue of Optimus Prime, bearing two [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disks]], could be seen on Cybertron in front of the Hall of Archives. The statue was subsequently blown to pieces by the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon forces]]. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}} Later, Megatron beamed a hologram of Optimus Prime down to the ruins of [[Iacon]] to confront [[Optimus Primal]]. Primal mistook the hologram for the real thing and shared with it the code for the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. Megatron quickly revealed his ruse. Primal explained to his Maximals that he knew the image was fake, but he needed the location of the missing [[spark]]s from Megatron's mind. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}}

{{note|Writer [[Bob Skir]] claims that neither the statue nor the golden disks in its hands were mentioned in the script. However, he suggested that they were either the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|disks]] from the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes, or that Optimus won them in the 2,395,989th Annual Cybertronian spelling bee.<ref>[http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Q&A from Bigbot's "bobskir.com"]</ref> We're betting on the latter.}}

====''Universe: Primeval Dawn''====
[[Image:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|left|190px|thumb|"Oh, I also have this in me now, too."]]
The Vok took the Matrix of Leadership from an unconscious Optimus Prime, used it to create [[Primal Prime]], then gave the Matrix to their new creation. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}}

{{note|In the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, Prime's spark was shown to be contained in a Matrix-like vessel. In [[Universe (2003 comic)|Primeval Dawn]], that vessel was shown to be merely a container for his spark, and the actual Matrix was hidden underneath.}}
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===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:CheetasManga1.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Cheetor, that's Prime's Spark, not a toy.]]
Optimus Prime was blasted into pieces by Dragon Megatron. Fortunately, his spark remained perfectly intact—in the remains of his [[Optimal Situation|Matrix-shaped spark chamber]]. Megatron was going to destroy Prime's spark, but [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (now in his Transmetal body) saved it. Prime's spark was eventually swallowed by Optimus Primal, who was upgraded into Optimal Optimus by doing so.

After Megatron was killed by Optimal Optimus, Primal and his crew said it would be troublesome to fix Optimus Prime's body.
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===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{cleanup|April 2009|Needs general expansion and STORYLINKS TO INDIVIDUAL ISSUES. Links to the series are not acceptable.}}

[[Image:Optronix optimus.jpg|left|180px|thumb|What? OPTRONIX is evolving!]]
Optimus Prime started life as '''Optronix''' (Orion to his friends<ref>The [[Keepers Trilogy]] novels set in Dreamwave continuity</ref>), a data archivist. After taking note of a battle in which the Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] had been defeated by Megatron, he was summoned to the council of elders and informed that the Matrix had chosen him to be the next leader of the Autobots. He received the Matrix of Leadership shortly thereafter, gaining a powerful new body in the process, and almost arranged for the Autobot evacuation of Cybertron, intending to leave the Decepticons to their own devices, until a battle with Megatron beneath the planet's surface, accompanied by visions from the Matrix, stirred him on to fight for the safety of his homeworld. Some time into his role as leader, Prime disappeared in a [[space bridge]] explosion along with Megatron, but returned some time later, having spent a period of time on [[Quintessa]]. {{storylink|The War Within}}

Following the awakening of the Transformers on Earth, the Autobots protected the planet from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots befriended the humans, particularly the [[Witwicky|Witwicky family]]. The Autobots finally allied with humankind and eventually defeated the Decepticons at the turn of the century. They planned to return to Cybertron aboard the newly constructed ''[[Ark II]]'', along with seven humans, including Witwicky patriarch [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]. Before the ship departed, Prime gave a piece of the Matrix to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], Sparkplug's son and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s closest human friend. But the ship was destroyed as part of a military conspiracy to take control of the Transformers. However, a terrorist organization run by the enigmatic [[Lazarus]] was able to seize control of several of the Transformers that fell back to Earth, while the U.S. military located Prime's body. Spike was forced by the product chief, General [[Robert Hallo]], to use the piece of the Matrix to reactivate Prime. Functional again, Prime used the Matrix to reactivate more of his fallen comrades, and then faced off against Megatron in [[San Francisco]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

Following this, Prime began to experience subconscious urgings, leading both the Autobots and the Decepticons to the Arctic Circle, where Shockwave arrived to greet them—and arrest them as war criminals. Shockwave had succeeded in ending the war on Cybertron, but Prime soon fell in with a rebel Autobot group that had discovered Shockwave had a greater agenda. Rallying Autobots across Cybertron to the cause, Prime faced Shockwave in battle but was defeated and had the Matrix ripped from him and used to activate Vector Sigma. Before Shockwave could make full use of the mega-computer's data, however, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] arrived and bested him. The injuries Prime took in this conflict necessitated a prolonged restoration period in stasis. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

{{note|...which turned out to be the remainder of Dreamwave's existence. Bummer.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:GIJoevsTFcobraprime.jpg|right|275px|thumb|G.1. Joe-the real universal hero!]]

Several Autobots and Decepticons, including Optimus Prime, were reformatted into will-less war machines under the control of [[Cobra]]. During an initial attack on a human peace conference, Cobra's remote control of Optimus mysteriously failed. Later at Cobra's island headquarters in the Caribbean, Cobra scientists pulled Optimus apart to find out what was impeding their commands. As this analysis took place, Optimus reverse hacked into Cobra computers until they shut him down in a panic. Despite this, Prime sent a viral message out to hundreds of email addresses that included the coordinates of Cobra's base. The message was intercepted by [[G.I. Joe]] who teamed up with Wheeljack and Bumblebee. After Wheeljack broke the remote control over the Transformers, Prime went after [[Cobra Commander]]. More than a bit frightened of a giant robot gunning for him, the human released Megatron, who was trapped in gun model. Megatron transformed and fought Prime to a standstill until other Autobots came to back him up.

Although he was weak and low on [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], Prime made a last-ditch effort to save the day when he rammed through the wall of Megatron's energon-producing lab. After a quick recharge, Optimus single-handedly smashed the Decepticons, pounded Megatron to the ground, and ripped his [[fusion cannon]] off his arm. Prime then teamed up with the Joes and used Megatron's cannon to shoot down the [[SPS satellite]] that had gone rogue and was destroying the island.

With the battle over, Prime and the Autobots boarded a new ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' ship built by G.I. Joe and returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers}}

[[Image:GIJoevstfIIprime1930s.jpg|left|275px|thumb|War Convoy: TRANSFORM!!!]]
On a Cybertron dominated by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the Decepticons, Optimus Prime and the Autobots took on the roles of resistance fighters. Cobra experimentation transported a contingent of Cobras and G.I. Joes to Cybertron and destabilized [[Teletran 3]]. The computer then sent several Transformers to [[Earth]] across different time periods. A team made up of Joes and Cobra agents were sent back and found Optimus Prime and the [[Stunticon]]s in 1930s-era Chicago, disguised as period cars and trucks. The Stunticons chased Prime and the Joes around the city until everything was wrapped up with bullets, a collapsed bridge and some dynamite.

After the Transformers and humans were returned to present-day Cybertron and the Decepticons were vanquished by the recently-arrived [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], Prime made an agreement with the Joes to destroy the technology that started the whole mess in order to protect Earth. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II}}

On Cybertron, Optimus Prime kicked back to do a little bit of paperwork and reminisce. With Shockwave defeated, Cybertron was enjoying a new era of peace. He was interrupted by Hot Rod, who reported that a group of "pesky humans with their peashooters" were giving an Autobot team on Earth a hard time. Prime suspected Cobra's involvement and counseled Hot Rod not to be so dismissive of the humans.

Later, at a peace celebration, Prime was watching a procession of Autobots when Decepticons attacked. Optimus ordered Omega Supreme into action but the huge Autobot was quickly overcome by Menasor, Piranacon and Predaking. Prime hopped into the fray, saved a female Autobot from getting smushed by the falling Omega, rode a flying Decepticon into Piranacon's face, smashed another Decepticon into the ground, and carried a wounded Autobot out of danger.

[[Image:Primevsserpentor.jpg|right|175px|thumb|Serpent O.R. soon realized that "This I command!" doesn't work on Optimus Prime.]]
Menasor cut off Prime's escape and confronted him with a hologram of [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] The new Decepticon leader carried Megatron's memories and information downloaded from Soundwave, from which he learned of the Matrix of Leadership. Serpent O.R. offered Optimus a trade: hostages and peace if he handed over the Matrix. Optimus agreed.

In his stronghold, Serpent O.R. questioned Prime about his own worthiness to carry the Matrix, but Optimus broke free of his chains and aggressively ordered him to surrender. A group of Decepticons broke in and nearly took Prime apart, but not before Serpent O.R. took the Matrix for himself and changed into the massive Serpentor Prime. The Matrix showed Serpentor Prime the error of his ways but as he was about to commit suicide Cobra Commander tripped a device and took over Serpentor Prime's body. Moments before he crushed Arcee, a severely damaged Optimus Prime threw Hawk toward the Matrix but warned the human not to touch the artifact. Hawk did so anyway and through a quasi-mystical transfer of power Serpentor Prime was vanquished.

Later repaired by a female nursebot, Optimus went back to finishing his paperwork. A leader's job is never done. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: The Art of War}}

Sensing a new, yet old, danger to planet Earth, Prime elected to send himself to earth on an investigation, and gave Hot Rod a glare when the young Autobot accused his leader of taking an unnecessary risk to atone for the death of a close friend.

Optimus Prime landed in the Himalayan Mountains with G.I. Joes [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]]. As they searched the area, the trio was attacked by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] in his [[Pretender]] shell. Prime whacked him with his [[energon-axe]] and in return Bludgeon bearhugged him and coated him in metal-eating slime. Hawk, still carrying power from the Matrix, helped Prime break free. Optimus then shot his way into the hidden kingdom of [[Cobra-La]].

While they wandered through the tunnels, the Joes and Prime found cave paintings that described the last visit to Earth by the planet-eating god [[Unicron]]. They were attacked again by Bludgeon and Cobra-La minions, but were led away by a ragged [[Joe Colton]], prisoner of Cobra-La for the last 25 years. Bludgeon managed to find them again and during a second battle Prime tore open the Pretender's shell, revealing Bludgeon's robot form inside. Bludgeon tripped and dangled dangerously over a chasm, but rather than let Optimus Prime save him, Bludgeon forced Prime to drop him to his death laughing all the way down.

The Joes discovered a cavern where the people of Cobra-La were growing metal-eating spores as a last defense against Unicron. Flint and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] took a load of the spores into space just as Unicron appeared in Earth orbit. Prime, Hawk and Colton headed deeper into Cobra-La to rescue [[Firewall]] and kick butt. Prime was tackled and pinned by a giant bug creature, but made a dramatic recovery and tossed the bug aside. He then took the machine-hating Cobra-La leader [[Golobulus]] to task with a single punch. Flint and Cosmos released the spores, which devoured Unicron from the inside and defeated the giant Transformer before he could harm [[Earth]].

With the threat of Unicron gone, Prime relaxed with [[Eject]] and Firewall by watching some reality TV, and sighed at the banality. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
{{charstubfiction}}
=== IDW comics continuity ===
{{ongoing}}

{{note|[[Megatron Origin]] depicted that before the war, a robot that's a hybrid of the "Orion Pax" and "Optronix" designs appears listening to [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s speech at the funeral of [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback]]. He is standing with [[Elita One]], [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], and a white version of himself (presumably [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], possibly even [[Dion]]). Whether this is truly the [[IDW continuity]]'s version of pre-Prime Optimus or not remains unrevealed.}}

[[Image:SpotlightBlurr-Optimus.jpg|left|thumb|200px|There's something missing...]]

Galvanized by the death of Sentinel Prime, Optimus joined the Autobot forces under his successor [[Zeta Prime]], and was assigned to a unit commanded by the veteran [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. During his tour of duty his unit intercepted a message reporting of a planned attempt on the Prime's life. He approached former racer [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] as a reliable means of getting the news to Zeta Prime in a hurry. The former celebrity balked, but ultimately the young soldier helped Blurr find what really drove him to race, and thus recruited him to the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}}

[[Image:IDWOptimus.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Freedom is the right of all sentient and heavily-armed beings.]]

An undisclosed amount of time later, Optimus would be chosen as the next Prime, and commanded the Autobot armed forces spread across the galaxy from the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub]]. He was directly involved in the cataclysm ([[IDW timeline|just under 450 years ago]]) that reduced [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to a dead husk, fighting alongside [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in an attempt to stop [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s rampage. Their efforts were futile, and they only survived due to Cybertron itself swallowing Thunderwing at [[Thunderhead Pass]]. Megatron was unconvinced that Thunderwing was dead, and advocated that Cybertron be destroyed to better insure that the mad Decepticon was forever destroyed. Optimus Prime refused, and threatened to stop any effort that Megatron attempted. Megatron agreed to spare the planet, but warned Prime that anything which happened afterward was on his head.

In the present, Prime received a pulsewave from [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], who was stationed under [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s team on Earth, saying that the Decepticon infiltration cell under [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] had broken their infiltration methods and enacted [[Infiltration protocol|siege mode]] prematurely. Soon afterward, the Autobot science vessel ''[[Calabi-Yau]]'' sent a distress signal from above Thunderhead Pass, and he ordered the [[Wrecker]]s to withdraw from [[Varas Centralus]] and meet him on Cybertron. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}} Thunderwing had been restored by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his followers, and though the Wreckers made short work of them, the real fight would be met with Thunderwing. After the Wreckers, [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] and [[Centurion droid]]s were unable to destroy the monster, Prime took to the field, firing massive amounts of energy at Thunderwing, forcing it to exhaust its last reserves of [[Ultra-Energon]] and, ultimately, its life. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

[[Image:IDWPrime Earth.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Don't crush the cameraman!]]
[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] discovered information in Bludgeon's files about the mysterious new form of Energon found on [[Earth]]. Linking it to the pulsewave transmission from Ironhide, Prime diverted his spacecraft to Earth and called [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] in to assist him. {{storylink|Spotlight: Nightbeat}}. Shortly after arrival, and having undergone alteration so that he could disguise himself as an Earth truck, he slowly began to realize how unusual the situation Prowl's unit had found itself in was. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}} Not only had the Decepticons broken their own infiltration protocols over what Starscream had dubbed [[Ultra-Energon|Ore-13]], but after attempting to recover what appeared to be [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'s remains, it was also evident that some of the planet's native sentient lifeforms—[[human]]s—posed a threat possibly equal to that of their old enemies. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}}

Optimus Prime, now fully filled-in on Earth's happenings, decided that they needed reinforcements. He called Nightbeat, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] to come when they could. When Prowl pointed out that Megatron, in his new gun-based Earth mode, was in the breakaway Soviet state of [[Brasnya]] stirring up trouble, Prime ordered them into action.

[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] almost got the drop on Prime, but [[Roller]] was right behind him and took out Blitzwing with a single shot. Megatron returned to his full-size robot mode and disagreed with the quality of Prime's tea and crumpets. At last, the two rivals were going to go at it.

[[Image:Escalation5 Primedies enlightning.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Rule of thumb, Megs—if he don't turn gray, he's A-OK.]]
The fight went well at first, with Prime blowing Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] clean off. Megatron, however, tireless thanks to Ore-13, prevailed, almost beating Prime into [[stasis lock]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}}

However, Prime transferred his consciousness into his trailer, leading Megatron to believe him dead. Realizing that Ore-13 was the same as Ultra-Energon, Prime returned to his body in time to save his forces from the relentless Megatron, blasting him point blank in the face and dealing enough damage to the Decepticon leader to drain his power reserves, just as he did against Thunderwing. The victory was narrow, however, leaving Optimus with the daunting task of fending off an increasing enemy force without his last ace in the hole. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

This near-death experience had left Prime somewhat unsettled. While his consciousness was in [[infraspace]] downloading to his trailer, he sensed a presence of dread—the visage of his long-missing predecessor, [[Nova Prime]]. Looking for answers, Optimus Prime left Earth temporarily to seek an audience with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] for answers. Once there, he found out about Nova's beliefs of how Transformers were a superior race and should remake the universe in their image, and faced down the rampaging [[Monstructor]], a legacy of Nova's tenure locked away by Omega Supreme. Then he gave his "you shouldn't have done that" speech to Omega, handed Monstructor's limbs over to Jetfire's team, and went on to have angst-ridden introspection about himself and the tarnished legacy of the [[Prime (rank)|Prime lineage]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}

After returning to Earth, Nightbeat discovered that a human group was aware of the base's location and recommended to Prime that they move the ''[[Ark-19]]''. As preparations were underway, Prime received a message from [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] saying that Thunderwing had been stolen. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], eager to search for Sunstreaker, suggested that they be reassigned to Earth, and Prime agreed. However, the thrashing that Prime gave Megatron had so embarrassed the Decepticon leader that he ordered in the Decepticons' living weapon, [[Sixshot]]. While moving the ''Ark-19'', Prime and the others came under fire by Sixshot, who severely damaged their ship. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}}

[[Image:Devastation4 PrimeSixshot hyperbole.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"And THAT'S for killing my brother in another timeline!"]]
Ordering [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to get [[Jimmy Pink]] and [[Verity Carlo]] to safety, Optimus then instructed Nightbeat to upload all of ''Ark-19''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s data to ''[[Ark-32]]'' and for Prowl to activate the self-destruct sequence. {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} When ''Ark-19'' exploded, it was assumed that Optimus was on board, but all was good at the end when he appeared with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and the others—ready to take on Sixshot. {{storylink|Devastation issue 3|Devastation #3}} Optimus and the Autobots held Sixshot at bay, but the U.S. military ordered an air strike to destroy the alien robots. The battle was a stalemate, as Sixshot had to return to the Decepticons while the Autobots [[orbital jump]]ed just in time to avoid destruction. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} On ''Ark-32'', after a conversation with Jetfire, Prime informed Prowl that they needed to retrieve [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], Hot Rod and Ironhide, and leave Earth to see to another crisis. The secure facility on [[Garrus-9]] had been breached, and Prime and company needed to make sure that some of the "recent inmates" there didn't end up "in enemy hands". {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} Before leaving Earth, Optimus Prime redirected Hound's unit to rendezvous with ''Ark-32'' at Garrus-9, and told Hound to impress upon Sideswipe the importance of their mission and how he didn't leave Earth or Sunstreaker behind lightly. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

[[Image:DarknessPrimes.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Think he can go one series without having a near-death experience?]]
Optimus Prime and Prowl met with [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and Jetfire on Garrus-9 and discussed the prisoners' breakout, and that a surviving Decepticon had been tortured. Maximus and Jetfire gave each other a guilty glance. Prime left Maximus in charge and returned with Prowl to the ''Ark-32''. Meanwhile, [[Dead Universe]] resident [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] attacked Hound's crew, but they received help from Ultra Magnus and drove Cyclonus to escape to [[Corata-Vaz]]. There, he activated the [[Nega-Core]] and fought with Magnus and Hound's crew, whom had followed him. In desperation, Cyclonus activated the Nega-Core's guardian—Thunderwing. Using the distraction, Cyclonus escaped but Magnus sent another tracker after him. All this was reported to Optimus Prime on the ''Ark-32'', who recognized that this had something to do with his infraspace encounter in Brasnya. Prime ordered Jetfire to summon the Wreckers to find out what Thunderwing is guarding. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

The prison soon came under attack from Nova Prime. Rather then watch his soldiers be slaughtered by the undead monster, Optimus Prime ordered a retreat and faced Nova alone. Announcing his new title of Nemesis Prime, Optimus's predecessor explained the nature of the [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]] before unleashing a portion on the Autobot leader. Shattered, Prime collapsed onto his hands and knees as Nemesis loomed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

[[Image:OptimusdeadNemesis.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Optimus! I've come to help y- oh. Sorted, then?"]]

Unexpectedly for Nemesis Prime, the Darkness seemed to be more interested in the younger Prime and sought to be passed onto Optimus. Nemesis wasn't about to let go of the power he commanded, and savagely attacked Optimus Prime, whose attempts to reason fell on deaf ears. Just as Nemesis Prime seemed victorious, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked the fallen Prime from behind, killing him. Nemesis's death allowed the Darkness to finally enter Optimus, who tried to fight against its evil to no avail. Galvatron offered the Autobot a choice: kill himself by plunging into the [[Solar pool]], or pass on the Darkness to Galvatron, who had coveted the Darkness for so long. Optimus seemed to willingly do so, but just as he passed on the Darkness, he threw the surprised Galvatron into the solar pool. As Optimus gazed upon the dead body of Nemesis, he told himself he could not mourn the elder Prime's death, as Nova truly died long ago. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

[[Image:AHMPrimecritical.jpg|right|250px|thumb|So he's dying. [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This shouldn't be a problem by now]].]]
A year later, Optimus Prime combined his Autobot squad with another squad. Having received word of a supposed Decepticon power struggle, Prime led the Autobots to a location where Starscream's "group" was, only to be ambushed by a unified Decepticon force. Though they managed to briefly turn the tide, Devastator's appearance made the difference, which enabled Megatron to rip the Matrix of Leadership from Prime's chest. Prime was dealt another blow (mentally) when the Autobots were told that they were sold out to a traitor in their ranks (who was later revealed to be [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]). {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} The Autobots were led to a space bridge, where Prime, who was the last to go, used his remaining energy to destroy the machine. Unfortunately, this heroic act left Prime in critical condition. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} With this defeat, the Autobots were forced to leave Earth to the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

After Prime's unit met up with Kup's unit, and after dealing with the Swarm and Sideswipe's sacrifice to save them, Ratchet and Wheeljack managed to bring Prime back online (with the Energon from the ''[[Trion|Trion]]'') in time to smooth over an Autobot argument. As the others excitedly welcomed him back, Prime makes a speech about how he was proud of them, and that he wanted to win the war. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}. After the Autobots recovered and prepared for a final stand against the Swarm, Prime had a brief chat with Ironhide (to which Ironhide admitted to secretly hating him at first sight at the start of the Great War), then prepared for the Swarm's onslaught. When they came, the Autobots fought back, but they were quickly outnumbered by the thousands. Thankfully, Omega Supreme arrived and saved them from certain doom. After Omega briefly told them about his arrival, Prime orders him to transform and transport the Autobots back to Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{note|The events of ''Spotlight: Mirage'' possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}

Optimus Prime commanded one of the last remaining pockets of Autobot resistance, hiding out in the [[Pegasus Star Cluster]]. While awaiting the arrival of Bumblebee's team, he and Hound tried to work out how to convert the [[Zodiac Energy]] for their consumption. "Bumblebee's" arrival proved to be their downfall, as it was really the self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], who destroyed the bunker security systems, allowing the Decepticons inside. Optimus Prime refused to surrender during the ensuing struggle, until Mirage used the critically-injured Jetfire as a hostage, forcing the Prime to back down. When Megatron betrays Mirage's word and orders the execution of the Autobots, Optimus Prime tried to reason with the mercenary, appealing to his former friendship with Hound... until Mirage killed Hound in defiance. Furious, Optimus Prime broke free of his captors and tackled Mirage into the Zodiac Energy chamber. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[Image:HeartsofSteel_1_Prime_Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]

The Autobots and the Decepticons came to [[Earth|a distant world]] in the grip of an ice age. Assuming alternate modes based upon the [[Dinosaur|dominant (though doomed) indigenous creatures]] of this planet, they continued their ancient, unending war. However, the Autobots, with their energy levels dangerously low, withdrew from combat as the world grew colder. They sought refuge in a deep cavern and entered [[stasis lock]], awaiting the day when surface conditions changed to better suit their operation. Millions of years later, Bumblebee was awoken by the hammering of humans working on a rail line. He briefly considered awakening Optimus Prime, but thought better of it. After discovering the world had changed significantly, Ratchet thought there was no reason to awaken Prime. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1}} When Bumblebee discovered the Decepticons were once again active on this world, Ratchet and Prowl agreed that the Autobots must intervene, but again decided out of rousing Optimus from his slumber. {{Storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

{{Note|Optimus Prime appears very briefly in the first few pages, in his "Ice Age Wars" body (we only see him in robot mode, but his altmode is a brachiosaurus<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=d5d311674e796c81d010d26ac751389b&showtopic=10074&st=20&p=266183&#entry266183 Allspark forums post] by [[Guido Guidi]], August 15th, 2006</ref>. He spends most of the story in stasis lock. [[:Image:Opthos.jpg|Unused concept art]] depicts him as transforming into a locomotive engine.}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comics===

{{charstubfiction}}

===''Comic Bun bun Henkei! Henkei!'' comic===

{{charstubfiction}}

===Commercial appearances===
Optimus Prime has appeared in more [[Commercial|television commercials]] than any other Transformer... just like with everything else. He has been voiced by Peter Cullen in every animation segment in which he's had a speaking role.

[[Image:Toycommercial-firstPrime.jpg|right|thumb|My wheels don't disappear!]]

* He was one of the featured characters in the first ever appearance of the Transformers anywhere, an advertisement for the first issue of [[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|the Generation 1 comic]]. He arrives in the midst of a desert battle as the Decepticons attacked a power plant on Earth, driving to back up his troops in defending it. He strikes a rather iconic pose as he transforms and fires, which would be replicated and copied numerous times in the early years of the franchise. This first commercial used nonfinal versions of the characters' [[character model]]s; Optimus Prime, for example, still had wheels on his legs. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9-7RjhFzpM]

* In a commercial for the [[Triple Changer]]s, Optimus confronts Astrotrain on a desert battlefield, but the Triple-Changer escapes under fire from other Autobots. Shortly afterward, Prime uses Perceptor's microscope mode to examine a fragment of Decepticon battle armor. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WssZjIsUIU]

* Prime and Jazz are shown fighting Megatron in the desert in an ad for the 1985 cars, whom he summons to help out with the battle. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WssZjIsUIU]

* Prime narrates two commercials around the time of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', describing the action as [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] battles [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] take on the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X-10pud7DY]

[[Image:Toycommercial-PowermasterOptimusPrime.jpg|right|thumb|An integral part of Powermaster Prime's transformation is Joyride shooting lightning bolts through his pointed finger.]]

* Prime was prominently featured in the ad for the first comic issue featuring the [[Powermaster]]s. On the rocky plains where practically every Transformer battle ever seems to happen, Prime arrives in his Powermaster body to back up three of his troops against Dreadwind and Darkwing. He's shown combining with [[Hi-Q]] and transforming, attacking with his trailer's battle station mode, then combining with the trailer to continue the attack. Who wins? Find out in [[People Power!|Marvel Comics]]! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voX_KNNxNCI]

[[Image:OptimusQuickswitchCommercial.jpg|right|thumb|Optimus Prime is so giving, he even gives other Transformers time in his commercials.]]

* Prime also features briefly in [[Quickswitch]]'s ad; in a battle on the moon, Quickswitch transforms to gun mode and is wielded by Powermaster Optimus Prime.

* An abbreviated ad for Powermaster Prime uses footage from both the Marvel Comic and Quickswitch commercials.

* Prime's Powermaster body shows up yet again in the [[Classic Pretender|Pretender Classic]]s ad. He comes under attack in the darkened streets of the city, prompting the narrator to explain that he needs the greatest Transformers ever! Prime then welcomes back Bumblebee and Jazz in their Pretender forms. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mahbq-FnSPY]

* Powermaster Prime and [[Piranacon]] are the representatives from each faction that [[Doubledealer]] doublecrosses! Everyone wonders who that guy is that Prime's talking to... He looks kinda suspicious!

* Optimus features prominently in the first [[Action Master]] commercial; he's shown surrounded by a circle of his troops, and challenges them to give up their transforming powers to become faster, stronger, more alive! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNf3jQ1zdw]

* A stock intro was used for several Micromaster commercials, with Optimus opening his fist to reveal a Micromaster city within.

[[Image:Hotrodpatrolcommercial.jpg|right|thumb|Prime wants to know if they can transform, because he sure can't!]]

* A similar sequence in another Micromaster has Prime opening his fist to find the [[Hot Rod Patrol]] inside. He and Jazz check them out, and Optimus wonders if they can transform.

* In an ad for the Micromaster micro bases, a battle rages outside an Autobot base, and Prime watches impassively as Bumblebee and Jazz pull two [[Interstellar shuttle|captured]] [[Attack Copter|vehicles]] into the base. Prime is the first to notice that the vehicles are transforming and shooting things.

* Prime and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] are the stars of the first ''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' commercial, animated with [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]]. Prime is shown driving down a road in his ''Generation 2'' colored truck mode. He rocket-launches up into the air to transform, then has a brutal fight with Ramjet. Despite getting a hole blasted in his chest, he wins the fight and fires his gun into the air in triumph. Non-speaking.

* Prime also is shown briefly in a commercial for the new Megatron tank toy. He transforms and finds his head in a target crosshairs. In the subsequent toy segment, Prime's toy is shown getting completely trashed by that of Megatron. Non-speaking.

* And finally, Prime got his own rap segment. He's shown in his Combat toy body, waiting for Megatron as he attacks a human subdivision. Prime converts to robot form, blows up Megatron's weapon at point blank range, and slugs it out with him. Apparently emerging victorious, is next shown sitting next to an identical truck, which the live-action kid mistakes for the real thing. The real Prime then transforms and picks up the kid, inspecting the human with his cold, lifeless, flashing red optics. Prime is once again voiced by Peter Cullen in this commercial.

Prime also appeared in commercials for ''Transformers'' products other than the toys themselves...

* In the ad for [[Coleco]]'s [[Power Cycle]], Optimus Prime shoots ''at'' a child riding the titular cycle, but misses. This footage is recycled from the advertisement for the comic.

* Prime delivers a load of shoes to schoolchildren in a South American ad for [[Bata]]'s licensed ''Transformers'' footwear.

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1) toys}}

==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Optimus Prime (G1) toys|Merchandise]]''

==Notes==
* According to [[Bob Budiansky]], longtime comics writer [[Denny O'Neil]] named Optimus Prime prior to Budiansky being brought on to the ''Transformers'' project.

* Optimus Prime's Japanese name is "Convoy", which is named after his original name "Battle Convoy" in the [[Diaclone]] toyline, because the name "Optimus Prime" is difficult for Japanese kids to remember and pronounce. <ref>'''Figure-Oh''' No. 114</ref>

*According to an early ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Universe]]''-style profile published in ''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine]]'', Optimus Prime's "official" nicknames were at one point considered to be "Autobot Commander", "Chief", "Big Boss" and "Roller". As far as it is known, no piece of fiction has ever purposely addressed him using these nicknames, though it's a fair bet he's been called "chief" at least once or twice anyway.

* He [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|allegedly]] hates the music of [[wikipedia:Mötley_Crüe|Mötley Crüe]].

* According to the staff of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', Optimus Prime became a space explorer in the [[Beast Era]].<ref>[[Beast Wars Universe]] ISBN 978-4766938005</ref>

[[Image:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Prime's mom knows how to write in cursive.]]
* By the time Optimus Prime appeared in ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', his 3D model from ''Beast Wars'' had apparently been lost, leading the animators to use a faceplated Optimus Primal head as a quick replacement to save time and budget.

* Aside from occasionally having Alpha Trion as a father figure, Optimus Prime may have a mother! In an advertisement for [[Pepsi Convoy]] that shows him in a refrigerator (along with [[Destron Pizza]]), a note attached to a nearby piece of Tupperware reads:

:''Dear Convoy''
:''Warm it before you eat''
:''Mom''

:Although the ad itself is for Pepsi Convoy, he is a separate character, and it can be assumed that the note was left for Convoy/Optimus Prime himself.

* The first wave of Dreamwave posters in 2001 identified Optimus Prime as [http://www.comicden.com/merch/posters.htm "Captimus Primus"], which is tantalizingly close to making some sort of sense.

* According to EJ Su, Optimus Prime's [[Holomatter|Holomatter avatar]] is modeled after [[wikipedia:Ulysses_S._Grant|Ulysses S. Grant]].<ref>[http://www.protodepot.com/archive/2007_11_01_archive.html Idea: Holomatter Projection]</ref>

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm Optimus Prime on TFU.info]

* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime Optimus Prime's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime_PM Powermaster Optimus Prime's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

* [http://www.toybin.org/search.php?q=1984+Autobot+Optimus+Prime ToyBin Optimus Prime Toy gallery]

== Footnotes ==
<references />

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:Kiss Players characters]]
[[Category:Machine Wars characters]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Powermasters]]
[[Category:Return of Convoy characters]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robot Masters characters]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Go with the Flow

2009-05-20T14:09:16Z

128.135.181.69: /* Notes */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=47
|image=Go With the Flow title shot.JPG
|caption=You just ''know'' this won't end well.
|title="Go with the Flow"
|production company= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate= [[February 18]], 1999
|written by= [[Bob Forward]]
|directed by= [[Cal Shumiatcher]]
|animation studio= [[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''The Predacons build a cannon that could destroy the Maximals, but require an organic life-form to finish the construction.'''

:''Japanese title:'' びりびりー!しびればびれぶー (''Biribirii! Shibire Babire Bū'', "Zzzap! Tingly Tongly Too!")<ref>The title puns on ''shibireru'' (to be numb/tingly, as from an electric shock) and the nonsense spell "Bibbity bobbity boo" from Disney's ''Cinderella''.</ref>

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Go with the Flow Cheetor kids.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Phineas J. Whoopee, you're a genius!]]
Quietly, Cheetor sneaks through the forest. He whispers his activation code to switch into his robot mode, and is ambushed by Chak, the protohuman. Cheetor laughs at his company, and the two are joined by Una, putting Cheetor in a hammer-lock. Rattrap arrives and makes fun of Cheetor's attempts to teach the primitives self-defense. Cheetor moves on to trying to instruct the kids in basic engineering principles, language, and comedy through self-abuse. On a mountaintop, Megatron's army works to assemble a new, powerful weapon capable of destroying the Maximals, but because the "bi-polar energon source" to the device is installed before the shielding, the Predacons can't get near the machine they have erected. In order to complete the weapon, Tarantulas suggests recruiting the two educated protohumans on whom who he happens to have been spying.

[[Image:Go with the Flow Waspinator Una.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This is one of two operations Una had to do.]]
Waspinator and Inferno attack the two Maximals. Waspinator captures Una and brings her back to Megatron. Depth Charge arrives to aid his two allies against Inferno, but with one of the humans captured already, Inferno retreats. The danger gone, Cheetor radios back to the Maximal base to report on the attack. Optimus calls Cheetor home and sends Depth Charge and Rattrap on a mission to retrieve the abducted child.

En route to the Predacon development, Una recalls Cheetor's self-defense lesson, and with her primitive spear, she removes several of Waspinator's wasp-mode limbs. Megatron is entirely unconcerned with the well-being of his underling, but hopes the girl is still in functional condition when she arrives. Once she is dropped off, Megatron orders the disruptor ray fired on just low enough a setting to knock Rattrap and Depth Charge out of the sky. But even at a low setting, the unfinished weapon causes harm to the Predacons, forcing Megatron to order it shut down.

Depth Charge and Rattrap crash-land in a forest, lucky to be alive, but Depth Charge is no longer flight-capable. Rattrap leaves the Manta and races off on his own to finish rescuing the damsel. Megatron begins his plot and instructs Una on how to install the shielding that the energy weapon needs in order to function. Una experiments in using the shielding plates as both fashion accessories and cuisine, but doesn't entirely comprehend the meaning of each of his precise instructions. After a fancy screen transition to show the passing of time, Una has completed the shielding installation in an adorably haphazard manner. As a final step, she installs the stabilizer crystal.

[[Image:Go with the Flow Rattrap Una.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This is the second one.]]
Rattrap arrives to save the girl and stop Megatron, but Dinobot prepares to devour the intruder. Tarantulas approaches Una to kill her, too. She squashes the spider by knocking over a huge piece of machinery, but then falls off her platform. Rattrap drives through Dinobot's legs and transforms in time to catch the girl. Together, the two drive out of the Predacons' territory.

At the site where Depth Charge crashed, Una helps Rattrap unearth Depth Charge by recommending that he use a lever. With
teamwork, they slide Depth Charge into a lake and then use the giant Maximal as a raft to ride away from the attacking Predacons. They escape from their pursuers by falling down a waterfall, tossing mud in Waspinator's face so he flies blindly into Inferno. The combined airborne mess of Predacons then lands on the Dinobot clone.

[[Image:GowiththeFlow Sunset.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Megatron prepares to fire the disruptor cannon and destroy his enemies. As the massive gun charges, the Maximals prepare for the worst. But the machine malfunctions, and instead of destroying the Maximals, it explodes in place—because Una stole the stabilizer crystal. With the Predacons slagged, Una and the two Maximals float into the sunset.

{{-}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Depth Charge]] (11)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (12)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (13)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (5)
*[[Tarantulas]] (6)
*[[Dinobot II]] (7)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (9)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (10)

|c3=
*[[Chak and Una|Chak]] (2)
*[[Chak and Una|Una]] (3)

}}
==Quotes==
"Sit down and keep quiet." 
"Yeah, yeah, story of my life."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Rattrap'''

"Peh, educational stuff. I'd rather watching things explode."
:—'''Rattrap''' speaks for the intended audience.

"My disruptor ray shall destroy them."
:—'''Megatron''', proving that he really ''is'' using every trick in the book.

"Waspinator to Megatron. Waspinator has female fleshy-bot, but there is problem." 
"She'd better not be injured." 
"No, she injuring Waspinator." 
"Ah, situation normal, then. Yes."
:—'''Waspinator''' to '''Megatron''', and Megatron has picked up the running gag.

"Waspinator want to re-negotiate contract!"
:—'''Waspinator''', getting hacked to bits by a fleshling

[''chuckles''] "I ain't dead." 
"This day's just full of disappointments."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Depth Charge''' after the crash

"What are you lookin' at?"
:—'''Depth Charge''' to a butterfly that lands on him

'''Megatron:''' "Finish installing that shielding plate." 
[''Una picks up the plate.''] 
'''Megatron:''' "There. Put it on those bolts." 
[''Una balances the plate on her head.''] 
'''Megatron:''' [''chuckling''] "Yes." ''(laughing)'' "Yes, there. Oh for the love..." 
[''Una tries to eat the plate.''] 
'''Megatron:''' "No, no, no." ''(Annoyed)'' "Right there! Do you understand?!" 
[''Una puts plate in its place''] 
[[Image:Go with the Flow Megatron faceplant.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This might be the reason he became [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|intolerant of organics.]]]]
'''Megatron:''' "Now, use the wrench to fasten it down." 
'''Una:''' [''holding a bone''] "Wr-wr-wreh-wruh-wr-wrench?" 
'''Megatron:''' "Oh, the WRENCH, you imbecilic anthropoid!" 
'''Una:''' "Wrench?" 
'''Megatron:''' "YES! That-THAT THING! USE IT!" 
[''Una uses the wrench as a hammer.''] 
'''Megatron:''' "Oh, whatever."
:—Megatron learning [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|why]] [[Koji Onishi|kids]] [[Rad White|just]] [[Kicker Jones|aren't]] [[Bud Hansen|popular.]]

"Triumph is before me!" 
"And da rat is behind ya!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rattrap'''

"The disruptor cannon is now operational. And as it happens, our
targets are right in line with the Maximal base. We shall destroy both
in a single, glorious onslaught of energon devastation!"
:—'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
*This episode was used in place of the planned episode "[[Dark Glass]]".
*The moral of the episode is, effectively, "It's good to steal."
*When Rattrap rescues Una from falling, Silverbolt's 'rescue' theme plays.
*Rampage does not appear in this episode.
*After Megatron realizes that the energon powering his weapon affects all Cybertronians, his computer screen displays the words "screamin rocks" and then "fire a big gun in a mountain" in [[Cybertronix]].
* Later, his screen says "hot stuff", as well as the names "Derek", "Nikki" and "Dawn" while showing the simulated effects of a blast.
* Brilliant that Waspinator collapsed into a pile of rubbish right after arriving at the site, and got zapped while he was still a pile of rubbish. Combine that with a prior zapping due to Inferno's blunder (See Trivia, below), getting beaten up by a little girl, and finally defeated by mere MUD (!), and you have a bad day for old Waspinator for the umpteenth and - oh who's keeping count any more. It's hard to tell which day was the worst for Waspinator: today, or the fiasco in "[[Feral Scream Part 1]]".

===Technical/animation glitches===
*When Rattrap says, "...and die horrible, agonising deaths!" before they crash into the forest, Depth Charge is also mouthing the words!
*When Depth Charge hits the rocks at the base of the waterfall (immediately before Dinobot says 'Target immobilized!'), his right flipper very briefly clips through another nearby rock.
*Rhinox is looking through the parascope at the the mountain, while the image is displayed on almost all of the screens at the Maximal's base.

===Continuity errors===
*Dinobot slices Rattrap's tail, but later it seems to be full-length as Rattrap uses it to paddle Depth Charge.

===Transformers references===
*Rattrap's interaction with Depth Charge is somewhat reminiscent of his ongoing rivalry with the deceased [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]].

===Real-world references===
*"This Bot tries for positive programming." "Time to change channels, frisky!" These lines are references to human television.

===Trivia===
*Why didn't Inferno just ''wait'' until Waspinator had finished installing the shielding plate ''before'' plugging in the main power source?
*When Depth Charge leaves the CR chamber, there is some blinking green Cybertronix text which then switches to solid red. Translated to english, it reads "f**k" (green) "you" (red.) Oddly, the text is upside down.
*Shortly after Depth Charge crashes, a puff of smoke appears to emit from Rattrap's, er, tailpipe.

== Footnotes ==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Depth Charge (BW)

2009-05-19T17:16:07Z

128.135.181.69: /* Beast Wars cartoon */

{{factions|maximal|autobot}}
{{Picsneeded|better-transformed images of Universe toy}}

:''Depth Charge is a [[Maximal|Maximal]] from the [[Beast Wars|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1|Generation 1]]/[[Beast Era|Beast Era]] [[Continuity family|continuity family]]. He is sometimes known as '''Depthcharge'''.''

[[Image:Depthchargebw.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I'm Batmanta.]]
'''Depth Charge''' was once an [[Imperial Peace Marshal|Imperial Peace Marshal]] whose territory was completely destroyed, and every robot under his protection slaughtered, by the malicious entity known as [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]]. Since that fateful day, Depth Charge has lived for no other purpose than to enact justice (or vengeance) on X. His single-mindedness makes him a relentless hunter, stopping at nothing to prevent X from taking any more lives. His quest has more than taken its toll on Depth Charge, though; whatever he was before, he is now a joyless, hollow shell of a being. While he sometimes expresses sympathy for other beings and lends aid to his fellow Maximals, Depth Charge has clearly been consumed by his mission, and the destruction of Protoform X is now more important to him than the original reasons behind his quest.

{{quote|It's not revenge I'm looking for. It's justice.|Depth Charge quoting somebody else|"[[Deep Metal|Deep Metal]]"}}

:''Brazilian name:'' '''Profundeza'''
:''French-Canadian name'': '''Torpille'''
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Mó-gǔei Yǘ''' (魔鬼魚, "Devil Fish")
:''Italian name:'' '''Mantas''' (toyline), '''Abysses''' (cartoon)
:''Polish name:'' '''Głębinobot''' ("Abyssalbot")
:''Spanish name:'' '''Manta Raya'''

==Fiction==
===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Sobolov|David Sobolov]] (English), [[Kiyoyuki Yanada|Kiyoyuki Yanada]] (Japanese), [[Afonso Amajones|Afonso Amajones]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:DeepMetal DepthCharge transmetalisation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Huh...suddenly, my hand smells like fish.]]
Depth Charge was a Peace Marshal stationed on [[Colony Omicron|Colony Omicron]] when Protoform X broke free and went on a rampage. As the colony's sole survivor, Depth Charge made hunting down "X" his only mission in life. Pursuing Protoform X to places throughout the Universe (including [[Starbase Rugby|Starbase Rugby]]) Depth Charge successfully captured the fugitive and turned him over to the [[Maximal Elder|Maximal Elders]]. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}} The Elders decided that Protoform X should be placed in stasis aboard the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']] and dumped on an uninhabited world.

Knowing that "[[Optimus Primal]] would screw it up", Depth Charge continued to monitor the universe for any trace of Protoform X. The sensors on his [[Starhopper|Starhopper]] picked up traces of X just as Depth Charge was pulled through a temporal anomaly. The strange radiation of the wormhole-like disturbance sucked in his ship and [[Transmetal|Transmetalized]] his superstructure. The resulting crash left him on prehistoric [[Earth|Earth]] with a Transmetal manta ray body and put him right in the middle of the Beast Wars. His new body gave him a Cybershark drone, which he used to track down Protoform X, now known as [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]].

[[Image:DeepMetal DepthCharge manta.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The original Blu-Ray.]]
His first battle with Rampage did not end particularly well, as Depth Charge did not expect that Rampage had joined up with the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] trapped on this world. Rescued and repaired by Optimus Primal's Maximals, Depth Charge was shocked by the presence of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' and acknowledged the grimness of their situation, but nonetheless disregarded Primal's request that he join them, so obsessive was his pursuit of Protoform X. In any case, Rampage decided Depth Charge's stay would be permanent by destroying the Starhopper. {{storylink|Deep Metal|Deep Metal}}

His single-minded obsession soon ended up costing the Maximals a major strategic advantage. Optimus Primal had sent [[Rattrap|Rattrap]] to the bottom of the lake where the wreck of the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' lay in an attempt to retrieve the [[Sentinel|Sentinel]] defense system. Though Depth Charge initially helped Rattrap escape an attack from Rampage, he refused to help [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] when the latter asked for assistance in recovering Sentinel from the Predacons. Depth Charge declared that it was their war, and he had his own war with Rampage to deal with. When he finally decided to help out, the lack of Maximal coordination led to Sentinel being seized for [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. Optimus Primal hauled Depth Charge into line for his unwitting interference, and they came to an agreement that the rogue Maximal would no longer operate purely as a free agent. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard|Changing of the Guard}}

Depth Charge made good on his allegiance to Primal's crew when Megatron led an attack against the ''Ark'' while most of the Maximals were elsewhere. Just as the Predacon leader was about to secure his victory, Depth Charge burst into the volcano and almost single-handedly drove the attackers into retreat. {{storylink|Cutting Edge|Cutting Edge}}

[[Image:CuttingEdge DepthCharge guns.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Where does he get those wonderful bath toys?]]
However, Depth Charge's obsessive nature resurfaced when he came across Cheetor trying to dig out a badly damaged Optimus Primal. Disobeying orders, he followed his scanners to the coordinates of Rampage's indestructible spark, not realising that he was actually detecting the half of Rampage's spark that Megatron was using in his organic [[Transmetal 2|Transmetal 2]] experiment. Only when he faced [[Dinobot II|Dinobot II]], a Transmetal clone of the original [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], did he learn that Rampage's spark inhabited two bodies. Cheetor and Depth Charge worked together to take the alien [[Transmetal driver]] from the organic transmetal apparatus, but were blown away in a massive explosion when Cheetor was caught in the device's overload. Recovering only a small piece of Cheetor's chest plate, Depth Charge assumed his ally had been destroyed and reported to Optimus Primal that the young 'bot had "gone out fighting". Leaving Optimus to deal with his grief, Depth Charge had the alien transmetal driver scanned, then, determined to not allow Megatron to conduct his experiments again, threw it into the lava of the ''Ark's'' volcano. Soon afterward, the duality of Rampage's spark once again proved to be Depth Charge's downfall when he was lured into a trap by Dinobot II. Megatron demanded the Driver device back, but only received sarcasm for his trouble. Before the Predacons could make good on their threats to destroy Depth Charge, a strange, feral beast attacked and easily bested them all before being chased off by Optimus Primal's arrival. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}}

When Cheetor returned and Optimus Primal determined that the strange beast ''was'' Cheetor, changed somehow, the Maximal leader called Depth Charge in for a little chat, demanding to know what really happened on the mountaintop. As usual, Depth Charge told him where he could stick his questions, forcing Primal to resort to his impressive physical strength and size. Depth Charge finally relented when Primal threatened to extract the data personally from the former's core processor, and apologised that he had destroyed the alien device, not knowing what Cheetor had become. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

[[Image:GowiththeFlow DepthCharge flight.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Later, Megatron and Tarantulas teamed up for their latest crazy scheme: a new disruptor ray cannon powered by a "bi-polar energon source", capable of destroying the Maximals in their base from afar without harming the ''Ark''. However, as the energy source was installed without adequate shielding, the Predacons couldn't get near the machine they had erected. In order to complete the weapon, Tarantulas suggested "recruiting" the two educated [[Protohumans|protohumans]] on whom he happened to have been spying. Depth Charge arrived to assist Cheetor just as [[Una|Una]] was captured by [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], and he was forced to go on a rescue mission with Rattrap to retrieve the protohuman girl. However, Depth Charge was blasted out of the sky by a low-power test of the disruptor array and had to sit out the rest of the mission on the side of a hill. After Rattrap returned with Una, Depth Charge still hadn't recovered from his damage and had to be pushed into the water so he could transform into beast mode and escape. When Megatron attempted to fire the disruptor cannon, Rattrap and Depth Charge discovered that Una had removed the stabiliser crystal from the cannon, thus rendering it dangerously unstable and causing the destruction of the weapon. In the aftermath, Depth Charge suggested going back to finish off the helpless Predacons, but Rattrap pointed out that they weren't in any condition to pick a fight. As they floated home, Rattrap jokingly pointed his gun at Depth Charge and asked Una if Cheetor ever showed her his recipe for "fried flounder", earning him a bonk on the head from Depth Charge's tail. {{storylink|Go with the Flow|Go with the Flow}}

Depth Charge was on patrol when the Predacons attacked the Maximal base with a remote-controlled Optimus Primal. Megatron sent [[Dinobot II|Dinobot II]] out to dispose of him. {{storylink|Master Blaster|Master Blaster}} Obviously, he failed.

[[Image:BWNemesisPt1 DepthCharge Rampage.jpg|left|250px|thumb|You've sung "Under the Sea" for the last time!]]
After the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]] was destroyed by [[Tigerhawk|Tigerhawk]] {{storylink|Other Victories|Other Victories}}, Depth Charge spotted the Predacons skulking around the late [[Tarantulas|Tarantulas]]'s lair. His lust for vengeance again came to the detriment of the Maximals when he disobeyed Optimus Primal's orders and opened a booby-trapped hatch, resulting in Silverbolt being severely damaged. However, when he was called forth to stop Megatron from launching the legendary [[Decepticon|Decepticon]] warship ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', he followed the order instantly, for even he knew how important it was to stop Megatron. Ironically, it was Rampage who found Depth Charge on this mission and forced him into battle. They fought, their battle intensified by nearby raw [[Energon crystal|Energon crystals]] throughout the terrain.

{{quote|Raw Energon! Right through your twisted spark! Take it! Take it straight to the Pit, you sickening piece of slag!|Depth Charge, to Rampage|"[[Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1]]"}}

As Depth Charge attempted to shove an energon shard into Rampage's spark, Rampage released Depth Charge's hands and laughed maniacally, allowing his rival to destroy the both of them. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}}
{{-}}

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
Depth Charge was observed emerging from the water by [[Magmatron]] and [[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]]. Due to their chronal displacement, they could see him, but he could not see them. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1}}

===''Universe''===
[[Image:Homecoming-depthchargevsblackarachnia.jpg|right|300px|thumb|DO I LOOK LIKE A COP?!]]
When Optimus Primal was brought before [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Primus|Primus]] and told to select any Cybertronians, past or present, to form the foundations of a new army that would take the fight for the multiverse to [[Unicron|Unicron]] himself, Depth Charge was chosen by Primal, along with Rhinox. Depth Charge was less than thrilled about being brought back to life, telling Primal that after his long years of torment, he had finally found peace within the Matrix, only to be dragged back into the fray. He departed from the chamber of Primus, wanting nothing to do with the coming conflict.

Depth Charge was stunned to see the recently reformatted technorganic surface of Cybertron, which he reckoned was finally at peace with itself. Of course, seconds later, he found [[Rattrap|Rattrap]] at the mercy of the Unicron-corrupted [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. Depth Charge drove the spider off, but, now sickened by violence, refused to help any further, despite Rattrap pointing out that something big was clearly afoot.

Retreating into the [[Rust Sea|Rust Sea]], Depth Charge found that he wasn't going to have much choice, as he found himself face-to-face with a legion of Blackarachnia's [[Piranacon (Universe)|Piranacons]]... {{storylink|Homecoming|Homecoming}}

Depth Charge apparently changed his mind at some point and joined [[King Atlas|King Atlas]] in running a secret refugee network within Unicron's body.<ref>Depth Charge's ''Universe'' bio, published in [[Homecoming (issue)|''Universe'' #3]].</ref>

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Depth Charge''' (Ultra Transmetal, 1998/1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-46'''
**''Accessories:'' Torpedo Launcher/Cybershark Drone, 7 "Shrapnel Grenades", 2 "Proton Torpedoes" and Manta Tail/Energon-Cutlass

[[Image:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Eh. Still smells like fish.]]
: Depth Charge transforms into a robotic manta ray and a third "air skimmer" mode. The very end of his tail detaches to form a sword/harpoon. In all modes, his robot chest/manta mouth is a spring-loaded, gravity-fed disc launcher with 7 "Shrapnel Grenade" disks. ("Power pizzas", as [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] calls them.) He comes with a "cybershark" drone-unit that has two spring-loaded missile launchers in its mouth. This drone can attach to Depth Charge's manta/skimmer modes or be used as a hand-held weapon in robot mode.

: As with all of the toys in [[Takara|Takara]]'s ''Beast Wars Metals'' line, the "DEPTH CHARGE" [[Tampograph|tampograph]] was changed to his faction ("CYBERTRON") and the faction sigil.
{{-}}
*'''Depth Charge Vs. Inferno''' (Multi-pack, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-46'''
**''Accessories:'' Torpedo Launcher/Cybershark Drone, 7 "Shrapnel Grenades", 2 "Proton Torpedoes" and Manta Tail/Energon-Cutlass

: During ''Beast Wars Metals'', Depth Charge was available both individually and in a double-pack with Metals [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

===Universe===
[[Image:Depthcharge-universe.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Boba Wett.]]
*'''Depthcharge''' (Ultra, 2004)
**''Accessories:'' Torpedo Launcher/Cybershark Drone, 5 discs, 2 missiles and Manta Tail/Energon-Cutlass

: Depthcharge was [[Redeco|redecoed]] for the ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line into a series of dark drab greens, maroons, and black, with paint-wash effects on his wings. The end result resembles the ''[[Star Wars|Star Wars]]'' character [[Boba Fett|Boba Fett]] and his ship, the ''Slave 1''. The toy had several small changes made for safety reasons. On the main toy, the cephalic lobes (the front manta-ray-mouth thingies) were cast in a much more pliable plastic. The tail of his cybershark drone was also changed to pop off as a separate piece; this also allows it to spin and makes it easier for Depthcharge to hold it in robot mode. The discs were given a much thicker, rounder border as well, and their number was reduced from 7 to 5.
{{-}}
==Notes==
*In the jovial Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', nearly all the characters were given bizarre quirks with the intention of inserting extra "comedy" elements. Depth Charge had a habit of singing "Ito Maki-maki", a Japanese folk song, while transforming. The words translate to "Wind the Thread". (It's a fishing song, ''get it''?)

*Depth Charge's severed head can be seen in the junkyard in the "[[Spark of Darkness|Spark of Darkness]]" episode of ''[[Beast Machines|Beast Machines]]'', precisely 5 minutes and 3 seconds into the episode.

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Maximal/DepthCharge/depthcharge.htm Depth Charge at TFU.info]

{{charstub}}

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]

A Better Mousetrap

2009-05-14T14:10:16Z

128.135.181.69: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=9
|title="A Better Mousetrap"
|image=Better Mousetrap Rattrap button.jpg
|caption=Push the button, Frank.
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|written by=[[Chris Weber]] & [[Karen Willson]]
|directed by=[[J. Falconer]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 8]], 1996
|packaged with=[[Rattrap]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''After the new Sentinel security program malfunctions, Rattrap is trapped alone inside the Maximal base, and must disarm it.'''

:''Japanese title:'' さよならラットル!? (''Sayonara Rattle!?'', "Goodbye Rattle!?")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Better Mousetrap Waspinator.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Guess who?]]
In the caverns beneath the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', Blackarachnia, Waspinator, and Terrorsaur dig a hole to deliver a device that will allow the Predacons to access the [[Maximal]] base unhindered. When Waspinator leaves, Terrorsaur is stuck doing the labor.

On board the ''Axalon'', Rhinox shows a holographic simulation of the ''Axalon'''s new defenses to Rattrap and Primal. Cheetor detects a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] in a [[Sector 19|sector]] of Maximal territory. Primal and Tigatron go to see why Waspinator has been buzzing around the area a lot recently.

[[Image:Better Mousetrap Dinobot.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Curse you Windows 95!]]
Dinobot is unimpressed by how non-lethal the ''Axalon'''s new defenses are. Rattrap activates the defense against Dinobot to display how effective they can be. The enraged Dinobot breaks free from the restraints fastened around him and attacks the rat—but misses and impales the controls for the entire base's defense grid. The console registers the Maximals as intruders, forcing the occupants of the base to vacate. Rattrap stays behind and hides inside of a ventilation shaft so he can figure out how to disable the defenses.

Tigatron and Primal find Waspinator high on sugar and flying around aimlessly. When Primal gets Waspinator's attention, he runs away. Primal chases after, and has a surprisingly hard time keeping up with the hyperactive hornet. Primal returns home to see what irregularities are going on with [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]]. Hunting alone, Tigatron follows Waspinator's scent through a tunnel—the entrance hidden by a holographic projector.

[[Image:Better Mousetrap Rattrap duct.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rattrap has been playing Sonic the Hedgehog games too many times.]]
Inside the ''Axalon'', Rattrap works his away around a pool of [[zero friction fluid]] by surfing over it. He scampers and dances to avoid other defensive systems. His marksman and demolitions expert skills come in useful as he works his way towards the ship's core.

Primal arrives at the ''Axalon'' and meets with the others locked outside. They explain what the situation is and where Rattrap is.

Tigatron finds the three Predacons underground in their excavation operation. He grabs their device and runs away with it. Blackarachnia demands he return it, explaining that the device is an explosive. Tigatron complies and tosses it at the Predacons, who all run away from the machine before it detonates. Tigatron also races away, and when the device explodes, it collapses a huge portion of the land outside of the ''Axalon'', but not harming the ''Axalon'' itself. One battle over, Tigatron meets with the rest of the Maximals.

Rattrap enters the room where Sentinel's core is stored. The internal defenses continue to try to purge him. But before he's terminated, he hits the big red button to deactivate Sentinel.

[[Image:Better Mousetrap Rattrap.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I nominate myself as the new leader.]]
Outside, the shield deactivates. Rhinox determines that this is because Rattrap must have been killed by the haywire defenses. The Maximals sadly say a few words to remember their annoying stinky friend who sacrificed himself trying to save them, and we iris to black.

...until the ''Axalon'' hatch opens, and out comes Rattrap, alive and well, his mission a success.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Rattrap]] (5)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (6)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (7)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (8)
* [[Tigatron]] (9)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (10)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (1)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (2)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm soiled enough already just being around you two."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' doesn't appreciate Waspinator and Terrorsaur for company.

"Waspinator sick of taking orders. Waspinator is greatest of Predacons. Waspinator RULES! heh heh heh"
:—'''Waspinator''' muttering to himself while flying in circles.

"Looks like Waspinator's been on a sugar binge."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' observing the former.

"Oh, man, I'm startin' to sound like Optimus Pinhead."
:—'''Rattrap''' has nothing but respect for his leader.

"Giga-bummer."
:—'''Cheetor's''' pissed that he and the others are locked out.

"This ain't a security grid, it's a gym just for spy-guys like me!"
:—'''Rattrap''' enjoying himself just a little too much.

"Resistance persists. Upgrading program." 
"Oh man, there won't be enough left of me to fill a teaspoon."
:—'''Sentinel''' telling '''Rattrap''' he's slagged.

'''Cheetor:''' Rattrap... gone? No way. I don't believe it. 
'''Optimus Primal:''' He was a difficult Maximal to deal with. At times, impossible. But I'll remember him with honor. 
'''Dinobot:''' I won't disgrace his memory with lies! He was a stinking, omnivorous pestilence! But still, in some perverse way... I shall miss him. 
'''Rhinox:''' Sure, he smelled bad—he was a rat—but he was my best friend.
:—The Maximals memorialize Rattrap with honesty.

==Notes==
* A DVD containing this episode came packaged with Rattrap's 10th Anniversary toy.
* Tigatron's voice actor [[Blu Mankuma]] has his name misspelled as "Blu Mankma" in this episode's credits.
*[[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] emits some of the same sounds used later in ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' for [[Mini-Con]] speak.
* An Optimus Primal POV shot features the [[Cybertronix]] text 'pud loser.'
* For the first time both [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] are completely absent (although Megatron does make an appearance in Rhinox's Sentinel simulation).
* After going missing at the end of the previous episode, Blackarachnia is now back with the Predacons. Maybe she came back off-camera?
* Oh, and by the way, turns out that Rattrap didn't die.
* [[The House that Wheeljack Built!|Deja vu]]?

{{DEFAULTSORT:Better Mousetrap}}
[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Thundercracker (G1)

2009-04-23T20:21:36Z

128.135.181.69: /* Titanium Series */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2}}
{{picsneeded|fictional appearances}}
{{disambig3|Thundercracker}}
:''Thundercracker is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Thundercrackerg1guido.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The blue one. No, the other blue one.]]
'''Thundercracker''' claims the skies as his arena. He looks down in contempt on those who cannot leave the ground — he considers them lesser beings. He will often attack the flightless beings below him for no other reason than to satisfy his scorn.

His superiority in this realm is the only thing he is sure of. Thundercracker is not entirely committed to the Decepticon cause, and even has some seemingly contradictory sympathy for the [[human]]s they terrorize. Fear of retribution from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the influence of his peers is usually enough to bury these doubts. Regardless, he needs constant reassurance that he's where he needs to be. Sometimes, his [[Spark|heart's]] just not in the job.

:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Coup de Tonnerre''' (Thunderclap)
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Lìeh Léi''' (裂雷, "Cracking Thunder") / '''Léi-gōng''' (雷公, "[[wikipedia:Lei Gong|Duke of Thunder]]")
:''Hungarian name:'' '''Villámcsapás''' ("Lightning strike")
:''Italian name:'' '''Vampiro''' ("Vampire")
:''Portuguese name (Portugal comics)'': '''Grande Trovão'''
:''Portugese name (Brazil comics)'': '''Arrasador'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{note|Events from the [[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|UK-only]] comic stories are in italics.}}
[[Image:Skywarpthundercrackerintroduction.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Thundercracker is the one that is not Skywarp.]]
Thundercracker was one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's]] troops who attacked the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] during its mission to clear a path for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] through an asteroid field. He was deactivated when it crashed on [[Earth]], and he lay dormant for four million years. When he and his fellow Decepticons awoke, Thundercracker was given a new [[alternate mode]], that of an Earth jet. {{storylink|The Transformers (comic issue)|The Transformers}} He aided the Decepticons in their building of their new base constructed of parts from [[Harrison Nuclear Power Plant]] and joined in their attack on [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'s auto repair shop. After the successful abduction of Sparkplug Witwicky, Thundercracker, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] defended their base from [[Autobots]], though [[Gears]] and [[Spider-Man]] were able to sneak through and rescue Sparkplug. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!|Prisoner of War!}}

''On another occasion, he and Skywarp made a strafing run on two Autobot spies, [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. Jazz was deafened and blasted off the road, but Sunstreaker led them into a human military zone, prompting Megatron to call them back to base. {{storylink|Perchance to Dream}}''

Though Sparkplug Witwicky was able to devise a way for the Decepticons to convert Earth fuel into a usable substance, he also poisoned the result, so Thundercracker and his fellow Decepticons were immobilized at the climax of their would-be final battle with the Autobots. {{storylink|The Last Stand}} The Decepticon [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] took command of the Decepticons and the Ark shortly thereafter, and nursed Thundercracker and his comrades back to full health. Thundercracker may have helped Shockwave attempt to capture and brainwash [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] into a Decepticon, or it may have been Skywarp. It's hard to tell. {{storylink|Plight of the Bumblebee!}}

He served the Decepticon cause up until he was deactivated while battling [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and placed in prison stasis at Autobot headquarters. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

''Like Starscream and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], he revived early and soon quickly escaped from the Ark. He, Frenzy and Shockwave were then temporarily displaced to [[Limbo]] when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] time-jumped from 2006. {{storylink|Target 2006}}''

During a massive battle between the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth's moon, Thundercracker and the other Decepticons held in stasis aboard the Ark were liberated by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and subsequently brought back on-line. {{storylink|Totalled!}} Much later, Thundercracker attacked an [[Underbase]]-powered Starscream in [[Tokyo]], but both he and Skywarp were destroyed by their former flying partner. {{storylink|Dark Star|Dark Star!}}

====''Generation 2''====
Thundercracker was active on Earth during the Decepticons' major offensive against the human population, and was present when Megatron stole the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] from Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} He later served in the Tykos raid, albeit in a menial role.

Starscream thinks he's a moron. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

====''Classics''====
After being revived from a state of near death, Thundercracker couldn't bring himself to serve with Starscream, the bot who killed him, and so he joined [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon's]] Decepticon faction instead of his old leader Megatron's group. Of course, he ended up unable to control himself due to the [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shells]] of his latest maniacal boss, [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]], so...tough break. To make matters worse, he had to listen to [[Weirdwolf]]. Even under Bug Bite's control, he threatened bodily harm if Weirdwolf didn't shut up.

Under Bug Bite's control, he fired a cerebro-shell at Skywarp, and was forced to help enslave Megatron and his forces. He was liberated by the interference of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], but there is no proof that he survived the battle. {{storylink|Games of Deception|Games of Deception}}

[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] thinks he survived, and is probably being punished. Dreadwind was only able to bring Weirdwolf and Bug bite with him, so Thundercracker, Dirge and Thrust were out of luck. {{storylink|Withered Hope}}

===Cartoon continuity===
====Generation 1 cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[John Stephenson]], ''[[Wally Burr]]'' (English), [[Yutaka Shimaka]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Tetrajet seekers.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Cybertron alt-mode (on the right). Out of all the pre-earth alt modes, these pyramid jets seem to be the only ones anyone really cares about.]]
Thundercracker was one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's]] elite warriors, participating in the attack on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and joining the rest of the Earth-bound Transformers in their several-million-year nap under an inactive volcano. He awoke when the rest of the Decepticons did, and took part in their attempts to gather [[Energon (G1)|energon]] and escape the planet [[Earth]], which he loathed for being too "flat". It was he and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] who spotted the first "potential Autobot", when in fact they had discovered the planet's native inhabitants, two [[human]]s, in an unliving vehicle. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

[[Image:Thundercrackerg1.jpg|left|180px|thumb|FLINTSTOOOOONE!!!]]
One of the few things he seemed to loathe even more than the world he was stranded on was the attitude of his commander, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Thundercracker often started fights with the [[Air Commander]], usually over whether or not Megatron's latest plan was a waste of time (Thundercracker took Megatron's side). At one point, Thundercracker's distaste for "that geeky Starscream" became so strong that he was willing to let [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] destroy one of the Decepticons' greatest weapons, just in the hopes that Starscream would get blamed for it! {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}} Despite these brushes with treachery, however, Thundercracker just never had it in him to do anything more than complain about his fellow Decepticons.

Thundercracker was present for the Decepticon assault on [[Autobot City]] in 2005. After the battle, the injured Thundercracker was tossed out of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] with the rest of the injured and weakened warriors, who were jettisoned for ballast in order to preserve fuel.

[[Image:TFTM Thundercracker.jpg|right|250px|thumb|NAZGUUUUL!!]]
That was not, however, entirely the end of Thundercracker's story. [[Unicron]] was waiting in space for a chance like this, and when the newly reborn [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] needed some new troops to command, Thundercracker was among the old Decepticons chosen to use as raw materials. His body was used to create [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and was thus given a new lease on life. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Later [[Octane]] would show concern when he ran into a [[Decepticon Crypt]] to hide from Cyclonus, the Sweeps and Scourge and found a statue of Thundercracker there. After paying his respects and apologizing for the intrusion, Octane decided it would be better to hide behind someone else's statue. It is funny to note he may have visited his own grave. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}}
{{-}}

====''Robot Masters'' online comic====
{{charstub}}

===S.T.A.R.S. pack-in flyers===
[[Image:PackIn HaveTheDecepticons Inside1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Somebody told him the femmebots are all into vampires these days.]]
A [[S.T.A.R.S. continuity|series of recruitment messages]] sent by the Autobots to [[human]] allies featured Thundercracker as a recurrent bogeyman. He first appeared in the story of [[Johnny]], a member of [[S.T.A.R.S.]] who spotted Thundercracker draining the energy from the boy's town. Despite all other power being knocked out, Johnny was able to activate his [[Command Center]] and summon an Autobot squad. {{storylink|Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?|Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?}} However, even they were somewhat affected by Thundercracker's siphoning, and just as Johnny was preparing to issue orders, his Command Center went dead and the walls around him began to shake. {{storylink|Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?}}

[[Image:PackIn RodimusPrimeRemembers Inside2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Greatest battle of all time, and Reflector takes the picture when my damn wings are still down. Thanks, buddy."]]

The Autobot messages ended that story there, leaving the outcome unknown. But in later messages, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] would recall what he considered [[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction|the Transformers' greatest battle on Earth]], in which the only enemy combatants were Megatron and Thundercracker. The two Decepticons set up an ambush for an Autobot convoy searching for a site on which to build [[Autobot City]]. As the battle erupted, Thundercracker again employed his energy-draining attack (described here as a "[[force field]]"). {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}} Optimus Prime ordered [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] to retreat out of the weapon's range and get help, but as they left, Thundercracker pursued. {{storylink|Transformers Combat Data}}

[[Image:Theautobotsareunderattack.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The match-up no one demanded!]]

Again, the story was cut short, but it would not be the last time Thundercracker was said to tangle with that particular group of Autobots. The final S.T.A.R.S. recruitment message told of [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] discovering that the squad was out scouting for new energy sources, and Thundercracker was sent on a sneak-attack run. The message warned that if the recipient failed to help out by joining S.T.A.R.S., the Autobots might be destroyed. {{storylink|The Autobots Are Under Attack!}}

{{note|Thundercracker's consistent use of an energy-draining weapon is unique to this [[micro-continuity]]. It seems to make him an incredibly dangerous foe; however, given that all of this is literally Autobot propaganda, the "[[Wikipedia:Unreliable narrator|unreliable narrator]]" factor is worth consideration.}}

{{-}}

===''Machine Wars'' toy bio===
The mysterious [[Machine Wars]] were a tumultuous time for Thundercracker. At long last he was convinced of and committed to the truth of the Decepticon cause, but Thundercracker now ironically found himself in open rebellion against Megatron's leadership of the faction. It is unknown what events lead to his reversal of heart about the Decepticons and his being branded a "Rebel Warrior."

{{note|Since no fictional backstory has ever been established for the Machine Wars line it is possible that it is set in some alternate reality where this was simply Thundercracker's nature, but given that the rest of the characters are clearly their classic G1-selves unrevealed events/character development seem more likely explanations.}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{note|Events from the [[Keepers Trilogy]] novels are in italics.}}
One of the first Decepticons recruited by Megatron. Early in Megatron's scheming, Thundercracker was sent to Sector Zero-Six with Skywarp and Starscream. On the way, Starscream unintelligently leaked the plan to Grimlock. {{storylink|DW Preview Special 2002}} During the war, Thundercracker served under Shockwave during the Dark Ages, when Megatron was missing and believed dead. {{storylink|The War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Thundercracker was one of several Decepticon invaders on-board the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when it crashed into [[Earth]] four million years ago while the Autobot ship was clearing an asteroid in the path of Cybertron. He was reactivated in 1984 with the rest of the Transformers, and fought at Megatron's side until the Decepticons were ultimately defeated. In 2002, he was captured and reprogrammed by arms dealer [[Lazarus|Adam 'Lazarus' Rook]] alongside many other Cybertronians. Lazarus intended to rent out the services of the enslaved robots to various terrorist groups. In a demonstration of their power to a group of prospective clients, Thundercracker participated in an attack on the Arctic division of the Smitco Oil Refinery by blowing something up. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2}}

After Megatron reactivated himself, he freed his Decepticon subordinates in order to put forward his plans to infect Earth with a metallic virus of doom. To pass the time while this happened, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp busied themselves by tearing apart the Autobot [[Mini Vehicle]] team. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3}} Thundercracker later participated in Megatron's attack on San Francisco, where he followed Starscream's orders to maintain formation and drop cluster bombs on the Autobot giant [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], forcing the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to split into their separate component robots. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4}} Thundercracker stood watch over the defeated Autobots while Megatron tried to persuade [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to help the Decepticons conquer Earth. After some human firefighters distracted the Decepticons long enough for Optimus Prime to free the Autobots, Thundercracker was presumably beaten up and escaped when Superion sacrificed himself to stop a nuclear missile launched by rogue US General [[Robert Hallo]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6}}

''Oddly enough, Thundercracker turned to weapons smuggling after Megatron vanished and the Decepticons were left leaderless, working with Mexican arms dealers south of the border. He was moored at [[Atahulpa Aeropuerto de Mesa Verde]], getting his cargo hold loaded with guns, when [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] sieged the tiny airport. As his human allies scattered, Thundercracker transformed and engaged the Autobots with his drone missile launchers. One of the guided projectiles nearly blasted Prowl in the back, but Bumblebee knocked it off course...right into a tanker filled with jet fuel. The resulting explosion was catastrophic, and threw the Autobots for a loop. Thundercracker was prepared to finish off Prowl when the renegade [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] named [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived on the scene. Fresh for battle, Grimlock easily defeated Thundercracker, battering him from head to toe before knocking him into the airport terminal. {{storylink|Hardwired|Hardwired}}''

{{note|Thundercracker's smuggling operation may have been connected to Starscream supplying advanced weapons technology to his human servants in [[Las Vegas]], but this was never made clear.}}
''Recovering from his injuries, Thundercracker joined up with Starscream and his forces in "[[Las Vegas|New Centurion]]" (formerly Las Vegas) some time before Megatron returned to Earth with the nigh-invincible aliens known as the [[Keepers]] in tow. He got another chance at Prowl and Bumblebee while fighting on the Strip, but the Autobots were better prepared this time and Thundercracker was brought down by Prowl's wire-guided missiles and crashed in front of Caesar's Palace. He revived in time to join Soundwave in double-teaming Grimlock, who had also come in the assault on Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Thundercracker once again fell before the Dinobot's superior might after only a few blows. He stayed under Starscream's command after Megatron returned, remaining in Las Vegas while the former Decepticon leader and those loyal to him quit the city. This only led to Thundercracker being captured with the rest of Starscream's Decepticons when their leader was killed by the Keepers and reanimated as a host body for their awesome power. Thundercracker, Skywarp and the others were trapped beneath a massive energy field, like mice in a cage to the god-like aliens.''

''The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] eventually dug a tunnel to freedom, and Thundercracker's group of Decepticons reunited with Megatron, working with the Autobots against the Keepers. Thundercracker joined [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and the Autobot [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] on air patrol during the fight with the Keepers, strafing the aliens and their puppets, [[Bluestreak]] and Starscream. He survived the battle with the Keepers (not to mention the nuclear missile launched by the American government) thanks to Optimus Prime super-charging the [[Matrix]] with a pool of newly discovered energon. {{storylink|Annihilation}}''

''Thundercracker began working for Megatron again, and was present in the Nevada desert when the Autobots and Decepticons confronted the United States military. Thanks to their airborne tactics, Thundercracker and Skywarp did significant injury to the troops and survived the [[deconstructionite]] assault virtually unscathed. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

After [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had defeated Megatron and brought the Decepticons back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Thundercracker and Skywarp spent their time relaxing and bathing, though Thundercracker was skeptical of Shockwave's new order, and compared its promised benefits to the benefits originally promised by Megatron. {{storylink|Cold War}}

Starscream eventually brought the Nemesis crew back to Earth and led them in a battle against the Autobots who had stayed behind there. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Thundercracker was among those captured by the Autobots, but was eventually freed in exchange for Starscream's assistance in fighting against [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. They were only given half-power, though, and had to stumble out of the Autobot camp in an extremely weakened condition. {{storylink|Skyfire (comic issue)|Skyfire}} Hardly the sort of leadership they had in mind, Thundercracker and the other Decepticons eagerly re-accepted Megatron as their leader when he returned to Earth and chastised Starscream for his incompetence and treachery. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:MegatronOrigin4 Thundercracker Skywarp.jpg|left|450px|thumb|"When I joined this murderous terrorist group, I wasn't ever intending to shoot at anyone!"]]
Thundercracker and his fellow Seekers were recruited into Megatron's [[Gladiatorial combat|underground fights]] when Soundwave was sent to recruit flight capable warriors. However, Megatron did not intend for them to be pit fighters, but his new warriors. After being given [[weapons systems]] by [[Hook (G1)|Hook]], the Seekers went and kidnapped [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], who was to be executed at Megatron's recruitment rally. However, the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and the Autobots arrived and arrested the whole of them. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}}. After Starscream killed the [[Kaon Council]] and liberated them, Megatron launched his new "Decepticons" in an "Everything burns" offensive on Kaon. Thundercracker and Skywarp were sent to target a ship carrying the wealthy and elite. Thundercracker expressed some reservations about attacking the ship, but Skywarp gave him simple advice: "Don't think. Just do it." {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4}}

[[Image:Infiltration0 Thundercracker.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Tha-Boom, I want you in my room...]]
Millions of years later, Thundercracker operated as part of a Decepticon [[Infiltration protocol|insurgent cell]] that had operated covertly on Earth for at least four years, working to destabilize Earth's governing organizations and create global anarchy. He was known to the Autobots as a professional soldier, in contrast to the likes of the Battlechargers.

He, [[Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] were assigned by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to intercept the human [[Stoker]] and retrieve his [[SM-40]] palmtop PC, containing data on their [[Nebraska]] operation. The team caught up with and killed Stoker outside Phoenix, AZ, but the [[SM-40]] was missing. Thundercracker tracked the device to [[Hunter O'Nion]] and [[Verity Carlo]], but was driven off by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], {{storylink|Infiltration issue 0}} who managed to temporarily lose him and the two [[Battlecharger|Battlechargers]]. After picking Ratchet up again, Thundercracker was later shot down by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 2}} When Megatron arrived on Earth to take command of Starscream's infiltration team, Thundercracker, along with the other Decepticons, were unwilling to stand against him when the Decepticon leader ordered them to stand down. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6}}

After Megatron trashed Starscream, Thundercracker and the other Decepticons were only all too willing to accept Megatron's leadership once again. Thundercracker and Skywarp were sent to destroy the El Jira power plant in the middle east to inflame global tensions and spark a global energy shortage. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2}} During the battle of [[Brasnya]], the sorely-pressed Skywarp teleported Thundercracker in to try and stop [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] from escaping with the [[Georgi Koska]] facimile. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6}}

[[Image:Devastation1 Ruining Everything.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Megatron's lost it! It must be a Tuesday.]]
Thundercracker was among the concerned Decepticons who feared that Megatron had made a serious error in judgement by bringing the destructive [[Sixshot]] to Earth, and so conspired to bring Starscream back into the fold to talk some sense into their leader. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1}} Though outnumbered and outgunned, the Decepticons fought valiantly when the [[Reapers]] attacked, and with a little help from [[Galvatron (G1)|a mysterious combatant]], they managed to defeat the alien invaders. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6}}

Sometime after that (we think), Thundercracker was on Cybertron watching the experiments to create [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. He was outraged by the existence of the [[Insecticon swarm|Swarm]], freakish monsters created as a side-effect, and demanded Megatron euthanised them rather than allowing fellow Decepticons to endure such torturous existence. Megatron, shockingly, didn't give a toss. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7}}

A year on from the Reaper battle, Thundercracker was part of the Decepticon attack on [[New York City]]. Unlike his comrades, he showed no enthusiasm for mindless slaughter and could be seen staring at the devastation Megatron left in his wake. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1}} When Megatron later made his propaganda speech, Thundercracker looked unimpressed. (Having to stand outside when it was pissing down probably didn't help) {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4}}
{{-}}

Thundercracker came to the aid of Skywarp when the latter was being threatened by Bombshell. While Skywarp enjoyed working with his pal Thundercracker again, he also noted that Thundercracker hadn't actually participated in any of the fighting since the initial strike. Thundercracker for his part looked about as depressed as a robot CAN look, suggesting he was unhappy about the invasion plan, or at least the gratuitous death and destruction some of the others had caused. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
* '''Thundercracker''' (Decepticon Jet, 1984/1985/1986/2001/2003/2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''24'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right fists, landing gear, 2 rocket launchers, 2 rockets, 2 "Incendiary Gun" missiles

: {{note|For some reason, the stats on Skywarp's, Starscream's and Thundercracker's tech specs were switched around. Thundercracker was given Skywarp's numbers.}}

[[Image:Redeco.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Thundercracker is the cheap and lazy redeco on the right.]]
: Originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "Jet Robo Acrobat-Type", Thundercracker transforms into an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, sharing his mold with his teammates [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Many parts need to be removed completely from transformation from robot to jet and back, which nowadays is considered a major drawback of the toy. It is difficult to find it complete, as neither mode can hold all the pieces required. There are a few minor mold variations of this toy (common for the first two years of ''Transformers'', really), the most immediately noticeable being that early versions did not have visible "clip-tabs" on the inner face of the gauntlets.

: In 1986, he was made available as a mail-away item (as he was no longer shipping to retail shelves) in the "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]" flier packed with most boxed ''Transformers'' toys. He cost $10 and two [[Robot Point|robot points]].

: In 2001, Thundercracker was given a short-run re-issue by [[Takara]] as a convention-[[exclusive]] item. The toy would later be more extensively released as part of the [[Hasbro]] [[Commemorative Series]] line, though due to US [[For safety reasons|toy-safety regulations]], his missiles were made extra-long.

: In August, 2008, Thundercracker was reissued with Skywarp as number 11 in Takara's [[Encore|Transformers Encore]] line. This version used a slightly different shade of blue and had painted stripes and symbols instead of using stickers.

: This mold is also used by [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]].

{{-}}

* '''Thundercracker (Action Master)''' (Action Master Exo-suit, 1991)
**''Accessories'': "Solo Mission Jet Plane", 2 missiles

[[Image:Thundercrackeram.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Do not look directly at him, unless you have sunglasses and/or Pepto Bismol handy.]]
: Released only in European and Australasian markets, once again Thundercracker was a [[redeco]] of Starscream, a non-transforming action figure that combined elements of both the character's cartoon model and toy-form. Like all [[Action Master|Action Masters]], Thundercracker was a non-transformable action figure with a transformable accessory — in his case, a Solo Mission Jet Plane vehicle that converted into [[Action Master Exo-suit| Exo-suit]] battle armor. However, unlike most of Thundercracker's appearances, Action Master Thundercracker is not in his traditional blue and silver colors, but rather in [[Neon|magenta, purple, blue, gold, and two shades of green]]. ''(Oy.)''

{{-}}

===Machine Wars===
* '''Thundercracker''' (Basic, 1996)
**''Accessories'': Two-part rifle

[[Image:MWThundercracker toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|No, seriously, this guy is Thundercracker.]]
: Sharing a mold once again with [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], Thundercracker transforms into a green Dassault Rafale fighter jet with spring-loaded one-step transformation from jet to robot. The two halves of his rifle store in his lower legs. Like all ''[[Machine Wars]]'' toys, Thundercracker was an [[exclusive]] to Kay-Bee stores and related stores like Toy Liquidators.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Beast Wars II (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Dirge (BWII)|Dirge]], ''[[Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Skyfire (RID)|Skyfire]], ''[[Robot Masters]]'' [[Wing Stun]], and the "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]" version of [[Waspinator]].

{{-}}

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
* '''Thundercracker''' (2004)

: Part of the third wave of ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' product (dubbed wave "2.5" and available only at CVS stores in Japan), Thundercracker is ''again'' a redeco of Starscream. Like all toys in the line, Thundercracker is a tiny, even more simplified version of the original toy, transforming into an F-15 fighter jet. These toys were sold in "blind-packed" boxes, so you could not know which one you had until you actually opened the box. To complicate matters further, Thundercracker was a [[chase figure]], one of two in his wave (the other was a cartoon-colored version of Optimus Prime's trailer).

: The same mold is used by ''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' Skywarp and Thrust.

{{-}}

===Robot Masters===
* '''Skywarp & Thundercracker''' (Multi-pack, 2005)
**''Accessories'': 2 rifles, 2 missile pods

[[Image:RobotMastersThundercracker.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Light blue? Totally neon.]]
: ''[[Robot Masters]]'' Thundercracker is a redeco of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] from the same series, a smaller yet more advanced version of the original toy, adding more articulation and reducing the amount of [[part-forming]] required. He was available only in a two-pack with [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], which also came with a Decepticon sigil pin and chromed missile pods. This set was the very last product released in the ''Robot Masters'' line, and wasn't even strictly sold in a box from that series; instead, it used an e-Hobby Generation 1 reissue box, with a small "''Robot Masters''" sticker in the corner tab noting its origin from the front.

{{-}}

===Titanium Series===
[[Image:TitaniumHeroesWWThundercracker.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I don't think I have enough little wings on my shoulders.]]
* '''Thundercracker''' (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2006)

: [[Titanium Series]] Thundercracker is based upon his appearance in [[Dreamwave]]'s ''[[The War Within]]''. He transforms into a Cybertronian 'tetrajet', as reimagined by [[Don Figueroa]]. As with all 6-inch Titanium Cybertron Heroes, he is constructed mostly of fully painted die-cast metal.

: This mold was redecoed into ''[[War Within]]'' Starscream, Sunstorm and Skywarp.

: Yes. Thundercracker was here first.
{{-}}

[[Image:Titanium-toy RMThundercracker.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Complete with rocket exhaust. Or possibly Goo. Or possibly oh dear god please let it be rocket exhaust or Goo.]]
* '''Thundercracker''' (3" Robot Masters, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Display stand

: A redeco of "Robot Masters" Starscream, Thundercracker is a small, non-transforming die-cast metal figurine based on his cartoon [[character model]]. He is sculpted holding a gun in his left hand and stretching out his right arm, while using his feet-jets to fly up.
{{-}}

===Timelines===
*'''Games of Deception!''' (Multi-pack, 2007)
**''Accessories'': Left & right launchers, 2 missiles

[[Image:Classics Thundercracker Toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You want me, but you can't have me!]]
: Thundercracker is part of the ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]''-themed [[BotCon 2007]] box set, along with [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bugbite]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. Thundercracker is a [[redeco]] of the ''Classics'' Starscream toy using the modified version first seen with Skywarp.

: ''Classics'' Thundercracker is a faithful reproduction of his original toy, but with modern standards of toy engineering, transformation, sculpting detail and articulation. He transforms into an F-15 Eagle, but has the nose of an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. His color scheme is inspired by the original figure released in 1984, but with a shade of blue closer to that of the original [[Diaclone]] version.

: In robot mode, Thundercracker is essentially a very detailed version of his cartoon robot mode. He is armed with two null-ray missile launchers which are so large that they restrict his arm movement due to them bumping into his wings.

: There were only 1500 ''Classics'' Thundercracker figures produced.

:This mold was used for Henkei! Thundercracker.

{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Thundercracker toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Rejoice! Oh no wait, complain.]]
*'''Thundercracker''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile launchers (left and right), 2 missiles

: ''[[Henkei]]'' Thundercracker is a redeco of ''Henkei'' [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. He features a metallic flake blue version of his cartoon clour scheme, rather than his darker blue ''Generation 1'' toy colour scheme. ''Henkei'' Thundercracker and his fellow [[Seekers|Seeker]] ''Henkei'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] was released in September 2008 as an exclusive through Ganbo Store.

:Soon after release, there were numerous complaints from both Japanese and Western collectors about the poor quality control for both Thundercracker and Skywarp. Thundercracker in particular suffered from a widespread issue where his missile launchers did not fit into the holes in his shoulders, due to the holes being too big. Some reported both toys suffering misassembly issues such as having two left or two right thighs.

{{-}}

===Masterpiece===
[[Image:MP Thundercracker toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hey, at least I'm ''meant'' to be [[Starscream (G1) toys#Masterpiece|blue]].]]
* '''Thundercracker''' (2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-7'''

:A redeco of Masterpiece Starscream, [[Masterpiece]] Thundercracker was released in Japan in November 2008. He comes with all the accessories of the previous Seekers including the display stand, [[Doctor Arkeville]], stickers and the clip to hold gun-mode Megatron that came with Masterpiece Convoy while in jet-mode. Also like Starscream and Skywarp, Thundercracker features two swappable faces; the normal emotionless face which is retooled from Starscream's original one, and a new growling one which appears to be an attempt to make him seem very angry... very angry indeed. Unfortunately the effect leaves him looking like he's on a trip to the dentist. He is covered with a glossy finish just like Skywarp.

:Masterpiece Thundercracker features an assembly error: His left and right pectorals are flipped. This misassembly does not affect transformation at all, and is really only noticeable when compared to prior Masterpiece Seekers. The 2008 pressing of Masterpiece Skywarp also features this part swap.

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroesjazzthundercracker.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Now who's geeky?]]
* '''Jazz Vs Thundercracker''' (2007)

: A redeco of Robot Heroes Starscream, Thundercracker is a two inch high figure sculpted in a [[super deformed]] style and articulated at the shoulders. He was available in a two-pack with [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. This mold was later redecoed as Skywarp in the "Decepticon Sneak Attack" set.

{{-}}

===Palisades===
* '''Thundercracker''' (Palisades, 2007)

:A redeco of the Starscream statue, Thundercracker is a six inches tall statue with articulated head and arms. He could stand normally or use a stand to take on a "hovering" pose.

===Transformers - Mini Bust===
* '''Thundercracker''' (Diamond Select, 2008)

:An NYCC [[exclusive]], Thundercracker was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 400 pieces.

==Notes==
* The mold for ''Machine Wars'' Thundercracker was originally developed for ''[[Generation 2]]'', but was canceled when that line went under. It is unknown if it was intended to be a new character or a recurring one, though odds are it would have been later [[Redeco|redecoed]] into a recurring character if the former was true.
*Despite his profile data, there are no documented cases of Thundercracker being sympathetic towards humans. Unless [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|this]] counts.

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Thundercracker/thundercracker.htm Thundercracker at TFU.info]

*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Thundercracker Thundercracker's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

*[http://www.toybin.org/search.php?q=1984+Decepticon+Thundercracker ToyBin Thundercracker Toy Gallery]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Machine Wars characters]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Robot Masters characters]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]

Grimlock (G1)

2009-04-23T17:26:07Z

128.135.181.69: /* IDW Beast Wars continuity */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|maximal}}
{{disambig3|Grimlock}}
:''Me Grimlock am [[Autobot|Autobot]] [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] in [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] and [[Maximal|Maximal]] in [[Beast Wars|Beast Wars]] portion of the Generation 1 [[Continuity family|continuity family]].''

[[Image:Grimlockg1.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me Grimlock draw self-portrait.]]
Some Autobots wonder why '''Grimlock''' is even on their side. His disposition is much more suited to the [[Decepticons|Decepticons]].
After all, he values power and strength over wisdom and compassion, and
furthermore, he doesn't really get along with most Autobots. When faced
with a problem, his usual responses are to slice it with his [[Energo-sword|energo-sword]],
tear it to pieces with his bare hands, or outright eat it. He is more
willing to accept casualties than most of the Autobot leadership, and
doesn't seem particularly concerned about the [[Human|fleshies]] either. These things, coupled with his dislike of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], have led to a defection or two on Grimlock's part. He'd have no problem offing the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] if he thought he could get away with it, though.

What the Autobots don't realize is that the only thing he hates
more than weakness is those who abuse their strength, meaning when push
comes to shove, Grimlock will always fall in on the right side of the
fence. And despite their disagreements, Grimlock holds a respect for
Prime's strength and leadership.
Grimlock is the leader of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]],
a small but powerful strike squad. Grimlock himself is extremely strong
and durable, and is one of the few Transformers who can not only stand
toe-to-toe with Optimus Prime and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]],
but actually give them a run for their money. Despite his strength and
prowess, Grimlock continually struggles with his pronouns.

{{bigquote|Me, Grimlock BADASS!|Grimlock on himself|''[[The War Within|The War Within]]''}}

{{note|Grimlock's intelligence level in the cartoon was substantially lower than in most of his other portrayals. See the entries below for details.}}

:''Preliminary names:'' '''Tyrannobot''' / '''Trapjaw''' / '''Jawbreaker''' / '''Tyrex'''
:''Chinese name:'' '''Gāng Sǔo''' (鋼鎖, "Steel Lock")
:''French-Canadian name (G1)'': '''La Menace''' ("The Threat")
:''French-Canadian name (BW)'': '''Menace''' ("Threat")
:''Hungarian name (The Movie):'' '''Mogorva''' ("Grimlock") in one of the dubs
:''Italian name:'' '''Tiran'''
:''Portuguese name (Brazil comics):'' '''Trancoso''' / '''Grunhido''' ("Grunt")
:''Spanish name (BW):'' '''Ferozaurio'''

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon===
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Gregg Berger|Gregg Berger]] (English), [[Takurō Kitagawa|Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese), [[Edgar Fruitier|Edgar Fruitier]] (French Canadian)

{{Note|In the cartoon series, Grimlock, as with the other Dinobots, was more dimwitted than in most other continuities. For instance, the Dinobots originally decide to help the Autobots, because "them have face like this on chest...", referring to the Autobot sigil. Pre-movie, this lack of intelligence is usually coupled together with their great power to make them dangerous wild cards. Post-movie, however, Grimlock and the Dinobots are generally played as just plain dumb for comic relief.}}

{{bigquote|You don't frighten me, you mechanical throwbacks!|Megatron}}
{{bigquote|Good, Megatron! We love stupid enemies.|Grimlock|"[[Atlantis, Arise!|Atlantis, Arise!]]"}}

[[Image:Grimhead.JPG|left|250px|thumb|It take while for me Grimlock to settle into character model.]]
When mysterious tremors shook the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s
investigation revealed strange objects behind a rock wall. After
removing the wall, the Autobots found a cave full of dinosaur bones.
The Autobots decided the idea of dinosaurs was interesting and
researched the prehistoric beasts. Wheeljack and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] asked Optimus Prime if they could build robot dinosaurs, and Prime agreed this was a good idea, only God knows why. Grimlock, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
were built and unveiled to the Autobots, but the Dinobots were
dimwitted and violent, and they attacked their makers, Frankenstein's
monster style. Grimlock blasted [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]
with his fire-breath, damaging it. Optimus Prime decreed that the
Dinobots "must be destroyed." However, Wheeljack convinced him instead
to lock them away, and the trio were herded back into the cave and
buried alive.

[[Image:Grimlockskywarp.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Mmm, taste like chicken!]]
Later, the Decepticons took over a hydroelectric plant, and when the
Autobots arrived to stop them, the Autobots were defeated and captured.
Wheeljack, Ratchet, and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]],
left behind at Autobot base to finish repairing Teletraan I, decided to
go against Optimus' orders and release the Dinobots, but not before
upgrading their brains to be smarter and more obedient. After the
Dinobots were reactivated, Wheeljack asked them to save their friends.
Grimlock said he would obey... this time. They successfully attacked
the Decepticons and freed the imprisoned Autobots. Optimus forgave
Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Bumblebee for disobeying his orders and
welcomed the victorious Dinobots back to the Autobots. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

After a meteor surging with unknown energies struck the Earth,
Optimus ordered the three Dinobots to guard it. He was so pleased with
the Dinobots he asked Ratchet and Wheeljack to build two more.
Meanwhile, Megatron was frustrated at the Dinobots' success and sent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
to probe them for potential weaknesses. Reading the Dinobots' minds, he
discovered that Grimlock was arrogant and believed he would make a
better leader than the weak Optimus Prime. Megatron decided to use this
to his advantage and approached them himself. He played to Grimlock's
jealousy and agreed with him that the strongest should be leader. The
Dinobots declared Optimus Prime their enemy.

[[Image:Grimlockapologize.jpg|left|180px|thumb|After he stop shaking hand, me Grimlock going to eat him!]]
Realizing the meteorite was due to explode, Optimus left to warn the
Dinobots, but they attacked him. Instead of destroying him completely,
however, Grimlock carried him to the Decepticons, who had stolen the
meteorite during the battle. Megatron was angry that Optimus Prime was
not destroyed, and Starscream suggested that despite Grimlock's
arrogance, inside he was still compassionate (or as compassionate as
Grimlock could get). Grimlock didn't take this well and blasted
Starscream right in the chest. They were interrupted by the two new
Dinobots, [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]],
whom Megatron ordered the original three Dinobots to attack. At the
climax of the battle, the meteorite exploded, but Optimus Prime pushed
Grimlock out of the way, saving him. Grimlock realized the error of his
ways, and the Dinobots forced the Decepticons into retreat. Grimlock
then apologized for his jealousy. {{storylink|War of the Dinobots|War of the Dinobots}}

{{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 2}} 
{{storylink|Countdown to Extinction}} 
{{storylink|Heavy Metal War}} 

The Decepticons joined forces with [[Sub-Atlantica|Sub-Atlantica]] and staged a full-scale attack on [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]].
The Autobots were overwhelmed, forcing Wheeljack to call for the
Dinobots' assistance. Grimlock expressed his frustration at being
called whenever the Autobots were in over their heads. With their help,
the Autobots were able to overturn the Decepticons' advance and plunge
the now-burning city of Sub-Atlantica back into the sea. {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!|Atlantis, Arise!}} This pattern of the Autobots' dependence on the Dinobots repeated when the artificial intelligence [[TORQ III|TORQ III]],
put under Decepticon control, turned all machines against Mankind. With
every piece of help he and his troops gave, Grimlock was never slow to
add a scathing remark about the inabilities of the Autobots. {{storylink|Day of the Machines|Day of the Machines}} That said, he was not unwilling to admit the failings of his own troops, either. He willingly took them to the time-displaced "[[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]", where they trained in the wilderness {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} and helped stop a Decepticon raid on the prehistoric paradise, with Grimlock inspiring the native [[Dinosaur|dinosaurs]] to help them fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 2|Dinobot Island, Part 2}}

{{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[Image:DesertionDinobotsPt1 Grimlock bites Megs.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hmmm...Guns.]]
The final straw for Grimlock came when he and the Dinobots were
injured in a Decepticon trap at an airfield. Enraged, Grimlock refused
to take orders from Optimus Prime any more and led the Dinobots away
from the Ark. When the Autobots began to suffer from Cybertonium
deficiency, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and his girlfriend [[Carly|Carly]]
attempted to persuade the Dinobots—who continued to function perfectly,
as they had been built on Earth without Cybertonium—to steal some of
the mineral from a Decepticon shipment coming in from Cybertron.
Although Grimlock was willing to let the Autobots die and decided to
crush the humans, he recognized the Cybertron connection to the
Cybertonium. Instead of securing the element, Grimlock opted to lead
the Dinobots to Cybertron itself, where they were captured by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} He altered the Dinobots' [[Circuits|memory circuits]]
and put them to work in the Cybertonium mines, where they remained
until Spike and Carly repaired them. Grimlock and Spike faked having an
argument, compelling the guards to lower the energy fences to remove
the troublesome humans—only to be obliterated by the Dinobots. Grimlock
led the group back to Earth, where the Dinobots agreed to follow
Prime's orders again—until such time as Grimlock didn't feel like it. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:TFTM Grimlock Quintessa.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Me Grimlock mad that name "[[T-Wrecks|T-Wrecks]]" already taken. (Maybe by me Grimlock.)]]
In the year 2005, Grimlock and the other Dinobots were stationed on
the Autobots' Moonbase 1, seemingly overseeing weapons production. When
word arrived from Earth that Autobot City was suffering a massive
Decepticon attack, they traveled to Earth with Optimus Prime and were
dispatched by the Autobot leader to take on [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]].
Though they attacked fearlessly, the giant combiner robot was too much
for them, shrugging off their attacks and overwhelming them in short
order.

After fleeing [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s attack on [[Autobot City|Autobot City]], the Dinobots, along with [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], crashed on [[Quintessa|Quintessa]], and were separated from the two Autobots. During their search, the Dinobots met [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]].
Grimlock initially didn't like the rhyming little robot, but soon grew
quite fond of him, letting him ride on his back. Eventually, the
Dinobots managed to locate where Kup and Hot Rod were being held by the
planet's rulers, the [[Quintessons|Quintessons]].
The Dinobots entered the Quintessons' execution room with all the grace
they could muster, and Grimlock immediately declared his desire to
munch metal. After the Dinobots saved Hot Rod and Kup from the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]],
a Quintesson judge ordered the Sharkticons to execute the Dinobots.
Grimlock stomped his foot on the ground and ordered the Sharkticons to
execute the Quintessons. They complied with the Dinobot's order.
Heading for the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], Grimlock watched the Autobots and the [[Junkion|Junkions]] celebrate their new friendship. The party was ended when a Junkion [[Kiss|kissed]]
Grimlock, causing him to reassert his status as "king". Later, Grimlock
made one of his life's greatest accomplishments by literally kicking
the butt of [[Unicron|a deity]], only to realize shortly afterwards that he needs a new strategy. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie|The Transformers: The Movie}}

[[Image:Madman Paradise Grimlock drinks.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock hope they not [[Grimlock (G1) toys|immortalize this in plastic]].]]
By the Earth year 2005, it seemed apparent that Grimlock had
undergone some degree of a personality change, becoming more childish
and petulant, rather than brutish and stubborn. Throughout 2006, he
regularly participated in missions with his fellow Autobots rather than
the other Dinobots, battling on the planets of [[Chaar|Chaar]], [[Goo|Goo]], [[Dread|Dread]] and [[Eurythma|Eurythma]].

{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} 
{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} 
{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} 
{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} 
{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} 
{{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} 
{{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

Grimlock helped to sniff out the "[[Dinosaur transform static|dinosaur transform static]]" that implicated [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] in the theft of world monuments {{storylink|Thief in the Night|Thief in the Night}} and later, and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] were transported to the other-dimensional realm of [[Menonia|Menonia]], where Grimlock was duped into fighting on the side of the tyrannical Quintesson [[Mara-Al-Utha|Mara-Al-Utha]] {{storylink|Madman's Paradise|Madman's Paradise}}.

{{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}} 
{{storylink|Only Human}}

Later in the year, when Decepticon leader Galvatron had Cybertron
infused with function-inverting anti-electrons, a dose of the particles
gave Grimlock super-intelligence. During a mission to [[Unicron|Unicron]]'s disembodied head, where the Autobots were outmatched by the new Decepticon [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], Grimlock used components of Unicron's head to construct the [[Technobot|Technobots]] to battle them. Even combined as [[Computron|Computron]],
the Technobots felt they could not match the Terrorcons, until Grimlock
transferred his super-intelligence into Computron, reverting to his old
self and allowing the Technobots to claim victory. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain|Grimlock's New Brain}}

[[Image:CallofthePrimitives Grimlock Primacron.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock threaten space monkey into giving me Grimlock energon wine.]]
Grimlock's greatest victory came when he and a large number of other
Transformers with animal transformations were summoned to a world at
the center of the galaxy by the ex-assistant of the ancient genius, [[Primacron|Primacron]], creator of Unicron. The assistant had assembled these "[[Primitive|Primitive]]" Transformers in the hope that their simple instincts could defeat Primacron's newest creation, [[Tornedron|Tornedron]],
but one by one they fell to him, with Grimlock apparently crushed under
Trypticon. Grimlock survived, however, and followed Tornedron back to
Primacron's lab. When Tornedron turned on his master, like his
predecessor had, Primacron's complicated plans and equations could not
find a way to stop him. Grimlock, on the other hand, randomly flicked a
switch which reversed Tornedron's energy polarity, undoing the damage
he had done and dissipating the creature. Dancing around over his
successful saving of the universe, Grimlock decimated Primacron's lab,
which he decided was the smartest thing he'd ever done. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives|Call of the Primitives}}

Grimlock piloted the shuttle bringing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to an important meeting<ref>The meeting was with [[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy Kennedy]] and its importance was debatable, but Prime was upset at being late.</ref> and took a wrong turn, making Prime very late. Prime subsequently took him to have his brain circuits upgraded. {{storylink|The Transformers (cartoon)|Season 5}}/ {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie|The Transformers: The Movie}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====''Binaltech''====
After the Dinobots were defeated and deactivated on [[Earth|Earth]] by a strange alien virus, Grimlock was rebuilt using [[Binaltech|Binaltech]] technology to save his life. He hates his new Ford Mustang form. No teeth to munch metal, ya see.

====''The Great Transformer War'' manga====

Shortly after creating the [[Technobot]]s, Grimlock joined [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Spike Witwicky|Spike]] and others as they observed a battle between [[Computron]] and [[Abominus]]. Thanks to upgrades by [[Doctor Dalton]], Computron was fairing well in battle. However, during his internment by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Dalton was forced to upgrade the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s, as well.

The Terrorcons took control of Computron with a "[[Cohesive Control Liquid]]", much to Grimlock's horror. Dalton explained that the only way to save Computron was for a [[human]] to burn off the control liquid. [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] wanted to go, but Spike forbid him and went himself. As Daniel pouted, Grimlock poked fun at him for still being a puny kid. Eventually, the Technobots were saved and the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 2}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====

[[Image:FourWarriors Grimlock hyptonized.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock seeing stuff. Is making me, Grimlock, tired.]]

In the year 2011, the Decepticons invaded Cybertron in full force. Grimlock was deployed by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] to fend off the invaders. He was seen fighting alongside his fellow Dinobots as well as the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]] against the invading Decepticons. However, they didn't fare too well against the Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], as they were all quickly put to sleep by [[Mindwipe|Mindwipe]]'s hypnosis attack. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{note|The comic Dinobots had average, functional intellects. Grimlock spoke normally for most of the early issues, but by [[King of the Hill!|Marvel US issue #27]], Grimlock began affecting a caveman-esque speech pattern to mask his intelligence<ref>Grimlock possesses a brilliant mind but considers intellectuals weak. He chooses to talk dumb rather than be thought of as weak. ''Marvel UK #200 "Secrets of the Transformers" booklet.''</ref>, leaving his fellow Autobots to think he has a glitch in his speech processor. The other Dinobots speak normally.}}
{{noteukonly}}
Millions of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Grimlock and four other warriors who would later become the Dinobots snuck into a [[Decepticon|Decepticon]] spaceport and stole a number of ships and hid them in the [[Rad Zone|Rad Zone]], suspecting that one day they might become fed up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s leadership and strike out on their own. {{storylink|A Savage Circle}}

[[Image:Arkshuttle3.jpg|left|350px|thumb|Countless kids were left wondering what "cur leader Grimlock" means.]]
While the Autobots remained dormant inside [[Mount St. Hilary]], the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] detected Cybertronian life. Dispatching a probe, the Ark learned that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had come to Earth and was wandering the [[Savage Land|Savage Land]]. The Ark used data gathered from the Savage Land to convert five of the dormant Autobots into the Dinobots. They traveled to fight Shockwave, but their battle reached a stalemate when all combatants became trapped in a tar pit and buried under a collapsing cliffside. {{storylink|Repeat Performance!}}

Information on this battle were stored on the Ark's memory banks and were discovered four million years later by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] {{storylink|The Last Stand}}, and Ratchet, at the moment the last Autobot on Earth that remained functional, tempted [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] with details of Shockwave's alleged defeat as currency for a deal with him. Promising Megatron that he would find the Dinobots and use them to defeat Shockwave on Megatron's behalf, {{storylink|Warrior School!}} Ratchet traveled to the Savage Land and retrieved the bodies of the Dinobots. Ratchet faked this defeat using video of [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s memories and when Megatron doublecrossed him, he ambushed Megatron with the Dinobots. However, Grimlock and the others were no match for Megatron, and they were knocked aside. Ratchet managed a victory regardless, and he and the Dinobots returned to the Ark. {{storylink|Repeat Performance!}}

[[Image:Grimlocktestsnewhand.jpg|right|350px|thumb|Now that's a bedside manner.]]
''On the way back to the Ark, Grimlock had his first encounter with a [[human]], which didn't end well. Ratchet sought to explain why humans feared them
with a story about the Autobots' battle with the Decepticons at [[Sherman Dam]]. At story's end, they reached the Ark, but it was guarded mercilessly by [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]]! After Guardian disposed of [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], {{storylink|Decepticon Dam-Busters!}} the Dinobots attacked Guardian together, but they were defeated and were forced to regroup. Grimlock was furious when Ratchet said Swoop's injuries were not top priority, as he had an Ark full of Autobots in need of care. While Ratchet was tending to [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], Grimlock led the remaining Dinobots on a second attack against Guardian. This time they were successful, though they didn't realize that Guardian was hardwired with a bomb that threatened them all. {{storylink|The Wrath of Guardian!}} Thankfully, Wheeljack was able to control Optimus Prime's headless body by remote and seize Grimlock's arm before he could deliver the blow that would destroy them all. Ultimately, their lives were saved by Swoop, who carried Guardian up into the sky as the bomb detonated. With Swoop believed dead, Grimlock took his Dinobots elsewhere. {{storylink|The Wrath of Grimlock!}}''

''After Swoop returned in a berserker rage, it became apparent that the Dinobots had reverted to their base instincts due to their primary cybo-dendrons having burnt out from millions of years stuck in tar, so the Autobots plotted to round them up. Grimlock and Sludge were the final targets, and as the two tore through a snowy part of [[Canada|Canada]], Optimus Prime vowed to stop them even if it cost him his life. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] discovered that the source of the rage was coming from a Decepticon-crafted signal, but when the signal was destroyed, the Dinobots entered a deep hibernation stat from which there may not have
been any return. {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}} While Grimlock sat comatose, he dreamed of slaying Megatron, though he subsequently died at the hands of Starscream. {{storylink|Victory!}} After being repaired by Ratchet, Grimlock dreamt of defeating Megatron {{storylink|Victory!}} Grimlock and the other Dinobots were eventually reawakened, and ''they attended the unveiling of the Autobots' last line of defense, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Jointly, Optimus Prime detailed a plan to attack the Decepticon base and immediately retreat after stealing data from [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Grimlock was displeased at this, and refused to fight a war in which he was unable to fight. He seceded his Dinobots from the Autobots, and they struck out on their own. {{storylink|Command Performances!}} ''Grimlock and the other Dinobots met up with Sludge's human friend, [[Joy Meadows]]. {{storylink|In the National Interest}}''

''While wandering the countryside, Grimlock and the other Dinobots chanced across the time-traveling [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] as he was beating up on a small group of Autobots who had recently arrived from Cybertron. {{storylink|Fallen Angel (comic)|Fallen Angel}} The all-powerful Galvatron bested Grimlock in hand-to-hand combat, and Grimlock was about to receive a deadly blow from his own sword when he was rescued by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. The combatants were scattered when Shockwave's Decepticons fired upon Galvatron and allowed the time-traveller to leave. {{storylink|Resurrection!}}''

[[Image:Grimlockkingofthehill.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Blah blah Grimlock thinks in real English, but dude, check out that creepy grin on Slag.]]
Paleontology student [[Rachel Becker]] found Grimlock's footprints in the [[Cascade Mountain Range]], so she, [[Robert Paaswell|her professor]], and [[Marty Cooper|his assistant]] pitched tents to observe the area overnight. The Dinobots were indeed hiding nearby, and when Swoop brought Grimlock news of Optimus Prime's
death, Grimlock prepared to take leadership of the Autobots for himself. The Dinobot Commander interrupted a committee of high-ranking Autobots attempting to nominate a replacement, and he rudely nominated himself. Unsurprisingly, the Autobots were not impressed, and Grimlock was turned away. Grimlock got a chance to prove himself when [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] attacked the Ark. At first his plan was to hide in the forest, let Trypticon "soften up" the Autobots, remove the Decepticon, and impose leadership over the weakened faction, but Grimlock's doubts increased as the Autobots were pummeled. Additionally, he was surprised when
Rachel Becker approached Grimlock with no fear, since he was certain that all humans were cowards. When Rachel's life was threatened by Trypticon, Grimlock attacked Trypticon himself, which signaled the other Dinobots to follow his lead. In the aftermath of his victory against the Decepticon intruder, the high-ranking Autobots decided that Grimlock had displayed all the desired traits of a great Autobot leader—wisdom, compassion, courage, charisma, and military skill. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}}

[[Image:Variablevoltageharness.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Time it took for power to corrupt Grimlock: Approximately 3 seconds.]]
Unfortunately for the Autobots, Grimlock set about immediately picking out a crown for himself and affecting an unintelligent way of speaking. His first point of order was to steal back the assorted equipment and tools that the [[Mechanic]] had stolen from them shortly before his assumption of command. To his dismay, [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] and Blaster refused to harm humans if necessary to complete the mission. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}} The two Autobots deserted. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} ''Now that the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] were on Earth, they began terrorizing Swoop, who had a dark history with the Predacon [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]. Swoop was afraid to admit that he has lost his name to Divebomb millions of years ago after losing a fight with the Predacon, but Grimlock admitted that he had known ever since he had taken command of the Autobots and had access to Optimus Prime's files... and didn't care! He and the other Dinobots stood up for Swoop and kicked the Predacons' sorry behinds. {{storylink|Grudge Match!}}'' When Blaster and Goldbug didn't return, Grimlock labeled them traitors and ordered the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to bring them in. Grimlock had in the meantime completed repairs on the Ark itself, and with Wheeljack's new [[Geothermal Generator]], they were no longer dependent on humans for fuel. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Expecting Blaster and Goldbug's forced return, Grimlock had a [[Variable Voltage Harness]] constructed to serve as their punishment. He ordered the Ark to launch into Earth orbit. {{storylink|Child's Play (comic issue)|Child's Play}} Immediately the Ark overtook the Decepticon [[Blast Off]], who was being taken for a ride by Blaster and the [[Spacehiker|Spacehiker]] children. Fearing Grimlock's growing megalomania, Wheeljack had called his old friend [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] for help. Before Grimlock could capture Blast Off, the children threw Blaster from the airlock into space. Grimlock used the children as bait, threatening to end their lives if Blaster did not show up.
Blaster returned himself to the Ark to the welcome arms of the other Autobots, who had grown tired of Grimlock's tyranny. Despite Sky Lynx's intervention outside the Ark, he was surrounded by the Dinobots, and Blaster was forced to give himself up to protect the safety of the children. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[Image:Grimlockokeydokeyblaster.jpg|right|300px|thumb|We've replaced ruthless early-to-mid Marvel Comics Grimlock with Season 3 cartoon Grimlock. Let's see if Blaster notices.]]
Blaster was placed in the Variable Voltage Harness for his treason. Some time thereafter, Grimlock's Autobots stationed on the Ark met up with Autobots from Nebulos stationed on the ''[[Steelhaven]]''. Grimlock was furious that the ''Steelhaven''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Autobots were led by a human, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], and he challenged Spike's [[Binary bond|binary bond]] partner, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fruitloop Multipuck]], to a duel for ultimate Autobot supremacy. Forktongue Maxiface was in no condition to fight, as he had suffered terrible damage recently at the hands of Shockwave, so Grimlock offered Blaster to fight in his stead. Both ships' crews unloaded onto Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]] to watch the fight, but Blaster and Grimlock's grudge match quickly rumbled past the horizon line. After exchanging blows, Grimlock and Blaster noticed explosions back at the ships' landing site, and agreed to a short truce to investigate. Indeed, Ratbat's Decepticons had ambushed the Autobots in their absence, but with the introduction of Blaster and Grimlock to what had been up to that point a massacre, the tide quickly turned. Grimlock's sword pierced the forcefield of the Decepticons' [[Club Con|flying island base]], and the Decepticons retreated. In the wake, Fortress Maximus admitted that he had sent Goldbug and the ''Steelhaven'''s skeleton crew to Nebulos to rebuild Optimus Prime, their true leader. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

Optimus Prime returned from Nebulos as a [[Power Master]] and took back the reins of command, though both Grimlock and Fortress Maximus kept high-profile positions in the ranks. The trio watched a commercial for [[Club Con]], a tropical resort suspiciously helmed by Decepticons. Grimlock wanted to bust some heads, but Optimus thought a more subtle approach was needed. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''Meanwhile, Earth was coming apart at the seams due to a timestorm caused by the displacement of Galvatron, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] from Earth's future. Optimus, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus held court, and decided an attack on the future Decepticon's undergrund base was due. During the battle, shockingly, Optimus and others were displaced to [[limbo]] by [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and other Autobots from the future. Believing these future Autobots were imposters, responsible for the apparent deaths of Optimus Prime and the other displaced Autobots, Fortress Maximus and Grimlock led a vengeful charge. By the time the truth was learned, the stakes had shifted, and the future and present Autobots, including Grimlock, teamed up to face the combined might of Galvatron and a [[Straxus (G1)|clone of Megatron]]. {{storylink|Time Wars}}''

[[Image:Grimlockdarkstar.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Yeah, those Pretenders are ''real'' sorry.]]
Answering a distress call in the [[Arctic]], Grimlock and the Autobots found [[Buster Witwicky]]... and a Decepticon ambush! After a number of casualties, a brittle truce was forged when it was discovered that this was all a setup by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to divert attention away from his grab at the [[Underbase]]. Both factions found Starscream about the meet the Underbase in space, but Starscream was able to absorb enough Underbase energy to throw his ship into theirs. Starscream departed for Earth, to conquer the cities of [[New York]], [[Tokyo]], and [[Buenos Aires]], and Optimus had thoughtfully kept the Ark nearby to help ship everyone back to Earth. Grimlock and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] led a team sent ahead to Tokyo to await Starscream. After the Underbase-powered Decepticon destroyed the Dinobots, Grimlock was quick to fire upon Starscream and scored one of the few consequential hits on the fearsome traitor. Grimlock hunted him down and bit at Starscream's leg, but Starscream was able to grab the Dinobot commander and place him between himself and "friendly" fire from the Decepticon [[Pretender|Pretenders]]. {{storylink|Dark Star|Dark Star!}} Grimlock perished, and was next seen undergoing futile repairs onboard the Ark. {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}}

[[Image:Grimlockyesterdaysheroes.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Wait, if Grimlock still looks like his original [[character model]], whose tail-gun is that?]]
Grimlock was brought back on-line by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] using [[Pretender|Pretender]] technology stolen from Megatron. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!|All the Familiar Faces!}} While Grimlock, along with [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], handily defeated Megatron's minions, he was unable to save Ratchet when Megatron's base exploded. {{storylink|Skin Deep|Skin Deep}}
Afterward, Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee briefly joined the Autobot
resistance movement on Cybertron before attempting to return to Earth
via [[Trans-Time Dimensional Portal|trans-time dimensional portal]]. However, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], seeking to crush the resistance's momentum, sent ''the latest incarnation of'' the [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem Attack Squad]] to destroy the three Autobot Pretenders. Infiltrating [[Autobase (G1)|Autobase]], the three Decepticons sabotaged the portal, teleporting all six Transformers (and the [[Micromaster|Micromaster]] [[Rescue Patrol|Rescue Patrol]]) deep into the heart of Cybertron, where the Autobots discovered the resting place of their god, [[Primus|Primus]]. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

Grimlock at first thought it was all a Decepticon trick and was [[Atechnogenesis|skeptical]] that the Transformers even had a god. When the [[Keeper|Keeper]]
appeared, Grimlock demanded the ancient Transformer "prove it" by
telling them the story of the Transformers' origin. The Keeper's story
(complete with holographic slide-show) was suitably convincing, but
unfortunately gave the Mayhem Attack Squad time to sneak up on the
Autobots, and another battle ensued. The outnumbered Decepticons were
no match for Grimlock and company, but [[Octopunch|Octopunch]]'s
last-ditch shot ricocheted off the Dinobot's back, waking Primus. A few
seconds too late, the Autobots in Autobase repaired the portal, sending
the lost Transformers to Earth. Grimlock immediately demanded they find
the Earth-based Autobots to warn them of [[Unicron|Unicron]]. {{storylink|Primal Scream|Primal Scream}}

[[Image:Grimlockdarkcreation.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Like cartoon Grimlock, Grimlock's shell has beautiful, soulful blue eyes.]]
After rejoining Optimus Prime's forces, Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee formed a team in the search for the lost [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. Traveling to [[VsQs|VsQs]],
where Optimus Prime's funeral barge had crashed, the three began to
search an abandoned science station for any clue as to the Matrix's
whereabouts. While Bumblebee searched the computer logs, Grimlock went
looking for the science team—only to discover they had all been killed.
Before the Autobots could formulate a plan, Thunderwing attacked.
Grimlock's first reaction was to attack, but not even all three of them
could defeat the Decepticon leader. Instead, they were "saved" by the [[Matrix Spawn|Matrix Spawn]],
which became Thunderwing's new target. The three Autobots searched the
wrecked station independently and recovered the Matrix. Low on [[Energon (G1)|energon]],
the three attempted to return to their shuttle, but the moon's heavy
gravity slowed them down, allowing Thunderwing to overtake them, defeat
the three weakened Autobots and claim the Matrix for his own. {{storylink|Dark Creation|Dark Creation}}

After Thunderwing's defeat, the Autobots sent a shuttle to VsQs
to rescue Grimlock and the others, who were low on energon and on the
verge of [[Stasis lock|stasis lock]].
Grimlock was none too grateful for his rescue, instead berating himself
for failing to destroy Thunderwing and guilty that he was alive while
the other Dinobots were still deactivated. However, without Ratchet or
the Matrix, the Autobots knew of no way to bring back their fallen.
Grimlock sought Optimus' permission to travel to [[Hydrus Four|Hydrus Four]] and investigate the rumors of the substance [[Nucleon|Nucleon]].
When Optimus refused, Grimlock stole a shuttle and the bodies of the
Dinobots and went anyway, which everyone really should have seen
coming. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm!|Eye of the Storm!}}

[[Image:Grimlockpriceoflife.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Grimlock never looked like his inner Pretender robot.]]
Once on Hydrus Four, Grimlock sought out the medi-center on the
island of Farooth, where the well of Nucleon was kept. Along the way,
he encountered the substance's three guardians, zombie-like mechanoids
who attempted to bar visitors from tapping the Nucleon. Two engaged him
in combat, but Grimlock dispatched them easily. Unlike destroying
Decepticons, he could take no pleasure in his victories, which seemed
pointless. He began to question his motives: Was he really trying to
save the Dinobots, or just prove himself a better leader than Prime? By
the time he reached the island of Farooth, Grimlock simply wanted the
grim business done with.

At the well, Grimlock encountered the final guardian. The
Hydrusian didn't want to fight, but instead warned him that Nucleon
always came with unexpected side effects. To quell the doubts that had
plagued him since his arrival, Grimlock decided to test the Nucleon on
himself, plunging a hand into the well. Feeling a surge of power and no
immediate side effects, Grimlock decided it had to be safe and went to
work reviving the other Dinobots, ignoring the Hydrusian's parting
words, "Time will tell." {{storylink|The Price of Life!|The Price of Life!}}

With the Dinobots revived, Grimlock loaded up as much Nucleon as he could and returned to the Ark. {{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2|...All This and Civil War 2}}
The Dinobots found it empty, as Primus had teleported the Earth-bound
Transformers back to Cybertron. Electing not to waste time looking for
the others, Grimlock ordered [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] to set course for Cybertron while Sludge and [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
pumped the Nucleon into the Ark's life-support pods. The Dinobots were
unaware that the life-support pods also held Megatron, as Grimlock had
departed before Ratchet's rescue. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

[[Image:G1 Grimlock vs demons.jpg|left|250px|thumb|They brought claws to a sword fight.]]
Grimlock was the first Transformer to begin feeling the Nucleon's
effects. Before he even left Hydrus Four, he began suffering erratic
joint locks. He tried to hide the symptoms as long as he could, but
after Unicron's defeat, they began to worsen, until his entire body
seized up during a battle. [[Hi-Q|Hi-Q]]
came to his rescue, recognizing that the Nucleon was still transforming
Grimlock's body. Hi-Q accelerated the process, as the Nucleon granted
Grimlock a new, more powerful body, but at the cost of [[Action Master|his ability to transform]]. {{storylink|Still Life!|Still Life!}}

[[Image:Grimlockendoftheroad.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Octopunch: "I see what you did there."]]Optimus
Prime died from injuries sustained in the war, and named Grimlock his
chosen successor (although Grimlock still had to put up with Dumb Prowl
as his self-appointed advisor and conscience). While Prowl began naive
negotiations with the Decepticons for continued peace, Grimlock had his
Dinobots arrange precautionary measures against any treachery. {{storylink|Exodus!|Exodus!}} Sure enough, the new Decepticon leader [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]
sabotaged the Autobot ships on Cybertron and took off to loot and
plunder with his army. Thanks to Grimlock, though, the Autobots not
only had a set of ships held in reserve, but the Dinobots had also
placed tracking devices on the Decepticon shuttles, leading the Autobot
pursuit force right to the planet [[Klo|Klo]]. {{storylink|A Savage Circle|A Savage Circle}}
Unfortunately, Grimlock's knack for forward-thinking ran a little
short here, and he led his Dinobots into a trap as soon as the troops
arrived on Klo. It seemed the Decepticons had discovered Grimlock's
tracking device and anticipated their arrival. One massacre later and
the only Autobots left alive were Grimlock, Prowl, Slag, Kup and
Blaster. Despite their misfortunes, they managed to overcome the
Decepticon hunting party sent after them, and carried the battle back
to Bludgeon and his men. Luckily, a miracle arrived in the form of a
resurrected Optimus Prime and his new friend, the awesomely powerful [[Last Autobot|Last Autobot]],
who began spontaneously reviving all the Autobots who fell in battle
with the Decepticons. Facing an ever growing number of fully recharged
Autobots, Bludgeon fled with his remaining Decepticons, and Grimlock
and the Autobots stood victorious. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}
=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''Following their adventures on [[Quintessa|Quintessa]] and the war with Unicron {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie|The Transformers: The Movie}},
Grimlock and the Dinobots were stationed on Cybertron during the
Autobot war effort to consolidate control over the planet. In 2008, the
Decepticons staged a brazen and unprovoked attack on the Autobot
location, prompting an incredible battle. Grimlock led the charge of
his Dinobots, and literally began to "munch metal". When [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] returned to Cybertron from the planet [[Junk|Junk]] with information, however, Grimlock exited the battle to attend a war room meeting with [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], Kup and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].
They learned from Smokescreen that Unicron had survived their last
encounter, and his head had been drawn to Junk, where he then took over
the minds of the [[Junkion|Junkions]]
and began forcing them to rebuild his lost body out of their planet.
Realizing that the Decepticons were just pawns being used by Unicron to
distract them, the Autobots realized the true battle awaited them on
Junk. Rodimus Prime questioned whether he could pull enough troops away
from the battle at hand to be of any use on Junk, but Grimlock reminded
Roddy who he was talking to, and assured that his Dinobots would be
more than enough firepower. Rodimus agreed, and brought Grimlock, [[Scattershot|Scattershot]],
Smokescreen and the rest of the Dinobots with him to confront Unicron.
While Scattershot and Smokescreen distracted Unicron in the shuttle,
Grimlock brought the Dinobots down to the planet and stopped the
mind-warped Junkions from making any further repairs on Unicron's body.
{{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!|The Legacy of Unicron!}}''

''Later, Grimlock was part of Rodimus Prime's crew who came to Earth to free Autobot City from Quintesson occupation. {{storylink|Space Pirates!|Space Pirates!}}''

=====Earthforce=====
{{note|These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See [[Earthforce|Earthforce]] for details.}}
[[Image:Primevsgrimlockbreakaway.jpg|left|250px|thumb|The clumsy, awkward fight you've been waiting for!]]
''In one alternate timeline, Grimlock found a way to revive his
fellow Dinobots after their destruction in the Underbase Saga. This
method may or may not have involved Nucleon, as it did in the main
timeline, and Grimlock apparently did not or could not bring back the
means for restoring all the Autobots in the Ark's life pods. With the
Dinobots back together they came on strong, battling a new splinter
group of Decepticons that had sprung up on Earth under Shockwave's
command. Grimlock personally brought down both [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the [[Battlecharger|Battlechargers]]
himself. Despite their victory, Optimus Prime harangued Grimlock and
his team for their brutal tactics, flying in the face of the "[[Autobot Code|Autobot Code]]". {{storylink|Two Steps Back!|Two Steps Back!}}
This led to a shouting match between the two Autobots where Grimlock
threatened to take his Dinobots and quit the Autobot army altogether.
The situation deteriorated further into a physical brawl, but
ultimately Prime and Grimlock knocked some sense into each other. With
Unicron inching ever closer to Cybertron, Optimus Prime decided that
the Autobots aboard the Ark were needed elsewhere, yet Earth still
needed defenders. Therefore he promoted Grimlock to Autobot Commander:
Earth. Grimlock was given his Dinobots, his fellow (former) Classic
Pretenders, and the five Autobots recently reawakened by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] as troops. In return for their autonomy, all Optimus Prime asked for was to show some restraint.''

''He was probably kidding. Or concussed. Whatever. {{storylink|Break-Away!|Break-Away!}}''

[[Image:Earthforce.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Charrrge!]]''From
the beginning, Grimlock made it clear to his troops that they would not
be fighting the war Prime's way. To get things done right, they'd have
to toss the Autobot Code out the window. To demonstrate what he meant
by this, Grimlock picked up a copy of the Autobot Code and tossed it
out the window. Grimlock isn't big on metaphors. {{storylink|Once Upon a Time...|Once Upon a Time...}}''
''Shortly after Earthforce started up, Grimlock received a
transmission from Shockwave, challenging him to a duel
leader-to-leader. Grimlock vigorously accepted, and traveled 300 miles
away to the coordinates Shockwave transmitted, deep in the [[Canada|Canadian]]
wilderness during a snowstorm. Only problem was...he couldn't find
Shockwave. Grimlock wandered around in the snow and ice for awhile
until he found him, or rather, he found a snowman shaped like Shockwave
with a sign out front saying "April Fools! — Slag, Snarl, Sludge,
Swoop". Two [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]
patrolling the area had the misfortune of coming across Grimlock right
at that moment. What happened next was censored by the Comic Code
Authority, Mothers Against Violence, and viewers like you. He later
headed back to the base with the biggest snowball he could carry.
(Wonder what he was going to do with it?) {{storylink|Snow Fun!|Snow Fun!}}''

''Later, Grimlock made a deal with the [[Survivors|Survivors]], lending them aid to rescue their Decepticon comrade [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] in exchange for them joining Earthforce under his command. {{storylink|Where Wolf?|Where Wolf?}}''

''After Wheeljack finished the construction of Autobot
Earthbase, Grimlock gave him a hearty slap on the back as
congratulations on a job well done. After they learned Wheeljack had
effectively locked them out of the base with the defense grid fully
active and hunting for targets, Grimlock hung Wheeljack upside-down by
his ankle and smothered his face in the snow. (Centuries later, the
good guys are apparently [[A Better Mousetrap|still this dumb]].) {{storylink|The House that Wheeljack Built!|The House that Wheeljack Built!}} As if that weren't enough, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
staged a full-scale Decepticon assault before the grid could be
repaired, putting Earthforce on the defensive. Grimlock took his
Dinobots out to kick butt, and threw his energo-sword right through [[Octane|Octane]]'s wing. They soon drove off the Decepticons. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!|Divide and Conquer!}}''

''It was just one annoyance after another for Grimlock when
Optimus Prime came to inspect the newly finished Earthbase. First, he
and the Dinobots had to hide the fact that Slag was an unbridled
killing machine unfit to wear the Autobot symbol. That wacky
Slag—always killin' folk. {{storylink|The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|The 4,000,000 Year Itch!}}
Then Dumb Prime wanted to use Wheeljack's Bodyshop to revive one of the
most obnoxious Autobots on Grimlock's hit list—the vanity-obsessed [[Tracks|Tracks]].
Grimlock tried to sabotage the revival process several times, but
eventually Tracks was brought on-line anyway, while Grimlock got
forcibly and painfully dragged through the auto-restoration machine. To
make things worse, Prime assigned Tracks to Earthforce, meaning
Grimlock had to put up with him permanently. {{storylink|Makin' Tracks!|Makin' Tracks!}}''

''When Snarl was diagnosed with the fatal disease [[Corrodia Gravis|Corrodia Gravis]],
Grimlock and Earthforce had to seek out Starscream, the only
Transformer capable of giving his Dinobot comrade a compatible systems
boost. {{storylink|Assassins|Assassins}}
To make things even more complicated, they found the Decepticons at war
with each other at their Louisiana headquarters, with Megatron,
Shockwave and their [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]]
assassins trying to take out Starscream and Soundwave. Forced to choose
sides, Grimlock sent Sludge and Swoop to protect Starscream from the
assassins while he and the others dealt with the two former Decepticon
leaders. After Slag charbroiled Megatron and Grimlock plunged his
energo-sword through Shockwave's chest, they gave up the fight and took
off. Starscream then agreed to the systems boost in exchange for
Grimlock's promise to help if Megatron tried to assassinate him again. {{storylink|The Lesser Evil!|The Lesser Evil!}}''

''After [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] went crazy due to a [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shell]], Grimlock and the Autobots were forced to give an interview and a guided tour of their base to the reporter [[Irwin Spoon|Irwin Spoon]] in exchange for his help removing the shell from their friend. {{storylink|Inside Story!|Inside Story!}} Grimlock was less than thrilled. He probably was relieved when the nosy human got kidnapped and brainwashed by [[Bombshell|Bombshell]] and the [[Stunticon|Stunticons]]—at least Grimlock got to skip his interview! {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}''

{{note|The following three sections all split off from the end of the Generation 1 comic, but in three different, irreconcilable directions.}}
=====''Another Time and Place''=====
{{note|The "Another Time and Place" text story was meant to be a conclusion to the Marvel continuity, but its events were ignored by [[Generation 2|Generation 2]]. It was [[Withered Hope|later labeled]] a "dead end" [[Splinter timeline|splinter timeline]].}}
[[Image:TFAnnual1991rip.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Break off me Grimlock piece of that Kit Kat bar!]]
In the months that followed the war on Klo, as more and more
Autobots began to succumb to the Nucleon's effects and lose their
ability to transform, Grimlock's guilt over his actions grew. When he
heard the medical facilities on Hydrus-Four had reopened and discovered
a means of reversing Nucleon's effect, he jumped at the chance. Taking
his fellow Dinobots back there, Grimlock and his comrades ran smack
into a Decepticon trap. Bludgeon and his crew had followed the Dinobots
to Hydrus-Four and cut in ahead of them, taking control of the
med-facility and installing a [[Holocaust Trigger|Holocaust Trigger]]
device, which totally overwhelmed the Dinobots' equilibrium as they
entered, knocking them out. Grimlock awoke hours later to find
Bludgeon's sickly-skullhead grinning at him, as the Master of
Metallikato planned to use the Nucleon to revitalize his warriors and
bring the Great Megatron himself back to life. Luckily, Optimus Prime
and Prowl arrived with a rescue party in time to stop the macabre
resurrection ceremony from being completed. Bludgeon was destroyed, and
Prime and Grimlock personally ripped apart the half-reanimated
Megatron. Normally, [[Furmanism|it never ends]], but this time it truly did. {{storylink|Another Time and Place|Another Time and Place}}
{{-}}

====Generation 2====
After the coming of the [[Last Autobot|Last Autobot]], much of the Autobot army scattered. Grimlock took command of a small commando team, leading strikes against [[Cybertronian|Decepticon outposts]]
across the galaxy. After encountering seventeen conquered worlds,
cyberformed into "little Cybertrons", Grimlock realized the problem was
greater than he had originally imagined and contacted Optimus Prime.
After comparing notes in an abandoned base, the Autobots were captured
by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]].
While Optimus began to despair after learning Jhiaxus' origins,
Grimlock refused to give up, bolstering the Autobot leader's spirits as
they led an escape from [[Twilight|Jhiaxus' flagship]]. {{storylink|War Without End!|War Without End!}}

[[Image:Prowlg2muzzle.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Lemme at 'em! Lemme at 'em! I'll SPLAT 'em!]]
Despite his loyalty to Autobot ways, Grimlock still chafed under
Optimus' leadership. Disobeying his orders (which somehow still
surprised Optimus), Grimlock led a raiding party against Jhiaxus,
seeking to destroy the ''Twilight''. Unfortunately, the Dinobot failed to anticipate Jhiaxus' increased security measures, and the mission cost [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
their lives. Their deaths forced Grimlock to question his methods and
his attitude toward Optimus Prime. He admitted that he envied Prime for
the loyalty he inspired in the Autobots, and that this, not the
leadership of the Autobots, was what he'd truly desired. Thus, no one
was more surprised than Grimlock when Optimus Prime placed the Dinobot
in command while he traveled back to Cybertron. {{storylink|Devices and Desires!|Devices and Desires!}}

Grimlock's command status proved invaluable when Optimus met
Megatron on Earth alone, intending to form an alliance against Jhiaxus.
Megatron beat Optimus half to death, and Prime only lived because
Grimlock disobeyed orders and led an Autobot brigade to Earth. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness|The Gathering Darkness}}
When Megatron finally agreed to the alliance, Grimlock showed a great
dislike for having to work with him, as well as the insults Megatron
threw his way. {{storylink|Escalation!|Escalation!}}

[[Image:Biggrim.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock work hard!]]
Eventually, the Empire attacked Autobase on Earth, with Grimlock
gunning down scores of its troops. The alliance between Autobots and
Decepticons gave Grimlock a chance to work alongside two new Rotor
Force members, Leadfoot and Manta Ray, both of whom were impressed with
Grimlock's style. {{storylink|Total War|Total War}} With the Empire came the Swarm, and with both Optimus and Megatron out of contact, it fell to Grimlock and the Predacon [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
to organise the Transformers in a desperate defensive action. They
utilized a combination of shield generators, sky snipers, thermal
mines...basically anything they could throw at the Swarm. His plans
allowed the Autobots to hold out just long enough — barring a few
casualties, like his comrade Slag — for Megatron to arrive with the [[Rheanimum|Rheanimum]]
that ensured their survival. During this operation, Manta Ray
deliberately ignored Razorclaw's orders in favor of Grimlock's and,
when the Predacon attempted to execute him for treason, Leadfoot cut
Razorclaw in two, securing them as new recruits for the Autobots.
In the end, Optimus Prime united with the Swarm and cleansed
it of its dark impulses. The Swarm was dispersed, and Grimlock
celebrated a victory with his united forces. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!|A Rage in Heaven!}}

''In the convention-exclusive story "[[Alignment|Alignment]]", which ties up plot threads from ''Generation 2'', Grimlock sacrifices himself in the final battle against the [[Liege Maximo|Liege Maximo]]. (Despite being written by Simon Furman, this story was not approved by Hasbro and was produced for an unofficial convention, so is non-[[Canon|canon]] by rule.)''

====Fun Publications ''Classics'' comics====
[[Image:Classics Ultramagnus Springer Grimlock comic.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Me Grimlock like to make self look smart by hanging around bots who no hold binoculars correctly.]]
He liked to call [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] "Little Prime". {{storylink|Games of Deception|Games of Deception}}

BWWWHHHAHAHAHAHAHA.

{{-}}
===Transformers PD-Type===
[[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] recruited Grimlock as backup for a duel with [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]].
Grimlock became bored watching the two of them fight in the sky, but
when Star Saber finally succeeded in knocking Deathsaurus to the
ground, Grimlock gnawed on his head while Star Saber looked on, pleased
at the outcome of his clever plan. {{storylink|Transformer PD Type|Me Strongest! Me Grimlock!}}

===3H ''Reaching the Omega Point'' comics===
Grimlock was among the legendary Transformers summoned from [[J'nwan|J'nwan]] by [[Sandstorm (BW)|Sandstorm]] to help battle [[Shokaract|Shokaract]].

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{bigquote|Me not like Optimus Prime or Autobots that much... but me like you and yours even less!|Grimlock's voice recording on a bomb he left for the [[Seekers|Seekers]]}}

Years ago, before the war, Grimlock was part of a cage-fighting arena. He and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
fought beside and against each other on numerous occasions. Starscream
believed Grimlock was a natural born killer, but Grimlock really just
carried a lot of rage and needed an outlet.

[[Image:Skidswheeljackgrimlockkupironhidetww.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Me Grimlock great at retreating.]]
When the war began, Grimlock sided with the Decepticons. Then, after
a while, he switched sides and went to the Autobots. Nobody is quite
sure why or what happened. {{storylink|The War Within Preview|The War Within Preview}} He eventually became leader of a squad including [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], Kup, and Wheeljack.

By the time [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] was killed and a new leader had to be chosen, the Autobots were losing the war, and Grimlock was growing impatient with the [[Council of Ancients|Council of Ancients]]' strategy. Grimlock called a secret meeting with Prowl, Jazz, and his running crew: If the new [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] wasn't up to doing what had to be done, then they'd do it for him—and take the Prime out in the process. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within issue 1}}

Optimus Prime, having defeated a team of Decepticons by himself,
still didn't settle Grimlock's nerves. Prime's decision to evacuate
Cybertron did it; Grimlock had enough. He left and went to brood by
himself. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within issue 2}}
Starscream and his Seekers dropped by while Grimlock was alone.
Starscream baited Grimlock, telling him he was a Decepticon inside and
was just in denial. He gave him a choice: Go to [[Sector Zero-Six|Sector Zero-Six]]
and help the Seekers take out the Autobot command post, or warn the
post about their arrival. Grimlock, out of spite, instead evacuated the
Autobots from the base and left the Decepticons a present: A bomb. {{storylink|The War Within Preview|The War Within Preview}}

[[Image:Grimlocktwwmycall.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Me Grimlock squat a lot.]]
While he was on his way back to Iacon to help with the defense,
Prowl ordered him away, instead telling him to go find Optimus Prime.
Grimlock decided that it was a good opportunity to give the new Prime a
piece of his mind. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within issue 3}}
While he and the team went deep into Cybertron's core to find Prime,
they found out about Megatron's plan to win the war and turn Cybertron
into a mobile battle station with which to conquer the universe.
Grimlock split up his team: He would go find Optimus Prime, and the
rest of the team would shut down the transformation system for
Cybertron.
To his surprise, Prime abruptly was standing next to him. Prime ordered Grimlock to help him find Megatron. Grimlock shoved his [[Energo-sword|energo-sword]] into Prime's hands and gave clear instructions: If Megatron is the problem, then fix it. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within issue 5}}
When the crisis was over, Grimlock no longer questioned Optimus Prime.
He knew that Prime had figured things out, and though he hadn't
executed Megatron, he wasn't going to spend his time in the war running
away. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within issue 6}}

[[Image:Grimlockultramagnusnoooo.jpg|left|200px|thumb|ME GRIMLOCK DAMN YOU, SALAZAR!]]
During the Dark Ages, Optimus Prime and Megatron were seemingly destroyed in a [[Space bridge|space bridge]] explosion, which created a crack in space through which the ancient being known as the [[The Fallen|Fallen]] emerged. With the loss of Optimus Prime, Grimlock broke off from the Autobots now led by Prowl and formed the [[Lightning Strike Coalition|Lightning Strike Coalition]]. Grimlock was targeted, along with [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], by the Fallen, who wished to use their apparently unique [[Spark|Sparks]] to help in his revival of [[Primus|Primus]], which would allow Unicron to locate him. {{storylink|Fragmentation|Fragmentation}}

The Fallen sent [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Mindwipe|Mindwipe]] and [[Bugly|Bugly]], who arranged for Grimlock to receive a communication between Jetfire and Shockwave. {{storylink|Devastation (Dreamwave issue)|Devastation (Dreamwave issue)}} Believing Jetfire was intending to defect, Grimlock headed for the meeting. However, when the [[Chaos Trinity|Chaos Trinity]]
arrived and captured Jetfire, Grimlock jumped out of the shadows and
attacked. The Fallen had to watch his followers take a sound beating.
After dispatching the mystics, Grimlock attempted to execute Jetfire.
The Autobot scientist was saved only because the Fallen himself soon
arrived. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation (Dreamwave issue)}}

Grimlock being Grimlock, he launched himself at the Fallen, but was completely overwhelmed. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}}
He woke up later strapped to a table and had to listen to Jetfire
trying to convince him to help them both escape. Grimlock broke free
with ease and was part of the multi-faction army that attempted to halt
the Fallen's plans. {{storylink|Conflagration|Conflagration}}

Later, Grimlock served both as leader of the Dynobots and the
right-hand bot to Ultra Magnus, who had taken control in Optimus'
absence and had managed to secure a truce with Shockwave. Grimlock was
less than happy about this, partly because he didn't trust the
Decepticons, and partly because he had no idea what to with himself in
peacetime. He never got to find out, as the truce was betrayed by
Starscream's forces, and Grimlock was apparently killed when he dove in
front of a shot meant for Magnus. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath issue 1|The Age of Wrath issue 1}}
{{-}}

{{note|Due to [[Dreamwave|Dreamwave]]'s closure, the conclusion of the ''War Within'' series was never seen; as Grimlock appears in the modern-day Dreamwave books, however, he obviously was revived somehow. Really, did you actually think [[Simon Furman|Furman]] would kill off Grimlock?}}
[[Image:Mefightwithallmestrength.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Me fight with all me—"? Me Grimlock not Irish!]]
Millennia later, the Ark and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left Cybertron in search of new resources to fuel the war, but never returned. Grimlock and the Dynobots followed a [[Insecticon (G1)|group of Decepticons]]
to a primitive world that would later be known to them as Earth, all of
them looking for the lost Ark. The Dynobots assumed alternate forms
similar to Earth's indigenous giant reptiles, dinosaurs, and fought off
an attempted ambush by the small crew of Decepticons they had been
tracking. {{storylink|Extermination|Extermination}}
Millions of years later in 1984, the other Autobots and Decepticons on
Earth awakened and the Great War began anew. The Autobots and humans
eventually defeated the Decepticons and all the Transformers were to be
sent back to Cybertron on the ''[[Ark II|Ark II]]''. However, the ship was destroyed during launch due to sabotage by General [[Robert Hallo|Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], in the hopes of recovering the Transformers and reprogramming them to be war machines. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive issue 1}}

At some point, Megatron captured the other four Dinobots, a fact
which he used as leverage to get Grimlock to turn traitor and join the
Decepticons after they were reactivated by Lazarus. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive issue 3}} Grimlock's only real contribution to the Decepticons was crushing unoccupied cars in [[San Francisco|San Francisco]] {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive issue 5}} and being beaten up, and beaten down by [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]].
After the Decepticons abandoned him, Optimus Prime offered to take
Grimlock back, but he refused, stating circumstances had changed too
much. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive issue 6}}

[[Image:NewWorldOrder Grimlock Blitzwing.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock silence Blitzwing, then Prime next.]]
Grimlock's apparent allegiance to the Decepticons didn't last very long, though, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] soon showed up with his [[Triple Changer|Triple Changers]].
Grimlock's true loyalty became obvious when he stopped Blitzwing from
blowing off Optimus's head by grabbing his tank turret and bending it
into a pretzel with one hand. After that, Shockwave sent Megatron off
to Cybertron, prompting Grimlock to rejoin the Autobots in the ''Ark''. {{storylink|New World Order|New World Order}}
When Optimus' group surrendered to Ultra Magnus, some of the Autobots
remained on Earth, Grimlock among them. He travelled to the frozen
north, and freed the other Dinobots from Megatron's holding tank. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden|Brothers' Burden}}

Stealing a Decepticon shuttle, the Dinobots then headed for
Cybertron, intending to free Optimus Prime and his group. After a rough
landing, they acquired some transportation from Octane and hurried to
Iacon. {{storylink|Cold War|Cold War}}
There, Grimlock did his part by leading a massive Dinobot assault on
Shockwave's complex, before breaking off to take care of the Decepticon
leader himself. Blitzwing again got in his way, however, and Grimlock
was forced to battle both, a battle that was going his way until Ultra
Magnus shot him in the face. {{storylink|Passive Aggression|Passive Aggression}}
Perceptor repaired the Dinobot command, and Grimlock did his part for
the rebellion by giving Hot Rod some back-up. For a third and final
time, he fought Blitzwing, this time taking out the Decepticon with
ease, grabbing him by the tank turret and throwing him into a [[Guardian robot|Guardian]].
Leaving the main conflict, Grimlock followed Shockwave, Optimus Prime
and Ultra Magnus into the citidel, and ended up saving the two
Autobots, stating that he'd hate to lose the chance to pay back the
"stuffy traitor". Optimus Prime thanked Primus, but Grimlock said Prime
should be thanking ''him''. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation (comic issue)}}

While the main group of Earth Autobots returned, the Dinobots
remained on Cybertron to give Ultra Magnus some needed muscle. They
were assigned to help [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] fortify the new Autobot bases on Cybertron's moons. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil|The Route of All Evil}}

{{note|As noted above, any further exploits of Grimlock in the present were cut short due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy.}}
===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs the Transformers'' comics===
{{bigquote|It just isn't a proper party without Grimlock around. That guy is nuts|Hot Rod}}

[[Image:DDGrimlock.jpg|right|120px|thumb|All the grace of an earthquake.]]
Grimlock and his team were transported to Earth's prehistoric past by a malfunctioning [[Teletran 3|Teletran 3]].
A joint Cobra/G.I. Joe team traveled through a time portal to bring
them back. Unfortunately, Shockwave's Decepticons blocked their return.
Just as Shockwave's victory appeared complete, [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] and [[Lady Jaye|Lady Jaye]]
successfully opened up the final time portal, and the humans returned,
with some heavy artillery in the form of the five Autobots, now
reformatted in huge, powerful dinosaur bodies. Grimlock took the lead
by knocking Shockwave through a wall, and beating the tar out of the
'Cons, alongside his new Dinobots, their new abilities more than a
match for the Decepticon forces. When the Decepticons retreated,
Grimlock transformed and requested an audience with Optimus Prime. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 4}}

Grimlock was part of the small team sent to help with the Joes'
decommissioning of their Cybertronian mechs. Grimlock was more than a
little vocal about his distaste for the post, and lack of interest in
the humans. He was, however, willing to help the Joes fight Cobra, when
the latter attacked en masse...even if he complained about helping the
weak fleshlings. When Cobra Commander was cornered in an underground
facility, Grimlock did his part by terrifying him into talking. They
were interrupted when [[Serpent O.R.|Serpent O.R.]]
appeared, and attempted to take control of both Grimlock, and
Roadblock's robot. Grimlock resisted, but Roadblock's robot turned
around and punched him in the face. Grimlock responded by ripping its
arm off.

{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' comics===
{{charstubfiction}}

===The Beast Within===
In a devastating battle with the Decepticons, Grimlock made the decision to combine with the other Dinobots to form the "[[Beast|Beast]]". {{storylink|The Beast Within|The Beast Within}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:SpotlightShockwave GrimlockSlag trexscan.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Me Grimlock in love!]]
Grimlock is the leader of the D'''y'''nobots, a group of close knit
hunters and guardsmen who, in no small part due to Grimlock's
influence, prefer to work outside the Autobot rulebook.

At the start of Megatron's rise to power, the Dynobots turned
out to an open casting call for Megatron's underground gladiatorial
games, and got a good deal more respect from the Predacons than the
other attendees. It turned out to be a recruitment drive for the
Decepticon army. What they thought of that is unknown, as Autobot
security forces raided the party soon after. {{storylink|Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}}

He later met Slag again in a brig; Grimlock had angered a field
commander but Slag had shot a vice-admiral in the back to con him into
a frontal assault, so Slag won. Grimlock thought this Slag guy sounded
like a good bloke, and the two of them discussed the formation of their
own rule-breaking strike team. . {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 2|Maximum Dinobots issue 2}}

After [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
destroyed a cache of energon the Dynobots had been hoarding, causing
them severe energon burns and equally severe humiliation, they swore
revenge. So, against orders from Optimus Prime, they followed Shockwave
when he left Cybertron to stabilize "ultra-energon" deposits he had
sent to other worlds as a precaution against the depletion of
Cybertron's own energon reserves.

When Shockwave reached his first destination—Earth, at the end
of the last Ice Age—the Dynobots destroyed his ship, but Slag revealed
that the high energon levels of the planet would put them in stasis
lock, since they hadn't come prepared like Shockwave. Slag then came up
with the idea that they should scan the local life forms and create
alt-modes based on those animals, but with synthetic flesh coatings to
protect against the high levels of energon radiation. Grimlock was
completely against the idea, but since Slag couldn't come up with
something better, he relented. However, he refused to take on the form
of the weak mammalians that dominated the planet, demanding "something
with some... bite." Scanning fossil deposits, Slag found the remains of
some extinct reptilian animals and brought up a holographic
representation of one to see if Grimlock approved. What popped up was a
Tyrannosaurus Rex, which Grimlock seemed to fall in love with the
moment he saw it. The choice made, Grimlock took the Tyrannosaur as his
altmode and had Slag find more dinosaurs as templates for the rest of
the Dynobots.

[[Image:SpotlightShockwave Grimlock stasislock.jpg|right|180px|thumb|One, two three... Red light!]]
On transporting down to the planet's surface to confront Shockwave,
they gained an initial advantage, as Shockwave's logic was unable to
comprehend the effort and risks they had taken for their revenge.
However, when Shockwave recognized this weakness, he shut down his
logic processors and executed a "rage" program to enable him to operate
on pure instinct. He shrugged off the Dynobots' attacks and beat them
severely, ending the assault by burning off their organic coatings.
Unable to accept another defeat, Grimlock transformed to robot mode and
fought against his imminent [[Stasis lock|stasis lock]] to no avail.

However, before leaving the Dynobots' ship, he had enabled a
"dead man's switch" designed to take Shockwave with them if they were
defeated. When he entered stasis lock, this failsafe activated, firing
on a nearby dormant volcano and causing an eruption which buried
Shockwave and the Dynobots under ash and lava. Thousands of years
later, their entombed bodies were discovered by a human archaeological
team. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave|Spotlight: Shockwave}}

In 2007, [[Skywatch|Skywatch]] took over jurisdiction of the dig site and excavated Shockwave and the Dynobots. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation issue 5}}

When the [[Reapers|Reapers]]
attacked the Decepticons, Skywatch decided to awaken the most advanced
of their "Eureka Six", which turned out to be Grimlock. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation issue 5}}

[[Image:GrimlockIDWRex.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Go go Grimzilla!]]
Grimlock's reactivation was sabotaged by an agent of the [[Machination|Machination]]
and when he awoke, they had no control over him. He escaped the
facility, confused and angry. His escape was engineered by the head of
the Machination, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]],
who wanted Grimlock to join him in the Machination plot to dominate the
Earth by running interference and delaying Megatron's plans long enough
for the Machination to put their plans into action.

[[Image:SpotlightGrimlock punch KLUNG.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Six foot, seven foot, eight foot, Punch! Daylight come and me Grimlock wanna go home.]]
Grimlock considered for a second, but refused the offer for two
reasons: he could turn Scorponok in to Ultra Magnus for redemption, and
as revenge for Scorponok once robbing an installation the Dynobots were
guarding. The two fought and Scorponok quickly gained the upper hand,
mostly due to his [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] upgrade. Grimlock was able to activate his transporter chip, which beamed him back to his ship, the ''[[Skyfire (ship)|Skyfire]]'', which was buried deep in ice somewhere. Grimlock hoped he could use the ship to find the other Dynobots. {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock|Spotlight: Grimlock}}

[[Image:GrimlockMaxDino01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Me Grimlock's roar sound funny...]]
Finding himself trapped, both on a useless ship and in a less than
inconspicuous form, Grimlock was forced to try and contact some of his
less reputable acquaintances in an attempt to get the ''[[Skyfire (ship)|Skyfire]]'' into some sort of working order. Meanwhile, the Machination had tracked him down and had sent their [[Sunstreaker clone|Tsunami Unit]]
to apprehend him. Grimlock's early warning system detected them, and he
circled round as they began to attack, brusting from the ice and
transforming. The battle very quickly turned in his favor with four of
the clones falling in the opening moments. The surviving Headmasters
were rather shaken, but managed to fulfill their mission: attach a
device which would [[Orbital bounce|orbital bounce]] him to Nevada, near [[Skywatch|Skywatch]]'s
base. Grimlock materialized in the middle of a busy street. As a car
crashed into his toe, he realized things had just gone from bad to
worse. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots issue 1}}

[[Image:GrimlockSludgeSwoopMaxDino02.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hey...he stole that move from Shockwave!]]
He knew Scorponok was trying to deliberately set him up as a rampaging monster, but ''didn't''
expect his fellow Dynobots to be sent to take him down! He was able to
fight them all off but unable to break their reprogramming by appealing
to their team ethos... and when they ''did'' regain sentience and
memory, it was because Scorponok let them so they could get pissed off
at the knowledge Grimlock set up a "dead man's switch" ''without'' informing them. Grimlock's defence was that such a sneaky, amoral and rule-breaking act was what the Dynobots were ''all about'', which surprisingly worked. While saying this, he grudgingly and with much moaning saved a human from burning to death. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 2|Maximum Dinobots issue 2}}
{{-}}

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity===
{{bigquote|Shadows lengthen. The twilight of the Cybertronian race gathers. The end is nigh.|[[Shokaract|Shokaract]]}}
{{bigquote|Reminds me of the good ol' days.|Grimlock}}
Grimlock was less than thrilled about being forced to go through the [[Maximal|Maximal]]
downsizing. To add insult to injury, the resulting peace meant he had
no outlet for his warlike tendencies. As such, he frequently
volunteered for any dangerous, potentially risky or outright suicidal
missions, and when forced on to a science or exploration vessel, he
preferred to spend the entire trip in stasis, rather then dealing with
the prolonged activity. He has a personalized reformatting chip that
deliberately seeks out only the strongest, deadliest beast modes (alive
or extinct) on a planet. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 14|Transformers Comic issue 14}}

[[Image:Grimlock Vs Spittor.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Today is a beautiful day to be stomping on things! As a dinosaur, stomping is the best part of me, Grimlock's day indeed!]]
Grimlock was among the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'''s protoforms when the ship crashed on Earth. When [[Razorbeast|Razorbeast]] and [[Optimus Minor|Optimus Minor]] were attempting to "rescue" [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] from [[Magmatron|Magmatron]], the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
detected a spark signature that was apparently off the scale, big and
mad. Grimlock showed up and acted as the perfect distraction, making ''very''
short work of the Predacons. (Apparently, he was in a very bad mood
after waking up and took it out on the Preds.) Magmatron offered
Grimlock the chance to withdraw, and when the incredulous Grimlock
refused, the Predacon general attacked. Magmatron narrowly arose as the
victor by use of his triple beast modes. Grimlock was knocked out, but
later helped to construct the [[Maximal|Maximals]]' new base. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 4|The Gathering issue 4}}

Later, when [[Prowl II|Prowl]] remarked they had work to do on Earth, with [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]'s Predacon militia still a threat, [[Wolfang|Wolfang]] reminded him that they had Grimlock on their side. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 1|The Ascending issue 1}}. The bot in question was patrolling the jungle around the base at the time and bumped into the three-mech team of [[Manterror|Manterror]], [[Retrax|Retrax]] and [[Snapper|Snapper]].
He only noticed Manterror and Retrax however, as Snapper was being
crushed under his right foot at the time. While Retrax rolled for his
life, Manterror had to face Grimlock on his own, and lost his wings for
his trouble. This little group turned out to be a distraction, however,
intended to lure the Maximals' big gun away while Ravage led an all-out
strike on the base.

[[Image:GrimlockConvoys.JPG|left|250px|thumb|Me Grimlock have to pull newbies out of fire.]]
The former Dinobot wasn't about to be left out in the cold, however,
and he returned to base ready for "the main course," which consisted of
crushing [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] under his foot and tearing apart [[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] and half a dozen other Predacons. Still, even with him and [[Torca|Torca]] working overtime, things might have gone poorly without [[Lio Convoy|Lio Convoy]]'s arrival. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 2|The Ascending issue 2}}

When Lio Convoy and Ravage led a joint force to stop [[Shokaract|Shokaract]],
Grimlock accompanied them. The former Autobot and former Decepticon had
a moment of antagonism when the fight started. But once the battle got
underway, Grimlock fell in with the Convoys. As Shokaract declared the
end of the Cybertronian race, Grimlock seemed to reminisce, even as he
transformed to his beast mode and led a charge. He was one of the
survivors, although presumably, he would be a victim of Megatron. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 4|The Ascending issue 4}}

===Universe===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}
==Toys==
:''Main article: [[Grimlock (G1) toys|Grimlock (G1) toys]]''

==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Grimlock (G1) toys|Grimlock (G1) merchandise]]''

==Trivia==
[[Image:Grimlock Natural History Museum.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Me Grimlock BIG person, so they put Grimlock's statue in Natural History Museum.]]
* There is a Grimlock toy placed in the showcase in the dinosaur section of the [[wikipedia:Natural_History_Museum|Natural History Museum]] in [[London|London]], [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom]].

* Grimlock is generally regarded as [[Simon Furman|Simon Furman]]'s signature character.

* According to [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|Marvel UK #107]]'s letters page, Grimlock considers the 23rd of August 1986 his birthday. It's the date he took over the Transformers letters page. He also thinks he could take out Soundwave in a fight.

* Grimlock's function is Lieutenant Commander instead of Dinobot Commander on his Pretender Classic and Alternator toys. Lieutenant Commander is [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]'s rank. Deal with it, egobot.

* Grimlock once had the words '''Big Grim''' scrawled on his right shoulder. {{storylink|Dark Shadows!|Dark Shadows!}}

* Grimlock's beast mode in ''The Gathering'' does not actually match any dromaeosaur on record, seeming to combine elements of both the dromaeosaur body type with that of a carnosaur or tyrannosaurid. A fuzor, perhaps? The Titan comic profile in issue 14 seems to have tried to rectify this by calling him a Megaraptor. Which is fine...except Megaraptor was recently revealed as a misidentified carnosaur. Let's face it, a wizard did it.

* In ''The Ascending'' Issue 3, Grimlock is shown fighting in his robot mode. His tail weapon appears to take the form of a blaster. In Issue 4, he is the only Transformer, Maximal or Predacon, the same height as the two Convoys.

[[Image:PatLeeGrimlockHead.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Same bot time, same bot channel.]]
* Grimlock has his very own fanboy, [[Noise|Noise]], who someday wants to grow up and be just like him—a godless killing machine.

* Grimlock's speech impediment is caused by varying conditions, depending on continuity. To explain the difference in UK/US writing styles, Marvel explained it as a ruse. In the cartoon it was a result of primitive thought processes. In Dreamwave MTMTE, it is confirmed as the result of a virus, while IDW considers it caused by a damaged vocal processor. Devil's Due didn't bother explaining, they just got him in the "Me Grimlock's" during part three.

* In every instance in which Grimlock is drawn by [[Pat Lee|Pat Lee]], Grimlock's eyes/visor protrude past his [[Mouthplate|faceplate]], rather than sitting behind it like normal. This becomes especially pronounced (and comical) towards the end of Dreamwave's [[Prime Directive|Prime Directive]].

{{-}}
==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Grimlock/grimlock.htm Grimlock at TFU.info]

*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Grimlock Grimlock's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Dinobots]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:K-Mart exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:MyClone]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]

Daniel Witwicky (G1)

2009-04-22T16:46:17Z

128.135.181.69: /* Universe: The Wreckers */

{{picsneeded|PVC, some fiction}}
{{disambig3|Daniel Witwicky}}
:''Daniel Witwicky is a [[human]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Danielwitwickytftm.jpg|right|250px|thumb|He wears a matching "D" on his underroos.]]

'''Daniel Witwicky''' is the human son of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly Witwicky (G1)|Carly Witwicky]]. He is approximately 12 years of age in 2005, and was presumably born sometime between 1990 and 1993. He is the grandson of [[Sparkplug Witwicky]].

Daniel often gets into trouble, which requires either his father or the [[Autobots]] to save him. He is very good friends with the Autobots, particularly [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], but the one he's closest to is [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who views him as a surrogate son. Come to think of it, he doesn't seem to have any human friends. What a shock.

Daniel is (sometimes) the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]] to Arcee.

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====Generation 1 cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Mendenhall]] (English), [[Mayumi Tanaka]] (''The Movie'', Japanese) → [[Masumi Gotō]] (''2010'', Japanese)

In the year 2005, Daniel appeared to be in the care of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] at [[Autobot City]] while his father was preparing for an assault on the [[Decepticon]]-held planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] from [[Moonbase One]].

Following a brutal Decepticon attack on the city (in which he was almost killed), Daniel tearfully witnessed the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], sobbing on the fallen commander's hand as the color left his corpse. (We forgive Daniel's crying on this occasion, as [[Fandom|everyone else]] cried as well.)

Escaping from a second Decepticon attack, Daniel and a group of Autobots were stranded on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]], where Daniel donned his father's old [[exo-suit]] to weather the harsh environment. He did not get much time to enjoy the suit, as yet ''another'' Decepticon assault left [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] dead and stirred the native [[Junkion|Junkions]] into violent action. Daniel proved his worth in this battle by smacking Junkion leader [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] with an I-beam, saving a prone [[Springer (G1)|Springer]].

Hostilities with the Junkions were settled with the arrival of Hot Rod and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], Ultra Magnus was revived, and a brief celebration was held wherein Daniel showed he could boogey down.

Daniel joined the combined Autobot-Junkion attack force in the assault on [[Unicron]]. He was on the ship that plunged into Unicron's eye, and soon became separated from the main Autobot group. As luck would have it, he ended up in Unicron's acid-based digestion center, where he was able to save his father, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] from certain death.

Daniel and the rest soon met up with the other Autobots inside of Unicron. Everything around them was exploding! And then came this [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] guy. Spike and Daniel hopped into his front seat, all of the Autobots drove out of Unicron's undamaged eye, ''through space'' (!), and back to Cybertron as Unicron blew up. Daniel looked on as Rodimus gave a heroic speech. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:HeadmasterDanielRebirth1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|That kid's therapist is gonna make a fortune.]]

Daniel would subsequently be around to watch his father get kidnapped by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}, witness [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s revival as a zombie {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}, become the subject of a Quintesson dream/reality experiment {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}}, try to determine Ultra Magnus's birthday {{storylink|Surprise Party}}, bring a [[Mara-Al-Utha|mad Quintesson wizard]] to justice {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}, and steal [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s transforming cog. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

Following those adventures, Daniel took on the role of "chew-toy" and was seriously injured in an attack by [[Snapdragon]] and required extensive life support. [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] volunteered her own systems to assist in saving Daniel's life. Her head was reconfigured into an [[exo-suit]], allowing Daniel to become Arcee's [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster partner]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Tomiko Suzuki]] (Japanese)

{{note|The Headmasters anime ignores the events of the 3-part "The Rebirth" story arc.}}

[[Image:Dannigun.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Give a boy a gun and you arm him for a day. Teach him how to make a gun... and the whole metaphor breaks down.]]

In 2011, Daniel seemed to be somehow regressing in both age and maturity, looking and acting a good deal younger than in the movie or the previous season of the cartoon. He hung out with Wheelie a whole lot more than was probably healthy, and the two shared constant adventures. In fact, at one point, Daniel and Wheelie defeated Trypticon by tricking him into trying to walk a rope bridge across a deep gorge.

As the series progressed, Daniel changed from a snot-nosed little cry-baby into a responsible young man. These coming-of-age adventures included traveling alone to a robot-killing asteroid, befriending the murderous psychopath, [[Sixshot]], and finally rescuing his Mom from inside a narrow crevice she had tumbled into, injuring herself.

Real men don't cry, Danny.
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' comic====
[[Image:DanielWheelie.jpg|180px|thumb|We find this picture works better WITHOUT the captions.]]

Shortly after [[Scorponok (G1)|Mega Zarak]] and the Decepticons were driven from Earth, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]] showed up and took Daniel's family hostage. Not havin' none-a that, Daniel finally snapped. He went insane and took on both [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]] in a bare-knuckle brawl, defeating the pair of Cassette dinosaurs and leaving Soundblaster open to an attack from [[Chromedome]]. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 8|The Headmasters #8}}

{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{note|Events from the [[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|UK-only]] comic stories are in italics.}}

[[Image:Danieluk.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Fifteen years old, and still wearing matching outfits with his dad... and still a hysterical wreck too.]]

''In 2009, the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and the rest of the Decepticons rampaged across Earth unhindered, and Daniel and his father Spike were rescued from the carnage by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. Kup brought them to Autobot City, where Daniel convinced [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] that he wasn't devoting enough resources towards defending Earth. {{storylink|Time Wars}}''
{{-}}

===Coloring books===
{{storylink|The Lost Treasure of Cybertron}}

{{note|In this story, [[Buster Witwicky]] was portrayed as Daniel's father. Daniel, however, looked the same as he always did.}}
{{-}}

===Universe: The Wreckers===
[[Image:Wheeliewreckers.jpg|100px|thumb|Rebel without a cog.]]

Daniel detonated an explosive to destroy a legion of [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] drones, killing himself and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] in the process. This event caused [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] to enter a deep depression, setting the stage for her personality change as she became a [[Wrecker]]. {{storylink|Departure}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{quote|Thanks kiddo. What would I do without you?|[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]}}
{{quote|Get your head knocked is what.|Daniel}}
A day after a reactivated [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] attacked and destroyed a South American rebel militia, a young Daniel reminded Spike to wear his [[hardhat]], which he scrawled his father's name on so he wouldn't forget (the hardhat, not his name). Spike told him to go upstairs when General [[Robert Hallo]] invited himself into Spike's home. He wears pajamas to bed. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}}

==Toys==
===Unreleased===
[[Image:Concept-HeadmasterArcee.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Every boy dreams his own car... but maybe not a pink technomobile.]]
A pink [[redeco]] of [[Chromedome]] as Headmaster Arcee was considered by Hasbro/Takara at one time. Presumably Daniel would have been the Headmaster partner.
{{-}}

===Merchandise===
A PVC figure of Daniel in his exo-suit was released in [[Takara]]'s [[Super Collection Figure]] series. It was only available in ACT-4, coming in the same blind-packed box as Arcee (who was unchanged from her ACT-1 release).

==Notes==
* In Japanese continuity, it originally was not explained why Daniel did not seem to age between the animated film, which took place in 2005, and their season three, which took place in 2010. To the contrary, in ''The Headmasters'', his mental age seemed to ''regress''. According to the massive timeline featured in ''[[Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'', Daniel was in suspended animation in outer space in the interim. As far as [[retcon]]s go, there have been clunkier.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witwicky, Daniel (G1)}}
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:Witwicky family|Daniel Witwicky (G1)]]